Maui County Invites Residents to Shape FY2028 Budget at Island-Wide Meetings
Maui County is holding a series of community budget meetings across the island through November to gather public input on the Fiscal Year 2028 county budget. Property owners can attend in person, submit written requests online, or watch meetings live on the County’s Facebook page. Central Maui meeting is set for October 6 at J. […]
East Maui Water Authority Extends Grant Deadline to Oct. 15
Maui County’s East Maui Water Authority has pushed its grant application deadline to October 15, 2026, with $150,000 available for watershed restoration, education, and cultural projects in East Maui communities. Individuals, nonprofits, and businesses serving the Huelo, Honomanū, Keʻanae, and Nāhiku areas are eligible to apply. The application deadline for EMWA FY2027 grants has been […]
FEMA Raises Rent for Maui Fire Survivors in Temp Housing Starting Dec. 1
FEMA will charge Lahaina wildfire survivors in temporary housing units 75% of HUD Fair Market Rent beginning December 1, 2026, marking the third rent increase during the current assistance extension. Affected households have until November 30 to either appeal or vacate their FEMA unit. Starting December 1, 2026, FEMA Direct Housing occupants will pay 75% […]
Maui Council Sends 32 Shoreline Condo Complexes’ Hotel Rezoning to Planning Commission
The Maui County Council voted 5-4 to refer proposed rezoning of 32 vacation rental condo complexes in Māʻalaea, Kīhei, and West Maui from apartment to hotel districts to the Maui Planning Commission for hearings. No rezoning has occurred yet; the commission must hold hearings and issue a recommendation before the Council can take final action. […]
Maui County Seeks Public Input on Updating 1970s Coastal Boundary Lines
The Maui County Planning Department is holding public meetings in October to gather community input on redrawing the Special Management Area (SMA) boundary, which has not been reassessed since the 1970s. The project aims to create a science- and culture-based boundary that accounts for climate change while reducing unnecessary permitting burdens. The SMA boundary review […]
Maui Planning Commission Pushes Back on Hotel Rezoning for Most STR Properties
The Maui Planning Commission recommended denial of hotel rezoning for most of the 3,402 apartment-zoned units seeking exemption from Maui’s upcoming short-term rental ban. Only a handful of properties — primarily full timeshares or those with existing variances — received favorable recommendations. The Maui Planning Commission largely rejected proposals to rezone roughly 3,400 STR units […]
Olowalu Brush Fire Contained After Hurricane Nolo; Lahaina Schools Reopen
Multiple sources report that a fast-moving brush fire sparked by Hurricane Nolo burned more than 100 acres near Olowalu in West Maui over the weekend before being contained. With evacuation orders lifted and power restored, four Lahaina public schools that had been closed Monday were cleared to reopen Tuesday, September 29. The Olowalu brush fire […]
Olowalu Brush Fire Contained as of 6 PM Monday
Multiple Maui County emergency alerts confirmed that a brush fire near Olowalu Village on Maui was contained by 6:00 PM on September 29, 2026. The Maui Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) continues to monitor the situation and asks the public to avoid the area while crews remain on scene. A brush fire broke out in the […]
Maui County Seeks Public Input on Coastal Boundary Redraw This October
Maui County’s Planning Department is holding three public meetings in October to gather community input on redrawing the Special Management Area (SMA) boundary, which hasn’t been updated since the 1970s. The updated boundary aims to better reflect current environmental and climate conditions while balancing permitting burdens. The SMA boundary, which governs development and permitting near […]
Maui County Fair Returns Oct. 1–4 with Drone Shows and Live Music
The 99th Maui County Fair runs October 1–4 at the War Memorial Complex, featuring four nights of live Hawaiian entertainment and nightly drone light shows at 8:30 p.m. The fair is county-funded and marks its return after a six-year hiatus. The fair takes place October 1–4 at the War Memorial Complex in Kahului, drawing both […]