Underwater search efforts for human remains that began last Saturday, continued today in near-shore waters near the Lahaina Small Boat Harbor and along the Front Street breakwater. 

Maui police are now confirming a report of a Lahaina family who had located their son’s remains within their residence and brought him to a nearby police station.

The Napili Plaza emergency distribution center for Lahaina fire survivors started organically with a group of retired and current firefighters who lived in the area wanting to do something.

Schatz expressed gratitude for the presidential visit, but is calling on the federal government to take additional actions including the release of more federal funds, support for expanded financial assistance, unemployment benefits, air and water safety, and help with making the FEMA assistance application process easier for those in need.

Maui Wildfire Disaster updates for Aug. 23 are posted HERE. Today, consolidation is underway at county-run distribution supply sites. The phased reopening of King Kekaulike High School is underway. Eight more people have been identified out of the 115 confirmed dead; and more than 1,000 remain unaccounted for. A second mobile substation has been energized in Lahaina, with 1,800 still without power.

Two weeks after the fast moving fire burned down much of Lahaina, the death toll is at 115; the remains that have been identified is at 43; and the number of “unaccounted for” is between 1,000 and 1,100, according to officials.

Staff at all four public schools in Lahaina will remain on paid administrative leave through Friday, Aug. 25 as clean up and safety assessments continue at Princess Nāhi‘ena‘ena Elementary, Lahaina Intermediate and Lahainaluna High.

County and federal officials joined in discussing the process involved in accounting for individuals who have been reporting missing, as well as the process involved in identifying remains recovered in the aftermath of the Lahaina wildfire disaster. *View the full press conference at our Maui Now Facebook page.

Dozens of wellness providers, such as massage therapists and counselors, have volunteered their services for a free community pop-up clinic this Friday, Aug. 25, and Saturday, Aug. 26. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day at the parking lot outside of Maui Ocean Center. The two-day clinic will be followed by free admission to Maui Ocean Center for kamaʻāina from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last entry at 4 p.m.) this Sunday, Aug. 27.

Heavy rainfall after a wildfire can greatly increase the risks of other dangers such as flash floods, debris flows, landslides and rockfalls. DOH reminds the public to avoid storm drainage and natural drainage channels due to rapid flowing waters.

The number of missing and unaccounted for individuals on Maui has been narrowed from the thousands of names first compiled in the wake of the deadly Lahaina fire on August 8. According to Mayor Bissen,the list of missing persons still unaccounted for has been narrowed to 850 individuals.  

In the aftermath of the catastrophic wildfires that swept through Maui, a community-driven collaboration between Pacific Impact Zone, SMX, and the Maui Tech Hui worked to rapidly deploy satellite internet connectivity at key locations in West Maui.

View photo galleries of the presidential visit to Lahaina Maui. President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden visited Maui on Monday to assess the damage of the wildfire disaster area in Lahaina and meet with survivors and first responders who were impacted by the fires.

Maui Wildfire Disaster updates for Aug. 22 are posted HERE.

Maui Economic Opportunity’s Maui Fires Relief Transition Housing program today was put on hold after committing all funds received to housing those displaced by the wildfires. The program matched those displaced by the fires to available rental units for up to six months.  

The Maui Interscholastic League announced plans to release a Fall Sports schedule in the near future, with tentative games for West Maui schools that have yet to reopen following the Aug. 8 devastating wildfires.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation shares that it will use the $3 million dollars in quick release Emergency Relief funding from the Federal Highway Administration for necessary work to maintain safe access to West Maui via Honoapiʻilani Highway (Route 30) and the Lahaina Bypass.

The Hawai‘i State Department of Education today launched a support hotline for families and staff of the four Lahaina public schools — Kamehameha III Elementary, Princess Nāhiʻenaʻena Elementary, Lahaina Intermediate and Lahainaluna High — impacted by the wildfires.

During a stop at the inundation zone, President Biden said, “I want you to know, that on behalf of the United States of America and all the nation, the American people stand with you… To my left is the banyan tree, beloved by this community for over 150 years. Here in the former capital of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi, where it stood for generations as a sacred spot of exceptional significance.” “Today it is burned but it is still standing. The tree survived for a reason. I believe it’s a very powerful symbol of what we can and will do to get through this crisis. For this, as long as it takes, we’re going to be with you. The whole country will be with you,” he said.

Bidding them farewell from Vancouver was First Nations Squamish elder Bob Baker, who spoke of living on Maui for 16 years and getting involved with Hawaiian canoe paddling and sailing through the late Pwo Navigator from Lahaina Chad Kalepa Baybayan and Hōkūleʻa veteran voyagers from Lahaina Snake Ah Hee and Archie Kalepa, both of whom survived the fires along with their families and their homes.