Maui News

Monsanto Company agreed to plead guilty to 30 environmental crimes related to the use of a pesticide on corn fields in Hawaiʻi.

BlackSand Capital, a locally owned and managed Hawai‘i real estate investment firm, completed the purchase of the Royal Lahaina Resort on Maui from Pleasant Travel Service on Dec. 9.

A 6-month-old ’akikiki chick was safely rescued on Kaua‘i and flown by helicopter to Maui. The chick and its family are believed to be among the last living ‘akikiki in what was once a bastion for the critically endangered species.

Kupuna members of the Planning and Coordinating Council of Maui County gathered in-person and via Zoom for a meeting led by President Alreen Gerbig, followed by a holiday celebration that included a painting project, 1950s- and 1960s-era trivia questions, prizes and lunch.

Hawaiʻi Attorney General Clare Connors is leading a bipartisan coalition of 37 Attorneys General that is urging the American Law Institute to reject proposed changes to the Model Penal Code that would weaken states’s abilities to prosecute sexual assault, abuse, exploitation and trafficking crimes.

“We look forward to having the community come out to meet and shop with our Maui County vendors at this special in-person mini event. As they say, the third time is a charm.”

Of today’s 143 cases, there were 130 cases identified as confirmed, and +13 probable cases were added to the count.  The confirmed cases included: 95 on O‘ahu (+3 probable); 12 on Hawai‘i Island (+1 probable); 12 on Maui (+9 probable); eight on Kaua‘i; and three Hawai‘i residents diagnosed while out of state.

Since the event is virtual again this year, participants will be able to run the 8.15-mile foot race at any location they chose, at any time, from  Feb. 18 to 21, 2022.

Crews continue to respond to a few individual pocket storm-related outages remaining in the Upcountry and Kanaio area today.

Hawaiian Electric crews will need to make emergency repairs in the Peʻahi area requiring a scheduled outage affecting about 1,900 customers from Peʻahi to East Maui, this evening, Dec. 8, from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. tomorrow. Customers in the Haʻikū area can expect to experience an initial outage between 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. tonight and again tomorrow morning between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. Times are dependent on the progress of work involved. 

Due to hazardous conditions and impassable roads and trails caused by this week’s heavy rains and strong winds, DLNR has closed the Kula State Forest Reserve, Kahikinui State Forest Reserve – Papa’anui Tract, and Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area.   The forest reserve roads and trails will remain closed to all users until further notice. Personnel from […]

A 42-foot Maui-grown Norfolk Pine was donated to the County of Maui for this year’s tree lighting ceremony, held Wednesday evening at the Kalana O Maui building in Wailuku. The tree was donated by Mike Atherton of Waikapū Village.

The information will help the Maui Emergency Management Agency to complete a damage assessment for the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency to determine if the state of Hawaiʻi warrants a Presidential Emergency Declaration of Emergency. Such a declaration is needed to receive Federal assistance to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by the recent severe weather and flooding.

Emergency crews are responding to a downed utility pole and lines on Papa Place near the Hāna Highway intersection in Kahului. The incident was reported at around 12:33 p.m.

Maui Health Foundation is the recipient of a one-million-dollar gift from Wayne and Nan Kocourek for dedicated use towards the Maui Memorial Medical Center Emergency Department.

The Department of Water Supply reports another main water break affecting Upper Kula, located in the Hāpapa Gulch near Pūlehu Road. 

The Kīhei Post Office will have extended “Santa-days” on the next two Saturdays, Dec. 11 and Dec. 18. It will be open from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. to accommodate the rush of customers sending Christmas packages.

County parks that remain closed today include: Ka‘a Point at Kanahā Beach Park, Kēōkea Park, Waihe‘e Beach Park, and Kalepolepo Park.

Of today’s 72 cases, there were 60 cases identified as confirmed, and +12 probable cases were added to the count.  The confirmed cases included: 44 on O‘ahu (+7 probable); four on Hawai‘i Island (+4 probable); seven on Maui (+1 probable); five on Kaua‘i; and four Hawai‘i residents diagnosed while out of state.

If red-vented bulbuls become established on Maui, they pose a severe threat to native forest ecosystems and Mauiʻs watersheds.