Maui News

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued a free diver from shores off Lanai yesterday.  52-year-old Bruno Ambay had been reported missing Monday morning by friends who had been free diving with him about four miles off Manele Bay.  Ambay was spotted swimming along a rocky shoreline area about two hours later, and was hoisted by helicopter […]

Parrothead alert!  Jimmy Buffett makes a long-anticipated return to Maui to perform in the A & B Amphitheater at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center on Tuesday, February 24 at 7:00 pm; gates open at 5:30 pm.  Singer and songwriter Jimmy Buffett has translated his easygoing Gulf Coast character into a wildly successful music career, […]

The county is offering Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training beginning in March.  CERT members are volunteers who offer support to first responders during large scale emergencies or assist with non-emergency projects to improve safety in the community.  Each session is free and includes 30 hours of classroom and hands on training.  To register call […]

By Wendy OSHER LAHAINA-Six young women on Maui earned titles in the 37th Annual Miss Maui Scholarship Pageant held over the weekend at the Ulalena Theater in Lahaina.  The winner of the island’s new Miss Maui 2009 title is 19 year old Cierra Rauch of Kula.  Cierra is the daughter of Matthew Rauch and Georgette Batoon.  […]

January 26, 2009 Senate President Hanabusa, Speaker Say, Lt. Governor and Mrs. Aiona, former Governor Ariyoshi, former Governor Waihe`e and Mrs. Waihe`e, members of the Legislature, cabinet members, Chief Justice Moon, Chair Apoliona, Mayor Tavares, Mayor Kenoi, military leaders, members of the Consular Corps, distinguished guests, and to the people of Hawai`i…good morning and aloha! […]

Mayor Charmaine Tavares joined Maui High School automotive students and staff in previewing a County-owned Toyota Prius that was converted from a gas-electric hybrid to a plug-in electric hybrid car. The Prius is one of six vehicles statewide participating in the U.S. Dept. of Energy’s Advanced Vehicle Activity testing program that will gather data on […]

Friends of the Maui Drug Court was awarded a $24,000 grant today from Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Of the 300 clients who have graduated from the program, approximately 60 percent are native Hawaiian.   The funding will allow the agency to provide services such as child care, dental treatment and medical exams to clients on Maui […]

A 50,000th Native seedling will be out-planted this weekend at the Auwahi forest on Maui’s `Ulupalakua Ranch.  The Maui Restoration Group and Leeward Haleakalā Watershed Restoration Partnership are conducting the ceremonial planting to honor the recent passing of famed Maui conservationist and Kumu Rene Sylva.  Since initiating the vision of reforestation nine-years ago, more than […]

St. Anthony Jr. & Sr. High School in Wailuku celebrates its 160th Anniversary this weekend.  The Catholic Marianist school was founded in 1848 as a parochial boys school with just six students. Today, the co-ed campus has an enrollment of 243 students at its Jr. & Sr. High campus, and boast such alumni as World […]

A second motorcycle accident in as many days has occurred on Maui’s roadways.  Maui police say a 44-year-old Kula man is in critical condition following the evening accident reported shortly after 7:30 last night on Omaopio Road, Upcountry.  The man lost control of the motorcycle he was operating and was ejected from the bike.  Authorities […]

Across the Water:  The county finalized two key land agreements on Lanai that will establish a recycling center on a 1-acre site, and convey ownership of the 35-acre Lanai Landfill to the County.  Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares said the agreement with Castle & Cooke allows the county to resolve ownership issues, receive daily landfill cover […]

Matson Navigation will be reducing its staffing by 10 percent under a cost cutting plan announced by parent company Alexander & Baldwin.  Matson plans to reduce its non-union headcount by approximately 60 positions.  A&B chairman Allen Doane said that while fourth quarter and full year 2008 earnings are expected to be good, the measures are […]

Two members of Maui’s legislative delegation joined state leaders this afternoon in announcing a statewide Highway’s Modernization Plan.  Senate Transportation Chair J. Kalani English of East Maui and House Transportation Chair Joe Souki of Central Maui, joined in presenting the six-year plan at the state capitol, as part of an effort aimed at reducing traffic […]

Governor Linda Lingle today released a list of judicial nominees that was provided to her by the Judicial Selection Commission to fill a vacancy on the Hawai`i State Supreme Court created by the retirement of Associate Justice Steven Levinson. The Governor is making the list available to the public to encourage public comment on the […]

The Hawai`i State Department of Health (DOH) is advising the public to wash produce thoroughly to help prevent exposure to pesticides, bacteria, and parasites.  The DOH identified six probable cases of illness caused by angiostongylus, or rat lung worm in 2008.  All individuals were residents of the island of Hawai`i and regularly ate fresh raw […]

   Photos by Wendy Osher © 2009 A motorcyclist suffered fatal injuries in a morning accident on the Hana Highway.  Maui Police say 21-year-old Jonathan Davis of Kahului died at the scene.  Davis was operating a 2001 Suzuki GSX-R600 and traveling east on the Hana Highway (in the Paia-bound direction) at around 6:50 a.m. when […]

Maui’s Shane Victorino signed a new one-year $3.125 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies.  That’s more than six times the $480,000 he earned last year when he helped the Phillies secure its World Series win.  The 1999 St. Anthony graduate and Gold Glove winner had 14 home runs, 58 RBIs and 36 stolen bases in […]

Today is opening day of the 25th Hawaii Legislative Session.  Ceremonies get underway at 10 a.m. in the House and Senate chambers.  Rep. Gilbert S.C. Keith-Agaran, who was appointed by the Governor after the passing of Maui Rep. Bob Nakasone, has been added to the directories, and Rep. Pono Chong has been named Housing (HSG) […]

A minority owner of the Hotel Hana-Maui & Honua Spa has sold its interest in the remote East Maui property.  The San Francisco-based Passport Resorts LLC, completed the transaction on January 6th, transitioning operations of the Four Diamond resort to Arden Grove Hospitality.  Passport Resorts first took over management of the Hotel Hana-Maui in August […]

Just as the state legislative session gets underway, Rep. Mark Takai, who represents Aiea and Pearl City has learned that he will be serving for six months in Kuwait with members of the Hawaii Army National Guard’s 29th Brigade Combat Team.  Takai will be first Hawaii state legislator to be deployed during a regular session […]