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Raising Cane’s partners with 99.9 KISS FM’s Ed Kanoi and the Maui United Way this month to support Parents and Children Together (PACT), a local nonprofit organization serving Maui’s families. 

The nonprofit Arc of Maui County received an $80,000 grant from the Nareit Foundation that will be utilized to replace the aging roof of its Lahaina group home that provides housing for five residents living with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

“I do want to be blunt here, if we don’t get people stepping up, I’m going to drop the hammer on short-term rentals that aren’t able to be used by our people. It’s just not okay that we don’t have housing for our local people. And so, I will propose a moratorium on short-term rentals through emergency rules. I’m sure we will face litigation, but I will do it if we don’t get 3,000 units for our people who have been living in hotels—because it’s not civilized to make people wait to get housing after they’ve lost their home in a fire,” said Gov. Green.

Speaker Scott K. Saiki today announced that the Final Report of the House of Representatives Lahaina Wildfire Interim Working Groups has been published. The report is a culmination of efforts from six bipartisan working groups, formed on Sept. 6, 2023, to evaluate topics related to the Lahaina wildfire.

Governor Josh Green today appointed Tyson K. Miyake as the new Representative to the State House, filling the District 10 vacancy created by the movement of former Rep. Troy Hashimoto to the state Senate.

DTRIC Insurance, its holding company MS&AD Insurance Group, and its parent company Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance, have stepped forward with a donation of $100,000 to support Maui wildfire relief effort

Moku Moku, a local series filmed on Maui, is now officially streaming, with episodes releasing on Fridays at noon at www.808MokuMoku.com.

State Senator Angus McKelvey will host a Town Hall for West Maui residents on Tuesday, Dec. 19 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Lahaina Civic Center.

State and federal dive teams completed field assessments in Kāne’ohe Bay this week, to delineate the scope of impacts to corals damaged when a US Navy P8A Poseidan twin-engine jet aircraft overshot the runway at Marine Corps Base Hawai‘i. Last month’s accident ended with the nearly 70-ton aircraft on top of the bay’s reef. 

UHERO forecast: “There remain a host of uncertainties surrounding Maui’s future recovery path, including how fast residents can be moved from hotels to more permanent housing, the speed of ongoing cleanup work, the extent and duration of support programs, and how long and in what fashion rebuilding will occur.”

Chef Hui and Maui Brewing Co., in collaboration with community partners, are hosting the inaugural Johnny Baldwin Keiki Christmas Beach Bash at Outrigger Kāʻanapali Beach Hotel on Dec. 16 to support displaced families in West Maui.

Officials from County of Maui and from federal agencies will be offering information and updates about debris removal, transportation and containment of debris and ash for properties in the Lahaina Wildfire Disaster Area during a community meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 18, at the Lahaina Civic Center.

The Hawaiʻi State Department of Health has issued an updated voluntary recall warning for WanaBana, Weis, and Schnucks Apple Cinnamon Fruit Puree and Apple Sauce Pouches due to elevated lead levels.

The latest Visitor Satisfaction and Activity Survey by the Hawaiʻi Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism shows high satisfaction among Hawai‘i’s visitors, with over 95% rating their experience as “excellent” or “above average.” Additionally, a special section on the impact of Maui wildfires indicates a slight decrease in satisfaction for those who visited after the Aug. 8 wildfires.

The Maui team, known as the MCC Knorthshore Knuckleheads – Green Team members include: Noah Falit, Trinity Hansen, Emily Kermode, Benjamin Kerstein, Rio Kolton, Naia Lickle, Kelsey Loree, and Erika Sharp.

Maui Mall Village welcomes new retailer, Makaliʻi, to the center. The locally owned and operated small business sells Maui-made products, including T-shirts, earrings, necklaces, hats, stickers, and acrylic 3D Lites. The shop also sells Maui Strong products and Lahainaluna Athletics branded gear and accessories.

Residents previously scheduled to relocate to new American Red Cross non-congregate shelter locations between Dec. 15 and Dec. 18 have been extended in their current hotel sheltering locations until after the holidays, according to a Red Cross update.

This month’s Hawaiian Music Series will take place on Thursday, Dec. 28 at 6 p.m., at Hale Hoʻikeʻike at the Bailey House Museum in Wailuku. This free event will feature well-known musicians Wilson Kanakaʻole and Jarret Roback.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation is providing year-to-date traffic fatality statistics for 2023 as it continues to promote responsible driving habits to keep roads safe. As of Dec. 13, 2023, 92 fatalities caused by motor vehicle collisions were reported statewide. While there has been improvement in overall driving behavior, the number of fatalities by motorcycle collisions has been consistently high for multiple years.

Holidays For Lahaina along with the help of donors, have organized a Christmas For Lahaina celebration. The event will take place on Thursday, Dec, 21, 2023, at 6 p.m., at The Ritz Carlton, Kapalua, West Maui. The event is NOT open to the public.