Maui News

Maui County Federal Credit Union (FCU) is partnering with The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program to brighten the holidays for keiki and kūpuna in need across Maui. Now through Dec. 12, 2025, community members are encouraged to visit any Maui County FCU branch in Kahului, Lahaina, or Wailuku to pick up an Angel Tree tag, purchase the requested gift, and return it with the tag to the same branch.

Maui Walking Tours has announced the return of the Kīhei Christmas Carol Walking Tour, a festive, family-friendly experience that brings the spirit of the holidays to life along an oceanfront route.

Hawai‘i Ag & Culinary Alliance (HACA) announced that applications are now open for Cohort 7 of the Cottage Industry to Commercial Enterprise Scholarship, a workforce and business development initiative designed to help Hawaiʻi’s value-added food entrepreneurs expand from small-batch production to commercial success. Applications are open now through Dec. 31, 2025. 

In a milestone for Maui Nui and Lahaina wildfire recovery, the DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation will resume limited commercial boat operations at Lahaina Small Boat Harbor starting Dec. 15, 2025, for the first time since the August 2023 wildfires.

The campaign encourages individuals and other organizations to donate to Hawaiʻi Community Foundation’s Hawaiʻi Resilience Fund or Aloha United Way’s Safety Net Fund, both of which help support nonprofits who are facing historical federal funding reductions. Donations are encouraged from Dec. 1 to 24. 

Residential Youth & Empowerment Services (RYSE), a nonprofit organization that works to equip families and communities to end the cycle of homelessness, today announced that it has received a $2.5 million grant from Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos through the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund.

The Maui County Council passed the contentious Bill 9 on first reading Monday, advancing a measure that would phase out thousands of transient vacation rentals currently operating in apartment-zoned districts, mostly in South and West Maui. The measure passed by a vote of 5-3 following a daylong meeting that included hours of emotional public testimony […]

Students from Princess Nāhiʻenaʻena Elementary School are bringing the aloha spirit to the nation’s capital this holiday season. Young artists in grades K–5 will have their hand-drawn ornament designs on display at the 2025 National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony at the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Microtransit is an on-demand, technology-enabled shared transportation service that uses smaller vehicles to provide flexible rides that are more responsive to passenger needs than traditional buses. The more frequent, flexible service would enhance fixed Maui Bus routes.

YWCA Maui Women’s Business Center and the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College’s Food Innovation Center launch “From Dream to Drive: How to Launch Your Maui Food Truck” Workshop. The course is offered both online and in-person at UHMC’s Maui Food Innovation Center, happening Thursday, Dec. 11, from 12 to 2 p.m

Head Start Health Manager Ashley Caris was named Maui Economic Opportunity Employee of the Month with her nominator praising her for “empowering and inspiring” her team.

The 2025 Kaʻapuni Basketball Tournament begins Wednesday, Dec. 3, with games hosted at Baldwin High School’s Jon Garcia Gymnasium and Seabury Hall’s Erdman Athletic Center. The tournament runs through Saturday, Dec. 6, and brings together one of its strongest fields yet, featuring six teams entering the season as reigning league champions.

The Pāʻia Youth & Cultural Center (PYCC) announced plans to replace its aging building with a brand new environmentally responsible structure, launching a long-term project that prioritizes safety, climate resilience, cultural place-keeping and expanded youth services for Maui’s North Shore. 

Organizers wanted to bring a curated, community event to Maui that supported the creative talent of vendors from all over the state, while also giving back to the local community. There will be 28 vendors participating — most are from Maui. Other vendors are flying in from the Big Island, Kaua‘i and O‘ahu.

Scalli was located and found to be in good health. The Maui Police Department thanked the public for their assistance.

More than 7,000 customers were without power due to an outage impacting customers from Wailuku to Kahakuloa on Monday night. Some areas of Wailuku had power restored by 9 p.m.

Minit Stop continues its long-standing partnership with Street Bikers United Hawaiʻi to support the 2025 Toys for Tots Holiday Toy Drive. For more than 45 years, SBU has been a dedicated supporter of the US Marine Corps Toys for Tots campaign, helping bring holiday cheer to thousands of keiki across the state.

Make a meaningful difference in a University of Hawaiʻi student’s life this Giving Tuesday; help them stay focused when unexpected challenges arise and know they are cared for, valued and able to thrive.

Residents are encouraged to attend the County of Maui’s Lahaina Community Meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, at the Lahaina Intermediate School cafeteria.

The 25th annual Paddle For Hunger, held on Thanksgiving morning, concluded a successful fundraising effort for the Maui Hub, thanks to a crowd of more than 250 community members.