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Kamaehu Kawa‘a earned the championship title at the 19th annual Richard Hoʻopiʻi Leo Kiʻekiʻe Falsetto Contest, held Saturday, Sept. 18 at the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua. The competition featured five contestants showcasing their high-register voices in the unique style of falsetto.

A Mandate-Free Maui March and Rally drew thousands of participants that stretched in a walking line from War Memorial Stadium to the Kaʻahumanu Avenue intersection with Kahului Beach Road. Bystanders estimated the crowd at more than 1,000, while organizers said the event drew an estimated 3,000 individuals over the course of two hours, beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

There were 569 additional COVID-19 cases in Hawai‘i on Saturday, including 50 on Maui, six on Molokaʻi, and two on Lānaʻi.

The search concluded at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 17 after four days of searching that included over 122 hours and 825 square miles covered.

After much speculation, the Sears Maui store is officially scheduled to close on Nov. 14, 2021, company officials tell Maui Now.

County officials say the temporary closure is needed to safeguard public safety during the area’s planned clean-up that will require heavy equipment to remove derelict vehicles and solid waste from the area.  

Over the next several months the Maui County Charter Commission will discuss 130 charter amendment proposals that will be considered for placement on the November 2022 ballot.  At its meeting on Thursday, the Commission chose not to adopt seven of the proposals placed before it, deferred action on another, and transferred two to the County Council.  

Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers restaurant is planning to open its first Maui location in early 2022 in Kahului.

There were 581 additional COVID-19 cases in Hawai‘i on Friday, including 69 on Maui and one on Molokaʻi. There were also 15 new deaths reported today.

Hospital administrators said test positivity is “moving in the right direction,” but urged vigilance saying the surge is not over.

The girl’s biological aunty who lives on Maui just returned to the Valley Isle after four days of searching on Oʻahu. “Ariel, we love you. Come out wherever you are. We want to bring you home and just hope and pray you’re safe. We’re not going to stop looking for you.”

Conservation groups in Hawai‘i represented by Earthjustice sent a notice of intent to sue the Grand Wailea Resort on Maui for alleged violations of the Endangered Species Act if the hotel does not fix lights that the groups says are impacting native seabirds.

There were 588 additional COVID-19 cases in Hawai‘i on Thursday, including 53 on Maui and four on Molokaʻi.

Da Shrimp Hale at the Maui Mall and Da Shrimp Hale West at Lahaina Gateway, are offering takeout only for the interim. A note to patrons stated, “This was a hard decision for us to make. This new mandate will be a negative impact to us entirely. Not just as a locally owned family business, but to our staff and our community. We refuse to DENY anyone because of vaccination eligibility.”

The Maui Humane Society hosts its first public adoption event in over a year and a half on Saturday, Sept. 18, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Organization leaders say the event is organized to address the overwhelming number of pets (almost 500) that are currently at the shelter and in foster care.

The County of Maui Department of Fire & Public Safety announced today the selection of Fire Chief Brad Ventura. Selection was conducted by the Maui Fire and Public Safety Commission and will take effect on Oct. 1, 2021.

Maui County’s “Safer Outside” program takes effect today, Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021. Under the new rules, restaurants are required to ask patrons 12 years and older proof of vaccination for indoor dining. Unvaccinated patrons must be served only in outdoor dining areas, takeout or drive-thru service.

“For clarification, bars, restaurants, gyms, fitness centers and other “high risk” businesses may operate at 50% capacity indoors, provided that all customers 12 years of age and older provide proof of full vaccination,” according to the Mayor’s office.

Tylun Pang, Fairmont Kea Lani’s Executive Chef, and Thomas Houston, Director of Food & Beverage, announces the homecoming of Jonathan Pasion, welcoming him back to Fairmont Kea Lani as Executive Chef for Kō. 

There were 493 additional COVID-19 cases in Hawai‘i on Wednesday, including 62 on Maui and three on Moloka‘i.