Hawaii wildfire victims made it just blocks before becoming trapped by flames, report says
A new report shows that more than 60% of the 102 people who died in last year's Lahaina wildfire had tried to flee the flames.
Report finds 'no evidence' Hawaii officials prepared for wildfire that killed 102 despite warnings
Investigators reviewing the emergency response to last yearโs devastating wildfire on Maui say in a new report they found no evidence Hawaii officials made preparations for it, despite days of warnings that โcritical fire weatherโ was about to arrive.
Maui's toxic debris could fill 5 football fields 5 stories deep. Where will it end up?
The debris and ash that remained after a deadly wildfire last year decimated a historic Maui town now sits in a temporary dump site.
Hawaii lawmakers say Congress should replenish disaster relief fund to help Maui
Hawaii's congressional representatives say the nationโs disaster relief fund needs to be replenished so the U.S. government can continue to help survivors of Mauiโs deadly wildfires and other disasters around the country.
Tropical Storm Hone forecast to bring strong winds and heavy rain to Hawaii this weekend
Tropical Storm Hone is expected to deliver strong winds and heavy rain to Hawaii this weekend as it passes south of the island chain.
Maui remembers the 102 lost in the Lahaina wildfire with a paddle out 1 year after devastating blaze
Dozens of Maui surfers, canoe paddlers and boat riders made their way into the ocean off Lahaina, Hawaii, on Thursday to remember the 102 people killed when the nationโs deadliest wildfire in more than a century destroyed the historic town one year ago.
How horses at the Spirit Horse Ranch help Maui wildfire survivors process their grief
One year after the Maui fires, thousands of residents struggle with grieving the losses of loved ones and generational homes.
How Lahaina's more than 150-year-old banyan tree is coming back to life after devastating fire
The deadly wildfire that tore through Lahaina last August scorched the 151-year-old banyan tree along the historic town's Front Street.
A year after Maui wildfire, chronic housing shortage and pricey vacation rentals complicate recovery
Thousands of displaced residents on Maui have faced a year of anxious uncertainty since the deadliest U.S. wildfire in a century devastated Lahaina.
'We're going to survive and it's going to come back': A year after Maui wildfire, survivors press on
Hawaii residents have faced a year of challenges since the deadliest U.S. wildfire in a century decimated the historic town of Lahaina, on Maui, on Aug. 8, 2023.
Parties in lawsuits seeking damages for Maui fires reach $4B global settlement, court filings say
A court filing says the parties in lawsuits seeking damages for last yearโs Maui wildfires have reached a $4 billion global settlement.
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green tells AP a $4 billion settlement for 2023 Maui wildfire could come next week
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green says the parties in Lahaina wildfire lawsuits against Hawaii, Maui County and utilities are close to a global settlement of claims that will be worth a little over $4 billion.
Maui officials highlight steps toward rebuilding as 1-year mark of deadly wildfire approaches
Maui officials are highlighting some steps toward rebuilding nearly a year after a deadly wildfire destroyed much of Lahaina.
The Lahaina fire worsened Maui's housing shortage. Now officials eye limiting tourist Airbnb rentals
The mayor of Maui County in Hawaii wants to stop owners of thousands of vacation properties from renting to visitors.
Hawaii study shows almost 75% of Maui wildfire survey participants have respiratory issues
A University of Hawaii study examining the health effects of last yearโs deadly wildfires on Maui has found that up to 74% of participants may have difficulty breathing and otherwise have poor respiratory health.
Maui sues cell carriers over wildfire warning alerts that were never received during service outages
Maui County is suing major cellular carriers for failing to properly inform police of widespread service outages during the height of last summerโs deadly wildfire.
Growing wildfire risk leaves states grappling with how to keep property insurers from fleeing
Months after a catastrophic fire burned more than 2,200 homes and killed 101 people in Hawaii, some property owners are getting more bad news โ their property insurance wonโt be renewed because their insurance company has deemed the risk too high.
Hawaii lawmakers take aim at vacation rentals after Lahaina wildfire amplifies Maui housing crisis
An acute housing shortage hitting fire survivors on the Hawaiian island of Maui is squeezing out residents even as they try to overcome the loss of loved ones, their homes and their community.
Takeaways from this week's reports on the deadly 2023 Maui fire that destroyed Lahaina
Officials are still trying to determine exactly what went wrong when the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century burned through a historic Hawaii town, more than a half-year after the disaster.
Communications breakdown left authorities in the dark and residents without alerts amid Maui fire
A new report shows that the head of Maui's emergency management agency dragged his heels about returning to the island as wildfires ripped across the island last August.
Maui Fire Department report on deadly wildfire details need for more equipment and mutual aid plans
When wildfires broke out across the Hawaiian island of Maui last August, some firefighters carried victims piggyback over downed power lines to safety and sheltered survivors inside their fire engines.
Subpoenas on Maui agencies and officials delay release of key report into deadly wildfire
Hawaiiโs attorney general is blaming a delay of the release of a key report into a deadly Maui wildfire on county agencies that forced investigators to issue subpoenas.
Maui's mayor prioritizes housing and vows to hire more firefighters after Lahaina wildfire
Mauiโs mayor says he is prioritizing housing, evaluating evacuation routes and hiring more firefighters as his Hawaii community recovers from the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century.
Maui officials aim to accelerate processing of permits to help Lahaina rebuild
Local officials in Hawaii plan to open an office that will speed up Maui Countyโs notoriously slow processing of building permits to help the town of Lahaina to recover from last yearโs deadly wildfire.
In Hawaii, coral is the foundation of life. What happened to it after the Lahaina wildfire?
A deadly wildfire burned more than 2,000 buildings in the Hawaiian town of Lahaina on Maui in August and left behind piles of toxic debris.
Police confirm identity of 101st victim of huge Maui wildfire
The death toll from the wildfire that destroyed the historic town of Lahaina, Hawaii, has climbed to 101 after Maui police confirmed the identity of one new victim, a 76-year-old man.
Better equipment and communications are among Maui police recommendations after Lahaina wildfire
Better communications and equipment are among the recommendations being made by the Maui Police Department following the wildfire that destroyed the historic town of Lahaina nearly six months ago.
911 calls from Maui capture pleas for the stranded, the missing and those caught in the fire's chaos
The day after the deadliest U.S. wildfire in a century destroyed a seaside community on Maui, the barrage of 911 calls didnโt stop: Reports of missing people, stranded family members and confused tourists trapped without food or water lit up the emergency lines every few minutes, interspersed with reports of new fires starting and older ones flaring back up.
Hawaii lawmakers open new legislative session with eyes on wildfire prevention and housing
Hawaii lawmakers are opening a new session of the state Legislature vowing to address glaring problems laid bare by the deadly wildfire that destroyed the historic town of Lahaina in August.
Maui's economy needs tourists. Can they visit without compounding wildfire trauma?
Hawaiiโs governor and mayor are welcoming tourists back to the west side of Maui months after August wildfires killed at least 100 people and destroyed more than 2,000 buildings.
Heart of Hawaii's historic Lahaina, scene of deadly wildfire, reopens to residents after 4 months
The heart of the historic town of Lahaina that burned in a deadly wildfire that killed at least 100 people on the Hawaiian island of Maui is reopening to residents and business owners holding day passes.
Maui wildfire survivors camp on the beach to push mayor to convert vacation rentals into housing
Some Lahaina wildfire survivors in Hawaii are vowing to camp on a popular resort beach until the mayor shuts down unpermitted vacation rentals and turns them into housing for those in need.
Bodycam video shows police saving residents from Maui wildfire, keeping people out of burn zone
Police who frantically tried to save people from the wildfire that devastated the historic Maui town of Lahaina this summer also faced another challenge: keeping people from heading back toward the flames.
Hawaii agrees to hand over site to Maui County for wildfire landfill and memorial
Hawaiiโs land board says it will hand over state land on Maui to be used for a wildfire memorial and fire debris disposal.
Mayor says West Maui to reopen to tourism on Nov. 1 after fire and workers are ready to return
Maui County's mayor says all of West Maui except for burned-out sections of historic Lahaina will reopen to tourism on Nov. 1.
Football provides a homecoming and hope in Lahaina, where thousands of homes are gone after wildfire
The varsity and junior varsity football teams in Lahaina played their first home games since the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century destroyed the town.
Evacuees live nomadic life after Maui wildfire as housing shortage intensifies and tourists return
Thousands of people displaced by the deadliest U.S. wildfire in over a century are facing uncertainty as they try to find housing in an expensive housing market thatโs also in high demand as a vacation spot.
The trees arrived with Polynesian voyagers. After Maui wildfire, there's a chance to restore them
After the deadly wildfire that destroyed the historic town of Lahaina this summer, people across the world focused their attention on the green leaves sprouting from a scorched, 150-year-old banyan tree as a symbol of hope.
Schools near a Maui wildfire burn zone are reopening. Parents wrestle with whether to send kids back
More than two months after a wildfire killed at least 98 people on Maui, the three surviving public schools are set to reopen Monday.
AP Exclusive: 911 calls from deadly Lahaina wildfire reveal terror and panic in the rush to escape
Hawaii's Maui County has released audio of 911 calls made during a deadly August wildfire in response to a public records request from The Associated Press.
Fear and confusion mark key moments of Lahaina residents' 911 calls during deadly wildfire
Maui County officials released two hours of audio of 911 calls to The Associated Press that were recorded as frantic residents tried to escape the deadliest U.S. wildfire in a century.
Tourism resumes in West Maui near Lahaina as hotels and timeshare properties welcome visitors
The area around the historic Maui town largely destroyed by wildfire two months ago has begun welcoming back travelers.
Cleanup from Maui fires complicated by island's logistical challenges, cultural significance
Federal authorities have started removing hazardous materials from the Maui wildfires and laying the groundwork to dispose of burnt cars, buildings and other debris.
Lahaina residents deliver petition asking Hawaii governor to delay tourism reopening
Residents from fire-stricken Lahaina are petitioning Hawaii's governor to delay his plans to reopen a portion of West Maui to tourism starting this weekend.
Native Hawaiian neighborhood survived Maui fire. Lahaina locals praise its cultural significance
As hundreds of homes burned in Lahaina, the only community in West Maui reserved for Hawaiians emerged almost unscathed from the wildfire that killed at least 97 people.
Authorities in Maui will open more of the burn zone to visits by residents next week
Authorities in Maui are opening more of the burn zone from last monthโs devastating wildfire for visits by residents and property owners who lost homes.
Many questions but few answers in congressional hearing on Maui's wildfire and electric provider
Lawmakers probing the cause of last monthโs deadly Maui wildfire did not get many answers during Thursdayโs congressional hearing on the role the electrical grid played in the disaster.
Lahaina family finds cherished heirlooms and devastation in first home visit after deadly wildfire
Among the first families to return to the burn zone in Lahaina is that of Leola Vierra, who spent nearly 50 years living in a home she designed before it burned down Aug. 8 in the deadliest U.S. wildfire in a century.
Residents prepare to return to sites of homes demolished in Lahaina wildfire 7 weeks ago
Authorities on Monday are expected to begin allowing the first residents and property owners to return to their devastated properties in Lahaina, many for the first time since the historic town was demolished by a wildfire nearly seven weeks ago.
First of thousands of Lahaina residents return to homes destroyed by deadly wildfire
The first of thousands of residents who lost their homes in the wildfire that destroyed the Hawaii town of Lahaina have returned to their devastated properties.
Hawaii economists say Lahaina locals could be priced out of rebuilt town without zoning changes
Economists in Hawaii warn that residents who survived the wildfire that destroyed much of the Maui community of Lahaina might not be able to afford to live there after it is rebuilt unless officials alter the zoning laws and make other changes.
Lahaina residents brace for what they'll find as they return to devastated properties in burn zone
Lahaina residents are bracing for what they'll find when they return to the ruins of their homes after the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century killed at least 97 people and destroyed thousands of buildings.
The Maui Invitational is relocating to Honolulu in the wake of the wildfires that devastated Lahaina
The Maui Invitational will be held in Honolulu this year because of the wildfires that devastated Lahaina, where the tournament usually is played.
Lahaina's fire-stricken Filipino residents are key to tourism and local culture. Will they stay?
Filipinos began arriving in Hawaii more than a century ago to work on sugarcane and pineapple plantations to support their families back home.
The number of people missing following devastating Maui wildfires has dropped to 66, governor says
One month after the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century leveled the historic town of Lahaina, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green says the number of missing has dropped to 66, the death toll remains at 115, and authorities will soon escort residents on visits to their property.
Maui beckons tourists, and their dollars, to stave off economic disaster after wildfires
So few tourists are coming to the Hawaiian island of Maui after last month's wildfires that restaurants and tour companies are laying off workers and unemployment is surging.
Things to know about aid, lawsuits and tourism nearly a month after fire leveled a Hawaii community
It's been nearly a month since the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century killed at least 115 people in Hawaii.
Lawyers claim cable TV and phone companies are also responsible in Maui fires
Lawyers for residents and business owners of the Hawaiian town devastated by last monthโs fires on Maui told a court that cable TV and telephone companies share responsibility for the disaster.
After Maui's wildfires, thousands brace for long process of restoring safe water service
Some populated areas of Maui are looking at months or even years before their water systems are fully and safely restored following the wildfires that devastated the island last month.
Maui fire missing list falls slightly to 385. Governor had indicated it would be below 100
The number of people on the official list of those missing from the Maui wildfire stands at 385, nearly unchanged from a week earlier.
Unclear how many in Lahaina lost lives as Hawaii authorities near the end of their search for dead
Crews in Hawaii have all but finished searching for victims of the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century, and it is unclear how many people perished.
Hawaii power utility takes responsibility for first fire on Maui, but faults county firefighters
Hawaiiโs electric utility acknowledged Sunday night its power lines started a wildfire on Maui but faulted county firefighters for declaring the blaze contained and leaving the scene, only to have a second wildfire break out nearby and become the deadliest in the U.S. in more than a century.
Hawaii's cherished notion of family, the ohana, endures in tragedy's aftermath
Hundreds of homes are gone, scores of lives lost and dozens of people still missing after a fire ripped through the town of Lahaina.
Hawaiian Electric shares plunge after utility is sued over devastating Maui fires
Shares of Hawaiian Electric Companyโs parent fell more than 19% Friday, one day after the utility was sued by Maui County over the fires that devastated Lahaina.
After Maui officials named 388 people unaccounted for in fires, many called to say they're OK
Within a day of Maui County releasing 388 names of people unaccounted for following the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century, more than 100 of them or their relatives have come forward to say theyโre safe.
Maui County sues power company, saying utility did not turn off electricity during deadly wildfires
Maui County has sued Hawaiian Electric Company over the fires that devastated Lahaina, saying the utility negligently failed to shut off power despite exceptionally high winds and dry conditions.
Maui fires renew centuries-old tensions over water rights. The streams are sacred to Hawaiians
During the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century, a developer of land around a threatened Maui community urgently asked state officials for permission to divert stream water to help fight the growing inferno.
โItโs just ashesโ: San Antonio restaurant manager worked 25 years at Lahaina Grill in Maui
A local restaurant manager worked at Lahaina Grill in Maui for 25 years. It burned to the ground. Her deep connection is helping shine light on what the people of Maui actually need right now.
Biden says federal government will help Maui 'for as long as it takes' to recover from wildfire
President Joe Biden told survivors of Hawaiiโs wildfires that the nation โgrieves with youโ and promised that the federal government will help Hawaii โfor as long as it takesโ to recover from the deadliest wildfire in the United States in more than a century.
Immigrant workersโ lives, livelihoods and documents in limbo after the Hawaii fire
Foreign workers once benefitted from jobs that were plentiful in Lahaina before fires whipped by hurricane-force winds leveled the Hawaiian town earlier this month.
Maui water is unsafe even with filters, one of the lessons learned from fires in California
Experts are using strong language to warn Maui residents in Lahaina and Upper Kula not to filter their own tap water.
Hope is hard to let go after Maui fire, as odds wane over reuniting with still-missing loved ones
As days turn into weeks, the odds are growing longer for families hoping to be reunited with missing loved ones after a fire swept across Hawaii's town of Lahaina.
As Maui rebuilds, residents reckon with tourism's role in their recovery
Long before a wildfire blasted through the island of Maui last week, there was tension between Hawaiiโs longtime residents and the visitors some islanders resent for turning their beaches, mountains and communities into playgrounds.
FEMA has paid out more than $5.6 million to Maui survivors, a figure expected to grow significantly
The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Friday it has approved more than $5.6 million in assistance to nearly 2,000 households in Maui so far as the federal government tries to help survivors of the devastating wildfires.
Maui town ravaged by fire will 'rise again,' Hawaii governor says of long recovery ahead
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green says the future of a Maui community devastated by deadly fire will be determined by its people.
In Hawaii, concerns over 'climate gentrification' rise after devastating Maui fires
The fires that broke out on Maui last week have exacerbated Hawaiiโs housing crisis as more than 3,000 buildings in Lahaina were damaged or destroyed, leaving many wondering if homeowners can afford to rebuild.
Identifying victims of the Maui wildfire will be a challenging task. Here's what it entails
Officials face a formidable challenge identifying the remains of more than 100 victims of the Maui blaze as agonized loved ones yearn for information on those missing after the United Statesโ deadliest wildfire in more than a century.
Schools reopening, traffic moving again in signs of recovery from Maui fires that killed 110
Public schools on Maui are starting the process of reopening and vehicle traffic is moving again in signs of recovery a week after wildfires demolished a historic town and killed at least 110 people.
Videos show devastation on streets of Lahaina after deadly Hawaii wildfire
Maui residents who have been allowed to return to the city of Lahaina following a deadly wildfire are sharing their experience walking through the historic city in the aftermath of the disaster.
As people fled the fires, pets did too. Some emerged with marks of escape, but many remain lost.
Pets and people are recovering this week after fleeing Maui wildfires that claimed over 90 lives and decimated a historic town.
Death toll from devastating Maui fire reaches 101, Hawaii governor says
Hawaii's governor says the blaze that burned through the town of Lahaina on Maui last week has killed at least 101 people, as recovery efforts continue.
Number of dead from Maui wildfires reaches 99, as governor warns there could be scores more
Hawaiiโs governor is warning that scores more people could be found dead following the wildfires on Maui even as the number of death approached 100.
Maui officials and scientists warn that after the flames flicker out, toxic particles will remain
Officials in Maui are warning residents that it remains too early to return to some parts of the island where firefighters have extinguished flames.
A family, a beloved sister, 2 senior housing residents. These are some of the lives lost in Maui
Wildfires devastated parts of Maui in Hawaii last week, leaving a trail of destruction and devastation, decimating a historic town.
Lahaina residents worry a rebuilt Maui town could slip into the hands of affluent outsiders
The cost to live in Lahaina on the Hawaiian island of Maui keeps rising thanks to a chronic housing shortage and an influx of second-home buyers and wealthy transplants snatching up properties.
Hawaii churches offer prayers for the dead and the missing after devastating Maui wildfires
Parishioners mourned the dead and prayed for the missing in Hawaii churches as communities began looking ahead to a long recovery from last weekโs wildfire on Maui.
Death toll from Maui wildfire reaches 89, making it the deadliest in the US in more than 100 years
Authorities in Hawaii say a fire that swept through a picturesque town in Maui this week has killed at least 89 people, making it the deadliest U.S. wildfire of the past century.
In deadly Maui wildfires, communication failed. Chaos overtook Lahaina along with the flames
In the hours before a wildfire engulfed the town of Lahaina, Maui County officials failed to activate sirens that would have warned the entire population of the approaching flames and instead relied on a series of sometimes confusing social media posts that reached a much smaller audience.
Searching for the missing on Maui, some wait in agony to make contact. And then the phone rings
As smoke cleared from the fires in Maui that killed at least 80 people and wiped out a historic town, the firestorm left hundreds of people searching desperately for missing loved ones.
'Nothing left': Future unclear for Hawaii residents who lost it all in fire
The fire that tore across a coastal Maui town and caught many by surprise has already claimed dozens of lives and burned more than 1,000 buildings.
Collin Morikawa has roots in Lahaina. He's pledging $1,000 per birdie for Hawaii fires relief
Collin Morikawa is pledging $1,000 for every birdie he makes the next three PGA Tour events to help with relief for the deadly fires in Hawaii.