#Mahina Martin

All belongings left on site by Thursday morning will be impounded, and residents will have up to 30 days to pick up their items, the county said.

The nonprofit Maui Economic Opportunity was praised as the county’s Community Action Agency in a proclamation declaring Community Action Month in Maui County.

Ben Martin, a longtime Maui paddling official, was announced as the first official from the outrigger canoe paddling realm to be inducted into the Hawaiʻi Sports Officials Hall of Fame.

MEO assisted 20,365 individuals/families touching nearly 43,000 lives in the last fiscal year, MEO CEO Debbie Cabebe said. MEO buses on Maui, (including East Maui), Moloka‘i, and Lāna‘i, provided 270,555 rides for 5,774 unduplicated passengers.

Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen praised the work of Maui Economic Opportunity, citing the efforts that “make a difference in the lives so many” in proclaiming May as Community Action Month in Maui County.

Under the mayor’s budget this year, is the establishment of the East Maui Water Authority as a separate department. In addition, there’s a proposal to transfer $6 million in grants from the Administration Program to the Office of Economic Development. Caires also highlighted the addition of one expansion position, requests for public information officers, and CDGB funding for senior affordable rental housing and a resiliency center to serve wildfire survivors.

Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen announced today that Mahina Martin, his Chief of Communications and Public Affairs, will take on a new role as Director of Public Affairs. He also appointed his legislative liaison and executive assistant, Laksmi Abraham, as Director of Communications and Government Affairs.

Earthjustice officials said they are asking to extend the deadline to Aug. 14 for public comment on Maui County’s proposal to reduce the amount of treated sewage entering the ocean from injection wells at the Lahaina Wastewater Treatment Plant due to the Lahaina wildfire.

While some got a laugh out of a new Pāʻia road sign that mocks hippies, longtime area residents said it’s derogatory and divisive during a time when the historic town needs help.

Mayor Elect Bissen names three staff appointments to his cabinet, including: Leo Caires as Chief of Staff, Mahina Martin as Chief of Communications, and Gerry Dameron as Chief Innovation Officer.

This year’s winners are “Member of the Year,” Heidi Watanabe; “Farm Family of the Year,” the Hegele Family; and Mike Lyons Award, Hawaiian Electric Company.

Hawaiian Electric donated $31,000 to non-profit organization Mālama Kahālāwai for restoration of an Olowalu stream corridor with native Hawaiian plants and trees.

An uptick in COVID-19 cases and the number of quarantined households created an urgent need for personal protection items and household items for East Maui residents who face limited availability of goods in the remote East Maui community.  

Supporters of the ongoing demonstration at Maunakea collected winter gear for kupuna and kiaʻi during a drive held over the weekend in Kahului.  

A collection drive to aid animals distressed by fireworks will be held on Saturday, Dec. 22 in the parking lot of the Kahului Shopping Center from 9a to 4p.

Hawaiʻi Governor David Ige stopped by Maui’s Kōkua Puna donation drive over the weekend, sharing donations of his own and words of appreciation for volunteers.

A second Kōkua Puna collection drive is planned for this weekend on Maui, in response to the escalating conditions faced by evacuees fleeing the Kīlauea volcano eruption on Hawai’i Island.

A community donation drive to assist evacuated residents of Puna on Hawai’i Island, displaced by ongoing Kīlauea eruptions, takes place on Saturday and Sunday.

Maui Judge Rhonda Loo today ruled against plaintiffs in a lawsuit that challenged the handling of rule changes made by the Liquor Control Commission.

The newly board will now turn its attention to producing the 10th Anniversary Hui Holomua Business Fest scheduled for Friday, Oct. 7, 2016 at the Grand Wailea.