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A veteran of the Maui Economic Opportunity Board of Directors, Ned Davis, was installed Thursday, June 25, for his second go-round as President.

The University of Hawaiʻi is taking another significant step toward reducing the number of telescopes on Maunakea, announcing July 1, 2026 that science operations at the United Kingdom Infra-Red Telescope (UKIRT) on Hawai’i Island will conclude on Sept. 15.

The aim is to quantify the “whale pump,” the process by which whales fertilize the ocean through waste, cycling nutrients that feed phytoplankton, the microscopic plants that form the base of the marine food web and produce roughly half of the oxygen we breathe. 

“Today’s blessing builds on the significant progress already made in Lahaina’s recovery,” Mayor Richard Bissen said. “From clearing more than 1,500 properties and restoring essential infrastructure to engaging the community, developing recovery plans and creating a clear path for businesses to rebuild, each milestone has brought us closer to restoring Lahaina’s commercial heart.”

The report identified two key findings: inadequate anti-fraud controls and the absence of a countywide fraud complaint process. The study found $21 million in “direct pay” transactions by the Department of Water Supply that bypass standard procurement. The upcoming 2027 Audit Plan also includes a review of private jet travel provided to county employees.

Community groups, state agencies and nonprofits across Hawaiʻi teamed up to participate in a statewide restoration event for World Ocean Day. This multi-island effort, organized as part of the Year of Our Coastal Kuleana, focused on protecting the precious shorelines, reefs and wetlands that are vital to Hawaiʻi’s identify and prosperity.

The offer allows girls to start participating right away in troop activities, council programs, outdoor adventures, STEM experiences, leadership opportunities and the Girl Scout Cookie Program.

This recognition highlights banks that consistently deliver trusted, high-quality financial services and exceptional experiences at the local level.

Gov. Josh Green today officially assumed the chairmanship of the Western Governors’ Association (WGA), launching a yearlong bipartisan initiative, Health Beyond Healthcare, aimed at improving mental health outcomes by expanding access to care, while addressing the broader factors that shape health and well-being.

The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education has already served nearly 145,000 free summer meals to children across the state, providing access to nutritious breakfasts and lunches while school is out for the summer.

State House District 14 candidate Sne Patel today announced the endorsements of the University of Hawaiʻi Professional Assembly, the REALTORS Political Action Committee and Plumbers & Fitters UA Local 675.

If the proposals are successful, water systems in West Maui, including both drinking and irrigation, will transition from 25% to 65% publicly owned. More importantly, public stewardship of drinking water systems in West Maui will increase from 45% to 93%, representing a major step toward ensuring this essential resource is managed in the public trust, according to county officials.

The Hawaiʻi State Judiciary announces that beginning today, individuals serving as jurors in Hawaiʻi state courts will receive $50 per day for their service, an increase from the previous rate of $30 per day. The increase marks the first adjustment to juror compensation since 1989, when the daily rate increased from $20 to $30.

A multiagency child recovery operation conducted last week Thursday and Friday, known as “Operation Shine the Light VII,” resulted in the safe location and recovery of 14 children on Oʻahu.

A 50-year-old Kahului woman who became lost while hiking was airlifted from the Makawao Forest Reserve on Tuesday afternoon.

Maui County Council candidate and well-known taro farmer Bobby Pahia has secured a couple of key labor endorsements in his bid for the Upcountry residency seat being vacated by Council Vice Chair Yuki Lei Sugimura.

The shipping company will be able to automatically increase rates every year under a bill signed into law in May by Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green.

The inaugural 2026 ʻAha Niu: Maui Nui Coconut Celebration Festival showcased the passion the Maui Nui community has for safeguarding and perpetuating niu (coconut) for future generations. In early June, five adult coconut rhinoceros beetles were found in traps in Waikapū. On the heels of that news, the ʻAha Niu festival was held June 13 at Maui Nui […]

Kaiser Permanente Hawaiʻi announced it will partner with Maui Health to open a new Lahaina Clinic to serve as a lasting home for care in West Maui and support the community’s continued recovery and future health care needs.

US Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaiʻi introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at increasing transparency around artificial intelligence-generated content, requiring clear labels when people are viewing AI-made material or interacting with an AI chatbot.