Starting with the 2026-27 school year, Kamehameha preschools and K–12 campuses will no longer require tuition. The announcement was made in a message from the Board of Trustees and CEO of Kamehameha Schools.

Hawaiʻi is among six states approved by the US Department of Agriculture to impose new restrictions on food purchases under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, a change that will limit what SNAP recipients can buy beginning in 2026. #SNAP #SNAPRestrictions #PublicHealthPolicy

Gov. Josh Green on Tuesday announced several appointments and reappointments to state boards and commissions, bringing experience in water resource management, ethics, agriculture and community development to state service. #HawaiiGovernment #JoshGreen

The Pilikahakai Foundation provided healthy snack packs this week to three West Maui public schools to support food security for students during their winter break.

The three names have been selected to be sent to Gov. Josh Green for his consideration to fill the vacancy created by the appointment of former State House District 36 Representative Rachele Lamosao to Senate District 19.

The Senate Committee on Ways and Means released its budget informational briefings schedule for the upcoming 2026 legislative session to ensure responsible spending of public funds on resident priorities.

O’Bryant was located and found to be in good health.  The Maui Police Department thanks the public for their assistance. #LakaylaOBryant #Oklahoma #Maui

Kāhuli reminds us that transformation is both inevitable and essential – it moves away from the middle ground, emphasizing work that looks beyond “good enough." #kahuli #HawaiianLanguage #OleloHawaii

The forecast window for the onset of the next episode of lava fountaining at Kīlauea runs from Dec. 23-26, with Episode 39 likely to begin on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, according to scientists with the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. #Kilauea #Episode39

This year, his challenge saw 16 app submissions from 30 students across eight schools. The challenge gives students the opportunity to focus their skills and creativity on developing, testing and analyzing new applications for real-world use. #CongressionalAppChallenge #EdCase

To date, the program has awarded more than $81,000 in scholarships to Maui, Moloka‘i and Lāna‘i students who have displayed a passion for returning to Maui County after college to contribute to the community. The application deadline is Feb. 28, 2026. #scholarship #MauiCounty

The fundraiser raised $82,400 for three local charitable organizations: Boys & Girls Clubs of Maui, Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of Maui and Maui Youth & Family Services. #LedcorMaui #AinaMomona

Observations of AT 2024wpp, including data from the W. M. Keck Observatory on the Big Island, reveal that luminous fast blue optical transients are driven by extreme stellar destruction — not supernovae

Santa traded his sleigh for an outrigger canoe this year, catching waves to arrive ashore at Outrigger Kā'anapali Beach Resort on Friday, Dec. 19. #Kaanapali #Santa #outrigger

Conservational Council of Hawai‘i explained there are 4 different rule changes that the council says will significantly change the way species such as the Hawaiian monk seal, brown booby, hawksbill sea turtle and more are protected.

Imua Family Services has announced the launch of the Be Reel Child & Youth Film Festival. The three-day film festival "created for kids, about kids and by kids" is set to debut in May 2026. #ImuaFamilyServices #BeReel #FilmFestival

“Anytime we can come to a Neighbor Island, it's fabulous,” Hawai’i coach Laura Beeman said, adding “I wish we could play several times a year on every Neighbor Island, not just O’ahu."

The Department of Fire and Public Safety and the State Department of Transportation celebrated the graduation of the 42nd Firefighter Recruit Class on Friday at a ceremony honoring 17 new first responders.

Hawaiʻi State Federal Credit Union has announced that applications are now open for its 2026–2027 Scholarship Program, which will award financial assistance to Hawaiʻi students pursuing higher education or vocational training. #HawaiiStateFCU

Special Olympics Maui will hold its Annual Golf Tournament and Helicopter Golf Ball Drop fundraiser on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, at The Dunes at Maui Lani Golf Course. #SpecialOlympicsMaui #GolfTournament #Fundraiser

Hale Kau Kau, the daily meals ministry based at St. Theresa Church, will host a free Christmas dinner for the South Maui community next week.

Mālama Maunalua announced it has received a $4.6 million grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s National Coastal Resilience Fund to implement the next phase of its community-led, ridge-to-reef restoration strategy for Maunalua Bay. #MalamaMaunalua #Conservation

Drawing on data from an annual survey of top consumer threats, DCCA’s Commissioner of Securities, Ty Y. Nohara, has identified top consumer frauds and threats to watch out for this holiday season. #DCCA #scam #fraud

On Dec. 6, representatives from the three Lahaina Rotary Clubs, Treecovery, and the Lahaina Restoration Foundation came together to replant Keawaiki Park with native Hawaiian trees, groundcover and vines. #Lahaina #LahainaRecovery

Some Maui nonprofits had to pause programs or go without pay, while others dealt with an increasing need from residents who relied on federal programs.

Carissa Moore (HAW) and Maui's Eli Hanneman claimed victories at the Florence Pipe Pro Presented by HTA on Saturday, a World Surf League Hawaiʻi/Tahiti Nui Qualifying Series men’s and women’s QS 2,000-level event.

The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Kāʻanapali is hosting an exclusive New Year’s Eve Soirée featuring live entertainment, special food and beverage offerings and a midnight drone show. The event is open to guests ages 21 and older. #WestinMaui #NYE

Retail Merchants of Hawaiʻi announced Tuesday that Dave Erdman has been appointed interim president and chief executive officer, effective January 2026. #RetailMerchantsOfHawaii

As 2026 begins, health officials encourage residents to take advantage of free cessation resources offered statewide, such as the Hawaiʻi Tobacco Quitline and My Life, My Quit programs. #HawaiiTobaccoQuitline #MyLifeMyQuit

US Rep. Ed Case (HI-01) has introduced new legislation aimed at strengthening economic partnerships between the United States and Pacific Island countries. #EdCase #Pacific

Kīhei Charter Middle School has initiated a drone training program for its 8th-grade students to provide hands-on technology experience and career preparation, with plans to expand the curriculum to high school grades in the future.

A federal indictment has charged 36-year-old German Zboron with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, the US Department of Justice announced Friday as part of the results of a nationwide crackdown on child sex predators.

Atelier Gallery in Wailea will open a new exhibition, "Weavers of Enchantment," on Dec. 27, featuring work by Maui-based artists Carolina Manchester, Christina DeHoff and Stephanie Sachs. The exhibition will run through Jan. 31. #AtelierGallery

University of Hawaiʻi researchers found that switching the type of drug attached to the antibody in breast cancer treatments could restore benefit after resistance. #cancer #UHCancerCenter

Guam is home to many imperiled species found nowhere else on Earth, including the ababang, or eight spot butterfly, a rare native insect that depends on intact forest habitat and healthy native plant communities to survive.

State Sen. Troy Hashimoto will be honored at MEO’s 2026 Gala on March 28, 2026, at the King Kamehameha Golf Club. MEO announced that the 2026 Gala is sold out. #MEO

A new white paper released by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaiʻi suggests that state lawmakers should ease or repeal "certificate of need" regulations to improve healthcare access, particularly in rural and Neighbor Island communities.

Groundbreaking research from W. M. Keck Observatory and Subaru Telescope highlight continued leadership in imaging new worlds by Big Island's Maunakea. #Maunakea #WMKeck

ʻĀina Momona, a Native Hawaiian-led nonprofit organization dedicated to land and ocean stewardship, is inviting community members across Hawaiʻi to participate in a public survey to help shape a community-led framework for climate solutions. #AinaMomona #climate

Maui County is moving into its winter wet season with the promise of relief as an emerging La Niña pattern is expected to bring above-normal rainfall through early 2026, according to the National Weather Service.

State Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole denounced a federal administration announcement Thursday morning regarding the expansion of travel bans to 20 additional countries, including the Kingdom of Tonga.

A powerful new recording of the 19th-century Hawaiian mele “E Hoʻi ka Nani i Mokuʻula” is now available, performed by  Keʻeaumoku Kapu and Uʻilani Kapu and created as part of the forthcoming  documentary film Ea. #EHoiKaNaniIMokuula #Mokuula #Ea

From atop Maunakea on the Big Island to around the world, astronomers and citizen stargazers are eagerly awaiting the passage of the interstellar comet through our solar system.

Children and families from Lahaina gathered recently for an evening of holiday festivities at the Lahaina Comprehensive Health Center.

The statewide average price for regular unleaded is $4.43, which is one cent lower than last week and 11 cents lower than this time last year. #gas #AAAHawaii

US Sen. Mazie Hirono and 24 of her colleagues are calling on the Trump administration to restore staffing levels at the Taxpayer Advocate Service, an independent office within the Internal Revenue Service that helps taxpayers resolve disputes and secure refunds.

A groundbreaking scientific experiment aimed at detecting dark matter in space launched from Antarctica on Dec. 15, with significant contributions from University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

Hale Kipa has been selected as one of 35 organizations nationwide to receive a grant from the Decolonizing Wealth Project’s inaugural Youth Mental Health Fund, which supports culturally grounded mental health services for young people and families. #HaleKipa #DecolonizingWeathProject

The civil lawsuit filed in California against rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs — later amended to add a list of co-defendants, including Maui Police Chief John Pelletier — was dismissed on Tuesday for failure to prosecute.

The Maui Arts & Cultural Center will present indie folk singer-songwriter John Craigie in concert in the McCoy Studio Theater, on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. #JohnCraigie #MACC