One year after the wildfires: Rising poverty and housing instability point to ongoing gaps in assistanceOctober 8, 2024The 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 […]
The Maui Wildfire Exposure Study receives $2.3M from the State of HawaiʻiSeptember 4, 2024The MauiWES project co-led by UHERO’s Ruben Juarez has received $2.3 million in funding from the State of Hawaiʻi. This funding will help MauiWES grow its participant base and establish a survivor registry. https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2024/09/03/state-additional-funding-maui-wes
The Maui Wildfire Exposure Study receives a $1.4M grant from NIHAugust 6, 2024The Maui Wildfire Exposure Study (MauiWES) led by Ruben Juarez (UHERO) and Alika Maunakea (JABSOM) has received a $1.4 million grant from the NIH to help fund the research of the long term health and social impacts of the Maui wildfires.
Maui Wildfire Exposure Study: Community Health, Wellbeing, and ResilienceMay 15, 2024The Maui Wildfire Exposure Study (MauiWES) is the most comprehensive study focused on understanding and mitigating the health and social impacts of the Maui wildfires. It aims to fill a gap in knowledge about the effects of environmental hazards and socioeconomic challenges on the health and wellbeing of those exposed to the wildfires. Over at […]
Delinquencies have spiked in the aftermath of the Maui wildfiresMarch 21, 2024By Daniela Bond-Smith The devastating Maui wildfires destroyed most of Lahaina and displaced thousands of residents. But many Lahaina homeowners still have mortgages on their properties despite not having a home to go back to. As of the 2020 Census, almost three-quarters (74%; 1309 out of 1773) of Lahaina homeowners did not own their home free […]
Public Health Report: Initial Findings from the Maui Wildfire Exposure StudyFebruary 8, 2024Following the devastating wildfires from August 8-11, 2023, the Maui community has faced significant challenges including environmental hazards, air pollution, and toxic substances that pose additional long-term health risks. In response, we launched the Maui Wildfire Exposure Cohort Study (MauiWES). Our initial findings highlight the critical health needs to address acute conditions, including depression, hypertension, […]
UHERO’s Ruben Juarez to lead Maui wildfire health studyJanuary 25, 2024A team of University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa researchers are asking Maui residents to participate in a study to analyze the short- and long-term health effects of exposure to the deadly wildfires that destroyed Lahaina and parts of Kula. The team, led by UH Mānoa Professors Ruben Juarez (UH Economic Research Organization–HMSA Distinguished Professor of […]
UHERO Forecast for the State of Hawaiʻi: State facing headwinds as Maui recovery beginsDecember 15, 2023Hawaii’s economy has been resilient in the face of weakening US and global economies, high interest rates, and the glacial return of Japanese travelers. Deceleration in key visitor markets will produce slower growth in 2024. But, absent a US recession, moderate gains will resume in 2025. While economic fallout from the Maui wildfires has been […]
UHERO Forecast for the State of Hawaiʻi: Wildfires deliver heavy blow to Maui economySeptember 22, 2023The tragic Maui wildfires have inflicted deep pain and loss on the affected communities, and sorrow among all of Hawaii’s residents. There are also economic costs for the county and the state as a whole, many of which will last well into the future. In our first forecast since the fires, we assess the implications […]
Economic Perspective of Maui’s Devastating WildfiresSeptember 8, 2023By James Mak, Paul Brewbaker, and Frank Haas Lahaina is a very special place with so much deep, rich history. Over time, it’s evolved. It’s been many things. It’s been the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom. It’s been home base for generations of Maui chiefs. It’s been a center of commerce in whaling. It’s been […]
Jobless claims reveal staggering employment cost of Maui wildfiresSeptember 7, 2023By Byron Gangnes Jobless claims for the week ending September 2 have been released. At the national level, new claims ticked down for the fourth straight week, but the four-week trailing average remains in line with claim levels prior to the pandemic. The claims data do not materially change the US labor market picture: Slower […]
After the Maui wildfires: The road ahead.August 31, 2023By Steven Bond-Smith, Daniela Bond-Smith, Carl Bonham, Leah Bremer, Kim Burnett, Makena Coffman, Peter Fuleky, Byron Gangnes, Rachel Inafuku, Ruben Juarez, Sumner La Croix, Colin Moore, Dylan Moore, Nori Tarui, Justin Tyndall, and Chris Wada The immediate recovery efforts from the devastating Maui wildfires continue, and at UHERO we share our community’s anguish over the […]