Stark figures from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) latest Point-in-Time (PIT) count reveal a whopping 87% increase in Hawaii homelessness between 2023 and 2024, with primary blame laid on the Aug. 8, 2023, Maui wildfires. HUD’s numbers, provided by the Continuums of Care (CoC) program in January 2024, reconfirm what has been widely known for well over a year: Many Lahaina fire survivors are still without a home. They must also serve as a splash of cold water for lawmakers and stakeholders to redouble efforts to immediately begin a conscientious rebuilding process, house displaced residents and march quickly down a road to recovery.