Maui News

The Hawaiʻi Housing Finance & Development Corp. Board of Directors approved last month a proposed public acquisition of the Front Street Apartments destroyed in the Aug. 8-9, 2023, Lahaina wildfire disaster, although there was some uncertainty about rebuilding in the burn zone.

Giving in FY24 included nearly $10 million for programs to benefit relief and recovery from the August 2023 wildfires on Maui, including $1 million from the Stupski Foundation that issued immediate cash payments to UH students within a week of the fires.

With the rapid growth of artificial intelligence resulting in an unprecedented demand for energy, US Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) called on leading tech companies to invest in new clean energy in order to power their data centers.

As part of Liver Cancer Awareness Month in October, the Hawai‘i Department of Health has released a report that found hepatitis C was associated with death at an earlier age in Hawaiʻi. The findings will guide efforts to improve liver health and reduce preventable deaths.

Drive Electric Hawaiʻi and the Hawaiʻi EV Association host a free National Drive Electric Week Fair at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. This free, public event offers a unique opportunity to test drive EV models, learn from experts and current owners about the benefits of electric transportation, and explore the latest EV technology.

“Gas prices are remaining steady, though there are slight fluctuations in some areas,” said Liane Sumida, AAA Hawaiʻi general manager. In Kahului, the average price is $4.66, which is the same as last week and 17 cents lower than a year ago.

Kīhei Charter School has moved to adopt a policy this school year that aligns with new more restrictive rules governing student cell phone use at school and in the classroom. The move to ban and regulate cell phone on-campus use has received nearly universal support from teachers at the charter school.

With residential debris removal 100% complete, opening of residential areas off Lahainaluna Road is set for Friday, Oct. 4, at 6 a.m. This is Phase 4 of the Maui Emergency Management Agency zone reopening plan and marks one of the final large residential zones to be reopened.

For three Wednesdays last month, 15 Kalaupapa residents gathered with Construction Technology Program Lecturer Lloyd Inouye to learn how to fix the equipment they work with.

Former state legislator and lawyer Dwight Takamine has been appointed to the Hawaiʻi Labor Relations Board. Takamine will succeed Marcus Oshiro, who was serving as Board chairperson.

The current closure of the shoreline of Mokulua Nui, the larger of the two Mokulua offshore islets on the windward side of Oʻahu, will end on Oct. 7, 2024. The DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife closed public access to the islet on July 13 to facilitate the safe birth and growth of a Hawaiian monk seal.

The Credit Unions of Maui have announced a donation of $300,000 to HomeAid Hawaiʻi’s Ka Laʻi Ola project, a housing initiative aimed at providing stable and secure shelter for survivors of the Lahaina wildfires. The project aims to house up to 1,500 displaced residents over the next five years.

The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority held its esteemed Tourism Legacy Awards luncheon on Wednesday as the culminating event of the 2024 Hawai‘i Tourism Conference. HTA proudly presented Tourism Legacy Awards to Kaua‘i’s Hamura Saimin and Hawai‘i’s own Chef Sam Choy for their long-standing achievements in serving Hawai‘i’s communities.

Condé Nast Traveler announced today the results of its annual Readers’ Choice Awards and Four Seasons Resort Lānaʻi was awarded the No. 1 resort in Hawaiʻi while Sensei Lānaʻi, A Four Seasons Resort was named No. 4 Destination Spa in the United States and No. 11 Destination Spa in the World.

The most recent reported ongoing scam is spoof callers claiming to be a Maui Police Department representative. Spoofing is a technique used to manipulate caller ID information, making it appear as if the call is coming from a legitimate source, such as a government agency, financial institution, or even a known contact, making it highly deceptive.

Since the start of the school year in early August, the Department has reinstated 100 bus routes on O‘ahu, Maui and Hawai‘i Island. Service has been restored for 88% of impacted students – 3,263 out of 3,720. Active efforts to restore 38 more routes are ongoing. 

Sparks from a broken overhead power line ignited unmaintained vegetation off of Lahainaluna Road on the morning of Aug. 8, 2023, and that led to a chain of events that leveled Lahaina town and killed at least 102 people, according to an official origin-and-cause report released Wednesday. The fire’s cause was officially determined to be “accidental.”

ʻAha Pūnana Leo announced the release of their first iOS educational app, Ka Hakalama me Pākaʻa, a groundbreaking language tool designed to revolutionize the teaching and learning of the Hawaiian syllable chart. ‘Aha Pūnana Leo’s Kīpaepae app was designed to be used as a supplement to in-person Hui Kīpaepae ‘ohana classes or as a standalone practice tool for any learner of ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i.

Aloha Petroleum recently donated $4,356.85 to Helping Hands Hawai‘i on behalf of its customers. The funds were raised through canister donations at participating Aloha Island Mart convenience stores across the state.

VIDEO: The fire, which claimed 102 lives and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses, originated at 6:34 a.m. on Aug. 8, 2023, off of Lahainaluna Road in unmaintained vegetation near utility pole 25. It was caused by sparks ejected from the re-energization of broken power lines above, according to fire officials. The report further states that the fire was rekindled by a severe wind event at approximately 2:52 p.m., marking the start of the afternoon phase of the fire.