Maui News

The Maui County Council advanced two affordable housing projects on first reading Friday and referred a third to the Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee for further review.

Council Member Thomas Cook announced today that he will be hosting a South Maui community town hall at 6 p.m. on Feb. 29 at the Maui Economic Development Board’s Malcolm Center.

Tails Up Maui, a restaurant in Paukūkalo, reopened on Jan. 26 after a transformative period of community service.

Humpback whales travel over 3,000 miles to reach their breeding grounds in Hawaiʻi. This month, the Pacific Whale Foundation challenges participants to travel just 1% of that, in a global fundraising effort.

The Department of Water Supply amended the Unsafe Water Advisory for Lahaina to remove areas L-4A mauka of the Honoapiʻilani Highway and south of Kahoma Stream, and L-4E near Puʻunoa Point.

Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. today announced that its stockholders have voted to adopt the merger agreement with Alaska Air Group, Inc.

The twin lines, put up sometime in January behind the north shore O‘ahu school, attracted a crowd when a man was spotted walking across one of them. Images of his high wire walk appeared in social media and on a local television station.

The award includes $8.6 million to Kahului Airport for construction of a new two-story security screening checkpoint facility at the south end of the ticket lobby (South TSA Checkpoint). The facility will include six new TSA screening lanes. A pedestrian bridge over the existing service road will connect the new checkpoint facility to Hold Room A.

Maui musician, Kamalei Kawaʻa, is among those who auditioned for Season 25 of NBC’s “The Voice,” he announced via his social media platforms on Thursday.

Maui Huliau Foundation is partnering with Hisako Film Lab to offer a five day condensed filmmaking program this spring break for youth in grades 7-12 from all schools. Students will work together over the five days to create a short environmental parody of a TV commercial. The program staff will provide equipment, as well as assistance in planning, filming, and editing. No prior experience is needed, but students must be able to attend all five days to participate. 

The Maui County Volunteer Center, HandsOn Maui, announced the opening of the nomination period for its 2024 Volunteer Hero Celebration of Service. All registered nonprofits on Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi are encouraged to participate in celebrating the volunteers who significantly impact the organization’s work.

Maui Economic Development Board’s STEMworks program announced that Grammy award-winning Maui High alumnus, Jason Baum, will be one of the keynote speakers for the 15th Annual Hawai’i STEM Conference, which will take place on April 4-5 at the Hawai’i Convention Center in Honolulu.

“The Illegal Fireworks Task Force is comprehensively examining the entire fireworks environment in Hawaiʻi, including both legitimate industry and the black market,” said DLE smith Deputy Director Jared Redulla.

Fitness and wellness specialist Justin Yanagida and affordable housing developer Highridge Costa were honored as Volunteer of the Year and Benefactor of the Year, respectively, at Maui Economic Opportunity’s 38th Volunteer Celebration held Wednesday.

House Bill No. 2329 allocates $150,000 to establish a one-year pilot program to reduce the population of rose-ringed parakeets on the Garden Isle.

A University of Hawaiʻi team of researchers is gaining a more insightful understanding of how Hawaiians in ancient times grew food in wetlands and drylands.

R.D. Olson Development held a groundbreaking recently of the Maui Airport Industrial project, located on a 6.3 acre parcel in Kahului near Costco at 250 Lauo Loop.

Seismic activity at the summit and along the southwest Koaʻe fault system continues following an intrusion of magma into the area at the end of January, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports. The HVO says despite recent activity, Kīlauea volcano is not currently erupting.

HPM Building Supply is expanding its retail operations with a new store and drive-through lumberyard on Lānaʻi, the company announced. The 5,000-square-foot retail space was previously known as Lānaʻi Hardware and Lumber store.

The Maui Jim Maui Invitational announced that the 2024 tournament will return to the island of Maui after the wildfires on Maui caused a move of the tournament to Honolulu in 2023. The 41st annual tournament will return to the historic Lahaina Civic Center Nov. 25-27, 2024, and include five of the current top-20 teams in college basketball.