Maui News

Following a successful year at their upcountry storefront, ʻOkoʻa Farms announces the purchase of an additional unit to expand their operations. The 1,000 square foot unit will provide them the space to feature more locally sourced produce and products while providing market-goers with an elevated shopping experience.

“Shaka, A Story of Aloha” will premiere at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center on Sunday, Oct. 20 at 1 p.m. The feature-length documentary delves into the origins, meanings, and mysteries of the iconic hand-sign, which this year became the official gesture of Hawai‘i.

A new study by researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Center on Aging finds that methamphetamine poisoning is the leading cause of fatal overdoses among midlife and older adults in Hawai‘i. The research was published in the August 2024 issue of Hawaiʻi Journal of Health and Social Welfare.

Maui will soon get a jazz experience from the Diné (Navajo) people.

Maui’s Ronnie Espiritu, an employee at the Westin Kāʻanapali Ocean Resort Villas, was named the Food & Beverage Person of the Year by ARDA-Hawaiʻi, the local chapter of the American Resort Development Association.

Maui Comics is curating an art exhibition that opens 5-9 p.m. Friday at Wailuku Art Space, 53 N. Market St., featuring comics and original art by local creators. The gallery run will last through Nov. 2 daily at 5-9 p.m.

Botanists from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa have uncovered key survival strategies used by invasive seaweed species in nearshore ecosystems, potentially explaining their dominance over native Hawaiian limu in certain habitats.

In honor of King Kalākaua’s birthday on Nov. 16, The Friends of ʻIolani Palace hosts an essay contest that invites students to reflect on the enduring legacy of Hawaiʻi’s beloved monarch. The content encourages participants to explore how King Kalākaua’s contributions continue to shape our community today. Submissions will be accepted from Oct. 15 through Nov. 11, 2024. 

Getting dressed for Halloween can be a frightful experience for healthy eye safety, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. The academy warns that costumes, face makeup and costume contacts pose major risks to human eyes.

The Lahaina Civic Center gymnasium will close beginning Dec. 1 for repairs and renovations, the Maui County Department of Parks and Recreation announced. It is scheduled to reopen Sept. 30, 2025.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation reminds everyone that installation of signs visible from state highways that do not fall under the exempted categories defined in Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes Chapter 264, Part V is unlawful. This includes, but is not limited to, posting of political campaign signs on overpasses, fencing, signposts and poles.

The County of Maui has approved with conditions building permits for Kahoma Village to reconstruct four multi-family buildings totaling 24 units that were destroyed in the August 2023 wildfires. 

The Festivals of Aloha is set to return for its third year, the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea announced on Wednesday. The weekend of events from Oct. 25 to 27, 2024 celebrates Hawaiian heritage and traditions through a series of immersive cultural experiences, musical performances and local artisan showcases.

After being closed following the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfire, the Lahaina Aquatic Center reopened to dozens of swimmers Saturday, Oct. 11.

The Hawai‘i Community Foundation announced more than $1.2 million in grants to 18 organizations and programs providing meaningful contributions to the goal of the Holomua Marine Initiative, which focuses on protecting and restoring nearshore marine areas in Hawai‘i through community engagement and co-management. The grantees have programs in Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i Island, Moloka‘i, Maui, O‘ahu and statewide.

Recognizing Fuentes was one of the more touching moments of the evening with the organization honoring the Humanitarian of the Year, Community Business of the Year and one of its own as the Executive Director of the Year.

The Maui Arts & Cultural Center is teaming up with Imua Family Services for a Keiki Halloween Festival & Cinema Saturday, Oct. 26 from 4 to 8 p.m. in the MACC’s A&B Amphitheater, Yokouchi Pavilion and Events Lawn. This FREE ‘Mega Monster Mashup’ event at the MACC will feature a variety of activities including dozens of trick or treat stations, an animal encounter area, live music from DJ Boomshot and Marty Dread and two films on the big screen, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and Hotel Transylvania.

The 2024 Mana Up Showcase marks the culmination of the annual six-month accelerator, highlighting 10 must-watch Hawai‘i-based product companies from Maui, Kaua‘i, O‘ahu, and Hawai‘i Island. These emerging brands, alongside many more, will be featured during the Mana Up Showcase 2024: Alikaleo Park, Bizia Surf, Farm to Fudge, Hawai‘i Ulu Cooperative, Honua Skincare, Kaua‘i Hemp Co., Kris Goto, Okonokai, To Be Organics, and Waiwaolani.

For Maui sites, the Aqualink dashboard shares information such as sea surface temperature, wind, wave, and heat stress analysis while Hui O Ka Wai Ola provides data on salinity, pH, turbidity (water cloudiness/murkiness), and nitrate levels (a wastewater and/or fertilizer indicator). The partnership is based on the idea of “thinking globally, acting locally.” By combining local insights with global data, the community has more tools to understand the impacts of climate change on marine environments. 

Hawaiʻi Gas, the state’s regulated gas utility, has filed a request with the Hawaiʻi Public Utilities Commission for a proposed rate adjustment, which may affect monthly bills for residents and businesses across the state. The utility is seeking a total revenue increase of approximately 17.67%, though the actual impact on individual bills will vary based on factors such as gas usage, customer classification (residential or commercial) and the island of residence.