In Case You Missed It
With rising seas, erosion threatening Pā‘ia Youth & Cultural Center, plans are underway to build new one
While the planned two-story youth center will still be in a flood zone, it will be built to withstand the erosion and sea level rise that continues to take its toll along the North Shore of Maui.
PGA Tour working on downsized schedule for 2027, leaving Hawaiʻi’s The Sentry, Sony Open in limbo
Instead of being on air all week to preview The Sentry golf tournament at the Plantation Course, the 76-year-old Rolfing, a longtime Kapalua resident and analyst for NBC Sports and The Golf Channel, was working many hours behind the scenes to help bring the tournament back to Maui.
Maui County Council Vice Chair Sugimura to challenge incumbent Bissen in 2026 election for mayor
Yuki Lei Sugimura, a five-term council member, said her decision was spurred by the recent passage of the bill to phase out thousands of vacation rentals, which she says will negatively impact the local economy.
Maui Council advances interim ban on new private pools in West Maui
The Maui County Council advanced a bill aimed at water conservation in arid West Maui by imposing an interim ban on new private swimming pools.
Hawaiʻi wildfire plan in the works in conjunction with expansion of new state fire marshal’s office
These efforts are at the top of the state’s list of 10 priorities for improving wildfire prevention after the deadly and destructive blaze on Maui in 2023.
Perspectives on Hawaiʻi housing crisis examined in new survey
Nearly 7 out of 10 residents (68%) say government red tape is a barrier to more housing. The study also revealed that 71% of residents statewide agree Hawai‘i should build more housing as quickly as possible. An estimated 55% of those polled support increasing the height limit for new residential buildings in select areas to increase housing supply.
Proposal for new hotel zoning for vacation rentals deferred in Housing and Land Use Committee
The Maui County Council’s Housing and Land Use Committee on Monday deferred action on the creation of new hotel zoning districts following an executive session that lasted over an hour.
Nālani Kanakaʻole, revered Kumu Hula and cultural matriarch, passes at 79
Nālani Kanakaʻole, a fifth-generation loea hula whose life work preserved and perpetuated the ancient traditions of Hawaiian chant and hula kahiko, died peacefully on Jan. 3, 2026, in Hilo. She was 79.
“Hawaiʻi Stays With You” campaign invites travelers to experience transformation beyond vacation
The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority today unveiled “Hawaiʻi Stays With You,” a brand campaign that positions Hawaiʻi not simply as an aspirational destination, but as a way of life that can fundamentally change how travelers see and experience the world.
Kaho‘olawe Nine protest helped spark rebirth of sacred island 50 years ago today
Two events will be held today to mark the 50th anniversary of a watershed moment that eventually led the U.S. military to stop bombing Kaho’olawe and put the island at the center of the Hawaiian rights movement.
Hawaiʻi lawmakers call Trump’s military action in Venezuela ‘reckless’
US Rep. Jill Tokuda was among the Hawaiʻi lawmakers who criticized the Trump administration’s recent military actions in Venezuela, questioning the financial and human costs of the conflict.
With FEMA housing deadline for Lahaina fire survivors 39 days away, state officials hope for an extension
In 39 days, those types of gatherings will not be possible for the 1,475 individuals still in FEMA-funded housing on Maui if the deadline is not extended. In November, the state requested a 12-month extension to the current deadline.
Maui police receive 118 fireworks-related calls for service during New Year’s holiday; two arrests made
Between 6 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2025, and 6 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2026, the Maui Police Department received 118 calls for service related to fireworks violations throughout the County of Maui. During this time, one citation was issued for an aerial fireworks violation, eight reports were generated for documentation purposes, and two arrests were made.
Draft guidelines aim to streamline complex rebuilding in Lahaina’s business district
The draft guidelines are the latest effort by the county to move forward with rebuilding in the town’s business district, which overlaps a sensitive historic area that has seen little activity since the August 2023 wildfires.
‘Ohana Strong’s mission to save clothes and toys helped save its volunteers, too
For a decade, the organization has helped more than 1,000 families and saved 1,000 pounds of belongings each month from entering the landfill.
Two Big Island men arrested for ‘years-long operation’ to transport, distribute illegal fireworks
If convicted, Goo and Tamura face imprisonment of up to 10 years and fines of up to $250,000 per count, plus terms of supervised release, and Goo faces an additional 15 years of imprisonment for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
UH: cookiecutter shark research bridges ʻike Hawaiʻi, science
University of Hawaiʻi researchers have published a new study that brings together ʻike Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian knowledge), ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) and western marine science to shed new light on one of the ocean’s most elusive predators, the cookiecutter shark.
Livestream of Kīlauea eruption shows 2 men walking through volcano’s restricted area
On the one-year anniversary of Kīlauea’s rare episodic eruption, viewers watching the live feed at the summit were shocked to see two men walk in front of the camera that is in a restricted area.
Kamehameha Schools will no longer require tuition for preschool through Grade 12
Starting with the 2026-27 school year, Kamehameha preschools and K–12 campuses will no longer require tuition. The announcement was made in a message from the Board of Trustees and CEO of Kamehameha Schools.
Carissa Moore and Maui’s Eli Hanneman win Florence Pipe Pro presented by HTA
Carissa Moore (HAW) and Maui’s Eli Hanneman claimed victories at the Florence Pipe Pro Presented by HTA on Saturday, a World Surf League Hawaiʻi/Tahiti Nui Qualifying Series men’s and women’s QS 2,000-level event.
