Governor Green appointed two new Circuit Court judges - Annalisa Bernard Lee for Maui's Second Circuit and Michael Soong for Kauai's Fifth Circuit. Both currently serve as District Court judges and their appointments require State Senate confirmation.

• Annalisa Bernard Lee promoted from District to Circuit Court judge for Second Circuit covering Maui.
• Michael Soong appointed Circuit Court judge for Fifth Circuit covering Kauai and Niihau.
• Both appointees are currently serving District Court judges being elevated to higher court positions.
• Appointments must be confirmed by the Hawaii State Senate to become final.

Source: Hawaii Free Press

A documentary featuring Lahaina residents' recovery stories will screen in Santa Barbara, highlighting ongoing challenges nearly three years after the 2023 wildfires. The film focuses on long-term rebuilding efforts and community displacement issues.

• Documentary 'Lahaina: Voices of Change' screens Friday at Santa Barbara's Lobero Theatre with panel discussion featuring Maui community leaders.
• Film highlights that many Lahaina residents still face displacement and housing uncertainty nearly three years after the fires.
• Recovery process shown as prolonged and uneven, requiring sustained effort over years rather than immediate post-disaster response.
• Event aims to benefit grassroots recovery efforts in Lahaina through community fundraising.
• Documentary emphasizes ongoing rebuilding challenges for both homes and livelihoods in the affected community.

Source: Newspress

Multiple sources report that Maui's tourism industry posted significant gains in February 2026, with both visitor arrivals and spending increasing substantially compared to the previous year. The recovery continues more than two years after the Lahaina and Upcountry wildfires affected the island's tourism sector.

• Maui welcomed 223,227 visitors in February 2026, an 11.5% increase over February 2025
• Visitor spending on Maui reached $571.5 million, up 6.8% from $535.1 million in February 2025
• Average daily visitor count was 63,300 people on the island
• Hotel occupancy in Maui County improved to 78%, with Lahaina, Kāʻanapali and Kapalua region reaching 76.3% occupancy
• First two months of 2026 brought 459,407 total arrivals to Maui with $1.24 billion in spending, a 15.5% increase over early 2025
• Statewide, Hawaii welcomed 787,024 visitors in February who spent $1.91 billion, increases of 3.6% and 10.3% respectively
• Airlines operated 4,860 transpacific flights providing over 1 million seats, an 8.4% increase in flight capacity (Maui Now)
• Canadian arrivals dropped 4.6% due to social and political challenges (Maui Now)
• Officials are monitoring potential impacts from recent Kona Low storms on March tourism figures (Maui Now)

Sources

• Maui Now: Maui visitor arrivals and spending climb in February
• Hawaii Free Press: VISITOR SPENDING AND VISITOR ARRIVALS INCREASED IN FEBRUARY 2026

Commercial property owners in Lahaina face overwhelming permitting challenges and erosion issues that are preventing many from rebuilding 2.5 years after the fire. Only 9 non-residential buildings have been completed despite 163 permits in process.

• Waterfront properties face the most complex permitting due to shoreline setbacks, historic district rules, and multiple agency requirements.
• Some elderly property owners are abandoning rebuild plans due to ongoing erosion and overwhelming regulatory processes.
• Only 9 commercial buildings have been completed in Lahaina with 25 permits issued and 163 still in process.
• County officials are working to streamline the permitting process but acknowledge location-dependent complexity.
• No Front Street businesses have completed construction despite being 2.5 years post-fire.

Source: Hawaii Public Radio

Federal emergency management approved $33.4 million in disaster recovery funds for Maui County, including money to rebuild two affordable housing complexes and a senior center damaged in the 2023 Lahaina wildfire.

• Maui County will receive $6.9 million to repair Lahaina Crossroads Apartments and $4.1 million for Komohana Hale Apartments.
• The West Maui Senior Center will get $6.4 million in FEMA funding for wildfire damage repairs.
• Additional FEMA grants totaling $12 million were approved for Maui County emergency services and police wildfire response.
• FEMA will continue reviewing and approving additional recovery projects on a rolling basis as eligibility is confirmed.

Source: Maui News

Maui County completed the transfer of over 400,000 tons of Lahaina wildfire debris from temporary storage in Olowalu to a permanent disposal site in Central Maui. The five-month operation finished ahead of schedule with a ceremonial blessing on February 17, 2026.

• More than 400,000 tons of wildfire debris successfully moved from Olowalu temporary site to permanent Central Maui location.
• Transfer operations completed five months ahead of schedule using 50 trucks operating seven days a week.
• Multiple federal and state agencies coordinated the effort with strict environmental and safety oversight.
• Ceremonial pule blessing marked the official completion of this major recovery milestone.
• Recovery and rebuilding support continues for affected residents and property owners.

Source: Mauirecovers

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has allocated $33.4 million in recovery funding for Hawaii, with portions designated for Maui wildfire recovery and Kilauea volcanic eruption response efforts.

• FEMA has approved significant federal disaster relief funding to aid Hawaii's ongoing recovery from recent natural disasters
• Maui communities affected by wildfires will receive dedicated federal support as part of this comprehensive funding package
• The funding also addresses recovery needs from Kilauea volcanic activity, demonstrating federal commitment to Hawaii's disaster resilience
• This financial assistance will support critical infrastructure repairs and community recovery initiatives across affected areas
• Residents and visitors can expect continued improvements to essential services and facilities as recovery efforts progress with federal backing

Source: Maui Now

A vessel has successfully returned to Lahaina Harbor following a transoceanic journey, marking a significant milestone in the area's ongoing recovery efforts. This development signals positive progress for harbor operations and the broader Lahaina community.

• Harbor infrastructure has recovered sufficiently to accommodate returning vessels after extensive restoration work
• The successful vessel return demonstrates growing confidence in Lahaina's maritime safety and operational capabilities
• This milestone represents tangible progress in the community's rebuilding efforts following the devastating wildfire
• Restored harbor operations could boost local tourism and economic activity for West Maui businesses
• The achievement highlights the dedication of recovery teams working to restore essential Lahaina infrastructure

Source: Hawaii News Now

Popular Lahaina-based tour operator Trilogy Excursions celebrates a major step in their post-wildfire recovery with the homecoming of their vessel Trilogy VI. This milestone represents the company's continued resilience and commitment to rebuilding West Maui's tourism industry.

• Trilogy VI's return symbolizes hope and progress for Lahaina's tourism recovery following the devastating 2023 wildfires
• The vessel's homecoming demonstrates Trilogy Excursions' commitment to restoring operations and serving visitors to West Maui
• This development signals positive momentum for the broader revival of Lahaina's marine tourism activities
• Visitors can expect continued restoration of popular ocean excursion options as local businesses rebuild and reopen
• The milestone represents the determination of local companies to overcome challenges and maintain Maui's reputation as a premier destination

Source: Maui Now

A major court ruling has officially approved the distribution of $4 billion in settlement funds to help Maui wildfire victims and rebuild affected communities. This milestone clears the final legal hurdle for compensation payments to begin flowing to residents and businesses impacted by the devastating fires.

• Settlement payments can now proceed to wildfire victims after final court approval removes legal barriers
• The $4 billion fund represents one of the largest wildfire settlements in U.S. history, aimed at rebuilding homes, businesses, and infrastructure
• Affected residents and business owners should expect communication about claim processes and payment timelines in the coming weeks
• Recovery funds will support both immediate victim compensation and long-term community restoration projects across fire-impacted areas
• This legal milestone marks a significant step forward in Maui's healing and rebuilding process for both residents and the tourism industry

Source: Maui Now