Maui Ocean Center Seeks Renewal of State Water Discharge Permit
The Hawaii Department of Health is proposing to renew the water pollution control permit for Maui Ocean Center, which discharges treated seawater into Maalaea Harbor. A public comment period runs September 2 through October 2, 2026. The state DOH tentatively recommends renewing Maui Ocean Center’s NPDES permit, which governs its discharge of roughly 1.2 million […]
Maui Faces Multiple Hurricane Threats as Lowell, Karina Approach
Multiple sources including Maui County, Maui News, Maui Now, and Mauirecovers reported Thursday that Maui County is simultaneously managing damage from Tropical Storm Lala while bracing for potential impacts from hurricanes Lowell and Karina. Forecasters warn that interacting storm systems are creating higher-than-normal forecast uncertainty, and residents and property owners are urged to stay alert […]
Mayor Presses USPS to Restore Door-to-Door Mail for Lahaina Rebuild Residents
Multiple sources report that Maui Mayor Richard Bissen sent a formal letter on September 2, 2026, to U.S. Postmaster General David Steiner urging the USPS to preserve and restore direct home mail delivery for Lahaina residents whose homes were destroyed in the 2023 wildfires and are now being rebuilt. Bissen argues that reconstructed homes on […]
Makawao Forest Reserve Closed Indefinitely After Hurricane Lala Trail Damage
Hurricane Lala left Makawao State Forest Reserve — Maui’s most popular outdoor recreation area — with extensive trail and road damage, prompting an indefinite closure. State crews are prioritizing emergency access routes before addressing trail restoration, with no reopening date set. Makawao State Forest Reserve and Kula Forest Reserve remain closed to the public following […]
Kaanapali Hotels Now Half the Price of Wailea, Drawing Visitors Back to West Maui
A recent firsthand comparison found Kaanapali hotel rates averaging roughly half those in Wailea, with West Maui showing signs of recovery as a visitor destination post-Lahaina fire. Front Street in Lahaina has reopened to traffic and new restaurants. Kaanapali nightly hotel rates averaged $412 in May vs. $665 in Wailea, a gap that is attracting […]
Two Pacific Hurricanes Threaten Hawaii with Wind, Rain Through Labor Day Weekend
Hurricane Lowell is forecast to pass south of the Hawaiian Islands as a major hurricane Wednesday into Thursday, bringing strong winds and heavy rain. A second storm, Hurricane Karina, is tracking toward the region and may pose additional concerns through the holiday weekend. Hurricane Lowell is expected to strengthen into a major hurricane by Wednesday […]
NCL, Princess Cruises Pull Maui Port Stops Amid Wildfire Recovery
Norwegian Cruise Line and Princess Cruises have suspended Maui port calls on their Hawaii itineraries in the wake of the Lahaina wildfires, rerouting ships to Hilo, Kauai, and Kona instead. NCL says the change applies to at least three upcoming Pride of America voyages, with resumption potentially weeks to months away. NCL America has removed […]
Hurricane Lowell Sends Dangerous Surf Toward Hawaii, No Wind Threat Expected
Category 4 Hurricane Lowell is tracking hundreds of miles south of Hawaii and will not bring wind or rain to the islands, but is generating life-threatening surf and rip current conditions beginning this week. No coastal watches or warnings are currently in effect. Hurricane Lowell, with 145 mph winds, is passing approximately 470 miles southeast […]
Maui Restaurant Group Funnels Dining Donations to Lahaina Recovery Nonprofits
Hana Hou Hospitality Group is donating round-up proceeds from its Maui restaurants to rotating Lahaina-area nonprofits throughout 2026. This month’s beneficiary is Kahākūkahi Ocean Academy, with the Lahaina Restoration Foundation slated for October. Hana Hou Hospitality Group — which operates Māla Ocean Tavern, Coco Deck Lahaina, Pizza Paradiso, and Pineapple Robot — rounds up guest […]
DHHL Plans 398-Lot Waiehu Residential Community on Maui Floodplain
The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has issued a public notice that its proposed 238-acre Waiehu Mauka residential development in Wailuku includes areas within a federal floodplain and wetlands. The project would create 398 new homestead lots using federal Native Hawaiian housing funds. DHHL is proposing a 398-lot residential subdivision on a 238-acre parcel west […]