Sept 5 (Reuters) - The father of a woman who died during last month's wildfires in Hawaii has sued the state and the county of Maui in a “first-of-its-kind” lawsuit accusing the governments of gross negligence leading to the blazes that razed the historic town of Lahaina.

In 2026, Maui County and various local entities are involved in complex litigation primarily stemming from the 2023 Lahaina wildfires. Lawsuits were filed alleging that the county and Hawaiian Electric acted negligently by failing to shut off power lines despite high-wind warnings and extremely dry conditions, which reportedly led to the ignition and rapid spread of the fires. Additionally, victims and shareholders sued the utility company for allegedly making misleading claims about its wildfire mitigation work. As of early 2026, several settlements have been reached, including a $4 billion agreement to compensate victims and a separate $48 million settlement with shareholders who claimed top executives misrepresented the company's safety readiness. The lawsuits also targeted land management practices, arguing that the failure to manage invasive, flammable grasses significantly contributed to the catastrophe. These legal battles represent a massive effort to hold both corporate and government entities accountable for the destruction of the historic town and the loss of over 100 lives.