Upper Kula Water Conservation Requested During Line Repair Through Sept. 25
Maui County’s Department of Water Supply is asking Upper Kula residents and businesses to limit water use to essential needs while crews repair a broken line. Repairs are expected to be completed by Friday, September 25. The water conservation request affects the Upper Kula area from Upper Kimo Drive to Kanaio. Residents and businesses should […]
$65M Funding Secured to Rebuild Kula Hospital After Kona Low Storm Damage
Multiple news outlets reported that the state of Hawaiʻi, Maui Health, and Kaiser Permanente have jointly announced a $65 million commitment to restore and reopen Kula Hospital, which has been closed since March 2026 Kona Low storms caused significant damage. The state will contribute $42 million and Kaiser Permanente will invest $23 million, with construction […]
Southbound Honoapiilani Hwy Closed at Kaanapali Parkway After Accident
The southbound lane of Honoapiilani Highway is temporarily closed at Kaanapali Parkway following a motor vehicle accident. Drivers heading through the Kaanapali/Lahaina corridor should expect delays or seek alternate routes. The southbound lane of Honoapiilani Highway is closed at the Kaanapali Parkway intersection. The closure is due to a motor vehicle accident reported on September […]
Kula Hospital Gets $65M Funding Commitment After Kona-Low Storm Closure
Kula Hospital, shuttered since March due to severe Kona-low storm damage, will be restored through a combined $65 million investment from the state of Hawaii and Kaiser Permanente. No reopening date has been set yet. Kula Hospital has been closed since March after Kona-low storms dropped over 50 inches of rain, damaging its emergency department, […]
Little Fire Ant Infestations Found in Ha’ikū and Kapalua; Maui Acreage Doubles
Multiple sources, including Maui County and Maui Now, report that two significant Little Fire Ant infestations have been confirmed in Ha’ikū and Kapalua, prompting an urgent call for community vigilance. The Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC) is coordinating treatment and outreach efforts for both sites. Property owners are advised to survey their land and avoid […]
Hawaiian Electric Installs First Tesla Megapacks at Maui Battery Storage Site
Hawaiian Electric has begun installing Tesla Megapack battery units at its new Waena energy storage facility in Central Maui. The 40-MW system is designed to shift renewable energy to peak demand periods and is expected to go online in 2027. The Waena Battery Energy Storage System will be Maui’s first standalone load-shifting battery project, using […]
Maui Council Scrutinizes $500M South Maui Plan Costs, Extends Deliberations
Multiple sources report that the Maui County Council’s Disaster Recovery, International Affairs and Planning Committee has been in extended deliberations over the South Maui Community Plan, with sessions stretching across multiple days. Key concerns center on the plan’s fiscal soundness and whether cost estimates are sufficiently detailed, with the committee continuing to hear public testimony […]
Olinda Road Area Faces 2-Hour Emergency Water Shutoff Sept. 21
Maui County is cutting water service to roughly 60 residences along Olinda Road (1145–1525) on September 21 from 1:30 p.m. for approximately two hours due to emergency repairs. The outage affects approximately 60 residences and 14 hydrants/standpipes along Olinda Road. Service interruption is expected to last about two hours beginning at 1:30 p.m. on September […]
Axis Deer Cutting Maui Ranch Forage by 24%, Study Finds
A University of Hawaiʻi study finds invasive axis deer are reducing available forage at the majority of Maui and Hawaiʻi Island ranch sites surveyed. Roughly 47,000 deer roam across a third of Maui, and overgrazed land is slower to recover after wildfire. The first scientific study to measure wild ungulate grazing impact found forage losses […]
Hawaiian Electric Installs First Tesla Megapacks for Maui Grid Storage Project
Hawaiian Electric has installed the first six of 54 Tesla Megapack battery units at its Waena facility in Central Maui, part of a 40MW grid-scale energy storage system. The project is expected to be operational in 2027 and aims to improve grid stability and support renewable energy use. The Waena Battery Energy Storage System will […]