Category Archives: Maui News

Updated Information On The Kihei Fire

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The brush fire that started yesterday morning has consumed approximately 10,000 acres so far.

Shelters have been closed, but if conditions worsen War Memorial and Kamalii Elementary School will reopen. Closures today include Kihei Aquatic Center and Kaiser Permanente’s Kihei Clinic.

Roads that had closed yesterday were reopened late last night around 10:00 pm. Thankfully, as of now, no damage has been reported of any residences or structures. Although the mandatory evacuation has been lifted, firefighters urge residents to remain cautious.

There has been no update on containment percentages.

Livestream On The Horizon For Maui Traffic

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Good news for motor vehicles! In approximately one month, real time cameras should be completely installed at ten different intersections. These cameras will be used to monitor traffic only, not any kind of violations.

Currently, only Oahu uses the real time traffic cameras. Oahu currently has 200 cameras located throughout the island providing real time traffic information.

Goakamai.org is the site drivers can look to for viewing traffic in a specific area. Mygoakamai is a service you can specify areas you want to watch traffic conditions in and receive updates via text and or email.

Current intersections for the cameras to be installed are:

Haleakala and Hana Highways, Honoapiilani Highway and North Kihei Road, Airport Access Road and Hana Highway, Piilani Highway and Piikea Street, Maui Veterans Highway and North Kihei Road, Kaahumanu Avenue and Kahului Beach Road, Hana Highway and Baldwin Avenue, Haleakala and Kula highways, Honoapiilani Highway and Keane Street, and lastly Kuihelani Highway and Puunene Avenue.

The goal is to have the cameras installed and fully operational by the end of summer. Commuters are already looking forward to the new system helping to decrease travel time.

Pacific Cancer Institute Gets New CT Scanner

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Pacific Cancer Institute has a new scanner that is said to be unlike any in Hawaii. The new scanner will be more efficient in its ability to image cancer throughout the body. Patients in Maui County will now have access to the newest technology without having to travel off island.

The new scanner is also 4D capable. The scanner will be able to capture images in length, width, height, and time. This will help patients minimize radiation to surrounding areas and reduce side effects. The new scanner is also a 16-slice scanner as opposed to the old 4-slice scanner. Imaging will be much quicker only taking 10-12 seconds!

The old scanner used by the Pacific Cancer Institute is currently being recycled for parts. Pacific Cancer Institute vows to invest in new technology in the future to better serve the needs of the community.

Lahaina Tenants Receive Positive News

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Over 250 residents of Front Street Apartments in Lahaina received good news. Governor David Ige signed a bill to keep rents from increasing to market prices. Hawaii Finance and Development Corporation will begin negotiations with the Front Street Apartments owners in the hopes of acquiring the property.

Owners of the affordable housing apartments originally wanted to raise the rent rates to market value by August 2019. Hawaii Finance and Development Corporation (HHFDC) have put a hold until August 2020 for now while court proceedings filed by tenants are completed or until HHFDC can purchase the property.

HHFDC is undergoing the due diligence process for appraisal and funding of the apartments. Although the saga isn’t fully over, there is hope for the tenants that a solution is around the corner and that they will be able to maintain their residences.

Police Officers Build Community At Maui Youth Center

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Police officers took advantage of the beginning of summer to visit the Kihei Youth Center. The outreach is to encourage children to be safe and to stay out of trouble. The officers use this time to let them know how important the kids are as well as their families and their community.

Officers took part in playing basketball and dodgeball even donating balls purchased with their own money. By bridging the gap between the police and children, the children will be more likely to come to officers if they are in need of help.

This program, Sports For Kids, is run by school resource officers during school brakes. The program is hoping to expand and reach other areas this year and in the future.