#Maui Now

The Rotary Club of Maui has received the Adopt-A-Highway Nō Ka ʻOi Highway Hui Award from the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation, Highways Maui District, in recognition of the club’s “small but mighty” volunteer impact.

Kapalua Tennis Garden has announced its visitor tennis and pickleball programming and rates. The facility offers membership options, drop-in play, clinics and private lessons for players of all skill levels.

Aloha Pacific Federal Credit Union has entered into a 10-year partnership with the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, pledging significant financial support to advance the university’s esports program.

Hawaiʻi’s statewide unemployment rate remained lower than the national average in November 2025.

The USTA Hawaiʻi Pacific Section has inducted Beth Montalvo (formerly Beth Arnoult) into its Hall of Fame, honoring her with the Outstanding Player Award for her achievements in wheelchair tennis with considerations of sportsmanship and character.

New labeling requirements for macadamia nuts products sold in Hawai‘i became effective on Jan. 1, 2026, under a state law aimed at strengthening truth-in-labeling laws and giving consumers clearer information about where macadamia nuts are grown.

Maui Creative Social, a new community networking initiative hosted by Akakū, invites aspiring and experienced content creators to connect, collaborate and share ideas as part of Akakū’s Third Saturdays programming.

The Maui-based solar company HNU Energy has announced the launch of the upgraded HiVE Gen 2 Battery, a residential battery system capable of delivering up to 45 kilowatt-hours of storage in a more compact, modern design.

The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua has announced it will host Jazz & Blues Nights every Thursday in January 2026.

Since Dec. 23, 2024, the north and south vents within Halemaʻumaʻu crater, inside Kaluapele (the summit caldera), have produced 39 lava-fountaining episodes.

Akakū has announced a hands-on workshop exploring how three powerful AI tools are being used in modern creative work: Suno for music, Midjourney for visuals and ElevenLabs for voiceovers. 

Business Development Center Director David Daly was named Maui Economic Opportunity Employee of the Year at the nonprofit’s holiday gathering Dec. 19.

The US Department of Energy has recognized the Hawai‘i Green Infrastructure Authority for exceeding its clean energy financing goal under the Better Buildings & Better Plants Initiative.

Makawao’s Viewpoints Gallery will host a series of free art classes and lectures throughout January as part of its “Luminosity” show, which is based on the work of artist and educator Dick Nelson.

State Rep. Tyson K. Miyake (D-10), who represents parts of Waiehu, Paukūkalo, Wailuku, Wailuku Heights, Waikapū and Hayashi Village, was recently selected to participate in the Western Legislative Academy, a competitive leadership program for early-career lawmakers.

Starting today, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, a section of Haʻikū Road between Hamana Place and Līhau Place will be closed from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday while work is underway to repair the eroding slope embankment and replace damaged guardrails, according to the County of Maui Department of Public Works.

The Executive Office on Early Learning, in partnership with Hawaiʻi Children’s Action Network, has announced the rollout of First 5 Hawaiʻi, a statewide online platform where families with children ages 0-5 can find and connect with essential programs and services.

Common Ground Collective, a Maui-based food security nonprofit, recently announced it has harvested over 100,000 pounds of local produce in one year through its Foster Farm Program.

Officers with the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) will again conduct patrols over the New Year’s holiday to enforce laws and protect the environment, including the sacred Ahu o Laka (Kāne‘ohe Bay sandbar). 

Wailuku First Friday will kick off the new year on Friday, Jan. 2, from 6 to 9 p.m. The free event transforms historic Wailuku Town into a family-friendly celebration of music, culture, art and community.