Maui News
Maui officers climb roofs for annual Cop on Top campaign
More than 33 law enforcement officers are camping atop Safeway stores statewide as they attempt to raise funds for Special Olympic athletes. Maui officers are stationed at stores in Kahului, Kihei and Lahaina. There are also 11 sites set up on Oahu, one on Kauai and two on Hawaii Island. Members at each store have […]
Makena Beach & Golf Resort foreclosure action May 28
The foreclosure sale of the Makena Beach & Golf Resort has been moved to May. A bidder is being sought for the 310-room hotel located on 1,800 acres in South Maui. The property is situated at Maluaka Beach and includes two 18-hole golf courses designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., three restaurants and bars, and […]
Hawaiian Airlines takes delivery of its first Airbus
Hawaiian Airlines took delivery of its first new airbus during a ceremony at the Airbus factory in Toulouse, France yesterday. The airline plans to integrate up to 27 new 294-seat airbus A330-200 planes into its fleet over the next decade under its long-range fleet renewal and expansion plan. “Today’s ceremony marks an important moment in […]
Planning Director Hunt resigns, Aoki named as replacement
Maui Planning Director Jeff Hunt resigned from his post, opting to return to his earlier position as West Maui Planner with the department’s Current Planning Division. Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares today named Kathleen Ross Aoki as Hunt’s replacement. Aoki most recently served as Deputy Director. The deputy position will be filled by currently Planning Division […]
Latest budget proposal calls for new fare on Loop & Villager routes
By Wendy Osher The Budget and Finance Committee today heard a proposal that adjusts the fare for passes on the Maui Bus and maintains the free service for riders that utilize the MEO bus. The proposal calls for a new $20 per month fare for passengers who use the Loop and Villager routes. Currently, there […]
Discrepancies over vacancy list prompt second look at proposed cuts
By Wendy Osher The council’s budget committee continues deliberations today (Wednesday, April 28, 2010) following several hours of testimony yesterday on the 2011 Budget. Department heads expressed concern over recently announced plans to cut an additional 60 positions that were reported as vacant by the Department of Personnel Services. Several of the departments sighted discrepancies […]
Johnson on Budget: “You can’t get blood out of a turnip… this is a pretty big vegetable we’re looking at”
“Nothing is easy and I can empathize with many of the decisions that we have to face. But I do appreciate what the administration is going through, but I also appreciate that you’re (Council Chair Joe Pontanilla) trying to look at the concerns of the general public, interpret that as well as what all nine […]
Victorino on Budget: The new norm is to do it with what you have, not with the futuristic borrowing and selling your soul for the future”
“I heard today a number of the departments defending their turf, and that’s fine, I understand. I’ve been through those kinds of exercises when I was in the business world—you come in and you justify your expenses, positions, expansions and deletions. They did a good job and I respect that. It’s our responsibility now to […]
Mateo on Budget: “We’re cutting deep with core services”
“I think this morning was quite difficult for me to just listen to some of the testimony, especially when the bulk of the testimony came from a good number of our own departments,” said Molokai council member Danny Mateo. “It bothered me to hear some divisions talk about: ‘if the proposals says as it is, […]
Nishiki on Budget: “I think that no one will die from these severe cuts”
“When I listened today to the different departments and their reasons for restoring funding, their reasons make sense; however in this time of three years of constant cuts, still we see from property taxes and the general fund that it is diminishing,” said councilmember Wayne Nishiki. “We in Maui County have not laid off one […]
Monthly visitor spending reaches four year high
Tourism in Hawaii is stabilizing according to Tourism Liaison Marsha Wienert who responded to statistics released for March 2010. The monthly statistics Wienert said represented the largest increase in visitor spending in four years, benefiting nearly every sector of the economy. “March, boosted by spring break, brought increased visitor arrivals and slightly higher per person […]
Swell sends 6 to 8 foot surf to South shores
(Updated 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 27, 2010) The National Weather Service has cancelled the High Surf Advisory for the South facing shores of all islands. Surf has declined below advisory levels and the advisory was cancelled at 4:30 Tuesday afternoon. ________________________________ (Updated: 8:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 27, 2010) The National Weather Service issued a High […]
Haleakala Summit Wind Advisory 4/27/10
(Updated 4:15 p.m. Tuesday, April 27, 2010) The National Weather Service has extended the Wind Advisory for the summit of Haleakala until 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 28, 2010. A wind advisory means that winds are expected to be in the 30 mph range. The NWS expects east winds of 25 to 35 KT with higher […]
VIDEO: East Maui Taro Festival 2010
[flashvideo file=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_zrGybsZrw /] The 18th Annual East Maui Taro Festival is a favorite for many who take pride in the culture and lifestyle found in Heavenly Hana. The event featured vendors from across the island, and food booths selling favorite flavors including furikake crusted mahi, poke balls and fresh pounded poi from Kipahulu. Our very […]
FEIS accepted for 9 mgd Waiale Water Treatment Plant
A final Environmental Impact statement was accepted for the proposed Waiale Water Treatment Facility in Wailuku. The system is designed to process surface water from the Hopoi Chute and is anticipated to yield approximately 9 million gallons of water per day. The treated water would be conveyed to the County of Maui for its Central […]
County plans to convert Front Street settlement property into park
By Wendy Osher The county has proposed the conversion of a half acre parcel along Front Street into a recreation area with picnic tables and landscaping. The proposed replacement property is located north of Mala Warf and was acquired by the county three years ago in a settlement of a lawsuit. The previous owner of […]
Tavares on TAT: “We can see the light at the end of the tunnel”
By Wendy Osher The state legislature did not vote before Friday’s deadline on a proposal to take the county’s share of the Transient accommodation tax or TAT. Now it’s a wait and see situation as county mayors across the state monitor the latest developments. “We’re not out of the woods quite yet,” said Maui Mayor […]
Junior Lifeguard Program registration starts May 1
The Maui County Department of Parks and Recreation will begin registration for the 2010 Jr. Lifeguard Program on May 1, 2010. The two-week program was designed to train boys and girls in lifesaving water skills and to develop an awareness of beach hazards and ocean conditions. Both pool and ocean programs will be offered with […]
Seabury Hall student selected as Presidential Scholar semifinalist
Lauren E. Clark of Seabury Hall on Maui was among six students who were selected as semifinalists in the 2010 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. Clark was the only Maui student on the list and is among 560 semifinalists from across the nation. Earlier this year, 42 Hawai‘i students were identified as Presidential Scholar candidates based […]
18th Annual East Maui Taro Festival April 24
The 18th Annual East Maui Taro Festival takes place this weekend in Hana. The vent runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hana Ball Park in Hana Town. The event includes entertainment by: Halau Maui Nui a Kama under the direction of na Kumu Hula Kelii Taua and Kapono Kamaunu; Halau Hula Malani […]
