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The non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Maui Island was 4.3% in April 2024, compared to 4.9% the previous month, and 2.6% at the same time in 2023. The data was included in a new report released today from the Hawaiʻi Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. 

The US Army Corps of Engineers and its contractors are planning to do a test blast this afternoon, May 16, at approximately 1-3 p.m. weather permitting, at the Kilohana temporary housing site for wildfire survivors on Maui. Kilohana is a 34-acre site is located off of a cane haul road near Wahikuli Road in Lahaina. USACE is grading the land, installing utilities and preparing the site for 169 temporary housing units.

Maui’s newly crowned Savannah Gankiewicz, visits Lahaina today on her first day as Miss USA 2023. She was crowned during a special ceremony in Honolulu last night by Gov. Josh Green.

Nearly 150 fifth grade haumāna from Kamehameha School Kapālama will share their live stage production, “Ka Malu ʻUlu o Lele: The Shaded Breadfruit Grove of Lele,” with the Maui community. The one-of-a-kind show explores Lahaina’s rich history and serves as a tribute to the resilience of the community. No tickets are needed for the free performance taking place on Tuesday, May 21 at 4:30 p.m. at the Baldwin High School auditorium. The annual fifth grade play is a student-led project that started 31 years ago at the Kapālama campus. 

The Maui County Council’s Housing and Land Use Committee voted 8-1 Wednesday to recommend passage of a bill to allow a 500-square-foot increase in the size of secondary farm dwellings in agricultural districts on Maui and Lānaʻi.

The EP was signed on Wednesday and allows the Adjutant General to activate units of the National Guard to work in coordination with local authorities, emergency management agencies and other relevant stakeholders to mitigate the impact of the kona low storm.

A kona low north to northwest of the state will bring the potential for heavy rain and thunderstorms through at least Friday. Forecasters say all islands in the Flood Watch area should be prepared for the possibility of flash flooding, including Kauaʻi, Niʻihau, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Kahoʻolawe and Maui.

The Lahaina Community Land Trust announced the establishment of its new Advisory Board, comprised of members of the Lahaina community who share a commitment to preserving the unique character, culture and livability of Lahaina.

The County of Maui Department of Environmental Management’s Wastewater Reclamation Division announced today that it has amended the Sewer Service Status from “red,” which indicates a property does not currently have active sewer service, to “green,” meaning the sewer service is active for a property, in several areas including: Pump Station #7, which services the Puamana neighborhood; parcels south of Lahainaluna Road and Paunau St.; parcels on Olona Place, which includes the Lahaina Roads Apartments.

The County of Maui Department of Liquor Control is reminding liquor license holders that license renewal applications for the 2024-2025 fiscal year are due by 4:30 p.m. June 17. Licenses that are not renewed by the deadline will expire on June 30, 2024.

Five high school seniors from Hawaiian Style Volleyball Club gathered for a ceremony at Jon Garcia Gymnasium on the Baldwin High School campus on May 7 to sign commitment letters to play college volleyball.

A virtual town hall event focused on Maui cesspools is planned on Thursday, May 30, 2024 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Organizers say many cesspools in Central Maui are classified as high priority by the Department of Health meaning they pose a threat to the health of nearshore waters, coral reefs and drinking water.

Pacific Permanente Group, a premiere Maui-based medical group providing health care services in nearly a dozen specialties, has recently added another orthopaedic surgeon to its growing team on the Valley Isle.  

Maui Economic Opportunity (MEO) received $475,000, the bulk of the funding, which will be used to supplement the Maui Fires Relief Program, the Maui Relief TANF program and the County of Maui Rental Assistance program.   Ka Hale Pōmaikaʻi on Molokaʻi was also awarded $15,000 for their KHP Housing Kōkua program.  Together, they anticipate helping approximately 50 families totaling well over 100 individuals.  Maui United Way received a 2% commission for helping to manage the process and award the monies. 

Maui Matsuri is celebrating its 22nd annual Japanese Festival with the Children’s Festival portion of the event planned for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 18 at the Queen Kaʻahumanu Center.

Maui Planning Commission members finished hearing public comments and then added their own Tuesday to a draft environmental impact statement for Ledcor South Maui’s plans to build as many as 975 homes.

A kona low developing to the north will bring the potential for heavy rain and thunderstorms over the state today through at least Friday. The highest chance for excessive rainfall appears to be over Oʻahu and possibly Maui County starting tonight, and persisting through Thursday. The focus for heavy rainfall then likely shifts toward Kauaʻi on Friday; however, these details could change, and all areas should be prepared for the possibility of flash flooding, according to the NWS.

“It was a beautiful purple and greenish tinge visible to the naked eye for about 5 minutes,” Brenda Trowbridge shared on social media. The Nā‘ālehu resident captured the images with a 3-second exposure on her iPhone between 4:26 and 4:31 a.m. on May 11, before the astronomical twilight.

As Deputy Director of Transportation for Airports, Otaguro will be responsible for management of the 15 airports in the State Airports System. This includes operation, upgrade, and maintenance of airfield and terminal infrastructure to meet Federal Aviation Administration safety standards and customer experience expectations.

The state of Hawai‘i will receive $79,928.66 in a settlement with Wireless Carriers, announced the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) Office of Consumer Protection on May 10.