Maui News

“Extending spring break is a precaution that we need to take.”

Maui Mayor Michael Victorino has canceled his in-person meeting on Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi, and will host a live stream instead, with updates on COVID-19 (coronavirus).

Hawaiʻi public schools will close through at least the end of March due to ongoing concerns for the COVID-19 pandemic. The closure essentially extends spring break by an additional week to March 30, 2020, instead of the previously scheduled return date of March 23. 

The number of COVID-19 cases in Hawaiʻi ticked upward over the weekend.  Officials with the state Department of Health are hosting a LIVE update at 1:30 p.m. HST on Sunday, March 15, 2020. (*Live feed courtesy KHON2 News). 

The Coast Guard is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the owner of a green, two-person kayak found a half-mile off Lahaina on Sunday morning. 

Radar at 11:51 a.m. showed heavy rain falling at rates of 1 to 3 inches per hour over leeward Molokaʻi. Additional heavy rainfall is expected through early afternoon.

All classes and open studios at the Hui Noʻeau will be closed from March 16 to March 22.

Here is a list of lane closures scheduled this week, March 14 to March 20.

Measure aimed at assisting families with health, safety and financial security needs.

A Flash Flood Watch continues for entire state through Tuesday afternoon as a Kona Low forms west the islands tonight. The National Weather Service says, “Increased southeast to south winds, bands of heavy rainfall, and thunderstorms are expected. While all islands could experience flooding rainfall, Kauaʻi and Oʻahu will see the greatest risk.”

County of Maui officials were informed earlier this evening that the test result for one Person Under Investigation here on Maui was returned positive for Coronavirus or COVID-19. The female visitor is currently in isolation and continues to be monitored by the state Department of Health.

The Hawai‘i Department of Health has received at least two presumptive positive test results for COVID-19 from private laboratories. One individual is on Maui and the other is on O‘ahu. These tests are pending confirmation by a certified state public health laboratory. Earlier on Saturday, two positive results were announced for two visitors on Kaua‘i who traveled from Indiana. The couple had also visited Maui where they had sought urgent care.

A 50-year-old Colorado woman who was in Hawaiʻi for a two week trip, says she has since tested positive for COVID-19, the novel coronavirus. It is important to note that it is unclear where the woman contracted the virus and there are others in her area of Colorado that have tested positive–none of them to date are personal contacts of hers, to her knowledge. This particular test was taken 19 days after leaving the islands, but symptoms were present in the weeks before being tested.

At 5:17 p.m. HST, radar indicated heavy showers showers with rain rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour over windward slopes of both west and east Maui. Showers are expected to continue into the evening, leading to rises in streams. At 5:34 p.m. HST, radar indicated heavy rain near Kualapuʻu. Rain was falling at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour. Locations in the advisory include but are not limited to: Kalaupapa National Park, Pūkoʻo, Hālawa Valley, Kaunakakai, Kamalo, Kawela and ʻUalapuʻe.

Closures of community centers begins Monday, for 30 days, and could be extended if necessary.

The Maunakea Visitor Information Station (VIS) on Hawaiʻi Island will suspend operations starting Sunday in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

HSPLS encourages everyone to check out HSPLS’ many digital resources, including e-books and e-audiobooks, online classes, and digital subscriptions to newspapers and magazines, which are available 24/7 online. 

Homes in Kaʻonoʻulu through Kēōkea will have their water shut-off from approximately 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on March 19 as crews work on the countyʻs upper Kula water system.

Maui Mayor Michael Victorino released a statement regarding the two presumptive positive COVID-19 cases on Kauaʻi. The couple who tested positive had become symptomatic while on Maui and had sought urgent care while here. 

Real property tax assessment notices for 2020-2021 will be sent out via mail or email to property owners on or before March 15, the County of Maui Department of Finance Real Property Assessment Division announced.