Thursday, August 7, 2025
Hawai'i Free Press

Current Articles | Archives

Tuesday, August 5, 2025
Two years after disaster, Maui recovery inches forward
By UHERO @ 3:15 PM :: 238 Views :: Maui County, Development, Hawaii Statistics

2 years after disaster, Maui recovery inches forward, struggles continue

From UH News, August 5, 2025

While more Maui fire-affected residents are transitioning into permanent housing and reporting greater economic stability, many remain displaced, face high rent burdens, or continue to deal with long-term income loss. That’s according to a new report released August 5, by the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization (UHERO), offering the most comprehensive look to date at how individuals and households impacted by the August 2023 Maui wildfires are faring two years into recovery.

The report, “Progress and Vulnerability Two Years After the Wildfires: A Data-Driven Update from the Maui Recovery Survey,” draws on nearly a year of monthly survey data from more than 950 fire-affected people, and highlights both hopeful developments and enduring struggles.

“Our findings show two realities unfolding side by side,” said UHERO Research Economist Daniela Bond-Smith. “Some households are finding new footing—moving into stable housing, returning to work and regaining stability. But others are still living with deep uncertainty, especially those with limited support and population groups who had already been marginalized prior to the fires.”

The survey—launched in August 2024 and still ongoing—includes people who lived, worked or owned a business in West Maui or Kula at the time of the fires. Its monthly format offers rare, near real-time insights into how recovery is progressing at the household level. Among its key findings:

  • Permanent housing is steadily increasing, and the share of people in precarious housing situations has halved since late 2024.
  • Median rents have started to decrease, particularly for smaller units such as studios and one-bedrooms.
  • Rental assistance has helped many fire-affected households. Almost three-quarters of this group pay less rent in the second quarter of 2025 than before the wildfires. On the other hand, rent levels for those without full rental subsidies remain well above pre-fire norms, particularly for larger units.
  • Full-time employment remains below pre-fire levels, and nearly 60% of households report lower income than before the fires.
  • Poverty rates have nearly doubled, with almost one in four households now below the poverty line.
  • Self-reported unmet needs have declined over time, especially in categories including housing, food and financial assistance.
  • Fewer people are receiving assistance now compared to a year ago, which may reflect both greater economic stability for parts of the population and persisting gaps for others.

The report emphasizes that a meaningful recovery is underway, but that gaps in support and affordability risk leaving some fire-affected people behind as emergency programs wind down.

“As long-term planning continues, it’s important that decisions are guided by timely data grounded in the experiences of those most affected,” said UHERO Executive Director Carl Bonham. “Our goal is to provide timely insights that reflect the evolving needs of Maui’s fire-affected communities.”

The Maui Recovery Survey will continue through at least mid-2026, with UHERO releasing bimonthly updates on the Maui Recovery Survey Dashboard.

See the entire report on UHERO’s website.

UHERO is housed in UH Mānoa’s College of Social Sciences.

PBN: UHERO report: Maui wildfire recovery faces housing, job hurdles - Pacific Business News

KITV: Lahaina fires recovery stalls; many residents consider leaving Hawaii | Video | kitv.com

HNN: New report details ‘ongoing, yet uneven’ economic recovery of Maui fire survivors

HNN: Study explores health impacts of 2,000 Maui wildfire survivors

Links

TEXT "follow HawaiiFreePress" to 40404

Register to Vote

2aHawaii

Aloha Pregnancy Care Center

AntiPlanner

Antonio Gramsci Reading List

A Place for Women in Waipio

Ballotpedia Hawaii

Broken Trust

Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii

Cliff Slater's Second Opinion

DVids Hawaii

FIRE

Fix Oahu!

Frontline: The Fixers

Genetic Literacy Project

Grassroot Institute

Habele.org

Hawaii Aquarium Fish Report

Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society

Hawaii Catholic TV

Hawaii Christian Coalition

Hawaii Cigar Association

Hawaii ConCon Info

Hawaii Debt Clock

Hawaii Defense Foundation

Hawaii Family Forum

Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United

Hawaii Farmer's Daughter

Hawaii Federation of Republican Women

Hawaii History Blog

Hawaii Jihadi Trial

Hawaii Legal News

Hawaii Legal Short-Term Rental Alliance

Hawaii Matters

Hawaii Military History

Hawaii's Partnership for Appropriate & Compassionate Care

Hawaii Public Charter School Network

Hawaii Rifle Association

Hawaii Shippers Council

Hawaii Together

HiFiCo

Hiram Fong Papers

Homeschool Legal Defense Hawaii

Honolulu Navy League

Honolulu Traffic

House Minority Blog

Imua TMT

Inouye-Kwock, NYT 1992

Inside the Nature Conservancy

Inverse Condemnation

July 4 in Hawaii

Land and Power in Hawaii

Lessons in Firearm Education

Lingle Years

Managed Care Matters -- Hawaii

MentalIllnessPolicy.org

Missile Defense Advocacy

MIS Veterans Hawaii

NAMI Hawaii

Natatorium.org

National Parents Org Hawaii

NFIB Hawaii

NRA-ILA Hawaii

Obookiah

OHA Lies

Opt Out Today

Patients Rights Council Hawaii

Practical Policy Institute of Hawaii

Pritchett Cartoons

Pro-GMO Hawaii

RailRipoff.com

Rental by Owner Awareness Assn

Research Institute for Hawaii USA

Rick Hamada Show

RJ Rummel

School Choice in Hawaii

SenatorFong.com

Talking Tax

Tax Foundation of Hawaii

The Real Hanabusa

Time Out Honolulu

Trustee Akina KWO Columns

Waagey.org

West Maui Taxpayers Association

Whole Life Hawaii