#disaster recovery

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.

As Congress considers a short-term spending bill to keep the government open past the Sept. 30 funding deadline, US Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) Thursday spoke on the Senate floor on the importance of including disaster aid to support survivors on Maui and across the country. In particular, Schatz stressed the need to provide disaster survivors with flexible, long-term assistance in the form of Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding which will enable them to rebuild their homes and communities as quickly as possible.

The meeting will include the status of debris clearing by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Building code compliance will be discussed. Hawaiʻi Community Foundation will provide an update on recovery efforts supported through the Maui Strong Fund, and representatives of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory will share information on its kickoff of the Lahaina Energy Project with partners Lahaina Strong, Shake Energy Collaborative, and Hā Sustainability. 

The County of Maui announced there will be no weekly Lahaina Disaster Recovery Community Update meetingthis Wednesday, Aug. 7, to allow for preparations for Remembrance Week gatherings. 

The meeting will include an update on alleviating traffic by restoring Honoapiʻilani Highway as a secondary route for through traffic only, a presentation by Lahaina Land Trust and a report on the status of debris clearing by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The County of Maui Planning Department will do a review of the new Special Management Area/shoreline rules that were signed by Mayor Richard Bissen on July 26.

The County of Maui Department of Environmental Management’s Wastewater Reclamation Division announced that it has amended the Sewer Service Status from “red,” which indicates a property does not currently have active sewer service, to “green,” meaning the sewer service is active for a property, in the following areas: Near Puʻunoa Place and Ala Moana Street near the Jodo Mission; and south of Lahainaluna Road near Paunau Street.

The meeting will include a presentation on the status of sampling and monitoring of the Olowalu Temporary Debris Storage site, sewer infrastructure updates and an update from the Parks Department. The US Army Corps of Engineers will report on the status of debris clearing.

Residents are encouraged to attend the County of Maui’s Weekly Disaster Recovery Community Update Meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 10, in the Lahaina Civic Center gymnasium.

Habitat for Humanity Maui announced a special Disaster Recovery Fundraiser to be held at the historic Old Lahaina Lūʻau on Aug. 17, 2024. This event aims to raise essential funds to support the rebuilding of Lahaina, which was devastated by the catastrophic wildfires of 2023. All proceeds from the fundraiser will go directly towards recovery and reconstruction efforts. 

Ed Sniffen, Director of the State Department of Transportation, will provide an update at the meeting. The County Office of Recovery will also provide an update.

Officials shared several important updates for Lahaina residents including: lifting the Unsafe Water Advisory for a portion of Lahaina, amending sewer service status for certain parcels, fully reopening the first disaster zone and assisting with the installation of three mobile outdoor warning sirens.

Residents are encouraged to attend the County of Maui’s Weekly Disaster Recovery Community Update Meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 12, in the Lahaina Civic Center social hall.