#Maui County

The Maui County Council’s Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee launched its first day of fiscal year 2027 deliberations on Wednesday in Council Chambers, beginning with an overview from the Department of Finance.

Maui County says Wailuku Water Co. should fix system damage caused by storms, but the private utility said it is financially strapped and that the county county could do the work faster under the governor’s emergency proclamation.

Eight of the nine residents at Kula Hospital’s Hale Makamae, a facility for developmentally disabled individuals, had to be moved off island.

Lahaina residents returned the favor after the Moloka’i community was among the first to respond with boatloads of emergency supplies after the fires.

Residents say more a new flood control project and better stormwater management is sorely needed.

The combination of a changing climate and development have made South Maui more susceptible to flooding over the years.

While Maui County braces for more severe weather, council members are poised to take action Friday morning on a $15 million request for emergency funding, following a Wednesday committee update on the effort to rebuild from the August 2023 Lahaina wildfire disaster.

The town’s clinic had to discard $15,000 to $20,000 worth of refrigerated vaccines and medicine, while local stores also lost thousands of dollars worth of products.

The 6-foot-4, 290-pound Kamehameha Schools Maui senior offensive lineman has grown up fast and hopes to follow in the footsteps of his older siblings, both standout collegiate athletes.

Measures would require helmets for underage riders and bar “exhibition riding” like wheelies and stunts.

A group of citizen scientists and water quality experts are working to find out what’s causing recent changes offshore.

The resort finally got tentative approval to add 137 new rooms but must meet over 30 conditions related to water, traffic and protection of potential burials.

A proposal to establish new hotel zoning districts — a move that would allow roughly 4,500 short-term vacation rentals to survive a looming phase-out — faces an uncertain future after the measure was resoundingly rejected last month by the Maui Planning Commission.

Maui County officials issued a final environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact for a $6 million project to install 5,800 feet of sewer lines and replace aging waterlines for approximately 100 lots in Waikapū.

Jona Dudoit’s win in the 126-pound final was the first state title for the Moloka‘i boys team since 2005. From the MIL, Lahainaluna senior Siana Boaz-Vasquez also won the girls 140-pound crown and Baldwin senior Niko Takitani won the boys 165-pound title.

Community members see the golf course’s plan as a way to “throw money at the problem” as disputes over water use continue.

The eight-bedroom, 12.5-bathroom home, which for years spurred community criticism over its size and potential use as a vacation rental, is offering 25% shares for $3.55 million apiece.

After two decades and 10 college football jobs, Kauha’aha’a has found a home at Brigham Young University. He was promoted to outside linebackers coach earlier this month after being a senior analyst for the Cougars for the last two seasons. 

The proposal comes at a time when Maui County is hoping to one day take over the private system used to divert streams in East Maui.

Storer earned Kamehameha Maui its first title in swimming. Sacha Salem of Maui Prep was the only other MIL swimmer to win a state title in the championship finals.