Local Foundation Grants $30K in Scholarships to Eight Maui Student-Athletes
The Ian Walsh Menehune Mayhem Foundation awarded $3,750 scholarships to eight Maui high school student-athletes who will attend colleges nationwide. Since 2018, the foundation has awarded nearly $179,000 to local students. Eight Maui students received $3,750 scholarships each at a May 14 ceremony. Recipients come from Kamehameha Schools Maui, King Kekaulike, Maui High, and Maui […]
Hyatt Regency Maui Welcomes First Penguin Chick in Nearly 17 Years
An African penguin chick hatched at Hyatt Regency Maui on April 24, marking the first birth at the resort in nearly 17 years. The chick will make its public debut on June 8 during World Ocean Day celebrations. The penguin chick hatched on April 24 and is healthy and thriving according to resort wildlife staff. […]
Factory-Built Housing Gets Green Light for Lahaina Burn Zone Rebuilds
Maui County has approved new procedures allowing factory-built housing as permanent dwellings in the Lahaina Burn Zone. The policy aims to reduce construction costs and speed up the rebuilding process for fire survivors. Factory-built or prefabricated housing is now permitted as permanent housing in the Lahaina Burn Zone under new county regulations. The policy is […]
Memorial Day Lantern Floating Event Returns to Honor Fallen Soldiers
The annual Shinnyo Lantern Floating ceremony at Ala Moana Beach will take place Memorial Day, with about 6,000 lanterns expected to be released at sunset. The event helps families like the Wessels, who lost their son Army Spc. Kevin Wessel from Maui in Iraq, find healing through remembrance. The Memorial Day Shinnyo Lantern Floating ceremony […]
UH Documentary About Hawaii Labor Leader Gets National PBS Distribution
A University of Hawaii-West Oahu documentary about labor activist Ah Quon McElrath will air on public television stations across the mainland US. The film highlights McElrath’s role in Hawaii’s labor movement and social justice advocacy. The documentary ‘Ah Quon McElrath: The Struggle Never Ends!’ will broadcast on PBS stations in California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New […]
UH Scholarship Program Helps Lahaina Fire Survivor Complete College Degree
A Lahainaluna High School graduate used a University of Hawaii wildfire scholarship to complete a diesel mechanics program at Hawaii Community College. The scholarship program covers two years at UH community colleges for all 2024 Lahainaluna graduates affected by the fire. University of Hawaii created scholarships for all 2024 Lahainaluna High School seniors, covering two […]
Hawaii Seeks Public Input on Wildfire Utility Liability Rules
The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission is developing new rules for utility liability caps in future wildfires, seeking stakeholder input on balancing victim compensation with utility financial stability. The PUC is creating administrative rules under Act 258 to establish liability cap frameworks for electric utilities in wildfire cases. Public input is being sought from residents, advocates, […]
West Papuan Graduate Completes UH Mānoa Studies, Worked on Maui Project
A West Papuan student became the first in his tribe to earn a master’s degree from UH Mānoa’s landscape architecture program. He worked on a community resilience project in West Maui as part of his studies. Dersel Bonai earned a Master of Landscape Architecture from UH Mānoa, becoming the first in his tribal lineage to […]
Hyatt Regency Maui Welcomes First Penguin Chick in 17 Years
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort celebrated the hatching of an African Penguin chick on April 24, the first birth in nearly 17 years. The chick will make its public debut on World Ocean Day, June 8, with a Hawaiian blessing ceremony. The three-week-old chick joins a colony of seven adult African Penguins as part of a […]
Lahaina Fire Insurance Claims Reach $1.35 Billion, More Losses Expected
Multiple news sources report that insurance claims from the August 2023 Maui wildfires have exceeded $1.35 billion as of late September. The Hawaii Insurance Division released preliminary loss estimates showing that insurers have paid out over $676 million so far, with experts predicting total costs will continue rising. Total wildfire-related insurance claims reached $1.35 billion […]