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FEMA Federal funds secured for 2300-acre Maui Fire
Maui County fire fighters battling a fast moving brush fire that had scorched 2,300 acres in the West Maui Mountains will receive federal aid. The announcement was made this morning by U.S. Senators Daniel K. Inouye and Daniel K. Akaka. The Fire Management Assistance Grant will be funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). […]
Maalaea Fire burns 2,300 acres, Hwy OPEN, but subject to intermittent closures
(Update 6 a.m. 6/9/10) Both lanes of Honoapiilani Highway are open to traffic. However, motorists are cautioned that the fire and heavy smoke may cause intermittent road closures. Maui Police will continue to post updates to Honoapiilani Highway on the road closure advisory phone line 986-1200. Fire officials report that at daylight this morning, an […]
6p 6/8/10 Alternating Traffic on Honoapiilani Hwy; Maalaea fire burns 2,000 acres
By Wendy Osher (Update 6:30 p 6/8/10) [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wl6ed3NH6Jo[/youtube] Maui Police re-opened the Honoapiilani Highway at around 6 p.m. (Tuesday, June 8, 2010) for contraflow travel using one lane of travel, following a six hour road closure. Firefighters continue to battle a 2,000 acre blaze above Maalaea that was first reported at 10 p.m. Monday. Police […]
Maui Firefighters battle second Maalaea blaze in as many days
Firefighters returned to the hills above Maalaea last night to monitor a second brush fire in as many days. The fire was reported at around 10 p.m. Monday about a quarter-mile mauka of the Honoapiilani Highway in a remote area with rugged terrain near the utility road. Because of darkness and the possibility of downed […]
Hawaiian’s new Oakland to Maui route adds 24,000 seats for summer
Hawaiian Airlines launched its first-ever non-stop flights between Oakland and Maui over the weekend. The daily flight is being offered throughout the summer and provides East Bay travelers with the convenience of direct access to the Valley Isle. It also provides a boost in air seats for Maui’s visitor industry, with a capacity to seat […]
Budget Constraints force reduced hours at Maui landfills
Reduced hours at all county landfills takes effect July 1, 2010 due to budget constraints. The reduction in service is expected to address a $1.7 million decrease in the County’s landfill operations budget for the 2011 Fiscal Year. Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares said the county worked to address union employee concerns to reach a formal […]
VIDEO: Speed skater Apolo Ohno brings Olympic hopes to Maui surfers
By Wendy Osher Olympian Apolo Ohno touched down on Maui today as part of a sweepstakes aboard Alaska Airlines. A special “Follow Apolo to Hawaii” themed-plane arrived at Kahului Airport with five winners aboard who will join Ohno in his first real vacation since his career took off. (VIDEO below from Apolo’s visit to Maui) […]
Olympian Apolo Ohno visits Maui today
Olympian Apolo Ohno visits Maui today as part of a sweepstakes in which winners get to follow the athlete to Hawaii aboard Alaska Airlines. Ohno, who won eight career medals at the Winter Olympic Games, is the most decorated winter Olympian in history. The group will be greeted by Lt. Governor James “Duke” Aiona and […]
Mama’s Fish House Restaurant & Inn wins triple honors
A longtime north shore eatery continues to garner accolades for its fine fish and seafood menu. Mama’s Fish House, located just west of Hookipa Beach Park, was recognized with two Gold awards-for “Most ‘Maui-est’” and “Best Seafood”-and a Silver award for “Restaurant of the Year” at the 2010 ‘Aipono Awards Gala held recently in Kapalua. […]
Registration Deadline for County’s Electrical Energy Storage Seminar
Today (Wednesday, June 02, 2010) is the deadline to register for an electrical energy storage seminar presented in part by the County of Maui. The event itself is a full day seminar that takes place two weeks from today on Wednesday, June 16, 2010 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at UH Maui College. It […]
Upcountry water meter Amendment aimed at efficiency
By Wendy Osher Residents on the Upcountry water meter list would have more time to complete improvements under an amendment that advanced out of committee today. The Council’s Water Resources Committee approved an amendment that gives water meter awardees a five year window to complete necessary improvements instead of the current two year parameter. Committee […]
Top bid of $55 million submitted in Makena Resort Foreclosure Auction
Wells Fargo Bank submitted the highest bid today at the court-ordered public foreclosure auction of the Makena Beach & Golf Resort. Wells Fargo Bank is the trustee for the mortgage lending trust that foreclosed on the property last year. It’s bid was for $55 million. The lending trust is owed more than $192.5 million in […]
VIDEO: Compromise on East Maui Water met with mixed emotions
By Wendy Osher A decision was reached last night to partially restore stream flows to select waterways in East Maui. The historic decision was met with mixed emotions and a call for compromise from some who had until last night, been firm in their approach for or against the sugar industry, and demands from sustainable […]
VIDEO: Three Fire Fighting Vehicles added to Maui fleet
Three fire department vehicles were blessed today with Hawaiian names reflective of the districts that they will serve. The practice of naming the firefighting fleet in the Hawaiian tradition is unique to the county of Maui. [flashvideo file=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ceePJDdN7s /] Tanker 3 which will be used to fight fire in the west Maui district was given […]
Decision made in East Maui water case
By Wendy Osher Water to six East Maui streams will be restored at varying levels, under a decision issued by the state Commission on Water Resource Management tonight (Tuesday, May 25, 2010). The commission also voted to keep instream flow standards at status quo levels at the remaining 13 East Maui streams under consideration. The […]
Real Property Tax Sale Auction, May 25
The county’s Real Property Tax division holds an auction today (Tuesday, May 25, 2010) for parcels with delinquent accounts. The properties on the tax sale list owe a combined total of $420,646 in delinquent taxes, penalties, interest and administrative costs. Properties being sold have been delinquent for three or more years and have received a […]
VIDEO: Kahului School gets $25,000 grant to recoup losses from fire
By Wendy Osher The Alexander & Baldwin Foundation today issued a $25,000 grant to Kahului Elementary School to mitigate impacts of a campus fire reported last month. The grant was presented to Kahului Elementary School Principal Fern Markgraf and a group of teachers whose students were displaced from their classrooms. [flashvideo file=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2Hzhd8A1Js /] The fire […]
Lahaina man dies after being struck by two cars
(Update: 2:45 a.m. 5/20/10) A Lahaina man died after being struck by two vehicles on the Honoapiilani Highway last night. Authorities identified the man as Rene Humberto Quijada. The accident was reported at 8:59 p.m. just north of mile marker 23 near Wahikuli Beach Park. Quijada was initially struck by a 2007 Suzuki sedan, and […]
Budget Constraints on Maui result in Holiday Pool closures
Citing budget constraints, the County of Maui, Department of Parks and Recreation announced today that it will implement the closure of all county pools on County-recognized holidays. The holiday closures will begin on Memorial Day, Monday, May 31, 2010. Additional Closures may be implemented pending details of upcoming county employee furloughs. The County currently recognizes […]
Council Approves FY 2011 Budget on First Reading
After six weeks, eight district meetings and 27 meetings in the council chambers, the Maui County council approved on first reading yesterday its version of the 2011 fiscal year budget. The vote was unanimous at 8-0. Budget Committee Chair Joseph Pontanilla said the budget committee recommendation decreases the Mayor’s proposed $530 million by an estimated […]
