Latest Fire Recovery News

Alongside Maui County Council Chair Alice Lee and Council Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee Chair Yuki Lei Sugimura, Mayor Richard Bissen on Wednesday afternoon signed into law an approximately $1.263 billion Fiscal Year 2025 budget. The document boosts housing for residents, especially those who were displaced after the 2023 August wildfires, supports wildfire recovery and resiliency, bolsters social service programs and delivers core services.

Nine months after the Lahaina wildfire disaster an estimated 75% remained in temporary housing, according to a report published by the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement. Some of the permanent housing is away from Maui, but the report did not have precise information about those who’ve moved away.

The US Environmental Protection Agency recently completed drinking water sampling in the wildfire-impacted areas of Lahaina, which is a critical step in helping the County of Maui restore drinking water services to the community. 

The Clyde Wakida Scholarship Fund was established through donations from friends and family after the August fire.  This year the Fund awarded five recipients, each receiving $2,000. Recipients were: Carla Mae Agrade, Judy Dela Cruz, Blessy Calapit, Cecelia Steiner and John Tumpap.

With the roar of heavy machinery nearby, US Army Corps of Engineers officials showed how rapid progress is underway in transforming the once gently sloping grassland above Lahaina into a graded expanse needed to install 169 temporary modular homes for wildfire survivors.

On Wednesday, Maui United Way announced the seven local-Maui nonprofits who are recipients of their new ʻOhana Mental Health Grant — an effort to meet the ongoing mental health needs in the aftermath of the wildfires. 

Residents are encouraged to attend the County of Maui’s Weekly Disaster Recovery Community Update Meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 12, in the Lahaina Civic Center social hall.

The Lahaina Homeowner Recovery Program is a partnership between Hawai‘i Community Lending and local banks, dedicated to preventing foreclosure and helping 500 Lahaina homeowners rebuild after the wildfire.

The County of Maui Office of Recovery and County Department of Planning will hold the Lahaina Town South Neighborhood Planning Workshop for residents of the area from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, June 15, 2024, at Lahainaluna High School cafeteria, located at 980 Lahainaluna Road.

Today is the scheduled end date for the Non-Congregate Sheltering (NCS) program for Maui wildfire survivors. State officials issued assurances saying all families in the NCS program who are actively participating in their recovery efforts will continue to receive support until their transition from sheltering to an interim housing solution.

In response to community concerns regarding increased traffic, noise, safety hazards, and dust pollution, the US Army Corps of Engineers and the State of Hawai‘i are implementing alternate construction routes for the temporary housing projects in Lahaina. These changes aim to mitigate the impact on local residents while ensuring the continued progress of these essential housing projects.

The standards for the County of Maui Alternative Debris Removal Program have been approved by the Maui County Council, and applications for the program are currently being accepted. The application deadline is June 15, 2024, to sign up for either the Alternative Debris Removal Program or to obtain an approved Right-of-Entry for the Government-Sponsored Consolidated Debris Removal, per adopted standards.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will host a series of resume workshops in June, intended to hire residents for long-term positions with FEMA in Maui County.  

The Maui wildfires continue to have pronounced impacts on the economic indicators for all counties, but especially Maui County, according to new information compiled by the state Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism. The information was part of the department’s second quarter 2024 Statistical and Economic Report.

President Joe Biden announced that he has made additional disaster assistance available to the State of Hawai‘i following the Maui fires, increasing the federal cost share for federal assistance to 100% for an additional 90-day period.

Representatives of fire-related entities from state, national and local levels gathered at Fire Station 14 in Wailea to launch the state’s 8th annual Wildfire and Drought LOOKOUT! campaign on Tuesday.

Two temporary groundwater monitoring wells will be installed at the Temporary Debris Storage site (TDS) in Olowalu. County officials say the installation is part of its commitment along with the US Army Corps of Engineers to protect public health and the environment during the wildfire cleanup.

Residents are invited to attend Mayor Richard Bissen’s Weekly Disaster Recovery Community Update Meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 5, in the Lahaina Civic Center gymnasium.

The County of Maui Office of Recovery and Department of Planning today launched an online version of their Neighborhood Planning Workshops on the “Ola Lahaina” page of MauiRecovers.org. Through the month of June, residents may participate in the online workshop at their convenience from their laptop, tablet or phone. The online workshop is an opportunity for residents who were not able to attend past neighborhood workshops to share their thoughts, or for those who did attend to share more input.

In the wake of the deadly Maui wildfires, the University of Hawaiʻi is working to develop a new wildfire forecast system using artificial intelligence for the state of Hawaiʻi to enhance public safety, preparedness and risk mitigation.