How many people have been displaced by the wildfires?

The Lahaina wildfires displaced many residents, particularly in the direct burn area where over 90% of survey respondents were forced to leave their homes and more than half were also displaced from West Maui. Even outside this immediate burn zone, nearly a third of Lahaina residents had to leave their homes and 18% also had to move away from West Maui. In Kula, about a third of respondents were displaced. Most displaced residents from Kula stayed in the Upcounty or North Shore area. The fires also had a broader impact on Maui's economy. Over a third of respondents from other parts of the island were displaced. For some people, this may have been because they lost their jobs or businesses in West Maui or Kula and they may have moved closer to their new work location. But we also find that the majority of displaced residents from other parts of Maui (not West Maui or Kula) stayed in the same area. Many have lost income and were forced to move to less stable housing (e.g. losing homeownership or moving in with family/friends).

How long have fire-impacted people been at their current address?

Most survey respondents who live in temporary housing have been at their current address for a relatively short period. 60% of participants have lived in their current temporary housing for less than six months. This suggests that most fire-affected individuals living in temporary housing have had to move more than once since the wildfires. Housing instability is known to have negative impacts across all areas of life, including mental health, employment and children's education.

Where do Maui fire-impacted people live now?

A slim majority (53%) of respondents who lived in West Maui before the fires still live in West Maui today, and over 90% remain on island, but this is likely to undercount the number who left Maui. Of the relatively small group of respondents (7%) that relocated off-island, roughly 2 in 5 remain in Hawaii, with the rest on the mainland or overseas. However, since the survey was distributed via aid providers, we were likely less successful in reaching people who have already relocated elsewhere. In addition, half of fire-affected households are in temporary housing (see Housing Conditions section for details). Those that are in less stable situations such as living with friends/family or temporary housing without assistance may have to relocate again within 1-2 years. Overall, spiking rents coupled with a slow labor market recovery will continue to place pressure on all Maui households, but particularly fire-affected ones.

For survey participants who resided in other parts of Maui (not West Maui) at the time of the fire, more than 80% remained in the same area. Some people in Kula have lost their homes in the fires. But most people from this group who moved likely did so in response to job changes and rising housing costs.

Where do fire-impacted people expect to be in one year?

Of respondents living in West Maui now, less than 1 in 10 expect to be living anywhere else in a year. However, many have noted that they are unsure whether they will be able to stay. In addition, nearly 1 in 3 of those who live in other parts of Maui also expect to return to West Maui next year. Moreover, most of those living elsewhere in Hawaii expect to return to Maui within the year. Public officials have acknowledged that rebuilding permanent housing in the burn area may take several years. While roughly 700 temporary housing units are nearing completion, our data provides further evidence that this may not be enough to house residents who wish to stay or return to (West) Maui.