CNHA releases new data illustrating recovery status nine months after Maui Wildfires
The new data is posted on CNHA’s online Maui Data Hub
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The Maui News
KAHULUI--The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA) has published a new report, offering insights into the housing status, economic condition, and immediate needs of Maui residents affected by the wildfires, nine months post-disaster. The report is available on CNHA's Maui Data Hub.
Data collection was conducted through the Alaska Airlines Maui Care Flights program, targeting families directly impacted by the wildfires and administered by CNHA. This initiative provided a unique opportunity to assess the ongoing recovery of Maui's families. Families seeking assistance were required to complete a survey detailing their housing situation, economic status, and current needs. The majority of responses were gathered by the end of May 2024, with a bias towards households with children and multi-generational families, reflecting the program's prioritization criteria.
"This data provides transparency for the public and service providers regarding the progress of families nearly 10 months post-fire," stated Kūhiō Lewis, CNHA's CEO. "While some strides have been made, it's evident that significant work remains to restore normalcy to Maui. Our aim is for this report to enhance the effectiveness of agencies and individuals in serving Maui's community."
The report outlines key findings across various categories including demographics, housing, employment, income, and perceived needs. Highlights include:
HOUSING
• 75 percent of families remain in temporary housing, with 25 percent in permanent housing, some of which is off Maui.
• For those in temporary housing, lack of stability is a major concern, with over half having resided at their current address for four months or less.
• Despite their current situation, 72 percent of families aspire to reside in West Maui within the next year.
EMPLOYMENT & INCOME
• 58 percent of surveyed individuals are employed full-time, up from 38.2 percent in CNHA's previous update. However, 24 percent are either part-time or unemployed and seeking additional work.
• Median income has decreased by 25 percent from pre-fire levels, with current median income ranging from $3,000 to $3,499 per month.
PERCEIVED NEEDS
• Financial assistance remains the most pressing need, with 46 percent of families describing it as urgently needed.
• Housing and food follow closely behind, with approximately half of families expressing significant need in these areas.
DEMOGRAPHICS
• The majority of surveyed applicants are long-time Maui residents, with 82 percent residing on the island for 10 or more years.
• Spanish, Ilocano, and Tagalog are the most common non-English languages spoken in these households.
• 56 percent of applicants have less than a college degree and no technical certification, highlighting the employment challenges faced by these families.
• Single-parent households with minor children constitute 18 percent of applicants, while 12 percent either share a car or rely on alternative transportation methods, emphasizing the importance of housing and job location considerations.