Category Archives: Maui News

Free Meals For Qualifying Youth

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Good news for students who normally have access to free lunch during the school year. Three Maui County schools, Waihe’e, Wailuku and Kaunakakai elementary will be serving free meals through the Seamless Summer Option. Free meals will be available during the week except on June 11 and July 4th. This program is for children 18 and younger.

Funding for the Seamless Summer Option program is provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The goal is to ensure low income, in need children will still receive a nutritious meal. Parents should call their home school directly to find out what time meal service is.

Other sites providing summer meals in Maui County include Summer PALS, Maui Family YMCA in Wailuku and Maui Food Bank in Wailuku.

Opposition Against Grand Wailea Expansion

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Residents spoke out Tuesday against expansion of the Grand Wailea. Residents are concerned over, among other reasons, the potential disturbance of possible ancient burial grounds, and the resident-to-vistor ratio being exceeded. The Grand Wailea has submitted plans to the Maui Planning Commission that would add an additional 224 rooms to the 776 room resort making it the second largest resort on Maui.

Also submitted in the proposal would be a new spa pool at Spa Grande, a new lap pool next to the Wailea Wing, a new family pool next to the Lagoon Wing, increase in the parking garage from 3 levels to 5 levels, and the removal of the Seaside Chapel. Other improvements include facade renovations, a new stairway in the Aqua Tower, renovations to the Hibiscus Pool area, renovations to the luau area, and additional public beach parking stalls.

Estimated cost for the project is $91.5 million with a 5 year estimated timeframe. The resort would remain open during construction. This would be the third renovation for the resort since being developed in 1991. The first taking place in 2008, and the second in 2014.

The plans are still waiting on a final decision by the Maui Planning Commission.

 

New Tax Rates Effective July 1st

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County of Maui

REAL PROPERTY TAX RATES

2019 – 2020

(July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020)

 

Real property tax rates are per $1,000 of net taxable assessed valuation

Homeowner/Main Residence

(After Homeowner’s Exemption) $2.90

Residential/Second Home

(Long-Term Rentals) $5.60

Apartment $6.31

Agricultural $5.94

Hotel & Resort $11.00

Commercial $7.39

Industrial $7.48

Conservation $6.43

Time Share $14.40

Commercial Residential $4.60

Short Term Rental $10.75

 

Suggested websites for more tax information:

http://www.MauiPropertyTax.com and http://www.MauiCounty.Gov

Restoration Project Of Hakiowa Watershed

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Hakiowa Watershed on Kahoolawe recently underwent restoration after over 100 years of animal overgrazing as well as over 50 years of live firearm training.

The project started in August 2017 and was completed in February 2019. During that timeframe, 3000 hours were put in by over 150 volunteers. The goal was to restore the native ecosystem and reduce erosion and runoff into the ocean. Ways to accomplish this included removing invasive plants and planting native plants in their place along with installing erosion control devices.

Funding was provided by Hawaii Department of Health, Clean Water Branch and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The project site will be monitored for plant survival and levels of erosion.

Southwests Inaugural Flight

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Southwest Airlines had their inaugural flight to Maui from Oakland on Sunday, April 7th. The first departure flight is schedule for today from Kahului back to Oakland. Starting on Wednesday, flights will increase to two flights per day in each direction.

Travelers departing the aircraft were greeted with lei’s, goodie bags, and food! Passengers described the crew as welcoming and the flight entertaining. Maui singer and songwriter Lily Meola was on board and played a few songs for the 175 passengers.

A special blessing was done on the aircraft after the passengers had disembarked. A lolo ana ceremony, traditionally done on new canoes,  was done by Kumu Kapono Kamaunu and Ua Aloha Maji. The ceremony is meant to bring a connection between the pilots and crew to the land.

Service on Southwest to Maui from San Jose will begin at the end of May. Dates for service from Sacramento, San Diego, and Lihue will be announced in the future.