In Case You Missed It

The rain gauge at Puʻu Kukui got the county’s highest monthly total of 21.38 inches and the highest daily total of 6.37 inches on April 2. The monthly total was 56% of average, according to State Senior Service Hydrologist Kevin Kodama with the National Weather Service’s Forecast Office Honolulu who compiled the report.

The World Health Organization today said that COVID-19 is now an established and ongoing health issue, and no longer constitutes a public health emergency of international concern.  

The Maui Arts & Cultural Center announced the selection of Corina Yi as Hawaiʻi’s third Youth Poet Laureate. She is a high school senior at Oʻahu’s Mililani High School. As part of the event, the National Youth Poet Laureate was also named, Salome Agbaroji of Los Angeles representing the Western Region.

*WARNING/GRAPHIC CONTENT: Maui police released body camera images from a deadly shooting reported Sunday on Molokaʻi. Over the course of about three minutes, officers are heard instructing the suspect over 70 times to drop a machete, and 29 times to move back. The man, later identified as 40-year-old Nathaniel Naki, was holding a two foot machete during the confrontation.

For a list of upcoming events, concerts, shows and entertainment for May 4-10, find our comprehensive listing HERE.

Salvage of the grounded vessel, Kuuipo, began today with the placement of large sandbags between the boat and the Hauola stone (birthing stone), located less than eight-feet away.

The University of Hawaiʻi Maui College’s Institute for Hawaiian Music will form a cohort of students for the Fall 2023 semester to participate in a unique Hawaiian music composing course entitled, “Ha‘ina Ko Wehi: Celebrating West Maui in Mele.”

The University of Hawaiʻi Maui College’s Hulihia Center for Sustainable Systems is seeking public input on critical sustainability issues facing the Maui community.

Maui joins in a national effort to honor and educate communities about missing and murdered indigenous people, including Native Hawaiian women and girls.

Fears faced by the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority were tempered on Friday when House Bill 1375 was deferred in conference committee. The measure would have transferred functions, duties, appropriations, and positions of the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority to the Office of Tourism and Destination Management. But the HTA does not emerge on solid ground, since funding for marketing was not included in the state budget.

Two properties on O‘ahu, one on Kaua‘i, and one on Moloka‘i are being added to the DLNR 2023 Legacy Land Conservation Program. The DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife will acquire the Moloka‘i property, while the other acreage is being purchased by nonprofit organizations.

Some of the highlights for District 6 include funds for teacher housing, flood mitigation measures for South Maui, funds for West Maui’s small boat harbors and ramps, and upgrades for district schools.  

Maui Police Department Vehicular Homicide Unit Investigators request the public’s help regarding an ongoing fatal hit-and-run investigation. The investigation stems from a report of a man found lying in the road on Piʻikea Avenue in Kīhei around 4:05 a.m. on Wednesday, April 5, 2023.

Maui had 276,485 visitors is March of 2023, up +15.4% from the same time last year, when 239,538 visitors came, and up +1.7% from March of 2019 when 271,934 arrived.

Maui’s Anson Cabello advanced out of US Open local qualifying held Wednesday at The Dunes at Maui Lani Golf Course. The 18 year old from Kahului, was among the top two in the event, finishing at 73 (+2).

Beginning with the Fall 2023 semester, students interested in Animation may pursue an Associate’s Degree at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College via its Academy for Creative Media. Animation and Filmmaking graduates may transfer to UH Mānoa for just two additional years of in-person study to earn a B.A. at the School of Cinematic Arts.

Nearly $100 million in capital improvement projects and grant-in-aid appropriations were included for Maui Nui in the final version of the state budget that was voted on in conference committee earlier in the week.  

Hawaiʻi’s public school teachers have overwhelmingly approved a new four-year contract providing pay raises of approximately 14.5%, as well as other cost and non-cost improvements.

On Maui, the budget includes the addition of $6.1 million in general funds in FY24 and FY25 for the Maui Axis Deer program; $1.1 million in FY25 for six months of funding to support new housing at the Maui Community Correctional Center; and the addition of three permanent positions and $98,500 in FY24 and $200,250 in FY25 for UH Maui College’s health center.

For a list of upcoming events, concerts, shows and entertainment for April 27-May 3, find our comprehensive listing HERE.