Maui News

The Illegal Fireworks Task Force seized approximately 17 tons (34,000 pounds) of illegal fireworks on Wednesday from a shipping container that falsely declared its contents as other items.

In a recent Pau Hana celebration at the Kīhei Charter School, 10 graduates of the Maui Tradewinds Vocational Training and Education Program moved on to the next step in their potential Maui-based engineering careers.

From exclusive food offerings to prime views in golf, there will be plenty for fans to enjoy when The Sentry returns to The Plantation Course at Kapalua from Jan. 4-7, 2024.

The state’s minimum wage will increase to $14 per hour beginning on Jan. 1, 2024. Act 114 incrementally increases the minimum wage to $16 per hour Jan. 1, 2026, and to $18 per hour Jan. 1, 2028.

The 2024 filing deadline for numerous real property tax exemption claims and applications this year is Jan. 2, 2024, due to County of Maui offices being closed for New Year’s Day.

All proceeds from the tournament will directly benefit Uhiwai O Haleakalā, Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project, and Maui Nui Seabird Recovery Project.

Kaleo Manuel, the First Deputy on the state Commission on Water Resource Management is apparently leaving his post after being reassigned following the August wildfires, and then reinstated two months later following an investigation by the Attorney General.

“These devices play a crucial role in facilitating the processing of FEMA paperwork, unemployment claims, insurance matters, as well as aiding in education, housing, and employment searches, accessing support services, and maintaining connections with family and friends,” according to organization leaders.

Surf is expected to be in the 20-30 foot range along the north facing shores, and up to 18-22 feet along affected west facing shores today.  The swell will have a brief decline tonight, but a second extra-large NNW swell will fill in on Thursday, bringing surf as high as 35 feet to the north shores. 

The petition from a family on Olowalu Village Road says even temporary storage of these substances from the Aug. 8 wildfires “poses great risk of causing irreversible damage to soil, water, air, the ocean and people.”

Kaulunani Urban and Community Forestry, a program of the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife, is now seeking grant proposals from community organizations that would like to share the benefits of trees with their communities for Arbor Day 2024. The deadline to apply is Monday, Jan. 15, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. HST.

Effective Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024, operational hours will be modified for the Lahaina Disaster Recovery Center. 

Hui O Ka Wai Ola, a community-based water-quality monitoring organization, was awarded funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to increase its collection of West Maui water quality data in response to the Lahaina wildfire.

Two new temporary sites, along with several established green waste locations, are set up around Maui County this year for residents to drop off Christmas trees for recycling, according to an announcement by the County of Maui Department of Environmental Management Division of Environmental Protection and Sustainability. 

Maui lawmakers are among those selected for leadership roles in the upcoming legislative session. Sen. Lynn DeCoite was named Assistant Majority Floor Leader and Sen. Troy Hashimoto was selected as one of five Assistant Majority Whips.

On Nov. 1, 2023, the final phases of reopening West Maui (except Lahaina) after the Aug. 8 wildfires started, resulting in increased unit night supply and unit night demand in Kā‘anapali, Nāpili and Kapalua when compared to the previous month.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency warns the public of online classified advertisements that are luring Maui wildfire survivors with false offers of available rental units. “People are learning too late that the cash they paid for a security deposit went to a scammer instead,” according to a FEMA news release.

“What Day Are You” has continued to receive praise for its message of being in the present and embracing life fully, as well as serving as a beacon of guidance and encouragement for young adolescents seeking solace and direction in their lives.

The nonprofit foundation, For Children to Flourish, is funding and organizing Trilogy Catamaran trips for families impacted by the August wildfire in Lahaina.

Recommendations include: extra training for personnel responding to residents’ questions and concerns; development of pamphlets outlining sampling and testing processes and use of the JBPHH Safe Waters website; and a plan to extend the LTM program beyond its originally planned end date of March 2024.