Viewpoint by Jonathan Starr Wailuku town is the geographical center of Maui County, as well as our business hub, seat of government and home to our hospital, college, courts and professional services. Approximately 20,000 Maui residents work in the Wailuku area. We must find a path to- ward more diverse residential, retail and entertainment options […]
First Wind Celebrates Kaheawa Wind
From a press release: First Wind and its partner Makani Nui Associates have celebrated the five-year anniversary of successful commercial operations of their 30 MW Maui-based Kaheawa Wind Power I (KWP I) project. KWP I powers approximately 11,000 homes on Maui a year – about 9 percent of the island’s energy. As Maui’s first utility-scale […]
HECO Claims They Can Start Inter-island Cable
Pacific Business News is reporting: Hawaiian Electric Co. can issue a request for proposal for an undersea cable even though legislation authorizing the RFP failed to pass this year. Neither HECO nor the state Energy Office would disclose the possible timing of an RFP, but both confirmed that it could proceed without the legislation. They […]
Elle Cochran Reports on Budget Process
WAILUKU — The past three months have been devoted to a grueling budget session. Having always had respect for the budget process, I now have a much deeper understanding of the hard work and dedication that the Maui County Council members and the budget support staff must endure to ensure that a balanced and fair […]
Maui Considers Absentee Owner Vacation Rentals
The proposed ordinance would set out a more mainstream procedure to legalize operation of a short term rental, and is based off the existing Bed and Breakfast (B&B) ordinance for Maui County. The main difference between a B&B and a TVR is that for a TVR, the owner does not have to live on-island. The […]
Smart Grid Test Project in Maui Meadows
James Griffin of the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute spoke at MCC saying: “Maui is already a leader, but the grid here is limited,” he said. “Fluctuations for renewable energies is the reason for concern. As more renewables come online, the potential for problems increases. Griffin said his upcoming project will be to develop a pilot […]