The County Council would now need a supermajority vote to allow thousands of apartment-zoned units to keep operating as short-term rentals.

Arborists see reasons for optimism — and worry — about the future of the tree. An upcoming assessment will help Maui County officials determine how healthy it is and when it’s safe for the public to go near it again.

Maui County Council member Yuki Lei Sugimura is trying to unseat Mayor Richard Bissen in a closely watched race this election.

Other states impacted by similar disasters are reforming their insurance laws. Legislators here are teeing up bills to follow suit.

The county is seeking an amendment to create a voluntary buyout program with some of its $1.6 billion fire recovery grant from the feds.

The program will now run through Feb. 10, 2027.

The Hawaiʻi County Fire Commission has appointed a temporary replacement but filling Todd’s shoes within the State Fire Council presents a bigger challenge.

The state is seeking another extension to the FEMA housing program that thousands of Maui residents have relied on since losing their homes in the 2023 wildfires. It’s currently set to end Feb. 28.

The County Council moved the Bill 9 counterpart forward to receive a thorough vetting and recommendations on ways to change it before final passage.

The county won’t say how much it intends to pay the company in damages over the eminent domain case to acquire a dump site for Lahaina fire debris.