Maui News

As artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly transforms the workforce and daily life, the University of Hawaiʻi is making AI education available to everyone with a new, free online course designed for the people of Hawaiʻi and beyond.

The closures include all public schools on Oʻahu, all public schools on Kauaʻi, Niʻihau High & Elementary School, and Department offices on Oʻahu and in Kauaʻi County.

Alaska Airlines is commemorating 40 years in San Diego with a major milestone: the launch of the carrier’s 50th nonstop from San Diego International Airport. The new seasonal route to Loreto, Mexico, takes off Dec. 19, just in time for a warm winter escape. Tickets are available now on alaskaair.com.

Update: 2:52 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026) Conditions are deteriorating for Niʻihau, Kauaʻi and Oʻahu with flash flooding, damaging waves and high winds expected from Lowell.

Due to expected impacts from Hurricane Lowell, public schools on Kauaʻi, County of Kauaʻi offices, and State of Hawaiʻi offices on Kauaʻi will be closed on Tuesday, Sept. 8.

Hawaiian Council announced the appointment of Christina M. Leos as general manager of Sea Life Park Hawaiʻi, naming a former member of the park’s leadership team to oversee one of Hawaiʻi’s most iconic attractions as it begins its first chapter under Native Hawaiian stewardship.

The Maui County Board of Ethics accepted guidance on nonprofit service, issuing a spousal conflict-of-interest advisory opinion, and awarding Executive Director Lauren Akitake an “outstanding” performance rating during its Aug. 12, 2026, meeting.

The state Department of Transportation will be conducting road work this week that will result in lane closures at various locations. There will be no lane closures on Monday, Sept. 7 in observance of the Labor Day holiday, unless permitted Lane closure schedules may change at any time without further notice.

(Update: 8 a.m., Monday, Sept. 7, 2026) A Hurricane Warning remains in effect for Kauaʻi and Niʻihau, as well as the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument from Nihoa to French Frigate Shoals. A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for Oʻahu as Lowell moves on a path NNE and has picked up speed to 14 mph. The National Weather Service says it expects conditions to deteriorate this afternoon.

The National Weather Service has issued a Hurricane Watch for Kauaʻi and Niʻihau. Hurricane conditions are possible and tropical storm conditions are expected in Kauaʻi County beginning Monday afternoon or evening.

The West Coast Health Alliance (WCHA) is issuing immunization recommendations for the 2026-27 respiratory virus season.

Granting the 15-day extension provides a 45-day acceptance period, the maximum allowable time by state law; the state now has until Sept. 29 to decide on impact statement connected with an application to renew a lease for the Kauaʻi state lands on which the facilities sit.

The Hawaiʻi Community Foundation today announced the appointment of Reid Gushiken as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective Sept. 14, 2026. In this role, Gushiken will oversee HCF’s financial and administrative operations and help guide the foundation’s long-term stewardship of resources in service to Hawai‘i’s communities.

Category 3 Hurricane Lowell continues on a path due north with tropical storm conditions expected on Kauaʻi and Niʻihau by late Monday.

The football teams from Hawai‘i’s Lahainaluna High School and California’s Paradise High School came together for a historic matchup Saturday evening in West Maui, bringing two communities that were both devastated by wildfires together on the field to celebrate hope, resilience and the strength of community.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Health’s (DOH) Hawaiʻi District Health Office will conduct a Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) survey to assess household emergency preparedness and the impacts of natural disasters on household health in the Kona, Kohala and Hāmākua districts from Sept. 14-18.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa has received a $2 million NSF award to lead a four-year, multi-institutional project starting Sept. 1, 2026, that utilizes AI and advanced environmental analysis to develop early-warning tools for detecting threats to food production systems.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Legacy Land Conservation Program invites state agencies, counties and nonprofit land conservation organizations to submit applications for Fiscal Year 2027 land acquisition grants.

A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for the islands of Kauaʻi and Niʻihau as Lowell continues to turn more toward the north-northeast tonight into Monday while accelerating. The eye of Lowell is currently forecast to make it’s closest approach to the main Hawaiian Islands Monday night, passing 100 to 200 miles west of Niʻihau.

US Rep. Jill Tokuda has joined congressional lawmakers in introducing the Rural Emergency Hospital Designation Improvement Act, also known as REH 2.0. Also introducing the measure were: US Reps.Tracey Mann and Sharice Davids of Kansas, Jack Bergman of Michigan, Don Davis of North Carolina and Carol Miller of West Virginia.