Maui News

A federal grant of $25,000,000 has been secured for the Līloa Drive extension in Kīhei on Maui as part of Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America Agenda. The project will extend Līloa Drive by 2,900 lineal feet and notes the addition of two more roundabouts to the South Maui community.

What began as a slide show three years ago at a community event has turned into a gem of a book about Maui history: “Mā’alaea: The Untold Story of Maui’s’ Historic Crossroad.”

The state Department of Transportation has announced a speed limit reduction for part of the Haleakalā Highway.  Speed is being reduced from 55 mph to 45 mph in the northbound direction in the vicinity of the North Firebreak Road Intersection near the Hāna Highway, between mile 0.20 and 0.70.  

Kamaliʻi Elementary School principal, Cynthia “Cyndi” Rothdeutsch, was recognized as the Project Based Learning Champion of the Year by PBL Works. The prestigious national award acknowledges Rothdeutsch’s outstanding contributions to education and her dedication to implementing project-based learning or PBL in her school.

Mokulele Airlines will suspend its daily flights between Hilo and Kahului beginning Aug. 1, 2023. Mokulele will redeploy those aircraft to provide additional service to Molokaʻi and to add a new evening flight between Kahului and Kona.

Fourth of July fireworks and music, the Maui Film Festival, the Makawao Stampede rodeo and a number of Hawaiian concerts, including one by rising talent Wehilei, are among the top events happening on Maui. Find our comprehensive listing HERE.

A newly formed organization called Fish Pono–Save Our Reefs aims to raise awareness about the crucial role of replenishing herbivore fish populations in preserving healthy coral reefs. The group, consisting of ocean enthusiasts, scientists, watermen and women, and fishers, emphasizes the concept of living “pono,” in harmony with nature.

Maui fire crews worked overnight to battle a stubborn fire in Olowalu where 100 acres had burned by nightfall on Tuesday.  The fire was 50% contained at last report. 

Small food entrepreneurs seeking to enhance their business growth will gain invaluable insights during two informational webinars in August, focused on food safety and labeling. These webinars are presented by the Maui Food Technology Center.

Dozens of people attended a weekend candlelight ceremony organized by the Korean War Veterans Association Maui Nō Ka ʻOi Chapter 282. The event, held Sunday, marked 73 years since the start of the Korean War.

Hawaiian Telcom has completed its fiber expansion throughout the island of Lāna‘i, marking another step towards closing the state’s digital divide. Lāna‘i residents and businesses island-wide now have access to Hawaiian Telcom’s high-speed internet Fioptics.

Maui Economic Opportunity has begun operating out of the Lahaina Civic Center two times a month to improve access to clients on the west side. Community Services staff will be available from 9 a.m. to noon on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. 

Keōpūolani Regional Park’s lower fields and walkways—about 4.425 acres of the 110-acre park in Wailuku—reopened on Monday after unsafe field lights were removed, the county Department of Parks and Recreation announced.

The Maui Film Festival kicks off on Wednesday with a one-of-a-kind Stardust Cinema which includes 11 feature film premieres taking place June 28  to July 2 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center in Kahului.

The film is entertaining, a how-to primer for regenerative agriculture and a powerful call to action to fix our food system. Common Ground features appearances and narration by Laura Dern, Jason Momoa, Rosario Dawson, Ian Somerhalder and Woody Harrelson. It is the highly anticipated follow up film to Kiss the Ground.

Eight ocean safety recruits graduated from the Maui Department of Fire & Public Safety, Ocean Safety Bureau’s 5th Recruit Class. Congratulations to: Liane Mickey, Haley Kalama, Leyla Anderson, Ginger Prados, Anthony Cappadona, Tristan Kasprzycki, Ozzie Clarke and Alex King.

A single public aerial fireworks display is scheduled on July Fourth, at 8 p.m. from a barge positioned offshore of Front St. in Lahaina. The sale of July Fourth fireworks begins on June 29, 2023 and ends on July 4, 2023 at 8 p.m., the County of Maui’s, Department of Fire and Public Safety announced.

The J. Walter Cameron Center celebrates its 50th anniversary, marking five decades of service to the Maui community. Since its establishment in 1973, the Cameron Center has been a catalyst for change, amplifying, incubating and supporting social services throughout Maui County.

Hawaiian Electric will hold a community meeting on July 11 to receive comments on its proposal to build new generating units that can run on a variety of renewable fuels, including biofuels.

a $300,000 economic stability grant was awarded to Ma Ka Hana ‘Ike Building Program in Hāna, Maui, to provide job readiness training for students in vocational trades. A $10,000 ʻAhahui event grant was awarded to Hāna Arts to help support the Hāna Farmers Market.