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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.

The Lahaina office of the County of Maui Department of Finance Division of Motor Vehicles & Licensing is temporarily closed today, Thursday, Dec. 19, due to a staffing shortage.

Maui Ocean Center employees helped reintroduce 1,500 native plants on the island of Kahoʻolawe last week under the guidance of the Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission (KIRC).

The US Department of Transportation has released an additional $250 million to the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) as part of its Amended Full Funding Grant Agreement signed in February. The funding follows February’s initial release of $125 million and was delivered after HART completed the contract award for the City Center Guideway and Stations.

The Maui County Planning & Coordinating Council, the umbrella organization of leaders from kūpuna clubs countywide, met for a meeting to install new officers and to enjoy some holiday festivities Wednesday, Dec. 11, at Maui Economic Opportunity in Wailuku.

Implementation of Mobile Passport Control has been successfully launched at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation announced. The mobile app, developed by US Customs and Border Protection, allows eligible travelers to expedite their entry into the United States.

US Sen. Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) voted on Wednesday to pass the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act in the US Senate, which includes several key provisions for Hawaiʻi and the Indo-Pacific region, US military service members and the maintenance and modernization of Department of Defense infrastructure.

A small group of Wai Side farmers has announced a new farmers market making its debut Sunday.