Maui News

A 42-foot catamaran moored approximately 300 yards off Māla Wharf in Lahaina was reported to be taking on water and sinking on Thursday morning.

County of Maui offices, facilities and services will be closed or modified on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Gov. Josh Green has appointed Jon Itomura to serve as Chair of the Hawaiʻi Public Utilities Commission.

Ready Keiki launched in January 2023 with the goal of expanding preschool access statewide. Since then, the state has opened more than 80 classrooms through the Executive Office on Early Learning Public Pre-Kindergarten Program.

Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice has opened its newest location at Maui Ocean Center.   The shave ice stand — located near Maui Ocean Center’s entrance — is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

Pacific Whale Foundation reports it has successfully retrieved a rare, nearly intact whale placenta—the most complete specimen it has ever had the opportunity to study. This is the second full placenta that has been collected in Hawai’i, the most recent one was in 2020 by Pacific Whale Foundation. 

With the end of temporary federal emergency assistance now set for the end of next month, Mayor Richard Bissen advised Lahaina wildfire survivors Wednesday night to take a permanent housing alternative, if available.

Hale Makua Health Services, a Maui-born nonprofit serving the island for 80 years, today announced two landmark projects inspired by the community. The first project is an innovative health care complex in collaboration with Hawaiʻi Medical Service Association (HMSA) currently referred to as the “CarePlex.” The second project is a 100-unit workforce housing development.

Valley Isle Softball Little League will open its inaugural season with an opening day ceremony at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 17, at the Central Maui Regional Sports Complex.

The Credit Unions of Maui recently raised $8,000 and collected more than 1,800 pounds of non-perishable food for the Maui Food Bank through their annual Food and Funds Drive.

Most of the earthquakes are volcano-tectonic earthquakes that accompany crack opening due to magmatic pressure, according to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

The findings challenges the conventional understanding of tiger sharks as purely solitary animals, revealing a predictable seasonal convergence of mature males and females that coincides with the humpback whale calving season in Hawaiʻi.

Free educational resources focusing on stormwater awareness and STEM learning are now available to Maui County schools through the State of Hawaii Department of Transportation, Highways Maui District.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Maui announced that Karey Kapoi returns as Board Chair this month, after previously serving in the role from 2018 to 2021.

Radar shows that the heavy rain has diminished. Therefore, the Flood Advisory has been canceled. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a threat. Additional light showers are expected through the  afternoon.

The Haleakalā Visitor Center parking lot will have limited parking for an extended period due to a water infrastructure project. This project started this week and will last through the summer. Traffic delays are also expected during this project.

The Maui Planning Commission unanimously recommended Tuesday that the Maui County Council defer action on the 1,608-unit Hoʻonani Village project near Kahului Airport until a draft environmental impact statement is published.

Seabury Hall Performing Arts will present “Art with Heart 2026: Love from Within” on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, at the ʻAʻaliʻikūhonua Creative Arts Center on the Seabury Hall campus.

The Shops at Wailea has announced three upcoming concerts, featuring Nevah Too Late, Rama Camarillo and Jason Arcilla.

The University of Hawaiʻi has doubled down on the use of AI chatbots across all 10 of its campuses to help support students’ well-being in and out of the classroom.