Maui News

This year is the inaugural designation of September as “Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month” for the state of Hawai‘i. This recent enactment coincides with the globally recognized World Suicide Prevention Day, observed each year on Sept. 10.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced Wednesday that UH and five other universities have been awarded $26 million to establish a fourth generation (Gen-4) NSF Engineering Research Center (ERC) to create sustainable refrigerant technology.

Deeply moved by the news of the Aug. 8, 2023 wildfires, Andrea Thornton, member of the Rotary Club of Boise Southwest Idaho, and her husband, Jim Kokaly, decided to collaborate with the West Maui Rotary clubs to provide aid to those affected.

Following a successful run as the lead for the Hōʻikeʻike Performing Arts – Film and New Media Program in the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (FestPAC), Pacific Islanders in Communications (PIC) has announced the opening of its two primary funding opportunities that support filmmakers.

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center has upgraded Hone to the status of a Category 1 Hurricane, with maximum sustained winds now at 75 mph. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles, according to the CPHC. The system was last located about 105 miles south of Hilo, Hawaiʻi, 115 miles SSE of Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi; 55 miles SSE of South Point, Hawaiʻi; 180 miles SSE of Hāna, Maui; 200 miles SSE of Kahului, Maui; 230 miles SSE of Kaunakakai, Molokaʻi; 210 miles SSE of Lānaʻi City, Lānaʻi; 275 miles SE of Honolulu, Oʻahu; 370 miles SE of Līhuʻe, Kauaʻi; and 405 miles SE of Niʻihau.

The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) has identified a new travel-related dengue virus case on Oʻahu, bringing the number of total cases to 12 identified in the state in 2024 (one on Kauaʻi, three on Maui, eight on Oʻahu). The affected travelers were exposed in various countries where dengue is common.  

Maui Public Art Corps recently announced a call for artist proposals to create visual, performance, or experiential public art installations inspired by a collection of audio-recorded stories of Lahaina.

Maui Planning Commission members will take up the draft South Maui Community Plan update on Tuesday, and it comes with a very hot potato — a policy statement to increase residential housing by phasing-out short-term vacation rentals.

A fire along the Kūihelani Highway in Central Maui on Friday afternoon burned five acres of brush before it was brought under control. Fire officials declared the blaze 100% contained at 6:55 p.m. No damages were reported.

Crews are responding to storm-related outages on Hawaiʻi Island and the company also continues to coordinate with state and county emergency response officials. With the updated forecast, which includes rainfall and increased humidity, lessening the threat of wildfires, Hawaiian Electric has determined that a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) will no longer be considered as a safety measure at this time. 

The first-ever “Maui Music & Food Experience” at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center is bringing together a stellar cast of performers curated by legendary Chicago musician and Experience Music Director Nicholas Tremulis from Thursday, Sept. 5 though Sunday, Sept. 7.

Below is a list of events that have been confirmed by the Hawaiʻi High School Athletic Association as cancelled or postponed for this weekend: Girls Volleyball – Haleakalā Waldorf at Lānaʻi (canceled); Girls Volleyball – Molokaʻi at Seabury (postponed); Football – Maui at Keaʻau (canceled); 8-man Football – Seabury at Hāna (postponed.)

Maui County residents are advised to prepare and monitor developments as Tropical Storm Hone approaches the state. Tropical Storm Hone is expected to pass near or south of the Big Island Saturday night into early Sunday. Strong and gusty easterly winds will continue Sunday into Monday as Hone passes south of the smaller islands. NWS was forecasting that East Maui would be the area most impacted on Maui, beginning Saturday afternoon.

Coast Guard crews medevaced an ailing man from a commercial fishing vessel 480 miles offshore Honolulu on Friday.

The County of Maui Department of Human Concerns Immigration Services Division office in Wailuku will be closed Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024, for staff training. It will reopen during normal operating hours Wednesday, Sept. 4, when it will begin accepting new US passport applications on an appointment-only basis. 

The public comment period is open through Sept. 15 on the remediation project for a fuel spill that occurred at Haleakalā’s summit on Maui last year. A lightning strike occurred on Jan. 29, 2023, that resulted in the emergency generator fuel spill. Contractor personnel working on the Maui Space Surveillance Complex site discovered the leak […]

The Hawai‘i State Department of Education announced that nine previously suspended school bus routes in East Hawaiʻi Island and Upcountry Maui will be reinstated starting Monday, Aug. 26, restoring service for nearly 200 student bus riders at nine schools. 

The County of Kauaʻi announced that its Homeowner Assistance Fund program has closed after successfully assisting 369 Garden Isle homeowners prevent foreclosure since its launch in November 2021.

The National Weather Service has issued a Tropical Storm Watch for the Big Island with the latest forecast track bringing the center of Hone near the South Point from Saturday night into Sunday morning. The NWS reports Hone will then strengthen to a Hurricane late Sunday as it passes south of Oʻahu and Molokaʻi.

HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union is celebrating the one-year anniversary of its Life Matters Collective, an inaugural partnership showcasing both long-standing business partnerships and valued community partners of Hawaiʻi’s largest credit union.