The Hawai‘i Journalism Initiative is a Maui-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Donate Learn about HJI
Flight disruptions have worsened following a series of events that include the groundings of Mokulele's larger-capacity Saab last month and a portion of its fleet over the weekend. The airline also determined earlier this year that the aircraft it brought in to provide backup service are not a good fit for Hawai'i.
With the tying run at third base, the Central East Maui Little League All-Stars fell just short in a 4-3 elimination game loss to Lake Mary, Fla., on Wednesday. They were one of the final eight teams in the tournament.
Kolten Magno and Maui's Little League All-Stars continued their run in Williamsport while his brother Kahi Magno kicked off the preseason with Lahainaluna's football team. MIL girls volleyball also got underway as the fall sports season gets rolling.
“That’s unreal and that’s the same thing that we told our kids, is that ‘understand how hard it is to get here,’ ” Central East Maui Little League team manager Daniel Bolduc said. “As many years as we’ve coached — and like you said, only two teams from Maui have made it this far — and we’ve had some unreal teams go through these tournaments."
“I’ve never said any race is a given,” West Maui state Rep. Elle Cochran said Saturday night. “A race is a race and people need options and I believe in all that. And who knows? I mean our whole town has been torn upside down. I don’t know where people’s heads are at or what they’re thinking. We’re just so divided right now. I mean really, our town is very divided.”
“I’m hopeful and it seems to be everybody in the community recognizes that she and I have very different views,” said Tom Cook, who was leading his primary race with Kelly King by a narrow margin late Saturday night.
“Everybody’s staying very, very focused about the issues happening around Lahaina,” said Archie Kalepa, a veteran waterman with deep roots in West Maui. “Everything’s somehow in some shape or form connected to politics. It’s more important than ever for us to be vigilant, to be voting, to make sure we continue to get the support that Lahaina needs.”
“We’re all kind of maneuvering through our grief differently,” said Trixy Nuesca-Ganer, who lost her uncle David Nuesca Jr. in the fire. “Some have been able to move on and let him be at rest and peace. I think collectively we just try to remember the good things and not focus on the loss.”
"It’s going to be a long process," said Kā‘eo Blas, reflecting on one year since a fire burned down his home and much of Lahaina town. "Sometimes you think it gets better but it’s always there. It’s like losing somebody you love. You still get the memories, they’re still in your heart, but they’re not there. It’s not the same.”
“It was never a question that we were going to rebuild, we love it here,” said Andre Fehlmann, who has lived on the island for 11 years. “Even more so now that we have experienced the entire community all together — that’s probably the biggest plus that came out of all of this, that we know that people are there.”
The natural rivalry between King Kekaulike High School and Kamehameha Schools Maui on the gridiron has grown over the last three decades, but it has risen to new, unprecedented heights the last three years. “It’s built up for years now and I’ve seen this program grow from when I was small, but I think this year it is heavier than it’s ever been because we go back and forth with some of those guys,” said ‘A‘ali‘i Valle of King Kekaulike. “We’ve seen some of them at a couple clinics and we’re just, like, ‘No, we’re going to beat you guys this year.’ It’s our turn.”
"So, there’s a lot of options on the table if the county owns it. Private companies don’t get to apply for those funds," Council Member Gabe Johnson said of the benefits of a Maui County-owned ferry system.
"Last year after the fire, it was chaos. ... So, this year is totally welcome because we are at our home stadium, we know school is going to be here. It’s just so good to be back out here," Lahainaluna head coach Dean Rickard said.
“It’s important because it is connected to a much larger set of lands that go all the way to the summit (of the West Maui Mountains),” said Scott Fretz, the Maui branch manager of DLNR’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife. “Fires often start at those mauka lands and come down in the direction toward the highway. And often they start at the highway and go up this parcel into the mauka lands. So, that connectivity is important."
“We don’t have club water polo, so I just kind of saw the need for these athletes to continue and to introduce new athletes to the sport so that we’re not so far behind as we move into the high school seasons," said Shawn Donohue, former Baldwin High School girls water polo coach.
"There's very, very traditional ways to fight fire. And with the weather that we're facing now, we have to sometimes think outside the box, how it's going to impact communities faster," Maui Fire Chief Brad Ventura said.
