South Kihei Road Closure Hits Month Four, Businesses Report 50% Sales Drop

View of Hawaii taken during ISS Expedition 25. — South Kihei Road Closure Hits Month Four, Businesses Report 50% Sales Drop | Maui Tom's News

A sinkhole-caused closure of South Kihei Road near Kamaʻole Beach Park II has entered its fourth month, with local businesses reporting sales down 30–50% and some shutting permanently. County repairs are slightly ahead of schedule, with reopening targeted for late August. South Kihei Road has been closed since March after Kona Low storms caused a […]

Free Manta Ray Documentary Screening at Four Seasons Wailea on July 24

Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort — Free Manta Ray Documentary Screening at Four Seasons Wailea on July 24 | Maui Tom's News

The Surfrider Foundation’s Maui Chapter is hosting a free public screening of ‘The Last Dive,’ a manta ray conservation documentary, at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea on July 24. Doors open at 5 p.m. and a Q&A with the director and marine researchers follows the film. The free event takes place July 24 […]

Māliko Bay Boat Ramp Restoration Effort Launches on Maui’s North Shore

Kihei Boat Ramp, Kihei, Maui, Hawaii — Māliko Bay Boat Ramp Restoration Effort Launches on Maui's North Shore | Maui Tom's News

A new nonprofit, Nā Maka o Māliko, has taken on a 50-year lease to restore the deteriorated Māliko Bay boat ramp, which was further damaged by March 2026 Kona low storms. The County of Maui has issued a $15,000 cleanup grant, while the full restoration is estimated at $1 million. The Māliko Bay boat ramp, […]

Makawao Water Outage Hits Apau Place for ~3 Hours July 9

Crystal water tourism — Makawao Water Outage Hits Apau Place for ~3 Hours July 9 | Maui Tom's News

An emergency mainline break is causing a roughly 3-hour water service outage on Apau Place in Makawao starting at 8:45 a.m. on July 9. Approximately 15 residences are affected. A mainline break triggered emergency repairs, cutting water service to Apau Place in Makawao. The outage began at 8:45 a.m. on July 9 and is expected […]

Kapalua Golf Owner Commits $500K More to West Maui Watershed Preserve

Dunes at Maui Lani Golf Course — Kapalua Golf Owner Commits $500K More to West Maui Watershed Preserve | Maui Tom's News

Tadashi Yanai, owner of Kapalua Golf, donated $500,000 to the Aloha Puʻu Kukui nonprofit, bringing his total giving to the West Maui watershed to $1.5 million since 2024. Funds support invasive species removal and native reforestation across the 8,661-acre Puʻu Kukui Watershed Preserve. The Puʻu Kukui Watershed Preserve is a critical source of groundwater for […]

East Maui Water Outage Continues After Second Leak Found in Koali

Clear ocean water beach — East Maui Water Outage Continues After Second Leak Found in Koali | Maui Tom's News

A water line break in the Koali area of East Maui caused an outage starting at 9 p.m. on July 3, and after initial repairs, a second leak was discovered with no confirmed restoration time. About 30 residences are affected, with a water buffalo stationed nearby for potable water access. A second leak was found […]

East Maui Ditch System’s Future Unresolved as New Land Board Chair Takes Over

Keanae is an unincorporated town in Maui County on the island of Maui in the U.S. state of Hawaii. Ke‘anae is a peninsula known best for being one of Hawaii‘s major taro farm growing regions.One of th — East Maui Ditch System's Future Unresolved as New Land Board Chair Takes Over | Maui Tom's News

A dispute over who should manage East Maui’s century-old ditch system — which supplies water to Upcountry and Central Maui — remains unresolved after more than seven months of failed negotiations between the East Maui Water Authority and farming operation Mahi Pono. A new BLNR chair took over this week, and the issue may appear […]

Coastal Resilience Designs for Olowalu-Ukumehame to Be Unveiled July 9

Olowalu beach looking south — Coastal Resilience Designs for Olowalu-Ukumehame to Be Unveiled July 9 | Maui Tom's News

The Nature Conservancy and UH will present final conceptual designs for the Olowalu-Ukumehame coastline on July 9, addressing sea-level rise, erosion, and ecosystem restoration. The plans tie into an upcoming 2027 Honoapiilani Highway realignment that will reshape land use along that stretch of West Maui. A public hybrid presentation of the Olowalu: The Road to […]

Maui Planning Commission Delays Makena State Park Expansion Permit

Sea turtle close up — Maui Planning Commission Delays Makena State Park Expansion Permit | Maui Tom's News

The Maui Planning Commission deferred a decision on a facilities expansion permit for Makena State Park after public testimony raised concerns about sea turtle nesting, water quality, and safety. A follow-up public hearing is scheduled for July 14. The state DLNR is seeking a special management area permit to add permanent restrooms, showers, and expanded […]

UH Maui College Training Workers to Convert Cesspools by 2050 Deadline

Marina infrastructure — UH Maui College Training Workers to Convert Cesspools by 2050 Deadline | Maui Tom's News

UH Maui College launched a wastewater specialist certificate program in 2024 to help address a workforce shortage slowing Hawaii’s mandated cesspool conversion effort. The state faces a 2050 legislative deadline to eliminate more than 83,000 cesspools that currently leak raw sewage into coastal waters. Hawaii law requires all cesspools to be converted to cleaner alternatives […]