Daniela Bond-Smith
Recovery Through a Disability Lens: Impacts of the 2023 Maui Wildfires on Disability Equity and Shared Prosperity
The August 2023 Maui wildfires devastated homes, disrupted livelihoods, and reshaped entire communities. For many Maui residents with disabilities, life after the fires has been an uphill climb. This report draws on two large-scale surveys conducted between 2024 and 2025 to document how the disaster and its aftermath have affected disabled people in Lahaina.
Read MoreNew MauiWES Study Published in JAMA Network Open
A new paper in JAMA Network Open, a journal of the American Medical Association, led by Dr. Ruben Juarez, Dr. Alika Maunakea, Dr. Daniela Bond-Smith, and the MauiWES team at the University of Hawai‘i, highlights both the challenges and the resilience of communities impacted by the 2023 Maui wildfires. The study, which followed over 1,100 […]
Read MoreProgress and Vulnerability Two Years After the Wildfires: A Data-Driven Update from the Maui Recovery Survey
Two years after the devastating August 2023 wildfires, thousands of fire-affected people continue to navigate a long and complex path to recovery. While many are still facing hardship — including displacement, financial uncertainty, and unmet needs — others have regained stability in many aspects of their lives. This report presents findings from the Maui Recovery […]
Read MorePublication: Rural health disparities: Evidence from Hawaiʻi
This article examines how rurality contributes to health disparities in the Hawaiian Islands using data from the June 2023 wave of a statewide health survey. We analyze self-reported health outcomes alongside sociodemographic factors including age, gender, race/ethnicity, income, education, and disability. Our findings show that rurality is one of the strongest predictors of poorer health […]
Read MoreFrom Crisis to Recovery: Health and Resilience Two Years After the Maui Wildfires
Nearly two years after the August 2023 wildfires, many people in Maui are still living with the emotional, physical, and social effects of the disaster. The flames are gone, but their impact remains. Launched in January 2024, the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study (MauiWES)—the largest post-disaster health cohort in Hawai‘i’s history—is now following 2,000 adults and […]
Read MorePublic Health Report: Hawai‘i’s Health and Wellbeing Journey Over Time — Monitoring Equity and Access
The UHERO Rapid Health Survey is a statewide longitudinal study offering one of the most comprehensive real-time assessments of health equity in Hawai‘i. Launched in 2022, the survey has completed four major waves, with the most recent concluding in December 2024. It tracks over 2,000 adults and provides disaggregated data on physical and mental health, […]
Read MoreMaui’s Recovery 1½ Years After the Wildfires
By Daniela Bond-Smith, Trey Gordner, Caleb Wood Eighteen months after the August 2023 wildfires, Maui’s fire-impacted households continue to face significant economic and housing instability. While some indicators suggest limited progress, the latest findings from the Maui Recovery Survey: Housing & Jobs show that many challenges remain. The survey, launched by the University of Hawai‘i […]
Read MoreOne year after the wildfires: Rising poverty and housing instability point to ongoing gaps in assistance
The Maui Recovery Survey: Housing & Jobs monitors the housing and economic recovery of fire-impacted households on Maui. This initiative, launched one year after the devastating Maui wildfires of August 2023, provides monthly updates on the socioeconomic conditions in West Maui and Kula on a public dashboard. The findings reflect the ongoing challenges fire-impacted households […]
Read MoreRural Health Disparities in Hawai‘i
This report examines the health disparities between rural and non-rural areas in Hawai‘i, using data from the June 2023 UHERO Rapid Survey. While rural areas offer benefits like proximity to nature and strong community ties, they also face challenges such as reduced access to quality healthcare. Our analysis reveals significant health disparities, particularly among people […]
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