Featured

The votes could make a difference in the US Senate race where just 1,635 votes separate Brain Schatz from Colleen Hanabusa in the Democratic primary.

Maui County continues to have the lowest voter turnout in the state with just 32.2% of the county’s 85,581 registered voters turning out to cast ballots.

A visitor from Argentina was airlifted from the Kailua area of East Maui on Sunday after suffering injuries while hiking in the area often referred to as the “Bamboo Forest.”

Maui County Civil Defense and Mayor Alan Arakawa have announced the all clear for residents as the tropical storm warning for the county was canceled this afternoon. Tropical Storm Iselle dispersed after hitting the Big Island last night and stopping the storms progression to Maui; however the Mayor still urged caution in the coming days.

The National Weather Service says radar at 1:23 a.m. showed moderate to heavy rain along the windward slopes of Haleakalā. Additional rain bands will continue to move over east Maui over the next several hours.

Mike Cantin with the National Weather Service said that dangers on land with strong winds and flooding potential, and on the sea with high waves and storm surge along the coast make the system a threat.

Mayor Arakawa asked that residents stay indoors this evening. “Civil Defense has recommended that no one, except for emergency personnel be out on the roads past 9 p.m.,” he said during the press conference. “This is very important, as we are expecting damaging tropical storm force winds of up to 60 mph, as well as potential life-threatening flash floods and rock and mudslides.”

The impacts—in the form of heavy rain, strong winds, and storm surge—are anticipated to begin as early as 4 p.m. on Hawaiʻi Island today, with the center of the storm passing over the Big Island of Hawaiʻi in the late afternoon to evening hours.

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center says the onset of tropical storm conditions are expected over Maui County tonight, with very large damaging surf expected along mainly east and south shores starting late tonight.

There is no tsunami threat to Hawaiʻi following a 4.5 (upgraded from a 4.2 preliminary magnitude) earthquake reported at 6:24 a.m. HST on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2014, in the Kohala region of the Big Island of Hawaiʻi, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

The mayor’s office announced that it will be sending home all non-emergency county employees at noon on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2014, with the possible exception of county elections employees.

Iselle is now located about 625 miles ESE of Hilo, Hawaiʻi. The system still has maximum sustained winds of 90 mph with present movement towards the WNW at 16 mph. Heavy rain is expected Thursday and Friday, with an anticipated 5 to 8 inches.

It allows easier access to emergency resources at the state and federal levels, along with the suspension of certain laws as needed for emergency purposes.

The following is a summary of closures in Maui County due to impending tropical storms Iselle and Julio.

Once the storm begins to impact the islands, emergency responders may not be able to assist those in danger.

A Flood Potential Outlook for the state says heavy rain and flash flooding are possible Thursday and Friday. A tropical storm warning was also issued for offshore waters between 40 and 240 nautical miles around Hawaiʻi.

Per person per day spending on Maui was up 2.3% to $199.60 in June, and up 6.4% in the first six months of the year to $205.90…

At this time county officials anticipate a mid-level tropical storm with sustained winds of 50 mph, potential flash flooding and high surf.

The ʻOheʻo Stream in the Kīpahulu section of Haleakalā National Park in East Maui will be closed beginning on Tuesday, August 5, 2014, while crews service monitoring equipment.

Council Member Riki Hokama is calling on Hawaiʻi elected officials in Congress to support and advocate for long-term transportation funding to make sure counties can invest in significant infrastructure for the community.