Campus Alert Archive
UHMC

Lahaina Wildfire Kills 102: UH Maui College Kitchen Produces 200,000 Meals as Campus Becomes Relief Hub

HIwildfireemergency notificationmedium confidence
Confirmed Threat

On August 8, 2023, the devastating Lahaina wildfire killed at least 102 people on Maui. Of UH Maui College's approximately 2,500 students, 241 were from Lahaina, with 22+ losing their homes, 37 displaced, and 32+ losing their jobs. The campus kitchen was transformed into a fire relief food hub within 24 hours, producing approximately 200,000 meals over two months. A FEMA Disaster Recovery Center was established on campus. Fall semester was delayed, with students welcomed back on August 28.

Alerts
2
Response
—
Killed
—
Injured
—
Institution
University of Hawaii Maui College
Community College · HI
~2,500 studentsUH Alert
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

2 messages in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTmulti-channel
Approximate reconstruction228 chars
UH MAUI COLLEGE ALERT: Campus is closed due to the Maui wildfire emergency. All classes and activities are cancelled until further notice. If you are on campus, follow evacuation instructions from emergency personnel. Stay safe.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

The Lahaina wildfire began on August 8, 2023, and killed at least 102 people — the deadliest US wildfire in over a century
241 of UHMC's approximately 2,500 students were from the Lahaina area
Within 24 hours of the fire, the campus kitchen was transformed into a community food hub
UPDATEEmail
Approximate reconstruction266 chars
UH Maui College will welcome students back on August 28. The campus continues to serve as a wildfire response hub. A FEMA Disaster Recovery Center is operating on campus. Students affected by the fire should contact the Financial Aid Office for emergency assistance.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

The campus reopened for students on August 28, 2023, 20 days after the wildfire began
A FEMA Disaster Recovery Center was established in the former student lounge
The campus kitchen produced approximately 200,000 meals for fire evacuees and responders over two months
Context

Background

On August 8, 2023, the Lahaina wildfire devastated western Maui, killing at least 102 people in what became the deadliest US wildfire in over a century. UH Maui College in Kahului was not directly in the fire's path but was profoundly impacted. The UH System reported that 241 of the college's approximately 2,500 students were from Lahaina, with at least 22 losing their homes, 37 displaced, 7 losing vehicles, and 32+ losing their jobs. Hawaii News Now reported that within 24 hours of the fire, the campus kitchen was transformed into a community food hub, ultimately producing approximately 200,000 meals over two months. The former student lounge became a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center. The fall semester was delayed, with students welcomed back on August 28. Students from Lahaina received $2,000 in emergency relief. Honolulu Civil Beat provided comprehensive coverage of the Maui fire response. The culinary team's response was nominated for the Governor's Award for Distinguished State Service.
Analysis

Key Findings

200,000 meals produced by the campus kitchen in two months — one of the most significant campus-as-relief-hub operations in US history
241 of 2,500 students (nearly 10%) were from Lahaina, meaning the fire directly impacted almost one in ten students
The campus simultaneously operated as a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center, community food hub, and educational institution — an unprecedented triple role
Outcome
The campus served as a community relief hub for months. The culinary team was nominated for the Governor's Award for Distinguished State Service. Students from Lahaina received $2,000 in relief funding. Fall semester started late on August 28.
Provenance

Sources

  1. News
    UH Maui College to welcome students back as campus remains wildfire response hub (Hawaii News Now)
    hawaiinewsnow.com
  2. Official
    Maui wildfires impact more than 100 UH students (UH System News)
    hawaii.edu
  3. national media
    2023 Hawaii wildfires (Wikipedia)
    en.wikipedia.org
  4. News
    Maui Fire Evacuations and Closures (Honolulu Civil Beat)
    civilbeat.org
Tags
wildfirelahainahawaiicommunity-college102-killedfemafood-hub200000-mealscampus-as-shelterstudent-displacement
Added April 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion