Maui News

Lahaina Cannery and Lahaina Gateway, West Maui’s premier shopping destinations, are welcoming a group of new tenants for the holidays – businesses that have been adversely affected by the wildfires and have been shuttered for nearly a year and a half.

The Rotary Club of Northbrook, Illinois, extended a heartfelt proposal to the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset, aiming to bring joy to children affected by the Lahaina fires this Christmas season.

Lights at the Hāna Ball Park tennis and basketball courts are temporarily out of service until further notice, according to an announcement by the County of Maui Department of Parks and Recreation.

The word mākia was selected as the 2024 Huaʻōlelo (Word) of the Year by the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Ka Haka ʻUla o Keʻelikōlani, College of Hawaiian Language (KHʻUOK). The word, meaning “aim, motto, or purpose,” inspires resilience in these transformative times, and a serves as a powerful reminder to move forward with intention and clarity.

The Hawaiʻi State Junior Golf Association | First Tee – Hawaiʻi (HSJGA|FTH) conducted the 2024 Tour Championship at Wailea Emerald Golf Course this weekend Dec. 7-8. This event was 36 holes and by invitation only. A total of 57 junior golfers from across the state teed up in the event. This tournament was the final event that awards points to the season race to the coveted HSJGA | FTH Player of the year.

This past year, Hart has worked with Google, to develop a new algorithm, “Perch,” designed specifically for recognizing Hawaiian bird songs. With this new technology Perch can identify the unique sounds of Hawaiian birds with limited data, allowing Hart and his team to accurately estimate bird numbers across large areas.  In a parallel effort, Hart is collaborating with ʻĀhuimanu, a group dedicated to native bird conservation, to create a special oli (chant) that uplifts Hawaiian birds.

A Maui coalition of the Hawaiʻi Workers Center has departed to Washington D.C. where they will demand that Congress release disaster recovery funds for Lahaina. 

The three-day 2024 Kaapuni Invitational basketball tournament sponsored by Maui Toyota concluded on Saturday. Results from each day are posted here.

ʻUlupalakua Ranch reminds community members to mark their calendars for a day filled with ono food, photos with Santa and holiday shopping among local vendors at its Christmas in the Country festival, a full day of festivities on Saturday, Dec. 14.

Central Pacific Bank has hired Larry Panzeri as the new branch manager of its Kīhei branch. 

An oshogatsu mochi pounding event is set for 4 p.m. Dec. 28 at the Wailuku Hongwanji Mission in Wailuku.

Applications are now open for a state-funded program empowering Hawai‘i-based entrepreneurs to develop their food products from concept to business plan and pitch, providing tools to grow and scale their businesses.

BIA Hawaiʻi has announced the 2025 Officers and Directors who will lead the association and the industry in the coming year. These industry executives hail from various sectors within the building and construction industry, including associate members whose products and services support builders, developers, and specialty contractors. 

The University of Hawaiʻi Maui College will host the first-ever international Academic Esports tournament, welcoming student teams from six countries for the week-long competition. From Friday, Dec. 13 to Wednesday, Dec. 18, gamers from Korea, United Kingdom, Australia, Norway, Germany, Austria, and UH Maui College’s own esports team will face off in popular titles like Valorant, League of Legends, and Rocket League. A special team from Maui High School will also compete. 

Local firefighters, lifeguards, police, and military personnel are set to compete in the inaugural First Responder & Military Honolua Classic surf competition, co-sponsored by OUTRIGGER Kā‘anapali Beach Resort and Kahākūkahi Ocean Academy.

Several kiawe trees were removed from Mākena Landing Park earlier this week, resulting in concerns and questions shared by regular beachgoers. Mākena Golf & Beach Club reports that the removal of the trees was necessary for the park to remain safe for public access and to minimize risk to the shoreline ecosystem.

AARP Foundation is recruiting friendly and service-oriented people throughout Hawaiʻi to join its Tax-Aide volunteer team. Tax-Aide is the nation’s largest free, volunteer-based tax assistance and preparation program. During the 2024 tax season, almost 28,000 volunteers served over 1.7 million taxpayers. Tax-Aide participants saved more than $1.3 billion in refunds and credits.  

The resort team at Four Seasons Resort Lanai has put together a celebration taking place Saturday, Dec. 21 from noon to 4 p.m.

Lahaina Cannery is inviting Maui residents and visitors to celebrate the holiday season with photos with Santa, local vendors, and live local holiday entertainment.

Maui Preparatory Academy’s Bright Beginnings Preschool will host a preschool preview on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 9 to 11 a.m.