Maui police lieutenant charged with allegedly taking bribes to protect chicken fighting and drug operations

Michael Vaituʻulala, 53, a lieutenant with the Maui Police Department, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, according to an announcement today from the United States Attorney Ken Sorenson.

The Hawai‘i Education Association recently awarded scholarships to three Maui educators: Arica Lynn, Erin Rodrigues and Stephanie Keseday.

Hawaiʻi Resilience & Recovery Funder Collaborative grows out of Maui’s yearlong recovery model to bring 35+ funders onto one shared application.

Application period now open for first-of-its-kind butchery and meat preservation training at the Diamond Head campus of Culinary Institute of Pacific on Oʻahu; participants can learn from nationally recognized instructors.

Friends of Richard Bissen announced the endorsement of the Hawaiʻi Longshore Division of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) in Mayor Richard Bissen’s campaign for re-election.

The Maui Police Department confirmed the arrest of Lt. Michael Vaituʻulala by federal authorities on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Hawaiʻi plans to issue a statement tomorrow, once the complaint has been unsealed.

The victim, a 63-year-old Lahaina male, succumbed to his injuries at the scene. Review of surveillance footage reveals that at approximately 1:45 a.m., a 20-year-old Lahaina man without clothing approached the victim’s office and brutally attacked him before feeling on foot.

Following two recent detections in Central Maui, the Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC) is urging the community to remain alert for invasive coconut rhinoceros beetles (CRB).Following two recent detections in Central Maui, the Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC) is urging the community to remain alert for invasive coconut rhinoceros beetles (CRB).

A teen visitor from Canada was rescued from waters at Puʻu Kekaʻa “Black Rock” in Kāʻanapali on Tuesday evening. The incident was reported at 5:47 p.m. on Aug. 4, 2026 about 100 yards from shore.

Two West Maui Rotary Clubs collaboratively organized school supply drives over the weekend to support children in need. Over the course of two days, they successfully collected 12 bags and boxes of school supplies and raised more than $1,500 in donations.

Hawaiian Electric crews will perform an urgent pole replacement along the Hāna Highway between Hanamau Street and Hanakai Street in Kahului following a vehicle-pole incident. The work may impact traffic flow on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Maui officers responded to a residence on Hoʻowaiwai Loop in Wailuku regarding a 36-year-old Wailuku man who had allegedly violated an Order for Protection and barricaded himself inside. The incident was reported at around 8:08 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026.