Maui News

There were 80 new COVID-19 cases reported in Hawai‘i on Wednesday, including 45 on O‘ahu, 15 on Maui, 12 on Hawaiʻi Island, one on Kauaʻi and seven in Hawai‘i residents diagnosed outside of the state. Lānaʻi and Molokaʻi had no new cases today.

Dr. Libby Char, Director of the Hawaiʻi Department of Health, updated the Hawaiʻi State Senate Special Committee during a recent hearing about prevention and containment of COVID-19 clusters, vaccine distribution and new CDC recommendations regarding second tests for travelers and shorter quarantines.

Hawaiian Airlines has begun ticket sales for nonstop service that starts in March between Honolulu and three mainland cities: Austin, TX; Ontario, CA; and Orlando, FL.

Maui County will distribute holiday food boxes from Dec. 14 to 15 for qualified residents who received vouchers through Maui Economic Opportunity’s Hawaii Emergency Laulima Partnership program.

As Pukalani Superette celebrates its 65th anniversary this month, the business is passing the torch to a new generation of leadership.  

Maui police responded to eight burglaries, five vehicle thefts and 10 vehicle break-ins in Maui County over a seven day period from Nov. 29 to Dec. 5, 2020.

Ampaire, a global leader in electric aviation, is the first to complete a demonstration flight of a hybrid-electric aircraft along an actual airline route. The company flew its Electric EEL aircraft on Nov. 22 on a 20-minute flight from Maui’s Kahului Airport across the island to Hāna and back on a single charge.

An employee at Hoapili Hale (Wailuku courthouse) has tested positive for COVID-19, the Hawaii State Judiciary announced today.

There were 53 new COVID-19 cases reported in Hawai‘i on Tuesday, including 39 on O‘ahu, six on Maui, five on Hawaiʻi Island, and three on Molokaʻi. The three Molokaʻi cases today were identified as household contacts. Health officials say one person had travel history, but it is unclear whether the transmission of the virus was from the traveler or as a result of community spread. The investigation is ongoing.

A Florida man was arrested and charged with a Rules and Orders violation related to quarantine after arriving on Maui without a valid place of lodging or a negative pre-travel COVID-19 test, police said. 

Thirty-three nursing homes in Hawai‘i will divide $582,015 in new federal funding for maintaining COVID-19 infection and mortality rates that were lower than the communities they served.

A 20-year-old Makawao man, Jordan Finau, turned himself in to the Wailuku Police station on Monday, Dec. 7, and was subsequently arrested on a grand jury indictment for second degree attempted murder, fourth degree criminal property damage and two counts of third degree assault, police said.

An adult male surfer was reportedly taken to the Maui Memorial Medical Center after suffering from an apparent shark bite at Honolua Bay on Maui, where a surf competition was set to get underway at 10 a.m. today. 

The Lahaina Restoration Foundation invites the public to spend the evening in Lahaina and enjoy the colorful lights which will be illuminated nightly from 6 p.m. to midnight for the entire month of December.

Honolua Bay offered up flawless five-to-eight foot (1.8 – 2.4 meter) surf with Hawaiʻi’s Carissa Moore, and Australia’s Tyler Wright and Sally Fitzgibbons advancing to the semifinals.

An online survey administered in June 2020 by the Native Hawaiian COVID-19 Research Hui showed that Hawaiʻi business owners and community members envision a post-COVID-19 local economy that prioritizes diversified industries promoting sustainability and support residents’ basic needs.

A portion of homes on Piʻiholo Road will have their water shut-off from approximately 8:30 am to 3:00 pm.  The shut-down will affect some water services off Piʻiholo Road, Mahiʻai Place, Ehu Road, and Naniuka Place.  

After the loss of his wife, an adopted dog named Kaia helped Rory and his stepdaughter find comfort, companionship, and laughter. “The morning after my wife passed, Kaia needed a walk — so I got out of bed and I walked her. I walk Kaia six times a day because we live in a condo and she’s very active. She starts my morning, and she ends my night. Kaia really saved us,” said adopter, Rory.

There were 81 new COVID-19 cases reported in Hawai‘i on Monday, including 58 on O‘ahu, 12 on Maui, seven on Hawaiʻi Island, one on Kauaʻi and three in Hawai‘i residents diagnosed outside of the state. The Maui count today included four in Kīhei, three cases each in Kahului and Kula, two in Lahaina and one in Makawao.

The County of Maui Department of Water Supply will be conducting multiple valve replacements in Kahului beginning today, Dec. 7, 2020, and continuing to Dec. 23, 2020.  Water will be shut off periodically from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to make the necessary repairs.