KULA, Hawaii — When sparks lit the deadliest wildfire in modern U.S. history in Lahaina, another corner of this island had been spewing smoke all night.
Hawaii
An overlooked Maui community realizes ‘no one is coming to save you’
The second inferno, which destroyed much of the treasured town of Lahaina and claimed 100 lives, quickly overshadowed the calamity in Kula. In the days and months that followed, the Upcountry fire faded from the spotlight and residents grew frustrated with a government bureaucracy stretched thin as it reacted to multiple disasters at once.
Even though the Kula fire is still burning — in root systems and buried debris, occasionally bursting into the open in terrifying flare-ups — the attention of many across the island, state and nation has ebbed, drawn to other pressing issues.
“It’s amazing how many people, even on Maui, will still come up to Kula and go, ‘Oh, my God, I had no idea,’” said Kari McCarthy, who lost her home of 40 years to the August fire.
Nearly six months later, the overlooked story of Kula shows the challenges that officials, aid organizations and residents face in the age of successive, cascading natural disasters. But Kula has also become a case study of a community’s ability to at least partly fill the breach left by overwhelmed government agencies. A dedicated group of neighbors have banded together, formed nonprofits, enlisted heavy machinery to clean up burned properties, and worked to prevent landslides on charred hillsides. And they are looking toward the future, seeking to rid the land of the invasive plants that fueled so much destruction.
Their actions, funded by donations and volunteers, could be instructive for other places — such as Lahaina, which faces a much longer road to recovery — looking to rebound from past disasters and prevent future ones.
“There’s been a mass reckoning of ‘No one is coming to save you,’” said Kyle Ellison, who founded the nonprofit Malama Kula after his family’s house nearly burned in August. “For a long time, people looked to government like it was their job to take care of everything. But the best course of action is not to go through elected officials, it’s to stand up and do it. If we want anything done, just stand up and do it.”
‘We are not going anywhere’
McCarthy and her husband moved from California to Kula in the 1980s, and their patch of land along the Pohakuokala Gulch felt safe and secluded. Their A-frame home reminded McCarthy, a painter, of Lake Tahoe.
But the fire turned her landscape from muse into miasma. Flames destroyed her home and many of her paintings. And they forced her from the place where she was still mourning her husband, who had died a year earlier, and caring for her 91-year-old mother, who has aphasia and mostly uses a wheelchair.
Even after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers cleared much of the rubble and debris — one of more than two dozen sites the engineers worked on in Kula — random wreckage still remains, impeding any rebuild and standing as a constant reminder of what was lost.
Friends and neighbors, many of whom McCarthy met only as they tried to keep the blaze at bay with garden hoses, have stepped in to help, working to clean up the spots federal contractors left behind and renovating nearby rental units where she and her mother now live.
“It really teaches you what’s important,” she said of the disaster, which has made her skeptical of the government’s capacity to lead response efforts. “But I would put the community in charge of anything.”
Ellison points to McCarthy’s property as an example of what’s missing in the U.S. approach to disaster cleanup, which typically operates in two phases: the removal of hazardous waste and the disposal of toxic debris. Ellison, a tall and animated 39-year-old who has been a fixture at community meetings, has been advocating for a third phase, which would involve cleaning up any remaining fire flotsam — burned washing machines, melted satellite dishes and tons of torched trees.
One of the community’s biggest frustrations has been the limits of the Army Corps’ removal mission, which was confined to a structure’s ash footprint. This means, Ellison said, that swaths of large properties and vacant land had yet to be cleared of burned material, leaving areas around house sites exposed to toxic debris.
Army Corps spokesperson Rick Brown said that federal guidelines determine what can be removed from a property and that the agency had cleared “all eligible debris” from the Upcountry sites.
“So there may be outlying debris on a property, but via the process and guidelines, it was deemed ineligible,” the spokesperson said. “Non-eligible debris is the responsibility of the property owner.”
Brown said insurance companies and Maui County should determine the next steps.
“If they’re ‘done,’ who comes in and cleans it all up?” Ellison asked. “I know you have to draw the line somewhere, I do understand it, but is that in the best interest of the neighborhood as a whole?”
Even the power of an engaged and organized public has its limits. Some of the uncleared sites are dangerous, Ellison said, and volunteers shouldn’t be expected to sort through arsenic-laden ash. If a homeowner’s insurance policy includes debris removal, officials said they should be able to use if for any material that still needs clearing, but not everyone has that coverage.
These issues are not abstract policy matters for Ellison, like many Kula residents. The fire burned much of the area around his family’s home and covered the house in ash. His 8-year-old son now fears the red of his night light because it reminds him of the blaze that forced the family to flee. And just last month, embers smoldering underground mere feet from Ellison’s front door burst into 12-foot flames, as if to confirm his children’s nightmares: The fire is not yet done with Kula.
In weekly community meetings, convened in the cafeteria of Kula’s elementary school, officials have sought to reassure residents that the continued cleanup will remain a priority.
“I appreciate all of the shortcomings you bring up when we come here,” Richard Bissen, Maui County’s mayor, said at a recent gathering. “We recognize those, and we can do a better job.”
Bissen said that the county will continue to work with the community long after federal agencies leave and that his team is attempting to juggle Lahaina’s nascent recovery alongside Kula’s. He said the county will help Kula residents finish clearing their lots, but he did not provide a timeline.
“Everybody’s working as hard as they can, as best as they can,” he said. “No one is forgetting to do stuff. We’re just doing something else instead of that right now. But we pledge that we are not going anywhere until that all gets cleaned up.”
While the fires in Lahaina and Kula, along with the neighboring Upcountry community of Olinda, were all triggered by winds from the same storm, the disasters are distinct. So are the recoveries.
Kula — where the population is much smaller and, on average, less diverse and more wealthy than that of Lahaina — is further along than the former capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Far fewer structures were destroyed and no one was killed. Residents will soon be able to apply for permits to begin rebuilding, a step far in the distance for most in Lahaina.
But disaster cleanup is not the only priority Upcountry. People like Ellison and the newly formed Kula Community Watershed Alliance, a group of more than 120 residents, are also using the fire as an opportunity to pursue long-sought restoration projects that would protect the town from future disasters.
Their first concern is the place they believe the Kula fire began: the yawning Pohakuokala Gulch. The region used to be one of Maui’s most diverse ecosystems, covered in koa and other native trees. But years of deforestation and the introduction of invasive species such as black wattle and eucalyptus radically changed the area around the gulch.
The wattle, introduced by federal government experiments in the late 1800s, sucked nutrients from the soil, dried up waterways and crowded out native plants that were more fire resistant. The gulch and the forest around it became a bonfire pit waiting for a spark. This was, said Sara Tekula, the watershed alliance’s executive director, the disaster before the disaster.
Now the gulch is full of burned trees and unstable soil, the alliance says, and it presents a looming risk — not only to nearby homes but also to some of the island’s most delicate ecological areas.
The edges of the gulch, still lined with houses, are eroding into the bed below, part of the Waiakoa watershed, which eventually drains into the Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge, home to important and endangered species that could be further imperiled if inundated by fire debris.
“We’re working really hard to prevent secondary disasters and to make it better than it was before the fire,” Tekula said.
The alliance — whose members include restoration ecologists, conservation experts and former national park employees — has begun turning burned and invasive trees into wood chips and spreading them over acres that would otherwise easily erode. Tekula has applied for a host of grants to fund this work, and she is urging local and federal governments to join the effort.
Officials have praised the alliance and signaled they would partner with the group going forward. The U.S. Agriculture Department has approved about $16 million in funding for environmental damage Upcountry, including nearly $3 million earmarked for erosion control along the gulch. But the program is still weeks from beginning.
“We’re just trying to keep our whole neighborhood from washing away,” Tekula said.
After natural disasters, particularly wildfires and hurricanes, residents often decide the risk of a repeat catastrophe is too great to rebuild. Some acknowledge the land was never suitable for homes in the first place. Tekula insists this is not the case in Kula. Most people plan to stay, she said, and the community now has a window — before the invasive plants return and more storms roll in — to build something more resilient.
“This is savable,” she said, standing near the burn scar. “That’s what makes it urgent.”
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I live in New York City. My 30-year-old son, Alec, lives across the country in Southern California. When I visit, I respect that he has his own busy, adult life. While I’d like nothing more than to spend every minute with him, I’m proud of his independence and try not to monopolize his time.
Alec has a roommate and no space for an overnight guest. When I’m on his home turf, I stay in a hotel or with a friend.
When he comes to NYC for the holidays, his schedule is packed. Plus, with the entire family under one roof, it can be tough to carve out one-on-one time.
I don’t feel shut out of Alec’s life, but I do miss spending quality time with him, so I floated the idea of a mother-son vacation.
He set a few ground rules before we started planning
Alec was vocal that for our getaway to work, we’d need to approach it as equals. This may sound deceptively simple, but it took lots of self-control on my part.
Little kids and I pair like milk and cookies. I did my graduate studies in early childhood education and taught preschool for years. Parenting young kids is never easy, but it felt instinctive. It grew harder as my children grew older.
Alec is my firstborn, and my parental grip was tightest around him. When he was a teenager, he told me I didn’t understand that teens needed autonomy. At the time, he was correct, but over the years, I’ve worked hard to pacify my bossy instincts.
This time, I would welcome his voice in planning our vacation.
Alec brought up another rule: that part of being equal should include sharing expenses. I gifted Alec his airline ticket using miles, and we split additional expenses.
Choosing a destination
Alec had four days off work over Memorial Day Weekend. I advocated for a location that wasn’t too hot, as I had suffered a bout of heatstroke in Greece last summer. A yoga class nearby would be a bonus.
Alec made a case for Hawaii. He’d never been, but its laidback reputation appealed to him. He said he wanted to destress at a resort and eat poke every day.
Hawaii is special to me. I first visited when I was a kid, spending a summer at my aunt and uncle’s home in Waianae on Oahu. The idea of sharing Hawaii with Alec was exciting.
From a practical point of view, Hawaii made sense. There are numerous nonstop flights from LAX, Alec’s home airport. I was going to be in Denver for work, so I was already heading in a westerly direction.
Courtesy of Allison Tibaldi
Each of the Hawaiian Islands has its own flavor. We had lots of options and weren’t quite sure how to narrow them down.
Alec is a fan of the television cooking show “Top Chef.” During his online research, he learned that former contestant Sheldon Simeon was scheduled to be the visiting chef at the Ritz-Carlton O’ahu, Turtle Bay on the island’s North Shore on the Saturday night of our trip.
The Hawaiian-born chef would be preparing a multi-course dinner using island-grown ingredients. I’m all about exploring local culture through food, so it seemed like a jackpot for both of us.
After we booked the dinner, we figured it made sense to stay at the Ritz-Carlton.
Balancing time together and separately was key
Another boundary we set for our vacation was balancing time together with time apart.
Each morning, Alec surfed, and I swam laps in the pool. I signed up for a lei-making workshop while he attended a tennis clinic.
In a perfect world, we would have reserved individual rooms; however, we shared a room for economic reasons.
We were still able to maintain boundaries and give each other privacy as our room had a comfortable ocean-view patio, perfect for reading and relaxing.
Meaningful conversations are what stand out
Time together sparked the meaningful conversations and connection I had longed for.
On May 24, I mentioned that it was my beloved dad’s heavenly birthday. Alec shared tender memories of his grandpa and told me that my dad had been a father figure for him, too, teaching him lessons that continue to impact his life. It made me teary.
We also had an intelligent discussion on income inequality. Alec overheard a group of vacationing doctors and a group of vacationing teachers chatting in the Jacuzzi. He said the doctors worked very long hours without complaint, while the teachers complained nonstop about their overwhelming workload. This led to a conversation between Alec and me about teachers being underpaid and undervalued.
As a former teacher, I found that my son’s thinking about socio-economic issues that hit so close to home really resonated with me.
Our mother-son vacation brought us closer
Our mother-son vacation was a success. Alec ate plenty of poke. I got to practice yoga. Together, we swam in the Pacific, walked trails surrounded by gardenias, and enjoyed a delectable Hawaiian dinner.
As much as I loved our activities, it’s the memories of our personal and poignant conversations that are etched in my heart.
I can’t wait to travel with Alec again.
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A state senator is challenging the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ (DLNR) decision to extend the deadline for the Puuhonua O Waianae (POW) encampment at Waianae Boat Harbor.
It comes as state and community leaders continue efforts to relocate residents to a permanent site.
The deadline was originally set for the end of June and has been pushed to Oct. 16.
State Sen. Samantha DeCorte said the extension marks the third delay in the relocation process since the original notice to vacate was issued last year. The initial deadline was Nov. 27, 2025, followed by extensions to April 30 and June 25 before the most recent extension.
DeCorte criticized the repeated delays during a press conference on Saturday.
“We are calling on DLNR Acting Chair Ryan Kanakaole, members of Puuhonua O Waianae, and the governor’s office to do what they said they would do. Complete the transition, honor the commitment, and bring this process to a close. After 20 years, another extension is not the solution,” DeCorte said.
She added concerns remain around public safety near the harbor, including reports of vandalism involving fishing equipment and conditions she says affect families and students traveling through the area.
“Fishermen have dealt with vandalism (and) theft of their equipment. Public safety concerns have persisted, and kids have to walk past unsafe conditions just to get to school.”
DLNR said the extension is intended to provide additional time for the relocation of the POW community to a nearly 20-acre site in Waianae Valley, while construction continues at the mauka housing development.
Kanakaole said in an email sent to DeCorte Friday that POW requested a deadline extension to vacate by the end of November, and the department, along with the governor’s office, reached an agreement on the October move-out deadline.
“DLNR, POW, and the Governor’s Office worked through what remains to be completed and established a reasonable timeline tied to actual relocation, cleanup, and closure activities and to provide for the most orderly and voluntary transition, which will ultimately lead to a solution that will last,” Kanakaole’s email said in part.
He added that more than 100 people remain at the site and POW leaders said that number should substantially reduce over the next several weeks, “potentially by nearly half within the next month.”
Read Kanakaole’s full email to DeCorte here.
The agency said it is coordinating with community leaders to ensure residents can relocate safely and to support cleanup and transition efforts at the harbor.
The relocation site has been part of a long-term plan tied to the late community leader Twinkle Borge, who envisioned moving families from the harbor into permanent housing.
Community leaders with Puuhonua O Waianae said the process remains complex and cannot be completed immediately.
Kala Paishon, a community leader with the encampment, said some residents are still unable to move because housing units at the new site are not yet complete. He also said limited transportation and volunteer support make moving difficult for some families.
“We do have some people that volunteer their time to help our people move. We’re limited on our vehicles, but we do what we got to do to move the people up there,” Paishon said.
He added that many residents have deep ties to the harbor after years of living there.
“Some people have been here 10-plus years,” Paishon said. “This is the memory they have, and this is where they felt like home.”
Paishon also said crews are working to gradually transition residents while maintaining cleanup efforts at the site.
“We’re making sure everybody moves up there safely… at the same time, we’re still cleaning up our opala down here.”
DLNR said it continues to work with community leaders and the governor’s office to move the relocation process forward in the coming months.
Copyright 2026 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
Hawaii
Office of Hawaiian Affairs Responds to Senate Bill Involving Pōhakuloa – Big Island Video News
(BIVN) – The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) says it is in alignment with provisions in the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act dealing with military-leased lands in Hawaiʻi, including the Pōhakuloa Training Area.
In a news release, OHA said it is encouraged by the bill’s “clear movement away from condemnation and toward negotiated solutions” for the approximately 19,700 acres of state lands at Pōhakuloa, and 450 acres at Kahuku. “The process outlined is consistent with OHA’s long-standing position opposing condemnation – whether forcible or ‘friendly’ – and insisting that lands held in public trust remain in the public trust and continue benefiting Native Hawaiians and future generations of Hawaiʻi’s people.”
The U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee recently passed the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA. The bill is expected to advance to the full United States Senate for consideration by the end of July 2026, OHA says.
In a June 12th news release, U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono (D, Hawaiʻi) said she voted against the NDAA. Hirono is a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and Ranking Member of the Readiness and Management Support Subcommittee.
“I’m proud to have secured numerous provisions in the Senate’s FY27 NDAA that invest in military readiness, Hawaii, the Indo-Pacific Region, and our servicemembers and their families, while also holding the Army accountable on the military training land lease negotiations,” Hirono stated at the time. “However, I could not in good conscience vote to advance a bill that paves the way for an up to 40% increase in year-over-year Department of Defense spending, especially as this administration wages an illegal war in Iran with no plan or end in sight.”
Hirono said the bill “directs the Secretary of the Army to seek from the State of Hawaii, on terms acceptable to both the Army and the State, a renewal of expiring training land leases. As part of this, requires the Army to expeditiously resubmit their Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) for the leased lands and address deficiencies identified by the Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources.”
OHA noted Section 2864 of the NDAA also requires a report to Congress on the steps and proposals taken to advance lease renewals, within 60 days from the NDAA’s enactment.
“The Senate Armed Services Committee’s action reflects meaningful progress in acknowledging Hawaiʻi’s unique legal and cultural context,” stated OHA chair Kaialiʻi Kahele. “The removal of condemnation as an option and the requirement for renewed environmental review are consistent with what OHA has long advocated – that these lands must not be permanently alienated and that Hawaiʻi’s concerns must be fully addressed in good faith. Congress appears willing to respect Hawaiʻi’s laws and institutions. The opportunity before us now is to fully embrace the responsibilities and authorities those laws entrust to us. OHA will continue to ensure Native Hawaiian rights and public trust responsibilities remain central to any future decisions.”
OHA has been holding high-level meetings in Washington, D.C. concerning the military lease renewals.
OHA says it is also actively moving forward with a comprehensive Ka Paʻakai Analysis for Pōhakuloa Training Area. “The Board of Trustees has already approved a Permitted Interaction Group allocation of $60,000 to support this work, and OHA is finalizing a memorandum of understanding with DLNR to complete the work,” the Office stated. The analysis “will help create a more complete record of the cultural, historical, and community connections to these lands, providing decision makers with information necessary to evaluate potential impacts, identify appropriate protections, and fulfill their responsibilities under Hawaiʻi law.”
From the OHA news release:
OHA also notes that the NDAA contemplates the pursuit of future lease arrangements pursuant to Section 2667 of Title 10, United States Code. As discussions continue regarding potential lease terms, community benefit commitments, land-back and lease-back models, and other components of any future agreement, OHA believes those arrangements must remain consistent with Hawaiʻi’s environmental laws and public trust obligations. Any benefits derived from renewed use of these lands should reinforce the purposes of the public trust, protect traditional and customary Native Hawaiian practices, honor the history and significance of these lands, and preserve the value they were intended to provide for Native Hawaiian beneficiaries and future generations of Hawaiʻi’s people.
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