MAUI, Hawaii (KHON2) — Applications for Maui County’s Hoʻokumu Hou First-Time Homebuyer Opportunity Program will close on Sept. 30, the county’s Office of Recovery announced on Sept. 3.
Applications for Hoʻokumu Hou’s two other programs, the Single-Family Homeowner Reconstruction and Single-Family Homeowner Reimbursement programs will remain open.
The Hoʻokumu Hou housing programs are made to help those who were displaced by the 2023 Maui wildfires rebuild what was once theirs.
Funding was made possible by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant — Disaster Recovery funds, also known as CDBG-DR funds.
The CDBG-DR funding was finalized in June 2025 between Maui County and HUD, which ended up in the county receiving $1.6 billion for reconstruction — the largest single allocation of this type of funding to a single local municipality in history.
Prior to receiving the funds, the county and community members worked together to create a distribution method for the funds through an action plan.
Those who are eligible for funding as outlined through the action plan will receive funding, with the county saying they will prioritize renters displaced by the wildfire and who earn less than 80% of the Area Median Income.
As a result, anyone who is eligible, but particularly those who fall within the prioritized category, are encouraged to apply for the First-Time Homebuyer Opportunity Program.
“Closing applications for the First-Time Homebuyer Opportunity Program at the end of this month allows us to focus on processing those already in the system, ensuring that qualified households get the support they need,” Office of Recovery Administrator John Smith said.
Applications first opened on Aug. 11, and has since received a high amount of applications. As of Sept. 2, more than 1,300 applications were submitted.
Not every application is guaranteed to be funded, however. Officials still need to ensure eligibility for applications. They also anticipate the number of applications is greater than the allotted budget for the program, which echoes the need to prioritize those making less than 80% of the Area Median Income.
Despite this, the Office of Recovery encourages applications, so as many affected families can be helped as possible.
Applications may be submitted via the Hoʻokumu Hou website, the Maui OOR mobile app or in person with a Hoʻokumu Hou intake specialist in Lahaina or Kahului.
Appointments for in-person applicants can be made on the Hoʻokumu Hou website or by calling (808) 865-4007.