#Puʻu Kukui

Kapalua Golf owner and President of TY Management,  Mr. Tadashi Yanai, recently donated $500,000 to the nonprofit Aloha Puʻu Kukui, a major commitment to continuing the restoration work of the West Maui Puʻu Kukui Watershed Preserve —a critical resource for the island’s environmental health. This latest gift brings the total contribution to Puʻu Kukui Watershed to $1.5 million since 2024. These funds directly support essential on-the-ground efforts, including invasive species removal and the reforestation of native species across the preserve. 

Maui County’s rainfall totals for May followed a familiar pattern — above average moisture on windward slopes, near-drought conditions on the leeward and interior sides — while a West Maui summit station recorded its wettest May in two decades, according to a National Weather Service summary.

With 10 days left to go, Kahului is already experiencing its wettest month ever, according to the National Weather Service. The NWS Honolulu office released a chart showing the top 10 wettest months all time. So far this month, through March 21, Kahului has already seen 19.92 inches of rain.

The driest areas were on the leeward coast and in Maui’s Central Valley. Many rain gauge sites recorded less than 10% of their May average rainfall, including gauges at Keālia Pond and Kīhei 2, which had zero rainfall for the month.

Kapalua Golf donated $500,000 to nonprofit, Aloha Puʻu Kukui, to expand restoration of the West Maui Puʻu Kukui watershed. This contribution builds upon an initial $500,000 donation in February 2024 for a total of $1 million donated to date that will fund increased restoration efforts including invasive plant removal and native forest replanting, among other initiatives.

Winners of the 2025 Maui Matsuri Art Contest, sponsored by HouseMart Ben Franklin Crafts Maui, have been announced and their prized art pieces are on display at the Queen Kaʻahumanu Shopping Center.

The USGS’ rain gage on Puʻu Kukui on Maui recorded its lowest February total on record. ʻUlupalakua Ranch and Haʻikū had their lowest February totals since 1973 and 1992, respectively.

Rain gauges in Maui County recorded near to above-average rainfall so far this year through the end of April, according to a report from the National Weather Service.

Trade winds are expected to remain locally strong and gusty through this weekend, accompanied by abundant windward showers, according to the National Weather Service.

A project to install fencing in West Maui to keep invasive, hoofed animals out of key watershed forests, has a mutually beneficial goal of enhancing human health and environmental well-being.

The USGS’ rain gage on top of Puʻu Kukui had the highest monthly total of 22.32 inches (58% of average), and the highest daily total of 7.90 inches on March 2, according to the summary report.