Hawaii Establishes $150M Relief Fund for Maui Wildfire Victims Modeled After 9/11 Fund

Fund to benefit some 1,000 unaccounted victims and their families, with each potentially receiving up to $1 million for lost loved ones or injuries as early as Q2, 2024; initiative also aims to support rebuilding efforts and major lawsuits against Hawaiian Electric continue.

Hawaii has established a $150 million relief fund to support victims of the Maui wildfires and their families. Inspired by the Sept. 11 Victims Compensation Fund, the initiative aims to accelerate the recovery process without victims needing to go through lengthy litigation.
The relief funds will be distributed to people who were injured in the fire or lost loved ones, with individual payouts potentially reaching up to $1 million. The benefits could be disbursed as early as Q2 2024.
The wildfires, which took place in August 2023, devastated the tourist destination of Lahaina, resulted in around 100 fatalities, and displaced thousands more. Estimates suggest that between 500 and 1,000 people remain unaccounted for.
Following the compensation of wildfire victims and their families, the fund will also be used to support businesses and property owners affected by the disaster. Future plans include the use of funds to help rebuild homes and assist in the wider recovery of West Maui.
The principal financial contributors to the fund are the state of Hawaii, Maui County, Hawaiian Electric, and Kamehameha Schools. All entities have been named in ongoing lawsuits over the wildfires believed to be caused by Hawaiian Electric.
Despite the creation of the fund, multiple legal cases against Hawaiian Electric from wildfire victims and West Maui property owners continue. Additionally, Congress launched an investigation into the disaster, the initial hearing of which left many questions unanswered.