Maui News

The Hawaiʻi Supreme Court ruled that the Board of Land and Natural Resources, through the State Attorney General’s office, acted in bad faith when it alleged there was not enough permitted water to fight the Aug. 8 wildfires because of an earlier ruling that capped the amount of water diverted from East Maui streams.

Dr. Hanna Mounce, manager of the Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project, will speak at the annual meeting of the Friends of Haleakalā National Park on Thursday, April 25. Her presentation will cover “Alalā Recovery, Maui Nui.” 

Hundreds of volunteers dug up and chopped down invasive plants along the banks of Makiki Stream on Oʻahu, during an annual Earth Day cleanup event on Saturday.

Earth’s magnetic field surrounds us every second of the day, everywhere on the planet. Anyone who has picked up a pocket compass and seen the magnetic needle quickly align itself has seen the action of this ever-present invisible field. But can we harness the magnetic field to forecast volcanic activity? Emerging technology in the field of “quantum” science may aid us in doing so.

O‘ahu’s Melanie Shim, MD, and Maui’s Felicitas Livaudais, MD, were both recognized for their outstanding volunteer activities that improve community health and wellness.

Hawaiʻi Gas, the state’s only franchised gas utility, announced that it has expanded its executive team by welcoming Manu Bermudes in the role of Vice President of Human Resources.

Mental Health America of Hawaiʻi hosts a Maui Strong Support Group from 5:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the Maui Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic in West Maui, just below the Lahaina Civic Center.

Artist 2 Artist, a Maui concert series, sets the stage for beloved Hawaiʻi performing artist Henry Kapono to perform with husband-wife duo Kalaʻe & Kalena and special Maui guest artist Pat Simmons, Jr. at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center on Friday, April 26.

Maui Mall Village has announced it will host and sponsor the Best Buddies Friendship Walk, a fundraiser and community celebration for Best Buddies in Hawaiʻi. The event begins at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 27 and continues until noon.

The 54th annual Maui Marathon’s “Lahaina Town Memorial Run” got off to a smooth start this morning as hundreds of runners set off on a shorter half-marathon from the Puʻunēnē Sugar Mill, and 10K and 5K run/walks from the Maui Tropical Plantation. All races started before 6 a.m., and were set to conclude at the Maui Tropical Plantation in Waikapū. Live results are posted online.

The County of Maui Department of the Prosecuting Attorney will commemorate National Crime Victims’ Rights Week by holding a ceremony and candlelight vigil on April 24 to promote community awareness of crime victims’ rights and available services.

The County of Maui offered clarifications and response on details contained in the Attorney General’s Lahaina Fire Comprehensive Timeline Report, which was released on Wednesday. The Phase One report contains information related to Mayor Richard Bissen’s presence in the County Emergency Operations Center, the timing of his request for a Maui Emergency Proclamation, and the County’s efforts to comply with requests for documents. The County Communications Office issued clarifications, defending actions and efforts to provide timely response during and in the wake of the Lahaina Wildfire Disaster.

Maui County hotel performance remains affected by the aftermath of the August wildfires, reports the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority, but the county still led the state in revenue per available room in March due to comparatively higher average daily rate. 

During the second Maui Economic Opportunity-run Kamp Kāohi, 23 Moloka‘i youth participated in games and activities that highlighted the negative impacts of alcohol, tobacco and bullying and learned about their “sources of strength.”

Local social-services nonprofit J. Walter Cameron Center announced on Tuesday the receipt of a $10,000 grant from the Wailuku Federal Credit Union and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines, as part of a nationwide grant-matching fund program.

The state Department of Health Clean Air Branch has issued a smoke advisory due to an ongoing fire at Hammerhead Metal Recycling in Puʻunēnē, Maui. The fire was first reported at 10:36 a.m., and has generated dense smoke in surrounding areas. The Hawaiʻi Department of Health (DOH) Clean Air Branch advises residents and visitors on […]

The County’s new Recovery Permitting Center is slated to open April 29, 2024, in Kahului, and a satellite location is in the works for Lahaina, the County of Maui announced Saturday.

Hawai‘i Energy, the state’s energy conservation program, last week announced the hiring of Dan Mestas as principal development engineer, and Travis Hiramoto and Melissa Onishi as energy advisors.

Update: 6:57 a.m., April 21, 2024: The cause of a rubbish fire at the Central Maui Baseyard on Saturday is under investigation. The fire burned a pile of recyclable material starting at 10:36 a.m. on April 20, 2024. Maui fire crews accessed the area off of the Maui Veterans Highway and were able to extinguish the blaze by 11:50 p.m.

Hale Hōʻikeʻike at the Bailey House hosts its annual celebration of Lei Day on May 1, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will be filled with vibrant colors, fragrant flowers, and the spirit of aloha in honor of the rich tradition of lei-making in Hawaiian culture.