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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. 

Mayor Victorino said: “Due to such late notice and lack of sufficient health and safety protocols in place, the County will not be able to issue a special event permit. The First Amendment march may proceed, and our community asks participants for adherence to all health and safety protocols to limit the spread of COVID-19.”

Today BlackSand Capital, a locally owned Hawai‘i real estate investment firm led by B.J. Kobayashi, announced that it is contracted to purchase the Royal Lahaina Resort.

She detailed the current state of beach erosion across Hawai‘i, citing government and academic reports that indicate 70% of the beaches on Maui, Kaua‘i, and O‘ahu are chronically eroding. By 2012, more than 13-miles of beach had completely disappeared due to erosion and seawall construction. 

In Maui County, the seven day average for new cases daily is 15, with a 2.1% test positivity rate over 14 days. This is -52% from Sept. 26 to Oct. 9, 2021. For every 100,000 residents in Maui County, there have been an average of 9.0 newly reported cases per day over the last seven days.

At about 3:10 pm Saturday, a 19-year-old driving a Toyota truck crossed left of center on Kula Highway and fatally struck a bicyclist head-on, according to the Maui Police Department.

On Saturday, the downward trend in new COVID-19 cases continued in Hawaiʻi with the report of 196 new cases, including 16 on Maui. There also were four deaths reported.

Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino has made a request to Hawaiʻi Gov. David Ige to ease some COVID-19 restrictions in the county due to a decline in the number of cases, the stabilization of the health care system and a 7-day average testing positivity rate of 2.22 percent, lowest in the state.

Governor David Ige joined Health Care leaders and Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi in announcing the easing of some COVID-19 restrictions on the island of Oʻahu. This includes allowing up to 1,000 attendees for outdoor seated entertainment (including UH football games), 500 attendees for indoor seated entertainment, and more, with safety measures in place.

A 69-year-old Florida woman suffered multiple traumatic injuries in a fall at Kaihalulu in East Maui on Thursday morning.

There were 201 additional COVID-19 cases in Hawai‘i on Friday, including 19 on Maui and one on Lānaʻi. There were also seven new deaths reported today.

Kainani Kahaunaele was the standout at the 44th Annual Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, winning seven awards in six categories for her third album Waipunalei. The list of winners is posted here:

The Maui Health clinic will now provide booster doses of the Pfizer vaccine to all eligible health care and other frontline workers, including teachers and hotel employees, whose occupation or workplace settings present an increased risk of infection or transmission of COVID-19.

HuiZero launches, Maui’s first zero waste to-go container program, on Friday, Oct. 8, 2021 at participating restaurants across Maui.