Maui News

The Lahaina wildfire highlighted the dangers that remote communities face from fire, and the need for forecasts and warning services to reach them in a timely and actionable way.  Schatz’s provision would mandate fire weather forecasts and warnings be disseminated to remote, isolated, or rural communities as effectively as anywhere else in the country.

To commemorate the one year mark since the Kula wildfire—and showcase how much still needs to be done to clean up from last year’s disaster—Mālama Kula, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that was formed in the wake of the Kula Fire, will be doing what they’ve been doing for 12 straight months—holding 30 consecutive volunteer cleanup days for the entire month of August.

After everything she has been through, Lahaina-native Cheira Cappal can rest assured her first year of college is penned in black ink, with only opportunity lying ahead.

Slack Key ‘Ohana has been invited to perform at the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards when they are handed out by the Hawai’i Academy of Recording Arts this Saturday at the Hawai’i Convention Center.

The Maui Police Department issued a road closure at Pūlehu Road and Hansen Road due to a vehicle fire in the area. The closure was issued at 5:40 p.m. on Wednesday, July 31, 2024.

In celebration of Drive Aloha Month this August, DTRIC Insurance will hold its second annual competition to encourage safer driving habits.

The brush fire that began on July 31 in Kīhei was called 100% contained at 4:30 p.m. today.  Hot spots still remain within the perimeter.  The acreage is unchanged.  MFD units will continue to make checks and address hot spots throughout this afternoon and into the overnight hours.

Gov. Josh Green, M.D., has been awarded the Order of the Star of Italy (OSI, Ordine della Stella d’Italia). This prestigious honor is one of the highest-ranking awards conferred by the Italian Republic, upon proposal of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and recognizes individuals for their special merits in bilateral relations with Italy in various fields.

The tournament was not only a showcase of golfing prowess but also a significant fundraiser for Nā Hale O Maui, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing affordable housing solutions for Maui families. With the support of generous participants and sponsors, the event raised over $45,000 to further their mission; to secure and preserve a permanent supply of affordable housing alternatives for low and moderate income households in Maui County.

The Shops at Wailea is months away from a new culinary addition. The debut of Aurum Maui, the latest venture from Destination Hospitality Group, offers a fusion of New American cuisine and local ingredients.

The state of Hawai‘i Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Cable Television Division has approved Hawaiian Telcom’s cable franchise applications for the respective counties of Maui, Kaua‘i and Hawai‘i.

Twenty-five students graduated recently from the Hawaii Carpenters Apprenticeship & Training Fund’s Career Connections program, a six-week construction internship program.

Ahead of the one-year anniversary of the Maui fires on Aug. 8, US Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) spoke on the Senate floor to pay tribute to the victims, honor survivors, outline the needs of the Lahaina community, and call for continued federal support.

Hands-on STEM education modules for students in grades K through 12 are available to Maui schools for free through a partnership between the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation, Highways Maui District and the American Association of State Highways and Transportation Officials.

The meeting will include an update on alleviating traffic by restoring Honoapiʻilani Highway as a secondary route for through traffic only, a presentation by Lahaina Land Trust and a report on the status of debris clearing by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The County of Maui Planning Department will do a review of the new Special Management Area/shoreline rules that were signed by Mayor Richard Bissen on July 26.

After a disaster or catastrophic event, insurance loss data specific to such an event is collected periodically from insurance companies doing business in the affected state. State insurance departments use the data for multiple reasons, including determining the total number of claims and insured losses, monitoring the solvency of domestic insurers to ensure they are financially sound to make claim payments to their insureds, and improving the overall experience of policyholders directly affected by a disaster.

In August 2023, as families and students were scattered across the island, Hawaiʻi Keiki’s Maui provider team mobilized to ensure access to care for Hawaiʻi Department of Education (HIDOE) students, assisting in shelters, providing virtual telehealth visits, managing health hotlines, and supporting the community through various efforts including partnering with Federally Qualified Health Centers for medical care, conducting health assessments, refilling prescriptions, and facilitating access to vaccinations in affected areas.

The cast and crew of a new Maui-based program, “IAMMAUI.TV,” gathered Sunday morning at Māʻalaea Small Boat Harbor for prayers and a blessing from the Rev. Adam Gomes. Within minutes, they sailed away on a Trilogy catamaran to film a pilot TV episode.

During community-inspired, County of Maui-supported tours called Remembrance Rides, nearly 600 Lahaina residents last weekend revisited their beloved Lahaina town for the first time since the devastating wildfires. The Remembrance Rides signaled the start of Kuhinia Maui, County-supported gatherings for residents that mark one year after the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires.

Hoapili Teacher Pathways is launching a new initiative aimed at graduating seniors and individuals aspiring to become teachers. This fall, students can take free courses designed to bridge them to teacher licensure programs, helping to meet the increasing demand for qualified educators.