Council Vice-Chair Sugimura Receives Labor Union Backing in Mayor Race
Maui County Council Vice-Chair Yuki Lei Sugimura received an endorsement from the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades for her mayoral campaign. Ten candidates have filed to run for mayor, including incumbent Richard Bissen. District Council 50, representing thousands of Hawaii workers, endorsed Sugimura citing her support for labor values and fair wages. Sugimura […]
Maui County Opens Agricultural Grant Applications June 22-July 22
Maui County’s Agriculture Department will accept grant applications from June 22-July 22, 2026, with free workshops starting June 8 to help nonprofits and businesses prepare applications. Priority funding areas include agricultural infrastructure, operations, education, and recovery. Grant applications accepted June 22 through July 22, 2026 for agricultural infrastructure, operations, education, recovery, livestock, and non-food agriculture […]
County Reopens Maui’s Only Public Firing Range After Storm Damage Repairs
The Ukumehame Firing Range will reopen Friday after the county completed repairs to flood damage from March storms. Heavy equipment was used to restore berms at the pistol and rifle ranges. The facility closed in March after Kona low storms caused flooding that eroded berms and damaged range areas. County Public Works used heavy equipment […]
Lahaina Woman Found Safe After Police Search
A 46-year-old Lahaina woman who was reported missing has been located and taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center for evaluation. Chantrell Miller of Lahaina was reported missing by her partner on Thursday. Police were unable to reach her as her cell phone was turned off. She has been found and transported to the hospital for […]
Major Construction Project at Waianapanapa State Park to Begin in July
Multiple sources have reported that a significant facility improvements project at Waianapanapa State Park in Hana will begin construction in July. The project will impact parking, access, and camping arrangements at the popular tourist destination through early 2027. Construction begins July 6 and includes a new comfort station near the eastern parking area and resurfacing […]
Water Outages Hit East Maui and Upcountry Due to Emergency Repairs
Maui County reported two separate water service outages on June 4th affecting East Maui and Upcountry areas due to emergency mainline break repairs. The outages impacted a combined 75 residences across both locations. East Maui’s Honokalani Road area experienced a 3-hour water outage starting at 8:20 am due to emergency mainline break repairs The East […]
Hawaii National Guard Activated for 2026 Wildfire Season Through November
Governor Josh Green signed an emergency proclamation launching Operation Ho’opauahi for the second consecutive year, as reported by multiple state sources. The initiative activates Hawaii National Guard helicopters and crews to provide rapid aerial firefighting support during the 2026 wildfire season. Emergency proclamation authorizes Adjutant General to activate Hawaii National Guard for wildfire response from […]
Lahaina Royal Complex Master Plan Advances with Community Input Survey
Maui County has launched a community survey and provided timeline updates for the master plan to restore Lahaina’s historic Royal Complex, as reported by multiple sources. The initiative aims to transform the sacred cultural area following the 2023 wildfire destruction. County’s Department of ʻŌiwi Resources is seeking input from Maui residents, especially Lahaina natives, through […]
Federal Agencies Crack Down on Laser Attacks as Maui Resident Faces Jail
Multiple news sources report on federal enforcement efforts against aircraft laser incidents following a Maui man’s guilty plea. Jesse Kong, 30, awaits sentencing after admitting to providing a laser pointer used to target a federal aircraft. Jesse Kong, 30, of Maui pleaded guilty April 15, 2026 to being an accessory after the fact to a […]
Three Local Students Win Conservation Scholarships for Environmental Studies
Three Maui students received $2,000 scholarships from Friends of Haleakala National Park for pursuing ecology and conservation studies. The recipients are focusing on environmental engineering, ecosystem restoration, and native species conservation. Dominick Guiwa won for research on plant-based firefighting foam alternatives to replace harmful chemicals. Christian Pelletier studied how post-sugarcane soil affects native plant growth […]