#Photo Courtesy

By Wendy Osher Maui Police have arrested a Pukalani man on drug charges after searching a vehicle and his home last week.  Tracy Ibara, 46, was arrested on Tuesday, October 12 when police executed a search warrant on a Ford Ranger pickup truck he was operating. Authorities confiscated 287 grams of crystal methamphetamine or ice […]

By Wendy Osher Maui police arrested three people and recovered more than 2,000 grams (4.6 pounds) of crystal methamphetamine worth an estimated street value of more than $627,000 during a drug bust in Haiku last week.  Police executed a search warrant on a Haiku home at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, October 7, 2010.  There, they arrested […]

Volunteers at Maui Nui Botanical Gardens begin leading tours of the Garden’s native plantings starting today, October 5th, 2010, as part of its new education program “Ulu Ka Hoi” (to grow interest).  Tours cover conservation, natural history and ethnobotanical uses of native and Polynesian introduced plants, as well as the Gardens’ current projects in each […]

Heavy debris and rainwater Friday morning flowed from a culvert at Kamaole II Beach Park, forcing the closure of shoreline waters off of Kamaole I and II Beach Parks in South Maui.  The surge in water runoff from the culvert caused shoreline water conditions to be dark, murky and contain unseen debris creating a safety […]

5:40 p.m. 9/12/10 All lanes of travel are open on Haleakala Hwy. Traffic signal repaired & functioning properly following vehicle accident. Update: 3:30 p.m. 9/12/10 All lanes of travel are open on Haleakala Hwy. Entry onto Haliimaile Rd from Haleakala Hwy is blocked due to traffic signal repair in progress. Estimated time of closure is […]

The Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) proposes the introduction of a moth (Secusio extensa) into Hawaii as a natural enemy and biological control agent for the fireweed plant. Fireweed is an invasive plant that is toxic to livestock, and quickly infests heavily grazed or neglected pastures, and even cultivated land. The release of the moth […]

The Maui Nui Botanical Gardens hosts a Kalo (Taro) workshop lead by Hawaiian cultural practitioner and mahi`ai (farmer) Jerry Konanui as part of its new education program, “Ulu Ka Hoi” (to grow interest).   This three day event will educate local farmers and practitioners on the varieties of kalo available, techniques to identify these varieties, […]

The Board of Land and Natural Resources, Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands, holds a hearing today for the proposed Advanced Technology Solar Telescope planned for construction atop Haleakala on Maui.  The meeting gives the public an opportunity to provide testimony on the project’s Conservation District Use Application. Some concerns that have been raised are […]

There’s free admission to Haleakala National Park this weekend (August 14 and 15, 2010).  The fee-free days are designed to invite new audiences to the parks and to encourage fitness and outdoor recreation.  The fee waiver covers entrance, commercial tour fees, and transportation entrance fees.   The National Park Service and Haleakala National Park will be […]

By Wendy Osher  (4:30p 8/11/10 Update):  Battalion Chief Karl Kubo called the Ukumehame brush fire 90% contained. Crews will continue to monitor the area tonight. (Update: 9:45 a.m. 8/11/10) Maui firefighters are now conducting mop-up operations after two fires in West Maui forced the four hour closure of the Honoapiilani Highway last night.  A fire […]

By Wendy Osher  (Update: 9:45 a.m. 8/11/10) Maui firefighters are now conducting mop-up operations after two fires in West Maui forced the four hour closure of the Honoapiilani Highway last night.  A fire at Ukumehame burned a total of 20 acres, while a separate blaze at Launiupoko burned an estimated 2 acres and burned two […]

By Wendy Osher (4:15 p.m. 8/6/10) The Kehalani fire that started just before midnight, remains at 60 acres and no injuries are reported.  There was damage reported to waterlines connected to the ‘Iao Water Treatment Facility, which has been shut down while lines are repaired.  The shutdown does not currently affect water customers in the area. Fire […]

Another Maui endorsement has been made.  The International Longshore & Warehouse Union Local 142 political action committee has endorsed State Representative Joe Bertram III for re-election to the District 11 state house seat.  Bertram, who is the incumbent for the seat, faces two other democratic challengers:  Johanna Amorin and Netra Halperin, as well as a […]

Big Island police arrested three people during a meth bust early Monday morning.  Puna police recovered 52 grams of crystal methamphetamine or ice, approximately $1,800 in cash, and drug paraphernalia including glass pipes, a digital scale and re-sealable plastic bags, during a search of a vehicle on Pahoa Village Road.  30-year-old Joshua Kaahu of Honolulu […]

By Wendy Osher Maui Police arrested a man this morning wanted in connection with a fatal shooting reported in Kaupo nine months ago.  Robert J. Chiarizia was arrested without incident at a camp site in the remote Kaupo region at 5:49 this morning (Monday, July 26, 2010).  Chiarizia was identified as a suspect in the […]

Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares received the endorsement of the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers (SHOPO) on Friday, July 23, 2010. SHOPO has 2,800 members statewide with nearly 400 in Maui County. In making the announcement, SHOPO President Tenari Ma’afala called Mayor Tavares’ ability to build positive working relationships as a key to the […]

Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares will sign a new ordinance into law today, restricting use of cell phones and mobile electronic devices while driving.  Maui becomes the last county in the state to implement such a ban.  The law allows the use of cell phones if they are operated with a hands-free device, such as Bluetooth […]

A final environmental assessment has been accepted for the county’s plans to license the Youth Center at the Lahaina Recreation facility to the West Maui Boys & Girls Club.  Because there are membership fees and age limits, the county space would be taken out of protection for public use.  The county proposes to mitigate the […]

Firefighters returned to the hills above Maalaea last night to monitor a second brush fire in as many days.  The fire was reported at around 10 p.m. Monday about a quarter-mile mauka of the Honoapiilani Highway in a remote area with rugged terrain near the utility road.  Because of darkness and the possibility of downed […]

Hawaiian Airlines launched its first-ever non-stop flights between Oakland and Maui over the weekend.  The daily flight is being offered throughout the summer and provides East Bay travelers with the convenience of direct access to the Valley Isle.  It also provides a boost in air seats for Maui’s visitor industry, with a capacity to seat […]