Maui News

There were 63 additional COVID-19 cases in Hawai‘i on Tuesday. The latest data represents a total of 1,375 “active” cases statewide over two weeks. Maui County’s seven day average of cases peaked at 57.6 per 100,000 on Aug. 25, and has been on a steady decline since the beginning of September, dropping to 7.7 per 100,000 today.

Lifeguard towers at Oneloa “Big Beach” in Mākena have resumed operations as of this morning.

Maui Memorial Medical Center recently celebrated its newly renovated cafeteria, now named Café Laulima, with employees and providers.

Wailea Village is kicking off the season of giving by hosting a toy drive benefitting IMUA Family Services. The toy drive launches at Wailea Village’s Holiday Sunset Market on Nov. 18 from 4–7 p.m.

The 21st annual Paddle For Hunger to celebrate the aloha in the paddling community and help the Maui Food Bank will take place Nov. 24 through Thanksgiving morning in Kīhei.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is seeking the public’s assistance with obtaining identifying information regarding an unknown male who may have critical information pertaining to the identity of a child victim in an ongoing sexual exploitation investigation.

President Joe Biden signed the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill into law. The sweeping law includes at least $2.8 billion for Hawai‘i to repair roads and bridges and make them more resilient to climate change, improve public transportation options for residents, and strengthen high-speed internet access in Native Hawaiian communities and across Hawai‘i.

There were 95 additional COVID-19 cases in Hawai‘i on Monday. The latest data represents a total of 1,366 “active” cases statewide over two weeks. Maui County’s seven day average of cases peaked at 57.6 per 100,000 on Aug. 25, and has been on a steady decline since the beginning of September, dropping to 7.8 per 100,000 today.

Oprah Winfrey is back again at shopping for Maui real estate, as the billionaire media mogul has recently purchased a three-acre property in Kula on Maui that’s adjacent to the other properties she owns on the Valley Isle, according to public records.

Amazon founder and executive chairman, Jeff Bezos reportedly purchased a remote 14-acre oceanfront estate  – 12 miles south of Kīhei – the property surrounded by rocky lava fields and state parkland. 

DOCARE Chief Jason Redulla said, “We want to thank the person who reported this violation.  Unattended lay nets can indiscriminately kill all types of marine life, including seals and turtles, until it is removed from the water. This timely report prevented more marine life from getting caught in the net.” 

A public hearing to receive testimony on the proposed bill to adopt the West Maui Community Plan — the first comprehensive update to the plan in 25 years, will be held virtually on Thursday, Nov. 18 at 6 p.m.

Hawaiʻi State Federal Credit Union is accepting applications for its 2022 scholarship program, which will award $5,000 to 20 deserving Hawaiʻi students who are planning to attend a fully accredited university, college or trade/vocational school.

The Maui Police Department issued 554 citations last week during the Operation Speed Jam enforcement effort. The campaign, which began on Nov. 8, 2021, netted 354 citations for speeding, 10 excessive speeding violations, and 76 citations for speeding in a school zone.

The world’s best big wave surfers are back on call as the holding period for the World Surf League (WSL) 2021/2022 Big Wave season officially opened today.

The Japanese Cultural Society of Maui is celebrating the 20th Annual Maui Matsuri with a trio of virtual and in-person events on Nov. 15, 19 and 20.

The work of a Conservation and Resources Enforcement Officer includes inspecting the catch of fishers, checking harvested game in public hunting areas, patrolling the state’s nearshore waters on a jet ski, and responding to crimes in progress in State Parks and Small Boat Harbors.

The state Department of Health Clean Water Branch reports that heavy rain has resulted in stormwater runoff entering into coastal waters.

The State Reapportionment Commission will be holding a series of virtual public hearings on a proposed reapportionment plan for developing congressional and legislative districts lines, which will be used for the next 10 years.

Students with the University of Hawaiʻi Culinary Arts program will be busy baking 200 pies, available for the public to order for Thanksgiving.