MEO closing offices Thursday, Aug. 8, for staff to mark fire anniversary in their own way

Offering a hand to survivors since the day after the deadly wildfires, Maui Economic Opportunity will be closed Thursday ­– the first year mark since the 2023 fires – to honor 102 individuals who lost their lives in the wildfires and thousands of others whose homes and businesses burned.

 “The tragic events of Aug. 8, 2023, forever changed the lives of thousands of residents with over 2,200 lost structures, 12,000 people displaced and 102 lost lives,” said Debbie Cabebe. “I am thankful for the entire MEO team, who have stepped up to assist with recovery efforts in numerous ways. Every department and many staff have assisted in some form or fashion.”

MEO staff have been personally involved in helping those impacted by the wildfires, providing rent/mortgage, utility, vehicle, clothing and school supply assistance, business bridge grants and jobs for those impacted and staff for about 45 host sites.

“This will give MEO staff the opportunity to recognize the day and people who lost their lives, homes, possessions, and their community in ways appropriate for them,” Cabebe said.

MEO offices on Maui, including Hāna; Molokaʻi, and Lānaʻi, will be closed. Human Services Transportation will be operating on a limited basis and paratransit on its usual hours.

MEO has assisted 2,000 households and nearly 6,000 residents from October to the present. A total of $11.95 million has been disbursed to those impacted by the fires – rent, $5 million; mortgages, $1 million; vehicle assistance, $3 million; and clothing/school supplies, $2 million.

On the day of the wildfire, an MEO driver maneuvered his rider to safety as the flames were building in the afternoon. The day after, MEO staff assisted residents obtain vacation rentals, and drivers transported stranded visitors and residents out of Lahaina.

By September, MEO stood up a rental assistance program, providing up to 9 months of rent, with Hawai‘i Community Foundation and generous donor funding. MEO hosted Consulate visits to help Spanish-speaking residents recover their identification.

Other, larger programs, started up:

• Maui Relief Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program, targeting families with dependent children at 350 percent of the federal poverty level or below. Hawai‘i Community Foundation Maui Strong program for individuals and families, covering the gaps in the TANF program. The programs provide rent/mortgage of up to $5,000 per month for 4 months; utility assistance deposit and 4 months of  utility payments up to $750 per month; $350 for clothing and school supplies for per child; and car payments of $500 a month for four months. [(808) 243-4404.]
• National Dislocated Worker Grant. Provides temporary jobs with cleanup of debris and recovery humanitarian assistance. Jobs pay between $20 and $27 an hour. The program also provides labor for more than 40 host sites. These services are 100% federally funded by a Maui Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant in the amount of $12,741,350. [(808) 432-4370].
• Maui Business Bridge Grants, which supports Maui-based businesses that have been directly or indirectly impacted by the Aug. 8, 2023, Lahaina and Upcountry wildfires. [(808) 243-4318].

In late January, MEO’s Lahaina Head Start preschool, the only one to survive the fires in town, re-opened.

“We encourage those who were impacted by the wildfires to contact MEO,” said Cabebe. “Those whose FEMA or Red Cross benefits are coming to an end, should give us a call.

“You deserve all the help you can receive.”