In Case You Missed It

Mayor Richard Bissen thanked the Hawaiʻi National Guard for five months of responding to the Maui Wildfire Disaster as members complete their last request for assistance (RFA) for Maui on Dec. 31, 2023.

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation announced increases in parking rates at four neighbor island airports, including Kahului Airport on Maui. Starting on Feb. 1, 2024, the new maximum daily charge will be $24, up from the current $15 rate; an the monthly rate will increase to $189, up from the current $160 rate.

The Maui Police Department’s new rules for firearms will go into effect in January 2024. These rules are specific to General Order 303.6, License to Carry a Concealed/Unconcealed Weapon, and General Order 303.8, Permit to Acquire a Firearm.

Celebrated chef and TV personality Guy Fieri teamed up with the Hawaiʻi Restaurant Association, American Savings Bank and Fiserv, Inc., to distribute $600 prepaid debit cards to Lahaina restaurant workers who lost their job when their workplace was destroyed in the tragic wildfires on Aug. 8.

Its scientific name is Cyanea rivularis. In the mountains of Kaua‘i it produces conical-shaped lavender and white flowers, which like many endangered plant species across the state, are key components to a fully functioning and healthy native ecosystem.

“The impact of the Maui wildfires continues to be felt in November’s figures, but with most of West Maui now reopened to tourism, there is a concerted effort to reinvigorate job opportunities and facilitate the economic recovery of Maui,” said DBEDT Director James Kunane Tokioka.

Maui Humane Society is urging its community’s animal lovers to foster a pet now in an effort to clear space for incoming lost, sick, or injured pets who are expected to arrive as a result of New Year’s fireworks.

The Illegal Fireworks Task Force seized approximately 17 tons (34,000 pounds) of illegal fireworks on Wednesday from a shipping container that falsely declared its contents as other items.

Kaleo Manuel, the First Deputy on the state Commission on Water Resource Management is apparently leaving his post after being reassigned following the August wildfires, and then reinstated two months later following an investigation by the Attorney General.

“These devices play a crucial role in facilitating the processing of FEMA paperwork, unemployment claims, insurance matters, as well as aiding in education, housing, and employment searches, accessing support services, and maintaining connections with family and friends,” according to organization leaders.

The petition from a family on Olowalu Village Road says even temporary storage of these substances from the Aug. 8 wildfires “poses great risk of causing irreversible damage to soil, water, air, the ocean and people.”

Check out all the things to do around Maui for New Yearʻs Eve, including a fireworks show in Wailea. Find our comprehensive listing HERE.

Kaulunani Urban and Community Forestry, a program of the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife, is now seeking grant proposals from community organizations that would like to share the benefits of trees with their communities for Arbor Day 2024. The deadline to apply is Monday, Jan. 15, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. HST.

Hui O Ka Wai Ola, a community-based water-quality monitoring organization, was awarded funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to increase its collection of West Maui water quality data in response to the Lahaina wildfire.

Despite losing two stores to the Lahaina fires, local clothing brand KaiAloha Supply, continues outreach in the community.

The NTSB is investigating the crash of a Cessna 172 airplane near Kahului Airport on Saturday morning, Dec. 23, 2023.

United Airlines hosted a Christmas Carnival for the keiki of Lahaina on Maui in December.  This year, the airline brought the festivities to Maui to spread the joy of the holidays to more than 150 keiki and their families.  

More than 100 youth and administrators from three local nonprofits gathered at Queen Ka‘ahumanu Center on Dec. 18 as the guests of honor of Ledcor Maui. The festive event was the culmination of a month-long gift drive by Ledcor Maui called Makana no nā Keiki (Gifts for Children), which raised $100,000 for Maui youth. 

State and federal responders have completed recovery and removal operations in or adjacent to Lahaina Harbor. The US Army Corps of Engineers will conduct final disposition of fire-damaged vessels and incident-generated debris removed during harbor operations.

In the wake of the challenges posed by the wildfires, Maui Public Art Corps collaborated with students across the region to channel their emotions and reflections into a powerful visual representation of unity and strength. “The result is a vibrant collection of drawings that encapsulate the indomitable spirit of the Maui community,” organizers said.