Maui News

Homeowners and renters whose primary residence was damaged or destroyed by the fires may apply for up to $3,000 in initial assistance per household. Applications are open through Dec. 31, 2023, and are available at https://www.hawaiirealtors.com/mauirelief/.

“We were very fortunate that our courthouse was not affected during the devastating wildfires earlier this month,” said Second Circuit Chief Judge Peter T. Cahill. “Unfortunately, our Lahaina employees have suffered significant losses. I am inspired by their resilience and deeply appreciate their public service, and we in the Judiciary are committed to supporting them and the Lahaina community.” 

Maui United Way’s Emergency Financial Assistance program has received more than 7,000 unique individual requests for financial help. The program offered a one-time $1,000 financial assistance payment, not to exceed $5,000 per household, for adult fire survivors living in the impacted fire zones in Lahaina and Kula. It was made possible by the many generous donations from local kamaʻāina, mainland friends, and people from around the world.  

Three weeks after the devastation of Lahaina, crews are still working to recover and to strengthen defenses against windstorms and wildfires. With high winds and severe drought conditions continuing to threaten parts of Maui, the trio vowed to work together to minimize the risk of wildfire and ensure public safety.

The Maui Police Department released the names of three more victims from the Aug. 8 Lahaina fire. They are: Joseph Lara, 86, Gwendolyn Puou, 83, and Edward Sato, 76, all of Lahaina.

Congressional leaders are focusing on supplemental appropriations needed to help rebuild Lahaina Town, according to US Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaiʻi) who is visiting Maui for assessments in the wake of the Aug. 8 wildfire disaster.

Talks are underway with officials from the Hawai’i Emergency Management Agency and all four counties about codifying a new emergency response protocol to use sirens during wildfires everywhere in the state. It could become official “within days.”

Starting at 9 a.m. tomorrow, a shower trailer with one shower stall and one washer and dryer will be available for public use in the parking lot of Anytime Fitness at 24 Kiopaa St. in Makawao.

The US Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday began the next phase of the Lahaina recovery effort: removing and disposing of hazardous materials in the 5-square-mile burn area.

The state Department of Education has set a tentative goal of welcoming students back to the three West Maui campuses after fall break in mid-October.

The FBI is using specialized equipment to pick up any belongings or identifiable items to assist in the continuing effort to identify people who remain unaccounted for, from the Aug. 8 fire which leveled most of the town. 

The conditions are not expected to be as hazardous as the hurricane-accelerated winds that accompanied the Aug. 7 and 8, 2023 wildfires on Hawai‘i island and Maui, when gusts exceeded 60 mph. However, the National Weather Service has issued a Fire Weather Watch for leeward areas of all Hawaiian islands from midday Wednesday through Thursday afternoon.

Interim Maui Emergency Management Agency administrator Darryl Oliveira said, now that the ground search is complete, the next step is EPA hazardous waste removal. After that has been completed, crews will start the “Return to Lahaina phase,” which is a re-entry effort.

With more than 9,000 members on Maui, AlohaCare has coordinated with client DHS Med-QUEST, other Medicaid health plans, providers and Maui staff to ease the hardship and create flexible options for affected members. 

Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners will lead a statewide, one-day vigil on Friday, Sept. 1, to aid the emotional and spiritual healing of those on Maui who suffered devastating loss from wildfires that swept through Lahaina and other areas of the island. “There’s an urgent need for prayer, cleansing, and reflection so that together, we can help Maui and Hawai‘i heal,” Holt-Padilla said. “This vigil will help to create a space for grief and healing and the opportunity for Hawai‘i to be united.”

ALTRES Foundation today announced it has launched an online portal for unemployed Maui workers affected by the unprecedented wildfires. The newly launched portal, HireMaui.org, went live on Aug. 28, and offers a way for displaced Maui workers to connect with job vacancies offered by businesses statewide.

The Disaster Legal Hotline is a FREE legal hotline to provide legal assistance to the residents of Maui and the Big Island and any others adversely affected by the wildfires. People can call toll free 888-533-2773 to speak to a volunteer attorney.

Motorists are advised of a motor vehicle accident on Baldwin Ave. at Makawao Ave. Maui police issued a road closure notice at 9:45 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. Motorists from Haʻikū, heading towards Makawao town are being redirected down Keʻe Road.

The State of Hawai‘i and the County of Maui have selected the US Army Corps of Engineers to lead efforts to remove fire-damaged debris from areas across Maui affected by historic wildfires that began on Aug. 8. 

Maui Wildfire Disaster updates for Aug. 29 are posted HERE. An estimated 11,010 FEMA assistance registrations have been received, with some $14.6 million in federal housing and individual assistance provided, according to the County of Maui. According to the governor, there are more than 6,000 people now being temporarily housed in hotels and Airbnb units.