UH: State adds $2.3M to Maui Wildfire Exposure Study, launches survivor registry

To expand its efforts in understanding and addressing the long-term health and social impacts of the devastating Maui wildfires, the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study (MauiWES) has just received an additional $2.3 million in funding from the State of Hawaiʻi.

This funding boost will allow the study to increase its participant base to 2,000 individuals, with a focus on including children and first responders, and to build the infrastructure for a comprehensive survivor registry targeting up to 10,000 survivors.

The study, led by researchers from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, offers comprehensive health screenings and enrolls affected individuals into the most extensive social and bio-monitoring study in Hawaiʻi following a disaster.

Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green, M.D., expressed strong support for the expansion and the registry initiative.

“As we move past the one-year anniversary of the worst disaster in the state of Hawaiʻi, our commitment to the people of Maui remains steadfast,” Green said. “The MauiWES has demonstrated the need to address some health challenges of people affected by the disaster. The creation of this survivor registry is a crucial step in ensuring that we leave no one behind, including our keiki (children) and those who risked their lives as first responders. By supporting this academic-community partnership, we are laying the groundwork for a healthier future for all impacted by these tragic events.”

MauiWES has published one of the most comprehensive reports to date on the social and health impacts of the August 2023 wildfires. The expansion aims to deepen the understanding of both acute and chronic health effects of the fires across diverse populations, including the long-term impacts on younger residents and those who played critical roles in emergency response.

The survivor registry is designed to track the wildfires’ long-term health and social effects by passively monitoring participants over several years. This approach is critical because it allows researchers to identify trends and health outcomes that may not be immediately apparent, but can have significant impacts on the well-being of affected individuals over time.

“Building a survivor registry is crucial for fully understanding the long-term impacts of the wildfires,” said Ruben Juarez, UH Economic Research Organization (UHERO)-HMSA Distinguished Professor of Health Economics at the UH Mānoa College of Social Sciences, who co-leads the project. “Experience from other disasters shows that health effects can persist and even emerge years after the event. Given the challenges of tracking individuals as they relocate within or across islands, this registry will allow us to monitor these effects and ensure that survivors receive the care and support they need, backed by comprehensive data.”

Alika Maunakea, professor at the John A. Burns School of Medicine, added, “The survivor registry is not just about gathering data—it’s about empowering the community. It gives us the ability to monitor health trends, provide timely interventions, and ultimately contribute to a more informed and resilient response to future disasters. This initiative ensures that the voices and experiences of those affected are at the center of our ongoing research and recovery efforts.”

MauiWES, which began as a grassroots effort in collaboration with multiple community organizations such as Maui Medics Healers Hui and Roots Reborn, received strong support during testimony in the state legislature. Among the supporters was Pedro Haro, executive director of the American Lung Association in Hawaiʻi and a key advocate for the registry.

“Based on the preliminary data reported by MauiWES, the long-term respiratory health impacts of wildfire exposure cannot be underestimated,” Haro said. “With this expansion and the creation of a survivor registry, we are taking significant steps to understand how these events affect lung health and overall well-being over time. This research is vital not only for those affected by the Maui wildfires but also for preparing our communities to face future environmental challenges.”

Launched in January 2024 with initial seed funding from the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation Maui Strong Fund and Kaiser Permanente, and longitudinal funding of $1.4 million from the National Institutes of Health, MauiWES has successfully recruited nearly 1,000 participants so far. The study has collected a range of social and mental health metrics, as well as biomedical samples, including urine, saliva, buccal cheek swabs, and blood.

As the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study moves forward, the research team remains committed to transparency and community engagement. The MauiWES interactive dashboard continues to be a vital resource, offering real-time data and insights for the community and stakeholders.

This public impact research project is the result of an ongoing partnership between UHERO, JABSOM and UH Maui College. Administrators say the findings will play a crucial role in shaping the future health policies and recovery efforts for Maui’s residents, ensuring a more equitable and resilient recovery for all.