Maui News
Kaponoʻai Molitau named Director of Maui Department of ʻŌiwi Resources
Kaponoʻai Molitau was named Director of the County Department of ʻŌiwi Resources, Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen announced. Molitau is founder and CEO of Native Intelligence, opened in 2009 as a Hawaiian cultural resource center and retail business in Wailuku. As Kumu Hula of Hālau Nā Hanona Kūlike ʻO Piʻilani, he has been teaching youth, kūpuna and other kumu in the art of Hawaiian dance, oli and Hawaiian chant for the past 21 years.
Maui housing market remains stable in May; median still nearly $1.3M
In May 2024, Maui’s housing market exhibited stability in single-family home sales while showing moderate increases in median prices, according to the latest figures from the Realtors Association of Maui (RAM). The median sales price for single-family homes rose by 2% compared to May of the previous year, reaching $1,297,500 with the 2024 year-to-date median listed at $1,300,000 for Maui. Compared to last month, the median home price was $1,303,692 in March of 2024.
Four Maui County incumbents uncontested for re-election
By virtue of being uncontested, Maui County Council Members Shane Sinenci of East Maui and Gabe Johnson of Lāna‘i will be re-elected to their respective seats this year. Central Maui Sen. Troy Hashimoto is also uncontested for his 5th District Senate seat, and District 9 Rep. Justin Woodson has no opponent to stand in the way of his return to the state House of Representatives.
One more week to apply for Pūlama Kuamoʻo Mentorship Program
A program where students and emerging professionals from Hawai‘i meet and network with established professionals within Hawai‘i’s conservation research and natural resource management community is currently accepting applications for mentors and mentees. The deadline to apply for the mentorship program is Tuesday, June 18 at 11:59 p.m. HST.
Hawaiʻi Alpha Delta Kappa awards $12K total to scholarship winners this year
Hawaiʻi Alpha Delta Kappa (HADK), Gamma Chapter, of an international honorary sorority for women educators, presented $1,000 to 12 recent high-school graduates from Maui public schools.
New construction haul routes aim to reduce community impact during construction of Kilohana temporary housing
In response to community concerns regarding increased traffic, noise, safety hazards, and dust pollution, the US Army Corps of Engineers and the State of Hawai‘i are implementing alternate construction routes for the temporary housing projects in Lahaina. These changes aim to mitigate the impact on local residents while ensuring the continued progress of these essential housing projects.
Maui-based company announces first Duke’s restaurant on Big Island
A new restaurant – Duke’s Kona – will debut at the Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa on the Big Island in late 2025. T S Restaurants announced plans for the restaurant on Monday; it will mark the Maui-based company’s first venture on the Big Island and its ninth location in Hawai‘i.
Maui wildfire Alternative Debris Removal Program standards approved; deadline to apply June 15
The standards for the County of Maui Alternative Debris Removal Program have been approved by the Maui County Council, and applications for the program are currently being accepted. The application deadline is June 15, 2024, to sign up for either the Alternative Debris Removal Program or to obtain an approved Right-of-Entry for the Government-Sponsored Consolidated Debris Removal, per adopted standards.
Volcano Watch — Keeping up with Kīlauea
Kīlauea began erupting from fissures southwest of Kaluapele (the summit caldera) just after midnight on June 3; the eruption ceased just nine hours later, though lava flows continued to slowly spread for several more hours. Prior to the brief eruption, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) had been monitoring pulses of heightened seismic activity in the summit area for weeks.
Upcountry Gallery’s grand opening marks a fresh start in Makawao for artists whose work was lost to fires
A brand new fine art gallery in Makawao is defining itself as a new beginning for Maui artists who lost their main source of income after the devastating fires destroyed their art and the galleries that hosted them in Lahaina.
Talk story with Yuki Lei at Upcountry Farmers Market, June 8
Council Member Yuki Lei Sugimura will hold her monthly Talk Story with Yuki Lei outreach program this Saturday, June 8, at the Upcountry Farmers Market from 7 to 11 a.m.
FEMA is hiring: Resume workshops continue on Maui
The Federal Emergency Management Agency will host a series of resume workshops in June, intended to hire residents for long-term positions with FEMA in Maui County.
A 2,000-foot mural of plumeria lei is unveiled at Hawaiʻi State Capitol
A 2,000-foot mural of a plumeria lei can now be seen encircling the Hawai‘i State Capitol building on O‘ahu. The unveiling of the “He Lei Ho‘okipa” took place on Tuesday, to welcome and honor participants of the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (FestPAC). The mural serves as a visual message of aloha, extending a warm welcome to the 27 Pacific nation delegations of FestPAC.
Kama‘āina receive $10 admission for World Ocean Day
World Ocean Day is held each year on June 8 to “help unite and rally the world to protect and restore our blue planet.” Maui Ocean Center will celebrate World Ocean Day with family-friendly activities including live music, art projects and marine naturalist presentations from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 8. Discounted admission for kama‘āina, with valid Hawaiʻi state ID, is $10 per person (ages 3 and younger are free).
MEO, Employers Option host Humanitarian Job Fair for Maui disaster relief
A Humanitarian Job Fair for Maui Disaster Relief, offered by Maui Economic Opportunity (MEO) and Employers Options, will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday, June 13, at Queen Kaʻahumanu Center.
Maui’s To Be Organics, Farm to Fuge and Waiwaolani chosen for business accelerator program
Mana Up has selected three Maui businesses to join its ninth cohort for the six month accelerator program running from June to November this year. This cohort’s companies from Maui are To Be Organics, Farm to Fudge, and Waiwaolani.
County Council opposes Air Force telescope project atop Haleakalā
After hearing testimony overwhelmingly opposed to Air Force plans to build and operate up to seven telescopes atop Haleakalā, Maui County Council members unanimously supported a resolution opposing construction of the proposed Air Force Maui Optical and Supercomputing Site Small Telescope Advanced Research facility.
Maui Arts & Cultural Center presents FOCUS in the Schaefer International Gallery, June 15 to Aug. 7
Maui Arts & Cultural Center presents FOCUS in Schaefer International Gallery, a group exhibition featuring the work of seven contemporary Japanese photographers who go by the collective name Photography? End? The artists include Yuji Hamada, Ken Kitano, Miki Nitadori, Yuki Onodera, Naruki Oshima, Risaku Suzuki, and Kazuyoshi Usui. Their respective avenues of work look at the potentiality of photography in a rapidly evolving digital age, with a diverse range of approaches in material innovation. The exhibition runs from June 15 through Aug. 7. The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.
Maui Metropolitan Planning Organization seeking Executive Director
The Maui Metropolitan Planning Organization is accepting applications for its Executive Director position. The Executive Director is responsible for conducting and administering a multimodal 3-C (cooperative, continuing and comprehensive) Planning Process for the Maui Metropolitan Planning Area.
New chick observed, marking second year in a row for nesting of grey-backed terns at Palmyra Atoll
A second grey-backed tern chick has been documented at Palmyra Atoll, further validating that seabird attraction efforts are working, according to leaders with The Nature Conservancy. TNC says providing safe havens that are predator-free, like Palmyra Atoll or areas with predator-proof fencing, gives these birds a chance to thrive.
