Featured

Maui Wildfire Disaster updates for Aug. 29 are posted HERE. An estimated 11,010 FEMA assistance registrations have been received, with some $14.6 million in federal housing and individual assistance provided, according to the County of Maui. According to the governor, there are more than 6,000 people now being temporarily housed in hotels and Airbnb units.

Due to the generosity of the local community, including a sizable donation of toys from the Friends of the Children’s Justice Center, Maui Health delivered hundreds of toys to bring some joy to keiki and their families on the west side of the island.

“There will be no survivors that we will discover at this point,” said Gov. Green on Day 20 of recovery following the devastating wildfire in Lahaina. “The seven day mark was significant—that’s when the road opened. The 14 day mark was quite significant because that was the day that everyone got out of the [congregate] shelters. The 20 day mark is very significant, because as you’re hearing, essentially, the search and rescue, at least on land, is done.” Another milestone update is expected at the one month mark.

Maui County officials identified two more victims in the Aug. 8 Lahaina fire Monday, bringing the total to 45.

“We can rebuild, and we’re going to rebuild. We’re going to be back. But we cannot bring people back, and that’s the tough part… Trying to cope with that part of life now. This is the normal, and this is hard to get used to. We’re trying to as people, but we just need all the support we can get at this point,” said Lahaina resident, Connor Mowat.

Dry fuels combined with strong trade winds and lowering humidities could produce critical fire weather conditions Wednesday afternoon through Thursday afternoon.

For the last 23 years, Pono Pacific has been providing specialized sustainability services, including native habitat restoration and maintenance, invasive species eradication, predator-proof fence construction, trail conservation and maintenance, and food and energy security.

Hawaiʻi Attorney General Anne Lopez is urging owners of real property in Lahaina and Kula ZIP codes 96761, 96767 and 96790 to make formal reports of any unsolicited offers that were not asked for or requested to purchase an interest in that property.

The canceled test had been scheduled within 15 minutes of a planned moment of worldwide prayer and remembrance for those killed or missing in the Maui wildfires.

Mokulele has collected and shipped more than 40,000 pounds of supplies since resuming its daily service flights to Kapalua Airport on Maui on Aug. 11, three days after the devastating wildfires in Lahaina.

The Consulate of Peru is processing passport and identification replacements for nationals impacted by the wildfires on Aug. 28 and 29 at Maui Economic Opportunity in Wailuku.

For Maui residents seeking employment, the Good Jobs Hawaiʻi initiative is offering free job training through the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College and other online programs through the UH Community College System.

Doctors On Call Urgent Care and Testing Center reopened on Aug. 28 at the Times Market Plaza in North Kaʻanapali/Honokōwai.

The funds allow the Hawaiʻi Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to provide people with temporary jobs focused on cleaning up debris and repairing damage caused by the fires, and providing humanitarian assistance to the wildfire survivors.

While West Maui and fire-affected parts of Kula remain no place for visitors — with teams still searching for remains from the Lahaina fire and the recovery in the early stages — the rest of the island was unharmed by the fires but now is reeling from the abrupt loss of tourists that is causing people to lose their jobs and businesses to struggle.

Maui Wildfire Disaster updates for Aug. 28 are posted HERE. The number of confirmed fatalities has remained at 115 for several days with 43 people publicly identified by police. 

The company outlined a list of factors related to the Aug. 8, 2023 events, saying that at around 3 p.m., “power lines in West Maui had been de-energized for more than six hours” when a second fire in the afternoon began in the same area—in a field near Lahaina Intermediate School.

The people of Lahaina and the rest of Maui were on the forefront of everyone’s minds as Hōkūleʻa symbolizes hope and resilience to many of the Native Hawaiian community who were present at the welcome event.  In honor of Lahaina, crew members wore red Hōkūleʻa shirts and red ceremonial kihei. They also hung special pink feather lei hulu at the top of the mast.  The crew also placed over Hōkūleʻaʻs canvas, a “Lahaina Strong” banner  created by members of Seattleʻs Native Hawaiian community.

Maui police have identified 43 individuals publicly following notification of next of kin, including three additional individuals on Sunday afternoon. The names of victims of the Maui wildfire disaster released today include: David Nuesca Jr., 59, of Lahaina; Poomaikai Losano, 28, of Lahaina; and Carolyn Ono, 73, of Lahaina.

A 21-year-old Kahului man died of gunshot wounds he reportedly sustained in an altercation reported early Sunday morning in North Kīhei. Medic personnel reported the victim was left at the Medic 3 station on South Kīhei Road by a group of unknown males. A preliminary investigation reveals a group of unknown individuals were congregated north of the Medic 3 location at Uwapo Road when a physical altercation escalated, leading to two gunshots being discharged.