Maui News

By Wendy Osher (Update:  8:01 p.m. Thursday, March 18, 2010) Maui police have since released the identity of the man killed in a pedestrian accident early Thursday morning on the Honoapiilani Highway as 28-year-old Nathaniel Alters of Star, Idaho. ________________________________ (Update:  5:45 a.m. Thursday, March 18, 2010) A second pedestrian death in as many days […]

The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) will hold a public information meeting on Maui on Tuesday, March 30 to present the findings and recommendations of an independent federal investigation on damage caused to the Keawakapu reef last December.  DLNR will be seeking public input on the recommendations and options for restoration of live […]

(Update:  10:30 a.m. 3/17/2010) A 66-year-old man suffered fatal injuries when he was stuck by two vehicles while crossing Puunene Avenue on foot early this morning.  The pedestrian died at the scene. Maui police say the man has no local address, and his identity is being withheld until next-of–kin can be located and notified.  The […]

This year marks the 22nd annual Pundy Yokouchi Memorial Golf Tournament to benefit the arts and educational programs of Maui Arts & Cultural Center.  The annual MACC fundraiser will begin at 7 a.m. on Saturday, April 10, 2010, with a shotgun start on the greens of The Dunes at Maui Lani.  Spots are still available […]

Maui schoolchildren from the Hawaiian Language Immersion Program and Kamehameha Schools Maui enrichment program will enjoy a special performance today from an indigenous people of the Pacific. Descendance, an Australian Aboriginal dance troupe, entertains and educates the students with music and dance, engaging the kids in the cultural traditions of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait […]

The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) will hold a public hearing to receive public testimony on the Draft Habitat Conservation Plan for Kaheawa Wind Power II Wind Generation Facility (KWPII). The public hearing is March 17, 2010, at 7 p.m. at the Pacific Whale Foundation 300 Ma‘alaea […]

Traffic improvements in Waikapu will be discussed at a public meeting planned for Tuesday, March 16, 2010. The meeting will focus on construction of the Waiale Road Extension, which will serve as a county roadway parallel to the Honoapiilani Highway, and improvements to East Waiko Road. The Department of Public Works is in the process […]

Road resurfacing work begins Monday, March 15, 2010, in Paia and Haiku.  Motorists may experience intermittent traffic delays when traversing the areas.  The eight-week project is being completed under a $563,000 contract awarded to Sonny Vick’s Paving Inc. Streets affected in Paia include: Kupono Street, Maoli Place, Kahiko Street, Kupaa Street. Streets affected in Haiku […]

Kahului’s airport manager, Marvin Moniz will give an update on projects scheduled at the Maui Facility during the next meeting of the Governor’s council of neighbor island advisors. Moniz will also provide an update on Maui tourism, based on the latest information by state Tourism Liaison Marsha Wienert, including additional direct flights to Kahului Airport […]

By Wendy Osher The Maui County Council’s Budget and Finance Committee will begin review of the Mayor’s FY 2011 Budget next week after officially receiving the document from the Mayor today (Monday, March 15, 2010). “The news was certainly sobering in terms of the amount of revenue, or lack thereof that the county will be […]

By Wendy Osher Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares unveiled her proposed FY 2011 budget today that calls for 12 furlough days, real property tax adjustments and fee increases for some services.  The following video is the first part of her address in which she gives an overview of the budget, explains components of her Operating Budget, […]

By Wendy Osher [flashvideo file=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbMYwrjqi2Y /]  Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares unveiled her proposed FY 2011 budget today that calls for 12 furlough days, real property tax adjustments and fee increases for some services.  The following video is the second part of her address in which she details highlights of her Capital Improvement Project budget, explains […]

By Wendy Osher The Mayor’s new budget proposal calls for 12 furlough days, real property tax rate adjustments and a fee increase for some services.  Tavares said the furlough schedule affects HGEA and UPW workers as well as the Mayor’s directors and deputies and other managerial staff, reducing compensation for affected employees by 4.6%, and […]

The County of Maui mailed out real property assessment notices that show the taxable value of land.  The notice also shows the value of improvements, the amount of allowed exemptions, the classification assigned to the property, and the net taxable value of the property.  Property owners are encouraged to carefully review the document and contact […]

Lana‘i and Moloka‘i fishers can register their laynets with staff of the Department of Land and Natural Resources this month.   Staff from the Aquatic Resources Division will be on both islands for scheduled public hearings on proposed amendments to bottomfish rules. They will also be available to issue commercial fishing licenses and explain the new […]

The Pacific Whale foundation reported two encounters with an emaciated and apparently abandoned whale calf in waters off of Maui last week.  Agency officials say it’s likely that the separate encounters may have been the same animal, but were unable to obtain a positive identification. Greg Kaufman, the founder and Executive Director of Pacific Whale […]

Mayor Charmaine Tavares joined Hawaii’s three other mayors in expressing gratitude over the United Public Workers Unit 1’s ratification vote for a new collective bargaining pact.  Tavares said she is pleased with the approval vote of 88% Tavares said the collaboration demonstrates that when discussions are held face-to-face, agreements can be reached with good results. […]

Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares unveils her 2011 Fiscal year budget on Monday, March 15, 2010. The County Charter requires that the Mayor and her Administration submit to the County Council a proposed operating budget in March of each year. Last year, the mayor proposed a $573 million budget that included CIP funding for a new […]

The County’s “Got Choice…Think Local” campaign is being extended through the end of August (8/31/2010).  County officials say the extension was made possible through public support of the program and its popularity. The campaign aims to stimulate the economy by encouraging residents to shop locally through incentives from over 200 participating businesses. Maui Mayor Charmaine […]

The Queen Kaahumanu Center celebrates the anniversary of the birth of Queen Kaahumanu during a two day festival on Friday and Saturday, March 12 and 13, 2010 at the Queen Kaahumanu Shopping Center. The event starts with an opening ceremony on Friday at 6 p.m. featuring the women of the Aha Hui Kaahumanu Royal Society.  […]