Legal assistance for those impacted by the Maui wildfires on specific issues ranging from immigration to insurance claims will be offered by attorneys in private practice and a University of Hawaiʻi Law Clinic program from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sept. 9, at Maui Economic Opportunity in Wailuku.

Blackstone is providing $1.5 million in Relocation Relief & Assistance Payments and charitable donations to support employees and residents at Blackstone’s Maui real estate properties and the people of Maui. 

Maui police have identified 35 individuals publicly following notification of next of kin, including eight additional individuals on Thursday evening.

Ad 2 Hawaiʻi invites Maui-based nonprofits to apply for its 2023-2024 Public Service Campaign, offering pro-bono marketing services with a focus on aiding Maui’s wildfire-affected community.

While the initial results are reassuring, the Maui DWS’ Unsafe Water Advisories remain in place at this time. The process to amend the Unsafe Water Advisory will be based on a comprehensive review of multiple lines of evidence. 

Today, the County of Maui filed a lawsuit against Maui Electric Company, Hawaiian Electric Company, Hawaiʻi Electric Light Company and Hawaiian Electric Industries for civil damages allegedly caused to the County’s public property and resources as a result of recent Maui fires, including fires in Lahaina and Kula.

Scores of artists rally to create three fundraising jazz, blues and Hawaiian concerts for Maui wildfire victims. Also this week on Maui, critically acclaimed guitarist-singer Makana performs a free concert, and David Grace Jr. sings his classic soul and country songs — one of them with more than 690,000 views. Find our comprehensive listing HERE.

Maui Wildfire Disaster updates for Aug. 24 are posted HERE. Today, crews are conducting an underwater search of a four mile stretch of shoreline from Puamana Beach Park to Wahikuli Wayside Park, looking for human remains associated with the Aug. 8 wildfire in Lahaina. Six more people have been identified out of the 115 confirmed dead; and more than 1,000 remain unaccounted for. The state Department of Education has identified temporary school sites in Central and South Maui for displaced students who had been enrolled at one of four public schools in Lahaina.

The US Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday began work to remove and dispose of hazardous waste from properties affected by the wildfires in Kula. Hazardous waste removal efforts in the Lahaina disaster area will start after search and rescue responders allow EPA crews to enter the area.

Maui police on Wednesday evening confirmed the identity of six more individuals as victims of the Lahaina wildfire disaster.

Students already re-enrolled at other schools or in distance learning are unaffected. Family and community meeting scheduled for Aug. 30.

Underwater search efforts for human remains that began last Saturday, continued today in near-shore waters near the Lahaina Small Boat Harbor and along the Front Street breakwater. 

The Family Assistance Center has received reports about Maui community members receiving calls from individuals or organizations claiming to be with “DNA Services.” These telephone calls are scams, and anyone receiving them should hang up immediately and report them to the Maui Police Department’s non-emergency number at 808-244-6400.

Maui police are now confirming a report of a Lahaina family who had located their son’s remains within their residence and brought him to a nearby police station.

The Napili Plaza emergency distribution center for Lahaina fire survivors started organically with a group of retired and current firefighters who lived in the area wanting to do something.

Activated from the first moments of the Maui fires on Aug. 8, 2023, The Salvation Army prepared 26,284 meals and coordinated a total of 153,997 through local and nonprofit partnerships at 34 feeding locations during the initial phase of the relief effort, though feeding sites are now transitioning to non-congregate shelters at local hotels.

“Maui nonprofits are a needed support system for our communities,” says Lisa Paulson, Executive Director of the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association. “With the hardships of the recent wildfires, it was crucial to make this hard-earned money available to them immediately.”

Schatz expressed gratitude for the presidential visit, but is calling on the federal government to take additional actions including the release of more federal funds, support for expanded financial assistance, unemployment benefits, air and water safety, and help with making the FEMA assistance application process easier for those in need.

The Servco Foundation has committed an initial aid of $120,000 to recovery efforts on Maui, including contributions to the American Red Cross Hawaiʻi and assistance for displaced families with children.

Aloha Pacific, HawaiʻiUSA, and Hawaiian Financial Federal Credit Unions have partnered to gather essential supplies for Maui community members affected by the recent natural disaster, accepting donations of various items at select Oʻahu branch locations.