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Maui County hotels had the lowest occupancy rates of Hawai‘i’s four counties at 58.9%, more than 10 percentage points less than the statewide hotel occupancy rate of 69.2%. It’s further evidence that Maui “tourism is really suffering,” as University of Hawai‘i economics professor Carl Bonham said recently.

The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, in collaboration with Hawai‘i Stage and HI Lights Design has announced the launch of the Production Arts Technical Training Program, an initiative designed to equip local talent with essential skills needed for careers in live entertainment and stage production.

The inauguration of the Maui County Council for the 2025-2027 term will be held Jan. 2 at 10 a.m. at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center’s Castle Theater.

Seabury Hall’s sixth grade English teacher, Gayle Martelles, is retiring after 35 years teaching at the school, said an announcement on Friday.

The lawsuit claims the Clerk’s Office failed to follow the law related to the review of voter signatures on return identification envelopes, thereby improperly invalidating signatures. The Clerk’s Office asserts that all laws and administrative rules were followed.

Twelve-year-old Maui athlete, Micah Diaz earned the gold medal in the Intermediate 80 pound division of the 2024 USA Boxing National Championships on Thursday.  The 7th grader from Lokelani Intermediate School is a member of the South Side Boxing Club of Maui.

A total of 22 firefighter recruits graduated from the Maui Fire Department’s 25-week training program as members of the 40th Recruit Class. The ceremony was held on Friday, Dec. 20, in Wailea.

Julie Strong has been appointed chief fiscal officer of Maui Economic Opportunity.

Maui’s labor market is generally improving, although the county’s post wildfire disaster labor force and employed people have been declining, Chief State Economist Eugene Tian said Wednesday. In November, Maui County’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.8%, down from 6.8% in November 2023.

Ellis Bloyer, Sale Ioakimi, Les Johnson, Quinn Whitford, and Rhett Wiseman completed a 12-week long training program that covered an extensive variety of ocean rescue skills.

The local fishing community is encouraged to help shape the future of nearshore fishing in Hawaiʻi, by engaging with the Reef Habitat Plan, a statewide initiative to improve nearshore fish habitat in areas of need.

Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen will travel out of the state from this morning, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, until the morning of Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024.

A 47-unit, $20 million educational workforce housing project is set to open with its first units available in July 2025. Full completion is expected by spring 2026. Students, staff members and administrators at the four public West Maui schools are encouraged by the news.

For the 11th year in what has become an annual tradition, Jim Falk’s Valley Isle Motors hosted more than 200 children and their families this week and presented each child with a new bicycle and helmet as an early Christmas present. The Ford dealership’s showroom was empty of cars but filled with bikes of all sizes and a sea of smiling children.

A magnitude-3.7 earthquake was reported near the village of Hāna on the Island of Maui at 8:44 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19. The earthquake was widely felt on Maui, Island of Hawai‘i, and Moloka‘i. Earthquakes in this region are not common but have occurred occasionally. These earthquakes are caused by bending of the crust beneath the islands and associated adjustments related to the weight of the islands. 

The County of Maui recently received awards for distinguished budget presentation and excellence in financial reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association.

The US Senate has passed the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act, which includes several provisions secured by US Sens. Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz.

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation is providing notice of its intent to declare a traffic emergency zone on Kamehameha V Highway (Route 450) at mile post 18.7 in the vicinity of Waialua Stream on Molokaʻi, for emergency road repairs.

Oao Sushi Go celebrated its grand opening on Dec. 8 at the Puʻunēnē Shopping Center in Kahului, Maui. Locally owned and operated by Chef Bernardo Oao Jr., Oao Sushi Go’s story began as a humble food truck serving innovative sushi dishes that quickly garnered a loyal following. The food truck’s success led to opening the first brick-and-mortar location in Wailea. With this second location, Chef Oao brings his vision and flavors of Oao Sushi Go to Central Maui.

Good news for lobster lovers. Maui Lobster King has opened at the Azeka Shopping Center in Kīhei.