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Posted by Wendy Osher (Update: 9:30 p.m. 5/3/10) Firefighters remain on the scene of a brush fire in Ukumehame / Olowalu that burned at least 100 acres since it was first reported at around 2:30 p.m. on Monday April 3, 2010. For safety reasons, all helicopter operations ended at nightfall. There are still no evacuations […]

By Wendy Osher Federal stimulus funds are credited for creating more than 2,566 jobs in Hawaii in the first quarter of the year—that according to the clearinghouse that tracts the data.  442 of the jobs were created through federal stimulus contracts, with the remaining 2,124 jobs created through stimulus grant funding in the first quarter […]

By Wendy Osher The council’s budget and finance committee spent time yesterday debating grant funding for the Wailuku Main Street Association/Tri–Isle Main St. Resource Center. Council member Michael Molina questioned reasons for repeated cuts noting a 10% cut in each of the last two fiscal years, and a proposed cut of 25% in FY2011.  Budget […]

By Wendy Osher The Budget and Finance Committee today reached consensus to restore funding in varying capacities for several positions that were proposed for cuts earlier this week. Budget Chair Joe Pontanilla said a number of positions were added back into the budget for varying reasons.  “The most important reason was the safety of our […]

By Wendy Osher The Budget and Finance Committee today heard a proposal that adjusts the fare for passes on the Maui Bus and maintains the free service for riders that utilize the MEO bus. The proposal calls for a new $20 per month fare for passengers who use the Loop and Villager routes.  Currently, there […]

By Wendy Osher The council’s budget committee continues deliberations today (Wednesday, April 28, 2010) following several hours of testimony yesterday on the 2011 Budget.  Department heads expressed concern over recently announced plans to cut an additional 60 positions that were reported as vacant by the Department of Personnel Services. Several of the departments sighted discrepancies […]

Tourism in Hawaii is stabilizing according to Tourism Liaison Marsha Wienert who responded to statistics released for March 2010.  The monthly statistics Wienert said represented the largest increase in visitor spending in four years, benefiting nearly every sector of the economy. “March, boosted by spring break, brought increased visitor arrivals and slightly higher per person […]

[flashvideo file=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_zrGybsZrw /] The 18th Annual East Maui Taro Festival is a favorite for many who take pride in the culture and lifestyle found in Heavenly Hana.  The event featured vendors from across the island, and food booths selling favorite flavors including furikake crusted mahi, poke balls and fresh pounded poi from Kipahulu.  Our very […]

By Wendy Osher The state legislature did not vote before Friday’s deadline on a proposal to take the county’s share of the Transient accommodation tax or TAT.  Now it’s a wait and see situation as county mayors across the state monitor the latest developments. “We’re not out of the woods quite yet,” said Maui Mayor […]

By Wendy Osher A Draft Environmental Impact Statement has been filed for the controversial Honuaula Development in South Maui. The project gained approvals by the council two years ago after decades of discussion, legal challenges and debate over zoning. The master-planned community is proposed for development on land located at the border of Kihei and […]

By Wendy Osher The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is proposing the designation of more than 15-hundred acres on Maui for inclusion in the Natural Area Reserve system.  The land is located in the Nakula region of Haleakala and includes a tract of Koa dominated forest that state officials say is rapidly disappearing […]

Macy’s Parade officials today announced that they have selected the Hawai‘i All-State Marching Band to perform in the 2011 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.  The band, composed of 400 students from across the state, will entertain millions of spectators on Thursday, November 24, 2011. The Hawai‘i All-State Marching Band under the leadership of John Riggle, is […]

Governor Linda Lingle today announced that the State is moving forward with plans to build an estimated $235 million jail facility in Puunene, Maui.  The project, planned for location within the former Puunene Airport area along Mokulele Highway, is aimed at replacing the aged and overcrowded existing Maui Community Correctional Center and provide for anticipated […]

By Wendy Osher [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YgpP5BPRWA[/youtube] Seniors and disabled residents showed up in force at the county building Tuesday morning (April 20, 2010) to speak out against proposed cuts to a portion of funding for the MEO bus system.  Maui Economic Opportunity currently provides transportation services to the elderly, disabled and under served groups. “No wheels, no […]

By Wendy Osher Lanai Councilman Sol Kahoohalahala is the latest contender to express interest in the Mayor’s race.  He made the announcement of his intent to run before a small gathering of kupuna on Maui on Sunday. Kahoohalahala currently serves as Chair of the council’s Planning Committee and vice-chair of the council’s committee on Economic […]

By Wendy Osher The County’s Air Ambulance could be saved under a proposal raised today before the Council’s Budget and Finance Committee. After initially requesting the elimination of the service last month, Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares issued a follow up request to utilize real property revenues combined with emergency funds to cover the county’s share […]

By Wendy Osher It’s back to class this morning for students at Kahului School.  DOE area superintendent Bruce Anderson tells Pacific Radio Group and MauiNOW.com that school will resume as usual today following a fire Sunday that destroyed three classrooms. The fire was reported just a few minutes before 1 a.m., crews were on scene […]

By Wendy Osher Discussions continue on a recommendation to keep the Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve closed after current restrictions are set to expire on July 31, 2010. DLNR began enforcing the two year closure on access to the majority of the reserve, including unofficial trails to Kalua o Lapa, Kalaeloa, and Mokuha on August 1, […]

A four-month, $1.36 million road improvement project gets underway this weekend on Kamehameha Avenue in Kahului.  The project involves reconstruction of Kamehameha Avenue between Puunene Avenue and Hana Highway. The project will be conducted in multiple phases.  While work is planned during the night time hours, most phases require detours and daytime closures.  County officials […]

(Posted by Wendy Osher; Supporting Information courtesy Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts) The Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts today announced nominees for the 2010 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards.  Maui kumu hula Uluwehi Guerrero garnered a total of seven nominations for his third album, Uluwehi Sings Na Mele Hula Aloha, which was released after a nine-year […]