kcerizo@mauinews.com
Sand bags armor the shoreline in Kahana during an afternoon high tide in October. The Kahana Bay Steering Committee, which represents nine condo properties and one single-family kuleana parcel along the coastline, is proposing an erosion mitigation project that is estimated to cost between $26 million and $40 million. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo
Citing severe coastal erosion that puts public safety and infrastructure at risk, a group of Lahaina neighbors is proposing a multimillion dollar project that would gather offshore sand to expand Kahana Bay to about 65 feet similar to its width nearly a half century ago.
kcerizo@mauinews.com
Maui Humane Society vet Dr. Jennifer Fitzpatrick, along with Hammy, hosts a Zoom trivia game Saturday at the nonprofitâs Wags to Riches fundraiser. Maui Humane Society photos Humans helped three local shelter dogs spend a night in the lap of luxury at Wailea’s high-end resorts on Saturday as part of a fundraiser for nonprofit Maui Humane Society.
Hoku, a large, lovable poi dog, received belly rubs and VIP treatment at Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort. Nahele had a special dog amenity waiting for her at the Fairmont Kea Lani. And Mustang Sally, who is in a wheelchair, feasted on chef-made dog biscuits at Four Seasons Resort Maui.
kcerizo@mauinews.com
Sweeping past toppled trees, high tide deposits sand on Honoapiilani Highway in Olowalu last October. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photos
Pointing to sea level rise and king tide flooding impacts, the state Department of Transportation is proposing an approximately $4 million project to move two sections of Honoapi’ilani Highway in Lahaina about 12 feet mauka.
The Honoapi’ilani Highway Realignment Project would adjust two portions a 4,100-foot swath in Ukumehame from Mile Marker 12.97 to 13.11 and a 1,000-foot segment in Olowalu from about Mile Marker 13.72 to 14.49. The two sections are deemed “critical” by a recent state coastal report, which identified Hawaii’s roadways most threatened by erosion. Other improvements include removing trees and relocating utility poles.
kcerizo@mauinews.com
Pacific Whale Foundation photographer Rob Owen hangs souvenir boarding photos at Lahaina Harbor on April 15 before the return of passengers of an eco-adventure tour. He said proceeds from the sales support the foundationâs research, education and conservation programs. Owen said he also does underwater portraits and teaches people how to take whale photos during whale season. The latest tourism data shows the industry inching closer to pre-pandemic levels as visitor arrivals to Maui in March increased from the same time last year and nearly doubled from the previous month.
The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo
Maui island for the first time since the pandemic saw its visitor arrivals increase over the same time last year and nearly double from the previous month, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority’s monthly visitor report released Thursday.
kcerizo@mauinews.com
Masked visitors walk along Lahainaâs Front Street in March. State and county officials have been vague about whether they plan to align their rules with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which relaxed mask-wearing guidance for vaccinated people on Tuesday.
The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo
In light of new federal guidelines that relax mask guidance for vaccinated people, Maui small business leaders with outdoor spaces said consistency is what they want most.
“What’s the most challenging about CDC guidelines and state guidelines and county guidelines is that they don’t all match up,” Claire Byler, general manager of Cafe O’Lei at the Mill House in Wailuku, said Wednesday. “For locals I feel like generally people are pretty good about it. But with tourists they’re coming from places where mask mandates are gone; they all have this feeling that they’re tested and they’re cleared. It’s been really challenging for us.”