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As the community begins the recovery process after the devastating Lahaina and Upcountry wildfires, groups like the Maui Nui Marine Resource Council, are turning to the ocean to gather baseline conditions of coral reefs before impacts like fire-related runoff occur.

Private nonprofits and government organizations seeking Federal Emergency Management Administration public assistance funding can learn more about how to apply at informational briefings this month on Maui and online.

The team has collected water samples from Kula and Lahaina that are being tested for contaminants in labs on Maui and Oʻahu. Ten samples had been tested as of Aug. 27 and about 60 more are headed to the labs.

US Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm came to Maui to offer federal help for energy recovery from the fires and tout the US Energy Department’s $95 million grant to Hawaiian Electric for grid infrastructure improvements and wildfire mitigation.

Winners have been announced for the 16th Annual Kū Mai Ka Hula Competition, held on Saturday, Sept. 9 in Castle Theater at Maui Arts & Cultural Center.

Doctors On Call Urgent Care and Walk-In Centers announced the addition of Dr. Vince Fussell to its staff on Maui. Dr. Fussell is a Family Practitioner and Urgent Care Specialist who will be seeing Maui patients and families immediately at both the Times Market West Maui Doctors On Call location as well as the Kīhei/Wailea DOC offices at the Shops at Wailea.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Health received access today to preliminary, unvalidated data of baseline air sampling conducted by the US Environmental Protection Agency in Lahaina and Upcountry Maui. 

The Maui Police Department released the name of three more victims from the Aug. 8 Lahaina fire. Police today confirmed the identity of: Bibiana “Bhing” Lutrania, 58; Glenn Yoshino, 75; and Rafael Imperial, 63. All three are from Lahaina.

Island Energy Services announced a second shipment of more than 100,000 bottles of Arrowhead Mountain Spring Water in three 40-foot shipping containers to provide ongoing assistance to those impacted by the Maui wildfires. This follows an initial shipment of more than 67,000 bottles of donated water last month.

The Hawai‘i State Department of Education will begin free bus service on Thursday, Sept. 14, for Lahainaluna High students to their temporary school site at the Kūlanihākoʻi High School campus in Kīhei.

The Keanakākoʻi viewing area is closed due to unsafe air quality. A plume of volcanic smoke contains sulfur dioxide, other gases and shards of volcanic glass that pose a significant risk, according to the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Service.

The presence of toluene was detected after the Upper Kula Wildfire in August of 2023. This strongly suggests its presence was an artifact of the wildfire impacting the surface water source for the Upper Kula Treatment Plant, according to the DOH. Further monitoring is planned by MDWS at the Upper Kula Treatment Plant.

A remembrance service was held at the Kahului Fire Station on Maui, marking the 22 year anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, and honoring the 2,977 people who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and onboard United Flight 93. 

Keith Amemiya has recently been appointed as chair of Governor Green’s Sports Task Force, which is under the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

The donation represents 100% of the net proceeds from both Reyn Spooner in-store and online sales of all Lahaina Sailor products from Aug. 11-31, 2023, including men’s and women’s apparel, kids’ clothing, and accessories. 

The US Department of Agriculture announced that households impacted by wildfires in Hawaiʻi could be eligible for replacement of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP benefits. This step was taken to ensure those in need who were impacted by the Hawaiʻi wildfires have food to eat.

As Maui residents prepare to repair, rebuild and retrofit their homes after the Aug. 8 wildfires, FEMA has teamed up with the Home Depot in Kahului to provide free information and tips on how to make homes stronger and safer.

The American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 2,300 cancer survivors and current cancer patients were living in the areas of Maui affected by the wildfires. To help patients deal with trauma and loss caused by their cancer diagnosis and the devastation of the fires, ACS is teaming up with Maui Cancer Resources to offer group therapy sessions.

The goal is to help as many families as possible rebuild their photo collections and create some smiles, laughter and normalcy after tragedy.  The project currently has six photographers signed up to provide services, with more joining each day.

As of today, $83.78 million in federal assistance has been approved for more than 5,090 households. This includes housing and other needs assistance and Small Business Association disaster loans. There were 7,282 people housed at 32 locations around Maui, in coordination with the American Red Cross. The EPA has completed removal of hazardous material at 433 properties in total.