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The two-day forum will feature a conversation between Governor Green and New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. Experts and policymakers will also participate in panel discussions about trauma-informed approaches to disaster recovery, the future of disaster management and recovery, disaster recovery in rural communities, and much more.          

Panelists include Anne Lopez, the Attorney General of Hawai’i; Dorothy Booth, the Fire Marshal of Hawai’i; Tia Hartsock, the Director of the Hawaiʻi Office of Wellness and Resilience; Tison Thomas, the Acting Director of the Center for Mental Health Services at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); and Ali Rye, the State Director of the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

View the full agenda below and register here to watch a FREE livestream. The livestream link you receive via email will work for both days of the forum. 

April 20

10:00 a.m.: Welcome and Introductions 

• Jack Waldorf, WGA Executive Director 

10:05 a.m.: Governor’s Remarks 

• The Honorable Josh Green, Governor of Hawaiʻi 

10:15 a.m.: Lessons from the Lahaina Wildfire 

The Lahaina wildfire was extraordinarily destructive as a result of numerous, compounding factors.  Wildfire risk, created by environmental conditions like extreme fire weather and dry fuels, was amplified by human factors including communications, incident command systems, and more.  To ensure that this tragic event does not repeat itself, analysis, accountability, and policy reform are imperative.  This panel will focus on the findings of post-fire analyses to understand how a systems-thinking approach can improve fire preparedness, response, and recovery.   

Panelists: Anne Lopez, Attorney General, State of Hawaiʻi; Dorothy Booth, State Fire Marshal, State of Hawaiʻi; Derek Alkonis, Senior Research Program Manager, Fire Safety Research Institute; and Elizabeth Pickett, Co-Executive Director, Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization.  

11:25 a.m.: Rebuilding After Disasters 

The 2023 Maui wildfires destroyed over 2,200 homes and displaced around 6,000 people, hitting Lahaina especially hard and leaving the community with significant challenges. This session will examine how federal, state, and local governments responded to urgent temporary housing needs in the immediate aftermath of the fires, as well as efforts to rebuild the Lahaina community and provide more permanent housing solutions. The discussion will help inform the tour of interim housing communities later in the day.

Panelists: Joe Campos, Deputy Director, Hawaiʻi Department of Human Services; Roseann Freitas, Chief Executive Officer, Building Industry Association of Hawaiʻi; and Erin Wade, Maui County Office of Recovery. 

1:10 p.m.: Trauma-Informed Approaches to Disaster Recovery  

This session will examine trauma-informed approaches to disaster recovery, with a focus on lessons and ongoing needs following the 2023 Maui wildfires.  Speakers will discuss how recovery programs, public services, and community engagement efforts can be structured to account for the behavioral, social, and cultural effects of large-scale disasters.  The session will highlight practical considerations for agencies and partners working with affected communities, including approaches that support effective disaster assistance delivery and improve recovery outcomes.   

Panelists: Tia Hartsock, Director, Hawaiʻi Office of Wellness and Resilience; Michele Navarro Ishiki, Founder and Executive Director, Piha Wellness and Healing; Alika Maunakea, Professor, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai'i, Manoa; Carolyn Ingram, SVP, Policy and Government Affairs and New Mexico Board Chair, Molina; and Tison Thomas, Acting Director, Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).  

April 20

 8:30 a.m.: Welcome and Day One Recap 

• Jack Waldorf, WGA Executive Director 

8:40 a.m.: Governors’ Conversation  

WGA Executive Director Jack Waldorf will engage in a conversation with Hawaiʻi Governor Josh Green and New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. 

9:35 a.m.: The Future of Disaster Management and Recovery  

Federal support is essential to help coordinate and provide support before, during, and after natural disasters, but many disaster management and recovery policies and programs can be improved to be more efficient and responsive to state, local, and community needs.  This session will examine emerging approaches that enhance interagency coordination and improve the speed and effectiveness of disaster response and recovery.   

Panelists: Hawaiʻi Governor Josh Green; Daniel Craig, Chief Executive Officer, Tidal Basin Group; Mary Murphy, Senior Director, The Pew Charitable Trust, Fiscal and Economic Policy; John Smith, Administrator, Maui Office of Recovery; and Carolina Van Horn, Deputy Director, Colorado Governor's Office of Climate Preparedness and Disaster Recovery.

10:45 a.m.: Disaster Recovery in Rural Communities 

After disaster strikes, communities are faced with the difficult process of recovery. In rural areas, these efforts can be complicated by the geographic isolation and potential capacity constraints of communities. This session will examine how disaster-affected areas can meet these challenges and reestablish their economic vitality.

Panelists: Dennis Kwak, District Director, Small Business Administration; Kekoa McClellan, Principal, The McClellan Group; and Ali Rye, State Director, New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.  

11:45 a.m.: Closing Comments 

• The Honorable Josh Green, Governor of Hawaiʻi