Maui News

The Hawai‘i State Teachers Association (HSTA) and the Department of Education reached an agreement to restore classroom days lost to furloughs in their original contract. Governor Linda Lingle has already spoken out against the plan saying, it “is not a viable solution.” The plan calls for the restoration of seven out of 10 remaining furlough […]

International Visitor Arrivals to Hawaii received a boost in part from a rise in Japanese visitors to the state.  Arrivals in November for the two groups were up 10 and 7.9 percent respectively in November. It marked the third consecutive month of growth out of Japan for Hawaii’s visitor industry. “We welcomed more first-time visitors […]

By Wendy Osher President Barack Obama made a statement this morning about the Christmas Day terror incident in which a suspect attempted to detonate a bomb aboard a flight bound for Detroit. President Obama issued the special statement from Hawaii where he and the rest first family are spending their holiday. “Here’s what we know […]

By Wendy Osher [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exGK5X7izr4[/youtube] After nearly 100 years in the pineapple business, Maui Land and Pineapple Co. harvested its last pineapples from fields in Haliimaile and Haiku on Wednesday, December 23, 2009. The company had announced plans earlier this year to lay off 285 workers and cease pineapple operations by December 31st. Another 133 employees […]

There are three public fireworks displays planned in Maui County for New Year’s Eve.  All three displays begin at 12:00 midnight on New Year’s Eve will be at the following locations: Hana – below Fagan’s Cross Kihei – barge offshore fronting the Grand Wailea Hotel Lanai – Manele Bay Hotel Firework permits are available until […]

PAIA, Maui, Hi.- At 10:00 a.m. this morning, the County of Maui Department of Parks and Recreation closed Hookipa Beach Park due to high surf. Water from waves estimated to be 20 – 25 ft began to reach the park pavilion area, causing park officials to decide to temporarily close the park. The parking lot […]

By Wendy Osher [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqVcwfcvvwY[/youtube] Minor League Baseball returns to Maui with plans to throw out the first pitch in May during the upcoming 2010 season at the Iron Maehara Baseball Stadium. The 22-member team will be called: Na Koa Ikaika O Maui, or the Strong Warriors of Maui. While their coach has yet to be […]

By Wendy Osher [flashvideo file=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hca6rJ-0Uq4 /] Maui Marines joined keiki in the community to shop for toys this morning with funds raised during their annual Toys For Tots campaign.  The program partnered with Pacific Radio Group’s own KPOA 93.5 FM radio station, the Salvation Army, and the island’s Minit Stop stores to raise a total […]

Continental Airlines today began non-stop service between Honolulu and Fiji.  The Fiji flight is to Nadi, the airline’s Guam hub and is aimed at connecting Continental’s flights from the U.S. mainland, Japan and Micronesia. “Nadi is a popular vacation spot that attracts visitors from around the world and fits well with our portfolio of destinations […]

Island entertainer, Willie K made a holiday visit to the Maui County Correctional Center on Wednesday afternoon.  The visit was part of the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s Artist in the Community Program. During his visit, Willie K performed popular songs and Christmas carols for the inmates.  He also shared stories of personal struggle, perseverance, […]

A decision on the heated debate over water rights in east Maui will wait. That’s the decision state commission members made today as they deferred action on stream flow recommendations at 19 east Maui streams.

There’s new hope for a critically endangered forest bird on Maui.  Results from a two week survey conducted in September suggest that the Maui Parrotbill numbers are showing signs of stability. Teams from the Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project estimated there are about 20 parrotbills per square kilometer of forest, that’s more than double the […]

Fire department rescue personnel are on scene at a helicopter crash that occurred around 1:30 this afternoon in Hana. Initial reports indicate that there were two people injured in the incident. Both were transported by medevac to Maui Memorial Medical Center.  No further details are available at this time.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMmwM14L8Ao[/youtube] By Wendy Osher Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares last night announced her plans to seek re-election in 2010 during a campaign fundraiser at the Grand Wailea Resort in South Maui. “I’m optimistic about our future and I want to continue to build on the successes we created since taking office,” said Tavares.   “We created […]

The State Commission on Water Resource Management will hold a meeting this Wednesday, December 16 to hear recommendations on 19 east Maui instream flow standard petitions. The streams under consideration have been used for more than 100 years to provide water for sugar in the central Maui plains.  More recently, surface water has also gone […]

The Maui County Planning Committee conducts its initial review today of the Maui Island Plan.  The document is designed to establish growth boundaries and land use patterns.  The plan creates a vision for the county over the next 20 years.  The Maui Island Plan must be consistent with the countywide policy plan that goes before […]

Research crews have again uncovered new species of coral and sponges in the northwestern Hawaiian Islands.  The species were located within the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument near Nihoa Island. Scientists with the Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory called the discovery “absolutely bizarre,” comparing some of the sponges to “something out of Dr. Seuss.” The discovery was […]

County ocean safety officers and DLNR personnel are monitoring the near shore waters off of the three Kamaole Beach Parks in Kihei following a confirmed sighting of a shark estimated to be around 10-12 ft in size. The shoreline waters of Kamaole I, II, and III are closed to beachgoers at this time. Ocean safety […]

The Department of Water Supply is asking customers in Kula from Kawehi Place to Kanaio to conserve water today due to a water line break that occurred late last night. An 8-inch main line was broken last night when a tree apparently fell on it. The break is in a remote area and DWS personnel […]

[flashvideo file=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTOq7B25ITA /] By Wendy Osher Eleven recruits joined the ranks of the Maui Police Department, as members of the 71st recruit class graduated during a ceremony held at the Maui Beach Hotel in Kahului. Class president Marvin Tevaga is among the list of recruits that begin their careers to protect and serve. “If not […]