Still no parking for Safe Parking project; no overall homeless plan

More than four years after Maui County set aside $200,000 to create an overnight parking program for people living in their vehicles, the pilot program has yet to provide a safe haven for homeless people.

Festivals of Aloha is now accepting contestant applications for two of Hawai‘i’s premier celebrations of Hawaiian falsetto singing, inviting talented vocalists from across the islands and beyond to honor one of Hawai‘i’s most treasured musical traditions.

Theatre Theatre Maui (TTM) is presenting Disney’s “The Little Mermaid Jr.” as its 34th summer youth musical on July 16 through July 19 in Lahaina at the Lahainaluna High School “Hale Pāʻina” Cafeteria. This program is sponsored in part by the Wave of Harmony Foundation in partnership with the Gilbert & Aileen Kam Chuck Charitable Trust. 

The Maui Economic Development Board hosts its Ke Alahele Education Fund Benefit Dinner & Auction on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, at the Wailea Beach Resort – Marriott, Maui. Celebrating the theme, Pathways to Our Future, the evening will support MEDB’s mission to expand STEM education opportunities and inspire the next generation of innovators throughout Maui Nui.

Mākena Golf & Beach Club (Mākena) will host a benefit dinner “Kupu ka niu, kupu ke kanaka” – The niu sprouts, the people grow – on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Mākena’s Nāulu Farm. The event will bring the community together in support of Maui Food Bank’s Da Mobile Market, which expands access to fresh, nutritious food in underserved communities including West Maui, Upcountry, and Hāna. 

The AlohaCare Foundation awarded $54,000 in scholarships to 12 students across six islands pursuing careers in health or social services. Recipients from Maui include: Jasmine Jackson-Richmond and Kalem Ringlen, as well as Kaiya Dunnam Enos of Molokaʻi and Kelly Raqueno of Lānaʻi.

The latest cohort of the J-1 Visa Teacher Program represents the largest group for the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education. At the start of the new school year, 237 teachers will join the approximately 365 current J-1 visa teachers in classrooms across the state, teaching a variety of subjects in elementary and secondary schools. 

The annual award recognizes organizations across the state that excel in fostering positive work environments, supporting employee development, and upholding strong values. Maui Resort Rentals was selected based on employee feedback.

This funding initiative will invest in projects focused on five moku (district) and hui (group of) moku: Kona Kauaʻi, Waiʻanae (Oʻahu), Molokaʻi, Central Maui and Kohala (Hawaiʻi Island). Up to $1.4 million is available within each moku/hui to support projects that reflect community-identified priorities and advance long-term resilience. 

Gov. Josh Green announced that Hawaiʻi is becoming the first state in the nation to ensure every eligible child in foster care, from newborn through age 17, has a funded, tax-advantaged savings and investment account.

Big Island residents are invited to attend a final talk story session on how to best manage the island’s marine resources. A team from the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) will be seeking community input on Sunday, July 12, 2026, in Waimea. 

State Sen. Lorraine Inouye, whose district includes Hilo, Paukaʻa, Papaikou and Pepeʻekeo, was honored June 26 with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Chamber of Commerce Hawaiʻi’s Impact Gala: Advocacy Awards and Highlights.