Lahaina O-Bon Festival Returns Aug. 14 After Temples Lost in 2023 Fire
The West Maui Buddhist Council is hosting a combined O-Bon Festival on August 14, 2026, at Lahaina Jodo Mission, continuing a cultural tradition despite all three of Lahaina’s Buddhist temples being destroyed in the 2023 wildfires. The free community event runs 5–9 p.m. and is open to residents and visitors. The Lahaina O-Bon Festival takes […]
Appeals Court Sends Honuaʻula Phase II Back to Maui Planning Commission
A Hawaii appellate court ruled the Maui Planning Commission used the wrong legal standard when it approved Phase II of the Honuaʻula master-planned community in South Maui, ordering the commission to reconsider whether a supplemental environmental impact statement is required. The court upheld the commission on drainage, due process, and delegation issues, while workforce housing […]
Three Years After Lahaina Fire, Commercial Rebuilding Lags Far Behind
Multiple sources, citing Grassroot Institute of Hawaii analyst Jonathan Helton, report that Lahaina’s recovery remains severely limited three years after the August 2023 wildfires. While roughly 220 homes have been rebuilt, non-residential and multifamily reconstruction has barely begun, with only 13 completed non-residential permits and fewer than 30 issued in total. The August 8, 2023 […]
Selenium Detected in South Maui Water System, Levels Deemed Safe
Multiple sources, including Maui County and the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, report that trace levels of selenium were detected for the first time in the Wailuku water system serving Māʻalaea, Kīhei, Wailea, and Mākena. Health officials say the detected levels are well below federal and state safety limits and are unlikely to pose a public health risk. […]
Maui County Takes Over Wildfire Survivor Case Management from State
The Hawaii Department of Human Services has handed control of the Wildfires Disaster Case Management Program to Maui County, effective August 7, 2026. The transition is designed to strengthen local coordination as survivors prepare for the end of FEMA temporary housing assistance in February 2027. Maui County now leads the Disaster Case Management Program previously […]
Lahaina Marks Three Years Since Devastating 2023 Wildfire
Lahaina residents and community members observed the third anniversary of the August 2023 wildfire on Saturday, reflecting on ongoing grief while noting early signs of community rebuilding and return. Three years after the fire, many Lahaina residents say they still lack closure, with friends who lost lives and homes still unresolved. The Lahaina United Methodist […]
South Kīhei Road Near Kam II Beach Park Reopens Aug. 11, Ahead of Schedule
South Kīhei Road, closed since a March Kona Low caused major storm damage, will reopen to traffic on August 11, 2026 — earlier than the originally estimated fall completion date. The County used federal emergency funding to complete layered repairs to the roadway, drainage, waterline, and surrounding park area. South Kīhei Road near Kamaʻole II […]
HTA Releases 2026–28 Tourism Management Plans Targeting Stressed Hotspots
The Hawaii Tourism Authority has published new three-year Destination Management Action Plans for all major islands, identifying high-traffic sites under strain and outlining community-guided steps to manage visitor impact. Maui’s plan focuses on the Hāna Highway corridor and Ke’anae Peninsula. HTA’s 2026–28 DMAPs cover Maui, Moloka’i, Lāna’i, O’ahu, Kaua’i, and Hawai’i Island, each targeting specific […]
Tropical Depression Threatens Hawaii With Rain, Flooding, and Winds This Weekend
Tropical Depression Two-C is forecast to strengthen into a tropical storm or Category 1 hurricane as it tracks toward the Hawaiian Islands late this week. Heavy rainfall, flooding, mudslides, and wind and wave impacts are expected to affect Maui Sunday into Monday. The system is expected to gradually strengthen to a high-end tropical storm or […]
Lahaina Marks Three Years Since Wildfires with Community Remembrance Event
Multiple sources reported on the third anniversary of the August 8, 2023 Maui wildfires, which killed more than 100 people and destroyed thousands of structures in Lahaina. Maui County hosted a free all-day community gathering called ‘Kuhinia Maui’ on August 8, 2026, bringing together residents for music, cultural activities, and reflection. The event signaled continued […]