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  • April

    One of the 500 properties in Maui which the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers cleared of wildfire debris by April 2. There were approximately 1,600 properties impacted by the wildfires Aug. 8, 2023. Once a property is cleared of debris, USACE staff will then test the soil to ensure it is safe. Once safe and erosion control installed, USACE staff notify County of Maui that the property is complete and ready to begin the rebuilding process. (Photo by John Daves)

    USACE reaches milestone in Hawai‘i wildfire debris removal mission

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers cleared debris from the 500th residential property within Lahaina, Hawai’i, April 2.
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Recovery Field Office Commander Col. Eric Swenson is joined by parents, community members and passersby to welcome back students as they were dropped off for their first day of school at the new King Kamehameha III Elementary School temporary campus installed by USACE. Swenson waved at smiling kids and parents thrilled to get to this milestone in the recovery process.

    April 1st a day for Lahaina’s young scholars to remember

    April 1, 2024 marks the first day that King Kamehameha III Elementary School students attend classes at the temporary replacement campus. The Lahaina school, damaged beyond repair in the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires, became an important project for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. After receiving a critical public facilities mission assignment from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, USACE handled the $78 million elementary school installation, subcontracting Pono Aina Management, a Native Hawaiian organization.

  • March

    The first truckload of fire debris from a commercial property was hauled to the Temporary Debris Storage Site in West Maui, March 22, 2024. This was the first commercial property debris removal operation for commercial property impacted by the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires. (USACE photo by Edward Rivera)

    USACE begins Phase 2 commercial debris removal operations in Lahaina

    A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contractor began hauling debris from commercial properties impacted by the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires in the town of Lahaina, Hawai’i, March 22. This begins Phase 2 of the debris removal process that includes removal of remaining structural ash and debris, as well as soil testing.
  • A Hawaiian dedication ceremony, which included pū and ‘oli, for the temporary King Kamehameha III Elementary School led by cultural practitioner Kaniala Masoe of Maui. (USACE photo by Makenzie Leonard)

    Temporary King Kamehameha III Elementary School Campus Dedicated March 25

    A blessing and dedication ceremony was hosted March 25, by the Hawaii Department of Education with federal, state and local partners coming together to celebrate the opening of a temporary replacement campus for the King Kamehameha III Elementary School, which was damaged beyond repair in the Aug. 8, 2024, Lahaina wildfires.
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contractors remove a submarine during vessel debris removal operations near the harbor in Lahaina, Hawai‘i, Feb. 18, 2024. The submarine was one of the fleet of commercial tourist submarines for citizens and tourists to view marine life around Maui. To ensure debris removal operations are conducted safely, there is significant coordination and safety planning between USACE and the contractor performing the work. USACE is overseeing the debris removal mission under a FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency mission assignment, which is part of a coordinated effort with the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, the County of Maui and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to clean up areas of the island affected by the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires. (USACE Photo by Robert DeDeaux)

    USACE completes vessel debris removal operations, reaches major milestone

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers debris removal mission on Maui reached an important milestone on March 15. Under the management and supervision of USACE, contractors completed the removal of vessel debris from 80 fire-damaged vessels received from the U.S. Coast Guard.

  • February

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is pleased to announce the successful installation and turnover of the temporary King Kamehameha III Elementary School in Lahaina to the Hawai‘i State Department of Education Feb. 27. In collaboration with FEMA and the State of Hawai‘i, USACE embarked on a mission to design and oversee the installation of this critical educational facility following the devastating wildfires of Aug. 8, 2023, which displaced approximately 600 elementary school students from their original Lahaina school.

    USACE Transfers Lahaina Temporary Elementary School to Hawaii State Department of Education

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is pleased to announce the successful installation and turnover of the temporary King Kamehameha III Elementary School in Lahaina to the Hawai‘i State Department of Education Feb. 27. In collaboration with FEMA and the State of Hawai‘i, USACE embarked on a mission to design and oversee the installation of this critical educational facility following the devastating wildfires of Aug. 8, 2023, which displaced approximately 600 elementary school students from their original Lahaina school.

  • January

    Kelvin Chan, a structural engineer from the Technical Center of Expertise for the Preservation of Historic Structures, takes notes about structural characteristics historic building in the Lahaina National Historic Landmark District on Maui, Jan. 21. Chan is one of three members of a team of specialists from the Seattle District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers who were assisting the Hawaii Wildfires Recovery Mission on a Federal Emergency Management Agency mission assigned task order. The team was not required to wear the hoodies of their protective suits because of the low risk of contact with ash or debris while evaluating structures and buildings. The buildings were damaged in the Aug. 8, 2023 wildfires on Maui.

    Historic building specialists visit Lahaina National Historic Landmark District, survey structures impacted by Hawaiʻi Wildfires

    A specialized team consisting of a structural engineer, historical architect and historian assisted the Hawaiʻi Wildfires Mission by assessing structures in or adjacent to the Lahaina National Historic Landmark District on Maui, Jan. 17-21.
  • The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continues work on the critical public facility as part of the Hawaii Wildfires Recovery mission. Contractors will place 337 modular units to form ten large and 20 small classrooms. Besides the classrooms, the campus will include three restrooms, one administration building, one learning center, and one combination dining and food service center. As of Jan. 8, 2024, 300 units are on site and ready for placement. The modular school is a temporary replacement for the King Kamehameha III Elementary School, which served the students of Lahaina since 1913.

    USACE continues the Hawaii Wildfires Recovery Mission

    More than five months after the August 8 wildfires in Hawaii ravaged large portions of Maui including Lahaina, the former capital of the Hawaiian Empire, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continues working on a Federal Emergency Management Agency mission to remove debris from affected areas.

  • December

    Terrence Stitt with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Enterprise Emergency Response Team prepares a router at the Emergency Field Office during a move to a new location. The Logistics Planning and Response Team along with the EERT collaborate with businesses to obtain locations with sufficient resources to support recovery operations.

    Teamwork keeps Hawaii Wildfire Response EFO communicating during unexpected move

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers personnel must be flexible to work in a variety of locations when responding to emergency operations. With limited space on Maui, there are few options for workspaces to support the Hawaii Wildfire Recovery mission. The Logistics Planning and Response Team along with Enterprise Emergency Response Team have been collaborating with businesses to obtain locations with sufficient resources to support recovery operations.

  • September

    Destynee Hives-McCray, right, mission specialist, private property debris removal team, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Fort Worth District project manager and Vandi Leheny, left, mission manager, PPDRT, and USACE, Fort Worth District project manager prepare schedules and maintain accountability at the emergency field office on Maui, Sept. 13. Hives-McCray played basketball at Southern Methodist University and Texas Christian university from 2011 to 2016 and attributes lessons learned as an athlete with many life and career lessons. As a mission specialist, Hives-McCray is the 'right hand' of the mission manager.

    Basketball lessons shape Maui emergency responder’s philosophy

    Destynee Hives-McCray, a mission specialist with the PPDRT on Maui supporting the federal response to the Aug. 8 Hawai’i wildfires, said playing Division I basketball taught her lessons to help her succeed in the challenging role.