County sewer service status for West Maui

The County of Maui Department of Environmental Management’s (DEM) Wastewater Reclamation Division announced that it has amended the Sewer Service Status from “red,” which indicates a property does not currently have active sewer service, to “green,” meaning the sewer service is active for a property, in the following areas:

¯ Several lots near Kopili Street and Puiki Place

¯ One lot near Kuhua Street and Lahainaluna Road intersection

Sewer service was active for the lots as of Oct. 3, 2024. DEM Director Shayne Agawa will announce the updates at the weekly Disaster Recovery Community Update meeting in Lahaina on Oct. 9.

Some wastewater infrastructure was damaged during the fires, which cut off wastewater service for many properties in fire-impacted areas. To determine if wastewater service for your home or business is impacted, please visit https://mauirecovers.org/wastewater and type your address in the search bar on the County of Maui Sewer Service Status interactive map.

DEM anticipates continuing to amend areas in Lahaina impacted by the August 2023 wildfires in coming weeks and months. For questions regarding sewer status, please call the Wastewater Reclamation Division at (808) 270-7417.

Molokai General Hospital named in top 20

Molokai General Hospital (MGH) was recently named one of the top 20 Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) for quality in the country. This is the third year in a row that MGH has received such distinction.

The top 20 CAHs for quality scored best among other facilities around the country as determined by the Chartis Center for Rural Health. MGH achieved success in best practice for quality, a rating of hospital performance based on the percentile rank across rural-relevant process of care measures. There are more than 1,300 Critical Access Hospitals around the country.

“This designation shows our commitment of delivering safe, high quality compassionate care to all our patients each and every day,” said Jan Kalanihuia, President of Molokai General Hospital. “It is a testament to the hard work of our physicians, nurses, and staff who are dedicated to serving our closely knit community. We are humbled to receive this honor.”

Celebrating 50 Years of Kahanu Garden

This year marks the 50th Anniversary of Kahanu Garden & Preserve. With a rich history that spans centuries, we continue to honor the past, present, and future by caring for this storied place.

Join us in celebrating this special milestone during the Festivals of Aloha Week in Hāna, Maui.

To celebrate our 50th Anniversary, we’re offering a week of free admission for self-guided tours! Explore the diverse collection of native and Polynesian-introduced plants, experience the vast architecture of Pi’ilanihale Heiau, and discover the deep connections between plants and people that have shaped this storied landscape. Whether you’re visiting for the first time or returning, there’s always something new to see and experience.

Free Admission for Self-Guided Tours will take place:

Monday, Oct. 21 – Friday, Oct. 25, 2024 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Kahanu Garden & Preserve is located at 650 Ulaino Rd., Hāna, Maui 96713.

Housing, Land Use Cmte. meets Oct. 9

The Housing and Land Use Committee will meet on Wednesday, Oct. 9 to discuss options for addressing the county’s housing inventory, including developing entitled county-owned properties for long-term leaseholds, deed restriction programs, tax incentives, and other housing solutions.

The Committee may receive presentations from the Department of Housing and the Department of Planning relating to options for addressing the county’s housing inventory.

The Disaster, Resilience, International Affairs, and Planning Committee will meet on Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 1:30 p.m. to discuss matters relating to post-disaster community planning and infrastructure resiliency, including a draft resolution urging the administration to initiate updates to the West Maui Community Plan in alignment with West Maui’s infrastructure plans in the aftermath of the August 2023 wildfires.

Roots School to host open house

Roots School in Haiku will be hosting an Open House for prospective new families on Thursday, Oct. 10, from 10 a.m.-Noon. It will be held on the school campus at 740 Haiku Road, and RSVPs are required by emailing office@rootsmaui.org or calling (808) 250-7988.

“This Open House is unique because it is happening during the school day,” said Head of School, Melita Charan. “This is a great opportunity for families to experience our classrooms in action, and see how students and teachers are actively learning and working together.”

Roots School serves children from Preschool-5th grade. “Our multi-age classes and small school setting provide personalized attention for every student,” said Charan. “Roots School teachers combine traditional academics with a robust performing arts program, Cultural Connections, Japanese language and more. We look forward to welcoming new families at our Open House.”

Roots School is accredited by the Western Association of Schools & Colleges and the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools. Our mission states: Through experiential and academic learning, we encourage students to integrate creativity, critical thinking, integrity, and compassion to engage collaboratively and realize their potential as unique, fulfilled individuals. For more information, go to www.rootsmaui.org.

Hawaii voters can track their mail ballot

Hawaii voters can enroll for ballot notifications ahead of the 2024 General Election. Voters who sign-up will be notified about the status of their mail ballot.

“We encourage all voters to sign up for ballot notifications,” said Chief Election Officer Scott Nago, “this will let voters know when to expect their mail ballot packet to be delivered as well if their voted ballot has been received and accepted for counting.”

Voters have the option to receive alerts by text, email, or a phone message. Once signed up, voters will be notified when their ballot has been mailed and received. Reminders will also be sent to voters to return their ballot as the deadline nears or if there is an issue with their return envelope.

Voters who choose not to sign up for ballot notifications will still be able to track their ballot by going to elections.hawaii.gov or by contacting their County Elections Division.

Hawaii voters can expect to receive their General Election ballot in the mail by Oct. 18, 2024.

For all your official election information, visit elec

tions.hawaii.gov or call (808) 453-VOTE (8683).