$135M Hawaiian Electric Maui wildfires class action settlement

Hawaiian Electric agreed to a $135 million class action lawsuit settlement to resolve claims it bears some responsibility for the August 2023 Maui wildfires that destroyed the towns of Lahaina, Kula and Olinda.

The Hawaiian Electric settlement benefits individuals who suffered damages as a result of the Maui wildfires on Aug. 8, 2023. This includes people who owned or rented property, owned or worked for a business, were present in the area, suffered physical injuries, are relatives of deceased individuals, had travel plans that were canceled or delayed, had property damage or had businesses that suffered from a decline in tourism.

Plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit claimed Hawaiian Electric bore some responsibility for the devastating wildfires that destroyed Lahaina and surrounding areas in August 2023.

The Global Settlement total is $4.037 billion. From this total amount, $135 million will be put toward this Class Settlement Fund and the remainder will be put toward the Individual Settlement Fund. Payments to class members from this Class Settlement Fund may be paid in installments over the next 4 years or more.

Hawaiian Electric is an energy company that provides power to Hawaii’s islands.

Hawaiian Electric has not admitted any wrongdoing but agreed to a $135 million settlement to resolve the wildfire class action lawsuit.

Under the terms of the Hawaiian Electric settlement, class members can receive a cash payment based on the damages they suffered as a result of the Maui wildfires.

Class members may be eligible to receive compensation for a variety of losses, including damage to real or personal property, business interruption, personal income loss, evacuation expenses, physical injuries, wrongful death, travel-related losses and other damages. Specific payment amounts will be determined based on the type and amount of loss claimed.

The deadline for exclusion and objection is Oct. 7, 2025.

The final approval hearing for the Hawaiian Electric Maui wildfires class action lawsuit settlement is scheduled for Jan. 8, 2026.

To receive settlement benefits, class members must submit a valid claim form by Dec. 22, 2025.

Who’s Eligible

The class is defined as: (1) Those who owned, rented or resided on real property, or owned personal property, within the fire perimeters or within 0.5 miles of the fire perimeters on Aug. 8, 2023. (2) Those who owned, operated or otherwise worked for or in connection with a business within the fire perimeters or within 0.5 miles of the fire perimeters at any time between Aug. 8, 2023, and Oct. 8, 2023. (3) Those who were present within the fire perimeters or within 5 miles of the fire perimeters at any time between Aug. 8, 2023, and 9 a.m. on Aug. 9, 2023. (4) Those who suffered physical injury due to the Maui fires, or are eligible relatives of such persons. (5) Personal representatives or eligible relatives of a person who died due to the Maui fires. (6) Immediate family members of persons who were present within the fire perimeters on Aug. 8, 2023. (7) Those who purchased a ticket prior to Aug. 8, 2023, for travel by plane or ship to Maui between Aug. 8, 2023, and Oct. 8, 2023, and suffered economic loss that was not fully refunded due to trip cancellation or delay. (8) Those who had damage to their property on Maui between Aug. 8, 2023, and Oct. 8, 2023, from the Maui fires. (9) Those who owned or operated a business on Maui that suffered damages resulting from a decline in tourism between Aug. 8, 2023, and Oct. 8, 2023.

Potential Award

Varies.

Proof of Purchase

Claimants must provide documentation of their losses, which may include insurance claims, receipts, invoices, bills, pay stubs, tax returns, police reports or medical records.

Claim Form

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.

Claim Form Deadline

12/22/2025

Case Name

Burnes, et al. v. Hawaiian Electric Co. Inc., et al., Case No. 2CCV-24-0000964, Circuit Court of the Second Circuit, State of Hawaii

Final Hearing

01/08/2026

Settlement Website

MauiFiresClassSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

Maui Fires Class Settlement
Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 29699
Honolulu, HI 96820
[email protected]
833-296-0890

Class Counsel

Patrick Kyle Smith
LAW OFFICE OF KYLE SMITH

Graham B. LippSmith
LIPPSMITH LLP

Terrance M. Revere
REVERE & ASSOCIATES LLC

Defense Counsel

Michael L. Lam
Steven E. Tom
Kaonohiokala J. Aukai IV
Kenneth V. Go
Anne E. Lopez
Amanda J. Weston
Davio N. Matsumiya
Attorneys for the State of Hawaii and Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation

Randall C. Whattoff
Joachim P. Cox
Attorneys for Hawaiian Electric, Maui Electric Co. Ltd., Hawaii Electric Light Co. Inc. and Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc.

Paul Alston
Nickolas A. Kacprowski
Wendy F. Hanakahi
Madisson L. Heinze
Nathan P. Shimodoi
Attorneys for Trustees of the Estate of Bernice Pauahi Bishop

Jordan K. Inafuku
Victoria J. Takayesu
Thomas Kolbe
David J. Minkin
Micah M. Miyasato
Attorneys for the County of Maui

Wesley H.H. Ching
Sheree Kon-Herrera
Dara S. Nakagawa
Jonathan L. Ortiz
Cathy S. Juhn
Erin I. MacDonald
Attorneys for Peter Klint Martin, Peter Klint Martin Revocable Trust Hope Builders Holding LLC, Hope Builders Inc., Hope Builders LLC, Kauaula Land Company LLC, Kipa Centennial LLC, Wainee Land & Homes LLC, West Maui Land Company Inc. and Makila Ranches Inc.

James W. Geiger
Attorney for James C. Riley Trust and Jeanne A. Riley Trust

Ralph J. O’Neill
Attorney for MAKILA RANCHES HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION INC.

Gregory K. Markham
Keith K. Kato
Michael I. Tsuchida
Attorneys for Spectrum Oceanic LLC

Eric H. Tsugawa
Alan K. Lau
Tedson H. Koja
Attorneys for Hawaiian Telcom Inc.