Dozens of Lahaina wildfire survivors report losing large sums to contractors who abandoned projects or misused funds, yet no criminal charges, license revocations, or fines have been issued. Maui County prosecutors say they are actively investigating and are urging victims to come forward.
- Survivors report contractors taking hundreds of thousands of dollars then stopping work or going silent, with one homeowner losing $640,000.
- A joint investigation by Civil Beat and Inside Climate News found contractor fraud and misconduct in the Lahaina burn zone is believed to be far more widespread than official reports reflect.
- No government agency has taken formal action — no criminal charges, no license revocations, no fines — against contractors for post-wildfire misconduct on Maui.
- Maui County’s prosecuting attorney confirmed active investigations are underway alongside police and other law enforcement, and officials are urging victims to report fraud.
- By contrast, California charged 16 unlicensed contractors with felonies within months of the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, highlighting the slower pace of accountability on Maui.
Source: Civil Beat
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