Maui News

The DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife is asking the community to engage in learning about the Kahikinui Forest Reserve and contribute to the planning process that will guide the reserve’s management priorities over the next decade.

“We have forests that are similar to the forest on Hawai‘i Island where ʻalalā were released. There are abundant food resources in our Maui Nui forests; abundant trees that would be suitable for nesting platforms. And we do not have the ʻio predation risk, because we don’t have ‘io here,” Duvall said.

Maui moms Jenny Coon and Nicki Barsamian of Waikapū have launched their second children’s book: “Huli the Hawaiian Chicken: Searches for Snow.” A book signing will be April 10, from noon to 4 pm, at the Kīhei Ululaniʻs Shave Ice shop.

Goodwill Hawaiʻi and Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaiʻi formed a new partnership to open two donation PODs on Maui that will benefit both nonprofit organizations starting April 1. Goodwill Hawaiʻi will manage the operations for the new Goodwill Hawaiʻi-BBBS attended donation centers located at the Kīhei Recycling and Redemption Center and the Pukalani Longs Drug parking lot.

Azeka Shopping Center in Kīhei is hosting a food drive now through April 11 to support the Maui Food Bank’s mission to feed Maui County residents.

Go Green Recycling is a monthly, appointment-required, bulky-item recycling event hosted by Mālama Maui Nui for residents of West Maui. April’s event will take place Saturday, April 17 from 9 am to noon, in Lāhaina at 1870 Honoapi’ilani Hwy in the parking lot mauka/behind the Lāhaina District Court.

The state Department of Health reports that there were 114 additional COVID-19 cases reported in Hawai‘i on Thursday, including 72 on O‘ahu, 30 on Maui, eight on Hawai‘i Island, and four in Hawai‘i residents diagnosed while out of state. There were a total of 1,223 cases logged over the past two weeks, 365 of them in Maui County.

The Maui Humane Society is hosting its annual Wags to Riches fundraising slumber party on May 1, but with a luxurious twist. Shelter animals will be sent from the doghouse to the penthouse.

Two Mokulele Airline pilots – Capt. Justin Constantino and First Officer Jeremy Delia – were honored during a ceremony on Wednesday afternoon, for helping with the rescue of two pilots from a downed plane eight miles off the coast of Lāna‘i on Feb. 27.

The 8th Hawaiʻi Energy Conference to explore the “Energy Transition in Hawaiʻi: Focus on investments in people and projects” will be held virtually June 22 and 24.

While the church has canceled its Easter Egg hunt and postponed its Easter production to a later date, a press release issued yesterday says that as an essential institution, it continues to offer in-person services while abiding by CDC guidelines, in addition to offering drive in and virtual streaming options.

The U.S. Small Business Administration launched a splash page for the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant application portal in anticipation of opening applications for the critical economic relief program on Thursday, April 8, 2021.

Following the April 2nd launch date, the event will continue to release new content on the second Friday of each month until next year’s 30th anniversary event.

The monthly test of the all-hazard Statewide Outdoor Warning Siren System, coordinated with the test of the Live Audio Broadcast segment of the Emergency Alert System, is scheduled for Thursday, April 1, 2021 at 11:45 a.m.

Health officials say more than half of the COVID-19 cases on Maui at this point, as identified through weekly reports, are represented by “variants of concern,” B1.429 and B.1.427.

Under the program, fully vaccinated individuals, with at least two weeks of incubation since their final vaccination dose, would be able to bypass the state’s 10-day quarantine without having to take a test. The vaccine passport program is proposed for both visitors and returning residents alike, according to Mayor Victorino.

Whatʻs on Maui resident minds? Maui Nowʻs letters to the editors discuss rights of landlords, rights of tenants, need for new COVID-19 restrictions, need to eliminate costly COVID-19 test for interisland travel and praise by director of Hawaiʻi High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area for retiring Maui Police Department Police Chief Tivoli Faaumu.

“The state is getting more than 81,000 vaccine doses this week and the federal government is distributing thousands more to Longs Drugs and Safeway,” Char said. “The combined allocation to Hawai‘i this week tops 120,000 doses. We want those doses in the correct arms as quickly as possible and believe the neighbor islands are situated to get that done.”

The state Department of Health reports that there were 100 additional COVID-19 cases reported in Hawai‘i on Wednesday, including 42 on O‘ahu, 30 on Maui, 16 on Hawai‘i Island, one on Kaua‘i, one on Lāna‘i, and 10 in Hawai‘i residents diagnosed while out of state. There were a total of 1,200 cases logged over the past two weeks, 376 of them in Maui County.

Hawai’i Gov. David Ige appointed Milton Kotsubo and Carol Matayoshi to the five-person Hawai‘i Paroling Authority board. The appointments are subject to Senate confirmation.