More than two years after the Aug. 8, 2023, Maui wildfires, disabled residents remain among the least recovered — still facing unstable housing, steep income losses and worsening health — according to a new report from the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization.
The study, Recovery Through a Disability Lens: Impacts of the 2023 Maui Wildfires on Disability Equity and Shared Prosperity, is the first comprehensive analysis of how the disaster affected Maui’s disabled community. Based on two large-scale surveys conducted between 2024 and 2025, the report found that people with disabilities — both those who were disabled before the fires and those who became disabled afterward — continue to face disproportionate hardship.
“Fewer than half of disabled residents have been able to move into permanent housing,” said UHERO researcher Daniela Bond-Smith, who led the study. “Disabled people are more heavily reliant on rental assistance, which is a real concern if and when federal rental assistance ends, as projected for next year, and especially so since people with disabilities have a lot less financial wiggle room.”
Bond-Smith said the economic recovery for disabled residents has been especially difficult, with many experiencing sharper declines in income and employment than others. Those who became disabled after the fires saw their median household income drop by more than half, and many have left the workforce entirely. Without targeted support, the report warns, these residents risk long-term exclusion from both employment and financial independence.
The report found that health outcomes for disabled survivors have deteriorated, even as recovery efforts continue.
“Disabled people are more likely to report that their physical and mental health continues to worsen even two years after the fires,” Bond-Smith said, adding that the study found growing barriers to health care access for disabled residents — with overall higher levels of unmet needs reported across nearly every area of recovery compared to other wildfire survivors.
She added that navigating disaster recovery programs has been especially challenging.
“Access to support has been uneven, and notably 4 in 10 people with preexisting disabilities said that they struggle to navigate recovery programs, compared to about 15% of others.”
The UHERO report further found that Hawaii’s disaster planning is outdated and lacks clear provisions for disability inclusion. Researchers described the state’s approach as fragmented, noting that unlike some other states, Hawaii has no statutory requirements addressing disability in disaster response or recovery.
The most detailed state plan for people with disabilities dates back to 2009 and has never been updated, and disability is not mentioned at all in the state’s 2019 recovery guidance.
“Inclusion during recovery mostly depends on federal civil rights law and conditions associated with federal disaster funding,” Bond-Smith said. “Maui County has started taking steps on its own. The new MEMA strategic plan includes goals for accessible and inclusive recovery, and there are plans for future guidance on disability and access needs. But as of now, we’re still waiting for those details.”
Bond-Smith emphasized that disability inclusion must be embedded throughout disaster response and rebuilding efforts.
“Disability inclusion can’t be an afterthought,” she said. “Disaster recovery plans, both at state and county levels, need to make disability equity a core principle. It can’t just be a side program.”
The report identifies two major housing barriers for the disability community: accessibility and affordability.
Bond-Smith said the report highlights both accessibility and affordability as major housing challenges for disabled residents. Many rely on informal support networks of family and friends because formal care systems are limited, making relocation difficult. Lower household incomes among people with disabilities also restrict housing options, further limiting access to stable, suitable homes.
She said solutions should include “building more housing in the first place, building more accessible housing and thinking more in terms of universal design principles — where you build housing that works for everyone.”
Bond-Smith said the concentration of health services on Oahu creates challenges for residents on Maui and other neighbor islands, especially after a disaster. Many services that were previously available in West Maui may no longer be accessible, and the limited baseline of resources on the neighbor islands presents an ongoing barrier to recovery.
The UHERO report calls for Hawaii to integrate disability inclusion into all phases of disaster management — from preparedness to long-term recovery — with measurable goals and transparent progress tracking.
“Disabled people are part of every community in Hawaii, and their recovery isn’t separate from Maui’s recovery overall. Disasters tend to disproportionately affect marginalized groups and widen existing disparities, but they’re also an opportunity to work toward the opposite — toward a more equitable and resilient future,” Bond-Smith said.
Source: The Garden Island
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