Maui News

Project Maui Nui, presented by Maui Economic Development Board, convened the 16 fellows of the 2026 Ka Ipu Kukui cohort for an intensive three-day workshop to spark innovative solutions that strengthen resilience across Maui County. Ka Ipu Kukui is a year-long program for community-identified, emerging leaders and conceived to address planning for Maui Nui’s future.

The Ehime Maru Memorial Association will hold a memorial ceremony on Feb. 9, 2026 at the Ehime Maru Memorial at Kakaʻako Waterfront Park on Oʻahu from 1:30 to 3 p.m. The ceremony marks the 25th anniversary of the Ehime Maru accident, which claimed the lives of nine Japanese crew members, teachers and high school students.

Volunteers counted 694 humpback whales off the shores of Maui during the annual Great Whale Count, the highest number recorded among the islands during the first coordinated survey of the 2026 season. The Pacific Whale Foundation and the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary coordinated the event, mobilizing 433 volunteers across 43 sites throughout […]

The Maui Police Department’s Traffic Division will conduct sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols at various locations to address impaired driving over the ‘Big Game’ weekend.  The enforcement effort begins Friday, Feb. 6, 2026 and continues throughout the weekend.

The parent company of real estate brokerage Locations, RESCO Inc., announced the appointment of Chad Takesue as interim chief executive officer Monday. The appointment took effect Feb. 2. Takesue succeeds Corbett Kalama, who is stepping down as chief executive officer following the conclusion of his contract. Kalama plans to focus on community-focused work for Native Hawaiian […]

Update: Water service has been restored for an area of Pukalani after emergency repairs were completed, Maui County reported before 3:30 p.m. today. This morning, the Maui County Department of Water Supply announced the temporary water outage. Repairs began at 9:05 a.m. today and were expected to be ongoing for about six hours. Affected residents […]

Women’s Fund of Hawaiʻi announced its Fall 2025 grant awards, totaling $87,000 in support of nine nonprofit programs uplifting and empowering women and girls in Hawai’i.

As whale sightings rise across the islands heading into peak whale season, Hula Grill Kāʻanapali will begin offering Whale Talks at its restaurant in Whalers Village on Tuesdays at 11 a.m. in February and March.

Published by the University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program, this first-of-its-kind report uses plain language, along with easy-to-interpret maps and figures, to summarize statewide rainfall, temperature, and drought conditions over the past year.

Twenty-five kindergarten through eighth grade students from Hawaiian Mission Academy Maui in Kahului are the first “School to Pool” graduates. Last week, they completed 10 courses at Coach Spencer Shiraishi Memorial Pool and received County of Maui certificates for American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim Level 1 and 2 training.

Jeffrey Worthen, 61, of Lahaina, Maui, pled guilty Tuesday in federal court to wire fraud and making a false statement to the US Coast Guard. Sentencing is set for June 15, 2026.

The Maui Police Department is seeking the public’s help with any information on the whereabouts of Edina Napreljac, 41, of Wailuku.

The J. Walter Cameron Center announces a leadership transition on its Board of Directors, recognizing the service of outgoing Board President Jeff Ueoka and welcoming Royce Fukuroku as the Center’s new Board President.

Five organizations will host a free open webinar to address a national insurance crisis, triggered by wildfires across the US over the last 8 to 5 years.

The Hawaiʻi State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, Hawaiʻi Council for the Humanities, and Hawaiʻi State Public Library System announced the selection of Lee A. Tonouchi as the new Poet Laureate of Hawaiʻi. 

The report, prepared by Cannabis Public Policy Consulting, shows that Hawaiʻi’s regulated medical cannabis system captures approximately 86-87 percent of all cannabis spending by registered patients and that monthly medical cannabis sales total about $5.3 million.

Sen. Michelle N. Kidani released a statement on Wednesday regarding a media inquiry on her ability to serve.

HandsOn Maui, the County of Maui Volunteer Center, encourages nominations for the annual Volunteer Hero Celebration of Service, an initiative that highlights residents who actively volunteer to improve their Maui County communities.

Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian Language Month) is observed each Pepeluali (February), and the University of Hawaiʻi is hosting a series of events to uplift Hawaiʻi’s native tongue. This year’s UH-sponsored events are underway. An Ola Ka ʻĪ event is planned on Maui on Feb. 14, 2026.

Pacific Whale Foundation and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings announced a new partnership to expand the Keiki Whale Watch program, significantly increasing access to hands-on ocean education for Maui students in grades 2-8.