#Lanai

Bishop Pahia of Waiehu and Patricia Niibu of Lānaʻi City were honored as the 2025 Maui County Outstanding Older American Male and Female, respectively, the County of Maui Department of Human Concerns Office on Aging announced.

The $1.56 billion budget, which is $55 million more than Mayor Richard Bissen’s, is up for first reading today.

When 19-year-old Talia Agliam walks across the stage to receive her bachelor’s degree in sociology and a certificate in law and society from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa on May 17, she will carry with her not only the pride of achievement, but the strength and support of her Lānaʻʻi island community.

The County of Maui Department of Environmental Management is hosting a white goods, metals and e-waste collection event for Lānaʻi residents on Saturday, April 12, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Pulama Lānaʻi Fleet Yard.

The Lānaʻi Senior Center will be closed briefly on Friday, March 28, from noon to 4:30 p.m., due to a staffing shortage.

The 55th annual Garner Ivey Maui Invitational Wrestling Tournament brought the Forest Grove High School teams from Oregon, led by Baldwin High School alumnus Guy Takahashi. Also at the meet was Frank Johnson, the Linfield University head coach, who was recruiting the talent at the meet that also included high school teams from around the state.

Lāna‘i motorists are advised of potential traffic delays on Friday, Dec. 6, as crews will be checking the pavement quality on the state’s Kaumālapaʻu Highway (Route 440).

After eight months of closures, most of the roadway in Mānele Small Boat Harbor has reopened. Multiple water main breaks created issues with the section between the upper road and the lower, makai road. The middle section of the roadway will remain closed until further notice.

Seabury Hall continues cross country dominance, Lunas extend MIL football winning streak and Baldwin stays undefeated in girls volleyball.

The Farmers have gone from playing flag football and borrowing equipment to dominating the eight-player ranks and finally making it to the 11-player stage.

Flight disruptions have worsened following a series of events that include the groundings of Mokulele’s larger-capacity Saab last month and a portion of its fleet over the weekend. The airline also determined earlier this year that the aircraft it brought in to provide backup service are not a good fit for Hawai’i.

The awardee will be responsible for administering the $70,000 Maui County-funded program to implement food vouchers for Lānaʻi residents. 

Kolten Magno and Maui’s Little League All-Stars continued their run in Williamsport while his brother Kahi Magno kicked off the preseason with Lahainaluna’s football team. MIL girls volleyball also got underway as the fall sports season gets rolling.

While the vast majority of Maui County residents remain employed, the county’s unemployment rate has gone up 58% in July, compared with the same month last year before the Maui wildfires, according a monthly report from the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

“So, there’s a lot of options on the table if the county owns it. Private companies don’t get to apply for those funds,” Council Member Gabe Johnson said of the benefits of a Maui County-owned ferry system.

The Pesticides Branch of the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture (HDOA) is extending its free pesticide disposal program to the island of Lāna‘i in August. Lāna‘i farmers and other commercial users of pesticides may safely dispose of canceled, suspended, unwanted or unlabeled pesticides, but pre-registration is required. The registration deadline is Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at 4:30 p.m. The drop-off day is Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, with the location to be provided only to registered participants.

First Hawaiian Bank today announced its decision to donate its Lāna’i Branch to Maui County, including the building and land situated at 644 Lāna’i Ave. The branch concluded operations at this location on Friday, June 28, 2024.

Maui Economic Opportunity will be assisting Lāna‘i residents who are customers of First Hawaiian Bank by adding a stop at the bank’s Kahului Branch to the weekly Lāna‘i Shopping Shuttle to Maui. The bank will be closing its Lāna‘i Branch at 644 Lāna‘i Ave. on Friday, June 28, and the shopping shuttle is one of the options offered for banking customers on the island.

Students in the Lāna‘i Culture and Heritage Center’s cultural immersion program wrap up their two-week session today, focused on sustainable practices and the culinary and cultural traditions of Hawaiʻi.

The Hawai‘i Elementary and Middle School Administrators Association (HEMSAA) named Jennifer Pimentel, vice principal at Lāna‘i High & Elementary, as Hawai‘iʻs 2024 National Outstanding Assistant Principal. In the Distinguished Principali category, Molokaʻi’s Daniel Espaniola, principal of Kaunakakai Elementary was a finalist as the Maui District honoree.