HAWAII PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY

Hakim Ouansafi, HPHA Executive Director

Mayor Richard Bissen gives an update on fatalities and the unaccounted from the maui wildfires

RESIDENTS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR HOUSING AND FINANCIAL AID

To qualify for shelter and financial assistance, you must first register with FEMA. This can be done at a joint Disaster Recovery Center that operates daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the University of Hawai‘i Maui College (310 W. Ka‘ahumanu Ave., Pilina Building, Kahului). You can also call 1-800-621-3362, visit disasterassistance.gov, or apply through the FEMA smartphone app. Additionally, if you did not apply for FEMA assistance yet are receiving communications, please report potential fraud by calling the disaster fraud hotline at

1-866-720-5721.

SHELTERS on maui

call center

A Fire Weather Watch has been issued for Leeward Haleakala, Maui Central Valley and Maui Leeward West, effective from noon Wednesday, 8/30 through 6 p.m. Thursday.

A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur. The National Weather Service is forecasting that trade winds will increase through the day Wednesday and will become windy and gusty overnight and Thursday, including in the Lahaina area. Rainfall will remain focused across windward slopes, with a decrease in shower activity expected Wednesday evening and Thursday.

Dry and breezy trade winds with gusts over 40 mph will produce high fire danger Thursday, according to the Weather Service.National Guard members will be positioned at observation points in high-risk areas of West Maui, Central Maui and Upcountry to monitor conditions Wednesday.

The Maui Fire Department is increasing personnel in West Maui and Central Maui on Wednesday.

A CH-47 Chinook helicopter with a 2,000-gallon water bucket has been repositioned on Maui.

The Maui Ola Resource Center will service ʻohana affected by the wildfires, with translators available on site for ʻohana seeking in-language assistance. Community partners present at the ‘ohana fairs include FEMA, Hawai‘i Red Cross, Project Vision, and more. ‘Ohana Fair information:

• August 31, 1 p.m. – 7 p.m. at Lahaina Civic Center
  

Until further notice, residents in these areas of Lahaina and Kula should only use bottled water or potable water provided from tankers for things like drinking, brushing teeth, ice-making, and food preparation. For potable water, please bring large water containers to:

UNSAFE WATER ADVISORY

fire weather watch

housing on maui

RESIDENTS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR SHELTER, FOOD, WATER AND NECESSITIES CAN VISIT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS BELOW:

The State Dept. of Human Services announced an additional 250 Air BnB units are available to displaced residents or families on Maui for 21-day stays.

• Pre-Register at Lahaina Gateway Center
  
• Tuesday thru Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  

Landlords, management companies, and homeowners from across the state have offered to rent more than 900 houses, apartment units and rooms immediately to the thousands of Maui residents who lost their homes to the wildfires. Of the 900-plus properties offered to date, just over half the properties are on Maui, about 30% are on Oʻahu, with 10 proposals from owners of property outside of Hawaiʻi. Nearly 80 families have been placed into housing through the Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corporation (HHFDC).

• For assistance call (808) 587-0469
  
• Weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  
• or email hhfdcfirereliefhousing@hawaii.gov
  

intially reported on august 8th 2023. Update: august 22th, 2023

Maui Fire update

Olinda fire

now 85% contained. Estimated 1,081 acres. The Maui Fire Department is assisting State Division of Forestry and Wildfire with this joint fire-fighting effort.

from the county of maui communications office

Effective 8/28,

The Lana‘i ferry will be commence daily service connecting Ma‘alaea and Manele Bay, except for Sundays.

• Mondays & Fridays: departing 10 a.m. Ma‘alaea, 12 noon Manele
  

• Tuesdays, Thursdays, & Saturdays: departing 6:30 a.m. Ma‘alaea, 8:30 a.m. Manele, 3:30pm Ma‘alaea, 5:30pm Manele
  

Home, Business, Physical, and Economic Injury disaster loans are available from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) as a result of impacts from the Maui wildfires.

For more information please visit sba.gov/hawaii-wildfires.

• Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center (800) 659-2955
  
• Email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov
  

for more information on SBA financial disaster assistance.

Hawai‘i Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs will be temporarily waiving registration fees for businesses affected by the wildfires.

The waiver is in effect through 12/31/2023, and applies to fees for obtaining certificates of good standing and copies of business registrations documents filed with the division.

The State Department of Education (DOE) will be holding two meetings on Wednesday, August 30 to hear from families and community members about reopening schools. Meeting info:

• Lahaina: 9-11 a.m. at Citizen Church, 4275 Hine Way
  
• Kahului: 1-3 p.m. at Maui Arts & Cultural Center, McCoy Studio Theater, 1 Cameron Way
  

For DOE resources to assist those impacted by the fires, visit: bit.ly/HIDOE-West-Maui-Resources.

ROAD CLOSURES

The monthly test of the all-hazard Statewide Outdoor Warning Siren System has been canceled for September 2023. The test had been scheduled for Friday, September 1 at 11:45 a.m. However, that time and date are within 15 minutes of a planned moment of worldwide prayer and remembrance for those killed or missing in the Maui wildfires.

Families who currently have a federal Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher with the County of Maui and who have been displaced by the Lāhainā and Kula fires will not lose their housing assistance.

To accommodate those families who have lost their homes to the fires, the initial term of their Section 8 voucher will be 120 days instead of the customary 60 days. The additional search time will assist with the decreased housing inventory and increased number of families searching for housing. The additional search time only applies to those families displaced by the fires.

Families who lost their homes in the fire and are needing additional time to find suitable housing

are advised to contact their Section 8 housing specialist prior to the expiration date of their voucher and request a voucher extension in writing.

An additional extension will be granted based on guidelines set by the County of Maui Housing Division and approved by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

MONTHLY SIREN TEST

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is reviewing its policy to make sure it is helping as much as possible. Eligible funeral expenses may include the cost of a casket or urn, funeral services and transportation of the deceased and/or up to two family members into the area to identify your loved one, if that is required by state/local authorities. To request funeral assistance, you must first apply to FEMA. For more information, speak to a FEMA specialist at any open Disaster Recovery Center. You can find a Disaster Recovery Center by visiting: fema.gov/drc. You may also call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.

For those seeking information regarding loved ones or those who are unaccounted for, the Family Assistance Center (FAC) is located at the Hyatt Regency’s Monarchy Ballroom, 200 Nohea Kai Drive in Lahaina. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Agencies and organizations currently available at the FAC include:

• FEMA Disaster Assistance
  
• US Small Business Administration
  
• American Red Cross
  
• Salvation Army
  
• Maui County Department of Housing and Human Concerns
  
• Maui Economic Opportunity—Emergency Financial Assistance
  
• Tzu Chi Foundation—Emergency Financial Assistance
  
• Maui County Bar Association—Legal Information
  
• United Way of Maui
  
• Health, Mental Health, and Spiritual Care services
  

If you are unable to locate or connect with a loved one who has been impacted by a recent disaster, and cannot visit the FAC, please call 1-800-733-2767 and select Option 4 to follow the voice prompts for "Hawaii Wildfires." Provide as much detail as possible to assist in potentially locating your missing loved one. Call volume is high and callers may experience longer wait times.

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

DNA samples are only for identification of wildfire victims and survivors, and will not be stored or used for any other purpose. In some cases, this information may be the best way to determine identification with regards to the destructive nature of the wildfires.

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

family assistance center

Hawaii Community Foundation

Maui Strong Fund

FINANCIAL DONATIONS TO HELP MAUI FAMILIES

Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement

Kakoo Maui Fundraiser

Maui United Way

Maui Fire Disaster Relief

more resources:

FEMA Individual and Families Assistance

The County of Maui Division of Motor Vehicles and Licensing’s Lahaina Satellite Office will be available daily:

• from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  

• at Lahaina Gateway Center
  

• to assist West Maui residents whose Hawaiʻi driver’s licenses or Hawaiʻi State Identification cards have been lost or destroyed by wildfires. For more information, call (808) 270-7363.
  

The Maui County Division of Motor Vehicles and Licensing office at

• 110 Ala‘ihi St. in Kahului will be open Saturday, 8/26.
  

These weekend appointments are available

• from 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
  

and are reserved for individuals completing a single transaction for themselves. Walk-ins will be available

• from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
  

for wildfire survivors. To make an appointment, visit bit.ly/MauiDMVbooking. For more information, call (808) 270-7363.

Maui residents affected by the recent wildfires can apply for federal disaster assistance at a joint Disaster Recovery Center

• from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  

• at the University of Hawaii Maui College, 310 W. Kaahumanu Ave., Kahului.
  

Speak to FEMA specialists, get help registering for disaster assistance, connect with voluntary organizations and have access to federal and state resources. You can also visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4724, call 800-621-3362, or apply through the FEMA smartphone application.

• Lahaina Gateway Center
• Monday,Wednesday, & friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  
• Resource distribution
  
• Mobile health vehicle providing first aid, pediatric services, and pharmacy courier services
  

• Queen Ka‘ahumanu Center
  
• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  
• Monday, Wednesday, friday.
• Non-perishable food, water and paper supplies sought no clothing donations,please.While pick-ups have been available, the focus will move to drop-offs.

• FEED MY SHEEP MOBILE FOOD DISTRIBUTION SITES
  

• Kahului: 150 South Pu’unene Ave.
• 9:30 a.m. to noon Saturday
  

• Wailuku: Parking lot next to Living Way Church aT the corner of Market and Mokuhau streets in Happy Valley
• 10 to 11:30 a.m. Friday
  

distribution sites on maui

update: August 31st 2023

where to donate on maui

update: August 31st 2023

• Donations of non-perishable food, bottled water and hygiene products are being accepted from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. near a vacant unit in Queen Ka’ahumanu Center at the Kane Street entrance.
  

• High priority supplies include non-perishable food items, water, hand washing stations, water totes, outdoor sinks, portable charging devices and stations, batteries, wheelchairs, and semi-permanent or permanent tents. At this time, clothes are not a high priority need.

• The new site is a partnership among the county, Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and Mahi Pono. Mahi Pono will provide staff for the facility and work under leadership of Salvation Army and Feed My Sheep to coordinate food and supplies distribution.
  

planning A MAJOR DONATION OF SUPPLIES OR SERVICES?

contact:

1) HAWAII EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

• 808-733-4300
  
• EMAIL : HawaiiEMA@hawaii.gov
  
• EMAIL: John.a.vierra@hawaii.gov
  

2) AMERICAN RED CROSS

• EMAIL: Masscare@redcross.org
  

looking for someone?

If you need assistance locating a missing loved one due to the current disaster:

• Please call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) and select Option 4.
  

• Follow the voice prompts for "Hawaii Wildfires."
  

• Provide as much detail as possible to assist us in potentially locating your missing loved one.
  

warning from the department of commerce and consumrs affairs

update: August 17th 2023

Recent news and social media have relayed horrifying stories regarding the unconscionable conduct of some individuals, both in and out-of-state, attempting to profit from the tragic Lāhainā events. According to sources, these people have been cold-calling landowners in an attempt to purchase properties from those injured and to take advantage of their vulnerable situation. The Hawai‘i Real Estate Commission mourns along with the rest of the state and will not stand for this type of predatory conduct.

“The Commission is here for the people of Hawaiʻi, to protect the public in its real estate transactions and we intend to enforce this statutory mandate. Any exploitative acts taken by Hawai‘i licensed or non-licensed individuals will be firmly handled to the full extent of the law. A’OLE! (no!),” states Real Estate Commission Chairperson Derrick Yamane.

As a stern reminder to all licensees, the conduct of licensees, as contained in the Hawaiʻi Administrative Rules, require them to fully protect the general public in its real estate transactions. This rule requires licensees to report any and all conduct of unscrupulous individuals to the Hawaiʻi Real Estate Commission or the Regulated Industries Complaints Office (RICO).

Further, “the licensee shall protect the public against fraud, misrepresentation, or unethical practices in the real estate field,” and “endeavor to eliminate any practices in the community which could be damaging to the public or to the dignity and integrity of the real estate profession.” Finally, “the licensee SHALL assist the commission in its efforts to regulate the practices of brokers and salespersons in this state.”

We encourage all members of the public receiving unscrupulous offers to gather as much information as possible on the offending persons and take particular note of the name, place of business, telephone number, and address of those unwanted solicitors and report it to the RICO Consumer Resource Center at 808-587-4272, rico@dcca.hawaii.gov, or the Commission office at 808-586-2643, hirec@dcca.hawaii.gov.

health advisory

QUESTIONS?

Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA) has activated a Joint Information Center (JIC) in support of media operations regarding the August 2023 wildfires in Maui and Hawai‘i counties.

The JIC will handle all media inquiries for HI-EMA and the Hawaii National Guard, which includes state-level inquiries and interview requests.

Please call 808-636-8955 or direct inquiries to HawaiiEMA@hawaii.gov.

The JIC enables HI-EMA to bring together public information resources from other Hawaii state agencies and provides a single point of contact for media inquiries.

Hawaii Emergency Management Agency

• Darryl Takeda/ EMA Maui Specialist/808-270-7285
  

• EMA Office/808-733-4300

• You can also visit Ready.Hawaii.Gov for updates and information
  

HAWAII PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY

1002 North School Street, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96817

Phone: (808) 832-4682

The Hawaii Public Housing Authority provides housing assistance and programs free from discrimination.