Maui News

Health officials say more than half of the COVID-19 cases on Maui at this point, as identified through weekly reports, are represented by “variants of concern,” B1.429 and B.1.427.

Under the program, fully vaccinated individuals, with at least two weeks of incubation since their final vaccination dose, would be able to bypass the state’s 10-day quarantine without having to take a test. The vaccine passport program is proposed for both visitors and returning residents alike, according to Mayor Victorino.

Whatʻs on Maui resident minds? Maui Nowʻs letters to the editors discuss rights of landlords, rights of tenants, need for new COVID-19 restrictions, need to eliminate costly COVID-19 test for interisland travel and praise by director of Hawaiʻi High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area for retiring Maui Police Department Police Chief Tivoli Faaumu.

“The state is getting more than 81,000 vaccine doses this week and the federal government is distributing thousands more to Longs Drugs and Safeway,” Char said. “The combined allocation to Hawai‘i this week tops 120,000 doses. We want those doses in the correct arms as quickly as possible and believe the neighbor islands are situated to get that done.”

The state Department of Health reports that there were 100 additional COVID-19 cases reported in Hawai‘i on Wednesday, including 42 on O‘ahu, 30 on Maui, 16 on Hawai‘i Island, one on Kaua‘i, one on Lāna‘i, and 10 in Hawai‘i residents diagnosed while out of state. There were a total of 1,200 cases logged over the past two weeks, 376 of them in Maui County.

Hawai’i Gov. David Ige appointed Milton Kotsubo and Carol Matayoshi to the five-person Hawai‘i Paroling Authority board. The appointments are subject to Senate confirmation.

The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) is issuing guidance to a Maui church and its congregation because of the imminent health threat posed by a large cluster of COVID-19 cases.

The University of Hawai`i’ – College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources and Hawai`i Department of Agriculture are hosting two free webinars to inform Hawai`i coffee growers on the potential use of a fungicide to combat coffee leaf rust. The webinars are scheduled for 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 1 and Thursday, April 8.

A mainline valve replacement project will affect water service for two hours in West Maui from 9:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Thursday, April 1, the Department of Water Supply announced.

Wailea Golf Academy Director of Instruction Claude Brousseau, PGA Master Professional, has been inducted into Marquis Who’s Who, a biographical registry of individuals and innovators who have demonstrated professional integrity and outstanding achievement in their respective fields.

Maui Economic Opportunity and Hawaiʻi Petroleum officials blessed a new gasoline and diesel fuel station at the MEO transportation baseyard in Puʻunēnē on Monday.

The percentage of burglary cases decreased 40 percent from the week before when 10 incidents were reported. Vehicle thefts decreased 50 percent from the week before when four incidents were reported. Vehicle break-ins decreased 30 percent from the week before when 10 incidents were reported.

“These earthquakes may result from changes in the magma storage system and/or may be part of normal re-adjustments of the volcano due to changing stresses within it,” the HVO reports.

The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority released the results of a special tracking study, which surveyed visitors from the U.S. mainland who visited Hawaiʻi from Feb. 12 through Feb. 28, 2021 to gauge their experience with Hawaiʻi’s Safe Travels program and overall trip satisfaction.

The 2021 Nā Kamehameha Commemorative Pā‘ū Parade and Ho‘olaule‘a celebrate virtually at 10 a.m. on June 19. Parade participants interested are asked to submit entry forms by the deadline at 4:30 p.m. on April 16.

Maui Ocean Center reopens Seascape Restaurant for lunch service daily from 11 a.m. through 3 p.m. beginning on Monday, April 5. The center has also expanded park hours from 9:30 a.m. through 3:30 p.m. as of Saturday, March 20.

The state Department of Health reports that there were 71 additional COVID-19 cases reported in Hawai‘i on Tuesday, including 45 on O‘ahu, 12 on Maui, six on Hawai‘i Island one on Kaua‘i, and seven in Hawai‘i residents diagnosed while out of state. There were a total of 1,110 cases logged over the past two weeks, 345 of them in Maui County.

Southwest Airlines is now offering pre-clearance for customers arriving in Hawaiʻi. The service is available for customers who present evidence of their compliance with the Hawaiʻi Safe Travels program.

The state of Hawaiʻi has released more than $165 million in funds for capital improvement projects, with $5.3 million specifically earmarked for Maui County projects to improve public schools and traffic operations; reconstruct a runway at Lānaʻi airport; and install a greywater reuse filtration system at Kanahā Beach Park.

US Congressman Kai Kahele and his Deputy Chief of Staff Ikaika Māhoe, took part in a visit to the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Maui Research and Technology Park on March 19.