Maui News
Update/postponed: Hawaiʻi Catholic Community Foundation and Maria Lanakila Church present Spiritual and Wellness Health Fair
Update: The Hawaiʻi Catholic Community Foundation and Maria Lanakila Church have announced the postponement of their ‘Spiritual and Wellness Health Fair,’ originally scheduled for Saturday, May 18, 2024, at the Royal Lahaina Resort’s Aliʻi Ballroom.
Gov. Green signs six ‘good government bills’ into law
Among the bills signed, House Bills 1598, 1599, and 1600 focus on bolstering Hawaiʻi’s open meetings law. They seek to facilitate greater public input by ensuring timely distribution of written testimony to board members (HB 1598), allowing audio and video participation in remote meetings (HB 1599), and setting clear time standards between board meetings (HB 1600), enabling adequate review and compliance with open meetings law requirements.
Child & Family Service deploys model of care to break the cycle of poverty
Child & Family Service hosted a lunchtime gathering of more than 30 local nonprofit leaders and partners in Waikīkī earlier this week to share its pilot program results of “Transition To Success,” which took place on Maui and Kauaʻi and showed statistical improvement in positive changes in the lives of its 986 participants.
Portuguese filmmaker to speak at Heritage Hall in Pāʻia
Father Luís Proença, a professor at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, will speak on Madeiran and Azorean roots among Hawaiʻi’s Portuguese descendants on Tuesday, May 7 at 5:30 p.m. at Heritage Hall in Pāʻia.
Young Brothers blesses $1.5M mooring system to improve service for Lānaʻi
Hawai‘i interisland freight company Young Brothers blessed its new $1.5 million ShoreTension mooring system on Monday at the Port of Kaumalapau on Lāna‘i. The system keeps the barge steady against the dock during poor weather conditions.
List: Maui lane closures through May 10, 2024
The state Department of Transportation will be conducting road work this week that will result in lane closures at various locations. Lane closure schedules may change at any time without further notice. All projects are weather permitting.
Kahului Public Library reopens this Tuesday
The Kahului Public Library will reopen on Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at noon after a brief closure to renovate the facility’s restrooms. Patrons can browse and borrow, pick up holds, return materials, use the library Wi-Fi, public computers, printer, and copier.
Volcano Watch: What’s shaking at the summit of Kīlauea
This past week, earthquakes and inflation near Kīlauea’s summit prompted temporary closures within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. What is happening beneath the surface at Kīlauea, and what does it mean for potential future eruptive activity?
Maui College scholar chosen to present post-wildfire biomedical study at national conference in Washington D.C.
Deardorff will present “Microbes as Human Indicators of Human Health Risk after the Lahaina Wildfires” to an audience of biomedical professionals at the 2024 National IDeA Symposium of Biomedical Research Excellence (NISBRE) Conference in June.
Final budget bill includes Maui wildfire legislation establishing an Office of the State Fire Marshal
The House of Representatives officially adjourned sine die, marking the conclusion of the 32nd Legislature on Friday. House Committee on Finance Chair Kyle T. Yamashita (D-12 Upcountry Maui) said, “We approached the crafting of the state budget with careful consideration, reflecting the House’s dedication to fiscal prudence, accountability, and transparency. As we commenced this legislative session, our immediate […]
Gov. Green signs bill to clarify counties’ authority in regulating short-term rentals
Gov. Josh Green followed through on his pledge to sign Senate Bill 2919, clarifying the counties’ authority to regulate short-term rentals. Mayor Richard Bissen has already moved ahead with introducing a bill to phase-out thousands of short-term rentals to open up long-term housing for residents.
Houseless man arrested during cleanup at Kahului Boat Harbor
Officers arrested a houseless man this morning on three charges during the second day of a cleanup operation at Kahului Boat Harbor. Authorities with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources say the man resisted arrest and attempted to flee. An officer used a taser to control the suspect and to take him into custody, according to department reports.
Legislature passes Silver Alert bill to protect vulnerable community members
On Wednesday, May 1, 2024, the Hawaiʻi State Legislature unanimously passed Senate Bill 2305 SD2 HD2 CD1 to establish a Silver Alert Program to help locate and safeguard missing persons who are particularly vulnerable, including community members who are elderly or are cognitively impaired or developmentally disabled.
Gov. Green lowers flags to honor the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend
This action is taken to honor the 89 firefighters who died in 2023 and the 137 firefighters who died in previous years. One of the firefighters died in the line of duty was Tre’ Evans-Dumaran from the County of Maui Department of Fire and Public Safety.
Youth surfers to compete in 20th Menehune Mayhem at Hoʻokipa this weekend
The 20th Annual Ian Walsh Menehune Mayhem, a free two day surf contest for Maui’s youth ages 15 years old and younger, is taking place at Hoʻokipa Beach Park all-day Saturday and Sunday.
Bissen is third mayor to sign Year of the Forest Bird Proclamation
Maui Mayor Richard T. Bissen, Jr. signed a proclamation to recognize 2024 as Ka Makahiki o Nā Manu Nahele, Year of The Forest Birds, on Wednesday. This action follows Gov. Josh Green, M.D.’s proclamation in January and county proclamations on Hawaiʻi Island on Feb. 1, and on Kaua‘i on March 11.
Council gives initial approval for Molokaʻi Education Center expansion
Maui County Council members voted unanimously this morning to approve land use measures on first reading for expansion of the University of Hawaiʻi, Maui College’s plans for a new 3,300-square-foot classroom building at the Molokaʻi Education Center in Kaunakakai.
MYPO Concert and Kahului Elementary School Strings, May 4
The Maui Youth Philharmonic Orchestra will open their Spring Concert 2024 with members of the newly formed Kahului School String Orchestra Beginning Strings Class (fourth graders) joining the MYPO Beginning Strings Class performing Dance of the Strings and Jazz of the Open Strings, both composed by JiYoung Um, as well as the traditional French Folk Song.
Plans for $1 billion fiber-optic undersea cable network unveiled
Internet reliability and worldwide connectivity are expected to be enhanced with a $1 billion project to create a new fiber-optic undersea cable network, according to an announcement from Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, leader of Connect Kākou, Hawaiʻi’s high-speed internet initiative, and Benji Robinson, director of Asia Pacific Network Planning and Acquisition for Google.
Gov. Green establishes Climate Advisory Team to develop resilience policy
Gov. Josh Green, M.D. announced the inauguration of the Climate Advisory Team (CAT). This newly formed committee, comprising experts and stakeholders, is dedicated to tackling the challenges of climate disasters and providing a comprehensive roadmap for the state’s strategy to mitigate the financial impact of climate change.
