Maui News

Oʻahu’s Eweleiula Wong and Luke Tema each claimed wins at the World Surf League The Hawaiian Islands Sunset Pro, a men’s and women’s Qualifying Series 1000, in iconic Sunset Beach conditions on Monday.

The nonprofit Arc of Maui County received a $15,000 grant from the Nareit Foundation for the installation of new washing machines and dryers in the laundry rooms of four Maui group homes offering affordable housing to 20 residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

Building upon their five-shot lead after the second round, No. 2 Oklahoma became the first team to win three consecutive Kā‘anapali Classics, as well as the program’s fifth title on Maui (2015, ’19, ’22, ’23, ‘24) since the event’s inception.

Residents are encouraged to attend the County of Maui’s Weekly Disaster Recovery Community Meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6, in the Lahaina Intermediate School cafeteria. The meeting will include a presentation by Keʻeaumoku Kapu on the work of Nā ʻAikāne of Maui and the cultural monitoring program in place for debris cleanup in Lahaina.

University of Hawai‘i political science professor says it’s essentially a choice between a steady approach to county government or a less conventional but untested approach, with the appeal of each depending on whether voters think their needs are being met by incumbent Mitch Roth’s administration or if they’re ready to take a chance and go a new direction with challenger Kimo Alameda.

Kupuna took their blood pressure, danced near the stage to music of their times, and learned about services available to them from private and public organizations Saturday at the 51st Maui County Senior Fair.

The state Office of Elections released the final results of the 2024 elections for Hawaiʻi voters. The final printout was posted by the State Office of Elections at 7:10 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024 after voters had a chance to cure deficiencies with their ballot envelopes. Results from the 2024 Hawaiʻi General Election are being posed here as they become available, with a focus on races impacting Maui County.

A 4.8 magnitude earthquake reported overnight on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi, was part of an ongoing swarm of deep seismicity that has been occurring beneath the Pāhala area since 2019, according to scientists with the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

The Maui Fire Department is on scene of a small brush fire in the area of ʻĪao Valley State Park. The department’s Air 1 helicopter is set to make water drops. The fire was first reported at around 4 p.m. As of 5 p.m., there were no evacuation orders or major road closures in effect. Residents and visitors in the area should stay alert.  Updates will be provided if the situation escalates. 

Motorists are advised of a full road closure on Honoapiʻilani Highway (Route 30) between Kuʻikahi Drive and Pilikana Street for sewer line work for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands Pu‘unani Homestead Subdivision. The road will be closed beginning at 5 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 16 until 7 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 17.

Circular ocean currents, called “eddies,” play an important role in supplying nutrients for marine life and can stimulate blooms of phytoplankton, microscopic plant life that lives on the ocean surface, according to new research published by University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa oceanographers.

After eight months of closures, most of the roadway in Mānele Small Boat Harbor has reopened. Multiple water main breaks created issues with the section between the upper road and the lower, makai road. The middle section of the roadway will remain closed until further notice.

Mokuʻula, once the spiritual and political center of the Hawaiian Kingdom, is the subject of a groundbreaking 360-degree animated film that will have its first public showing on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024 at 6 p.m. at The Sphere at the Maui Ocean Center. The Lahaina Restoration Foundation presents the public premiere of E Hoʻi Ka Nani I Mokuʻula — Let the Glory Return to Mokuʻula, an evocative animated film that weaves together the powerful stories of the island’s royal past.

Faster internet accessibility is available on Hawaiian Telcom’s new 3 Gig Symmetrical internet service in all fiber-enabled areas throughout the state, according to an announcement.

A blessing was held at a recently installed Peace Pole fronting the Hale Pono Youth Shelter in Wailuku. The installation was made possible by the Rotary Club of Kīhei Wailea, symbolizing the web of peace that is being created around the world.

Led by three Sooners in the top 11, No. 2 Oklahoma (-31) holds a five-shot lead over No. 52 Kansas (-26) after the second round of the tenth annual Kā‘anapali Classic. North Florida and No. 67 Indiana (-25) are tied for third. No. 32 Colorado (-24), No. 5 LSU (-23) and No. 26 Georgia (-22) round out the top seven in a stacked leaderboard.

The Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project announced an upcoming “Pint Night for the Birds” benefit for the Maui nonprofit Nā Koa Manu Conservation. The event will take place from 6 to 10 p.m. on Nov. 29 at the Maui Brewing Company in the Kahana Gateway Shopping Center.

All voters are reminded that voting closes at 7 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Voters must be in line at a voter service center, or their voted ballots must be received by the deadline, not postmarked, to be counted. A list of voter service centers and ballot drop box locations and hours for Maui can be found here.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for the Compost Reimbursement Program for Fiscal Year 2025, which may reimburse agricultural producers for the cost of purchasing compost, including transportation costs.

A search is underway for a 59-year-old man who was last seen snorkeling off Kauaʻi Sunday. Watchstanders with the US Coast Guard received the report at approximately 12:15 p.m. from Kauaʻi Fire Department dispatchers that the man had become separated from his group at about 11:45 a.m. ʻAnini Beach in Kalihiwai.