22nd Annual Lahaina Town Cleanup Draws Over 300 Volunteers Post-Fire
The 22nd Lahaina Town Cleanup drew hundreds of volunteers on Saturday, collecting over a ton of debris near Lahaina Harbor and Wahikuli Wayside Park. The event continues to serve as a community healing effort following the 2023 wildfire. More than 300 volunteers participated in the cleanup, removing over a ton of rubbish, scrap metal, appliances, […]
USPS Open to Restoring Lahaina Mail Delivery If Safety Conditions Are Met
The U.S. Postal Service says it will consider resuming curbside mail delivery in Lahaina once specific safety and street-access conditions are established. A final decision on permanently closing the Lahaina Downtown Post Office has not yet been made. USPS will consider curbside delivery to rebuilt Lahaina properties if mailboxes are accessible without carriers leaving their […]
Hawaii Supreme Court Clears Path for $4B Maui Fire Settlement Payments
The Hawaii Supreme Court unanimously upheld attorney fee caps in the $4 billion Maui wildfire settlement, removing the final legal barrier to compensation payments reaching the 21,750 claimants. Funds will be distributed in four annual installments by defendants including Hawaiian Electric, Maui County, and the state. The Hawaii Supreme Court rejected an appeal challenging attorney […]
Hawaii Supreme Court Clears Path for $4B Maui Fire Settlement Payouts
Multiple sources report that the Hawaii Supreme Court has issued a ruling that removes a key legal obstacle blocking payouts to nearly 22,000 claimants in the $4 billion Maui wildfire settlement. The delay stemmed from a dispute over attorney fees, which some lawyers challenged after Judge Peter Cahill capped most legal fees well below the […]
FEMA Grants $15M to Maui for Wildfire Hazard Mitigation Management
FEMA has approved $15 million to help Hawaii administer hazard mitigation projects stemming from the 2023 Maui wildfires, as part of a broader $226 million federal disaster funding package. The funds flow through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and are intended to reduce damage from future disasters. The $15 million is designated for administering and […]
Study Finds Elevated Toxic Metals in Maui Residents 6–18 Months After 2023 Fires
A University of Hawaiʻi study of 1,400 Maui adults found toxic metal levels far above national averages up to 18 months after the 2023 wildfires. Those with the highest combined metal loads were significantly more likely to show abnormal lung function. Participants showed antimony levels nearly 40 times the national average, with manganese, barium, and […]
60-Home Front Street Community Breaks Ground on Lahaina Rebuild
A groundbreaking ceremony was held October 2 for Lahaina Residential, a 60-home community on Front Street destroyed in the 2023 wildfire. Construction begins October 19 and is expected to take about 18 months. Maui-based Arita Poulson General Contracting will manage the rebuild of six two-story residential buildings at 1034 Front St. Construction is scheduled to […]
60-Home Lahaina Front Street Community Breaks Ground on Wildfire Rebuild
Construction is set to begin October 19 on the 60-unit Lahaina Residential community at 1034 Front Street, destroyed in the 2023 wildfire. The project is expected to take approximately 18 months, with rebuilt homes featuring fire-resistant materials and sustainability upgrades. Local contractor Arita Poulson General Contracting will rebuild six two-story buildings to their original layout, […]
HEI’s Bank Sale Scrutinized as Stock Value Surges 164% Post-IPO
Critics and lawmakers are questioning whether Hawaiian Electric’s parent company sold American Savings Bank too cheaply in 2024, as the bank’s value has since grown from $450 million to nearly $1.2 billion after going public. The controversy is surfacing during hearings on Hawaiian Electric’s proposed $170 million rate increase. HEI sold American Savings Bank on […]
SNAP Food Replacement Benefits Available for Maui Wildfire and Hurricane Nolo Survivors
Multiple sources, including Hawaii News Now and the Governor of Hawaii’s office, report that the Hawaii Department of Human Services is offering extended SNAP replacement benefits to households affected by Hurricane Nolo and the Olowalu wildfire. The USDA Food and Nutrition Administration authorized the extended reporting window due to prolonged power outages and wildfire impacts […]