Jobs & Economy in Lahaina
Lahaina's economy remains genuinely, severely disrupted three years after the 2023 wildfire, and this record discloses this directly rather than softening it.
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Learn moreReal, disclosed, severe economic hardship
Unemployment among fire survivors ran approximately 8% (double the islandwide average); nearly 60% of affected households earn less than before the fire, with the poverty rate roughly doubled to 24%.
A workforce shifted out of tourism
Only roughly two-thirds of workers employed in Lahaina's pre-fire visitor industry remain in that industry today.
Real, gradual tourism recovery, genuinely incomplete
Maui's visitor counts are up year-over-year but remain meaningfully below pre-fire levels; the Small Boat Harbor reopened December 2025, and five oceanfront restaurants operate near Front Street, but zero pre-fire businesses in the historic commercial district have reopened.
Key takeaways
- Fire-survivor unemployment runs approximately 8%, double the islandwide average.
- Nearly 60% of affected households earn less than before the fire.
- Zero pre-fire businesses in Lahaina's historic commercial district have reopened as of this pass.
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