Maui News

As of May 1, 2024, a new law governing tenant screening fees was put in motion to help protect renters and promote transparency in the rental application process. Enacted as Act 200 (SLH 2023) and codified in Hawai‘i Revised Statutes § 521-46, the law prohibits a landlord from charging an applicant for a residential dwelling unit, a tenant screening fee that is more than the actual cost to obtain information about the applicant.

Construction of a new restroom at Haʻikū Park is underway and is expected to be completed in late 2024, the Department of Parks and Recreation announced. Situated behind the Haʻikū Community Center on Hāna Highway, the restroom will replace a previous comfort station.

Registration is now open for First Tee Hawaiʻi’s Summer Camps programming at The Dunes at Maui Lani Golf Course. First Tee Hawaiʻi is a youth development organization that helps kids and teens build their strength of character through golf.

Four students graduating from Kīhei Charter School have taken on different challenges posed by the Maui wildfires and other statewide issued in their Senior Graduation Defense presentations. Seniors—Taylor Guindon, Tara Zamani, Sundi King and Claire Eller—presented respective projects on wildfire prevention policies, microbe research in the fire aftermath, stories of resilience from wildfire survivors, and an ʻŌhiʻa restoration project sparked by a visit to Hawaiʻi Island.

A commencement ceremony returned to Molokaʻi on Friday for 42 University of Hawaiʻi Maui College graduates at the UH Maui Molokaʻi Education Center, Kaunakakai, Hawaiʻi. The UH Maui graduation on Molokaʻi is typically held there every four years, with the last graduation ceremony held in 2016. The 2020 ceremony was not scheduled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Buckling up isn’t just the law; it saves lives for drivers and passengers when the unexpected happens and they’re in a motor vehicle collision, according to the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation and its traffic safety partners.

Update: The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for the entire state through Friday evening. A kona low developing north of the state will bring the potential for a prolonged period of heavy rain and thunderstorms over portions of the state from Wednesday through Friday and likely continuing through the weekend.

AAA Hawaiʻi expects 7.5 million residents of Hawaiʻi, Alaska, California, Oregon and Washington will travel over this Memorial Day weekend, a 4.7% increase from 2023. This is a new record for travel for the holiday and the second year in a row that Memorial Day travel in the Pacific states should exceed the previous record levels of 2019.

A former Hawaiʻi resident was sentenced to 57 months in prison and three years of supervised release for wire fraud and money laundering related to a scheme to defraud at least 42 Hawaiʻi and California victim-investors out of more than $1.2 million.

Aubrey Weston, an instructor and accounting program coordinator at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College, was among 14 UH faculty members from across the state awarded the Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Teaching.

Wave of Harmony Foundation announced a new partnership with The Gilbert and Aileen Kam Chuck Charitable Trust. With a grant of $110,000, this collaboration signifies a new chapter for young performers across the island.

Maui AgFest & 4-H Livestock Fair is getting ready to kick off its 15thyear—and presenter Maui County Farm Bureau (MCFB) is celebrating by bringing back “Taste Education.” This special series features Grown on Maui guests and was part of AgFest’s beginnings back in 2010, and will once again delight ticket holders at this year’s AgFest on Saturday, June 1, at War Memorial Special Events and Baseball Fields.

Lawmakers have unanimously passed and sent to Gov. Josh Green a bill for the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture to lead and coordinate the state’s invasive pest control and biosecurity efforts.

Thousands of rocks were tossed high in the air, littering the caldera floor. Intense electrical storms accompanied some of the explosions, and lightning took out powerlines far down the road to Hilo.

Servco Pacific Inc. has been selected as a 2024 US Best Managed Company Gold Standard honoree. The national award recognizes outstanding private companies in the Unites States and the achievements of their management teams.

In another installment of the Artist 2 Artist concert series, beloved musician Henry Kapono will join forces with Jerry Santos of the legendary band, Olomana. The special guest will be Maui’s own Josh Kahula, the lead singer of Nuff Sedd.

First Hawaiian Bank donated $5.2 million to community and nonprofit organizations in 2023. The contributions include: $2,480,437 in bank donations, $1,920,250 in First Hawaiian Foundation grants and $854,615 from the Bank’s employee-funded Kokua Mai campaign.

Alexander Academy Performing Company presents Tchaikovsky’s timeless masterpiece, Swan Lake, from Saturday to Sunday, June 1-2 at Seabury Hall’s ‘A‘ali‘ikuhonua Creative Arts Center.

Maui Bicycling League will be hosting a memorial ride on Maui as part of the global “Ride of Silence” movement, which now takes place in over 400 locations every year to honor cyclists who have been hit or killed while riding on public roadways.

The Building Industry Association of Hawaiʻi has announced a strategic partnership with the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation to support the Youth Build Green Pre-Apprenticeship Construction Training Program. The $100,000 funding will support the building industry’s future workforce.