Community Leaders Urge Continuity in Lahaina Recovery as Election Nears
Lahaina community advocates argue that $1.6 billion in federal recovery funding and ongoing housing and land programs are at a critical stage, warning that a change in county leadership could disrupt progress. They are urging voters to consider recovery continuity when casting ballots in the upcoming mayoral election. Maui County has secured $1.6 billion in […]
Team Rubicon Crews Clear Upcountry Maui Debris to Cut Flood and Fire Risk
Multiple sources report that Team Rubicon, a veteran-led disaster response organization, is conducting active mitigation work on Maui following Hurricane Lala’s impact in August. Three strike teams are currently running a nine-day operation targeting debris removal across five Upcountry gulches as part of a broader National Wildfire Mitigation strategy. Team Rubicon has three strike teams […]
Team Rubicon Clears Upcountry Gulches to Cut Maui Wildfire and Flood Risk
Three Team Rubicon strike teams are spending nine days removing trees and fire fuel from five Upcountry Maui gulches to reduce wildfire and flood risk. Crews are also clearing popular hiking trails, including Pineapple Express, as part of a broader national wildfire mitigation effort. Three veteran-led strike teams are targeting five steep Upcountry gulches over […]
Maui County Moves to Hire Dedicated Investigator for Lahaina Contractor Fraud
The Maui County Council unanimously approved a bill on first reading to add a full-time investigator to the Prosecuting Attorney’s office focused on contractor fraud stemming from the 2023 Lahaina wildfires. The position will be funded through existing department cost savings, with no new budget allocation required. The Council voted 8-0 to approve Bill 147, […]
Study Finds Elevated Toxic Metals in Maui Residents Years After 2023 Fires
New research from the University of Hawaiʻi found that Maui residents tested significantly higher for toxic metals like arsenic, manganese, and antimony compared to national benchmarks, months to over a year after the 2023 Lāhainā wildfires. Researchers link higher metal exposure to impaired lung function but have not yet determined how much contamination was caused […]
Lahaina’s First Post-Fire Marketplace Opens Nov. 10 with Free Concert
ʻUlu o Lele, an interim marketplace on the former Outlets of Maui site along Front Street, will hold its grand opening on November 10 with community festivities and a free Common Kings concert. The $8 million project is the first commercial storefront development to return to Front Street since the 2023 wildfire. The grand opening […]
Study Finds Lahaina Residents Still Carrying Toxic Metals Years After Fire
Multiple sources, including Yale Environment 360 and Yahoo News, report on new research finding elevated levels of arsenic and other toxic metals in Lahaina residents more than a year after the 2023 wildfire. The findings come from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Maui Wildfire Exposure Study (MauiWES) and build on earlier research showing lasting […]
Celebrity-Launched People’s Fund of Maui Provided $1,200/Month to Fire Survivors
Oprah Winfrey and Dwayne Johnson donated $10 million to seed the People’s Fund of Maui, a direct cash assistance program offering displaced Lahaina and Kula residents $1,200 per month following the August 2023 wildfires. The People’s Fund of Maui was launched with a $10 million contribution from Oprah Winfrey and Dwayne Johnson to provide direct […]
Roots Reborn Hosts Annual Dia de los Muertos Event for Lahaina Fire Victims
Maui nonprofit Roots Reborn is holding its annual Day of the Dead celebration to honor those lost in the 2023 Lahaina wildfires. The organization also supports immigrant and undocumented communities with health, legal, and recovery services. Roots Reborn, founded after the 2023 Maui wildfires, hosts an annual Dia de los Muertos event to memorialize those […]
Maui Fire Homebuyer Program Reaches 100 Shopping Letters Issued
Maui County’s Ho’okumu Hou First-Time Homebuyer Opportunity Program has issued 100 shopping letters to wildfire-displaced households, offering up to $600,000 each to help survivors purchase homes. Funded by HUD’s CDBG-DR program, the initiative has distributed over $24.6 million and completed 43 home purchases to date. The county program provides eligible wildfire-displaced households up to $600,000 […]