In Case You Missed It

Another affordable housing proposal is headed to the Maui County Council, but this one is not “shovel ready.” It’s built already, although it’s going to be a multimillion-dollar fixer-upper.

TY Management Corporation held a groundbreaking and blessing ceremony of its Kapalua Village Temporary Housing Project for Kapalua Golf employees on Monday morning, Feb. 19. This project signifies one of the first privately funded temporary housing projects on Maui to assist individuals and families impacted by the Maui wildfires.

The new Pāʻia Floral shop opened its doors over the weekend, offering a fresh find for flower seekers on Maui’s North Shore. The business is Native Hawaiian and wahine-owned, and is a sister company to Pukalani Floral and Kanuihele, a business focused on music, dance and craft.

The Maui County Council advanced two affordable housing projects on first reading Friday and referred a third to the Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee for further review.

Tails Up Maui, a restaurant in Paukūkalo, reopened on Jan. 26 after a transformative period of community service.

The award includes $8.6 million to Kahului Airport for construction of a new two-story security screening checkpoint facility at the south end of the ticket lobby (South TSA Checkpoint). The facility will include six new TSA screening lanes. A pedestrian bridge over the existing service road will connect the new checkpoint facility to Hold Room A.

Maui musician, Kamalei Kawaʻa, is among those who auditioned for Season 25 of NBC’s “The Voice,” he announced via his social media platforms on Thursday.

Maui Huliau Foundation is partnering with Hisako Film Lab to offer a five day condensed filmmaking program this spring break for youth in grades 7-12 from all schools. Students will work together over the five days to create a short environmental parody of a TV commercial. The program staff will provide equipment, as well as assistance in planning, filming, and editing. No prior experience is needed, but students must be able to attend all five days to participate. 

Maui Economic Development Board’s STEMworks program announced that Grammy award-winning Maui High alumnus, Jason Baum, will be one of the keynote speakers for the 15th Annual Hawai’i STEM Conference, which will take place on April 4-5 at the Hawai’i Convention Center in Honolulu.

R.D. Olson Development held a groundbreaking recently of the Maui Airport Industrial project, located on a 6.3 acre parcel in Kahului near Costco at 250 Lauo Loop.

The Maui Jim Maui Invitational announced that the 2024 tournament will return to the island of Maui after the wildfires on Maui caused a move of the tournament to Honolulu in 2023. The 41st annual tournament will return to the historic Lahaina Civic Center Nov. 25-27, 2024, and include five of the current top-20 teams in college basketball.

A series of Hawaiian language fairs are happening throughout Hawaiʻi in February as part of Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi or Hawaiian Language Month. This includes an Ola Ka ʻĪ Maui Nui event at the Queen Kaʻahumanu Shopping Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this coming Saturday.

Debris and ash removal was completed on the 100th residential property in the Lahaina Wildfire Disaster Area on Wednesday, (Feb. 14) 30 days after the work began in Lahaina, county officials said.

Starting around 2017, the five Oliveira sisters spent hours upon hours learning about military terms, DD-214s and discharge papers with the help of their uncles Tommy and Mel. It was their goal to get their father on the memorial.

A bill has been submitted to the Maui County Council that would pave the way for loan of up to $14 million from Maui County for the 212-unit Aikanaha low-income rental housing project in Waikapū.

On Maui coming up within a week, there are free concerts by Island Style songwriter John Cruz, The Voice finalist Jason Arcilla, and the Hawaiʻi Youth Symphony with Amy Hānaiali’i. Also, the touring Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble performs. Check out Maui Now’s top 20 list here.

Dozens of members of the Maui for Palestine group turned out Saturday along East Kaʻahumanu Avenue in Kahului to rally for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. And, today, US Sen. Brian Schatz announced the US Senate’s passage of the National Security Act, which includes humanitarian aid for Gaza and US support for the Ukraine.

Paul Kasprzycki, an artist, craftsman and woodcarver credited with creating the welcome to Lahaina signs, was positively identified publicly Tuesday as the 101st fatality of the Aug. 8 Lahaina wildfire.

The song, “Yonder Lahaina Mountains,” was released on Dec. 31 and features the voices of musical artists Kaleo Phillips, Marvin Tevaga and Kapena DeLima, along with the Kamehameha Schools Maui Ensemble choir and hula dancers. Affectionately known as “The Boarder’s Song,” it was originally composed by Alice K. K. Banham. Phillips, who was among those who lost his home in the August wildfires, said the inspiration for recording the song with KS Maui came to him in a dream.

Imua Discovery Garden hosts an outdoor sculpture exhibit, the largest of its kind in Maui County, aimed at raising crucial funds for the nonprofit organization while fostering a deeper appreciation for outdoor art and bolstering support for the Wailuku Arts District.