Maui News

Teams from Pukalani Elementary and Kaunakakai Elementary qualified for the 2020 VEX IQ World Championships in Louisville, Ky., in April. 

Police have lifted the “shelter in place” that was in effect earlier at ʻĪao Intermediate School.  The action was taken at around 12:03 p.m., and lifted at 12:31 p.m.  Police have not yet released details about the reason for the shelter, which is a term used to describe a type of “lockdown” situation.

“The suspects under indictment today were identified as part of a major drug trafficking organization that has been supplying a significant amount of methamphetamine throughout the community,” said Chief of Police Todd G. Raybuck

The monk seal, Pōhaku, was rescued by federal wildlife officials in January near Ko Olina. She was diagnosed and is being treated for toxoplasmosis, a disease that results from infection with the Toxoplasma gondii parasite, one of the world’s most common parasites. 

State health officials are urging the public to prepare now for potential risks associated with COVID-19, also known as the Novel Coronavirus.

Visitor spending on Maui increased 7.7 percent to $510.7 million in January 2020, year-over-year, according to preliminary statistics released today by the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority.

Maui motorists are advised of nightly closures on the Hāna Highway (Route 360) between Huelo and Hāna Town beginning Monday, March 9, 2020 for slope stabilization work.

Maui highlights include: $40 million for the widening of Puʻunēnē Avenue from Kamehameha Avenue to Kūihelani Highway; $11 million for Kāʻanapali Beach Restoration and Berm Enhancement; and $4 million for the acquisition of Nā Wai ʻEha as part of the CIP budget for the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) is calling for the suspension of flights from Japan and South Korea to prevent the spread of COVID-19, also known as the novel coronavirus.

Rep. Mizuno said because the COVID-19 illness is such a fluid situation, it is prudent to re-calibrate and focus on Hawaiʻi’s strategy to combat the virus and safeguard Hawaiʻi against the illness.

Landmark measure is part of joint legislative package aimed at supporting working families.

This week, the department introduced the first of 100,000 native sea urchins in Waikīkī to help control over 4 acres of invasive algae.

Plans are currently underway for a multimillion dollar project to build a new budget hotel where the old Maui Palms hotel once stood along Kahului Harbor. Several building permits were filed on Friday for the project which is situated on vacant land between the Maui Beach Hotel and the Maui Seaside Hotel in Kahului.

Activities will include star talks, full moon hikes, and telescope parties.

2019 was the deadliest year in Hawai‘i aviation in nearly three decades

Hawaiian Airlines today announced its decision to temporarily suspend its five-times-weekly nonstop service between Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) and Incheon International Airport (ICN), beginning March 2 through April 30, due to a spike in COVID-19 cases in South Korea.

The NWS says very windy and wet conditions are expected from Friday through Sunday. Winds are expected to increase by Friday morning as a strong high pressure system builds in north of the Hawaiian Islands.

Returning to the MACC for a third year, the Color Festival Hawaiʻi brings back Maui singer-songwriter and musician, Anuhea.  The festival runs from 1 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 25, 2020 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center.

Lori Vallow Daybell has no scheduled visits today at the Kauaʻi Community Correctional Center, however her new husband, Chad Daybell was allowed a one-hour visit yesterday afternoon, according to officials with the Department of Public Safety. 

With the recent enforcement and news of a large rental supply, we reached out to the Maui County Department of Planning, Zoning Administration & Enforcement Division to find out if there’s a place where the public can go to find out if rentals are vetted.