Maui News

Effective Sunday, May 22, 2022, the Maui hospital will allow one visitor per patient, per day for a maximum of two hours a day during the hours of 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Maui Health officials note that some units and/or patients may be closed to visitors at certain times.

The proposed multi-million project is described as a “first of its kind” and the “largest investment by any county or the state to establish a permanent place for hula and associated ʻōiwi arts.”

Within days of a Maui County Council vote to set aside $6.2 million in order to keep 257 acres in Māʻalaea from development, one of Maui’s largest, most polarizing developers scooped up the land.

Maui police saw a 4% increase in violent crime and a 17% increase in property crime so far this year. Meanwhile, arrests for violent crimes are up 2% and arrests for property crimes are up 43% year to date, as of Monday.

Residents are invited to honor fallen heroes at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific on Memorial Day by helping make fresh flower or ti-leaf lei for 38,000 gravesites at Punchbowl.

The COVID-19 community transmission level in Maui County increased to “high” on mapping tools provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The aircraft named “Iolani” (royal hawk in Hawaiian), expands capabilities for both rescue and firefighting operations in Maui County.

The purpose of the stop was to honor the ancient protocol of Hawaiʻi’s Polynesian ancestors who would go to Taputapuātea, the spiritual center for voyagers, to ceremonially launch and close their voyages. 

The Pacific Cancer Foundation has named Linda Puppolo as its new executive director, succeeding Nancy LaJoy who is retiring after eight years of service.

Five spots are still available for Hawaiʻi Land Trust’s free Ahupua’a Stewards Leadership Program, which is for 16- to 18-year-old high school students on Maui.

Keith Hayashi, a former state public schools principal of the year, has been chosen to become the permanent state superintendent of the Hawaii Department of Education.

The Hawai‘i Department of Health is adopting guidance from the CDC recommending boosters for children ages 5 through 11 and strengthening booster recommendations for others.

Longtime effort by local government to buy Wailuku Water Co.’s water delivery system seems to have dried up. For years, the possible acquisition signaled hope that a private, plantation-era system could be transformed into a public utility.

A 55-year-old man sustained a laceration to his hand during a reported stabbing incident in South Maui on Wednesday night.

Nominees for 2022 Outstanding Older Americans in Maui County include: (clockwise, top left) Patrick Constantino of Makawao, Matthew Kailihou of Wailuku, Ernest (Ernie) Rezents of Makawao, Daniel (Gundi) Dancil of Makawao, Cynthia Sagawa of Lānaʻi City, JoAnn Rockwell of Lahaina, Michael (Mike) Moran of Kīhei, Francis Sinenci of Hāna, and Mabel Sakuma of Wailuku.

The Construction Industry of Maui awarded two, $20,000 scholarships each to Maui high school students Mari Yamamoto and Cayleb Fernandez to help them further their education in construction related fields. 

The DOH reports that the food establishment, operated by Tay Asian Cuisine, Inc., received the red placard on May 17 and must remain closed until DOH conducts a follow up inspection and all violations are resolved.

Rachel Kaya, a Maui psychologist, said it’s out of the ordinary to see mental health clinicians yelling, waving signs, ringing bells and pounding the pavement. “We are the calm, nice, let-me-listen-to-you people — it’s very unusual for us to do this,” she told Maui Now this morning. “You know it’s extreme for us to have to stand on the streets — but they pushed us to it.” Kaya, who works at Kaiser Permanente Maui Lani clinic, is part of a statewide strike by Kaiser mental health clinicians to draw attention to the HMO’s severe mental health staffing shortages that’s leaving Hawai’i patients with dangerously long wait times and poor care.  

Maui Island had a 4.2% non-seasonally adjusted rate in April. Molokaʻi’s non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 17.4% and Lānaʻi was 3.2% last month.

Aloha Ke Akua Clothing Company is partnering with the nonprofit rehabilitation center, Aloha House, to raise funds and awareness during Mental Health Awareness Month in May.