A small Haiku-based tree care business is getting a financial boost for its cleanup and fire-prevention work on Maui — good news for local jobs and for property owners still recovering from the 2023 Lahaina fire.

• Climbing High, a Maui tree care company, won a $25,000 grant.
• It beat out thousands of applicants across the US and Canada.
• The company shifted much of its work to fire-prevention tree removal after the Lahaina fire.
• It also cleared fallen trees from homes damaged in this year's heavy Kona storms.
• The money is meant to expand the business and create higher-skill jobs.

Outlook: Expect the company to hire and take on more fire-prevention work as Maui keeps bracing for fire and storm damage.