Maui News
Maui Police 25% short staffed: 21 resignations, 13 retirements in 2021
The Maui Police Department is more than 25% short staffed with 145 vacancies department wide.
Hawai’i Congressional delegation urges federal disaster declaration for December storm damage
Today, the Hawai’i Congressional delegation of US Senators Brian Schatz and Mazie K. Hirono and US Representatives Ed Case and Kaiali‘i Kahele urged President Joe Biden to act swiftly on Governor David Ige’s request for a presidential disaster declaration for areas across the state impacted by last month’s severe weather and flooding.
Hawaiʻi Attorney General urges FDA to preserve state protections of over-the-counter hearing aids
Hawai‘i Attorney General Holly T. Shikada joined a bipartisan coalition of 42 states and territories urging the US Food and Drug Administration to preserve state authority to enforce their consumer protection laws in connection to the sale of over-the-counter hearing aids.
Jan. 20, 2022 COVID-19 update: 5,911 new cases in Hawaiʻi, 9 deaths; 44 Maui hospitalizations
There are now 44 people hospitalized in Maui County with COVID-19, surpassing the 41 reported during the height of the delta surge in August 2021.
Maui ranked among top destinations on Expedia and Vrbo 2022 searches
Maui, Hawaʻi is ranked the #2, 2022 destination based on trip searches on Vrbo and #5 based on trip searches on Expedia. The rankings were released today in the Expedia Group’s 2022 Outlook report.
Amended rules for Ukumehame Firing Range finalized
The amended rules align the firing range’s gun registration requirements with Hawaiʻi state law.
Submarine, ship, jet and balloon-type object off Maui, part of Naval exercise
In addition to the ship and balloon-type object hovering above, there was a “large jet flying low in big circles” and a submarine nearby, according to witness reports.
Saiki: legislative proposals include minimum wage increase, funds for DHHL beneficiaries
Speaker Saiki reports that “the House will advance legislation to increase the hourly minimum wage to $18, increase the food tax credit, and make the Earned Income Tax Credit refundable and permanent.”
Workforce housing lottery for Hale Kaiola in South Maui set for March 4
The lottery will determine which successful applicants will secure one of the new housing units at the project site, which is planned for construction at the corner of Kaiola Place and ʻOhukai Road, a few blocks mauka from Mai Poina ‘Oe Ia’u and Kalepolepo Beach Park.
Zuckerberg and Chan donate $50 million to UH for improving Hawaiʻi’s ocean health
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Dr. Priscilla Chan have committed $50 million over seven years to the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology for the support of research groups working to restore Hawaiʻi’s ocean health.
Jan. 19, 2022 COVID-19 update: 3,929 new cases in Hawaiʻi; 40 Maui hospitalizations
Of today’s 3,929 cases, there are 3,274 cases identified as confirmed, and +655 probable cases were added to the count. The confirmed cases included: 2,431 on O‘ahu (+595 probable); 179 on Hawai‘i Island (+61 probable); 401 on Maui (-4 probable); 196 on Kaua‘i (+2 probable); 20 on Molokaʻi; 17 on Lānaʻi; and 30 Hawai‘i residents diagnosed while out of state (+1 probable).
Hawaiʻi Sen. Hirono compares wave of voter suppression bills to Reconstruction era
Following the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, Sen. Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) delivered remarks on the Senate floor discussing the urgent need to pass comprehensive voting rights legislation.
$48M in federal aid to assist Hawaiʻi with COVID-19 surge staffing
The state’s request for surge medical staffing was updated to 955 clinicians to address the recent spike in COVID-19 hospitalizations because of omicron.
Council aims to get handle on Maui downhill bike industry
Decades-old concerns over Maui downhill bicycling have been resurfacing in recent months, and many hope Maui County Council deliberations on the topic will help pave a new, safer path forward.
MIL relaxes spectator ban after parents rally to attend games
A grassroots effort by parents “humbly” asking to attend their kids’ games led to Maui Interscholastic League on Tuesday reversing its decision to ban spectators.
Kaiser Permanente offers COVID-19 testing in Kīhei, Maui
To expand access to COVID-19 testing, Kaiser Permanente is now offering self-swabbing PCR tests on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Kīhei Clinic on Maui, by appointment only – no walk-ins.
Developer seeks workforce housing credits for Pulelehua development in West Maui
In 2019, the developer entered into a settlement agreement with project opponents. Because of that settlement agreement, the state Land Use Commission increased the number of workforce housing units in the project from 280 to 400. The department reports that the developer has taken the position that Maui Oceanview, LP, should receive 120 workforce credits for the increase in units that resulted from that agreement.
Gov. Ige: Hawaiʻi allocates entire $1.6B American Rescue Plan Act funds
In May of 2021, the state received $1.6 billion from the federal government as part of the American Rescue Plan Act. The funds were to be used to respond to the state’s emergency needs stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Maui Preparatory Academy announces two full-tuition high school scholarships
Awarded annually, the Pueo Scholarship is a full-tuition four-year scholarship awarded to a new incoming Maui Prep freshman.
UH classes remain online for one more week
Spring 2022 courses that were shifted online for the first two weeks of the semester at the 10-campus University of Hawaiʻi system will remain online for one more week, according to a letter shared today with students, faculty and staff.
