Political newcomers top fundraising in races to fill critical Maui County Council seats

US Rep. Ed Case, who represents urban Oʻahu in Congress, has introduced a bipartisan bill intended to encourage more affordable housing construction in areas designated for transit-oriented development, an approach that could offer new financing tools for projects statewide, including Maui.

To maintain reliable service, Hawaiian Electric contractors are replacing three utility poles along Kula Highway between Pueo Drive and Lepelepe Place that will impact traffic on Monday, July 20 to Wednesday, July 22, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. No service interruption is expected.

A lane closure goes into effect on Kula Highway with intermittent traffic holds at the mauka intersection of Kula Highway and Ōmaʻopio Road, July 20-23, 2026, according to the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation.

Bank of Hawaiʻi is the only Hawaiʻi-based company among 1,000 US businesses named to Newsweek’s “America’s Greatest Workplaces for Parents & Families 2026” list, the bank announced Friday.

AARP Hawaiʻi is now accepting nominations for its 2026 Andrus Award for Community Service, which honors Hawaiʻi volunteers 50 and older who are sharing their experience, talent, and skills to enrich their communities. 

Following legislation and efforts led by Hawai‘i US Brian Schatz, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services at the US Department of Health and Human Services announced that it will begin the process to increase the amount that hospitals in Hawai‘i can be reimbursed by Medicare for outpatient care.

The easiest answer to the question of whether lava will flow out of the caldera is — it depends!

The US Fish and Wildlife Service is downlisting the aeʻo (Hawaiian stilt) from endangered to threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The aeʻo was originally listed as endangered in 1970 due to destruction and alteration of habitat, hunting, introduced predatory animals and nonnative birds, and diseases.   

Married Maui boat captains Chrissy Lovitt and Emma Nelson, who used their vessel to pull fire survivors from the water during the Aug. 8, 2023, Lahaina wildfire, are being featured as contestants on NBC’s game show “The Wall,” where they will share their story with a national audience while competing for a cash prize of up to $12 million.

A full week of Native Hawaiian culture, conversation, music and community begins today at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center with the 25th annual Native Hawaiian Convention, July 20–22, followed immediately by the Queen Liliʻuokalani Keiki Hula Competition & Festival, July 23–25.

Following the recent completion of various improvement projects in the area, Front Street will reopen to vehicular traffic on Aug. 1, 2026. Repairs and rebuilding in the area have been ongoing since the 2023 Maui Wildfires.

A 43-year-old Pukalani man is in police custody following an alleged burglary on Vineyard Street in Wailuku reported Friday morning.  The man allegedly threatened responding officers before fleeing the scene, and is accused of resisting arrest and assaulting police during the incident.