There's nothing like a hurricane or two to put you in your place.They're historic events. Even when they don't happen.It's been 22 years since Iniki slammed into Kauai. Last week, the state was looking into not one eye of a hurricane, but two - Iselle and Julio, sounding like a pair of aging ...
Q: Last time we had a big storm pass through, I lost part of my roof. This time, with Iselle, I was worried my home might have more damage. What's the process for reporting storm damage?A: Our Maui County Civil Defense Agency coordinates storm damage reports. This information ensures that the ...
Thanks to recent County Council action, more affordable housing units may soon become available on Maui.The council authorized more than $11.7 million for affordable-housing projects by approving three budget amendments. The funding will facilitate development of the county's 56-unit Kulamalu ...
Maui's mice have been preparing for the hurricanes for more than a month.The little pests have been creeping into houses through any hole a little larger than their noses. Once inside, they scamper across floors and countertops, leaving behind little droppings and tiny pools of, uh, liquid ...
Preparing for the impending arrival of unwanted visitors Iselle and Julio, I was reminded of some of the darker moments of my newlywed days: my mother-in-law's annual visits. Not that I didn't like my mother-in-law. She was personable and lively, and we got along fine. But those last few days ...
How sweet it was when Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom came home to The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua on Thursday night.The resort's Anuenue Room had provided her first steady-paying job singing in its elegant, wood-paneled surroundings. That was around 20 years, 16 albums, five Grammy nominations and a couple ...
Q: I drove through the intersection in Kahului with the new flashing yellow arrow, and it was easy to navigate. Does the flashing yellow arrow light cost more than regular traffic signals, and will there be more installed in the future?A: The flashing yellow arrow traffic signals do not cost ...
"Voting is a habit - one that is powerfully inspired by personal contact - and political participation should be a lifestyle."Those are the words of Tufts University student Hana Migliorato, from Hawaii, in an article posted on the League of Women Voters website last month. I agree with Hana ...
Our County Council stoked an old fire this week. It's about foam. The council heard testimony both for and against a ban on plastic foam containers that would essentially force food vendors to look at an alternative to the most common way to serve plate lunches and takeout food.We've all seen ...
The University of Hawaii has been running television ads in an effort to get support for its community colleges. One of the ads notes that the community college system is 50 years old. University of Hawaii Maui College is the descendant of a school established by the county 83 years ago.In ...
Recently, U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew wrote to congressional tax-writing committees about "inversion," which occurs when a U.S. company merges with a foreign company and moves its headquarters to the foreign country.He wrote: "The firms involved in these transactions still expect to ...
Quick, what's the first word or phrase that comes to mind when you hear the name Willie K? Awesome? Multitalented? Guitar hero? "O Holy Night"? In a recent informal poll, those were the answers I heard most often. Well, those and a particular one-word answer that we can't print in this ...
Maui stretches out like a colorful comforter in crisp early-morning sunshine when you're looking down on it from the Upcountry Farmers Market near Longs in Pukalani.That's where we've been for the last couple of Saturdays, sampling good things to eat, some raw, others prepared deliciously. The ...
Mayor Alan Arakawa answers some of the most-asked questions submitted to his office staff.Q: I live in Makawao, a mile from the school where I teach. If the bus routes Upcountry could be adjusted slightly, so that one could travel from Makawao to Pukalani without going through Kahului, I would ...
Solid waste management is one focus of the County Council Infrastructure and Environmental Management Committee's work.Improvements in solid waste management can limit demands on the county's landfills, saving taxpayer money and preserving the natural environment.The committee seeks to ensure ...
Kula resident Sara Smith was pregnant with her first child when she got the idea.It was a time of "heavy gifting," with lots of friends getting married and having babies, and lots of showers to attend. "I felt inundated by wrapping paper," she recalls.To her dismay, she learned that most Maui ...
The mystery sound was first heard over the rush of water running in the kitchen sink. Close the tap. Definitely some sort of bird saying "chuk, chuk, chuk, grrr, grrr." What kind of bird? The sound seemed to come from the overgrown oleander bush covering the window. The call was answered by a ...
One stroke of the pen. That's all it takes to undo a very large amount of work. Today we will follow the saga of House Bill 2427 in this past legislative session.Our government is replete with "special funds," little pots of money that are formed for particular purposes. Sometimes these funds ...
Is there a certain name that keeps popping up in your life? Not a specific person's name; I mean a name like Tom, Dick or Harry. When I Googled the subject, I found only articles about recurring numbers; nothing on names. But a couple of my friends say they, like me, have wondered why a ...
Sunny blue skies interrupted wild Wali weather Sunday afternoon, allowing folks to get down to some serious chili eating.The second annual Hawaii State Championship Chili Cookoff was a great excuse to head for Ulapalakua Ranch, especially after being housebound by all the downed trees, road ...