Maui News

Maui lawmakers secured leadership roles including: Justin Woodson who will serve as Chair of the Education Committee; Angus McKelvey and Tina Wildberger as Chair and Vice Chair of the Government Reform Committee respectively; Lynn DeCoite as Vice Chair of the Higher Education and Technology Committee; and Troy Hashimoto as Vice Chair of the Housing Committee.  

There were 95 new COVID-19 cases in Hawai‘i today, including 70 on O‘ahu, 13 on Hawai‘i Island, five on Maui, one on Kaua‘i and six in Hawai‘i residents diagnosed outside of the state. Lānaʻi and Moloka‘i had no new cases today.

Based on their findings, the infestation is contained to four acres, but the source of the infestation is not known. Given the spread, it’s likely that ants have been present for several years. 

Voucher holders who have not yet turned them in can still receive a box of frozen turkey and fixings during a final pickup opportunity from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 23, 2020, at the War Memorial Gymnasium parking lot.

Thanksgiving vouchers have been sent to Molokaʻi residents and will be sent to Lānaʻi residents who have received COVID-19-related assistance through the County of Maui Hawaii Emergency Laulima Partnership program.

Instruction at the University of Hawaiʻi 10-campus system will continue to be primarily online for the spring 2021 semester. In fall 2020, approximately 85% of courses taught in the UH System were online, 10% hybrid and 5% entirely in-person.

Child & Family Service is partnering with the General Contractors Association to provide direct resources, services and food to families impacted by COVID-19 on Nov. 21 in Kahului at the “Festival of Hope For Families.”

Marcy Martin, Maui County’s Real Property Tax Administrator, has been elected to the Board of Directors for the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO) for Region 1 effective Jan. 1, 2021.

Hāna Highway is now OPEN. It was closed earlier this morning while crews worked to clear a downed tree that was blocking both lanes of travel.

From Nov. 16 through Dec. 12, 2020, individuals can pick-up an Angel Tree Tag from at any Maui County Federal Credit Union branch in Kahului, Lahaina and Wailuku, purchase the requested gifts and then return it to the same branch with the tag.

Hale Makua Health Services has received confirmation that an employee has tested positive for COVID-19 at the Kahului facility. The staff person last worked on Tuesday, Nov. 17, and is currently in isolation at home.

The County of Maui has been notified that a test result has returned positive for a resident of Hāna. The person is asymptomatic and in self-isolation and has no recent travel history. The Department of Health is investigating and conducting contact tracing.

Governor Ige today announced that beginning in mid-December, travelers flying from Canada to Hawaiʻi may bypass the state’s mandatory 14-day quarantine if they take a COVID-19 test from labs identified by Air Canada and WestJet.

Governor David Ige announced today that starting on Nov. 24, travelers wishing to bypass the 14-day mandatory quarantine must have their COVID-19 test results – from a trusted testing partner – prior to departure for the State of Hawaiʻi.

There were 107 new COVID-19 cases in Hawai‘i today, including 75 on O‘ahu, 12 on Hawai‘i Island, nine on Maui, four on Kaua‘i and seven in Hawai‘i residents diagnosed outside of the state. Maui cases were reported in Wailuku, Kīhei and Hāna according to the latest mapping updates provided by the state Department of Health. The East Maui town of Hāna was added back to the active map today.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held today to mark the beginning of a $37 million capital improvement project to upgrade the 80-year-old Hoʻolehua Water System on Molokaʻi.

Pacific Islanders account for 28 percent of COVID-19 infections, despite being just 4 percent of the state’s population. UH Mānoa will receive $958,613 from the National Institutes of Health to increase the reach, access and uptake of COVID-19 testing among Pacific Islander communities in Hawai‘i and Guam.

Local utilities across the state urge customers to remain vigilant as scam calls and phishing ramp up heading into the holidays. Scammers have become more prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic as customers that depend on these essential services are targeted.

Virtual public meetings will be held Dec. 2 and 3 regarding Hawaiian Electric’s proposal to launch shared solar or Community-Based Renewable Energy programs and projects on Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi.

West Maui is under a Brown Water Advisory following heavy rains, which have resulted in stormwater runoff entering into coastal waters.