Maui News

The Coast Guard and partners assisted an injured woman aboard a small passenger vessel off the coast of Maui, Thursday.

Maui’s eviction moratorium, established to support survivors of the devastating August 8, 2023, fires, is set to expire on February 4, 2025. Landlords and tenants will instead be able to participate in a new, state-funded mediation process by Maui Mediation Services as a first step before pursuing eviction through the courts.

The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education today released a report summarizing input and opinions from a series of community feedback opportunities on the rebuild plan for King Kamehameha III Elementary School. A total of 485 community members – including faculty/staff, current school family members, alumni, and interested community members – completed feedback surveys, delivered via three formats: at a staff/faculty meeting, two open community meetings, or online.

Maui Arts & Cultural Center announces the opening of Schaefer Portrait Challenge from Jan. 14 – March 22, 2025. A signature of the MACC’s Schaefer International Gallery, this marks the eighth edition of this statewide juried exhibition with a selection of 40 portraits from five islands, showcasing the unique diversity of Hawai‘i’s people.

Motorists on Maui are advised of potential traffic delays due to roving lane closures on Puʻunēnē Avenue (Route 3500) on Friday, Jan. 10, for drilling of soil samples for the Puʻunēnē Avenue improvements project.

Hawaiʻi’s congressional delegation—US Reps. Ed Case and Jill Tokuda, and US Sens. Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz—joined colleagues on Friday in commencing the 119th Congress for 2023-2025.

The Hawai‘i State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism Creative Industries Division has released a request for proposals toward the development of small, mid-sized and microbudget film and creative media projects.

Kīhei residents Ashley and Justin Ody welcomed baby girl Isla, known affectionately as “Baby Ody,” on New Year’s Day. She’s the couple’s first baby, and also the first baby of the New Year at Maui Memorial Medical Center.

Officers from the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement are on the scene of a shooting of a juvenile, possibly related to hunting activities in the Mākaha Valley of West O‘ahu, this morning.

Responders are working with staff from the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary to tow the whale remains offshore for disposition, as requested by Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners.

In 2024 PUMA GOLF created a limited-edition Lahaina Maui golf cap with proceeds going directly to Lahainaluna High School through the Maui United Way, to help with community efforts from the tragic fires that ravaged the island one year ago. Last year’s Lahaina Maui Cap, which prominently featured the Lahaina “L,” on the front panel, raised almost $40,000 for LHS after selling out in quick order, so the folks at PUMA GOLF decided to do it again with a new design. 

Verified GoFundMe pages are being shared to support those impacted by the deadly New Year’s fireworks explosion.

The County of Maui Department of Parks and Recreation has reopened Baldwin Beach Park and Tavares Bay in Kūʻau following the cleanup of debris from high surf last week.

After receiving praise as being fair and even-handed, veteran Council Member Alice Lee was unanimously re-elected as Maui County Council chair Thursday. Her return to the Council’s top post appeared to signal collaboration with the Council’s four-member minority, but then came the vote for vice chair.

The Maui Chamber of Commerce announced the date of the 4th Annual BizMixx Maui event on Saturday, March 29, 2025 at the Grand Wailea Resort Maui. This is the signature fundraiser to benefit the chamber’s work.

The Hawai‘i Department of Health has identified a new travel-related dengue virus case on Oʻahu, bringing the number of total cases to 16 identified in the state in 2024 (one on Kauaʻi, four on Maui, 11 on Oʻahu). The affected traveler was exposed in a country where dengue is common.  

Erin Wade, a seasoned urban planning professional with more than 20 years of experience in municipal leadership, was sworn in Thursday morning as the County of Maui’s Deputy Managing Director.

Motorists on Maui are advised of potential traffic delays due to lane closures at the intersection of Honoapiʻilani Highway (Route 30) and Kapunakea Street in Lahaina for sewer line installation work for the Kaiāulu o Kūkuʻia Affordable Housing project.

Maui County Council members celebrated their inauguration for the 2025-2027 term with Hawaiian oli, singing and hula this morning at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s Castle Theater.

The Core Four business  planning first series of 2025, presented by Maui Economic Opportunity’s Business Development Center, starts Tuesday, Jan. 7, and runs twice weekly through Thursday, Feb. 6.