Maui News
Merrie Monarch travelers reminded that movement of ‘Ōhi‘a from Hawai‘i Island is restricted
The Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture is reminding travelers attending the Merrie Monarch Festival this week that quarantine restrictions remain on the transport of ʻōhiʻa from Hawaiʻi Island due to the fungal plant disease, rapid ʻōhiʻa death, which is devastating to native forests. The Merrie Monarch Festival begins in Hilo on March 31 and ends April 6.
HDOT advises travelers to plan ahead for busy Easter and Merrie Monarch Festival travel
The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation reminds travelers to give themselves extra time at airports statewide during the upcoming Easter weekend and the 61st annual Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo, which starts Easter Sunday, March 31, and culminates on Saturday, April 6.
DBEDT establishes Military and Community Relations Office
The Hawai‘i Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism has established a Military and Community Relations Office which will focus on effective collaboration and transparency between the State of Hawai‘i, county governments, the community and the US Department of Defense (DoD).
DHHL waitlisters to benefit from new down payment assistance program
The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has partnered with homestead nonprofit, Hawaiian Lending & Investments, to provide direct assistance to beneficiaries looking to construct, or purchase, a home on Hawaiian Home Lands.
Queen Kaʻahumanu Center hosts Easter Egg Scramble, March 30
Queen Kaʻahumanu Center will be hosting an Easter Egg Scramble at Center Court for the second year on Saturday, March 30, from 1 to 3 p.m.
Mayor Bissen presents $1.697B proposed FY 2025 budget to the Council
“This year in response to recovery efforts, and the creation of three new departments and one new division, we’re facing a $429.2 million increase to the FY 2025 budget,” said Mayor Bissen. “This is 33.9% increase from last year’s council approved budget of $1.268 billion. This is due in large part to the new revenue streams addressing our emergency recovery needs.”
Maui Humane Society seeks caretakers for community cats displaced during the Lahaina wildfire
The organization has more than 50 outdoor community fire cats in its care, and is seeking to find new homes for them through the Operation Fire Cat Placement Program.
UH students use AI to preserve Lahaina’s historical architecture
In response to the devastating Maui wildfires in 2023, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa School of Architecture students are learning to digitally restore individual buildings in Lahaina using cutting-edge technologies such as virtual 3D modeling and artificial intelligence (AI). Some of the buildings students have been designing in mixed reality include Wo Hing Society Hall, Masters Reading Room, Baldwin House and Old Lahaina Courthouse.
Affordable Housing Fund financing approved for two Central Maui housing projects
Maui County Council members gave final approval Friday to amend the county’s fiscal 2024 budget and provide financing from the Affordable Housing Fund for two housing projects in Central Maui.
Maui 8th grader wins football youth division kicking competition in Las Vegas
Eli Kamakani Caires an 8th grader from Upcountry Maui won the Kicking World Camp youth division kicking competition in Las Vegas, Nevada over the weekend.
12 Maui students receive scholarships through Sentry Insurance Foundation
Twelve students on the island of Maui will receive scholarships—totaling $25,000 altogether—in 2024 through the Sentry Insurance Foundation’s Sentry Scholars program. To date, Sentry has provided $93,000 to Maui students attending the University of Hawaiʻi system and affiliated community colleges.
Ana Lillis named County Deputy Planning Director
Ana Lillis, a former planner in the Zoning Administration and Enforcement Division, was named Deputy Director of the County of Maui Department of Planning. Her official start date is April 1.
Volcano Watch: Establishing a nascent monitoring program on Pico Basile Volcano, Equatorial Guinea
A collaboration between the UNGE, the USAID-USGS VDAP, and US scientists through the Fulbright Specialist Program has culminated in the first volcano-monitoring program in Equatorial Guinea
Merwin Conservancy Returns to the MACC with Green Room Series, featuring Sound Artist Lanzilotti, April 14
The Merwin Conservancy’s Green Room series returns with composer and sound artist Leilehua Lanzilotti on Sunday, April 14, 2024 at 6 p.m. in the McCoy Studio Theater.
Fire at light industrial area near Kīhei wastewater plant causes $220,000 in damage
Maui fire crews battled a structure fire in the light industrial area of Kīhei Saturday night near the wastewater plant, fire officials said.
Maui Cancer Resources launches ‘Angels on Assignment’ project funded by 100+ Women Who Care Maui
Maui Cancer Resources, a Maui-based nonprofit, is launching a new program, “Angels on Assignment” from a grant awarded from 100+ Women Who Care
Maui on March 5, 2024.
Hawaiian Music Series features Deason Baybayan, March 28
The public is invited to the March installment of the free, monthly Hawaiian Music Series which will feature a special performance by Deason Baybayan. The free concert will be held at 6 p.m. on March 28, at Hale Hoʻikeʻike at the Bailey House Museum in Wailuku.
Free webinar ‘Who will save Hawaiʻi’s coral reef saviors?’ to be hosted by Maui Nui Marine Resource Council
The Maui Nui Marine Resource Council will host the April edition of its “Know Your Ocean Speaker Series” featuring Mark Hixon, professor of marine biology at the School of Life Sciences at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, on Wednesday, April 3 at 5:30 p.m. via Zoom.
Hawaiʻi Department of Health observes World Tuberculosis Day
In 2023 Hawaiʻi had 116 diagnosed cases of active TB, up from 100 cases in 2022. This increase parallels the global and mainland experience in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023 approximately 1.5 million people died from TB worldwide, with 16 of those deaths occurring in Hawai‘i.
UH Mānoa begins two-year initiative to become a Native Hawaiian place of learning
The team tasked with helping advance the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa as a Native Hawaiian Place of Learning has officially launched a two-year initiative immersing a diverse range of students and employees in Native Hawaiian values and traditions.
