A qualitative study of community perceptions of disaster response following the 2023 Maui wildfires

The August 2023 Maui wildfires were the deadliest wildfire disaster in the United States (U.S.) in over a century. Disaster response and recovery efforts have important implications for population health and community well-being following large-scale disasters. However, how community members perceive the response and recovery efforts following the Maui wildfires has yet to be formally examined. To address this gap, we conducted five ethno-culturally diverse focus groups with wildfire-affected individuals (Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Filipino, Latino, and an ethnically mixed focus group) comprising 44 participants. Focus group discussions were transcribed and analyzed using a directed content analysis approach. Participants consistently described the official government response and recovery efforts as inadequate, while viewing community-led responses more favorably. These perceptions were attributed to the bureaucratic and impersonal nature of governmental efforts, which were often viewed as disconnected from local realities, compared with the relational and culturally-congruent support provided by community members and organizations. These findings parallel scholarship on disaster in communities shaped by histories of U.S. colonization, where mistrust can complicate recovery efforts. Findings underscore the importance of strengthening local capacity, community partnerships, and culturally responsive approaches to disaster response and recovery.