#disaster recovery

Estimated damage from the March Kona Low storms has reached roughly $100 million, members of the Maui County Council’s Disaster Recovery, International Affairs and Planning Committee heard Wednesday.

The state water commission says the work done by residents to move rocks with excavators and redirect the Wailuku River was in line with emergency rules.

Community organizer and Green Party candidate Pāʻele Kiakona officially filed his nomination papers for the Hawaiʻi State House of Representatives District 14 seat on Thursday morning. His campaign priorities focus on housing sovereignty, living wages, environmental stewardship, and genuine, community-led disaster recovery.

To increase flexibility, the County of Maui Department of Public Works (DPW) Development Services Administration has implemented new procedures for factory-built housing in the Lahaina Burn Zone.

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 142 has endorsed Green Party candidate Pāʻele Kiakona for Hawaiʻi State House District 14, marking a notable departure from the union’s typical political endorsements. The move reflects a rare crossover between organized labor and the grassroots movement that emerged after the Lahaina fires.

The Maui County Council will take up a $1.6 billion budget Friday morning, following a committee recommendation to trim Mayor Richard Bissen’s proposal by reducing capital improvement projects while still increasing funding for day-to-day operations.

Maui United Way aims to tee up community support at its upcoming Golf Tournament set for Saturday, May 2. All proceeds from the tournament will support Maui United Way’s programs including disaster recovery efforts, youth services, and community resilience programs.

In response to increasing climate-related disasters impacting local agriculture, leading farm organizations across the state have launched the Hawaiʻi Agriculture Disaster Response – Statewide Rapid Assessment Tool, a new platform designed to help farmers and ranchers report damages, estimate losses, and connect with recovery resources.

The town’s clinic had to discard $15,000 to $20,000 worth of refrigerated vaccines and medicine, while local stores also lost thousands of dollars worth of products.

The County of Kaua‘i and University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program, also know as Hawai‘i Sea Grant, have developed a framework aimed at helping Kauaʻi’s communities prepare more effectively and better support recovery following natural disasters.

In a new op-ed, policy analyst Jonathan Helton shares how red tape, economic losses and resident departures are slowing Lahaina’s recovery — and why policymakers must act quickly to change it.

Maui Healing has been awarded a $3,600 grant from the Rotary D5000 Foundation to support group therapy sessions for women affected by the 2023 wildfires.

Stephen Van Bueren has been appointed as the resources management coordinator for Ho‘ōla iā Mauiakama Long Term Recovery Group.

Tokuda said cuts to the Office of Community Planning and Development would “inject even more uncertainty” into the lives of survivors fighting every day to rebuild.

The Ho‘ōla iā Mauiakama Long Term Recovery Group, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Maui’s recovery and rebuilding efforts following the August 2023 wildfires, announced the appointment of Rhonda Alexander-Monkres as its new Executive Director.

The County of Maui’s weekly Lahaina Disaster Recovery Community Meetings will be paused during the holidays. The next in-person meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, at Lahaina Intermediate School cafeteria.

A status update on wildfire debris cleanup will be provided by the US Army Corps of Engineers on Wednesday, Oct. 9, during a Maui County Disaster Recovery Community Update meeting at the Lahaina Civic Center. The meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. in the social hall.

The meeting will include a status report on debris clearing by the US Army Corps of Engineers, an update on the progress of the Kilohana temporary group housing site from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and a presentation from Samaritan’s Purse about its US Rebuild Program.

The Hawaiʻi Community Foundation (HCF) announces the launch of the Stronger Hawaiʻi initiative, designed to provide critical disaster recovery resources for communities across the state. In response to the devastating 2023 Maui wildfires and other statewide disasters, the initiative offers real-time information, partner-driven resources, and important updates from community organizations. With over $110 million in grants distributed to nearly 200 organizations in the last year, HCF is leveraging its extensive partnerships to help residents navigate essential services, resources and information.

The County of Maui Department of Environmental Management’s Wastewater Reclamation Division has amended the Sewer Service Status from “red,” to “green,” for several lots near Mill and Kuhua streets.