Old Lahaina Town Utterly Destroyed - Recovery & Relief Efforts

[leilanidude]

As of September 27, 2024, $200,800,435 has been donated to the Maui Strong Fund, including interest earned.

[HiloJulie]

"As of October 7, 2024, $125,439,786 has been awarded and committed to Maui Strong Fund grantees."

"The Hawai’i Community Foundation’s Maui strong fund raised $194 million by June 28 and has already allocated $107 million for relief efforts on the Valley Isle. Of that allocated, 52% has gone to housing; $27% to health and social services; 20% to economic resilience and 1% for natural, historical and cultural projects."

"HCF says that so far, 583 grant applications have been received and 234 approved. Examples of approved grants are all over the map. Some $55 million from the Maui Strong Fund has covered rental assistance, payments to host families and interim housing, including $40 million for the 450-unit Ka La‘i Ola temporary housing project that broke ground April 30."

"Another $1.9 million is helping to build a Maui Fire Department station in Olowalu, south of Lahaina, plus $2 million for specialized fire trucks. Additionally, $20 million goes toward emergency response, mobile services, distribution of relief and grief counseling; $21 million for cash assistance and workforce development; and $2 million to make the watershed more resilient, remove contaminants and improve coastal water quality. You can read specifics about the grants at tinyurl.com/mauigrants"

https://www.hawaiibusiness.com/hawaii-co...on-impact/

https://www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.or...trong-fund

I'd say that all things considered, the Maui Strong Fund is producing a good example of prudent financial stewardship.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Bishop Estates which owned 1300 acres of flammable weeds above Lahaina will “contribute” $872 million to the fire settlement which burned down the town.  The article is worth a read, very heavy on the what, skimming over the why.

But big gains in Kamehameha’s investments last year, as well as insurance payments, will help to minimize the impact of its $872 million contribution to the global settlement, according to tax filings recently submitted to the state probate court.

The total value of Kamehameha’s endowment, bequeathed to it by the late princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, stands at about $15.2 billion. Even after accounting for the settlement contribution, the schools ended last fiscal year with net assets of about $10.4 billion, slightly less than a year prior.

Taking all that into account, court-appointed special master Ben Matsubara on Monday recommended that the court approve Kamehameha’s contribution to the wildfire settlements, a requirement for the settlement to be finalized.

https://www.civilbeat.org/2025/07/maui-f...2-million/

[ironyak]

Obviously many of the settlement details are not discussed, but I haven't seen any mention of a commitment/requirement to maintain/remove the invasive grasses on the fallow properties. Without that, everything else is just words on the wind, as the physics involved are always going to dictate the fire hazards.

Guess it's best to keep the thread open so we can discuss the next major fire in that area as these pesky once-in-a-hundred and once-in-a-thousand year events keep mysteriously happening. If only some sort of Science Guy had repeatedly warned everyone...

[HiloJulie]

Bill's my hero!

"...but I haven't seen any mention of a commitment/requirement to maintain/remove the invasive grasses on the fallow properties."

Come on now! This is Hawaii, and we have perfected the art of doing the same thing over and over - BUT - expecting different results each time!

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Obviously many of the settlement details are not discussed

That’s because it’s a “contribution” not a settlement, so we’re not to look a gift horse in the mouth.

[leilanidude]

"...but I haven't seen any mention of a commitment/requirement to maintain/remove the invasive grasses on the fallow properties."
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Fence it with goats and sheep inside. Provide a few stock/water tanks. Harvest stock as needed and sell the meat products. Solved.

[MarkD]

Recent article: Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Clears Way For $4 Billion Maui Wildfire Settlement

Are the lawyers getting their usual 30-33% cut off the top?

[HiloJulie]

"Are the lawyers getting their usual 30-33% cut off the top?"

At best, a very ridiculous statement.

That's like asking "did the teamsters on the Pohoiki Dredging project get their usual union wage and fringe benefits while working at the dredging project?"

"Did the heart surgeon get his usual fee when he performed your open-heart surgery?"

"Did the McDonald's worker get his usual minimum wage when he made your 2 Big Macs?"

But I know the feeling. Lawyers are just like cops. Useless pieces of crap - "pigs" - unless and of course, you need one!

Then they are priceless!

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

At best, a very ridiculous statement.

Perhaps MarkD was asking about the possibility of pro bono?