LAHAINA, Maui–It’s been 18 months since a wildfire left very little of what had once been a thriving, historic town in West Maui, and credit unions on this island continue to work with the community as it seeks to rebuild.

The devasting wildfires of August 2023 destroyed the historic town of Lahaina and took more than 100 lives,  destroyed more than 2,200 homes, left approximately 12,000 people homeless, and countless numbers jobless. Many people ended up leaving Maui altogether for jobs on the mainland and have not returned. Others remained and took up refuge in hotels, but had to move frequently to check out and then check back in putting their lives in constant flux.

It was a scene viewed round the world—with numerous members and employees forced to take refuge in the sea as the fire burned around them. 

Among the fastest to respond with help were Maui’s CUs, which established the Credit Union Wildfire Relief Fund, which raised nearly $1.5 million in the year after the fire, including $1 million from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines for housing needs. 

Credit unions, including Maui FCU, offered loan relief, waivers on fees and early withdrawals from CDs, and more.

First Responders Lose Homes

Some 32 first responders also lost their homes, and have received assistance, including from Valley Isle Community FCU. VICFCU eventually made 41 $1,000 emergency loans with APRs of 0% and offered111 consumer and mortgage loan extensions up to 90 days. In one of those disaster-ramifications that are hard to prepare for,  Trevor Tokishi, CEO of Valley Isle Community FCU, said the good news is its Lahaina branch was not damaged by the fire. But it did lose all of its staff as they moved away. The branch has since been restaffed and opened, Tokishi told the Credit Union Daily.

Barren Landscapes

Eighteen months later, much of Lahaina and especially its famed waterfront remain barren landscapes, but some new housing has been constructed and other housing is underway. The town’s landmark banyan tree, which is more than 150 years old and which spans nearly an acre, has been a symbol of resilience and appears to have survived the fire.

In remarks to the Volunteer Leadership Institute meeting on Maui, Gary Fukuroku, CEO of Maui County Credit Union, said 32 of the 102 people who died were members of his credit union. 

“I knew many of them personally,” Fukuroku 

2023 fire, including a former classmate and her husband.

Fukuroku shared a video of a news report of a Maui resident who picked up two tourists whose car had caught on fire and who then drove them to safety. “They were heroes and they still don’t have a home,” he said. 

The rescuers were also members of the credit union.

Childhood Home Lost

Fukuroku, who grew up on Lahaina, lost his childhood home and the homes of his family friends are now ashes. He noted the irony that all of Lahaina town is gone, with the exception of a tall, historical smokestack. 

“I thought our branch was gone but it miraculously survived, but we can’t occupy it,” he said, citing the damage to the surrounding area. 

A visit by the CU Daily found the branch standing and unoccupied, located next to a burned gas station and across the street from the parts of town that are closed to the public.

Where CU Funds Have Gone

The funds raised by credit unions have gone toward numerous causes, including:

• A donation of $50,000 was made to the J. Walter Cameron Center to support the Cameron Center’s Laptop Relief Program, which distributed personal computers, laptops, tablets, and mobile phones to wildfire survivors who lost their homes.
• Five Lahainaluna High School seniors were given $2,000 each for scholarships, and another $10,000 in scholarships will be distributed this year.
• Support was provided to the Makana No Ka Keiki Christmas event for Lahaina children and to aid in the recovery of the town’s historical buildings. 
• Gas cards were provided to members
• Funds were donated to assist in the restoration of historic buildings. 
• In the immediate aftermath of the fire, funds helped to provide food from food trucks to residents.
• $200,000 has been donated to Habitat for Humanity\
• The $1 million from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines has gone to help in the rebuilding efforts, and a colorful rainbow of housing units can now be seen on a hillside above the town.

During its 2024 meeting the Volunteer Leadership Institute and its attendees raised funds that were donated to credit unions for their relief efforts. 

Recovery Has Begun

“The recovery has begun, but it will be a long time before Lahaina is on its feet,” said Fukuroku. “The donations are much appreciated. The people helping people model is alive. We have since received much needed government support. Our community has established an office of recovery where people can go for whatever services are needed. Permitting has been fast-tracked for those wanting to rebuild. As of November,  254 building permits have been issued and 120 homes are being built. Another 264 applications are under review.”

The pace of recovery for Lahaina’s commercial businesses is taking longer, said Fukuroku, but a long-term recovery plan was recently published.

“In the meantime we continue the recovery process slowly but surely,” Fukuroku said. “When you visit Maui, the south side, the east side, central Maui, it all looks the same. It’s nothing like what happened to the west side; it looks like a war zone. But it’s getting better day by day.

“The term ‘Maui Strong’ is embedded in our community,” he added. 

Help for California

In a move that earned praise during the VLI meeting this year, Fukuroku asked that any funds raised go to help victims of California’s recent wildfires.