During the third and final 2025 Kuhinia Maui gathering marking the second anniversary of the Maui wildfires, hundreds of community members came together at Lahaina Civic Center to pay tribute to lives lost through songs, speeches and multicultural and multigenerational presentations.

“We don’t want anybody to be by themselves on days like this. We want them to be with their neighbors, their friends, their family, with us,” Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen said.

The strength of community and the dedication of first responders were highlighted Friday on the two-year anniversary of the 2023 Maui wildfires at the Kuhinia Maui Midday Gathering on the front lawn of Kalana O Maui County building in Wailuku.

The County of Maui Office of Recovery will host an additional community information session online from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, to present finalized policies for the upcoming Hoʻokumu Hou housing programs.

Just two years after the devastating wildfires, the Lahaina Community Land Trust is fighting what it calls a ‘second disaster’: the loss of a local community with deep generational roots to post-fire gentrification. The group announced Thursday it has secured 13 parcels of land, paving the way for up to 34 new housing units to be built and kept in local hands.

On the eve of the second anniversary of the Lahaina wildfires, Maui-based artist Rafael Pereda is unveiling his latest work: “Tribute to Lahaina,” a 30” x 60” painting created in honor of the town he called home for more than two decades.

In honor and remembrance of the second anniversary of the 2023 Lahaina wildfires, Sale Pepe Pizzeria e Cucina is donating all proceeds from its Margherita Pizza throughout August to the Maui Pono Foundation.

Deaths by suicide and drug overdose significantly increased in the aftermath of the August 2023 Maui wildfire, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

The study found that while many survivors still report lingering symptoms, those with stronger social support networks experienced better mental health and resilience, even in the face of hardship.

Kaibigan ng Lahaina concluded its Tagumpay Pondo project in early July, providing $128,000 to wildfire survivors.

Since November 2023, the DCMP has worked to help survivors navigate their recovery by connecting them with specially trained disaster case managers (DCMs) to help assess and address their needs through a disaster recovery plan, which includes resources, decision-making priorities, providing guidance and tools. To date, the DCMP has helped more than 6,600 survivors, providing more than 12,800 direct referrals to community resources and services worth more than $140 million.

Maui Nui Golf Club will commemorate the second anniversary of the 2023 Maui wildfires with donation-based tee times after 2 p.m. on Aug. 8, benefiting the Lahaina Junior Golf Association.

The Credit Union Wildfire Relief Fund, representing a coalition of Maui’s six chartered credit unions, has donated $153,000 to the Ho‘ōla iā Mauiakama Long Term Recovery Group to support ongoing wildfire recovery efforts. The funds will directly assist families rebuilding their homes by covering insurance gaps in upcoming Mennonite Disaster Service construction projects.

A new UHERO report finds signs of housing stability and rent relief, but major challenges remain around displacement, poverty and job loss.

Through the Lahaina Homeowner Recovery Program funded by the Maui Strong Fund of the Hawai‘i Community Foundation (HCF), 90 homeowners in Lahaina and Kula have been able to complete property surveys at no cost. By the end of this month, another 66 surveys will be completed. That means 156 homeowners can now apply for permits to begin their rebuilds—with funds still available for another 544 applicants. 

As the second anniversary approaches of the wildfires that destroyed much of Maui’s beloved Lahaina town, the Grassroot Institute of Hawaiʻi is calling for more action from state and county leaders to improve what it describes as a sluggish rebuilding process.

Hauling in Kahului will take place between 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 5. On Wednesday, Aug. 6 from 9 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., modular homes will be delivered to Lahaina.

“The public information, or lack thereof, causes tremendous angst and panic, and we wanted to ensure that we improve in that area,” MEMA Administrator Amos Lonokailua-Hewett said.

The Maui Police Department has announced the release of the final After-Action Report (AAR) regarding the wildfires that occurred on Aug. 8, 2023. This report provides a comprehensive review of the department’s response and outlines 35 recommendations for improving future emergency operations.

The mass evacuations, business closures and frequent warnings from government officials about Tuesday’s tsunami warning reflect the serious approach to potential disasters two years after the deadly fires on Maui.