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Maui Coronavirus Impacts

Ige extends period for SNAP funding

Gov. David Ige signed an emergency proclamation that will allow more than $18 million in federal funds each month to continue to flow to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients. The COVID-19 pandemic caused food insecurity to grow in Hawaii and since March 2020, there has been a 36 percent increase in the number of families receiving food assistance through SNAP, according to a news release from the Governor’s Office on Thursday. The new emergency proclamation will allow federal aid to continue after the state’s emergency proclamation related to the omicron variant ...

UH to suspend vaccination mandates starting Saturday

The Maui News All 10 campuses in the University of Hawaii system will indefinitely suspend mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policies for students and employees as of Saturday, UH announced. Regular testing for COVID-19 will no longer be required of students and employees with approved vaccine exemptions, though testing will continue in the student residence halls until the end of the semester. “The UH officers made the decision to suspend the policies based on guidance provided by the UH COVID-19 Health and Wellbeing Working Group, a team of UH medical and public health ...

In-vehicle road testing to resume on Monday

The Maui News Maui County will resume in-vehicle road testing on Monday for learner’s permit holders seeking driver’s licenses for passenger vehicles, the Division of Motor Vehicles and Licensing announced. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the DMVL has been providing modified driver’s license basic skills tests since Feb. 23. Modified testing will end today. All Maui County DMVL road testing stations in Kahului, Kihei, Lahaina, Hana, Lanai and Molokai will resume in-person road testing on Monday. Road tests are for learner’s permit holders seeking driver’s licenses for ...

Jail in-person visits to resume on Monday

The Maui News In-person visitation will resume Monday at the Maui Community Correctional Center and other state jails and prisons, the state Department of Public Safety announced. Families will have to follow new COVID-19 guidelines, including undergoing temperature checks and wearing masks, to enter facilities. “Now that the latest COVID-19 outbreak to hit our state has passed, the department feels it is safe to resume family visitation as long as the families and inmates follow the added COVID-19 safety measures,” said Tommy Johnson, deputy director for corrections. Regular ...

Reason to celebrate: Birthday girl Luna-Beamer, Sabers down Lunas

KAHULUI — It was a birthday well spent for Maui High School tennis player Hie Luna-Beamer. Following a win in her Maui Interscholastic League singles match on Wednesday afternoon, Luna-Beamer was greeted off the court by her teammates with cheers, ‘Happy Birthday’ balloons and a ...

Kumu hula to feature on E Kupa‘a Kakou

A CARES Act-funded program aimed at supporting local performing artists will feature kumu hula as part of its next episode at 6 p.m. Friday. Maui Kumu Hula Hokulani Holt of Pa‘u O Hi‘iaka and Na Kumu Hula ‘Alika and Kehani Guerrero of Kani‘oika‘ohuleihiwa will share hula, ‘oli and mo‘olelo. The prerecorded program will be available on Facebook Live and YouTube. Past shows are available at www.ekupaakakou.com. E Kupa‘a Kakou, which means “to persist,” launched with CARES Act funding in September 2020 as a way to support local performing artists and stage ...