The department amended the Unsafe Water Advisory for Lahaina to remove area L-4B, which impacts 69 lots near Kapunakea Street on the mauka side of Honoapi’ilani Highway. Water serving the homes in L-4B is declared safe for unrestricted use effective today, Dec. 15, 2023.

The Lahaina Disaster Recovery Center will close at 4 p.m. Dec. 18, Dec. 19 and Dec. 20, because of community meetings.

There will be an alternating, single lane closure on Keawe Street/Lahaina Bypass (Route 3000), from Sunday, Dec. 17, through Friday, Jan. 5, 2024, as contractors replace drain lines across the highway that were damaged in the Lahaina wildfires.  

“I do want to be blunt here, if we don’t get people stepping up, I’m going to drop the hammer on short-term rentals that aren’t able to be used by our people. It’s just not okay that we don’t have housing for our local people. And so, I will propose a moratorium on short-term rentals through emergency rules. I’m sure we will face litigation, but I will do it if we don’t get 3,000 units for our people who have been living in hotels—because it’s not civilized to make people wait to get housing after they’ve lost their home in a fire,” said Gov. Green.

Speaker Scott K. Saiki today announced that the Final Report of the House of Representatives Lahaina Wildfire Interim Working Groups has been published. The report is a culmination of efforts from six bipartisan working groups, formed on Sept. 6, 2023, to evaluate topics related to the Lahaina wildfire.

State Senator Angus McKelvey will host a Town Hall for West Maui residents on Tuesday, Dec. 19 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Lahaina Civic Center.

UHERO forecast: “There remain a host of uncertainties surrounding Maui’s future recovery path, including how fast residents can be moved from hotels to more permanent housing, the speed of ongoing cleanup work, the extent and duration of support programs, and how long and in what fashion rebuilding will occur.”

Officials from County of Maui and from federal agencies will be offering information and updates about debris removal, transportation and containment of debris and ash for properties in the Lahaina Wildfire Disaster Area during a community meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 18, at the Lahaina Civic Center.

Residents previously scheduled to relocate to new American Red Cross non-congregate shelter locations between Dec. 15 and Dec. 18 have been extended in their current hotel sheltering locations until after the holidays, according to a Red Cross update.

Holidays For Lahaina along with the help of donors, have organized a Christmas For Lahaina celebration. The event will take place on Thursday, Dec, 21, 2023, at 6 p.m., at The Ritz Carlton, Kapalua, West Maui. The event is NOT open to the public.

Weekly air sampling conducted by the Hawaiʻi Department of Health in Kula continues to show good air quality.

The Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency and the County of Maui are using the 3D technology to better visualize the extent of damage in Lahaina as they design a recovery plan.   

The Emergency Prescription Assistance Program program will be available through the end of its current activation period, ending Dec. 16, 2023. Individuals enrolled in the program are urged to fill/renew their prescriptions before the EPAP closes. 

In light of the recent wildfires on Maui and in Mililani Mauka and the continued forecast for drought conditions throughout the state, both state and city leaders hosted a Wildfire Prevention and Disaster Preparedness Workshop.

Choice Health Bar makes a comeback to the Westside, reopening their location at Whalers Village in Kāʻanapali this week. The Whalers Village location is open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The program is dedicated to Native Hawaiian families that experienced transportation loss due to the Maui wildfires in August 2023. The program provides vehicle financing with deferred payments for 12 months and a one time grant of up to $5,000 to replace a vehicle lost in the fires.

CocoNene, a local brand known for its made in Hawaii products, announced the grand opening of their new store in Māʻalaea, Maui at the Maui Harbor Shops. This new location marks a poignant milestone for the brand’s recovery journey after the loss of their Lahaina flagship store.

US Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) met with Housing and Urban Development officials on Tuesday to discuss the agency’s efforts to support federal housing residents impacted by the Maui fires.

Registration for Day of Hope opens Saturday at 9 a.m. at the Lahaina Civic Center.  The event will be emceed by local comedians Da Braddahs and offers a range of resources and activities including free hot meals, groceries, baby supplies, entertainment, photos with Santa and more. 

Reentry into the 83 zones established for the 2,170 acres in the five-mile Lahaina impact area concluded more than a week ahead of schedule. The process started with the first residential zone opening for reentry Sept. 25 and 26 on Kaniau Road.