Maui extends Hoʻokumu Hou rebuilding deadline

Maui County this week widened access to one of its main wildfire housing recovery programs and pushed the application deadline to the end of the year. The County Office of Recovery said on Aug. 5 that homeowners rebuilding after the 2023 Maui wildfires may newly qualify for assistance under Hoʻokumu Hou because the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development updated local income limits. The county extended the application period through Dec. 31, 2026, to give those households more time to apply. The change applies to reconstruction and reimbursement programs within Hoʻokumu Hou, according to county and program notices. ### Which Maui program changed this week? The County of Maui said the updated eligibility affects the Hoʻokumu Hou recovery program, which covers county wildfire recovery efforts funded by $1.6 billion in federal Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery money allocated by HUD for the 2023 fires. County notices said the deadline extension was made after revised Area Median Income figures increased the number of homeowners who may qualify. (mauinow.com) The county’s Aug. 5 release said the extension covers homeowners seeking help through its reconstruction and reimbursement tracks. A county news page carried the same language, saying more homeowners rebuilding from the 2023 wildfires may now qualify because of the federal income-limit update. ### How much aid is tied to the rebuilding track? The Hoʻokumu Hou Single-Family Homeowner Reconstruction Program offers up to $1.2 million for eligible homeowners to rebuild a primary residence destroyed in the 2023 Maui wildfires, according to program materials and an earlier county notice. (mauinow.com) The county has said applicants may still qualify even if they already received insurance proceeds, Federal Emergency Management Agency aid or other disaster recovery funding. (mauicounty.gov) A county fact sheet says applicants can submit materials online, through the Maui Office of Recovery mobile app or by calling the Hoʻokumu Hou Service Center. After submission, a program specialist reviews documents and determines which program the applicant qualifies for, according to the fact sheet. (hookumuhou.mauicounty.gov) ### What changed on income eligibility? HUD updates Area Median Income each year to reflect local economic conditions, Maui County said in its Aug. 5 announcement. The county said those updated limits expanded eligibility, though the release summarized in search results did not list the new thresholds in the material reviewed here. An earlier county notice and related program page had described the reconstruction program as open to households earning up to 140% of Area Median Income, with applications then scheduled to remain open through August 2026. (hookumuhou.mauicounty.gov) The new deadline supersedes that earlier closing date. ### Where does this fit in Maui’s broader recovery? Three years after the August 2023 wildfires, Maui’s recovery remains uneven. (mauicounty.gov) A travel report published this week said Maui has renovated resorts, reopened restaurants and retail areas showing new life, offering a snapshot of what has returned for visitors. (hookumuhou.mauicounty.gov) At the same time, the county has continued to use Hoʻokumu Hou as a central vehicle for federally backed recovery spending. The program website says it encompasses multiple county recovery efforts tied to the HUD disaster grant allocation. ### What should homeowners watch next? Aug. 20 is the next public date attached to the program change. Maui County said the Office of Recovery will hold an open house in Kahului to help homeowners understand the revised eligibility rules and what to expect during the rebuilding process. (mauinow.com) Dec. 31, 2026, is the new application deadline cited by the county for homeowners seeking help under the updated eligibility rules. (hookumuhou.mauicounty.gov) The county’s official program site and Office of Recovery pages carry the current notices and application information. (mauicounty.gov)