Maui News

The Fairmont Kea Lani’s 32nd annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Dec. 1 will kick off the resortʻs 10th annual Tree of Hope Campaign, benefiting the Maui Food Bank’s Aloha Backpack Buddies Program.

Tools used to trap ash and debris and filter out potential contaminants before they entered the storm drain system proved helpful, according to the Department of Public Works.

Nearly 10 inches of rain – the highest rainfall total in the state – was recorded in United States Geological Survey’s rain gauge near Keʻanae in a 24-hour period ending at 1 p.m. on Nov. 30, 2023.

“Although we were hoping to complete renovations before reopening to the public, the loss of the Lahaina Public Library in the terrible August fires prompted us to restore service in Kahului as quickly as possible,” said Stacey A. Aldrich, State Librarian.

The lawmakers’ request for would help to alleviate burdens, providing thousands of students across the island with access to healthy, nutritious meals at no cost to their families as they deal with post-wildfire impacts.

The US Environmental Protection Agency today reports it has completed its work under Phase 1 of the federal response to the wildfires in Lahaina and the Upcountry Maui communities.

A Hāna Metals and Electronics Collection Event will take place Dec. 8 and 9 to help East Maui residents dispose of special waste items.

Hawai‘i Community Foundation and grassroots organization Tagnawa announced funding support committed to redefining disaster response for Lahaina’s Filipino community affected by the Maui wildfires.

The funding includes $354,000 to Mālama Haleakalā Foundation to do site assessment and preliminary design for a detention basin along Kūlanihāko’i Stream. There’s also $255,300 for Molokaʻi Land Trust to wetland restoration planning.

The Hawai’i Police Department is cautioning iPhone users over security concerns related to a new feature that is part of Apple’s latest operating system software update.

A 56-year-old Kahului man suffered critical life-threatening injuries when he was ejected from a moped he was operating during a collision on Wednesday night in Waiehu.

The Hāna Highway is closed between mile markers 40 and 41 in the area of Laulima Farms due to flooding. The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation was headed out to Mile 21 of the Hāna Highway at around 9:12 a.m. to clear a reported mud/rock slide. Piʻilani Highway in East Maui is closed at mile markers 16, 28, miles 29 to 31 from Kaupō to Nuʻu, and at the bridge at mile 36 due to flooding.

The Department of Water Supply is requesting that residents, visitors and businesses of Nāhiku in East Maui conserve water. A water line repair has been delayed due to inclement weather.

Emergency crews responded to a tarmac accident involving an aircraft and a piece of ground equipment on the tarmac at Kahului Airport this morning. Marvin Moniz, Airports District Manager, DOT Airports Division on Maui tells Maui Now that one employee was transported to the hospital.

County of Maui Real Property Assessment Division reminds property owners that the deadline to apply for the long-term rental exemption and classification is Dec. 31, 2023. 

Specifically, Lahaina customers within and near the burn zone are asked to reduce toilet flushing, bathing, washing clothes and cleaning dishes. Doing so will safeguard the system against potential sewage spills. 

The Flash Flood Warning is canceled for the island of Maui as of 2:38 p.m. The National Weather Service reports that the heavy rain has ended. Hāna Highway has been reopened, but portions of Piʻilani Highway remain closed. A Flood Watch remains in effect until 6 p.m. on Friday for all of the main Hawaiian Islands.

Waiehu Beach Road is now open in both directions. The road was closed earlier due to an accident involving a vehicle and a moped.

A red “closed” placard was issued on Wednesday to a Wailuku restaurant by the Hawaiʻi Department of Health’s Maui Food Safety Branch.

In its 2023 Annual Purpose & Impact Report, the World Surf League’s One Ocean Initiative celebrates its key environmental milestones, such as protecting and restoring 45,374 hectares of critical surfing ecosystems and planting 100,000 corals, while amplifying community involvement.