Maui County launches housing navigator program for wildfire survivors as state ends case management

The Polynesian Cultural Center marked a new chapter for its Hawaiʻi Village on Sunday, Oct. 3, with a groundbreaking ceremony for the Hawaiʻi Kauhale Project, an initiative designed to deepen guests’ understanding of traditional Hawaiian ways of life, agriculture and the enduring relationship between people and ʻāina, or land.

The resolution celebrates Filipino Americans’ rich history and the many contributions they have made to the United States, including as members of the US Armed Forces, officials in federal and state governments, and leaders of labor movements.

The new live action feature film, NARUTO!, directed by Maui’s own Destin Daniel Cretton and Lionsgate, is searching for its male and female leads, between the ages of 13 and 15. The upcoming live-action English-language feature film adaption of NARUTO!, is based on the popular Japanese manga series, written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto.

Newly released data highlights potential for a deeper Hawaiʻi-Japan economic partnership. The 2026 Hawai‘i–Japan Economic Report is the first comprehensive analysis of its kind since 1998.

Self-paced courses provide flexible opportunities for contractors and residents to build skills in heat pumps, ENERGY STAR, multi-family energy auditing and building performance.

In the men’s competition, 1,092 waves were ridden across 47 heats. Jackson Bunch (HAW) of Maui led the single-wave scores with an 8.83 in the Round of 64.

Hawaiian Electric has announced that planned outages will occur from Oct. 3 through Oct. 8 as crews replace existing copper lines with aluminum conductors along East Kamehameha V Highway between Onioni Drive and Puʻu O Hōkū Ranch. To support households who may experience food spoilage during these outages, DHS received approval from the USDA Food and Nutrition Administration to authorize replacement SNAP benefits.

Maui County began a housing navigator program Thursday for households affected by the August 2023 wildfires. It takes over case management services that the state had been providing, the county announced.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved $15 million to help the state manage hazard mitigation applications after the 2023 Maui wildfires and nearly $1.4 million for Kauaʻi County to make permanent repairs from storms in April 2018, the agency announced as part of a more than $226 million disaster funding package.

The Nareit Foundation awarded a $100,000 grants Thursday to Habitat for Humanity Maui to help rebuild fire-devastated Lahaina and for the Residential Youth Services & Empowerment for ongoing renovation of a building in Makiki to serve as a safe transitional home for former foster youths and young adults with children.

Hunters, mark your calendars — applications for the 2027 Lānaʻi Axis Deer Hunting Season will be available starting Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. Secure your spot by visiting the Department of Land and Natural Resources – Go Hunt, Hawaiʻi website.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Health announced the launch of the Hawai‘i Tobacco Quitline mobile app, called Quitlogix. The app is a new evidence-based and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)-compliant resource that makes it easier than ever for adults to access free tobacco cessation support, directly from their smartphone.