Hawaiʻi Moves Forward with Recommendations from Phase Three Report and Hires State Fire Marshal

Since the release of the Lahaina Fire Forward-Looking Report — the third and final phase of the analysis conducted by the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), part of UL Research Institutes — Hawaiʻi has taken significant steps to improve wildfire safety and emergency response.

In direct response to the report, the Hawaiʻi Attorney General’s office enlisted the Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization (HWMO) to lead implementation of its ten priority recommendations. Key reforms are reflected in Hawaiʻi’s House Bill 1064 and Senate Bill 223, which operationalize many of the report’s core proposals, including reinstating the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

On June 2, Governor Josh Green appointed Dorothy Booth to the role, reviving a critical public safety position vacant for nearly 50 years. To mark the transition from investigation to implementation, the Attorney General’s office held a press conference on June 19. The event formally concluded the state’s independent analysis of the Lahaina fire and introduced the leadership team responsible for carrying the recommendations forward, including State Fire Marshal Booth and representatives from HWMO.

Less than two years after the Lahaina fire, Hawaiʻi is showing a strong commitment to resilience and proactive governance. By turning the tragedy’s toll into forward-looking reforms grounded in expert research, the state is transforming loss into legacy.

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