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US Rep. Ed Case (HI-01), a member of the key House Committee on Appropriations, responsible for all federal discretionary funding, today supported House passage of three of the four final annual appropriations bills for the current Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 (commencing Oct. 1, 2026) but opposed the fourth.

The Hawai‘i Community Foundation is doubling the size of its Social Impact Investment Fund to $20 million, a move intended to increase accessible capital for affordable housing, food systems and small business lending across the state, including Maui County.

The Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission has announced permitted trolling dates for February 2026. All registered vessels may enter the Reserve to troll on Feb. 7-8, and 21-22 (12:01 a.m. Saturday to 11:59 p.m. Sunday).

Council Member Yuki Lei Sugimura will hold her Talk Story with Yuki Lei outreach program this Saturday, Jan. 24, at the Upcountry Farmers Market from 7 to 10 a.m.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation announced the completion of its $7.7 million emergency rockfall mitigation work at mile markers 9.7 to 9.9 on Hāna Highway (Route 360) near Waikamoi Stream.

Kīlauea summit region has been remarkably quiet, from an earthquake standpoint, since the current eruption began on the night of Dec. 23, 2024. Since the end of episode 40 on the evening of Jan. 12, however, nearly a dozen small earthquake swarms have occurred involving earthquakes 1–2.5 miles beneath Halemaʻumaʻu and the summit caldera of Kīlauea.

Operation Shine the Light resulted in the safe location and recovery of eight children between the ages of 13 and 17. Two children recovered in the operation had been reported as runaways over one year ago. Investigations are ongoing.  

A Lahaina restaurateur has been named a semifinalist for one of the culinary world’s most prestigious honors, marking a bright spot for the West Maui dining scene as it recovers from the 2023 wildfires.

Two visitors were airlifted to safety after rapidly rising waters prevented them from crossing a stream safely and cut them off from their hiking party, Wednesday.

The County of Maui East Maui Water Authority has selected five recipients for its inaugural community grant program, which supports local projects focused on water stewardship, cultural practices, environmental restoration and community collaboration in East Maui. Projects funded through the program include: the East Maui Farm, led by Nāpua Hūʻeu; Nā Moku ʻAupuni ‘O Ko‘olau Hui, led by Jessie-Ellen Kekiwi-Aweau; Friends of Twin Falls, represented by Maile Davis; Okada Design, led by Corinne Okada Takara; and Kahu ʻĀina: Earth Guardian Network, led by Liana Murillo.

The National Weather Service issued a Flood Advisory for the island of Molokaʻi in Maui County, in effect until 1:15 p.m. At 10:13 a.m., radar showed heavy rain over windward Molokaʻi, with rain falling at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour with the heaviest rainfall occurring near Kalaupapa.

ʻAha Pūnana Leo is currently accepting priority enrollment applications for its Hawaiian language medium preschools for the upcoming school year. The priority application period runs through March 1.

With high school surfing becoming an official state sport in Hawaiʻi this spring, coaches are required to take safety clinics that include a long swim, CPR and first aid.

A community report to the Kauaʻi Invasive Species Committee last month led to the collection of a single live ramie moth (Arcte coerula) caterpillar, the first detection of the invasive pest on Kauaʻi. This pest poses a threat to native invertebrates such as the Kamehameha butterfly and native snails by competing for the same plants.

The Maui County Council Water Authority, Social Services and Parks Committee will receive updates on eviction mediation and discuss prevention measures for child abuse and human trafficking. The panel will convene at 9 a.m. Monday in the Council Chambers in Wailuku.

The Maui Arts & Cultural Center presents Soul/R&B legends The Stylistics with special guests The Manhattans in a MACC Presents concert in the Castle Theater, on Sunday, Feb. 15 at 7:30 p.m.

New University of Hawaiʻi research confirms that “Sharktober” is real, revealing a statistically significant spike in shark bite incidents in Hawaiian waters every October. The study, which analyzed 30 years of data (1995–2024), found that about 20% of all recorded bites occurred in that single month, a frequency far exceeding any other time of the year.

US Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02) voted in favor of a minibus package that includes funding for the Departments of Housing and Urban Development, Defense, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Transportation. However, Tokuda voted against a separate funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security, which contained funding for U Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 

Puʻu Kekaʻa is an ocean cliff in Kāʻanapali that was formed by an old lava flow that creates a little cove, with beaches on either side. It was very sacred to ancient Hawaiians as a leina a ka ʻuhane (leap of the soul) which is a leaping spot of spirits as they transition to the after-life known as Pō.

Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa in Kāʻanapali, announced the promotion of Teresa Higa to Director of Group & Leisure Sales.  In this expanded role, Higa will lead the resort’s group sales efforts, overseeing the team while continuing to drive the strategy and execution of leisure and transient sales initiatives for the 810-room resort.