Monthly cash payments may ease strain for Maui wildfire survivors

A Maui nonprofit ran a six-month Kahua Card pilot that gave 18 households up to $1,100 a month; about 80% of participants reported less anxiety while many still had unmet housing needs.

Maui Rapid Response ran the Kahua Card program last year as a six-month pilot to test monthly cash payments for survivors of the August 2023 fires. The fires killed at least 102 people, destroyed many structures and displaced thousands of residents. Recovery has faced a long-standing housing shortage, higher construction costs and economic disruption tied to tourism. Some survivors were missing from other aid programs because they were unbanked, homeless, or managing disabilities or caregiving responsibilities. Key facts: - The pilot provided 18 households with donations-funded payments of up to $1,100 per month, scaled by family size. - Spending data showed recipients mainly used the money for food, transportation, utilities and personal items. - About 80% of participants reported reduced anxiety or stress by the pilot’s end; more than half still reported unmet housing needs and under 20% used the extra income to pay rent. - Organizers reported that roughly one-third of recipients felt anxious about the payments ending, and some used the boost to seek better jobs. Summary: The pilot suggested monthly cash can ease short-term financial strain and reported stress for many recipients while not resolving larger housing shortages. Organizers said the program could inform larger efforts and Maui County has approved a separate $12 million cash assistance program for some working households, but plans for broader, sustained disaster cash assistance are undetermined at this time.