Wildfires & Recovery

Time is running out for private nonprofits, houses of worship and government organizations to apply for a key type of federal assistance for the Hawai‘i wildfire disaster. Requests for public assistance funding from the Federal Emergency Management Administration must be filed no later than Wednesday, Oct. 25.

Makana nō nā keiki, a toy drive and holiday experience for children impacted by the Maui fires, announced today the deadline to register keiki wish lists is Oct. 31, 2023. The website has a section for family or friends to register their keiki (ages 18 and below) with a top three wish list.  

Thirty-eight award-winning chefs, participated in The Guy Fieri Foundation’s Chefs for Maui Fundraiser in Northern California Wine Country on Oct. 21, to support disaster operations and raise money for relief supplies for Maui following the August wildfires.

Mayors from Kauaʻi, Oʻahu and Hawaiʻi Island visited Front Street, Lahaina Harbor and a re-entry zone together for the first time on Monday. The site visit comes 11 weeks after the August 2023 Lahaina wildfire that claimed the lives of at least 99 people.

On Saturday, Phase 1 of the US Army Corps of Engineers-led removal of private property debris began with hazardous site assessments for 26 properties in Kula that were burned by the Aug. 8 wildfire.

The purpose of the rent and eviction restrictions in the Emergency Proclamation is to address the unprecedented humanitarian crisis caused by the August wildfires. “If you believe that a landlord on Maui is acting illegally under the Emergency Proclamation, report what you know to the Department of the Attorney General,” department officials said.

Two-year and four-year scholarships to the University of Hawaiʻi are now available to Lahainaluna High School seniors, thanks to an anonymous philanthropist. The donor agreed to fund the scholarship extensions to two years for any UH community college or four years for any UH university.

Applications for the Maui Relief TANF program, which could cover housing, auto, clothing and utility expenses for families with children impacted by the August wildfires, will be accepted at a Maui Economic Opportunity outreach event, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday, at the Lahaina Civic Center.

Following the wildfires on August 8 that devastated areas of Maui County, a delegation from Hawaiʻi is set to meet officials in Washington D.C. this week. The primary objective is to evaluate current recovery allocations and to discuss the potential for additional resources to facilitate economic recovery and both immediate and sustainable relief for Maui County.

The Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association, in partnership with Kamehameha Schools, has provided more than 1,000 backpacks to Lahaina students affected by wildfires.

Hui O Ka Wai Ola increased its response to the Lahaina wildfires by launching four additional coastal water testing sites in West Maui (Māla Tavern, Māla Ramp, Papalaua Street, and Lahaina Harbor) and by hiring the organization’s first Fire Response Team Lead.

Carnival Cruise Line welcomed 30 scouts from the Aloha Council of the Boy Scouts of America aboard the Carnival Miracle in Kahului as a gesture of appreciation for their assistance in providing essential supplies following the Maui wildfires.

The US Department of Health and Human Services and FEMA have approved crisis counseling services to assist those grappling with emotional distress or mental health issues following the Maui wildfires.

The US Small Business Administration has launched a Business Resource and Assessment Center in Kīhei’s Maui Research and Technical Center, offering information and assistance for those looking to start, relaunch, or expand a small business.

Maui police released photos of the six people who remain unaccounted for following the Aug. 8 Lahaina wildfire.

In partnership with the state Department of Human Services, Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc. is administering the Maui Relief TANF Program that will provide help with housing, auto and utility payments and other expenses for income-eligible families with children who were directly impacted by the Aug. 8 wildfires.

A group of survivors, neighbors, landowners and experts joined forces to rehabilitate Kula’s burned lands, aiming to stabilize, protect, and maintain the area to prevent further erosion.

On Maui Island, unemployment climbed to 8.4% in September 2023, a 3.7% increase from August 2023 and a 4.6% increase from a year ago, according to statistics released by the Hawai‘i State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

Chief among the findings was the dramatic shift in work for the nonprofit sector.  Over 80% of respondents have shifted the focus of their work to fire relief, affecting the sector’s capacity to deliver a wide range of social services.

Families who have been impacted by the Maui fires—whether on Maui or having recently relocated due to the fires—must apply by Oct. 31 to get assistance under these temporary rules. DHS encourages impacted families to apply today.