Maui News

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. 

The first-ever “Maui Music & Food Experience” at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center is bringing together a stellar cast of performers curated by legendary Chicago musician and Experience Music Director Nicholas Tremulis from Thursday, Sept. 5 though Sunday, Sept. 7.

Below is a list of events that have been confirmed by the Hawaiʻi High School Athletic Association as cancelled or postponed for this weekend: Girls Volleyball – Haleakalā Waldorf at Lānaʻi (canceled); Girls Volleyball – Molokaʻi at Seabury (postponed); Football – Maui at Keaʻau (canceled); 8-man Football – Seabury at Hāna (postponed.)

Maui County residents are advised to prepare and monitor developments as Tropical Storm Hone approaches the state. Tropical Storm Hone is expected to pass near or south of the Big Island Saturday night into early Sunday. Strong and gusty easterly winds will continue Sunday into Monday as Hone passes south of the smaller islands. NWS was forecasting that East Maui would be the area most impacted on Maui, beginning Saturday afternoon.

Coast Guard crews medevaced an ailing man from a commercial fishing vessel 480 miles offshore Honolulu on Friday.

The County of Maui Department of Human Concerns Immigration Services Division office in Wailuku will be closed Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024, for staff training. It will reopen during normal operating hours Wednesday, Sept. 4, when it will begin accepting new US passport applications on an appointment-only basis. 

The public comment period is open through Sept. 15 on the remediation project for a fuel spill that occurred at Haleakalā’s summit on Maui last year. A lightning strike occurred on Jan. 29, 2023, that resulted in the emergency generator fuel spill. Contractor personnel working on the Maui Space Surveillance Complex site discovered the leak […]

The Hawai‘i State Department of Education announced that nine previously suspended school bus routes in East Hawaiʻi Island and Upcountry Maui will be reinstated starting Monday, Aug. 26, restoring service for nearly 200 student bus riders at nine schools. 

The County of Kauaʻi announced that its Homeowner Assistance Fund program has closed after successfully assisting 369 Garden Isle homeowners prevent foreclosure since its launch in November 2021.

The National Weather Service has issued a Tropical Storm Watch for the Big Island with the latest forecast track bringing the center of Hone near the South Point from Saturday night into Sunday morning. The NWS reports Hone will then strengthen to a Hurricane late Sunday as it passes south of Oʻahu and Molokaʻi.

HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union is celebrating the one-year anniversary of its Life Matters Collective, an inaugural partnership showcasing both long-standing business partnerships and valued community partners of Hawaiʻi’s largest credit union.

Funding has been depleted for a Hawai‘i Community Foundation program that provided an array of support for individuals and couples without dependent children and non-citizens who were directly impacted by the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires.

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center is monitoring Tropical Storm Hone, located far east-southeast of the state, and currently tracking westward. “While it is too early to determine the exact impacts, a transition to a wet and windy period is likely over the weekend through early next week as this tropical storm approaches and moves into the area,” according to the National Weather Service.

A total of five vehicles were damaged during an afternoon fire in the parking lot located at 69 Hobron Ave. in Kahului on Thursday. The fire was reported at 1:16 p.m., and was contained at 1:34 p.m. Maui Fire Department public information officer, Chris Stankis said the fire caused an estimated $106,500 in damage to the vehicles involved. The damaged vehicles belonged to patrons or employees of businesses at the site.

Public comments are due Sept. 9 on a draft environmental assessment for the Honolua to Honokōhau Management Plan, a project by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources State Parks Division to help with planning for the 244-acre coastline on the north shore of West Maui.

A new AARP workshop is giving tips on resources and services to help Maui residents stay rooted on Maui in the long run.