LAHAINA, Hawaii (KHON2) Nearly two years after the Lahaina wildfires, a new report sheds light on how fire-affected residents on Maui are really doing.
While there are signs of progress, UH researchers say too many families remain stuck in limbo.
UHERO’s latest report offers one of the most detailed portraits to date of Maui’s long road to recovery, drawing on nearly a year of monthly survey data from more than 950 fire-affected individuals. The findings highlight both signs of hope and ongoing hardship.
“There are these success stories of people who have been able to bounce back. And on the other hand, we have people, or, you know, a substantial number of the fire-affected population, who still face those challenges,” said Daniela Bond-Smith, UHERO Research Economist.
The report shows more residents are now in permanent housing. The number of people in shelters or temporary rentals has dropped by half since late 2024.
Median rents are also beginning to come down, and nearly three-quarters of those receiving rental assistance are paying less than they were before the fires.
But for many families, housing remains a financial burden, and despite some economic gains, Maui’s job market is still recovering.
“Front Street provided employment for a lot of the people here. That’s the perfect place for them to have a second job. It’s no longer there and a lot of jobs here do not pay enough to survive,” said Rick Nava, a Lahaina resident and Board Chair for the Maui Chamber of Commerce.
UHERO’s data confirms that reality:
- Nearly 60% of households report earning less than they did before the fires
- Full time jobs have not returned to pre-fire levels
- Poverty rates have nearly doubled with one in four households now living below the poverty line.
One of the key takeaways: the need for food, housing and financial assistance has declined, showing improved stability for some and growing gaps for others.
“I would characterize this is as about where we would have expected. We would like to be further along, but maybe that was not reasonable,” said Carl Bonham, UHERO Executive Director.
But for many, like Nava who lost his home in the fire, recovery isn’t just about jobs and housing – it’s about feeling safe. Yesterday’s brush fire in Kaanapali reignited old fears.
“We have all this dry land again, all the following, you know, everything that happened with basically the fuel to the fire. It’s there again. I mean, hopefully we have more firefighters this time. But you know, the best solution is to prevent the fire from happening,” said Nava.
UHERO summarizes the recovery as uneven and warns that unless housing affordability and workforce access improve, large segments of the fire-affected population may be left behind.
The report, titled “Progress and Vulnerability Two Years After the Wildfires,” came out on Aug. 5 and is based on monthly survey responses, which have been collected over the past year.
