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The Hawai‘i Journalism Initiative has partnered with MauiNow.com, the leading website for local Maui news and information. Through this partnership, HJI brings fresh perspectives and in-depth journalism to the Maui community.

August 20, 2025

MIL Division II football preview: Can King Kekaulike overtake rival Kamehameha Schools Maui, the defending state champs?

“The rivalry is definitely real,” King Kekaulike head coach Tyson Valle said about fellow Upcountry Division II team Kamehameha Schools Maui. “We got our eyes on them and they got their eyes on us.”

August 18, 2025

Monday Morning MIL: King Kekaulike wins record-setting offensive shootout, 68-41, over a Morro Bay team led by former Maui family

The offensive explosion broke numerous records, including the King Kekaulike High School record for points scored and the prep football record for total points in a game on Maui.

August 17, 2025

First-time homebuyer program most popular among Maui fire survivors seeking aid from $1.6 billion federal grant

Of the 446 applications already filed, 76% are for the first-time homebuyer program, reflecting the impact of the August 2023 wildfires on renters and the ongoing struggle of residents to afford a home in today’s pricey market.

August 16, 2025

Lahaina fire debris relocation to Central Maui 50% done, but traffic increases with schools back in session and high surf

The final factor in the traffic equation appears to be the trucks hauling Lahaina wildfire debris from the temporary disposal site in Olowalu to the permanent site at the Central Maui Landfill — up to 50 of them, according to the mauirecovers.org dashboard. The trucks are identified by “Lahaina Wildfire Debris” decals and are “making multiple round trips daily.”

August 15, 2025

MIL Division I football preview: Can Baldwin or Maui High break Lahainaluna’s 17-year title streak?

After losing 27 seniors, the defending champion Lunas will look to a new crop of rising leaders to lead them back to the state tournament. Baldwin and Maui High will have something to say about that.

August 13, 2025

Monday Morning MIL: League goes 3-2 on opening football weekend; Kūlanihākoʻi High School prepares to debut 11-player JV team

Maui High beat Kealakehe 21-6 on Saturday at King Kekaulike Stadium, Baldwin beat Hilo 17-13 on Friday at Wong Stadium on Hawai’i island, and King Kekaulike beat Honoka’a 9-7 at Honoka’a on Saturday. Lahainaluna travelled to Wai’anae and got beat 41-21 Saturday night, while Damien Memorial School beat Kamehameha Maui 33-17 at Kana‘iaupuni Stadium on Friday.

August 12, 2025

Fire at Kula Lodge guts beloved Maui restaurant and puts Upcountry community ‘on edge’

Neighbors remember Kula Lodge and Restaurant’s tasty breakfasts, the cozy lodge setting and the generosity they showed after the 2023 wildfires. Kula Lodge’s owners say the restaurant is a “complete loss.”

August 10, 2025

Maui Film Festival’s 25-year run is over; Wailuku Film Festival to start in 2026 with different focus

The beloved Maui Film Festival ran from 2000 to 2024, but Barry and Stella Rivers, the married couple who ran the event, said it was a “great ride” but now they want to retire.

August 09, 2025

Emotional paddle out at Hanakaʻōʻō Beach Park draws 1,000 people on 2nd anniversary of the Maui wildfires

“We don’t want anybody to be by themselves on days like this. We want them to be with their neighbors, their friends, their family, with us,” Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen said.

August 08, 2025

Second anniversary of Maui wildfires brings more hope as recovery progresses, but survivors still yearn to come home

“The trauma will always be there for sure … but the image that I have in my mind of that day, it’s hard to picture that when you see frames being put up and you see construction happening,” fire survivor Dustin Kaleiopu said.

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