Maui County's Government Relations, Ethics, and Transparency Committee provided a significant update on the Ohana Fund during its recent meeting on October 7, 2025. The fund, which totals $175 million, was established to assist individuals making claims related to death and serious physical injuries. As of now, 26 death claims and 7 serious injury claims have been validated, leading to a total payout of $40 million, with $135 million still available for future claims.

Judge Abara has been overseeing the fund's administration, ensuring that claims are legitimate. In the first phase, 23 out of 50 death claims were accepted, resulting in $34.5 million disbursed. For serious injuries, 4 out of 7 claims were accepted, with individual amounts varying based on the nature of the injuries.

Looking ahead, the committee announced that Phase 2 of the Ohana Fund will soon reopen to address additional serious injury claims, specifically those requiring overnight hospitalization or emergency outpatient treatment. The exact number of claims and potential payouts for this phase remain undetermined.

In addition to the Ohana Fund update, the committee discussed ongoing wildfire litigation, with nearly 4,000 cases filed against the county. A special master has been appointed to help manage the settlement process, and over 19,000 releases from plaintiffs have been gathered. Payments from the settlement are structured to occur over four years, with the first payments anticipated to start in 2026, pending resolution of certain issues.

A status conference is scheduled for October 31, where further details regarding the payment timeline and prioritization of claims will be clarified. The committee emphasized the importance of transparency and efficiency in addressing the needs of affected individuals and families as they navigate this complex process.