Maui County

Maui County is taking another step to speed up rebuilding in Lahaina. HPR’s Catherine Cluett Pactol explains.

A federal scientific publication has returned from a forced two-week hiatus with two papers examining the health effects of wildfires in Hawaiʻi and California. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention resumed publication of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report on Thursday.

The use of mail ballots exploded in 2020 as states looked for ways to accommodate voters during the COVID-19 pandemic. But a consistent problem has surfaced since then: Hundreds or even thousands of ballots being rejected because the signatures on the return envelope don't match the ones on file.

In the November election, former South Maui Councilmember Kelly King lost to incumbent Tom Cook by just 97 votes. King and a group of 30 voters filed a lawsuit challenging the results. This week, the Hawai’i Supreme Court upheld the election results and denied King's request for a new election.

After spending months preparing, Maui County established a special program office within the Office of Recovery to oversee the management and use of the funds.

The state Board of Land and Natural Resources has denied a contested case hearing over a 30-year water license for real estate company Alexander & Baldwin — a win for those who want to stop stream water diversion in East Maui.

There were no surprise upsets in Maui County Council elections this year. HPR’s Catherine Cluett Pactol reports.

The more than $4 billion global settlement for victims of the Maui wildfires was announced in August to great fanfare. But months later, its status hangs in the balance because of a lawsuit filed by insurance companies. HPR’s Maddie Bender reports on the key legal issue that could hinder Maui’s ability to recover.

The Fire Safety Research Institute compiled a list of 140 recommendations in its September report commissioned by Attorney General Anne Lopez. This week, FSRI Program Manager Derek Alkonis presented the top 10 priorities that state House lawmakers should take away from the findings.

Lahaina’s aging buildings and quaint charm bring a slew of zoning and permitting challenges to the rebuilding process. HPR’s Catherine Cluett Pactol has more about the complexities being faced by property owners and the County of Maui alike.