Maui News

The Merrie Monarch Hula Festival may be held in 2021, but no ticket sales are taking place, and organizers say it is clear that there will be no live audience. 

Drive-through COVID-19 testing will be held on Saturday, Dec. 5, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hāna Ball Park.

The gift certificates for Friendly Market, Kualapuʻu Market and Misaki’s were sent to Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi residents who received COVID-19-related assistance through the County of Maui Hawaiʻi Emergency Laulima Partnership program.

Forests on the southern slopes of Moloka‘i are about to receive additional protection from threats like wildfires, erosion and flooding thanks to a new award from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The foundation has awarded over $1.8 million to the DLNR to address threats using proven tools such as fencing and removing hooved animals, as well as creating firebreaks.

Hawaiʻi Gov. David Ige approves Kaua‘i Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami’s request to place a temporary moratorium on Kaua‘i’s participation in the state’s pre-travel testing program. Maui County officials say they are staying in the Safe Travels Program “at this point.”

Maui police arrested a Wailuku man for his alleged involvement in an assault against an off-duty police officer that resulted in life-threatening injuries.  

There were 92 new COVID-19 cases in Hawai‘i today, including 71 on O‘ahu, four on Maui, 5 each on Hawai‘i Island and Kaua‘i, and seven in residents diagnosed outside of the state. Maui cases included at least two in Lahaina and one in Wailuku. Kīhei had 33 cases reported in the last 14 days. Lahaina is also in the medium range with 11 cases reported over the same period. 

Councilmember Michael J. Molina transmitted correspondence to the Federal Aviation Administration requesting adjustments to flight patterns over the North Shore/Haʻikū region of Maui.

The Safe Travels Hawaiʻi COVID-19 Evaluation Testing Program found 45 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases as of Nov. 24, out of 20,253 tests conducted (or 2.2 per 1,000) – since the program’s launch on Oct. 19.

The 2018 eruption of Kīlauea Volcano, one of the largest volcanic events in Hawaiʻi in 200 years,  was triggered by a relatively small and rapid change at the Big Island volcano after a decade-long build-up of pressure in the upper parts of the volcano, according to a recent study published in Nature Communications.

For the first time, the University of Hawai’i system is participating in the national annual Giving Tuesday initiative, on Dec. 1, to raise funds for the colleges and their students.

There were 120 new COVID-19 cases in Hawai‘i today, including 92 on O‘ahu, 14 on Maui, 11 on Hawai‘i Island and three on Kaua‘i. Maui cases included five in Kīhei, four in Kahului, two each in Lahaina and Makawao, and one in Wailuku. Kīhei had 33 cases reported over the last 14 days.

A 35-year-old California woman suffered severe trauma injuries to her front torso in an apparent shark bite incident off of Honokōwai on Thanksgiving Day. 

The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation reports that there were 27 fewer deaths on Hawaiʻi roads compared to this time in 2019. However, traffic volumes, or the amount of vehicle trips on the roads, has also been greatly decreased due to various orders related to the current pandemic.

The County of Maui Department of Water Supply will end Stage 1 water restrictions for Upcountry and West Maui customers, effective Friday, Nov. 27, 2020.

Maui County offices will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday, and hours will be shortened Thursday, Nov. 26, to 6 a.m. to noon for the Central Maui Landfill and EKO Compost Greenwaste.

A study by the University of Hawai‘i showed that twice as much fresh water is stored offshore of Hawai‘i Island, more than previously thought. The recent findings mapped by UH researchers with Hawai‘i EPSCoR ‘Ike Wai project revealed an extensive reservoir of fresh water within the submarine southern flank of the Hualālai aquifer. 

There were 108 new COVID-19 cases in Hawai‘i today, including 93 on O‘ahu, five on Maui, one each on Hawai‘i Island and Kaua‘i, and eight in Hawai‘i residents diagnosed outside of the state. Maui cases included three cases in Kīhei and one in Makawao. Kīhei has had 30 cases in the last 14 days.

ʻĪao Valley State Monument on Maui is now open as of Nov. 21, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of State Parks. 

The University of Hawaiʻi in partnership with The Salvation Army is hosting a Community Thanksgiving Drive Through event today (Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020) starting at 11 a.m.  A total of 600 meals are being distributed on a first-come first-served basis, with one meal offered per person.  Vehicle line-up starts at Wahinepio Avenue.