Founder describes early days of Hawaiian language immersion program, challenges

Posted: (1:29 p.m., Saturday, April 1, 2023) The Honoapiʻilani Highway is closed in the area of Hōkiokio to Front Street due to a motor vehicle accident. The closure went into effect shortly before 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 1, 2023. There is no estimated time for when the road will be reopened.

The Mexican Mobile Consulate makes another visit to Maui to provide document services, such as for passports, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 22 and 23 at Maui Economic Opportunity in Wailuku.

Guests can greet and take a photo with the Easter Bunny, have their face painted by talented artists, and watch a magic show by Maui magician Brenton Keith on Saturday, April 8, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

(10:13 a.m., Saturday, April 1, 2023) The Honopiʻilani Highway is now OPEN at Māʻalaea Road. The road was closed earlier due to a motor vehicle accident.

Motorists on Maui will see heightened traffic enforcement April 3-14, 2023, as the MPD Traffic Division takes part in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s U Drive. U Text. U Pay. Distracted Driving awareness enforcement event. 

A statewide Sexual Assault Awareness Month sign-waving is planned for Tuesday, April 4 at various locations across the state, including an event fronting the State Building on Maui from 4:15 to 5:15 p.m.

In 1986, Kīʻope Raymond was asked to join the board of the ʻAha Pūnana Leo to found the first private, nonprofit pre-school in Hawaiian language on Maui. There are now three ‘Aha Pūnana Leo schools on Maui and pathways enabling Hawaiian immersion language students to receive instruction and graduate from Lahainaluna, Hāna, and King Kekaulike high schools. Maui Now writer Gary Kubota interviewed Raymond as part of this People of Maui series.

Governor Josh Green, M.D. today signed seven bills into law he’s calling “good government” bills, to advance the goals of ethics, lobbying, and campaign spending laws in Hawai‘i.

In a new effort to reduce waste, the Maui Marathon will be using the HydraPak SpeedCupTM instead of paper/wax cups at all of the aid stations. Organizers say, “together, participants and organizers can work to prevent single-use cups from filling our landfills or littering the roads and trails.”

The Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture has opened a grant program to support the establishment and expansion of food hubs in Hawai‘i. Proposals for the Food Hub Pilot Program are now being accepted for grants between $50,000 and $250,000 aimed at increasing the capacity of food hubs, which are centrally located facilities where food products may be aggregated, stored, processed, and marketed.

Kalakupua Playground at 4th Marine Division Memorial Park in Haʻikū will be closed for maintenance from 8 a.m. to noon April 1.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee voted Thursday to approve the State Budget Bill, also known as House Bill 300. Highlights of the budget document are posted HERE.

Maui Ocean Center is once again hosting twice weekly Aquari-Om yoga classes, with a portion of proceeds supporting sea turtle rescue and coral restoration efforts on Maui.

More than 7,500 Hawaiian Electric customers received a record $8.1 million in federal credits to reduce their energy bills, about $2.5 million more than last year.

The County of Maui Department of Liquor Control will begin accepting liquor license renewal applications starting April 1. Applications can be submitted from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at the department’s office at 110 Alaʻihi St., Room 212, in Kahului.

Hawaiʻi workforce development nonprofit ClimbHI partnered with dozens of Maui businesses and organizations to host its Leadership, Exploration, Inspiration (LEI) program on Maui today. The free daylong program was held at the Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui, with participation from all major hotels in the Wailea-Mākena area, providing exposure to a variety of careers.

Kaua‘i Emergency Management reported only a small increase in streamflow at the Hanalei Bridge, which has since decreased. Kūhiō Highway remains open and flash flooding is no longer expected to pose a threat. A flood watch remains in effect for Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau until 6 p.m. today.

Kaua‘i residents, resort guests and their families are invited to an Easter brunch buffet from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 9 at Kōloa Landing Resort in Po‘ipū. Indulge in local favorites, tickle your taste buds at the sweet shop and let the kids fill up from a special keiki buffet. Other activities, including the first Rubba Duckie Race, will also be offered.

Widespread thunderstorms with intense lightning and heavy rainfall are advancing toward Kaua‘i from the west this morning. Rainfall rates in excess of 1 inch per hour are expected, with the strongest thunderstorms capable of producing rainfall of up to 3 inches per hour. Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible.

Considerable high cloud cover will keep skies mostly cloudy through the weekend. Rather dry weather will continue over the eastern end of the state today and...

The small northwest (320 degree) swell will slowly decline through the day. A small northeast (040 degree) swell that is filling in this morning will peak later...

Experience PTA Day will offer the public a chance to learn about the training, land stewardship and community relations programs that go on at the base.

Selflessness, dedication and hard work. Those qualities and others are why the Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawaiʻi selected Hawaiʻi Police Department Puna Patrol Officer Michael Sailer as its Officer of the Year for 2022 and Hawai‘i Fire Department Capt. Jon Wayne Boteilho as its Firefighter of the Year for 2022. The two men were honored during a ceremony March 25 in Hilo.

After conferring with the Hawai’i County prosecutor's office Friday, detectives with the Hawai’i Police Department's Area I Criminal Investigation Section charged 35-year-old Joseph Diego Soares with several offenses including first-degree reckless endangering, third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug and other firearms offenses.

Considerable high cloud cover will keep skies mostly cloudy through the weekend. Rather dry weather will continue over the eastern end of the state today and...

The small northwest (320 degree) swell will slowly decline through the day. A small northeast (040 degree) swell that is filling in this morning will peak later...