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Planning officials say some residents are waiting for the bill to pass in order to rebuild their properties.

Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows will host an international pop-up dinner series themed for Maui as “A Culinary Journey Through Hawai‘i’s Cultural Heritage” with Emmy Award-winning TV personality Lanai Tabura.

A bill to exempt state-financed housing developments from county council approval has passed second reading on the Hawaiʻi Senate floor and advanced to the Ways and Means Committee.

The Carbon Smart Program has awarded a total of $1,000,000 to 10 grantees to develop and implement plans for regenerative sustainable practices, particularly carbon sequestration (capturing, securing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere). The program is a pilot initiative to promote the preservation and enhancement of ranches, forests and farmlands in Hawaiʻi,

The Fair Funding for Rural Hospitals Act would establish a national federal funding minimum for disproportionate share hospitals.

When an earthquake strikes in Hawaiʻi, there are three agencies that analyze the earthquake for its location and magnitude. Typically, the earliest earthquake information will be from automated solutions generated by computer algorithms from PTWC and HVO. Human analysts from HVO and NEIC will then review the magnitude-2.5 or larger earthquakes to get a more accurate magnitude and location.

Maui Ocean Center will present the 14th annual Maui 5K from 7 to 9 a.m. Sunday, March 2. Runners and walkers registered for this year’s Maui 5K will receive free admission to Maui Ocean Center following the race.

Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) have introduced bipartisan legislation to improve access to local USPS post offices.

The Hawaiʻi Senate Ways and Means Committee passed Senate Bill 222, which would fund an illegal fireworks task force. Although the amount of funding is not specified, the measure is now headed for third reading on the Senate floor before crossing over to the House of Representatives.

Through the Home Build Program, lessees on Oʻahu will work alongside Honolulu Habitat personnel to achieve stability and self-reliance through homeownership. Habitat homebuyers contribute to the program by building their homes alongside volunteers, attending financial education classes, and paying an affordable mortgage.

John B. Stancil, 37, of Waimanalo, was sentenced in federal court by US District Judge Derrick K. Watson to 240 months of imprisonment (the statutory maximum) followed by 3 years of supervised release for racketeering conspiracy.

The Kaiser Permanente Hawaiʻi Viral Hepatitis Clinic has reached a milestone by curing its 1,000th patient of hepatitis C.

Over the holidays, ʻUlupalakua Ranch hosted over 2,000 community members for a full day of live music, kids activities, ono food, and shopping with local vendors. Keiki enjoyed taking photos with Santa, playing in bounce houses and participating in the country petting zoo.

A recent statewide survey confirms that a vast majority of Hawai‘i residents support the implementation of paid family and medical leave and are even willing to pay their fair share to have this benefit.

State Sen. Angus L.K. McKelvey on Wednesday announced $3.2 million in Capital Improvement Project funds to design and construct axis deer fencing in South Maui.

Kavita Naidu, an international human rights lawyer and climate justice advocate, will speak at noon Tuesday, Feb. 18, on “The Right to a Clean, Healthy & Sustainable Environment” in the Mayor’s Conference Room at the Kalana O Maui County building. At 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19, she will speak on “The Pacific Ocean and Human Rights: The Moananuiākea Movement for Climate Justice” at the Maui Ocean Center in Māʻalaea.

Maui County residents are invited to share ideas and priorities for the Maui County 2025 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update during several in-person and virtual community meetings starting Feb. 27, 2025.  

Volunteers are invited to flow with an Upcountry water catchment project the next two weekends. Participants can help install two 15,000-gallon catchments at Kēōkea-Waiohuli Hawaiian Homelands starting at 9 a.m. this Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. An additional two-day work session will be held on Feb. 24-25, 2025.  

Survivors of the Maui wildfires currently enrolled in FEMA’s Direct Housing Program will be required to begin paying rent starting March 1, 2025, the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced.

A blessing ceremony was recently held for Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi’s Maui Support Center, a new facility that provides counseling services and other assistance to first responders assisting Maui wildfire survivors.