Maui News
Easterseals Hawaii announces new CEO
Patrick Klein, a lifelong Hawaii resident with deep ties to the local business and not-for-profit community, officially took over as CEO of Easterseals Hawaii at the start of the new year.
Deadline extended to submit applications for State Ethics Commission
The Judicial Council announced that the deadline to submit applications to fill two upcoming vacancies on the Hawaiʻi State Ethics Commission has been extended from Feb. 13 to March 13, 2026. The terms will run for four years from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2030.
Visitor-funded ‘Mahalo Rewards’ program seeks to lower local cost of living
A new platform has launched on Maui, aiming to lower the cost of living on the island by redirecting tourism dollars into the local economy. Mahalo Rewards, developed by a Maui-born software engineer, eliminates marketing fees for local businesses by utilizing a visitor-funded model.
Kīhei Charter School graduate pursues successful art career
Brenton Deardorff is a successful artist and a 2005 graduate of the Kīhei Charter School. His art can be viewed at several locations on Maui—at Lahaina Print Sellers at the Lahaina Cannery Mall, Martin & MacArthur in The Shops at Wailea, and at Hands Maui in Pāʻia.
Subaru Telescope’s new eye on the cosmos gets a Hawaiian name: ʻŌnohiʻula
Subaru Telescope’s powerful new Prime Focus Spectrograph (PFS) has been given the Hawaiian name ʻŌnohiʻula, merging the instrument’s scientific mission of “perceiving the realm of our origins” with the cultural heritage of Hawaiʻi.
UH solar eclipse research finds turbulent structures in the Sun’s corona
Researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi have uncovered new clues about how energy moves through the Sun’s outer atmosphere, using one of nature’s rarest events as their window: total solar eclipses.
Whale Trust brings global ocean elders together for an evening of wisdom and hope
Whale Trust will present Listening to the Ocean: An Evening of Conversation with Ocean Elders on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026 at The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, as part of its 20th Annual Whale Tales celebration. The special event will bring together internationally recognized leaders in ocean science, exploration, and conservation for an evening of discussion focused on the future of the world’s oceans.
Top Hawaiʻi robotics teams advance to the 2026 VEX World Championships
Advancing are Island Robotics, Waiʻanae High School, Pearl City High School, Kaimuki Middle School, Mililani Mechs Robotics, and Waialua High & Intermediate School. The double qualifications by these teams will allow one other Hawaiʻi team – to be determined by the Robotics Education and Competition Foundation – to advance to the VEX Worlds.
Sedona Wachaiyu represents Head Start families on MEO Board
Sedona Wachaiyu has joined the Maui Economic Opportunity Board of Directors as Head Start Policy Council representative.
Maui Nui Golf Club hosts ‘Drive Like a Woman’ International Women’s Day golf event
Maui Nui Golf Club will celebrate International Women’s Day with a special wahine golf event, Drive Like a Woman, on Sunday, March 8 at 3 p.m. The 3 p.m. shotgun invites women of all skill levels to come together for an afternoon of golf, connection, and celebration on the course.
Maui Fire Department announces 25 recent promotions
Maui Fire Chief Brad Ventura announced a list of 25 personnel who were promoted recently, including 18 to the rank of Firefighter III and seven to the rank of Firefighter II. All promotions went into effect no later than Jan. 1, 2026.
Businesses invited to apply for 2026 Maui Marathon Health & Fitness Expo
The Maui Marathon will take place Sunday, April 26, 2026, in Kāʻanapali. Race weekend begins with the official Health & Fitness Expo and runner packet pickup on Friday and Saturday, April 24–25, at the The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Valley Isle Ballroom.
Hawaiian Electric continues to monitor Public Safety Power Shutoff areas in parts of Maui and Hawaiʻi Island
Hawaiian Electric teams continue to monitor weather conditions that may call for a Public Safety Power Shutoff in parts of Maui and Hawai‘i Island this week.
UHERO survey: Sea level rise worries most Hawaiʻi residents
Most Hawaiʻi residents believe sea level rise is already affecting the state, expect major impacts within their lifetimes, and support significant changes to how and where development occurs. At the same time, many remain uncertain about how large-scale adaptation should be financed.
Maui Mall Village to host Chinese New Year Festival Feb. 21
The Maui Chinese New Year Festival returns to Maui Mall Village on Feb. 21 to celebrate the Year of the Horse with lion dances, cultural demonstrations and local food.
Roots School annual Children’s Fair, Feb. 21
Roots School will host its annual Children’s Fair on Saturday, Feb. 21 from 2-5 p.m. on the school campus at 740 Haʻikū Road. This year’s theme is The Wizard of Oz, and the event will feature crafts, face-painting, balloon twisting, magical photos, a cake walk, book sale, and fun for the whole family. Guests are encouraged to dress up as their favorite Wizard of Oz character.
Hawaiʻi District Land Office implements ‘Paʻahana Wednesdays’
The office — which is a part of Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources Land Division — will be closed to the public on Wednesdays. Staff will not accept meetings, phone calls or in-person visits and will not return emails.
MEDB hosts free business workshop in Kīhei
Small business owners looking to work with government agencies can attend a free workshop in Kīhei on April 7 hosted by state and federal transportation officials.
Free 1-on-1 tech assistance available at Hawaiʻi’s public libraries
Digital Navigators are available by appointment at all 50 public libraries throughout the state, offering free, personalized help with everyday technology needs to make it less stressful and more accessible.
One of oldest Hawaiian honeycreepers discovered and then re-leased on Big Island
The ʻiʻiwi likely hatched in the winter/spring of 2015-16 and is a minimum of 10 years old, which is rather amazing considering the typical lifespan of ʻiʻiwi is, maybe, half of that at 3 to 5 years.
