stock here: when you see the big numbers, keep in mind, there were about 2000 homes in Lahaina that burned. Do the math, 1.6B Grant = 8M per home. Does that make ANY sense?
Here is a summary, by Gemini
This Civil Beat article is a summary of a “Sunshine Interview” with Maui Mayor Richard Bissen and Recovery Chief John Smith about the ongoing recovery efforts following the August 2023 wildfires, primarily focusing on the rebuilding of Lahaina and Upcountry. The interview was conducted on September 22, 2025.
Key Recovery Priorities and Approach
- Community-Centered Housing: Mayor Bissen’s top priority is a “community-led, government-supported” recovery, with the simple goal of getting all displaced residents—the “same people”—back to Lahaina and Kula on their homelands. He stressed that a rebuild would be a failure if the original community members weren’t able to return.
- Speed vs. Resilience: The Mayor acknowledged the “tension” between the desire to quickly rebuild to get people home and the need to build a more resilient, fire-resistant Lahaina. He stated that the urgent need to address displacement, mortgages on destroyed homes, and fragmented families led him to prioritize speed to keep the original community from leaving permanently.
- Housing is Paramount: John Smith, Administrator of the Maui Office of Recovery, confirmed that housing remains their most crucial focus. The office is developing programs to help both homeowners and displaced renters become first-time homeowners.
Federal Funding and Oversight
- HUD Grant: The county received a $1.6 billion Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in July 2025 (applied for 20 months earlier). This is a permanent, long-term fund, in contrast to the temporary, emergency-focused nature of FEMA.
- Scrutiny and Speed: Maui’s grant was the largest single amount in a $12 billion allocation to about 42 communities nationwide. Because they are first-time grantees, they are under additional scrutiny from HUD, with whom they work closely. Smith noted that Maui is moving as quickly as or more quickly than other grantees in the package.
- Spending the Funds: The county has a typical six-year timeline to spend the CDBG-DR funds, but it can be extended if they show progress. Mayor Bissen noted that $1.6 billion is a conservative estimate of an $8 billion loss, confirming the need for more funding. Crucially, CDBG-DR funds are the only federal monies that can be used to leverage other federal dollars for matching grants.
Specific Recovery Challenges
- FEMA Temporary Housing: The temporary housing at sites like Kilohana is set to be removed, but the county is in discussions with FEMA to possibly purchase or receive the dwellings and infrastructure (roads, sewer, power) for future permanent housing, potentially on state or Hawaiian Home Lands.
- Street Standards and Historic Town: The Office of Recovery is addressing the challenge of applying modern county street standards, which are designed for new subdivisions, to historic Lahaina. They are working to find a minimum standard for safety and mobility that still allows the town to “feel like Lahaina” while meeting new codes for fire, flood, and historic preservation.
- Short-Term Rentals (Bill 9): Mayor Bissen supports the measure to phase out short-term rentals to preserve the community and prevent residents from being priced out. He views the County Council’s slow, deliberative process on the bill and its amendments as a positive attempt at compromise rather than rushing to a divisive decision.
- Water Issues (One Water Lahaina): The county recognizes the complicated nature of water management, especially in Lahaina. The Office of Recovery has initiated a “One Water Lahaina” initiative to take a holistic approach to water, encompassing potable water, recycled water (R-1), stormwater capture, and its use for housing, agriculture, and as a cultural resource. This initiative aims to avoid holding up housing progress. Bissen also pointed out that 76% of Lahaina’s water line is privately owned, which the fire brought to light, and the county is looking into acquiring more water systems.