Senior FEMA leaders leaving already-depleted disaster agency
The departures in the senior ranks are in addition to job cuts and resignations of about 1,000 of the agency’s roughly 17,000 employees. Read more
Maui Wildfires
Barricades removed for north side of Front Street in Lahaina
Despite the reopening, officials warn that barricades and “Do Not Enter” signs will remain in place for many parts of commercial Lahaina due to safety hazards as construction and deconstruction continues. Read more
131 Maui fire survivors laid off after federal funding cut
The workers were employed through the National Dislocated Worker Grant program and working for 27 “host” organizations on cleanup, recovery and humanitarian efforts. Read more
Restoring Lahaina power is critical to rebuilding
A year and a half since the devastating Maui wildfires destroyed Lahaina town, Jeremy DelosReyes is still in a dark place. Read more
Hawaiian Electric’s parent rebuilds finances after Maui fires lead to $1.4B loss
The company’s $1.43 billion loss in 2024 compared with a $199 million profit in 2023. Read more
‘Modest’ piece of wildfire settlement promoted for insurers
Gov. Josh Green doubts that Hawaii’s insurance market will suffer from a Monday court decision supporting a tentative $4 billion Maui wildfire settlement, but he still sees merit in sharing settlement proceeds with insurers. Read more
Hawaiian Electric welcomes ruling on wildfire settlement
The state’s top court had ruled against insurance companies on Monday and decided that once the settlement becomes final, insurers cannot separately sue parties blamed for the wildfires. Read more
Maui wildfire settlement clears state Supreme Court hurdle
Maui wildfire victims are closer to sharing a $4 billion settlement, possibly before the disaster’s second anniversary in August, after a Hawaii Supreme Court ruling Monday. Read more
Maui wildfire settlement clears Hawaii Supreme Court hurdle
The state’s high court ruled unanimously in answering three questions of Hawaii law that a Circuit Court judge used to underpin the validity of the settlement deal. Read more
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State high court probes conditions of Maui wildfires settlement
Hawaii Supreme Court justices posed many exacting, and sometimes skeptical, questions Thursday to attorneys in a case pertaining to the validity of a $4 billion deal to settle Maui wildfire litigation. Read more
Waivers aim to streamline Lahaina rebuilding
Maui Mayor Richard Bissen announced Wednesday that the county will temporarily suspend Special Management Area rules for properties mauka of Front Street or outside of the erosion hazard line — a move that is expected to accelerate reconstruction efforts and support Lahaina’s wildfire recovery. Read more
Hawaii Supreme Court considers fate of $4B wildfire settlement
Answers to three questions posed to five justices could soon determine the fate of a stalled $4 billion settlement for close to 10,000 Maui wildfire victims. Read more
Housing pressures increase on Maui as assistance ends
A Maui fire-related foreclosure moratorium ended Jan. 1; on Feb. 4, a state-issued eviction ban ends; and on March 1, FEMA will begin charging rent for its direct housing program, according to state Sen. Angus McKelvey. Read more
FEMA funding to restore some of Lahaina’s historic buildings
The funding will help the community of Lahaina rebuild the Waiola Church, Hale Aloha Museum, the Old Lahaina Courthouse building, and the Master’s Reading Room. Read more
Maui County updating 2010 emergency operations plan
The 17 observations and 44 recommendations are based on more than 40 interviews, document reviews and an interagency after-action meeting. Read more
Maui police arrest man, 39, in restricted Lahaina area
Police said the man was unable to provide a valid reason for being in the restricted area and allegedly had an open container of alcohol within his golf cart. Read more
Editorial: Rapidly build up Hawaii’s wildfire response
Communication and communication systems, which so devastatingly failed during the Lahaina fire, must be addressed — now. Read more
Maui businesses hope for a return to Lahaina
Commercial redevelopment has not kicked into high gear in Lahaina; however, some recent progress has been made. Read more
State concludes probe of the Lahaina wildfire
The final phase of the state Department of the Attorney General’s investigation of the Aug. 8, 2023, Lahaina wildfire, which killed 102 people, recommends hiring a state fire marshal and actions government must take to protect communities from wildfires. Read more
Maui population losses cause millions in lost income
There were more Maui residents leaving after the devastating Maui wildfires in 2023 and fewer moving in — reducing the island’s population by more than 1,000 residents and resulting in an estimated $50 million loss in annual income for Hawaii’s economy. Read more
Final phase of state probe of Lahaina fire released
The 61-page Lahaina Fire Forward-Looking Report was released this morning by Hawaii Attorney General Anne E. Lopez. Read more
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