Maui News

The Governor’s Council of Neighbor Island Advisors for Maui meets today, Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 5 p.m. at the Mayor Hannibal Tavares Community Center.  Guest speakers will include: Anna Mae Shishido, Maui port supervisor, Plant Quarantine Branch, Department of Agriculture, will speak on the agricultural inspection services on Maui. Warren Watanabe, president of the […]

Maui County began work today on a sidewalk installation project on Kea Street in Kahului.  The new sidewalk is being installed on Kea Street between Holua Street and Papa Avenue. The contract was awarded to Zoe Builders and is expected to be completed by February 26, 2010, barring any weather delays. Work will run from […]

The 2009 EA SPORTS Maui Invitational basketball tournament hosted by Chaminade University, generated an estimated $6 million in visitor spending and revenue for Maui businesses.  According to the latest data released by the Maui Visitor’s Bureau, the tournament welcomed thousands of out-of-state visitors, each spending an average of six days on Maui. Since its inception, […]

ESPN today announced it will air the season opening game of USC at Hawaii on Thursday, September 2nd.  The game was included on the network’s 2010 college football schedule, and is also posted on the USC athletic department website.  The game time has not yet been announced. (Placeholder image courtesy University of Hawaii Athletic Department)

A Forum on the Akaka Bill will be held tonight, Tuesday, February 16, 2010, with speakers presenting both sides of the debate.  The bill was crafted to establish a process for Native Hawaiians to gain federal recognition. Speakers in support include Boyd Mossman, Robin Danner, and Blossom Feiteira; those against include Kaleikoa Ka’eo, Henry Noa […]

A brush fire first reported at 12:54 p.m. Monday afternoon, February 15, 2010, near the Kula Agricultural Park north of Pulehu Road has burned an estimated 6 acres . No injuries are reported and no structures are reported damaged. Police closed Pulehu Road between Holopuni Road and Kulakula Road shortly before 2:00 p.m. Multiple fire […]

By Wendy Osher Forty-five Youth Conservation Corps members will participate in a day of service on Monday, February 15, 2010 to restore Maui’s Kanaha Pond in Kahului.  The group will work to remove invasive plants, plat native species, and remove a fence to improve accessibility for future restoration efforts. Kanaha Pond is a 234-acre wetland […]

Posted by Wendy Osher Council Vice Chair Michael Molina is seeking a continued appropriation for affordable housing.  Under a charter amendment approved four years ago, 2% of real property tax revenues go towards building and expansion of affordable housing opportunities for families within very low to moderate income levels. The current amendment expires after this […]

By Wendy Osher In her fourth State Of The County Address today, Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares challenged the state administration and the Legislature to examine other sources of revenue before cutting the counties share of income from the hotel room tax. [flashvideo file=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDRaZ3pm-UY /] “Taking away the TAT revenue from the counties breaks a promise […]

By Wendy Osher Hawaii local census offices are hoping to hire more than 3000 temporary workers to assist in the effort of counting the state’s population for the 2010 Census.  Officials say an estimated 300-400 people will be hired in Maui County.  Temporary jobs of up to two months include census takers, enumerators and crew […]

A house committee this week advanced the Hawaiian Homes Casino bill with amendments.  HB2759 would allow the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to construct and operate gaming facilities with the condition that revenues are reinvested into the community.  Additionally, the bill requires that beneficiaries be consulted for approval of any plan before a proposed casino […]

The State Department of Taxation will delay payment of tax refunds for 2009.  The action to delay payment until July 1, 2010 is being taken to mitigate the state’s projected $721 million revenue shortfall.  Tax officials say delaying the refunds will provide an estimated one-time savings of $275 million which will go towards balancing the […]

The National Weather Service issued a High Surf Warning for the North and West facing shores of Molokai and the North facing shores of Maui until 6 p.m. Thursday. A High Surf Warning indicates that dangerous battering waves will pound the shoreline.  This will result in very dangerous swimming conditions and deadly rip currents. A […]

The House Judiciary Committee this afternoon will hear bills relating to the legalization of gaming in Hawaii.  The bill was introduced by Rep. Mele Carroll of Maui.  HB2759 seeks establishment of casino gaming operations on designated Hawaiian Home Lands parcels. The measure would impose a wagering tax on gross receipts with 20% going towards the […]

The Makena Beach and Golf Resort will be sold at auction under an order issued by a Maui Judge. Circuit Court Judge Shackley Raffetto appointed Honolulu real estate developer and broker Cris Lau as Commissioner to sell the property in an effort to satisfy the unpaid mortgage dept on the property. The marketing company for […]

Posted by Wendy Osher The Olowalu Cultural Reserve on Maui will get more than $44,000 in the latest round of grants announced today by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.  The money will be used for the reconstruction of the ahupua’a at Lihau, Olowalu.  The project is aimed at perpetuating traditional and customary practices of Kanaka […]

Posted by Wendy Osher Home sales on Maui dropped in January to 46 following December’s 17-month high of 90 homes sold.  Officials at the Realtor’s Association of Maui say the results were possibly caused by sellers and buyers timing transactions to close in 2009 for tax reasons. Home prices also slipped slightly in January to […]

The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) is implementing new measures to improve its management of the Kealakekua Bay State Historic Park and better protect the sensitive natural, historic and cultural resources of the area. To prevent damage to the shoreline and coral reef and accidental destruction of significant historic and cultural sites by […]

By Wendy Osher The Department of Land and Natural Resources is proposing the designation of more than 15-hundred acres on Maui for inclusion in the State’s Natural Area Reserve System. The land is located in the Nakula region of Haleakala and includes a tract of Koa dominated forest that state officials say is rapidly disappearing […]

The County of Maui is seeking proposals from qualified vendors to conduct investment grade energy audits using federal stimulus funds. Twelve county facilities, including fire stations, senior centers and a community center will be audited under the plan. The audit is expected to provide baseline energy data, physical condition of the buildings, and basis for […]