Yesterday marked one year since the devastating Maui wildfires that changed our lives forever. It was a day of deep reflection, filled with stories of resilience and heartache, an outpouring of gratitude for the incredible bravery and aloha spirit that carried us through, along with commemorative events and coverage from around the world.
As we gathered at the site of Ka Laʻi Ola, Kalewa Bancaco, our Senior Project Manager on Maui, led us in a moment of silence. It was a heartfelt moment, shared through tears, that renewed our focus and fueled our efforts to complete the final touches before we welcome 35 new residents into the first 9 homes.
This isn’t just about opening doors; it’s about opening a path to a new beginning. Many of those displaced have been living in uncertainty, unsure when they would have a stable place to call home again. Today, that changes.
Ka Laʻi Ola, named by Maui Kumu Hula Pueo Pata as "The Place of Peaceful Recovery," is more than an interim housing project. It’s a lifeline for 1,500 displaced Maui residents who haven’t been able to access or have lost FEMA assistance.
Many of these residents come from Maui’s immigrant and low-income communities—people who, despite the best efforts of assistance programs, didn’t meet certain eligibility requirements. These are our neighbors who faced significant challenges long before the fires, and ensuring they are not left behind has been a top priority. Inclusivity is at the heart of our efforts, and providing a safe and welcoming space for all who need it is our mission.
Ka Laʻi Ola spans over 50 acres, offering studios, one-, two-, and three-bedroom units. The first year will be rent-free, allowing residents to rebuild without the immediate financial burden. After that, nominal fees will be introduced, but the focus remains on long-term stability and security.
Disasters like this can have generational impacts, disrupting lives, dreams, and futures. The goal here is to provide the support and resources necessary to ensure families find stability and rebuild their lives with a strong foundation.
The wildfires devastated our community, and in those early days, the Governor of Hawaiʻi reached out to HomeAid Hawaiʻi for help with several critical issues. One of our first tasks was to intercept and assess the hundreds of modular home manufacturers who reached out to the government.
We established quality-assurance guidelines and worked closely with the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency to gather, organize, and vet all the information on modular homes, ensuring that those affected by the fires received the best options available, with their overall well-being in mind.
This was just the start of a long and challenging journey. We assessed multiple lands across the island, considering essential infrastructure needs like sewage, electricity, and proximity to services. After extensive scouting, we selected a site in West Lahaina, in the Waikapu area, near the Civic Center.
The development of Ka Laʻi Ola has been a collective effort, relying on partnerships with over 60 vendors and state departments. From construction to community planning, every aspect of this project has been shaped by input from local residents, community leaders, and housing beneficiaries.
Engaging the community was essential. Dozens of community organizations participated in charettes, providing insights on land planning, co-design of community spaces, and ensuring that safety, security, and resiliency services are integral to this project.
To ensure that Lahaina, including Ka Laʻi Ola’s neighbors at Leialiʻi, were involved at every step, we held community meetings to address key issues like infrastructure, transportation, and water.
Today, after months of unwavering dedication and hard work, 35 displaced individuals now have a place to call home at Ka Laʻi Ola. This is just the beginning, but it’s a significant step toward rebuilding our community.
We wouldn’t be here today without the support of our partners, our Leialiʻi neighbors, the countless community groups who contributed to this vision, and the thousands of donors to the Hawai‘i Community Foundation’s Maui Strong Fund and other generous contributors.
Mahalo nui loa to everyone who has made this possible. Together, we are not just rebuilding homes; we are rebuilding lives.
