Maui County

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.

Maui County voters have the chance to weigh in on three charter amendment questions related to the Board of Ethics, commission vacancies, and compensation for top county officials. HPR’s Ashley Mizuo breaks down what a "yes" or "no" vote will mean for each.

A $52,000 USDA Rural Business Development Enterprise Grant was awarded to the nonprofit Regenerative Farms. One of the existing organizations that will be supported is the Mālamalama Sustainability Center, a Haʻikū farm and youth training center.

Officials released their report on the cause and origin of last year’s deadly Maui wildfires this week. HPR’s Catherine Cluett Pactol spoke with community members to hear their reactions to the findings.

While the community has been waiting over a year for answers from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Maui County about the cause and origin of the Lahaina fire, the results aren't surprising. The fire erupted from an earlier brushfire, sparked by downed power lines, that firefighters believed they had extinguished, officials said. HPR's Ashley Mizuo reports on what comes next.