HONOLULU (AP) – U.S. officials have approved a request to extend housing assistance for survivors of the catastrophic 2023 wildfires, as announced by Hawaii Governor Josh Green on Friday. This decision comes as nearly 1,000 households displaced by the fires were anxiously awaiting news regarding federal assistance that was set to expire, which would have forced them to seek new housing in an already tight and expensive rental market.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has approved Hawaii’s request to extend the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) temporary housing assistance for survivors of the Maui wildfires until February 2027, as stated in Governor Green's news release. Contrary to this announcement, FEMA did not respond immediately to requests for confirmation regarding the extension.
Kukui Keahi, a Lahaina fire survivor and the associate director of Kako’o Maui Programs at the nonprofit Hawaiian Council, expressed relief upon hearing the news of the extension, stating, “It lifted a weight I did not even realize I was carrying, and I know many other families were carrying that same weight too.” The devastating fires in Lahaina and Kula resulted in the destruction of 2,200 structures and claimed 102 lives. Following the disaster, then-President Joe Biden declared a major disaster, enabling FEMA assistance for 12,000 displaced individuals, of whom 89% were renters prior to the fires. Initially, the administration extended the 18-month housing support program until February 2026, but with limited housing reconstruction and a sparse rental inventory, the state sought a further extension in May.
Governor Green commented, “Recovery doesn’t follow an artificial deadline and I appreciate Secretary Noem and the administration for recognizing the reality families are still facing on the ground here in Hawai’i.” Unlike other states that experienced megafires destroying a higher number of homes, the fires in Maui presented a unique dilemma. The island's limited housing stock coupled with its remote location from the U.S. mainland has made it particularly challenging to relocate survivors and facilitate rebuilding efforts.
In the immediate aftermath of the disaster, FEMA, in collaboration with the state, county, and various nonprofits, endeavored to find housing solutions for the displaced, most of whom wanted to remain near Lahaina to stay close to their jobs, schools, and the community at large. After working with the Red Cross to accommodate 8,000 residents in hotels and other temporary shelters during the initial weeks following the fires, FEMA gradually transitioned these families to other forms of housing assistance. This included offering monetary support for rent and installing temporary shelters on burnt properties, while also leasing thousands of units to rent back to survivors. However, some recipients voiced concerns over cumbersome eligibility requirements and having to relocate multiple times.
Steven Hew, a 52-year-old restaurant cashier who rents a subsidized apartment from FEMA after losing his multigenerational home in Lahaina to the fire, was informed about the decision through an Associated Press inquiry. He expressed a sense of relief upon learning of the extension, saying he was "shaking" after receiving the news. “A lot of people were on edge and scared and didn’t know what they were going to do,” he remarked. He expressed gratitude towards whoever made the decision to extend aid, stating, “Somebody had a heart and just said ‘Yes,’ and whoever that person was, I thank them.” Hew aims to save enough money over the next year to rent his own place.
