Maui News

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.

There were 90 new COVID-19 cases in Hawai‘i today including 81 on O‘ahu, five on Hawai‘i Island, two in Maui County (both in Kīhei) and two in Hawai‘i residents who tested positive outside of the state.

Starting on October 15, customers traveling on United from San Francisco International Airport to Hawaiʻi will have the option to take a rapid test at the airport or a self-collected, mail-in test ahead of their trip.

The senators report that many of those that haven’t closed “have been bought by hedge funds, subjected to relentless cost-cutting measures, and seen their newsrooms shrunk by nearly half. The current pandemic and resulting recession has only accelerated these trends.”

Two hours of testimony was received on Wednesday relating to the fast-track Liahuʻula housing project proposed for development in Olowalu.  The project calls for the construction of 59 lots on 28 acres of mostly undeveloped land mauka of the Honoapiʻilani Highway, between the Olowalu General Store and Camp Olowalu.

Maui Mayor Michael Victorino announced that the County of Maui has allocated more than $20 million in CARES Act funds toward recommendations made by his MauiCARES Task Force.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation is partnering with the US Department of Homeland Security and the US Department of Transportation on an outreach campaign to combat human trafficking through the Blue Lightning Initiative program.

War Memorial Stadium parking lot will reopen to the public on Monday, Sept. 28, after completion of a $3 million project to repave the 51-year-old parking lot, install new underground drainage and plant nearly 130 new trees.

Governor David Ige today signed a 13th supplementary emergency proclamation that extends the COVID-19 emergency period in Hawaiʻi through Oct. 31.  However, beginning Oct. 15, a pre-travel testing option will allow travelers an alternative to the mandatory 14-day quarantine.

The Ha‘ikū Community Association will host a virtual town hall from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020 via Zoom or Facebook Live. The town hall meeting will focus on helping Ha‘ikū residents better understand the effects of the Maui Water Use and Development Plan.

In West Maui, the department reports that water from the Honolua Ditch has been running very low, and plans call for the temporarily shut down the Mahinahina Water Treatment Facility this week to maintain water supply for fire protection. The shutdown will remain in effect until weather conditions improve.

There were 168 new COVID-19 cases in Hawai‘i today including 154 on O‘ahu, 13 on Hawai‘i Island and one in Maui County. Hawai‘i’s COVID-19 death toll increased to 122 with two new deaths on O‘ahu confirmed by the state Department of Health.

A fifth Bayanihan Food Distribution takes place at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020 at the Binhi at Ani Filipino Community Center in Kahului.

The University of Hawaiʻi Autonomous Vehicle Technology Team, made up of students from both the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, competed in a qualifying “hack-a-thon” race for the Indy Autonomous Challenge, placing tenth overall and sixth in the fastest lap competition.

With schools in Hawai‘i preparing for increased access to in-person instruction in the second quarter, US Senator Brian Schatz today urged school leaders to take additional steps to ensure adequate air flow and filtration in classrooms.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell announced his new Emergency Order for O‘ahu set to go into effect on Thursday.  This replaces the current Amended Second Stay-at-Home/Work-from-Home Order which is set to expire on Sept. 24.