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Francis Kau has been selected as the new deputy administrator of the County Maui Emergency Management Agency.

Kalama Intermediate School has been selected as the first middle school campus in Hawaiʻi to join the statewide “Drive With Aloha” campaign initiative.

The Maui Hotel & Lodging Association announced the elected 2026-2027 Board of Directors during their annual meeting on Sept. 10, 2026 at the Westin Maui Resort & Spa. Every year, members vote on candidates nominated by MHLA property and allied businesses to form the governing board that directs the voice of the visitor industry.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources has suspended the deadline for accepting the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Pacific Missile Range Facility and Kōkeʻe Park Geophysical Observatory, to protect the public’s ability to participate in the review.

This weekend (Sept. 18–20), Wailea Golf Club in Wailea is hosting one of 12 PGA Jr. League Regionals nationwide. Sixteen All-Star teams from across the region — including two local squads from Oʻahu (one in each age division) — will compete for a spot at their divisional National Championships (13u and 17u).

A community budget meeting is scheduled next week in Pāʻia-Haʻikū for residents to share their priorities and provide input on the County budget for Fiscal Year 2028, which begins July 1, 2027.

As part of ongoing efforts to harden the electrical grid and reduce wildfire risk on Molokaʻi, Hawaiian Electric crews will begin its first targeted area of replacing existing copper power lines with new aluminum conductors along East Kamehameha V Highway between Onioni Drive and ʻUalapuʻe from Saturday, Oct. 3 through Thursday, Oct. 8 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. The project includes replacing 8 miles of power lines and upgrading 27 poles.

US Sens. Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) introduced legislation to help stop illegal child labor. The bipartisan Stop Child Labor Act would increase maximum fines for violations, establish new criminal penalties, allow victims harmed by violations to file private lawsuits, and encourage collaboration between employers and government to stop child labor violations before they occur.

The Nov. 3 general election ballot will include eight proposed amendments to the Maui County Charter.

The Department of Planning is holding community meetings to share information and gather feedback on the Maui Island Special Management Area boundary assessment project.

(Update: 11:09 a.m., 9.24.26) The Kōkua Kauaʻi Donation Drive was scheduled to collect essential items for residents of Kauaʻi affected by Hurricane Lowell. The donation drive will be rescheduled, with a new date to be announced.

The non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Maui in August was 2.9%, up from the 2.8% rate in July, and the 2.4% rate at the same time last year, according to the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

Recovery efforts following Hurricane Lowell and the Kona Low storms in March, flood mitigation and updates on the North-South Collector Road and the use of R-1 recycled wastewater are some of the specific topics that will be covered, Cook said.

A magnitude-4.1 earthquake occurred 3 miles south of Pāhala on Hawaiʻi Island at around 8:36 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026. The earthquake occurred at a depth of 8 miles below sea level, according to the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. HVO scientists say the earthquake had no apparent impact on either Maunaloa or Kīlauea volcanoes.

All Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) lands on Kaua‘i will remain closed to the public into the foreseeable future due to widespread damage from Hurricane Lowell. In particular, the public is urged to avoid Kōke‘e State Park and Kōke‘e Road, where many catastrophic, unmitigated hazards exist throughout the landscape.

The Maui County Department of Fire and Public Safety announced the promotion of: Jonathan Duncan and Tye Perdido to Fire Captain; Jarrett Sakamoto and Kendall Willing to Firefighter III; Cameron Layer to Firefighter II; and Liane Mickey to Ocean Safety Officer III. These promotions were effective on or before Sept. 16, 2026.

The Hawaiian Music Series continues its 2026 season in Lahaina with its next free community concert on Thursday, Sept. 24, from 6–7:30 p.m. The performance will take place on the lawn of Waiola Church and will feature Maui musician Ron Kualaʻau.

(Update: 7:15 a.m., Friday, Sept. 18, 2026): The fire that began Thursday afternoon along Kūihelani Highway was 100% contained at 7:30 p.m. last night, after firefighters received assistance from a bulldozer to cut a fire line around the burned area.

Classic rock band America will perform at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s Castle Theater at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 7, as part of a two-night Hawai’i stop that also includes a Nov. 6 show at Honolulu’s Blaisdell Concert Hall. Maui show tickets go on sale to MACC members at 10 a.m. Wednesday, with a 10% […]

The Construction Industry of Maui hosts its fourth annual golf tournament at The Dunes at Maui Lani Golf Course on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 7 a.m. Net proceeds will support Maui County Construction Trade Programs providing access to education, certifications, and hands-on training.