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There were 174,582 visitors to Maui in April 2024, a significant decrease from 243,245 visitors (-28.2%) in April 2023 and 247,984 visitors (-29.6%) in April 2019, according to preliminary statistics from the state Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism. DBEDT Director James Kunane Tokioka said “With the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority’s Mākaukau Maui campaign and targeted efforts showcasing Maui’s readiness to welcome visitors, DBEDT is committed to supporting the state and Maui’s economic recovery.”

The Maui Arts & Cultural Center has announced that tickets are now available for an all-ages comedy show that features three of Hawaiʻi’s legends of comedy – Andy Bumatai, Frank De Lima and Augie T – taking place at Castle Theater on Friday, July 26 at 7 p.m.

Update: (1:01 p.m., May 30, 2024) ʻĪao Valley Road is now open in both directions. It was closed earlier due to a motor vehicle accident at Aliʻi Drive near Kepaniwai Park in Wailuku.

In Kahului, the average price of $4.84 is three cents higher than last week and one cent higher than a year ago.

The DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife helped fell more than 1,000 invasive trees, mostly Albizia, to be used in building 28 hale for the Festival Village as part of the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture (FestPAC).

A two-pronged investigation by the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement failed to find evidence that the Celebrity Cruise Lines ship, Celebrity Edge, violated any state rules while sailing off Kaua‘i’s Nā Pali Coast State Wilderness Park, earlier this month.

The Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) on Wednesday announced the signing of Maui native Tommy Musto to a Major League Soccer contract. With the signing, Tommy becomes the first-ever Hawaiʻi-born player to sign with LAFC, and the 13th in league history.   

The Kibou for Maui Project in Japan hosted a Maui leadership delegation from May 19 to 23, 2024, to facilitate an educational and strategic exchange between Maui recovery effort leaders and experts in Japan’s Tohoku region, which underwent significant rebuilding after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

Maui County does not have water available in West Maui for the Pulelehua project, a long planned development seen as a scarce opportunity to provide desperately needed housing for Lahaina residents displaced by the August wildfires.

Maui police arrested and charged longtime Maui firefighter Shawn Rogers, 52, with first degree sexual assault and the continuous sexual assault of a minor under 14 years old, police said. Rogers, who is a battalion chief and 25-year veteran of the department, posted bail which was set at $150,000, representatives with the Maui Police Department tell Maui Now.

Sacred Hearts School held its 2024 eighth grade graduation on Wednesday, May 29 at Sacred Hearts Mission Church in Kapalua, marking a significant milestone in a year defined by extraordinary challenges and remarkable resilience. The school, which was originally located in Lahaina, transitioned to Kapalua following the devastating fire on Aug. 8, 2023, that severely damaged half of their Lahaina campus.

For the first time since 2014, Hawaiʻi Foodbank has released a comprehensive report detailing the state of food insecurity across Hawaiʻi.

The County of Maui recently donated seven Fairways at Maui Lani, Kahului, lots totaling approximately 1.4 acres to nonprofit Nā Hale O Maui for affordable housing, according to an announcement today by the County Department of Finance. The donation of the County real property closed May 22, 2024. Fairways at Maui Lani Lots 1-7 are part of 19 total Fairways at Maui Lani lots that the County in 2022 decided to give to Nā Hale O Maui for affordable workforce housing in perpetuity.

Noodles & Rice by Nutcharee is now open at Azeka Shopping Center. Building on the success of their sister restaurant, Nutcharee’s Authentic Thai Food, the new restaurant offers diners a unique take on two staples of Asian cuisine: noodles & rice.

Hawaiian Electric Company unveiled details today regarding its Public Safety Power Shutoff or PSPS program for lessening the risk of wildfires in Hawaiʻi, which will launch on July 1. As part of this program, Hawaiian Electric may preemptively shut off power in certain areas it has identified as high risk during periods of forecast high winds and dry conditions. In Maui County, the program will start in West Maui, Upcountry, parts of Central and South Maui, and parts of central Molokaʻi (affecting approximately 26,100 customers).

Since the fund began accepting applications on March 1, 2024, 48 registrations have been received from families who lost loved ones in the August 2023 wildfires, while 17 have been submitted by injured survivors.

Update: (11:44 a.m., May 29, 2024) Cabreros was located and found to be in good health, according to Maui police.  The Maui Police Department thanked the public for their assistance.

If you stop by the Haleakalā Creamery booth at Maui AgFest next weekend, don’t be startled if you’re greeted by a goat. Rebecca Woodburn-Rist, owner of Maui’s “Farm to Spoon” goat dairy, will be selling her delicious goat milk caramel sauces and “Goatlato” ice cream with a little help from the herd. 

The 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture (FestPAC), the world’s largest celebration of indigenous Pacific Islanders convenes on O‘ahu from June 6-16, 2024. More than 2,200 delegates from 27 Pacific nations will gather for 10 days of cultural exchange, appreciation, and celebration at various venues across the island. More than 50 festival events, including the opening and closing ceremonies, Festival Village, heritage dance and contemporary music performances, heritage arts demonstrations, visual arts exhibits, and more, will be free and open to the public.

An international team of scientists, with the help of three observatories atop Maunakea on the Big Island, discovered the relatively close exoplanet dubbed Gliese 12 b in our galactic neighborhood.