NEWS UPDATES:

WEATHER

Moderate to breezy easterly trade winds and somewhat dry conditions are forecast to prevail through Saturday, September 2, followed by a decline in winds Saturday night and Sunday. In Lahaina, daytime sea breezes will overpower the trade winds by mid-morning and early afternoon, giving way to a brief period of moderate trade winds late in the afternoon and early evening, according to the National Weather Service. The Kula area should remain sheltered from trade winds. Limited showers will fall across windward slopes, and leeward areas will remain dry.

FIRE UPDATE

• Olinda fire: Remains 85% contained. Estimated 1,081 acres. 
• Kula fire: Remains 90% contained. Estimated 202 acres. 
• Lahaina fire: Remains 90% contained. Estimated 2,170 acres. 

The Maui Fire Department (MFD) advises the public that extinguishing the Upcountry fires may take an extended period of time given the large burn area and the nature of the rural terrain. Although containment percentages have not changed over recent days, MFD continues to reassure the public there are no active threats among the three ongoing fires. 

FATALITY AND SEARCH UPDATE

Confirmed fatality numbers and identification information are included in the Maui Police Department’s daily press release, anticipated to be issued by 6 p.m. daily. For that information, please visit: bit.ly/MauiPoliceNews. There are 115 confirmed fatalities, with 100% of the Lahaina disaster area searched, according to officials. 

ENTRY INTO DISASTER AREAS

At this time, there is no list allowing residents to return to the disaster area in Lahaina. There will be a coordinated effort to develop a plan for the safe return of residents. Currently, the disaster area is restricted to authorized personnel only. Dangers include ash that may contain toxic, cancer-causing chemicals with debris including broken glass, exposed electrical wire, and other objects. Unstable structures may contain hazardous materials and could collapse, causing injury. For those who can return to their properties, county officials urge all individuals to utilize Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). For more PPE recommendations, go to bit.ly/WestMauiCaution.

UNSAFE WATER ADVISORY

An interactive map depicting the precise location of the Unsafe Water Advisory is now available at bit.ly/mauiwateradvisory. Until further notice, residents in these areas of Lahaina and Kula should only use bottled water or potable water provided from tankers for things like drinking, brushing teeth, ice-making and food preparation. For potable water, please bring large water containers to: 

• Lahaina: Lahaina Gateway Center, Honokohau Valley, Behind Lahaina Baseyard, Kahoma Village, Hawaiian Homes/Lahaina Civic Center
• Upper Kula: Crater Road, Copp Road, Holy Ghost Church, Rice Park, Ching Store, Ulupalakua Ranch Store

Residents in impacted areas are not able to treat the water in any way to make it safe to consume, with contaminants possibly having entered the water system.

UNACCOUNTED-FOR INDIVIDUALS

We still need your help identifying individuals reported unaccounted for following the Lahaina wildfire disaster. The validated list of names is available at mauinuistrong.info/unaccountedfor. If you recognize a name on the list and know the person to be safe, or have additional information that may help locate them, please contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) at (808) 566-4300 or [email protected]. 

Anyone wishing to report an individual who is still unaccounted for is asked to email [email protected] and provide the following information:

• Person reporting: first and last name, contact information and relationship with the unaccounted for individual.
• Unaccounted individual: first and last name, age or date of birth, last known location and last known physical address of residence. 

For those seeking information regarding those who are unaccounted for, the Family Assistance Center (FAC) is located at the Hyatt Regency’s Monarchy Ballroom, 200 Nohea Kai Drive, Ka‘anapali. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

If you live on a neighbor island or the U.S. Mainland, are the immediate family member of a person missing as the result of the Maui wildfires, and you wish to provide a DNA sample to assist, please call the FBI Honolulu Division at (808) 566-4300 or email [email protected].

DNA samples are only for identification of wildfire victims and survivors, and will not be stored or used for any other purpose. 

The FAC has received reports about Maui community members receiving calls from individuals or organizations claiming to be with “DNA Services.” These telephone calls are scams, and anyone receiving them should hang up immediately and report them to the Maui Police Department’s non-emergency number at (808) 244-6400.

LAHAINA HARBOR ACCESS

For the most up-to-date information regarding Lahaina Harbor access, future salvage operations and available resources, please go to the U.S. Coast Guard Homeport, Sector Honolulu website at

https://homeport.uscg.mil/port-directory/honolulu. The information is under Safety Notifications within the Safety Alerts. Select “Western Maui Wildfires Stakeholder Guide,” dated August 28, 2023.

TRANSPORTATION

Late-night vehicular access into Lahaina is limited to West Maui residents, first responders and West Maui employees from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Evening roadblocks on Honoapi‘ilani Highway (Highway 30) are located at Ma‘alaea and Waihe‘e. The Maui Police Department will cite and tow vehicles parked at the Lahaina Bypass, where there are no-parking signs.  

RESOURCE UPDATES:

FOOD DISTRIBUTION / DONATIONS

Food and supplies will be distributed to West Maui residents at Lahaina Gateway, 325 Keawe St.: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. On-site mobile health vehicle.

Queen Ka‘ahumanu Center (fronting Ka‘ahumanu Ave. and Kane St.) will accept donations of non-perishable food, water and paper supplies only. Donations will be accepted on Monday, Wednesday and Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Feed my Sheep mobile food distribution sites are set up at: 150 South Pu‘unene Ave. in Kahului (9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturdays) and in the parking lot next to Living Way Church, at the corner of Market and Mokuhau streets in Happy Valley (10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Fridays).

RESOURCE HUB: DONATION & VOLUNTEER INFORMATION 

An online, centralized hub to respond to the impacts of the Maui Wildfire Disaster is available at mauinuistrong.info. The County of Maui’s “Maui Nui Strong” site offers information on how to donate, volunteer, offer services and locate support. Support information on the Maui Nui Strong site includes resources for Financial Assistance, Government Services, Medical Care, Mental Health Services and more. 

CALL CENTER

The State of Hawaiʻi and Maui County have launched the Maui Disaster Support Call Center. The call center can be reached at (808) 727-1550 between 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, and provides a central assistance hub for community members affected by the Maui wildfires.

COMMUNITY INFORMATION BOARDS

Information boards are now located at these locations: 

• Kula Lodge Water Hub - 15200 Haleakala Hwy., Kula 
• Napili Park - 22 Maiha Street, Napili
• Napili Plaza - 5095 Napilihau St., Lahaina
• S-Turns Pohaku Park ‘Ohana - Lower Honoapi‘ilani Rd., Honowokai 
• Times Supermarket Honokowai - 3350 Lower Honoapi‘ilani Rd., Lahaina
• Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa - 2605 Ka‘anapali Parkway, Ka‘anapali 
• Hyatt Regency Maui - 200 Nohea Kai Dr., Lahaina
• Lahaina Gateway Center - 325 Keawe St., Lahaina
• Kelawea Mauka 2 - Niheu Street (Lahainaluna Road) 
• Kelawea Mauka 3 - North Hopoe Place (Lahainaluna Road)  
• Safeway Kihei - 277 Pi‘ikea Ave., Kihei

SHELTERS

Hotel shelter locations are open around Maui, in coordination with the American Red Cross (ARC). 

The current shelter locations include:

• Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort, 3550 Wailea Alanui Dr., Wailea; 
• Aston at the Maui Banyan, 2575 South Kihei Rd., Kihei;
• Aston Mahana at Kaʻanapali, 110 Kaʻanapali Shores Pl., Lahaina; 
• Aston Maui Kaʻanapali Villas, 45 Kai Ala Dr., Lahaina; 
• Honua Kai Outrigger, 130 Kai Malina Pkwy., Lahaina; 
• Kaʻanapali Beach Club, 104 Kaʻanapali Shores Pl., Lahaina; 
• Maui Seaside Hotel, 100 W Kaʻahumanu Ave., Kahului; 
• Outrigger Kaʻanapali Beach Resort, 2525 Kaʻanapali Pkwy., Lahaina; 
• The Whaler, 2481 Kaʻanapali Pkwy., Lahaina; 
• Westin Maui, 2365 Kaʻanapali Pkwy., Lahaina; 
• Aston at Papakea Resort, 3543 Lower Honoapiʻilani Rd., Lahaina; 
• Aston Kaʻanapali Shores, 3445 Lower Honoapiʻilani Rd., Lahaina; 
• Aston Maui Hill Resort, 2881 South Kihei Rd., Kihei; 
• Fairmont Kea Lani; 4100 Wailea Alanui Dr., Wailea-Makena; 
• Hyatt Regency Maui, 200 Nohea Kai Dr., Lahaina; 
• Maui Beach Hotel, 170 West Kaʻahumanu Ave., Kahului; 
• Sheraton Maui Resort, 2605 Kaʻanapali Pkwy., Lahaina; 
• Royal Lahaina, 2780 Kekaʻa Dr., Lahaina; 
• Wailea Beach Resort Hotel, 3700 Wailea Alanui Dr., Wailea; 
• Four Seasons Resort Maui, 3900 Wailea Alanui Dr., Wailea; 
• Sands of Kahana, 4299 Lower Honoapiilani Road, Lahaina; 
• Maui Resort Rentals, 10 Halawai Drive, Lahaina.

To register with FEMA for shelter or financial assistance, call 1 (800) 621-3362, visit disasterassistance.gov, or apply through the FEMA smartphone app. 

You can also get assistance in person. A Disaster Recovery Center operates daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the University of Hawai‘i Maui College (310 W. Ka‘ahumanu Ave., Community Services Building 205).

A Disaster Recovery Center is now available at the Lahaina Civic Center gymnasium, 1840 Honoapiʻilani Highway from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

An additional FEMA Disaster Recovery Center is open at the Mayor Hannibal Tavares Community Center, located at 91 Pukalani St., Makawao. Services are available from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

People who do not meet FEMA qualifications will be eligible for hotel emergency lodging through the Red Cross, including non-citizens and those who were homeless prior to the fires. For information, call 1 (800) 733-2767.

COMMUNICATIONS

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has temporarily waived certain eligibility rules to ensure that people receiving federal disaster assistance due to the Maui fires can easily apply for and enroll in Lifeline, a federal program that helps lower the cost of phone and internet service. More information, including how to enroll, is available at https://www.lifelinesupport.org/. 

POSTAL SERVICE

Vacant PO Boxes at Post Offices across Maui will be temporarily made available at no charge to Lahaina residents who lost their homes or their Lahaina Downtown Post Office PO Boxes. Qualifying residents may request their free PO Boxes at any Maui post office. The latest updates on mail service are available by calling (808) 423-6000.

Displaced customers who would like to redirect their mail to new addresses should submit US Postal Service Change of Address requests as soon as possible online at bit.ly/3PjWL6u or at their local post office.

UNEMPLOYMENT 

Workers, business owners and self-employed residents of Maui who became unemployed or had reduced work hours due to the August wildfires may be eligible for disaster unemployment benefits. Those benefits cover Aug. 13 to Feb. 10, 2024 if the individual’s unemployment continues to be a direct result of the disaster. Regular unemployment insurance and disaster unemployment benefits cannot be paid at the same time. The deadline to apply is Monday, Sept. 25. To apply go to https://uiclaims.hawaii.gov. Those who are not able to file online can apply toll-free at any of these numbers:(833) 901-2272;  (833) 901-2275; (808) 762-5751 or (808) 762-5752. 

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