Maui wildfire survivors who received FEMA rental assistance should stay in contact with FEMA, as they may be eligible for extended assistance covering temporary housing and rental payments for up to 18 months.

The groups include Wildfire Prevention, Shelter, Schools, Jobs and Business, Environmental Remediation, and Food, Water, and Other Supplies. Each group was assigned to produce a preliminary report by Nov. 1, 2023 and deliver a final report by Dec. 15, 2023.

After staff gave updates on Māla Wharf, Lahaina Small Boat Harbor, and Kāʻanapali commercial activities, they fielded questions and comments from more than 200 people.

The US Foundation of the American College of Trial Lawyers donated $75,000 to the Legal Aid Society of Hawaiʻi for wildfire disaster legal assistance.

The Maui Police Department today identified one more victim of the Aug. 8 Lahaina fire: Lee Rogo, 76, of Lahaina. There are now 98 people publicly identified of the 99 known fatalities.

For entertainment this week on Maui, multiple Grammy winner George Kahumoku and Jazz Maui are back in West Maui, the 10th annual Made-in-Maui Festival features more than 125 vendors and the University of Maui College hosts an Arts & Resilience event and Touch a Truck for kids. Find our comprehensive listing HERE.

Maui County  Disaster  Area Restrictions will be lifted for owners and residents in Zones 9F and 9G with vehicle passes from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. beginning Nov. 3 and 4.

Members of the Hawaiʻi House Finance Committee, led by Chair Kyle T. Yamashita, visited Maui to view firsthand several projects and programs supported by the State Legislature, and tour state-owned properties in Lahaina and around the island.

The Department of Water Supply has lifted the Unsafe Water Advisory for Upper Kula, removing the two remaining areas, UK-2B and UK-5.

The Department of Water Supply has declared a Stage 1 Water Shortage for water consumers in the Upcountry, Maui service area. The service area includes Makawao, Upper and Lower Kula, Haʻikū, Pukalani, Kokoma, Kaupakalua, Ulumalu, Kēōkea, ʻUlupalakua, and Kanaio.

The Maui Police Department today announced the establishment of a dedicated Cold Case Detail with a primary focus on unsolved homicides and missing persons cases.

Hawai‘i Democrats urge a ‘just recovery’ for Lahaina; State Central Committee adopts resolution urging elected leaders to ensure transparent, equitable investments to restore the Lahaina community

An assessment conducted by the Hawaiʻi Department of Health identified the greatest needs of Lahaina residents affected by the wildfires and evaluated the impact on their physical and mental health. 

Thursday mornings are particularly busy—and rewarding—for the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College’s culinary arts program purchasing class. Instructor Natasha Joslin and her seven students, along with some campus and community volunteers, pack up 200 boxes of local produce that are distributed later in the day to UH Maui College students and community members affected by the August wildfires. 

Disclaimer: GRAPHIC CONTENT (Police body camera footage contains profanity). “There’s been multiple narratives about what took place on the day of those fires. This body worn camera footage makes it very clear and convincing that the Maui Police Department—the men and women of MPD—went above and beyond, and their actions reflect the finest tradition of this noble profession,” said Chief Pelletier.

Another key milestone in the recovery of Lahaina began on Oct. 27 with the initiation of hazardous site assessments of burned property conducted for the US Army Corps of Engineers.

On Oct. 30, the Maui Police Department’s credible list of unaccounted for individuals from the Aug. 8 Lahaina wildfire has dropped from five people to four individuals.

Four virtual informational sessions will be held this week for Maui nonprofits and other organizations interested in becoming a host site for a grant funded jobs program for workers dislocated by the wildfires.

The impacts from the Maui wildfires were significant in September 2023 with both visitor arrivals and visitor expenditures down by more than 50% for Maui for the month compared to 2022.

To aid in the ongoing recovery of Maui’s wildfire impacted areas, the County of Maui Department of Environmental Management is working in partnership with Mālama Maui Nui to offer a free dedicated Refrigerator and Freezer Collection Event. The event is intended only for Lahaina-area residents residing within the restricted fire-affected zones.