It has been a year since the devastating Maui Wildfires of August 8, 2023. Our commitment to the people of Maui remains strong as we continue to sup­port them with their recovery, for as long as they need. Even though we have made significant progress in the past year, there is still much work to 
be done. (Read more)

As the anniversary of the August 2023 Maui wildfires draws near, we are encouraging the community to take intentional time this month to remember the lives of those we lost, as well as their families and loved ones. Everyone handles loss in different ways. Some may want to honor those lost privately, others might want to participate in community service or prayer, while others may want to honor loved ones alongside family or within a larger community event. (Read more)

University of Hawaiʻi (UH) researchers have been working to address a wide array of health and environmental issues caused by the deadly wildfire that destroyed Lahaina.

Since fall 2023, more than 30 UH researchers have been involved in 12 National Science Foundation (NSF) Rapid Response Research projects to address air and water quality, public health, ecosystem resilience and community evacuation responses. (Read more)

GOVERNOR GREEN SIGNS 253 BILLS INTO LAW

In July, Governor Josh Green, M.D., celebrated the enactment of 253 of the 260 bills passed during the 2024 legislative session. He hosted 16 bill signing ceremonies for 137 bills on issues related to short-term rental regulation, good government, affordable housing, environmental protections, Native Hawaiian cultural preservation and health care systems, as well as historic income tax reform and reducing the cost of living. (Read more)

NEW HOUSING PROJECT LA‘IKŪ WELCOMES MAUI WILDFIRE SURVIVORS

The first four residents have settled into newly built accommodations at the La‘ikū temporary housing project on Lahainaluna Road. La‘ikū represents another step forward for those in the community who lost their homes in the devastating Maui Wildfires. The construction of this housing is a result of collaboration between Governor Green’s Administration, the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation (HDOT), the Department of Education, the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA) and the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation’s (HCF) Maui Strong Fund. (Read more)

SUCCESS OF MAILE AMBER ALERT PROGRAM SHARED BY ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE

The Department of the Attorney General (AG) recently shared information about the success of the MAILE AMBER alert program in Hawai‘i. The alert has only been activated four times since it was implemented in Hawai‘i in 2005 and all four times the children were safely located. The most recent activation was in February 2024, to find two abducted and missing children. (Read more)

HAWAI‘I DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ENCOURAGES SMALL-SCALE FARMING THROUGH MICRO-GRANTS

The Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture (HDOA) has announced that another round of funding for the Micro-Grant for Food Security Program (MGFSP) has become available. More than $3.5 million in grants are available for home gardeners and small-scale farms, including livestock operations. (Read more)

HOUSING SOLUTIONS FOR HOMELESSNESS: A VISIT TO COMMUNITY FIRST VILLAGE IN TEXAS

In June 2024, the Governor’s Coordinator on Homelessness and Housing Solutions, John Mizuno, joined by Department of Human Services Deputy Director Joe Campos, Maui Homeless Coordinator Naomi Crozier, Big Island County Housing Administrator Susan Kunz and Big Island Community Engagement Manager Sharon Hirota, participated in a symposium and engaged with the Community First Village founder Alan Graham. (Read more)