In Case You Missed It

After 10 years at the helm, County of Maui Film Commissioner Tracy Bennett has retired from his government post to enter the private sector. 

Lahainaluna High School Principal Richard Carosso spoke with Student Council members on Jan. 12, 2024 while signing the Pledge to Our Keiki saying, “the pledge is about a commitment in part to preserving the environment, but for us it’s probably a little different. It’s a pledge to get involved in responsible redevelopment of our community. I think that makes what you are doing here today so important and something to be thinking about as you are signing the pledge.”

The first floor of the Wailuku Garage opened to the public for parking today, Tuesday, Jan. 16, with a two-hour time limit on parking between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Parking will be free, initially, with the expectation that fees will apply in the future, pending approval of the PARK MAUI program by the Maui County Council.

Whale Tales returns to The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua as a signature event Feb. 16-18, 2024.

Rain and flooding resulted in rescues and road closures on Maui Tuesday morning. Around 8:45 a.m., Maui Fire Department’s Air One rescued two people from their vehicle, which was trapped in fast rising floodwaters along South Kīhei Road near Kaonoulu Street. Another three people in vehicles stalled in floodwaters were taken to safety on foot by fire department personnel.

The temporary traffic signal near Cut Mountain will allow vehicles hauling fire debris to cross the Lahaina Bypass. The crossing will only be for debris removal vehicles and is not open to the public. The signal will be manually controlled during work hours.

The Board of Land and Natural Resources on Friday approved plans by the DLNR, and US Fish and Wildlife Service to conduct a pilot release of captive-bred ʻalalā onto forest reserve lands in east Maui. 

Maui’s Jackson Bunch’s (HAW) run in the World Junior Championships culminated with a runner-up finish.

The remote Kīpahulu area on the southeast side of Maui will become the third Community-Based Subsistence Fishing (CBSFA) area in Hawai‘i, following previous designations of Hā‘ena on Kaua‘i and Miloli‘i on Hawai‘i Island. 

All agreed the decision was a difficult one with one member calling the choice a “lose-lose situation.” Another criticized the administration, saying the council was left out of the site selection process, and now felt pressure to approve or lose funding.

Maui Arts & Cultural Center presents Sense of Place / Place of Sense, an exhibition exploring the multi-faceted meaning of community at a critical moment of change for Maui by looking at who we are in the present time and the promise we hold for the future. The exhibit opens to the public Tuesday, Jan. 23 and the gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.

Maui Firefighter Tanner Mosher was honored with a ceremonial resolution on Friday for his heroism during the Aug. 8, 2023 wildfire in Lahaina. Mosher extended his gratitude to the community and apologies to the people of Lahaina saying he felt like it wasn’t enough. “I don’t feel like I would have made the choices I made if it wasn’t for my friend and coworker Tre’ Evans-Dumaran,” said Mosher.

“It is unconceivable to think that someone would selfishly take these signs, especially now, when Lahaina has suffered so much,” said Theo Morrison, executive director of Lahaina Restoration Foundation.

The County of Maui Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Working Group, in collaboration with the University of Hawaiʻi College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources and the multi-agency Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Response team, will hold free training sessions Tuesday, Jan. 16, and Wednesday, Jan. 17, to equip attendees with information to identify, report and treat infestations of CRB. 

The Maui Fire Department is encouraging the public not to hesitate to call 911 when they see flames, see or smell smoke. The reminder was issued as numerous hotspots have emerged in the Upcountry area in recent months, that have been smouldering underground since the August wildfires.

A Hollywood director, Maui County Board of Supervisor and state House member, an influential labor and community leader, a couple who support students and their college aspirations, and a longtime athletic director are members of the 2023 Class of the Maui High School Hall of Honor. Congratulations to: Top (L to R): Destin Daniel Cretton: The Award of Excellence; Bruce Uʻu: The Spirit of Maui; and Charles and Mitch Ota. The Saber Spirit Award. Bottom (L to R): Tom Tagawa. The Silversword Heritage Award; and Michael Ban. The Inspiration Award.

The National Park Service and the Federal Aviation Administration have completed an Air Tour Management Plan for Haleakalā National Park, which authorizes up to 2,224 air tours per year, a 54% reduction from the existing average of 4,824 flights per year. It identifies no-fly days as  Sundays and Wednesdays.

The Hawaiʻi Seaglider Initiative launched with a broad coalition committed to delivering a new affordable and accessible transportation option to Hawaiʻi communities. 

Wildfire recovery work in Lahaina continues on state roadways, with progress outlined for the repair of traffic signals and guardrails, assessment of opening closed areas, the installation of an emergency stormwater capture system, and monitoring traffic impacts of emergency drain line replacement work.

Hawaiian Telcom expanded availability of its fast, reliable fiber internet service Fioptics to four of Moloka‘i’s five zip codes, which equates to more than 95% of the island.