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There is no tsunami expected following a 4.2 (preliminary magnitude 4.0) earthquake reported in the SW rift zone of the Kīlauea Volcano on Hawaiʻi Island.

County officials say the resort will be renamed to Hāna-Maui Resort and expects to resume operations once travel restrictions are lifted.

Maui fire crews are battling a brush fire in gulch below Hāliʻimaile Road on Maui.   At around 5 p.m. precautionary evacuations were being conducted for homes along Aoiki Street and the makai side of Leie Street.  

Officials have ruled the death of a federal law enforcement agent on Maui as an accidental line of duty death.  Special Agent John Bost III died July 28 at the Kīhei Police station, where he was employed with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

For the third consecutive day, Hawaiʻi recorded another triple-digit single-day total for new COVID-19 infections with a total of 123 new cases in the state on Friday.  Today’s cases include: 119 new cases on Oʻahu and four new cases in Maui County.

United Airlines plans to resume service between the US mainland and Hilo and Kauaʻi; and increase flying to Honolulu, Kona and Maui in the Hawaiian Islands.

“I know this hurts a number of groups, and I’m having calls and people are really anxious because they had parties and other things planned.  My response to them has been very simple–don’t do it.  We’re at an all-time high in the state and Maui is having its second worst month on record.  To date we have 42 new cases.  We didn’t have 42 cases when you add March, May and June together–we only had 32 cases. Does that not tell all of us something is wrong,” said Mayor Victorino.

To report a suspected violation of the state’s 14-day quarantine order on arrivals from out-of-state the public can email mpdquarantine@mpd.net. In addition to the police department, the Maui Visitor’s Bureau is operating a hotline for people to report violations of the 14-day visitor quarantine.  The number to call is (808) 468-9952.

The Hawaiʻi Board of Education today voted to postpone the start of school year by two weeks to Aug. 17, 2020.  

Updated Public Health Emergency Rules that limit indoor and outdoor social gatherings to no more than 10 people, starting this Friday, July 31, 2020. The use of large structures that may attract gatherings, such as tents and pavilions, will be prohibited.

Gov. Ige said the suggested changes would give the state maximum flexibility to ensure funds are not left unused.

Visitor arrivals to Maui in June totaled 1,929 individuals, compared to 297,449 visitors a year ago, according to new data compiled by the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority. The data was part of the HTA’s monthly visitor report which points toward severe impacts of he COVID-19 pandemic on visitor arrivals to the Hawaiian Islands.

Hawaiʻi recorded another triple-digit record breaking day for new COVID-19 infections with a total of 124 new cases in the state on Thursday.  Today’s cases include: 121 new cases on Oʻahu and four new cases in Maui County. This marks the second consecutive day that new cases have risen into the triple-digits.  It’s also the state’s highest case count for a single-day since the pandemic began.

Dr. Lee Weiss, Regional Director of Emergency Medical Services discussed the logic behind proper masking, the cause of the recent uptick in cases, and why deaths from COVID-19 are not attributed to preexisting conditions.

Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea gifted more than 800 employees with gift cards to locally owned restaurants and markets on Wednesday. The Resort’s monthly act of care aims to support employees financially or with essentials, while aiding local businesses as well.

Mayor Victorino said structures like tents and umbrellas lead to congregating and gathering. More than 200 COVID-19 tests were administered today during a drive-through event at Keōpūolani Park in Central Maui.  Mayor Victorino said, “Many of them, according to the staff that was there, many of them were the same faces they saw on Facebook at that drum ring celebration.”  

Special Agents from the Investigations Division of the Department of the Attorney General arrested 57-year-old Tiny Nitro Tadani at a vendor booth on Ward Avenue this morning.

Governor David Ige this afternoon discussed the state’s triple-digit case count today, calling for limits on social gatherings, a look at the potential closure of bars (which has already been requested by Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell), and considering limitations on gatherings at beaches and parks. 

The case count for today stands at a total of 109; 98 on O‘ahu, nine (9) on Maui, and two (2) on Kaua‘i. A total of 5,160 tests were processed between yesterday and today. Normally, about 1,000-2,000 tests are processed each day.  

Council Chair Alice Lee disagrees with Mayor Michael Victorino’s suggestion, that the council return to in-person meetings in the Council Chamber. She said the Council and its standing committees will continue to meet exclusively via video conference, at least as long as the governor’s emergency proclamation on COVID-19 remains in effect and perhaps longer if state law is amended.