Maui News

US Sen, Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) called on Congress to pass long-term disaster relief funding for impacted communities across the country, including on Maui and Vermont. Speaking on the Senate floor on Wednesday, Schatz underscored the need to pass funding for the Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program in order to provide survivors with flexible assistance to rebuild their homes, small businesses, and communities over the long-term. 

One person was displaced following a fire in a third-floor unit at the Harbor Lights condominium in Kahului on Wednesday morning.

US Sen. Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) joined Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Susan Collins (D-ME), and 25 colleagues in introducing a bipartisan resolution to honor our nation’s teachers and commemorate National Teacher Appreciation Week as May 6-10.

Mail carriers from Maui to Maine will lead the Postal Service’s effort to “Stamp Out Hunger” this Saturday, May 11 in the 32nd annual National Association of Letter Carriers’ Food Drive. 

The Maui Planning Commission will review the latest draft for the South Maui Community Plan during a public meeting from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 14, 2024. Testimony will be accepted.

Magma continues to pressurize the system beneath Halemaʻumaʻu and the south side of Kalaupele and Keanakākoʻi crater, activating seismicity along faults in the upper East Rift Zone. At this time, it is not possible to say whether this increase in activity will lead to an intrusion or eruption soon or simply continue as seismic unrest at depth.

Maui Mall Village today announced that Tanaka Ramen & Izakaya will open at the center in early fall 2024. The restaurant, which operates four locations on Oʻahu, offers fresh, gourmet and affordable Japanese ramen and bar-style dishes. It serves traditional flavors in a chic modern environment with an array of options, from build-your-own ramen to a selection of signature dishes. Tanaka Ramen & Izakaya will open near Center Court with seating for about 40 guests. 

To elevate the relationship of ʻāina and kānaka, the public is invited to join a free two-day traditional hale building guided by Kuhikuhi Puʻuone (Master Indigenous Architect) Francis Palani Sinenci on May 17 and 18 in Waipao, Honuaʻula.

Maui fire crews responded to two brush fires in the Piʻihana Farms area of Wailuku on Wednesday, May 8, 2024.  The first fire was reported at 10:11 a.m. and extinguished at 12:55 p.m., involving about an acre of brush and an abandoned vehicle.  A second fire was reported at 1:12 p.m. and was extinguished at 3:25 p.m. It also involved brush and another abandoned vehicle in a different area.  No structures were threatened by either fire, according to fire officials.  The cause of both fires is under investigation. 

Queen Kaʻahumanu Center kicks off the summer season of Kanikapila Thursdays on May 9 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. with live music by Kawika Ortiz, games by Yard Games Hawaiʻi, a Giveaway Bingo Card, keiki crafts, and participation with community partners.

Gov. Josh Green, M.D., his Federal Funds Team and the Department of Transportation are hosting a federal funds summit from July 16-18 under the governor’s Investing in Hawai‘i’s Future, a collaboration between federal, state and community partners to maximize federal funding for the state.

The State Legislature closed on May 3 passing several of bills supported by the Chamber of Commerce Hawaiʻi to tackle cost of living challenges, support growth in the technology sector, boost entrepreneurship, increase access to childcare and add affordable housing for our workforce.

Update: (10:20 a.m., May 8, 2024) Hawaiian Electric reports power has been restored to customers on Loha St., parts of Haleakalā Highway and Kualono. Crews have completed most of the line inspection, and are continuing to restore customers in sections. An estimated 2,518 customers were impacted by the outage, which occurred at 2:10 a.m.

Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center scientists are spending a month at sea (April 23–May 22) aboard the NOAA Ship Oscar Elton Sette on the Survey for Continued Observation of Pseudorca Extent (SCOPE). They’re searching for pelagic false killer whales in an area they have not surveyed before and using specialized methods to collect biological data from as many false killer whales as possible.

The next Maui TechOhana networking event, organized by Maui Economic Development Board, and supported by the County of Maui, will be held Thursday, May 9 from 5:15 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. The public gathering will feature guest speakers from the Maui Food Innovation Center, a value added food manufacturing incubator and accelerator in Hawaiʻi.

The state of Hawaiʻi is considering acquisition of nearly 257 acres at Pōhākea, also known as Māʻalaea Mauka, for $8.22 million, as a forest reserve to protect the watershed and prevent massive erosion from damaging Māʻalaea Bay.

A 53-year-old Wailuku man suffered critical life-threatening injuries in a motorcycle crash reported Monday night in Wailuku.

Crews with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources finished clearing the public parking areas of Kahului Boat Harbor by removing more than five dozen vehicles, many of them abandoned. Last week, efforts to cleanup the harbor got underway with the removal of debris.

Governor Josh Green, M.D., will name four judges to fill vacancies on the Circuit Court of the First Circuit (O‘ahu), from a list of seven nominees he received from the Judicial Selection Commission.

Update: Maui fire officials say crews responded to a small brush fire down in the gulch vicinity of Waiehu Beach Road and Kaʻae Rd.  Maui Fire Department Public Information Officer Chris Stankis tells Maui Now that the fire was contained by initial arriving units. Witnesses reported heavy smoke in the area at around 2:20 p.m.