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A pilot release of five ʻalalā recently occurred on the leeward slopes of Haleakalā, in the Kīpahulu Forest Reserve on Maui. This cooperative effort is a historic first release of Hawaiʻi’s endemic crow on Maui and the first reintroduction attempt outside of Hawaiʻi Island.

Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge, in partnership with ReTree Hawaiʻi, will host a ‘green fire break’ demonstration from 8:30 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024 at the Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge Visitors Center parking lot.

Five University of Hawaiʻi Maui College dental hygiene students each received a $3,000 HDS Foundation scholarship. They are: Supattramanee Payackapan of Kahului, Maui; Gabrielle Galano of Kahului, Maui; Amara Pederson of Kihei, Maui; Marie-Nicole Medrano of Wailuku, Maui; and Sabrina Carmen Pargad of Kahului, Maui.

Koast, a new restaurant coming to Wailea Village this winter, brings the star power of celebrity chef Chris Cosentino, a Top Chef Masters winner and James Beard Award nominee, to Maui’s culinary scene.

Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Genesis Versola, from Kahului, Maui is pictured above braiding a rat tail stopper aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Preble (DDG 88) in the Philippine Sea, Nov. 29. Preble is forward-deployed and assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s largest DESRON and the US 7th Fleet’s principal surface force.

A magnitude-3.5 earthquake occurred beneath the Kaiwi channel, between Oʻahu and Molokaʻi at 1:53 p.m. HST on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. The Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory issued an information statement saying the quake was centered 14 miles west-northwest of the village of Maunaloa on the Island of Molokaʻi at a depth of 5 miles below sea level. The earthquake had no apparent impact on either Maunaloa or Kīlauea volcanoes on the Island of Hawaiʻi.   

The contract will fund engineering services for various waterfront projects across Hawaiʻi and other South Pacific Islands. Most of the work, about 95%, will be done in Hawaiʻi, with the remaining 5% in other South Pacific locations. The project is expected to be completed by September 2025.

GRAMMY-nominated artist Kimié Miner is shining a light on Maui’s strength and spirit through “Christmas in Hawai‘i with Kimié Miner & Friends,” an Emmy-nominated celebration of aloha and music. Dedicated to Maui, this year’s event aims to bring hope and joy, especially in the wake of the 2023 wildfires.

The County of Hawaiʻi Department of Parks & Recreation is suspending plans to introduce admission fees for the Pana‘ewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens to allow the issue to be further reviewed and studied.

Kōkua Pool in Kahului is closed for pool maintenance through Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, the County of Maui Department of Parks and Recreation announced.

The United States Attorney’s Office released a statement today regarding the death of defendant Michael J. Miske, the Hawaiʻi crime boss who was convicted by a federal jury of 13 counts of criminal conduct on July 18, 2024. On Dec. 1, 2024, the Federal Bureau of Prisons announced that he was found unresponsive and later pronounced deceased on Dec. 1, 2024.

The 2024 Kaʻapuni Basketball Tournament begins Thursday, Dec. 5, with games hosted at Baldwin High School’s Jon Garcia Gymnasium and Seabury Hall’s Erdman Athletic Center. This year’s tournament will run through Saturday, Dec. 7 and once again features both defending HHSAA State Champions, St. Louis in Division I and Kohala in Division II.

Residents are encouraged to attend the County of Maui’s Disaster Recovery Community Meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4, in the Lahaina Intermediate School cafeteria.

A new lunch spot has opened at The Historic Wailuku Inn, a century-old bed and breakfast in the heart of Wailuku town.

The 30-year-old Maui woman who went missing during a layover in Los Angeles last month, is believed to have left voluntarily, according to police, after new video surveillance surfaced of her crossing the US border into Mexico on foot. Police say Hannah Kobayashi was alone with her luggage and appeared unharmed. The Los Angeles Police Department has since classified the case as a voluntary missing person.

The United States Postal Service suggests Hawai‘i residents mail their Christmas letters, cards and packages by Wednesday, Dec. 18 for First-Class and Priority mail headed to the Mainland US. Procrastinators have until Friday, Dec. 20 to send their holiday cheer to the Mainland US via USPS expedited Priority Express shipping service. USPS notes that these dates apply to mail received by each Post Office’s cutoff time.

Applications are being accepted for the 2025-2026 Kealahoʻimai Massage Therapy Program offered through UH Maui College’s Continuing Education Department.

A masterclass in approaching Haleiwa unfolded in Quarterfinal Heat 3 of the World Surf League’s The Hawaiian Islands HIC Haleiwa Pro, featuring standout surfers Joshua Moniz (HAW), Kauli Vaast (FRA), Ian Gentil (HAW), and Kainehe Hunt (HAW).

A third Canoe Crop Corner will take place at the upcoming Wailuku First Friday. The event is touted as a rare opportunity to learn about Maui’s agricultural traditions and experience firsthand the tastes and stories behind vital canoe crops.

Following calls for increased benefits for Hawai‘i families, US Sen. Brian Schatz today announced that the US Department of Agriculture has proposed updates to its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits in Hawai‘i to ensure they accurately reflect the cost of food across the state. The USDA has proposed a 2.3% increase in SNAP benefits for Hawai‘i, which would result in an estimated $40 monthly increase for a family of four.