US Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02), along with House Natural Resources Ranking Member Raul Grijalva, and Rep. Ed Case sent a letter to Secretary Deb Haaland requesting that the Department of Interior provide support for the environmental recovery and cultural preservation efforts on Maui and Hawaiʻi Island. 

Hawaiʻiʻs congressional delegation is urging the Army Corps to provide the Hawai’i Department of Education with the resources and support it needs to build a school to temporarily replace Kamehameha III Elementary School as quickly as possible. 

The report shows Maui lost more than $13 million of visitor spending each day in the weeks following the fire. With the planned Oct. 8 reopening of unaffected West Maui resort areas, economists are not anticipating a rush to travel, but a gradual recovery instead.

Property owners and residents of Zone 1C — Kaniau Road — in Lahaina will be able to pick up vehicle passes for reentry on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Lahaina Civic Center.

With just nine days to go until the Sept. 30 deadline to fund the federal government, US Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today spoke on the Senate Floor to call on lawmakers in Congress to pass additional disaster relief funding as part of an appropriations bill.

The County of Maui through its Emergency Operations Center and Maui Emergency Management Agency has requested this utility work to begin in the upcoming weeks to restore county wastewater pumps that service the area. The work also enables the interim rebuilding of two backup circuits that can reroute power to customers and neighborhoods in the Puamana, Launiupoko to Olowalu area, and mauka of the Lahaina Bypass.

Governor Josh Green highlighted upcoming important dates involving Maui wildfire survivors as the island transitions from response to recovery. Dates include: Sept. 25 reentry begins; Sept. 26 details to be released surrounding a replacement site for Kamehameha III Elementary; Sept. 29 Safe Harbor ends; and Oct. 8 marks the formal reopening of West Maui.

Maui-based Krank Cycles received a donation of 400 new bicycles and is calling on the community to come together on Sept. 23 and help assemble these bikes to be distributed among Maui wildfire survivors.

FHLB Des Moines awarded $4 million to the Hawaiʻi Bankers Association who will regrant funds to the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation’s Maui Strong Fund, the United Way of Maui and the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement. FHLB Des Moines donated $1 million to the Valley Isle Chapter of the Hawaiʻi Credit Union League, who established the Credit Union Wildfire Relief Fund. This fund provides direct and immediate support to those in need, addressing their most pressing needs at any given time.

The American Red Cross is hiring members of the Maui community for long-term wildfire recovery efforts and has launched a six-day Job Fair in Central Maui.

“Our committee has heard from various neighbors on Maui that they continue to face challenges relating to processing wildfire insurance claims, including home, business, vehicle, and vessel policies,” said Senator Jarett Keohokalole, Chair of the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection. The briefing will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023, at the Lahaina Civic Center.

Kaniau Road in Zone 1C will be the first area to be cleared for residential reentry in the Lahaina disaster area, on Monday and Tuesday next week. A vehicle pass will be required for entry, and applications will be distributed on Friday through Sunday at the Lahaina Civic Center during specified hours.

Chief John Pelletier told the Maui Police Commission the after-action report about the department’s response to the Maui wildfires will be a “dive into what went right, what went wrong and how can we improve. But it is also going to talk about some of the incredible acts that took place.”

The Maui Police Department identified one more victim of the Aug. 8 Lahaina fire on Wednesday: Kirk Carter, 44, of Lahaina.

SBA disaster loans may cover losses that are not fully covered by insurance or other sources. The SBA is the largest source of federal disaster recovery funds for survivors.

The revamped MauiNuiFirst.com website offers businesses an expanded platform to showcase their products, services and activities.

Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea is hosting a new series of “Love for Lahaina” culinary pop-up events in October to support the hospitality industry and farmers who have been directly affected by the wildfires.

The Mamoru and Aiko Takitani Foundation, Inc. (Takitani Foundation) has awarded grants totaling $300,000 in memory of Mamoru and Aiko Takitani, founders of Hawaiian Host, manufacturer of Hawaiian Host chocolates. Funding will support victims of the Maui fires and include $150,000 to St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, $100,000 to Lahaina Hongwanji Mission, and $50,000 to Maui Preparatory Academy.

Council Vice-Chair Yuki Lei K. Sugimura is hosting a community meeting at the Mayor Hannibal Tavares Community Center in Pukalani at 6 p.m. on Sept. 20, to provide updates on water safety, wildfire-debris management and disaster recovery.

Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen has formed a 5-member Lahaina Advisory Team, announced two public meetings about relief efforts and is in the midst of creating a new Office of Recovery.