Advisory Design Board Blamed for Slowing Lahaina Rebuild Permits
Maui’s Urban Design Review Board is being flagged as a redundant bottleneck in the Lahaina wildfire recovery permitting process. A county cost review recommends abolishing the volunteer board, citing duplicated staff work and frequent quorum failures. The Urban Design Review Board must provide advisory input on Special Management Area permits, adding a layer to an […]
Space Weapons Disclosure Fuels Opposition to New Haleakalā Telescopes
The Air Force Secretary’s confirmation that the U.S. has deployed orbital weapons has intensified community opposition to plans for up to seven additional military telescopes atop Haleakalā. Native Hawaiian and community groups argue the telescopes are part of a weapons-targeting chain on sacred land. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink publicly confirmed the U.S. has deployed […]
Maui County Hosts Free Water Efficiency Summit for Hotels and Condos
The County of Maui Department of Water Supply is holding a free two-day summit on November 9–10, 2026, aimed at hospitality and condominium professionals seeking water conservation strategies. Space is limited and registration requires organizational affiliation. The Maui WaiWise Stewardship Summit runs November 9–10, 2026, and is free to attend. The event targets board members, […]
60 Front Street Homes to Rise from Ashes as Lahaina Rebuild Kicks Off
A groundbreaking ceremony on October 6 marked the start of reconstruction for 60 fire-destroyed homes at 1034 Front St. in Lahaina, with construction set to begin October 19 and completion expected in about 18 months. Six two-story apartment buildings at 1034 Front St. will be rebuilt, restoring all 60 homes to their original size and […]
FEMA Sends $15M to Maui for Wildfire Hazard Mitigation Management
FEMA has approved $15 million for Hawaiʻi to administer hazard mitigation projects tied to the 2023 Maui wildfires, part of a broader $226 million federal disaster funding package. The funds are intended to cover project management and administration costs, though which agency will oversee the money has not been specified. The $15 million comes through […]
Maui County Takes Over Wildfire Survivor Housing Cases from State
Maui County has launched a Housing Navigator Program to continue case management for roughly 1,100 households displaced by the August 2023 wildfires, replacing the state-run Disaster Case Management Program. A contractor team will assign each household a dedicated navigator to support ongoing housing recovery planning. Maui County’s new Housing Navigator Program assumed ~1,100 open cases […]
Maui Beaches Hammered by Storms, Erosion Worsening Across South and West Coasts
A series of storms and an unusually active Pacific hurricane season have accelerated coastal erosion on Maui, leaving portions of beach parks roped off and shoreline walkways blocked. Experts warn that ongoing El Niño conditions could make recovery even harder heading into next year. South Maui and West Maui beaches have been hit hardest, with […]
Maui Council Greenlights Upcountry Water Wells Agreement with Hawaiian Home Lands
The Maui County Council passed on first reading a bill authorizing a deal with the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to build three water wells in Waiʻōhuli, potentially yielding up to 1.728 million gallons per day. The six-year project has drawn scrutiny over whether water will actually reach Hawaiian Home Lands beneficiaries or be […]
South Maui Growth Plan Stalls Again Over Infrastructure and Density Concerns
The Maui County Council is unlikely to finalize the South Maui Community Plan before the current council term ends, as residents and lawmakers clash over developer-friendly provisions and unresolved infrastructure gaps. Key disputes involve affordable housing requirements, evacuation routes, flooding, and water availability in Kīhei, Wailea, Mākena, and Māʻalaea. The South Maui Community Plan, already […]
Hawaii Supreme Court Clears Path for $1.1B in Maui Fire Victim Payments
Multiple outlets reported that the Hawaii Supreme Court unanimously upheld Maui Circuit Judge Peter Cahill’s attorney fee structure for the $4 billion Lahaina wildfire settlement, rejecting an appeal brought by three attorneys and one fire victim. The ruling removes the final legal obstacle to releasing approximately $1.1 billion already held in trust to roughly 21,750 […]