Breaking News

Maui Coronavirus Impacts

Mayor tests positive for COVID-19

Mayor Michael Victorino tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, the Maui County Mayor’s Office announced. All close contacts have been notified and the mayor is in isolation at home, the Mayor’s Office said in a news release Tuesday evening. Victorino said in a statement that the record-breaking number of COVID-19 cases in Hawaii over the past few weeks “demonstrate how easily the omicron variant spreads.” “Thankfully, I got my booster shot, so my vaccinations are up to date and my symptoms are very mild,” Victorino said. “Even though breakthrough infections can ...

Taxpayers could see an extra $100 under Ige’s proposal

From refunding $100 to every taxpayer to improving broadband connectivity across the state, especially in rural areas, Gov. David Ige in his final State of the State address on Monday made proposals to help the state get back on its feet from the pandemic as well move forward with future ...

COVID-19 at a Glance

Latest developments: • State Department of Health on Monday reported 2,660 new confirmed and probable cases statewide, including 1,554 cases on Oahu, 456 on Maui, 303 on Hawaii island, 285 on Kauai, 16 on Lanai, 13 on Molokai and 33 Hawaii residents diagnosed out of state. • There have now been 204,933 confirmed and probable cases statewide, including 144,320 on Oahu, 25,449 in Maui County (24,147 on Maui, 829 on Molokai and 473 on Lanai), 21,721 in Hawaii County and 8,719 on Kauai. A total of 4,724 Hawaii residents have been diagnosed outside of the state. • No new deaths ...

Ayasanonda named chief of staff for Maui Memorial medical staff

The Maui News Emergency medicine physician Dr. Vijak Ayasanonda has been appointed as Maui Memorial Medical Center medical staff’s new chief of staff, Maui Health announced Monday. His new role, which took effect Jan. 1, puts him in charge of providing leadership and guidance to the ...

Corrected data show higher booster rate, decrease in completed vaccinations

The Maui News Revised COVID-19 vaccination data — which had to be corrected after some Johnson & Johnson shots were incorrectly reported as second doses rather than boosters — show an increase in boosters administered but a decrease in vaccinations completed. The state Department of Health said Monday that it revised the data after conducting a review of vaccination reporting, resulting in a decrease in the percentage of the overall population that has completed its primary vaccine series from 75.5 percent Friday to 74.4 percent Monday. The largest decrease was seen among those ...

Two accused of stealing sunglasses from Wailea store

The Maui News WAILUKU — A man and woman were arrested for allegedly stealing sunglasses from a store in Wailea three times this month. Jaimie Alo, 25, of Pukalani and Julia Toro, 31, of Kahului were each charged with two counts of second-degree theft and third-degree theft. The shoplifting incidents occurred Jan. 5, 7 and 14 at Sunglass Hut at The Shops at Wailea, with both defendants seen on surveillance video, Deputy Prosecutor Brant Yoshimoto said during their initial appearances Monday in Wailuku District Court. Alo is charged with unauthorized control of a propelled ...