Lahaina Fire Survivors Set to Receive Settlement Payments After 3 Years
Nearly three years after the 2023 Lahaina wildfire, settlement payments are ready for distribution to victims, with court rulings limiting attorney fees to 5% and insurer claims to 10% of the fund. Settlement distribution is beginning for 21,750 claimants who filed nearly 95,000 claims from the August 8, 2023 Lahaina fire. Judge limited attorney fees […]
Three-Day Lahaina Community Event Set for July to Support Recovery Efforts
A three-day cultural gathering will take place July 17-19 on Front Street in Lahaina to celebrate community recovery and provide opportunities for local vendors and businesses. The county-organized event prioritizes Lahaina-based businesses and wildfire-impacted entrepreneurs. Event runs July 17-19 on Front Street from Prison to Dickinson Street with four separate gatherings planned. Vendor applications are […]
Hawaiian Electric Issues Wildfire Warning, Upgrades Grid Infrastructure
Hawaiian Electric is warning of wildfire conditions in coming months and implementing system upgrades including pole replacements and fire detection cameras. The utility urges property owners to prepare their homes and create emergency plans. Hawaiian Electric expects increased wildfire risk due to potentially lower rainfall in upcoming months. The utility has installed 144 AI-assisted fire […]
Maui County Zoning Code Rewrite Restarts After 6-Year Delay
Maui County is restarting its zoning code rewrite project after six years with no completed draft, despite hiring experienced consultants in 2019. The outdated code from 1960 limits housing density options that could help address Maui’s housing shortage. The county hired consultants in 2019 to complete a new zoning code by 2026, but the project […]
Ocean water quality declining around Maui, 10-year study finds
A decade-long water monitoring program found declining ocean water quality around Maui’s coastline, with sediment and nitrate pollution exceeding state standards at most sites. The study covered 40 miles of leeward Maui coastline and provides baseline data on coastal water health. Water cloudiness from sediment exceeds state health standards at every monitored site across leeward […]
Maui County Developing Master Plan to Restore Historic Royal Sites in Lahaina
Maui County is creating a master plan to restore Lahaina’s historic Royal Complex, including sacred sites like Mokuhinia Pond and Moku’ula Island, as part of long-term recovery efforts following the 2023 fires. The county’s Department of ‘Ōiwi Resources is developing a master plan for the Lahaina Royal Complex, focusing on cultural, ecological and community healing. […]
Maui Tour Company Adds New 40-Passenger Whale Watching Vessel
Makai Adventures has taken delivery of a new 41-foot rigid inflatable boat designed for whale watching tours, capable of carrying 40 passengers with enhanced stability and comfort features. The custom-built vessel can transport up to 40 passengers plus two crew members. Twin 450hp Yamaha outboards provide high speeds for faster transit to whale watching areas. […]
Fire Settlement Payments Face Potential Delays Over Attorney Fee Disputes
Maui wildfire survivors may face further delays in receiving settlement payments as some attorneys are expected to challenge a judge’s recent ruling that reduced legal fees. The first checks were supposed to go out this week from the $4 billion settlement fund. Judge Peter Cahill reduced attorneys’ fees last Friday to increase survivor payouts from […]
Local Film Festival Features Lahaina Fire Documentary and Cultural Stories
The Wailuku Film Festival runs June 17-20 with screenings including a documentary about the 2023 Lahaina wildfire and other Indigenous cultural stories. Films will be shown at the Iao Theater with topics ranging from local recovery to international Indigenous issues. The festival includes ‘Lāhainā Rising,’ a documentary about the August 2023 wildfire that displaced over […]
Large South Swell Expected to Bring Coastal Flooding Risk Next Week
Multiple surf forecasts report that a significant south swell from a New Zealand storm system will impact Maui’s coastlines beginning this weekend. The swell is expected to peak Sunday through Monday, creating potential coastal flooding concerns for oceanfront properties. Large south swell from New Zealand storm system expected to build Saturday and peak Sunday into […]