Maui Visitor Arrivals Up 11.5% as Kā’anapali Hotels Top 76% Occupancy
Multiple outlets reported this week on the continued rebound of Maui tourism alongside ongoing Lahaina recovery efforts. Visitor arrivals rose 11.5% in February 2026 year-over-year, and hotel occupancy in the Lahaina-Kā’anapali-Kapalua corridor climbed above 76%, signaling strengthening demand for the West Maui market. Maui visitor arrivals increased 11.5% in February 2026 compared to the same […]
‘Nashville’ Actor Charles Esten Performing Live at Hyatt Regency Maui
Actor and musician Charles Esten, best known for his role in the TV series ‘Nashville,’ will perform his Maui debut at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa on Saturday, August 2. Charles Esten, who played Deacon Claybourne in the long-running series ‘Nashville,’ is bringing his live music act to Maui for the first time. […]
Big Band Jazz Concert Coming to Kihei’s Altitude Deck This Saturday
Jazz Maui and the Wave of Harmony Foundation are hosting a live big band and vocal jazz concert Saturday evening at The Altitude Deck in Kihei. Two big bands and six vocalists will perform classics from Ellington, Basie, Sinatra, and Ella Fitzgerald. The event takes place Saturday evening at The Altitude Deck in Kihei. Jazz […]
2026 Maui Invitational Set for November at Lahaina Civic Center
The 2026 Southwest Maui Invitational college basketball tournament is scheduled for November 23–25 at the Lahaina Civic Center, featuring eight teams including Washington, BYU, Arizona, and Clemson. The three-day event draws visitors to Lahaina each year. The tournament runs November 23–25, 2026 at the Lahaina Civic Center in Lahaina. Eight college basketball programs are participating, […]
Major Sand Restoration Project Proposed for Eroding Kaanapali Beach
A private resort group and a Maui nonprofit are pursuing a large-scale beach rebuilding project at Kaanapali, using offshore sand to widen areas that have narrowed over time. The proposal is still in state review with no confirmed construction date. The Kaanapali Operations Association and Pilikahakai Foundation plan to move roughly 75,000 cubic yards of […]
West Maui Tourism Rebounds: Occupancy Tops 76% as Recovery Continues
Visitor arrivals to Maui rose 11.5% in February 2026 year-over-year, with hotel occupancy in the Lahaina-Kāʻanapali-Kapalua corridor climbing above 76%. Lahaina’s commercial core remains largely closed, though infrastructure restoration and a planned interim vendor marketplace signal ongoing progress. Maui visitor arrivals increased 11.5% in February 2026 compared to the prior year, indicating strengthening tourism demand. […]
Maui Ocean Center Hosts Free Documentary Screening on Mā’alaea Bay Restoration
Maui Ocean Center will screen a free documentary about community-led efforts to restore Mā’alaea Bay on August 13, 2026. A public Q&A with local scientists and organizations follows, including discussion of a proposed regional wastewater facility. The free screening takes place August 13, 2026 at Maui Ocean Center’s Sphere Theater in Mā’alaea — reservations required […]
Kaanapali Beach Sand Restoration Plan Draws Community Pushback
A privately funded project to pump 75,000 cubic yards of offshore sand onto Kaanapali Beach is moving forward but facing significant community opposition. Critics question whether the 20-year fix addresses root causes or delays more permanent solutions. The Kaanapali Beach Restoration Project would dredge offshore sand near Black Rock and deposit it at Canoe Beach […]
2026 Maui Invitational Bracket Set for Nov. 23–25 at Lahaina Civic Center
Multiple sports outlets reported that the full bracket for the 2026 Southwest Maui Invitational has been announced, with eight college basketball teams competing November 23–25 at the Lahaina Civic Center. The tournament features BYU, Washington, Ole Miss, Clemson, Arizona, Colorado State, Providence, and VCU, with all 12 games televised on ESPN networks. The 2026 Southwest […]
Kaanapali Beach Sand Restoration Project Advances Through State Permitting
Multiple outlets report that a proposal to restore eroding Kaanapali Beach by redistributing offshore sand along the West Maui shoreline is progressing through Hawaii’s state permitting process. The project, backed by the Pilikahakai Foundation and Ka’anapali Operations Association, would return the beach to roughly its 1988 profile and is privately funded. The plan faces some […]