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A Maui County Council plan to contract its own study of the economic impacts of Mayor Richard Bissen’s proposed phase-out of Maui County vacation rentals has fallen to the wayside, and Council legislative analysts will conduct research in-house instead.

Construction of the permanent site for the Lahaina wildfire and debris is currently underway in Central Maui on recently purchased land and is expected to be completed in June.

Micah Kāne, CEO of Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, will become the next CEO of Parker Ranch, Inc. Hawaiʻi Community Foundation has outlined a six month transition period, during which it will name Kāne’s successor.

Kids at Kīhei Charter School are getting hands-on learning, studying plant life cycles and photosynthesis, researching soil types, experiencing working in a group, and developing responsibility skills as they learn how to care for and water their class garden.

The first-ever Lahaina Food & Wine Festival is set to debut Feb. 19-23, 2025, bringing together celebrated chefs, world-class wines, and unforgettable dining experiences in West Maui.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has named Lise Vaughan-Sekona, Esq., as OHA’s community engagement director, filling another key position on its leadership team. Vaughan-Sekona reports to OHA Chief Operating Officer Kēhaulani Puʻu.

Maui Health recently held its second annual Maui Wound Healing Symposium on Jan. 31, 2025, at Maui Memorial Medical Center.

This year’s Ho‘omau will take place on March 29, 2025 and the two organizations are setting an ambitious goal to exceed the $60,000 raised in 2024.

This week, the Hōʻola One prototype, a beach-sand cleaning machine, moved from Hawaiʻi Island to Oʻahu, courtesy of a Young Brothers’ Community Shipping Program award to Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund.

South Kīhei Road — from Wailana Place to Kūlanihākoʻi Street — is anticipated to reopen by the end of this month, following County of Maui repairs and cleanup from a severe winter storm, according to the County Department of Public Works.

US Reps. Ed Case (D-HI-01) and James Moylan (R-Guam) are leading re-introduction in Congress of three legislative proposals to reform the century-old Merchant Marine Act of 1920, commonly known as the “Jones Act.” The Act has long been criticized for creating shipping monopolies that increase the cost of imported goods to non-contiguous US regions, including Hawai‘i, Guam, the Northern Marianas, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Alaska.

Hawaiʻi Appleseed is proposing tax credits that target assistance only to Hawaiʻi’s struggling families.

CoralTree Residence Collection has announced the inaugural CoralTree Classic Charity Golf Tournament, a premier event combining the love of golf with community giving. The tournament will take place on Thursday, March 13, 2025, at The King Kamehameha Golf Club in Wailuku. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Maui County Visitor Industry Charity Walk.

On Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, Paige DePonte will be the speaker at the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset meeting. DePonte will share information about Spirit Horse Ranch.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has appointed Summer Sylva as the new chief of staff for the OHA Board of Trustees. Sylva, an attorney and advocate for Native Hawaiian rights, brings extensive experience in governance, cultural stewardship and advocacy for Native Hawaiian rights to this role.

Two Senate committees voted Thursday to recommend passage of a bill to legalize adult personal use of cannabis Hawaiʻi and establish taxes on its retail sale and medical use.

Staff from the Kaua‘i Forest Bird Recovery Project heralded Thursday’s first release of male mosquitoes, into a state forest reserve on the vast Alakaʻi Plateau, as momentous.

The County of Maui Department of Human Concerns on Friday released “Recommendations to Address Homelessness in Maui County,” a report offering strategic solutions to reduce and prevent homelessness across the county.

The Wildfire Resilience Through Grazing Research Act, aims to promote research on using grazing as a strategy to mitigate wildfires, reduce fuel loads and support post-fire recovery efforts.

The state’s Airports System has successfully raised $849 million in bond financing to fund approximately $600 million of essential projects to upgrade and expand airport infrastructure, including runway repairs, terminal renovations, security enhancements and the construction of new facilities.