Featured
A third opossum has been captured in Honolulu this year
Plant quarantine inspectors with the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture trapped an opossum overnight at a big-box store in Iwilei. This marks the third opossum that has been captured on Oʻahu this year. The storage container where the opossum was trapped was not used for shipping.
Upcoming exhibit features works from Schaefer Portrait Challenge 2025
A signature of Maui Arts and Cultural Center, the Schaefer Portrait Challenge, has been held as a triennial since 2003. This year’s challenge will mark the eighth iteration of this statewide juried exhibition, which presents the unique diversity of the people of the Hawaiian Islands through explorations in portraiture.
Rare Hawaiian snail reintroduced into Koʻolau Mountains on Oʻahu
After more than 33 years in captivity, a rare Hawaiian snail species known as Achatinella fuscobasis was released recently into the Honolulu Watershed Forest Reserve of the Ko‘olau Mountains on O‘ahu.
Islands Hospice awards $5K to Lahaina Community Land Trust
Islands Hospice has announced that field nurse Tram Iwamaye is the latest awardee of its employee giving program, Makana Pono.
Schatz: ‘Must-pass’ federal bill includes $1.6B in long-term housing funds for Maui
US Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that a bipartisan spending deal includes over $12 billion for disaster recovery, with Maui set to receive $1.6 billion for housing and hundreds of millions for economic development, small business loans, and water infrastructure.
Baldwin High School received educational materials from Daughters of the American Revolution
Baldwin High School students will learn more about the American revolution after receiving numerous books, revolutionary-era maps and supplies for timelines from the Polly Cooper Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Two people displaced after home fire on Puʻunēnē Ave. in Kahului
Two adults were displaced when a fire at an attached cottage to a home in Kahului burned part of the structure and its contents. Total damages were estimated at $47,000 to the structure located on the 400 block of Puʻunēnē Ave.
Mālama Maui Nui’s Kīhei Go Green Recycling event continues in December by appointment
A bulk-item recycling event hosted by Mālama Maui Nui for residents of South Maui continues on Saturday, Dec. 28 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Azekas.
Hirono joins Democratic senators in introducing legislation to protect parents of transgender children
Hawaiʻi US Sen. Mazie Hirono has joined 20 Democratic colleagues in introducing an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. If passed by Congress, the amendment would remove language that would strip away service members’ parental rights to access medically necessary health care for their transgender children.
Atlas Insurance donates $10,000 to Hale Mahaolu
The Atlas Insurance Agency Foundation donated $10,000 to Hale Mahaolu to support its work with badly needed affordable housing, Atlas Insurance Agency announced.
Maui County’s public access network Akakū fighting to prevent significant cuts to its funding
A decision made under the 2019 Trump administration could impact the fees cable companies pay to the state for public programming.
Last-minute holiday shopping at Kōkua for Maui local business event on Dec. 22-23
The LahainaTown Action Committee, in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development, invites residents and visitors to finish their holiday shopping at the Kōkua for Maui: Shop Local and Show Aloha event on Sunday, Dec. 22, and Monday, Dec. 23, at the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa.
Maui visitor industry delivers meals and gifts to kūpuna
Members of the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association helped prepare and deliver more than 500 gourmet meals and gifts to Maui County seniors during the annual Winter Nā Kūpuna Appreciation Event on Dec. 13.
Tanaka Ramen & Izakaya opens first location on the Valley Isle
Tanaka Ramen & Izakaya opened its fifth Hawaiʻi location at Maui Mall Village recently, bringing its flavorful menu of ramen, rice bowls, and izakaya dishes to Maui. Located near Center Court, next to Genki Sushi, across from the Regal Cinemas Maui Mall, the new restaurant has seating for up to 40 guests. A soft opening is underway with the official grand opening set for Jan. 6, 2025.
Permanent Central Maui disposal site funding approved for Lahaina debris and Central Maui Landfill expansion
The Maui County Council has approved the Bissen administration’s proposed acquisition of 79 acres for a permanent wildfire debris and ash disposal site and Central Maui Landfill expansion.
Humpback whale mother-calf health assessed using drone tech
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology biologists used drone imagery to understand how nursing humpback whale mothers and their calves fare as they cross the Pacific Ocean. Recent declines in North Pacific humpback whale reproduction and survival of calves highlight the need to understand how mother-calf pairs expend energy across their migratory cycle. The study was published in “The Journal of Physiology.”
The Branches: Royal Lahaina Resort’s new entertainment venue opens with nightly live music; Hammah House on Dec. 20
The Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows in September celebrated its reopening with the launch of its new oceanfront restaurant and bar, Lahaina Noon, and poolside bar, Pineapple Moon. And last month, the resort blessed its brand-new entertainment venue, The Branches.
HDOT responds to small plane crash near Honolulu Airport
Emergency crews are responding to a plane crash into an unoccupied building near the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport on Oʻahu Tuesday afternoon. The incident was reported shortly after 3 p.m. on Dec. 17, 2024.
Lahaina Disaster Recovery Community Meetings to be paused during the holiday season
The County of Maui’s weekly Lahaina Disaster Recovery Community Meetings will be paused during the holidays. The next in-person meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, at Lahaina Intermediate School cafeteria.
Sheraton Maui and local artist Taryn Alessandro launch 3rd Meet the Artist series
The Meet the Artist series returns today from 4 to 8 p.m. at The Sandbar in the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa. The event was created in the wake of the devastating wildfire that tragically impacted Lahaina.
