Maui News

The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation notifies highway users that the traffic signal at Kamehameha Avenue and Puʻunēnē Avenue (Route 3500) will either function in flash mode or be dark from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. on Saturday, April 18.

The Family Fund Day for 9-year-old Rafael “Rafa” Fernandes takes place Saturday, April 18, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hope Chapel in Kīhei.

Thanks to continued support from Maui United Way, the Kaialahui Foundation is midway through an ambitious year-long expansion of its Meaʻai Pono project – a grassroots initiative to strengthen Maui’s food security by doubling local food production, planting native trees, and delivering tens of thousands of pounds of culturally appropriate, locally grown foods to wildfire-impacted families.

South Kīhei Road will be closed between Ohukai Road and Kūlanihākoʻi Street starting at 8 a.m. on Monday, April 20. The closure will remain in place around the clock, weather permitting, through June 20, 2026, for repairs following recent Kona storms, according to the County of Maui Department of Public Works.

Hawaiian Council is offering up to $5,000 in financial assistance to help individuals and families replace vehicles lost due to the recent floods and storms. This program is designed to restore mobility and support impacted households in returning to work, school, and daily life. Award amounts will be based on demonstrated need and the verified funding gap, up to a maximum of $5,000.

The Keiki Kupuna Hoʻike will bring together youth performers and Broadway actress Kate Reinders for an evening of music and intergenerational connection April 26 at the Seabury Hall Theatre in Makawao.

The US Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution Tuesday designating April 2026 as National Native Plant Month, highlighting the role indigenous flora plays in environmental conservation and Hawaiʻi’s cultural heritage.

A new study released in Conservation Biology Wednesday and co-authored by scientists at Ocean Conservancy, Arizona State University and Shaw Institute is the first to rank marine mammals based on their vulnerability to plastic larger than roughly the size of a pencil eraser.

Maui Family Support Services, Inc., along with Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies hosts the Early Childhood Resource Fair on Saturday, April 25, 2026 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Queen Kaʻahumanu Shopping Center. This free, family-friendly event connects parents and caregivers with valuable early childhood resources, local preschools, and childcare options.

Kaiser Permanente will host its third Career Exploration Day on Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. at the Kaiser Permanente Wailuku Medical Office. The event is offered in partnership with STEMworks, a program of the Maui Economic Development Board, and is open to intermediate and high school students across Maui County. 

Elite distance runner Jordan Hogan, one of the most accomplished American marathoners of the past decade, will take part in the 56th annual Maui Marathon race weekend, including community meet-and-greet opportunities and competition in the half marathon.

The Maui Division of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 142 has officially endorsed Bobby Pahia for the Maui County Council Upcountry residency seat, citing his deep roots in the community, lifelong commitment to working families, and strong alignment with the union’s priorities.

The DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife is seeking community input on a draft management plan for the Makawao State Forest Reserve on Maui. Feedback will help guide oversight of the area for the next 10 years.

Access to the County of Maui’s Hoʻokipa Beach Park facilities will be restricted to competition use only from 5 p.m. Thursday, April 30, through 5 p.m. Saturday, May 2, 2026, to host the inaugural Hawaiʻi High School Athletic Association Surfing State Championships (HHSAA), the County Department of Parks and Recreation announced. The park will reopen for regular public access at 5 p.m. on May 2.

The County of Maui Department of Water Supply has extended the deadline to April 24, 2026, for its 8th Annual Water Source Protection Video Contest among Maui County students.

The Maui Police Department is requesting a $12.2 million budget increase next fiscal year, or 11.6% more than this year, to address staffing shortages and modernize public safety technology across Maui County.

A Molokaʻi man has died following a dog attack reported Tuesday afternoon. The incident was reported at 12 p.m. on April 14 at a home on Hoʻomalu Drive in Kaunakakai.

Following the statement released by Gov. Josh Green April 8, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has announced that the President of the United States has approved a Major Disaster Declaration to provide Individual Assistance (IA) and Public Assistance (PA) for the state of Hawaiʻi following the severe Kona Low storms that caused widespread flooding and damage statewide in March.

The Maui Economic Recovery Commission – Healing Journey Team announced the return of Pa‘ūpili 3rd Saturdays, a monthly community healing gathering in Lahaina Town. The next event will take place Saturday, April 18, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Lahaina United Methodist Church.

NASA Astronaut Michael Fincke visited the Challenger Center Hawaiʻi on Tuesday to inspire sixth graders from Robert Louis Stevenson Middle School with his experiences in space.