Devastating wildfires burned in Hawaii (Hawaiian: Hawai’i) the week of Aug. 6, 2023. The largest of these fires – the Lahaina fire on Maui – was the worst natural hazard disaster in Hawaii’s history, the fifth-deadliest wildfire in the U.S. in recorded history and the first fire since 1918 to reach 100 deaths. The unique nature of the fires – a combination of drought, lightning and Hurricane Dora – was highlighted in this Reuters interactive story.
For more information about the 2023 Lahaina wildfires, please see the 2023 North American Wildfires disaster profile.
On May 3, Hawaii’s Governor Josh Green issued his eleventh emergency proclamation for the August 2023 wildfires until at least July 2, 2024. This emergency proclamation continues to:
- “Enhance housing opportunities for displaced Maui residents by allowing condominium owners and associations to house displaced residents in excess of time limits in governing documents.
- Encourage hotels, motels, and condominiums to make units available for the housing of those displaced by the wildfires by exempting such housing agreements from landlord-tenant statutes unless specified in a tenancy agreement.
- Ease the burden of wildfire survivors who need to obtain records and evidence of identity, property, and individual rights from the State Archives Division, by waiving fees for copying, certifying, and other services.”
The proclamation provides an exception from the price freeze for rentals for affordable housing projects that are subject to regulatory agreements relating to rent increases. Such projects are now allowed to increase rents in line with their regulatory agreements. The proclamation also changes the suspension of Chapter 6E (relating to the state Historic Preservation Division) to allow for construction of temporary housing for those displaced by the fires with the approval of the Historic Preservation Division. The latest proclamation suspends Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 467-7 to allow operators of state-owned temporary lodging for displaced victims and those assisting with wildfire recovery to continue operating without a real estate license.”
Similarly, effective May 2, 2024, Xavier Becerra, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, renewed his declaration of a public health emergency for Hawaii, originally issued on Aug. 11, 2023 and renewed on Nov. 6, 2023 and Feb. 4, 2024. This declaration allows Becerra and his administration to “Take appropriate actions in response to the emergency consistent with other authorities, including: making grants; entering into contracts; and conducting and supporting investigations into the cause, treatment, or prevention of the disease or disorder.”
Eight months after the wildfires, about 2,650 people are still in hotels, costing up to $1,175 per night. Another 400 reside in short-term housing units, which the state rents for as much as $11,000 monthly.
Governor Josh Green hopes to have residents vacate temporary hotels by July 1. In February, FEMA secured almost 1,500 units for long-term housing and is currently in the process of building 169 temporary housing units. The state is also building 450 temporary housing units, 60% of which will be ready by July and August. Despite progress in securing housing units, survivors of the 2023 fire have turned down offers due to the location and strict governmental rules. Around 600 rentals remain empty.
In February 2024, the Hawaii Small Business Development Center said that only about 50% of the 1,200 small businesses in Lahaina had resumed operations. Tourism is expected to decrease 5% across the state (an impact of $1 billion), but almost all that loss is on Maui.
On April 15, the American Red Cross, which runs a program through a $500 million contract with the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, was forced to eliminate breakfast and lunch for survivors residing in hotels after the state shifted its focus and resources on the meal most consumed by people. The decision has stoked anxiety for some survivors and resulted in the Red Cross supporting the establishment of a market-style food hub and food pantry by May or June 2024 in Lahaina.
Survivors like Borge, who lives in a hotel with no kitchen, says she plans to utilize a food hub, but “most of the available items do her no good because she can’t cook.”
You can support wildfire recovery by donating to our Hawaii Wildfires Recovery Fund.
Related reading
Read the 2023 disaster profile
