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A bill to legalize adult recreational marijuana use beginning Jan. 1, 2026, will be heard at 2 p.m. today by the House committees on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs and Agriculture & Food Systems.

FEMA’s 167-unit Kiohana temporary home site for wildfire survivors was completed this week in Lahaina, Maui. 

The Hawaiʻi Department of Health has launched a public online resource to track what is expected to be in excess of $100 million in settlement funds paid to the state of Hawaiʻi as part of the national opioid lawsuit settlement agreements.

Cleanup continues in the wake of a winter storm that brought heavy rains, high winds and flooding to parts of Maui County Jan. 30 to 31, 2025.

A new mural on the Kūihelani Highway sound wall in Puʻunēnē was created by two Maui artists in collaboration with the State of Hawaii Department of Transportation, Highways Maui District. Titled “Moʻolelo O Maui,” the 60’ wide x 9’ high artwork depicts the beloved story of Maui the demigod harnessing the sun.

Maui Economic Opportunity’s 6th Gala, the agency’s largest annual fundraiser set for March 22, is sold out. The event honors Grant Chun, recently retired Hale Mahaolu Executive Director, former MEO Board President and community leader, and MEO’s 60th anniversary.

NASA’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies estimates a 1% chance that asteroid 2024 YR4 could collide with Earth in 2032, based on current observations. Throughout the coming months, astronomers will closely monitor the 180-foot (55-meter)-wide object to refine its orbit and improve predictions of its future trajectory. No asteroid of this size has ever reached a 1% impact probability in the past two decades of near-Earth object tracking, making 2024 YR4 a rare and closely watched case.

Funded by the Maui Strong Fund of the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, the fellowship offers awards of up to $10,000 per year for all those who engage in critical project activities. Fellows play a vital role in addressing the challenges of post-fire recovery, sustainable development, and environmental restoration on Maui.

The University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization has released the comprehensive report “Investigating and Tackling Barriers and Needs for Small Business Success in Honolulu” on Feb. 3. The report offers critical insights into the challenges faced by small business owners and opportunities for targeted support.

Maui resident Kalani Pe‘a won his fourth Grammy for his latest album “Kuini,” in the Best Regional Roots Music Album category. The win is his fourth to date after previous wins in 2017 for his debut album “E Walea,” 2019 for his sophomore album “No ʻAneʻi,” and 2022 for his junior album “Kau Ka Peʻa.” 

The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services unanimously passed a bill this afternoon to increase air medical services, including in Maui County. The bill was revised to align with fiscal years 2025 to 2027 and making other technical and non-substantive changes for clarity.

The Shops at Wailea invites guests to celebrate the Lunar New Year on Thursday, Feb. 6, with a performance by Oʻahu’s renowned Au’s Shaolin Arts Society.

Hawai‘i Pacific University’s Center for Marine Debris Research is set to host its inaugural in-person Marine Debris Circularity Academy this summer on Oʻahu. The series of short courses is designed to promote sustainable solutions to the global plastic pollution crisis, with a focus on creating a “circular economy for plastics” in Hawai‘i and beyond. 

Representatives from the law school will be visiting Maui as part of a statewide recruitment tour that also includes Hawaiʻi Island and Kauaʻi.

A resource fair for students with disabilities will be hosted at UH Maui College Pilina Events Center on Thursday, Feb. 27, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Seventeen months after the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires, Maui has seen signs of a recovery in its tourism industry, with December 2024 marking an increase in both visitor numbers and spending.

On Wednesday, US Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) was named Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations. Schatz is also a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Rents have dipped since the beginning of 2024, but advocates worry more people will be without housing or leave the island if more isn’t done.

By a 5-2 vote, the House Committee on Housing passed a bill Friday aimed at removing lengthy historic property reviews from delaying housing developments.

On Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, at approximately 3:46 p.m., Central Dispatch received a report of an abuse case at a Noho Place residence in Pukalani, Maui.