#Today

(Posted by Wendy OSHER © 2009) Maui’s George Kahumoku, Jr. and fellow musicians featured on The Spirit of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar album depart for Los Angeles today, bound for the 51st Grammy Awards ceremony. The Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar have previously been honored with three consecutive Grammy Awards for their compilation CDs […]

(By Wendy OSHER © 2009) The Maui Hotel & Lodging Association (MHLA) is expanding its “I Work for Aloha” campaign.  With many of the jobs in the county directly tied to the visitor industry, MHLA launched the campaign to heighten awareness of the connections between the visitor industry and the average county resident. The campaign […]

By Wendy Osher Maui could be the site of a medical enterprise zone under a bill being considered at the state legislature. The 7-year pilot program would be based on the West side of the Valley Isle a region that has long been the focus of discussion for a second island hospital. Rep. Angus McKelvey […]

(Posted by Wendy OSHER © 2009) The state is investigating a report of a large number of dead fish found along the Niihau shoreline. The report was made on Monday, February 2nd by the owner of the private island, located off the west coast of Kauai. DLNR aquatic biologist Don Heacock, along with Department of […]

(Posted By Wendy OSHER © 2009) U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii) reintroduced The Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act yesterday, while Congressman Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii) introduced a companion bill in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill is designed to begin a process to form a Native Hawaiian government that could negotiate with the state […]

(Posted by Wendy OSHER © 2009) More than a dozen local, state and federal agencies will share information on crime prevention, disaster preparedness, public health, personal safety at the 2009 West Maui Safety Fair. The event will be held a the Lahaina Cannery Mall on Saturday, February 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The […]

(Story & Photos by Wendy OSHER © 2009) The Maui Fire Department added two new vehicles to its fleet yesterday-an engine for West Maui and an Air/Light Truck for large scale incident response. The new Engine 3 will be stationed at the Lahaina Fire Station and will be used in protecting the West Maui Community. […]

(By Wendy OSHER © 2009) Two Maui facilities are on a list of areas set to receive state funding for energy efficiency improvements.  The Kahului Baseyard and East Maui’s Waianapanapa State Park were among a list of 15 state facilities that will get a share of the $250,000 released by the Governor’s office today.  Currently, […]

(Posted by Wendy OSHER © 2009) The state has added a Molokai meeting to a list of public discussions on possible regulations for certain marine fish species. The Department of Land and Natural Resources is considering minimum size rules to protect some species from over harvesting including Parrotfish (uhu), Goatfish (weke), and Jacks (ulua/papio). The […]

(Story & Photos by Wendy OSHER © 2009) Maui’s economy got an $8.3 million boost this winter from the 2008 EA SPORTSTM Maui Invitational® basketball tournament played at the Lahaina Civic Center. The tournament welcomed nearly 5,000 out-of-state participants who spent an average of six days on Maui, according to the latest data released by […]

(Story & Photos By Wendy OSHER © 2009) While other retailers are closing shop amid economic hardship, Longs Drug Store is bucking the trend-at least on Maui.  A new Longs Drug Store at the Kulamalu Center in Pukalani opens its doors at 9 o’clock this morning with grand opening specials to mark the occasion.  The […]

(Photos and story By Wendy Osher © 2009) Mokulele Airlines’ inaugural Flight 215 from Kahului Airport marks the beginning of expanded service for the interisland carrier. The Airlines’ Kahului Station Manager Ipo Mossman said the Kahului to Honolulu route helps to meet passenger demands following the exit of Aloha Airline’s passenger service nearly one year […]

(Photos and Story By: Wendy OSHER © 2009) Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares joined officials from Taiwan’s Ping Tung Province today in commemorating the town’s 27th year as a Sister City of Maui County. A plaque was unveiled at the Sun Yat Sen Park in Kula marking the occasion. The sister city partnership was formed in […]

(By Wendy OSHER © 2009) Volunteers across the state counted an average of 8 whales every 15 minutes during a statewide count conducted by the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. 650 volunteers collected data from 56 sites with the most sightings reported off of Kahoolawe where 14 whales were sighted every 15 minutes […]

(By Wendy OSHER © 2009) State Senator Gary Hooser of Kauai announced his plans to run for Lt. Governor in 2010.  The announcement came in the form of an email to supporters.  In it, Hooser said that while his role as Senate Majority Leader is important, he has an opportunity to serve an even stronger […]

(By Wendy OSHER © 2009) OVERVIEW OF MAUI ROAD PROJECTS: On the roads, several projects continue across the Valley Isle this week. Upcountry, concrete overlay work continues on the Haleakala Highway resulting in a single lane uphill closure and an afternoon contraflow for downhill motorists. In South and West Maui, fiber optic cable installations will […]

By Wendy Osher © 2009 Maui Police say a visitor suffered massive head injuries from a fall from a 10 story balcony yesterday. The woman was found unresponsive near the poolside area of the Westin Kaanapali Hotel in Lahaina. Authoritites have since identified the woman as 52-year-old Laurie J. Brunner-Chapple of Sunnyville, California. Lt. Chad […]

By Wendy Osher © 2009 Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares will present her third State of the County Address on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. in the Council Chambers on the 8th Floor of the County Building in Wailuku.  The public is free and open to the public, however seating is limited.  The address […]

(Photos by Wendy OSHER © 2009) The County celebrated Chinese New Year today with a Lion Dance and Martial Arts demonstration on the front lawn of the county building. The public exhibition featured members of the Au’s Shaolin Arts Society. The playful lions were fed a head cabbage from Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares as dozens […]

By Wendy Osher © 2009 The newly constructed Honua Kai Resort & Spa in Kaanapali officially opened the doors on Phase One of the property this week. The Hokulani tower officially opened on Wednesday, but will be available for public viewing during a community open house tomorrow (Saturday, January 31, 2009). The luxury tower tour […]