Three Years Later, Lahaina Survivors Still Struggling With Recovery’s Long Toll
A Civil Beat report profiles Lahaina fire survivors still dealing with mental health challenges, displacement, and ongoing rebuilding efforts nearly three years after the 2023 wildfires. One family is finally pouring a foundation for a new home while community health resources face potential shutdown. Some Lahaina survivors say their situation feels worse now than in […]
Lahaina Health Study Faces Funding Crisis After 3 Years, 2,500 Participants
A University of Hawaiʻi research program tracking the health of Lahaina wildfire survivors has enrolled 2,500 participants over three years but is now at risk of shutting down as federal and state funding sources dry up. The study, which provides health testing, therapy, and financial support to survivors, has been called a potential national model […]
Lahaina Swim Instructor Rebuilds Home, Now Needs $30K to Restore Pool Business
Benae Basurto, a 31-year swim instructor whose Lahaina home and pool were destroyed in the 2023 fire, has completed rebuilding her living quarters but needs $30,000 to repair her pool before she can reopen Little Honu Swim School. Basurto’s Little Honu Swim School served over 120 children per week before the 2023 Lahaina wildfire destroyed […]
Lahaina’s Front Street Gains Federal Opportunity Zone Status to Draw Private Investment
Hawaii has designated Lahaina’s Front Street corridor as a federal Opportunity Zone 2.0, making it eligible for tax-incentivized private investment. The designation is intended to channel capital into housing, healthcare, and economic recovery in the fire-affected area. Gov. Josh Green announced 25 statewide Opportunity Zone 2.0 designations, including Lahaina’s Front Street and Kula Makai in […]
ʻUlu o Lele Marketplace Opens Nov. 10 with 24 Lahaina Businesses
Multiple outlets reported that Hawaiian Council has selected 24 businesses for the ʻUlu o Lele interim marketplace in Lahaina, set to open November 10 at the former Outlets of Maui site. The project, more than two years in the making, aims to restore economic activity in Lahaina while permanent rebuilding of Front Street continues. 24 […]
Front Street Halloween Events Signal Growing Foot Traffic in Lahaina
Lahaina’s Front Street hosted Halloween festivities this weekend for the first time since the 2023 wildfires, with local businesses organizing family events and late-night celebrations. Organizers report increased activity on the west side as rebuilding continues. Front Street is fully open and hosting public events again, with multiple businesses participating in Halloween celebrations. Coco Deck […]
Maui Mayoral Race Spotlights Immigrant Community Needs in Lahaina Recovery
Ahead of Maui’s mayoral election, community organizations are pressing candidates on how they would better serve immigrant fire survivors in Lahaina. Neither candidate has responded to questions about immigrant community protections or data-sharing policies with federal immigration enforcement. About one in three Lahaina residents before the 2023 fire were foreign-born, with large Filipino, Mexican, and […]
Maui County Moves to Add Full-Time Investigator for Wildfire Contractor Fraud
Maui’s prosecutor’s office is set to hire a dedicated investigator for post-wildfire contractor fraud cases after a surge in victim reports. The County Council unanimously advanced the bill, with final passage expected November 13. Mayor Bissen requested legislation to fund a seventh investigator in the prosecutor’s office specifically for Lahaina wildfire contractor fraud cases. The […]
Maui County to Take Over West Maui Water System in Kamehameha Schools Deal
Multiple outlets including Maui News, Maui Now, and Hawaii News Now reported that Maui County and Kamehameha Schools have announced a proposed agreement to transfer the Launiupoko Irrigation Company system to public ownership. The deal is framed as a key step in supporting Lahaina’s recovery and bringing West Maui water resources under community stewardship. The […]
Maui County Moves to Take Over West Maui Irrigation System
Maui County and Kamehameha Schools have proposed transferring control of the Launiupoko Irrigation Company to the county, continuing a broader push to bring West Maui’s water infrastructure under public ownership in support of Lahaina’s recovery. Kamehameha Schools would transfer its option to purchase the Launiupoko Irrigation Company to Maui County under the proposed deal. The […]