LAHAINA, HAWAII — Maui wildfire survivors are reporting widespread contractor fraud involving stolen payments and abandoned work, while state and local agencies have taken no enforcement actions as of mid-2025. Dozens of Lahaina wildfire survivors have contacted local and state officials about problems with contractors hired to rebuild their homes.

Government agencies have announced no actions against contractors for post-wildfire misconduct, including no criminal charges, license revocations, fines, or injunctions. The Hawaiʻi Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs (DCCA) has not fined any contractors, revoked licenses, or taken other regulatory steps related to post-wildfire business practices.

Raquel Utrillo hired a contractor in July 2024 to prep her lot and install a pre-fabricated home in Lahaina. She paid the contractor a total of $640,000. The contractor stopped showing up to work shortly after starting and stopped responding to messages by early 2026.

Reported contractor issues include stopping work, inability to account for money paid, and performing poor work that required redoing. Maui County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Martin stated his office has received dozens of tips about contractor fraud targeting wildfire survivors.

"This is the single most requested thing I’ve been asked to speak about over the past 12 months," said Martin, Maui County’s prosecuting attorney. "There are people that have been preyed on right in their own front yards," Martin said.

He stated his office has a deputy prosecutor and an investigator working close to full time on contractor fraud issues. Maui County prosecutors are actively investigating cases of fraud alongside the police department and other law enforcement partners.

The Maui Police Department released 10 reports filed by property owners after the wildfire detailing losses ranging from about $20,000 to more than $500,000 to unreliable or unscrupulous contractors. All 10 police reports regarding contractor losses were marked as civil matters not under police jurisdiction.

Some police reports document that officers urged homeowners to contact the state Department of the Attorney General. Maui Police Department officials stated they had dozens more reports that may be related to post-wildfire contractor issues.

"We know that there have been a very high number of fraud cases, some of them reported, and some of them not," Mayor Richard Bissen said during a community meeting. "If you fall into that category we want you to report it, we want to take action," Bissen said.

Hawaiʻi’s Department of the General declined to comment on or confirm the existence of ongoing investigations into contractor fraud targeting Maui wildfire victims. Deputy General Ashley Tanaka stated the Department of the General does not maintain communications about the matter and referred questions to the agency overseeing contractors.

DCCA spokesperson William Nhieu stated the agency is aware of 12 complaints involving post-wildfire rebuilding. Eight DCCA investigations into post-wildfire contractor complaints are pending, and the rest were closed without disciplinary action.

Nhieu stated in an emailed statement that the agency has warned homeowners to hire only licensed contractors for rebuilding and repair projects. "Unlicensed contracting complaints is one of the more common subjects of concern that RICO receives each year, particularly after natural disasters," Nhieu wrote.

"Homeowners must protect themselves through doing their homework up front," Nhieu wrote. The Regulated Industries Complaints Office (RICO) is responsible for investigating unlicensed contractors.

"It’s sad because we were warned this was going to happen," said Sen. Angus McKelvey, who represents Lahaina and lost his home in the fire. "It’s happening," McKelvey said regarding contractor fraud.

"They should not feel bad about themselves for having fallen victim to this," Rebecca Shea, director of forensic audits at the federal Government Accountability Office, said of survivors. "It is not their fault," Shea said.

Why It Matters

The Maui fires killed at least 102 people, destroyed more than 2,200 structures, and displaced nearly 13,000 people. The disaster caused more than $5.5 billion in damage. As of Aug. 13, about 580 homes have been rebuilt in the Lahaina area, including single and multifamily units.

A 2024 Census Bureau survey found that as many as three-fourths of disaster survivors in the United States received a possible scam offer within a month of the disaster. The public can verify a contractor’s license by visiting www.businesscheck.hawaii.gov. This online tool provides information about licensed contractors, electricians, and plumbers, including license status, classifications, proof of insurance, and records of complaints.

Timeline

On August 12, 2025, "We know that there have been a very high number of fraud cases, some of them reported, and some of them not," Mayor Bissen said during a community meeting. On August 12, 2025, "If you fall into that category we want you to report it, we want to take action," Mayor Bissen said.