Maui News

Thousands of short-term vacation rental apartments could begin switching to long-term housing for residents as early as July 1, 2025, for West Maui, and Jan. 1, 2026, for the rest of Maui County in a proposed measure announced today by Mayor Richard Bissen.

A coalition of conservation groups today filed a second lawsuit to protect endangered Hawaiian petrels (ʻuaʻu) from lights at the Grand Wailea Resort on Maui. Today’s lawsuit was filed by Earthjustice on behalf of Conservation Council for Hawaiʻi and the Center for Biological Diversity.

Hawaiʻi Community Lending announces a new Lahaina Homeowner Recovery Program. This three-year program will assist up to 500 owner-occupant Lahaina homeowners prevent foreclosure and qualify for financing to rebuild their homes.

The Kahului Fire Station and Kalana O Maui County Building will be lit red this week in remembrance of fallen firefighters, including County of Maui Firefighter Tre’ Evans-Dumaran.

HB2144 requires the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Health to amend the definition of “homemade food products” in its Hawaiʻi Administrative Rules, and to adopt certain rules regarding the sale and delivery of homemade food products, which pragmatically expands opportunities for cottage food producers and consumers without compromising food safety.

The state’s largest public charter school system, Hawai‘i Technology Academy, is bringing a different way of learning to students at its two Maui campuses. 

Maui County’s firearm registrations, applications and imports were all up in double digits in 2023 compared with 2022, according to the Hawaiʻi Department of the Attorney General’s annual report detailing statewide and county firearm registration statistics.

The County of Maui filed a third-party complaint on Wednesday in the Circuit Court of the Second Circuit, State of Hawaiʻi, against Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile US, Spectrum Mobile, and AT&T related to the August 2023 Maui wildfires.

Senate Bill 1035 SD2 HD1 CD1, exempts hospitals, infirmaries, medical clinics, health care facilities, pharmacies, and medical and dental providers from General Excise Tax on goods or services that are reimbursed through Medicaid, Medicare, or TRICARE. If approved by the governor, this law will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2026.

The 45th Annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk Maui takes place this Saturday at the War Memorial Special Events Field in Wailuku. The event starts with a warmup at 7 a.m., followed by the Charity Walk at 7:30 a.m., activities under the main tent at 8:15 a.m., and festivities conclude at 10 a.m.

Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc, in partnership with the Maui County Planning and Coordinating Council, will host the 52nd Annual Kupuna Aloha Luncheon from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, July 27, 2024, at the Grand Wailea. 

Maui United Way stepped in today to provide emergency stop-gap funding to a hui of organizations led by Common Ground Collective dedicated to feeding vulnerable fire-impacted families on Maui’s West Side while also providing a boost to local farmers.

The Maui County Department of Environmental Management filed a complaint Tuesday in 2nd Circuit Court for condemnation of nearly 20 acres of former quarry land next to the Central Maui Landfill in Puʻunēnē.

The 56th Annual Makawao Parade takes place on Saturday, June 29, 2024. The Makawao Parade has long been a cherished tradition, bringing together residents, businesses and visitors to celebrate the vibrant culture and heritage of Makawao Town.

The state of Hawai‘i and its partners broke ground and held a Hawaiian blessing ceremony Tuesday for a Ka Laʻi Ola, a 450-unit temporary housing project in Lahaina to help displaced wildfire survivors who’re ineligible for aid by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Early Wednesday morning, Kaiwi (RK96) pupped at Kaimana Beach. This is the third offspring she’s delivered at Kaimana. Her three other pups were born along her namesake—the Kaiwi Coast in East O’ahu.

Maui-based nonprofit organization, UVSC (Us Vs. Cancer), will hold the 2nd Annual Trucker Dukes Memorial Dive Invasive Roundup Tournament on June 22, 2024 at Rinzai Zen Mission, located on Baldwin Beach in Pāʻia.

Reyn Spooner raised more than $15,000 for the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation’s Maui Strong Fund on Lahaina Sailor Day on April 7, 2024. This recent effort brings the total contributions from the aloha wear company and its dedicated customers to more than $120,000 for disaster relief and recovery following the devastating wildfires in Maui.

Green is the national color of mental health acceptance, representing hope, strength, support and encouragement for people who live with mental health concerns. To show their support, more than 200 iconic landmarks across the country will be lit in green this May.

The monthly test of the all-hazard State Outdoor Warning Siren System is scheduled for Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at 11:45 a.m. The siren test will be coordinated with a test of the Live Audio Broadcast segment of the Emergency Alert System.