By Wendy Osher The council’s budget and finance committee spent time yesterday debating grant funding for the Wailuku Main Street Association/Tri-Isle Main St. Resource Center. Council member Michael Molina questioned reasons for repeated cuts noting a 10% cut in each of the last two fiscal years, and a proposed cut of 25% in FY2011.  Budget [...]

The National Weather Service issued a Flash Flood Watch for Kauai, Niihau & Oahu from late Saturday night to Sunday evening.  Heavy rainfall will increase the potential for flash flooding. An approaching cold front and associated upper trough will combine to increase the potential for heavy rainfall and flash flooding. Precautionary/Preparedness actions:  A flash flood [...]

Top-seeded Stanford swept visiting Hawaii 30-24, 30-28, 33-31 and advanced to tonight’s conference final against Cal State Northridge.

By Wendy Osher The Budget and Finance Committee today reached consensus to restore funding in varying capacities for several positions that were proposed for cuts earlier this week. Budget Chair Joe Pontanilla said a number of positions were added back into the budget for varying reasons.  “The most important reason was the safety of our [...]

The Maui County Democratic party will hold their 2010 County Convention on Saturday, May 1, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lihikai Elementary School Cafeteria in Kahului. Hawaii Civil Rights advocate Dr. Amy Agbayani, one of “Hawaii’s Living Treasures 2010″ and Martin Luther King Peace Award winner will present the keynote address. The [...]

By Wendy Osher The council’s Budget and Finance Committee continues to fine tune details of their FY 2011 Budget.  The majority of public testimony Wednesday morning focused on calls for restoration of funds for farming programs. In his testimony yesterday, Maui County Farm Bureau Executive Director Warren Watanabe said, “A proposal to take $50,000 away [...]

More than 33 law enforcement officers are camping atop Safeway stores statewide as they attempt to raise funds for Special Olympic athletes. Maui officers are stationed at stores in Kahului, Kihei and Lahaina.  There are also 11 sites set up on Oahu, one on Kauai and two on Hawaii Island. Members at each store have [...]

The foreclosure sale of the Makena Beach & Golf Resort has been moved to May.  A bidder is being sought for the 310-room hotel located on 1,800 acres in South Maui. The property is situated at Maluaka Beach and includes two 18-hole golf courses designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., three restaurants and bars, and [...]

Hawaiian Airlines took delivery of its first new airbus during a ceremony at the Airbus factory in Toulouse, France yesterday.  The airline plans to integrate up to 27 new 294-seat airbus A330-200 planes into its fleet over the next decade under its long-range fleet renewal and expansion plan. “Today’s ceremony marks an important moment in [...]

Maui Planning Director Jeff Hunt resigned from his post, opting to return to his earlier position as West Maui Planner with the department’s Current Planning Division. Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares today named Kathleen Ross Aoki as Hunt’s replacement. Aoki most recently served as Deputy Director. The deputy position will be filled by currently Planning Division [...]