Maui Wildfires News | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Maui is poised for $1.6B in federal funding to rebuild Lahaina

Dan Nakaso — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The U.S. Senate has tentatively agreed to $12 billion to respond to disasters across the country, including $1.6 billion to help Maui rebuild following the 2023 wildfires, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz said Tuesday.

Report calls for inclusive recovery for Filipino survivors of Lahaina fire

Victoria Budiono — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 10:05:00 +0000

A comprehensive report by Maui grassroots organization Tagnawa and the Hawai‘i Workers Center highlights the deep disparities, resilience and urgent needs of Filipino survivors of the Aug. 8, 2023, Lahaina fires.

Congressional delegation continues to support Maui survivors

Dan Nakaso — Sun, 15 Dec 2024 10:05:00 +0000

A bipartisan bill sits on President Joe Biden’s desk that would exempt survivors of disasters, including the 2023 Maui wildfires, from having to pay federal income tax on settlement money.

Public works official named Maui wildfire recovery leader

Star-Advertiser Staff — Sun, 08 Dec 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Maui County Department of Public Works official John Smith has been named the new administrator of the county’s Office of Recovery, formed in the aftermath of devastating Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires in Lahaina and Upcountry.

FEMA seeks vacant lots for temporary housing for Maui fire survivors

Victoria Budiono — Sat, 07 Dec 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is reaching out to property owners in West Maui, seeking vacant lots to place temporary housing units for wildfire survivors.

Lahaina teacher runs in marathons for survivors

Nina Wu — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Lahaina Intermediate School teacher Nathan Kahaiali‘i is running his third Honolulu Marathon on Sunday.

First FEMA modular homes ready for Maui fire survivors

Andrew Gomes — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 10:05:00 +0000

An initial increment of new rent-free temporary homes developed in Lahaina by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for survivors of the 2023 Maui wildfires has opened for use.

Maui County finds new site to bury wildfire debris

Andrew Gomes — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Maui County has tentatively secured land to enlarge the only major municipal solid waste landfill on the Valley Isle and bury debris from the August 2023 wildfire that destroyed most of Lahaina.

Lahaina ohana completes first home rebuild in fire zone

Allison Schaefers — Sun, 24 Nov 2024 10:05:00 +0000

LAHAINA >> The phrase “home for the holidays” has special meaning for the Ah Hee ohana — Mau, Ariel and their two sons Manaiakalani, 6, and 3-year-old Kaiakea — who have an opportunity to spend Thanksgiving in their newly rebuilt home on Komo Mai Street in Lahaina.

Below-market rentals, awards program support Lahaina educators

Allison Schaefers — Sun, 24 Nov 2024 10:05:00 +0000

LAHAINA >> More than a year after the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfire displaced about a third of state Department of Education employees in West Maui, housing insecurity and financial challenges continue to threaten the department’s ability to retain and attract qualified educators.

$4B settlement of Maui fire claims is tangled up in court

New York Times — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The ashes of last summer’s devastating fire in Lahaina, which killed 102 people and destroyed the town, were still smoldering when talk turned to how fraught the rebuilding process would be. Fire victims would need help fast, and Hawaii officials pushed hard for a quick resolution to the avalanche of lawsuits filed against the entities that had caused the fire: the state’s electrical utility, a school system and Maui County, among others.

FEMA extends assistance to Maui survivors; Schatz asks for further aid

Victoria Budiono — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved Hawaii’s request to extend Financial Assistance and Direct Temporary Housing Assistance for an additional year, now through Feb. 10, 2026. Originally, the 18-month assistance period was scheduled to end on Feb. 10, 2025.

Hawaiian Electric removes ‘going concern’ warning in latest earnings report

Reuters — Sat, 09 Nov 2024 15:25:00 +0000

Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. on Friday removed a warning about its ability to remain in business, saying that a recent capital raise helped mitigate the concerns and that it’s reviewing strategic options for its clean energy subsidiary.

Hawaiian Electric claims gains in cutting fire risk

Andrew Gomes — Sat, 09 Nov 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Hawaii’s largest electrical utility plans to spend $300 million over the next three years on top of $120 million this year to reduce wildfire risk.

Lahainaluna Road’s full reopening marks recovery milestone

Star-Advertiser Staff — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 22:20:00 +0000

Maui County marked a milestone in recovery from last year’s wildfires upon officially reopening Lahainaluna Road for unrestricted public access on Friday.

Coast Guard members, civilians honored for Lahaina heroism

Kevin Knodell — Sun, 03 Nov 2024 10:06:00 +0000

Both national and international organizations are recognizing Coast Guard and civilian mariners who responded to the deadly 2023 Lahaina fire for heroism at sea.

MEMA awards contract for emergency technology

Victoria Budiono — Sat, 02 Nov 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The County of Maui Emergency Management Agency announced Friday that it has awarded a four-year contract to Genasys Inc. to provide two advanced public safety and emergency management software platforms.

Visitor arrivals still recovering from the pandemic, Maui wildfires

Allison Schaefers — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 10:06:00 +0000

Visitor arrivals in Septem- ber recovered to 96% of September 2019’s pre-pandemic level — the best recovery rate since the devastating Maui wildfires in August 2023 interrupted tourism’s recovery.

Fatal Lahaina fire was not a crime, state AG says

Peter Boylan — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 10:06:00 +0000

No criminal charges will result from the state investigation into the wildfires that leveled Lahaina, killed 102 people and destroyed Maui’s visitor industry, according to state Attorney General Anne E. Lopez.

Maui Strong Fund awards $13M to nonprofits for fire survivors

Star-Advertiser Staff — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 20:40:00 +0000

The Hawaii Community Foundation on Tuesday announced $13 million in grants to five nonprofit partners offering long-term recovery assistance to those affected by the Aug. 8 Maui wildfires.

Maui unemployment modest a year after disaster

Andrew Gomes — Sun, 27 Oct 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Maui’s unemployment rate a year after the wildfire that destroyed Lahaina doesn’t look bad on paper, but the island is still suffering pretty severely with employment.

Evacuation notice lifted for residents on Piihana Road in Wailuku

Star-Advertiser Staff — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 01:25:00 +0000

The evacuation notice for residents on Piihana Road in Wailuku has been been lifted as of 5 p.m. Thursday.

Feedback conflicting on how to rebuild Lahaina

Dan Nakaso — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 10:06:00 +0000

Survivors of the Aug. 8, 2023, Lahaina wildfire expressed both clear and often conflicting opinions on how to rebuild the historic fishing village, with many participants in community engagement sessions on long-term recovery calling for better communications and other technological upgrades to respond to future emergencies, climate change and sea-level rise.

Former Civil Defense chief reflects on lessons learned from Maui wildfires

None — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 10:05:00 +0000

When the Maui Emergency Management Agency named Darryl Oliveira its interim administrator in the wake of the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires, which killed more than 100 people, they tapped the extensive experience of a career Big Island first responder and emergency manager.

Editorial: Swiftly enact rigid utility oversight

None — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 10:05:00 +0000

For the first time ever, Hawaiian Electric (HECO) activated its new Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) program on Wednesday, and was on the cusp of cutting power preemptively to West Maui communities to reduce their high exposure to wildfire risk. At the last minute, luckily, the high risk abated so the power stayed on — but consider this an important, learned protocol from the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfire that leveled Lahaina.

Temporary housing aid for Maui fire survivors is extended for a year

Victoria Budiono — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Thursday, at the request of the state, approved a one-year extension of the Individuals and Households Program for survivors of the Aug. 8, 2023, Maui wildfires.

Hawaii PUC probing utility’s role in deadly Lahaina wildfire

Peter Boylan — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The state Public Utilities Commission has issued more than 30 information requests totaling nearly 200 questions to Hawaiian Electric as part of an ongoing investigation into the Aug. 8, 2023, Lahaina wildfire, which killed 102 people and caused more than $5.5 billion in damage.

Editorial: More aid, housing for fire survivors

None — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 10:05:00 +0000

It’s not so unexpected that survivors of the devastating Lahaina and Kula fires of August 2023 continue to suffer from lost income, joblessness, higher costs of living and housing insecurity more than a year after the disaster. But what’s profoundly disturbing is the depth of poverty incurred, as revealed by last week’s Maui Recovery Survey — and it will take accelerated and sustained aid to meet needs that remain high.

Kamehameha Schools offers land for new Lahaina site

Victoria Budiono — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The state Department of Education, Kamehameha Schools, Gov. Josh Green and Maui Mayor Richard Bissen have begun discussions to explore the possibility of establishing a new permanent home for Kamehameha III Elementary School on Kamehameha Schools’ land in Kuia, Lahaina.

New survey tracks recovery of households affected by Maui fires

Andrew Gomes — Wed, 09 Oct 2024 10:05:00 +0000

Twice as many households affected by the August 2023 Maui wildfires were living in poverty a year after the disaster, a new survey suggests.

Editorial: ATF report basis for improvement

None — Sun, 06 Oct 2024 10:05:00 +0000

A crucial report from the Maui Fire Department and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) concludes that the deadly Lahaina fire on Aug. 8, 2023, had one cause: Hawaiian Electric’s (HECO’s) operation of power lines vulnerable to toppling under high winds, and its failure to keep power cut on broken power lines that fell in an area surrounded by overgrown, tinder-dry grass and brush, sparking a fire that would burn Lahaina largely to the ground.

On Politics: Will we step up and learn from Lahaina disaster?

Richard Borreca — Sun, 06 Oct 2024 10:05:00 +0000

A life lost or a living community destroyed is beyond calculation, and Hawaii continues to mull over the tragedy of the Lahaina-destroying fire of August 2023.

Re-energizing of downed power lines sparked Lahaina wildfire, report concludes

Peter Boylan — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 10:06:00 +0000

The Aug. 8, 2023, wildfire that burned down Lahaina and killed 102 people was started when downed power lines reenergized at about 6:34 a.m. ignited overgrown vegetation that violated the county fire code near a utility pole off of Lahainaluna Road.

Cause and origin of Lahaina blazes to be released

Peter Boylan — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The Maui Department of Fire and Public Safety will make public today the cause and origin of the Aug. 8, 2023, Lahaina wildfires that killed 102 people, left thousands homeless and crippled Maui’s visitor industry.

Officials sort priorities to devise Lahaina recovery plan

Allison Schaefers — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 10:06:00 +0000

LAHAINA >> Sean Corpuel, who lost his popular 1950s-style burger joint, the Cool Cat Cafe, to the Aug. 8, 2023, Lahaina wildfire, has started it up again 45 minutes away in Kihei but one day wants to head back to the future by returning to Front Street.

DOE to return King Kamehameha III Elementary School site to DLNR and county

Victoria Budiono — Sat, 28 Sep 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The state Department of Education announced Friday that it has not yet made a decision on a permanent location for rebuilding King Kamehameha III Elementary School in Lahaina, but is working with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and Maui County to return the original school land to them.

Maui Wellness Fest seeks more recruits for wildfire exposure study

Star-Advertiser Staff — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 23:41:00 +0000

University of Hawaii researchers are holding a free Maui Wildfire Exposure Study Wellness Fest this Saturday to share their findings and recruit more participants.

Hawaiian Electric parent to sell more new stock

Andrew Gomes — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 10:05:00 +0000

The parent company of Hawaii’s largest electrical utility might sell up to $825 million in new stock, partly to help fund a pending settlement of claims over 2023’s Maui wildfire disaster.

Volcanic Ash: We need a wake-up call to identify wake-up calls

None — Sun, 22 Sep 2024 10:05:00 +0000

A great shame of 2023’s Lahaina fire, which killed 102, was that officials received the gift of all the information needed to avert tragedy but disregarded it and saw the horror unfold.

Hawaiian Electric shares drop after $250M stock offering plan

Reuters — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 18:00:00 +0000

Shares of Hawaiian Electric fell 9.7% today after the parent company of the state’s largest utility said it plans to sell up to $250 million worth of shares to partly fund its portion of the Maui wildfire settlement.