Maui News

The American Lung Association’s 2020 “State of the Air” report found that Honolulu and Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina continue to have some of the cleanest air in the nation despite increased volcanic smog. Honolulu City and County set record levels for low amounts of annual particle pollution.

The House Select Committee on COVID-19 Economic and Financial Preparedness moved from research and planning for Hawaiʻi’s economic recovery post-coronavirus to focusing on the implementation of those plans. Under the plan, Hawaii is in the first of a three phase effort with any move to the next phase tied to healthcare readiness.  The group is currently setting timelines to ensure containment for screening, testing, tracking, and quarantine measures.

On Sunday, April 19, a total of 441 people arrived in Hawaiʻi from out-of-state including 123 visitors and 184 residents, according to new data compiled by the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority. On Maui, there were 31 individuals who arrived from out-of-state including six crew members, 13 residents and 12 visitors.

“At this time it is under investigation.  And we are doing the proper steps.  Trust me, I believe Garrett has done a great job helping us, but there are laws that still exist and has to be abided by.  At this point, let the investigation take its course.  I’m saying that we will make it a fair investigation, and whatever we can do to resolve it as quickly as possible is what I’m asking for.”

Hale Makua Resident Completes 14-Day Quarantine But Will Undergo Additional Tests to Confirm Recovery. Of the two home health clients who had tested positive, one has been released from isolation and is recovering. The other home health client is currently in quarantine.

Maui Mayor Michael Victorino provides an update on the latest information on COVID-19 as it relates to Maui County. Haʻikū / Pāʻia Drive Through Food Distribution – Thursday, April 23: Drive through food distribution will be held on Thursday, April 23 for individuals in need in the Haʻikū/Pāʻia area. An estimated 300 bags of food will be distributed at the event. Start time is at 10 a.m. at the Old Maui High School located at 1000 Holomua Road.  Drivers must enter off of the Hāna Highway and exit onto Baldwin Avenue. 

Alan Oshima, the state Economic Recovery and Resiliency Navigator, appointed by Gov. Ige to help coordinate Hawai‘i’s post-COVID-19 economic recovery, laid out guiding principles during today’s media briefing at the State Capitol.

A 35-year-old Kahului man was transported to the Maui Memorial Medical Center in critical condition after sustaining injuries in a morning motor vehicle crash in Kula. The injured man was a passenger in the bed of a pickup truck.  Police say they are trying to ascertain the possibility that the male who fell from the truck bed may have suffered a medical condition that caused his fall.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) is returning to Washington, D.C. tonight in preparation for anticipated votes on Wednesday for the next wave of federal coronavirus relief funding for small businesses and hospitals.

“We extend a big mahalo nui loa to those who have donated: Pau Maui Vodka and Maui Gold Pineapple for hand sanitizer, Aloha Surgery Center for PPE, Hale Makua for PPE, Adventist Health Castle for PPE, Structural Concrete Bonding & Restoration Inc. for masks, and Mask of Maui for cloth masks. We also thank the following companies for their donations to our employees: Sun Fresh Hawaiʻi LLC for various produce items, Mahi Pono for potatoes, and Honolulu Cookie Company for cookies,” said Alakai.

Maui County has 2 new cases for a total of 108 confirmed positive. Of the 108 cases in Maui County, at least 57 have been released from isolation, and 7 have required hospitalization. Hawaiʻi Island also reported two new cases. Oʻahu and Kauaʻi had no new cases today.

Seabury Hall on Maui announced that it will hold its commencement ceremony for the senior class of 2020 on Saturday, July 25, at 10:30 a.m. at the school’s Olinda campus. Seabury Hall reports that it will adhere to social distancing guidelines and rules that will be in place on Maui in July to determine the size, scope and final scheduling of the event.

Maui police issued a total of 146 citations over the past seven days for violations related COVID-19 enforcement efforts. Of the Maui citations issued, nearly half were in Kīhei where 70 citations were issued over the course of a week. 

Adjutant General Kenneth Hara, Incident Commander from the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency met with the Hawai‘i State Senate Special Committee on COVID-19 on Wednesday, April 15, to report on recent updates.

Maui Mayor Michael Victorino is providing updates on Pacific Media Group’s network of Maui stations as the County continues to adjust to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Today, the Mayor spoke with Kawika-Veeka of HI92 FM Maui, and shared his thoughts on beach use, testing updates and hopes for the future.

To uplift the community, teachers and staff of Pōmaika‘i Elementary School created a music video after receiving heartbreaking news from the Hawaii Department of Education who gave notice last week Friday that schools will be closed for the rest of the year. The video features an original composition compares students to a plant in a garden, so staff planned the release of the video on Earth Day.

Team Vacation-Maui, a vacation condo rental sales and management team, has pledged more than $100,000 in free short-term accommodations to the front-line workers fighting against COVID-19.

In response to the COVID-19 crisis, University of Hawaiʻi Maui College’s Office of Extended Learning & Workforce Development is transitioning many of its face to face workforce trainings into new online courses.

A new project is looking to quantify the nursing behavior of humpback whale calves in Maui breeding grounds.

Exactly four weeks ago, Mayor Michael Victorino announced a stay-at-home order for the county of Maui due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the next few weeks, Maui’s visitor arrivals have exponentially decreased. Its popular destinations turned silent and empty. For one week in April, MauiNow’s Gaylord Paul Garcia photographed the current state at some of […]