Maui News
Volcano Watch: Hualālai’s Wahapele eruption: cone-building, explosive phreatic activity, and lava flows
While our attention is generally drawn to the Island of Hawai‘i’s most active volcanoes, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa, it is also important to keep watch on the Island of Hawai‘i’s third-most active volcano, Hualālai, which underlies the most populated areas of Kailua-Kona and the central Kona coast.
Hundreds of seniors meet state, county candidates during 50th kūpuna event
About 350 Maui seniors traveled from around the island Saturday to attend the 50th Kūpuna Aloha Luncheon at Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, in South Maui, according to a news release.
Motorcyclist suffers life-threatening injuries in Piʻilani Highway crash
A preliminary police investigation reveals that a black 2022 Harley Davidson PCMC, operated by a 37-year-old Wailuku male, was traveling northbound on Piʻilani Highway, weaving through the center delineators within the construction zone, when he lost control and was ejected onto the roadway.
Update: Piʻilani Highway now OPEN following near-fatal accident
Piʻilani Highway is now OPEN following a near-fatal traffic collision reported earlier this evening. The accident was reported on the highway between Kūlanihākoʻi Street to Piʻikea Avenue. Police tell Maui Now that one of the vehicles involved was a motorcycle.
Fueled by strong winds, Pāʻia brush fire chars hundreds of acres
A main roadway was closed and smoke could be detected as far away as Kīhei in an afternoon Pāʻia brush fire that had consumed about 370 acres by this evening.
Pāʻia fire burns 370 acres, 100% contained
The Pāʻia brush fire is now considered 100% contained, and has burned an estimated 370 acres according to GPS mapping of the burn area conducted by the Maui Fire Department. Crews will remain on scene throughout the night to further secure the perimeter of this fire.
Maui County mayoral candidates blast budget, discuss other hot topics in debate
Some of the top candidates vying for Maui County mayor blasted this year’s budget as “bloated” while hitting other key local topics such as affordable housing, tourism management and homelessness.
State Department of Health issues red placard to Lahaina restaurant
The Hawai‘i Department of Health issued a red placard to a Lahaina restaurant, due to an alleged violations.
Two students win scholarships from the Japanese Cultural Society of Maui
The Japanese Cultural Society of Maui awarded two scholarships to outstanding students – Teisha Nishimitsu, graduate of King Kekaulike High School, received the Asa Ellison Memorial Scholarship worth $1500; and a $1000 scholarship was also awarded to Payten Shimizu, a graduate of Baldwin High School.
Maui Council committee to discuss federally funded infrastructure projects
The Infrastructure and Transportation Committee will meet Monday at 9 a.m. to discuss proposed projects to be funded by earmarks from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 and other congressionally directed spending and community project funding.
Community input on Kīhei pedestrian crossing study, talk story sessions planned
Community feedback will help inform the study, which will assess overpass and underpass alternatives toward satisfying the State Land Use Commission requirement for a grade-separated crossing.
Research aims to humanely manage Maui’s 40,000+ free-roaming cat population
Maui Humane Society is announcing plans to implement an island-wide “Community Cat Count” beginning in early August. The survey will be conducted across Maui as an effort to better understand and effectively manage the cat population as humanely as possible.
County committee to consider adopting amendments to Maui Digital Zoning Map
The Maui County Planning and Sustainable Land Use Committee will consider a bill to adopt amendments to the Maui Digital Zoning Map for 13 parcels at a public meeting on Aug. 3.
Wailea community continues to support Maui’s new nurses
For a third consecutive year, the Wailea Community Association is providing monetary support to the University of Hawaiʻi Maui Campus nursing program, in hopes of increasing healthcare resources in the Maui community.
Two tropical storms form in Pacific, make slow trek to the west
Tropical Storm Frank is expected to become a hurricane in the next few hours, but “both storms are still well to the east and do not post any threat to Hawaiʻi in the next several days,” according to HI-EMA.
Free Maui screening of “Rise of the Wahine, Champions of Title IX,” Aug. 4
The award-winning documentary is being shown in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Title IX, and to honor its namesake–Maui’s own Patsy Takemoto Mink.
Voter resources available: Find Maui Voter Service Centers and Ballot Drop Boxes
The Office of Elections on Maui has released a list of Voter Service Centers and Places of Deposit for election ballots as the Primary Election nears on Aug. 13, 2022.
Maui County visitors reach highest monthly count since pandemic, new data shows
For June, visitors were nearly double the resident population and more than five times the Maui Island Plan target.
Open House event for the Hālau of ʻŌiwi Art this Saturday
Dedicated to the study, practice, celebration of hula and various ‘ōiwi arts, the center will be the first of its kind and the largest investment by a county or the state to establish a permanent place for hula and its associated arts.
Journal article documents sunscreen runoff from beach showers in Hawaiʻi as an environmental threat
In advance of Maui County’s ban on reef-damaging chemical sunscreens taking effect on Oct. 1 of this year, Councilmember Kelly Takaya King announced she and Councilmember Tamara Paltin have co-authored a scientific journal article documenting that sunscreen washed off at beach showers in Hawai‘i pollutes the environment at levels that pose a threat to shore and marine ecosystems.
