Federal Bill Would Require FEMA to Address Gender-Based Violence After Disasters
Following the 2023 Lahaina wildfire, a bipartisan House bill would require FEMA to improve shelter safety, establish domestic violence reporting protocols, and meet with all adult household members during disaster recovery check-ins. Research found alarming rates of gender-based violence among Maui fire survivors. A survey of 70 Filipino women by Maui grassroots group Tagnawa found […]
Study Finds Elevated Toxic Metals in Maui Residents 18 Months After 2023 Fires
A University of Hawaii study of 1,400 adults found significantly higher concentrations of harmful metals like arsenic, antimony, and cadmium in residents near the 2023 Lahaina wildfire zone up to a year and a half after the fires. Researchers linked these elevated metal levels to measurable lung function impairment and are calling for longer-term air […]
HECO Drone Inspections of Power Lines Across Maui and Lanai Begin in October
Multiple outlets including Hawaii News Now and Maui Now report that Hawaiian Electric will deploy drones throughout October to inspect power lines, poles, and electrical equipment in wildfire-risk areas across Maui and Lanai. The aerial surveys are aimed at identifying potential hazards before they escalate, as part of HECO’s broader wildfire safety strategy. No power […]
Study: Maui Fire Survivors Favored Community Aid Over Government Response
A peer-reviewed study published in Nature found that Maui wildfire survivors across multiple ethnic groups viewed official government disaster response as inadequate, while community-led efforts were seen as more effective and culturally appropriate. The research was based on focus groups with 44 wildfire-affected residents. Researchers conducted five ethno-culturally diverse focus groups with 44 Lahaina fire […]
Lahaina Jodo Mission Moves Forward With Fire-Resilient Rebuild Plans
The Lahaina Jodo Mission, destroyed in the 2023 wildfire, is developing plans to rebuild its temple, pagoda, and social hall with stronger foundations and coastal protections. The mission is participating in FEMA’s Public Assistance program to help fund portions of the reconstruction. The 2023 Lahaina wildfire destroyed the mission’s temple, pagoda, and social hall, though […]
Federal Grants Fund Lahaina Fire Health Study Through 2031
The University of Hawaiʻi has received nearly $6 million in NIH funding to extend its Maui Wildfire Exposure Study through 2031, tracking the long-term health of 2,000 adults from Lahaina and Kula and adding 800 children to the cohort. Two NIH grants totaling nearly $6 million will keep the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study running through […]
Temporary Lahaina Library Installed, Expected to Open Early 2027
A portable library unit has been installed at the Lahaina Civic Center, replacing the library destroyed in the 2023 wildfires. The Hawaii State Public Library System expects the facility to open in early 2027 after electrical and IT work is completed. A 20×20-foot prefabricated unit was installed at the Lahaina Civic Center’s upper parking lot […]
UH Wildfire Health Study Secures $6M to Track Lahaina Survivors Through 2031
Multiple reports from Hawaii Public Radio confirm that the University of Hawaiʻi’s Maui Wildfire Exposure Study has received nearly $6 million in federal funding to extend its post-fire health research through 2031. The grants, awarded by the National Institutes of Health, will allow researchers to continue monitoring fire-affected residents and expand the study to include […]
Hawaiian Electric Raises $29.5M in Bank Stock Sale to Fund Wildfire Settlement
Multiple financial news outlets reported that Hawaiian Electric Industries (HEI) sold a portion of its remaining stake in American Savings Bank during ASB’s September 16 IPO, netting $29.5 million. The proceeds will go toward funding HEI’s outstanding Maui wildfire settlement payments, reducing the company’s need for future capital raises. HEI sold approximately 2.0 million ASB […]
Maui Fire Aftermath Spurs Federal Bill on Gender-Based Violence in Disaster Recovery
Multiple sources report that data gathered following the 2023 Lahaina wildfire has helped drive new federal legislation aimed at addressing domestic abuse and exploitation during disaster recovery. A bipartisan bill introduced in Congress would require FEMA to improve shelter safety, establish reporting protocols for gender-based violence, and reform how agency workers conduct household check-ins after […]