In Case You Missed It

Crews with the Maui Invasive Species Committee say aerial eradication efforts of a 175-acre little fire ant infestation in Nāhiku has reached a turning point. The infestation was discovered in 2014 during an effort to remove invasive Nicosia plants from the area.

Currently, crews are continuing repairs to restore an approximate 300 remaining customers in Lahaina, including the Wahikuli area. In the last two weeks, with more areas being cleared for re-entry by emergency response officials, crews restored power to about 350 customers in the Kahoma Village, parts of Puamana and Upper Kapunakea area.

Governor Josh Green, M.D., with Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen, state officials, FEMA and the American Red Cross joined in providing an update on the economic recovery and housing response on Maui following the devastating Aug. 8 wildfires.

Lahaina’s two elementary schools reopened to hundreds of students today on a shared campus that faculty and staff from both schools have worked hard to make as inviting and familiar as possible for their communities impacted by the August wildfires.

Aloha Festivals five-days of culture and fun starts Saturday with a parade; Oktoberfest and Kōkua for Lahaina raise funds for Maui wildfire victims; and Haunted Hawaiian Ghost Stories and the musical Rocky Horror Show pave the way for Halloween. Find our comprehensive listing HERE.

Lahaina Intermediate School faculty and staff cheered and waved signs as they welcomed approximately 400 students back to their West Maui campus for the first time this academic year.

Maui Gold Pineapple has announced its market expansion to distribute in Canada. Residents of Canada will be able to experience the fruit, grown on the slopes of Maui’s Haleakalā. The fresh water and nutritional volcanic soil nurture Hawaiʻi’s famously sweet pineapple.

The Maui Police Department on Monday identified one more victim of the Aug. 8 Lahaina fire: Michael Misaka, 61, of Lahaina.

Lahainaluna High School faculty and staff welcomed approximately 700 students back to their home campus on Monday for the first time in more than two months since the Maui wildfires.

The Hawaiʻi list includes eight birds and one flower: Kauaʻi ʻakialoa, Kauaʻi nukupuʻu, Kauaʻi ʻōʻō, kāmaʻo or Large Kauaʻi thrush, Maui ākepa, Maui nukupuʻu, kākāwahie or Molokai creeper, poʻouli or black-faced honeycreeper, and Phyllostegia glabra var. lanaiensis, a plant from the mint family that is found only in Hawai‘i.

The 12-book series provides an early reader’s introduction to some of Lāna‘i’s wahi pana, including Kaiolohia, Kaumālapaʻu, Kaunolū, Keōmoku and Mānele.

After finishing second four times, Lucy Charles-Barclay of Great Britain wins the 2023 VinFast Ironman World Championship in Kona in a record time of 8:24:31.

Makana and special guest Miss Aloha Hula 1980 Kaʻula Kamahele will weave a musical and visual tapestry honoring Maui Nui and those haku mele (composers) famous for their legacy works.

The goal of this meeting is to collectively begin to create a path toward a fire and water resilient Upcountry community.

The organization, a partnership between The Nature Conservancy, Maui Nui Marine Resource Council and West Maui Ridge to Reef Initiative, has continued actively monitoring coastal water conditions in West Maui since the wildfire and was the first group to perform post-fire sampling in the area.

The suspension of new applications will allow the fund to streamline efforts and expedite assistance to wildfire victims.

The resolution was led by Sen. Mazie Hirono in the U.S. Senate and Rep. Jill Tokuda in the U.S. House of Representatives.

As West Maui prepares for the return of tourism on Oct. 8, restaurants and businesses are adjusting to the ongoing need of residents while also gauging services for visitors. Since Aug. 10, Chef Peter Merriman and his team have fed thousands of displaced residents impacted by the fires, giving free meals to 1,000 people daily and serving approx. 45,000 meals in the first seven weeks of response. 

As the phased reopening of West Maui officially begins Sunday, the County of Maui is distributing a series of videos for the Maui community and its visitors.

“Taste Our Love For Maui” unites eight exceptionally talented chefs, each deeply connected to the island’s rich heritage for one-night only on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. at Humble Market Kitchin by Roy Yamaguchi and Wailea Beach Resort.