Maui News

With the National Weather Service closely monitoring the oncoming category 3 Hurricane Douglas, state officials remind the public that now is the time for preparation to avoid long lines at gas stations, grocery stores, and ATMs across Hawai’i. Hurricane Douglas is currently moving on a consistent track towards the islands and is projected to reach Hawaiʻi Island with potential outlying impacts over the weekend.

As Hurricane Douglas approaches the islands with the potential for high winds and heavy rains, Hawaiian Electric is proactively preparing to respond, and customers should have their emergency plans in place. 

Police say the 41-year-old female victim, also of Kahului, was treated at the Maui Memorial Medical Center for life threatening injuries. The suspect remains in police custody and is awaiting formal charges.

Here on Maui, there were 115 people who arrived on three trans-Pacific flights on Wednesday including: 35 visitors, 53 residents, six individuals planning to relocate to the islands, 2 passengers in transit to another location and 19 crew members.  

The new Kōkua Maui County Small Business Recovery & Relief Fund utilizes CARES Act funds to help local small businesses recover and survive impacts from COVID-19. The grant program will begin accepting online applications starting Aug. 3, 2020.

“While they have provided video conferencing as an option for public testimony, there have been technical glitches such as dropped calls and disconnections. We all need to work together to support our communities with more transparency and greater effort to ensure our people are given a fair opportunity to be heard,” said Mayor Victorino.

Douglas is expected to move near or over portions of the Hawaiian Islands this weekend, and there is an increasing chance that strong winds and heavy rainfall could affect portions of the state beginning on Sunday.

The state of Hawaiʻi Department of Health is reporting 55 new COVID-19 cases in Hawaiʻi today–that’s the highest single-day count for the state since the start of the pandemic. The new COVID-19 cases include: 50 on Oʻahu; three on Hawaiʻi Island and two on Maui.

Calling it “the perfect storm,” Dr. Lee Weiss said it’s very unusual for a respiratory virus to have high infectivity and to also be highly virulent. He explained that high infectivity means it’s spread rapidly; and highly virulent, means it has a high propensity to cause illness and people die from it.

A Lahaina man accused of a “hate crime” was arrested on Friday for assault charges related to a physical and verbal confrontation in Mākena last week that resulted in concussion injuries to one of the male victims, police said. 

The system is expected to move near or over portions of the Hawaiian Islands this weekend, and the National Hurricane Center says there is an increasing chance that strong winds, dangerous surf, and heavy rainfall could affect portions of the state beginning on Sunday.

Maui Mayor Michael Victorino sent a letter to Governor David Ige on Monday offering school safety suggestions in response to concerns raised relating to the planned reopening of Hawaiʻi public schools on Aug. 4.  

Topics covered include: thresholds for interisland travel safety, realistic time frames for the return of tourism, timing to the state’s return to school and education plans, returning to normalcy, unemployment, job loss, COVID-19 vs flu, and balancing a return of tourism with efforts to diversity the economy. 

Douglas 5 p.m. Update: Rapid Strengthening, Forecast to Become a Major Hurricane by Thursday. Andaya advised residents to prepare for possible heavy rains and flash flooding.  Due to COVID-19 safety restrictions, he said Maui County has limited shelter space available and needs more American Red Cross volunteers.

The state of Hawaiʻi Department of Health today reported a COVID-19 related death in an Oahu resident.  No further details were immediately available relating to the case. This was was the 25th death linked to the pandemic reported in the state to date. Prior COVID-19 related deaths are posted here. Today there were a total of 17 new COVID-19 cases in Hawaiʻi for a total of 1,435 reported over the course of the pandemic. The new cases include 17 on Oʻahu.  There are currently 297 active cases in the state, including 11 on Maui.

Maui police arrested a 64-year-old Kīhei man on Tuesday morning for allegations involving attempted assault against a police officer, first degree terroristic threatening, two counts of criminal trespass and resisting an order to stop.  

County officials say the violation involved water that was being tested for turbidity (clarity) before it went into a 3 million-gallon storage tank. Water in the tank was then disinfected with chlorine as part of the routine water treatment process. A notice advises that customers do not need to boil their water or take any other corrective actions; however, if there are specific health concerns, the department advises consultation of a doctor.  

US Senators Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) led 29 of their colleagues in a letter to Vice President Mike Pence and Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Peter Gaynor urging them to take immediate action to provide Personal Protective Equipment and sanitizing supplies for election and poll workers—and voters—ahead of the November 2020 election.

Minit Medical conducts drive-through COVID-19 testing from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. today, with diagnostic and anti-body testing available. Minit Medical will call individuals with all results, which are expected to take one to three days.

Produce distribution for the general public will take place from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., or until supplies run out, in the County parking lotlocated between the County gym and school cafeteria.