Maui Council advances tax relief extension for Lahaina wildfire survivors

Wreaths Across America Hawai‘i will officially begin its 2025 season of remembrance with a kickoff ceremony on Monday, Dec. 8 at 10 a.m. at the Hawai‘i State Capitol’s rotunda.

ProArts Playhouse has announced a special sensory-friendly performance of its beloved holiday show, “The Reluctant Elf,” on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, at 4 p.m. This performance, tailored for children and adults with sensory sensitivities, offers a festive and inclusive experience for all members of the community and is made possible in part by support from Wave of Harmony Foundation. 

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory has been busy tracking the continued growth of this young geologic feature, which is visible from public viewing areas around the summit within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

Gov. Josh Green has ordered the United States flag and the Hawaiʻi state flag to be flown at half-staff from sunrise until sunset on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025.

The latest episode in the series that began nearly a year ago on Dec. 23, 2024, ended abruptly at 8:52 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 6), after a little more than 12 hours, when the south vent — which exploded earlier during the day and featured sustained fountaining as high as 1,200 feet at one point — ceased activity.

Road repair work and the installation of raised crosswalks and speed tables will close one lane in various areas on Waiehu Beach Road (Route 3400) from Monday, Dec. 8 through Friday, Dec. 12, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

New water quality data from the Haʻikū Community Association — collected in partnership with Maui County, the Surfrider Foundation and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Water Resources Research Center — shows encouraging signs for Haʻikū’s streams as the island moves into the wet winter season, hoʻoilo.

The Maui County Council unanimously passed a bill on first reading Friday that would extend real property tax relief for Lahaina wildfire survivors through June 2028. Bill 171 seeks to assist property owners whose lands remain unoccupiable. It also helps those who are undergoing active rebuilding following the August 2023 wildfires. The measure targets properties […]

Hana Hou by Hale Zen will host a two-night Sip and Shop on Friday, Dec. 12 and Saturday, Dec. 13 from 5 to 8 p.m. The seasonal gathering invites guests to enjoy an evening of holiday shopping while generating donations for two Maui nonprofits.

UH Maui College will host its annual “Holiday Bash & Electric Light Parade” on Thursday, Dec. 11 from 4:30 to 8 p.m. on the Kahului campus Great Lawn and the Pā‘ina Building dining area. The event is open to the public and admission is free.

The Fukunaga Scholarship Foundation is now accepting applications for the 2026 Fukunaga Scholarship through Feb. 23, 2026. In its 76th year, the Foundation continues its commitment to supporting Hawaiʻi students who plan to pursue degrees in business or related fields.

Maui-based interior designer Reflective Design Studio has announced the upcoming release of founder and principal designer LaTasha Baldwin’s debut book, “It’s Never Too Late to Design Your Life,” set to release Feb. 1, 2026.