Hawaii Sues EPA Over Rejection of Maui Air Quality Plan Tied to Haleakalā
Hawaii’s Attorney General and environmental groups filed federal court challenges after the EPA partially rejected the state’s 2024 Regional Haze Plan, which would have reduced pollution affecting Haleakalā and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Parks. The plan had called for retiring older Hawaiian Electric power plants on Maui and the Big Island. Hawaii filed a petition in […]
UH Study: Maui Reef Damage from Human Contaminants Cuts Coral Resilience
A University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa study found 25 agricultural, industrial, and pharmaceutical contaminants accumulating in Maui coral tissues, reducing their ability to withstand environmental stressors. Sites with the most human impact also showed the steepest coral cover losses after the 2016 bleaching event. Researchers tested 380 corals across 16 sites off west and south […]
Waa Kiakahi Canoe Festival Brings Cultural Tourism to Maui’s Northwest Coast
The Waa Kiakahi Canoe Festival, now in its 20th year, draws international visitors to Maui with a 27-mile open-ocean canoe race and cultural programming rooted in traditional Polynesian navigation. The event connects Hawaii with seafaring heritage across New Zealand, French Polynesia, Fiji, and Samoa. Eight teams race approximately 27 miles along Maui’s northwestern coastline using […]
Hawaii Supreme Court Voids Maui’s SMA Permit Exemption Rules
The Hawaii Supreme Court struck down Maui Planning Commission rules that had exempted certain construction and renovation projects near the shoreline from requiring Special Management Area permits. The court found the exemptions violated the Coastal Zone Management Act by bypassing required case-by-case environmental review. The court ruled that Maui’s 2024 categorical permit exemptions for SMA […]
Hawaiian Airlines to Replace 717s with Boeing 737-800s for Inter-Island Flights
Alaska Airlines has announced that Hawaiian Airlines will transition its neighbor island fleet from Boeing 717s to 737-800s starting in 2028. The new aircraft will offer more premium seating, Starlink Wi-Fi, and increased cargo capacity including surfboard storage. Hawaiian Airlines will replace its retiring Boeing 717 fleet with 737-800s for inter-island service, with the transition […]
Maui County Seeks Public Input on Desalination Plans for South and West Maui
The Maui County Department of Water Supply is holding two public meetings in August to discuss desalination as a potential long-term water source for South and West Maui. Community members can learn about project status, estimated costs, and next steps, and provide feedback. Meetings are scheduled for Aug. 5 at the Kīhei Community Center and […]
Third Anniversary Kuhinia Maui Gathering Set for Aug. 8 in Lahaina
Maui County will host the annual Kuhinia Maui community gathering on August 8, 2026, at Lahaina United Methodist Church to mark three years since the 2023 wildfires. The free, all-day event includes music, food, wellness activities, and a 5:30 p.m. tribute ceremony honoring those lost. The free gathering runs 9 a.m.–7 p.m. on Aug. 8 […]
Maui Property Tax First Installment Due August 20 — Late Fees Apply
Maui County’s Department of Finance has announced, across multiple official county notices, that the first installment of real property taxes for fiscal year 2026-27 is due by August 20, 2026. Property owners who miss the deadline face a one-time 10% penalty plus 1% monthly interest on any unpaid balance. Bills have been mailed, but owners […]
Hawaii Supreme Court: Maui Must Retain Coastal Permit Oversight, Can’t Delegate to Developers
Multiple sources report that the Hawaii Supreme Court unanimously ruled this week that the Maui County Planning Commission cannot allow property owners or developers to self-determine whether their coastal projects require a permit. The court affirmed a lower court ruling striking down key portions of the commission’s 2024 amended rules for the Special Management Area, […]
Annual Kaanapali Canoe Festival Draws Visitors with Rare Cultural Experience
The Waa Kiakahi Canoe Festival, now in its 20th year, takes place each June in Kaanapali and gives visitors a chance to witness and participate in traditional Hawaiian sailing canoe racing. The event is sponsored by the Kaanapali Beach Resort Association as a way to offer guests authentic cultural programming. The Waa Kiakahi Canoe Festival […]