$175 Million in the One Ohana Fund

Photo byJonathan BorbaonUnsplash

The Governor introduced the creation of the One Ohana Fund for the survivors of the Maui Wildfire. Today, February 27, 2024, was the press release of the One Ohana Fund.

The purpose of The Maui Wildfire Compensation Program, One Ohana Fund, “is to assist those who suffered serious physical injury and the families of those who died as a result of the tragic Maui Wildfires of August 8, 2023.”

One Hundred Seventy-Five Million dollars will be available in the One Ohana Fund. Here is a list of companies who have pledged their support of the fund through their contributions.

• Hawaiian Electric: $75 Million
• State of Hawaii: $65 Million
• Kamehameha Schools: $17.5 Million
• Maui County: $10 Million
• Charter/Spectrum: $2.5 Million
• Hawaiian Telcom: $2.5 Million
• West Maui Land Co: $2.5 Million
• Other companies plan to contribute to the fund in the future.
• (Source)

The funds are necessary to help the Lahaina families recover and start over again. But will the State see increased lawsuits against the County and State for their negligence with their emergency procedures and policies during the Maui Wildfire?

Final Thoughts

By accepting money from the One Ohana Fund, are the Lahaina families giving up their right to future lawsuits? Will that be part of the requirement to receive the funds? If they accept the money from One Ohana Fund, does it mean they give up their right to any future lawsuit?