Maui News

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.

Interventional cardiologist Dr. Jason T. Call has joined the staff at Pacific Permanente Group, a Maui-based medical group providing health care services in nearly a dozen specialties. 

A series of Hawaiian language fairs are happening throughout Hawaiʻi in February as part of Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi or Hawaiian Language Month. This includes an Ola Ka ʻĪ Maui Nui event at the Queen Kaʻahumanu Shopping Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this coming Saturday.

University of Hawaiʻi Maui College is offering new, more affordable art classes this spring in the Heona studios on campus.

Queen Ka‘ahumanu Center celebrates the Lunar New Year with a family event, Feb. 18 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Debris and ash removal was completed on the 100th residential property in the Lahaina Wildfire Disaster Area on Wednesday, (Feb. 14) 30 days after the work began in Lahaina, county officials said.

The Maui Police Department requests the public’s help with any information on the whereabouts of Charles Wilyard, 58, known to frequent the Wailuku area.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources will host free grant-writing classes for farmers, entrepreneurs and small businesses Feb. 23 on Molokaʻi, Feb. 27 on Maui, and Feb. 29 on Lānaʻi.

The Hawai‘i Department of Health has confirmed five cases of pertussis (whooping cough) among members of a single household, including a child who was hospitalized. The family had traveled from the United States mainland and stayed at a hotel accommodation on O‘ahu, according to department reports.

Starting around 2017, the five Oliveira sisters spent hours upon hours learning about military terms, DD-214s and discharge papers with the help of their uncles Tommy and Mel. It was their goal to get their father on the memorial.