Local news
Lahaina
Maui County, Hawaii
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‘Very insidious’: Maui bill targets contractor fraud against fire survivors
Maui County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Martin is backing Bill 147, which would create an investigator position focused on contractors accused of defrauding survivors of the Lahaina fires. His office has received dozens…
First Responders & Military Honolua Classic presented by OUTRIGGER Kā‘anapali Beach Resort returns to Honolua
The First Responders & Military Honolua Classic surf contest will return to Honolua Bay on Maui for its third annual edition. Organizers set a holding window from Nov. 15 through Dec. 31, 2026, with the event presented…
Public Safety Power Shutoff monitoring continues on Maui and Hawaiʻi Island
Hawaiian Electric continued monitoring wildfire conditions on Maui and Hawaiʻi Island on Nov. 12, warning that a Public Safety Power Shutoff could still be triggered. Residents in West Maui and South Kohala should…
Rooted in Lahaina: New marketplace brings local businesses back downtown
‘Ulu O Lele Marketplace opened on Front Street in Lahaina, giving about two dozen small businesses a place to return downtown after many were devastated by the August 2023 wildfire. Visitors gathered for the opening…
Hawaiʻi’s Green Party Finally Lodges Big Win After Decades
Pāʻele Kiakona’s victory in Hawaiʻi House District 14 marks the first time a Green Party candidate has won a seat in the state Legislature. Kiakona defeated Democrat Sne Patel and Republican Elle Cochran in the Nov. 3…
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Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset to hear talk on Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Nov. 17
The Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset will host a free public presentation on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at its Nov. 17 meeting. Scheduled speaker David McCamis will discuss the memorial’s history, significance and…
It’s official: Pāʻele Kiakona secures historic win in West Maui house race following final vote count
Pāʻele Kiakona has won West Maui’s House District 14 race with 41.2% of the vote, securing a historic state House seat for the Green Party. Final results released Tuesday night, after voters had time to correct…
New Lahaina marketplace restores businesses by Front Street
‘Ulu o Lele Marketplace opened on the former Outlets of Maui site in Lahaina, bringing 17 storefronts and six food trucks back to the town’s commercial core. The interim project, developed by Hawaiian Council with…
New marketplace brings local businesses back to Lahaina
ʻUlu o Lele, a new marketplace at the former Outlets of Maui site, has opened in Lahaina, bringing local businesses back more than three years after the 2023 wildfires. The marketplace provides space for small…
The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua appoints Michael Baier as General Manager
The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua has appointed Michael Baier as its new general manager. Baier brings more than 35 years of hospitality leadership experience and will oversee the 54-acre resort. The appointment, reported…
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Hawaiʻi Land Trust to honor retired state aquatic biologist Skippy Hau at Buy Back the Beach lūʻau
Hawaiʻi Land Trust will name retired state aquatic biologist Skippy Hau its 2027 Champion of the Land at its 25th annual Buy Back the Beach benefit lūʻau. The event is scheduled for Jan. 23, from 5 to 9 p.m., at Old…
The Unrelenting Ordeal Of Wildfire Recovery
Three years after the devastating wildfires in Lahaina, survivors continue to face significant emotional and economic challenges. While some families are beginning to rebuild their homes, many residents report ongoing…
The Scientists Fighting To Help Wildfire Survivors Heal
Researchers from the University of Hawaiʻi are working to sustain the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study, a critical public health initiative launched following the 2023 Lahaina wildfires. The study, which tracks the…
Maui chef brings Japanese noodle-making expertise to Dang Dang Noodle
Maui chef Joey Macadangdang is blending Filipino culinary traditions with Japanese noodle-making techniques at his new restaurant, Dang Dang Noodle, located in Napili. The chef, who trained in Japan, features unique…
Longtime Lahaina swim instructor needs help rebuilding business after fire
Longtime Lahaina swim instructor Benae Basurto is seeking community support to rebuild her business, Little Honu Swim School, following the devastating 2023 wildfires. While Basurto has successfully rebuilt her home…
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Maui County to begin clearing vegetation and debris from 115 acres at Kapūʻali in Launiupoko
The Maui Emergency Management Agency is launching a wildfire risk reduction project on 115 acres of county-owned land at Kapūʻali, also known as Cut Mountain, in Launiupoko. The initiative follows a series of a dozen…
Maui police search for armed burglary suspect in Lahaina
Maui police are actively searching for a suspect involved in an armed burglary on Wekiu Place in Lahaina. The incident occurred Thursday afternoon when an unidentified man threatened an occupant, who managed to escape…
Hawaiian Council announces businesses selected for ʻUlu o Lele marketplace in Lahaina
The Hawaiian Council has announced the businesses selected for the ʻUlu o Lele marketplace in Lahaina. The interim community space, featuring 17 modular storefronts, aims to help local businesses resume operations and…
24 businesses selected for Lahaina’s ʻUlu o Lele Marketplace ahead of Nov. 10 grand opening
The Hawaiian Council has selected 24 local businesses and food trucks to occupy the new ʻUlu o Lele marketplace in Lahaina. Seventeen modular storefronts have been installed at the former Outlets of Maui site, with a…
West Maui race sees razor-thin margin in potentially historic election
Green Party candidate Pā‘ele Kiakona holds a narrow 107-vote lead over Democrat Sne Patel in the race for Hawaii's state House District 14. With hundreds of ballots still unresolved due to deficiencies, the final…
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Hawaiʻi Green Party Candidate Makes History, Edges Democrat
Community activist Paʻele Kiakona appears to have won the House District 14 seat in Hawaiʻi, marking a rare victory for a Green Party candidate in a state legislature. Kiakona, a leader with Lahaina Strong, secured…
Catholic schools in Hawaii prepare to celebrate 200 years
Catholic schools across Hawaii are preparing to celebrate their bicentennial next year. Four schools on Maui, including Sacred Hearts and St. Joseph, are currently developing special projects to commemorate the 200-year…
Lahainaluna High School Foundation names ‘Legends of Lahainaluna’ for 2026
The Lahainaluna High School Foundation has announced its 2026 'Legends of Lahainaluna' award recipients. The honorees include the O.L. Moore Foundation, the Lahainaluna Boarders Association, Tanya (Miyasaki) Arakawa…
The Sunshine Blog: This AI Agent Has A Story To Tell About Lahaina
Civil Beat’s 'Sunshine Blog' recently engaged in a surreal exchange with an AI agent named Bangis, which attempted to pitch a story regarding mapping in Lahaina. The interaction highlighted the ongoing debate over the…
Kamehameha Schools, county partnering to steward West Maui water resources
Maui County and Kamehameha Schools have announced a proposed partnership to co-manage water resources in West Maui. The agreement involves transferring the Launiupoko Irrigation Co. system to the county to support…
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Halloween celebrations return to Lahaina’s Front Street as community rebuilds
Halloween celebrations have returned to Lahaina’s Front Street, marking a significant step in the community's recovery three years after the devastating Maui wildfires. Local businesses are hosting events, including a…
Binhi at Ani to hold annual Bayanihan Food Distribution in Lahaina, Nov. 14, 2026
The organization Binhi at Ani is set to host its annual Bayanihan Food Distribution event on November 14, 2026, at Lahaina Intermediate School. This community initiative aims to support local residents by providing…
Maui County, Kamehameha Schools propose shared stewardship of Lahaina waters
The County of Maui and Ke Kula ʻo Kamehameha have announced a proposed agreement to transfer the option to acquire the Launiupoko Irrigation Company system to the county. This partnership aims to bring key West Maui…
County of Maui and Kamehameha Schools propose shared stewardship of Lahaina water resources
The County of Maui and Kamehameha Schools have announced a proposed partnership to manage local water resources. Under the agreement, Kamehameha Schools intends to transfer its option to acquire the Launiupoko…