Maui News

The Kahului drive-in, founded by Maui’s Yoshizawa family in the early 1960s, put breaded teriyaki on the map. More than a half century later, Cupies is still known for that sweet-and-savory plate lunch, along with its crinkle-cut fries, burgers, shakes and other old-school local favorites. 

Mayor-elect Richard Bissen’s public inauguration ceremony will be held Jan. 2, 2023 at 5 p.m. in the Castle Theater at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center.

Mayor-Elect Richard Bissen announced more appointments to his cabinet including: Andrew Martin as Prosecuting Attorney; Scott Teruya as Director of Department of Finance; and Jordan Molina as Director of Department of Public Works.

Annual Maui Ocean Center memberships for Kamaʻāina — $75 for adults and $240 for a family of four — pays for itself in three visits.

The medical transport aircraft, a King Air twin-engine propeller plane, went down just over a week ago. Global Medical Response, owners of Hawaii Life Flight, confirmed last week the crew was en route to pick up a patient in Waimea when it disappeared from radar.

Christmas, or Mele, is nine-years-old and believed to be the oldest living ʻakiapōlāʻau in the wild.

A morning house fire in Makawao displaced one resident and destroyed most of the home on Maohu Street, officials said.

Maui’s Bryan Pontanilla was recognized as one of eight Paubox Kahikina STEM Scholarship recipients at a luncheon Wednesday in Honolulu. Pontanilla is a graduate of Maui High School and is now attending Portland State University majoring in architecture.

An earlier opening for Ho’okipa gates may seem small for some, but it’s a big deal for beach access, Surfrider Foundation said.

Funds include: $5.83M for Baldwin High School athletic facility improvements; $3.026M to improve aging athletic facilities at Molokaʻi High School; $1M for campus fencing and gates at Haʻikū Elementary; and $500,000 to finance design to determine gym improvements for Lānaʻi High and Elementary School.

Maui County Council Chair Alice L. Lee announced that the inauguration of the Maui County Council for the 2023-2025 term, will be held Jan. 2 at 10 a.m. in the Council Chamber on the 8th floor of the Kalana O Maui building.

In Kahului, the average price of $5.17 for a gallon of regular unleaded gas is five cents lower than last week and 65 cents higher than a year ago.

A fire near the Kapalua Airport in West Maui burned a total of 50 acres before being brought under control.

The County of Maui will receive $15.3 million in congressionally directed spending, including $11 million for Halau of ‘Oiwi Art, and $3.2 million for the Department of Transportation.

The Sentry Tournament of Champions, in conjunction with First Tee – Hawaiʻi, will host a fun and interactive event for Junior golfers of all skill levels.

After roadwork this week, there are now two lanes open in the southbound (Mākena bound) direction and one lane open in the northbound (Kahului bound) direction. Traffic was slow midday today when approaching the roundabout in the single northbound lane.

Singer-songwriter Lily Meola will perform on her home island at the Maui Songwriters Festival at the Grand Wailea-Maui on Jan. 15 to 17.

The Maui Police Department is seeking the public’s help with any information on the whereabouts of Kristy Lee Olson, 34, of Washington.

A panel of local business leaders selected Steenberg’s Mālama Speech Therapy Services, LLC, plan for the top grant out of 37 submissions in the contest run by MEO’s Business Development Center. 

Maui County hotels led the state in November 2022 with revenue per available room of $351 and average daily rate at $538, but lagged in occupancy at 65.2%.