Maui News

The Maui Chamber of Commerce is now accepting Product Vendor and Food Truck Vendor applications for the 2023 Hawaiian Airlines Made in Maui County Festival. The 10th Annual event will be held at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center on Nov. 3 and 4, 2023.

As Hawaiʻi heads into another hurricane season, the American Red Cross is urging the public to prepare in advance.

An early morning structure fire at a Kahului restaurant resulted in $440,000 in damage, Friday.  The fire was first reported at 1:51 a.m. on May 26, 2023 at the new Rey’s Place restaurant, located at 70 Lono Ave.  

The 2023 Maui Film Festival presents STARDUST CINEMA, June 28 to July 2, 2023. Enjoy five engaging nights with 16 Maui Film Premieres, surprise titles, several short films, and nightly festivities which may include an eclectic mix of live music, Kahiko style hula, and tributes.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each Hula Badger beer was designated to benefit Maui United Way’s initiatives, which strive to address critical needs and promote the well-being of individuals and families across Maui County.

Maui Economic Opportunity’s program that assists individuals released from jail and prison by helping them to reintegrate into society, received $4,550 donations from the Construction Industry of Maui and three other attendees of the group’s scholarship banquet Wednesday. 

Maui County had the largest vacation rental supply in the state in April 2023. In comparison to pre-pandemic April 2019, ADR was higher in April 2023, but vacation rental supply, demand and occupancy were lower.

There are currently more than 130 dogs in the shelter’s care, but only 40 kennels. The organization reports that for the first time in years, the shelter has a list of at-risk animals for euthanasia.

There is a 50% chance of above-normal tropical cyclone activity during the Central Pacific hurricane season this year, according to the outlook from NOAA’s Central Pacific Hurricane Center and NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. For the 2023 season, 4 to 7 tropical cyclones are predicted for the Central Pacific hurricane region.

The Sentry Tournament of Champions raised a record $694,705 for charity in 2023. It’s the largest charitable impact figure raised for the local community since the event moved to Maui in 1999.

Julia Golding, a teacher and performing arts director at St. Anthony School in Wailuku, was honored as the Hawaiʻi Catholic Schools Teacher of the Year.

Congratulations to Maui Preparatory Academy’s Yuna Lee and Lahainaluna High School’s Jaysen Akahi-Vida! They are the recipients of the prestigious Bob Poulson Scholarship from the Construction Industry of Maui. Each was awarded $32,500 in scholarship funds.

Dozens of items were confiscated during a raid of the Antique Freak shop in Wailuku, Tuesday. A 42-year-old man was arrested and charged on suspicion of multiple misdemeanors including prohibited wildlife trafficking and possession of endangered and protected wildlife.

The recently named Hawaiian monk seal pup, Pualani (previously known as PO5) will be relocated from Kaimana Beach in Waikīkī after she is weaned, according to NOAA. The pup was born to mother seal Kaʻiwi in mid-April. 

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands held a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday, marking the start of a $17 million capital improvement project to install infrastructure for the planned Puʻunani subdivision in Waikapū. DHHL reports the funding is the first from the $600 million appropriated under Act 279 to serve beneficiaries on the DHHL waitlist.

The Maui Police Department hosts a child safety seat inspection event Saturday to ensure keiki are properly secured, and drivers follow proper seat installation. The event takes place May 27, 2023, from 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Maui Marketplace parking lot.

Mauiʻs Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel is being acquired by Outrigger Hospitality Group, according to a joint news release announcement.  The transaction is expected to close on July 26, at which time the property will be rebranded as OUTRIGGER Kā‘anapali Beach Resort. 

A brush fire burned approximately 1/4 acre along Mahalani Street in Wailuku near the Maui Memorial Medical Center. Crews battled the fire under windy conditions with gusty trades blowing at 10-20 mph.

A man believed to be in his 60s was pulled from waters at Honolua Bay on Tuesday afternoon, fire officials confirm.

In recognition of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Bank of Hawai‘i presented local business Maui Specialty Chocolates with a $10,000 grant from Fiserv as part of its Back2Business program.