Maui News

“It is important for residents to note that this detection was in the shaft itself and not in the water source,” according to the Department. “The water in the ʻUalapuʻe system (on Molokaʻi) is safe to drink, because it has been disinfected, and no E. coli bacteria have been found in the distribution system.”

Due to the shelter-in-place order from Governor David Ige, the state Department of Health has suspended all routine coastal beach monitoring and will not resume monitoring until the order is lifted. No updated water quality testing information will be available to the public to inform them of personal risk in recreating in the water, “so please use common sense and stay safe,” the Department advises.

The Salvation Army of Maui County is providing logistics and redistribution of donated items for COVID-19 response among the various island communities across Maui County. Current needs include donations of shelf-stable and nonperishable food, hygiene product, cleaning supplies and personal protection equipment.

“There was nowhere where they were going. One of them actually said that they were headed to the homeless resource center,” said Mayor Victorino during a press conference on Tuesday afternoon. “So two of them that would have been on the island of Maui, returned home and not clutter up and take assets away from our people here in Maui County,” he said.

Mayor Michael Victorino announced two food distributions taking place Thursday, April 9, to provide bags of produce to individuals impacted by COVID-19 in Wailuku, Kahului and South Maui.

An additional $2,375,810 was secured for Community Health Centers in Maui County as part of a Third Coronavirus Relief Legislation package that Congress passed in March.

“Congress has a critical role to play here, and we will continue to fight for legislation that includes aggressive policies such as broad debt cancellation to provide all student loan borrowers with relief that both responds to the scale of this emergency and stimulates our economy.”

US Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released a new guide to help independent contractors, freelancers, those who are self-employed, and gig-economy workers, including ride sharing drivers, better understand how to apply for new benefits established under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

The Maui Police Department announced that it will be utilizing its Drone Unit to make public announcements, reminding people of the stay-at-home county and state orders currently in place.The Maui Police Department announced that it will be utilizing its Drone Unit to make public announcements, reminding people of the stay-at-home county and state orders currently in place.

Sens. Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Reps. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) and Ed Case (D-Hawaii) wrote to US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue and US Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Jovita Carranza to request their coordinated assistance for Hawaiʻi’s small agricultural producers.

As of noon on Tuesday, April 7, 2020, there are 410 cases of COVID-19 identified in Hawaiʻi with 23 new cases. Maui has 4 new cases for a total of 48 confirmed positive. Of the 48 cases on Maui, at least 14 have been released from isolation, and five have required hospitalization. Maui reported its first COVID-19 related death on Monday, April 6, of an adult male over the age of 65 with underlying health conditions and exposure to travelers.

Diegel spoke with KPOA’s Shane Kahalehau, discussing how residents with no health insurance can get treatment, how Maui Health is preparing for a potential surge of COVID-19 patients, coordination efforts with the County of Maui, alternative care mobilization efforts, MEDB’s efforts to produce bridge ventilators on island, and how the community can help.

During this morning’s interview, the Mayor Victorino discussed details of a food distribution effort in Central and South Maui planned for 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 9, 2020. The effort will involve the distribution of about 1,000 bags of produce to residents in need.

A detour traffic pattern on Honoapiʻilani Highway between Kūihelani Highway and Waikō Road in Waikapū begins Wednesday, April 8. Northbound traffic will be detoured to Kūihelani Highway during work hours, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Southbound traffic will remain on Honoapiʻilani Highway.

Moloka’i High’s Grab-and-Go school meal service restarts today, April 7, to provide breakfast and lunch for children 18 and younger. The Department of Education also added Grab-and-Go meal service to Kilohana Elementary on Monday, April 6; and will add service at ʻĪao Intermediate School on Maui on Wednesday, April 8, 2020.

The Maui Bus is suspending four fixed bus routes beginning Monday, April 13, 2020, because of substantial decreases in passengers caused by the COVID-19 crisis.

Restrooms at Kalama Park, Pukalani Park and Lower Pāʻia Park will open starting Wednesday, April 8, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and will be cleaned four times per day. 

Maui police responded to 10 burglaries, 9 vehicle thefts and 2 vehicle break-ins in Maui County over a seven day period from March 29 to April 4, 2020.

About 500 test kits will be provided for the drive-through testing, which will be held at the Mitchell Pauʻole Community Center on Molokaʻi on Tuesday, April 7, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Maui Mayor Michael Victorino says the next two weeks are pivotal as the county works to combat the impacts of COVID-19 in the community.