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After his appointment to the 10th House District seat and the beginning of this year’s lawmaking session, Tyson Miyake is reading hundreds of bills, attending countless meetings and finding he’s not just another fresh face at the Hawaiʻi Legislature.

Two West Maui locations and the Central Maui Landfill are under consideration as permanent disposal sites for an estimated 400,000 cubic yards of ash and debris to be removed from Lahaina wildfire burn zones.

As of Friday, Jan. 26, the Federal Emergency Management Agency reported that 5,290 people remained housed in 28 hotels as part of the program.

Executives with Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines discussed their recently announced merger agreement during a fireside chat hosted by the Maui Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday.

The Hawai‘i Department of Health has received a report of a travel-related dengue case in Hawai‘i in an individual who had recent travel to countries where dengue is commonly found. The last confirmed case of locally acquired dengue in the state was in 2016.

The monthly test of the all-hazard Statewide Outdoor Warning Siren System is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024, at 11:45 a.m. The siren test will be coordinated with a test of the Live Audio Broadcast segment of the Emergency Alert System.

Maui High School’s Blue Thunder 1 robotics team finished as a tournament finalist and took home the Energy Award after competing last week in the 2024 Hawaiʻi Middle and High School VEX Robotics Regional Championships on Oahu.

Severe floodwater damage to infrastructure on South Kīhei Road has forced the extended closure of the road between Wailana and Kaonoulu streets through February. Resident-only traffic will be allowed.

The proposed bills, inspired by the Savio affordable housing programs, aim to establish a local housing market that is affordable for the average local buyer rather than outside investors.

Bayer Hawaii has donated $50,000 for wildfire disaster recovery to three Maui nonprofits—$20,000 for the Lahaina Restoration Foundation and $15,000 each for Maui Economic Opportunity and Binhi At Ani.

Starting next week, the damaged seawall at Māʻalaea Small Boat Harbor will undergo repairs to shore up its protection against current and wave action. Mocon Corporation will begin construction of a new, reinforced concrete seawall on Monday, Feb. 5.

Lahaina Restoration Foundation’s Scholarship Committee announced that a total of $10,000 in scholarships will be available to Lahainaluna High School seniors and alumni for the 2024-2025 school year.

One of the two stolen large redwood Lahaina signs was returned last week following reports of community dismay and a plea to get the signage back where it belongs, according to the Lahaina Restoration Foundation.

The US Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program is seeking sponsor organizations on all islands to help provide children in low-income communities with free meals during the summer months.

US Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaiʻi joined in introducing the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates or FAIR Act, a bill that would provide federal employees with a 7.4% pay increase in calendar year 2025. Schatz previously introduced similar legislation in the 115th, 116th, and 117th Congresses.

Homeowners could receive grants of up to $100,000 for construction of accessory dwellings, also known as ʻohana units, under a bill passed on second and final reading Friday by the Maui County Council. Bill 38 advances to Mayor Richard Bissen for final action.

Maui Economic Opportunity’s Head Start Lahaina site, the only preschool in town spared by the Aug. 8 wildfires, will reopen Thursday, Feb. 1, following extensive cleaning, repairs, renovations and clearances for health and safety.

Increased earthquake activity and inflationary ground deformation at Kīlauea’s summit began occurring during the early morning hours of Jan. 31, 2024, indicating movement of magma in the subsurface, according to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Scientists with the HVO issued an activity notice, but noted that Kīlauea volcano is not erupting.

This week on Maui, there are concerts by award-winning country singer Brett Young and legendary reggae band The Abyssinians, a public display of the Mobile Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and the award-winning musical Daddy Long Legs. Coming Soon: Chinese New Year, rocking bluesman Popa Chubby.

Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen announced today that Mahina Martin, his Chief of Communications and Public Affairs, will take on a new role as Director of Public Affairs. He also appointed his legislative liaison and executive assistant, Laksmi Abraham, as Director of Communications and Government Affairs.