cruise maui fire

What Travelers Should Know About Maui's Devastating Wildfires

By Jessica Puckett

The devastating wildfires that have been ripping through Maui have been mostly contained as of Thursday morning, officials told the New York Times . However, periodic flare-ups are still occurring in some areas.

The fires erupted suddenly on Tuesday night, quickly spreading through several regions on the island, fueled by strong winds from a distant hurricane moving across the Pacific Ocean. Among the most affected areas were Kula in central Maui and the historic town of Lahaina, a popular area for visitors on the island’s northwest coast.

At least 36 people have died in the fires, according to county officials , although the death toll is expected to climb as search-and-rescue efforts are amped up in some of the ravaged areas on Thursday. Three active fires were still burning late Wednesday night, local time, Maui County said .

A mass evacuation effort to get tourists and non-essential visitors off the island was still underway on Thursday, with officials arranging mass bus services for tourists from Kaanapali, which sits to the north of Lahaina, directly to Kahului airport, the AP reports . The airport remains open, and airlines are adding more flights to their schedules to help shuttle remaining travelers off of Maui.

“Visitors who are on non-essential travel are being asked to leave Maui,” Hawaii’s Tourism Authority said in an alert about the wildfire. So far, about 11,000 tourists have evacuated the island, according to the New York Times, with another 1,500 expected to leave on Thursday.

What travelers who have upcoming trips to Hawaii should know

Maui officials are strongly discouraging non-essential travel to the island at this time. “In the days and weeks ahead, our collective resources and attention must be focused on the recovery of residents and communities that were forced to evacuate their homes and businesses,” the state Tourism Authority said. “Visitors who have travel plans to West Maui in the coming weeks are encouraged to consider rescheduling their travel plans for a later time.”

Airlines are being flexible and waiving change fees and fare differences to allow travelers to change their Maui-bound flights. Contact your airline or go to the “travel alerts” page on their website for more information.

Travelers with trips to Hawai'i in the coming weeks who plan to stay outside of West Maui or in the Mauna Kea Resort area on the island of Hawai’i, where three smaller fires ignited on Wednesday, should contact their hotels for the latest information and to see if their travel plans will be affected.

“Travel to Kaua'i, O'ahu, Moloka'i, Lāna'i, and other parts of Hawai'i Island are not affected at this time,” the Tourism Authority said.

How to help the victims of the Maui wildfires

A handful of on-the-ground charities and other groups are mobilizing to get much-need resources to victims of the wildfires.

The Hawai’i Governor’s Office is asking that donations be directed to the Hawai’i Community Foundation , which will be used to support local communities affected by the fires.

The Maui Food Bank is accepting donations to help it provide meals to displaced residents.

The Hawaiian and Pacific Islands branch of the Salvation Army is also accepting donations to help feed and provide other resources to evacuees in emergency shelters.

The Maui United Way is accepting donations, which it says it will use to “provide direct relief to families and nonprofits directly affected by the Maui Fire Disaster.”

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Maui Travel Updates

Maui Recovery

On August 8, 2023, wildfires resulted in the devastating loss of loved ones, homes, cultural and historical sites, and businesses in Lahaina, located in West Maui. We extend our deepest condolences and heartfelt aloha to all those who have been affected by this tragedy. We also urge visitors throughout Hawai‘i to be especially mindful and respectful in our island home as our community continues through this extremely difficult time.   The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority is continuously coordinating efforts with federal, state and county emergency management officials, as well as our community partners, visitor industry and Global Marketing Team. We are also providing updates to our travel partners — airlines, accommodations, ground transportation companies, activity providers, travel agents, and wholesalers, as well as to local, national and international media — to ensure the public is kept informed.

While Lahaina itself will remain fully closed to the public until further notice out of respect to the town’s residents, West Maui accommodations have reopened to visitors.

Latest News

February 15, 2024

Mākaukau Maui - We Are Ready

With a deep commitment to our community’s well-being, West Maui is ready to return a comforting sense of stability to the lives of its residents. Reopening our doors is one step towards reducing the uncertainties that weigh on our shoulders. It also ensures our community has the jobs and financial opportunities to thrive. On the horizon is a new day. As one, Maui is moving forward – hopeful and optimistic that it can share its culture with those beyond our shores. Learn more at: https://makaukaumaui.com .  

Hawai‘i Tourism Authority Board Approves Action Plan to Support Maui’s Recovery in 2024

On December 22, 2023, the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority Board of Directors furthered its ongoing commitment to mālama Maui and support the island’s recovery by approving an immediate six-month action plan for 2024 to help address major challenges confronting residents, small businesses, visitor industry providers, Maui’s economy, and families seeking housing. Learn more here .   The action plan is designed to fulfill tourism’s responsibilities in alliance with the leadership established by Governor Josh Green, M.D. and within the broader scope of Maui’s recovery efforts being conducted by the State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) and other state agencies. HTA’s full report identifying major strategies and not only short-term but also mid- and long-term recommendations is being provided to DBEDT in their role coordinating the State’s Economic Recovery Support Functions. Read the full report .

Hawai‘i Tourism Authority Board Of Directors Approves $2.6 Million In Funding For Maui Marketing Recovery Plan

HTA's Board of Directors took decisive action at its monthly board meeting on August 31 to approve $2.6 million in funding to launch the Maui Marketing Recovery Plan , which is centered around a new Mālama Maui campaign with heartfelt messages shared by kama‘āina of Maui. The plan's focus is to rebuild responsible travel demand from the United States market to Maui in the wake of the devastating Lahaina wildfires. Watch the board meeting . HTA staff and board members were on Maui throughout August to meet with residents and business owners and listen to them about the challenges they now face with visitor arrivals decreasing significantly since August 8. Visitors help to support the economy, supporting local shops, local restaurants, and local activities which ultimately aids in the island’s overall recovery efforts.

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Information and resources for travel advisors is available on our GoHawaii website.

Mālama Maui

NOTE: While multiple dictionary sources propose "Lāhainā" as the old pronunciation for the region, living kūpuna, mānaleo and recordings of mānaleo serve to demonstrate that the contemporary pronunciation is Lahaina. Heeding the call from the Lahaina community, HTA uses the spelling Lahaina across all platforms.

Watch CBS News

How did the Maui fire start? What we know about the cause of the Lahaina blaze

By Emily Mae Czachor

Updated on: August 27, 2023 / 9:00 PM EDT / CBS News

Deadly wildfires in Hawaii, which killed over 100 people and forced thousands to evacuate, were fueled by a mix of land and atmospheric conditions that can create "fire weather." A massive blaze destroyed much of the historic town of Lahaina , on Maui, and the search for victims continued as hundreds remained missing.

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said a few days after the fires broke out that there was "very little left" of Lahaina, where more than 2,700 structures have been destroyed in what is now the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century. Green said he expects the death toll to keep climbing.

"There are more fatalities that will come," Green told CBS News . "The fire was so hot that what we find is the tragic finding that you would imagine, as though a fire has come through and it's hard to recognize anybody."

Nearly two weeks after the blazes first spread, more than 800 people were still missing, and many of them could be children, Lahaina's mayor said.  

• How to help those affected by the Maui wildfires

While Maui grapples with the devastating losses and officials work to implement relief and recovery plans, many people have raised questions about how the fires began and whether anything could have been done to prevent such a disaster.

What caused the Maui fire?

An investigation is underway to determine what initially sparked the wildfires, and the cause has not been officially determined. Investigators are looking into whether downed power lines and decisions by Hawaiian Electric, the state's primary power company, played a role. 

Much of Hawaii was under a red flag warning for fire risk when the wildfires broke out, with dangerous high wind conditions caused by Hurricane Dora, a Category 4 storm that was moving across the Pacific Ocean hundreds of miles south of the Hawaiian islands.

"We don't know what actually ignited the fires, but we were made aware in advance by the National Weather Service that we were in a red flag situation — so that's dry conditions for a long time, so the fuel, the trees and everything, was dry," Maj. Gen. Kenneth Hara, commander general of the Hawaii Army National Guard, said at a briefing Wednesday, Aug. 9. That, along with low humidity and high winds, "set the conditions for the wildfires," he said.

The earliest blaze reported by Maui County officials was described as a brush fire in the Olinda Road area of Kula, a town in the island's Upcountry region, where wildfires eventually burned through about 700 acres and claimed 19 homes. On Tuesday, Aug. 8, Maui County shared the first details about a Kula brush fire that had forced evacuations early that morning. 

A video clipped from security camera footage at the Maui Bird Conservation Center — located along Olinda Road in Makawao, directly adjacent to Kula — appears to show a flash in the woods around their property at 10:47 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 7. The Washington Post originally reported on the video, which the conservation center shared to its Instagram page over the weekend. In that social media post, Jennifer Pribble, a senior research coordinator at the organization, suggested the flash may have happened after a tree fell on a power line during strong winds.

"I think that is when a tree is falling on a power line," Pribble said on Instagram. "The power goes out, our generator kicks in, the camera comes back online, and then the forest is on fire."

Echoing wildfire experts , Gov. Green said on Aug. 11 that he believes a confluence of weather conditions contributed to the ignition and spread of the blazes.

"It is a product, in my estimation, of certainly global warming combined with drought, combined with a super storm, where we had a hurricane offshore several hundred miles, still generating large winds," Green told CNN.

"The winds were just getting out of control. Power lines were down everywhere.," Maui resident J.D. Hessemer, who owned a business in Lahaina, later  told "CBS Mornings."  "We just decided it was not safe to stay around for the day."

The National Weather Service noted in a  tweet  before the fires started that significant differences in atmospheric pressure between the hurricane and the air north of Hawaii formed a pressure gradient over the islands which, when combined with dry conditions, posed a serious threat of fires as well as damaging winds.

"While Hurricane Dora passes well south with no direct impacts here, the strong pressure gradient between it & the high pressure to the north creates a threat of damaging winds & fire weather (due to ongoing dry conditions) from early Mon to Wed," the agency said at the time.

Claims surfaced in the following days that Hawaiian Electric, which operates Maui Electric and services  95% of the state overall, did not implement precautionary safety measures included in an emergency plan to reduce wildfire risks ahead of the storm. Citing documents, a Washington Post report noted that the provider did not shut off electricity to areas where strong winds were expected and could spark flames.

A spokesperson for Maui Electric told CBS News in a statement that some steps were taken to mitigate the possibility of fires sparking before hurricane winds arrived.

"Hawaiian Electric has a robust wildfire mitigation and grid resiliency program that includes vegetation management, grid hardening investments and regular inspection of our assets," the company's statement said. "The company has protocols that may be used when high winds are expected, including not enabling the automatic reclosure of circuits that may open during a weather event. This was done before the onset of high winds. ... At this early stage, no cause for the fire has been determined."

Jennifer Potter, a former member of the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, told the news site Honolulu Civil Beat that she believes "there should have been greater alarms raised" by the commission to Hawaiian Electric as forecasts began to warn of the hazardous wind conditions. Potter said the utilities commission should have pushed the electric company to implement a power shut-down protocol ahead of time to mitigate wildfire risks, noting that Hawaii has seen a rise in both the size and intensity of fires in recent years.

Maui County announced on Aug. 28 it had sued Hawaiin Electric and several of its subsidiaries, alleging the utility failed to power down its equipment as the storm was approaching and that downed, energized power lines ignited the blazes.

"The lawsuit also alleges failure to maintain the system and power grid, which caused the systemic failures starting three different fires," the county said in a statement.

Firefighting efforts and emergency response

A number of agencies were called to respond to wildfires on Maui as the blazes spread rapidly over the island on Tuesday, Aug. 8, although weather conditions linked to Hurricane Dora hindered some of those efforts. National Guard helicopters activated as part of the state's emergency response to the wildfires were grounded as the wind gusts picked up that evening.

A state emergency  proclamation  authorized the deployment of National Guard troops and extended the state of emergency. President Biden approved a federal disaster declaration on Thursday, Aug. 10. 

Maui's warning sirens were not triggered as the fast-moving fires began to spread. Instead, the county used emergency alerts sent to mobile phones, televisions and radio stations.

When asked by reporters on Aug. 16 whether he regretted not activating the sirens, Herman Andaya, the former chief of the Maui Emergency Management Agency, responded "I do not."

"The public is trained to seek higher ground in the event that the sirens are sounded," Andaya said, noting that the sirens are generally used to warn of tsunamis or approaching storms.  

"Had we sounded the sirens that night, we were afraid that people would have gone mauka (mountainside), and if that was the case, they would have gone into the fire," Andaya said. "So that is the reason why, it is our protocol, to use WEA [Wireless Emergency Alerts] and EAS [the Emergency Alert System]."

Andaya explained that the agency's "internal protocol" for wildfires is to use both WEA — text alerts sent to cell phones — and the EAS, which are alerts sent to television and radio. 

"In a wildland fire incident, the (siren) system has not been used, either in Maui or in other jurisdictions around the state," Andaya said.

However, with power knocked out in the area and no television or radio, residents reported receiving no text alerts or television or radio notifications.  

Making matters worse, residents said the fire hydrants ran out of water, hindering firefighters' ability to contain the blazes. FEMA officials confirmed there was an issue that affected the hydrants' water supply.

Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez announced Aug. 11 that her agency would conduct a "comprehensive review of critical decision-making and standing policies leading up to, during, and after the wildfires." 

What about Hawaii's warning sirens? 

Hawaii has a statewide outdoor  warning siren system , which can be used to notify residents ahead of natural disasters or human-caused events, including tsunamis, hurricanes, dam breaches, flooding, wildfires, volcanic eruptions, terrorist threats and hazardous material incidents, according to the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency.  

However, the island's warning sirens were not activated on Aug. 8. Addressing reporters on Aug. 16, Herman Andaya, chief of the Maui Emergency Management Agency, defended his decision not to activate the sirens. 

"The public is trained to seek higher ground in the event that the sirens are sounded," Andaya said, noting that the sirens are generally used to warn of tsunamis or approaching storms.

WEAs are text alerts sent to cell phones and the EAS uses television and radio, Andaya explained.

Hawaii's official government website lists "wildfires" as one of the hazards the siren alert system can be used for. However, with power knocked out in the area and no television or radio, residents reported receiving no text alerts or television or radio notifications.   

In the wake of the criticism over the response to the fire, Andaya, who CBS News learned had no background in disaster response, resigned his position  on Aug. 17 citing "health reasons." Green later said he wished "all the sirens went off."

"Everybody who has ever lived in Hawaii knows the warning sirens. It goes off once a month, every month, at 12 noon and it blares. And if it doesn't, it gets fixed because that is our first line of defense,"  Rep. Jill Tokuda of Hawaii said  said Aug. 13 on "Face the Nation ."

"The reality is, with those warning signs, it tells all of us to turn on the television or look on our phones or turn on the radio," she went on. "With how fast this burn was ... if you turned on your phone, if you turned on a radio, if you even could ... you would not know what the crisis was. You might think it's a tsunami, by the way, which is our first instinct. You would run towards land, which in this case would be towards fire."   

As the fires raged, crews rescued 17 people who jumped into the Lahaina harbor in an effort to escape the flames, the U.S. Coast Guard said. On Front Street, a popular tourist destination, business owner Alan Dickar described seeing buildings on both sides of the street "engulfed" in flames. "There were no fire trucks at that point; I think the fire department was overwhelmed," Dickar told CBS Honolulu affiliate  KGMB-TV . 

Speaking later to CBS News' Patrick Torphy, he added: "Maui can't handle this. ... A lot of people just lost their jobs because a lot of businesses burned. A lot of people lost their homes. ... This is going to be devastating for Maui."

How do wildfires usually start?

Almost 85% of wildfires in the United States are caused by humans, according to the  National Park Service . Fires that are sparked this way can result accidentally from leaving campfires unattended, burning debris, using various kinds of equipment and discarding cigarettes improperly. Intentional acts of arson are another source of human-caused wildfires, the agency says.

Lightning and volcanic activity are two natural causes of wildfires, although officials note that lightning strikes are a much more common catalyst. 

Certain weather can ignite and help spread fires, with strong winds, low relative humidity, unstable atmospheric conditions and thunderstorms contributing to what meteorologists call "fire weather," said Nick Nauslar, a meteorologist and former weather forecaster at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Storm Prediction Center, in a 2018 FAQ published by the agency. 

Most often, lightning strikes a tree and ignites a fire, but strong winds can also spark power lines that go on to ignite wildfires when there is dry brush or grass in the area, according to NOAA, which says wildfires can spread quickly in hot, dry and windy conditions — especially when those conditions happen simultaneously. The wildfire season has been severe in Canada and across North America this year, as warm and dry conditions persist while various sections of the continent experience record heat and drought as a result of climate change.

Maui Fire officials had warned in an  alert  issued Tuesday, Aug. 8, that "erratic wind, challenging terrain, steep slopes and dropping humidity, the direction and the location of the fire conditions make it difficult to predict path and speed of a wildfire." It noted that "fires can start at a far distance from their source" when wind pushes embers upward and sparks are ignited downwind.

"The fire can be a mile or more from your house, but in a minute or two, it can be at your house," said Fire Assistant Chief Jeff Giesea in a statement included in the alert. "Burning airborne materials can light fires a great distance away from the main body of fire."

Where are the fires in Maui?

The Lahaina wildfire was one of four blazes that broke out on Maui on Aug. 8, scorching a combined 10.4 square miles. Three of the four fires were still burning as of Aug. 27.

Two of the fires had originally been referred to as a single blaze, the  Upcountry/Kula fire . But Maui County officials said on Aug. 17 they were determined to be two fires with "distinct origins" and, moving forward, they would be reported separately as the Olinda and Kula fires, officials said.

Those two fires broke out on the eastern side of the island and have destroyed 19 homes. Terrain surrounding the fires in the Upcountry region made extinguishing the flames difficult, and firefighters battling those two blazes were still dealing with "hot spots in gulches, forests and other hard-to-reach places," more than a week after the fires began.   

The Olinda Fire has scorched 1,081 acres and was 85% contained as of Aug. 27, while the Kula Fire burned about 202 acres and was 90% contained, officials said.

The Lahaina fire, which has burned 2,170 acres, was 90% contained on Aug. 27.

The county has noted that even when a fire is 100% contained, that does not mean it has been extinguished but that firefighters had it "fully surrounded by a perimeter." 

• Hawaii Wildfires

Emily Mae Czachor is a reporter and news editor at CBSNews.com. She covers breaking news, often focusing on crime and extreme weather. Emily Mae has previously written for outlets including the Los Angeles Times, BuzzFeed and Newsweek.

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‘Fresh out of aloha.’ As tourists return to West Maui, some Hawaiians rethink the aloha spirit

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Paele Kiakona is not ready to go back to work. Still reeling after August wildfires ravaged his hometown of Lahaina , he doesn’t want to serve tourists, pouring brut Champagne or topping their mai tais with honey-liliko’i foam.

“I’ve seen people dead on the street,” Kiakona said. “My grandma’s house is gone. My whole town died.”

The 28-year-old Hawaii native who worked as a bartender at a farm-to-table restaurant north of Lahaina is wary of fielding questions, including what he says is now the ultimate dreaded icebreaker: “Did you lose your house in the fire?”

In this moment, he said, visitors aren’t the ones who need his care.

“Our aloha is reserved for our family right now,” Kiakona said. “It’s not just endless aloha.”

Hawaii is famous for its “aloha spirit,” a concept rooted in Native Hawaiian culture that long ago was commodified into the guiding philosophy for resorts and other businesses catering to tourists. More than a chill tropical greeting — an exotic salutation used in place of hello and goodbye — aloha is defined by state law as “mutual regard and affection” and extending “warmth in caring with no obligation in return.”

It’s a spirit that’s been in abundance among locals as people helped each other after the fire . But as tourists return to West Maui, edging closer to the charred ashes of a disaster in their search for paradise, some Hawaiians are reassessing what “aloha” means to them, and how much of it, exactly, they want to give to strangers when so many in their community have lost homes and loved ones.

They’re not withdrawing aloha, they say, just redefining and redistributing it.

“Aloha has commercially been sold as mai tais and a good time, and that the arms will be welcome and ready for you,” said Kaliko Kaauamo, 37, a taro farmer and curriculum writer for the Maui Arts and Cultural Center. “Aloha, it’s not always happy and sunshine and rainbows … sometimes having aloha is screaming and crying and being there to hold people in their grief.”

World & Nation

Fearing economic disaster, Maui wants tourists to return. But feelings are complicated

As Maui hotel rooms sit empty after the deadly Hawaii wildfire that devastated Lahaina, some are sounding economic alarms, asking tourists to return.

Aug. 28, 2023

Ninety-eight people died in the fire that raged through the historic town of Lahaina on Aug. 8, destroying or damaging more than 2,200 structures. This month, the state reopened West Maui, even though many blue-collar residents say it is too soon to greet visitors with warm smiles, alohas and fresh flower leis.

Hawaiian hospitality is a core part of Maui’s economy. With nearly 40% of the island’s gross domestic product linked to tourism, Gov. Josh Green has argued that thousands of jobs and the region’s economy would be jeopardized if West Maui resorts remained closed to visitors. But a significant number of workers say they should not be expected to welcome tourists at the hotels and condos north of Lahaina until they have schools and stable housing.

More than 6,800 Lahaina residents are sheltering in hotel rooms or rental condos with no firm reassurance of how long they will be able to stay.

Kiakona, an organizer of the grassroots activist group Lahaina Strong, warned that tourists who flock to the golden sand beaches and hotels with swim-up grotto bars and spas offering $200 massages could face backlash from locals who fear they will be priced out of their hometown.

“We made our plea. You decided not to listen,” Kiakona said. “The blood is on your hands.”

As one West Maui resident wrote on a sign to protest the reopening: “FRESH OUT OF ALOHA.”

Tension has long existed between Hawaii locals and visitors.

In 1778, British explorer Capt. James Cook was welcomed when he anchored off the Hawaiian islands by locals eager to trade cuttlefish, breadfruit and pigs for nails and iron tools. But he and his sailors eventually overstayed their welcome, depleting supplies and spreading venereal diseases. Cook was eventually stabbed to death.

In the early 1800s, Christian missionaries arrived in Hawaii, encouraged by Native refugees who had fled after the brutal wars of King Kamehameha’s conquest and urged Westerners to evangelize the islands.

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Then sugar and pineapple magnates from the U.S. and Europe followed, destroying the ecosystem by digging up native taro and banana trees and draining the wetlands to irrigate their plantations. They overthrew the Hawaiian Kingdom’s Queen Liliuokalani in 1893, and five years later the U.S. annexed Hawaii.

By then the commercialization of “aloha” was already underway. George Kanahele, the late Native Hawaiian historian and activist , wrote that aloha-themed souvenirs were popular among Hawaii’s earliest tourists. Among the bestsellers was sheet music for the song “Aloha Oe,” written and composed in 1878 by Queen Liliuokalani, when she was a princess. Later came the Aloha shirt, patented in 1936.

The allure of aloha as a slogan only grew after 1959, the year that Hawaii became a state and Pan American Airways inaugurated jet travel to Honolulu — part of a campaign by state leaders to reduce economic dependence on plantations by expanding tourism.

Today “aloha” is printed on cheap souvenir T-shirts, shot glasses and postcards depicting women in grass skirts. It is etched below a rainbow on every Hawaiian vehicle license plate. It is even part of a job title as resorts hire “Aloha ambassadors” to share traditional Hawaiian cultural practices.

But Aloha goes deeper for many Native Hawaiians. “Aloha” literally means “presence” (Alo) and “breath” (Hā). Hawaii’s government introduced the Aloha Spirit law in 1986, an effort inspired by Pilahi Paki, a Maui-born poet and philosopher who spoke of the aloha spirit at a 1970 conference on the islands’ future.

At a time when the U.S. was entrenched in the Vietnam War and many Hawaiians felt they were losing links to their history, culture and language, Paki argued that “the world will turn to Hawaii as they search for world peace because Hawaii has the key ... and that key is ALOHA.”

This idea of aloha as a radical act of love with no conditions attached has some wondering whether it allows outsiders to take advantage. Some Hawaiian cultural experts say aloha is a complex and fluid idea, too often misconstrued as a sweet and servile way of tolerating visitors.

“To suggest that Hawaiians avoid direct confrontation out of fear or some false notion of aloha is to ignore the whole set of operative values that Hawaiians respected, such as aggressiveness, courage, dignity, honor, competitiveness, and rivalry,” Kanahele wrote in “Ku Kanaka — Stand Tall: A Search For Hawaiian Values.”

After the fire, Kaauamo said, Maui residents were resetting boundaries.

“It’s Aloha 2.0., in that, as much as we serve others, it’s time to serve the self,” she said. “And as much as I give so freely to strangers, I will now give that to my neighbor, to people closer in the bubble.”

When Mahealani Criste sees tourists driving around the Lahaina bypass or carrying folding chairs to the beach, she wants to scream: What the hell are you guys doing here?

The 37-year-old reservations agent for a vacation rental company applied for a leave of absence without pay this month because she could not face going back to her job curating perfect vacations for visitors.

Answering questions about snorkel cruises and lomilomi massages felt like too much after her apartment complex — one of the few affordable housing units in town — collapsed in the fire. As she struggled to find a new rental for herself and her two children, she worried she might hang up on tourists, or scream, or cry.

“You’re making vacation dreams come true, setting their itinerary, but there is no itinerary,” she said flatly. “Our town burned.”

Still, some residents who lost their homes are welcoming tourists.

Beberlyn Aveno, a 56-year-old Filipino immigrant, was back selling puka shell necklaces at her kiosk at the Whalers Village shopping mall in Kaanapali recently. She wished more tourists were back; some days she made only $20.

But Aveno said it wasn’t just the money that kept her working; she would go crazy, she said, if she stayed in her cramped, temporary hotel room.

“It’s good to get out and have people to talk to,” she said. “I accept everyone. It’s healing.”

Grace Tadena, a 55-year-old Filipino immigrant and front desk agent at the Ritz Carlton 10 miles north of Lahaina, said she was glad the resort had reopened for tourism.

“It is the bread and butter. We can’t survive without our business.”

Most tourists, Tadena said, had been kind — and she, in turn, was not holding back her aloha, a value she embraced after moving to Hawaii in 1989. “Aloha stays with me wherever I am,” she said.

But many locals say they no longer have the bandwidth to overlook some visitors’ entitled or insensitive behavior.

Just days after the fire, locals were outraged when a charter boat brought tourists to snorkel around Lahaina before search and rescue teams had finished scouring the water for bodies. A few residents have almost come to blows with tourists who stopped on the side of highway to snap photos of the burn zone.

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Courtney Lazo, 33, a real estate agent who grew up in Lahaina and lost her family home, could not bring herself to show properties — or aloha — to visitors as she struggled to find housing for her husband, two teens, father and 81-year-old grandma.

Tourists at the resort where she is staying have stopped her with questions. However well meaning they might have been, she finds it infuriating to explain her situation over and over to strangers.

“You’re choosing to vacation here in Lahaina and create memories in the middle of our broken lives and burnt downtown.”

Many visitors to Hawaii are charmed by the idea of aloha, locals say, without grasping the impact of their presence of the island.

“There’s postcard Hawaii — Elvis and Don Ho and grass skirts — what everybody comes here for,” said Naiwi Teruya, 35, a cook who before the fire worked as an executive chef at Down the Hatch seafood restaurant. “They don’t understand the struggles that the people who live here have been going through, like fighting for water for many, many, many generations.”

The fire, many locals argue, is a direct result of colonial and modern development practices that uprooted native trees and diverted water. Over the last half-century, a string of upscale resorts with tropical gardens, lavish pools and golf greens have risen north of Lahaina, draining water from local land and contributing to a housing crisis.

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Jowel and Relyn Delfin have taken 13 relatives into their central Maui home.

Aug. 21, 2023

In recent decades, a growing number of visitors snapped up condos as second homes and short-term rentals. Now the median home price in the Lahaina area is $1.7 million, out of reach for blue-collar workers earning $20 to $25 an hour.

Many of those who are trying to find housing — to replace apartments that burned or to stay in while their homes are rebuilt or remain off-limits — blame outsiders for driving up prices.

Tiffany Teruya, 37, Naiwi’s sister and a single mother who lost her rental apartment in the fire, said she could not find a new place to live on West Maui for her and her 13-year-old son without government assistance. The cheapest apartment she could find cost $3,000 a month — more than double what she paid before the fire.

It is time, Teruya believes, to purge the island of short-term rentals.

“I would like to see vacation rentals gone from every neighborhood on the whole island,” Teruya told the City Council. “Lots of us lost everything, and the very little some of us may have left, we going to fight for that.”

Among locals, there is no shortage of aloha.

In the days after the fire, as little aid came from the government, Lahaina schoolteachers, surfers, lifeguards, bartenders, roofers and carpenters rallied to help their neighbors.

In the ruins of Lahaina, a surfing legend leads a volunteer army to get supplies to survivors

Legendary big-wave surfer Archie Kalepa has turned his home in Lahaina into a well-orchestrated supply depot for survivors of the devastating fire.

Aug. 16, 2023

They hauled in water, gas, air purifiers and respirators in boats, trucks and dugout canoes. They set up a network of relief hubs in parks and front yards offering displaced residents fresh water, cans of Spam, and bags of rice, diapers and medicine. They provided massages and acupuncture and story time for kids.

Fishermen hauled in blue striped snapper from the sea, hunters caught wild boar in the mountains. Cooks fried up the fish and roasted pork for their neighbors.

The bonds between islanders, Naiwi Teruya said, had gotten closer.

“I don’t want to serve everyone who has everything,” Teruya said after finishing a shift frying fish at a distribution hub at Honokōwai Beach Park. “I would much rather take care of people suffering.”

Still, even though Teruya preferred that West Maui remained shuttered to tourists, he said he would keep on giving aloha to everyone.

“We have a sacred aloha,” he said. “We say it because no matter how down we are, we can still deliver the greeting and the feeling behind it, because we’re not a weak people.”

The word sets the tone, Teruya said, and it reminds people, even strangers, that they’re part of a community.

“The word ‘aloha’ is not just this thing you do because your job tells you to do it,” he said. “It’s our way of saying, ‘I can see you, you’re a person. And I’m also a person.’ ”

Watch L.A. Times Today at 7 p.m. on Spectrum News 1 on Channel 1 or live stream on the Spectrum News App. Palos Verdes Peninsula and Orange County viewers can watch on Cox Systems on channel 99.

More to Read

Hawaii lawmakers take aim at vacation rentals after Lahaina wildfire worsens Maui housing crisis

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• Cruise News

Cruise Industry Steps Up to Help Maui Wildfire Victims

Doug Parker

• August 16, 2023

In light of the devastation in Hawaii last week, two cruise lines have stepped up generously to help the Maui wildfire victims. Holland America Line partnered with other Carnival Corporation (CCL) brands to pledge $50,000 to Maui relief, while Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) also donated $50,000 to support local efforts.

Earlier this week, the Port of Lahaina announced an indefinite suspension of cruise operations due to the Maui wildfire that destroyed the facility.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Maui Wildfire Response

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America , which docks at Kahului Harbor, not in Lahaina, has changed its itinerary not to burden local resources and to deliver surplus supplies.

Norwegian Cruise Line is the only major cruise line that sails to Hawaii year-round and has established strong connections with the local community. The line has donated $50,000 to Maui United Way, a community-focused nonprofit that recently mobilized a Maui Fire Disaster Relief Program . 

NCL also changed the Pride of America’s stops from Kahului on the Big Island to Hilo and Nawiliwili in Kauai to “avoid stressing the local resources” in Maui.

Through Pride of America and the cruise company’s network of suppliers, it is channeling in-kind donations like towels, diapers, and clothes. Changes to the cruise ship’s itineraries began on August 12 and will continue until the end of the month.

$100,000 collectively to Maui wildfire victims

Like Norwegian, Holland America Line wrote a $50,000 check to Direct Relief. Holland America’s Volendam will embark on a 51-night voyage to Hawaii this fall; whether the ship will call to the island will be determined. (Remember, there are two cruise ports on the island of Maui.)

In a statement to Cruise Radio, the line said, “Our thoughts are with the residents of Maui who are experiencing tragic loss following the wildfires that have devastated the island. For years, Holland America Line guests have visited Lahaina and gotten to know the people, the beauty, and the historical significance of this region.”

It went on to say, “We are working now on alternatives for voyages that were scheduled to visit Lahaina, and we will alert booked guests and travel advisors once the changes are confirmed.”

In addition, on each Holland America voyage that visits Hawaii in the coming months, the line will dedicate the On Deck for a Cause walk to Direct Relief’s mission on the island.

Deadliest Wildfires in the US in Over a Century

Pegged by CNN as the “ deadliest in the US in more than a century ,” the Maui wildfires began on Tuesday, August 8, and took several days to put out. By Sunday afternoon, only 85% had been contained in the hard-hit Lahaina, where over 2,000 acres were affected. Lahaina Harbor, a popular port stop for cruise ships, was left in ruins. 

As of today, the death toll has risen to 106. According to Deanne Criswell of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, there are thousands of displaced residents and the work ahead of them will be a “long-term recovery operation.”

Other cruise lines are adjusting itineraries this fall, including Princess and Royal Caribbean.

Go Deeper : GoFundMe page for Lahaina Tour Operators

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What to do if you have a trip planned for Hawaii

Maui was hit hard by devastating wildfires fueled by hurricane-force winds. The fires caused catastrophic damage. Heartbreakingly, they are the deadliest the U.S. has experienced in many years.

The worst fires occurred in West Maui, as the historic area of Lahaina was completely destroyed by flames that are still only 90% contained. According to the Maui Emergency Management Agency's most recent alert Monday, a fire in the Upcountry area of Kula is still only 85% contained.

President Joe Biden signed an emergency disaster declaration for the state of Hawaii, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency is coordinating recovery operations. On Monday, the president and Jill Biden traveled to Maui to survey the damage firsthand.

During the president's visit and joint press conference, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green again addressed the growing community concern about ensuring the economic well-being of Maui and the state, emphasizing the importance of travel.

"No one can travel to West Maui right now. We will share when that is possible again. Only returning residents and authorized emergency relief workers should come here now. But all of the other areas of Maui ... and the rest of Hawai'i are safe," Green said. "When you come, you will support our local economy and help speed the recovery of the people that are suffering right now."

A statement from the Hawaii Tourism Authority said that Green's sixth emergency proclamation , issued Aug. 19, remains in place, with all nonessential travel to West Maui being strongly discouraged for the duration of the proclamation (through Oct. 17).

Daily update videos on the disaster recovery are also being posted to the governor's Facebook page .

Given Maui's popularity as a vacation destination, numerous would-be tourists likely have upcoming trips scheduled. Given the scale of the disaster on the island, they now need to make some decisions about their upcoming plans to visit to allow the island to focus on recovery efforts.

Here's what to know if you have an upcoming trip to Maui.

Is it safe to travel to Maui right now?

It is currently not safe to travel to West Maui due to the multiple uncontained wildfires and evacuation orders that are in place.

Still, the governor has declared other areas of Maui safe and open for travel.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority released an updated travel advisory after Green's press conference, along with a map of the affected and restricted areas.

In alignment with Governor Green, the Hawai'i Tourism Authority urges visitors to refrain from going to West Maui (including Lahaina, Nāpili, Kāʻanapali, and Kapalua) as a means of respect to the people and places that have been lost in Lahaina during this devastating tragedy. The impacted area of Lahaina remains off limits to the public as the search and recovery efforts continue.

We encourage travelers to consider visiting other areas of Maui (including Kahului, Wailuku, Kīhei, Wailea, Mākena, Pāʻia and Hāna), as well as the other Hawaiian Islands of Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Lānaʻi, Molokaʻi and Hawaiʻi Island.

Even when it is safe to travel to West Maui again, that part of the island will have limited resources and infrastructure.

Residents and visitors with upcoming travel bookings are encouraged to check with their airline for any flight changes and cancellations, or assistance with rebooking.

When might it be OK to travel to Maui?

At this time, it is unclear when West Maui will reopen, but the devastation to historic Lahaina is very substantial. As a result, disaster recovery operations will likely be very lengthy.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority released a statement last week that included a section devoted to common questions and answers and appears to be updated on a regular basis.

At this time, hotels in West Maui have temporarily stopped accepting bookings of future reservations and are housing their employees and families, evacuees, and first responders working on disaster recovery – well over 1,000 people so far with more to come.

Other areas on Maui (including Kahului, Wailuku, Kīhei, Wailea, Mākena, Pāʻia and Hāna), as well as the other Hawaiian Islands of Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Lānaʻi, Molokaʻi and Hawaiʻi Island remain unaffected. We urge visitors to be especially mindful and respectful in our island home as our community continues through this tragedy.

Based on the updated information shared by the governor and the statement released by the Hawaii Tourism Authority, they are encouraging travelers to consider visiting other areas of Maui. Such areas include Kahului, Wailuku, Kihei, Wailea, Makena, Paia and Hana.

Some hotels in other parts of the island, such as the Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort, have posted regularly updated statements on their websites.

It has been over a week now since wildfires decimated the historic town of Lahaina. Disaster recovery efforts are ongoing in West Maui, and supplies are flowing into the affected areas on a regular basis. And while the restoration of the land and community will take years, we know that Maui's tight-knit community will get through this together. We are grateful that the Wailea region of South Maui was not impacted and that all of our team members are safe and accounted for. Grand Wailea continues to welcome guests with aloha.

As we look toward the future of our island, it is more important now than ever that guests and groups continue to visit Maui. In a statement, the HLTA [Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association] noted, "Yes, we must be sensitive to the plight of those suffering from the wildfires. But bear in mind that so many of the victims and their families depend on the visitor industry for their jobs and futures. While they may have lost their homes and more, losing their incomes would only add to the pain and hardship of their situation. That's why it's important to keep tourism functioning to keep our economy alive and give our people hope and the ability to rebuild their lives." Governor Green shared in his daily briefing that, "what we're saying now is travel should not be to West Maui. But the other parts of Maui are safe."

Is it safe to travel to the other Hawaiian islands of Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai and Hawaii?

Travel to the islands of Kauai, Oahu, Molokai and Lanai and parts of the Big Island is not affected at this time in terms of safety. However, there may be some near-term capacity issues with so many tourists trying to relocate from Maui and even Maui residents seeking shelter on the other islands.

If you have a trip planned to another Hawaiian island, operations are likely currently unaffected. However, contact your hotel or check its website or social media channels for any updates should the situation change.

Additionally, be aware that while statements from officials say other Hawaiian islands are open and available for tourism, there is a sentiment among some Hawaiian residents that now may not be the time to vacation in the state. The area is grappling with this tragedy and working to support Maui with the resources and infrastructure that it needs.

Airlines allowing changes to Maui flights

A previous update from the Hawaii Tourism Authority stated that 46,000 residents and visitors have already been flown off the island since the fires began. If you have a flight to Maui booked in August or September that you wish to change, you are encouraged to contact your airline and revise your travel plans if needed. The airlines have all updated their travel waiver policies, with some extending dates into September or November.

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines has instituted a flexible travel policy for guests who would like to change or cancel flights to or from Maui. Currently, it is processing changes if your ticket was purchased prior to Aug. 11 and your plans are between now and Sept. 16.

American Airlines

American Airlines passengers can change their origin or destination to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport (KOA) or Lihue Airport (LIH) at no cost for tickets bought by Aug. 9 for travel originally scheduled through Sept. 16.

New flights must be booked for travel by Nov. 18 for the same cabin. Alternatively, passengers can cancel their originally scheduled trips and request a refund. This only applies to flight changes made by Sept. 16 for travel completed within one year of the original ticket date.

Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines has issued a change policy specific to flights in or out of OGG, HNL, KOA, LIH.

The fare difference will be waived when rebooked travel occurs on or before Nov. 18 in the same cabin of service as originally booked. A fare difference may apply when the waiver is class-to-class restrictive and the original booking class is not maintained in the rebooked itinerary. There are additional conditions and restrictions listed as well.

Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian Airlines travelers can reschedule their flights at no cost for flights in and out of OGG between Aug. 9 and Dec. 15 to new dates. There will be no change fees or fare differences on the same city pair and the same cabin of service.

Tickets can be booked for new travel to or from the following airports: OGG, Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport (KOA), Hilo International Airport (ITO), Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) and Lihue Airport (LIH). However, tickets must be rebooked into the same compartment (Main Cabin or Business Cabin) by Sept. 1; travel must occur between Aug. 9 and Nov. 16 or between Nov. 29 and Dec. 15. The airline notes that itineraries with travel outside these periods would not be eligible for a waiver of a fare difference.

Alternatively, these travelers can cancel their flights in exchange for a future flight credit, expiring one year from the original date of purchase. Those with flights booked to or from OGG between Aug. 9 and Sept. 15 can also request a refund . The request must be submitted by Sept. 1.

Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines customers with reservations to, from or through OGG between Aug. 9 and Oct. 17 can rebook in the original class of service or travel standby for free; this is as long as the new travel falls within 14 days of the original date of travel between the original city pairs.

Additionally, these customers can change their original departure or arrival flight to any of the below Hawaii airports without charge:

United Airlines

United Airlines is allowing travelers to reschedule trips and will waive change fees and fare differences for trips originally scheduled into Maui through Sept. 16. You can then alter your plans to travel by Nov. 18 at no additional cost to one of these airports:

If your new trip is after August 10, 2024, or is to a different destination, United will still waive any change fees, but you might have to pay a fare difference depending on the flight. Alternatively, if you cancel or don't take your trip, you can request a full refund .

What to do if you have a hotel or an Airbnb booked in Maui

Most of West Maui is still without power and has limited phone service, so you may not be able to contact your hotel directly to cancel your reservation. It is recommended to call the central reservations number for your hotel company. If you are unable to reach the hotel, your next best option is to monitor your specific hotel's social media channels and websites for any updates.

According to the latest statement released by the Hawaii Tourism Authority , hotels in West Maui have temporarily stopped accepting bookings of future reservations. Hotels are being used to house their employees and families, evacuees and first responders working on disaster recovery — more than 1,000 people so far, with more to come.

Additionally, vacation rental owners and operators and anyone with available space are encouraged to make these accommodations available to temporarily house displaced West Maui residents. Since Aug. 14, the state has offered a referral program to make those connections possible to support West Maui residents in need of housing, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority statement.

Hotels in the Kaanapali area have now updated their websites with further guidance. The Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa added an alert that the hotel is temporarily closed and that cancellation fees will be waived through Sept. 15. The Hyatt Vacation Club at Ka'anapali Beach posted that all reservations through Sept. 3 have been canceled, and the hotel is allowing guests beyond that date to cancel or reschedule by contacting them. Any deposits and prepayments for canceled stays between now and Sept. 30 will be refunded.

If you booked a chain hotel directly, you can work with the corporate 1-800 number to alter your plans. If you booked through a third-party online travel agency or aggregator like Expedia or Travelocity, it's important to understand the cancellation policy. The OTA still owns your reservation prior to your travel , so contacting the hotel directly will likely result in you being referred back to the OTA or travel portal for assistance.

For those travelers who booked accommodations with Airbnb, the company has activated its " Extenuating Circumstances Policy " for parts of Maui. Eligible guests with reservations will receive a full refund, and both hosts and guests can cancel bookings penalty-free, the company said on Wednesday.

Will your credit card or trip insurance cover changes?

Generally, trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance will cover nonrefundable expenses, such as airfare, accommodation and activities, if you need to cancel your trip (or the remainder of your trip) due to a natural disaster like the wildfires. However, credit card insurance policies can vary, so check the benefits guide for the card you used to book your airfare for specific exclusions.

Also, note that you must have booked your trip before the natural disaster starts in order to be covered. This means that if you booked a new trip today, it likely wouldn't be covered due to the wildfires already being labeled a declared emergency.

If you need to file a trip cancellation or interruption claim:

• Check your credit card's benefits guide to see if you are eligible for coverage and what the limits are.
• Call your credit card's benefits administrator, or start a claim online.
• Determine which documents you need to collect.
• Submit the documents within the required timeline.

"Many travel insurance policies can cover travelers who need to cancel or interrupt their trip due to a natural disaster, such as the Hawaii wildfires," Steven Benna, marketing manager for Squaremouth Travel Insurance, told TPG. "This can include cancellation coverage for travelers who are unable to travel because their destination is uninhabitable or under a mandatory evacuation due to the fires, as well as interruption coverage for travelers whose trips are cut short."

"However, travel insurance is designed to cover unforeseen events," he added. "In order for coverage to be available, the traveler must have bought their policy before the fires began."

Depending on the needs of your trip, sites like InsureMyTrip and Squaremouth allow you to shop for plans that may fit your travel needs and compare coverage and pricing for multiple policy options at once.

Various membership associations, such as USAA, AAA and Costco, also offer travel insurance policies for purchase. Typically, these organizations partner with a specific provider, so you may want to compare the policies offered through the organization with other policies to get the best coverage for any future trips.

There's also a type of coverage referred to as "cancel for any reason" coverage . You might only get 75% of the trip cost back, so depending on the trip, it might not be worth the hefty premium.

Related: 4 times your credit card's travel insurance can help with travel woes, and 7 times it won't

What to do if you have a cruise to Hawaii

For cruise passengers, it's important to understand the cancellation or rebooking policy for the specific cruise line you will be traveling on.

Cruise lines might reroute to avoid Maui and affected areas. Per the terms of the cruise contract to which you consent before sailing, cruise lines do not owe you compensation if they alter your itinerary. If changes are made, you will be refunded for any shore excursions you booked through the cruise line that were to take place in the ports you're skipping. (Check with your tour provider directly if you've booked a third-party excursion.)

TPG's guide on what happens if a cruise gets canceled is the next place to refer to for guidance if you receive notice that your cruise is canceled.

A spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line shared this statement with TPG regarding Pride of America, its Hawaii-based cruise ship that sails weekly on a seven-night all-Hawaii cruise from Honolulu:

We are deeply saddened to hear about the wildfires currently impacting the town of Lahaina in Maui. We have a very special relationship with the people and islands of Hawaii as we sail to the beautiful state year-round. It is a magical destination and one that is highly sought out by our guests for its natural beauty, culture and unparalleled experiences. We are closely monitoring the situation in Maui, impacting the west side of the island, opposite the Kahului Harbor, where we call. At this time, there is no impact on our scheduled itineraries. As always, our top priority is the safety and security of our guests and crew. We will communicate further updates as appropriate.

Princess Cruises offered the following statement:

Given the severity of these fires and their significant strain on local resources, Emerald Princess will cancel her scheduled call to Maui (Lahaina) on Monday, August 14, and will instead call to Kona.

As we continue to monitor the situation, we are actively reviewing the itineraries of our upcoming voyages. If any adjustments need to be made to our published itineraries, we will advise guests and our Travel Advisor partners.

Related: What happens if my cruise line changes my itinerary or ship?

How to help support Maui's recovery efforts

In collaboration with the Hawaii Community Foundation, state leaders and nonprofits, the Maui Strong Fund is accepting donations to assist with recovery and relief efforts.

"The Maui Strong Fund was created to provide community resilience with resources for disaster preparedness, response, and recovery," according to the Hawaii Community Foundation. "The fund is currently being used to support communities affected by the wildfires on Maui," with 100% of funds being distributed for community needs.

TPG and Lonely Planet have teamed up to donate $25,000 to the Maui Strong Fund, and if you also want to help, you can learn more about the organization and donate here .

Aloha United Way has established a Maui Fire Relief Fund on its website , and 100% of the proceeds are directed to Maui United Way. The organization's partner agencies — such as the Maui Food Bank, the American Red Cross and The Salvation Army — are distributing relief funds according to the community's most urgent needs.

Donating miles or cash via airlines

Hawaiian Airlines has updated its website with a message allowing loyalty members to donate HawaiianMiles, which will be used to transport volunteers and staff to Maui. Up to 30 million miles in donations will be matched by the airline for the month of August. You must log in to your account to donate.

American Airlines is also supporting the American Red Cross' disaster relief efforts, and American Airlines AAdvantage members can earn 10 AAdvantage bonus miles for every dollar donated to the Red Cross via its microsite . (Note there's a minimum donation amount of $25.)

Alaska Airlines has contributed 5 million miles to Kanu Hawaii and Maui Rapid Response, which are leading the efforts to relocate displaced Maui residents while they work to rebuild. Alaska Airlines will match the first 1 million miles donated by Mileage Plan members through Aug. 31. Donate miles to Kanu Hawaii .

Bottom line

This is a devastating, life-altering event for the people of Maui. The most important things to consider right now are the safety of everyone on Maui and efforts to help those affected by the disaster, both by considering tangible donations and allowing space and time for relief and recovery efforts.

Now that local government officials have released updated travel guidance, only West Maui communities are off-limits. Other areas of Maui are open and accepting guests.

Based on the updated information shared by the Hawaiian governor and the statement released by the Hawaii Tourism Authority, the economy would suffer without tourism in the Hawaiian Islands. They are encouraging travelers to consider visiting other areas of Maui, including Kahului, Wailuku, Kihei, Wailea, Makena, Paia and Hana.

Related reading:

• Hawaii declares emergency due to wildfires, discourages all nonessential travel to Maui
• Your flight is delayed or canceled: Here's what to do next
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• 8 of the best credit cards for general travel purchases
• The best credit cards that offer trip cancellation and interruption insurance

Additional reporting by Caroline Tanner, Matt Moffitt, Erica Silverstein and Meghna Maharishi.

Governor warns of impending insurance crisis while approving Maui wildfires recovery aid

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Gov. Josh Green on Thursday raised more fears of an insurance crisis in Hawaii and said with climate change increasing the risk of disaster, the state has to be prepared.

He said that could mean lawmakers must return to the capitol later this year.

The governor called back-to-back press conferences Thursday afternoon.

The first was to sign emergency Maui aid and to praise lawmakers for their work, the second to say they may have to come back to head off a potential insurance crisis.

“What you will hear in the coming weeks and months is that insurers will not insure states like Hawaii, where there is high risk,” Green said.

Green said state must essentially be financially prepared to insure itself against disaster.

He advocates for three pieces of legislation he proposed but were rejected by lawmakers in this session: a $25 climate fee on tourists, giving HECO the power to use money from customers to borrow with state-guaranteed bonds and a state insurance fund in case insurers stop serving some condominium and homeowners.

Maui Wildfires Disaster

“Without that, and having suffered a disaster of this magnitude, we could be behind all the other markets in the country and pay the worst rates pay the highest premiums,” Green said.

Green said he’s forming what he calls a Climate Advisory Team, headed by former Alexander and Baldwin CEO Chris Benjamin, to analyze the risk and the costs to mitigate it.

A&B is a major landowner, including on Maui where it is a player in the island’s debate over water rights.

Hawaii News Now asked if there was a conflict of interest to having someone tied to a major landowner as head of this team.

Group occupying Maui beach fronting luxury resorts packs up after vacation rental win

“No,” Green replied. “He retired and he’s actually been one of our climate advisors.”

The legislature adjourns tomorrow - but the Governor said if HECO destabilizes or insurers pull out of Hawaii, he may ask them to reconvene this year.

Green began the afternoon on a happier note, inviting Maui lawmakers and leadership to watch as he approved nearly $400 million in emergency funds.

The money mostly for housing fire survivors ineligible for federal aid and for the Ohana Fund, to which he said 55 families have turned for quick death or injury settlements.

The package, and another bill financing Maui costs in the upcoming fiscal year, do not include any direct aid to Maui County. House Finance Chair Rep. Kyle Yamashita, who represents part of Central Maui, said he determined that the county can handle its costs, with federal support, for now.

“I would rather they work within their means currently and we help them when they need it,” Yamashita said. “I think its going to get tighter for them in the future.”

Maui Mayor Richard Bissen had asked for $75 million in cash and $50 million from bonds which he said was needed to support housing and infrastructure repairs and improvements.

Green also congratulated lawmakers them for a multi-billion dollar income tax cut over the next seven years, which he said would save a family with income in the $80-90,000 range $4,000 in taxes when it is fully rolled out.

“It helps with their cost of living,” Green said. “Really what its meant to do is incentivize kamaaina to come home and that will stimulate our economy.”

Lawmakers who rejected the insurance fund and help to HECO said not enough is known about the costs or whether the risk is real. Green said that’s what his Climate Advisory Team will help determine.

Copyright 2024 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.

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Communications breakdown left authorities in the dark and residents without alerts amid Maui fire

A new report released by the Hawaii Attorney General’s Office shows that an emergency manager delayed his return, communications broke down and forecasts weren’t heeded during the Maui wildfire that became the deadliest in U.S. history. Attorney General Anne Lopez said this phase of the report is not to place blame on anyone. (Apr. 17)

Fire officials in Maui County discuss an external agency review of their performance during the 2023 Hawaii wildfires that destroyed more than 3,900 buildings and displaced thousands of people

FILE - Rays of sunlight pierce through the clouds, Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023, above homes burned by wildfires in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)

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FILE - A general view shows the aftermath of a wildfire in Lahaina, Hawaii, on Aug. 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

FILE - A man reacts as he sits on the Lahaina historic banyan tree damaged by a wildfire on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii. After the deadly wildfire that destroyed the historic town of Lahaina this summer, people across the world focused their attention on the green leaves sprouting from the scorched, 150-year-old banyan tree as a symbol of hope. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)

Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez and members of the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) hold a press conference on the Maui Wildfire Phase One Report findings on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)

FILE - Photos of victims are displayed under white crosses at a memorial for victims of the August 2023 wildfire, above the Lahaina Bypass highway, Dec. 6, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File)

A roadside memorial dedicated to the Maui wildfires is seen, Friday, April 12, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii. More than half a year after the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century burned through a historic Maui town, officials are still trying to determine exactly what went wrong and how to prevent similar catastrophes in the future. But two reports released this week are filling in some of the blanks. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)

Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) members Derek Alkonis speaks about the Maui Wildfire Phase One Report findings during a press conference on Wed, April 17, 2024, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)

A roadside memorial dedicated to the Maui wildfires victims is seen, Friday, April 12, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii. More than half a year after the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century burned through a historic Maui town, officials are still trying to determine exactly what went wrong and how to prevent similar catastrophes in the future. But two reports released this week are filling in some of the blanks. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)

FILE - The hall of historic Waiola Church in Lahaina and nearby Lahaina Hongwanji Mission are engulfed in flames along Wainee Street on Aug. 8, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Matthew Thayer/The Maui News via AP, File)

A sign stating “Let Lahaina Heal” is seen on the side of the highway, Friday, April 12, 2024, in Kanapali, Hawaii. More than half a year after the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century burned through a historic Maui town, officials are still trying to determine exactly what went wrong and how to prevent similar catastrophes in the future. But two reports released this week are filling in some of the blanks. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)

Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) members Steve Kerber speaks about the Maui Wildfire Phase One Report findings during a press conference on Wed, April 17, 2024, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)

FILE - Thomas Leonard lies on an air mattress at an evacuation center at the War Memorial Gymnasium after his Lahaina apartment was destroyed by wildfire, Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023, in Wailuku, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)

From left, Shelee Kimura, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hawaiian Electric, Mark Glick, Chief Energy Officer of the Hawaii State Energy Office, and Leodoloff Asuncion, Jr., Chairman of the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, appear before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) member Steve Kerber speaks about the Maui Wildfire Phase One Report findings during a press conference on Wed, April 17, 2024, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)

Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez holds a press conference on the Maui Wildfire Phase One Report findings on Wed, April 17, 2024, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)

A sign is seen at a roadside memorial dedicated to the Maui wildfires, Friday, April 12, 2024, in Lahaina, Hawaii. More than half a year after the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century burned through a historic Maui town, officials are still trying to determine exactly what went wrong and how to prevent similar catastrophes in the future. But two reports released this week are filling in some of the blanks. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)

HONOLULU (AP) — As unpredictable wildfires roared across Maui last August, the head of the emergency management agency dragged his heels about returning to the island amid the unfolding crisis, while a broad communications breakdown left authorities in the dark and residents without emergency alerts, according to a report released Wednesday.

Communications problems were also encountered with the Hawaiian Electric Company, with power and emergency workers unable to confirm that power lines were de-energized until well after flames had caused widespread damage, the report from the Hawaii Attorney General’s office said.

It was the second of two major assessments out this week about the deadliest U.S. wildfire in a century. A report released Tuesday by the Western Fire Chiefs Association detailed the challenges facing the Maui Fire Department during the unprecedented series of blazes , including one that killed 101 people in the historic town of Lahaina .

Attorney General Anne Lopez presented the latest report along with Steve Kerber, vice president of the Fire Safety Research Institute.

“When Attorney General Lopez contacted us, clearly we were paying a lot of attention to what was going on in Lahaina and really had the same question that she had. How is it possible that something like this could happen?” Kerber said.

Officials did not answer questions about cause or liability, saying it is only an initial reckoning and two more reports will follow. Investigators are still trying to get some documents from Maui County, officials said.

“We’re going to continue this investigation, and we will follow it wherever it leads,” Lopez said.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is also investigating, and its report, expected to pinpoint cause, will come out before the one-year anniversary.

The report released Wednesday says that five days before the flames broke out, meteorologists warned that strengthening winds resulting from a hurricane south of Hawaii could lead to extreme wildfire risk Aug. 8. “Confidence in the development of critical fire weather conditions this many days away is quite rare, and we believe that this warrants a heads up to you,” a National Weather Service forecaster said in an email to fire contacts Aug. 3.

Kerber described complex and “incredibly fast” fires with flames traveling at a rate of about a mile in 90 minutes.

The Maui Emergency Management Agency had posted to Facebook on Aug. 6 about a “serious fire and damaging wind threat” due to dry conditions as Hurricane Dora passed.

The agency’s administrator, Herman Andaya, was off island at a conference on Oahu on Aug. 8 as the fires intensified. His call and text records show that he was getting updates from Gaye Gabuat, an administrative assistant. After a series of evacuations in Lahaina, Gabuat told Andaya that “multiple people look overwhelmed,” according to the report. Andaya asked if he should come home, to which Gabuat responded, “it may look okay.“

After the fire had been burning for more than five hours, Gabuat told Andaya that flames had reached Front Street, Lahaina’s commercial heart. Only then did Andaya respond that he had “better come home tomorrow.”

By that time multiple areas had been evacuated, according to a situation report by Andaya’s agency. Front Street had been closed along with the Lahaina bypass road, another key thoroughfare. In Lahaina alone, 29 utility poles were reported downed.

A Chinook helicopter scoops up water from the ocean near Lahaina, Hawaii, Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

There was no immediate response to attempts Wednesday to reach Andaya, who resigned Aug. 18, via phone, email and social media.

Investigators said they requested incident activity logs and other records from the agency’s emergency operations center, or EOC, on multiple occasions. Derek Alkonis, a manager with the fire research institute, said they had received some information but not everything they had requested. “You’ll find in the report that there is a difficulty with gaining information from the EOC,” Alkonis said. “In terms of the reason for that challenge, it’s going to be analyzed in subsequent reports.”

The report also describes a breakdown in communication between police, firefighters and emergency officials after cell networks went down. Police and firefighters had to communicate using their handheld or car radios on closed channels that public officials and others could not listen to.

Meanwhile a stretched and limited dispatch center had single operators monitoring five or six channels at a time to keep up.

“With no cellular communication, residents and tourists were not able to receive emergency alerts, communicate with loved ones and/or to receive incoming or outgoing calls/texts,” the report’s authors wrote.

Firefighters clear debris in Kula, Hawaii, Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023, following wildfires that devastated parts of the Hawaiian island of Maui. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

They detailed how one police officer told other responders his daughter had been babysitting in a neighborhood that was hit by the fire. Without cell communications he had no way to check if she escaped, and it took two days before he confirmed she was OK.

Fire crews also became trapped, according to staffing logs included in the report. Around 4:30 p.m., one engine was destroyed and another broke down. A firefighter from one of the engines rescued the crews using a police department SUV, according to the logs.

Hawaiian Electric has acknowledged that a downed power line sparked a fire in Lahaina early on the morning of Aug. 8. Firefighters were still mopping up that fire at noon and waiting for a utility worker to arrive and confirm that the power lines had been de-energized. But when the worker got there, he was unable to confirm the power had been cut off — information that would likely have helped fire crews assess the risk of re-ignition as well as the risk posed by other downed lines.

Still, the fire crew determined that the blaze was extinguished and headed back to the station at 2:17 p.m. By 2:55 p.m., several calls came about another fire in the same area. Firefighters were finally advised that power to the area had been shut off at 4:11 p.m., according to the report.

In the months since, Hawaiian Electric has said the lines were shut off for more than six hours before the afternoon fire was reported.

The attorney general’s report is the first phase of a comprehensive assessment that includes a timeline of the Lahaina fire using social media posts, metadata from citizen photos and videos, dispatch records, emergency communications and other sources. It describes the 72 hours before, during and after the blaze, and says investigators relied on “all known available facts” related to the fire and to preparations by local, state and federal agencies.

Because power was out to much of the area, security camera video generally wasn’t available, so investigators had to rely on interviews with residents and first responders to piece together the events.

“What this report doesn’t capture is the loss, the people, the challenges that they’ve gone through, the pain, the sorrow. And some of those things will be analyzed later. But you need the facts first,” Alkonis said.

Phase 2 of the report will focus on how Maui’s fire protection system functioned, specifically what conditions fed the inferno, attempts to stop its spread, and evacuations. The third phase will try to answer the critical question, “How do we prevent this from happening again?”

“The tragedy serves as a sobering reminder that the threat of grassland fires, wildfires, and wildfire-initiated urban conflagrations, fueled by climate change and urban encroachment into wildland areas, is a reality that must be addressed with the utmost urgency and diligence — not just in Hawaii, but around the globe,” the authors wrote.

AP AUDIO: Maui Fire Department report on deadly wildfire details how it was no match for unprecedented blazes.

AP correspondent Donna Warder reports on a newly released report on last year’s deadly fires in Maui.

The fire destroyed roughly 3,000 properties in Lahaina and caused more than $5.5 billion in estimated damage , according to state officials.

Boone reported from Boise, Idaho; Keller from Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Lauer from Philadelphia. Christopher Weber in Los Angeles, Audrey McAvoy in Honolulu, Claire Rush in Portland, Oregon, Hallie Golden in Seattle, Anita Snow in Phoenix and Mark Thiessen in Anchorage, Alaska, contributed.

This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Gaye Gabuat’s name.

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Multiple communications failures hurt emergency response to Maui wildfires – report

Hawaii attorney general releases report day after fire chiefs detail challenges faced by first responders during blazes that killed 101

As wildfires ripped across Maui last August, the head of the emergency management agency dragged his heels on returning to the island amid the unfolding crisis, while a broad communications breakdown left authorities in the dark and residents without emergency alerts, according to a report released on Wednesday.

Communications problems were also encountered by Hawaiian Electric, with officials unable to confirm that power lines had been de-energized until well after flames had caused widespread damage, the report from the Hawaii attorney general said.

It was the second of two major assessments out this week of the deadliest US wildfire in a century. A report released on Tuesday by the Western Fire Chiefs Association detailed the challenges faced by the Maui fire department during an unprecedented series of blazes including one that killed 101 people in the historic town of Lahaina.

The report says that five days before the flames broke out, meteorologists issued a dire warning that strengthening winds resulting from a Pacific hurricane south of Hawaii could create an extreme risk of wildfires across the islands on 8 August. “Confidence in the development of critical fire weather conditions this many days away is quite rare, and we believe that this warrants a heads up to you,” a National Weather Service forecaster said in an email to Hawaii fire contacts on 3 August.

The Maui emergency management agency posted to Facebook on 6 August about a “serious fire and damaging wind threat” due to ongoing dry conditions as Hurricane Dora passed.

The agency’s administrator, Herman Andaya, was off island at a conference on Oahu on 8 August as the Maui fires intensified. His call and text records show that he was getting updates from Gaye Gabaut, an administrative assistant. After a series of evacuations in Lahaina, Gabaut commented to Andaya that “multiple people look overwhelmed”, according to the report. Andaya asked whether he should come home, to which Gabaut responded: “that it may look okay.”

After the fire had been burning for more than five hours, Gabaut relayed to Andaya that flames had reached Front Street in Lahaina. According to the report, Andaya responded that “he better come home tomorrow”.

The preliminary report also describes a breakdown in communications among police responders, firefighters and emergency officials after cellular networks went down. Both the police and fire departments had to communicate using their handheld or car radios on closed channels that public officials and others could not listen to, according to the report.

Meanwhile, a stretched and limited dispatch center had single operators monitoring five or six channels at a time to keep up with what was happening on the ground.

Inoperative cell towers left residents and tourists with few options to receive emergency alerts like evacuation orders. And the closed systems used by police created a dam of information that was not being relayed in a timely way to the mayor and emergency officials, the report said.

The attorney general’s report is the first phase of a comprehensive assessment that includes a timeline of the 72 hours before, during and after the fire. It says investigators relied on “all known available facts” related to the fire and to the steps that local, state and federal agencies took to prepare for dangerous fires.

Phase 2 of the report will focus on how Maui’s fire-protection system functioned during the emergency, specifically what conditions fed the inferno, the attempts to stop its spread and the evacuation of residents. The report says the third phase will try to answer the critical question of how to prevent this from happening again.

“The tragedy serves as a sobering reminder that the threat of grassland fires, wildfires, and wildfire-initiated urban conflagrations, fueled by climate change and urban encroachment into wildland areas, is a reality that must be addressed with the utmost urgency and diligence – not just in Hawaii, but around the globe,” the authors wrote.

Tuesday’s report by the fire chiefs association described firefighters who carried victims piggyback over downed power lines to safety and sheltered survivors inside their engines. Another first responder drove a moped into a burning neighborhood again and again, whisking people away from danger one at a time.

Fire department workers “risked their lives in a valiant effort to stop the spread of the fires and save lives”, according to the report, and are now “grappling with questions about what they could have done differently, a reflection that will likely persist throughout the rest of their careers”.

Both reports describe the difficulties and harrowing conditions faced by firefighters returning to the reignited Lahaina fire, including many resources being deployed elsewhere, structures quickly catching ablaze amid extreme winds and downed electricity lines making it hard to move resources.

Among the challenges faced by the department were poorly stocked fire engines, hydrants that lost water supply, a lack of mutual aid agreements between Hawaii counties and limited equipment.

The fire chiefs recommended that the Maui department keep all back-up vehicles ready to go. Extra engines that were on standby for large incidents took up to an hour to deploy, according to the report, because they needed to be stocked with the proper equipment. The report did not say what they were missing.

Other recommendations include creating a statewide mutual aid program and an evacuation plan for residents and tourists who speak different languages.

Many of the factors that contributed to the disaster are already known: a windstorm battering the island had downed power lines and blown off parts of rooftops, and debris blocked roads throughout Lahaina.

Hawaiian Electric has acknowledged that one of its power lines fell and caused a fire in Lahaina early on 8 August, but the utility company denies that the morning fire caused the flames that burned through the town later that day.

Roughly 40% of Maui county’s firefighting resources were already tied up fighting other wildfires on a different part of the island.

Cellphone and internet service was also down in the area at times, so it was difficult for some people to call for help or to get information about the fire. And emergency officials did not use Hawaii’s extensive network of emergency sirens to warn Lahaina residents. The after-action report also recommends that officials undertake an analysis of the island’s cellular system.

The high winds made it hard at times for first responders to communicate on their radios, and 911 operators and emergency dispatchers were overwhelmed with hundreds of calls.

Police and electricity crews tried to direct people away from roads that were partially or completely blocked by power lines. Meanwhile, people trying to flee burning neighborhoods packed the few thoroughfares in and out of town.

The traffic jam left some trapped in their cars when the fire overtook them, and others who were near the ocean jumped in to escape.

The report also highlights a vulnerability rooted in the dramatic changes Maui has experienced since the arrival of Europeans and the conversion of land into pineapple and sugar plantations in the 19th century. When those closed in the late 1900s, the fallow lands became covered in invasive grasses. That and prolonged drought created a “volatile fuel bed” for fire, Tuesday’s report says.

Roughly 3,000 properties were destroyed when the fire overtook Lahaina, causing more than $5.5bn in estimated damage, according to state officials.

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14 people who sheltered from Maui wildfire in the ocean rescued by Coast Guard

With a wildfire fueled by winds from a passing hurricane destroying the Maui town of Lahaina , 14 people escaped the flames and smoke by heading to the ocean, officials said Wednesday.

Maui County confirmed on Thursday that 36 people died in the fire, as authorities said more than 11,000 had been evacuated from the island, with more expected to leave.

Follow live coverage of the Maui wildfires

Earlier, the Coast Guard said Wednesday the 14 people were rescued from a breakwall by Lahaina harbor Tuesday evening, after boats and aircraft were sent to help.

The reports to the Coast Guard “regarding multiple persons in the water needing rescue after taking shelter from fire and smoke in Lahaina” prompted the dispatch of a cutter, a 45-foot boat, and helicopters, the agency said.

The reports came in around 5:45 p.m.

The harbor, and the community of around 12,700 people, suffered widespread damage in the wildfire, which officials say was fueled — along with two other fires on Maui — in part by winds from the passing Hurricane Dora.

Dora, a Category 4 storm, passed far to the south of Maui and the rest of the state. But wind gusts on Maui Tuesday and Wednesday were in the 50 and 60 mph range, according to the National Weather Service .

At least six people have died, Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen said at a news conference Wednesday. More than 271 structures in the Lahaina area have been impacted, the county government said.

The 14 people who were rescued were in stable condition, the Coast Guard said.

“On behalf of the U.S. Coast Guard, I wish to convey my sincere condolences to the communities who have been tragically affected by the fires in Maui," Capt. Aja L. Kirksey, sector commander of Coast Guard Sector Honolulu, said in a statement .

The Coast Guard is still on the scene assisting, the maritime military branch said. The Navy as well as the National Guard have also been deployed to assist, officials said.

President Joe Biden pledged the help of all federal assets available in the state, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency has also been assisting, according to the White House and FEMA's administrator.

"We've suffered a terrible tragedy," Gov. Josh Green said in a video on social media Wednesday. Green was out of state for a family reunion but was rushing back to Hawaii after the fires.

He said the state will be asking for a presidential disaster declaration, which allows for more federal assistance, as soon as the scope of the damage is fully known. He said much of Lahaina has been destroyed.

In helicopter video taken by Air Maui Helicopter Tours in Lahaina and posted online the people aboard are largely speechless. "Oh my gosh," someone aboard says.

Maui County has called the wildfires a crisis, and asked all visitors to leave Lahaina and Maui as soon as possible.

The fires were fueled by drought as well as high winds, Green said. He said firefighters "were working heroically" to put out the fires and as winds subside that task could be easier.

"Heroic efforts by first responders have prevented many casualties from occurring," Green tweeted.

He encouraged residents to be supportive of their neighbors who have needs after the tragedy, no matter where in the state they may be.

"We're all in this together. Thank you for caring for one another," Green said in Wednesday's video.

Phil Helsel is a reporter for NBC News.

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As Lahaina Burned, Fire Crews Waited an Hour for Equipment

A new analysis of the August inferno on the island of Maui in Hawaii describes heroic efforts by firefighters. But it also finds many ways the town could have been better prepared.

By Mike Baker

There were warnings of high wildfire danger in the days before a deadly blaze overtook the town of Lahaina in Hawaii last year, but the Maui Fire Department did little to get crews set up in areas at risk, then struggled to launch firefighting vehicles once the blaze began consuming the town, according to an analysis of the wildfire released on Tuesday.

Some of the crews called up for duty reported that there had been delays of up to an hour during the frantic effort to deploy them to the fire lines, as workers struggled to gather equipment for their vehicles.

The after-action report, which looked back on the Maui County Fire Department’s response to a disaster that left 101 people dead , highlighted the decision to pursue “minimal upstaffing and prepositioning of resources” in the days before the fire, despite dire weather alerts.

The National Weather Service had issued a red flag warning, about the likelihood of high winds that could stoke a fire across the island’s dry grasslands. But firefighters and officials apparently found no reason to believe the risk would be any greater than on other windy and dry days, according to the report.

The department did add some extra staffing on the morning of the fire, but even the added crews were not enough to handle a blaze that swept with astonishing speed through the heart of the town, leaving firefighters struggling to maintain adequate water supplies and lines of communication.

In a separate review releasedby the state attorney general’s office on Wednesday, investigators with the Fire Safety Research Institute described how county officials had believed the situation was under control hours before the Lahaina fire exploded.

Herman Andaya, chief of the Maui Emergency Management Agency, reported speaking to Mayor Richard Bissen that morning about whether Maui County should follow the lead of Hawaii County by issuing an emergency proclamation. Mr. Andaya recalled that the mayor had not felt it was necessary.

With two fires having already surfaced on the island, though not to a catastrophic level, Mr. Andaya also declined additional help from the Hawaii National Guard, according to a text message he sent. “Spoke to Mayor and Chief and they indicated that they are able to fight this fire with the assets they have … for now,” Mr. Andaya wrote.

He resigned days after the fire , amid questions about why his agency did not sound emergency sirens.

The mayor recalled that as the day had gone on and the crisis had developed, the emergency operations center “got very loud” with people talking, with information largely coming only from police and fire radios. During a 6 p.m. newscast, after the fire had been spreading for hours, Mr. Bissen appeared unaware of how bad the fire was , only mentioning that there were reports of older buildings burned in Lahaina.

The Western Fire Chiefs Association , which conducted the fire department’s investigation, recommended that the department use new technology that can monitor locations for areas of potential fire danger, and position firefighters and equipment in areas most at risk.

The report described heroic efforts by firefighters, some of whom used their own vehicles, or carried victims on their backs while trying to overcome extreme winds, blocked evacuation routes and a water system that was collapsing . But there were dozens of areas where there was room for improvement, the report noted in a series of recommendations to the state and county.

The Maui fire chief, Brad Ventura, said he was proud of the department’s response but believed there was always room for improvement. He noted that crews had rescued hundreds of people, and that some firefighters had battled the blaze while knowing their own homes were burning down.

“There were firefighters who rescued people and kept them within their apparatus for several hours while they continued to evacuate others, get them to safety and fight the fire at the same time,” Mr. Ventura said.

On the morning of the fire on Aug. 8, winds roaring down the slopes of West Maui helped ignite a morning fire in Lahaina that drew a quick response from firefighters, who were able to contain that blaze. They spent hours at the site but, seeing no signs of fire or smoke, departed in the afternoon to head back to the fire station — minutes before fire was again reported in the same area.

Mr. Ventura said the crew had stayed at the scene of the morning fire for five hours, longer than is normal for a brush fire. “They are basically forced to make decisions every single day with the best information that they have available,” he said.

The fire in the afternoon quickly began spreading and soon jumped down the hillside and into more residential areas. The after-action report said that at 3:26 p.m. the department directed emergency dispatchers to begin evacuations.

Records show that it was not until 4:16 p.m. that the county sent an emergency cellphone alert , and many residents reported having received no warning until they saw the fire looming near their homes. The report did not explore the reasons for that delay.

With the blaze spreading, off-duty crews were called in. But because relief vehicles are not always fully equipped, the report said, there were delays of up to an hour as staff members worked to get the vehicles properly outfitted.

“During the peak of the August wildfires, off-duty staff were available, but insufficient vehicles hindered full deployment,” the report found. It recommended spending money on standardized equipment to prevent such delays.

It also found problems with emergency communications. Cellphones were inoperable as a result of burned fiber optic lines and loss of power, it said, and radio communications were also problematic: They worked, thanks to a repeater on the nearby island of Lanai, but the radio frequencies were overloaded, the report said.

In all, the investigators made more than 100 recommendations for improvements in training, technology, equipment and other areas. They called for the state to develop a statewide mutual aid plan so that fire departments elsewhere could more seamlessly respond to a disaster. And they advised the county to consider creating a crew to clear vegetation in areas where wildfires could spread.

Hawaiian Electric and the county, the report said, should consider relocating power lines and poles, perhaps placing them underground, to prevent downed wires from blocking escape routes.

Mike Baker is a national reporter for The Times, based in Seattle. More about Mike Baker

A woman moved to Florida after her home burned in the Lahaina fires, and the cheapest Maui rental she could find was $10,000 a month

• The fires in Maui, Hawaii, displaced 6,200 families, many of whom are still looking for housing.
• Some locals have left the state altogether, while others are desperate to stay in their communities.
• Lawmakers are weighing a bill aimed at curbing short-term rentals across Hawaii.

When the fires in Maui, Hawaii , tore through the historic town of Lahaina in August 2023, 6,200 families were suddenly homeless, left to scramble for long-term housing through the sea of short-term rentals that have proliferated on the island.

Amy Chadwick, a Lahaina resident whose home burned in the fire, told The Associated Press she wasn't able to find housing in Maui that worked for her family for less than $10,000 a month. Instead, Chadwick and her family moved to Satellite Beach, Florida.

"You're pushing out an entire community of service industry people. So no one's going to be able to support the tourism that you're putting ahead of your community," Chadwick, who works as a server at a fine-dining establishment, told AP. "Nothing good is going to come of it unless they take a serious stance, putting their foot down and really regulating these short-term rentals."

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Other residents who lost their Lahaina homes in the August 8 fire are still in temporary housing more than eight months later.

Shannon I'i, who lost her home in the fire, told Hawaii outlet KITV that her family is among the hundreds who are still living in a hotel.

"It is rough," she told the outlet. "But we do what we have to do to survive."

I'i said her family was recently told they'll have to move out, so they are again looking for housing, but they don't want to have to move away. "To be able to stay on west side of Maui with our community, that is the most important thing for me," she told KITV.

Vacation rentals that cater to tourists and can cost hundreds of dollars per night have long been a problem in Maui, but the Lahaina fires and displacement of thousands of families exacerbated the issue and made it more visible. State lawmakers are weighing a bill that would give counties across Hawaii the ability to phase out short-term rentals.

"There are about 7,000 short term rental units on Maui in apartment zoning and 2,200 are in West Maui," Keani Rawlins-Fernandez, a Maui city councilwoman, told KITV. "It would immediately provide housing for those folks who want to stay in West Maui, which is the majority of our folks looking for housing right now."

Gov. Josh Green has said he would sign the bill, SB 2919 , if it passes the state legislature. The bill has been championed by Lahaina Strong, an advocacy group for the Maui wildfire survivors .

"We've helped change that conversation of 'build build build' to now, 'What about the inventory we already have?'" Paele Kiakona, a member of Lahaina Strong, told Hawaii News Now .

"On top of keeping people here and making it more affordable, we've potentially opened up an avenue to bring our people back," Kiakona added.

Watch: Video shows the devastation from Hawaii wildfires

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