Ritz-Carlton Kapalua Hosts Free Hawaiian Cultural Festival Sept. 18-19
The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua will hold its 34th Annual Celebration of the Arts on September 18-19, 2026, featuring two days of free, public Hawaiian cultural programming. Events include hula, music, traditional ceremonies, a falsetto contest, and a special Hōkūleʻa 50th anniversary reunion. Daytime events are free and open to the public, making this a draw […]
James Beard-Nominated Sale Pepe Becomes First Lahaina Fire Restaurant to Rebuild
Sale Pepe, an Italian restaurant destroyed in the 2023 Lahaina fire, reopened in March 2025 at a new Lahaina location and became the first fire-lost restaurant to fully rebuild in the town. Chef Michele Di Bari was also named a 2026 James Beard Award semifinalist. Sale Pepe reopened in March 2025 at Emerald Plaza on […]
Maui County Schedules September Community Meetings on Inter-Island Ferry Expansion
Multiple sources report that the Maui County Department of Transportation is hosting four community meetings in September 2026 to gather public input on ferry service connecting Maui, Lānaʻi, and eventually Molokaʻi. The meetings are part of a state-required environmental assessment process that will evaluate impacts and help secure funding for expanded service across Maui Nui. […]
West Maui to Get Its First Recycling Center with $3.6M Federal Grant
The County of Maui has been awarded a $3.6 million EPA grant to build West Maui’s first waste collection center, accepting recyclables, green waste, and bulky items. The project has a three-year timeline from land acquisition to opening. The EPA’s Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling grant will fund land purchase and construction of a drop-off […]
Washed-Out Nāhiku Bridge Leaves Residents Stranded, Ownership Disputed
Hurricane Lala destroyed a small bridge in East Maui’s Nāhiku community, cutting off six residents. Maui County and East Maui Irrigation both deny ownership, leaving the question of who will rebuild it unresolved. The only road bridge serving six Lower Nāhiku residents was completely destroyed by Hurricane Lala’s floodwaters last weekend. Maui County and East […]
Highway 30 Delays and Longer Drive Times Still Affecting West Maui Visitors in 2026
Getting from Kahului Airport to Lahaina remains unpredictable in 2026 due to ongoing reconstruction, storm-related closures, and rockslides along Highway 30. Travelers and hotels are now recommending 3–4 hours of buffer time before flights instead of the pre-fire standard of 2 hours. Highway 30 is open to general traffic but remains vulnerable to short-notice closures […]
Tropical Depression Moke Brings Heavy Rain and Wind Risks to Maui
Multiple sources reported that Tropical Depression Moke is bringing heavy rain and gusty winds to Hawaii, with Maui among the affected islands. Eastern Maui is expected to see the most significant rainfall, raising concerns about flooding and mudslides, while the storm is forecast to weaken and dissipate by Tuesday. Tropical Depression Moke’s center was located […]
Water Outages Possible in West Kuiaha and Awalau Due to Well Outage
Maui’s Department of Water Supply is asking residents in the West Kuiaha and Awalau areas to conserve water after a well went offline. Low pressure or full outages are possible while crews work to restore service. A well serving West Kuiaha and Awalau is currently out of service, causing reduced water pressure or outages in […]
Tropical Depression Moke to Bring Rain and Gusty Winds to Maui Through Monday
Former Tropical Storm Moke has weakened to a tropical depression but is still expected to bring 1–6 inches of rain and gusty winds to Maui through Monday before dissipating Tuesday. Eastern Maui could see 3–6 inches of rainfall, while western Maui is forecast to receive 1–2 inches through Monday. A wind advisory was in effect […]
FEMA to Hand Over 167 Lahaina Survivor Modular Units to Maui County Free
FEMA has approved the no-cost transfer of the 167-unit Kīlohana modular housing project to Maui County, with officials intending to convert the temporary fire-survivor units into permanent housing. A second interim site in Kīhei is also moving toward permanent county ownership. The 167-unit Kīlohana modular complex, currently housing Lahaina wildfire survivors, will transfer from FEMA […]