#East Maui

By Wendy Osher (Update 4:39 p.m. 7/30/10) A dead sperm whale continues to float in waters off of Hana Maui.  The carcass was observed in waters near Makaalae Thursday afternoon, but residents say the dead whale was first seen on Tuesday, July 27, 2010. Crews from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources were […]

By Wendy Osher In a ballot that is filled with 11 mayoral candidates, three Maui council members and Maui’s OHA representative will return to office without a single challenger.  Council Members Joe Pontanilla of Kahului, Gladys Baisa of Upcountry Maui, and Danny Mateo of Molokai are uncontested in the September Primary election.  Maui’s Trustee for […]

The Maui ballot continues to take shape as the July 20th deadline for candidate filing nears.  As of Tuesday, 14 people had pulled papers for the Mayor’s race and seven had filed, confirming their candidacy—the most recent of which was Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares who made her run for re-election official on Friday.  In the […]

Actor, Zac Efron, the star of Disney’s “High School Musical”, accepted the Maui Film Festival’s Shining Star Award last night in the event’s opening-night tribute at the Celestial Cinema on the lawn of the Wailea Gold and Emerald golf course. Efron was recognized for his promising career which includes accolades from Sho West as Breakthrough […]

Posted by Wendy Osher This year’s Na Kamehameha Commemorative Pa’u Parade & Ho’olaulea each year honors the Kamehameha rulers of Hawaii.  This year, the event helped to mark 200 years of unification after Kamehameha the Great brought most of the major Hawaiian Islands under one rule. [flashvideo file=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li-z4cHFQ4s /] Part 1 of the parade features […]

The State Commission on Water Resource Management (Commission) issued its final decision and order today in the contested case to set interim instream flow standards for four west Maui streams –Waihe‘e, Waiehu, ‘Iao and Waikapu — known together as “Na Wai ‘Eha.” Decision and Order The Commission has ordered the following amended interim instream flow […]

Two Maui groups will benefit from thousands of dollars in grant funding from the county for cultural and environmental conservation efforts.  The funds include $10,000 to Na Mamo O Mu’olea for stewardship and education projects in the remote East Maui region; and $35,000 to the Tri-Isle Resource Conservation and Development Council to be used in […]

Maui’s Hamoa Beach on the East end of the island was ranked ninth on the 20th annual survey of Top Beaches released by Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, also known as Dr. Beach.  The professor from Florida International University’s Laboratory for Coastal Research selected the beaches on the list based on various factors including water and […]

Governor Linda Lingle today announced that the State has advanced more than $1.8 billion in capital improvement projects (CIP) statewide, exceeding the original goal of her Administration’s plan to accelerate public infrastructure construction to stimulate the economy and create jobs. Over the past 17 months, the State has successfully opened bids for, awarded contracts for […]

By Wendy Osher A decision was reached last night to partially restore stream flows to select waterways in East Maui.  The historic decision was met with mixed emotions and a call for compromise from some who had until last night, been firm in their approach for or against the sugar industry, and demands from sustainable […]

A historic decision was handed down on Tuesday that outlines in stream flow standards at 19 East Maui Streams. While water commission members saw it as a compromise, two of the main parties in the case have expressed concerns. Attorneys for the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation, representing taro farmers and subsistence water users, plan to […]

By Wendy Osher Water to six East Maui streams will be restored at varying levels, under a decision issued by the state Commission on Water Resource Management tonight (Tuesday, May 25, 2010). The commission also voted to keep instream flow standards at status quo levels at the remaining 13 East Maui streams under consideration. The […]

The State Commission on Water Resource Management will hold a meeting on Tuesday, May 25, in Pa‘ia, Maui, to hear public testimony and decide on a petition to amend the interim instream flow standards for 19 east Maui streams: Waikamoi, Alo, Wahinepe‘e, Puohokamoa, Haipua‘ena, Punalau, Honomanu, Nua‘ailua, ‘Ohi‘a, West Wailuaiki, East Wailuaiki, Kopili‘ula, Puaka‘a, Waiohue, […]

East Maui residents will have an opportunity to drop off their recyclable items as part of a week-long “Keeping it Clean and Green in Hana” event sponsored by Community Work Day Program (CWD), County of Maui, Hotel Hana-Maui, Maui Tire Recycling, Maui Tow & Transport, and SOS Metals Island Recycling. The collection dates are Monday, […]

By Wendy Osher The Budget and Finance Committee today reached consensus to restore funding in varying capacities for several positions that were proposed for cuts earlier this week. Budget Chair Joe Pontanilla said a number of positions were added back into the budget for varying reasons.  “The most important reason was the safety of our […]

The county will host a Hana Business Resource Day for east Maui residents on Friday, April 16, 2010.  During the event, Hana residents are encouraged to schedule counseling sessions with partners of the County’s Business Resource Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hana Community Center, council offices. Maui County Small Business Advocate […]

Mayor Charmaine Tavares today recognized several Maui men for acts of bravery in helping to save the lives of a mother and her son at Keanae on February 14, 2010. Among those recognized were:  Jeremy “Lako” Miller, of Pukalani; Kelly Ha`ole, of Makawao; and Aukai Hu`eu of Keanae. Ha`ole’s brother, Kai, was also recognized but […]

By Wendy Osher The state legislature is considering two resolutions that seek the creation of a task force to consider the merits of creating a monument to Queen Kaahumanu in Hana, Maui. Kaahumanu was born around 1770 to parents Keeaumoku and Namahana in a cave at Kauiki Hill in East Maui and was taken as […]

There’s new hope for a critically endangered forest bird on Maui.  Results from a two week survey conducted in September suggest that the Maui Parrotbill numbers are showing signs of stability. Teams from the Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project estimated there are about 20 parrotbills per square kilometer of forest, that’s more than double the […]

By Wendy Osher [flashvideo file=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_4Ts-poUxA /] [flashvideo file=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSpKjS2E_dk /] Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares issued a proclamation at a Veteran’s Day Commemorative Event at the Queen Kaahumanu Center in Kahului today.  The 2009 Maui Veterans Day event was hosted by the Maui Sons & Daughters of Nisei Veterans and included historic displays, memorabilia, and recognition of […]