On the eve of the two-year mark since the 2023 fires, the Lahaina Filipino Fire Survivors Association (LFFSA) and supporters called on the County of Maui to be accountable to the communities that keep its economy running.
Organizers say that two years later, working families in Lahaina remain forgotten in the recovery. People are juggling multiple jobs, paying upwards of $3,000 a month for rent, and living in crowded hotel rooms when all they want is to return to their homes.
LFFSA Steering Committee member and bank worker, Chamille Serrano, tearfully recalled the tragedy that happened almost two years ago.
“My grandson was two months old the day of the fire. We were homeless for three months after the fire…When we did finally get housing, it was a two-hour drive to come to Kahana and two hours to go home, so we never saw the sun,” she said.
While the County of Maui has outlined programs for homeowners, community organizations maintain that rental assistance is still a major need.
“It’s hard for me to pay $1,200 a month in rent with all of my other bills,” shared LFFSA Member and retired County worker, Alfred Dasugo. “I’m still looking for help in paying my rent. I’m waiting and waiting.”
LFFSA and community advocates pointed to other disaster-impacted areas like New Jersey and Texas to show that the County can still adjust its CDBG-DR Action Plan to meet the actual needs of Lahaina’s fire survivors, and encouraged stakeholders to make an earnest effort to hear out the concerns of community members.
In addition to demanding rental assistance, the LFFSA is calling for a Community Advisory Board, a clear process for updating the Action Plan with public input, and transparent information about recovery programs for renters & homeowners before FEMA assistance ends in February 2026.
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