Maui News

Record funding for biosecurity measures approved by the state legislature this year will expand the state’s efforts to stop the spread of invasive species such as little fire ants, the coconut rhinoceros beetle and coqui frogs, the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture (HDOA) announced Monday.

Most recently, The Sewing Hui collaborated with Maui OnStage for their production of the musical Seussical, based on the works of Dr. Seuss. This production runs from July 12 to Aug. 4, 2024 at the Historical ‘Īao Theater in Wailuku. Costume Director Jennifer Oberg led the passionate team of volunteers in creating a unique costume wardrobe for this whimsical production.

Kō Restaurant at Fairmont Kea Lani is introducing Taste of Kō[racha], a one-night culinary event highlighting the innovative multicultural cuisine of Kō elevated with Kōracha, the venue’s new, locally crafted hot sauce created in collaboration with HiSpice. 

Maui’s Chanel Higa, of H.P. Baldwin High School, and Harmony Powers, of Seabury Hall, were among 10 Hawaiʻi high school graduates to receive the Fukunaga Scholarship for the 2024-2025 academic year, announced the Fukunaga Scholarship Foundation on Monday.

Maui police have issued a news release update saying that as of Wednesday, July 17, 2024, Hoffman was located.  Further details were not available. The Maui Police Department thanked the public for their assistance.

The Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset will host Lahaina Restoration Foundation President David Allaire on Aug. 6 for a talk on post-wildfire recovery efforts.

The first of two race weekends at the 25th anniversary Molokaʻi 2 Oʻahu Paddleboard World Championships (M20) kicks off with the standup (SUP) and wing foil races on Sunday, July 21.

The meeting will include a presentation on the status of sampling and monitoring of the Olowalu Temporary Debris Storage site, sewer infrastructure updates and an update from the Parks Department. The US Army Corps of Engineers will report on the status of debris clearing.

Hawaiian Electric recently installed the first camera station in Lahaina and has plans to deploy a total of 78 stations in elevated fire risk areas on the five islands served by the company, with each location having two cameras to provide a full 360-degree view. The camera feeds will be monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

A new, zero interest, no fee loan program will be available to low-income students enrolled in the College of Engineering at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa beginning in fall 2024.

Maui United Way has partnered with federal and state agencies to present a grant workshop series to local nonprofits, grassroots organizations and public/governmental employees to increase success when writing grants to help the people of Maui County.

This June, the local Maui and Honolulu chapters of AIA (American Institute of Architects), including AIA Maui President and Principal Architect at Hawaiʻi Off Grid David Sellers, welcomed AIA National President Kimberly Dowdell and AIA National CEO Laksiha Ann Woods to Hawaii. The visit to the AIA Hawaii chapters was its first in over 20 years.

Lance DeSilva, Forest Management Supervisor, DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife said he hopes to get things settled down by Wednesday, “But we’ll stay out here as long as we have to,” he said.

Shoppers at the all-day event can expect discounts on a wide range of products including fashion, electronics, home goods, and more from their favorite retailers. Participating stores will set up special sidewalk displays to showcase their best summer deals.

In an action inspired by last month’s birth of a monk seal on Mokulua island off of O‘ahu’s windward coast, the Board of Land and Natural Resources approved the temporary closure of wildlife sanctuaries statewide when necessary to protect endangered or threatened species.

The Rotary Club of Kīhei Wailea has received a $21,000 grant from the Rotary D5000 Foundation Maui Fires Relief Fund to support Maui Rescue Mission mobile units. In the aftermath of the Maui wildfires, the mission stepped up its efforts by extending services to the Olowalu camp. It also began offering laundry services to Puʻuhonoa o Nēnē shelter.

With the one-year anniversary of the Lahaina and Upcountry wildfires drawing near, business owners are pausing to reflect on their resilience and ability to withstand adversity, including losses of life, property and livelihood.

The Rotary District of Hawaiʻi (D5000) contributed $10,000 to the Lahaina Restoration Foundation to shift a “winter wonderland” event in December from its usual location at the Lahaina Banyan Tree to the Royal Lahaina Resort in Kāʻanapali.

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa researchers are undertaking a five-year, $3.8 million study of government’s response to the Lahaina wildfire disaster and its impact on residents.

Maui Council Member Yuki Lei Sugimura, who represents the Upcountry area says the anxiety for residents near the Haleakalā Crater Road fire is heightened due to their prior experience with the destructive wildfires in 2023. Sugimura commented on the structure and organization in determining potential evacuations, saying, “They are doing a lot more than we ever knew a year ago.”