#wildfire disaster
Post-wildfire: Tourism rebounding, but slowly
Twenty-three months after devastating wildfires struck West Maui and Upcountry, visitors are returning to the island, although not yet at levels seen before the disaster. “As we approach the two-year anniversary of the Maui wildfires, tourism on the island continues to improve, but the pace has been slow,” said James Kunane Tokioka, director of the […]
Grassroot Institute reviews legislative session, citing wins on permitting, tax hikes
State lawmakers passed legislation aimed at accelerating Maui’s wildfire recovery and approving a 60-day “shot clock” for counties to review building permits, a chronic cause of delaying construction projects in Hawaiʻi. Those were a couple of takeaways from a May 16 Grassroot Institute of Hawaii legislative wrap-up event titled “What went down at the Capitol […]
Wednesday Disaster Recovery Community Update Meeting to be held in Lahaina Civic Center gym
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.
County donates Fairways at Maui Lani lots to Nā Hale O Maui for affordable housing
The County of Maui recently donated seven Fairways at Maui Lani, Kahului, lots totaling approximately 1.4 acres to nonprofit Nā Hale O Maui for affordable housing, according to an announcement today by the County Department of Finance. The donation of the County real property closed May 22, 2024. Fairways at Maui Lani Lots 1-7 are part of 19 total Fairways at Maui Lani lots that the County in 2022 decided to give to Nā Hale O Maui for affordable workforce housing in perpetuity.
Lahaina wildfire cases could get a trial date as soon as Nov. 18
Parties to cases involving the Lahaina wildfire disaster could see their first trial date as soon as Nov. 18, 2024 before Judge Peter Cahill. The date was set during a status conference held Friday before a room full of attorneys representing various interests in the case.
Kupu Announces EŌ Maui Partnerships with Community Hubs
Two Maui community emergency hubs that have been supporting the needs of those harmed by the wildfire disaster are now partnering with Kupu: The Kāʻanapali Hub and Nāpili Hub are now able to provide paid positions via Kupu while they continue to meet the urgent needs of their community. As the initial phase of this partnership, Kupu’s EŌ Maui has 15 participants on payroll between the two hubs.
Nonprofits, houses of worship have until Oct. 25 to apply for disaster public assistance
Time is running out for private nonprofits, houses of worship and government organizations to apply for a key type of federal assistance for the Hawai‘i wildfire disaster. Requests for public assistance funding from the Federal Emergency Management Administration must be filed no later than Wednesday, Oct. 25.
MEO Maui Fires Transitional Housing program in need of draft leases
Maui Economic Opportunity’s Maui Fires Transitional Housing program is in need of draft leases for available rental units for no less than six months to facilitate matches with families and individuals displaced by the devastating wildfires last month.
Maui fire survivors now eligible for federal program to lower cost of phone, internet
The Federal Communications Commission has temporarily waived certain eligibility rules to ensure that people receiving federal disaster assistance due to the Maui fires can easily apply for and enroll in Lifeline, a federal program that helps lower the cost of phone and internet service for those in need.
State activates disaster recovery jobs portal for Maui workers impacted by wildfires
The Hawaiʻi State Department of Labor & Industrial Relations today announced the availability of a disaster recovery jobs portal for Maui to help workers and businesses impacted by the wildfires. The portal provides access to all currently available jobs on Maui as maintained by the DLIR.
