Maui News

The number to call is 1(800)753-6879—the same number previously used by Crisis Line of Hawai‘i. Individuals in crisis can also text ALOHA to 741741. 

A Battalion Chief assigned to the 2nd Battalion headquartered at the Waikoloa Fire Station on Hawai‘i Island has tested positive for COVID-19. Also, a South Kohala District Court employee tested positive for COVID-19. It is the only confirmed case of any Judiciary employee statewide.

Maui Mayor Michael Victorino issued amended Maui Public Health Emergency Rules on Aug. 5, 2020. The document details the rules and orders enacted for the County of Maui.

The state recorded another triple digit day of new COVID-19 cases today, with all 173 on the island of Oʻahu. This brings the total cases in Hawaiʻi over the course of the pandemic to 2,763.

Rep. Gabbard and her guests answered questions from callers on topics from infectious disease protocols in health care facilities, assistance for renters and the help provided by the HEROES Act, the availability of rapid testing, and whether or not there will be another round of stimulus checks.

The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education has launched an ‘Ohana Help Desk providing technology support to public school students and their parents.  Department officials call the self-service system the first comprehensive statewide service of its kind in the nation.  

A final sendoff was held at Kahului Airport today for Special Agent John Bost III, who died a week ago today in what officials have deemed an accidental death in the line of duty, while serving at the Kīhei Police Station in South Maui.  

Alexander & Baldwin has designated $200,000 of its 2020 Kōkua Giving charitable budget for Hawaiʻi nonprofits on the frontlines of COVID-19 relief. A&B recently announced it has completed its first tranche of giving including six grants to Maui non-profits to support a range of critical needs, helping to keep Maui residents—keiki to kupuna—housed, fed and healthy.

DOH is reporting another day of triple digit coronavirus diagnosis. 144 cases today, with 139 on O‘ahu and five (5) on Hawai‘i Island. The Honolulu Medical Examiner reported the death of a Honolulu man to the Dept. of Health, who had tested positive for COVID-19. The man was in the 40 to 59-year-old age group and he had underlying medical conditions.

The public is invited to review and comment on the Maui Emergency Management Agency’s update to the County’s Hazard Mitigation Plan to address threats such as wildfires, beach erosion and highway rockslides.

The album, “Huliāmahi Volume 1” honors ʻāina in Hawai‘i with legal and political undertones. The songs will be featured in an upcoming virtual concert, “Mele Huliāmahi,” produced by Kanaeokana and Kāhuli Leo Leʻa. The concert airs on Friday, Aug. 28, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. on Facebook Live.

The County of Maui launched a new Virtual Job Fair website to assist residents seeking employment opportunities, job training or new career paths.  The website, MauiCountyVirtualJobFair.com, also gives employers an online resource to find workers.

The 52-year-old spearfisherman from Hāna, Maui had gone missing on Friday in waters off of Pāʻia. Crews conducted 35 searches covering 621 square nautical miles over the past three days.  

The Maui Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Healthy Eating Active Living coalition are seeking artist proposals to design and implement a street art project at an intersection in Kahului by March 2021. 

VEHICLE FLIPPED HALEAKALA RD: We have reports of an overturned vehicle on Haleakalā Road, near the Old Haleakalā Rd exit. Police just arrived on scene. Traffic is limited to a single lane only heading down (makai). Please drive with caution and expect delays.

The Department of Water Supply announced that it discovered a pressure-reducing valve problem in the Kula water system that will require emergency repairs between 9 p.m. today and 5 a.m. Tuesday.

“Based on our investigations, we are seeing that the weak link in the response is in the area of prevention,” said Dr. Bruce Anderson.  “I think the rise in the number of positive cases can be attributed primarily to the lack of physical distancing and letting down your guard.” 

Fire officials say crews were initially called to reports of nine separate fires between miles 23 and 27 along the Piʻilani Highway just before midnight (at 11:58 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020). Maui Fire Services Chief Rylan Yatsushiro said all but three are 100% contained.

A 34-year-old Haʻikū woman was arrested and charged with operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol after a concerned citizen reported the suspected incident to police. 

The highest, single-day record of new positive COVID-19 cases is being reported by the Dept. of Health today, at 207. Approximately 114 of these cases are the result of delayed reporting over the weekend, a result of private clinical laboratory reporting issues.