New hotel zoning clears Council committee, 6-1, despite planning commissions’ opposition

Tom Cook officially filed his nomination papers Tuesday to seek re-election to the South Maui residency seat on the Maui County Council, launching a campaign focused on housing solutions, infrastructure improvements, and building a stronger future for Maui County.

The Maui County Council’s Housing and Land Use Committee voted 6-1 Tuesday to advance new hotel zoning districts for thousands of short-term vacation rentals facing a county-mandated phase-out—overriding unanimous rejection from all three county planning commissions.

The Maui County Department of Fire and Public Safety is seeking community input as a part of our Community Risk and Preparedness Initiative. This process helps create a data-driven foundation to help guide future planning, improve emergency response, and enhance community resilience across Maui.

United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, 38, of Covington, Washington, was charged by Information today, May 26, 2026, for allegedly throwing a large rock at the seal’s head, in violation of the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act.

The deadline to file as a candidate for the 2026 Elections is Tuesday, June 2, by 4:30 p.m., leaving potential candidates just 5 business days to complete the process. The Maui County Office of the County Clerk, Elections Division, strongly encourages candidates to book a filing appointment by calling 808-270-7749. Timeslots are filling quickly.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and the Hawai‘i State Department of Health is highlighting the growing connection between nicotine use and mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, and lowered self-confidence, noting that nicotine use can contribute to or intensify these symptoms over time.

Protecting your Medicare number has never been more important. Every year, scammers target our kūpuna, using stolen Medicare information to file false claims that drain an estimated $60 billion annually.

The nonprofit homestead loan fund, Hawaiian Lending & Investments congratulates its employee of 6 years, Rolina Faagai on her transition to the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation.

Kick-off summer at Wailuku First Friday on Market Street on Friday, June 5, 2026, from 6–9 p.m. This free, family-friendly community event will feature Maui-made shopping, food, and live local entertainment in the heart of historic Wailuku Town.

Maui Food Bank is calling on community members to support local families by volunteering for the summer ʻAi Holo program, which delivers nutritious food directly to children and families across Maui County during the summer months.

“It can take years – even decades – for some people to save the money it takes to make a down payment on a home,” said Lee Wang, Executive Director of Housing Hawai‘i’s Future. “This bill gives young people hope. It gives them a better chance to stay here, to raise a family here.”

Members of the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset and fellow volunteers spent a recent Thursday helping to finish a Habitat for Humanity home for a family of wildfire survivors in Lahaina.