Proposal Urges Hawaii to Formalize Volunteer Boat Network for Disaster Relief
A Civil Beat opinion piece calls on Hawaii to create an organized volunteer small-boat program to support disaster relief efforts, citing the 2023 Lahaina fire and recent hurricane activity as evidence of the need. The author argues that informal boat-owner responses have already proven effective but lack coordination and a formal plan. During the 2023 […]
Lahaina Fire Survivors Hit New Snag: USPS Treating Rebuilt Homes as New Developments
Multiple reports from Hawaii Public Radio highlight a new obstacle facing Lahaina wildfire survivors who have rebuilt their homes: the U.S. Postal Service is classifying rebuilt properties as new developments, requiring cluster mailboxes instead of restoring individual home mail delivery. Maui County and federal officials are pushing back, arguing the policy is both impractical and […]
NCL, Princess Cruises Pull Maui Port Stops Amid Wildfire Recovery
Norwegian Cruise Line and Princess Cruises have suspended Maui port calls on their Hawaii itineraries in the wake of the Lahaina wildfires, rerouting ships to Hilo, Kauai, and Kona instead. NCL says the change applies to at least three upcoming Pride of America voyages, with resumption potentially weeks to months away. NCL America has removed […]
Kaanapali Hotels Now Half the Price of Wailea, Drawing Visitors Back to West Maui
A recent firsthand comparison found Kaanapali hotel rates averaging roughly half those in Wailea, with West Maui showing signs of recovery as a visitor destination post-Lahaina fire. Front Street in Lahaina has reopened to traffic and new restaurants. Kaanapali nightly hotel rates averaged $412 in May vs. $665 in Wailea, a gap that is attracting […]
Animated Short Films Capture Lahaina Residents’ Pre-Fire Memories
Four animated short films preserving personal memories of Lahaina before the 2023 wildfire were unveiled August 27 at Queen Kaʻahumanu Center. The films are part of a broader Lahaina Memorial Project developed through a community storytelling initiative. The ‘Perfect Days’ film series features nine Lahaina community members sharing memories of life in the historic town […]
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. […]
Maui Brush Fire Near Waiko Road Contained Within Two Hours
A brush fire broke out near Waiko Road and Kuihelani Highway on Maui the evening of August 25, burning about half an acre before being fully extinguished. No property damage, evacuations, or road closures were reported. The Maui Fire Department responded at 7:07 p.m. and fully extinguished the fire by 8:48 p.m., with the incident […]
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 […]
Hawaii Symphony Orchestra Brings Free ‘Mele for Maui’ Concert to Kā’anapali Sept. 19
Multiple outlets report that the Hawai’i Symphony Orchestra will perform a free outdoor concert in Lahaina’s Kā’anapali on September 19, marking the orchestra’s first full return to Maui in a decade. The event is framed as a symbol of Lahaina’s ongoing recovery from the August 2023 wildfire that killed 101 people. The ‘Mele for Maui’ […]
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 […]