Maui News
Central Pacific Bank to serve as title sponsor for MIL Championships
Central Pacific Bank announces it will serve as the first ever title sponsor for Maui Interscholastic League sports championships for the next three school years (2023-24 through 2025-26). The financial support will help enhance the player and audience experience at the title games.
Schatz: New FEMA funding ensures Maui will have federal relief for foreseeable future
“The new funding means that Maui will have the federal relief funding it needs for the foreseeable future. It’s good news for Hawai‘i and for Lahaina’s recovery,” said US Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i).
Survey conducted on health of West Maui coral reefs in the wake of the August wildfires
The Maui Nui Marine Resource Council, in collaboration with Australian coral reef-imaging startup Flying Fish Technologies, worked to collect baseline data on reef conditions in West Maui in the wake of the August wildfires.
Lahaina Treescape Restoration Project update: New sprouts atop banyan tree
Volunteer arborists and landscapers have banded together as the Lahaina Treescape Restoration Project. The title was coined by arborist Steve Nimz who initiated care and watering for the historic Banyan tree, which is showing signs of recovery with new sprouts high in the canopy.
Wailea Golf Club offers mahalo deal to first responders
In appreciation of the many first responders who bravely fought the Maui wildfires and continue to assist with the island’s recovery, Wailea Golf Club is extending a special First Responders Mahalo offer for the entire month of October 2023.
One more Lahaina fire victim identified by police: death toll is 97, unaccounted for is 12
The Maui Police Department identified one more victim of the Aug. 8 Lahaina fire on Monday: Franklin Trejos, 68, of Lahaina.
Staffing shortage to temporarily close the Molokaʻi Real Property Assessment office
The Molokaʻi Real Property Assessment office located at the Mitchell Pauole Center will close temporarily due to a staffing shortage until Friday, Oct. 13. The office will reopen on Monday, Oct. 16, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
State opens public comment period on draft Hawaiʻi Digital Equity Plan
Digital equity objectives include the availability and affordability of both fixed and wireless broadband; the accessibility and inclusivity of online public resources and services; digital literacy; awareness and use of security and online privacy and cybersecurity; and the availability and affordability of consumer devices and technical support for those devices.
Surfer suffers minor scrapes in apparent shark encounter at Tavares Bay in Pāʻia, Maui
The woman reported to authorities that while she was surfing a shark she described as a 10-12-foot-long Galapagos shark bit her board and launched her into the air. She landed on the shark which then bit through her board leash, according to an account detailed by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. Officials say she was able to get back onto her board and swim to shore without further incident.
Pediatric Therapies Hawaiʻi reopens West Maui clinic
Pediatric Therapies Hawaiʻi reopened its Lahaina clinic on Monday, Oct. 2 2023. The business provides pediatric Physical and Occupational Therapy services to children in West Maui.
Maui County says it will be ‘picking up the pace’ of its reentry program into Lahaina burn zone
Darryl Oliveira, interim administrator for Maui Emergency Management Agency, said Maui County is working with partner agencies to speed up the process for thousands of residents still anxiously waiting to return to their homes that were destroyed — or survived in the burn zone — of the Aug. 8 fire.
Council meetings on wildfire debris removal and amendments to budget, Oct. 5 and 6
The Maui County Council will hold a special council meeting Thursday, Oct. 5 at 8 a.m. on a debris-removal bill and a regular council meeting Friday, Oct. 6 at 9 a.m on amending the fiscal year 2024 budget and other matters.
Petition draws 10K signatures asking governor to delay reopening of West Maui to tourism
An online petition demanding a delay to the planned reopening of West Maui to tourism on Oct. 8, has garnered more than 10,000 signatures.
2,500 families to continue sheltering in hotels and similar lodging after Maui wildfires
More than 2,500 families had established full eligibility for non-congregate sheltering as of Monday morning, Oct. 2, up from about 2,200 on Friday, Sept. 29, the Red Cross reported.
Credit Unions of Maui golf tournament raises $38,000 for Maui wildfire relief
The Credit Unions of Maui planned to host their annual Charity Golf Tournament on Aug. 12, 2023, to benefit local nonprofit, Hospice Maui. Considering the wildfires that ravaged areas throughout Maui, the event was cancelled, and in partnership with Hospice Maui, the $38,000 in proceeds raised was donated to the Credit Unions of Maui Wildfire Relief Fund, which has been providing essential resources to their members and those who have been impacted by the Maui wildfires.
Gov. Green lowers flags to honor California Senator Dianne Feinstein
At the direction of the President of the United States, Governor Josh Green, M.D., has ordered the United States flag and the Hawaiʻi state flag to be flown at half-staff in honor of the late California Senator Dianne Feinstein, who served as a US senator from 1992 to 2023.
A return to Maui for Haunted Hawaiian Ghost Stories with Lopaka Kapanui, Oct. 25
The Maui Arts & Cultural Center presents Lopaka Kapanui, a storyteller favorite returning to Maui to present his Haunted Hawaiian Ghost Stories. The event is FREE to the public in Castle Theater, Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 6 p.m. Registering in advance is required and is available online only starting at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 3 at MauiArts.org.
Maui Council committee to meet on wildfire recovery, transitional housing, Oct. 4
The Maui County Council’s Disaster, Resilience, International Affairs and Planning Committee will meet at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4, to receive updates on recovery efforts in response to the August 2023 wildfires, including temporary and transitional housing.
Construction Industry of Maui’s inaugural golf tournament raises more than $70,000
The Construction Industry of Maui raised more than $70,000 during its inaugural golf tournament held at The Dunes at Maui Lani Golf Course on Saturday, Sept. 30.
8 Native Hawaiian organizations awarded total of $1M in NATIVE Act Grants
The Department of the Interior’s Office of Native Hawaiian Relations announced the awarding of $1 million in grants to eight Native Hawaiian organizations to implement the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act.
