In Case You Missed It

There will be an alternating, single lane closure on Keawe Street/Lahaina Bypass (Route 3000), from Sunday, Dec. 17, through Friday, Jan. 5, 2024, as contractors replace drain lines across the highway that were damaged in the Lahaina wildfires.  

“I do want to be blunt here, if we don’t get people stepping up, I’m going to drop the hammer on short-term rentals that aren’t able to be used by our people. It’s just not okay that we don’t have housing for our local people. And so, I will propose a moratorium on short-term rentals through emergency rules. I’m sure we will face litigation, but I will do it if we don’t get 3,000 units for our people who have been living in hotels—because it’s not civilized to make people wait to get housing after they’ve lost their home in a fire,” said Gov. Green.

Speaker Scott K. Saiki today announced that the Final Report of the House of Representatives Lahaina Wildfire Interim Working Groups has been published. The report is a culmination of efforts from six bipartisan working groups, formed on Sept. 6, 2023, to evaluate topics related to the Lahaina wildfire.

UHERO forecast: “There remain a host of uncertainties surrounding Maui’s future recovery path, including how fast residents can be moved from hotels to more permanent housing, the speed of ongoing cleanup work, the extent and duration of support programs, and how long and in what fashion rebuilding will occur.”

Maui Mall Village welcomes new retailer, Makaliʻi, to the center. The locally owned and operated small business sells Maui-made products, including T-shirts, earrings, necklaces, hats, stickers, and acrylic 3D Lites. The shop also sells Maui Strong products and Lahainaluna Athletics branded gear and accessories.

Residents previously scheduled to relocate to new American Red Cross non-congregate shelter locations between Dec. 15 and Dec. 18 have been extended in their current hotel sheltering locations until after the holidays, according to a Red Cross update.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation is providing year-to-date traffic fatality statistics for 2023 as it continues to promote responsible driving habits to keep roads safe. As of Dec. 13, 2023, 92 fatalities caused by motor vehicle collisions were reported statewide. While there has been improvement in overall driving behavior, the number of fatalities by motorcycle collisions has been consistently high for multiple years.

Choice Health Bar makes a comeback to the Westside, reopening their location at Whalers Village in Kāʻanapali this week. The Whalers Village location is open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Space still available for Kaiser Permanente’s Hawaii Health Access Program for Maui residents who aren’t eligible for Medicaid or other health plans. Apply before open enrollment ends Jan. 16, 2024.

CocoNene, a local brand known for its made in Hawaii products, announced the grand opening of their new store in Māʻalaea, Maui at the Maui Harbor Shops. This new location marks a poignant milestone for the brand’s recovery journey after the loss of their Lahaina flagship store.

Registration for Day of Hope opens Saturday at 9 a.m. at the Lahaina Civic Center.  The event will be emceed by local comedians Da Braddahs and offers a range of resources and activities including free hot meals, groceries, baby supplies, entertainment, photos with Santa and more. 

This week on Maui, there is so much to do to celebrate the holidays, help raise funds for wildfire survivors and be entertained around the island by comedians, musicians young and old, and even goats. Find our comprehensive listing HERE.

Reentry into the 83 zones established for the 2,170 acres in the five-mile Lahaina impact area concluded more than a week ahead of schedule. The process started with the first residential zone opening for reentry Sept. 25 and 26 on Kaniau Road.

An elegant and impactful, new, coffee-table book titled MĀLAMA MAUI: Music Photography from Lahaina, has just been released. One hundred percent of the profits from sales of the book will be donated to the Maui United Way Fire Disaster Relief Fund.

A stormwater-detention basin at Kūlanihākoʻi will benefit North Kīhei by mitigating flooding on the slopes of Haleakalā and assist in marine-life protection, according to Council member Cook.

Culinary students at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College organized about 1,600 boxes of produce that were distributed to students and community members impacted by the August wildfires.

The Hawaiʻi Supreme Court has scheduled an oral argument on Dec. 14, 2023, for the lawsuit against Maui County challenging a September 2021 houseless sweep at Amala Place near Kanahā Beach Park.

The Kahului Disaster Recovery Center will close at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15, but disaster-related assistance for survivors of the August wildfires will remain available at the Lahaina Civic Center in West Maui.

The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua has joined forces with music industry leader Sony Music Publishing Nashville, and production company Renate Event & Design, to host the 2024 Maui Songwriters Festival from Jan. 6–13, 2024.

The Maui Friends of the Library seeks volunteers to help open and run a new bookstore planned to serve customers soon in Kīhei.