Disaster Unemployment Benefits Available for March Storm Victims Until June 15
Property owners and workers affected by March 2026 storms across Hawaiian counties can apply for disaster unemployment assistance worth $346-$868 weekly through June 15. Benefits cover those who lost work or income due to the natural disasters. Disaster Unemployment Assistance available for those affected by March 10-24, 2026 storms, floods, and landslides across Hawaiʻi, Honolulu, […]
Maui County Seeks Input on Wildfire Buyout Program Changes
Maui County is accepting public comments through July 1 on proposed changes to its disaster recovery buyout program for fire-affected properties. The updates include setting maximum assistance amounts and new prioritization criteria. Public comment period runs through July 1, 2026 for changes to the Strategic Voluntary Mitigation Buyout Program. Proposed updates include establishing maximum assistance […]
South Shore Surf Reaches 14 Feet, Big Island Flooding Closes Roads
High surf advisory brings 10-14 foot waves to all Hawaiian Islands’ south shores through Thursday morning, while heavy rainfall causes flooding and road closures on Big Island. High surf advisory effective until 6 a.m. Thursday for all south-facing shores statewide with waves up to 14 feet. Long-period south-southwest swell will impact exposed southern coastlines with […]
Southwest’s Maui-Kauai Route Shows Low Passenger Demand at 41.5% Capacity
Southwest Airlines’ route between Maui and Kauai ranked among the carrier’s worst-performing routes with only 41.5% of seats filled between March 2025 and February 2026. The airline’s overall Hawaii operations continue to struggle with low load factors despite serving the islands since 2019. Southwest’s Maui (OGG) to Kauai route filled only 41.5% of seats, ranking […]
Hawaii Sees Fewer Visitors But Record Spending Levels This Spring
Hawaii welcomed slightly fewer visitors in April 2026 but saw a 4.8% increase in total spending to $1.77 billion. Visitors are staying shorter periods but spending significantly more per day, with per-person daily spending jumping 14.1% to $278. April 2026 visitor arrivals dropped 0.5% to 828,959 while total spending rose 4.8% to $1.77 billion. Daily […]
UH Maui College Launches Training Program for Cesspool Conversion Workers
Hawaii Community College and UH Maui College have created a new certificate program to train workers for cesspool conversions, addressing the state’s mandate to eliminate 83,000 cesspools by 2050. The one-year certificate program trains students to work with contractors on cesspool conversions and sustainable wastewater systems. Hawaii’s 2017 cesspool ban requires all 83,000 cesspools statewide […]
Maui Construction Hits $170M in Q1 Despite Housing Project Decline
Hawaii’s construction industry had a strong first quarter with $2.09 billion statewide, but Maui saw $170 million in activity with declining multi-family housing projects compared to 2025. Maui recorded $170 million in construction activity during Q1 2026, primarily from public projects. Multi-family housing construction on Maui slowed significantly from 2025 levels. Statewide, single-family and multi-family […]
South Kihei Road Collapse Repair Expected to Last Through Fall
Crews are repairing a major sinkhole on South Kihei Road caused by March storms, with work not expected to finish until October. Local businesses are struggling with reduced access and hope for county financial assistance. Road collapse repair at South Kihei Road and Alanui Ke’ali’i won’t be completed until fall 2026. March storm damage affected […]
Hawaii Tourism Shows April Revenue Growth Despite Fewer Visitor Arrivals
Multiple news sources report that Hawaii’s tourism industry saw increased spending in April 2026 despite a slight decline in visitor numbers. The preliminary state data shows visitors spent significantly more per day than the previous year. Total visitor spending reached $1.77 billion in April 2026, up 4.8% from $1.69 billion in April 2025 Total visitors […]
First Lahaina Family Moves Into Rebuilt Home Through Recovery Program
Valerie Hoʻopai and her family returned to a newly constructed home in Lahaina after nearly three years, marking the first completion under a wildfire recovery program that helps survivors transition into rebuilt homes. The Hoʻopai family became the first to complete Hoʻōla LTRG’s House to Home Program, which helps wildfire survivors transition into rebuilt homes. […]