In an announcement that sets a new precedent for how swiftly a state can respond to a natural disaster, Governor Josh Green, M.D., has made public a $4 billion settlement to address claims arising from the 2023 Maui wildfires. The collective effort by the seven defendants - the state of Hawai‘i, County of Maui, Hawaiian Electric, Kamehameha Schools, West Maui Land Co., Hawaiian Telcom, and Spectrum/Charter Communications - has led to an agreement in principle designed to compensate the roughly 2,200 parties who brought forth lawsuits in the wake of the disaster. The settlement, as reported by the Office of the Governor, still awaits final documentation and court approval.

There was an admirable swiftness in reaching the $4.037 billion settlement, expecting it to play a crucial role in healing for the survivors. "This Global Settlement of over $4 billion will help our people heal," Governor Green was quoted. "My priority as Governor was to expedite the agreement and to avoid protracted and painful lawsuits so as many resources as possible would go to those affected by the wildfires as quickly as possible," he further elaborated in a statement that foregrounds the swift action to alleviate the suffering of those affected by the wildfires. Mediators expertly navigated this negotiation for more than four months, which stands in stark contrast to similar legal battles that often drag on for years, as reported by the Office of the Governor.

This settlement intends to resolve approximately 450 lawsuits filed by individuals and businesses and follows in the steps of past insurance claims and government support, which amounts to an overall recovery approaching $12 billion. In the words of Governor Green, "I’d like to acknowledge the work of our expert mediators and mahalo every party to the settlement for putting Hawaiʻi’s recovery and healing above personal or other interests," demonstrating a community-driven approach to the recovery efforts. Following the finalization of the agreement, payments are expected to start by mid-2025, contingent upon approval from Hawaiʻi State Legislature, as per the Office of the Governor.

According to the Office of the Governor, once this settlement is signed off by a judge, the agreement will take effect. Equally important to the disbursement of the settlement is a resolution of insurance companies’ claims from property loss and other damages. Expressing confidence in the resilience and unity of the local communities, Governor Green stated, "This was an extraordinary and unprecedented effort by many people to address the tragic impacts of the wildfires in less than a year," emphasizing the collective effort by the Hawaiian community and the state to navigate through the crisis.