Maui News

Inmate Shyrae Naihe greeted her 14-year-old daughter with a long embrace as soon as the teenager and other children and youth entered the courtyard of the Maunawili Cottage at the Women’s Community Correctional Center (WCCC) to spend quality time with their mothers. 

Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green, M.D. responded to the news saying: “On behalf of the state of Hawaiʻi, especially the residents of Maui, I express our forever-gratitude to President Biden for granting wildfire disaster relief within an unprecedented six hours of our making the request in a time of our people’s deepest need.”

The 11-person yacht crew, who reported a locked rudder and flooding in the bilge, is being assisted by the Oliver Henry’s crew with dewatering and damage control as they head for Palau. Their estimated time of arrival is 33 hours.

Elly’s Formal Wear on Maui hosts an exclusive Stella York Bridal Trunk Show, July 27-28 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the store located at the Sugar Beach Resort (145 North Kīhei Road) in Kīhei. This special event is designed as a bridal experience for brides-to-be in Maui.

Maui police have launched a second degree murder investigation into the death of a 53-year-old Lahaina man on Saturday in Kāʻanapali.

The Maui Arts & Cultural Center presents singer/songwriter Justin Kawika Young in a MACC “Local Voices” concert in the McCoy Studio Theater Friday, Aug. 23 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets go on sale online only at 10 a.m. to MACC members Tuesday, July 23 and to the general public Friday, July 26.

The non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Maui Island was 4.5% in June 2024, compared to 3.6% the previous month, and 3.0% at the same time in 2023. The data was included in a new report released from the Hawaiʻi Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. 

Hawaiian Electric has released an updated version of its Electrification of Transportation (EoT) Strategic Roadmap that includes specific actions the company plans to undertake through 2030 to support the rapidly expanding electric vehicle market. 

The County of Maui Department of Environmental Management Wastewater Reclamation Division is reminding customers that sewer user fees have increased by an average of 2% for Fiscal Year 2025, which started on July 1. The rate increase was approved by the County Council to ensure that the County of Maui’s wastewater system is financially self-supporting.

The 2024 Emma Farden Sharpe Hula Festival takes place on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Queen Ka‘ahumanu Center. The event features free keiki activities, workshops, Hawaiʻi made artisans and hula accompanied by Hawaiian music.

More than 17,000 truckloads of ash and debris have been taken from Lahaina to the Temporary Debris Storage in Olowalu. The data is among the highlights included in a second Quarterly Report.

Epic Swim Maui’s Andy Donaldson, John Kalemakali’i Clark, Ryan Leong and Stefan Reinke are still able to become the first to successfully complete the circumnavigation of Maui.

Peak high tides associated with the lunar cycle and water levels that are running higher than predicted will lead to minor coastal flooding along shorelines and low-lying coastal areas through the weekend and into Monday afternoon. Coastal flooding will coincide with the daily peak tide each afternoon for portions of Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Kahoʻolawe, Kauaʻi, Niʻihau, Oʻahu and the Big Island.

The Crater Road fire at Haleakalā remains at 80% containment as firefighting efforts enter a 10th day on Saturday. The fire started on July 10, blocking access to the Summit District of Haleakala National Park and putting Upcountry communities on edge nearly a year after the devastating wildfires of 2023.

Maui County Council members unanimously approved today a resolution authorizing a global settlement of all wildfire litigation filed against the county for wrongful deaths, injuries and property damage stemming from the Aug. 8-9 wildfires in Lahaina and Upcountry.

The County of Maui Department of Environmental Management’s Wastewater Reclamation Division announced that it has amended the Sewer Service Status from “red,” which indicates a property does not currently have active sewer service, to “green,” meaning the sewer service is active for a property, in the following areas: Near Puʻunoa Place and Ala Moana Street near the Jodo Mission; and south of Lahainaluna Road near Paunau Street.

Lahaina homeowners impacted by the August 2023 wildfire are encouraged to attend the County of Maui Office of Recovery’s Homeowners Webinar on Thursday, July 25, 2024, at 5:30 p.m.

The $9,909,551 Transformational Habitat Restoration and Coastal Resilience Grant will be used to support a comprehensive approach to restoring and protecting West Maui reefs, particularly the 1,000-acre leeward Pāpalaua to Olowalu reef. It is considered globally significant and plays a vital role in coastal resilience, in reducing shoreline wave energy, and moderating coastal flooding.

Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH) working with the State of Hawaii, transferred two centrifuge units to the County of Maui this week to support their wastewater operations. Weighing nearly 7,300 pounds each, the centrifuge operates by separating water from digested sludge so that the solid waste can be properly disposed of.

The Crater Road Fire remained 80% contained at 574 acres at last report, with the closure of the Summit District of Haleakalā National Park still in effect. The fire started nine days ago on July 10. Containment and acreage has not changed since Monday, July 15.