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University of Hawaiʻi economist Carl Bonham warned Maui County Council members Wednesday that a stagnant job market and a precarious reliance on wealthy tourists leave the county vulnerable as it begins annual budget deliberations.

In the aftermath of the recent kona storms, the County of Maui Department of Environmental Management, Department of Public Works, Maui Emergency Management Agency and Office of Recovery are mobilizing resources to assist residents with residential property cleanup, including picking up debris for kūpuna or others physically unable to self-haul debris.

The Maui Bicycling League is expanding its Keiki Bike Education Program with the launch of the “Learn to Ride Better Keiki Clinic” at Kanahā Beach Park, offering keiki ages 7–12 the opportunity to build confidence, improve bike handling skills, and learn how to ride safely and responsibly.

The University of Hawaiʻi Maui College announced the launch of the 2026 Maui Strong Fellowship Program, an initiative designed to support UHMC students and Maui residents working on projects that contribute to Maui’s long-term recovery and resilience following the 2023 Lahaina wildfires.

US Sen. Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) was among lawmakers who introduced the Working Women’s Bill of Rights today. The resolution recognizes the duty of Congress to meet the needs of working women.

The awardee will be responsible for administering the $70,000 Maui County-funded program to supply food vouchers for Lānaʻi residents. Food vouchers must be issued at the County Lānaʻi Farmer’s Market and used on the date they are issued for the purchase of locally grown or sourced fresh produce and fruit, edible algae, poi, meat, fish, eggs and honey.

A partnership including the Hawaiʻi Department of Health and nonprofit providers will bring coordinated mobile medical care and social services to the North Shore of Oʻahu, where residents are recovering from damage caused by massive flooding from kona low storms over the past two weekends.

Mayor Richard Bissen presented a $1.616 billion proposed fiscal 2027 budget to the Maui County Council on Wednesday morning, prioritizing affordable housing, Lahaina wildfire recovery and water system improvements.

The initial $100,000 raised will be matched dollar-for-dollar, doubling its impact for relief and recovery efforts. With the support of corporate partners, the Hawaiian Council has secured additional matching funds, allowing the campaign to expand to match up to $200,000 in donations, further expanding the resources available for relief and recovery efforts.

Eight evening meetings will be held throughout Maui County next month to ensure residents have a voice in the council’s budget session. The first meeting takes place on April 1 at the Mayor Hannibal Tavares Community Center.

Historic Hawai‘i Foundation, in partnership with the University of Hawai‘i Maui College and industry collaborators, invites carpenters, construction professionals, apprentices, and tradespeople to apply for the Maui Preservation Trades Training: Wooden Window Workshop, a two-day, hands-on training taking place April 16–17, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Hawai‘i National Guard continues its support with Soldiers and Airmen on Oʻahu and in Maui County due to the latest kona low storm damage. On Molokaʻi, Mayor Richard Bissen evaluated the damage from the air, along with Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency Administrator James Barros, on Tuesday.

The Maui County Council’s Housing and Land Use Committee conducted a preliminary review last week of the Department of Housing in preparation for the Council’s annual budget deliberations.

The Maui Fire Department responded to 15 incidents directly related to the Kona Storm 2 that affected the state over the weekend.

The Maui Fire Department, in consultation with the Maui Police Department, suspended the search for the 71-year-old woman, who reportedly slipped into the Wailuku (ʻĪao) River near the Waiehu bridge on Saturday morning.

Residents say more a new flood control project and better stormwater management is sorely needed.

Bourbon Neat LLC is seeking permits to build a $2.5 million single-family home on a vacant lot at 1191 Front St. in Lahaina. The project has triggered a formal environmental review due to its location within a historic landmark district. The proposed one-story, 1,830-square-foot residence includes a 600-square-foot, two-car garage and a 321-square-foot lānai. The […]

MEO bus services on Molokaʻi are slowly returning to normal following the recent kona storms, with the exception of the East route.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Education reports that school will reopen on Wednesday on Maui and Molokaʻi; but storm impacted school closures continue at select campuses on Oʻahu and Hawaiʻi Island.

Hawaiian Electric is alerting customers to a string of scams mostly targeting businesses on Oʻahu and Maui that are likely connected, including an incident last week involving a man who approached the front desk of a Waikīkī hotel and warned that power would be shut off within an hour if payment was not made by calling “Hawaiian Electric.”