Maui News

A 35-year-old California woman suffered severe trauma injuries to her front torso in an apparent shark bite incident off of Honokōwai on Thanksgiving Day. 

The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation reports that there were 27 fewer deaths on Hawaiʻi roads compared to this time in 2019. However, traffic volumes, or the amount of vehicle trips on the roads, has also been greatly decreased due to various orders related to the current pandemic.

The County of Maui Department of Water Supply will end Stage 1 water restrictions for Upcountry and West Maui customers, effective Friday, Nov. 27, 2020.

Maui County offices will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday, and hours will be shortened Thursday, Nov. 26, to 6 a.m. to noon for the Central Maui Landfill and EKO Compost Greenwaste.

A study by the University of Hawai‘i showed that twice as much fresh water is stored offshore of Hawai‘i Island, more than previously thought. The recent findings mapped by UH researchers with Hawai‘i EPSCoR ‘Ike Wai project revealed an extensive reservoir of fresh water within the submarine southern flank of the Hualālai aquifer. 

There were 108 new COVID-19 cases in Hawai‘i today, including 93 on O‘ahu, five on Maui, one each on Hawai‘i Island and Kaua‘i, and eight in Hawai‘i residents diagnosed outside of the state. Maui cases included three cases in Kīhei and one in Makawao. Kīhei has had 30 cases in the last 14 days.

ʻĪao Valley State Monument on Maui is now open as of Nov. 21, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of State Parks. 

The University of Hawaiʻi in partnership with The Salvation Army is hosting a Community Thanksgiving Drive Through event today (Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020) starting at 11 a.m.  A total of 600 meals are being distributed on a first-come first-served basis, with one meal offered per person.  Vehicle line-up starts at Wahinepio Avenue.

The Central Pacific basin had two tropical cyclones — below the seasonal average — for the 2020 hurricane season. They were Tropical Storm Boris and Hurricane Douglas.

With many people needing assistance due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Maui United Way has created a 211 helpline position that is dedicated to serving the community of Maui Nui. 211 is a free, confidential referral and information helpline and website.

Hawaii Tourism Authority report: Hawaiʻi’s visitor industry, including tourism in Maui, continues to be severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In October 2020, Hawaiʻi visitor arrivals decreased 90.4 percent compared to 2019.

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

Volunteers will distribute 150 boxes of produce on a first-come, first-served basis. Recipients are required to wear face masks.

Mayor Michael Victorino is encouraging Maui County residents to consider alternative ways to celebrate the holidays with loved ones this Thanksgiving.

Maui police have already issued 236 traffic citations and made three arrests during the first few days of a seatbelt enforcement campaign that runs through Nov. 29.

A motorist was sent to the hospital in critical condition with life-threatening injuries following a head-on collision on Hansen Road in Kahului on Tuesday morning.  Maui police say speed is suspected as a factor in the crash.

There were 61 new COVID-19 cases in Hawai‘i today, including 45 on O‘ahu, four on Maui, seven on Hawai‘i Island, one on Kaua‘i, and four in Hawai‘i residents diagnosed outside of the state. Maui cases included two in Kīhei, and one each in Makawao and Lahaina. Kīhei has had 27 cases reported in the last 14 days; and Wailuku had 12 cases over the same period.

The University of Hawaiʻi has extended the deadline to Dec. 29 to apply for admissions for the spring 2021 semester to one of its seven community colleges.

Free drive-through surge testing for COVID-19 will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25 and Saturday, Nov. 28 at South Maui Community Park, 1501 Līloa Drive in Kīhei.

Maui’s Nā Wai ʽEhā is the latest artist from Hawaii to be nominated for a Grammy award.  The four-member group from Wailuku, Maui is one of five finalists in the Best Regional Roots Music Album category for their sophomore release “Lovely Sunrise.”