Latest Fire Recovery News

“I want to see that grow out of this situation we’re in today. Let us find the people who bind us together. Let us find the strength in our lāʻau (plants), in our community. Let us find the koʻi (adze) that define the future and shape our world as we’re going to see it; the kālaimoku (high official), the kālai waʻa (canoe carver)—all of those people. They’re in our community. I can stare into this audience and see all the individuals, and that’s what gives me comfort,” said Kaipo Kekona.

Maui Mayor Richard Bissen acknowledged: “Housing was an issue on Maui and in West Maui before Aug. 8, and it became, obviously, a bigger issue after that.” “Our duty as government is to present the other options that people have. Let’s talk of creating a land trust,” said the mayor. That was one of the topics that was also explored at the Native Hawaiian Convention.

The House Interim Wildfire Prevention Working Group, Environmental Remediation Working Group, and Shelter Working Group will each meet on Friday to take public input on their respective draft report.

County of Maui Disaster Area Restrictions will be lifted from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 20 and 21, for owners and residents with vehicle passes in Zones 7B, 7C, 7D and 7E.

Initially, the questionable structural integrity of the parking structure combined with the concern for possible hazardous materials in the water prevented a comprehensive search by the Maui Police Department. Pumping will occur at night during low tide when water levels in the garage are lower.

Organizers of the Kōkua for Maui program announced the upcoming shopping and craft fair events, inviting the public to extend their aloha to Maui businesses impacted by the devastating August wildfires. 

The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement invites Lahaina residents to participate in a discussion on a Debris Removal Program, happening Thursday, Nov. 16 at 5:30 p.m. in the McCoy Studio Theater at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center.

The first meeting takes place on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023, at the Kula Elementary School cafeteria. The meetings continue at 6 p.m. every Thursday in November and December as debris cleanup progresses, with the exception of holidays, such as Thanksgiving, Nov. 23, 2023. 

The US Environmental Protection Agency is nearing the end of processing hundreds of thousands of lithium-ion batteries from burned electric/hybrid vehicles and solar battery energy storage systems from the Maui wildfires and shipping them to Nevada for recycling.

County of Maui Disaster Area Restrictions will be lifted on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 17 and 18, for owners and residents with vehicle passes in Zones 6B and 7A.

The Maui Police Department today identified one more victim of the Aug. 8 Lahaina fire: Sharlene Rabang, 78, of Lahaina.

County of Maui Disaster Area Restrictions have been lifted for several rural land zones as of 8 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 13, 2023, including: 1D, 10F, 14E, 15B, and 15C. Reentry for zone 5G (E. Kuu Aku Lane) is only for areas within the zone that were not affected by the fire. Supported reentry for residents in fire-affected units is expected to be held next week.

The 22nd Annual Native Hawaiian Convention gets underway today at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center in Kahului, Maui. The four day event was moved to Maui this year to uplift the voices and people following the Aug. 8 wildfires.

The Maui Business Bridge Grant that provides financial support to businesses directly or indirectly impacted by the August wildfires began accepting applications today, Nov. 13, with Maui Economic Opportunity working with establishments of $300,000 in gross revenue or less.

This Maui Business Bridge Grant program is now accepting applications. The purpose of this grant program is to support Maui-based businesses that have been directly or indirectly impacted by the Aug. 8, 2023 Lahaina and Upcountry wildfires.

The West Maui organizations are demanding long-term housing solutions for people displaced by the Lahaina fire.

“Although we are fortunate to have several relief fleet… we’re still in our drought season. We still are averaging about 60 wildfires a month, and so this truck will be going to work pretty quickly here… It will not lay unused,” said Maui Fire Chief Brad Ventura.

The US Army Corps of Engineers received a $1.9 million Federal Emergency Management Agency mission assignment Oct. 28 to provide conceptual design for temporary housing sites.

County of Maui Disaster Area Restrictions will be lifted for owners and residents with vehicle passes from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. beginning Monday, Nov. 13 and Tuesday, Nov. 14, in Zones 8C and 9C.

Maui County has closed the job applications for administrator of the Maui Emergency Management Agency, and will begin the selection process from 15 candidates.