HONOLULU – Hawaiʻi Attorney General Anne Lopez announced today Phase One of the three-part investigation into how state and county governments responded during the Maui wildfires. The Phase One report and Timeline will inform the Phase Two analysis and Phase Three recommendations for improved safety in Hawaiʻi.

On August 8-9, 2023, the town of Lahaina, Hawaiʻi (on the island of Maui), endured a devastating fire fueled by environmental conditions, leading to 101 fatalities, widespread destruction, and devastating community impacts.

Maui Wildfires Had Severe Health and Economic Consequences on Residents, Study Finds. Many Maui residents have experienced a decline in their physical and mental health along with a decline in their economic stability after devastating wildfires scorched the island in 2023, according to a new Hawaii survey.

Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez released a first phase report Wednesday by the Fire Safety Research Institute that said a broad communications breakdown left authorities in the dark and residents without emergency alerts during the deadliest U.S. wildfire in a century.