Lahaina Wastewater Plant Completes $14M Upgrade, Boosting Recycled Water Supply
A $14 million improvement project at the Lahaina Wastewater Reclamation Facility has been completed, increasing recycled water production for golf courses, resorts, and parks in West Maui. The project, which won a 2026 Hawaii engineering award, rehabilitated existing infrastructure rather than building new, and reduces reliance on groundwater injection wells. The upgraded facility now reliably […]
Honolua Bay Reservation System and Shuttle Access Proposed in Maui’s New Visitor Plan
Maui’s finalized 2026-2028 visitor management plan identifies Honolua Bay as a top-priority area and proposes replacing open roadside access with timed reservations, off-site parking, and shuttles. Advocates are pushing to cut daily land-based visitors from roughly 1,200 to 400 people. Maui’s 2026-2028 visitor management plan is now finalized and flags Honolua Bay as one of […]
Lahaina Downtown Post Office Faces Permanent Closure, Officials Push Back
The USPS is proposing to permanently close the Lahaina Downtown Post Office, which has been offline since the 2023 wildfires. A U.S. Representative and Maui County Councilmember are demanding the plan be halted and real community input be gathered. The Lahaina Downtown Post Office has been closed since the August 2023 wildfires and USPS is […]
Maui July 2026 Visitor Arrivals and Spending Both Rise ~5.7% Year-Over-Year
Maui welcomed nearly 248,000 visitors in July 2026, a 5.6% increase over July 2025, with visitor spending up 5.7% to $539.9 million. The island has recovered to 83.4% of pre-wildfire July 2023 visitor levels. July 2026 saw 247,857 visitors to Maui, up 5.6% from July 2025, with spending rising to $539.9 million (+5.7%). For the […]
Federal Funds Bring $25M in Maui Grid Resilience and Hazard Upgrades
Hawaii has secured $18.5 million in federal funding to support $25 million in electrical grid resilience projects across Maui, Hawaii Island, and Oahu, with completion expected between 2027 and 2029. Projects include West Maui grid hazard mapping, energy system modernization, and Critical Customer Hubs in Lahaina to keep essential facilities running during outages. Five projects […]
West Maui to Get Its First Recycling Center with $3.6M Federal Grant
The EPA has awarded Maui County $3.6 million to build the first waste collection center in West Maui, designed to handle recyclables, green waste, and bulky items. The project has a three-year timeline from land acquisition to opening. The new facility will accept a wide range of materials including green waste, electronics, appliances, tires, and […]
Water Main Break Closes Section of Lower Honoapiʻilani Rd
Maui County reported in multiple alerts that a water mainline break on Lower Honoapiʻilani Road is causing both a water service outage and a road closure as of the morning of August 27, 2026. The Department of Water Supply is assessing the damage and conducting repairs, with the disruption expected to last several hours. A […]
Brush Fire Near Olinda Road Contained Same Day
Maui County’s emergency management agency issued two alerts on August 27, 2026 regarding a brush fire near 2900 Olinda Road. Multiple official updates confirmed the fire was reported in the early afternoon and fully extinguished by late afternoon the same day. A brush fire was reported at approximately 2:15 PM HST near 2900 Olinda Road […]
$24M Federal Grant to Repair Six Aging Hana Highway Bridges
Six bridges along the popular Hana Highway will be rehabilitated or replaced using $24 million in federal funding. The project is designed to preserve the historic, single-lane character of the road while improving safety and access in East Maui. Six of Hana Highway’s 59 bridges will be rehabilitated or replaced using $24M in federal funding […]
Letter Criticizes Maui Council Over Wailea 670 Labor and Water Conditions
A Kihei resident’s letter to the editor argues that several Maui council members failed to require union labor hiring or enforce water availability rules for the Wailea 670 and Makena Resort developments. The letter raises concerns about infrastructure strain on the Iao Aquifer and costs being shifted to residents. A letter writer alleges Maui council […]