Latest Fire Recovery News

The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority Board of Directors has approved an immediate six-month action plan for 2024 to help address major challenges confronting residents, small businesses, visitor industry providers, Maui’s economy, and families seeking housing following the August wildfires.

FEMA will pause operations at the Lahaina Disaster Recovery Center on Maui and the FEMA Helpline on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

The Maui Relief TANF Program has provided an array of assistance – from housing to clothing – to more than 450 families with children and about 1,700 individuals impacted by the Aug. 8 wildfires in the two months since the program began.

State and federal responders have completed recovery and removal operations in or adjacent to Lahaina Harbor. The US Army Corps of Engineers will conduct final disposition of fire-damaged vessels and incident-generated debris removed during harbor operations.

In the wake of the challenges posed by the wildfires, Maui Public Art Corps collaborated with students across the region to channel their emotions and reflections into a powerful visual representation of unity and strength. “The result is a vibrant collection of drawings that encapsulate the indomitable spirit of the Maui community,” organizers said.

The County of Maui aims to make it easier for residents to request and receive public records in accordance with Hawai’i law, thanks to software technology modernization, the county Department of the Corporation Counsel announced today.

County of Maui Department of Water Supply amended the Unsafe Water Advisory for Lahaina to remove L-4C, an area surrounding Safeway that moves north along Front Street to the Old Chart House in Lahaina. Water serving buildings and homes in areas L-4C on the Maui Recovers website is declared safe for unrestricted use effective today, Dec. 21, 2023.

About 50 members of the Lahaina Honolua Senior Citizens Club socialized, won prizes through Bingo and lucky drawings and honored one of their own for turning 90 years old Wednesday in a step toward regrouping and recovering after the wildfires.

On Nov. 1, 2023, the last reopening phases of West Maui accommodations began, which included the remaining area from Kahana to Kā‘anapali. In November, hotels in the Lahaina/Kāʻanapali/Kapalua region were occupied by a mix of displaced Lahaina residents impacted by the fires, relief workers, and visitors.

In preparation for Phase 2, in which the US Army Corps of Engineers will support the Maui County Consolidated Debris Removal Program, USACE will conduct night work for 18 nights (excluding Christmas) at the temporary debris containment site being constructed in Olowalu.

With ongoing recovery efforts and an estimated 6,000 people still in search of longer-term living arrangements, greater emphasis is being placed on encouraging property owners to offer their available units as long-term housing for survivors and their families.

US Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that Hawai‘i will receive $3.9 million in new federal funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to support the ongoing recovery effort on Maui following the fires in August. To date, Hawai‘i has received more than $412 million in federal funding for the response to the fires.

This year’s series of wildfires on Maui, Hawai‘i Island, and O‘ahu raised awareness about this threat to a new level. It is reflected in the proposed budget Governor Josh Green, M.D., submitted to the state Legislature on Monday. 

Bills 121 and 125 will be considered on second and final reading to support the new Office of Recovery and authorize the mayor to enter intergovernmental agreements for public-assistance grants from the state Emergency Management Agency.

Children at Lahaina Intermediate School were surprised with custom hooded sweatshirts on Monday. The donor wished to stay anonymous, but was grateful for the opportunity to provide the kids with this special gift, according to members of the Lahaina Intermediate PTSA.

Council member Gabe Johnson from Lānaʻi will participate in the Dec. 21 conference to discuss underground powerlines, tax tiers for landowners with fallow land, the use of R1 water and housing concerns.

In response to the August fires on Maui, UVSC announced additional efforts to help cancer patients that are dealing with trauma and loss caused by the devastation of the fires and financial challenges from their cancer diagnosis.

Governor Josh Green, M.D. will submit the Supplemental Budget for Fiscal Year 2025 to the Legislature today, prioritizing housing, healthcare, education, and recovery and resilience. 

A team of nine-year old soccer girls raised funds for fellow soccer players affected by the Maui wildfires by designing and selling stickers.

Even though the federal deadline to apply for wildfire damage or losses has passed, Hawaiʻi residents and businesses have been granted a 45-day grace period, until Thursday, Jan. 25, to submit SBA loan applications for physical property damage caused by the wildfires. The last day for small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private nonprofit organizations to apply for an SBA economic injury disaster loan is Friday, May 10, 2024.