Facing fewer job opportunities and rents that jumped by more than 50% post fire, financial pressures for fire-impacted households remain extraordinary. About a quarter of survey participants earn less than half of their pre-fire incomes.

Almost twice as many fire-impacted households live in poverty now compared to before the fires. This means that more than 20% of fire-impacted households in the survey have incomes below the poverty line. About 15% of respondents have fallen into poverty since the wildfires and poverty rates have remained broadly stable in the last six months. This suggests that fire-impacted households remain very vulnerable and at risk of long-term poverty.

Fire-impacted individuals face reduced job stability, with a large share working fewer hours and earning lower incomes, or having lost employment altogether. Fire-impacted individuals in the survey cohort are more likely to be unemployed than the overall Maui population. There has been no clear trend towards rising employment since August 2024 in the survey cohort.

The industry mix of employment on Maui is changing. Only about 60% of the survey participants who were employed in the tourism industry (accommodation, food and recreation services) before the fires still have jobs in the sector. Less than half kept their full-time employment in the tourism industry.

There remains a high need for financial assistance, housing, healthcare and food among fire-affected individuals.

The majority of respondents still receive some assistance, but the extent of support has decreased substantially and nearly a third of respondents have not received any assistance in the past month.