Three years after the devastating Maui wildfires forever changed Lahaina and surrounding communities, some of the most difficult challenges are the ones that are not visible.

Homes are gradually being rebuilt, while some businesses impacted by the wildfires have since reopened. Yet for thousands of survivors, the emotional impact of Aug. 8, 2023, continues every day.

“The trauma, grief, anxiety, and loss of those surviving the tragedy does not disappear. They remain with families courageously trying to rebuild their lives, children adjusting to new schools, and community members who continue to mourn the loss of their homes, neighborhoods, and way of life,” according to leaders with Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi.

“Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi continues to reaffirm its commitment to supporting not only the physical recovery of the community, but also the mental and emotional healing that will take years to achieve,” organizers said. Since the fires, Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi has provided trauma-informed counseling, emotional support, and compassionate care to individuals and families throughout their recovery.

“Healing is about more than replacing a home. It is about restoring a sense of safety, connection, and hope,” said Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi president and CEO Tina Andrade.

Mental Health Recovery

The need for mental health services remains one of the greatest long-term challenges facing Maui. As recovery continues, Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi remains dedicated to ensuring that mental health services are available for those who need them, recognizing that emotional healing is just as important as rebuilding homes and communities, according to organization leaders.

Wildfire survivors continue to experience the lasting effects of trauma as they adjust to new routines, new communities, and, for many, a life no longer lived in Lahaina. While some families have secured permanent housing, rebuilding a life often means living far from the community where generations of memories were made.

Financial Assistance

“From the earliest days following the disaster through today, Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi has remained alongside Maui families,” organization leaders said.

Maui County’s Maui Relief Program administered by Catholic Charities Hawai‘i provided a wide range of financial assistance to households impacted by the wildfires. Between August 2023 and May 31, 2025, the program distributed $3.54 million in direct assistance to 1,790 unduplicated households, helping families meet critical needs as they began rebuilding their lives.

In addition, the Maui Disaster Case Management Program served 1,695 households before concluding in July 2025, connecting survivors with the resources, services, and long-term support needed to navigate the complex recovery process.

Caring for Those Who Care for Others

Recovery has also taken a profound emotional toll on those who have spent the past three years helping others. First responders, healthcare professionals, educators, clergy, nonprofit staff, and other community servants have carried the weight of supporting Maui while often managing their own grief and trauma.

To help meet this need, Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi opened the Maui Support Center at St. Anthony School in August 2024. The center provides individual and group support sessions in a safe, welcoming environment where those serving the community can focus on their own well-being, build resilience, and receive the emotional support they need to continue caring for others.

Since opening, the Maui Support Center has served more than 600 clients and continues to operate at full capacity.

Rebuilding Maui’s Future Through Affordable Housing

Long-term recovery also means ensuring local families have access to affordable housing.

Catholic Charities Housing Development Corporation continues construction on Hale Pilina in Kahului, a new affordable housing complex that will provide 178 rental homes for Maui families. Designed for households earning between 30% and 60% of the Area Median Income, the project will include one- and two-bedroom apartments, community gathering spaces, a playground, and energy-efficient solar systems. Construction is approximately 54% complete, with completion anticipated in 2027.

Families displaced by the Maui wildfires will receive priority during the first two years of lease up, helping ensure they have an opportunity to remain on Maui as they continue rebuilding their lives.

“Recovery is measured not only by homes rebuilt, but by hearts healed,” said Andrade. “Three years later, Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi remains committed to walking alongside individuals, families, and communities for as long as healing takes.”