fire updates
and resources

This is a difficult time for our community, and we are here to help.  President Biden has approved a disaster declaration that authorizes federal relief for individuals and businesses impacted by the Maui fires.  Additional assistance for the state and counties to help with response and recovery was also authorized for both Maui and Hawai‘i Island.

Information on the programs available to those impacted on Maui and how to apply is below.  Please share these resources widely and encourage your friends and family who may have been affected to apply.  We will continue to update this page as new information becomes available.

To apply for FEMA disaster assistance in person, visit the FEMA Disaster Recovery Center:

Those applying for assistance can speak to FEMA specialists, get assistance registering for disaster assistance, get in touch with voluntary organizations, and have access to other federal and state resources.

Please have the following information available when you apply:

FEMA officials also advise that impacted individuals begin their insurance claims ASAP. 

Government disaster assistance only covers basic needs and usually will not compensate you for your entire loss.  If you have insurance, the government may help pay for basic needs not covered under your insurance policy.

For a PDF copy of this guide, click here.

If your small business has been affected by the wildfires, there are several forms of assistance that may be available to you. These include disaster loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA), contracting opportunities with the recovery effort, unemployment benefits for your employees, and payments from your insurance provider.

If your business or your home has suffered physical damage from the fires and is located in Maui County. The deadline to apply for SBA physical damage loans has been extended to January 25, 2024.

Small Business Administration (SBA) loans may be available to businesses to repair or replace disaster-damaged property, inventory, and supplies or meet their necessary financial obligations. Disaster loans help restore businesses to pre-disaster conditions, and, in some cases, protect from future disasters.  They cannot be used to expand or upgrade businesses and cannot exceed the verified uninsured disaster loss.  Homeowners and renters may also be eligible for SBA loans to repair or replace disaster-related damages to homes or personal property.

If you sustained physical damage to your business of any size, you may be eligible for up to $2 million in Business Physical Disaster Loans for the repair or replacement of real estate, inventories, machinery, equipment and all other physical losses.

If you are a homeowner or renter, FEMA may refer you to the SBA to apply for low-interest loans to replace or repair disaster-damaged real estate and personal property including automobiles.

If your business has not experienced physical damage, but has suffered economic losses as a result of the fires and is located in Maui, Hawai‘i, Honolulu, Kaua‘i, or Kalawao Counties. The deadline to apply for EIDL is May 10, 2024.

Small businesses, small agricultural businesses, and nonprofits that have not experienced physical damage but have sustained significant economic losses as a result of the fires may be eligible for up to $2 million in Economic Injury Disaster Loans to meet necessary financial obligations.

To apply for any SBA loan, you must first register with FEMA at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.  After registering with FEMA, businesses and homeowners who would like to apply for SBA loans should visit DisasterLoanAssistance.sba.gov. More information is available at DisasterLoanAssistance.sba.gov. Questions should be directed to SBA’s Customer Service Center via email at FOCWAssistance@sba.gov or phone at 800-659-2955, Mondays through Sundays from 4 am to 4 pm.

You can also get in-person help applying for these loans at SBA's Business Recovery Centers, located at:

You can also get in-person help applying for these loans at FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers, located at:

Your small business may be able to contract with the government to assist in the recovery efforts.

If your employees have lost their jobs or had their jobs interrupted due to the fires, please direct them to huiclaims.hawaii.gov or have them call 808-984-8400 to apply for unemployment insurance benefits. You should also visit huiclaims.hawaii.gov or call 808-984-8400 if you are self-employed and are unable to work or have had your work interrupted because of the fires.

Additional unemployment benefits related to the disaster are provided by the federal government for those individuals who do not qualify for the state’s unemployment insurance program. For more information on the federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance program, including benefit levels, click here.

Remember to contact your insurance carrier and start the claims process as soon as possible if you have suffered property or inventory losses because of the fires. You cannot receive the money you are owed by insurance until you begin the claims process.

For a PDF copy of this guide, click here.

The Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) program temporarily supplements standard unemployment insurance (UI) for workers unemployed as a direct result of a disaster.  DUA is run directly by the State of Hawai‘i Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) using federal funds, and is meant to help individuals who would not otherwise qualify for UI obtain financial support.  Workers who have lost their jobs or are unable to work due to the disaster should file unemployment claims with DLIR as soon as possible to begin receiving benefits.

Most workers will be covered by the state’s unemployment insurance program.  For workers who do not qualify for that program, DUA is generally available.  This includes any unemployed or self-employed individual who lived, worked, or were scheduled to work in the disaster area, and due to the disaster, they:

An individual who becomes the head of their household and is looking for work because the former head of household died as a result of the disaster may also qualify for DUA benefits.

Your weekly benefit amount is calculated by dividing the wages in the highest quarter of your base period (the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters) by 21, up to a maximum of $763 per week.  The minimum benefit for individuals eligible for DUA is $227 per week.  There is no minimum benefit for standard UI.

If you are partially unemployed, your weekly benefit amount is calculated the same as the above by using the amount of reduced income you are currently receiving.

Please ask DLIR if you have questions regarding your weekly benefit amount.

For standard UI, individuals are initially eligible for 26 weeks of assistance starting from the week you lost your job.

For DUA, individuals are only eligible for 26 weeks after the date of disaster was declared by President Biden.  So, DUA payments will be available until February 11, 2024. 

To apply for UI, please visit labor.hawaii.gov/ui or call at (833) 901-2272.

For individuals on Maui, call (808) 984-8400 or visit the Maui UI Office at 54 South High St., Rm 201 in Wailuku.

For more information, please visit https://labor.hawaii.gov/ui/.

For a PDF copy of this guide, click here.

Kaiser Permanente is now providing free medical services to members and non-members the Royal Lāhainā Resort from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Non-U.S. citizens are able to access this medical assistance. For the most up-to-date information, visit Kaiser Permanente’s website here.

The Lahaina Comprehensive Health Center is providing general medical care, prescription refills, and mental health services at Akoakoa Place. Appointments are recommended. Medicare, Medicaid, and most major insurance plans are accepted, with the exception of Kaiser, Humana, and TRICARE. Non-U.S. citizens are able to access this medical assistance. For more information, please call (808) 871-7772 for medical services and (808) 495-5113 for behavioral health services. For the most up-to-date information, click here.

Minit Medical is providing urgent care at two locations: Lahaina Urgent Care and Physical Therapy at 2580 Kekaa Drive, Suite 111 and Lahaina Gateway Center.  To make an appointment, please call (808) 667-6161.

If you have end-stage renal disease and need information for accessing treatment, you can call the Kidney Care Emergency Response Network hotline at (800) 232-3773.

Emergency Prescription Assistance Program (EPAP): If you are uninsured and your prescriptions or medical equipment was lost and/or damaged in the wildfires, you can request a free 30-day supply for certain prescription medications, vaccines, and medical equipment at any EPAP-participating pharmacy until October 16, 2023.    

To be eligible, you must: 1) live in Maui county; and 2) have no form of prescription insurance. First, enroll by calling the EPAP hotline at (855) 793-7470. Next, you will have to provide the pharmacy with one of the following:

You can find participating pharmacies across Maui County below.  Please call ahead to confirm participation.

HMSA and AlohaCare are allowing early refills of maintenance medications for members on all islands. If you are an HMSA member, you must have refills available on your prescription. You must call HMSA’s Customer Care line for approval at one of the following phone numbers:

If you are an AlohaCare member, you can ask your nearest pharmacy for an early refill override, call (877) 973-0712, or email or text memberhelp@alohacare.org.

For additional information, follow Hawai‘i Health & Harm Reduction on Instagram or contact the Maui AIDS Foundation at (808) 242-4900 or https://www.mauiaids.org/about-5-3.

Please call the Maui AA Central Office at (808) 244-9673 for the most up-to-date information on AA meetings. Phone calls are answered 24/7.

In-person and virtual Al-Anon/Alateen meetings are available across Maui. For more information and to view the schedule, please call (808) 242-0296 or click here. 

All Lahaina-based NA meetings are currently closed.  All other NA meetings on Maui are unaffected and available. Please call the Maui Helpline at (808) 214-1239 for the current status of meetings. 

If you have Medicare and lost or realized damage to your durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, or other medical supplies, you are entitled to receive replacements. Contact 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) for assistance.

If you are a health care provider interested in helping, you can visit the Department of Health’s website to sign up here.

Health care providers who need flexibilities specific to the effects of fires can submit a request to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services here. 

Under Governor Green’s Fifth Emergency Proclamation relating to the fires:

For a PDF copy of this guide, click here.

If you or someone you know is struggling as a result of the disaster, you are not alone.

Check with your employer whether they offer an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which may be designed to help employees address psychological stressors–among other services. EAPs often provide individual assessments, short-term counseling, and referrals to treatment.  

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health after a Disaster:  Tips are available here in your preferred language: English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese

Our first responders have been on the frontlines to contain the wildfires and help those in need.  If you are a first responder, resources are available to support your mental health during this disaster.

Natural disasters can deeply affect children’s emotional, social, and mental health and well-being.

For a PDF copy of this guide, click here.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency in the State of Hawai‘i effective August 8, 2023. This declaration may help you access health benefits and services. This website will be updated as more information becomes available.

If you suffered an income loss and need help paying for your Medicare premiums, you may be eligible for Medicare Savings Programs. For more information, you can call (808) 524-3370.

Carriers from the Lāhainā Main Post Office have resumed mail delivery to addresses that are accessible and at which homes and mail receptacles are still standing. Mail delivery to customers with PO Boxes has also resumed.

Mail can be picked up from the dutch door in the lobby of the Lāhainā Main Post Office, Monday through Saturday, 10:00am to 5:00pm by:

Customers picking up their mail over the counter are reminded that a photo ID is necessary for mail pick-up.

Lāhainā residents who lost their homes or Lāhainā Downtown Post Office PO Boxes may be eligible for a temporary free PO Box through February 2024. Qualifying residents may request their free PO Box at any Maui post office. The post offices with the largest available inventories of PO Boxes are the Lāhainā Main Post Office and the Kahului Post Office. To ensure that these free PO Boxes are taken only by Lāhainā residents who lost their homes or PO Boxes, requestors will be asked to provide a photo identification and proof of their Lāhainā residence. This offer is limited to one free PO Box per affected Lāhainā household.

Displaced customers who would like to redirect their mail to new addresses are encouraged to submit their USPS Change of Address (COA) requests as soon as possible. COA requests can be submitted online or at a local post office.

Lāhainā customers can call the USPS Maui wildfire impact information line at 808-423-6000 to hear a recording providing the latest service updates.

For a PDF copy of this guide, click here.

If you need help determining where to go for care or have questions about the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) resources available to you, please call the VA Pacific Islands Health Care System (VAPIHCS) line at 1-800-214-1306.  For mental health care, call 808-433-0660.  For VA social services, call 808-873-3689.

The VA has staff on the ground to help Veterans access resources in Lāhainā.  VAPIHCS is updating their Facebook page with locations and additional information daily at: https://www.facebook.com/VAPacificIslands/.  

The VA Maui Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) remains open at 203 Ho'ohana Street, Kahului, from 7:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Monday-Friday The clinic’s phone number is 808-871-2454.  The clinic is providing medication refills, showers, food and water, toiletries, and clothing.  Veterans can access urgently needed prescription medications through the clinic and can coordinate prescription pickup for routine medications through the clinic or through calling 808-873-3680.  A social worker is also onsite. 

The Maui Vet Center remains open for Veterans, active duty service members, and their families in need of counseling services after experiencing the stressors associated with the recent fires at 157 Ma’a St, Kahului, from 7:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Monday-Friday.  The center phone number is 808-242-8557.  In addition to available counseling services, two staff members from the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) are onsite to help Veterans with needs such as home loss, access to financial support, life insurance and other benefits.

If a Veteran or beneficiary does not/cannot receive a benefits payment due to the fires and indicates financial hardship, the contact center agents must request a one-time special payment address where a replacement payment can be sent.

For a PDF copy of this guide, click here.

You can apply for a replacement driver’s license or State ID Card in the following ways:

For more information see the Legal Aid Hawai‘i website which includes guides on document replacement and on applying for vital records, the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation Q&A on driver’s licenses, the Maui DMV wait times, or call the Division of Motor Vehicles & Licensing at (808) 270-7363. 

The Hawai‘i State Bar Association is also providing a free legal hotline at (888) 533-2773 to provide legal assistance regarding document replacement, insurance claims, landlord-tenant matters, and other issues.  The hotline is available 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, August 15 - 17 and August 22 - 24.

You can get a replacement Social Security card by applying online here, calling 1-800-772-1213 Monday through Friday, from 1 A.M. to 1 P.M. HST, or by visiting the local Social Security Office at 2200 Main St, Suite 125 in Wailuku, open Monday through Friday 8:30 A.M. to 3:30 P.M.  If you are not on Maui, you can find your local Social Security office here.

Before visiting your social security office, you can also fill out the Application for a Social Security card online here.

You can receive a replacement of these vital records certificates in two ways:

Download and complete these forms, which can be typed and then printed:

Mail to:

Include a copy of a government-issued ID (such as a State Driver’s License, State ID, or Passport) with your request.  If you don’t have an ID, a grandparent, parent, child, sibling, aunt, uncle, or cousin can use a copy of their government ID from Hawai‘i.  If their ID is not from Hawai‘i, submit additional documents to verify the relationship.  The fee for an affected individual’s first copy of a birth or marriage certificate will be waived with a FEMA disaster assistance ID number or a Lāhainā residential address.

For more information, call the Maui Vital Records hotline at 808-586-4602 Monday – Friday from 7:45 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. or email DOH.MauiVR@doh.hawaii.gov.

The U.S. Department of State granted a fee waiver for people who lost their U.S. passport book or passport card as a result of the wildfires.  You can find more information about replacing passports here.

If you need to travel in the next 3 business days because your immediate family member outside of the United States has died, is dying (hospice care), or has a life-threatening illness or injury, you must call to see if you are eligible for this service.  You can learn more and find the most relevant call information here.

If you are traveling abroad in 14 days or need a foreign visa within the next 28 days, you may submit your passport replacement application in person, without an appointment, at the Honolulu Passport Agency.  The Agency is located at Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Federal Building, 300 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite I-330, Honolulu, HI 96850.  You can learn more here.  For additional information, you can call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 (TTY 1-888-874-7793).

If you are not traveling abroad in the next 14 days or need a foreign visa in the next 28 days, you should apply for a routine or expedited passport.  Expedited passports require an additional $60 fee and will be processed in 7-9 weeks.  Routine passports likely will take 10-13 weeks to be processed at this time.You will need to submit a Replacement Passport Form (Form DS-5504), a Lost and Stolen Passport Form (DS-64), and a new passport picture.  On Section 2 of the Lost and Stolen Passport Form, you should include:

For a Routine Passport, you will need to mail your application to:

For an Expedited Passport, you will need to mail your application with a check (personal, certified, cashier’s, travelers) or money order (U.S. Postal, international, currency exchange) with the applicant's full name and date of birth printed on the front and payable to "U.S. Department of State." Please write "Expedite" on the outer envelope when mailing. Mail to:

You can get a replacement Medicare card from Social Security in three ways:

You can also print an official copy of your card from your secure Medicare account or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).  TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048.

You can receive a replacement Medicaid ID card by calling the Med-QUEST Customer Services Call Center for Neighbor Islands at 1-800-316 – 8005 or the Maui Med-QUEST Eligibility Branch at 1-808- 243-5780.  TTY users can call 711.

If the deed to your property was recorded in 1992 or later, you can receive a copy of your deed from the state Board of Conveyances online at BOC Online Document Access.  Search by the first and last name of the grantor (prior property owner) and grantee (recipient of the property).  Copies can be downloaded at a fee of $1 per page.

For documents recorded within the past 60 days, mail a written request using this form to the Bureau of Conveyances, P.O. Box 2867, Honolulu, HI 96803.  You must include the check number used to pay for the deed recording fees.

If your deed was recorded before 1992, you can receive a copy of your deed in two ways:

Mail the request to:

For more information, visit the Bureau of Conveyances website or call 808-587-0136 Monday to Friday from 7:45 A.M. – 4:30 P.M.

For a PDF copy of this guide, click here.

If you have SNAP, you can buy hot, prepared food with your SNAP benefits through December 31, 2023 at authorized retailers.  This applies to SNAP participants in all counties.

If you suffered loss of income, you may be eligible for SNAP benefits.  For more information, please visit https://humanservices.hawaii.gov/bessd/snap/ or call 855-643-1643.

If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or postpartum or have children under 5 years old and suffered loss of income, you may be eligible for WIC benefits. WIC is waiving documentation requirements to apply for benefits, such as proof of income, proof of identity, and proof of Hawai‘i residence, and you can enroll over the phone. To apply for WIC, visit the Maui WIC Clinic at 781 Kolu St., Ste. A-1, Wailuku, or call (808) 984-8225 between 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.

The following additional stores on Maui now accept WIC:

For a PDF copy of this guide, click here.

FEMA can assist with life-saving and life-sustaining items, such as prescriptions, infant formula, diapers, and fuel for transportation through its Individual Assistance Program.  To apply for this and other FEMA benefits, you should register at www.disasterassistance.gov, or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.

In the meantime, Maui Nui Strong maintains a webpage featuring voluntary and nonprofit organizations that may be able to support your needs.

This benefit is only be available up to 30 days from the disaster.  To be eligible, you will need to:

Items eligible for this benefit include things that are critical to save or sustain the lives of you or your household, including items such as water, food, first aid, prescriptions, infant formula, diapers, consumable medical supplies, durable medical equipment, personal hygiene items, and fuel for transportation.

This particular benefit is limited to $700 per eligible household.  Please note that individuals and households may also qualify for a range of other benefits from FEMA, such as temporary shelter in a hotel, money for rental assistance, and medical and legal services.

For a PDF copy of this guide, click here.

If you need child care, you can find a list of open provider providers at here. For additional assistance, you can call PATCH’s referral line at (808) 961-3169.

If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or postpartum or have children under 5 years old and suffered loss of income, you may be eligible for WIC benefits. WIC is waiving documentation requirements to apply for benefits, such as proof of income, proof of identity, and proof of Hawai‘i residence, and you can enroll over the phone. To apply for WIC, visit the Maui WIC Clinic at 781 Kolu St., Ste. A-1, Wailuku, or call (808) 984-8225 between 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.

The following additional stores on Maui now accept WIC:

For a PDF copy of this guide, click here.

The Disaster Declaration makes Hawai‘i eligible for disaster assistance resources through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).  Programs include low-interest emergency loans, financial assistance for crop losses, and financial and technical assistance to rehabilitate damaged farmland, pastureland, orchard trees, forests, and watersheds.  USDA also provides help implementing conservation practices that can help mitigate loss from future disasters.

You can get started by using the USDA’s Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool to identify the type of assistance that matches your specific needs. 

Here is a fact sheet on all USDA disaster assistance programs.

Impacted agricultural producers can reach out to the following local USDA offices:

The Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture (HDOA) has announced it will establish an emergency low-interest agricultural loan program to assist Maui and Hawai‘i Island farmers and ranchers.  For agribusinesses needing loans of $50,000 or less, micro-loans involving less paperwork and swifter processing are available.  Loan applicants would need to provide estimates of losses and should document the damage with photos.

For more information and to begin the process of applying, you can contact HDOA’s Agricultural Loan Program on Oahu at (808) 973-9458.

The University of Hawai‘i College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) has specialists available to help growers assess their losses and plan for recovery.

Maui County CTAHR Cooperative Extension Office                                  

310 Kaahumanu Ave., Bldg. 214, Kahului, HI 96732

(808) 244-3242 x222

kahului@ctahr.hawaii.edu

For a PDF copy of this guide, click here.

FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program can provide money and/or a temporary place to live if you are eligible and have uninsured or underinsured necessary expenses and serious needs.  It is intended to meet basic needs and help survivors start the recovery process.  To receive assistance under the Individuals and Households Program, you must meet these conditions:

You can apply for FEMA assistance by registering at www.disasterassistance.gov, using the FEMA mobile app, calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362, or by speaking with a FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance staff member at a Disaster Recovery Center.  You must apply by December 9, 2023.  FEMA assistance is a grant that doesn’t have to be repaid. 

FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are currently open from 8 A.M. to 7 P.M., seven days a week at the:

To the extent possible, you should have the following information available when you apply for assistance:

Even if you are currently sheltered (staying with friends, family, or on an employer’s property) you should still register with FEMA for potential future assistance.

After you apply for disaster assistance, FEMA may determine that you are eligible to receive the following kinds of housing support, depending on your eligibility and needs:

To learn more about the help available, visit FEMA’s website for the Hawai‘i Wildfires, which is updated regularly.  For additional details on FEMA programs and application requirements, see here, beginning on page 78.

The Hawai‘i Housing Finance and Development Corporation is working to pair Maui residents displaced by the fires with spare bedrooms, vacation rentals, or unoccupied units that are available for at least one month.  You may be expected to pay rent, which could be covered by FEMA or state funds.  The program’s webpage includes a map and listing of available homes, updated twice each day.

Fill out this form with your information and needs and you will be contacted for verification.  You will get access to a listing of landlords and homeowners who are offering a place to stay, and should expect that you will need to provide proof of ID and residency and negotiate the terms of your stay with the person offering it.

For more information, see this FAQ. You can also call 808-587-0469 between 7:45 A.M. and 4:30 P.M., Monday through Friday, or leave a voicemail or email hawaiifirereliefhousing@hawaii.gov and leave a message and your contact information.

The Red Cross is working to provide temporary housing assistance in the form of hotel rooms to those displaced by the fire, regardless of citizenship.  For more information, you can call the Red Cross at 1-800-733-2767.

The Disaster Recovery Center has Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Small Business Administration (SBA) specialists that can help you access resources and applications from the federal and state government and voluntary organizations.

The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development provides free, confidential housing counselors that can help you find housing resources to recover from the fire.  A counselor can help you make a plan, navigate FEMA assistance and insurance, communicate with a landlord or mortgage company, and know your rights.  Request an appointment with this form or by calling 1-855-HERE2HELP (855-437-3243).  For more information, see how a housing counselor can help and what questions you can ask.

For a PDF copy of this guide, click here.

If you have renter’s insurance, you should call your insurance provider to file a claim.  Some FEMA disaster assistance requires you either receive a settlement or are denied by your insurance before qualifying for FEMA programs.

FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program can provide money and/or a temporary place to live if you are eligible and have uninsured or underinsured necessary expenses and serious needs.  It is intended to meet basic needs and help survivors start the recovery process.  To receive assistance under the Individuals and Households Program, you must meet these conditions:

You can apply for FEMA assistance by registering at www.disasterassistance.gov, using the FEMA mobile app,  calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362, or by speaking with a FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance staff member at a Disaster Recovery Center.  You must apply by December 9, 2023.  FEMA assistance is a grant that doesn’t have to be repaid.      

FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are currently open from 8 A.M. to 6 P.M., every day but Sunday, at the:

To the extent possible, you should have the following information available when you apply for assistance:

Even if you are currently sheltered (staying with friends, family, or on an employer’s property) you should still register with FEMA for potential future assistance.

After you apply for disaster assistance, FEMA may determine that you are eligible to receive the following kinds of housing support, depending on your eligibility and needs.

To learn more about the help available, visit FEMA’s website for the Hawaii Wildfires, which is updated regularly.  For additional details on FEMA programs and application requirements, see here, beginning on page 78.

The Hawai‘i Housing Finance and Development Corporation is working to pair Maui residents displaced by the fires with spare bedrooms, vacation rentals, or unoccupied units that are available for at least one month.  You may be expected to pay rent, which could be covered by FEMA or state funds.  The program’s webpage includes a map and listing of available homes, updated twice each day.

Fill out this form with your information and needs and you will be contacted for verification.  You will get access to a listing of landlords and homeowners who are offering a place to stay, and should expect that you will need to provide proof of ID and residency and negotiate the terms of your stay with the person offering it.

For more information, see this FAQ.  You can also call 808-587-0469 between 7:45am-4:30pm, seven days a week, or email hawaiifirereliefhousing@hawaii.gov and leave a message and your contact information.

For updates on state, county, and other resources, see

The Red Cross is working to provide temporary housing assistance in the form of hotel rooms to those displaced by the fire, regardless of citizenship.  For more information, you can call the Red Cross at 1-800-733-2767.

The federal Small Business Administration (SBA) offers disaster loans of up to $100,000 to repair or replace disaster-damaged property that isn’t covered by insurance, which can include personal property like cars, clothing, furniture, and appliances that were damaged or destroyed in the fire.  You must apply by December 9, 2023.

To apply for an SBA loan, you must first register with FEMA (see FEMA Individual Assistance above).  Then you can apply for a disaster loan in the following ways:

For more information, call 1-800-659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, see SBA website information, or see this SBA fact sheet.

If your SBA loan is insufficient or you are denied for a loan, FEMA can help pay to replace disaster-damaged personal property and other expenses (see information on FEMA above).  For more information, see here, and more detail here, starting on p. 166.

The Disaster Recovery Center has Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Small Business Administration (SBA) specialists that can help you access resources and applications from the federal and state government and voluntary organizations.

The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development provides free, confidential housing counselors that can help you find housing resources to recover from the fire.  A counselor can help you make a plan, navigate FEMA assistance and insurance, communicate with a landlord or mortgage company, and know your rights.  Request an appointment with this form or by calling 1-855-HERE2HELP (855-437-3243).  For more information, see how a housing counselor can help and what questions you can ask.

For a PDF copy of this guide, click here.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced that it will provide victims of the Hawai‘i wildfires with tax relief.  This relief is extended to individuals and households that reside or have a business in counties in the disaster area designated by FEMA.  A full list of the relief available can be found in the IRS’s official announcement.

The IRS will automatically apply relief to any taxpayer with an IRS address of record in the disaster area.

If your property was lost or damaged as a result of the wildfires, and you will not be fully compensated by insurance or otherwise, you may be eligible to claim the personal casualty loss deduction on your 2023 taxes or your 2022 taxes.  You have extra time—up to six months after the due date of your federal income tax return for the disaster year—to make this election.

Qualified disaster relief payments are generally excluded from gross income.  In general, this means that you will not have to pay taxes on amounts received from a government agency for reasonable and necessary personal, family, living or funeral expenses, as well as for the repair or rehabilitation of your home, or for the repair or replacement of its contents. In some uncommon situations where you are also compensated for the same necessary expense by insurance or otherwise, you may have to include the payment you receive from the government in your taxable income. See IRS Publication 525 for further details.

The Department of Taxation has announced state income tax relief for Hawai‘i taxpayers.  For purposes of Hawai‘i income tax law, you may claim all of the loss deductions allowed by federal law as outlined above. The Department has also announced an exemption from general excise tax for amounts received from property or casualty insurance policies for losses resulting from the wildfires. Read more here.

If you are having trouble meeting your tax obligations, the Department will consider requests for extensions, waivers, and other relief on a case-by-case basis.  If you are filing a paper tax return with the Department, make sure the return is clearly labeled “2023 Wildfire Relief” at the top-center so requests for relief can be appropriately considered.  If your filing address is not within the areas directly affected by the fires, include a brief statement as to how the disaster has affected your ability to pay your taxes.

For a PDF copy of this guide, click here.

Citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI), and the Republic of Palau can replace lost or damaged Compact of Free Association (COFA) I-94 documentation by submitting a completed Form 1-102 online or by mail. Visit https://www.uscis.gov/i-102 for more information.

Citizens are encouraged to reach out to their consulate for any help replacing lost passports or other documents.

You do not need insurance to access medical care at the sites listed below.  If you do not have health insurance, you may be eligible for Med-QUEST.  Details on how to enroll can be found in the section “Enrolling in Health Insurance.”

Kaiser Permanente is now providing free medical services to members and non-members at the Royal Lahaina Resort from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Non-U.S. citizens are able to access this medical assistance. For the most up-to-date information, please visit Kaiser Permanente’s website.

As of Saturday, September 23, services are no longer being provided at Napili Park or the Hyatt Regency Lāhainā.

Inquiries regarding prescription services for non-members and uninsured individuals can be directed to the Kaiser Permanente Pharmacy Services at 1-808-643-7979.

The Lāhainā Comprehensive Health Center is providing general medical care, prescription refills, and mental health services at Akoakoa Place.  Please see the schedule below for more details. Appointments are recommended.  Medicare, Medicaid, and most major insurance plans are accepted, with the exception of Kaiser, Humana, and TRICARE. Non-U.S. citizens are able to access this medical assistance.  For more information, please call (808) 871-7772 for medical services and (808) 495-5113 for behavioral health services. For the most up-to-date information, please visit: https://health.hawaii.gov/mauiwildfires/.

Minit Medical is providing basic urgent care at two locations: at Lahaina Urgent Care and Physical Therapy at 2580 Kekaa Drive, Suite 111 and Lahaina Gateway Center.  To make an appointment, please call (808) 667-6161.

Emergency Prescription Assistance Program (EPAP): If you are uninsured and your prescriptions or medical equipment were lost and/or damaged in the wildfires, you can request a free 30-day supply for certain prescription medications, vaccines, and medical equipment at any EPAP-participating pharmacy until December 16, 2023.  This program is available to non-U.S. citizens.

To be eligible, you must: 1) live in Maui county; and 2) have no form of prescription insurance. First, enroll by calling the EPAP hotline at (855) 793-7470.  Next, you will have to provide the pharmacy with one of the following:

You can find participating pharmacies across Maui County below.  Please call ahead to confirm participation.

Department of Health Maui Community Behavioral Health Clinics: Offering adult and youth mental health services for those experiencing emotional or psychological distress.  Services include resource guidance, supportive counseling, medication management, psychiatric services, outpatient substance use disorder services, and wellness support groups. For more information, please click here.

Hawaii CARES 988: To speak to a local crisis counselor 24/7, please call (808) 832-3100, (800) 753-6879 or call/text/chat with 988.

Disaster Distress Hotline: Call or text the Disaster Distress Hotline at (800) 989-5990 any time of day to access crisis counseling and support. 

HMSA: Offering free counseling services for those experiencing mental distress or in need of assistance with food, housing, and other essential needs. To receive services, call (800) 580-6934. You do not need to be an HMSA member to participate.

Kaiser Permanente’s Mobile Medical Care Clinics: Behavioral health services are available at Kaiser Permanente’s clinics at the Hyatt Regency, Royal Lāhainā Hotel, and Napili Park.

Hawai‘i UTelehealth: Free confidential crisis counseling services are available via telehealth to everyone, with a focus on older adults, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and rural communities.  For more information, please call (808) 375-2745, email utele@hawaii.edu, or visit https://hawaiiutelehealth.org/. To request an interpreter, please call (808) 375-2745.

Enrolling in Med-QUEST:

Purchasing Insurance on the Health Insurance Marketplace:

You can receive a replacement Medicaid ID card by calling the Med-QUEST Customer Services Call Center for Neighbor Islands at 1-800-316 - 8005 or the Maui Med-QUEST Eligibility Branch at 1-808-243-5780. TTY users can call 711.

COFA citizens are eligible for disaster survivor resources made available to the general public including access to emergency shelters, crisis counseling, disaster legal services, and disaster supplemental nutrition assistance (food stamps).

FEMA Individuals Assistance can provide money and/or a temporary place to live if you are eligible and have uninsured or underinsured necessary expenses and serious needs. It is intended to meet basic needs and help survivors start the recovery process. To receive assistance under the Individuals and Households Program, you must meet these conditions:

You can apply for FEMA assistance by registering at www.disasterassistance.gov, using the FEMA mobile app, calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362, or by speaking with a FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance staff member at a Disaster Recovery Center. You must apply by December 9, 2023.  FEMA assistance is a grant that doesn’t have to be repaid.

FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are currently open from 8 A.M. to 7 P.M., seven days a week at the:

To the extent possible, you should have the following information available when you apply for assistance:

For more information on eligibility, see here.

Even if you are currently sheltered (staying with friends, family, or on an employer’s property) you should still register with FEMA for potential future assistance.  After you apply for disaster assistance, FEMA may determine that you are eligible to receive the following kinds of housing support, depending on your eligibility and needs.

To learn more about the help available, visit FEMA’s website for the Hawai‘i Wildfires, which is updated regularly.  For additional details on FEMA programs and application requirements, see here.

Other temporary housing programs do not require any immigration status.

The Hawai‘i Housing Finance and Development Corporation is working to pair Maui residents displaced by the fires with spare bedrooms, vacation rentals, or unoccupied units that are available for at least one month. You may be expected to pay rent, which could be covered by FEMA or state funds.  The program’s webpage includes a map and listing of available homes, updated twice each day.

Fill out this form with your information and needs and you will be contacted for verification. You will get access to a listing of landlords and homeowners who are offering a place to stay, and should expect that you will need to provide proof of ID and residency and negotiate the terms of your stay with the person offering it.

For more information, see this FAQ.  You can also call 808-587-0469 between 7:45 A.M. and 4:30 P.M., Monday through Friday, or leave a voicemail or email hawaiifirereliefhousing@hawaii.gov and leave a message and your contact information.

The Red Cross is working to provide temporary housing assistance in the form of hotel rooms to those displaced by the fire, regardless of citizenship.  Call the Red Cross at 1-800-733-2767.

The Disaster Recovery Center has Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Small Business Administration (SBA) specialists that can help you access resources and applications from the federal and state government and voluntary organizations.

The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development provides free, confidential housing counselors that can help you find housing resources to recover from the fire. A counselor can help you make a plan, navigate FEMA assistance and insurance, communicate with a landlord or mortgage company, and know your rights. Request an appointment with this form. For more information, see how a housing counselor can help and what questions you can ask.

If you need immediate help, Maui Nui Strong maintains a webpage featuring voluntary and nonprofit organizations that may be able to support your needs.  For updates on state, county, and other resources, see

For a PDF copy of this guide, click here.

Legal Aid Society of Hawaii (LASH) provides free civil legal assistance to low-income individuals impacted by the Maui Wildfires in partnership with FEMA, the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, and the Hawaii State Bar Association.

Free legal advice may be accessed online at https://hawaii.freelegalanswers.org/

ABA Free Legal Answers is a project of the American Bar Association's Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service.  Question topics have been expanded to answer basic Maui Disaster Relief questions, in the areas of Private Landlord/ Tenant, Family Law, Collections/Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, and Estate Planning.

Maui County is able to send you emergency alerts via text message, email, pager, or voice mail, based on your preferences.  To sign up for Maui County Emergency Alerts and get the latest updates, click here.   To see updates from Maui County, click here.

Radio updates are also broadcasted daily at 9 a.m., 12 p.m., and 3 p.m. To see which stations are broadcasting updates, click here.

For a PDF copy of this guide, click here.

For updates on evacuations and shelters from the Maui Emergency Management Agency, click here, or visit the Hawai‘i Red Cross website.

For a PDF copy of this guide, click here.

If you are trying to locate loved ones, either the Red Cross or the Maui County’s Family Assistance Center may be able to help.

For the Red Cross, please call 1-800 RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) and select Option 4. Follow the voice prompts for "Hawai‘i Wildfires." Provide as much detail as possible to assist in potentially locating your missing loved one. Please note call volume is high and callers may experience longer wait times.

The Family Assistance Center has been relocated from the Kahului Community Center to the Hyatt Regency’s Monarchy Ballroom at 200 Nohea Kai Dr. in Ka’anapali. The Center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For a PDF copy of this guide, click here.

The Hawai‘i Department of Education (HIDOE) is closely monitoring conditions and working with county, state, and federal officials. For information on HIDOE resources for West Maui, please call 808-784-6200 or email doeinfo@k12.hi.us. You may also visit http://bit.ly/HIDOE-West-Maui-Resources

Displaced West Maui families are strongly encouraged to re-enroll their child(ren) at another nearby school once they are able to, since schools provide students with in-person services like meals, social engagement, counseling support, and access to resources.

All Hawai‘i public schools will welcome the enrollment of students impacted by the wildfires. To enroll, parents and guardians must complete an MVI form and submit it to the new school. For the MVI form, please click here.

For more information on bus schedules and location, please click here. 

HIDOE is offering free bus service for impacted students to their temporary designated schools.  Students are encouraged to Students who want to take advantage of free school bus transportation from West Maui to their designated schools are encouraged to sign up in advance at bit.ly/WestMauiBusApp.

For more information on bus schedules and location, please click here. 

Families with access to a stable internet connection may register for the State Distance Learning Program. With this option, parents may select between asynchronous learning (flexible schedule for accessing lessons and assignments) or synchronous learning (real-time participation in virtual classes through video conferencing).

To register for the State Distance Learning Program, complete this form.

For Hawaiian language immersion students, parents can register their child for the State Kaiapuni Distance Learning Program at this link.

HIDOE will offer a distance learning hub for K-8 students starting September 19th at Citizen Church located ta 4275 Hine Way in Lāhainā.  The learning hub will provide distance learning students with in-person opportunities for teacher support and peer socialization, as well as access to meals, recess, social-emotional learning and other resources.  Grade levels will report to the learning hub based on the following schedule:

Natural disasters can deeply affect children’s emotional, social, and mental health and well-being.  Resources can be found here:

In-person, phone, and help-line services are available for HIDOE staff who are seeking emotional and mental health support to process distress caused by the wildfires.  Resources can be found here:

For up to date information regarding school operations on Maui, including school reopening, please click here.

For a PDF copy of this guide, click here.

Status of Maui Airports

Modifying or Canceling Air Travel to and from Maui: Some airlines flying from Kahului have offered flexible travel policies that allow refunds or ticket changes:

For a PDF copy of this guide, click here.

Wildfires have seriously impacted the areas of Lāhainā, making travel inadvisable to that area as well as Kā‘anapali, Napili, and Kapalua.  If you are a visitor staying in another area on Maui, please avoid these areas.  Travel restrictions to these areas will end October 8th with the exception of Lāhainā.  Travel to the other islands in the state is not impacted.

Hotels in Kā‘anapali, Napili, and Kapalua have temporarily stopped accepting bookings for future reservations as they are housing their employees and displaced families. Visitors who had planned to stay in in these areas in the coming weeks and months are urged to consider rescheduling their travel plans for a later time or another part of Maui.

For information on future travel to Hawai‘i, please visit gohawaii.com or see the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority’s wildfire updates page here.

For a PDF copy of this guide, click here.

Outages and Restoring Power: Hawaiian Electric has set up a website to provide up-to-date information on their efforts to restore power after the fire. They warn that residents who have had their power restored may still have intermittent outages as the system is brought back online. They have requested customers who experience an outage should report it to the 24/7 Maui trouble line at 808-871-7777.

Safety: Hawaiian Electric also cautions Maui residents to avoid downed power lines, and stay at least 30 feet away. They request that residents report downed powerlines to their 24/7 Maui Trouble Line at 808-871-7777.

Assistance: If you have immediate needs from the fire, Maui Nui Strong maintains a webpage featuring voluntary and nonprofit organizations that may be able to support your needs.

For a PDF copy of this guide, click here.

County of Maui Communication Update: As of September 15, the County advised that the three major wireless carriers are reporting near pre-fire operations with near-equivalent coverage and capacity. The County is publishing daily updates on many issues, including communications, at https://www.mauicounty.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx.

Latest Information on 911: The Maui 911 answering point is fully functional. 

Low-Income Phone and Broadband Subsidy: If you are not already enrolled, qualifying low-income customers may be able to enroll in the Lifeline Program ($9.25 per month off of internet or phone services) and Affordable Connectivity Program ($30 per month off of internet or phone services and a $100 device subsidy). The FCC has announced that if you if you are receiving individual assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Individuals and Households Program (IHP), you will qualify for Lifeline and just need to provide the documentation that you are receiving the assistance. If you enroll in the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP), you will also be eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program, as well as for Lifeline. More information and how to enroll is available at www.fcc.gov/lifeline-consumers and www.getinternet.gov.

Company Updates: Carriers are reporting that services are at or near the level they were pre-fire, with the exception of structures that were completely destroyed. 

Here are the webpages where carriers reported Maui fire updates, along with their announced billing policies during the crisis: 

For a PDF copy of this guide, click here.

There are currently Unsafe Drinking Water Alerts for the Upper Kula Water System and the Lahaina Water System. Updates on the location of water tankers to serve areas impacted by the fire are also available. Here is a map of the potentially affected areas of the Lāhainā Water System.

For additional assistance, Maui Nui Strong maintains a webpage featuring voluntary and nonprofit organizations that may be able to support your needs.