In Case You Missed It
Kīpahulu in East Maui becomes Hawaiʻi’s third Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area
Today, after nearly 30 years of grassroots community planning and engagement within their moku and across Maui and the state, Hawaiʻi nonprofit organization Kīpahulu ‘Ohana, Inc. saw their Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area (CBSFA) signed into law.
Lahaina Cannery reopens 7 months after August wildfires on March 18
After a closure of seven and a half months since the August wildfires, Lahaina Cannery announced it is reopening its doors to Maui residents and visitors on Monday, March 18, 2024.
Urgent repairs called for at Māʻalaea Small Boat Harbor Ramp
The Maui County Council has unanimously adopted a resolution urging the state Department of Land and Natural Resources to repair the Māʻalaea Small Boat Harbor Ramp.
HI-EMA announces new housing eligibility policy for Lahaina fire-displaced residents
A survivor in NCS seeking support for the FEMA-eligible program will have four opportunities to accept their Direct Housing option. Meanwhile, survivors in non-congregate sheltering seeking support through the state of Hawaiʻi’s Housing solution will be given two opportunities to accept an option. The state’s plan is to ultimately wrap up its NCS program.
House passes state FY2025 budget, prioritizes Maui wildfire related expenses
The state House of Representatives on Wednesday approved the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 operating and capital improvement budget, amid a fiscally challenging year that prioritizes addressing wildfire-related expenses after the Aug. 8 tragedy in Lahaina and Upcountry Maui.
Coming soon to Maui, March 17-23: Kihei Fridays Block Party, Jazz in Lahaina and Wailuku, Maui Pops Orchestra’s Roaring ‘20s music, Grammy winning musical Kinky Boots, Historic play portrays Prince Kūhiō
Coming up fast are the Kīhei 4th Friday free admission block party, an opening art reception at Hui Noʻeau, and NBC’s “The Voice” Season 24 finalist Jason Arcilla and The Mad Steppas performing at da Playground.
Mixed feelings: Old Lahaina Lūʻau employees ready to make new memories as it reopens
Sitting at the edge of scorched Lahaina Town and makai of the Lahaina Cannery Mall, the Old Lahaina Lūʻau reopens to tourism for the first time since the Aug. 8 wildfire.
Maui’s Gladys Baisa remembered as a trailblazer, pioneer for women leaders
Former Maui County Council Chair Gladys Coelho Baisa is being remembered fondly as a strong community leader, and a pioneer for women in politics and nonprofit leadership. She passed away Monday morning. She was 83.
Lahaina fire cases remanded back to Maui state court, Maui attorney lauds decision
Maui attorney, Jan K. Apo, who is representing hundreds of families impacted by the August 2023 Maui wildfires, lauded Monday’s federal court decision to remand some 90 Lahaina fire cases back to the state court on Maui.
Eminent domain proposal for Central Maui Landfill expansion sent to Council committee
Maui County Council members were sharply divided Friday over a proposal to use Maui County’s condemnation power of eminent domain to obtain a nearly 20-acre former quarry next to the Central Maui Landfill for the final disposal of toxic Lahaina fire ash and debris.
Hirono secures reinstatement of benefits for COFA citizens, over $307M for Hawaiʻi in federal spending bill
In addition to containing the recently-renegotiated Compacts of Free Association, the package includes the text of Sen. Hirono’s Compact Impact Fairness Act to restore access to a range of federal benefits for COFA citizens who reside in the US, including nearly 20,000 in Hawaiʻi. The package, which passed in the US House of Representatives on Wednesday, now heads to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.
Second Lahaina sign that was stolen has since been recovered and will be reinstalled
The second of two Lahaina Gateway signs that were stolen shortly after the August wildfires, was returned to the Lahaina Restoration Foundation on Friday. It was found cut into three pieces, but executives say they are able to piece the sign together and will reinstall it in West Maui.
Boating safety highlighted after untimely death of dolphin yearling off Kauaʻi, humpback calf off Lānaʻi
So far in 2024, NOAA has received six confirmed reports of vessel strikes to humpback whales in Hawaiʻi. Within the span of a few weeks in February, a Hawaiian spinner dolphin yearling and a humpback whale calf stranded dead in Hawaiʻi. Both of their injuries were consistent with vessel strike, according to NOAA.
Advanced wildfire detection sensors to be deployed in Maui’s high-risk areas
Early wildfire detection and wind sensors are on their way to Kīhei and Lahaina, public officials announced at a press conference in South Maui today.
Schatz joins colleagues in introducing bill to promote use of AI to predict, respond to extreme weather
The bill would direct key federal agencies to use AI tools to improve weather forecasting, crack down on illegal deforestation and optimize electrical grids.
Maui median home price $1.25M in February 2024, up 16% from same time last year
The median price for a single-family home on Maui in February 2024 was $1,250,760, up 15.9% from the same time last year. The median price for a condo was $744,500, down 18.6% from the same time last year.
Maui Office of Recovery announces interim housing projects for Lahaina wildfire survivors
Mayor Richard Bissen and officials from the County’s Office of Recovery announced temporary modular home group housing projects being planned in coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the State of Hawaiʻi and private developers to provide an estimated 4,000 interim housing units for wildfire survivors. The information was shared at the Disaster Recovery Community Update meeting held at the Lahaina Civic Center on Wednesday night.
MAPA receives $1,000,000 donation for new theatre in Wailuku
Maui Academy of Performing Arts has received a $1,000,000 donation for its new black box theatre in Wailuku from philanthropist Susan Naylor Moulton. Currently under construction, the Naylor Family Theatre will open in spring 2025.
Preliminary data shows impacts of wildfire on Lahaina coastal waters
Preliminary data on coastal water quality monitoring in West Maui was presented Wednesday at a public speaker series featuring Andrea Kealoha, Ph.D., an assistant professor of Oceanography at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
Council reviews plans to convert Maui Sun, a former Kīhei hotel, into affordable housing
While thousands of wildfire survivors remain displaced, Maui County Council members heard Tuesday a proposal for the state to purchase the former 216-room Maui Sun Hotel property in central Kīhei and convert it into long-term affordable workforce housing and a public prekindergarten facility.