#Maui Now
AAA Hawaiʻi: Record number of Pacific states residents set to travel this Thanksgiving
AAA Hawaiʻi is projecting 14.2 million residents of Hawaiʻi, Alaska, California, Oregon and Washington will head 50 miles or more from home over the Thanksgiving holiday travel period, a 2.8% increase over last year’s record number of travelers.
Hawaiian Community Assets receives $75K grant from Nareit Foundation to expand affordable housing on Maui and Hawaiʻi Island
The recent grant award supports Ua Hale Aʻaela and the rehabilitation of seven properties on Hawaiʻi Island.
Great American Smokeout on Nov. 21 to help adults and teens quit
Each year, the third Thursday of November is recognized as the Great American Smokeout, a day that encourages those who smoke to commit to healthier, smoke-free lives.
State Agriculture Department seeks proposals for invasive species control projects
The Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture has opened three requests for proposals to assist in the control and management of invasive pests, including the coconut rhinoceros beetle, little fire ants and two-lined spittle bug.
Volunteers sought for backpacking service trip into Haleakalā Crater on Maui
The Friends of Haleakalā National Park seeks National Park Service volunteers who are enthusiastic and fit for a strenuous three-night backpacking service trip into the parkʻs Wilderness Areas Tuesday to Thursday, Dec. 10 to 12.
Hawai‘i hires on ‘Rescue: HI-Surf’ made $31M in wages; workforce training provided to local interns
A pulse-pounding new drama set on Oahu’s North Shore is contributing to the state’s economy in a big way. “Rescue: HI-Surf,” a co-production of John Wells Productions, Warner Bros. Television and FOX Entertainment, hired over 2,100 local cast and crew to be part of the first season. Collectively, the hires earned more than $31.75 million in wages.
Hawai‘i Tourism partners with JTB to attract high-value business events from Japan
A new deal between the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, Meet Hawai‘i and JTB seeks to recover the pipeline of Japan business meetings in Hawai‘i.
Alaska Airlines clears last regulatory hurdle to finalize merger with Hawaiian Airlines
The US Department of Transportation has given Alaska Airlines permission to close on its $1.9 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, after the carriers agreed to maintain key Hawaii routes and adopt consumer protections. This exemption allows the carriers, which are respectively the fifth and tenth largest domestic airlines, to finalize their merger while maintaining separate operations until DOT rules on their transfer application.
World’s largest beach cleanup effort to engage over half a million volunteers
Ocean Conservancy is calling for volunteers worldwide to join the 39th annual International Coastal Cleanup (ICC), the world’s largest beach and waterway cleanup effort, launching on Sept. 21, 2024. With plastic pollution at crisis levels, ICC organizers invite everyone who loves the ocean to take action by joining a cleanup in their area.
Marine Protected Areas producing more ‘trophy-size’ fish, UH report says
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are having a positive spillover effect, producing more “trophy-size” fish just outside of the fully protected areas, and the effect is growing stronger over time.
Startup ventures to test Japanese vertical wind turbine technology in the islands
A Hawai‘i-based startup with ties to Japan is bringing state-of-the-art Japanese clean energy technology to Kaka‘ako Makai in Honolulu, to study its feasibility in the islands by operating its one wind turbine for research and demonstration purposes.
Hirono secures key priorities for Hawaiʻi and Pacific Region in Committee markup of annual defense bill
US Sen. Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) secured several key priorities for Hawaiʻi and the US military during the Committee’s markup of the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act.
New recruitment campaign for corrections officers kicks off in June 2024
The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR) is kicking off a new multi-pronged recruitment campaign for adult corrections officers (ACO) beginning Monday, June 10, 2024.
Mālama ‘Ohana seeks child welfare lived experiences to inform new legislation
A group formed to suggest changes to legislature regarding Hawaiʻi’s existing child welfare system wants to hear from people with lived experiences of the state’s child welfare system.
Governor issues proclamation celebrating Hawai‘i’s school nurses
Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green, M.D., issued a proclamation recognizing National School Nurse Day on May 8, 2024.
FAFSA Hawaiʻi Hotline extends hours for local families
The FAFSA Hawaiʻi Hotline is now open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through May 31.
UH Mānoa begins two-year initiative to become a Native Hawaiian place of learning
The team tasked with helping advance the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa as a Native Hawaiian Place of Learning has officially launched a two-year initiative immersing a diverse range of students and employees in Native Hawaiian values and traditions.
New tech now alerts Hawaiʻi drivers of stranded motorists, tow operators on roads
In an effort to protect roadside assistant providers and Hawaiʻi drivers, the AAA Hawaiʻi and HAAS Alert, a mobility safety solutions company, have rolled out new technology that sends alerts to drivers in Hawaiʻi to slow down and move over when they are approaching a stranded motorist on the side of the road.
Members of Lāhaināluna football team join field as honorary captains for Super Bowl LVIII coin toss
Present on the field Sunday were Lahainaluna head football coach Dean Rickard, offensive coach Garrett Tihada, former coach Bobby Watson and athletic director John Conrad. Team captains joined their coaches on the field: Kaulana Tihada, Morgan “Bula” Montgomery, Teva Loft and Kuola Watson.
One more Lāhainā fire victim identified by police: death toll is 97, unaccounted for is 22
The Maui Police Department identified one more victim of the Aug. 8 Lahaina fire on Monday: Matsuyuki Osato, 83, of Lahaina.
