Maui News

H.R. 8219, the Lahaina National Heritage Area Study Act, would direct the National Park Service, in consultation with state and local partners, to study the suitability and feasibility of a National Heritage Area designation for Lahaina. These areas are designated by Congress to complement state and local conservation efforts through recognition, federal funding, and technical assistance.

A Maui man will appear in federal court on Monday for an initial hearing after being arrested on Wednesday for his alleged connection to improvised explosive devices (IEDs) found near Kaʻamana St. in Kula on Aug. 7, 2024. Jess Kiesel Lee, age 43, of Kula, was named in a criminal complaint for allegedly possessing explosives as a felon and damaging property by means of explosives, according to the complaint. Lee’s fingerprint was recovered from tape on one of the IEDs, the complaint alleges.

Maui’s economy will only gradually recover from its post-wildfire downturn while visitor industries in other counties across the state will continue to operate at high levels, according to the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization’s (UHERO) third quarter forecast for 2024.

The University of Hawai‘i Maui College Culinary Arts Program and Fairmont Kea Lani present the 24th annual Noble Chef Gala on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. The largest annual fundraiser showcasing and supporting the Maui College Culinary Arts Program at the University of Hawai‘i Maui College, the gala returns to Fairmont Kea Lani for an evening celebrating the college’s past, present and future.

East Maui residents can drop off scrap metal, appliances, propane tanks, tires and auto batteries for recycling on Friday, Sept. 20, and Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at the Hāna Recycling Center.

A Kula man has been arrested in connection with the improvised explosive devices (IEDs) discovered on Aug. 7, 2024, near Kaʻamana Street in Kula. Maui police say Jess Lee, 43, was arrested as a result of a coordinated effort between the MPD and FBI.

Kīlauea volcano continues to erupt in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park from the new fissure vent that opened just west of Nāpau Crater on Wednesday, Sept. 18, at around 3:15 p.m., according to a daily update from the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. This is the fourth vent system of this eruption. The first fissures of this eruption occurred on the night of Sept. 15 on the middle East Rift Zone.

Maui motorists are paying about seven cents more, on average, for an unleaded gallon of gas, compared with the “pain at the pump” for drivers statewide, according to AAA Hawaii Weekend Gas Watch. The average price in Kahului was $4.69 as of this morning, and it was $4.62 statewide.

The County of Maui Department of Environmental Management’s Wastewater Reclamation Division has amended the Sewer Service Status from “red,” to “green,” for several lots near Mill and Kuhua streets.

In a testament to their unwavering commitment to help residents recover after the 2023 Kula fire, the grassroots nonprofit, Mālama Kula, completed their goal of 30 straight community work days during the month of August as their way of commemorating the one year anniversary of the fire that claimed 20 homes in Kula and scorched 202 acres of land. 

The Kalalau Trail in the Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park will remain closed to visitors beyond today following the recent norovirus outbreak among park visitors, state officials announced. DLNR will be partially opening the trail to Hanakāpīʻai for day use only, beginning on Saturday, Sept. 21, prior to a full opening to be determined later. Any hiking beyond Hanakāpīʻai may result in citations or arrests. The total number of norovirus cases reported to date is approximately 50 and remaining stable.

The Hawai‘i State Department of Education announced today that 14 previously suspended school bus routes will be reinstated starting Monday, Sept. 23, restoring service for more than 250 student bus riders at 10 schools. This includes six routes in Central Oʻahu, seven routes on Hawaiʻi Island and one route in Upcountry Maui.

The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA) has announced the acquisition of Hawai‘i Stage, formerly Hawai‘i Stage & Lighting Rentals (HSLR), during its annual Native Hawaiian Convention at Hilton Waikoloa Village. Hawai‘i Stage, a full-service event production company founded in 1976, is known for its contributions to Hawai‘i’s event industry and has now relocated its operations from Mapunapuna to Kapālama, Honolulu.

The Kahaualeʻa Natural Area Reserve in Puna is closed for 90 days due to a shift in eruptive activity at Kīlauea Volcano, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife. The closure, effective immediately, may be extended if hazardous conditions continue.

The officially merged Hawaiian and Alaska Airlines have expanded Hawaiian’s former 64-aircraft fleet into a combined fleet of 350 passenger airplanes, now offering Hawaiʻi residents non-stop or one-stop flights to 128 cities and destinations like Chicago, Denver, Washington, D.C., Toronto, New Orleans, Costa Rica and Miami. But the airline merger will not bring new air service to Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Kapalua or Hāna.

The County of Maui Office of Recovery and the Office of Council Member Yuki Lei Sugimura will be hosting a meeting for Kula homeowners impacted by the August 2023 wildfires on Tuesday, Sept. 24, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Mayor Hannibal Tavares Community Center in Pukalani.

The Hawai‘i Visitors and Convention Bureau urges travelers that now is the most important time to visit Maui, as it announced the launch of its Hawai‘i Special Offers Program on Wednesday. This special offers program features limited-time deals on accommodations, excursions, transportation, and golf, with a special focus on supporting Maui.

The Hawai‘i Department of Health Food and Drug Branch is alerting residents to a recall issued by KTM Services, Inc., of its Enjoy Premium Taro Cookie and Enjoy Premium Coconut Cookie products. The DOH said in a press release today that the labels do not inform consumers that the recalled products may contain milk, which is an allergen.

Students, teachers, and families are invited to Lā ʻOhana (ʻOhana Day) this Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Hanakaʻōʻō Beach Park (Canoe Beach) in Kāʻanapali, the Maui Huliau Foundation announced. The event will focus on Hawaiian voyaging and natural resource protection.

Previously located under the County of Maui Department of Planning, the County Flood Hazard Area regulations are now being administered through the County Department of Public Works. Moving the regulations aims to enhance coordination and efficiency of flood protection.