Hawaii International Film Festival Brings Cultural Screenings to MACC Nov. 14-15
The 46th Hawaii International Film Festival will screen a series of culturally focused documentaries at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center on November 14–15. Films cover topics including Native Hawaiian navigation, the Protect Kahoʻolawe movement, and Lahaina’s history. The festival runs Nov. 14–15 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, with an additional screening at […]
Key Maui Races on Nov. 3 Ballot Could Shift Local Policy
Hawaii’s November 3, 2026 election features several competitive local races on Maui, including a contested mayoral contest and a West Maui legislative seat tied directly to short-term rental regulation. Results could shift the direction of post-fire recovery and housing development policy. Maui Mayor Richard Bissen faces a tight reelection race against council member Yuki Lei […]
Native Hawaiian Group Moves to Block $471M Wailea Residential Project
A community group and five residents won the right to intervene in Ledcor Maui’s 273-unit first-phase development in Wailea, citing water supply and cultural resource concerns. The Maui Planning Commission has ordered mediation, with a contested case hearing possible if talks fail. Mālama Kakanilua and five residents successfully petitioned the Maui Planning Commission to intervene […]
Uniqlo Founder Sues Maui Land & Pineapple Over Kapalua Water Billing
TY Management Corp., owned by Uniqlo billionaire Tadashi Yanai, has filed a federal RICO lawsuit against Maui Land & Pineapple Co., alleging the company committed fraud by disguising capital repairs as routine maintenance to inflate water rates charged to Kapalua’s golf courses. The dispute is part of a broader, ongoing fight over control of West […]
Maui Mayoral Race Spotlights Immigrant Community Needs in Lahaina Recovery
Ahead of Maui’s mayoral election, community organizations are pressing candidates on how they would better serve immigrant fire survivors in Lahaina. Neither candidate has responded to questions about immigrant community protections or data-sharing policies with federal immigration enforcement. About one in three Lahaina residents before the 2023 fire were foreign-born, with large Filipino, Mexican, and […]
Maui County Moves to Add Full-Time Investigator for Wildfire Contractor Fraud
Maui’s prosecutor’s office is set to hire a dedicated investigator for post-wildfire contractor fraud cases after a surge in victim reports. The County Council unanimously advanced the bill, with final passage expected November 13. Mayor Bissen requested legislation to fund a seventh investigator in the prosecutor’s office specifically for Lahaina wildfire contractor fraud cases. The […]
Maui County to Take Over West Maui Water System in Kamehameha Schools Deal
Multiple outlets including Maui News, Maui Now, and Hawaii News Now reported that Maui County and Kamehameha Schools have announced a proposed agreement to transfer the Launiupoko Irrigation Company system to public ownership. The deal is framed as a key step in supporting Lahaina’s recovery and bringing West Maui water resources under community stewardship. The […]
Maui County Moves to Take Over West Maui Irrigation System
Maui County and Kamehameha Schools have proposed transferring control of the Launiupoko Irrigation Company to the county, continuing a broader push to bring West Maui’s water infrastructure under public ownership in support of Lahaina’s recovery. Kamehameha Schools would transfer its option to purchase the Launiupoko Irrigation Company to Maui County under the proposed deal. The […]
Maui County Budget Doubles in Six Years Amid Scrutiny Over Spending Plans
A former Maui County Council chair is calling for greater transparency as the county budget has grown from $823 million to over $1.6 billion in six years, with new spending proposals including $30 million in bonds for Molokai property acquisitions and over $100 million in potential water system purchases. Maui County’s budget has roughly doubled […]
Tropical Rainstorm Olana Triggers Flash Flooding, Road Closures Across Maui
Multiple news outlets are reporting that Tropical Rainstorm Olana is bringing dangerous flash flooding, heavy rainfall, and landslide risks to Maui County through Friday, October 29. Maui County faces the highest threat among Hawaiian islands, with active road closures and an emergency evacuation site already opened in Hāna. Tropical Rainstorm Olana — a system that […]