One year after the deadly Maui wildfires, Hawaii Off Grid continues to create innovative, sustainable housing solutions to help house dozens of wildfire survivors and families, including Family Life Center’s Ohana Hope Village.

Despite an ongoing, coordinated effort between Hawaii Off Grid and Family Life Center that began just hours after the aftermath on August 8, 2023, approximately 300 people are still waiting to move into 72 Ohana Hope Village homes. Many challenges, from bureaucracy to water access to permitting, have prevented families from finally moving in.

“These folks have been living in hotels, with family and friends, for a year, and a vast majority were renters in multi-generational homes,” says David Sellers, HIOG Principal Architect. “We need everyone to understand that there is a dire need for housing – just like before the fires. We know that thousands of people couldn’t wait any longer and have already left Maui. We need to be building these units faster.”

For thousands of survivors, staying with their families in Lahaina could become untenable if new homes are not built quickly. Many families face constant uncertainty, as their rent relief is now ending, and many may not be eligible for FEMA or other relief.

“After the fires, we knew this was going to be a crisis, because we’ve been facing this housing crisis for years,” says Dr. Ashley Kelly, Family Life Center COO. “The fires just compounded it. We wanted to be part of the relief…we don’t let the grass grow under our feet. Our whole goal was to build homes as quickly as possible, without compromising quality. We’re doing this for families who have not been able to sleep, their lives have been in a constant upheaval. We want to give them that peace of mind.”

Ohana Hope Village came together out of a vision for the community: research-based best practices on housing for the houseless, trauma-informed design, infrastructure and buildout, and a longstanding mentality to put the needs of the fire survivors front and center. “We wanted safety for our families, and we stood firm on that ground,” says Dr. Kelly. “We wanted an environment that was conducive to healing: 5 feet of non-combustibles around the dwelling and 10 feet minimum between homes; reducing the appearance of flammable materials; fire-retardant paint. These families had just come out of a traumatic experience, so this work was worth it.”

Both Dr. Kelly and David are no strangers to getting into the details to help a community in crisis. As president of AIA Maui, David led a Homeowners Rebuilding Informational Workshop in Lahaina in May. The presentation, in coordination with HIOG and CNHA, provided resources for homeowners on the rebuilding process. For many, the process is completely new, and overwhelming. HIOG and AIA Maui architects stepped in to help and provided free, pre-approved building plans. “AIA Maui wants to be a voice in the rebuilding process, they are experts at what they do,” says Megan Villa, HIOG PR and Media Coordinator. “Architects are becoming a part of the process of rebuilding, and we want them to be seen as integral voices – especially after natural disasters.”

For Ohana Hope Village, if everything goes according to plan, over 300 Lahaina fire survivors will have a roof over their heads within a few months. The remaining funds needed to be raised will cover labor costs.

“We are not talking about a situation where we don’t have much to do,” says Sellers. “If you are in a position to help people, you help. Right now, I can help people.”

For more information, or to donate to the Ohana Hope Village, visit: https://flcmaui.org/maui-disaster-relief-donation/