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Hawaiian Airlines is looking forward to welcoming back international travelers after an announcement this week from the Biden administration, outlining plans for a testing and vaccine program in November.

The Senate Committee on Ways and Means will be traveling to Maui on Oct. 18-20, 2021 to conduct site visits at various state and private facilities.  

Four people were displaced following a house fire on East Papa Avenue in Kahului on Saturday. The fire caused an estimated $123,000 in damage to the structure.

There were 140 additional COVID-19 cases in Hawai‘i on Saturday, including 14 on Maui and one on Moloka‘i. There were also four new COVID deaths reported.

An amended version of the County of Maui’s Public Health Emergency Rules to loosen restrictions, was approved by Governor David Ige and take effect this weekend.

“While we are encouraged that 70% of Hawai‘i residents have made the choice to protect themselves and our community through vaccination, there is more work to do. Even with this rate of protection, our seven-day average case count is 130 new cases per day. We encourage all eligible Hawai‘i residents to become part of the solution and get vaccinated.” 

BlackSand Capital, a locally owned and managed Hawai‘i specialist real estate investment firm, announced that Highgate, a real estate investment and hospitality management company whose portfolio currently includes seven hotels in Hawai‘i, will operate the Royal Lahaina Resort on Maui when BlackSand completes the purchase of the resort from Pleasant Travel Service, which is expected to occur in December.

There were 156 additional COVID-19 cases in Hawai‘i on Friday, including 14 on Maui.

The Molinas were married Oct. 20, 1951, at St. Ann’s Church in Waiheʻe, Maui. They will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary on Wednesday. They were selected as the longest married couple in Hawaiʻi based on a nomination process.

Inmates in PSD custody during the period of March 3, 2021 through Dec. 31, 2024, who become fully vaccinated against COVID-19, are eligible to receive a one-time incentive award of $50.

There were 164 additional COVID-19 cases in Hawai‘i on Thursday, including 14 on Maui and one on Molokaʻi. Hawai‘i’s COVID-19 deaths increased to 857, with six new deaths reported today. 

Maui Mayor Michael Victorino proclaimed Oct. 11, 2021 National Coming Out Day in the County of Maui.  The proclamation raises awareness of the LGBTQ+ community and coincides with the annual month-long observance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender History Month. 

The University of Hawaiʻi announced a mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policy for employees that goes into effect on Jan. 3, 2022. Under the new policy, all UH employees, including those who are teleworking, will be required to be fully vaccinated for the COVID-19 virus OR have an approved medical or religious exemption for the vaccine.

There were 127 additional COVID-19 cases in Hawai‘i on Wednesday, including 11 on Maui. Hawai‘i’s COVID-19 deaths increased to 851, with six new deaths reported today. 

In an uncharacteristic move, Maui Mayor Michael Victorino detailed proposed changes to the County’s Emergency COVID-19 Rules and Orders, that if approved, are expected to take effect at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021.

“Halloween is On!” Trick-or-Treating is Back but Drive-Through Events are Encouraged While a return to door-to-door traditions is allowed this year, the Mayor is encouraging drive-through options like the “Halloween Drive-Through Adventure at Keōpūolani” Park in Kahului. The event runs from 4:30 to 7 p.m. on Halloween evening, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021.

Dr. Sarah Kemble, Hawaiʻi Department of Health state epidemiologist, released a statement today on mortality rates involving COVID-19 and influenza, saying COVID-19 was far deadlier than the flu during the 2020-2021 flu season, both in Hawaiʻi and around the world.

US Representative Kai Kahele visit to Maui on Monday included a stop at the Maui Economic Opportunity offices in Wailuku, a stop with Space Force atop Haleakalā, and visits to Kahului Airport and Mayor Michael Victorino’s office. He mentioned that the visits were part of his preparations for the next budget appropriations.

There were 49 additional COVID-19 cases in Hawai‘i on Tuesday. The latest data represents a total of 2,834 “active” cases statewide over two weeks. Maui County’s seven day average of cases peaked at 57.6 per 100,000 on Aug. 25, and has been on a steady decline since the beginning of September, dropping to 8.5 per 100,000 today.

Police have since linked the investigation to a missing person report. No further information will be released on the incident.