#Lāhainā wildfire

Kumulani Chapel will soon have a permanent home in Kapalua Resort through a new agreement with Maui Land & Pineapple Company, Inc. The church will purchase more than six acres to establish a permanent campus for the longstanding West Maui congregation of 42 years.

Maui County reached a significant benchmark in its recovery from the 2023 wildfires this week as rebuilding of the 100th structure was completed, the County of Maui Department of Public Works Development Services Administration announced Tuesday.

Maui Rescue Mission Executive Director Scott Hansen will provide a “Two Year Post-Fire Update” to the Rotary Club of Kīhei-Wailea, on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025.

Nearly two years after the devastating Maui wildfires, survivors of the disaster are showing encouraging signs of recovery, although problems with healthcare access, children’s mental health and housing instability persist, according to a report by the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization. The results come from the latest update of the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study, […]

Residents are encouraged to attend the County of Maui’s Lahaina Community Meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 4, at the Lahaina Intermediate School cafeteria.

The Maui Planning Commission is wrestling with a precedent-setting decision on the first special management area permit for reconstruction of an oceanfront Front Street home destroyed in the August 2023 Lahaina wildfire, after concluding public testimony Tuesday.

As part of its commitment to the revitalization of Lahaina following the August 2023 wildfires, the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College will once again provide tuition support for eligible graduates entering college this coming Fall 2025 Semester.

Project Vision Hawaiʻi announced the launch of its newest Hiehie mobile hygiene trailer on Maui, designed to provide free, hot showers and essential resources to individuals experiencing homelessness and those impacted by the 2023 wildfires.

Hauling will take place nightly at 9 p.m., from Wednesday, April 9 through Friday, April 11. The transport will involve trucks in a caravan that will move the homes from the staging area near the Kahului small boat ramp, along Kahului Beach Road (Route 3400), to Lahaina.

A $250,000 check was presented to the West Maui YMCA for its Community Center Partnership Park. The check, from Rotary D5000 Foundation Maui Fires Relief Fund, will support the construction of a Dual Modular unit that will serve as both a youth space, office space, flexible program space and an additional covered area for the community.

Construction of the permanent site for the Lahaina wildfire and debris is currently underway in Central Maui on recently purchased land and is expected to be completed in June.

A sewer line being built for the Kilohana Temporary Group Housing Site on Maui will have long-term benefits for Lahaina.

The focus has now shifted to commercial debris removal. Currently, all but eight commercial properties in Lahaina have been cleared and completed. All commercial properties are projected to be completed by early 2025.  

A surge of calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline one year after the Lahaina wildfires underscores urgent need for expanded Hawaiʻi-based mental health support services. However, limited local resources have caused many calls to be rerouted to out-of-state services, exposing critical gaps in local mental health infrastructure, according to the University of Hawaiʻi. These findings were published in JAMA Network Open on Nov. 20.

Maui Economic Opportunity has received more than $27,000 in private gifts since August—led by a nearly $20,000 donation from Servco—to assist those impacted by the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires.

VIDEO: The fire, which claimed 102 lives and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses, originated at 6:34 a.m. on Aug. 8, 2023, off of Lahainaluna Road in unmaintained vegetation near utility pole 25. It was caused by sparks ejected from the re-energization of broken power lines above, according to fire officials. The report further states that the fire was rekindled by a severe wind event at approximately 2:52 p.m., marking the start of the afternoon phase of the fire.

A west coast alliance of Rotary Clubs has donated $32,500 to Project Empower, a nonprofit organization formed in 2023 by Oʻahu-based RevoluSun Solar, to aid in building temporary housing solutions for those affected by the deadly wildfires in Maui last August. 

The County of Maui Department of Fire and Public Safety received the Lahaina Fire Summary of Findings and Conclusions report from the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. Maui Fire Chief Brad Ventura was briefed by ATF on the report today, Sept. 25, 2024. 

Maui County Council members approved on second-and-final reading Tuesday land use measures to pave the way for redevelopment of Queen Kaʻahumanu Center as it struggles amid a nationwide decline in brick-and-mortar shopping malls. Bills 67 and 68 advance to Mayor Richard Bissen for final action.

On Aug, 8, 2023, strong winds drove wildfires out of control on Maui– resulting in the worst natural disaster in Hawaiʻi’s history and one of the worst American wildfires of the last century. Nearly all of the town of Lahaina was destroyed, and Kula was significantly damaged. 3,971 properties, including homes, businesses, and schools were destroyed. The property damage was estimated to be as high as $6 billion. A staggering 102 lives were lost.  The Hawaiʻi Department of Human Services has since released a One Year of Progress: Recovery and Healing from the Maui Wildfires report.