FEMA Doubles Rent for ~600 Maui Fire Survivors Still in Temp Housing
FEMA is raising rents at its Maui wildfire temporary housing complexes for the second time since March, targeting 50% of Fair Market Rent by September 1. About 600 survivors who have not secured permanent housing are affected, with subsidies set to expire in February 2027. Roughly 600 Maui wildfire survivors in FEMA temporary housing will […]
Lahaina Bypass Extension Draws Community Pushback Over Route and Cost
The state is moving forward with a 4.5-mile Lahaina Bypass extension in West Maui, funded in part by $100 million in disaster relief, but residents are raising concerns about the proposed connector routes and whether the money is being spent wisely. The proposed extension would run from Keawe Street to the Pu’ukoli’i area, designed to […]
Lahaina Fire Health Study Evolves Into Rural Care Hub for West Maui
A University of Hawaii research team studying long-term health effects on 2023 Lahaina fire survivors has expanded into a broader community health resource, filling gaps left by Maui’s ongoing physician shortage. Researchers now aim to build a nonprofit to sustain the effort as a new model for rural health. The Maui Wildfire Exposure Study (MauiWES) […]
Lahaina’s Front Street to Reopen to Traffic August 1, Three Years After Fire
Multiple Spectrum Local News reports confirm that the Maui County Office of Recovery has announced Front Street in Lahaina will reopen to vehicle traffic on August 1, 2026 — nearly three years after the devastating wildfire destroyed the historic town. The reopening follows the completion of several infrastructure improvement and cleanup projects along the corridor. […]
FEMA Sends $1.6M to Maui County Public Works for Wildfire Recovery
FEMA approved nearly $3 million in Public Assistance funding across four states and territories, with $1.6 million going to Maui County’s Department of Public Works for emergency protective measures tied to the 2023 wildfires. Maui County Department of Public Works will receive nearly $1.6 million for emergency protective measures related to the Maui wildfires. The […]
Lahaina Homecoming Career Fair Aims to Bring Displaced Residents Back
Multiple outlets reported on a county-organized career fair held at Lahaina Cannery Mall on July 18, 2026, designed to help displaced wildfire survivors find livable-wage jobs as part of Maui’s next phase of recovery. The event marked a shift in focus from rebuilding homes to restoring Lahaina’s workforce and economy, nearly three years after the […]
Lahaina Coffee Roaster Resumes Full Production After 3-Year Fire Disruption
Maui Coffee Company has restored full roasting and packaging operations in Lahaina, relaunching its flagship 100% Maui Coffee product nearly three years after its processing facility was destroyed in the 2023 wildfires. The product is now available again to Hawaii retailers and direct-to-consumer online. Maui Coffee Company’s Lahaina processing facility was destroyed in the 2023 […]
Front Street in Lahaina to Reopen to Vehicles August 1
Multiple outlets reported that Maui County announced Front Street in Lahaina will reopen to vehicular traffic on August 1, nearly three years after the 2023 wildfire destroyed much of the historic town. The reopening follows the completion of several infrastructure improvement projects and coincides with the approach of the fire’s third anniversary on August 8. […]
Maui Relief Program Narrows Eligibility to Families with Minor Children
Starting August 1, 2026, the state’s Maui Relief Program will restrict new applications to households with minor dependent children as state disaster relief funds run out. Households without children are directed to alternative resources through Aloha United Way 2-1-1. The Maui Relief Program shifts to TANF-only funding in August 2026, limiting eligibility to households with […]
Lahaina’s Front Street to Reopen to Vehicles August 1 After Fire Repairs
Multiple outlets reported that Lahaina’s Front Street is scheduled to reopen to vehicular traffic on August 1, 2026, marking a significant milestone in the town’s post-wildfire recovery. The Maui County Office of Recovery announced the reopening follows the completion of several improvement projects along the corridor. Mayor Richard Bissen called it ‘a pivotal step’ in […]