Maui News

Interact provides young individuals between the ages of 12-18 the chance to contribute to their communities while broadening their global perspectives. Additionally, by joining as members—known as ‘interactors’—they can enhance their leadership abilities and gain insights about themselves and their peers within a supportive community.

Eight members of the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset presented dictionaries to 60 third grade students at Princess Nāhiʻenaʻena Elementary School.

The East Maui Watershed Partnership and Hui Noʻeau Visual Arts Center proudly celebrate the 20th anniversary of Mālama Wao Akua, Maui’s premier juried native species art exhibit now on display at Hui Noʻeau until Nov. 8, 2024.

Mayor Richard Bissen has named Cynthia Lallo as chief of staff, effective today, as part of a restructuring of his executive leadership team in the Office of the Mayor. Former Chief of Staff Leo Caires is taking over duties as energy commissioner.

In a milestone initiative, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands Director Kali Watson signed the program’s first in-house building permit for its Yorktown transitional housing project Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. This new approach is set to streamline the building permit process and will enable the department to advance on the development of more than 20 homestead projects statewide.

Maui Ocean Center will present the 14th annual Maui 5K from 7 to 9 a.m. Sunday, March 2, 2025. Registration is now open, with entry fees set to increase Oct. 13.

The meeting will include a status report on debris clearing by the US Army Corps of Engineers, an update on the progress of the Kilohana temporary group housing site from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and a presentation from Samaritan’s Purse about its US Rebuild Program.

The project, to widen Puʻunēnē Ave. from two to four lanes between Wākea Ave. and Kūihelani Highway, is expected to begin in January 2025. Multimodal and safety improvements planned as part of this project include: a contiguous paved shoulder, new sidewalks on both sides of Puʻunēnē Ave., a landscaped median between Puʻukani St. and Mayor Elmer F. Cravalho Way, two noise walls, enhanced street lighting, new signage and updated drainage and storm water management. Construction of these improvements is expected to run through Spring 2026.

While Maui County’s resident population of roughly 164,000 represents about 11% of Hawaiʻi state residents overall, the Tri-Isle county had the highest supply of available vacation rental unit nights of any county in the state in August, according to a report by the Hawaiʻi Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism.

The monthly test of the all-hazard Statewide Outdoor Warning Siren System is scheduled for 11:45 a.m. The siren test will be coordinated with a test of the Live Audio Broadcast segment of the Emergency Alert System.

A $40 million project to improve the safety and public use of a half-dozen Hāna Highway bridges while retaining their historic character has received a finding of no significant environmental impact, according to the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation.

Hawaiian Electric is assuring customers with battery storage systems that it will pay any upfront incentives consumers are owed by Swell Energy Inc., a now-insolvent third-party provider that operated the Home Rewards Battery Program.

The Kalalau Trail in the Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park will re-open to visitors on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, following closure due to a norovirus outbreak among park visitors.  The total number of norovirus cases reported to date is approximately 50 and remaining stable. The onset of new cases peaked on Sept. 2.

The Maui Nui Marine Resource Council will host the October edition of its “Know Your Ocean Speaker Series” featuring Maria Harvey, on Wednesday, Oct. 2 at 5:30 p.m. via Zoom.

Four residents were displaced by a house fire reported on Maile St. in Hāliʻimaile on Saturday afternoon. Fire crews responded to the alarm at 12:40 p.m. on Sept. 28.

A 23-year-old Maui man was rescued after becoming stranded at the bottom of a 25-30 foot cliff in Nāhiku on Saturday night. The mountain rescue incident was reported at 7:34 p.m. on Sept. 28, along the Hāna Highway in East Maui.

The Maui County Bar Association announced the availability of the Arthur T. Ueoka Scholarship, offering five $1,000 scholarships to current and prospective law students with significant ties to Maui County. This scholarship honors the legacy of Arthur T. Ueoka, a respected former judge and prosecutor, who dedicated his life to justice and the legal profession.

Balai Pata, a Filipino restaurant by Maui Chef Joey Macadangdang celebrates its one year anniversary. Located just minutes from the airport in Central Maui, the restaurant pays tribute to the humble beginnings that most Filipino immigrant families experience.

The changes mean that an extra 13,000 to 14,000 households will be eligible for an average of $3,200 a year in SNAP benefits, commonly known as food stamps.

Music legend Kris Kristofferson who is remembered as an artist, singer, songwriter, actor and activist, passed away peacefully surrounded by family in his home on Maui, Saturday, Sept. 28. He was 88 years old.