Maui News

The State of Hawaiʻi and Maui County have launched the Maui Disaster Support Call Center to provide a central assistance hub for community members affected by the Maui wildfires.

Hawaiʻi Attorney General Anne E. Lopez has selected UL’s Fire Safety Research Institute to assess the policies and performance of state and county agencies in preparation and response to the deadly and destructive Maui wildfires of Aug. 8, 2023.

Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen offered a video message on Thursday evening, with remarks related to the Maui wildfire disaster. In his address, he provided further insight into the timeline relating to the Aug. 8 wildfire in Lahaina.

Hawaiian Electric has stationed active monitors who are physically surveying electrical infrastructure in more than 30 areas identified as high wildfire risk in Maui County, on Hawai‘i Island and O‘ahu to help to ensure safe and reliable service during current Red Flag Warning.

Communities across Hawaiʻi are joining in Kīpuni Aloha no Maui, a daylong vigil on Sept. 1 that centers on emotional and spiritual healing and cleansing for the great loss that so many are suffering on Maui.

The Maui Police Department released the name of one more victim from the Aug. 8 Lahaina fire. Police today confirmed the identity of Leroy Wagner, 69, of Lahaina.

Department officials tell Maui Now that of the more than 1,700 outstanding students, some may have moved out of state, enrolled in private schools, or have taken a pause while they await the reopening of their Lahaina campus.

The state Department of Health’s Maui District Health Office continues its response to the Maui wildfires. Through its Maui District Health Office and local partners, the Department provided updates on behavioral health services, emergency prescription assistance, unsafe water advisories, and the prevention of respiratory and vector-borne diseases.

The University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization issued a new report, “After the Maui wildfires: The road ahead.” The report finds that businesses in Lahaina generated more than $70 million per month in revenue and they employed about 8,500 individuals. Roughly 2,000 homes in Lahaina were lost in the fire, representing 3% of Maui’s entire residential housing stock. Residential structures within the burned area were valued at $550 million.

In response to the devastating wildfires and immediate needs in the community, media moguls Oprah Winfrey and Dwayne Johnson announced the establishment of “People’s Fund of Maui” to distribute cash directly to those who were displaced and affected by the fire. The fund is launching with an initial $10 million donated by Winfrey and Johnson and a call to action for others to contribute to this meaningful and ongoing relief effort. 

Upcountry wildfire survivors discussed the loss of their homes and the unwavering support of community volunteers who came to their aid in the days following disastrous wildfires on Maui. “It only takes a spark to start a fire. Sometimes you just need that one little spark to get a response going, and the community has been the fuel for that,” said volunteer, Kyle Ellison.

US Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) and Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-05) announced a shared legislative priority for Congress to approve funding for FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund as Maui continues recovery from the Aug. 8 deadly wildfire in Lahaina.

“Due to the old infrastructure of Lahaina, storm water does not flow into settling basins or modern infrastructure, so it flows as quickly as possible into the ocean. So, that’s a huge concern with the amount of potentially toxic substances on the land now,” said Russell Sparks, an aquatic biologist with the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources.

To meet survivors’ needs, teams are going to neighborhoods, visiting temporary housing sites and are making themselves available to answer questions at Disaster Recovery Centers.

The second Maui Ola concert will feature local favorite band, The Green, who will perform live on Sept. 3, 2023, at the Tom Moffatt Waikīkī Shell. The band will offer free live streaming of their performance on mele.com from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Less than one-third (29%) of those surveyed have yet to create a comprehensive emergency plan for natural disasters, while just 1 in 10 have embraced modern tools such as disaster-related apps or text notifications from official national disaster resource agencies. And only 10% of older adults follow national disaster resource organizations on social media such as FEMA, American Red Cross and The Salvation Army.

Maui Wildfire Disaster updates for Aug. 30 are posted HERE. Maui police plan to release an updated list on Friday, of unaccounted for individuals from the Lahaina wildfire disaster. Multiple lists were merged into a pool of more than 1,000 names earlier in the investigation.  That was narrowed to 388 last week to focus on individuals where a first and last name was available as well as a verified contact number for the person who reported them missing.

Senator Gilbert Keith-Agaran (District 5, Wailuku, Kahului, Waiheʻe, Waikapū Mauka, and Waiehu) issued the following statement announcing his retirement from the Hawaiʻi State Senate, effective Oct. 31, 2023.

President Biden announced the Department of Energy is providing $95 million through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to harden Hawaiʻi’s electric grid. The funding will replace wooden poles with fire-resistant material and strengthen critical transmission lines, including two on Maui.

Thanks to the generous contributions of its Residents and Associates, Kāhala Nui recently donated $74,842 to the Hawai‘i Community Foundation Maui Strong Fund. The total donation includes a $10,000 match by Kāhala Nui Senior Living Foundation’s Community Outreach Fund.