Kula Group Pushes for Water Tanks After 2023 Fire Exposed Infrastructure Gaps
The Kula Community Association is pressing state and county officials to build two 500,000-gallon gravity-fed water tanks in Upcountry Maui to improve wildfire firefighting capacity. No concrete progress has been made since the August 2023 wildfires exposed critical water pressure failures in the area. The Kula Community Association wants two 500,000-gallon high-elevation water tanks built […]
Lahaina Playground Groundbreaking Set for July 30 as Part of Fire Recovery
Multiple Maui County announcements confirm a groundbreaking ceremony for the Lahaina Recreation Center Playground will be held on July 30, 2026, marking a key milestone in West Maui’s post-fire recovery. The $2.4 million project, shaped by community input over three years, will deliver a fully inclusive, heavily shaded playground expected to be completed in fall […]
Front Street in Lahaina to Reopen to Traffic August 1, 2026
The County of Maui has announced that Front Street will reopen to vehicular traffic on August 1, 2026, following completion of post-wildfire repairs including seawall work, road paving, and streetscape improvements. The reopening covers the Pāpalaua to Shaw Street stretch, with several nearby side streets also reopening. Front Street (Pāpalaua to Shaw streets) reopens to […]
Maui County Hosts Rebuild Contractor Open House for Fire-Affected Homeowners July 15
Multiple sources report that Maui County’s Office of Recovery is hosting a public open house on July 15, 2026, connecting wildfire-displaced homeowners with the contractor selected for the Hoʻokumu Hou reconstruction program. The event is designed to help eligible homeowners understand their rebuilding options, regardless of where they are in the recovery process. The ‘Meet […]
USA Today Urges Visitors Back to Maui and Oahu After Years of Disaster
USA Today highlights Hawaii’s ongoing recovery from the 2023 Lahaina wildfire and 2026 Oahu floods, encouraging mindful tourism to support local economies. Visitor numbers have dipped following both disasters, prompting the state to launch a $2 million summer travel promotion. Hawaii’s tourism economy — nearly a quarter of the state’s GDP — has taken repeated […]
FEMA Raises Rent for Lahaina Fire Survivors Still in Temporary Housing
Multiple reports from Mauirecovers.org detail an upcoming rent increase for wildfire survivors remaining in FEMA-provided temporary housing units. Beginning September 1, 2026, occupants will be charged 50% of the HUD Fair Market Rent for Maui County, as part of a broader effort to encourage transition to permanent housing. FEMA’s Direct Housing assistance has been extended […]
Upcountry Groups Push County and State to Fund Emergency Water Tanks
The Kula Community Association and a coalition of Upcountry organizations are formally urging Maui County and state legislators to fund two 500,000-gallon water tanks in Upper Kula before peak wildfire season. The group says existing federal mitigation projects are stalled with no clear timeline, leaving the area vulnerable to the same conditions that contributed to […]
First Commercial Marketplace Set to Reopen on Lahaina’s Front Street This Fall
A temporary retail and community marketplace called ʻUlu o Lele is slated to open in September on the former Outlets of Maui property, becoming the first commercial project to return to Front Street since the 2023 wildfire. The $8 million, two-year project is a partnership between Maui County, Hawaiian Council, and the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation. […]
GMA’s National Spotlight on Lahaina Rebuild and Maui Culture
ABC’s Good Morning America aired live segments from Maui highlighting Lahaina’s rebuilding progress nearly three years after the 2023 wildfires, as part of a yearlong national series covering all 50 states. Coverage featured a fire-survivor family, Hawaiian language education, and Maui cultural performances. GMA’s ’50 States in 50 Weeks’ series brought national television attention to […]
Lahaina Wildfire Documentary to Screen at UN Indigenous Forum in April
The documentary ‘Lāhainā Rising,’ which covers the August 2023 Maui wildfires and their aftermath, will be screened at a United Nations forum on Indigenous issues on April 24, 2026. A Hawaiian community delegation will attend to raise issues including health, water rights, and Indigenous sovereignty. The award-winning film ‘Lāhainā Rising’ will be shown as an […]