Highlighted News Stories from January & February 2024. 6 Month Maui Wildfire Update, From Feb. 8th, 2024: Gov. Green Says Moratorium ‘Not Likely’ Needed… Sights Set On Long-Term Housing. Gov. Green updates on 6-month Maui wildfire recovery: Moratorium on short-term rentals unlikely as transition to long-term housing progresses. Highlighting achievements, he outlines ongoing efforts, emphasizing statewide policy changes. Challenges remain, with a persisting housing crisis. Lahaina Strong calls for prioritizing local needs over off-island interests. Mayor Bissen reports progress in debr ..read more

Highlighted News Stories from January & February 2024. Workers Begin Shoring Up The Baldwin Home Museum, Maui’s Oldest Standing House, Built In 1835. Maui’s oldest home, the Baldwin Home Museum, received critical support from workers as massive counterweights were poured to reinforce its cracked walls after a wildfire devastated Lahaina in August 2023. The adjacent Master’s Reading Room faced similar damage, prompting urgent action from the Lahaina Restoration Foundation to prevent potential collapse. Foundation Executive Director, Theo Morrison, emphasized the urgency of the situation, ci ..read more

Highlighted News Stories from January & February 2024. Opening Coin Toss Of Super Bowl LVIII To Acknowledge Lahainaluna Football After Maui Wildfires, This Coming Sunday (February 11, 2024). The NFL will honor the Lahainaluna High School football team at Super Bowl LVIII for their community efforts following the Maui wildfires. Coaches and players, who faced personal losses, will serve as honorary coin toss captains. The team’s resilience inspired the community amidst devastation, leading to a successful season. The NFL supports their recovery with grants and new equipment. A special ..read more

Highlighted News Stories from November & December 2023. Mahi Pono brings crops (citrus/coffee/potatoes/etc.) to packing facility. In an expansive warehouse behind the old Puunene Mill, Mahi Pono established a new packing facility, streamlining the processing of Maui-grown limes. The mechanical equipment allows for rinsing, brushing, and shining the produce, significantly increasing the quantity available for sale. Chris Miller, Mahi Pono’s VP of harvest/post-harvest operations, likens it to a “car wash for fruit.” Presently, the facility deals exclusively with packing limes and lemons. The ..read more

Highlighted News Stories from November & December 2023. Developer breaks ground on 223-unit Kihei rental project Hale O Pi’ikea. A new housing project in Kihei broke ground, aiming to complete 223 affordable rental units by 2025. The $135 million Hale O Pi’ikea development will unfold in three phases, offering a mix of residential spaces. Originally planned as a mixed-use space with commercial areas and a movie theater, community feedback plus market demand led developers to shift the focus. The project seeks to address a growing need for housing, aiming to support individuals and fam ..read more

Highlighted News Stories from November & December 2023. EPA Removes Hazardous Materials From Lahaina Commercial Properties. The EPA is nearing the end of its cleanup in Lahaina post-wildfire, tackling hazardous materials at commercial properties, and addressing challenges due to their size and varied hazards. Phase 1 is almost complete, with 90% of hazardous materials removed, and the focus is now on more complex sites before transitioning the remaining work to the Army Corps. The EPA continues to control ash spread and secure batteries from vehicles and solar systems while prepa ..read more

Highlighted News Stories from September 2023. Homeowners are considering short-term rentals despite crackdowns. Financial factors and interest rates drive this trend. According to a Realtor.com and CensusWide survey of 2,000 homeowners in July 2023, 60% would opt for short-term rentals instead of selling when moving elsewhere. About 23% have already or plan to rent out their homes, while an additional 16% are considering it. With 30-year mortgage rates exceeding 7%, homeowners are hesitant to sell. Short-term rentals offer extra income and a way to keep their homes if they move. Real ..read more

Highlighted News Stories from September 2023. Maui County Council meets to discuss state housing efforts. Maui County Council’s Housing and Land Use Committee meets for an update on the state’s housing efforts, including Gov. Green’s emergency proclamation. Nani Medeiros, the state’s chief housing officer, will address Maui’s housing shortage. Testimony can be given in person or online via bluejeans.com/834693029 following Medeiros’ presentations. For the full agenda, live meeting viewing, written testimony submission via eComment, or videos and details from previous meetings, visit mauic ..read more

Highlighted News Stories from September 2023. Displaced West Maui residents find temporary homes in hotels. After losing their Lahaina home in the August 8 fire, the Green family spent nine days at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa before moving to Haiku. With limited belongings and hopes of FEMA assistance, they’re now renting on a month-to-month basis. The Hyatt has provided support, but Katyana Green still struggles with FEMA’s response, while the Family Assistance Center at the hotel assists affected families. Governor Josh Green assures housing help for the 6,000 displaced indivi ..read more

Highlighted News Stories for August 2023.  Who will be on the governor’s committee to fast-track housing. Governor Josh Green has appointed a Build Beyond Barriers Working Group to expedite housing projects. While individuals’ names are not specified, here are entities or positions expected to be represented: State Agencies: Office of Planning & Sustainable Dev; Mary Alice Evans, acting dir Dept of Business, Economic Dev & Tourism; James Tokioka, director Hawaii Housing Finance Dev Corp.; Dean Minakami, interim exec dir Dept of Land & Natural Resources; Dawn Chang, chair ..read more