The Maui News

WAILUKU–Property owners impacted by the August 8 Maui wildfires can access free or reduced-cost home design plans and rebuilding assistance through a collaborative effort between the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA) and local AIA Maui chapter architectural firms including Hawaii Off Grid Architecture + Engineering (HIOG).

For homeowners who lost their homes and may have never built a structure from the ground up, may learn how to choose a design that is appropriate to the climate and culture relative to them.

HIOG has donated several pre-approved home plans, ranging from one-bedroom cottages to six-bedroom duplexes, all said to be designed with the Maui community’s needs in mind.

Some of Hawaii’s off-grid’s designs, Hale Nui Lā’au and Hale Lā’au, feature mass timber, a sustainable alternative to fossil fuel-intensive materials that can also have cost savings as well as a positive environmental impact.

These comprehensive plans include architectural drawings, floor plans, elevations, and all necessary permitting and construction documents. Additionally, assistance with the permitting process can be provided. The plans can be found at www.helpingmaui.org/plans.

This initiative aims to streamline the rebuilding process, taking the guesswork out of designing new homes while ensuring compliance with local building regulations and community standards.

“This effort demonstrates the spirit of unity and resilience as Maui rebuilds,” said David Sellers, Principal Architect at Hawaii Off Grid and AIA Maui President.

“By coming together, we’re offering hope and support to those who need it most, ensuring survivors have the tools to rebuild their homes and futures. Choosing a pre-designed plan can save months of time. Currently we are seeing permits approved within weeks. For homeowners who are not ready or do not have the funds right now, that’s ok.

Let us help you get on a path to rebuild with a permit in hand and we can help direct you to funding options. Let us help you get a design and permit and get you one step closer.”

The collaboration between CNHA and AIA Maui architecture firms including Hawaii Off Grid, and other organizations underscores the shared commitment to helping the community recover, offering survivors high-quality design options as they begin to rebuild.

For more information or to get involved, please visit www.helpingmaui.org/re

build.