Maui fires – latest: California woman named as first tourist among victims as Hawaii asks more families for DNA

A California woman has become the first tourist known to have died in the devastating Maui wildfires that have killed 115 people.

Maui County officials named 72-year-old Theresa Cook among the eight more people identified as victims this week.

The total number of identified victims stands at 21, while the unconfirmed list of missing people has risen to 1,100 names, two weeks after a deadly blaze ripped through the historic Hawaiian town of Lahaina.

Authorities have confirmed 115 deaths following the deadliest wildfire in more than a century in the United States.

They also pleaded with relatives of those missing to come forward and give DNA samples, saying the low number provided so far threatens to hinder efforts to identify any remains discovered in the ashes.

President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden met with first responders and survivors on Monday and promised that the federal government would be with them “for as long as it takes” to rebuild the community.

Survivors were also voicing fears of a potential wave of land grabs by realtors and investors that could push Hawaiian locals from the island.

Key points

• California woman identified as victim of Hawaii fires

• Biden tells Hawaii that the US ‘grieves with you’ as he surveys Maui wildfire devastation

• How did Maui wildfires start?

• Maui officials say 100 per cent of residential properties searched

• Biden appoints new FEMA administrator to Maui

Watch: Maui locals flee into ocean to escape Hawaii wildfires

06:11 , Louise Boyle

California woman identified as victim of Hawaii fires

05:54 , Stuti Mishra

A California woman has become the first tourist known to have died in the devastating Maui wildfires that have killed 115 people.

Maui County officials named 72-year-old Theresa Cook among the eight more people identified as victims this week.

Read more:

California woman becomes first tourist identified among 116 victims of Maui wildfire

GOP under fire for trying to make news out of Biden petting a dog in Hawaii

05:05 , Louise Boyle

After a Republican National Committee social media account tried to make a big deal out of President Joe Biden petting a dog during his Hawaii visit, the White House bit back.

On Monday, RNC Research tweeted: “Biden gets distracted by a dog: “That’s some hot ground, man!” The tweet was posted alongside a video of the president petting a golden retriever while talking to a FEMA worker in Hawaii amid the fatal wildfires.

In response, White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates called out the Republican account in defence of Mr Biden, writing: “He’s petting one of the dogs that’s working hard searching for remains so survivors who’ve lost loved ones can have closure.”

Kelly Rissman reports.

GOP under fire for trying to make news out of Biden petting a dog in Hawaii

How did the Hawaii wildfires start?

04:00 , Louise Boyle

At least 115 people are dead and hundreds are still missing after deadly wildfires raged through the Hawaiian island of Maui.

The fires, the deadliest in the US in the last century, erupted on three of Hawaii’s islands forcing visitors to flee and residents to seek emergency shelter.

Photos and videos from Maui show the destruction the fires have caused, with some neighbourhoods including the historic town of Lahaina, nearly burned to ash.

Search and recovery efforts then began as firefighters worked to contain and put out the fires.

On 21 August, President Joe Biden travelled to the Hawaiian island to meet with first responders and survivors as the state begins efforts to rebuild in the wake of the disaster.But a frenzy of questions still remain about how the fires started in the first place and how disasters like this can be prevented in the future.

Here’s everything we know about how the Hawaii wildfires started.

Read more

How did the Hawaii wildfires start?

Biden tells Hawaii that the US ‘grieves with you’ as he surveys Maui wildfire devastation

03:05 , Louise Boyle

Joe Biden told Hawaii that the rest of the United States “grieves with you” as he and the first lady surveyed the devastation of the Maui wildfires earlier this week.

Mr Biden, who has been criticised for his administration’s response to the historic blaze, met with first responders in Lahaina before making remarks next to the famed and still-standing banyan tree.

“The country grieves with you, stands with you and will help do everything to help you rebuild,” the president said.

Read more

Biden tells Hawaii that the US ‘grieves with you’ as he surveys Maui devastation

Watch: Warnings over Maui relief donation scams

02:06 , Louise Boyle

Maui’s wildfire victims: First IDs released after Hawaii disaster

01:08 , Louise Boyle

Raging wildfires in Maui have left at least 106 people dead and thousands of others missing after they were forced to flee their homes.

“We are heartsick that we’ve had such loss,” Hawaii governor Josh Green said during a news conference on Tuesday.

Mr Green said he expects the death toll to rise every day as recovery teams and cadaver dogs search the burned area in Lahaina on Maui. Despite the number of deaths increasing, only a few of the 111 have been identified.

Part of this reason is due to the state that many bodies were found in after the blazing wildfires moved quickly through Lahania.

A mobile morgue unit arrived to help Hawaii officials identify the remains as teams continued to search for more in neighbourhoods that were reduced to ash.

Mr Green asked people who are missing loved ones to submit their DNA to help them identify the victims.Read more

Who are the Maui wildfire victims?

Pictured: The aftermath of a devastating wildfire in Lahaina, Hawaii

Thursday 24 August 2023 00:05 , Louise Boyle

Maui residents are still reeling from wildfire devastation. Now investors and realtors are trying to cash in

Wednesday 23 August 2023 23:03 , Louise Boyle

Just days after fast-moving wildfires broke out in Maui, Hawaii, residents were heartbroken to see the remainder of their homes, businesses and lives turned to ash.

Thousands are without shelter and their possessions, as nearly 80 per cent of structures in the town of Lahaina have been damaged or completely destroyed.

Even worse are the scores of people forced to mourn the untimely loss of loved ones who were unable to escape the blazes before they engulfed neighbourhoods.

But the same people who are trying to grapple with the immense loss and figure out how to move forward, are reportedly being forced to defend what they have left of their land and grief as investors and realtors try to captalise on the disaster.

“I am so frustrated with inventors and realtors calling the families who lost their home offering to buy their land,” Lahaina resident Tiare Lawrence said in a video on Kāko’o Haleakalā.Read more

Days after wildfires ravaged Maui, investors and realtors try to take advantage

Watch: Maui residents grapple with wildfire devastation

Wednesday 23 August 2023 22:04 , Louise Boyle

FEMA website set up to debunk Maui wildfire conspiracy theories

Wednesday 23 August 2023 21:30 , Louise Boyle

The US government’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has established a website to help fight conspiracy theories in the wake of Maui’s wildfires.

“Help keep yourself, your family and your community safe after the Hawaii wildfires by being aware of rumors and scams and sharing official information from trusted sources,” it reads.

Misinformation has proliferated since the disaster including that the blazes were started by a “directed energy weapon”.

FEMA has previously created these websites to counteract myths including in the wake of 2017’s Hurricane Harvey in Texas.

Pictured: Hawaiian workers craft lei

Wednesday 23 August 2023 21:02 , Louise Boyle

In deadly Maui fires, many had no warning and no way out. Those who dodged barricades survived

Wednesday 23 August 2023 20:28 , Louise Boyle

As flames tore through a West Maui neighborhood, car after car of fleeing residents headed for the only paved road out of town in a desperate race for safety.

And car after car was turned back toward the rapidly spreading wildfire by a barricade blocking access to Highway 30.

One family swerved around the barricade and was safe in a nearby town 48 minutes later, another drove their 4-wheel-drive car down a dirt road to escape.

One man took an dirt road uphill, climbing above the fire and watching as Lahaina burned. He later picked his way through the flames, smoke and rubble to pull survivors to safety.Read more at The Associated Press

Watch: Joe Biden comments on how ‘hot the ground is' while touring Maui wildfire devastation

Wednesday 23 August 2023 20:02 , Louise Boyle

Hawaii officials urge families of people missing after deadly fires to give DNA samples

Wednesday 23 August 2023 19:37 , Louise Boyle

Authorities in Hawaii pleaded on Tuesday with relatives of those missing after the deadliest US wildfire in more than a century to come forward and give DNA samples, saying the low number provided so far threatens to hinder efforts to identify any remains discovered in the ashes.

Some 1,000 to 1,100 names remain on the FBI’s tentative, unconfirmed list of people unaccounted for after wildfires destroyed the historic seaside community of Lahaina on Maui. But the family assistance center so far has collected DNA from just 104 families, said Julie French, who is helping lead efforts to identify remains by DNA analysis.

Maui Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Martin, who is running the center, said that the number of family members coming in to provide DNA samples is “a lot lower” than in other major disasters around the country, though it wasn’t immediately clear why.

“That’s our concern, that’s why I’m here today, that’s why I’m asking for this help,” he said.

Read more

Hawaii officials urge families of people missing after deadly fires to give DNA samples

Video of Joe Biden ‘sleeping’ in Maui is false, reports say

Wednesday 23 August 2023 19:00 , Ariana Baio

Across Twitter, several right-wing people have shared a video of President Joe Biden visiting Maui and, appearing to, fall asleep while listening to a speech.

The video, slightly out of focus, shows Mr Biden with his head down appearing to have his eyes closed.

But NBC News, PolitiFact and Newsweek all fact-checked the video saying Mr Biden did not fall asleep but just put his head down for approximately 10 seconds.

A high-resolution version of the video from CSPAN shows Mr Biden looking down while listening to the speaker and nodding in agreement. His eyes are open the entire time.

Few DNA samples make it difficult to identify victims

Wednesday 23 August 2023 18:45 , Ariana Baio

As of Wednesday morning, only 104 families have submitted DNA samples to Maui officials, which makes identifying victims much harder to process.

“The number of family members who are coming in to provide DNA samples is a lot lower than they’ve seen in other disasters,” Maui County prosecuting attorney Andrew Martin told CBS.

Officials, including the mayor and governor have called on people who are missing family members to submit their DNA to help match people.

Watch: Joe Biden comments on how 'hot ground' is while touring Maui wildfire devastation

Wednesday 23 August 2023 18:00 , Ariana Baio

Police says final searches of multi-layer structures is underway

Wednesday 23 August 2023 17:45 , Ariana Baio

In a news conference on Tuesday, Maui police chief John Pelletier said officials were conducting searches in the “final division” of multi-level structures in Lahaina.

Pointing to a map, Mr Pelletier said, “Baker Hill, Sugar and Front are the final divisions, if you will, of multi-level structures.”

Teams are going into the structures starting from the top floor and working their way down to find victims of the wildfires that devastated the area on 8 August.

Maui residents who disobeyed barricades survived fire

Wednesday 23 August 2023 17:00 , Ariana Baio

Before the Maui wildfires ravaged the town, officials closed Lahaina Bypass Road due to the fires – but one family is claiming that the road was one of the only ways out of the burning town.

Nate Baird and Courtney Stapleton told The Associated Press that they took their sons, Mr Baird’s mother and their dog to escape the fire on 8 August and reached the road where officials told them to turn around.

However, behind them, the town of Lahaina was already completely on fire.

Mr Baird and Ms Stapleton chose to ignore the warning and bypassed the cones escaping to a neighbouring town.

“Nobody realized how little time we really had,” Mr Baird said. “Like even us being from the heart of the fire, we did not comprehend. Like we literally had minutes and one wrong turn. We would all be dead right now.”

Several reports indicated those who used Front Street to try and escape the flames ended up in gridlock.

Maui Police Chief John Pelletier said during a news conference that officers never stopped people from leaving the area.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Wednesday 23 August 2023 16:25 , Ariana Baio

The chief of the Maui Police Department said that, realistically, not all of the people who died in the Maui wildfires will be able to be confirmed deaths in a news conference on Tuesday.

“When this is all said and done, realistically, let’s be honest here, we’re going to have a number of confirmed and we’re going to have a number of presumed,” Mr Pelletier said.

John Pelletier said that officials are still working to search every single building in Lahaina for those who died but requested public patience while they do so.

“I’ve said it before, I’m not going to stop saying it, we are going to do this right,” Mr Pelletier said. “We are not going to do it fast, we’re not going to be in a rush to judgment. We’ve got one chance.”

Officials have to be careful while searching for victims to ensure they don’t hurt themselves and can preserve the state of bodies as best as possible.

Who are the victims of the Maui wildfires?

Wednesday 23 August 2023 15:45 , Ariana Baio

More victims of the Maui wildfires are expected to publicly identified in the coming days as officials use DNA to match survivors and family members to those who have died.

Who are the Maui wildfire victims?

Maui residents are still reeling from wildfire devastation. Now investors and relators are trying to cash in

Wednesday 23 August 2023 15:00 , Ariana Baio

Just days after fast-moving wildfires broke out in Maui, Hawaii, residents were heartbroken to see the remainder of their homes, businesses and lives turned to ash.

Thousands are without shelter and their possessions, as nearly 80 per cent of structures in the town of Lahaina have been damaged or completely destroyed.

Even worse are the scores of people forced to mourn the untimely loss of loved ones who were unable to escape the blazes before they engulfed neighbourhoods.

But the same people who are trying to grapple with the immense loss and figure out how to move forward, are reportedly being forced to defend what they have left of their land and grief as investors and relators try to captalise on the disaster.

Ariana Baio reports:

Days after wildfires ravaged Maui, investors and realtors try to take advantage

Eight more victim identified from Maui wildfires

Wednesday 23 August 2023 14:30 , Ariana Baio

Officials in the County of Maui have identified eight more victims who were killed in the wildfires that broke out on 8 August.

Those people include Clyde Wakida, 74, Todd Yamafuji, 68, Antonia Molina, 64, Freeman Tam Lung, 59, Theresa Cook, 72, Joseph Schilling, 67, Narcios Baylosis Jr, 67, and Vanessa Baylosis, 67.

All of the victims were from Lahaina.

GOP criticised for trying to make news out of Biden petting a dog in Hawaii

Wednesday 23 August 2023 14:00 , Ariana Baio

After a Republican National Committee social media account tried to make a big deal out of President Joe Biden petting a dog during his Hawaii visit, the White House bit back.

On Monday, RNC Research tweeted: “Biden gets distracted by a dog: “That’s some hot ground, man!” The tweet was posted alongside a video of the president petting a golden retriever while talking to a FEMA worker in Hawaii amid the fatal wildfires.

In response, White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates called out the Republican account in defence of Mr Biden, writing: “He’s petting one of the dogs that’s working hard searching for remains so survivors who’ve lost loved ones can have closure.”

“This criticism is classless and stupid,” Mr Bates added.

FBI ask those submitting missing persons reports to follow-up

Wednesday 23 August 2023 13:30 , Ariana Baio

After the number of missing people in Maui rose to over 1,000, the FBI based on Honolulu are asking those who submitted complaints to follow up with authorities.

“If you have already submitted complaints to the Maui Police Department about a missing person, or to the FBI, or anyone else, please follow back up to ensure that they have the most up-to-date and accurate information, including dates of birth, what they look like, who they’re related to, further contact information,” Steven Merrill, the FBI Special Agent in charge, said.

Speaking with Maui survivors, Biden likens wildfires to almost losing his Corvette in small blaze at his home

Wednesday 23 August 2023 13:00 , Ariana Baio

President Joe Biden drew criticism after tried to empathise with survivors of the Maui wildfires on Monday by sharing his own story of overcoming a small house fire where, luckily, nobody was hurt and nothing of considerable value was lost.

At the Lahaina Civic Center, Mr Biden addressed a crowd of residents who are still reeling from a raging wildfire that spread across their community on 8 August – causing at least 115 people to die and 80 per cent of the town’s structures to be damaged or destroyed.

“I don’t want to compare difficulties, but we have a little sense, Jill and I, what it’s like to lose a home,” Mr Biden told the crowd.

Speaking with Maui survivors, Biden likens wildfires to a small kitchen blaze

Number of missing rises to 1,100

Wednesday 23 August 2023 12:49 , Rachel Sharp

The number of people still missing in the Maui wildfires has now risen to 1,100 – more than two weeks after a deadly blaze tore through the historic town of Lahaina.

Maui County officials announced on Tuesday that between 1,000 and 1,100 remain unaccounted for while 1,400 have been located.

At the weekend, Maui Mayor Richard Bissen said around 850 people were still missing.

Steven Merrill, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Honolulu field office, said on Tuesday: “Every day the numbers will change.

“That being said, the number that we’re most concerned about is, obviously, trying to clear people from the list. And that has reliably gone down every day.”

How to help victims of Hawaii wildfires

Wednesday 23 August 2023 12:00 , Ariana Baio

Thousands of Hawaii citizens have been displaced following wildfires that devastated the historic town of Lahaina in Maui.

Hawaii’s governor Josh Green has estimated that billions of dollars will be needed to fully recover.

Here is a list of resources to help those impacted by the natural disaster.

How to help victims of Hawaii wildfires

Concerns over ‘climate gentrification’ rise after devastating Maui fires

Wednesday 23 August 2023 11:00 , Ariana Baio

More than 3,000 buildings in Lahaina were damaged by fire, smoke or both. Insured property losses alone already total some $3.2 billion, according to Karen Clark & Company, a prominent disaster and risk modeling firm.

With a housing crisis that has priced out many Native Hawaiians as well as families that have been there for decades, concerns are rising that the state could become the latest example of “climate gentrification,” when it becomes harder for local people to afford housing in safer areas after a climate-amped disaster.

Jennifer Gray Thompson is CEO of After the Fire USA, a wildfire recovery and resiliency organization in the western U.S., and worked for Sonoma County during the destructive Tubbs Fire in October 2017. Thompson said Maui is one of the “scariest opportunities for gentrification” that she’s seen because of “the very high land values and the intense level of trauma and the people who are unscrupulous who will come in to try to take advantage of that.”

Thompson predicted potential developers and investors will research who has mortgages and said Maui residents should expect cold calls. “You won’t be able to go to a grocery store without a flyer attached to your car,” she said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

Nearly 2000 residents taking shelter at various hotels

Wednesday 23 August 2023 10:00 , Ariana Baio

More than 1,9000 Maui residents are currently sheltering at several different hotels around Maui.

Those hotels include the Hyatt Regency Maui, Outrigger Kaʻanapali Beach Resort, Royal Lahaina, Honua Kai Outrigger, Maui Seaside Hotel and the Westin Maui.

Maui guest interrupts Steve Bannon broadcast to rail against politicisation of wildfire coverage

Wednesday 23 August 2023 09:00 , Ariana Baio

Steve Bannon’s War Room podcast had an unexpected guest show up mid-broadcast when the former Trump aide’s interview subject was confronted by a Maui resident who accused him of politically exploiting the island’s wildfires.

Nick Sortor, an independent journalist who has been featured on Fox News, Newsmax and OAN, has been covering the Maui wildfires. While talking to Bannon, he was interrupted by a man who popped up behind him on camera.

Kelly Rissman reports:

Maui guest interrupts Steve Bannon show over politicisation of fires

Officials take preventative measures over toxins spreading to ocean

Wednesday 23 August 2023 07:00 , Ariana Baio

Officials in Maui are preparing for mudslides or possibly flooding as remnants of tropical cyclone Fernanda is expected to hit parts of Hawaii.

The National Weather Service predicted parts of Maui could receive one to three inches and warned residents to be aware of flooding as burned land can not soak up rainwater.

But another issue is the potential of toxins, released from houses and businesses burning down, running off into the ocean.

Federal and local officials said they were trying to prevent the toxins from spilling into the ocean by using a glue-like material to bind ash and debris.

Fences will be built near the coast and hay bales will be placed near storm drains to reduce the spread of pollution as well.

Biden tells Hawaii that the US ‘grieves with you’ as he surveys Maui wildfire devastation

Wednesday 23 August 2023 05:00 , Ariana Baio

Joe Biden told Hawaii that the rest of the United States “grieves with you” as he and the first lady surveyed the devastation of the Maui wildfires.

Mr Biden, who has been criticised for his administration’s response to the historic blaze, met with first responders in Lahaina before making remarks next to the famed and still-standing banyan tree.

“The country grieves with you, stands with you and will help do everything to help you rebuild,” the president said.

Graeme Massie reports:

Biden tells Hawaii that the US ‘grieves with you’ as he surveys Maui devastation

Maui’s wildfire victims in full

Wednesday 23 August 2023 03:00 , Ariana Baio

Who are the Maui wildfire victims?

ICYMI: Mayor of Maui says 850 people are still missing

Wednesday 23 August 2023 01:00 , Ariana Baio

Nearly two weeks after fast-moving wildfires engulfed several neighbourhoods in Maui, there are still 850 people missing.

Richard Bissen, the mayor of Maui, said in a Facebook video post that officials in the American Red Cross, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) based in Honolulu and Maui Police Department have combined and refined a list of names of the missing individuals.

The number is a decline from the 2,000+ names it contained when the search for missing residents first began last week.

Mr Bissen said he was both “saddened and relieved” about the numbers, saying that over 1,287 people have been located safe.

Of the original missing list, 11t have been declared deceased as of Monday morning, with most of those identifications pending.

Pictured: Aftermath of Lahaina fires seen from the sky

Wednesday 23 August 2023 20:42 , Louise Boyle

Online posts spread misinformation about FEMA aid following Maui wildfires

Wednesday 23 August 2023 00:00 , Ariana Baio

In the aftermath of the deadly Maui wildfires, some social media users are discouraging residents from accepting disaster aid by falsely claiming the Federal Emergency Management Agency could seize their property if they do.

“If you own land in Lahaina, do not sign anything for FEMA,” a woman says on a video circulating widely on social media. “That is why they’re holding back all of the donations and saying, Hey, you want food come sign this?”

But disaster recovery experts and lawyers stress accepting aid doesn’t give FEMA any such powers to take private lands and that the posts are misrepresenting federal law. Here are the facts.

CLAIM: FEMA can seize the private property of any Maui resident that signs up for disaster assistance.

THE FACTS: The federal agency says the claims are “absolutely false” and encourages Hawaiians to visit a website it launched recently to address rumors and frequently asked questions in the aftermath of the fires, which have claimed more than 100 lives.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

Watch: Biden visits Maui to survey destruction from devastating wildfires

Tuesday 22 August 2023 23:00 , Ariana Baio

GOP under fire for trying to make news out of Biden petting a dog in Hawaii

Tuesday 22 August 2023 22:30 , Ariana Baio

After a Republican National Committee social media account tried to make a big deal out of President Joe Biden petting a dog during his Hawaii visit, the White House bit back.

On Monday, RNC Research tweeted: “Biden gets distracted by a dog: “That’s some hot ground, man!” The tweet was posted alongside a video of the president petting a golden retriever while talking to a FEMA worker in Hawaii amid the fatal wildfires.

Kelly Rissman reports:

GOP under fire for trying to make news out of Biden petting a dog in Hawaii

Over 1800 Lahaina customers still without power

Tuesday 22 August 2023 22:00 , Ariana Baio

The County of Maui said that over 1,800 customers in Lahaina were still without power as of Monday evening.

Hawaiian Electric crew were working to restore “critical circuits” in West Maui that served essential locations like grocery stores, pharmacies and a wastewater pumping facility.

“Once that circuit is restored, coordination between county response teams, individual businesses and private properties will determine next steps toward respective reopening at these commercial facilities,” the County said.

Maui residents are still reeling from wildfire devastation. Now investors and relators are trying to cash in

Tuesday 22 August 2023 21:30 , Ariana Baio

Days after wildfires ravaged Maui, investors and relators tried to take advantage of residents striking fear that towns will lose its history and roots.

Ariana Baio reports:

Days after wildfires ravaged Maui, investors and relators try to take advantage

Biden compares Maui wildfires to a kitchen fire he experienced

Tuesday 22 August 2023 21:00 , Ariana Baio

President Joe Biden tried to empathise with survivors of the Maui wildfires on Monday by sharing his own story of overcoming a small house fire where, luckily, nobody was hurt and nothing of considerable value was burned.

At the Lahaina Civic Center, Mr Biden addressed a crowd of residents who are still reeling from a raging wildfire that spread across their community on 8 August.

“I don’t want to compare difficulties but we have a little sense, Jill and I, what it’s like to lose a home,” Mr Biden told the crowd.

The President went on to share a story from 2004 when lightning struck a wire that ran underneath his home and caused a “small fire that was contained to the kitchen” according to an Associated Press report.

“To make a long story short, I almost lost my wife, my ‘67 Corvette and my cat,” Mr Biden said.

The President then clarified he was “kidding” and praised firefighters for their brave work to save his family during the 2004 kitchen fire.

“We were insured, we did not have any problem, but being out of our home for a better part of a year was difficult. I can only imagine what it’s like to lose your home completely. Burned to the ground. And more importantly, all the things that matter to you,” Mr Biden continued.

Watch: Biden pets emergency response dog in Maui

Tuesday 22 August 2023 20:30 , Ariana Baio

Maui mother holds 15th memorial birthday party for son who died in wildfires

Tuesday 22 August 2023 20:00 , Ariana Baio

Among the 114 victims of the devastating wildfires in Maui is Kenyero Fuentes, whose family was getting ready to celebrate his birthday before the fire engulfed his home.

Fuentes was relaxing at his family’s home with their dog in Lahaina on 8 August. He was getting ready for classes to start at Lahainaluna High School the next day, his mother, Luz Vargas, told NPR.

Maui mother holds 15th memorial birthday party for son who died in wildfires

FEMA numbers to date

Tuesday 22 August 2023 19:30 , Ariana Baio

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved about $8 million in aid to nearly 2,000 households in Hawaii.

They have also made $3.6 million in rental assistance available to households.

The agency has also made more than 50,000 meals available and some 75,000 liters of water.

More than 1,000 FEMA officials are on the ground in Hawaii to assist in recovery efforts.

Voices: How Biden’s response to Hawaii wildfire disaster went so wrong

Tuesday 22 August 2023 19:00 , Ariana Baio

“An off-hand remark has landed the president in trouble – but occupants of the White House need to remember that they are always in the spotlight”

John Bowden writes:

How Biden’s response to Hawaii wildfire disaster went so wrong

PGA will play opening event in Maui

Tuesday 22 August 2023 18:30 , Ariana Baio

Jay Monahan, the Professional Golf Association (PGA) commissioner said they plan to host their season-opening event in Maui, despite the wildfires.

In a press conference on Tuesday, Mr Monahan said he hopes the PGA golf tour can be a “source of inspiration for the great people of Maui and Lahaina.”

The event, called The Sentry, is slated to happen in January, leaving some time for officials and residents to begin clean-up and rebuilding efforts.

When Mr Monahan was asked, on Tuesday, about hosting the event in Maui, he said “absolutely” would still host the event there.

“But I think at this point there’s so many unknowns, and we want to be respectful of the challenges. We want to help be a part of the revitalization. There are a lot of considerations. We’re committed, you know, if we’re allowed to, if we’re invited, if we’re embraced, given all that needs to be accomplished, we will be there 100 per cent,” Mr Monahan added.

In Photos: Biden’s trip to Hawaii

Tuesday 22 August 2023 18:00 , Ariana Baio

Hawaii governor thanks Joe Biden for visit to Hawaii

Tuesday 22 August 2023 17:30 , Ariana Baio

Hawaii Governor Josh Green posted on Twitter, thanking President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden for visiting Maui to survey the damage caused by fast-moving wildfires.

“Jaime and I want to deeply thank President Biden and Dr Jill Biden for their unwavering commitment of support to the people of Lāhainā as they heal and recover from the largest tragedy our state has ever experienced,” Mr Green wrote in a post.

He continued: “Hawai`i and the world will rally around the community of Lāhainā, and we will rise from this together - hand in hand.”