In Case You Missed It

When explaining the significance of the name “Waiahiokole,” Keʻeaumoku Kapu, CEO of Aha Moku said “kole” means raw, and “waiahi” talks about the turbulence during the time of the shark birthing process. In addition to the literal translation, Kapu said scholars that he reached out to told him it was also named after a prominent chief that lived in the area. Dr. Janet Six, principal archaeologist for the County of Maui said, that while “Puamana definitely is a Hawaiian word–it just is one that was assigned to a large plantation house in the 1920s.” She explained that the area is historically a large grave site.

The county’s Department of Planning is creating a public tool that will help reduce flood risk for human life and property while protecting and restoring Maui County’s important natural wetland ecosystems, county officials announced.

The County of Maui will hold three community meetings for residents and businesses impacted by the emergency road closure at the Alelele Point area in East Maui. This comes after recent rockfalls in the area.

The Maui Chamber of Commerce is now accepting Product Vendor and Food Truck Vendor applications for the 2023 Hawaiian Airlines Made in Maui County Festival. The 10th Annual event will be held at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center on Nov. 3 and 4, 2023.

An early morning structure fire at a Kahului restaurant resulted in $440,000 in damage, Friday.  The fire was first reported at 1:51 a.m. on May 26, 2023 at the new Rey’s Place restaurant, located at 70 Lono Ave.  

Maui County had the largest vacation rental supply in the state in April 2023. In comparison to pre-pandemic April 2019, ADR was higher in April 2023, but vacation rental supply, demand and occupancy were lower.

There are currently more than 130 dogs in the shelter’s care, but only 40 kennels. The organization reports that for the first time in years, the shelter has a list of at-risk animals for euthanasia.

There is a 50% chance of above-normal tropical cyclone activity during the Central Pacific hurricane season this year, according to the outlook from NOAA’s Central Pacific Hurricane Center and NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. For the 2023 season, 4 to 7 tropical cyclones are predicted for the Central Pacific hurricane region.

Dozens of items were confiscated during a raid of the Antique Freak shop in Wailuku, Tuesday. A 42-year-old man was arrested and charged on suspicion of multiple misdemeanors including prohibited wildlife trafficking and possession of endangered and protected wildlife.

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands held a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday, marking the start of a $17 million capital improvement project to install infrastructure for the planned Puʻunani subdivision in Waikapū. DHHL reports the funding is the first from the $600 million appropriated under Act 279 to serve beneficiaries on the DHHL waitlist.

Mauiʻs Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel is being acquired by Outrigger Hospitality Group, according to a joint news release announcement.  The transaction is expected to close on July 26, at which time the property will be rebranded as OUTRIGGER Kā‘anapali Beach Resort. 

For a list of upcoming events, concerts, shows and entertainment for May 18-24, find our comprehensive listing HERE.

Maui Huliau Foundation, an environmental education nonprofit serving Maui’s youth, will host their annual Huliau Youth Environmental Film Festival at the Imua Discovery Garden in Wailuku on Sunday, May 28 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. This outdoor showing will feature nine short environmental films created by Maui students from various schools over the past school year.

The Grand Taste event at Maui AgFest & 4-H Livestock Fair just got sweeter, as presenter Maui County Farm Bureau adds on the final course: Grand Desserts. Both culinary events will take place during AgFest on Saturday, June 3, at War Memorial Special Events Field.

A tiny wasp that is virtually invisible to the naked eye is providing hope for Hawaiʻi’s coffee industry. Phymastichus coffea (P. coffea) will likely be released first in the Kaʻū area of Hawaiʻi Island, then possibly expand to Kona, the Waialua area of Oʻahu and Maui.

Maui Chili Chili Oil is one of 11 businesses selected for the Mana Up accelerator cohort, a six-month program designed to help businesses grow and scale globally.

Voyaging canoe Hōkūleʻa arrived in Yakutat, the first stop on the Alaska Heritage Sail. It is the northernmost Southeast Alaska community, and the furthest north the canoe has ever voyaged.  The Alaska Heritage Sail is a pre-voyage through the Southeast region of Alaska before the Global Launch of the Moananuiākea Voyage circumnavigation of the Pacific on June 15, 2023. 

Hawaiian Airlines this afternoon gathered its guests to commemorate the inauguration of nonstop weekly flights between Honolulu and Rarotonga, Cook Islands. Hawaiian previously operated the HNL-RAR route from 1987 to 1993.

Eleven new public preschool classrooms are slated to open across the state this August thanks to Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke and the Ready Keiki Initiative. The first 11 classrooms are expected to open this fall for the 2023-2024 school year, enrolling 20 students in each classroom at no cost to parents. 

For a list of upcoming events, concerts, shows and entertainment for May 18-24, find our comprehensive listing HERE.