Maui News

In the latest edition, Maui County Councilmember Tamara Paltin will discuss the potential of Hawaiian homelands to meet Maui’s critical housing needs.  Paltin will speak about Honokōwai homestead lands in the context of West Maui housing needs.

Governor David Ige notified legislative leaders and key lawmakers on Monday of his intent to veto six measures. The Hawai‘i State Constitution requires the governor to notify the Legislature of the bills he intends to veto not later than the 35th day after adjournment, which was on Monday, Aug. 31.

Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) is among a group of lawmakers calling for the Department of Defense to implement a new law to fight online child exploitation, protect vulnerable children and punish offenders.

The state Board of Land and Natural Resources voted Friday to impose a $100,000 fine on the owners of a luxury yacht that damaged hundreds of coral colonies when its anchor swung through the coral bed during an incident in October of 2018 at Kailua Bay on Hawai’i island.

Hawai’i Attorney General Clare E. Connors has joined 38 attorneys general across the nation as an ambassador for The Jason Foundation, Inc. She will work together with JFI in collaboration with state agencies and non-profits to address the public health issue of youth and young adult suicide.

The nonprofit Parents for Public Schools of Hawaiʻi announced Monday the release of a second survey with the goal of collecting data from families on how the quickly changing education policies and systems are impacting them during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Assistance through the County’s Kōkua Small Business Recovery & Relief Fund has been doubled with the addition of $3 million in CARES Act funds approved by Maui Mayor Michael Victorino on Tuesday.

Haleakalā National Park  is increasing access to park trails, by opening the first 2.5 mile section of the Keoneheʻeheʻe “Sliding Sands” Trail for use from Friday to Sunday.

The Department of the Prosecuting Attorney recently reported two positive COVID-19 cases, according to Maui Deputy Managing Director Josiah Nishida.  Both individuals are asymptomatic and in self quarantine until released by the Department of Health, which is monitoring them daily.

At about 2 p.m. Maui Community Correctional Center (MCCC) inmates in one module refused to go back into their cells.  Staff immediately activated their emergency response teams to deescalate the situation.  It was quickly contained and order restored by 2:45 p.m.   Maui Police were called to standby for assistance as a precaution.

A Hoapili Hale (Maui) employee, who was asymptomatic and took the test as a requirement for a new job, last worked on Aug. 31 and received a positive test result that night. The person has worked in the courtroom, always wearing a mask and adhering to CDC guidelines.

There were four deaths linked to COVID-19 in Hawai‘i today, including three fatalities on O‘ahu and one on Hawai‘i Island, bringing the state total since the pandemic began to 74. There were 181 new COVID-19 cases in Hawai‘i today including 157 on O‘ahu and five on Maui and 19 on Hawai‘i Island.

The County of Maui Department of Water Supply will begin mandatory Stage 1 water restrictions for its domestic water system serving residents of Upcountry and West Maui beginning Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020. Official public notice of a declaration of a water shortage was published today.

A total of 10 employees at Maui Police Department’s Wailuku Station have tested positive for COVID-19 since the first case was reported at the department on Aug. 27. All 10 of the COVID-19 positive individuals work out of the Wailuku Police Station and are a combination of sworn and civilian employees who have limited contact with the general public.

Hāna-Maui Resort (formerly Travaasa Hāna) announced it will be joining the Hyatt family, with Hyatt assuming management under the Destination Hotels brand.

Mayor Victorino says the department is prepared to close the Kahului courts for two weeks as early as tomorrow, Wednesday, Sept. 2nd if necessary if people fail to practice health and safety protocols. 

Drive-through COVID-19 testing will be held on Thursday, Sept. 3, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Keōpūolani Regional Park in Central Maui.

The Hawai’i Emergency Management Agency announced a statewide monthly siren test scheduled for 11:45 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1. The siren test is part of Hawai’i’s Statewide Alert & Warning System and will sound a one minute alert signal without accompanying drills or exercises.

A 60 year-old paddler was rescued on Monday off the coast of Kahului by crews form the Coast Guard and the Maui Fire Department. 

Health officials on Maui have identified a cluster involving the convergence of people at a restaurant and bar in West Maui. It is unclear where the source of the infection came from, but health officials are asking anyone who was at The Dirty Monkey on Aug. 22, to self quarantine for 14 days through Sept. 5, 2020.