Maui News

Maui voters have approved an initiative that places a moratorium on GMO cultivation in Maui County. A total of 23,082 people vote YES in favor of the moratorium, representing 50.2% of the vote, while 22,005 people voted against the measure for a very close 47.9% of the vote.

GMO vote is a YES with 50% of the vote; Cochran wins West Maui; Mayor Arakawa reelected to another term.

The state’s 232 polling places opened as planned today with no major problems reported by mid-day. Here in Maui County, there are a total of 34 polling places and 87,327 registered voters.

Maui Preparatory Academy announced the receipt of a $5,000 grant from the Fred Baldwin Memorial Foundation for a program focused on science, technology, engineering, arts, and math.

There are an estimated 330 customers on Maui awaiting approvals on circuits with high amounts of installed PV. As of September 2014, company officials said 10% of Maui Electric customers had rooftop solar.

The declaration was in response to an Oct. 24 request made by Governor Neil Abercrombie for federal aid.

Maui Police Chief Tivoli Faaumu and newly selected Deputy Chief Dean Rickard were officially sworn in to their respective posts today during a ceremony held at the Kīhei police station in South Maui.

Night work begins on the Hāna Highway in the Wailua Valley area of East Maui this week. The work to repair an existing drainage crossing will result in a road closure between the Wailua Valley Lookout near mile marker 19 and Puaʻa Kaʻa State Park at Mile 22.

The investigation stemmed from a report made by personnel with the county Department of Transportation who indicated that an unknown individual was selling stolen $4 Maui Bus passes for $2 online.

Maui Police made 13 traffic related arrests during the 10 hour traffic enforcement effort to keep roads safe on Halloween night. The infractions were in addition to the four arrests made during the Halloween in Lahaina event on Front Street.

The 2014-2015 game bird hunting season begins on Maui today and continues through Monday, Jan. 19, 2015.

A total of four adult males were arrested during the event for the following infractions: outstanding bench warrant and resisting arrest; third degree promotion of a detrimental drug; disorderly conduct; and operating a vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant.

“I guess because Halloween is on a Friday this year, rather than Thursday last year, we can look forward to a big crowd because they’re not going to have to go back to work the next day. Saturday is a day off, so it should be really fun,” said Mayor Arakawa.

Mālama Maui Nui will hold its Mālama ‘Āina recycling event this Saturday, Nov. 1 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Hope Chapel in Kīhei located at 300 East Welakahao Road.

An 18-year-old Lahaina man was arrested on assault charges for allegedly attacking a man and woman with a machete during an altercation in Lahaina late Thursday night, Oct. 30, 2014, police said.

Two Puna residents were arrested for trespass after they were found in a restricted area near an active lava flow above Pāhoa town. Police said officers observed household utensils dipped in lava on the dashboard.

New fishing rules go into effect this weekend on Saturday, Nov. 1, that establish bag and size limits for uhu or parrotfish and kūmū or goatfish caught in Maui waters.

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard visited Maui businesses on Thursday in an effort to learn about operations and get an update on how their work is affecting the island’s economy and job market.

The work will result in the closure of the entrance to ʻIliʻili Road from South Kīhei Road between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Water will be shut off at Cove Park only during repairs.

The Maui Nui Makai Network, a grassroots coalition of community partners who are working to protect and restore the islands’ coral reefs and nearshore marine resources, received The Nature Conservancy’s Kākoʻo ʻĀina Award at a community celebration this past weekend on Maui.