UHERO with fiscal sponsor: UH Foundation - $700,000
Phase 3
Awarded 11/9/23 - $250,000
Awarded 10/13/25 - $450,000
UHERO, the economic research organization at the University of Hawaiʻi, has been serving the local community for more than twenty years by conducting, publicizing, and expanding research on the local economy. The organization aims to fill the knowledge gap on the health and well-being of Maui residents who survived the fires and were potentially exposed to toxins and trauma, monitoring the effects of environmental hazards, socioeconomic challenges, trauma, and loss on short- and long-term health outcomes, all of which are crucial to identify community needs and inform recovery interventions. UHERO will collect data through a survey designed by experts in public health, economics, and social sciences, distributed to a sample of 1,000 fire-affected Maui residents. Initial funding was for the initial Phase 1/Year 1 efforts to establish baseline health outcomes for this population, supporting salaries, incentives, community support, facility fees, sample collection and analysis, and an administrative fee. UHERO has the backing of the community and stakeholders for this work, which will approach residents with trust, respect, and Maui-centered partnerships.
Now called the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study (MauiWES), still supported by UHERO, the program has been a consistent and valuable resource for long-term health outcomes of people directly affected by the fires. The program has served more 2,000 individuals with no-cost clinical screenings, environmental exposure testing, and behavioral health assessments. More than 800 people received medical care as a result of participation and over 300 received mental health services. Subsequent funding will help continue the program for one more year to expand health services, provide mental and physical health screenings, coordinate referrals, and continue the data infrastructure reaching over 5,000 individuals.