Maui News

Even while weakening, Dora is expected to remain a hurricane through the entire 5-day forecast period, according to forecasters with the National Hurricane Center. The National Weather Service advises that “while it should continue to be monitored, guidance shows Dora passing south of the islands.”  Forecasters with the NWS are anticipating limited showers with trade winds becoming strong and gusty on Tuesday.

Vandalism has reportedly altered one of the main county tennis courts in Wailuku. According to county officials, the upper tennis court at the War Memorial Complex was painted to accommodate pickleball use and a bracket was installed into a wood panel of the facility fence for shade.

Maui firefighters responded to an early morning alarm regarding a boat fire at Māʻalaea Harbor on Thursday. Damages were estimated at $8,000, according to Maui Fire Department officials.

During a three-day site visit, members of the Senate Ways and Means Committee were met by state officials and community members who delivered presentations on their plans for a range of both Governor’s and Senate priorities, including: economic and workforce development, investments in infrastructure, and the coalescing of a food innovation network. The group also discussed the future of Kahoʻolawe and Kalaupapa.

The meeting will include updates on the West Maui Greenway, improvements to Honokōwai Playground and Lahaina Recreation Center and land maintenance of county land along Honoapiʻilani Highway.

A live boa constrictor was captured aboard a cargo ship in Honolulu Harbor over the weekend. The juvenile snake was measured at a foot-and-a-half long.

A team from the Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project, a Hawaiʻi-based nonprofit organization, returned to Honolulu on Wednesday, with 86,100 pounds of marine debris removed from shallow coral reefs and shorelines of the islands and atolls within Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. 

American Savings Bank announced the return of its Bank for Education KeikiCo Contest, an annual business plan competition that empowers young entrepreneurs with financial education and offers student teams a chance to win up to $25,000 for their school.

The Department of the Attorney General and the Federal Communications Commission today announced a partnership to investigate illegal robocalling. The partnership between the Department and federal investigators establishes critical information sharing and cooperation structures to investigate spoofing and robocalls scam campaigns.

Hawai‘i Island police have identified the body found in the ocean near the cliffs off Old Government Road in the Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision on Sunday, as 39-year-old Seth Kapiliokalani Waltjen, of Hilo.

Organizers say 100% of proceeds from the Aug. 19 concert will support Maui Humane Society’s Hope Fund, which provides advanced life saving surgeries and procedures for Maui’s homeless animals.

The Category 3 hurricane has maximum sustained winds of 125 mph with higher gusts. Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center say Dora has likely peaked in intensity.

Representatives will answer questions on providing goods and services to car rental agencies, various contracting opportunities, the Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) certification process, additional Supplier Diversity certifications, and other benefits for small businesses.

Nonprofit and for-profit organizations in Maui County that offer or plan to offer programs or services in social welfare, youth services, alcohol and substance abuse, homelessness, youth centers or animal management are encouraged to apply for county Department of Housing and Human Concerns Fiscal Year 2025-26 grants.

The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, Maui Visitors and Convention Bureau, and Moloka‘i task force have postponed the Molokaʻi Destination Management Action Plan community meeting, originally planned on Tuesday, Aug. 15, at the Mitchell Pau‘ole Community Center. 

Governor Josh Green, M.D. joined the Department of Human Services today in announcing the appointment of Trista Speer to serve as the 2nd Deputy Director for the Hawai‘i Department of Human Services, where she joins Director Cathy Betts, and Deputy Director Joseph Campos II in their respective leadership roles.

The Marine Debris Rapid Response Hotline is meant for the rapid removal of abandoned fishing nets and fishing lines that can entangle and harm Hawaiʻi’s endangered wildlife and coral reefs. The goal of this hotline is to remove the debris before an animal can be entangled and before the net washes back out to sea, which can impact human and wildlife safety alike. The hotline can be reached at 833-4-DA-NETS or reports can be made online.

Nominations for the Community Business, Humanitarian and Outstanding Nonprofit Executive Director awards are being accepted by the Maui County Nonprofit Directors Association.

Hale Mahaolu recently welcomed Joyce Tamori to its Board of Directors. Tamori is currently the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Hawaiʻi Health Systems Corporation, which oversees the State Hospital system. She joins Hale Mahaolu’s 15-member Board that provides fiscal and program guidance to Hale Mahaolu.

Update: A head-on crash early Wednesday morning claimed the life of three people. Maui police have since identified all individuals involved. Police say speed is believed to be a factor in the fiery crash.