West Maui to Get Its First Recycling Center with $3.6M Federal Grant
The EPA has awarded Maui County $3.6 million to build the first waste collection center in West Maui, designed to handle recyclables, green waste, and bulky items. The project has a three-year timeline from land acquisition to opening. The new facility will accept a wide range of materials including green waste, electronics, appliances, tires, and […]
Lahaina Downtown Post Office Faces Permanent Closure, Officials Push Back
The USPS is proposing to permanently close the Lahaina Downtown Post Office, which has been offline since the 2023 wildfires. A U.S. Representative and Maui County Councilmember are demanding the plan be halted and real community input be gathered. The Lahaina Downtown Post Office has been closed since the August 2023 wildfires and USPS is […]
USPS Plans to Permanently Close Lahaina Downtown Post Office
The U.S. Postal Service has notified customers it intends to permanently close the Lahaina Downtown Post Office due to irreparable wildfire damage, drawing sharp opposition from federal and county officials. A brief virtual community meeting is scheduled for August 27 as part of a feasibility review. USPS formally notified Lahaina postal customers in an August […]
US-Canada Tariffs Add $240K+ to Olowalu Fire Station Budget
The planned Olowalu Fire Station in West Maui now faces at least $240,000 in cost overruns after 50% U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel hit the Alberta-based modular building supplier. The nonprofit behind the project warns costs could climb further as U.S.-Canada trade talks have collapsed. The originally fully funded $3 million Olowalu Fire Station now […]
Study Tracks Ongoing Health and Financial Toll on Lahaina Fire Survivors
Three years after the 2023 Lahaina wildfire, a University of Hawaii study is documenting persistent health and economic struggles among survivors. Lower-income residents and hospitality workers have been hit hardest by compounding costs and mental health impacts. A landmark University of Hawaii study is tracking long-term physical and mental health outcomes among Maui wildfire survivors. […]
Sacred Hearts School Marks Three Years of Recovery After Lahaina Fire
A commemorative Mass was held at Sacred Hearts Mission Church in Kapalua on August 7, marking three years since the 2023 Lahaina wildfires. The service honored the school’s resilience, including resuming classes in tents just 20 days after the disaster. Sacred Hearts School resumed classes in tents at Kapalua just 20 days after the August […]
New Research Tracks Lasting Health Impacts on Lahaina Fire Survivors
Three years after the 2023 Lahaina wildfire, new research indicates the disaster’s toll extends well beyond immediate casualties and property loss, with survivors continuing to face significant health and financial hardships. A landmark study is tracking long-term physical and mental health effects on Maui wildfire survivors, with findings suggesting impacts far beyond initial casualties. Many […]
Volunteer Groups Join Lahaina and Kula Rebuild Efforts Three Years After Fire
Three years after the August 2023 Maui wildfires, rebuilding and land restoration efforts remain in early stages. Volunteer groups, including faith-based disaster relief teams, are assisting Habitat for Humanity in Lahaina and supporting native plant restoration on Kula’s fire-scarred hillsides. Three years after the August 2023 wildfires, large-scale rebuilding in Lahaina and Kula has barely […]
FEMA to Hand Over 167 Lahaina Survivor Modular Units to Maui County Free
FEMA has approved the no-cost transfer of the 167-unit Kīlohana modular housing project to Maui County, with officials intending to convert the temporary fire-survivor units into permanent housing. A second interim site in Kīhei is also moving toward permanent county ownership. The 167-unit Kīlohana modular complex, currently housing Lahaina wildfire survivors, will transfer from FEMA […]
UH Scores $538K to Record Lahaina Survivor Stories and Maui History
The University of Hawaii’s Center for Oral History has received four grants totaling $538,000 to document Lahaina wildfire experiences, water history, and women’s histories on Maui. Projects will produce hundreds of recorded interviews and digital archives through 2029. The largest grant — $250,000 from the Maui Strong Fund — will fund up to 100 hours […]