The Office of the Governor Josh Green, M.D., has reported that Hawaii’s Department of the Attorney General has concluded its investigation into the government response to the August 2023 Maui wildfire in Lahaina.
Attorney General Anne Lopez confirmed the official transition of ongoing wildfire planning and mitigation to the newly appointed State Fire Marshal Dori Booth and the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization (HWMO).
The investigation was supported by the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), a division of UL Research Institutes.
The Department of the Attorney General contracted FSRI to provide a science-based, independent review of state and county agency responses.
The decision was made shortly after the wildfire by Governor Green and Attorney General Lopez, who identified the need for an evidence-based understanding of the events.
The Department of the Attorney General reported that FSRI delivered its Lahaina Fire Comprehensive Timeline Report in April 2024, offering a minute-by-minute breakdown of emergency response efforts.
A second report, the Lahaina Fire Incident Analysis Report, followed in September 2024.
This document included 84 findings and 140 recommendations, covering issues such as readiness, concurrent fires, and weather impacts.
According to the Department, all accompanying documentation from FSRI was published online, totaling 850 gigabytes of data.
In January 2025, FSRI released a third report prioritizing these findings.
FSRI identified its top two priorities as: (1) appointing a state fire marshal and (2) empowering HWMO with shared leadership responsibilities.
The Office of the Governor introduced and passed H.B. 1064 to revise the fire marshal statute to support this change.
FSRI’s Research Program Manager Derek Alkonis said: “Our role in the Lahaina fire independent analysis is complete and we have provided forward looking recommendations.
“We’re collectively transitioning from research to implementation for a more fire safe Hawai‘i.
“UL Research Institutes and FSRI will continue supporting next steps in operational readiness and community risk assessment planning.”
Elizabeth Pickett, co-director of HWMO, said: “We are proud to be part of this next chapter for Hawai‘i.
“Our job now is to support the state in developing a cohesive wildfire strategy that brings together public agencies, private partners, and expertise from our academic and community partners — so that we’re all working in sync, informed by best practice, and building upon existing efforts and local knowledge.
“Some departments will be stepping into new roles, while others — who’ve been doing this work for decades — will finally get the support and alignment they’ve long needed.
“This is about learning together, building systems that last, and finally connecting our collective efforts into one coordinated path forward.
“Becoming a wildfire-ready and wildfire-resilient state starts with thoughtful, informed and collaborative planning.
“This is good governance at its best.”
Alkonis added: “We recommended HWMO because of their deep experience, trusted relationships, and ability to coordinate across agencies.
“They’re embedded in Hawai‘i’s wildfire network and well-positioned to align efforts quickly.
“HWMO was selected in part because of its long-standing and ongoing leadership in the area of wildfire prevention and vegetation management — they’ve been deeply engaged in this work for years and are well-equipped to move the state forward on some of its most urgent needs.
“Their work complements the new State Fire Marshal’s Office and helps drive action on the priorities we identified — a strong example of collaborative leadership for wildfire resilience.”
Newly appointed State Fire Marshal Dori Booth said: “It’s an honor to serve as Hawai‘i’s state fire marshal at this pivotal moment.
“The 10 wildfire priorities identified in the Phase Three report provide a critical foundation, and my role — as well as the work of the full office when it is in place — will both support those efforts and extend beyond them.
“We are building the State Fire Marshal’s Office from the ground up, with a focus on regulatory clarity, modernized codes and standards, and a legislative framework that strengthens long-standing efforts already underway, while also guiding future improvements identified through the statewide wildfire strategy now in development.
“I’m grateful to all of the agencies and partners contributing to this effort, and I look forward to working closely with the State Fire Council, county fire departments, HWMO, and others to ensure a coordinated, capable, and resilient fire safety system for Hawai‘i.”
According to the Department of the Attorney General, FSRI is now collaborating with the Maui Fire Department and Kauaʻi Fire Department on Community Risk Assessment and Standards of Cover plans.
These studies are being carried out with input from residents and businesses to map local risks and improve fire response strategies.
The agency said this collaboration will inform a new Community Risk Reduction plan.
This document is expected to offer practical guidance to individuals, government agencies, and community groups to reduce wildfire vulnerability and improve resilience.
All files related to the investigation, including reports, photos, audio, and documentation, remain publicly available through the Department’s Maui Wildfire Investigation page.
The Office of the Governor reported that Hawaii’s Attorney General has concluded the Lahaina wildfire response investigation.
The review was led by the Fire Safety Research Institute.
FSRI produced three reports between April 2024 and January 2025.
The reports included 84 findings and 140 recommendations.
FSRI identified the need for a new state fire marshal and a leadership role for HWMO.
Legislation passed in 2025 established this new structure.
FSRI has now transitioned to a support role for implementation.
HWMO will lead wildfire strategy development with public and private sector partners.
State Fire Marshal Dori Booth outlined plans for regulatory and strategic reform.
FSRI is collaborating with county departments on risk assessments.
The Department of the Attorney General has published all related documents online.
