Maui News

The National Foundation for Governors’ Fitness Councils will deliver a state-of-the-art DON’T QUIT! Fitness Center valued at $100,000 to three elementary or middle schools across Hawaiʻi this year.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife is now accepting community comments on proposed amendments to rules establishing forest stewardship.

Applications for the popular Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program, which provides low-income seniors with $50 in coupons for fresh produce from Maui farmers markets, are being accepted by Maui Economic Opportunity.

Maui Family YMCA is hosting an open house and retirement celebration for Chief Executive Officer Mike Morris from 4 to 6 p.m. March 15 at the Y facility located at 250 Kanaloa Ave. in Kahului.

A new study led by researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa documents a “remarkable” recovery of the forests on the Pacific island of Tanna after Cyclone Pam and its keys to resilience.

In addition to containing the recently-renegotiated Compacts of Free Association, the package includes the text of Sen. Hirono’s Compact Impact Fairness Act to restore access to a range of federal benefits for COFA citizens who reside in the US, including nearly 20,000 in Hawaiʻi. The package, which passed in the US House of Representatives on Wednesday, now heads to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.

The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Advisory for portions of Maui, Lānaʻi and Hawaiʻi Island through 6 p.m. on Sunday, March 10, 2024. The NWS forecast calls for east winds blowing at 20-30 mph with localized gusts up to 50 mph.

The second of two Lahaina Gateway signs that were stolen shortly after the August wildfires, was returned to the Lahaina Restoration Foundation on Friday. It was found cut into three pieces, but executives say they are able to piece the sign together and will reinstall it in West Maui.

So far in 2024, NOAA has received six confirmed reports of vessel strikes to humpback whales in Hawaiʻi. Within the span of a few weeks in February, a Hawaiian spinner dolphin yearling and a humpback whale calf stranded dead in Hawaiʻi. Both of their injuries were consistent with vessel strike, according to NOAA.

The Maui Department of Water Supply issued a water conservation request of the Kīhei and Wailea areas for a 24 hour period, until Saturday, March 9, 2024.

Gov. Josh Green, M.D., named Ryan Yamane to succeed Cathy Betts as the Director of the Department of Human Services when she exits her post this May. Yamane currently serves as the deputy director of the Department of Human Resources Development. 

Electric vehicle charging rates will go into effect at 12 a.m. Monday, March 11 at the Kahului Park & Ride on Maui, the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation announced. Charging rates will be $0.44 per kWh from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and it will cost $0.57 per kWh from 5 p.m. to 9 a.m.

Maui Gold Pineapple contributed $2,000 to support Lahainaluna High School’s Robotics Team, assisting promising STEM students with travel and opportunity costs. 

The non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Maui Island was 6.2% in January 2024, compared to 5.8% the previous month, and 3% at the same time in 2023. The data was included in a new report released today from the Hawaiʻi Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

Early wildfire detection and wind sensors are on their way to Kīhei and Lahaina, public officials announced at a press conference in South Maui today.

At full capacity, the Behavioral Health Crisis Center can accommodate 16 individuals in initial crisis, with an additional nine stabilization beds. The facility will cost approximately $6.7 million per year to operate. 

A groundbreaking ceremony was held in Kāʻanapali for a secondary temporary school site for Sacred Hearts. Students have been attending classes at the Sacred Hearts Mission Church in Kapalua since their Lahaina campus next to Maria Lanakila Church was destroyed in the Aug. 8 wildfires.

Department of Human Services Director Cathy Betts will resign her state leadership role in May to become executive director of the Hawai‘i State Bar Association, the Governor’s Office announced.

Without significant flooding in February, drier and more stable weather conditions kept rainfall below average for the month in many areas of the state, including Maui County, the National Weather Service reported.

Lahaina small businesses and artisans that survived the August wildfires will benefit from “Kōkua for Maui,” an event hosted next month by Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa.