UH Oral History Center Secures $538K to Document Maui Fire Survivors’ Stories
The University of Hawaiʻi’s Center for Oral History has received $538,000 in grants to launch four projects preserving the voices and experiences of Maui communities, with a strong focus on Lahaina wildfire survivors. Initiatives will record up to 100 hours of interviews and document cultural, environmental, and recovery-related histories. Four separate funded projects will document […]
Maui Ocean Center Replants 246 Coral Fragments at Honolua Bay
After a grounded yacht damaged over 19,000 square feet of reef at Honolua Bay in 2023, a Maui Ocean Center team spent 26 months rehabilitating coral fragments and returned them to the bay in May 2025. The outplanting is part of broader reef-restoration efforts across Maui. In May 2025, divers outplanted 246 coral fragments at […]
Kaanapali Land Posts $12.8M Profit From Pioneer Mill Site Sale
Kaanapali Land, LLC swung to a $12.8 million profit in the first half of 2026, fueled by the $19.9 million sale of the Pioneer Mill site and wildfire-related insurance recoveries. The company flags ongoing risks from water permitting and dam safety regulations that could delay future Maui development. The $19.9 million cash sale of the […]
Hawaii Airport Chief Charged in Corruption Case Tied to Contract Bribes
Hawaii’s state airports administrator Ford Fuchigami faces corruption charges tied to a years-long pattern of airport contracts allegedly steered to political donors. A 2024 investigation found over $131 million in consulting contracts linked to officials who attended clandestine fundraisers. State airports administrator Ford Fuchigami is on leave and facing corruption charges alongside lobbyist Tobi Solidum […]
Maui Council Greenlights 2026 County Fair and Aloha Classic Windsurfing Permits
The Maui County Council unanimously approved special event permits for the 2026 Maui County Fair (Oct. 1–4 in Wailuku) and the Aloha Classic Windsurfing Tournament (Oct. 19–30 at Hoʻokipa Beach Park). Both events are expected to draw significant visitor traffic to the island this fall. The 99th Maui County Fair runs Oct. 1–4 at the […]
Haiku Fire Station Delayed Again Over Land Title Legal Dispute
A proposed new fire station in Haiku has been stalled by a contested land ownership dispute, prompting the Maui County Council committee to seek legal counsel and postpone any vote until August 24. The 17-year-in-the-making project requires rezoning approvals before construction can begin. The Maui County Council’s Housing and Land Use Committee delayed action on […]
Pool Brawl at Maui Resort Draws FBI Attention, Stirs Tourism Debate
A violent incident involving juveniles at a Maui resort has attracted FBI scrutiny under an ‘interference with interstate commerce’ theory tied to hotel operations. The episode has generated significant media and political attention, raising broader questions about tourism and local tensions. A brawl involving teenagers at a Maui resort property resulted in injuries to guests […]
State Blocks Maui County Bid to Take Over East Maui Water System
The Hawaii state land department is opposing Maui County’s effort to take control of the East Maui Irrigation system, which supplies water across the island. The state is instead proposing to retain oversight and issue a 30-year water license to large farming operation Mahi Pono. Maui County sought state approval to negotiate a takeover of […]
UHERO: Lahaina Housing Stabilizes at 3-Year Mark, But Jobs and Aid Fall Short
Multiple outlets including Maui Now, Maui News, Hawaii Public Radio, and Hawaii Free Press reported on a new University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization (UHERO) study released August 12, 2026, marking three years since the Lahaina wildfires. The report finds meaningful progress in housing stability for fire-affected families, but employment, incomes, and available assistance have […]
State Board to Hold East Maui Water License Hearing Amid Misinformation Concerns
Multiple sources report that the state Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) held a hearing on August 14, 2026 regarding East Maui water licenses, with DLNR issuing a clarification after a doctored version of the official agenda circulated publicly. The actual agenda item seeks to authorize a public auction for a water license — […]