Today’s photo of the day for our digital version comes to us via Bruce Wheeler of Pukalani. It’s titled “The life of the land”. Send your pictures from the Valley Isle to rcollins@mauinews.com for a chance to have your photo featured on the front page of our Thursday print edition and five day a week digital edition. “I’m submitting the attached photo for possible use in the Maui News, the photo taken 5 July of the wetlands makai of S. Kihei Rd. near St. Theresa’s Catholic Church. Mahalo for your consideration,” Wheeler wrote in his submission. Bruce Wheeler photo

Remembrance Ride for Lahaina Residents to be offered

Lahaina residents impacted by the Aug. 8 Lahaina wildfire will be able to participate in a specially arranged Remembrance Ride to view the ongoing recovery efforts for Lahaina Town. Three days of chartered buses organized by the County and coordinated through Kuhinia Maui will provide Lahaina residents an opportunity to see the current state and recovery progress that has taken place in Lahaina town.

Online reservations intended for Lahaina resident are required, as seats are limited. Remembrance Ride dates are scheduled for July 26-28 with five chartered motor coaches for each day. To register or for more information, go to www.KuhiniaMaui.org. Resident information will be required. In respect for the community’s request for sensitivity and dignity, this event closed to the media.

“We want to provide residents the opportunity to see first-hand the progress that has been made to prepare their hometown for the next steps of rebuilding,” said Mayor Bissen. “There will be a long road ahead, but it’s important that residents have the opportunity to witness the progress taking place to restore and rebuild their home. I want to thank Lahaina resident Laurie Lei DeGama and Nestor Ugale, both generational residents of Lahaina, for championing this effort”.

Wahikuli Wayside Park repairs, beautification activities planned

The County of Maui Department of Parks and Recreation announced that repairs and beautification activities at Wahikuli Wayside Park in Lahaina are planned for the next three weeks. Efforts will be focused on carrying out routine maintenance needs and making the park safe for all park users.

Effective Thursday, July 18, 2024, park hours will be enforced with the locking of bathrooms and parking lot gates at night, per Maui County Code. Regular park hours are 7 a.m. – 8 p.m., seven days a week.

Park beautification activities will include tree trimming, irrigation repairs and reinstating a regular irrigation schedule, bathroom repairs, painting, sidewalk repairs, picnic table repairs, and the assessment of ADA access pathways for safety issues.

Wahikuli Wayside Park is 8.3 acres in size, and offers 25 covered picnic pavilions with picnic tables, eight barbecue grills and nine uncovered picnic tables. The park has three restroom pavilions, three outdoor showers and water taps located at all barbecue grills.

For general parks information, visit https://www.mauicounty.gov/parks .

FEMA seeks vendors for maintenance of group site and modular homes

FEMA is actively seeking vendors for Group Site Maintenance and Maintenance/Repairs on FEMA-owned modular housing units being used as temporary housing for individuals and families displaced by the Maui wildfires.

FEMA will host an informational session from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, July 23, at The Westin Maui Resort and Spa, Haleakala Ballroom, 2365 Kāʻanapali Parkway in Lahaina. Vendors attending Industry Day will learn of requirements for the maintenance on the group site and modular homes, which FEMA calls Alternative Transportable Temporary Housing Units. They will be installed at locations on Maui designated for FEMA group housing.

Pre-registration is required for the Industry Day event. All registration requests must be completed by noon Monday, July 22. To register, go to: https://fema.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItcOGvrTIpHKARTDvxui7JiwoZn_THNC4

For the latest information on the Maui wildfire recovery efforts, visit mauicounty.gov, mauirecovers.org, fema.gov/disaster/4724 and Hawaii Wildfires – YouTube. Follow FEMA on social media: @FEMARegion9 and facebook.com/fema. You may also get disaster assistance information and download applications at sba.gov/hawaii-wildfires.

Warehouse sale on July 20

Maui Friends of the Library is having an outdoor WAREHOUSE SALE on Saturday, July 20, from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m at their Pu’unene location. Books, DVDs and CDs will be “10 for $1”. There will be free books for educators and home-schoolers. (Sale prices on outside merchandise only; not valid inside the store.) Please bring your own bags.

To get to the sale, turn off Hansen Road by the old sugar mill, and follow the BOOKS signs to the old Pu’unene School site.

Maui residents encouraged to participate in Ke Ola Hou Resiliency Center online survey

Survey will help in development, programming

KAHULUI – Maui residents are invited to complete an online survey to help in the development and future programming of Ke Ola Hou Resiliency Center, which will assist the Lahaina community with recovery services in the aftermath of the 2023 fires.

The survey will be available through July 31, 2024, at https://www.mauirecovers.org/lahaina.

A site in West Maui has been identified for Ke Ola Hou Resiliency Center, which the County of Maui and Hawaiʻi State Department of Health have supported.The center will be dedicated to providing comprehensive services to aid in the physical, mental and emotional recovery of individuals and families affected by the fires. Ke Ola Hou, meaning ‘new life,’ symbolizes the center’s mission to help the community rebuild and thrive.

Providers and programs envisioned for the center include behavioral health professionals, culturally specific support services, social services, educational and vocational support, and wellness and recreational services.

Ke Ola Hou’s programming and any future locations will be determined through input fromMaui County’s impacted communities. The facility and its operations are guided and supported through donations of time, energy and funding from its growing list of partner agencies, including the County of Maui, Hawaiʻi State Department of Health, Alano Club of Lahaina, Kaiser Permanente, Na Mea ‘Ike ‘Ia, Native Hawaiian Education Association, Papa Ola Lokahi, Punawai, Rotary District 5000, and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

For more information, visit https://www.mauirecovers.org/lahaina.

Public input needed on Maui’s list of transportation projects prioritized for funding

KAHULUI – The Maui Metropolitan Planning Organization has released its draft 2025-2028(+2) Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), with more than 60 fiscally constrained transportation projects that are prioritized for funding. The public is invited to review the list on mauimpo.org and share their feedback online or at upcoming events:

Thursday, July 18, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. — South and West Maui Community Meeting at Maui Ocean Center, 192 Mā’alaea Rd.

All events are free and open to the public, and people from all parts of the island are welcome to attend whichever is most convenient. Please note the first meeting on July 11 is online via Zoom and all others are in person. The public is also invited to take a short survey as another opportunity to submit comments. You may also email getinvolved@mauimpo.org. All comments must be submitted before July 31.

Portion of South Kīhei Road will close due to roadwork from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. through July 19

A portion of South Kīhei Road – from Kaonoulu Street to Ohukai Road in North Kīhei – will close for sand cleanup from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, July 15, through Friday, July 19, 2024, the County of Maui Department of Public Works Highways Division announced today.

Access will be allowed for local traffic and emergency vehicles. All other motorists will be detoured through Kenolio Road during work hours. Area drivers are encouraged to use caution and anticipate longer travel times.

For general Public Works information, visit https://www.mauicounty.gov/publicworks.