Judge Slashes Maui Fire Attorney Fees to $222M, More Money for Victims
A Maui judge awarded lawyers $222 million instead of the $1 billion they requested from the $4.03 billion wildfire settlement, allowing fire victims to keep more of their compensation. Legal fees were cut from a requested $1 billion to $222 million from the total $4.03 billion settlement. Lawyers who joined after the settlement was reached […]
Court Rules to Limit Legal Fees in Maui Wildfire Settlement Claims
A recent court ruling will cap attorney fees related to the Maui wildfire settlement, ensuring more compensation reaches survivors directly. Both the Governor’s office and Hawaii News Now reported that the decision aligns with the survivor-focused approach of existing recovery programs. Court ruling limits attorney fees tied to August 2023 Maui wildfire settlement claims, directing […]
Hawaii National Guard Launches Wildfire Response Operation for 2026 Season
Governor Josh Green has signed an emergency proclamation authorizing Operation Hoʻopauahi, a statewide wildfire response initiative that keeps National Guard helicopters ready for immediate deployment during fire season. Multiple sources report this marks the second year of the program, which runs from June through November and aims to provide faster aerial firefighting support to county […]
Submarine Tours Resume at Lahaina Harbor After Fire Closure
Atlantis Submarines has restarted undersea tours from Lahaina Harbor nearly three years after the 2023 wildfire destroyed most of its operations. Multiple sources report the company is running a limited schedule with reduced capacity as part of Lahaina’s ongoing recovery. Tours resumed June 2, 2026, operating three times daily at 9 AM, 11 AM, and […]
Wildfire Health Program for Fire Survivors Suspended Due to Lost Funding
The Maui Wildfire Exposure Study that provided health screenings to over 2,500 fire survivors has halted operations after losing state funding. A $3 million state bill to continue the program failed unexpectedly during the recent legislative session. MauiWES served over 2,500 fire survivors with more than 4,000 health appointments since launching in December 2023. The […]
Hawaii National Guard Activated for 2026 Wildfire Season Through November
Governor Josh Green signed an emergency proclamation launching Operation Ho’opauahi for the second consecutive year, as reported by multiple state sources. The initiative activates Hawaii National Guard helicopters and crews to provide rapid aerial firefighting support during the 2026 wildfire season. Emergency proclamation authorizes Adjutant General to activate Hawaii National Guard for wildfire response from […]
Research Shows Communities Need 6+ Exit Roads to Survive Wildfires
New research analyzing 20 years of wildfire deaths found communities with fewer than six major evacuation routes face exponentially higher fatality rates during fires. Study of U.S. wildfire deaths since 2008 identified six major roads as the critical threshold for community survival. Communities with six or fewer evacuation routes show exponentially increasing per capita fatality […]
Maui Fire Settlement Payments of $4B Set to Begin Distribution Soon
More than 20,000 Lahaina wildfire victims will soon begin receiving payments from a $4.03 billion settlement, with disbursements expected to start within weeks and continue over four years. Settlement payments averaging about $190,000 per victim will be distributed over four years in $1 billion annual tranches. Four claims administrators will determine individual payouts based on […]
Submarine Tours Return to Lahaina Harbor After Three-Year Fire Closure
Atlantis Submarines Maui has resumed undersea tours from Lahaina Harbor nearly three years after the August 2023 wildfire destroyed the company’s facilities and equipment. Multiple sources report the company has restarted operations five days a week using a submarine transported from Oahu and has rehired 15 former employees. The August 2023 wildfire destroyed Atlantis’s 48-passenger […]
First Lahaina Family Moves Into Rebuilt Home Through Recovery Program
Valerie Hoʻopai and her family returned to a newly constructed home in Lahaina after nearly three years, marking the first completion under a wildfire recovery program that helps survivors transition into rebuilt homes. The Hoʻopai family became the first to complete Hoʻōla LTRG’s House to Home Program, which helps wildfire survivors transition into rebuilt homes. […]