New ‘robust’ Hawaiian-Alaska airlines flies aircraft too big for Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi

Maui’s economy will only gradually recover from its post-wildfire downturn while visitor industries in other counties across the state will continue to operate at high levels, according to the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization’s (UHERO) third quarter forecast for 2024.

The University of Hawai‘i Maui College Culinary Arts Program and Fairmont Kea Lani present the 24th annual Noble Chef Gala on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. The largest annual fundraiser showcasing and supporting the Maui College Culinary Arts Program at the University of Hawai‘i Maui College, the gala returns to Fairmont Kea Lani for an evening celebrating the college’s past, present and future.

East Maui residents can drop off scrap metal, appliances, propane tanks, tires and auto batteries for recycling on Friday, Sept. 20, and Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at the Hāna Recycling Center.

A Kula man has been arrested in connection with the improvised explosive devices (IEDs) discovered on Aug. 7, 2024, near Kaʻamana Street in Kula. Maui police say Jess Lee, 43, was arrested as a result of a coordinated effort between the MPD and FBI.

Kīlauea volcano continues to erupt in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park from the new fissure vent that opened just west of Nāpau Crater on Wednesday, Sept. 18, at around 3:15 p.m., according to a daily update from the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. This is the fourth vent system of this eruption. The first fissures of this eruption occurred on the night of Sept. 15 on the middle East Rift Zone.

Maui motorists are paying about seven cents more, on average, for an unleaded gallon of gas, compared with the “pain at the pump” for drivers statewide, according to AAA Hawaii Weekend Gas Watch. The average price in Kahului was $4.69 as of this morning, and it was $4.62 statewide.

The County of Maui Department of Environmental Management’s Wastewater Reclamation Division has amended the Sewer Service Status from “red,” to “green,” for several lots near Mill and Kuhua streets.

In a testament to their unwavering commitment to help residents recover after the 2023 Kula fire, the grassroots nonprofit, Mālama Kula, completed their goal of 30 straight community work days during the month of August as their way of commemorating the one year anniversary of the fire that claimed 20 homes in Kula and scorched 202 acres of land. 

The Kalalau Trail in the Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park will remain closed to visitors beyond today following the recent norovirus outbreak among park visitors, state officials announced. DLNR will be partially opening the trail to Hanakāpīʻai for day use only, beginning on Saturday, Sept. 21, prior to a full opening to be determined later. Any hiking beyond Hanakāpīʻai may result in citations or arrests. The total number of norovirus cases reported to date is approximately 50 and remaining stable.

The Hawai‘i State Department of Education announced today that 14 previously suspended school bus routes will be reinstated starting Monday, Sept. 23, restoring service for more than 250 student bus riders at 10 schools. This includes six routes in Central Oʻahu, seven routes on Hawaiʻi Island and one route in Upcountry Maui.

The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA) has announced the acquisition of Hawai‘i Stage, formerly Hawai‘i Stage & Lighting Rentals (HSLR), during its annual Native Hawaiian Convention at Hilton Waikoloa Village. Hawai‘i Stage, a full-service event production company founded in 1976, is known for its contributions to Hawai‘i’s event industry and has now relocated its operations from Mapunapuna to Kapālama, Honolulu.

The Kahaualeʻa Natural Area Reserve in Puna is closed for 90 days due to a shift in eruptive activity at Kīlauea Volcano, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife. The closure, effective immediately, may be extended if hazardous conditions continue.

Maui’s economy will only gradually recover from its post-wildfire downturn while visitor industries in other counties across the state will continue to operate at high levels, according to the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization’s (UHERO) third quarter forecast for 2024.

The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA) has announced the acquisition of Hawai‘i Stage, formerly Hawai‘i Stage & Lighting Rentals (HSLR), during its annual Native Hawaiian Convention at Hilton Waikoloa Village. Hawai‘i Stage, a full-service event production company founded in 1976, is known for its contributions to Hawai‘i’s event industry and has now relocated its operations from Mapunapuna to Kapālama, Honolulu.

The officially merged Hawaiian and Alaska Airlines have expanded Hawaiian’s former 64-aircraft fleet into a combined fleet of 350 passenger airplanes, now offering Hawaiʻi residents non-stop or one-stop flights to 128 cities and destinations like Chicago, Denver, Washington, D.C., Toronto, New Orleans, Costa Rica and Miami. But the airline merger will not bring new air service to Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Kapalua or Hāna.

Alaska Air Group, the parent company of Alaska Airlines, announced today the interim Honolulu leadership team that will guide Hawaiian Airlines operations from transaction close through a full combination of operations under a single operating certificate with two brands – Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines. Current Alaska Airlines regional president of Hawai‘i/Pacific, Joe Sprague, will be named chief executive officer of Hawaiian Airlines.

The current growth trend for the state of Hawaiʻi is slower than in past decades — and it is expected to continue to be slow in the coming years due to limited increases in population with births no longer outpacing deaths.

CDBG funds have been used to rehabilitate shelters, family centers, and for off-site infrastructure and improvements.

The center will offer comprehensive support services for Kauaʻi Community College students transferring to 4-year programs at UH campuses on Oʻahu in Mānoa and West Oʻahu and UH-Hilo on the Big Island.

The Navy wants to increase the frequency of 13 types of land-based and multi-domain training and testing activities.

Water drops continue from the air and firefighters have been able to access portions of the fire to assess hot spots.

The jet megastructure dates to a time when our universe was 6.3 billion years old, or less than half its present age of 13.8 billion years.

The current growth trend for the state of Hawaiʻi is slower than in past decades — and it is expected to continue to be slow in the coming years due to limited increases in population with births no longer outpacing deaths.

Dry conditions under gentle to breezy trade winds will be the prevailing weather pattern going into the weekend. Occasional showers will primarily focus along...

North shore surf will remain very small through the weekend until about the middle of next week when a 3 to 5 foot medium to long- period northwest swell could...

The middle East Rift Zone eruption significantly increased in volume on the afternoon of Sept. 18.