Makawao Water Outage Hits Apau Place for ~3 Hours July 9
An emergency mainline break is causing a roughly 3-hour water service outage on Apau Place in Makawao starting at 8:45 a.m. on July 9. Approximately 15 residences are affected. A mainline break triggered emergency repairs, cutting water service to Apau Place in Makawao. The outage began at 8:45 a.m. on July 9 and is expected […]
FEMA Raises Rent for Lahaina Fire Survivors Still in Temporary Housing
Multiple reports from Mauirecovers.org detail an upcoming rent increase for wildfire survivors remaining in FEMA-provided temporary housing units. Beginning September 1, 2026, occupants will be charged 50% of the HUD Fair Market Rent for Maui County, as part of a broader effort to encourage transition to permanent housing. FEMA’s Direct Housing assistance has been extended […]
Lahaina Homecoming Career Fair Set for July 17 at Cannery Mall
Maui County’s Office of Economic Development is hosting a free career fair on July 17 as part of the three-day Lahaina Homecoming celebration, connecting residents and returning kamaʻāina with employers across multiple industries. The event runs 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Lahaina Cannery Mall. The free career fair takes place July 17 from 10:30 […]
Maui County Buys West Maui Condo to House Fire-Displaced Seniors
The Maui County Council unanimously approved spending up to $278,000 in federal CDBG funds to purchase a Honokōwai condo unit for its Nā Hale Kūpuna program, which provides permanent housing for seniors displaced by the 2023 Lahaina wildfires. The program currently houses 10 people across eight units and has roughly 60 households on its waiting […]
Lahaina Fishing Shop Reopens Near Cannery After 2023 Fire Destroyed Original Store
West Maui Sports & Fishing Supply has reopened at a new location next to Lahaina Cannery, nearly three years after the 2023 wildfire destroyed its Old Lahaina Center store. Owners Lopaka and Katie Wilson say the reopening signals hope for other Lahaina businesses still working toward recovery. West Maui Sports & Fishing Supply reopened in […]
Maui County Signs Friendship City Pact with Japanese City Linked by Disaster Recovery
Multiple Maui County sources report that Mayor Richard Bissen formalized a Friendship City agreement with Higashimatsushima City, Japan, during a signing ceremony at the Kalana O Maui County building on July 8. The partnership, rooted in shared disaster recovery experiences, grew from the Kibou for Maui program connecting Lahainaluna High School students with the Japanese […]
Mayor Bissen Addresses STR Legislation, Storm Damage on Molokai Visit
Mayor Richard Bissen visited Molokai on June 29-30 for a town hall and county department meetings ahead of the August election. Residents raised questions about new short-term rental legislation, which Bissen said will be phased in gradually with minimal impact on local jobs. About 25 residents attended Bissen’s town hall on Molokai, with many questions […]
Free Lahaina Homecoming Event July 17–19 to Reunite 103 Displaced Residents
A three-day community event called Lahaina Homecoming will take place July 17–19, 2026, bringing 103 former Lahaina residents back to Maui with sponsored airfare while opening cultural programming and resources to the general public. The free event runs July 17–19 at Lahaina Cannery Mall, Lahaina United Methodist Church, and Campbell Park. 103 former residents from […]
Upcountry Groups Push County and State to Fund Emergency Water Tanks
The Kula Community Association and a coalition of Upcountry organizations are formally urging Maui County and state legislators to fund two 500,000-gallon water tanks in Upper Kula before peak wildfire season. The group says existing federal mitigation projects are stalled with no clear timeline, leaving the area vulnerable to the same conditions that contributed to […]
Kahului Airport Earns Level 3 Carbon Accreditation, Eyes 2045 Net-Zero Goal
Hawaii’s Department of Transportation announced that Kahului Airport (OGG) and four other major state airports have achieved Level 3 status under a global carbon management program. The milestone reflects progress toward a 50% emissions reduction by 2030 and full net-zero operations by 2045. OGG is one of five Hawaii airports to reach Level 3 under […]