Selenium Found in Makawao Water Supply, Levels Far Below Safety Limits
Maui County detected trace amounts of selenium in the Makawao water system during routine testing, with confirmed levels of 3.7–4.9 micrograms per liter. The EPA’s maximum contaminant level is 50 micrograms per liter, meaning current levels pose no regulatory concern. Selenium was detected for the first time in the Makawao water system, confirmed by follow-up […]
Maui May See Import Bans on Plants and Mulch to Block Invasive Beetle
A state advisory committee has approved a proposed interim rule that would restrict imports of plants, mulch, soil, and coconuts to Maui and Lānaʻi to prevent the spread of the coconut rhinoceros beetle. The full Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity will now review the amended rule. Recent CRB detections near Kahului Airport and in Central […]
Paia Water Outage on Poni Place Affects 20 Homes for ~2 Hours
Maui County is conducting emergency repairs on a mainline break on Poni Place in Paia on July 19, causing a roughly 2-hour water outage starting at 4 p.m. About 20 residences and 2 standpipes are affected. A mainline break on Poni Place in Paia triggered an emergency water shutoff on July 19 at 4 p.m. […]
Residents Petition Against Bypass Road Through Kā’anapali Cultural Sites
A community petition is urging the Hawaii Department of Transportation to reject a proposed bypass highway connector road near Wahikuli Gulch, Canoe Beach, and Ka’anapali hillside neighborhoods. Opponents want planners to choose already-paved alternative routes instead. The proposed connector road would place an on/off ramp near Hanaka’o’o Beach Park, a heavily used cultural and recreational […]
South Kihei Road Closure Hits Month Four, Businesses Report 50% Sales Drop
A sinkhole-caused closure of South Kihei Road near Kamaʻole Beach Park II has entered its fourth month, with local businesses reporting sales down 30–50% and some shutting permanently. County repairs are slightly ahead of schedule, with reopening targeted for late August. South Kihei Road has been closed since March after Kona Low storms caused a […]
Makawao Water System Shows Trace Selenium — Far Below Safety Limits
Multiple outlets including Maui County, Maui Now, Honolulu Star-Advertiser, and KITV reported that trace levels of selenium were detected for the first time in the Makawao water system during routine testing. Officials from the Department of Water Supply and Hawaii Department of Health confirm the levels pose no health risk and are well below federal […]
Maui County Seeks Public Input on Desalination Plants for South & West Maui
The County of Maui Department of Water Supply is hosting two public meetings in August 2026 to gather community feedback on proposed desalination facilities being evaluated as a long-term water solution for South and West Maui. The meetings follow a 2024 feasibility study that identified potential facility sites for further review. Two public meetings are […]
Kahului Beach Road Closed Between Kanaloa Ave and Lower Main St
Kahului Beach Road is temporarily closed in both directions between Kanaloa Avenue and Lower Main Street following a motor vehicle accident. Guests traveling through Kahului should expect delays and plan alternate routes. Kahului Beach Road is shut down in both directions as of July 15, 2026. The closure spans the stretch between Kanaloa Avenue and […]
Kula Group Pushes for Water Tanks After 2023 Fire Exposed Infrastructure Gaps
The Kula Community Association is pressing state and county officials to build two 500,000-gallon gravity-fed water tanks in Upcountry Maui to improve wildfire firefighting capacity. No concrete progress has been made since the August 2023 wildfires exposed critical water pressure failures in the area. The Kula Community Association wants two 500,000-gallon high-elevation water tanks built […]
Maui Transportation Planning Agency Names New Executive Director
Kasie M. Apo Takayama has been appointed executive director of the Maui Metropolitan Planning Organization, which coordinates transportation planning and investment across the island. She brings nearly a decade of county legislative and policy experience. Apo Takayama previously served as a senior legislative analyst for the Maui County Office of Council Services for nearly ten […]