UH Mānoa Lands $2.2M NIH Grant to Continue Maui Wildfire Health Study
Multiple sources report that University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa researchers have received a $2.2 million NIH grant to fund the next phase of the Maui LOA study, a long-term examination of health and well-being impacts from the 2023 Maui wildfires. The three-year study will survey 1,200 Maui adults, including displaced residents, with findings expected to […]
Maui Bus Goes Free for Students and County Workers Starting July 1
Beginning July 1, 2026, Maui Bus fixed-route service will be fare-free for students of any age with a valid student ID and County of Maui employees. The county is also adding new bus stops in Kahului, Haʻikū, Nāpili, and Kīhei. Students of any age with a valid student ID can now ride Maui Bus fixed […]
Lahaina Residents Form Patrol Groups as Crime Rises in Rebuilding Areas
Residents are organizing neighborhood watch patrols to combat increasing crime in Lahaina’s burn zone as more people return to the recovering community. Police calls have increased significantly in 2026 compared to 2025, with limited police resources covering the area. Police calls in Lahaina burn zone jumped from 1,009 in early 2025 to 1,322 in the […]
New Administrator to Lead Hawaii Emergency Management Agency July 1
Hawaii’s Emergency Management Agency will transition to new leadership next month, with David Lopez replacing James Barros as administrator. Multiple sources report that Lopez brings extensive disaster recovery experience from coordinating Maui wildfire recovery efforts. James Barros will step down as HIEMA Administrator on July 1, 2026, after three and a half years of service […]
Local Film Festival Features Lahaina Fire Documentary and Cultural Stories
The Wailuku Film Festival runs June 17-20 with screenings including a documentary about the 2023 Lahaina wildfire and other Indigenous cultural stories. Films will be shown at the Iao Theater with topics ranging from local recovery to international Indigenous issues. The festival includes ‘Lāhainā Rising,’ a documentary about the August 2023 wildfire that displaced over […]
Fire Settlement Payments Face Potential Delays Over Attorney Fee Disputes
Maui wildfire survivors may face further delays in receiving settlement payments as some attorneys are expected to challenge a judge’s recent ruling that reduced legal fees. The first checks were supposed to go out this week from the $4 billion settlement fund. Judge Peter Cahill reduced attorneys’ fees last Friday to increase survivor payouts from […]
Hawaiian Electric Issues Wildfire Warning, Upgrades Grid Infrastructure
Hawaiian Electric is warning of wildfire conditions in coming months and implementing system upgrades including pole replacements and fire detection cameras. The utility urges property owners to prepare their homes and create emergency plans. Hawaiian Electric expects increased wildfire risk due to potentially lower rainfall in upcoming months. The utility has installed 144 AI-assisted fire […]
Three-Day Lahaina Community Event Set for July to Support Recovery Efforts
A three-day cultural gathering will take place July 17-19 on Front Street in Lahaina to celebrate community recovery and provide opportunities for local vendors and businesses. The county-organized event prioritizes Lahaina-based businesses and wildfire-impacted entrepreneurs. Event runs July 17-19 on Front Street from Prison to Dickinson Street with four separate gatherings planned. Vendor applications are […]
Ocean Water Quality Near Lahaina Shows Minimal Fire Damage After 3 Years
Marine scientists found West Maui coastal waters were not significantly impacted by toxic debris from the 2023 Lahaina wildfire, contrary to initial concerns. A decade of water quality monitoring shows broader challenges with turbidity and nitrates but little fire-related decline. Volunteer scientists collected 5,500+ data points over 10 years, creating comprehensive pre- and post-fire water […]
Hawaiian Electric Issues Wildfire Prep Guidelines as Dry Season Begins
Hawaiian Electric is urging residents statewide to prepare for wildfire season as the islands enter the dry season with potentially less rainfall ahead. Multiple news outlets reported on the utility company’s safety recommendations and ongoing infrastructure improvements to reduce wildfire risks. HECO recommends clearing dry vegetation around homes, trimming tree branches away from power lines, […]