County of Maui

10/08/2026

10/08/2026

The Monthly Lahaina Community Meeting on October 7, 2026 Lahaina Intermediate School

10/08/2026

The County of Maui East Maui Water Authority (EMWA) invites residents to participate in a meeting of its governing board, the ‘Aha Wai O Maui Hikina Board, from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, at the Von Tempsky (Kula) Community Center. The meeting, which was rescheduled from Aug. 17, 2026, due to weather, will include a community conversation on Upcountry water history.

The discussion will feature rare, historic maps and information from ethnographers Kepā Maly and Kamaho‘i Mather, along with cartographer Richard Mather of Kumu Pono Associates, a Hawaiian historical studies and ethnographic group.

Kula residents and state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands beneficiaries are encouraged to attend.

Maui County residents in November 2022 voted to amend the Maui County Charter to establish EMWA as a County department. Guided by the department’s community board, the ‘Aha Wai O Maui Hikina Board, which represents the Nāhiku, Keʻanae, Honomanū and Huelo communities, EMWA launched in November 2024.

For general information on EMWA, visit www.mauicounty.gov/emwa.

10/07/2026

The County of Maui today announced its County of Maui Housing Navigator Program, which began serving wildfire-impacted households today, Oct. 1 as case management services transition from the State to the County. Current participants will be connected with a Housing Navigator who will build on the recovery work they have already done. They will not have to restart their recovery planning. The program will focus on each family’s remaining housing needs and path toward long-term stability.

“Every family’s recovery looks different, and every family deserves support that recognizes their individual needs and circumstances,” said Mayor Richard Bissen. “Our responsibility is to meet families where they are, build on the progress they have already made and make sure they have someone by their side to help navigate the decisions ahead. This program is about giving families the support, resources and guidance they deserve as they continue working toward a safe, stable place to call home.”

The County selected contractor BDO to administer the Maui Housing Navigator Program. Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc. (MEO) will conduct initial eligibility reviews, and Hawaiian Council will provide the Housing Navigator team. The organizations will deliver services together under the County’s new program.

DHS has administered the Disaster Case Management Program (DCMP) since the August 2023 wildfires, helping households assess their needs, develop recovery plans and connect with resources. The County’s Maui Housing Navigator Program will build on that work as families prepare for the next phase of their recovery.

What current participants can expect

The County of Maui Office of Recovery is providing current participants with a notice explaining the transition. Beginning Oct. 1, the Housing Navigator team will be contacting households enrolled in the State’s DCMP. All current participants are expected to be contacted by Oct. 23 to discuss their needs, explain what may change and answer questions.

A participant’s case manager may change. Once assigned, a Housing Navigator will become the household’s primary point of contact and work with the family to develop an individualized Housing Recovery Plan. A navigator will also attend the household’s next FEMA recertification meeting scheduled on or after Oct. 1. Information needed to support a household’s recovery may be transferred in accordance with applicable privacy and confidentiality requirements.

While waiting to be contacted, participants should continue searching for housing, gathering documents, attending appointments and working toward the goals in their current recovery plans. They should also respond to calls, emails or letters from the Housing Navigator team.

Housing support and program partners

“Families need clear answers about what happens next and where they can turn for help,” said Maggie Batangan, CEO of MEO. “We will review each household’s circumstances and help connect families with the support and resources available to them.”

Housing Navigators will help households identify available housing and community resources, address barriers to securing housing and prepare for changes in disaster assistance, including the eventual end of FEMA rental assistance. Eligible households may also receive rental assistance or help exploring County-supported temporary housing options, including Hale ʻO Lāʻie in Kīhei and Kilohana in Lahaina. Assistance and placement will depend on eligibility, individual circumstances and availability.

“This program is about helping Lahaina families remain connected to their home and community,” said Kūhiō Lewis, CEO of Hawaiian Council. “By addressing housing barriers and providing continued support, we hope to create more opportunities for Lahaina residents to remain on Maui, rebuild their lives here, and continue to be part of Lahaina’s future.”

Households do not need to be enrolled in the state’s DCMP to seek help. People displaced from their primary residences by the Aug. 8, 2023, Maui wildfires who still need housing support may contact the program to discuss their circumstances and learn what assistance or referrals may be available.

For information, visit www.mauirecovers.org/navigator, call (808) 865-4007 or email [email protected]. Beginning Oct. 15, Housing Navigator staff will be available to meet with households at the Lahaina Resource Center, 325 Keawe St., Suite B102, Lahaina. Translation, interpretation and accessible formats are available upon request by calling the program number above.

10/07/2026

FY 2028 Central Maui Community Budget Meeting

10/06/2026

The County of Maui Department of Agriculture, in partnership with the Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC), is urging residents, agricultural producers, landscapers and green waste haulers to survey their properties and remain vigilant following the detection of two significant Little Fire Ant infestations in Haʻikū and Kapalua.

The infestations identified by MISC include:
• Haʻikū (Uaoa area): Discovered May 8, 2026, following community reports of stinging ants. The infestation covers about 20 acres across multiple private properties. Due to challenging terrain, MISC will begin aerial drone treatments this month.
• Kapalua (Kapalua Golf and Plantation Estates area): Confirmed June 25, 2026, following a report through the statewide pest reporting tool. The confirmed infestation currently covers nearly 40 acres, with boundary mapping indicating the area could expand to as much as 125 acres. MISC is notifying affected residents and coordinating community informational meetings.

Known Little Fire Ant-infested acreage on Maui nearly doubled from 260.59 acres in January 2024 to 519.41 acres in July 2026. Community reporting remains critical: 23 of Maui’s 30 recorded infestations were discovered through reports from residents.

Little Fire Ants threaten agriculture, native biodiversity and public safety. They form dense colonies from the ground to tree canopies and deliver painful stings that can cause lasting welts and, in some cases, blindness in pets. They also can spread easily through potted plants, soil, compost, mulch and green waste.

“For our agricultural community, Little Fire Ants are an operational hazard that can halt harvests, threaten livestock and endanger field crews,” said County Department of Agriculture Director Rogerene “Kali” Arce. “We urge residents and businesses to take advantage of MISC’s free surveys before moving plants, compost or soil between areas.”

The department recommends testing properties at least annually and whenever receiving new nursery stock or mulch.

How to test for Little Fire Ants:
• Place thin strips of cardboard or wooden sticks with a thin layer of peanut butter or mayonnaise in shady, moist outdoor areas.
• Leave the bait out for 45 minutes, then place the sticks in a sealed plastic bag labeled with contact information and location and freeze for 24 hours.
• Mail frozen samples to MISC, P.O. Box 983, Makawao, HI 96768, for identification.

Residents are encouraged to submit samples even if they are unsure of the species. Testing also helps detect other high-consequence pests.

Free survey kits and information are available at stoptheant.org. Stinging ants can be reported at 643pest.org or by calling (808) 643-PEST (7378).

For information about field treatments, community meetings or survey assistance, contact MISC at (808) 573-6472 or [email protected].

For information about County agricultural programs and resources, contact the County Department of Agriculture at (808) 270-8276, [email protected], or mauicounty.gov/agriculture.

10/06/2026

The County of Maui Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) encourages Maui community members and other stakeholders to offer online feedback on a proposed project to construct a new Pāʻia Gymnasium. Public comments will be accepted online through Oct. 18, 2026, at www.mauicounty.gov/parksplanning.

More than 40 community members attended a meeting Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, at Pāʻia Community Center to discuss options for the new gym.

Named the Alfred “Flako” Boteilho Sr. Gymnasium, the proposed gym would be constructed at the site of the existing Pāʻia Gymnasium after demolition. The expanded facility would serve as a modern recreational complex that could be used as an emergency shelter or recovery center during and after disasters. Ideas on the layout of the site plan and design of the new gymnasium are welcomed.

“We encourage all Maui residents and stakeholders to submit any suggestions or insights about the new gymnasium,” DPR Director Patrick McCall said. “This project is a significant investment in the heart of Pāʻia, providing the community with an improved and expanded gym that can better meet the everyday recreational needs of our keiki, families and residents. Just as importantly, the upgraded facility will strengthen Pāʻia’s emergency preparedness and ability to serve as a safe, reliable gathering place and shelter during severe storms and other emergencies.”

The current concept for amenities includes an approximately 15,210-square-foot gymnasium with retractable bleachers, a multiuse gym floor, a boxing ring, a weight-training room, a stage, updated locker rooms and restrooms, and related support spaces. The facility is also expected to include an automatic fire sprinkler system and a backup generator for emergency use. These proposed features may be refined as planning, community engagement, design, funding and approvals continue.

DPR intends to utilize County Capital Improvement Project funding for the project, which is in the initial planning stages. A cost estimate will be determined once the preferred building design and site layout plans have been finalized.

The project team includes DPR, consulting partners G70 International, Bowers + Kubota Consulting, Nishikawa Architects and Fukumoto Engineering.

For more information, email [email protected]. For general information on DPR, visit www.mauicounty.gov/parks

10/05/2026

Keeping Maui’s streets clean starts with community.

Fourteen volunteers, including Synairgy staff and family members, recently joined a County of Maui Adopt-A-Street cleanup along Waiko Road. The group removed litter and debris from the roadway and surrounding sidewalks, helping protect Maui’s environment and keep stormwater systems clean.

Volunteers also stenciled “No Dumping” messages near storm drain inlets to help raise awareness about illegal dumping and its impact on Maui’s waterways.

The cleanup took place Aug. 22 and provided an opportunity for the volunteers to give back to the community while working together to keep Maui clean.

Mahalo to Synairgy and all of the volunteers who contributed their time and energy to the effort.