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HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union is supporting the Alzheimer’s Association Hawaii Chapter through fundraising and educational initiatives, focusing on preparing caregivers for their unique financial challenges.  

Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, serving as Acting Governor, signed an Emergency Proclamation at 6:18 p.m. Thursday in response to a Red Flag Warning issued by the National Weather Service in Honolulu. The Red Flag Warning is in effect from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15, for wind and low relative humidity in leeward areas of all Hawaiian Islands.

Hawai‘i residents can make the holiday season extra special with a staycation at The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Kāʻanapali. The discounted kama‘āina rates start at $298 per night in the newly-renovated Kūkahi Tower and waived resort fees (a $49 per night value), and is available for stays until Dec 24. The kama‘āina discount is open to book now and is based on availability. 

The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for leeward areas of all islands from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. This replaces an earlier announcement of a Fire Weather Watch.

Kūpuna impacted by the August 2023 wildfires are eligible for low-income senior housing in an initiative launched by the nonprofit J. Walter Cameron Center in response to the island’s post-disaster housing crisis.

Maui fire crews are battling a brush fire near the intersection of the Kūihelani and Honoapiʻilani highways. The Maui Police Department issued a road closure notice at around 1 p.m. saying traffic on the Honoapiʻilani Highway in the Wailuku bound direction is being redirected to Kūihelani due to the fire.

With the balance of power in Washington shifting into the hands of Republicans and incoming President Donald Trump, Hawai‘i Democratic US Sen. Brian Schatz appealed to Senate colleagues to prioritize passage of a disaster aid funding for long-term relief of Maui wildfire survivors.

The state of Hawaiʻi Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Insurance Division is encouraging residents who do not have health insurance coverage through their employer, to visit HealthCare.gov to compare plans. Open enrollment via the Health Insurance Marketplace lasts through Jan. 15, 2025. Consumers who enroll by Dec. 15, 2024, can secure coverage that starts Jan. 1, 2025. 

Nominations are being accepted through Dec. 23 to fill vacancies on the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee. The committee advises the Secretary of Commerce on all marine life matters that are the responsibility of the US Department of Commerce.

Native Hawaiian oral traditions record a rich history of the changing volcanic landscape in Hawaiʻi. Interweaving cultural knowledge with scientific disciplines can provide a more complete understanding of past events, including the largest known lava flow eruption of Kīlauea.

Veterans were honored for their military service during a Veterans Day program Monday at Maui Veterans Cemetery in Makawao. The ceremony include the presentation of flowers at monuments for the Vietnam War, Korean War, World War I and World War II by members of the US Naval Sea Cadet Corps, Maui Division.

The Maui Fire Department will be conducting live fire training on Nov. 18, 21 and 22 as part of its 40th recruit class. In light of the latest forecast info from the National Weather Service indicating that a Fire Weather Watch will be up for all leeward areas of all islands on Friday; the live fire training planned for this Friday, Nov. 15 has been postponed. 

298 Maui County voters cured deficiencies with their ballot envelopes. Results were updated by the State Office of Elections at 7:10 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024 and are posted below. The slim margin in the South Maui Council race narrowed from 117 votes after the third printout to 97 votes in the final summary report, with incumbent Tom Cook defeating Kelly Takaya King.

Online feedback on the draft of the County of Maui’s Long-Term Recovery Plan for Lahaina is currently open on www.MauiRecovers.org/lahaina. The deadline to submit feedback is Friday, Nov. 15, 2024.

The National Weather Service has issued a Fire Weather Watch, in effect for the leeward areas of all islands from Friday morning through Friday afternoon. A combination of strong winds with gusts up to 50 mph, low relative humidity as low as 40-50%, and dry fuels can contribute to extreme fire behavior.

A draft environmental assessment has been completed for an 1.6-mile, southerly extension of Waiʻale Road that would, literally, pave the way for the Waikapū Country Town development. The new 80-foot-wide road would provide access to 1,433 homes, including 500 affordable units, as part of the master-planned Waikapū Country Town development, according to the draft document.

Adapted from the classic Christmas film of the same title, “Elf The Musical Jr” arrives at Maui Preparatory Academy’s Bozich Center just in time to kick off the holiday season.

VA Pacific Islands Health Care System will hold a Veteran Appreciation Lunch in conjunction with a PACT Act Registration and Community Call event from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16 at the Maui Community Based Outpatient Clinic at 203 Ho’ohana St., Suite 303, Kahului.

Cody Young and Sloane Jucker captured the open divisions at the 35th annual Vissla / Hi-Tech / Lopez Surfbash, Saturday and Sunday at Hoʻokipa Beach Park on Maui’s north shore. The meet was the second event of the Hawaiʻi Surfing Association-Maui season.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Health has detected H5 avian influenza for the first time in Hawaiʻi, finding it at a wastewater sampling site on Oʻahu. The department is investigating possible sources of the specimen collected on Nov. 7. Test results were received Tuesday.