Maui County Hosts Free Recovery Event for Lahaina Seniors on Aug. 19
The County of Maui Office of Recovery is hosting a free community gathering for Lahaina kūpuna on August 19 at the Lahaina Civic Center, featuring Hawaiian music, food, and on-site recovery resource providers. The event runs 3–6 p.m. and is open to the public. The free Hot Kūpuna Nights event takes place August 19, 2026, […]
Maui County Council Approves Free Bus Rides During Special Events
The Maui County Council passed a bill allowing the county transportation director to suspend bus fares for up to 14 days per year during permitted special events, parades, or emergencies. The move expands an existing fare-free program and aims to reduce single-vehicle traffic on the island. The transportation director can now waive bus fares for […]
South Maui Water System Near Capacity; County Eyes $53M Desalination Plant
Maui’s Central-South Maui water system is operating nearly at full capacity during dry months, prompting the county to explore a $53 million desalination plant in Kīhei. The project is in early planning stages and received a cautious reception from community members who want conservation measures prioritized first. The Central-South Maui water system delivers 26.79 billion […]
Maui County Eyes $6M Takeover of West Maui Private Water Systems
The Maui County Council has given preliminary approval to purchase private water infrastructure in West Maui from West Maui Land for $6 million. Supporters say public ownership will improve reliability, while some council members warn of potential long-term costs. Maui County Council granted preliminary approval to acquire West Maui Land’s water systems, which serve roughly […]
Maui Designer Launches Affordable Rebuild Guidance for Lahaina Homeowners
Multiple outlets reported that Lahaina-based Melissa Dyckman Interiors has launched a new one-on-one advisory service called Lahaina Rebuild Design Guidance to help fire survivors navigate key design and construction decisions. The service is positioned as a lower-cost alternative to full interior design, aimed at reducing costly mistakes during the rebuilding process. Coverage noted the service […]
Puunene Brush Fire Extinguished Within 30 Minutes on August 11
Maui County’s Emergency Management Agency issued two alerts covering a brush fire that broke out and was quickly contained in Central Maui on August 11, 2026. Both alerts confirm the fire started and was extinguished within roughly half an hour, with no reported evacuations. A brush fire was reported at 10:03 AM on August 11, […]
Maui County Expands Free Bus Access to Students, Seniors, and Higher-Income Residents
The Maui County Council passed Bill 95, broadening eligibility for the fare-free bus program to include students of all ages, residents 55 and older, and households earning up to 300% of the poverty threshold. The bill also allows fare suspensions during special events or emergencies for up to 14 days per fiscal year. Bill 95 […]
Tropical Storm Lala Threatens Maui This Weekend — Prepare Now
Multiple sources, including Maui County’s emergency management agency and national weather outlets, are reporting that a developing tropical system has a 90% chance of becoming a cyclone and is expected to reach Maui by Saturday. Maui County and the Big Island face the highest rainfall risk, and officials are urging residents and property owners to […]
Hāna Water Service Restored After Scheduled Morning Outage
A planned water shutoff affecting the Hāna Elementary School to Hāna Town area was completed and service restored by 10 a.m. on August 11, ahead of the scheduled 12:30 p.m. end time. Water service has been fully restored to the Hāna corridor as of 10 a.m. on August 11. The outage was a planned maintenance […]
Selenium Detected in South Maui Water System, Levels Deemed Safe
Multiple sources, including Maui County and the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, report that trace levels of selenium were detected for the first time in the Wailuku water system serving Māʻalaea, Kīhei, Wailea, and Mākena. Health officials say the detected levels are well below federal and state safety limits and are unlikely to pose a public health risk. […]