Maui News

PacWhale Eco-Adventures, the social enterprise of Pacific Whale Foundation, will resume ocean operations from Lahaina Harbor beginning June 1, 2026, marking a meaningful milestone in Maui’s ongoing recovery following the 2023 wildfires.

The County of Maui Department of Human Concerns Office on Aging announced that Joseph Pontanilla and Roselani Enomoto received the 2026 Maui County Outstanding Older American Male and Female awards, respectively, during a recent ceremony to honor Older Americans Month and the inspiring contributions of Maui County’s kūpuna.

The Lahainaluna High School Foundation marked its 25th year of awarding scholarships on April 30, presenting $167,000 in awards to students and alumni despite a year that brought both the lingering aftermath of the August 2023 wildfires and flooding from the February 2026 Kona low storm.

The Pacific Whale Foundation has helped publish a new study that documents the longest individual humpback whale movements ever recorded—including one animal tracked crossing more than 8,700 miles between Brazil and Australia over 22 years. The foundation was a co-lead organization on the research, published May 20 in the journal Royal Society Open Science. The […]

With forecasters projecting a busier-than-normal Central Pacific hurricane season, Hawaiian Electric is calling on customers across the islands to build emergency plans before the first storm threatens.

A Maui County Council committee voted unanimously last week to send a bill increasing fines for vehicle noise violations to the full Council, even as some members questioned whether the measure would have any real-world impact.

Gov. Josh Green and partners gathered in Waimānalo, Wednesday, to celebrate the opening of Ke Kauhale ʻo Luhia. It’s the 26th site under the statewide Kauhale Initiative and a new intergenerational village intentionally designed to bring together single adults, kūpuna and families in one connected community.

The Shops at Wailea presents live music programming throughout June in the Center’s Lower Level Performance Area. The month’s schedule features Wailea Wednesdays performances alongside a special evening concert showcasing award-recognized local musicians.

A Detox and Wellness Workshop aimed at supporting recovery after the Lahaina wildfires will take place on Saturday, June 6, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. registration opens at 9:30 a.m. at the Lahaina Jodo Mission at 12 Ala Moana Street. 

Maui residents are invited to take an active role in determining the future of the island’s energy system at the People’s Energy Conference, a free, community-centered gathering taking place on Thursday, May 28, 2026, from 6 to 9 p.m. HST at 1727 Wili Pa Loop, Suite B, in Wailuku. The event will also be livestreamed for those who wish to participate online. 

With gasoline prices ticking $7 a gallon for regular unleaded on Molokaʻi, Maui Economic Opportunity’s Rural Shuttle Service – which operates without cost to riders – could be an option for residents looking to save on their transportation costs.

Maui Health, in partnership with the University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges, has announce new Respiratory Therapy (RT) and Radiologic Technology (Rad Tech) training programs on Maui — creating local access to these in-demand healthcare careers for the first time.

Haleakalā Conservancy has named Jin Harlow as its new Executive Director, strengthening the organization’s efforts to expand philanthropic support for Haleakalā National Park.  

Surrounded by supporters on May 18, 2026, Keoni Kuoha formally announced his candidacy for the Hawaiʻi State House of Representatives, District 12, representing the Maui communities of Makawao, Hāliʻimaile, Pukalani, Kula, Pūlehu, ʻUlupalakua, Kanaio and Kahikinui.

The Rotary Club of Upcountry Maui will host a community volunteer service day at the Kula Community Watershed Alliance (KCWA) Community Restoration Nursery on Friday May 29th from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Located in Upper Kula just off Kekaulike Avenue near Kula Lodge, the event is open to the public and welcomes community members of all ages and abilities.

Wailuku Film Festival announced that tickets go on sale today for its inaugural 2026 program — a lineup of more than 100 films that will establish Wailuku town as a gathering place for Pacific and global cinema.

New virtual field trips are being offered this year to remote seabird sanctuaries: Lehua Island, 19 miles west of Kauaʻi, and Hōlanikū (also known as Kure Atoll), 1,400 miles away at the furthest reaches of the Northwest Hawaiian Islands. The virtual excursions use 360˚ photos and videos, as well as interviews with field biologists and cultural practitioners, to provide educational exploration of otherwise inaccessible locations.

Tom Cook officially filed his nomination papers Tuesday to seek re-election to the South Maui residency seat on the Maui County Council, launching a campaign focused on housing solutions, infrastructure improvements, and building a stronger future for Maui County.

The Maui County Council’s Housing and Land Use Committee voted 6-1 Tuesday to advance new hotel zoning districts for thousands of short-term vacation rentals facing a county-mandated phase-out—overriding unanimous rejection from all three county planning commissions.

The Maui County Department of Fire and Public Safety is seeking community input as a part of our Community Risk and Preparedness Initiative. This process helps create a data-driven foundation to help guide future planning, improve emergency response, and enhance community resilience across Maui.