Lahaina families scattered across the mainland are getting a rare chance to come home, airfare included. Lahaina Homecoming has opened applications for its “E Hoʻi Mai” competition, a program that will fly members of the Lahaina diaspora back for a three-day gathering in town from July 17 to 19, 2026. Organizers say the weekend will center on healing, reconnection and collective visioning. Thanks to a sponsorship with Hawaiian Airlines, the program will provide round-trip flights for up to 80 people from the continental United States, with applicants asked to submit short personal video stories about their family's connection to Lahaina.
According to Maui Now, the call for applications opened on May 13 and will cover airfare for up to 80 people. The competition is open to individuals and families who call Lahaina home but currently live elsewhere, whether they were displaced by the 2023 wildfires, priced out of Hawaiʻi, or simply separated by distance. Organizers are clear that sponsorship capacity is limited, and submitting a video does not guarantee selection.
How the competition works
To throw their name in the hat, applicants must submit a personal video through the application form on the official event page. No one is expecting Hollywood-level production; a simple phone recording is fine. Videos must be under five minutes and should respond to prompts about family roots in Lahaina, what applicants miss about daily life there, and their hopes for the town's future, according to Lahaina Homecoming.
Who can apply
The invitation is aimed squarely at the Lahaina diaspora, meaning people who once called Lahaina home but now live somewhere else. That includes families and individuals displaced by the 2023 wildfires, former residents who left because of housing costs, and long-term emigrants who are looking for a way to reconnect with the community.
Organizers' goals
Mikey Burke, a member of the Healing Journey Team, said the effort is rooted in cultural grounding and community healing rather than tourism. "We're excited to welcome everyone back to Lahaina town in July," he told Maui Now. Organizers say the gathering grew out of work by the Maui Economic Recovery Commission's Healing Journey Team and is designed to be trauma-informed and community-led.
Apply and timeline
Applications are open now on the event site and must be submitted through the online form. Each entry will be reviewed by a selection committee, and chosen applicants will be contacted directly. Capacity is limited, so even a heartfelt video does not guarantee a seat on the plane, according to Lahaina Homecoming.
