WildFire Resources

Already, $43.7 million was approved for 7,013 individuals and households that applied for FEMA assistance while SBA approved more than $290.7 million in low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters and businesses.    

Early on, the state arranged for the American Red Cross to manage emergency sheltering needs by housing survivors in Maui hotels and condos. FEMA funded the effort. The Red Cross has sheltered 8,000 survivors, about two-thirds of the pre-disaster population of Lahaina. To date, there are 4,984 survivors and 300-plus pets in 16 sites. With its partners, the Red Cross has also provided three meals a day to survivors – more than 1.1 million meals since their program began.

Updated information as of 2/12/24.

Federal assistance is available to eligible individuals and families affected by this disaster. The fastest way to apply is through DisasterAssistance.gov.

All individuals who have been impacted by the wildfire disaster on Maui can apply for FEMA assistance either online here, calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362, or in person at a location listed below.

Representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration are also available at the recovery center to provide program information and explain how to apply for SBA’s low-interest disaster loans.  These loans are offered to homeowners and renters, business owners and private nonprofits.

If you have insurance: Please contact your insurance company as soon as possible to file a claim. FEMA can only provide money after you get your insurance settlement. If your insurance doesn’t cover all of your home repair or rebuilding expenses, FEMA may be able to help.

If you DO NOT have insurance: FEMA will verify your disaster-caused losses. The agency will schedule a time to inspect your home if you reported damage to your home or personal property. Or FEMA will ask you to send documents to verify your expenses. 

Disaster relief is a public benefit program that does not trigger public charge and is safe to use. If you are a non-citizen eligible for disaster relief, you can apply for FEMA assistance without risk to your immigration status.

Social Security Number – You, another adult, or a minor child member in your household must have a Social Security number and you or they must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or a qualified non-citizen
Insurance Information – If insured, describe the type(s) of insurance coverage you have. This could include coverage under policies such as homeowners, flood, automobile, or mobile home insurance.
Damage Information – Describe the damage caused by the disaster (the type of disaster and the type of home or vehicle that was damaged).
Financial Information – Provide your total annual household income, before taxes, at the time of the disaster.
Contact Information – Provide the address and phone number of the property that was damaged, along with an address and phone number you can be reached at currently. (Mail service for customers of Lahaina Main Post Office and Lahaina Downtown Post Office will be temporarily relocated to the Wailuku Post Office.)
Direct Deposit Information (optional) – If approved, funds can be directly deposited into a bank account. Provide the bank name, type of account, routing number, and account number.

Help keep yourself, your family and your community safe after the Hawaii wildfires by being aware of rumors and scams and sharing official information from trusted sources. Here are some tips:

1. FEMA inspectors will always have an official identification badge. Always ask to see their ID.

2. There is NO application fee to apply for FEMA assistance.

3. If you did NOT apply for FEMA assistance, tell the inspector. If the inspector has left, call the FEMA Hotline at 800-621-3362 and tell them you did not apply. Report any suspicious activity to IdentifyTheft.gov.    

Fact: You are not able to request hotel room payment assistance from FEMA by calling any number. However, FEMA may reimburse lodging expenses to eligible individuals and families. To see if this assistance is available to you, apply at DisasterAssistance.gov.  

Fact: This is not true. FEMA will never ask you to pay to apply for assistance or receive an inspection.

Fact: This is not true. FEMA cannot seize your property or land. Applying for disaster assistance does not grant FEMA or the federal government authority or ownership of your property or land.  

Fact: This is not true. FEMA and the Red Cross are not seizing any donated items for Hawaii.  

Fact: It depends. By law, FEMA cannot duplicate benefits you receive from another source. However, there are many different types of assistance available through FEMA and we review each application to ensure you receive the aid for which you are eligible.  

Fact: This is not true. There is a range of federal disaster assistance available. Critical Needs Assistance provides a onetime payment of $700 to address immediate needs such as food, water and clothing. This is just one of several types of federal assistance you may be eligible to receive.  

Fact: This is not true. FEMA disaster assistance is provided free of charge and does not require you to transfer ownership of your property or land.

Fact: This is not true. FEMA has not blocked any resources or medications. FEMA is not reviewing cargo arriving in Hawaii ports or airports.  
For more information about about FEMA, visit their website here.

To be eligible for Red Cross damage-based financial assistance, households must meet these requirements:

1. Their pre-disaster primary residence (renter or homeowner) is in a confirmed disaster-impacted geographic area.

2. The head of household provides proof of identity and residence.

3. Their primary residence is either destroyed or has suffered significant structural damage that requires extensive repairs.

Red Cross Financial Assistance programs for survivors will begin on Monday, August 21. If your home was destroyed or suffered significant damage and you registered with FEMA, you will likely receive an invitation to complete a Red Cross Financial Assistance application directly from the Red Cross either through email, text, or phone call.

Households who have not been contacted by the Red Cross by Monday, August 28, and believe they have qualifying damage, will have the opportunity to make an appointment in-person to enroll for aid. More information on how to schedule an appointment will be made available before then.

Visit here for more information about financial assistance from the American Red Cross.

Businessowners, homeowners, and renters may also be eligible for assistance through SBA.
Individuals can apply for an SBA loan by registering with FEMA here. After registering with FEMA, businesses and homeowners who would like to apply for SBA loans can find more information here.

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.

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 (EIDL) to meet necessary financial obligations.

Business Recovery Center: Hawaii Technology Development Corporation Maui Research Technology Center Building #A, Ste. 119 (Conference Room) 590 Lipoa Pkwy. Kihei, HI 96753 

This center assists business owners with SBA recovery programs and is open Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm and Saturdays, 10am-2pm. SBA customer service representatives will be available to meet individually with each business owner. Information and details on the location of future business recovery centers is available by calling the SBA Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955.

Relief assistance is limited to a maximum of $3,000 per household.

Deadline for application submission is December 31, 2023. Please be aware that this assistance is for housing relief only; other expenses including second mortgages (home equity or loans), clothing, appliance, equipment, vehicle purchase, rental or repair, and/or mileage are ineligible for reimbursement under this program.

Recipient must be a full-time resident and U.S. citizen or legally submitted for residence in the United States. Photo identification to show proof of residency will be required.

Funds will be distributed through the Hawai‘i REALTORS® Charitable Foundation. In order to provide for a reasonable and equitable distribution of funds, assistance will be provided on a first come, first serve basis. All grants are contingent upon the availability of funds.

Each application will be reviewed to ensure all eligibility requirements are being met and supporting documentation is provided. Once the application is processed, the checks will be issued and sent to the REALTORS® Association of Maui office. Please allow 10-15 business days for us to review and process your application.

Download an application here.

For more information about Hawaii REALTORS® Disaster Relief Assistance, visit their website here. Applications and questions can be submitted to: mauirelief@hawaiirealtors.com.

Homeowners affected by the disaster should contact their mortgage or loan servicer immediately. They can also call the FHA Resource Center at 1-800-304-9320 for additional information and visit here for more information about disaster relief options for FHA homeowners.

This fee waiver will be in effect through December 31, 2023.

Requests for Certificates of Good Standing, copies, or certified copies with the fee waiver must be made through calling (808) 586-2727 (select option 1), emailing breg@dcca@hawaii.gov, or by faxing (808) 586-2733.

The February 15 deadline also applies to quarterly estimated tax payments (normally due September 15, 2023 and January 16, 2024), as well as quarterly payroll and excise tax returns (normally due October 31, 2023 and January 31, 2024).

Businesses with an original or extended due date including calendar-year partnerships and S corporations whose 2022 extensions run out on September 15, and calendar-year corporations whose 2022 extensions run out on October 16 also qualify for the February 15, 2024 deadline. Penalties on payroll and excise tax deposits due on or after August 8, 2023, and before September 7, 2023, will be abated as long as the tax deposits are made by September 7, 2023.

If an affected taxpayer receives a late filing or late payment penalty notice from the IRS that has an original or extended filing, payment, or deposit due date that falls within the postponement period, the taxpayer should call the phone number on the notice to have the IRS abate this penalty.

The IRS automatically identifies taxpayers located in the covered disaster area and applies filing and payment relief. But affected taxpayers who reside or have a business located outside the covered disaster area should call the IRS disaster hotline at (866) 562-5227 to request this relief.

Visit here for more information on tax relief from the IRS for those impacted by the wildfires.

The Red Cross is working with the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to help people stay at to non-congregate shelters (hotels) for a more comfortable place to stay while more permanent housing options are developed. To qualify for these hotel shelters, you must first register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Learn more about hotel emergency lodging by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Governor Josh Green, M.D., and Airbnb.org have announced a commitment to provide free, temporary housing for at least 1,000 residents displaced by the disaster. All stays for displaced residents will be coordinated through Airbnb.org’s network of trusted nonprofits and government entities. 
The State Department of Human Services announced an additional 250 Airbnb unites available for displaced residents for 21-day stays. To pre-register, go to Lahaina Gateway Center at 305 Keawe St, Lahaina 96761. Hours: 10am-4pm, Tuesday-Friday.

Governor Green has also created a temporary housing task force, securing hundreds of hotel rooms for visitors and displaced residents. 

Governor Josh Green, M.D. and the Hawai‘i Housing Finance and Development Corporation (HHFDC) have launched the Hawaiʻi Fire Relief Housing Program. The goal of the program is to connect those in urgent need of housing due to the Maui fires, with Hawaii homeowners willing to assist by offering unoccupied rooms, units or houses on a temporary basis.

For Displaced Residents in Need of Housing: If you have been displaced or have been left houseless as a result of the wildfires, please fill out the Resident in Need of Housing Form. An HHFDC representative will then contact you to confirm and verify your information and try to connect you with the landlord of an available unit that meets your needs.  

List of Available Housing Inventory: A listing of available inventory will be posted here every day at approximately 9:00am and 3:00pm Hawaii Standard Time. If you are in need, please contact the homeowners directly. More information can be found here: Frequently Asked Questions page.

Please email HHFDC at hhfdcfirereliefhousing@hawaii.gov or call 808-587-0469 if you have further questions. Staff is available 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. HST, Monday - Friday.

Maui Economic Opportunity has started the MEO-Maui Fires Fund to help place those who lost their homes in Maui fires into safe and secure housing as soon as possible.
Donations will be used to pay for rents. MEO and others have put out a call for available units in the community and have been assembling lists. MEO is currently designing a housing program and should have it up and running soon with the scope based on donations received.

For more information about MEO's Maui Fires Relief Fund, please visit their website here.

The Realtors Association of Maui also created a website, MauiKokua.com, with help from other local Realtors associations, Hawaii Information Service, Maui Economic Opportunity and the Rotary Club of Kihei-Wailea. 

If your green card was damaged or lost in the fire, you must file form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card, online or by mail. Visit here for more information.

If your DACA card was damaged or lost in the fire, you must file form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, online or by mail. You must also file the I-765 worksheet with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Visit here for more information.  

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Immigration Relief in Emergencies or Unforeseen Circumstances:

Unforeseen circumstances, such as natural catastrophes (hurricanes, wildfires, severe weather, etc.), national emergencies (public health emergencies), or severe illness (including COVID), can sometimes affect the processing of your USCIS application, petition, or immigration request. USCIS has discretion to take the below measures on a case-by-case basis upon request, if you have been affected by an unforeseen circumstance.

You can request assistance by calling the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283. For people with disabilities: (TTY) 800-767-1833 or (VRS) 877-709-5797. Visit here for more information.

Medicare Cards:

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 for assistance. Visit here for more information.

Social Security Cards:

If you have lost or realized damage to your Social Security card, you may not need to replace it if you know your Social Security number. In most cases, a physical card isn’t necessary, but you can request a free replacement card online here. You can also visit the Maui Social Security Administration office to request a free replacement card at 2200 Main St #125, Wailuku 96793 or call at (800) 772-1213 for more information.

Birth & Marriage Certificates:

If you have lost your birth or marriage certificate, you can place an order online here. 

The Department of Health will accept temporary driver's licenses or state ID cards to verify this order. A relative may take the order on behalf of the person needing the replacement vital record by uploading a copy of their own government ID (if born in Hawaii) to establish a relationship to the individual. If not born in Hawaii, additional documents may be needed to verify the relationship. Permitted relatives include grandparents, parents, children, siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

The fee for a replacement record will be waived with a FEMA disaster assistance ID number and/or a Lahaina residential address.

The fee for a replacement record will be waived with a FEMA disaster assistance ID number and/or a Lahaina residential address.

For more information on replacing vital records, call the Maui Vital Records hotline at (808) 984-2400 ext. 6-4602 from 7:45am-4:30pm, Monday-Friday. You can also email at DOH.MauiVR@doh.hawaii.gov

Visit here for more information.  

State Identification & Drivers Licenses:

If your drivers license has been lost, damaged, or stolen, you may apply for a duplicate license at any driver licensing office. You can make an appointment at the Kahului Motor Vehicles & Licensing Service Center at 110 Alaihi St, Ste 101, Kahului 96732, here.

If your state ID or drivers license has been lost, damaged, or stolen, the Maui Division of Motor Vehicles and Licensing is assisting those in need at Lahaina Gateway Center.

Lahaina Gateway Center: 305 Keawe St. Lahaina 96761

9am-2pm daily. For more information, call (808) 270-7363.

Passports:

The U.S. Department of State has waived the fee of replacing a passport lost due to the wildfires.
For more information on how to apply for a new passport, see here.

Impacted individuals who need a passport renewal urgently can see here and here for more information.

If you need to travel internationally in the next 3 business days, see here for more information about passport renewal in a life-or-death emergency.

EBT Cards:

For lost EBT card replacements call 877-328-9677 right away or contact your local county social services worker.

I-94:

I-94s for COFA migrants is available here.

If you are on Medicaid and have questions about accessing your coverage, visit here or contact the Maui branch at (808) 243-5780.

If you are on Medicare and need to get medical care, or replace equipment, supplies, or prescription medication, visit here and here for more information.

If you need to replace your Medicare card because it is damaged or lost, log into (or create) your secure Medicare account to print an official copy of your Medicare card.

The Veterans Affairs Department (VA) continues to provide service at the Maui VA clinic in Kahului. 
For those veterans who have been displaced and are currently on Oahu, Kauai, or Hawaii Island, you can continue to access VA services on those islands. If you have questions about what options are available to you, call the Honolulu VA Medical Center at (808) 214-1306.

Visit here for more information.  

Veterans on Maui can also go to any of these locations from 10am-2pm for more veteran services:

Napilli Plaza: 5095 Napilihau St. Lahaina, HI 96761
War Memorial: 700 Halia Nakoa St. Wailuku, HI 96793
Lahaina Gateway Center: 325 Keawe St. Lahaina, HI 96761

Each of the shelters will have Mental Health Services, Nursing Services, Pharmacy Services, Social Work Services, and HUDVASH consultations available from VA Pacific Islands Health Care System (VAPIHCS).

The Maui Vet Center: 157 Ma’a St. Kahului, 96732 

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. Contact the Maui Vet Center at (808) 242-8557.

For more disaster assistance resources for veterans, visit here.

Veteran School Attendance: If your school is closed due to the fires, your attendance will be considered continuous and your benefits will not be affected.

For questions about your GI Bill benefits, call the Department of Veterans Affairs Education Call Center at 1-888-442-4551, Monday-Friday 7am-6pm CST (2am-1pm HT). If you are unable to contact by phone, you can send a secure inquiry here.  

Veteran Benefit Payments: If you are a veteran or beneficiary who does not or cannot receive a benefits payment due to the effects of the wildfires and you indicate financial hardship, you must provide a one-time special address where a replacement payment can be sent.

The Veterans Benefits Administration can issue a same-day EFT payment to affected veterans, if they enroll in direct deposit. Visit here for more information.

Veteran Insurance: VA provides assistance to help ease hardships of those impacted by the disaster. VA offers Instant Loan Approval online and expedited same-day processing for policy loans when you contact the call center at 1-800-669-8477.  

The Office of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (OSGLI) is following disaster alerts that are issued by each state department of insurance in the event of a natural disaster. Veterans may call the OSGLI at 1-800-419-1473.

Emergency Agricultural Loan Program: The Hawaii Board of Agriculture has approved emergency agricultural loans or local farmers and ranchers who have been impacted by fire and wind damage.
Applicants an apply for up to $350,000 loans at a 3% interest rate. Terms of the loan are to be determined on a case-by-case basis. Consideration will be based on historical farm performance and projected cash flow based on reasonable assumption of review and expenses. The requirements for credit denials and a three-year residency have been waived. Collateral requirements may be modified or waived on a case-by-case basis.

Impacted agricultural operations interested in applying for an emergency loan should contact the Agricultural Loan Program on Oahu at (808)-973-9458.

Loan applicants must provide estimates of losses, and are advised to document the damage with photos. Applications may be submitted until February 29, 2024.

For agribusinesses needing loans of $50,000 or less, micro-loans involving less paperwork and swifter processing are also available by calling (808) 973-9458 or by emailing hdoa.agloan@hawaii.gov.

USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA): The FSA offers numerous disaster assistance programs to help farmers, ranchers, communities, and businesses affected by disasters. Visit here for more information.
You can also visit the Maui Service Center Office: 77 Hookele St., 2nd Floor, Kahului 96732. Phone: (808) 871-5500 ext. 2; Fax: (808) 356-9494. Hours: 8am-4:30pm, Monday-Friday.

USDA Rural Development: USDA Rural Development developed a disaster toolkit as a resource for rural communities seeking disaster resiliency and recovery assistance here.

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service: The Environmental Quality Incentives Program from the Natural Resources Conservation Service helps producers plan and implement conservation practices on land impacted by disasters. Visit here for more information.

West Maui Coordinated Care Clinic: Akoakoa Place, located below the Lahaina Civic Center– general medical care, prescription refills, and mental health services. Hours are 8am-5pm, daily. No appointment is necessary and insurance is not required.  

Mobile visits are also available covering neighborhoods from Leialii to Honokohau Valley. Contact the Lahaina clinic at (833) 833-3431 or (808) 586-4468. Visit here for more information. Information flyers are also available in Ilocano, Japanese, and Spanish.  

Mobile health vehicle at Lahaina Gateway Center: 305 Keawe St, Lahaina 96761 – limited medical services, pediatric services, and OB/GYN services. Hours are from 10am-4pm, daily. OB/GYN services will be offered every Friday starting 8/18.

First aid station at Hyatt Regency Lahaina, Lahaina Ballroom: 200 Nohea Kai Dr, Lahaina 96761 – limited medical services, 10am-4pm, daily. Pharmacy courier services available at all sites. Schedule subject to change.

Maui Health pop-ups have moved to the Hyatt Regency Lahaina starting Monday, August 21. Services are available for all community members regardless of health insurance. No appointment is necessary.

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

The Maui Community Mental Health Center in Wailuku is available to support individuals impacted by the wildfires.

Visit the clinic in person from 7:45am-4:30pm, Monday-Friday. You can also reach the health center at (808) 984-2150 or by emailing mauiwellness@doh.hawaii.gov. Visit here for more information.

Disaster Distress Hotline

Call or text the Disaster Distress Helpline 1-800-985-5990 to get help and support for any distress that you or someone you care about may be feeling related to any disaster. The Disaster Distress Helpline provides free, multilingual, confidential counseling, referrals, and other support, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Hawaii CARES Crisis Line

Hawaii CARES 988 is a 24/7 support service for help with crisis, mental health, and substance abuse. If you, a family member, or someone you know (including keiki), need confidential assistance with a trained crisis counselor, call or text 988 (TTY 711) or visit the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline's Chat here.

Maui Strong Support Group

Mental Health America Hawaii in partnership with National Alliance on Mental Illness has created an in-person and remote support group for those who have been affected by the wildfire disaster.

Visit here for more information.

American Red Cross Resources

The American Red Cross provides guides on taking care of your emotional health following a disaster. Visit here for the guide in English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.

Youth Mental Health Services

There are various services offered to help children cope following a disaster. Visit here to find tips to support children and their mental health in the wake of a disaster.

Department of Education

The Hawaii State Department of Education is offering in-person mental health resources for affected students on every campus. Visit here for more information or reach out to your current school.

Visit here for more information and options for mental health services for keiki.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Resources

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offers a resource page that offers ways for parents, caregivers, and other adults to help young people cope with disasters. Visit here for more information.

First Responder Mental Health Services

Disaster and first responders face an increased risk of experiencing mental health struggles, but various mental health services are available.

SAMHSA offers services for first responders including stress management tips, trainings, and other resources here. SAMHSA also offers a guide for managing stress as a disaster or first responder here.

If you are looking for loved ones who may be hospitalized, call Maui Memorial Medical Center at (808) 244-9056 or Kula Hospital at (808) 878-1221 and provide a first and last name to verify information.

If you are looking for elderly family members of those with serious medical or mental vulnerabilities, call 1-800-RED CROSS to open an Emergency Welfare Inquiry.

If you are a member of the military or related to a member of the military who has been disconnected from family, contact Red Cross local branches. The Hawaii headquarters can be reached at (808) 734-2101. The Maui Office can be reached at (808) 244-0051.

If you are in the disaster area, you can let others know you are OK using the Red Cross Emergency app and checking “I’m safe.”

Family Assistance Center: Hyatt Regency Monarchy Ballroom, 200 Nohea Kai Dr, Lahaina 96761

The Family Assistance Center assists those seeking information regarding loved ones or those who are unaccounted for. It is open from 10am-8pm, daily. Expanded resources will be offered, with staff working with families and individuals to gather information and administer DNA swabs to assist with identification. For more details, call the Red Cross at 1-800-733-2767.

If you are the immediate family of someone who is missing due to the wildfires, and would like to provide a DNA sample to assist, visit the Family Assistance Center between 10am-8pm.

If you live on a neighbor island or the continental U.S. and are the immediate family member of someone missing as a result of the wildfires, and you wish to provide a DNA sample to assist, please call the Federal Bureau of Investigation Honolulu Division at (808) 566-4300 or contact the FBI via email at HN-COMMAND-POST@ic.gbi.gov and provide your contact information.

DNA collected at this time is for the sole purpose of identifying missing individuals and will not be retained by the FBI.

*The Family Assistance Center has received report about Maui community members receiving calls from individuals or organizations claiming to be with "DNA Services." These 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.

  Visit here for more information.  

The validated list of names of unaccounted individuals is available here.

If you recognize a name on the list and know the person to be safe, or have additional information that may help locate them, please contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) at (808) 566-4300 or at HN-COMMAND-POST@ic.fbi.gov.

For further assistance, parents or caregivers can call PATCH, the state's designated Child Care Resource & Referral Agency, at (808) 961-3169.

If your pet is lost or missing, you can file a lost report and search through found pets here with the Maui Humane Society.

If you found a pet, file a found report here.

If your pet is requiring medical attention or supplies, the Maui Humane Society is offering veterinary services at distribution locations here.

For residents of Lahaina and Upper Kula, visit here for an interactive map of the affected areas. An unsafe water advisory remains in effect until further notice and states that residents should not drink and/or boil water. Bottled water should be used for all drinking, brushing teeth, ice making, and food preparation until further notice. Residents are not able to treat the water in any way to make it safe.

For potable water, bring large water containers to:

Upper Kula: Crater Road, Copp Road, Holy Ghost Church, Rice Park, Ching Store, Ulupalakua Ranch Store

West Maui: Lahaina Gateway Center, Honokohau Valley, Behind Lahaina Baseyard, Kahoma Village, Hawaiian Homes/Lahaina Civic Center

One sensor is located next to the Lahaina Civic Center. The other two are located near Lahainaluna High School. Real-time results are updated every 10 minutes.

See here for air quality tracking.

For State Department of Education information and resources for students and families impacted by the fires, visit here.

Lahaina Gateway Center: 325 Keawe St, Lahaina 96761

Hours: 10am-4pm, Monday, Wednesday, Friday

Queen Kaahumanu Center (accepting donations): 275 Kaahumanu Ave, Kahului 96732

Hours: 10am-4pm, Monday, Wednesday, Friday

Kahului: 150 South Puunene Ave, Kahului 96732, 9:30am-12pm, Saturdays

Wailuku: Parking lot next to Living Way Church at the corner of Market and Mokuhau streets in Happy Valley, 10:30-11:30am, Fridays

For more updates on food and supply distribution sites, see the Maui County Facebook here.

SNAP Benefits

SNAP participants in all 5 counties of Hawaii can buy hot foods with their SNAP benefits through September 14, 2023. Effective immediately, all SNAP-authorized retailers may accept SNAP benefits in exchange for hot foods and foods intended to be consumed on retailer premises.

If you qualify for SNAP benefits, you can apply here.

Snap Replacement

Department of Human Services has authorized replacement benefits for SNAP households who have lost food purchased with SNAP benefits in the wildfires. SNAP households can request replacement benefits through September 15, 2023 by submitting a signed application.

Eligible zip codes for SNAP replacement:

Hawaii County: 96743, 96755

Maui County: 96753, 96761, 96768, 96788, 96790

For more information, visit the Processing Center in your area or call the Public Assistance line at 1-855-643-1643

Visit here for more information.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has temporarily waived certain eligibility rules to ensure that people receiving federal disaster aid due to the Maui wildfires can easily apply for and enroll in Lifeline, a federal program that helps lower the cost of phone and internet service.

Visit here for more information and how to enroll.

Beginning Saturday, August 19, the Lahaina Main Post Office will resume mail delivery to accessible addresses, mail receptacles that are still standing, and PO boxes.

Lahaina Main Post Office: 1760 Honoapiilani Hwy, Lahaina 96761

For customers with street delivery who reside in an inaccessible area, whose homes or mail receptacles are no longer standing, and PO box customer of the Lahaina Downtown Post Office, mail can be picked up at the dutch door in the lobby of the Lahaina Main Post Office.

Hours: 10am-5pm, Monday-Saturday

Customers must present a photo ID for pick up.

Temporary mail pickup for Lahaina customers at the Wailuku Post Office has ended.

Retail services at the Lahaina Main Post Office will resume when technical issues are resolved.

Customers who would like to redirect their mail to new addresses can submit their change of address request here or at a local post office.

Many retail services, including temporary forwards, stamps, and more, are also available anytime online here at USPS.com.    

Free PO Boxes

On August 24, the USPS announced that vacant PO boxes at post offices across Maui will be temporarily made available at no charge to Lahaina residents who lost their homes or their Lahaina Downtown Post Office PO Boxes to the wildfires.

Qualifying residents can request their free PO boxes in person beginning Friday, August 25 at any Maui post office. Post offices with the largest available inventories of PO boxes are the Lahaina Main Post Office and the Kahului Post Office.

Requestors must bring photo ID and proof of their Lahaina household. PO boxes will be provided without charge through the end of February 2024. The offer is limited to one free PO box per affected household.

For more information and the latest service updates, call the USPS Maui wildfire impact information line at (808) 423-6000.

When applying for disaster relief:

1. Watch for and report fraud by calling FEMA at 1-866-223-0814

2. Ask FEMA reps to show you a photo ID badge

3. Do NOT pay an application fee

4. Keep your FEMA registration number and information safe

Find more updates here.

Residents should also be aware of the following fraudulent schemes:

A fraudster who approaches a homeowner facing financial difficulties, offering to "work with the bank" on the homeowner's behalf, to help them avoid foreclosure, or reduce mortgage payments, promising a "loan modification" or "mortgage modification."

Fraudsters who claim they work for legitimate repair companies or housing inspectors and ask for up-front payments for home repairs or inspections, and do little to no work.

Fraudsters who claim to work for legitimate charities or government relief programs. Helpful assistance is available from these resources, however, be skeptical of anyone asking for an up-front fee to apply for assistance from a HUD, local government, or charity relief program.

"Get rich quick" income schemes where fraudsters enlist victims of disasters to "earn" money by signing up for various disaster programs.

Visit here for more information from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General.