Aloha,

I hope this message finds you and your families well as we continue into the new year together. I remain deeply mindful of why we are all here and what is at stake for so many families who lost so much in the fires of Maui. Our focus remains the same: ensuring that the companies and governmental entities responsible for these devastating fires finally transfer money damages to the people they harmed.

On Monday, we had a court hearing before Judge Cahill. The Judge made it very clear on the record that he wants to see this settlement funded as soon as possible. He understands the urgency, the hardship, and the real-world impact these delays continue to have on Maui. That said, as we have discussed before, the settlement cannot be funded until all pending appeals are resolved. Judge Cahill’s position reinforces what we already know, that once the appellate process concludes, the Court expects the funding process to move forward without further delay.

The most significant remaining appeal is still the subrogation insurers’ case, which is scheduled to be argued before the Hawaii Supreme Court on Oahu on January 27. This date remains critically important. We are hopeful that the Supreme Court will issue a decision quickly following oral argument. In a prior, very similar appeal involving subrogation insurers, the Court ruled just days after the hearing, and we are cautiously optimistic that we could see the same here.

The other key date to keep in mind is February 4. Around that time, the defendants are expected to finalize the last remaining conditions necessary to fund the settlement. Assuming there are no additional appeals or unexpected obstacles, reaching that February 4 milestone should allow the funding process to move forward.

Below is the funding schedule that outlines how the settlement payments are structured once funding begins, starting with the initial payment and continuing over the four-year period that we have previously discussed.

We are waiting on the Hawaii Supreme Court’s decision after the January 27 hearing, and then we are moving steadily toward the February 4 deadline for final settlement conditions. If those pieces fall into place as anticipated, the foundation will be set for more than $1.1 billion to flow into the settlement fund for the benefit of you and all other qualifying claimants.

Once the settlement is funded, the Trustee and their team will begin the process of evaluating individual claims and issuing damage determinations. As always, we will be with you on this journey. We will carefully analyze the amounts assigned to your damages, advise you on the best path forward, and, if necessary, pursue reconsideration to seek additional compensation where appropriate.

Next week, we will be providing a video update to walk through the path ahead in more detail and to answer some of the common questions we know many of you are carrying right now. Until then, please know that our entire team remains fully engaged and committed to pushing this process forward.

Maui has shown incredible strength, patience, and resilience through an unthinkable tragedy. I remain optimistic that we are nearing a point where real resources will finally begin flowing to the people who need them most. We will continue our weekly updates, and I will be back with you next Friday. Until then, I hope you and your families are able to take a moment to rest and enjoy the weekend.

Mahalo and Aloha,

Andrew Van Arsdale