Kahiko night at the Merrie Monarch Festival featured hula in the ancient style with 29 groups performing Friday night in the annual competition in Hilo, Hawaiʻi. The festival continues tonight with ʻauana or modern hula, followed by results from the 61st event.

The Council in its meeting Friday authorized eminent domain proceedings to gain legal access to land planned for the expansion of the Central Maui Landfill. The land includes nearly 20-acre former quarry site and will be used for the permanent disposal of toxic ash and debris from the Lahaina wildfire.

Wailele Farms, in partnership with Friends of Twin Falls, is offering a scholarship opportunity for individuals directly impacted by the Kula fires.

The County of Maui Office of Economic Development (OED) this week published the findings of its Maui Business Health Check survey. Conducted from January to February 2024, the survey garnered responses from 290 businesses, shedding light on the post-wildfire challenges faced by the Maui business community and offering insights for progress.

Sacred Hearts School announced Principal Tonata Lolesio is the recipient of the coveted 2024 National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) Lead, Learn and Proclaim Award.

The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement in partnership with Kupu, Hawaiʻi’s largest youth-focused conservation and sustainability nonprofit, is offering workforce opportunities for wildfire-impacted residents on Maui.

The County of Maui Office of Recovery invites residents to participate in an online community survey questionnaire to help shape the creation of the Lahaina Recovery Plan. The survey will be available through May 15, 2024, and can be found on Maui Recovers’ Ola Lahaina page at https://mauirecovers.org/lahaina.

Inspired by the devastation of the Aug. 8 Maui wildfires, Makawao artist and gallery owner Jordanne Perkins picked up her brushes and painted her Lahaina Strong Series — 45 paintings in 52 days to honor Lahaina residents and memories of their historic town.

Mayor Richard Bissen’s Weekly Disaster Recovery Community Update Meetings resume this week at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 3, at Lahaina Civic Center after pausing for spring break and the holidays.

Citizens of the Freely Associated States, whose primary residences on Maui were affected by the August wildfires and high winds, may now apply for wildfire disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. 

West Maui Little League has received $7,920 from Prudential Lighting and Pacific Electrical Sales Agency.

Organizers say this reclamation of housing inventory would directly address the pressing need for homes and remedy the housing crisis in the community with 3,000 people still living in the hotels. 

This past Saturday, proprietors of five distinct food trucks commemorated the bittersweet grand opening of their new home, Maikaʻi Market, in Kahului.

Lahaina Strong Fishing for Dignified Housing Hui will hold a rally and march in Kā‘anapali today. Organizers say their primary demand is for the conversion of units on the Minatoya list and the reclamation of housing inventory.

There were 181,301 visitors on Maui in February 2024, and visitor spending was $443.1 million, according to new data released by the state Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism. That’s down from the 220,741 visitors in February 2023 when visitor spending was $540.1 million; and also down from February 2019, when there were 221,603 visitors and visitor spending was $413.2 million.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources estimates it will cost approximately $30 million to repair and rebuild fire-ravaged Lahaina Small Boat Harbor. Meanwhile, a bill to provide state funding for maintenance dredging at small boat harbors statewide has advanced to the Finance Committee in the House of Representatives.

The 21st Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma Hawaiʻi International Summit on Preventing, Assessing & Treating Trauma Across the Lifespan will take place from April 8 – 11 at the Hawai‘i Convention Center in Honolulu.

The Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corp. has closed on the purchase of the former Maui Sun Hotel in Kīhei from Haggai International Institute for Advanced Leadership Training, the state agency announced Thursday.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs announced the upcoming launch of the OHA Kanaaho Grant, providing critical support to homeowners and renters in the wildfire impact zones of Lahaina and Kula. Under the program, a one-time $9,000 grant can be awarded to eligible homeowners who experienced hardship; and a one-time $4,000 grant can be awarded to eligible renters who experienced hardship.

The Senate Ways and Means committee unanimously approved House Bill 679 Senate Draft 2 and House Bill 2610 Senate Draft 2, to allocate funding to address ongoing and escalating costs to non-congregate sheltering, development of temporary and permanent housing, and other needs.