Hawaii

National

DNA tests lower the death toll in Maui fire to 97

8:53am September 16, 2023

by The Associated Press

Officials previously said at least 115 people had died in the fire, but further testing showed they had multiple DNA samples from some of the victims. The number of those who are missing fell to 31.

Modular container homes are set up in Kahului, Hawaii. A pop-up village of the buildings is in the process of being created by a local organization, the Family Life Center.

National

Pop-up units spring up after Maui fire disaster, giving families a place to call home

7:00am September 09, 2023

by Bill Chappell

In Hawaii, people who lost their homes to wildfires could soon be living in a pop-up village, with space for around 250 people.

Charred remains of homes are visible following a wildfire in Lahaina, Hawaii, Aug. 22, 2023.

National

The number of people missing following devastating Maui wildfires has dropped to 66

1:18am September 09, 2023

by The Associated Press

The new tally of 66 people still missing represents a significant drop from a week earlier, when authorities said 385 remained unaccounted for. The confirmed death toll remains at 115.

A few tourists stand under a rainbow as the clouds clear at Haleakalā on the island of Maui, Hawaii. Though much of the island is untouched, tourism is down drastically.

On Maui, a desperate plea to tourists: Please return

1:16pm August 30, 2023

by Kirk Siegler

When the deadly wildfires ignited on Maui, tourists were turned away. Three weeks later, business owners are eager for them visit — responsibly.

Pro surfers organized a Saturday morning surf session to help kids do something they love at Ho'okipa Beach on the island's north shore. It's about an hour's drive from Lahaina.

National

Maui's surf pros paddle out with kids from Lahaina for a healing surf session

5:00am August 28, 2023

Families displaced by wildfire get a welcome reprieve as a surf session for kids and families gave them a chance for a normal Saturday.

Activist Kekai Keahi says Native Hawaiian trauma over losing land goes back generations to when the U.S. overthrew the Hawaiian Kingdom.

Lahaina was expensive before the fire. Some worry rebuilding will price them out

5:00am August 26, 2023

by Jennifer Ludden

Since the fire residents have gotten multiple calls from realtors offering to buy their land. Activists want a role in planning, to keep developers from pushing out those who call Lahaina home.

Queue Listen Now

Lieutenant Ryan Edgar (left) is with the 93rd CBRN Enterprise Response Force, Commander Frank Sebastian is with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Sgt. Manuel Soco is with a U.S. Army search and extraction team. Authorities are pleading with the public to be patient as forensics teams work to identify the remains after the deadly wildfire in Lahaina, Hawaii.

National

Lahaina wants closure. Authorities plead for patience

3:16pm August 25, 2023

by Kirk Siegler

Search and recovery teams say the work to identify human remains in Lahaina is grueling and complicated by the fact that the fire burned so hot, even just making a positive ID is difficult.

Queue Listen Now

A poster seeking help finding a man not seen after the Lahaina fire is taped to a store window. The official figure of people listed as "not accounted for" has changed drastically this week.

National

388: The number of people unaccounted for in Maui fire falls by more than half

10:59am August 25, 2023

by Bill Chappell

The latest revision came after Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said the FBI was working to "un-duplicate" people who were reported missing.

The fire that devastated historic Lahaina in western Maui left a red-roofed house relatively unscathed. Its owner says he wants to open the house to the neighborhood to help the rebuilding process.

National

'Miracle house' owner hopes it will serve as a base for rebuilding Lahaina

5:00am August 24, 2023

by Bill Chappell

"There was a neighbor who sent a note to us and said, 'Oh, you won the lottery,'" Trip Millikin, whose house survived, told NPR. "And I almost wanted to throw up when I got that."

Five-year-old cousins Layla and Mila Cabanilla Okano are among the many children staying with members of their extended family at one property on Maui in the wake of the wildfires.

After the fires on Maui, one home shelters 87 people

5:00am August 23, 2023

Those displaced by the fires have found temporary quarters in hotels and with family and friends. One host opened their home to 87 evacuees, most of them from one extended family.

Queue Listen Now