Maui Discussion

The Hi-Tech surf store in Kīhei was left in shambles on Wednesday afternoon when a motorist reportedly drove through the back door, through the front window, and went “back and forth” within before exiting. According to initial reports, the front windows, back doors, inventory and fixtures were destroyed in the incident.

Governor David Ige today signed an executive order that sets statewide limits for social gatherings, restaurants and bars and other settings.

Organizers say an estimated 500 people attended today’s rally fronting the State Office and County buildings in Wailuku, Maui, calling for freedom of choice amid further vaccination mandates announced in recent days.

After the pandemic shuttered Maui’s tourism industry, the local families and businesses we represent experienced firsthand the devastating impacts that rippled across our economy. Maui County went from one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation to one of the highest.

Governor David Ige today issued a 22nd emergency proclamation related to COVID-19 in Hawaiʻi that effectively requires all state and county employees to provide their vaccination status to their department, office or agency. If they cannot provide proof of vaccination by Aug. 16, they will be subject to regular COVID-19 testing.

A sign waving rally was held this morning fronting the State Office Building in Wailuku, speaking out against the Department of Education’s announcement yesterday calling for all student athletes to be vaccinated.

The Hawai‘i State Department of Education today announced all student-athletes, athletic staff and volunteers will need to be fully vaccinated by Sept. 24, 2021, to participate in school-sanctioned athletic activities for the 2021-22 school year.

Chick-fil-A broke ground today on it’s first Hawai’i restaurant, to be located at the Puʻunēnē Shopping Center in Kahului, Maui.

The Maui Memorial Medical Center today announced it is implementing a vaccine requirement for visitors to the hospital, effective today, July 26, 2021.

First Lady of the United States, Dr. Jill Biden visited a mobile vaccination clinic at Waipahu High School over the weekend during a stop in Hawaiʻi on her return from the Japan Olympics, where she led the US Delegation during the opening ceremony.

Managing Director Baz said the mayor does not believe Bill 60 will relieve crowds at Kahului Airport, reduce traffic on Maui’s roadways, or solve the problem of transient vacation rentals operating in neighborhoods. “Bill 60 will simply limit the choice of visitor accommodations in West and South Maui for the next 5-10 years,” said Baz.

“The law was passed before the global pandemic and the unforeseen impacts of COVID-19 must be considered. We must at the same time consider the intent of County Council, which unanimously passed this legislation, and the devastating impact single-use plastics have on the environment,” said Tamara Farnsworth, Division Manager with the County of Maui Department of Environmental Management, Environmental Protection & Sustainability Division.

“White and yellow splotches of paint are spread across nearly the entire cliff face from the top to the base and from one side to the other. A great battle happened in this Ahupuaʻa and it’s hurtful to see this kind of disrespect for our culture,” said DOCARE Lt. John Yamamoto.

The Maui ALOHA Shuttle service will start on Saturday, July 3, and run through July 17 as a pilot program subsidized by MVCB. It could be extended through the end of this summer.

The Maui Police Department and Maui County’s Department of Environmental Management’s Environmental Protection & Sustainability Division have joined forces to remove 41 abandoned vehicles from Amala Place roadsides near Kanahā Pond State Wildlife Sanctuary and the County’s Wailuku-Kahului Wastewater Reclamation Facility in Kahului.

The Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus is expected to double every two weeks, and will likely become the dominant variant in the islands in about a month or so, according to Hawai‘i Department of Health State Laboratories Division Administrator Dr. Edward Desmond.

The Maui Police Department issued 387 parking citations and 83 warnings to violators on Hāna Highway between Haʻikū and Hāna town over a three week period from June 1 and June 23.

Hawaiʻi is expected to reach a 60% fully vaccinated rate by July 8, which will result in relaxed rules relating to travel and social gatherings.

More enforcement is needed to deter illegal parking on the Hāna Highway, as rural residents deal with an influx of visitors and limited resources.

A new set of amended emergency rules for Maui County were announced today and they are backdated to an effective date of June 15, 2021.