Three years on, Maui fire survivors continue struggling with impacts on mental, physical health

News admin August 9, 2026 0 Comments

Three years on, Maui fire survivors continue struggling with impacts on mental, physical health

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Three years after the devastating Lahaina wildfires, UH researchers continue to track the physical and emotional toll on survivors.

Mental health therapist Dr. Christopher Knightsbridge is part of the UH Maui Wildfire Exposure Study (MauiWES) and joined HNN’s Sunrise to talk about what they’ve learned and why long term monitoring matters.

As part of the study, Lahaina fire survivors are given free comprehensive medical and mental health checks for five years and tested for possible exposure to toxic heavy metals. The goal is to understand and address the health and social effects of the wildfires and contribute to essential research aiding Maui’s recovery.

Researchers released a community report on July 27, “The Road to Recovery: Strengthening Health, Stability, and Resiliency Three Years After the Maui Wildfires,” and found recovery is underway, but that progress remains uneven across Maui families.

MauiWES says it conducted more than 4,000 appointments and screenings to more than 2,500 participants, providing residents with mental health assessments, blood pressure checks, lung function testing, blood testing, social needs screening, health information and referrals.

Here are some of the key findings:

“Children may appear resilient while still carrying significant emotional and physical effects beneath the surface,” said Knightsbridge. “Supporting children means supporting the entire family—including their housing, food security, daily routines and access to trusted care.”

“These findings show that Maui’s recovery is moving forward, with real progress in employment, insurance coverage and housing stability,” said Ruben Juarez, co-director of MauiWES and UHERO–HMSA Distinguished Professor of Health Economics. “The opportunity now is to build on that progress by connecting housing, food, healthcare and social support so that every family has the foundation needed to recover and thrive.”

Study organizers say funding was dramatically been cut after the last legislative session, but the research is more important than ever. To support the study, visit mauiwes.info.