Survey: Maui Fire Survivors Cite Urgent Financial Needs And Housing Instability As Major Concerns

The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement issued a report highlighting a range of problems experienced by people who lived through last summer’s deadly wildfires.

By /

The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement issued a report highlighting a range of problems experienced by people who lived through last summer’s deadly wildfires.

A new survey of Maui fire survivors conducted by the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement paints a picture of continued adversity on a variety of fronts.

A total of 1,471 people filled out the survey as part of their applications to participate in the Alaska Airlines Maui Care Flights program, according to a CNHA news release Thursday.

The grass is coming back in Lahaina in the area near the old Pioneer Mill tower, Feb. 1, 2024. (Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat/2024)
Current median annual income for families that filled out the survey is $36,000 to $41,999, a reduction of 25% from pre-fire incomes. At least 51% of the adults work in tourism, and 74% physically work in West Maui. Some 62% of the children attend West Maui schools while 4% are home-schooled, according to the data. (Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat/2024)

They were asked to respond to questions about their housing, economic and employment status as well as to identify their most urgent needs. The data produced some key findings.

Three-quarters of respondents live in temporary housing and lack of stability is a major concern.

More than half of those in temporary housing have only been in their current place for four months or less. Most want to stay in West Maui, some 72%.

Nearly 60% work full-time. The median yearly income has dropped by a quarter since the fire, from $48,000 to $54,000 down to $36,000 to $42,000 currently.

Some 46% of respondents said they need urgent financial assistance. Housing and food were the next two items most desperately needed.

Most people who took the survey have lived on Maui for a decade or more. Less than 57% have a college degree or a technical certification.

Some 18% of survey participants were in households led by single parents with minor children. And 12% either share a car or other type of transportation mode, a statistic that underscores the need to have housing and job sites close.

The majority of responses were gathered by the end of May.

“This data provides transparency for the public and service providers regarding the progress of families nearly 10 months post-fire,” said Kuhio Lewis, CNHA’s chief executive. “While some strides have been made, it’s evident that significant work remains to restore normalcy to Maui. Our aim is for this report to enhance the effectiveness of agencies and individuals in serving Maui’s community.”

Alaska Airlines is donating 180 roundtrip tickets monthly to qualifying fire survivor families to any destination it serves.

Civil Beat’s coverage of Maui County is supported in part by a grant from the Nuestro Futuro Foundation.

Trust is earned. So is your support.

Good reporting starts with one question: How can our community trust what we publish?

That often means choosing to report with depth, not speed. It means our reporting must be accurate, fair and verified before it ever reaches our readers.

If we’ve earned your trust, I hope we’ve earned your donation. Give today.

Donate

About the Author