#hawaii

The Hawaiʻi Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Office of Consumer Protection, as part of a coalition of 44 attorneys general, has settled with the Laboratory Corporation of America resolving the multistate investigation into the 2019 data breach at Labcorp’s debt collector, Retrieval-Masters Creditors Bureau doing business as American Medical Collection Agency.

Effort includes $467,075 coming to Hawai’i for expansion of community stewardship at restored wetland sites, increasing coordination among agencies, landowners and organizations working on wetland restoration and reducing regulatory barriers for wetland restoration practitioners.

Public comments are due Oct. 23 on a draft environmental assessment on a project to replace deteriorated rockfall netting along the ʻAlelele slope on Hāna Highway in Kīpahulu.

A draft environmental assessment is open for public comment on a proposal to develop a new 262-acre agricultural park in Kula, separate from—but connected by infrastructure to—the existing Kula Agricultural Park.

As all four counties recover from flooding and damages, leaders say coastal retreat, better access and backup power are needed, especially in rural areas.

US Rep. Jill Tokuda has joined congressional lawmakers in introducing the Rural Emergency Hospital Designation Improvement Act, also known as REH 2.0. Also introducing the measure were: US Reps.Tracey Mann and Sharice Davids of Kansas, Jack Bergman of Michigan, Don Davis of North Carolina and Carol Miller of West Virginia.

Mug shots and arrest details are still available to the public, but often only upon request or by checking records.

The Maui County Special Fair Day will return to Wailuku on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, for a private event dedicated to Maui Nui community members with intellectual and developmental disabilities, according to an announcement by Mayor Richard Bissen. Volunteers are being sought for the celebration from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at War Memorial Special Events Complex.

The latest forecast track has Lowell passing south of the Big Island late Wednesday into Thursday. Trade winds are expected to become strong and gusty Thursday into Friday as Lowell passes south of the state. Forecast still remains very uncertain for Labor Day weekend, with the potential for Lowell and Karina within the vicinity of the state.

“The July 2026 visitor counts represent an 83.4% recovery when compared to pre-wildfire July 2023 with 297,082 visitors,” said DBEDT Director James Kunane Tokioka. “For the first seven months of 2026, there were 1,618,051 visitors on Maui, a 7.7% growth compared to year-to-date 2025, but 9.8% lower than the same period before the wildfires.”

Vaccination rates among kindergartners in Hawaiʻi dropped in the 2025-2026 school year compared to the previous year, while religious exemptions increased, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention SchoolVax survey. According to newly released data from the CDC, Hawaiʻi kindergartener vaccination rates have fallen, reversing a previous three-year trend of improvements. State vaccination rate estimates […]

The Oskie Rice Event Center will host the Oskie Rice Memorial Rodeo 2026 from Oct. 23-25, marking the 110th anniversary of Kaonoulu Ranch, according to event organizers. This year’s rodeo is being held in conjunction with the Festivals of Aloha celebrations.

Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc. will reopen its offices for regular operations, including Wailuku, Hāna, Molokaʻi, and Lānaʻi, on Tuesday, Aug. 18, after being closed Monday due to ongoing impacts from Lala. MEO’s Head Start classrooms will also be open. 

Queen Kaʻahumanu Center announced three free monthly events for Maui residents this school year, including bingo night, a children’s craft hour and a Polynesian hula show.

As of 8 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, approximately 7,000 remain without power on Maui in areas of Kula, Hā‘ikū, Olinda and Pi‘iholo. These areas were impacted by large downed trees and debris. A few remaining spot outages remain on West Maui, Central and South Maui.

Hawaiian Electric is urging customers across Hawaiʻi, including Maui County, to prepare for a storm forecasters say could affect the islands as early as Saturday.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Maui connected more than 450 families with health and wellness resources during its annual Back-to-School Health Fair on July 24 at Queen Kaʻahumanu Center in Kahului.

As the federal government considers proposed changes to the Head Start Program Performance Standards, the Executive Office on Early Learning and the Hawaiʻi Head Start Collaboration Office remain committed to ensuring children and families continue to have access to the high-quality early learning services. 

Gov. Josh Green appointed Maui affordable housing manager Laura Valenzuela to the Hawaiʻi State Ethics Commission on Friday. The governor also selected five other community leaders for state oversight roles, including seats on the Hawaiian Homes and Campaign Spending commissions.

The individual traveled internationally before returning to Hawaiʻi prior to getting sick. The assessment of risk of cyclosporiasis to the public in Hawaiʻi remains low.