Maui News

Haleakala Hwy @ Keahua Junction 08-04-09 0853 hrs. Makai Bound Traffic being directed around jack-knifed semi truck. State hwys & Fire Dept cleaning up diesel spill. Approximate time 45 mins to 1 hour.

The county’s planning committee will begin deliberations on the General Plan.  The first meeting is set for August 4th in the Council Chambers, with additional meetings planned on Molokai, Hana and Lanai.  The general plan is the county’s primary planning tool and statement of policies. Deliberations will begin with the Countywide Policy Plan, the first […]

AN EARTHQUAKE HAS OCCURRED WITH THESE PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS ORIGIN TIME – 0800 AM HST 03 AUG 2009 COORDINATES – 28.9 NORTH  112.8 WEST LOCATION    – GULF OF CALIFORNIA MAGNITUDE   – 6.9  MOMENT EVALUATION BASED ON ALL AVAILABLE DATA A DESTRUCTIVE PACIFIC-WIDE TSUNAMI IS  NOT EXPECTED AND THERE IS NO TSUNAMI THREAT TO HAWAII. REPEAT. A  […]

The Hawaii Meth Project will hold a community prevention forum in Kahului on Maui on August 5, 2009. The nonprofit organization launched a hard-hitting island media campaign last month aimed at reducing first time methamphetamine use.  The forum will feature discussion with local leaders, information on prevention efforts and an overview of its volunteer program.  […]

Tropical Storm Lana continues moving west on a track that will remain south of the Hawaiian islands. At 11:00 a.m. HST, the center of Tropical Storm Lana was located about 375 miles southeast of Hilo, Hawaii and about 555 miles south-southeast of Honolulu, Hawaii near latitude 14.5 north, and longitude 153.4 west. Lana is moving […]

The state begins phase two improvements to the Kahului Boat Launch Ramp on Monday, August 3, 2009. The $379,228 project includes the construction of a new 55-foot long by 5-foot wide engineered aluminum loading dock with fiberglass grating, adjacent to the existing concrete loading dock. It also includes removal of the existing asphalt paved access […]

University of Hawaii football coach Greg McMackin will be suspended for 30 days and take a salary cut as part of the actions handed down by the University of Hawaii administration today.  The actions come after McMackin used a gay slur in a WAC media briefing yesterday to describe a dance performed by the Notre […]

A vehicle accident with a power pole has resulted in an isolated power outage in the Maui Meadows subdivision. MECO crews are on scene and are advising motorists to avoid travel in the Kupulau Drive area. There is no estimated time for when power will be restored.  The trouble line for MECO is 871-7777.

Congress approved a measure today to revive the popular Cash for Clunkers program by extend funding.  U.S. Congresswoman Mazie Hirono of Hawaii joined more than 300 other representatives in voting today to increase funding by $2 billion, a move that is expected to boost sales by an additional 800,000 vehicles. The program allows consumers to […]

The Lahaina Restoration Foundation is hosting a three-day event celebrating the town’s plantation heritage.  “Lahaina Plantation Days, Then and Now” begins Thursday July 30 at the old Pioneer Mill site near the historic smokestack on Lahainaluna Road.  The event will feature entertainment, food booths and exhibits. Event hours are 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm on […]

Maui’s District III All Star Little League Baseball Team won a spot in the Western Regional Tournament taking place next week in California. Since their win, the Central Maui East 11 and 12 year olds have been trying to raise funds in an effort to defray some of the team’s travel and transportation expenses. In […]

Aloha Air Cargo is offering a new delivery alternative for businesses that now face increased rates for barge shipping. The new Aloha FlexShip service is described by company officials as a convenient and cost-effective solution for transporting less time-sensitive, non-perishable items. Aloha FlexShip delivers goods in three to five days, providing service out of Honolulu […]

Tropical Storm Lana continues moving far southeast of the Hawaiian Islands.  At 11 a.m., the National Weather Service reported the center of the storm at about 640 miles southeast of Hilo Hawaii. The system was moving toward the west at about 16 mph and was expected to continue at that strength for the next 48 […]

Hawaii is on track to receive $30 million in federal funds for Oahu’s rail transit project and $13 million for Native Hawaiian housing assistance programs under a bill that was approved by a Senate Appropriations panel. The announcement was made today by Senate Appropriations Chairman Daniel Inouye who said, “Without federal funds they cannot complete […]

Hawaii’s swine flu death toll rose to six as the state health department confirmed two additional cases associated with the H1N1influenza.  Both cases were on Oahu and involved patients with underlying health conditions. One case involved an adult male in his early 20’s who died on July 21 at home on O’ahu.  A separate case […]

The Akaka Bill is scheduled for a committee hearing next week.  The U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs will hear the bill otherwise referred to as the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act on Thursday, August 6, 2009. The bill’s namesake, U.S.Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii) said, “With the 50th anniversary of statehood less than a […]

Four Maui projects are among a list of renewable energy and water preservation initiatives included in a $34 million federal appropriations bill that passed in the Senate last night. A total of $752,000 in funding is proposed for projects at ‘Iao Stream, Maalaea Harbor, Waiohuli, and the West Maui Watershed. The largest Maui allocation of […]

The Public Utilities Commission approved a rate increase for regulated inter-island cargo services aboard the Young Brothers shipping company vessels.  The average overall increase will be 13.46 percent, and goes into effect on August 1, 2009. The newly approved rates include a 9.66 percent increase for containerized cargo, a 9.22 percent increase for automobiles and […]

The developers for a proposed town center in South Maui are attempting to incorporate sustainable design in the mixed use project.  The project called “Downtown Kihei” is a 320,000 square foot mixed use sustainable community that combines residential, entertainment, restaurant and retail space. The California-based architectural design company, Stoutenborough Inc., entered an agreement with developer […]

Private donors are stepping up in an attempt to cover a $1.2 million budget shortfall for school sports programs.  The Hawaii High School Athletic Association (HHSAA) announced the receipt of more than $400,000 in corporate donations yesterday. Major contributors include $200,000 from the Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation, $100,000 from First Hawaiian Bank, $50,000 from Bank […]