Lahaina’s Front Street scheduled to reopen on Aug. 1, 2026

Following legislation and efforts led by Hawai‘i US Brian Schatz, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services at the US Department of Health and Human Services announced that it will begin the process to increase the amount that hospitals in Hawai‘i can be reimbursed by Medicare for outpatient care.

The easiest answer to the question of whether lava will flow out of the caldera is — it depends!

The US Fish and Wildlife Service is downlisting the aeʻo (Hawaiian stilt) from endangered to threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The aeʻo was originally listed as endangered in 1970 due to destruction and alteration of habitat, hunting, introduced predatory animals and nonnative birds, and diseases.   

Married Maui boat captains Chrissy Lovitt and Emma Nelson, who used their vessel to pull fire survivors from the water during the Aug. 8, 2023, Lahaina wildfire, are being featured as contestants on NBC’s game show “The Wall,” where they will share their story with a national audience while competing for a cash prize of up to $12 million.

A full week of Native Hawaiian culture, conversation, music and community begins today at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center with the 25th annual Native Hawaiian Convention, July 20–22, followed immediately by the Queen Liliʻuokalani Keiki Hula Competition & Festival, July 23–25.

Following the recent completion of various improvement projects in the area, Front Street will reopen to vehicular traffic on Aug. 1, 2026. Repairs and rebuilding in the area have been ongoing since the 2023 Maui Wildfires.

A 43-year-old Pukalani man is in police custody following an alleged burglary on Vineyard Street in Wailuku reported Friday morning.  The man allegedly threatened responding officers before fleeing the scene, and is accused of resisting arrest and assaulting police during the incident.  

The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation is notifying the public that the makai lane at mile marker 9.8 on Hāna Highway (Route 360) in Waikamoi will be closed for slope protection work.

Street Bikers United Hawaiʻi Maui Chapter raised $3,700 for Pacific Cancer Foundation’s Children’s Fund through its 4th of July Weekend Biker Blowout Party, bringing the community together in support of local keiki and families facing cancer.

Joshua Hargrove, who led The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Kāʻanapali, through the 2023 Maui wildfires, has been named general manager of two Waikīkī resorts owned by Marriott International. He currently chairs the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association and previously served as chairman of the statewide Hawaiʻi Lodging & Tourism Association.

US Rep. Jill Tokuda of Hawaiʻi joined 26 of her colleagues in a joint statement ahead of a House vote on an amendment to the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act that would halt $3.3 billion in Foreign Military Financing to Israel.

A Hilo man who co-founded and led an online extremist group has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for possessing child pornography, the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaiʻi announced.