UH Maui College students as well as graduate students from US universities and expert university and national laboratory teams will participate in the research funded by Rapid Response Research (RAPID) grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The Maui community will directly participate through contributions on this website. RAPID grants are dedicated to addressing critical needs in the face of natural disasters and ensuring timely access to vital data, facilities, and specialized equipment. Given Lahaina’s island location with limited wind and environmental sensors, we need to leverage diverse data sources to enhance our research and preserve valuable insights before they fade away. Community contributions of photos, videos, and observations will provide vital information on fire propagation, wind direction/strength, flying embers, and factors that impact evacuation. Photo and video processing will be streamlined through state-of-the-art AI-driven data collection and processing methods. Mahalo nui for your help!.
For press releases on science-based fire modeling efforts by team members see: