Latest Fire Recovery News

Maui Health’s Community Response Team continues to provide first aid, health and wellness checks, and pharmacy services for community members on the west side at its outreach clinic located at the Hyatt Maui. Care is provided free of charge to all community members in need, regardless of health insurance.

Kamaka Air facilitated 10 evacuation flights and multiple free cargo flight deliveries with more than 65,000 pounds of essential supplies, such as food, clothing, medicine, and household goods for citizens affected by the crisis.

Maui Wildfire Disaster updates for Aug. 24 are posted HERE. County officials released a list of 388 people  who have been reported as unaccounted for from the Aug. 8 Lahaina wildfire disaster. An additional FEMA Disaster Recovery Center will fully opens today at the Hannibal Tavares Community Center, 91 Pukalani St. in Makawao. To date, more than 10,000 FEMA assistance registrations have been received, with nearly $13.2 million in federal housing and individual assistance provided. 

Maui County officials say they have validated 388 individuals who have been reported as unaccounted for from the Aug. 8 Lahaina wildfire disaster. “We’re releasing this list of names today because we know that it will help with the investigation,” said Police Chief John Pelletier. “We also know that once those names come out, it can and will cause pain for folks whose loved ones are listed. This is not an easy thing to do, but we want to make sure that we are doing everything we can to make this investigation as complete and thorough as possible.”

“Individuals that do not qualify for regular unemployment insurance may be eligible for DUA benefits beginning the week of Aug. 13, 2023, as long as the individual’s unemployment continues to be a direct result of the disaster,” said Governor Josh Green, M.D.

Vacant PO Boxes at Post Offices across Maui will be temporarily made available at no charge to Lahaina residents who lost their homes or their Lahaina Downtown Post Office PO Boxes to the recent wildfire. 

Maui police have identified 35 individuals publicly following notification of next of kin, including eight additional individuals on Thursday evening.

Ad 2 Hawaiʻi invites Maui-based nonprofits to apply for its 2023-2024 Public Service Campaign, offering pro-bono marketing services with a focus on aiding Maui’s wildfire-affected community.

While the initial results are reassuring, the Maui DWS’ Unsafe Water Advisories remain in place at this time. The process to amend the Unsafe Water Advisory will be based on a comprehensive review of multiple lines of evidence. 

Today, the County of Maui filed a lawsuit against Maui Electric Company, Hawaiian Electric Company, Hawaiʻi Electric Light Company and Hawaiian Electric Industries for civil damages allegedly caused to the County’s public property and resources as a result of recent Maui fires, including fires in Lahaina and Kula.

Maui Wildfire Disaster updates for Aug. 24 are posted HERE. Today, crews are conducting an underwater search of a four mile stretch of shoreline from Puamana Beach Park to Wahikuli Wayside Park, looking for human remains associated with the Aug. 8 wildfire in Lahaina. Six more people have been identified out of the 115 confirmed dead; and more than 1,000 remain unaccounted for. The state Department of Education has identified temporary school sites in Central and South Maui for displaced students who had been enrolled at one of four public schools in Lahaina.

The US Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday began work to remove and dispose of hazardous waste from properties affected by the wildfires in Kula. Hazardous waste removal efforts in the Lahaina disaster area will start after search and rescue responders allow EPA crews to enter the area.

Maui police on Wednesday evening confirmed the identity of six more individuals as victims of the Lahaina wildfire disaster.

Students already re-enrolled at other schools or in distance learning are unaffected. Family and community meeting scheduled for Aug. 30.

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.