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OHA seeks nonprofits for home repair grant program

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is seeking nonprofit organizations to administer its FY27 Mālama Honua Grant for Nonprofits, a home repair program intended to help Native Hawaiian families remain safely housed. The pilot program will serve income-qualified Native Hawaiian homeowners who are unable to access traditional financing because of income or credit limitations. Selected nonprofit partners will administer grants to homeowners for critical repairs that address documented health and safety hazards and other conditions that threaten the habitability of their homes. “The ability ...

Acclaimed Hammond B3 players to perform in Kihei and Lahaina

A “Jazz Organ Summit” concert at ProArts Playhouse on Friday will showcase two outstanding Hammond B3 players — Japanese musician Midori Ono and Hawaii Island’s Jocelyn Michelle. First introduced in 1937 as an affordable alternative for churches, the Hammond B3 became an iconic jazz ...

West Maui grant funds available for FY 2027

A total of $100,000 in grant funding is available for West Maui through Maui County’s fiscal year 2027 budget, according to County Council member Tamara Paltin. Eligible applicants include organizations seeking to support local initiatives that enhance quality of life, strengthen neighborhoods and respond to community-identified needs. “We know that strong communities are built through the people and organizations who preserve our culture, create opportunities for local artists and businesses and bring neighbors together,” Paltin said in a news release. “I encourage West Maui ...

County to discuss Maui shoreline planning boundary on July 14

The Maui County Department of Planning will present an update on its Special Management Area boundary assessment project for Maui island during the Maui Planning Commission meeting at 9 a.m. July 14. The meeting will be held online via Microsoft Teams and in person at the Kalana Pukui conference room, 250 S. High St. in Wailuku. The SMA sets special development controls near the shoreline to preserve, protect and, when possible, restore cultural and natural resources in coastal areas. Maui’s SMA boundary map was first adopted in 1975 and last updated in 1979, according to the ...

Gov. Green signs bills regulating tobacco, vaping products

Gov. Josh Green signed two bills Tuesday aimed at regulating tobacco use and electronic smoking devices in Hawaii. Senate Bill 2175, now Act 189, prohibits the sale, offer for sale or distribution of disposable electronic smoking devices beginning Jan. 1, 2027. Violators may face fines of up to $100 per day for each violation. House Bill 1573, now Act 190, strengthens oversight of electronic smoking devices and e-liquids sold in Hawaii by requiring manufacturers to certify that their products comply with federal and state law. The measure requires manufacturers to provide ...