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.

The Department of Water Supply amended the Unsafe Water Advisory for Lahaina to remove areas L-4A mauka of the Honoapiʻilani Highway and south of Kahoma Stream, and L-4E near Puʻunoa Point.

Debris and ash removal was completed on the 100th residential property in the Lahaina Wildfire Disaster Area on Wednesday, (Feb. 14) 30 days after the work began in Lahaina, county officials said.

Needs identified in the Kula assessment survey included expedited permitting, insurance, mental health, health of neighbors not directly affected by the fires, soil testing and watershed health.

Starting the week of Feb. 5, the US Environmental Protection Agency started work on Mission Assignment from FEMA to clear and inspect nearly 100,000 linear feet of sewer lines within the fire damaged Lahaina area of West Maui.

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. today released a video documenting his visit to Lahaina, where he went to see firsthand the devastation from the wildfire that destroyed much of the historic town six months ago. Kennedy surveyed the site of last summer’s wildfire with two long-time residents—Eddy Garcia and Janet Spriter—who weighed in on the federal government’s response.

State officials are urging Maui wildfire survivors to be vigilant when choosing a contractor for rebuilding and repair projects.

Tabor Stamper, President Emeritus of KHS America, acknowledges that while the donated instruments can’t erase the impact of the fires, they provide students with an opportunity to focus on making music and finding solace in their passion.

Paul Kasprzycki, an artist, craftsman and woodcarver credited with creating the welcome to Lahaina signs, was positively identified publicly Tuesday as the 101st fatality of the Aug. 8 Lahaina wildfire.

The County of Maui reminds residents that the last day to respond to its survey on a permanent disposal site for wildfire debris from Lahaina is this Thursday, Feb. 15.  

The song, “Yonder Lahaina Mountains,” was released on Dec. 31 and features the voices of musical artists Kaleo Phillips, Marvin Tevaga and Kapena DeLima, along with the Kamehameha Schools Maui Ensemble choir and hula dancers. Affectionately known as “The Boarder’s Song,” it was originally composed by Alice K. K. Banham. Phillips, who was among those who lost his home in the August wildfires, said the inspiration for recording the song with KS Maui came to him in a dream.

Present on the field Sunday were Lahainaluna head football coach Dean Rickard, offensive coach Garrett Tihada, former coach Bobby Watson and athletic director John Conrad. Team captains joined their coaches on the field: Kaulana Tihada, Morgan “Bula” Montgomery, Teva Loft and Kuola Watson.

Six months after the devastating Maui wildfires, US Rep. Ed Case (HI-01) released a comprehensive guide to federal resources to assist Hawai‘i in preventing, mitigating and responding to continuing wildfire risks across the state.