Maui News

The Maui Police Department is seeking the public’s help with any information on the whereabouts of Marina Bonofiglio, 33, of Kahului. Bonofiglio was reported missing on Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024, by a friend after she called for a ride from the area of Pūlehu Road in Kahului, approximately 0.1 mile northwest of the Central Maui Landfill at approximately 4 a.m.  Upon their arrival, Bonofiglio’s friends were unable to locate her, but they did find her personal belongings, including her cell phone, along the side of the road.  A search was conducted in the immediate area where Bonofiglio’s property was found; however, there were no signs of her, according to police.

A new video game design competition with $100,000 in prize money up for grabs challenges K-12 students to combine technology and imagination.

Despite having the most vacation rental units in the state, Maui County’s demand and occupancy were down double-digits compared to last year and 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report for July by the Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism.

In August 1999 youth leader Joyce Kawakami accidentally founded a food program when she noticed some of her students were hungry and had no food at home. Despite sneaking groceries to these students to protect their privacy, they shared this act of kindness with other families in need who began coming for help also. Weekly food distributions became a regular part of life for the Kawakami family. Over 25 years Feed My Sheep grew from feeding six families to 350 families every week. 

Hone has weakened from hurricane status to a tropical storm as the center passed about 175 miles south of Kauaʻi. On the forecast track, Hone will continue moving away from the main Hawaiian Islands, and pass well north of Johnston Island Tuesday night into Wednesday, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.

Update: The American Red Cross, working in close partnership with emergency managers and community partners in the County of Hawaii has closed all evacuation centers as of Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024, 6 p.m. All residents have been assisted and the Red Cross will continue to monitor community sheltering needs. 

Andaz Maui at Wailea Resorts has announced the appointment of Richard Elliott as the resort’s general manager. With a career spanning over two decades with Hyatt, Elliott brings experience and passion for hospitality to his new role.

Gov. Josh Green, M.D., has issued an Emergency Proclamation Relating to Tropical Storm Hone, to make state resources available as needed. “Given the high winds caused by Hone and existing drought conditions, it is critical that the state and counties be prepared to rapidly deploy personnel and resources such as the National Guard to respond to any wildfires that may ignite and threaten life, safety or property,” according to the EP.

Mana O Maui has announced the launch of a scholarship program for its upcoming Soul Retrieval Surf Retreat, running from Sunday, Oct. 20 to Saturday, Oct. 26.

Hawaiian Electric has deployed observers (14 on Oʻahu, 22 on Maui, and 22 on Hawaiʻi Island) to monitor conditions and look out for any fire risks. Hawaiian Electric continues to monitor the approach of Tropical Storm Hone and for signs of any hazardous conditions with a red flag warning in effect for Leeward portions of the smaller Hawaiian Islands through 6 p.m. and a wind advisory in the forecast through 6 a.m. on Monday. 

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.