Lahaina Recreation Center Gets $2.4M Playground, Done by Fall 2027
Maui County broke ground on a $2.4 million playground at the Lahaina Recreation Center, featuring large shade structures and ADA-accessible amenities. Construction is expected to wrap up in fall 2027. The $2.4 million project will add a new playground at the Lahaina Recreation Center, with completion targeted for fall 2027. The site will feature the […]
Hawaii Business Magazine Earns Top Journalism Honors for Lahaina Recovery Coverage
Hawaii Business Magazine won 23 awards at the Hawaii Society of Professional Journalists annual competition, including recognition for its reporting on Lahaina’s post-fire recovery. The wins led all media organizations in both first-place and total awards. Hawaii Business Magazine took home 23 statewide journalism awards, including nine first-place prizes, more than any other media outlet. […]
Lahaina Boat Captains Who Rescued Fire Survivors Win $1.1M on NBC Game Show
Multiple Hawaii Public Radio reports cover the story of Chrissy Lovitt and Emma Nelson, a married couple and Lahaina business owners, who won $1.1 million on NBC’s game show ‘The Wall.’ The couple, owners of Maui Ocean Adventures, lost their charter boat in the 2023 Lahaina wildfires but used a smaller vessel to rescue dozens […]
Maui County Opens Grant Applications for Wildfire Workforce and Public Services Programs
Maui County’s Office of Recovery is launching two competitive grant programs under its Hoʻokumu Hou initiative, funded by federal CDBG-DR dollars, to support workforce development and public services for wildfire-impacted residents. Nonprofits and government agencies can apply starting August 10, 2026, with a deadline of September 24, 2026. Two new grant programs — the Ka […]
Lahaina Rec Center Breaks Ground on $2.4M Community Playground
Maui County officials and community members held a groundbreaking ceremony July 30 for a $2.4 million playground at the Lahaina Recreation Center, a project shaped by community input and designed to serve all ages and abilities. The project survived delays caused by the 2023 wildfires and 2026 Kona low storms. The new playground at the […]
Lahaina Wildfire Theater Production ‘Lele Wale’ Returns for August Performances
A Hawaiian theater production honoring the 2023 Lahaina wildfire community will perform four shows at The Westin Maui Resort & Spa on August 7–8. The production shares stories of grief and resilience through the perspectives of survivors, first responders, and cultural practitioners. Four performances of ‘Lele Wale’ are scheduled for August 7–8 at The Westin […]
Maui County Holds Lahaina Recovery Meeting Aug. 12 With Fraud, Housing Updates
Maui County’s monthly Lahaina Community Meeting is scheduled for August 12, 2026, at Lahaina Intermediate School, shifted from its usual first-Wednesday slot to mark the wildfire’s three-year anniversary. Topics include contractor fraud warnings, the Lahaina Bypass extension, affordable housing reconstruction, and county recovery updates. The meeting takes place at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 12 […]
Maui Wildfire Rebuild Program Expands Income Eligibility, Extends Deadline to Dec. 2026
Maui County’s Hoʻokumu Hou rebuilding assistance programs now cover more homeowners after a federal AMI update raised the income threshold, and the application deadline has been extended to December 31, 2026. An informational open house is scheduled for August 20 in Kahului. Maui County’s base Area Median Income rose from $110,000 to $121,400 in May […]
Lahaina Community Land Trust Secures $15M County Investment to Shield Homes from Speculation
The Lahaina Community Land Trust, formed after the 2023 wildfire, has secured $15 million from Maui County in its first fiscal year to permanently protect properties for fire survivors and long-term residents. The model aims to prevent outside investors from buying up Lahaina land by holding it in trust for the community indefinitely. The Lahaina […]
UHERO Study: Lahaina Survivors Show Progress but Mental Health Concerns Persist
A new UHERO study tracking 2,000 Lahaina wildfire survivors finds improvements in employment, housing stability, and insurance coverage three years after the fire. However, researchers warn recovery remains ‘fragile,’ with depression and PTSD still widespread — especially among children. Employment among survivors rose from 62% to 80.9% and health insurance coverage increased from 85.1% to […]