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Governor reports progress on Maui recovery, cites $2 billion in federal aid and ongoing housing projects
Summary
Governor Josh Green detailed recovery progress from the Aug. 8, 2023 Maui wildfires, including debris removal, temporary and permanent housing counts, and federal disaster relief funding.
Governor Josh Green told the joint session that the Aug. 8, 2023 wildfires on Maui killed 102 people and that the state has led a coalition of federal, state and local partners to clear debris, restore infrastructure and build temporary and permanent housing for survivors.
Why it matters: Maui’s reconstruction is a major, multi‑year undertaking with large state and federal fiscal and program commitments.
The governor said debris removal in residential and commercial areas took just under a year and the state and partners are building more than 1,200 temporary housing units for survivors. He said the state has provided rental assistance for more than 5,600 displaced people and that, working with the congressional delegation and the White House, Hawaii secured more than $2 billion in federal disaster relief funds for housing and recovery.
He told the Legislature the state has built 810 new permanent units across four Maui projects and is finishing transitional housing approvals for an additional 1,044 units to meet immediate needs while the community decides how to rebuild Lahaina. The governor said more than 99% of those displaced by the fires have been moved into long‑term housing.
Budget requests tied to Maui recovery include more than $350 million for projects on Maui, including new schools, wildfire prevention measures and other recovery needs. The governor also referenced a global financial settlement that he said helped avert a fiscal collapse of Maui County and protect Hawaii’s energy system, though he did not provide details in the speech.
