Maui News
Whale Trust celebrates 25 years of marine conservation at Whale Tales 2026, Feb. 19-23
Whale Tales 2026, a Maui-based ocean conservation event, celebrates its 20th anniversary this February at The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua featuring Nainoa Thompson, Dr. Sylvia Earle, Jean-Michel Cousteau, and more.
Mayor Bissen to make annual appearance with Hawai‘i mayors before state lawmakers
Mayor Richard Bissen will join the state’s other three mayors in making presentations Monday afternoon before members of the Senate Ways and Means and House Finance committees at the State Capitol. Aside from Bissen, the other mayors scheduled to appear are Honolulu City and County Mayor Rick Blangiardi, Hawai‘i County Mayor Kimo Alameda and Kaua‘i […]
Free event on reducing wildfire risks to homes, communities Feb. 11 in Kahului
The County of Maui Office of Recovery invites residents to attend a free presentation on reducing wildfire risk to homes, neighborhoods and communities across Maui Nui at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11, at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center Morgado Hall in Kahului.
Girl Scouts of Hawaiʻi launches ‘Girls in Policy’ to build next generation of civic leaders
Girl Scouts of Hawaiʻi is launching Girls in Policy, a new, innovative program designed to strengthen girls’ civic engagement, leadership and advocacy skills during the 2026 Hawaiʻi Legislative Session.
Kaiser Permanente releases Maui pharmacy closure details ahead of Monday strike
Kaiser Permanente Hawaiʻi announced operational plans Saturday for Maui County ahead of an open-ended strike by unionized health care workers scheduled to begin Monday. While the health provider states all medical facilities will remain open, patients on Maui should expect disruptions to pharmacy services at several locations. The United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health […]
Onset of huge Episode 41 lava fountains at Kīlauea summit heralds ashfall warning
The warning is in effect until 6 a.m. Sunday (Jan. 25) for most eastern, southeastern, southern and interior portions of the island; Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense reports portion of Highway 11 in Puna and Kaʻū as well as Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park are closed because of ashfall.
Pacific Whale Foundation celebrates 45 years of whale research, Feb. 9-15
Pacific Whale Foundation celebrates its 45th anniversary in conjunction with the return of World Whale Day, marking a full week of community, culture, and conservation from Feb. 9-15, 2026 on Maui.
Sponsors sought to provide meals for children during summer break
The US Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program is seeking sponsor organizations on all islands to help provide children in low-income communities with free meals during the summer months. The SFSP provides nutritious meals that help children to learn, play, and grow during the summer break when many schools are not in session.
Intergenerational community stories shape new pop-up performance in Wailuku
Maui Public Art Corps is developing a new pop-up performance rooted in intergenerational community storytelling through Hui Mo‘olelo, its signature public art and storytelling program created in partnership with the County of Maui and Cultural Consultant Sissy Lake-Farm.
Council to hold hearing on Lahaina building heights bill
The Maui County Council will accept public testimony next month regarding proposed changes to building height limits for new construction within the Lahaina National Historic Landmark District.
County pioneers ‘Maui Method’ for safe disposal of hazardous lithium-ion batteries
A new protocol for disposing of damaged lithium-ion batteries, developed by Maui County officials in the wake of the 2023 wildfires, is now being recommended by federal regulators as a preferred standard for handling such hazardous waste. Known as the “Maui Method,” the process involves submerging damaged batteries — specifically those from electric and hybrid […]
FEMA temporary housing assistance extended to February 2027 for wildfire survivors
Federal housing assistance for Maui wildfire survivors has been extended through February 2027, providing relief to nearly 1,000 households that were facing an impending cutoff.
Case votes for defense, labor and transportation measures, but against the Homeland Security measure
US Rep. Ed Case (HI-01), a member of the key House Committee on Appropriations, responsible for all federal discretionary funding, today supported House passage of three of the four final annual appropriations bills for the current Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 (commencing Oct. 1, 2026) but opposed the fourth.
Hawaiʻi Community Foundation doubles investment fund to support housing, food systems
The Hawai‘i Community Foundation is doubling the size of its Social Impact Investment Fund to $20 million, a move intended to increase accessible capital for affordable housing, food systems and small business lending across the state, including Maui County.
Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission announces February trolling schedule
The Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission has announced permitted trolling dates for February 2026. All registered vessels may enter the Reserve to troll on Feb. 7-8, and 21-22 (12:01 a.m. Saturday to 11:59 p.m. Sunday).
Talk story with Yuki Lei at Upcountry Farmers Market
Council Member Yuki Lei Sugimura will hold her Talk Story with Yuki Lei outreach program this Saturday, Jan. 24, at the Upcountry Farmers Market from 7 to 10 a.m.
Hāna Highway $7.7M emergency rockfall mitigation work completed
The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation announced the completion of its $7.7 million emergency rockfall mitigation work at mile markers 9.7 to 9.9 on Hāna Highway (Route 360) near Waikamoi Stream.
Volcano Watch — What do small earthquakes beneath Kīlauea summit mean for the ongoing eruption?
Kīlauea summit region has been remarkably quiet, from an earthquake standpoint, since the current eruption began on the night of Dec. 23, 2024. Since the end of episode 40 on the evening of Jan. 12, however, nearly a dozen small earthquake swarms have occurred involving earthquakes 1–2.5 miles beneath Halemaʻumaʻu and the summit caldera of Kīlauea.
Eight endangered missing children safely recovered on Oʻahu during multiagency ‘Operation Shine the Light’
Operation Shine the Light resulted in the safe location and recovery of eight children between the ages of 13 and 17. Two children recovered in the operation had been reported as runaways over one year ago. Investigations are ongoing.
Lahaina chef named James Beard Award semifinalist
A Lahaina restaurateur has been named a semifinalist for one of the culinary world’s most prestigious honors, marking a bright spot for the West Maui dining scene as it recovers from the 2023 wildfires.
