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A bill to develop housing for public school teachers and educators passed its final committee. SB941 authorizes the state’s School Facilities Authority (SFA) to partner with public and private agencies to construct teacher housing with early child care centers, beginning at Mililani, Nānākuli, and Waipahu high schools.

A free course will be offered for Maui educators on climate change and coastal resilience in Kīhei on June 23, 2023.

Fears faced by the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority were tempered on Friday when House Bill 1375 was deferred in conference committee. The measure would have transferred functions, duties, appropriations, and positions of the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority to the Office of Tourism and Destination Management. But the HTA does not emerge on solid ground, since funding for marketing was not included in the state budget.

Two properties on O‘ahu, one on Kaua‘i, and one on Moloka‘i are being added to the DLNR 2023 Legacy Land Conservation Program. The DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife will acquire the Moloka‘i property, while the other acreage is being purchased by nonprofit organizations.

Some of the highlights for District 6 include funds for teacher housing, flood mitigation measures for South Maui, funds for West Maui’s small boat harbors and ramps, and upgrades for district schools.  

Council member Tom Cook announced that the first South Maui community town hall of the term will be held on May 15 at Maui Economic Development Board’s Malcolm Center in Kīhei at 6 p.m.

Maui Police Department Vehicular Homicide Unit Investigators request the public’s help regarding an ongoing fatal hit-and-run investigation. The investigation stems from a report of a man found lying in the road on Piʻikea Avenue in Kīhei around 4:05 a.m. on Wednesday, April 5, 2023.

Maui had 276,485 visitors is March of 2023, up +15.4% from the same time last year, when 239,538 visitors came, and up +1.7% from March of 2019 when 271,934 arrived.

A contract for Phase 2 excavation work has been awarded as remediation efforts continue at Haleakalā.  Officials with the Space Surveillance Squadron hosted a community forum this week to provide an update on the status of efforts at the Maui Space Surveillance Complex where a lightning strike and equipment malfunction resulted in the release of 700 gallons of fuel  at the facility in January. 

The Maui Police Department announced the promotion of Gordon Sagun Jr. to the rank of Lieutenant, effective on May 1, 2023.

Maui’s Anson Cabello advanced out of US Open local qualifying held Wednesday at The Dunes at Maui Lani Golf Course. The 18 year old from Kahului, was among the top two in the event, finishing at 73 (+2).

Maui Invasive Species Committee and Pukalani Superette partnered in a unique community outreach event in honor of Earth Day. Students in grade K-8 at the Montessori School of Maui were presented with the challenge of customizing paper grocery bags with messages expressing their appreciation and concern for Maui’s environment.

US Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), joined two colleagues in introducing new legislation that seeks to protect children from the impacts of social media.

Lower Kula Road is closed in both directions from Copp Road to Malia Iokepa Place due to downed power lines across the roadway. There is no estimated time on when the road will reopen.

Lahaina: Waves of Change, a documentary dedicated to Lahaina and recounted through the eyes of Hawaiian musician Eddie Kamae, will be screened at this month’s “Movies at the Old Prison.” The free event will be held on Saturday, April 29 at 7 p.m.

The state Department of Human Services is extending the application deadline to apply for the Preschool Open Doors program to April 28, 2023.

Hawaiʻi gas prices remained stable for a third straight week. In Kahului own Maui, the average price of $4.85 is the same as last week, one cent lower than last month and 52 cents lower than a year ago.

Beginning with the Fall 2023 semester, students interested in Animation may pursue an Associate’s Degree at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College via its Academy for Creative Media. Animation and Filmmaking graduates may transfer to UH Mānoa for just two additional years of in-person study to earn a B.A. at the School of Cinematic Arts.

Graduates will be celebrated throughout the University of Hawaiʻi 10-campus system this spring. The UHMC commencement is set for 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 11 at the campus Great Lawn.

Nearly $100 million in capital improvement projects and grant-in-aid appropriations were included for Maui Nui in the final version of the state budget that was voted on in conference committee earlier in the week.