In Case You Missed It

A magnitude-3.7 earthquake was reported near the village of Hāna on the Island of Maui at 8:44 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19. The earthquake was widely felt on Maui, Island of Hawai‘i, and Moloka‘i. Earthquakes in this region are not common but have occurred occasionally. These earthquakes are caused by bending of the crust beneath the islands and associated adjustments related to the weight of the islands. 

Oao Sushi Go celebrated its grand opening on Dec. 8 at the Puʻunēnē Shopping Center in Kahului, Maui. Locally owned and operated by Chef Bernardo Oao Jr., Oao Sushi Go’s story began as a humble food truck serving innovative sushi dishes that quickly garnered a loyal following. The food truck’s success led to opening the first brick-and-mortar location in Wailea. With this second location, Chef Oao brings his vision and flavors of Oao Sushi Go to Central Maui.

By a narrow 4-3 vote, the Board of Land and Natural Resources rejected a request last week from Hololani Resort apartment owners seeking an amendment to 2018 board action for a sheet pile and rock revetment to protect the property from shoreline erosion.

Tanaka Ramen & Izakaya opened its fifth Hawaiʻi location at Maui Mall Village recently, bringing its flavorful menu of ramen, rice bowls, and izakaya dishes to Maui. Located near Center Court, next to Genki Sushi, across from the Regal Cinemas Maui Mall, the new restaurant has seating for up to 40 guests. A soft opening is underway with the official grand opening set for Jan. 6, 2025.

Maria Lanakila Catholic Church reopened last week in downtown Lahaina, resplendent in white Christmas lights and even capped by a three-quarter moon high over its spire in the West Maui night sky.

In response to the detection of the avian flu virus in Hawai‘i’s wastewater and wild birds, state agencies are urging the public to voluntarily pause the interisland movement of poultry and other bird species for 90 days, effective immediately. This recommendation follows the suggestion of Moloka‘i State Senator and farmer Lynn DeCoite and is a proactive measure aimed at mitigating the spread of the virus.

With visitors choosing to go elsewhere, Maui County can expect “slow progress” in its economic recovery in the wake of the August 2023 wildfire disaster, according to economics professor Carl Bonham, executive director of the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization.

The 30-year-old Maui woman who went missing during a layover in Los Angeles last month, has been found safe, according to a statement released on behalf of her family.

Imua Family Services says it’s getting harder to find child care facilities on Maui in the wake of the 2023 wildfires.

United States Attorney Clare E. Connors announced that Jose Elias Camacho, 34, of Maui, was sentenced Monday by US District Judge Susan Oki Mollway to 144 months in prison for trafficking in fake oxycodone pills containing fentanyl that resulted in an overdose death.

The County of Hawaiʻi’s Department of Environmental Management is working closely with the Hawaiʻi State Department of Health after the detection of H5 avian influenza (bird flu) in a sample of influent collected from the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant on Dec. 2.  This marks the first detection of bird flu on Hawaiʻi Island.

The median price of a single-family home on Maui was $1.3 million in November, according to a monthly statistical report by the Realtors Association of Maui. That’s $100,000 short of the all-time, $1.4 million record set in September of this year.

Lahaina Cannery and Lahaina Gateway, West Maui’s premier shopping destinations, are welcoming a group of new tenants for the holidays – businesses that have been adversely affected by the wildfires and have been shuttered for nearly a year and a half.

A pilot release of five ʻalalā recently occurred on the leeward slopes of Haleakalā, in the Kīpahulu Forest Reserve on Maui. This cooperative effort is a historic first release of Hawaiʻi’s endemic crow on Maui and the first reintroduction attempt outside of Hawaiʻi Island.

A new lunch spot has opened at The Historic Wailuku Inn, a century-old bed and breakfast in the heart of Wailuku town.

The 30-year-old Maui woman who went missing during a layover in Los Angeles last month, is believed to have left voluntarily, according to police, after new video surveillance surfaced of her crossing the US border into Mexico on foot. Police say Hannah Kobayashi was alone with her luggage and appeared unharmed. The Los Angeles Police Department has since classified the case as a voluntary missing person.

“It feels awesome. I feel exhilarated. I feel happy for our kids. These are great young men that we get to coach,” Kamehameha Maui head coach Ulima Afoa said.

After 13 years, the Maui-based private, nonprofit Hawaiʻi Animal Rescue Foundation (HARF) will be closing its doors at the end of the year.

This Thanksgiving, The Salvation Army served up thousands of meals across Hawaiʻi and Guam through its annual holiday meal outreach events. Here on Maui, The Salvation Army Kahului Corps and the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College held its Annual Community Thanksgiving meal on Nov. 27 in the Pāʻina Building at the UHMC Main Campus, featuring 800 meals prepared by the UH Maui College Culinary Arts Program at this free, in-person Thanksgiving Celebration.

Once complete, the Kilohana modular housing project will become a temporary haven for up to 167 individuals and families – a Lahaina location where wildfire survivors can plan for the future.