HONOLULU (CN) — Nearly one year since the catastrophic Maui wildfires of Aug. 8, 2023, Hawaii Governor Josh Green announced on Tuesday a new interim housing program to provide vital housing relief to the thousands of Maui residents displaced by the fires.
According to Green, the Hawaii Interim Housing Program — managed by the Hawaii Office of Recovery and Resiliency in partnership with the state Department of Human Services and the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation — will offer a range of housing options to accommodate the diverse needs of wildfire survivors.
"This program adds a new energy to the many initiatives we have launched as part of our supporting the recovery of Maui's people from the wildfires. Every day, families and individuals have been able to leave temporary lodging in hotels to be placed in longer-term housing," Green said in a statement.
The Hawaii Interim Housing Program includes several state-sponsored interim housing sites dedicated to Maui wildfire recovery — including Ka La'i Ola, currently under construction in West Maui, and Hale 'O Lā'ie in Kīhei in south Maui, which currently has more than 150 units available.
Hawaii officials broke ground on Ka La'i Ola — meaning "The Place of Peaceful Recovery," a name chosen by Pueo Pata, a Maui Kumu Hula, a hula teacher and Native Hawaiian leader — in April 2024 following a pledge from the government and several nonprofit organizations who collectively put $500 million toward affordable housing support for Maui.
The major housing project is specifically designed to support wildfire survivors ineligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency aid for up to five years. The project — a collaboration between the state of Hawaii, Maui County, and various aid organizations — will create 450 temporary studios and one-, two- and three-bedroom housing units across 54 acres.
Hale O Lā'ie will also provide temporary housing for survivors and workspace to emergency workers. Formerly the Maui Sun hotel and then a missionary training center, acquisition of the property was proposed even before the fires to support Maui's lack of affordable housing, with units specifically set aside for teachers, according to Maui Now.
"We are happy for the opportunity to assist the Maui fire survivors by providing them housing options at Hale O Lā'ie,” said Dean Minakami, the executive director of the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, which oversaw the purchase of the property. ”We are also pleased to be working with other agencies to provide interim affordable housing in Lahaina located in mauka of the Villages of Leialiʻi."
Eligibility for the program is based on criteria such as residency in Maui County before the disaster, displacement from primary residence due to the wildfires or experiencing disaster-related unemployment resulting in the loss of their home. Households are encouraged to apply even if they are unsure of their eligibility, according to Hawaii officials.
The application process requires documentation such as proof of identity, pre-disaster permanent residency in Maui County, and evidence of disaster-caused income loss. All household members aged 18 and older must also undergo a background check.
Since the August wildfires, Hawaii lawmakers have prioritized Maui recovery in their 2024 legislative session, with multiple measures for more Maui funding and several bills geared toward wildfire prevention and emergency response.
In May, Green approved $385 million for various emergency relief initiatives and signed a law to curb short-term vacation rentals throughout the islands in efforts to make more long-term housing available for Hawaii residents.
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