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The past year has brought significant shocks to the housing market in Hawaiʻi. Per the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization (UHERO), overall transactions in 2023 was only half of what it was in 2021, and fewer single family homes were transacted in Hawaiʻi last year than in any of the last 25 years.

Imua Family Services kicks off its 47th annual Camp Imua summer season starting on June 8. The five-day recreational camp for children with special needs is offered each year at no charge for Maui’s keiki. The magic intensifies this year with globally renowned magician Derek McKee and his “Magic Box” project.

After decades of leasing Kula land from the Von Tempsky family for County of Maui facilities, such as the community center, the County of Maui has negotiated terms to acquire the land beneath the community center and adjacent facilities for public use in perpetuity, according to an announcement today by Mayor Richard Bissen. Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Committee Chair Yuki Lei Sugimura will propose funding for the acquisition at the first reading of the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.

The 22nd annual Maui Matsuri Japanese Festival is planned to take place at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College campus on Saturday, May 25. The Japanese Festival event is from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. and will include free entertainment, kids crafts, food booths and trucks, crafters, exhibits, hands-on activities, passport activity, and much more.

Overburdened communities in Lahaina, Kahului and Wailuku are the beneficiaries of a $500,000 grant allocated by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the agency announced today.

Seismicity remains above background levels. Ground deformation also continues beneath Halemaʻumaʻu and the south caldera region. Magma has been pressurizing the system beneath Halemaʻumaʻu and Kīlauea’s south caldera region for several weeks.

Fairmont Kea Lani hosts “Behind the Curtain: A Journey Through Hula,” an event dedicated to celebrating and sharing the art of hula, taking place Saturday, June 1, 2024. Through the lens of three Maui-based hālau, guests will hear first-hand what it takes to prepare for the prestigious Merrie Monarch hula competition and experience the beautiful art form as the hālau perform a hana hou of presentations shared during the festival this past April.

Residents are encouraged to attend upcoming community meetings on Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi to offer feedback on the County of Maui draft wetlands overlay map, which shows approximate locations of wetlands and possible migration areas reflected by passive flooding data.

The delegates elected Derek Turbin as the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi’s 2024-2026 Chair, succeeding State Representative Adrian Tam who has served as Interim Party Chair since December 2023.

Zenshin Daiko’s 25th Annual Taiko Festival Concert, a celebration of outstanding muscienaship played with upbeat fun and boundless heart, hits the stage at Castle Theater of the Maui Arts & Cultural Center on Saturday, June 15 at 7 p.m.

The Hawaiʻi Youth Symphony has been approved for a $50,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. The grant will support the Hawaiʻi Youth Symphony’s annual Pacific Music Institute summer program, strategic planning initiatives for board members, faculty, and staff, and a neighbor island performance tour for young musicians.

Hawai’i’s Pacific Disaster Center’s (PDC) Director of Global Operations Dr. Erin Hughey will appear as a guest speaker at Kihei Community Association’s general community meeting on Tuesday, May 21 at ProArts Playhouse in Azeka Plaza Makai at 6:30 p.m.

The Hawaiʻi Pacific Export Council has been awarded the District Export Council of the Year Award by the US Department of Commerce. The honor recognizes the council’s contributions to supporting US exporters in Hawaiʻi and across the US Pacific Islands through innovative and impactful initiatives.

A total of 76 animals were adopted during the BISSELL Pet Foundation’s nationwide adoption event held in coordination with the Maui Humane Society.

Last week’s “Volcano Watch” summarized Kīlauea’s explosive eruptions of 1924 and their impacts on communities. This week, scientists dig a little deeper and share new discoveries being made by examining the ash deposited during these events.

A community meeting to discuss the future site for King Kamehameha III Elementary School will be held at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at the cafeteria of the temporary campus, located at 100 Akahele Street in Lahaina. The goal is to ask the community for feedback on where the permanent location should be. The agenda will include presentations on the three possible location options, community feedback in small groups or individually, and an explanation of next steps in the selection process.

The winners of Mālama Maui Nui’s 2024 Art of Trash exhibit gallery and Trashion Show have been announced. Winners of the Art Gallery division are: 1st Place Winner: Jim Niess – “Water Meter” (left); 2nd Place Winner: Chris Mithen – “Wilmaʻs Circus” (middle); 3rd Place Winner: Beck Lewis – “ ʻAlalā ” (right).

A $3.76 million gift from John C. Couch will establish the first-ever gastroenterology and hepatology fellowship program at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) that will train physicians to treat liver diseases, including cancer, in the islands.

The summer edition of “EAT THINK DRINK,” hosted by Hawaiʻi Agricultural Foundation (HAF), will feature two Maui business that delve into the heart of Hawaiʻi’s beef industry. The event will include a panel discussion with industry leaders, as well as a dinner featuring locally sourced beef.

The state Department of Transportation will be conducting road work this week that will result in lane closures at various locations. Lane closure schedules may change at any time without further notice. All projects are weather permitting.