In Case You Missed It

The Maui Police Department detective heading the missing person investigation into the disappearance of Moreira “Mo” Monsalve, said exhaustive searches were conducted at 15 sites over a more than five year period. Many of the searches involved the use of cadaver dogs, and search in particular utilized heavy equipment for the excavation of the Central Maui Landfill.

The Waiʻehu, Maui native’s first book of poetry is based on her dissertation which explores how aloha is possible in the face of colonization and sexual violence. Written primarily in English, Revilla’s 141-page poetry collection also features ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language), which at times, better expresses some of her deepest thoughts and feelings.

Construction of the upper campus of the beautiful new Kīhei High School is expected to finally be completed enough to open in January for a small inaugural class of ninth graders, but the lack of a state-mandated grade-separated crossing may delay the opening.

The Lahaina Gateway shopping center in West Maui announced the addition of Maui Powerhouse Gym, which is expected to open in the fall of 2023.

For a list of upcoming events, concerts, shows and entertainment from Aug. 11-17, find our comprehensive listing here.

Law enforcement and FBI personnel testified Tuesday in the trial for Bernard Brown, who is accused of second degree murder in the disappearance and presumed death of his ex-girlfriend, Moreira “Mo” Monsalve. 

“This will be the first workforce apartment project developed on Maui in more than 20 years,” said Maui County Mayor Mike Victorino.

The 2022 Emma Farden Sharpe Hula Festival returns to an “in person” event under the shade of the Lahaina Banyan Tree on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Alexis Felicilda, Monsalve’s daughter, described the process she went through in reporting her mom missing. Monsalve’s close friends Heather James and Matthew Wilkins discussed how they traveled from the mainland to conduct exhaustive searches, which they say Brown did not attend. And coworker, Stacie Williams, offered to help Monsalve when she broke up with Brown by giving her a place to stay.

Waiheʻe Elementaryʻs curriculum coordinator, Malia Draper, and Lahainaluna math teacher Cornelio “CJ” Ancheta, are among the list of 15 educators across the state selected as finalists for the 2023 Hawaiʻi State Teacher of the Year.

Three dozen Maui kūpuna depart this weekend to compete in the first 75-and-older division at the 2022 World Sprints.

A first-of-its-kind space, the Cat Cafe Maui, opens at the Queen Ka‘ahumanu Center. Described as “a fun and inviting space for cats and humans,” Cat Cafe Maui patrons can relax, play, sip, and shop with rescue cats–and adopt one if they find a special connection.

Mayor Michael Victorino transmitted a proposal to the Maui County Council to purchase the acreage and the structure that was the former ʻĪao Valley Lodge in ʻĪao Valley for $1.5 million from the Hawaiʻi Nature Center.

Maui resident Laura Reidell said she knows what it’s like to sleep in her vehicle after not being able to pay for high rent costs during the pandemic. If the council approves a measure called Bill 108 that allows county parking lots to be used for human habitation, Reidell and others said they will have a safe place to sleep. Maui County Council on Friday voted unanimously to approve the bill on first reading. Bill 108 now advances to the second and final reading at full council.

A new law banning the sale, rental, and distribution of disposable polystyrene bodyboards goes into effect on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022.

Under the new ordinance that goes into effect on Oct. 1, 2022, only mineral sunscreens based on active ingredients zinc oxide and titanium dioxide will be allowed for sale, distribution or use without a prescription.

West Maui has nine condo complexes at risk of falling into the ocean. The road fronting Kaʻopala Bay, along with water and sewer lines, may soon be under water. And many West Maui county parks are threatened by coastal erosion. That’s why Council Member Tamara Paltin, whose residency seat covers West Maui, recently introduced a proposal to create a managed retreat revolving fund that would help mitigate impacts of shoreline erosion.

An officer with the Maui Police Department said Bernard Brown had “scratch marks from his inner biceps to his forearms.” It was an observation that Detective Michael Vaituulala made when he responded to a harassment complaint made by Brown in the days following Moreira “Mo” Monsalve’s disappearance in January of 2014.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Health has identified one additional case of monkeypox. This brings the total number of cases in Hawaiʻi since June 3 to twelve. The individual is a Maui resident whose case is associated with travel outside of Hawaiʻi.

Maui County home sales fell by more than 50% for condos and 20% for single-family houses last month, as rising mortgage rates and record-high sales prices pushed out buyers. Still, Julyʻs median sales price for single-family homes rose 5% year over year to $1.1 million, according to the Realtors Association of Maui report released Wednesday. Condos were up 11% to $789,500 compared with the same month last year.