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The County of Maui will again host a scary but fun Halloween Drive-Thru Adventure from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30, at Keōpūolani Regional Park, Mayor Michael Victorino announced today. No reservations are needed.

“We encourage people to get the new bivalent boosters from Pfizer or Moderna because those are the only boosters specially designed to protect against Omicron subvariants. But Novavax is an option for those who can’t get a Pfizer or Moderna booster,” said State Health Director Dr. Elizabeth Char, FACEP.

The Hawaiʻi State Department of Health reported 2,211 new COVID-19 cases for the week of Oct. 13-19, 2022, and three new deaths.

The National Weather Service in Honolulu has issued its projections for the upcoming wet season, saying above average rainfall, especially from December to April, could help to relieve drought. But the agency notes that rainfall distribution can be influenced by the strength of La Niña, making the exact location of rain subject to strong or weak conditions.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has authorized the release of over $1.5 million to the County of Maui to reimburse the public funds it spent to test people for COVID-19 from October 2020 through September 2021.

Seabury Hall will host a Trunk or Treat event on Halloween, Monday, Oct. 31, 2022, from 4 to 6 p.m. at its campus in Makawao.  Registration for the event is required and will be on a first come first serve basis. 

Maui County Councilmember Kelly King, who finished third in the Primary race for mayor, announced her endorsement on Tuesday of retired Judge Richard Bissen. The announcement comes as election ballots head to the homes of registered voters this week.

Anjelah Johnson-Reyes became an internet sensation with her viral video, Nail Salon. That same year she joined the cast of, MADtv as a series regular, which spawned another internet sensation, Bon Qui Qui. She takes the stage this weekend at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s Castle Theater.

Brandon Romero who was reported missing on Oct. 17, 2022. He was last heard from on Sept. 5, 2022, and last seen in Hāna on Sept. 6, 2022, according to police.

Hawaiʻi voters should expect to receive their mail ballot packet for the 2022 General Election by Friday, Oct. 21. The mail ballot packet contains your official General Election ballot, an optional secrecy sleeve, and a postage paid return ballot envelope.

2022 sales price guidelines estimate that a family making $60,000 annually could pay $289,100 for a 3-bedroom home. The new sales price guidelines would bring the price of a 3-bedroom home closer to $157,000 for the same family, according to the Mayor’s announcement.

“While we hope the signs engender respect for sharks and their natural and cultural roles in Hawai‘i, they also serve as a reminder of a new law that went into effect on Jan. 1, extending protections to more than 40 species of sharks that frequent State waters,” said DOBOR Administrator Ed Underwood.

For the first time in the agency’s history, the Department of the Interior will require formal consultation with the Native Hawaiian Community.

Hawaiʻi hotel businesses make the most revenue overall, with each business raking in $25.8 million on average per year, according to a new report from HotelTechReport.

Feeling occasional earthquakes is part of the experience of living in the State of Hawaiʻi, especially on the Island of Hawai‘i.  The vast majority of felt earthquakes are small, but the less common large earthquakes can be damaging, so it is important to be prepared. 

Girl Scouts of Hawaiʻi has received an $800,000 donation from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott in her latest round of transformative grantmaking. The donation was part of an $84.5 million gift awarded to Girl Scouts of the USA and 29 local councils selected by Scott.

Maui awards were issued to Malia Draper of Waiheʻe Elementary School for the Baldwin-Kekaulike-Maui Complex Area; and Cornelio “CJ” Ancheta of Lahainaluna High School for the Hāna-Lahainaluna-Lānaʻi-Molokaʻi Complex Area award.

An indictment warrant was issued on Tuesday, Oct. 11, for three adults after a vehicle stop conducted last month by Crime Reduction Unit officers in Wailuku.

Overall, the total dollar volume of residential homes sold in the third quarter fell $1.428B, a 23% decrease compared to the third quarter of 2021. The previously total dollar volume was $1.841B.

From a pool of 42 nominations, winners for the ARDA-Hawaiʻi’s 2022 Timeshare with Aloha Awards were chosen in nine award categories with five honorees from Maui.