Fatal Koki Beach Drowning Highlights Unguarded Hana Coastline Risks
A California woman died and a Texas woman was hospitalized after both were pulled from the water at Koki Beach near Hana. The incident highlights the absence of lifeguards at popular Road to Hana beaches, including Koki, Hamoa, and Waianapanapa. A 56-year-old woman died and a 53-year-old woman was hospitalized in critical condition after being […]
Kimo’s Restaurant Signs Deal to Reopen on Front Street in Lahaina
T S Restaurants has signed a letter of intent to rebuild Kimo’s on Front Street in Lahaina, partnering with local developers restoring the Chan Wa Building. The iconic restaurant, destroyed in the 2023 wildfires, aims to return to the community as quickly as possible. T S Restaurants signed a letter of intent for a new […]
RISE Maui Summit in August to Focus on Sustainability, Tech, and Lahaina Recovery
The RISE Maui: Sustainability + Tech Summit runs August 17–21 at the Hyatt Regency Maui, bringing together scientists, artists, and cultural practitioners to discuss regeneration, AI, water, and food security. Proceeds from the event will benefit Lahaina rebuilding efforts. The five-day summit takes place August 17–21 at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa in […]
Native Plant Project Aims to Restore Eroding Baldwin Beach Dunes
A University of Hawaii Sea Grant team, backed by a $1 million+ federal grant, is using native groundcover plants to rebuild the sand dune system at Baldwin Beach Park on Maui’s North Shore. Early test plots have shown success in accumulating windblown sand. The National Fish & Wildlife Foundation awarded over $1 million to fund […]
West Maui Summit on Innovation & Sustainability Coming in August 2026
The Hua Momona Foundation is hosting its first annual RISE Maui Summit at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa August 17–21, 2026, featuring speakers on AI, sustainability, and Hawaiian culture. Summit passes currently include VIP tickets to the Maui Music & Food Experience on August 21–22. RISE Maui Summit runs August 17–21 at the […]
Maui County to Review Coastal SMA Boundary Rules at July 14 Public Meeting
Multiple sources report that the Maui County Department of Planning is inviting the public to attend a Maui Planning Commission meeting on July 14, 2026, to learn about an assessment of the island’s Special Management Area (SMA) boundary. The SMA governs development controls near the shoreline and has not been updated since 1979. The meeting […]
Kapalua Golf Owner Gives $500K to Protect West Maui Watershed
Tadashi Yanai, owner of Kapalua Golf, has donated $500,000 to Aloha Puʻu Kukui, bringing his total support for the Puʻu Kukui Watershed Preserve to $1.5 million since 2024. The funds will go toward invasive species removal and native reforestation in West Maui. The 8,661-acre Puʻu Kukui Watershed Preserve supplies groundwater to West Maui communities, agriculture, […]
Youth Theater Brings Little Mermaid Jr. to Lahaina, July 16–19
Theatre Theatre Maui will stage Disney’s The Little Mermaid Jr. at Lahainaluna High School’s cafeteria July 16–19, featuring 41 student performers. Tickets range from $5 to $15 and are available online or at the door. Performances run July 16–19 at Lahainaluna High School’s Hale Pāʻina Cafeteria, with evening and matinee options. The 60-minute show features […]
UH Launches Free Monthly Climate Summaries for Maui Locations
The University of Hawaiʻi’s Climate Data Portal is rolling out a free email subscription service that delivers plain-language monthly climate summaries for user-selected locations across Maui, including drought conditions, rainfall, and temperature trends. Subscribers can track specific spots like Kīhei, Hāna, or West Maui using an interactive map. Property owners can subscribe to receive monthly […]
Hawaii Supreme Court Revives Maui Lani Grading Permit Legal Challenge
The Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that a cultural group can proceed with its claim questioning whether Maui County had valid ‘good cause’ to extend a grading permit at the Maui Lani Phase 9 development site. The case, centered on a sand dune complex with ancestral Hawaiian burial sites, will now return to Circuit Court for […]