Maui News

Waters at Wailuku River, Waiehu Stream, the west end of Hoʻokipa Beach Park, and Waiʻehu Beach Park had high levels of enterococcus bacteria, according to samples taken on Sept. 24, as part of a citizen scientist program conducted by the Surfrider Foundation. 

The Hawaiʻi Department of Human Services is warning Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients and the general public, after receiving a report from the US Department of Agriculture of possible SNAP Fraud attempts.

Maui Obituary Notices: Week Ending Sept. 27 May they Rest In Peace

Executive sous chef Meredith Manee and sous chef April Matsumoto’s used to cook for guests at the Ritz-Carlton in Kapalua. Now they and others unemployed due to COVID-19 use their culinary skills to cook a weekly full-course meal for the homeless as part of Maui Rescue Mission’s outreach at Lahaina Baptist Church.

Award-winning artists and budding musicians from Hawaiʻi Island formed Alohaland Collective and released a campaign and song called “Our Kuleana.” The campaign and recording encourages residents to mobilize during critical times of need during the COVID-19 pandemic.

US Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) introduced a new legislation Friday that seeks to provide $2,000 monthly automatic cash assistance to struggling families. The Family Crisis Cash Assistance Act proposes the creation of a permanent program to provide immediate economic relief to families struggling through a natural disaster or economic crisis.

Due to updated data provided by the state Department of Health, Maui’s active case count dropped from 101 yesterday to 24 today.  In Honolulu, the active case count dropped from 6064 yesterday to 1601 today.  Statewide the number of active cases dropped from 6,267 yesterday to 1,761 today.

The unions say Kaiser Permanente’s plan to close its Gastrointestinal and Ambulatory Surgery services at its Wailuku Clinic expressed concerns over continuity of care, waiting time for procedures and potential job losses.

MIRA Image Construction, LLC will work from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday on West Vineyard Street in Wailuku. Work is slated for completion in January 2021.

“What happens next will be critical. The transition plan to a new management team must put the health and safety of patients and staff first. HHSC must also ensure that a change in management does not adversely impact staffing and census in other facilities and that all residents of nursing facilities on Hawai‘i Island receive care in the most appropriate setting,” said Sen. Schatz.

The Hawai‘i State Hospital in Kane‘ohe reports that one patient and three staff members within the hospital’s admissions unit have tested positive for COVID-19.

Lahaina restaurant Fleetwood’s on Front St., which has been closed since March due to COVID-19, plans to reopen as soon as Hawaiʻi’s pre-travel testing option goes into effect, possibly as early as Oct. 15.

There were 112 new COVID-19 cases in Hawai‘i today including 97 on O‘ahu, 14 on Hawai‘i Island and one on Kaua‘i. Hawai‘i’s COVID-19 death toll increased to 127 with three new deaths on O‘ahu confirmed by the state Department of Health.

The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority was recently made aware of an entity called the “Hawaii Tourism Association,” utilizing the email address aloha@hawaiitourismassociation.com and website address hawaiitourismassociation.com.

Hawaiian Ethos’ Hilo store is the state’s 14th licensed retail center and the sixth on Hawai‘i Island which is home to 25% of Hawai‘i’s registered patients; and Noa Botanical’s ‘Aiea store is the state’s 15th licensed retail center and the sixth on O‘ahu, home to 47% of Hawai‘i’s registered patients.

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the previously scheduled Relay For Life of Maui County will be a virtual event and is rescheduled for Sept. 25, 26 and 27, 2020 as a livestream event starting at 6 p.m. on the Relay for Life Maui County Facebook page. 

The Kauaʻi Rapid Response Team’s recent helicopter surveys detected the presence of virulent fungal pathogens that cause the rapid killing of ‘ōhi‘a trees in two new areas on Kaua’i. The recent Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death discoveries were along the upper Hanalei valley and along the north side of Powerline Trail.

Hawaiian’s initial labs will be operational near Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO) International airports, with more testing locations coming soon at its other US mainland gateways.

Licensed liquor establishments in Maui County that fail to comply with County of Maui Public Health Emergency Rules will be ordered to close for a 24-hour period in a measure aimed at minimizing the spread of COVID-19.

The Maui Invasive Species Committee is now accepting nominations for its Malama i ka Aina Award, which honors a landscaper, nursery, garden shop or commercial/agricultural property owner/manager for efforts to keep invasive species out of Maui County.