Maui News

World Plate and Paniolo Grill are both open this semester, doubling the number of lunch options from last semester at UHMC’s Pā‘ina Market. Both of these outlets are run by students in the college’s award-winning culinary arts program.

On Maui, the Great Whale Count by Pacific Whale Foundation was only able to report from one of 12 designated sites due to ongoing heavy rain. The single Great Whale Count site on Maui was able to report 41 whales. A total of nine whales were observed during the 10-10:15 a.m. time period, the most of any time period throughout the day’s count.

The Lt. Governor started her visit by greeting students in Korean and sharing with them her own language experiences and stressing the value of speaking the language of one’s culture. 

A surface trough near Maui County continues to bring cloud and shower development over the islands as it moves slowly west through today, according to the National Weather Service. A strong upper-level low to the west is destabilizing the atmosphere, with a Flood Watch in effect for all islands through this afternoon.

The Hawai‘i State Department of Education’s five public schools on Moloka‘i will be closed for students and staff on Monday, Jan. 30, due to impacts from severe weather. The impacted schools are: Kaunakakai Elementary; Kilohana Elementary; Maunaloa Elementary; Moloka‘i Middle; and Moloka‘i High.

Measurements of gravity can be used to determine how mass is distributed beneath a volcano.  At Kīlauea, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory performs routine microgravity surveys to monitor volcanic activity and to determine changes in gravity.

Flooding and ground conditions have caused the closure of Baldwin Beach Park, Kalepolepo Beach Park, Kepaniwai Park, and the third entrance to Kanaha Beach Park. Restrooms at Kanaha Beach Park are closed until water service is restored. The Cooke Memorial Pool on Molokaʻi is also closed today.

 “The Business of Being Blind,” a workshop for family, friends, co-workers and employers of people who are blind, will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Feb. 10, at Maui Economic Opportunity in Wailuku.

Maui Flood Watch until Monday afternoon: A surface trough will continue to bring heavy showers and thunderstorms over Maui County. Flooding has already affected some areas in Maui County and any additional rainfall will quickly flood low-lying areas, according to forecasters.

Maui County had the largest vacation rental supply, occupancy and average daily rates of all four counties last month, according to a recent state report.

A 120,000-pound sperm whale that washed up on the shore of Lydgate Park on Kauaʻi Saturday, prompted agency response.

A depredation event in which pigs destroyed or ate dozens of eggs from nesting albatross, is suspected as the cause of survival issues for at least one mōlī or Laysan Albatross.

Of the total, $59,040 and 1,092 pounds of food were collected for Maui Food Bank at TS Restaurants’ four Maui locations – Duke’s Beach House Maui, Hula Grill Kāʻanapali, Kimo’s Maui and Leilani’s on the Beach.

An emergency shelter opened at Mitchell Pauole Center in Kaunakakai on Molokaʻi is scheduled to close at 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, after most roads were cleared of debris and floodwaters receded along the island’s south shore.

This version of Maui Nowʻs letters includes discussion about drainage for repeat flooding areas, lack of effort to find Mauiʻs missing persons, Villages of Lealiʻi development, discrimination by TSA at Kahuli Airport pre-check, Makawao fire, longtime visitors upset about recent lack of “Aloha Spirt,” radical idea to get rid of Axis deer and more.

The funding is for the operation and capital costs associated with Hawai‘i’s public transit systems, including the Maui Bus, TheBus, Kaua‘i Bus, Hele-On Bus, and TheHandi-Van fleets.

The US Department of Defense Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program awards this year include $2.9 million to increase the resilience of endangered wildlife on Lāna‘i. (To be supported by $4.8 million in partner contributions.)

Find Saturday weather related cancellations for Maui here. We have a running list of cancellations due to severe weather and flooding on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023.

The state Department of Transportation will be conducting road work this week that will result in lane closures at various locations. Lane closure schedules may change at any time without further notice.  All projects are weather permitting. 

Find weather related road closures here: South Kīhei Road is closed from North Kīhei Road to Uwapo Road. Pi’ilani Highway, Mile Marker 30-32, back side of Kaupō. Hāna Highway, Mile Marker 23.