Maui News

The US Department of Interior has approved $375,000 in funding to the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture for efforts to prevent the introduction of the brown tree snake (BTS), which is the top invasive species threat to Hawai‘i. The funds awarded to Hawai‘i are part of more than $3.66 million approved by the USDOI to fight BTS.

Spirits were lifted for hundreds of West Maui families this week, as Sacred Hearts School celebrated the blessing of their new temporary campus on Friday.

Crater Road has reopened to through traffic as of 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. The road had been closed since July 27 as a safety precaution as crews continued work to contain the 574-acre Crater Road Fire which began on July 10.

A 62-year-old Pukalani man reported trolling in his boat near the shoreline between the “Pali” lookout and tunnel when he observed a fishing pole bobbing in the water and an unresponsive male nearby. The victim has since been identified as a 23-year-old Kīhei man. 

The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA) is seeking community partnerships to support natural resources, culture, community festivals, and signature events statewide through June 2025. An information session for interested Maui applicants will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 13, from 5 to 6 p.m. at Kāko‘o Maui Resource Center, Maui Mall.

A “Spiritual and Wellness Health Fair” for Lahaina and Kula wildfire survivors will be held 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 17 at the Lahaina Civic Center.

Ruth Darlene of Women of Silicon Valley will speak on “Loving Dr Jekyll, Leaving Mr. Hyde… when an intimate partner is a covert abuser” during Rotary Club of Kīhei-Wailea meeting beginning at 11:45 a.m. Aug. 7 at Kīhei Lutheran Church. The church is at 220 Moi Place in north Kīhei.

Even more homeowners may be eligible for mortgage or other qualified housing expense assistance through the Maui County Homeowner Assistance Fund Program. Homeowners on Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi who were affected negatively by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic may be eligible for assistance and other resources to help avoid foreclosure.

The parking lot at Cove Park in Kīhei will be closed temporarily from Aug. 5 to 30, 2024, for beautification efforts and addressing safety concerns. The work will include resurfacing and painting parking stalls to maintain and improve the parking area, the Department of Parks and Recreation announced.

The Maui Police Department currently has 10 unclaimed bodies at the forensic facility. Officials are requesting assistance in contacting family members of the deceased.

The first dozen or so Ka Laʻi Ola temporary housing units are nearly ready for occupancy by wildfire survivors in pre-fab, futuristic NanoNest tiny homes with curved ends and floor-to-ceiling transparent walls that take advantage of views of the ocean and West Maui Mountains.

At this time, suspended school bus routes include 56 routes in Central Oʻahu impacting 1,553 registered students, 52 routes in East Hawaiʻi impacting 1,313 registered students, and 39 routes in Central and Upcountry Maui impacting 820 registered students.

Maui Huliau Foundation, a nonprofit organization offering environmental education programs to Maui youth, will host its annual benefit celebration Aug. 17 at Sugar Beach Event’s oceanfront venue in Kīhei.

Hawaiian Outrigger Canoe Voyaging Society will host Gathering of the Voyagers, a three-day celebration of Hawaiian and Oceania culture, at Fairmont Kea Lani, Aug. 23-25, 2024. Bringing together revered voyagers, navigators, canoe builders, and cultural practitioners, Gathering of the Voyagers invites the community to come together for a weekend of ceremony, demonstrations, mākeke and kanikapila at Fairmont Kea Lani in Wailea, a location historically significant to Polynesia’s rich seafaring culture.

On Friday, Maui County lifted an unsafe water advisory that had been in place for nearly a year for parts of hard-hit Lahaina town after the Aug. 8 wildfire disaster, Department of Water Supply Deputy Director James “Kimo” Landgraf announced.

Today, following months of good faith negotiations, the County signed a Term Sheet with key participants in the lawsuits arising out of the tragic Maui wildfires of August 8, 2023. The agreement outlines the framework for a global settlement that would resolve claims and disputes related to the fires that devastated Lahaina and other communities on the island. 

The Hawaiʻi State Department of Health (DOH) Food and Drug Branch (FDB) is alerting residents to a recall issued by Prophet Premium Blends of its Diamond Shruumz brand infused cones, chocolate bars and gummies products because of potentially toxic levels of Muscimol. These products were sold direct-to-consumer online by Prophet Premium Blends, including to Hawaiʻi, and were available for purchase at local smoke/vape shops. A list of stores that received the recalled products can be found at this link.

The Central East Maui Little League majors have made it to the West Region Tournament in San Bernardino, California, taking place Aug. 3-6 in San Bernardino, California. The boys will play in Game 1 against Land Park Pacific Little League of Northern California at 12 p.m. HST (3 p.m. PT) on Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024 at Al Houghton Stadium.

Maui High School is naming its new state-of-the-art building as the Harrison and Helen Miyahira STEM Center in recognition of the couple’s contributions to the school and community. The dedication ceremony will take place on Friday, Aug. 16, at 11:30 a.m. on the school campus at 660 Lono Ave. in Kahului.

Through the generosity of longtime music industry veterans and global music icon, philanthropist Dolly Parton, Cavaliere is releasing “My Hawaiʻi,” with 100% of proceeds going to Maui United Way – Maui Fire Disaster Relief Fund that provides direct financial assistance to community members who experienced loss and devastation from the fires in Lahaina and Kula.