Maui recovery funding remains in the balance as state lawmakers near session’s end

Mayor Richard Bissen and Managing Director Josiah Nishita updated Maui County Council members Thursday morning on the status of the county’s request for state funding to help with the staggering costs of rebuilding infrastructure destroyed in the Aug. 8-9 wildfires disaster.

A deadly motorcycle collision on the Maui Veterans Highway on Thursday morning claimed the life of a 33-year-old Kīhei man, police said. It is believed that speed is a factor in this collision, according to preliminary reports.

The Pesticides Branch of the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture is extending its free pesticide disposal program to the island of Moloka‘i in June. The registration deadline is Wednesday, May 22, 2024 at 4:30 p.m.  So far, the PDP program has collected pesticides on O‘ahu totaling 7,700 pounds, Kaua‘i, almost 4,000 pounds, Maui, more than 7,100 pounds, and Hawai‘i Island, more than 7,300 pounds.

(Update: 4:55 p.m., April 25, 2024) Honoapiʻilani Highway is now completely OPEN. It was closed earlier due to a motor vehicle accident in which a vehicle went over the guardrail, and a separate incident near the Scenic Lookout involving a fire. Police tell Maui Now that the vehicle has been towed and the fire has been extinguished.

Gas prices statewide continue to increase slowly, according to the AAA Hawaiʻi Weekend Gas Watch. The statewide average price for regular unleaded is $4.81, three cents higher than last week. The national average gas price is $3.66, one cent lower than last week. 

The vacation rental unit supply on Maui continued to be impacted by the Aug. 8, 2023 wildfires. The information and data was part of the state Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism’s March 2024 Hawai‘i Vacation Rental Performance Report released today.

Pacific Media Group hosts a Job Fair on Saturday, April 27 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Queen Kaʻahumanu Center in Kahului. There will be 45 businesses looking to hire and raffle prizes for those applying.

The Maui Police Department is warning the public of a recurring scam involving spoofed phone calls targeting members of the community.

In commemoration of Earth Day, Pacific Biodiesel Founders Bob and Kelly King welcomed community leaders and local students on a tour of the company’s new crushing mill and expanded agriculture operations, followed by a blessing of its first sunflower field on Kauaʻi on April 22, 2024.

State Sen. Angus McKelvey (District 6, West Maui, Māʻalaea, Waikapū, South Maui) announced the release of $1,020,000 in funding for vital improvements at Lokelani Intermediate School in Maui. This capital improvement project will address crucial infrastructure needs including parking lot resurfacing, upgrades to gutters and drainage systems, air conditioning enhancements and general repairs.

Maui Preparatory Academy has announced an upcoming financial aid benefit, “Fly Pueo, Fly,” scheduled for 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 27.

(Update: 11 a.m., April 25, 2024) The Maui Veterans Highway is now OPEN in the area of the Central Maui Baseyard. It was closed for three hours while police conducted an investigation following a motor vehicle accident.

Gas prices statewide continue to increase slowly, according to the AAA Hawaiʻi Weekend Gas Watch. The statewide average price for regular unleaded is $4.81, three cents higher than last week. The national average gas price is $3.66, one cent lower than last week. 

The vacation rental unit supply on Maui continued to be impacted by the Aug. 8, 2023 wildfires. The information and data was part of the state Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism’s March 2024 Hawai‘i Vacation Rental Performance Report released today.

Pacific Media Group hosts a Job Fair on Saturday, April 27 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Queen Kaʻahumanu Center in Kahului. There will be 45 businesses looking to hire and raffle prizes for those applying.

Several Maui-based small businesses will participate in Mana Up’s inaugural Aloha Market from April 26-28 in SoHo, Manhattan, New York. The city will host the multi-day Hawai‘i-themed immersive shopping and cultural event, featuring 40 companies.

Eight college teams from UH-Mānoa, University of Guam, Northern Marianas College and Brigham Young University-Hawaiʻi recently battled it out for the Aloha Collegiate Cup in the 'Mobile Legends: Bang Bang' event

Breezy to locally windy trade winds will continue into Friday morning. Expect enhanced trade wind showers through this morning as a band of unsettled clouds...

Surf heights will remain below advisory thresholds for all shores through the forecast period. The new small medium period northwest swell is filling today and...

“Disasters unfortunately attract crooked contractors,” said Greenwood, who spoke at AARP Hawai`i Fight Fraud Together seminars in Kona and Hilo this week.

“This tragic incident highlights the problem of having feral cat colonies in areas that are known habitat for endangered or threatened species,” said DLNR Chair Dawn Chang.

The driver of a dump truck lost control of his vehicle Wednesday, veering off of Akoni Pule Highway and striking a guardrail before overturning.

The road will be closed so police can conduct an investigation.

The suspect was scheduled to appear in court on March 25 to pay a $150 fine after pleading no contest to disorderly conduct. When he was a no-show, Kona District Court Judge Kimberly Tsuchiya issued a bench warrant for the 42-year-old's arrest.

The decomposed body was found on a property on Lotus Blossom Lane.

The incident occurred on April 14 when police responded to an unknown disturbance in Ocean View.