The road to rebuilding Maui is long, and how we navigate it will shape our island’s future for generations to come. A significant step in this process is the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding, which will provide $1.6 billion to support recovery efforts from the 2023 Maui wildfires.

This funding, allocated by the U.S. Congress and administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), is intended to help restore housing, infrastructure, and essential community services. But where and how this money is spent depends on the CDBG-DR Action Plan—a crucial document outlining how Maui County will allocate these funds.

Why This Matters

According to Maui County, over the past 18 months, community input has played a key role in shaping the draft Action Plan. Residents have voiced their concerns and priorities through community meetings and Neighborhood Planning Workshops for the Lahaina Long-Term Recovery Plan. Now, it’s time to review the County’s draft plan and ensure it reflects the needs of the people most impacted by the disaster.

Public Hearings: Your Chance to Speak Up

The first of three public hearings took place on Saturday, March 8th, in Lahaina, and the second was on Tuesday March 11th online. Maui Housing Hui attended both meetings and found the process simple and straightforward, but definitely light on details, so we highly recommend that community members take the time to read the full Action Plan draft before submitting comments. 

Two more chances remain for the public to participate:

📅 March 14th (In-Person at the Cameron Center, Wailuku) – The final public hearing before the plan is submitted.

📅 March 24th – This is the deadline to submit written public comment!!!

These hearings are a critical opportunity to:
✅ Ask questions about how the funds will be distributed.
✅ Advocate for housing, infrastructure, and recovery priorities.
✅ Ensure transparency in the recovery process.
✅ Hold decision-makers accountable to community needs.

🚨 Rental Assistance is NOT Included—But It Can Be! 🚨

One major concern in the draft Action Plan is the lack of rental assistance funding. This is a huge gap that must be addressed. Many families displaced by the fires cannot afford to wait for long-term recovery programs to be implemented. Without rental assistance, too many families will struggle to stay on Maui.

💡 CDBG-DR funds can and should be used for rental assistance. The need for rental support is not being met, making it even more critical that the County includes it in this plan. We strongly encourage community members to raise this issue in public comments and urge Maui County to prioritize rental assistance as part of the recovery effort.

The Universal Notice that guides how these funds can be used clearly states CBDG-DR funds can be used for rental assistance. In 2023, other CBDG-DR programs in New Jersey, Oregon, and Louisiana have successfully pursued rental assistance programs with their funds. This is crucial to keeping our community members in the community while the rebuilding process happens. If our friends and neighbors continue to be pushed off the island because the cost of renting is impossible to maintain long-term, gentrification will replace the friends and neighbors.

What You Can Do

1️⃣ Attend a Public Hearing – Attend the third public hearing this March 14th.
2️⃣ Submit Public Comments – Use your voice: WE WANT RENTAL ASSISTANCE NOW!
3️⃣ Spread the Word – The more voices advocating for housing stability, the better.

This funding represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to rebuild Maui in a way that prioritizes local families, affordable housing, and long-term resilience. Let’s make sure it is spent wisely.

Stay Engaged. Stay Informed. Stay Connected.

Follow Maui Housing Hui for updates on the CDBG-DR Action Plan and other critical housing issues. Your voice matters. Let’s rebuild Maui together.