Hurricane Lala Leaves Maui With Power Outages, Downed Trees, and Debris Cleanup
Multiple outlets reported that Hurricane Lala, which passed south of the Hawaiian islands as a Category 1 storm on Saturday, caused significant disruption on Maui including widespread power outages, downed trees, and communication failures. While the Big Island bore the brunt of the storm, Maui experienced winds up to 70 mph, property damage, and road […]
Tropical Storm Conditions Expected on Maui Saturday with 60mph Gusts
A tropical storm is forecast to bring heavy rainfall and wind gusts up to 60 mph across all parts of Maui on Saturday, August 15. Conditions are already deteriorating island-wide on Friday with scattered showers and strong northeast winds. Tropical storm conditions are expected island-wide on Saturday, affecting West Side, South Side, North Shore, Central […]
Pool Brawl at Maui Resort Draws FBI Attention, Stirs Tourism Debate
A violent incident involving juveniles at a Maui resort has attracted FBI scrutiny under an ‘interference with interstate commerce’ theory tied to hotel operations. The episode has generated significant media and political attention, raising broader questions about tourism and local tensions. A brawl involving teenagers at a Maui resort property resulted in injuries to guests […]
Lahaina Fire Survivors Face Bureaucratic Hurdles in County Homebuyer Program
Nearly 700 Lahaina fire survivor households remain in FEMA housing assistance as of mid-2026, with many applicants to Maui County’s Hoʻokumu Hou First-Time Homebuyer Program experiencing repeated documentation requests and delays. FEMA’s housing assistance, previously set to expire in February 2026, was extended through February 2027. Nearly 700 fire survivor households are still relying on […]
UH Mānoa Hawaiian Theater Production Brings Lahaina Fire Story Home
A UH Mānoa theater production inspired by the 2023 Lahaina wildfires will perform four shows in Lahaina on August 7–8, 2026, as part of the Festivals of Aloha. The hana keaka (Hawaiian theater work) focuses on healing and community connection, not the tragedy itself. Four performances of ‘Lele Wale’ are scheduled for August 7–8 at […]
Paid Parking Expands to Kamaole Beach Parks, Sparking Visitor Pushback
A visitor letter to the Maui News criticizes the expansion of paid parking to Kamaole Beach parks, arguing it burdens both residents and tourists and signals a cultural shift away from open public access. Paid parking has expanded to the Kamaole Beach parks, a change the letter-writer noticed during a recent family visit to Maui. […]
Maui County Schedules Aug. 12 Lahaina Recovery Meeting With Multi-Agency Updates
Maui County is hosting a Lahaina Community Meeting on August 12, 2026, moved from its usual first-Wednesday slot to honor the third anniversary of the 2023 wildfires. Topics include contractor fraud, housing reconstruction, the Lahaina bypass extension, and county recovery updates. The meeting takes place August 12 at 5:30 p.m. at Lahaina Intermediate School cafeteria, […]
Lahaina Boat Captains Who Rescued Fire Survivors Win $1.1M on NBC Game Show
Multiple Hawaii Public Radio reports cover the story of Chrissy Lovitt and Emma Nelson, a married couple and Lahaina business owners, who won $1.1 million on NBC’s game show ‘The Wall.’ The couple, owners of Maui Ocean Adventures, lost their charter boat in the 2023 Lahaina wildfires but used a smaller vessel to rescue dozens […]
Maui Visitor Arrivals Up 11.5% as Kā’anapali Hotels Top 76% Occupancy
Multiple outlets reported this week on the continued rebound of Maui tourism alongside ongoing Lahaina recovery efforts. Visitor arrivals rose 11.5% in February 2026 year-over-year, and hotel occupancy in the Lahaina-Kā’anapali-Kapalua corridor climbed above 76%, signaling strengthening demand for the West Maui market. Maui visitor arrivals increased 11.5% in February 2026 compared to the same […]
East Maui Water Outage on Wailua Road Affects 31 Homes for ~4 Hours
A mainline break on Wailua Road in East Maui caused an emergency water service outage on July 30, starting at 8:30 a.m. and lasting approximately four hours. About 31 residences were affected. Emergency repairs on a mainline break triggered the outage beginning at 8:30 a.m. on July 30. Approximately 31 residences and 12 standpipes/hydrants lost […]