Proposal Urges Hawaii to Formalize Volunteer Boat Network for Disaster Relief
A Civil Beat opinion piece calls on Hawaii to create an organized volunteer small-boat program to support disaster relief efforts, citing the 2023 Lahaina fire and recent hurricane activity as evidence of the need. The author argues that informal boat-owner responses have already proven effective but lack coordination and a formal plan. During the 2023 […]
Lahainaluna and Paradise High Schools Play ‘Unity Bowl’ in West Maui
The football teams of Lahainaluna High School and Paradise High School — both from wildfire-devastated communities — faced off Saturday in a symbolic game called the ‘Unity Bowl’ at Lahainaluna’s stadium. The event drew about 1,900 attendees and several elected officials, with Lahainaluna winning 27-21. Lahainaluna High School hosted Paradise High School (California) for a […]
Maui Trains Firefighters and Volunteers to Assess Home Wildfire Risk
The Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization and Maui County completed a four-day training program for firefighters and community volunteers to conduct wildfire risk assessments on residential properties. A broader home assessment program for Maui County homeowners is expected to launch later this year. Maui firefighters and community volunteers completed four days of hands-on training in wildfire […]
Maui County Committee Advances Water Deal to Unlock 1,000+ Native Hawaiian Homestead Lots
A Maui County Council committee unanimously approved a bill authorizing a water infrastructure agreement with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to develop three new groundwater wells in Waiʻōhuli. The project would supply up to 1.7 million gallons per day to support construction of more than 1,000 homestead lots across Central Maui. The Water and […]
Kihei Brush Fire Extinguished; Separate Pukalani Structure Fire Also Reported
Maui County’s Emergency Management Agency issued multiple alerts on September 4, 2026 covering two separate fire incidents on Maui. Multiple MEMA alerts documented the Kihei brush fire from initial report through containment, while a separate structure fire was reported in Pukalani the same day. A brush fire broke out at 1:31 PM near Halekuai and […]
Lahaina Fire Survivors Hit New Snag: USPS Treating Rebuilt Homes as New Developments
Multiple reports from Hawaii Public Radio highlight a new obstacle facing Lahaina wildfire survivors who have rebuilt their homes: the U.S. Postal Service is classifying rebuilt properties as new developments, requiring cluster mailboxes instead of restoring individual home mail delivery. Maui County and federal officials are pushing back, arguing the policy is both impractical and […]
Maui Council Committee Backs New Wells for Native Hawaiian Homesteads
A Maui County Council committee unanimously advanced Bill 97 (2026), which would allow the state to drill three new groundwater wells in Waiʻōhuli dedicated entirely to Native Hawaiian homestead lots. The bill moves to the full Council for a first reading. The three proposed wells would have a combined capacity of 1.73 million gallons per […]
Category 4 Hurricane Lowell Threatening Hawaii Early Next Week
Hurricane Lowell, currently a Category 4 storm with 155 mph winds, is tracking toward Hawaii and could bring dangerous winds, heavy rain, storm surge, and surf to the western islands by Monday night. Kauai County faces the most direct risk, with hurricane watches expected to be issued as early as Saturday. Lowell is approximately 610–625 […]
Maui County Eyes Subsidized Ferry Service to Lanai and Molokai
Maui County is holding public meetings in mid-September on a proposal to create a county-subsidized ferry system connecting Maui to Lanai and Molokai. The plan includes purchasing Expeditions’ existing Lanai ferry assets and eventually adding vessels for Molokai service. Public meetings are scheduled for mid-September to gather input for a required environmental assessment of the […]
Paradise & Lahainaluna High Schools Unite for Wildfire-Community Football Game
Paradise High School (CA) is traveling to Maui to play Lahainaluna High School in the inaugural Unity Bowl, a symbolic football game connecting two communities rebuilt after devastating wildfires. The game is scheduled for Saturday night at Lahainaluna. The Unity Bowl pairs Paradise, CA (2018 Camp Fire) with Lahaina (2023 wildfire) in a first-of-its-kind community […]