Three Years Out: Only 25% of Lahaina Homes Rebuilt, Full Recovery Still Years Away
A data analysis of Maui County building permits finds roughly one quarter of single-family homes destroyed in the 2023 Lahaina fire have been rebuilt, with full recovery potentially still four years away. Multi-family construction is further along at 38% completion, though the majority of those units stem from a single pre-fire development. About 25% of […]
Hawaii’s $20B State Budget Allocates $200M for Maui Wildfire Recovery
Hawaii’s executive operating budget includes $200 million designated for Maui wildfire recovery efforts, including rebuilding King Kamehameha III Elementary School. The budget was shaped by revenue losses, federal funding cuts, and ongoing climate disaster costs. $200 million in state funds has been directed toward Maui wildfire recovery within Hawaii’s $20.32 billion operating budget. Rebuilding King […]
Kahua Card Program Highlights Maui’s Ongoing Long-Term Recovery Needs
Nearly three years after the 2023 Lahaina wildfires, a local community card program called Kahua is helping displaced residents as long-term recovery continues well beyond the initial emergency relief phase. New research shows persistent mental health, housing, and financial challenges among fire survivors. Over 70% of displaced Maui residents in temporary housing have remained in […]
UHERO: Maui Fire Survivors Gain Housing Ground But Jobs and Income Still Lag
Multiple news outlets covered the release of a new University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization (UHERO) report marking three years since the August 2023 Maui wildfires. The report, based on the ongoing Maui Recovery Survey, finds meaningful progress in housing stability but persistent gaps in employment, household income, and financial assistance for fire-affected residents. About […]
Animated Film Series Preserving Lāhainā Stories to Debut August 27
Maui Public Art Corps will unveil ‘Perfect Days,’ a collection of four animated short films drawn from Lāhainā community memories, on August 27 at the Lāhainā Think Space in Queen Kaʻahumanu Center. The project stems from a wildfire-recovery storytelling initiative focused on mental health and cultural preservation. The free public exhibition opens August 27 and […]
Maui County Takes Over State Wildfire Case Management Program
The Wildfires Disaster Case Management Program has shifted from state to county leadership, with Maui County now coordinating recovery support for wildfire survivors. A key focus will be preparing residents for the end of FEMA Temporary Housing Assistance in February 2027. Gov. Green and Mayor Bissen announced the program transition from the Hawaii Dept. of […]
HEI Posts $123M Q2 Profit Driven by Wildfire Settlement Accounting Shift
Multiple sources report that Hawaiian Electric Industries posted a $123 million second-quarter profit for 2026, largely due to a noncash accounting adjustment tied to the Maui wildfire settlement. The boost stemmed from remeasuring the company’s remaining settlement obligations to present value after the $4 billion settlement received final court approval, reducing the recorded liability by […]
Maui County Takes Over Wildfire Disaster Case Management from State
The Wildfires Disaster Case Management Program has shifted from state to county leadership as of August 7, 2026. The transition aims to strengthen local coordination ahead of FEMA’s Temporary Housing Assistance program ending in February 2027. Maui County is now leading the Wildfires Disaster Case Management Program, previously run by the Hawaii Department of Human […]
Lights for Lahaina Memorial Event Set for Sept. 11–12 in Historic Town
The Lights for Lahaina community gathering returns for its second year on September 11–12, with free public events including live music, a candlelight march, food vendors, and cultural activities in Lahaina. The two-day event is organized by nonprofit Aloha Amplified and sponsored in part by the Hawaii Tourism Authority and County of Maui. Lights for […]
Lahaina at Three Years: Buyout Offers, Slow Rebuilds, and Signs of Return
Multiple outlets marked the third anniversary of the August 8, 2023 Lahaina wildfire with assessments of where recovery stands, covering everything from a county buyout proposal for high-risk shoreline properties to expanded homeowner rebuilding assistance and the return of individual businesses. The overall picture reported across sources is one of uneven progress: some businesses and […]