Mokulele Airlines Secures $19.4M Federal Contract to Keep Lanaʻi Air Service Running
The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded Mokulele Airlines a four-year, $19.4 million Essential Air Service contract to maintain scheduled flights to Lanaʻi through August 2030. Mokulele holds interline agreements with major carriers at Kahului Airport (OGG), supporting connectivity for travelers moving between Maui and Lanaʻi. Mokulele Airlines will continue federally subsidized scheduled service to […]
Maui Council Ties Apartment-to-Hotel Rezoning Eligibility to Sea-Level-Rise Zones
The Maui County Council’s Housing and Land Use Committee voted 5-4 to use sea-level-rise exposure data as a key factor in deciding which apartment-zoned vacation rental properties qualify for hotel-district rezoning. The committee will reconvene September 9 to continue deliberations. A 5-4 committee vote adopted criteria linking hotel-district rezoning eligibility to how far a property […]
Council Amendments Could Shrink Bill 9 Housing Pool by Adding More STR Properties to Hotel Zone
Three Maui County Council amendments would add up to 16 apartment-zoned vacation rental properties to hotel rezoning resolutions, reducing the units Bill 9 would convert to long-term housing. The Housing and Land Use Committee heard public testimony again on Aug. 20 but adjourned without a vote. Three proposed amendments from Council Members Lee, Cook, and […]
OGG Ground Transport Guide: Taxis, Shuttles, Rideshares & Rental Cars
A travel guide outlines the main transportation options from Kahului Airport to Maui’s resort areas, including taxis, shared shuttles, rideshares, and rental cars. Pricing benchmarks and logistics are provided for each option. Taxis from OGG run approximately $33–$55 to Kihei, $57 to Wailea, and $87 to Kaanapali for up to four passengers. Shared shuttle services […]
UHERO: Lahaina Housing Stabilizes at 3-Year Mark, But Jobs and Aid Fall Short
Multiple outlets including Maui Now, Maui News, Hawaii Public Radio, and Hawaii Free Press reported on a new University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization (UHERO) study released August 12, 2026, marking three years since the Lahaina wildfires. The report finds meaningful progress in housing stability for fire-affected families, but employment, incomes, and available assistance have […]
Maui County Takes Over Wildfire Survivor Case Management from State
The Hawaii Department of Human Services has handed control of the Wildfires Disaster Case Management Program to Maui County, effective August 7, 2026. The transition is designed to strengthen local coordination as survivors prepare for the end of FEMA temporary housing assistance in February 2027. Maui County now leads the Disaster Case Management Program previously […]
West Maui Tourism Rebounds: Occupancy Tops 76% as Recovery Continues
Visitor arrivals to Maui rose 11.5% in February 2026 year-over-year, with hotel occupancy in the Lahaina-Kāʻanapali-Kapalua corridor climbing above 76%. Lahaina’s commercial core remains largely closed, though infrastructure restoration and a planned interim vendor marketplace signal ongoing progress. Maui visitor arrivals increased 11.5% in February 2026 compared to the prior year, indicating strengthening tourism demand. […]
Maui Council Advances Transparency Bill, Gets TAT Collection System Update
A Maui County Council committee unanimously approved a bill requiring the county to disclose funding restrictions when repurposing county-owned land, while also receiving an update on a planned overhaul of the transient accommodations tax collection system. Bill 81-2025 passed its first reading 9-0, requiring the county to disclose any funding source restrictions when proposing a […]
FEMA Doubles Rent for 600 Maui Fire Survivors Still in Temporary Housing
Multiple sources report that FEMA is raising rents for approximately 600 Maui wildfire survivors still living in federally subsidized temporary housing, with some residents seeing their monthly payments double starting September 1. The increases are part of FEMA’s policy to bring payments to 50% of Fair Market Rent for Maui County and mark the second […]
Hawaii Supreme Court: Maui Must Retain Coastal Permit Oversight, Can’t Delegate to Developers
Multiple sources report that the Hawaii Supreme Court unanimously ruled this week that the Maui County Planning Commission cannot allow property owners or developers to self-determine whether their coastal projects require a permit. The court affirmed a lower court ruling striking down key portions of the commission’s 2024 amended rules for the Special Management Area, […]