Maui News

As West Maui rebuilds from the 2023 wildfires, Kā‘anapali Beach Resort has expanded its commitment to restoring the region’s ecosystem through Treecovery’s reforestation efforts. With four new grow hubs across the resort and more than 1,600 trees donated, Kā‘anapali Beach Resort is nurturing the community’s long-term ecological and cultural resilience.

The County of Maui Department of Planning launched an expedited Special Management Area exemption process for parcels in the Lahaina Disaster Area.  The link went live Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, and the Planning Department has 20 exemptions in the pipeline. 

The meeting will include a status report on debris clearing by the US Army Corps of Engineers, a Hawaiʻi Department of Education update on Kamehameha III Elementary School, and an Environmental Protection Agency update on Wahikuli cesspool inspections and information on the agency’s new sewer line design project. 

Blue streaks in the skies over Maui on Monday had some wondering what the phenomena could be.

The Maui Arts & Cultural Center presents the Maui Showcase for the Hawai‘i International Film Festival (HIFF) with six feature films, one short film, and a collection of four ‘Made in Hawai‘i’ short films. All screenings will take place in the MACC’s McCoy Studio Theater starting Saturday, Oct. 19 and concluding Sunday, Oct. 20.

The Hawai‘i Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism reports Maui County hotels in August were continuing to see after effects of last year’s devastating wildfires.

CLEAR has announced four new enrollment locations, including one at Kahului Airport, allowing consumers to enroll or renew in TSA PreCheck. Formerly, IDEMIA Wailuku was the only location on Maui where one could enroll in TSA PreCheck.

Elizabeth Pickett, the long-time co-executive director of the Hawai‘i Wildfire Management Organization (HWMO) was honored today at a ceremony in New York City, as one of the 2024 Grist 50. Grist bills itself as the only newsroom focused on finding solutions at the intersection of climate and justice.

The Molokaʻi fire is approximately 60% contained at about 100 acres as of 5 p.m., according to Maui Fire Department. There are no active threats, evacuation advisories or road closures at this time, and there are no reports of injuries. MFD continues to mop up and strengthen containment lines around the fire. Acreage and containment estimates may fluctuate as assessments are made. The cause of the fire is under investigation by MFD. The public is encouraged to remain vigilant as fire conditions are subject to change. 

The Hawai‘i Department of Law Enforcement Office of Homeland Security is receiving a $803,330 Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention grant from US Department of Homeland Security to expand current initiatives and implement new measures to prevent targeted violence statewide.

The Public Utilities Commission granted Expeditions the right to increase its passenger fares in all rate categories earlier this month. In a filed order, the Commission recognized several impacts to operations in granting Expeditions’ request for the rate increase including: the Maui wildfires, Expeditions’ losses and change in operations to Māʻalaea Harbor, a reduction in tourism, a loss of alternative forms of income, issues with the financial viability of the ferry services, and the lingering impacts of the COVID pandemic. It also noted that Expeditions has not increased its fares in over 16 years, despite dramatically increased costs of operation.

Black hole jets spanning 23 million light-years total length in outer space have been discovered by a Caltech-led team of astronomers using the W. M. Keck Observatory atop Maunakea on Hawaiʻi Island. The jets of hot plasma are the largest ever observed, according to the scientists.

Central Pacific Bank has closed its branch office off of Kaahumanu Avenue and opened an office at a new, nearly 10,000-square-foot building at 145 Ho‘okele St. near Target in Kahului. The bank offers customers consumer, commercial, residential, wealth and investment services.

A Maui man who was on trial for the second degree attempted murder of his ex-girlfriend’s infant, was found guilty instead of a lesser first degree attempted assault charge. The verdict in the trail of Christian Rosete was reached on Monday afternoon (Sept. 23). The jury found Rosete guilty as charged of separate first and second degree assault charges, and a charge of felony abuse against a family or household member. Another second degree assault charge for Count 3 was reduced to a third degree assault conviction.

Cody Pueo Pata will be the featured musician at this month’s free Hawaiian Music Series on Thursday Sept. 26 from 6 – 7:30 p.m. at the Lahaina Civic Center Amphitheater. Pata is the Kumu Hula of Ka Malama Mahilani, a classically trained Haku Mele, and an entertainer and musician of Hawaiian music. He is also a Hawaiian language and culture educator.

Leah Julianni Rodriguez, a UH Maui College culinary graduate and a cook at the Fairmont Kea Lani, said at first it was a little intimidating working side-by-side with executive chefs, at least one of whom had 3-star Michelin restaurant experience. However, she welcomed the opportunity to observe, learn and improve.

Diane Yogi, who has worked for the County of Maui Department of Transportation since its creation in 2003, has been appointed the departmentʻs deputy director. Her start date was Sept. 3.

The County of Maui Office of Economic Development, in collaboration with local partners and nonprofits, has launched the West Maui Business Center and online business portal www.WestMauiBusinessCenter.org to aid local businesses directly and indirectly impacted by the August 2023 wildfires. 

President Biden has announced his intent to appoint two Native Hawaiians to the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Kamana‘opono M. Crabbe and Krystal Ka‘ai were selected as commissioners of the advisory commission.

The trial of Christian Rosete nears an end with closing arguments delivered on Friday and jury deliberations now underway on five separate charges including attempted murder, assault and abuse of a household member.