Maui fire survivors to receive more than expected from $4B settlement

News admin June 9, 2026 0 Comments

Maui fire survivors to receive more than expected from $4B settlement

WAILUKU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Survivors of the 2023 Maui fire disaster will receive more money from the $4 billion settlement than initially expected following a ruling on attorneys’ fees.

“We at least have a beginning to look forward to,” said Lahaina fire survivor Irene Naeole.

The Naeole ohana lost their generational home and barely made it out alive.

Nearly three years later, their emotions remain raw.

“I was scared because I knew he was by himself,” she said referring to her husband.

Herman Kalani Naeole is 84 years old. His family has lived in Lahaina since the Hawaiian Kingdom days, and he is one of the few pure-blooded Hawaiians left.

“I drove off knowing that my house would be gone,” he said fighting back tears. “It’s so sad.”

The Naeole ohana is among nearly 22,000 people who have filed claims with individual attorneys in suing Hawaiian Electric, the state, Kamehameha Schools, affiliates of West Maui Land Company and other defendants for the disaster that killed 102 people and destroyed the beloved town.

Judge rules on attorneys’ fees

The last major decision was finalized Friday, with Maui Judge Peter Cahill ruling on attorneys’ fees. Hawaii law allowed attorneys to receive up to 25% of the settlement. Cahill lowered that to 8% for cases taken before the settlement was announced and 3% for cases taken after the settlement was announced.

Hawaii-based lawyers can also apply for a separate fund of $221 million, where a board will decide how much money they can receive based on the amount of work they did. Out-of-state attorneys do not qualify for that fund.

“Judge Cahill has been amazing from day one. He was very clear in all rulings that he cared very much about the victims and cared very much about the community,” said Maui attorney Cynthia Wong.

Wong, who has taken the lead on the case, applauded Cahill’s decision.

“Judge Cahill cared about the victims and every ruling that he issued, and this case has shown that. I don’t think we would ever be where we are had Judge Cahill not been our judge.”

Wong said some victims will learn the amount they will receive as early as this week.

“Judge Cahill has been an inspiration to me. How can one person have that much compassion for his community? Just awesome,” said Irene. “I haven’t met him, but I plan to. When all this is said and done, I’m going to go to him and thank him personally.”