#maui–news

Nonprofit The Friends of the Library of Hawai‘i on Wednesday presented the Mahalo Award to State Sen. Lynn DeCoite, recognizing her support of Hawai‘i’s public libraries. The Mahalo Award is given annually to a legislator who has demonstrated exemplary support of Hawai‘i’s public libraries during the prior legislative session.

The Local Food Coalition today announced its support for key bills introduced in the Hawai‘i State Legislature that align with the coalition’s efforts to grow Hawai‘i’s local food system.

Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows will host an international pop-up dinner series themed for Maui as “A Culinary Journey Through Hawai‘i’s Cultural Heritage” with Emmy Award-winning TV personality Lanai Tabura.

A recent statewide survey confirms that a vast majority of Hawai‘i residents support the implementation of paid family and medical leave and are even willing to pay their fair share to have this benefit.

Volunteers are invited to flow with an Upcountry water catchment project the next two weekends. Participants can help install two 15,000-gallon catchments at Kēōkea-Waiohuli Hawaiian Homelands starting at 9 a.m. this Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. An additional two-day work session will be held on Feb. 24-25, 2025.  

The UH Maui College Lānaʻi Education Center currently serves 84 students, 64 of whom are Early College students from Lānaʻi High & Elementary School.

Artists are invited to submit entries to the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife for the 2025-26 Hawaiʻi Wildlife Conservation and Game Bird Stamp annual art contest. 

The Shops at Wailea invites guests to celebrate the Lunar New Year on Thursday, Feb. 6, with a performance by Oʻahu’s renowned Au’s Shaolin Arts Society.

A resource fair for students with disabilities will be hosted at UH Maui College Pilina Events Center on Thursday, Feb. 27, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

The Lahaina Restoration Foundation, in collaboration with the Wo Hing Society, invites the community to welcome the Lunar New Year of the Snake with a vibrant, family-friendly celebration. This free event will take place on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, from 2 to 7 p.m. at the Lahaina Cannery Mall – in the outside grass area.

The Shops at Wailea has an exciting array of experiences to celebrate the holidays with the ʻohana throughout February.

Hawaiʻi ranked eighth best among the states in key health measures, according to America’s Health Rankings 2024 Annual Report. While Hawaiʻi has maintained its status as one of the nation’s healthiest states, the latest ranking is a drop from sixth place in 2023.

Members of the bipartisan Hawaiʻi Women’s Legislative Caucus led a panel discussion Wednesday in collaboration with the YWCA of Oʻahu to present their 2025 legislative package.

The first Kīhei 4th Friday of 2025 takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. on Jan. 24 at Azeka Shopping Center Mauka. Enjoy live music, food booths and trucks, art, crafts and local shopping.

Maui County organizations Hāna Arts, Hanona, Hui Noʻeau Visual Arts Center, Hui O Waʻa Kaulua, Maui Public Art Corps, Lānaʻi Academy of Performing Arts, and Hōkūlani Children’s Theatre of Molokaʻi all have received grants from the Hawai‘i Community Foundation through its Equitable Access Arts & Culture program.

This festive season brought blessings to 14 spiritual centers affected by the 2023 fires in Lahaina, as Lele Aloha, a 501(c)(3) organization founded by renowned waterman Archie Kalepa, announced a generous donation totaling $240,000.

The Hui No‘eau Visual Arts Center’s annual juried exhibition will be on display Jan. 17 through Feb. 21, 2025, with an opening reception to be held on Friday, Jan. 17 from 5 to 7 p.m. A walk through with juror Abigail Romanchak will be held Friday, Jan. 17 from 4 to 5 p.m.

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa nursing students Cedric Abad and Sandra Xiao credit their six-week internship at Molokaʻi General Hospital this past summer with transforming their career aspirations and deepening their commitment to healthcare.

Maui native Jarrett A. Dempsey has been promoted to partner at Cades Schutte LLP, the firm announced Tuesday, alongside two other promotions in its Honolulu office’s Litigation and Trusts & Estates departments.

Wailuku’s Empower Fitness Maui was recently awarded a small-business grant from the Human Rights Campaign, which supports LGBTQ+ business owners and strives to eliminate barriers to economic success and LGBTQ+ equality.