Emergency Water Repairs Cut Service to 100 Upcountry Properties Friday Night
Water service was interrupted for approximately 4-5 hours starting 8:35 PM on May 23 in parts of Upcountry Maui due to emergency mainline repairs. About 100 residences in the Makawao Avenue area were affected. Emergency mainline break required 4-5 hour water service interruption starting 8:35 PM May 23. Outage affected area from Makawao Avenue to […]
Montgomery Council Member Attended Hawaii Conference During Budget Week
A Montgomery County Council member participated virtually in budget sessions while attending county association conferences in Maui. The trip’s funding source and appropriateness during critical budget deliberations is being questioned. Council Member Laurie-Anne Sayles attended National Association of Counties conferences in Maui during a critical county budget week in May. She participated virtually in budget […]
County Committee Approves Contested Kaʻehu Bay Land Purchase Despite Family Objections
Maui County Council committee voted 6-3 to advance a $480,000 purchase of Kaʻehu Bay shoreline property despite objections from a Native Hawaiian family claiming disputed ownership. The family requested deferral for further consultation on title issues. Committee approved buying 0.41-acre Kaʻehu Bay parcel from LDS Church for $480,000, below its $571,500 appraised value. Native Hawaiian […]
County Bill Requires Notice to Farm Tenants Before Land Subdivision
A Maui County Council committee passed a bill requiring landowners to notify agricultural lessees by certified mail before filing subdivision permits. The measure stemmed from Maui Gold Pineapple being unaware of subdivision plans on land they lease. The Housing and Land Use Committee approved the notification requirement by a 5-2 vote. Landowners would need to […]
Mayor Bissen Announces Re-election Campaign for Maui County
Mayor Richard Bissen filed for re-election, citing continued work needed on housing, infrastructure, and wildfire recovery. His administration reports 190% increase in affordable housing production and securing $1.6 billion in federal recovery funding. Bissen’s administration increased affordable housing production by 190% since 2023 with nearly 900 homes delivered. The county secured approximately $1.6 billion in […]
Kihei Road Storm Repairs Resume May 28 with Daytime Lane Closures
Storm damage repairs on South Kīhei Road will resume May 28 after a materials delivery delay, causing weekday and Saturday lane closures through June 20. South Kīhei Road between Ohukai Road and Kūlanihākoʻi Street will have daytime closures 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays starting May 28. Only local access will be allowed […]
County Outreach Program Returns to Molokai for Community Services Access
Multiple sources report that Mayor Richard Bissen is bringing the Holomua Kākou community outreach program back to Molokai in late June. This initiative aims to provide rural communities with direct access to county services and staff. Mayor Bissen will visit Molokai on June 29-30, 2026 as part of the ongoing effort to bring county government […]
Agriculture Leader Bobby Pahia Announces County Council Campaign
Bobby Pahia, a family business owner and agriculture leader, has filed to run for Maui County Council with priorities focused on protecting land, providing cost-of-living relief, and empowering collective leadership. Pahia brings decades of experience in land use planning, water management, and infrastructure maintenance. His campaign centers on three priorities: protect ‘āina, provide cost-of-living relief, […]
Medical Air Transport Program Updates Referral Process for Molokai, Lanai
Pūlama Ka Heke has expanded its medical air transport program to allow specialists to submit referrals directly when primary care providers cannot, aiming to reduce delays in off-island medical care. The ERMAT program now allows treating specialists to submit referrals directly when primary care providers are unable to do so. All referrals must include confirmed […]
South Kihei Road Storm Repairs Resume May 28 with Daytime Closures
Storm damage repairs on South Kihei Road will resume May 28 with weekday lane closures through June 20. Local access only will be allowed during working hours with detours required for through traffic. Repair work paused temporarily due to material delivery delays but resumes May 28. Daytime closures from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays […]