UH Study: Maui Fire Survivors Gaining Ground, But Housing and Mental Health Struggles Persist
Multiple outlets reported on a new University of Hawaiʻi study released July 27, 2026, marking three years since the 2023 Maui wildfires. The Maui Wildfire Exposure Study (MauiWES) found meaningful gains in employment and housing stability among survivors, but persistent food insecurity, mental health challenges, and declining community support remain serious concerns. Researchers warn that […]
Maui County Opens Two Wildfire Recovery Grants for Nonprofits and Agencies
Maui County’s Office of Recovery is launching two competitive grant programs under its Hoʻokumu Hou initiative to fund workforce development and public services for wildfire-impacted residents. Applications open August 10, 2026, with a deadline of September 24, 2026. Two new grant programs — one for workforce development and one for public services — will be […]
Lahaina Community Leaders Warn Mayoral Change Could Stall Recovery
Community leaders in Lahaina are urging Maui voters to consider the risks of a mayoral administration change in November, arguing that leadership turnover during the current critical funding and rebuilding window could set back years of recovery progress. The current administration has secured over $1.6 billion in federal recovery funding and is now distributing first-time […]
Zoning and Historic Rules Are Stalling Lahaina’s Rebuild, Three Years On
Nearly three years after the 2023 Lahaina wildfires, only 220 homes have been rebuilt and not a single destroyed business has been fully reconstructed. A layered web of historic-preservation, zoning, and land-use regulations is cited as the primary cause of the slow recovery. Of more than 2,200 structures destroyed, only 220 homes have been rebuilt […]
FEMA Doubles Rent for ~600 Maui Fire Survivors Still in Temp Housing
FEMA is raising rents at its Maui wildfire temporary housing complexes for the second time since March, targeting 50% of Fair Market Rent by September 1. About 600 survivors who have not secured permanent housing are affected, with subsidies set to expire in February 2027. Roughly 600 Maui wildfire survivors in FEMA temporary housing will […]
Nonprofit Aids 185 Maui Fire Survivors with Disabilities Through CDP Grant
The Kelea Foundation used a CDP Hawaii Wildfires Recovery Fund grant to assist 185 Lahaina fire survivors with disabilities, helping them access medical equipment, services, and system navigation. The organization opened 231 support cases and delivered over 130 medical and accessibility items. Kelea Foundation, funded by a CDP Hawaii Wildfires Recovery Fund grant, has opened […]
Maui Relief Program Restricts New Applicants to Families with Kids Starting Aug. 1
Hawaii’s Department of Human Services is narrowing Maui Relief Program eligibility to households with dependent children under 18 as of August 1, after state disaster relief funds are expected to run out. The program has provided financial assistance to wildfire-affected households since October 2023. Starting Aug. 1, only households with children under 18 may submit […]
Lahaina Marks Wildfire’s Third Anniversary with Interfaith Service and Time Capsule
The Lahaina Interfaith Council will hold an Honor & Remembrance service on Aug. 1, 2026, ahead of the third anniversary of the 2023 wildfire. A community time capsule project and a two-day ‘Lights for Lahaina’ gathering in September are also planned. An interfaith remembrance service is scheduled for Aug. 1 at 9 a.m. at Lahaina […]
Three-Year Wildfire Memorial Event Planned for Lahaina on Aug. 8
Kuhinia Maui, a free community gathering marking three years since the 2023 Maui wildfires, will be held Aug. 8 on the grounds of Lahaina United Methodist Church. The daylong event includes music, food, wellness activities, and a 5:30 p.m. moment of silence honoring those lost. The event runs 9 a.m.–7 p.m. at 988 Front St. […]
Lahaina Fire Health Study Evolves Into Rural Care Hub for West Maui
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) […]