“The State needs to be better prepared for wildfires,” said Senator Donovan Dela Cruz, Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means. “Our Committee believes these forward thinking bills make sure we are not as susceptible to another catastrophic wildfire, and that we stand ready to efficiently and strategically respond if we find ourselves facing fire again.”

More than 2,700 people over a two-week period participated in County of Maui surveys on proposed Permanent Disposal Sites for Lahaina wildfire ash and debris. March 1 is the target date for selecting the Permanent Disposal Site.

The County of Maui announces an informational workshop aimed at assisting owners whose properties were destroyed in the August wildfires, and who have not signed up for government-assisted clean-up.

Lahaina wildfire survivors were updated Wednesday on the progress of ash and debris removal from residential properties destroyed Aug. 8, and they learned the results of surveys aimed at assessing public sentiment in how to determine the final disposal site for thousands of burned homes.

The US Environmental Protection Agency will begin clearing and inspecting sanitary sewer lines on Honoapiʻilani Highway and Keawe Street in Lahaina starting the week of Feb. 26. Department officials say work will take place between Leialiʻi Parkway and Keawe Street (from Wahikuli Wayside Park to Safeway on Honoapiʻilani Highway and from Minit Stop to Honoapiʻilani Highway on Keawe Street).

US Sen. Mazie Hirono visited the preschool next to Princess Nāhiʻenaʻena Elementary School for about a half-hour as part of her tour of west side sites. The Lahaina Head Start site, the only preschool to survive the fires, reopened Feb. 1 after cleanup and renovations. 

During his visit, US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg provided updates on key infrastructure projects, including critical investments in the Honoapiʻilani Highway. He visited West Maui as part of the administrationʻs efforts to reaffirm its commitment to wildfire recovery in Lahaina.

Established in the wake of wildfires that burned more than 200 acres in Kula, the Kula Community Watershed Alliance has convened neighbors, local leaders, and subject matter experts to develop a unified plan to support the land’s recovery from the fires, including stabilizing and regenerating the disturbed soil, restoring and protecting native plants and animals, and stewarding the long-term vitality of the land.

Half a year after the devastating Aug. 8 Maui wildfires, tourism is making a comeback in Maui County when measured by hotel occupancy but not so much by room revenue, according to the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority’s monthly hotels performance report released Tuesday.

Mayor Richard Bissen made a plea to the state for $401.75 million over the next three years to help Lahaina rebuild and recover. The request was made before the Senate Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday, on behalf of the people of Maui County. County of Maui would separately leverage $198.75 million over the next three years, according to a news release announcement.

The first Ambient Community Air Sampling Reports for Lahaina, issued by the Hawaiʻi Department of Health, confirm good ambient air quality for the period of Jan. 13-24, 2024. 

Some topics that will be covered are discussions on the current state of housing across the United States focused on efforts to improve housing availability, affordability, and homelessness, and reimagining models of disaster preparedness and Maui’s recovery. 

Maui County will resume its Lahaina Disaster Recovery Community Update meetings beginning 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21, at the Lahaina Civic Center with an update on survey results for a permanent disposal site for wildfire ash and debris and cesspool information.

While the Federal Emergency Management Agency continues to lease Maui rental units to Maui wildfire survivors who lost their homes, the FEMA Direct Lease program is turning away property owners who illegally force tenants out so landlords can gain higher rents from the FEMA program.

Another affordable housing proposal is headed to the Maui County Council, but this one is not “shovel ready.” It’s built already, although it’s going to be a multimillion-dollar fixer-upper.

TY Management Corporation held a groundbreaking and blessing ceremony of its Kapalua Village Temporary Housing Project for Kapalua Golf employees on Monday morning, Feb. 19. This project signifies one of the first privately funded temporary housing projects on Maui to assist individuals and families impacted by the Maui wildfires.

Gov. Green signed the Hawai‘i Project Labor Agreement which he said will ensure a steady labor supply to help rebuild Lahaina and meet the state’s growing affordable housing pipeline.

The Kokua Restaurant & Hospitality Fund for Maui will benefit from two “Experience the Magic of Napa Valley” fine-dining events Feb. 23-24, hosted by Chef Thomas Keller and Chef de Cuisine David Breeden, at the French Laundry at Hotel Wailea.

The Maui County Council advanced two affordable housing projects on first reading Friday and referred a third to the Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee for further review.

Tails Up Maui, a restaurant in Paukūkalo, reopened on Jan. 26 after a transformative period of community service.