Multiple sources report that Maui County's Department of Housing is seeking nonprofit partners to develop affordable housing on county-owned land through its Experimental and Demonstration Housing Projects Fund. The initiative aims to address the local housing crisis through innovative approaches targeting families earning 80% or less of area median income.

• Applications are being sought from qualified nonprofit organizations to develop affordable housing on select County-owned land
• Housing projects must serve families earning 80% and below the County's Area Median Income as established by HUD
• Pre-bid meeting scheduled for Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at 10 a.m. online
• Application deadline is 4 p.m. Thursday, April 30, 2026, submitted via email
• Applicants must be 501(c) compliant nonprofits with housing design and construction experience
• Program designed to research and develop ideas that reduce housing costs through experimental approaches

Sources

• Maui County: Department of Housing seeks applications for Experimental and Demonstration Housing Projects
• Mauirecovers: News: County Department of Housing seeks applications for Experimental and Demonstration Housing Projects Fund

Jazz Maui hosts weekly Sunday evening concerts at Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate Factory in Lahaina, featuring live jazz performances with food and beverage service.

• Weekly Sunset Jazz concerts occur Sundays 5-7pm at Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate Factory on Ulupono Street in Lahaina.
• Events feature live jazz performances with different musicians each week in an open-air pavilion setting.
• The venue offers chocolate and beverage pairings, wine, spirits, beer, and café menu items for purchase during shows.
• Advance ticket purchases are required as seating is limited and events frequently sell out.
• Concerts support Jazz Maui's nonprofit music education programs through ticket sales proceeds.

Source: Maui Now

Puʻunēnē Avenue between Wākea Avenue and Kūihelani Highway will be fully closed at night for three nights next week for paving and striping work. Detours will route traffic through Dairy Road and Kūihelani Highway.

• Full road closure runs 8:30 p.m. Tuesday Feb 24 through 4:30 a.m. Friday Feb 27.
• Traffic from Maui Veterans Highway to Kahului must detour via Mayor Elmer F. Cravalho Way and Dairy Road.
• Alternative route to Wailuku and Kahului available through Kūihelani Highway and Maui Lani Parkway.
• Single lane closures scheduled Monday and Thursday nights with flaggers directing traffic.
• Work is part of larger project to add lanes and improve traffic flow on central Maui thoroughfare.

Source: Maui Now

A travel article highlights Big Island's Kua Bay as a $10 alternative to Maui's expensive resort beaches like Ka'anapali, where visitors pay $40-250 in daily resort fees.

• Ka'anapali Beach attracts over 2 million visitors annually with resort fees of $40-250 per night plus parking costs of $30-50.
• Big Island's Kua Bay charges only $10 for parking and sees fewer than 300 people on winter weekdays.
• The article positions Kua Bay as offering similar white sand and turquoise water without the crowds and high costs.
• Ka'anapali averages 6,000 daily visitors during winter months across its three-mile hotel corridor.
• The comparison highlights cost differences that could influence visitor destination choices.

Source: Journee Mondiale

Maui County will completely rebuild a section of Makawao Avenue from milepost 0.8 to Ai Street, including new pavement, sidewalks, and infrastructure improvements.

• Complete pavement removal and reconstruction planned for Makawao Avenue stretch.
• Project includes new sidewalks, ramps, driveways, and drainage improvements.
• Work will involve guardrail replacement and utility adjustments.
• New signage and road markings will be installed as part of the project.

Source: Maui County

Arborists will conduct extensive health testing on Lahaina's fire-damaged banyan tree to determine if the park can safely reopen to visitors before year-end. The iconic tree survived the 2023 wildfire but officials discovered hidden damage including fungus beneath its bark.

• Maui County arborists will perform invasive testing including tension tests on branches and drilling into the trunk to check for sap production.
• Officials found fungus in a recently broken branch, raising concerns about internal damage not visible from the surface.
• The park could potentially reopen before the end of 2026 if the tree passes health assessments.
• Safety protocols and visitor education measures are being considered to protect the tree once public access resumes.
• The tree appeared to survive the August 2023 wildfire but sustained significant heat damage that dried out internal structures.

Source: Wwltv

Commercial property owners in Lahaina face overwhelming permitting challenges and erosion issues that are preventing many from rebuilding 2.5 years after the fire. Only 9 non-residential buildings have been completed despite 163 permits in process.

• Waterfront properties face the most complex permitting due to shoreline setbacks, historic district rules, and multiple agency requirements.
• Some elderly property owners are abandoning rebuild plans due to ongoing erosion and overwhelming regulatory processes.
• Only 9 commercial buildings have been completed in Lahaina with 25 permits issued and 163 still in process.
• County officials are working to streamline the permitting process but acknowledge location-dependent complexity.
• No Front Street businesses have completed construction despite being 2.5 years post-fire.

Source: Hawaii Public Radio

A new state law requires landlords to notify mediation services when issuing eviction notices, giving tenants 10 days to request free mediation before court proceedings can begin. Landlords who don't comply cannot legally enforce evictions.

• Act 278 mandates landlords notify mediation services the same day they serve eviction notices.
• Tenants have 10 days to request free mediation services, which landlords must participate in if requested.
• Landlords who fail to notify mediation services cannot take tenants to court or legally enforce evictions.
• Since February 5, Maui mediation services received about 25 landlord inquiries while Honolulu received around 250 notices.
• The two-year pilot program stems from post-fire legislation originally enacted on Maui after eviction moratoriums ended.

Source: Hawaii News Now

Nearly 10 native Hawaiian trees, including endemic loulu palms, were planted at Lahaina Harbor as part of ongoing restoration efforts following the 2023 wildfires. The project is part of broader community recovery work supported by multiple organizations.

• Lahaina Harbor received nearly 10 native trees including loulu palms, Hawaiian sandalwood, and other indigenous species.
• The planting project is funded by Maui County and coordinated by Lahaina Restoration Foundation with multiple community partners.
• Lahaina Harbor's loading dock has reopened and resumed operations following the 2023 wildfire damage.
• Additional native plantings are scheduled for this month as part of ongoing harbor restoration work.
• Treecovery operates 31 grow hubs across Maui and has planted over 9,000 trees in recovery efforts.

Source: Maui Now

Federal emergency management approved $33.4 million in disaster recovery funds for Maui County, including money to rebuild two affordable housing complexes and a senior center damaged in the 2023 Lahaina wildfire.

• Maui County will receive $6.9 million to repair Lahaina Crossroads Apartments and $4.1 million for Komohana Hale Apartments.
• The West Maui Senior Center will get $6.4 million in FEMA funding for wildfire damage repairs.
• Additional FEMA grants totaling $12 million were approved for Maui County emergency services and police wildfire response.
• FEMA will continue reviewing and approving additional recovery projects on a rolling basis as eligibility is confirmed.

Source: Maui News