Maui News

Maui’s Eden Keolani Stewart was crowned Mrs. Hawaiʻi America 2026 on July 2, earning the opportunity to represent Hawaiʻi on the national stage during a milestone year that celebrates the 50th anniversary of Mrs. America and 35 years of pageant leadership by Mrs. Hawaiʻi America State Director Luana Alapa.

A 40-year-old Kīhei man identified as Congressional candidate Kirill Basin, was placed under arrest again, this time for a terroristic threatening incident reported on Saturday at a South Maui beach.

University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa atmospheric scientists found that the century-old yardstick used across many industries to estimate air-conditioning and refrigeration energy demand—called cooling degree days—is missing something fundamental. 

Batangan has garnered support from a diverse range of unions in Maui County, including 15 different labor unions.

Individuals, nonprofits and for-profit businesses with projects that support watershed restoration, education, research and/or cultural knowledge-sharing that benefit the communities of Huelo, Honomanū, Keʻanae and Nāhiku are encouraged to apply for County of Maui East Maui Water Authority grants. The grant application period runs Aug. 12, 2026, through 5 p.m. Oct. 1. EMWA has a total of $150,000 available for Fiscal Year 2027 grant awards.

Kupu, Hawai‘i’s leading conservation and youth education organization, announced today that it received a grant of $1.75M from AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism.

Tin Roof is turning 10, and Chef Sheldon Simeon and the team are inviting Maui to celebrate with a free community pāʻina on Sunday, Aug. 9.

Hawaiian Community Assets, a statewide nonprofit housing counseling agency, announced that the first four Wailuku homes offered through its Ua Hale Aʻela program for Maui wildfire survivors will be available for occupancy beginning Aug. 28, 2026. 

The University of Hawaiʻi roster includes nine student-athletes from Hawaiʻi, including Leila Kahoano (left) of Maui. Seattle University features seven student-athletes from Hawaiʻi, including U’i Ka’aihue (middle) and Evalani Keawekane (right), both from Maui, making the exhibition especially meaningful as they return home to compete.

Individuals living with cancer, cancer survivors and their caregivers are invited to participate in “Cancer: Thriving & Surviving,” a free six-week workshop designed to help participants build practical skills for living well during and after a cancer diagnosis.

To kick off the new school year, the Chan Zuckerberg Kauaʻi Community Fund of the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation has committed more than $330,000 in unrestricted funds to support Kauaʻi’s 16 public schools, seven public charter schools, and Kumu’s Cupboard, a nonprofit that provides free supplies to teachers and other educational support staff year-round through its store in Līhuʻe.  

The Maui Junior Golf Association wrapped up a two-day Championship Tournament at the Kāʻanapali Kai Course and Waiehu Municipal Golf Course over the weekend.

Nō Ka ʻOi Aesthetics presents its inaugural Flow & Glow Wellness Event, a community-focused morning celebrating wellness, movement, local businesses, and connection. The event will take place on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, at the beautiful Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows in Kāʻanapali.

Through a special invitation from the creative team behind Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Hisako Film Lab students traveled from Maui to Los Angeles on July 14 to participate in the film’s Creator x Filmmaker Experience at The Lighthouse in Venice Beach, California.

Debbie Cabebe, the leader of one of Maui County’s largest nonprofits, was given a rousing send-off to retirement Friday before a full house of more than 150 family, friends, staff and community leaders at Maui Economic Opportunity.

Update: All electricity has been restored, and the port is deemed safe for operations. The gates will open today from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. for the pickup and drop-off of all refrigerated cargo at Young Brothers. The gates will resume normal operations tomorrow, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, for the pickup of all other cargo.

An estimated 300 people came together to support 45 women-owned businesses at the annual Empower Her Expo on Sunday, hosted by Leslie Garo of Mālama Yo Mama. The event took place at the Binhi At Ani Filipino Community Center, and the event focused on empowerment, positivity, and inspiration. 

The beloved Emma Farden Sharpe Hula Festival returns to Lahaina at the beautifully reimagined Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows on Aug. 21–22, 2026. This free, family-friendly celebration of hula and Hawaiian culture features hālau hula from across Maui, cultural workshops, keiki activities, Hawai‘i-made artisans, and live Hawaiian music, all set against the breathtaking backdrop of Kāʻanapali Beach.

The state capitol has become a hive of activity to support Primary Election Day on Aug. 8. The Office of Elections moved into the Capitol on July 27 to set up ballot counting and processing operations. 

Marine mammal research has attained new heights as scientists at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa are deploying noninvasive suction-cup tags onto humpback whales using drones.