Maui News

The University of Hawaiʻi announced a mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policy for employees that goes into effect on Jan. 3, 2022. Under the new policy, all UH employees, including those who are teleworking, will be required to be fully vaccinated for the COVID-19 virus OR have an approved medical or religious exemption for the vaccine.

A Brown Water Advisory has been issued for the North shore from Maliko to Waiheʻe, and for West Maui from Honolua to Honokōwai.

Doctors On Call continues to work with the hospitality industry on Maui to address safety needs during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Stacy Higa, 58, a former public official from Hilo, Hawaiʻi, pleaded guilty today to embezzling more than $38,000 from AmeriCorps and also to offering a bribe in return for grants under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.

ReTree Hawaiʻi is hosting a statewide tree planting campaign in November, with 56 organizations and 21 sites already signed up to participate.

Astronomers using Maunakea’s W.M. Keck Observatory on the Big island have discovered the first confirmed planetary system that resembles the expected fate of our solar system, when the Sun reaches the end of its life in about five billion years, according to a study published in today’s issue of the journal Nature. 

In-person service was suspended in early August because of the rapid spread of the COVID-19 delta variant.

There were 127 additional COVID-19 cases in Hawai‘i on Wednesday, including 11 on Maui. Hawai‘i’s COVID-19 deaths increased to 851, with six new deaths reported today. 

A Hawai‘i Island woman is dead, and a man was injured when power lines fell on a parked vehicle they were in near a residential property in the Hawai‘ian Shores subdivision in Pāhoa on Tuesday.

At 22-years-old, Honolua Blomfield of Oʻahu, became the youngest 3x WSL Longboard Champion in history.

In an uncharacteristic move, Maui Mayor Michael Victorino detailed proposed changes to the County’s Emergency COVID-19 Rules and Orders, that if approved, are expected to take effect at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021.

“Halloween is On!” Trick-or-Treating is Back but Drive-Through Events are Encouraged While a return to door-to-door traditions is allowed this year, the Mayor is encouraging drive-through options like the “Halloween Drive-Through Adventure at Keōpūolani” Park in Kahului. The event runs from 4:30 to 7 p.m. on Halloween evening, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021.

Dr. Sarah Kemble, Hawaiʻi Department of Health state epidemiologist, released a statement today on mortality rates involving COVID-19 and influenza, saying COVID-19 was far deadlier than the flu during the 2020-2021 flu season, both in Hawaiʻi and around the world.

One of two commercial wedding photography companies, operating on Kaua‘i, has deleted promotional photos on its website at the direction of the DLNR Division of State Parks. Two photography companies received cease-and-desist-orders from DSP last week, after multiple complaints from other photography companies and the Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau. The complaints revolve around wedding photography happening […]

Work began today to repair the boat ramp loading dock at the Kukui‘ula Small Boat Harbor on Kaua‘i. Construction crews will remove the existing, damaged wooden loading dock and replace it. The new dock will be made of an aluminum frame with plastic lumber fenders and fiberglass decking. 

US Representative Kai Kahele visit to Maui on Monday included a stop at the Maui Economic Opportunity offices in Wailuku, a stop with Space Force atop Haleakalā, and visits to Kahului Airport and Mayor Michael Victorino’s office. He mentioned that the visits were part of his preparations for the next budget appropriations.

At last Thursday’s Maui County Charter Commission meeting, proposals were adopted that would significantly change the selection process and requirements for people serving on County boards and commissions.

There were 49 additional COVID-19 cases in Hawai‘i on Tuesday. The latest data represents a total of 2,834 “active” cases statewide over two weeks. Maui County’s seven day average of cases peaked at 57.6 per 100,000 on Aug. 25, and has been on a steady decline since the beginning of September, dropping to 8.5 per 100,000 today.

Cesar Gaxiola celebrates 15 years as Executive Director of the J. Walter Cameron Center, home to 18 non-profit agencies on Maui.

Police have since linked the investigation to a missing person report. No further information will be released on the incident.