Transients in Maui Struggle with Housing Crisis After Devastating Wildfire as Tourists Return

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Charles Nahale faced sleepless nights in the rear of his pickup truck following the devastating wildfire that laid waste to his home and the community of Lahaina. Subsequent nights offered little respite: Nahale, a musician by trade, took temporary shelter at an abandoned hotel where he had previously entertained guests, making do with makeshift seating arrangements.

Eventually, Nahale managed to secure a timeshare condominium equipped with basic amenities, only to be relocated once again—this time to another hotel condominium—by officials.

Nahale is not alone; he is part of a growing populace leading a peripatetic existence following the most lethal wildfire in the U.S. in over a hundred years, which claimed a minimum of 99 lives. The inferno obliterated thousands of structures and rendered residents homeless, who now grapple with challenges that are uniquely exacerbated by Maui’s geographical location and its significance as a tourist destination.

“Addressing basic needs is a challenge in itself when you’re constantly on the move,” said Nahale.

Many are caught in a cycle of moving between hotel rooms, often to accommodate tourists who are integral to Maui’s economy. The quest for affordable housing has become increasingly challenging due to a pre-existing shortage, further strained by the destruction of approximately 3,000 homes and apartments in Lahaina by the wildfire.

Transporting temporary mobile homes—commonly used in disaster relief elsewhere—is impractical in Maui due to logistical constraints and the island’s humid conditions.

After the August 8 fire, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) financed the relocation of Nahale and around 8,000 other displaced residents into hotels and short-term lodgings. As of more than two months post-disaster, approximately 6,900 individuals remain in temporary accommodations.

Bob Fenton, the FEMA regional administrator overseeing Hawaii, acknowledged the unique circumstances that necessitated an atypical number of hotel stays. He expressed his agency’s commitment to transitioning people into more stable living conditions.

The Red Cross, tasked with managing FEMA’s hotel program, is placing Nahale in another condominium, but availability is limited to 12 days. “Finding a long-term place to stay is daunting when thousands are in the same predicament,” Nahale noted.

Red Cross CEO Gail McGovern and Gov. Josh Green emphasized that no one would be removed from short-term housing without an alternative long-term solution in place.

Among the few who have secured housing is Tiffany Teruya, who found a two-bedroom rental for her and her 13-year-old son at a cost of $3,000 per month, a significant increase from her pre-disaster housing costs.

Efforts to match evacuees with landlords via a website have met with limited success. According to the website’s creator, Matt Jachowski, the financial gap between what landlords demand and what evacuees can afford is a significant hurdle.

To bridge this gap, at least temporarily, FEMA has increased its rental assistance by 75%. Long-term solutions will require new affordable housing developments, some of which are pending zoning approvals or water source evaluations.

FEMA is also considering the construction of up to 500 modular units using prefabricated materials or 3D printing. Sites have been identified near existing infrastructure, which could later be adapted for permanent housing.

Nahale described the ordeal as a “secondary humanitarian crisis,” advocating for a compassionate approach that would allow people to remain in their current lodgings through the holiday season.

However, with tourists returning and occupancy rates rising, authorities maintain that revitalizing the tourism industry is crucial for economic stability. The unemployment rate in Maui surged to 8.4% in September, a sharp increase from 3.4% in the same month the previous year.

Nahale finds solace in music, often playing a song written by his late friend, renowned Hawaiian musician Roland Cazimero, which he believes has healing properties.

“Please be cautious/Of the perils that abound/Strive not to live in fear/Of the paths that lie ahead,” Nahale performed, first in English and subsequently in Hawaiian.

“That song just seemed appropriate,” he concluded.

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Contributions to this report were made by Jennifer Sinco Kelleher of Big Big News.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Maui Wildfire Housing Crisis

More about Maui Wildfire Housing Crisis

• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
• Red Cross Disaster Relief Services
• Maui County Official Website
• Hawaii State Unemployment Statistics
• Impact of Natural Disasters on Housing Market
• Maui Tourism Board
• U.S. Wildfire Statistics and Reports
• Affordable Housing Initiatives in Hawaii
• Shipping Challenges to Hawaii
• Historical Wildfires in the U.S.