Lahainaluna and Paradise High Schools Play ‘Unity Bowl’ in West Maui
The football teams of Lahainaluna High School and Paradise High School — both from wildfire-devastated communities — faced off Saturday in a symbolic game called the ‘Unity Bowl’ at Lahainaluna’s stadium. The event drew about 1,900 attendees and several elected officials, with Lahainaluna winning 27-21. Lahainaluna High School hosted Paradise High School (California) for a […]
Maui Trains Firefighters and Volunteers to Assess Home Wildfire Risk
The Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization and Maui County completed a four-day training program for firefighters and community volunteers to conduct wildfire risk assessments on residential properties. A broader home assessment program for Maui County homeowners is expected to launch later this year. Maui firefighters and community volunteers completed four days of hands-on training in wildfire […]
Paradise & Lahainaluna High Schools Unite for Wildfire-Community Football Game
Paradise High School (CA) is traveling to Maui to play Lahainaluna High School in the inaugural Unity Bowl, a symbolic football game connecting two communities rebuilt after devastating wildfires. The game is scheduled for Saturday night at Lahainaluna. The Unity Bowl pairs Paradise, CA (2018 Camp Fire) with Lahaina (2023 wildfire) in a first-of-its-kind community […]
Maui County Extends Deadline for Wildfire Recovery Grant Applications
The County of Maui has pushed back the application deadline for two HUD-funded wildfire recovery grant programs to October 8, 2026. The grants support workforce development and public services for organizations helping residents recover from the 2023 Maui wildfires. The new application deadline for both Hoʻokumu Hou grant programs is 5 p.m. on October 8, […]
Lahaina Survivors Lose Hundreds of Thousands to Contractor Fraud, No Charges Filed
Dozens of Lahaina wildfire survivors report losing large sums to contractors who abandoned projects or misused funds, yet no criminal charges, license revocations, or fines have been issued. Maui County prosecutors say they are actively investigating and are urging victims to come forward. Survivors report contractors taking hundreds of thousands of dollars then stopping work […]
Contractor Fraud Draining Lahaina Rebuild Funds, No Criminal Cases Filed
Dozens of Lahaina wildfire survivors have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars to unlicensed or unreliable contractors since the 2023 fire. Despite at least 10 police reports and multiple state complaints, no criminal charges, fines, or license revocations have been issued. Individual homeowners have lost between $20,000 and $650,000 to contractors who abandoned projects or […]
Hawaii Secures $18.5M in Federal Funds to Strengthen Grid Resilience on Maui
Multiple sources report that Hawaii has secured $18.5 million in federal funding to support $25 million in electrical grid resilience and hazard mitigation investments across Maui, Hawaii Island, and Oahu. The funding, announced August 31, will back five projects focused on protecting the grid from wildfires, flooding, and hurricanes, with completion targeted between 2027 and […]
Lahaina Community Meeting Set for Sept. 2 With Recovery and Fire Risk Updates
The County of Maui is hosting its monthly Lahaina Community Meeting on September 2, 2026, covering fire risk reduction, housing recovery programs, and a planned recycling center. The meeting will be held in person and livestreamed. The meeting takes place at 5:30 p.m. at Lahaina Intermediate School cafeteria and will be livestreamed on the County’s […]
One-Third of Lahaina Fire Survivors Still Lack Permanent Housing as Hurricanes Approach
A new UHERO study finds that three years after the 2023 Maui wildfires, roughly one-third of displaced households still have not secured permanent housing. At the same time, Category 4 Hurricane Karina and Tropical Storm Lowell are tracking toward Hawaii with potential Labor Day weekend impacts. About one-third of fire-affected households remain without permanent housing […]
FEMA Awards $9.3M to Repair Lahaina-Area Elementary School
FEMA has approved $9.3 million for permanent repairs to King Kamehameha III Elementary School in Maui County as part of a broader $79 million federal disaster recovery allocation. An additional $3.7 million will fund an AI-powered hazard mitigation resource website for Hawaii homeowners. King Kamehameha III Elementary School in Maui County will receive $9.3 million […]