Featured
Recruit Class 27th Joins the Ranks of the Maui Fire Department
By Wendy Osher The Maui Fire Department added 13 new firefighters to their ranks today. Members of the 27th recruit class graduated in a ceremony held at the Grand Wailea Resort. A total of four recruit training awards were issued today based on written and functional skills course examinations, evaluations, and final examinations. Earning honors […]
MCC Renamed University of Hawaii Maui College
Maui Community College has a new name. MCC drops its Community College Status and becomes the University of Hawaii Maui College. The name change was approved by the University of Hawaii Board of Regents during their monthly meeting held today on Oahu. The change was proposed to accurately represent the college’s programs and services that […]
Hana Construction Program Earns Innovation Award from Governor
A construction program based in Hana, Maui was awarded one of three Innovation Awards presented by Governor Linda Lingle this month. The Ma Ka Hana Ka ‘Ike or “In Working, One Learns” training program was established 10 years ago to help at-risk students in Hana acquire construction trade skills. Students have helped build kupuna cottages […]
Preliminary ID Made on Body Recovered from Iao Valley
By Wendy Osher An autopsy will be performed later today (Thursday, February 18, 2010) on a body recovered from Iao Valley Wednesday afternoon. Preliminary identification of the victim was made based upon a driver’s license found nearby. Authorities the autopsy will be used to confirm identity and should reveal circumstances surrounding the death. Lt. John […]
Familiar Maui Faces Resurface on 2010 Campaign Trail
By Wendy Osher Some familiar names have surfaced on the campaign trail as election season gets underway on Maui. While as many as 20 people had pulled papers, only two had filed for candidacy so far, according to the last candidate report issued Thursday, February 11, 2010 by the State Office of Elections. Board of […]
VIDEO: Whole Foods Market Offers List of Local Maui Products
Posted by Wendy Osher [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZusWmlG-c9w[/youtube] Maui Media toured the new Whole Foods Market in Kahului today that will become the chain’s first Maui store when it officially opens on February 24th. The 26,366 square-foot store will offer an array of natural and organic health and body care products. The inventory includes products from 44 local […]
Tavares Testifies: Maui Shortfall will Jump to $73 Million Without TAT Revenues
By Wendy Osher Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares will testify today before the House of Representatives’ Committee on Finance at the State Capitol. Tavares is expected to comment on House Bill 2598 Relating to Transient Accommodations Tax or TAT- which proposes to suspend the distribution of revenues to the counties. The three year suspension, if approved, […]
Maui Files Suit Claiming it was Stranded with $44 Million in Debt Securities
By Wendy Osher The County of Maui is demanding a jury trial in a lawsuit it filed last week against Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Inc. The county claims it was stranded with $44.2 million in debt instruments when the firm abandoned its practice of supporting auctions for the SLARS or Student Loan Auction […]
2009 EA SPORTS Maui Invitational Generates $6 Million for Maui Economy
The 2009 EA SPORTS Maui Invitational basketball tournament hosted by Chaminade University, generated an estimated $6 million in visitor spending and revenue for Maui businesses. According to the latest data released by the Maui Visitor’s Bureau, the tournament welcomed thousands of out-of-state visitors, each spending an average of six days on Maui. Since its inception, […]
VIDEO: Tavares Issues Challenge on TAT in her State of the County Address
By Wendy Osher In her fourth State Of The County Address today, Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares challenged the state administration and the Legislature to examine other sources of revenue before cutting the counties share of income from the hotel room tax. [flashvideo file=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDRaZ3pm-UY /] “Taking away the TAT revenue from the counties breaks a promise […]
Judge Orders Makena Beach & Golf Resort to be Sold at Auction
The Makena Beach and Golf Resort will be sold at auction under an order issued by a Maui Judge. Circuit Court Judge Shackley Raffetto appointed Honolulu real estate developer and broker Cris Lau as Commissioner to sell the property in an effort to satisfy the unpaid mortgage dept on the property. The marketing company for […]
Maui January Home Sales Down After 17 Month High
Posted by Wendy Osher Home sales on Maui dropped in January to 46 following December’s 17-month high of 90 homes sold. Officials at the Realtor’s Association of Maui say the results were possibly caused by sellers and buyers timing transactions to close in 2009 for tax reasons. Home prices also slipped slightly in January to […]
Hawaiian Homelands Casino Bill Introduced by Carroll of Maui
Representative Mele Carroll (House District-13th) of Maui, Chairwoman of the House Committee on Native Hawaiian Affairs, introduced a bill that, if passed, would give the Hawaiian Homes Commission the right to build and operate gaming facilities on Hawaiian Home Lands with the approval of the beneficiaries. HB 2759 specifies that 20% of revenue would go […]
A&B Net Income is Down Two-Thirds in 2009
Posted by Wendy Osher Earnings at Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. (NYSE:ALEX) for 2009 were down about two thirds from the previous year. Net income for the company dropped from $132.4 million in 2008 to just $44.2 million in 2009. Meantime, revenue for the full year 2009 was $1,404.8 million, compared to revenue of $1,879.8 million […]
Task Force Proposed to Consider Creation of Queen Kaahumanu Monument in Hana
By Wendy Osher The state legislature is considering two resolutions that seek the creation of a task force to consider the merits of creating a monument to Queen Kaahumanu in Hana, Maui. Kaahumanu was born around 1770 to parents Keeaumoku and Namahana in a cave at Kauiki Hill in East Maui and was taken as […]
Mayor Proclaims February “Got Choice… Think Local” Month on Maui
Mayor Charmaine Tavares issued a proclamation today declaring February “Got Choice… Think Local” month in the County of Maui. The proclamation kicked off the county campaign, which promotes the support of Maui businesses and encourages the public to keep their dollars circulating within the community. Promotions featured during the month-long campaign include incentives like a […]
MCC Adds 769 Students, Enrollment up 24 Percent
Maui Community College registered 4,078 students, a gain of 769 or 23.2 percent. MCC reported the greatest enrollment increase behind Windward Community College where enrollment increased 24.3 percent. Statewide, the 55,761 students at the 10-campus University of Hawaii System set an all-time record for spring enrollment. Spring enrollment increased for a third straight year, with […]
REVIEW: Halau O Kekuhi Furthers Repertoire in Hi’iaka Wahinepo’aimoku
By Jade Moss A young girl’s quest to find herself lies at the heart of the opera-length hula drama, Holo Mai Pele: Hi’iaka Wahinepo-aimoku and, as Hawaiian myth would have it, she transcends physical limitations and evolves to flourish into a goddess. Bringing the legend of Pele and her youngest sister, Hi’iaka, back to contemporary […]
Honokalani Fire Causes $50,000 Damage
Hana firefighters responded to a fire first reported at 1:58 p.m. Sunday, January 31, 2010, that caused an estimated $50,000 in damages to a two bedroom home on Honokalani Road. Fire officials estimate damages caused by the fire to be $40,000 to the structure and $10,000 to contents. The structure was described as a 400 […]
Wailuku Couple Displaced by Morning Fire
By Wendy Osher A Wailuku couple was displaced from their residence when a fire this morning damaged their second floor studio ‘ohana unit. The fire was reported by a neighbor who saw smoke coming fro the 1764 Nani Street Residence, located near the Wailuku bridge. Firefighters were on scene within two minutes and had the […]
