A University of Hawaii research team studying long-term health effects on 2023 Lahaina fire survivors has expanded into a broader community health resource, filling gaps left by Maui’s ongoing physician shortage. Researchers now aim to build a nonprofit to sustain the effort as a new model for rural health.
- The Maui Wildfire Exposure Study (MauiWES) is one of the largest post-fire health investigations in the U.S., tracking survivors over a decade for cancers, lung disease, and other conditions.
- Monthly on-site clinics near the Lahaina burn zone are providing blood, DNA, and mental health screenings to residents who struggle to access routine care.
- Maui’s severe physician and nursing shortage — worsened by the 2023 fires — means Maui Memorial is the only major hospital on the island, with specialty care requiring travel to Oahu.
- Researchers plan to form a nonprofit to continue health monitoring and build a replicable model integrating academic research with community health services in rural disaster zones.
Source: Statnews
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