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Environmental Court Judge Peter Cahill has ordered the Department of Land and Natural Resources not to issue or renew commercial use permits for state waters in Kāʻanapali until it can complete environmental assessments for their use or determine such permits are exempt from environmental review under Hawaiʻi law.

Mayor Richard Bissen announced the selection of John Smith, a leader with the County of Maui’s Department of Public Works, to serve as the new administrator of the County’s Office of Recovery. County officials say Smith has been instrumental in leading infrastructure restoration efforts following the recent wildfires. In his new capacity, he will now oversee the County’s comprehensive recovery efforts.

Maui Council Chair Alice L. Lee announced that the Maui County Council will hold a public hearing Tuesday at 5 p.m. at the Lahaina Civic Center Social Hall on a proposed ordinance for the Kahoma Village project, where five residential buildings were destroyed in the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires. Lee said the council will also hold special meetings Dec. 13 and 23 in the Council Chamber to discuss bills amending land-use and development standards for the Honua‘ula development—a 670-acre, multiuse housing project in South Maui. To view meeting agendas, visit mauicounty.us/agendas.

The Construction Management Association of America recently named the temporary King Kamehameha III Elementary school on Maui the 2024 Project of the Year. The national award celebrates skill, collaboration and impact of construction management for the project.

The Hawai‘i Community Foundation is awarding over $2 million dollars in Maui Strong Fund grants to 24 nonprofit partners providing culturally relevant and holistic mental health resources to families, individuals, and youth affected by the Maui wildfires. The nonprofit partners will use the funds to provide a broad range of services including art therapies, trauma-informed workshops, Hawaiian language and cultural immersion education, and peer-to-peer mental health support for youth.

The US Senate unanimously passed the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act, which includes Tokuda and Hirono legislation to lessen the tax burden on survivors of the Maui wildfires. The bill now heads to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.

The University of Hawaiʻi Maui College will host a “Holiday Bash & Electric Light Parade” on Friday, Dec. 13 at 4:30 p.m. on the Kahului campus’s Great Lawn and Pā‘ina Building dining area. The event is open to the public and admission is FREE.

First Hawaiian Bank today announced that bank employees and retirees have ushered in this year’s holiday giving season by contributing a donation of $873,987.53 to 36 charities in Hawai‘i, Guam, and Saipan as part of the bank’s annual Kōkua Mai employee giving campaign.

Azeka Shopping Center will host the 22nd Annual Toys for Tots charity drive this Sunday, Dec. 8 from 9 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. at Azeka Makai in Kīhei. The community is encouraged to donate new, unwrapped toys to benefit underprivileged youth in Maui County. Plus, don’t miss the fun with appearances by local motorcycle clubs, […]

Maui-based nonprofit Kelea Foundation has announced the grand opening of its new headquarters and community space in Kahului.

There is no tsunami threat to Hawaiʻi based on all available data following a 7.0 (preliminary magnitude 7.3) magnitude earthquake reported at 8:44 a.m. HST (10:44 a.m. PT near the epicenter) on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center reports there is a tsunami threat for parts of the Pacific located closer to the earthquake.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees elected Trustee Kaialiʻi Kahele as board chair on Wednesday. Kahele succeeds Trustee Carmen “Hulu” Lindsey of Maui who has served as chair for the past four years. The board and administration recognized and thanked Lindsey for her service as board chair.

Visitors to Maui island lag behind by pre-pandemic arrivals in 2019, according to a fourth quarter 2024 Statistical and Economic Report released by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

Maui County residents can help with donations of cash and/or new, unwrapped toys for the 2024 Toys for Tots Holiday Toy Drive, an annual US Marine Corps’ event sponsored locally by Minit Stop and Street Bikers United Hawaii.

Local nonprofit Mālama Maui Nui is encouraging volunteers to join a Pūlehu Road Clean Up from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Dec. 7.

Maui residents displaced by the August 2023 wildfires have until Dec. 15 to submit new applications for the Hawaiʻi Interim Housing Program. Households with existing applications have until Jan. 15 to complete them.

Maui youth will enjoy a special shopping day at Queen Ka‘ahumanu Center this Thursday, Dec. 5, at 4 p.m. as the culmination of Ledcor Maui’s Makana no nā Keiki gift drive. The second annual “Gifts for Children” drive raised $105,000 for Maui youth, and was made possible by the generous giving of Ledcor and community partners, in partnership with nonprofit ʻĀina Momona. 

Today, the full House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Lahaina National Heritage Area Study Act – introduced by US Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02) – marking another significant step forward in her efforts to support the community in recognizing Lahaina’s historic and cultural importance. 

After months of preparation, Habitat for Humanity Maui is embarking on the next step to help Maui wildfire survivors rebuild their homes and lives. The devastating wildfire that swept through Lahaina and Kula on Aug. 8, 2023, destroyed over 2,200 homes, leaving thousands of families displaced and in need of urgent support. The nonprofit organization has partnered with multiple community agencies to help survivors return to their homes, and is now calling on individuals, businesses, and organizations to join in this critical mission, providing the resources needed to restore stability for those affected.

Shawn Lewis, who was known as “Bigfoot” by the local surfing community because of his partially amputated left leg, died from a gunshot wound in September.