Maui Discussion

Ongoing school bus driver shortage to impact student transportation services on Oʻahu and Kauaʻi in upcoming school year. High school bus routes on Maui and Hawaiʻi Island have been modified due to the bus driver shortages, but school bus service will continue. School bus routes on Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi are currently not affected. School bus routes on all islands are subject to change should further staffing shortages occur.

Passed by the Legislature earlier this year, HB1382, now Act 54, allows nonprofits to donate wild game meat to “under-resourced” communities, including the homeless.

When explaining the significance of the name “Waiahiokole,” Keʻeaumoku Kapu, CEO of Aha Moku said “kole” means raw, and “waiahi” talks about the turbulence during the time of the shark birthing process. In addition to the literal translation, Kapu said scholars that he reached out to told him it was also named after a prominent chief that lived in the area. Dr. Janet Six, principal archaeologist for the County of Maui said, that while “Puamana definitely is a Hawaiian word–it just is one that was assigned to a large plantation house in the 1920s.” She explained that the area is historically a large grave site.

A 30 day public comment period starts today on a draft air tour management plan for Haleakalā National Park on Maui.  The National Park Service and Federal Aviation Administration are seeking input from anyone interested or concerned about air tours over Haleakalā.

A new survey has been released to Maui County residents by the SMALL TOWN * BIG ART initiative. Organizers say public demand led to the creation of a new 501c3 to expand programming into new neighborhoods beyond Wailuku.

Because of the increase of visitors, “amenities offered at the park are being stretched and park upkeep and maintenance are being tested,” according to the bill’s language.  The hearing on SB 1136, SD1, HD1 is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 5, 2023.

The NPS will use an incompatible insect technique (IIT) which consists of repeatedly releasing incompatible male mosquitoes into the wild to reduce the reproductive potential of female mosquitoes in the project area. 

Fervent testifiers over many hours at Maui County Council sought the freedom to choose birth practitioners regardless of licensure status. Apprenticeship-trained midwives would be criminalized after July 1 — when the current exemption expires — if the state doesn’t approve pending legislation.

US Senator Brian Schatz of Hawai‘i today called on the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of the Navy, and the Defense Logistics Agency to strengthen its proposed consent order on the closure of Red Hill to include more input from Hawai‘i residents.

More than a dozen people involved in a Waiehu land dispute with nonprofit Maui Economic Opportunity, showed up at the organization’s Puʻunēnē baseyard Friday to retrieve items removed last week from the subject property.

The Hawaiian rights group, Kākoʻo Haleakalā, is calling for the removal of “all telescopes” from both Haleakalā on Maui and Maunakea on Hawaiʻi Island. This comes following recent reports of a 700 gallon diesel fuel spill at the Maui Space Surveillance Complex near the summit of Haleakalā.

Pointing to Haleakalā National Park, the road to Hāna and other visitor hotspots around Hawaiʻi, residents during a state hearing Thursday backed a plan to study tourism carrying capacity for Maui and other islands.

Former Congresswoman and 2020 Presidential Candidate Tulsi Gabbard announced that she is leaving the Democratic Party.

In September 2022, only 5% of Maui Now survey respondents reported that the quality of public education in Hawaiʻi has improved, 29% said the quality stayed about the same, and 67% said that quality declined.

In June 2022, 46% of Maui Now survey respondents reported that residential rental prices spiking 41% on Maui strongly affected them, 25% said they were somewhat affected, and 29% said that they were not at all affected.

Maui Now is conducting a survey focused on understanding the opinions and attitudes of its readers about Maui’s residential rental prices spiking 41%, county government actions to create more affordable housing, persisting drought conditions, increase of violent and property crimes, and the upcoming mayoral and council races.

On Friday, April 22, Maui Now released a survey asking its readers to share their opinions and attitudes toward current issues affecting Maui County. Survey questions included state and local topics.

Maui Now is conducting a survey focused on understanding the opinions and attitudes of its readers about Hawaii’s Safe Travels program ending, recent reports of “historic” drought conditions in Maui County, creating more housing units, the increase of national fast-food chains opening this summer, and over-tourism and its impact on Maui’s resources and infrastructure. 

Maui Now received 544 verified responses with 90% identifying as Maui County residents and 10% identifying as non-residents. A total of 86% of respondents identified as registered voters and 14% as non-registered voters.

The Maui County Council unanimously approved Friday, a resolution urging the federal government to grant Hawaiʻi a temporary waiver from the Jones Act for oil imports.