Maui News

Residents and business owners are invited to attend an informational community meeting on the Kona Low storm recovery efforts on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Malcolm Center, Council Member Tom Cook announced.

For nearly a decade, the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association has assisted local students through scholarships and training programs.  This year, a total of $54,343 in workforce training programs and visitor industry scholarships have been awarded to Maui-based students.

At the direction of the President of the United States, Gov. Josh Green has ordered that the United States flag and the Hawaiʻi state flag be flown at half-staff at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol, all state offices and agencies and the Hawaiʻi National Guard in observance of Memorial Day.

The funded projects include repairs to critical infrastructure, restoration of public buildings, road repairs and reimbursement for costs incurred to ensure public health and safety after a disaster.

On Wednesday, June 3, 2026, Maui Public Art Corps and the County of Maui will open the Lahaina Think Space at Queen Kaʻahumanu Center, a free, welcoming installation where community members can share their stories, reflect on what was lost, and help shape a future memorial for Lahaina.

The County of Maui Department of Parks and Recreation encourages West Maui community members and other stakeholders to offer feedback on the upcoming Lahaina community center and field house via a new website.

The Department of Human Services will open the Preschool Open Doors application period for the 2026–2027 school year on May 29, 2026. Applications will be accepted through May 31, 2027, or until funding capacity is reached.

The Nā Ala Hele Program Plan is being updated for the first time since 1991 and community members are invited to provide their input on the future of trails and access for the state. When most people enter public lands in Hawaiʻi, they do so on a trail or access road managed by Nā Ala Hele Trail & Access Program, part of the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife. The program provides important recreational and cultural opportunities and protects historic trails.

A bill to require landowners to notify agricultural lessees before filing subdivision permits advanced out of the Maui County Council Housing and Land Use Committee by a vote of 5-2 on Wednesday. Council Chair Alice Lee and Council Member Kauanoe Batangan dissented.

US Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard has resigned from her post according to an update posted on her X account this morning.

Forecasters are predicting an above-normal hurricane season for the central Pacific basin this year. NOAA’s outlook for the 2026 hurricane season, which runs June 1 to Nov. 30, predicts a 70% chance of an above-normal season, with at total of 5-13 tropical cyclones across the central Pacific in the forecast.

The 2026 Be Reel Child & Youth Film Festival kicks off with a spectacular last-minute addition to launch the four-day festival: the critically acclaimed Hawaiʻi-made documentary, “KULEANA.”

The Maui County Council’s Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee voted 6-3 Tuesday to recommend full Council approval of the county’s proposed purchase of a contested Kaʻehu Bay shoreline parcel in Waiehu, setting aside calls from a Native Hawaiian family for deferral pending further consultation.

The Haleakalā Visitor Center building at Haleakalā National Park, which also houses the Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association store, welcomes visitors once again following a temporary closure by the park service for planned improvements and interior renovations.

Gov. Josh Green signed four measures into law today to strengthen public services, support working families and improve government operations across Hawaiʻi. Together, he said, these bills reflect the state’s commitment to responsive governance and prioritizing the well-being of local communities.

Storm repair work is temporarily paused on South Kīhei Road between Ohukai Road and Kūlanihākoʻi Street pending the delivery of materials, according to the County of Maui Department of Public Works Highways Division.

The abundance of axis deer on Maui Nui continues to cause environmental, safety and economic challenges for its residents. The DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife is asking residents of Maui, Moloka‘i and Lāna‘i to participate in a short survey describing how axis deer are impacting their lives.

Council Member Kauanoe Batangan announced plans today to hold a Maui Lani townhall at 6 p.m. on June 12 at Pōmaikaʻi Elementary School to discuss progress and follow-up efforts to help area residents by his office and county agencies.

The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority has launched its search for the leader who will guide the state’s tourism industry into a new era. The organization is now seeking applications for the position of president and chief executive officer of HTA. The application deadline is Friday, June 26, 2026.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation is seeking public comment, following the release of its Draft Statewide Long-Range Land Transportation Plan for Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi Island, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi.