Maui Fires: Families Rebuild Bonds Amid Displacement Challenges

Maui Fires: Families Rebuild Bonds Amid Displacement Challenges \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The 2023 Maui fires devastated Lahaina, displacing thousands and leaving families like the Akionas grappling with the loss of homes and community. A first-of-its-kind disaster relief program by the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement helped ease the burden, providing stipends to households hosting displaced loved ones. This innovative approach preserved cultural values, alleviated housing pressures, and offered hope for recovery.

Families Rebuilding After Maui Fires: Quick Looks

• Displacement Impact: The Lahaina fires displaced 12,000 people, including the Akiona family, who lost their home.
• Host Housing Program: CNHA supported 253 households by offering stipends for hosting displaced loved ones.
• Cultural Values Preserved: The program embraced Hawaii’s spirit of ‘ohana (family) and community support.
• Financial Relief: Stipends helped cover housing costs, commute expenses, and other living needs.
• Future Recovery: Efforts now focus on rebuilding Lahaina and preventing further community erosion.

Deep Look

Maui Fires Recovery: Families Rebuild Bonds Through Innovation and Community

The August 2023 Maui wildfires devastated the historic town of Lahaina, claiming the lives of at least 102 people, displacing over 12,000, and destroying nearly 1,900 homes. Among those displaced was Tamara Akiona and her 10-person household, whose multigenerational home once bustled with love, laughter, and shared meals.

Now, Tamara, her husband Kawehi, and her uncle Ron Sambrano live in a two-bedroom condo in Wailuku, 40 minutes from Lahaina. While they navigate their new reality, a groundbreaking disaster-relief program provided essential financial support, helping displaced families like the Akionas maintain their cultural values and recover with dignity.

A Community Displaced

The Akionas’ former home, once owned by Tamara’s grandparents, was a place of constant activity and joy. “There was always someone cooking in the kitchen, and the neighbors would gather in the evenings,” Tamara reminisced. Children would chase the shave-ice truck, and the home brimmed with life.

But in a single night, the flames reduced it all to ashes. “We just don’t have that anymore,” Tamara said, reflecting on the loss of her home and the tightly knit community it embodied.

The Akionas were not alone in their grief. In the days after the fires, an estimated one-third of displaced individuals turned to friends and family for shelter. On an island already grappling with a severe housing crisis, this natural solution spoke to Hawaii’s cultural ethos of ‘ohana (family) and aloha (love and compassion). However, this approach brought challenges, including overcrowding, financial strain, and emotional stress.

A First-of-Its-Kind Program

Recognizing these challenges, the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA) launched the Host Housing Support Program. Funded by donations from the Hawaii Community Foundation and the American Red Cross, the initiative provided stipends to households hosting displaced loved ones.

Initially a six-month pilot paying $375 per person per month, the program expanded in October 2023 to provide $500 per person, up to $2,000 per household, for an entire year. Both hosts and guests underwent a vetting process, including interviews and home inspections, ensuring accountability and a comfortable living arrangement.

By the program’s conclusion in November 2024, it had supported 672 displaced individuals across 253 households, injecting $2.5 million into the community and alleviating some of the financial burdens associated with hosting.

Impact on Families

For the Akionas, the program was transformative. The stipend helped cover the condo’s HOA fees, commuting costs, and unexpected expenses after Kawehi suffered a knee injury while working a second job.

“It was a blessing,” Tamara said. “It gave us breathing room to focus on healing and rebuilding.”

The program also allowed the Akionas to care for Uncle Ron, who had lived in Lahaina his entire life and witnessed the neighborhood’s destruction. “It was a special place,” Ron said. “In less than 24 hours, it was all wiped out. It’s traumatic.”

Living with Tamara and Kawehi provided Ron with stability and emotional support. “They’ve done everything to help me out. Without them, I could be on the street,” he said.

Broader Benefits

Programs like CNHA’s Host Housing Support are rare in disaster recovery but have proven highly effective. Jennifer Gray Thompson, CEO of the disaster advocacy group After The Fire, emphasized the far-reaching advantages of such initiatives:

1. Eases Housing Market Pressure: By utilizing existing homes, the program reduces competition for limited housing stock.
2. Preserves Communities: Keeping displaced families together helps maintain cultural ties and social cohesion.
3. Economic Relief: Financial stipends empower host families to meet rising costs while supporting local businesses.
4. Improves Recovery Efficiency: Host households navigate federal aid applications, like FEMA and SBA, faster than others, CNHA observed.

“Every megafire leads to mass displacement, but what people never get is money to help them host loved ones,” Thompson said. “This program fills a critical gap.”

Challenges of Rebuilding

While the program provided immediate relief, many families still face long-term challenges. More than 1,500 Lahaina households have already left Maui due to a lack of affordable housing and job opportunities. CNHA is working to prevent further displacement through initiatives like temporary housing construction, rental subsidies, and rebuilding grants.

The Akionas plan to rebuild their Lahaina home but face significant hurdles. Water service has not been restored to their street, and building costs are prohibitively high. Tamara dreams of constructing a house where her family can grow old together but acknowledges it will take time.

“We want to rebuild right, not just rush into something we can’t sustain,” she said.

A Model for Future Disasters

The success of CNHA’s Host Housing Support Program has sparked interest from national organizations, including the American Red Cross, which plans to adapt lessons learned for future disaster responses.

“This program shows how we can build relief efforts around cultural values, keeping survivors with their loved ones while easing financial strain,” said Kuhio Lewis, CEO of CNHA.

With mass displacement becoming more common due to climate-related disasters, the Maui program could serve as a model for communities across the United States. From North Carolina, where thousands remain in temporary shelters after Hurricane Helene, to wildfire-prone California, the need for innovative solutions like host stipends is growing.

Looking Forward

The Akionas remain committed to their family and community, despite the uncertainties. Most of their extended household has relocated nearby to Wailuku or Kihei, ensuring that the bonds formed in their Lahaina home endure.

“For the most part, we feel like we still have our family unit,” Tamara said. “We’re as close as we can be now.”

As Maui’s recovery efforts continue, programs like the Host Housing Support have demonstrated the power of cultural values and community-driven solutions in helping survivors heal, rebuild, and stay connected.

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