In Case You Missed It
Maui Council shakeup: Chair Lee won’t seek re-election to Wailuku-Waiheʻe-Waikapū seat
Maui County Council Chair Alice Lee said Wednesday evening that she will not seek re-election this year. Instead, the veteran council member is throwing her support behind Marvin Moniz, a longtime state Department of Transportation airports manager, to succeed her in the Wailuku-Waiheʻe-Waikapū residency seat.
Famous humpback whale ‘Big Mama’ returns to Salish Sea after winter migration in Hawaiʻi
The Pacific Whale Watch Association announced today that iconic humpback whale BCY0324 “Big Mama” has safely returned to local waters after her winter migration in Hawaiʻi. The beloved whale swam roughly 3,000 miles from Hawaiʻi to Boundary Pass where she was seen between BC’s Moresby Island and Washington’s Stuart Island by PWWA member company Maya’s Legacy on Monday, May 4.
Makawao Forest Reserve’s first management plan balances needed conservation, popular recreation
The original reason for the creation of the Maui reserve in 1908 was to protect freshwater resources, and that is still a need although how to accomplish it now is different.
Update: Investigation into rock thrown at monk seal and breaches of seal resting areas
The Department of Land and Natural Resources is investigating social media postings on Instagram that appear to show an adult male throwing an object toward a monk seal while it was swimming in the water off the Lahaina shoreline.
Schatz congratulates Maui families awarded with federal funding to buy first home; Visits ʻĪao and Hālau of ʻŌiwi Art
US Sen. Brian Schatz conducted site visits on the Valley Isle on Wednesday, focused on the progress of recovery efforts on Maui, following the 2023 wildfires and recent Kona Low storms in March of this year.
ʻIkenākea Development opens Hale O Piʻikea, delivers 223 affordable rentals to South Maui
ʻIkenākea Development has opened Hale O Piʻikea, a three-phase affordable rental community in Kīhei delivering 223 new homes for Maui families, individuals and kūpuna. Representing $141 million total cost, the project is one of the largest and most significant affordable housing developments completed on Maui in recent years.
Hawaiian Telcom sets goal to make Hawai‘i the first fully fiber‑enabled state by year end
Hawaiian Telcom announced that Maui is now fully fiber‑enabled, becoming the fourth island in Hawai‘i to reach this significant milestone as the company works toward making Hawai‘i the first fully fiber‑enabled state in the nation by the end of this year.
Maui Council Budget Committee slightly trims mayor’s $1.616 billion budget
The Maui County Council’s Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee completed its review of Mayor Richard Bissen’s proposed fiscal year 2027 budget this week, unanimously adopting a revised spending plan of approximately $1.608 billion.
Loss of land in storm complicates recovery for ‘Īao Valley residents
Maui County is considering returning some of the soil runoff from last month’s flooding back to landowners who lost large swaths of property so they can rebuild.
HIDOE opens 47-unit housing project on Maui to support Lahaina educators
The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education marked the opening of its Lahaina educator workforce housing development, a $20 million project designed to support teacher retention and strengthen public education on Maui.
As state, Maui Health decide future of damaged Kula Hospital, another long-term care facility nears capacity
Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green said the options for the damaged Upcountry hospital could include a mobile unit designed for disasters or a temporary modular clinic like the one Kaiser built in Lahaina after the 2023 wildfires.
Historic row from Washington State to Maui launches May 1
The four-man crew: Joshua Dukes, Greg Anderson, Johnny Martinez, and Wilton Ngotel; will attempt the 3,100 mile transpacific crossing without sails, engines, or a support vessel, relying entirely on teamwork and physical strength to navigate one of the world’s most demanding environments.
Waikapū sewer plant costs more than double as Maui Council considers 9% sewer fee hike
Department of Environmental Management officials now forecast the planned Central Maui Wastewater Reclamation Facility in Waikapū will cost from $298 million to $420 million, or two- to three-times higher than the $130.6 million project estimate published in the project’s final environmental impact statement in February.
Mayor Bissen announces 99th Maui County Fair will return to War Memorial in Wailuku
The 99th Maui County Fair takes place on Oct. 1-4 after a successful return last year following a six year hiatus. The fair will be held at War Memorial Special Events Complex in Wailuku, and nonprofit food vendors and product and services exhibitors are encouraged to apply by May 15, 2026.
Governor names Keith Regan as Acting Lieutenant Governor for Hawaiʻi
Gov. Josh Green today announced the designation of Keith Regan, comptroller of the Department of Accounting and General Services, to serve as acting lieutenant governor for the state of Hawaiʻi, effective immediately, following Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke’s decision to take a leave of absence.
Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke takes leave of absence without pay amid bribery investigation
Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke is taking a leave of absence without pay, for an indefinite period, according to a statement released today. This comes the day after her attorney, David M. Louie and the Friends of Sylvia Luke confirmed that a target letter was received from the Special Investigations and Prosecution Division (SIPD) of the Department of the Attorney General stating that Luke is the target of a bribery investigation.
Habitat for Humanity Maui celebrates completion of its first Lahaina rebuild
The home was originally one of 10 homes built by Habitat Maui in 2020 for a Lahaina family. Rebuilding it marks an important step forward as families begin returning to the neighborhood following the devastating 2023 wildfires.
Maui businesses brace for higher shipping costs as state bill moves closer to reality
The proposal would create automatic annual rate increases for the two state-regulated water carriers, Young Brothers and the Lāna‘i Expeditions ferry.
Budget panel weighs department cuts amid property tax certification, stable revenue
Maui County Council Member Kauanoe Batangan has proposed an across-the-board 1.25% budget cut for non-first-responder departments that would yield somewhat more than $5 million in savings from Mayor Richard Bissen’s fiscal 2027 $1.61 billion budget proposal.
Maui brands get new boost as iShoppes runs former DFS Hawaii sites at Kahului Airport
The airport shops now include a spot dedicated to incubator concepts, showcasing Hawaiʻi-based businesses, creating a sense of place, while delivering a “best-in-class” experience for travelers and meaningful impact for the local community.
