This image comes from a video released by Maui Police showing two men rob the Longs Drug store in Makawao on April 22 Maui police are asking for the public’s help identifying two men who robbed two Upcountry businesses at gunpoint on April 22 the two men unsuccessfully robbed the Longs Drugs store in Makawao at about 10:34 p.m and then hit a gas station in Pukalani about 20 minutes later the two men reportedly entered the stores brandishing rifles while demanding cash They are both believed to be in their teens or early 20s with thin builds a black hoodie and black shoes during the robberies The other is believed to be about 5-foot-6 Both men had red cloths covering their heads and faces a store employee at Longs Drugs confronted the two robbers before they fled on a single electric bicycle without obtaining any money The second robbery occurred about 20 minutes later at the Texaco Gas Station in Pukalani where the two men again brandished rifles and demanded cash from the cashier they reportedly obtained an undisclosed amount of money and fled on the same electric bicycle Police posted three videos of the robbers on the department’s Facebook page encouraging anyone who recognizes either of them to contact the Maui Police Department at (808) 244-6425 Callers can remain anonymous by contacting Maui Crime Stoppers at 808-242-6966 A grant information session for Maui County’s recycling grants program will be at 2 p.m In light of increased property values driving up tax payments the Maui County Council’s budget committee has .. Copyright © 2025 Maui News Publishing Company LTD | https://www.mauinews.com | 100 Mahalani Street Privacy Policy | About Our Ads The Maui Police Department provided an update to the community on the progress of the officer-involved shooting that took place on Saturday The information was shared during an afternoon press conference at the Maui Police Department’s Wailuku Station Captain Nelson Hamilton with the department’s Criminal Investigation Division described how the incident unfolded Central Dispatch received a report of an abuse-type case at around 3:46 p.m “Officers arrived on scene at approximately 3:54 p.m and were informed that 20 year old Macayla Deponte had barricaded herself inside the bedroom with a knife,” Hamilton explained officers repeatedly identified themselves and attempted to engage her Instead she played loud music and yelled incoherently.” officers assessed the situation both inside and outside the residence one of the officers made checks of the attached garage through the only entrance-exit point Deponte suddenly emerged from the bedroom armed with a knife,” said Hamilton the officer drew his firearm as she advanced as the second officer who entered the residence withdrew his Taser “Both officers gave verbal commands to her to show [her] hands and drop the knife The officers instructed her multiple times to drop the knife,” Hamilton said the officers attempted to create distance while continuing verbal commands “When she raised the knife and moved towards the officers officers immediately called for medical assistance and gave lifesaving measures while awaiting the medics,” according to Hamilton Police showed photos of the enclosed garage and the knife that the woman was holding when she advanced towards the officers Police also showed body worn camera footage from the responding officers she would have been charged with first degree attempted murder Maui Police Chief John Pelletier said: “The sanctity of human life is a core value of the Maui Police Department and is embedded in our policies and our training We recognize that a family is grieving the loss of a loved one There are no winners and critical incidents Police officers are called to make split-second decisions in rapidly dynamic evolving situations.” He said that when faced with an imminent threat officers must react to protect themselves and others in the community “Public safety and protecting the community is our highest priority is a stark reminder of the risks of this profession May God bless the police department.” The officer involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave as standard procedure Also in attendance at the press conference were: Deputy Police Chief Wade Maeda and Assistant Chief Keola Tom of the department’s Uniform Services Division Pukalani Superette has been a mainstay for upcountry residents for nearly a century At the corner of Makawao Avenue and Old Haleakala Highway the bright green building is home to one of Maui’s dwindling mom-and-pop businesses still run by its founding family My dad is right over there,” laughs Megan Nakashima “My great-grandparents started the store in like 1926ish.” the store carries popular ready-to-eat food and a lot of locally grown and Maui-made favorites More than 75% of the produce in the store is supplied by local farmers “I like coming to the Pukalani Superette because they have everything you need whether it's for just a quick meal or for [gift-giving] — they got everything you need here,” said Dylan Rist of Haleakala Creamery “I love the meals and customer service,” she said of the store’s 60 employees Nakashima says doing good in the community is part of their family philosophy “You help each other and then you move forward They donate school supplies to a local classroom every year hoping other businesses will join the effort They support a host of community fundraisers they gave away food to local community hubs giving that much of your time and your money and your effort doesn't make a lot of sense… but I'm kind of happy with it,” chuckles Nakashima they randomly pick up customers’ grocery bills ‘give this out to the customers to help them buy groceries,’ because everyone was hurting at the time And so we've kind of held that in our hearts and we do it every year,” Nakashima explained Pukalani Superette was founded as Tanizaki Store in 1926 “We used to ride our tricycles in the store The store used to sell a wide collection of comic books Megan and her brother also spent a lot of time in the store when they were young “We would find little areas in the warehouse and hide and make a little fort or — you're not allowed to anymore unsafe — but we would ride our lift up and down and that's probably why there's a sign there that now that says There’s no shortage of memorable stories over the years Aric Nakashima recalled the day police stopped a car across from the store Customers and employees all gathered outside to see The suspense grew as police asked the driver to open the car’s trunk “Some are carrying the groceries after they shopped and they're just standing there watching,” said Aric ‘wow.’ So I kind of made my way through [to get a better view] The store celebrates its 98th anniversary this month and as the latest generation of store leadership Megan Nakashima is determined to keep its legacy alive so it's not going to end on my watch,” she said Their generosity keeps customers coming back “We’re just really grateful that we’re here,” she said “We can try our hardest to stay alive and like of Pukalani has been found safe in good health after Maui police sought the public’s help in locating her whereabouts No other information was released by Maui police Concerned family members had reported Funk missing on Tuesday after she failed to contact them for several weeks Funk had been last seen on April 8 at the Maui Marketplace in Kahului Investigative stories and local news updates Coverage of the Hawaiʻi State legislature in 2025 Award winning in-depth reports and featured on-going series Get the week’s news delivered straight to your inbox Body camera footage captures the moments leading up to the fatal shooting of Macayla Deponte less than seven minutes after Maui police officers arrived at a Pukalani residence The 20-year-old Maui woman killed by police responding to an abuse call on Saturday had moved toward an officer with a small knife according to body camera footage shown at a news conference at police department headquarters on Tuesday afternoon That was among the new details of Maui’s first officer-involved shooting of 2025 many of them based on a portion of the video from cameras worn by the two officers which depicted events leading up to — but stopping short of — the shooting Nelson Hamilton also shared photos of a knife recovered from the scene When police first encountered Macayla Deponte at a Pukalani home just before 4 p.m she had barricaded herself in a bedroom with a knife Hamilton told the small group of reporters Officers tried to communicate with her from outside the room but Deponte yelled incoherently while playing loud music Deponte can be seen in the video wearing a silver tank top and black mini-skirt as she walks into the kitchen from the bedroom She is holding a knife with about a five-inch blade Put the fucking knife down,” officers yell at Deponte Deponte raises the knife and moves steadily toward an officer who Hamilton said then fired his gun twice in her direction Though officers attempted life-saving measures, Deponte died as a result of the shooting becoming the eighth person killed during encounters with officers on the island in the past 15 years “We recognize that a family is grieving the loss of a loved one; there are no winners in critical incidents standing at a podium and flanked by other high-ranking members of the department “Police officers are called to make split-second decisions in rapidly dynamic they must react to protect themselves and others in the community.” Hamilton did not provide the name of the officer who shot Deponte, but Alana Pico, a spokesperson for the Maui Police Department, previously said the officer had been placed on administrative leave which follows the department’s standard protocol Pico declined to answer emailed questions asking whether Deponte lived in the home where the shooting took place or whether anyone else was present at the time citing the ongoing investigation. At the news conference Hamilton said another officer had been armed with a taser but he did not say whether the taser was used Hamilton described the events leading up to the shooting as “a stark reminder” of the risks police officers face she “would have been charged with attempted murder in the first degree.” Civil Beat’s coverage of Maui County is supported in part by a grant from the Nuestro Futuro Foundation Unfortunately, being named a finalist for a Pulitzer prize doesn’t make us immune to financial pressures. The fact is, our revenue hasn’t kept pace with our need to grow, and we need your help Civil Beat is a nonprofit, reader-supported newsroom based in Hawaiʻi. We’re looking to build a more resilient, diverse and deeply impactful media landscape, and we hope you’ll help by supporting our essential journalism Civil Beat has been named the best overall news site in Hawaii for the 14th year in a row by the Society of Professional Journalists Hawaii Chapter Funk was located and found to be in good health  The Maui Police Department thanks the public for their assistance The Maui Police Department is seeking the public’s help with any information on the whereabouts of Leinaala Funk Funk was reported missing by concerned family members on Tuesday after she failed to contact them for several weeks Funk is described as being 5 feet 6 inches tall  She has a turtle tattoo on the inside of her left wrist  She was last seen wearing a white sports bra Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Funk is asked to contact the Maui Police Department’s non-emergency number at 808-244-6400 dial 911 and refer to MPD report number 25-011666 By Peter Boylan Crime in HawaiiMaui 10 on a “federal warrant,” according to MPD’s booking log The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Maui Police Department are investigating Improvised Explosive Devices left in the Kahului and Pukalani areas of Maui according to a joint statement from the FBI’s Honolulu Division and MPD The Maui Police Department arrested a 47-year-old Kahului man Saturday in connection with the discovery of a series of improvised explosive devices, one of which detonated and sidelined a sport utility vehicle in Pukalani on Thursday 10 on a “federal warrant,” according to MPD’s booking log Dumaran was taken into federal custody by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being held at the Federal Detention Center in Honolulu including for felony promotion of a dangerous drug an improvised explosive device detonated in a trash can shattering the windows and piercing the driver’s side doors of a sport utility vehicle passing near it in Pukalani The explosion happened a little more than six hours after the FBI and MPD issued a joint statement asking for witnesses and information about IEDs left in Kahului and Pukalani Maui police evacuated areas of Wailuku and closed streets in connection with the investigation and search for the unidentified bomber the FBI and MPD said the blast “was caused by an improvised explosive device which had been placed in a nearby trash receptacle The explosion struck a passing vehicle.” FBI agents and police officers have identified and collected “several IEDs which vary in size and shape Hawaiian Electric will be using unmanned aircraft for aerial inspections of its infrastructure along Kula Hwy. Hawaiian Electric reports its Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) program is in full compliance with all Federal Aviation Administration rules operating and privacy procedures to make sure the unmanned aircraft are flown with the highest regard for the safety of the public and crews Central Dispatch received a report of an abuse case at a Noho Place residence in Pukalani Maui Police Department officers arrived on the scene at approximately 3:54 p.m. where they encountered a female armed with an edged weapon An officer-involved shooting occurred during the incident and a formal briefing will occur next week Fire crews returned to the scene of the Pukalani fire at first light this morning to resume mop-up operations Fire officials say the cause of yesterdayʻs fire is undetermined but is not believed to have been intentional The blaze burned 1.5 acres according to updated estimates The Maui Fire Department reports that the Pukalani fire was 100% contained at about two acres as of approximately 5:45 p.m The department’s Engine 5 remains on scene as crews continue to mop up this evening Evacuation LIFTED For Akalani Loop And Kalialani Circle: 5:50 p.m Evacuations have been lifted for residents of Akalani Loop and Kalialani Circle as of 5:45 p.m The Maui Fire Department has lifted the evacuations and is allowing impacted residents to return to their homes Maui Fire Department crews are still in the area conducting mop up operations For the safety of first responder personnel the public is asked to use caution while driving in the area The Maui Emergency Management Agency continues to monitor the situation Pukalani fire update: 5:15 p.m.; 5 p.m.; 4:50 p.m.; 4:45 p.m,; 4 p.m. The County of Maui Department of Fire and Public Safety conducted localized door-to-door evacuations for homes off Akalani Loop and Kalialani Circle at 3:20 p.m Evacuees were directed to Hannibal Tavares Community Center in Pukalani Maui Emergency Management Agency sent an informational alert at 3:28 p.m today to advise Pukalani residents near Palalani Street to stay vigilant and avoid the area if possible in a gulch off Palalani Street in Pukalani today No injuries or structural damages have been reported due to the fire No acreage or containment estimates are available at this time MEMA’s Emergency Operations Center was partially activated at 2:55 p.m Hawaiian Electric on Maui reported that a power outage occurred in Pukalani affecting an estimated 2,518 customers all impacted customers remained without power an update was posted that power has been restored to all impacted customers in Kula the utility clarified that the 2,518 customers impacted in Pukalani the state Department of Transportation reported that the power outage is impacting traffic signals along Haleakalā Highway Motorists are advised to drive with caution Find mental health support due to stress, anxiety and trauma from the wildfires at www.mauirecovers.org or by calling the Hawai‘i Support Line at 808-446-6676 Maui fire crews are responding to a brush fire in the area near 2740 Palalani Street The Maui Emergency Management Agency reported a potential for localized evacuation of homes in the area and advised residents to stay vigilant and avoid the area if possible and mobile devices for official information Prepare yourself and your family to evacuate if notified by County officials Maui Emergency Management Agency continues to monitor the situation and will provide additional information as it becomes available The FBI and the Maui Police Department are investigating who built and planted improvised explosive devices in the Kahului and Pukalani areas of Maui according to a joint statement Thursday from the FBI’s Honolulu Division and MPD “Several devices have been recovered in the Kahului and Pukalani areas,” the FBI and MPD said the FBI and MPD are seeking the public’s help in reporting any suspicious activity that could present a threat to public safety such as someone leaving an object unattended in a public space.” Information about where the devices were found how many were recovered and when they were reported to MPD and the FBI was not released by the FBI or MPD It is not immediately clear whether any threats were made about the IEDs “The FBI continues to solicit the public’s help in providing any information that could lead us to identifying those responsible for placing these IEDs,” said Steven Merrill special agent in charge of the FBI’s Honolulu Division “We want to remind the public that any detail — no matter how small — could be useful and report any tips to tips.fbi.gov or 1-800-CALLFBI (1-800-225-5324) The FBI and MPD remain committed in ensuring the safety of our community and its ohana.” Maui police and the FBI are urging people on Maui to “remain vigilant and to promptly report suspicious activities” that could threaten public safety If anything on the road looks “suspicious” or appears out of place keep others away from the area and call 911 immediately,” read the statement It is not immediately clear whether the incident is connected to an IED found near the fence of Kahului Elementary School on July 23 Maui police responded to a “suspicious item” and found what appeared to be an IED The device was found near the intersection of Lono and Hina avenues in Kahului near the fence line of Kahului Elementary School evacuated residents and told those who could not leave to shelter in place and the staff of a summer program was told to stay off campus MPD’s bomb squad responded at about 8:20 a.m. took an X-ray of the IED and disabled it with a “water disruption shot.” it was determined the contents were more likely an improvised pyrotechnic device rather than an IED,” according to a July 23 MPD news release Residents were able to go home at about 11:30 a.m The FBI and Maui Police Department provided an update today with information on the explosion of an improvised explosive device (IED) in Pukalani on Thursday. The agencies jointly issued a public safety warning yesterday regarding recent reports of IEDs recovered in the Kahului and Pukalani areas The incident occurred on Old Haleakalā Highway on Aug and the driver was transported to the hospital and released “The FBI and MPD have identified and collected several IEDs which vary in size and shape The recovered devices have been located along roadways between Kahului and Kula and were concealed from view in trash receptacles or other areas outside of plain view,” according to a joint news release The public is urged to be cautious of any unknown object The recovered device from yesterday’s incident is described as a 7 inch by 4 inch cylinder shape The FBI advises that forensic review is underway to determine how these devices were configured to detonate The FBI and MPD are urging the public to report any suspicious activity that could present a threat to public safety such as someone leaving an object unattended in a public space “If you see a suspicious or unknown object keep others away from the area and call 911 immediately,” the agencies advise Reports can be made to tips.fbi.gov or 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) Authorities advise: “Any detail–no matter how small–may be useful in identifying those responsible and preventing any future threats to our community’s safety.” Pukalani Superette has completed a school supply donation to Pukalani Elementary School’s entire fourth grade class This means that the first class that received a donation is now starting high school “We wanted a way provide support to as many families as we could on a consistent basis We couldn’t have done any of this without the support of past and present members of the school’s administration and without our long term project partners – Maui Chemical & Paper Products and Office Max Kahului We are even more moved and motivated to continue this project with the addition of Maui Optix’s donation this year.” This year is extra special as Maui Optix has joined the project and donated school supplies to Pukalani Elementary School’s entire Kindergarten class “The eye doctors and staff at Maui Optix enjoy looking for ways to give back to the community especially when it comes to education,” according to a statement from the business “We have been awarding high school scholarships for over 10 years and have a great internship program for high school and college students We were inspired by Pukalani Superette’s supplying Pukalani Elementary school’s fourth graders with all their school supplies We asked them if we can join in and chose to donate school supplies for the entire kindergarten class to help get them off to the right start and support their education and growth.” and his team play an important role months before the school supplies appear on campus They are tasked with sourcing most of the supplies When asked if he could comment on the project “Pukalani Superette has always been here supporting our Maui community This year is no different with their annual school supply donation to Pukalani Elementary School They really do care about the Maui community Thanks Puk Sup for taking care of our Maui community,” he said School supplies for kindergarten and fourth grade students were delivered via Iron Horse Trucking on July 23 2024 to the Pukalani Elementary School cafeteria Members from the Pukalani Elementary School staff Alpha Delta Kappa (including many retired Pukalani Elementary school teachers) and Pukalani Superette gathered to assemble more than 160 total bags for both grades combined An Improvised Explosive Devices left on Maui Maui police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating an alleged improvised explosive device that detonated and damaged a car that was driving in Pukalani last night The Maui Police Department cleared evacuated areas of Wailuku for residents to return home Friday night while the investigation into improvised explosive devices on Maui continues No arrests have been made in the case and Maui police and FBI agents continue their hunt for whoever is behind a series of IEDs left in trash cans left on roadways and other places in Kahului and Pukalani The ongoing police investigation ended in the area at about 11 p.m Maui police are evacuating areas of Wailuku due to an ongoing police and FBI investigation into whoever is behind improvised explosive devices found in Pukalani and Kihei “Due to an active police investigation the following road closures are in place,” read a statement from the Maui Police Department Friday night >> Mill Street is closed from Lower Main to Imi Kala >> Imi Kala is closed from Mill Street to Eha Street >> Eha Street is closed from Imi Kala to Iao Loop “Residents on the following streets have been evacuated:” >> Mill Street between Imi Kala and Lower Main “There is an active police investigation occurring in the Wailuku area,” said MPD spokesperson Alana Pico in a statement to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser MPD allegedly located a suspect’s vehicle in connection with the IED case and evacuated the area before searching it Maui police and the FBI are investigating a suspected improvised explosive device that detonated and damaged a car that was driving in Pukalani Thursday night Maui firefighters and police closed Old Haleakala Highway in both directions up to Makani Road after responding to multiple reports of a loud explosion and a motor vehicle accident witnesses said “a vehicle was driving up Old Haleakala Hwy when the driver saw an explosion on the road on the driver’s side of her car The explosion shattered her windows and ripped holes in the driver’s side of her vehicle.” The woman’s car was near Ikea Place in Pukalani when it was allegedly hit by the IED Leilani Fagan posted on Maui 24/7’s Facebook page that her house “shook it sounded like there was an explosion underneath.” “I looked and didn’t see anything but saw my neighbors running down the road I followed and at the beginning of IKEA [Place] there was a white SUV blocking the entrance to the road It was riddled with gouges and puncture marks on the side and her windows were broken She thought it was an explosion and needless to say she was very shook up and scared The police and firemen showed up a few minutes later and closed the Section of old Haleakala Highway and IKEA They’re taking the vehicle as part of the ‘crime’ scene and examining the concrete and debris all over the road where the explosion took place There is a suspicion that it’s a pipe bomb however this is not confirmed until further investigation!!” read her post at about midnight Maui police and the FBI said they are investigating “The FBI and Maui Police Department continue to work jointly on an investigation into recent reports of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) on the Island of Maui including last night’s incident in Pukalani,” read a statement to the Star-Advertiser “We ask the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities that could present a threat to public safety If you see something suspicious in the road such as an object that appears out of place or go near it for any reason,” read the statement keep others away from the area and report the object immediately by calling MPD at call 911 immediately.” Authorities ask the public to report any tips to tips.fbi.gov or 800-CALLFBI (800-225-5324) Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More Hawaii — The Maui Fire Department reported a brush fire at 2:55 p.m on Wednesday in a gulch off Palanai Street in Pukalani Maui firefighters went door-to-door to alert residents of an evacuation order for Akalani Loop and Kalialani Circle as crews battled a brush fire nearby Maui Emergency Management Agency sent an alert at 3:28 p.m on Wednesday to inform Pukalani residents near Palanai Street to stay alert and avoid the area. However the Maui Emergency Management Agency sent alerts saying the evacuation was lifted at 5:49 p.m By 6 p.m., County of Maui Department of Fire and Public Safety declared the fire 100% contained and lifted evacuations MEMA sent alerts about the lifted evacuations at 5:49 p.m The fire burned through about two acres before it was contained.  Evacuees had been directed to Hannibal Tavares Community Center in Pukalani.  Fire officials said no injuries or structural damage had been reported The cause of the fire is still under investigation.  Editor's note: This story has been updated with information from Maui County's latest news release This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Hula Grill Kāʻanapali hosted the 100th birthday celebration for its longtime guest and friend Virgilio moved to Oʻahu at 20 years old to work in the sugar industry he began working in the restaurant business at the Wagon Wheel restaurant in Waikīkī showing the knife that a 20-year-old woman was holding when she was shot by a police officer A brief clip from body camera footage of a police shooting Saturday in Pukalani shows the 20-year-old woman who was fatally wounded holding a knife as she approaches the officer officials with the Maui Police Department identified the woman as 20-year-old Macayla Deponte of Ha’iku The body camera footage released by police Tuesday does not show any rounds being fired during the incident but it appears to show the moments leading up to the officer firing his weapon with Deponte clearly agitated and in distress as she raises and pulls her arm back while holding the knife in close proximity to the officer department officials released the video footage to the media along with a photograph of the knife and additional details about the Saturday shooting Nelson Hamilton of the Criminal Investigation Division dispatch received a report of “an abuse-type case” at 3:46 p.m and officers arrived at the home on Noho Place in Pukalani at 3:54 p.m police were told Deponte had barricaded herself inside a bedroom at the residence Nelson continued by saying that upon entering the home officers repeatedly identified themselves and tried to engage Deponte by asking if she was OK Nelson said she refused to come out of the room and instead played loud music while yelling incoherently one of the responding officers was checking an attached garage for which the only entrance in and out was a door to the kitchen As the officer exited the garage and came into the kitchen Deponte suddenly came out of the bedroom armed with a knife He said the officer drew his firearm as Deponte advanced toward him and another officer inside the home drew his taser Both officers gave Deponte verbal commands to show her hands and drop the knife the officer attempted to create distance while continuing verbal commands,” Nelson said “When (Deponte) raised the knife and moved toward the officer Nelson did not say how many times Deponte was shot but he said the officers called for medical assistance at 4:01 p.m and tried to perform life-saving measures on her until paramedics arrived police showed a photo of the knife Deponte was holding and still images from the body camera footage that appeared to show Deponte holding the knife raised in close proximity to one of the officers she would have been charged with attempt murder in the first degree,” Maui Chief of Police John Pelletier said at the conclusion of the press conference “The sanctity of human life is a core value of the Maui Police Department and is embedded in our policies and our training.” Pelletier said the police department recognizes a family is grieving the loss of a loved one and there are no winners in critical incidents “Everyone is impacted,” Pelletier said “Police officers are called to make split-second decisions in rapidly dynamic evolving situations they must react to protect themselves and others in the community Public safety and protecting the community is our highest priority This unfortunately is a stark reminder of the risks of this profession.” department officials declined to take any questions during Tuesday’s press conference Several improvised explosive devices have recently been found on roads between Kahului and Kula An improvised explosive device that had been placed near a trash can along Old Haleakala Highway in Pukalani on Maui exploded Thursday night have been recovered along roads between Kahului and Kula in recent days Most of them were hidden in trash cans or outside of plain view.  The FBI would not say whether the driver suffered any injuries or whether they were taken to a hospital One device recovered by investigators measured 7 inches by 4 inches and was shaped like a cylinder The agency would not say exactly how many of the devices it has found.  Maui police spokeswoman Alana Pico said in a statement the department is working with the FBI to investigate the source of the IEDs and asked members of the public to report suspicious objects in the road.  or go near it for any reason,” the statement says keep others away from the area and report the object immediately by calling MPD at 911.” said he saw a flash in the sky coming from the direction of Pukalani just before 8:45 p.m Pukalani is about 10 miles southeast of Kahului.  “I couldn’t understand what that flash was,” he said.  he spoke to people closer to the site of the blast who said the sound was so loud their houses rattled “It’s scary actually to tell you the truth,” he said “It’s devastating if somebody was to actually die from that … I don’t want Maui to burn anymore.”  Pico declined to provide further information An FBI spokesperson did not respond to questions about what materials were used in the IEDs or whether investigators had identified any suspects.  IEDs can often contain common materials according to the Department of Homeland Security They can sometimes be packed with other items glass or metal fragments to increase the amount of potential damage they can cause Madeleine Valera is a reporter for Civil Beat. You can reach her by email at mlist@civilbeat.org and follow her on Twitter at @madeleine_list A woman is dead following an officer-involved shooting this past weekend on Maui after threatening officers with a knife at a central Maui residence Maui Police Department on Tuesday during an afternoon press conference at the Wailuku police station provided additional information about the Feb Nelson Hamilton with the department’s Criminal Investigation Division described how the situation unfolded Central Dispatch received a report at about 3:46 p.m 1 about an abuse-type case at 78 Noho Place in Pukalani and were informed that 20-year-old Macayla Deponte of Haʻikū had barricaded herself inside the bedroom with a knife,” said Hamilton she played loud music and yelled incoherently.” The captain said officers were able to assess the situation inside and outside the residence within several minutes which was a door within the kitchen,” Hamilton said “As he exited the garage to the kitchen Deponte suddenly emerged from the bedroom armed with a knife.” The officer drew his firearm as she advanced while a second officer she continued forward with the knife,” the captain said “The officers instructed her multiple times to drop the knife.” Officers attempted to create distance while continuing verbal commands during a span of about 10 seconds officers immediately called for medical assistance and gave life-saving measures while awaiting the medics,” Hamilton said Photos of the enclosed garage and knife the woman was holding when she advanced toward the officers were shown Body-worn camera footage from the responding officers was also shown she would have been charged with first-degree attempted murder “The sanctity of human life is a core value of the Maui Police Department and is embedded in our policies and our training,” said Maui Police Chief John Pelletier “We recognize that a family is grieving the loss of a loved one Pelletier added that when faced with an imminent threat is a stark reminder of the risks of this profession,” the chief said The officer involved in the shooting was placed on administrative leave Investigation into the incident is ongoing Maui police released information this morning on Friday nightʻs road closures and evacuations in Wailuku Wailuku Patrol officers located a stolen vehicle potentially linked to the Pukalani improvised explosive device (IED) incident from the previous night The incident was reported at approximately 8:30 p.m the vehicle was deemed safe and unrelated to the IED case and residents were allowed to return to their homes The FBI and Maui Police Department continue working jointly on this investigation “We want to assure you that public safety is our top priority and we are committed to ensuring our community remains secure,” Maui police said in a news release The department asks all residents to remain vigilant and follow these important safety guidelines: “Your vigilance is crucial in keeping our community safe could be vital to our investigation,” police said The FBI and Maui Police Department are investigating reports of Improvised Explosive Devices on Maui after they recovered several devices in Kahului and Pukalani The FBI and MPD are asking the public to report suspicious activity If you suspect someone could be responsible for the explosives, you can file a report at tips.fbi.gov or call 1-800-CALLFBI (1-800-225-5324) Authorities also say that if you see a suspicious object on the road Keep away from the area and call 911 immediately on the first anniversary of the tragic Lahaina fire is experiencing the report of significant safety concerns due to the discovery of potential explosive devices just reported by the FBI There have been other suspected incidents reported on Maui since last year Maui Police discovered a stolen vehicle that may be connected to the Pukalani IED incident reported the previous evening and the Kahului and Pukalani regions were specifically mentioned this situation led to a public safety warning being issued this afternoon which is important to both residents and visitors Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) are homemade bombs that can The devices can be made using a wide range of materials from simple household items to more sophisticated elements Authorities reported that the devices found in Maui appear as small visitors to Maui can take several steps to ensure their safety: If you spot an object that seems out of place or suspicious these unexpected and suspicious devices have been found Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and will provide updates as needed The FBI asks that a report be made immediately to tips.fbi.gov or 1-800-CALLFBI (1-800-225-5324) Despite the discovery of these suspected devices visitors to Maui will not need to be unduly concerned or alter any travel plans based on what has been said thus far The FBI and Maui Police are working rapidly to investigate and mitigate any further risks We suggest just staying aware and using good sense while continuing to enjoy the beauty and hospitality that Maui offers There has been no further information provided and we will update you as soon as we learn more from the FBI and the Maui Police Department While these incidents underscore the importance of safety and that such things can happen they should not overshadow the beautiful experiences awaiting you on Maui Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. You can also subscribe without commenting This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply A gal in a Kia ran over an IED in Pukalani and it blew more previously in different locations looking like baskets I believe it was by a school (don’t quote me on that) Not sure what is going on over there recently Not sure what the heck this person is thinking… but I’m not saying there weren’t explosions I’m suggesting who’s possibly responsible Wouldn’t be surprised that this is a FF and that killing the tourist industry is by design Unemployment due to declining tourism accomplishes nothing that is good for anyone It accomplishes a lot for rich billionaires that don’t want any other people here But the devices have been found upcountry and in town BOH…on the ONE year Anniversary of the Lahaina Fires this is what you report?! How about waiting a day and instead reporting on the progress that has been made in Lahaina…27 structures have currently begun construction I understand hearing today from Tulsi Gabbard with pro-surfer Kai Lenny reporting Businesses lost in Lahaina fires are still actively looking for new spots to open temporarily…Meanwhile tourism in Maui is in the tank I recently spent a nite Southside (I live in Lahaina) at the Grand Wailea and was told they are down significantly….Please report we are recovering….we are welcoming tourists and we need tourists or people cannot make a living and the suffering will continue… We have to produce unified messaging that Maui is welcoming tourists we’re sending very mixed and confusing messaging: we’ve priced Maui out of many travel budgets hotel rates are stratospheric and uncompetitive when compared to other travel destinations and we’re trying to eliminate lower cost options (STRs) This confusion and greed has resulted in tourism declines of 22% year over year We’ve been trying to kill the golden goose of tourism for years now and I fear we may be successful Its time to pull our heads out of the sand and admit that Maui is a service economy almost entirely dependent on tourism Its good to attempt to diversify the economy but in the short term tourism is nearly all we have I go to North Kaanapali beach Daily and it is near empty looking down or north towards Airport Beach My one nite stay at the Grand Wailea was $450 on Hotwire plus and added $170 in TAXES alone !! plus add the parking of $65 for ONE night…plus add the $55 Resort Fee…Holy COW ! …Maui is trying to recover from their Covid chaos lock-down madness where unlike Sweden & other sane countries they tanked their economy which is tourism…So they increased hotel/lodging taxes to further decrease tourism- who are these fools of commerce ?!?….Ps because tourism is the the tank you can get into world famous Mama’s Fish House in Paia by walk-in or cancellation. Used to stay at the Pioneer Inn for 50 to 60 bucks a night back in the day One IED exploded and damaged a car in Pukulani Another device was found on the border of Wailuku/Kahului Visitors tend to hang out near the beaches on the west or south side other than to not run over any unknown devices laying on the road Stay abreast of the latest island travel news Subscribe to our FREE newsletter and let Hawaii come to you Damage to a vehicle is shown from a reported IED in Pukalani on Aug WAILUKU – According to the Department of Justice (DOJ) made his initial appearance in United States District Court today before United States Magistrate Judge Kenneth J in Maui pursuant to a criminal complaint for possessing an unregistered destructive device and attempting to damage property by means of explosives Robert Francis Dumaran (47) was arrested on Aug 10 on a federal warrant according to the Maui Police Department booking log in Wailuku The complaint and affidavit allege that on July 23 Maui Police Department (“MPD”) officers encountered an improvised explosive device (“IED”) near Lono Avenue in Kahului The IED was in the roadway by Kahului Elementary School Dumaran’s fingerprints were recovered from packing tape used to build the IED If indicted and convicted of the charged offenses the defendant would face up to ten years in prison on the unregistered destructive device charge and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and up to 20 years on the explosives charge The charges and information contained in the federal complaint are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until indicted and proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law The affidavit also mentions the recovery of detonated IEDs near Kaamana Street in Kula on Aug and the explosion of an IED and resulting damage to a car in Pukalani on Aug The complaint does not charge Dumaran in connection with either of these events The FBI and Maui County Police Department conducted the investigation resulting in the complaint and arrest and the investigation into these matters remains ongoing The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S The Federal Bureau of Investigation told The Maui News via email Monday “The FBI does not provide updates on active investigations This would include describing investigative steps we may or may not have taken interviews we may or may not have conducted and information we may or may not have learned To preserve the integrity and capabilities of the investigation we cannot share details of the ongoing process they will eventually become a matter of public record.” No bail has been set as Dumaran is being held on a federal warrant in Oahu on the IED charge relating to the July 23 incident in Kahului According to Maui County Deputy Prosecutor Ronson Ibarra Dumaran was out on a $100,000 bail bond posted in a 2019 case in Wailuku Second Circuit Court for three felony charges Dumaran was charged with felony charges of attempted promoting a dangerous drug in the first degree felony possession of one-eighth ounce or more of methamphetamine felony ownership or possession prohibited by felon Dumaran is due in the Wailuku Second Circuit court on Aug 15 for a hearing on Dumaran’s motion to compel His attorney in the 2019 case is Brandon Segal of Segal Law located in Wailuku Segal is also representing Dumaran in a 2020 case where he was charged with six felony charges and eight misdemeanors in November of 2020 Dumaran plead not guilty to all 14 counts in December of 2020 and was released on a reduced bail of $100,000 for those charges in February of 2022 The charges for the 2020 case include felony promoting a dangerous drug in the first degree three counts of prohibited acts related to drug paraphernalia felony promoting a dangerous drug in the first degree prohibited acts related to drug paraphernalia felony attempted promoting a dangerous drug in the first degree felony promoting a drug in the second degree ownership or possession prohibited (by felon) felony attempted promoting a detrimental drug in the second degree felony promoting a a detrimental drug in the second degree felony promoting a detrimental drug in the third degree promoting a harmful drug in the fourth degree Dumaran is due in Second Circuit Court for the charges in the 2020 case for a preliminary hearing on Aug A sport utility vehicle was damaged by a suspected improvised explosive device that was detonated in Pukalani The SUV is seen with its driver’s side windows blown out and the metal side of the SUV riddled with shrapnel impact including a hole by the rear passenger door The Maui Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating a blast Thursday night from an improvised explosive device that detonated in a trash can — damaging a sport utility vehicle passing near it in Pukalani The explosion happened a little more than six hours after the FBI and MPD issued a joint statement asking for witnesses and information about IEDs left in Kahului and Pukalani (function(d,s,n){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];js=d.createElement(s);js.className=n;js.src="//player.ex.co/player/bdc806f4-0fc1-40a1-aff0-a3d5239c169c";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}(document,"script","exco-player")); told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser in an interview that she and some neighbors ran to the white Kia SUV after hearing the explosion to see if anyone needed help That’s when “we saw the lady with her car all busted up,” she said damage that can be seen on the SUV includes its driver’s-side windows blown out and its side exterior riddled with marks from shrapnel There was a hole by the rear passenger door near the damaged window sitting in the back seat of her car shaking and sobbing,” said Weatherholt “Myself and a couple of the neighbors went up to her and made sure she was not (seriously) injured.” Weatherholt and her neighbors were able to find a family member of the female driver to come help her “The one individual at the scene declined treatment from Fire and EMS,” said Christopher Stankis a Maui firefighter and spokesperson for the department According to the statement from the FBI and MPD were “located along roadways between Kahului and Kula and were concealed from view in trash receptacles or other areas outside of plain view.” The FBI and MPD “continue to urge the public to be cautious of any unknown object.” “The recovered device from (Thursday’s) press release is a seven-inch by four-inch cylinder shape Forensic review is ongoing to determine how these devices were configured to detonate,” read the statement Exactly how many IEDs were discovered before Thursday’s blast has not been made public MPD’s bomb squad located and rendered useless an IED found near the fence line of Kahului Elementary School on July 23 according to a county news release at the time It is also not known whether threats are being made about the explosives before they are planted or if law enforcement is made aware only after members of the public find them witnesses posted that “a vehicle was driving up Old Haleakala Hwy Followers of the Maui 24/7 site posted where they were when they heard the explosion or saw a bright flash before hearing a loud bang Some described the scene with the SUV as others uploaded security camera footage that captured the sound Others expressed fear about the IEDs and shock that one blew up and sidelined a vehicle Leilani Fagan posted on Maui 24/7’s Facebook page that her house “shook it sounded like there was an explosion underneath.” Fagan looked and didn’t see anything but saw her neighbors running down the road “I followed and at the beginning of Ikea (Place) there was a white SUV blocking the entrance to the road The police and firemen showed up a few minutes later and closed the Section of old Haleakala Highway and Ikea Vicki Fanucchi also posted about Wednesday night’s explosion “I’m a couple blocks up in Kua Aina Ridge and was out on our deck and it was such a bright flash then about a second or so later the loudest boom Old Haleakala Highway did not reopen until 4 a.m including last night’s incident in Pukalani,” read a joint statement to the Star-Advertiser from the FBI and MPD keep others away from the area and call 911 immediately.” and we are committed to ensuring our community remains safe and secure,” the FBI and MPD said “We thank the community for their cooperation and vigilance,” they said Authorities ask the public to report any tips to tips.fbi.gov or 800-CALLFBI (800-225-5324) An Upcountry Maui resident who asked not to be identified because no one has been arrested in connection with the explosion told the Star-Advertiser in an interview that he was in the place where the SUV got hit about 15-20 minutes before it went off “I was coming back down Old Haleakala Highway when it went off I listen to music pretty loud but it was like this weird noise It wasn’t a firework noise or any kind of noise I heard before the easiest way to describe it was ‘kaboom.’ It was loud My dog … started freaking out (in the car),” said the man Wear a Lei was the theme of this year’s annual Kauai Museum Lei.. Members of the Waimea High School girls football team arrived home on Sunday from the 2025.. Three customers remain without power in Pukalani as crews continue repairs Impacted customers should prepare for an overnight outage Power has been restored to a majority of customers Crews continue work to restore power to the remaining customers without power Hawaiian Electric reports power has been restored to customers on Loha St. Crews have completed most of the line inspection and are continuing to restore customers in sections An estimated 2,518 customers were impacted by the outage Hawaiian Electric reports that 2,518 customers remain without power in Pukalani Crews completed most of the line inspection and have begun restoring power to customers in sections An estimated 2,518 customers are without power in the Pukalani area Hawaiian Electric reports that crews are investigating and inspecting the lines Heavy call volume to the HECO trouble line may result in some calls not getting through call customer service on Maui at 808-871-9777 The state Department of Transportation is also reporting the outage was impacting some traffic signals Motorists are advised to use caution when driving in the area will be performing work on the County’s water system A portion of homes in the Pukalani area will have their water shut off from approximately 9 p.m according to a notice issued earlier this week The shutdown will affect all water services off of Old Haleakalā Highway 37 DWS customers along these roads are encouraged to store water and adjust schedules as appropriate contact the Water Department’s 24-hour hotline at 808-270-7633 Rick Wilson passed away peacefully at his home in Pukalani Rick was well known by clients for his craftsmanship in building and remodeling Maui homes and offices He began working in construction when he was just 13 years old Rick graduated from Pittsford High School and received an associate degree in business from Cambridge College Rick was an avid trap and sporting clays shooter and was a founding member of the Ukumehame Gun Club A private Celebration of Life will be held The family politely declines flowers and donations to donate to their own favorite charity in Rick’s memory An Upcountry woman who ran to escape being mowed down by a carjacker stealing her husband’s truck Wednesday in Pukalani says she hopes her experience can serve as a wakeup call to others on the island Alysha Nichols-Sparkman was looking at her phone while sitting in husband Sidney Sparkman’s idling 2021 Ford Ranger parked outside Longs Drugs in the Kulamalu Town Center when the driver’s door opened She assumed it was Sparkman until the overpowering smell of cigarettes wafted over her buddy,'” Nichols-Sparkman said Friday In an act of defiance she’s not sure the intruder noticed Nichols-Sparkman grabbed the truck’s key fob before opening her door and stepping out of the truck boxed in by the open door and a white Honda when the carjacker put the truck into reverse and stepped on the gas “The truck door starts grinding down the car next to me so I start running so the door doesn’t mow me down and knock me over,” she said “It starts peeling out of the parking lot He could have run over other people.” She says she thought the carjacker was a man but some of the people who witnessed the crime told police they thought it was a woman The person was wearing a black jacket and carrying a black pack with small repetitive print She said police officers responded quickly she and her husband followed the truck’s progress over the officers’ radios Reports of erratic driving were called in from drivers near King Kekaulike High School and Haliimaile One of officer ended up driving the shaken Nichols-Sparkman home while another took Sparkman to Hamakuapoko Road A cigarette lighter and cigarette were left behind While the Ranger’s door was bent and scratched Nichols-Sparkman said the getaway left a large gouge down the side of the vehicle Nichols-Sparkman said she decided to post about her experience when she got home “It really scares me that it could have been a mom with a car seat or something,” she said “There could have been a kid in the back The longtime Maui resident says she has noticed an uptick of crime on Maui since the pandemic one that has intensified since last August’s fires She said a worker at a neighboring Makawao business told her they had been broken into more than a dozen times this year Sparkman said one of his co-workers recently had their car hotwired and stolen during work hours on Wili Pa Loop in Wailuku “I want awareness brought to our community for safety reasons,” Nichols-Sparkman said “This isn’t our same island right now don’t leave your kids in the car when you go into the store don’t leave the engine running and leave your wife behind Nichols-Sparkman said she and two coworkers witnessed an eerily similar carjacking last July 13 in Makawao She heard a commotion outside her Baldwin Avenue real estate office and looked out the front window as a yelling man wrestled the car keys from an elderly woman with a cane She said the woman’s companion was in the process of climbing in the passenger door That woman tumbled to the ground as the car sped away Maui police later arrested 31-year-old Justin Feliciano when he reportedly crashed the 2017 Toyota Camry in Kahului and fought with officers and bystanders in the middle of Hana Highway Feliciano was later charged with second-degree robbery first degree unauthorized control of a vehicle resisting arrest and first degree terroristic threatening Nichols-Sparkman said Wednesday’s encounter at noon in the busy Longs parking lot has left a mark “I went to a doctor’s appointment yesterday,” she said “I can’t seem to talk about the event without getting emotional She says part of her feels like she should have fought back or done more to resist she says she feels like she let her husband down by letting his truck be stolen she knows that while she did not see a knife that doesn’t mean her assailant did not have one Just get out of the car and don’t fight But I want people to know they should take precautions not paying attention to my surroundings.” She says she also learned that pressing the buttons on a key fob will not disable a truck She says she was pushing them as fast she could as the black Ranger squealed around the corner and roared out of sight Information and Education Specialist Alana Pico shared several tips for anyone caught up in such a situation “In the event of a UCPV (Unauthorized Control of a Propelled Vehicle) while you are in the vehicle Avoid escalating the situation by arguing or resisting the offender’s demands Remember that material possessions can be replaced but your life and well-being are irreplaceable Try to remember as many details as possible about the offender providing all the details you can remember to assist in the investigation.” “Be aware of your surroundings at all times especially when entering and exiting your vehicle Keep your vehicle doors locked and windows rolled up when driving Trust your instincts–if something feels off or suspicious don’t hesitate to leave the area and report it to MPD Consider installing anti-theft devices or GPS tracking systems in your vehicle for added security.” Pico reported there have been 161 UCPV cases so far this year (through Feb down from 182 over the same period last year Nichols-Sparkman said an officer called her Friday afternoon to report that the investigation into the carjacking is ongoing known affectionately by customers as “Aunty Barbara” is retiring from Pukalani Superette later this month Silva started working at the mom and pop market in 1965 and has been a welcome face to so many customers and employees over the years She most recently worked in the produce packing room which is where all of the produce gets processed and bagged She served as a trainer to the newer employees as well as quality control – refusing to put out produce that she herself would not buy “With the longest and sharpest memory She can recall a time when the store was run by only 6 or 7 female employees – for perspective She has been with the company through countless hurricanes and droughts,” according to a store announcement “To not have Aunty Barbara in the store is going to be a very strange feeling It’s bittersweet knowing that we won’t get to see her every day I am so happy for her and her retirement – I know that she will now have all the time to relax and spend with family,” said Megan Nakashima “I am grateful for all of her hard work and dedication throughout the years Aunty Barbara was hired during my grandmother’s time and now I have the great honor of celebrating her long tenure with the company and all of her contributions.” The store plans to hold a private retirement party for Silva to celebrate with her family and employees and memories from customers in the store to provide to Aunty Barbara Her longtime friend and coworker Patty Locey retired in 2021 At the time the two had worked a combined 110 years Aunty Barbara’s official retirement date is Feb Although Pukalani Superette celebrates its 65th anniversary this month the beloved mom-and-pop grocery store can trace its roots back about a century to a fruit stand in Wailuku “Old-timers knew it as Tanizaki Store,” said Megan Nakashima “My great-grandparents started it.” Her family moved the store Upcountry in the 1920s a new and larger store was completed and the name officially changed to Pukalani Superette “Technically we could be celebrating our 100th anniversary,” Nakashima said The Pukalani resident recounted the store’s history Tuesday laughing when she gave a rundown of trivia of long gone services and goods including a post office and fishing supplies and there was this video game machine when I was really little I think it was ‘Street Fighter.’ It was arcade-looking,” she recalled Pukalani Superette is known for its cozy atmosphere popular bentos and array of local goods and produce Located near the corner of Makawao Avenue and Old Haleakala Highway the grocer is well loved by the community because of the family environment “It’s like going to aunty’s house or to your grandma’s house and seeing everyone you know,” she said it’s the only place you can get Thanksgiving food year-round “You can find Thanksgiving dinner every day if you look,” she said The 35-year-old was recently named president of the company She succeeds father Aric Nakashima and uncle Myles Nakashima She is the oldest grandchild of the late Sumiko and Aki Nakashima Kalama Intermediate and King Kekaulike High School swears that her generation came up with the store nickname “PukSup.” However “What’s weird is if you go to Wailuku ‘Where’s PukSup?’ ” “driving the employees crazy.” and the new boss gets animated when she talks about them “They’re the best,” she said Since taking the helm as company president Nov Nakashima said she doesn’t have normal hours but works often Her days are filled with everything from managerial tasks and social media to doing store decorations or going through donations and make sure everyone has what they need,” she said the store had 20 family members working there Each family member has different roles and personalities He likes to talk story with people,” she explained “My uncle is into the health food section My brother does whatever you tell him to do Michelle is my cousin and she’s currently a cashier.” She added later that the title for her brother is actually “safety and security compliance officer.” Taking on the family business wasn’t what Nakashima was expecting to do After attending Columbia University in New York City she finished her bachelor’s degree at University of Hawaii at Manoa She then obtained a master’s degree in molecular biology from UH Manoa she worked for seven years at Pacific Guardian Life moving from a temporary clerical job to manager of group administration she returned to Maui and to her family store this time as director of community outreach and brand manager Nakashima said she spends a lot of time with family “I’m grateful I get along with my family most of the time,” she said There is some pressure of carrying the family name but the young leader said she has strong backing “It’s comforting because you can trust the people handing it off to you because they trust you and they know you’re going to do what’s right,” she said * Kehaulani Cerizo can be reached at kcerizo@mauinews.com Newly renovated Mayor Hannibal Tavares Community Center and Pukalani Division of Motor Vehicles & Licensing Office opened Wednesday with a blessing adding that Upcountry residents will benefit from the new features  “Upcountry residents can now enjoy an improved community center for celebrations DMV office with better service — close to home,” Victorino said in the release The DMVL office reopened immediately after the blessing It is located on the community center’s bottom floor Work on the Hannibal Tavares Community Center included replacement of deteriorated wood asphalt shingle roofing and gutter replacement and repainting of the center’s interior and exterior The project also involved removing and replacing vinyl flooring installing a fire alarm system and water-proofing second-story lanai areas The Pukalani DMVL office has been remodeled with some additional space for customer service The project included technology upgrades and interior furnishing improvements A live snake was captured in Pukalani on Maui Monday afternoon on the side of the road near the Pukalani Golf Club The Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture reports that a resident reported that he saw children playing with a snake at about 3 p.m Another resident reported seeing the snake just off the sidewalk in a construction zone along Liholani Street at around 3:50 p.m Agricultural inspectors from the Maui Plant Quarantine Branch were immediately dispatched and found the snake had been contained in a plastic garbage bin The snake measured 3½ feet long and has been tentatively identified as a non-venomous female gopher snake Gopher snakes are found in North America and can grow up to about seven feet Prey is killed by constriction and suffocation Maui Police Department officers on the scene and assisted inspectors in securing the snake Inspectors surveyed the immediate area and no other evidence of snakes was found The HDOA reports the snake was transported to the Plant Quarantine Office and was humanely euthanized A Maui resident called police after spotting a snake on the side of the road in Pukalani on Monday afternoon The incident was reported at around 3:50 p.m just off the sidewalk in a construction zone along Liholani Street Maui Now reached out to the state Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services branch and is awaiting response for information on the type of snake In Hawaiʻi, snakes are illegal to possess and pose a serious threat to Hawaiʻi’s unique ecosystem as they compete with native animal populations for food and habitat the HDOA reminds the public that those with illegal animals may turn them in under the State’s Amnesty Program to any HDOA office Panaewa Zoo on Hawaiʻi Island or any Humane Society – no questions asked and no fines assessed Anyone with information about illegal animals should call the statewide toll-free PEST HOTLINE at 643-PEST (7378).  The maximum penalty under state law for possession and/or transporting illegal animals is a class C felony $200,000 fine and up to three years in prison Sightings or captures of illegal animals or invasive species should also be reported to the hotline *This story will be updated with more information as it becomes available PUKALANI — “You gotta kill me if you gonna go on top of my mauna You gotta kill me!” If any moment captured the passion of Native Hawaiian opposition to a telescope atop Haleakala it was this — a man in a malo wedged under the axle of a semi-truck daring to be crushed rather than see the another telescope on the sacred summit By the time 28-year-old Joseph Henderson was driven away in a police van a half hour later his handcuffed wrists pressed against the window the semi-trucks had finally passed through one man had been taken to the hospital and a quiet night of waiting had turned into a emotional stand for dozens of protesters “There is no loss,” said Trinette Furtado who served as a legal observer during the protests “If there is anyone of you amongst us that thinks that this has been a loss tonight Police arrested two women and four men in the demonstration the rest of the crowd had left the grassy triangle outside King Kekaulike High School where protesters started gathering at 6 p.m The convoy carrying materials for the Daniel K Inouye Solar Telescope made it to the summit between 7:30 and 7:45 a.m according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources Crater Road and Haleakala National Park’s summit road were closed until 2 p.m and sunrise viewing for the day was canceled In a nightlong protest that was mostly peaceful but grew heated near the end more than 60 law enforcement personnel from the Maui Police Department Haleakala National Park and the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement responded People who were following the wide load from the Puunene baseyard provided updates to the protesters in Pukalani on the progress of the convoy As the trucks approached King Kekaulike High School at around 3:45 a.m. protesters held a lei ceremony in the intersection and cordoned the street off with yellow crime scene tape About a dozen protesters linked arms inside pipes and connected their wrists with carabiners attached to chain bracelets police officers advised protesters to leave the road or risk arrest protesters drowned out the words with boos and laughter they’re telling us that they’re here to protect they’re here to malama,” Waiehu Kou resident and protester Ka’apuni Aiwohi said later We’re the ones protecting the mountain.’ ” traditional altars constructed of poles bound together in a teepee-like fashion “To me that was like the center of everything because we are going through this desecration up here (on Haleakala),” Aiwohi said “So we put up these lele to kind of offset it Even though we’re not the ones doing it we’re still all responsible for it.” University of Hawaii Maui College professor Kaleikoa Kaeo was one of those who joined the human chain “We’re really trying to showcase that we’ve never given consent to what has been occurring on Haleakala,” Kaeo said before the trucks arrived “We’re prepared really to do whatever is necessary to stop the transport what lands can we protect as Hawaiians?” The chain of protesters laid down on the road bolted in front of one of the trucks as a pair of officers rushed to restrain him Henderson dove under the axle of the same truck “Run my head over!” as the shouts of protesters intensified Another officer finally convinced him to come out from under the truck Henderson and Kaeo were arrested along with 43-year-old Jonathan Kaeo of Pukalani 26-year-old Monika Sipaite Kerr of Kahului 18-year-old Shalia Henderson of Pukalani and 39-year-old David Prais of Kahului They were released on their own recognizance — which meant they didn’t have to post bail — and given court dates one man required medical attention at the scene He lay on his back and appeared unresponsive as concerned protesters and police knelt by his side checking his vital signs paramedics took him to the Maui Memorial Medical Center emergency room where he was evaluated and released back into police custody It was still unclear Wednesday how the man ended up on the ground unresponsive one of the protesters who also joined the human chain said he saw an officer with his knee pressed against the man’s face and that the man said he couldn’t breathe Okamoto said Wednesday that the department would “have to look into these claims.” “I feel like the police did their job,” Revard said “I felt like I was handled pretty well didn’t get that same experience.” his carabiner accidentally detached from the person next to him and “instantly it felt like all the panic that was happening felt magnified “I managed to slip the tube back on and grab his hand and he just looked at me and was holding my hand so goddamn tight,” Revard said “I don’t think I’ve ever felt a moment of connection and strength and unity within a purpose as strong as I have (tonight).” Wailuku resident Melissa Hershberger described the confrontation with police as “full of love but also separation at the same time.” “Seeing the dividing lines but knowing we’re all one I had a few moments where I just locked eyes with the officer that backed me up the whole time,” Hershberger said “I’ve never experienced anything like that before that he felt what we were preaching.” Though the successful delivery took the telescope one step closer to completion vowed that the demonstrations would continue “For us it’s not as if it’s built and it’s over,” University of Hawaii Maui College professor Kahele Dukelow said “We still look forward to the day where we take all those telescopes off atop of our mountain “So this really is about educating our people to say that just because something is done doesn’t mean you can’t reverse it.” According to project director Thomas Rimmele there are no other wide loads scheduled for delivery the rest of this year * Colleen Uechi can be reached at cuechi@mauinews.com The next generation of Nakashima’s (taken pre-pandemic pre-mask mandate) Top Left to Right: Michelle Nakashima Megan Nakashima; Bottom Left to Right: Matthew Nakashima As Pukalani Superette celebrates its 65th anniversary this month the business is passing the torch to a new generation of leadership Megan Nakashima has been installed as President of Tanizaki Ltd dba Pukalani Superette with Aric and Myles Nakashima now serving as co-Vice Presidents This means that Pukalani Superette will officially return to being female operated just like in the days when Sumiko Nakashima oversaw the store Megan is the daughter of Aric Nakashima and Robin Nikaido and is the eldest grandchild of the late Sumiko and Aki Nakashima She was born and raised in Pukalani and attended Pukalani Elementary She worked in the store during summer breaks Megan went on to do a brief stint at Columbia University in New York City before finishing her Bachelor’s of Science at University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa She went on to obtain her Master’s of Science in Molecular Biology at UH Mānoa Graduating during a recession meant that she needed to shift gears She gave up her lab coat and her plants to work in the life insurance industry she worked her way up from a temp clerical job to manager of Group Administration at Pacific Guardian Life in Honolulu She credits her management training and style to her mentors there Megan returned to Maui and to Pukalani Superette in February 2019 and assumed the role of Director of Community Outreach and Brand Manager at the store They participated in the Makawao Rodeo for the first time They’ve contributed to supporting local artists by allowing their store front to be painted with murals of horses nicknamed “Puk” and “Sup” as well as a now well known “building tattoo” of a Hawaiian Tel payphone that had to be removed Pukalani Superette’s commitment to support Pukalani Elementary’s 4th grade classes with school supplies was created by Megan and her brother Jayson as a thank you to the school for making such a big impact on their and their cousins’ childhoods Pukalani Superette has been a long-time champion of the local farmer and local products but they have recently made a big push to bring locally made items and produce into the spotlight local farmer names are now included on produce labels so that customers can be more informed on where their food is sourced from Recently they held a giant made in Maui sale to highlight all the locally made products in their store Megan was behind the first free food distribution which took place in Pukalani She has continued to work through the pandemic with organizations like Common Ground Collective and Upcountry Strong to source food and raise donations for the food distributions to Upcountry residents she and her brother have also been integral in creating policies to keep employees safe and maintain communication with customers through social media and radio on changes and updates in the store “I am grateful that my dad and uncle trust me to lead the company for the next generation I look forward to working with my brother and my cousins on growing the company and putting our own mark on it I am confident that with my management team and all the hardworking employees we have Pukalani Superette is prepared to navigate any challenge that may come our way.” The Maui Police Department is seeking the public’s help with any information regarding an individual involved in an alleged assault at a Pukalani home reported on Sunday Police say the unknown male entered the home and allegedly assaulted a homeowner Police released the following photo in association with their investigation: Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Oran Satterfield at 808-244-6431 or the department’s non-emergency number at 808-244-6400 For individuals wishing to remain anonymous contact Maui Crime Stoppers at 808-242-6966 The Department of Water Supply reports that repair crews were able to redirect water flow to re-establish water service in Pukalani on Monday afternoon although residents and businesses will likely get low water pressure.Work will continue on Tuesday to repair the broken main waterline The Department of Water Supply is reporting a water outage today in Pukalani from Aina Lani Drive to Keikilani Street because of a break in an 8-inch main waterline The break occurred in a remote and difficult-to-reach gulch below Kamehameha Schools and the water outage is estimated continue until 4 p.m About 500 homes and businesses are affected Water tankers are located at the intersection of Keikilani and Nalani streets and at the intersection of Nalani and Liholani streets Customers need to bring containers to fill with water residents and businesses may experience brown water They should flush their waterlines by running their water faucets for a while before using water Inflation is hitting everyone’s pocketbooks including the longtime families running Hawaii’s mom and pop businesses “Guess what I got?” Shawn Fujisawa boomed as he burst through the grocery store’s side door onto the loading dock The 37-year-old is the president of Pukalani Superette a small-town grocery store that her family opened almost seven decades earlier The store has long been known for its shelves full of fresh but mustard cabbage has been especially difficult to stock lately — along with almost everything else it seems drought and the dire overpopulation of deer on Maui that can destroy months of a farmer’s hard work in a single night a longtime employee unloaded a shipment of bread and eggs There were fewer than normal because it’s been slower since Thanksgiving but it was expected to get busier with the lunch rush It’s all part of the draw to keep their loyal customers coming back; they could just as easily drive to Foodland where there are more aisles and sometimes cheaper prices Everyone knows the big green building on the corner of Makawao Avenue and Old Haleakala Highway home to one of Maui’s rare mom and pop businesses that’s still run by the same family that founded it Pukalani Superette’s humble beginnings trace back nearly a century who moved from Japan to work on the plantations in what was then a sleepy small town in the middle of ranch land and farms The small business has survived a lot over the decades but the challenges over the last few years have been especially tough Gas prices went up and so did shipping costs everything is expensive,” said Debasis Bhattacharya a business professor at the University of Hawaii Maui College businesses have no other choice but to pass them on to customers but it can be even more difficult for small establishments like Pukalani Superette They don’t have the same leverage as large chains like Walmart or Foodland to negotiate lower prices or maintain pallets worth of back-up supplies in case a shipment comes late But there’s also a huge upside of being small and family-run Pukalani Superette has a loyal customer base that it’s nurtured over decades; Bhattacharya said he’s been one of those customers Many Maui residents recognize that it’s worth paying a little more for a bag of rice or loaf of bread to keep places like this alive “It’s exactly the same as 20 years ago when I was a tourist here on Maui,” Bhattacharya said “Not much has changed … that’s the charm of mom and pop businesses.” Nakashima grew up working in Pukalani Superette with her parents she thought she wanted to become a scientist She studied at Columbia University then earned a master’s in molecular biology at the University of Hawaii In 2020, she took over as the store’s president She credits the business’s existence today to the decisions made by those who came before her One of the pivotal ones: Her great-grandparents purchased the land the store sits on today It’s been in Nakashima’s family so long that the original deeds are in Hawaiian she decided to raise the store’s minimum pay to around $18 an hour after Hawaii lawmakers passed a bill that would eventually raise the state minimum to that level in 2028 the decision was simple; her business was inevitably going to feel the financial effects in the future and her employees had kept the store going through an incredibly challenging last couple years She’s tried to come up with other ways to ensure the store succeeds through another generation She also stocks more specialty and health foods like organic Molokai honey Maui-grown kale and cassava flour for people trying to avoid wheat Pukalani Superette used to bring in pallets worth of Vienna sausage and spam on a regular basis who’ve aged along with the store itself have been told by their doctors to watch what they eat Nakashima has also ramped up the store’s presence on social media She’s able to reach more people that way but she’s also been accused of price gouging Others complain the prices aren’t as cheap as Foodland Nakashima wishes customers knew there’s a simple formula used to decide prices Pukalani Superette purchases goods from distributors or directly from farmers It’s the same markup across the entire store if they know a sudden price hike is temporary they’ll take the hit and not adjust prices But when things have risen as much as they have over the last year keeping up is the only way to keep the lights on and employees paid the store has also served as a stepping stone for smaller local farmers and food producers to get their products into stores before moving up to bigger chains Nakashima tries to make sure that 60% to 75% of the store’s produce comes from farmers in Hawaii but sometimes Maui’s growers lose crops to deer and the store has to rely on more expensive mainland imports a case of 25 to 35 heads of lettuce might cost around $50 it’s up to around $185 —  so pricey that staff ended up putting signs out warning customers How can we sell a box of cereal for $9?” said Irene Aguilar who oversees the shipment of dry goods like rice “Maybe we have to take a smaller margin,” she continued she’s seen lots of Maui businesses come and go She turns 80 next year and has been working at Pukalani Superette since 1970 When she started working there as a young mother Now it’s covered in lights from new businesses schools and homes with thousands of more people Next year will mark her 53rd anniversary at the grocery store Aguilar remembers some of the customers from when they were babies in strollers get married and bring in children of their own Although her memory isn’t as clear as it once was she said she doesn’t ever remember it being this hard or expensive to keep the shelves stocked The shipments that always used to arrive on Tuesdays are often late; sometimes they don’t come until Saturday it’s been hard to get basic things that families need for festivities there is one thing the store has in abundance: mayonnaise Aguilar has always ordered shipments of dry goods but somehow she accidentally ordered about eight shippers of mayonnaise — roughly the equivalent of four pallets worth — instead of eight cases She was shocked when the delivery of pallets arrived the other day “I don’t know what we’re going to do with the mayonnaise,” Aguilar told Nakashima “All the employees are getting a jar of mayonnaise for Christmas!” Civil Beat’s coverage of Maui County is supported in part by grants from the Nuestro Futuro Foundation and the Fred Baldwin Memorial Foundation Near the intersection of Old Haleakalā Highway and Makawao Avenue Pukalani Superette has been at this corner serving the Upcountry community.  From fresh produce to firewood and lightbulbs it’s the main convenience store for essentials for residents Affectionately nicknamed “Puk Sup” (pronounced pook soup) the multi-generational grocery store is known for its enduring charm A few shoppers even refer to it as Tanizaki Store Nakashima’s great-grandparents operated a stall on Market Street in Wailuku called Tanizaki Store the Tanizakis relocated their business to Pukalani.  the Tanizakis expanded their Upcountry stall building a new and larger store next to the original the doors to the new store swung open in 1955 marking 66 years at its landmark location this December “We changed the name to Pukalani Superette to be more reflective of the community we were in,” Nakashima explains Pukalani Superette has been emblematic of the Upcountry neighborhoods Pukalani Superette evolved to accommodate the needs of its shoppers.  The store once sold 50-pound packages of animal feed when farmers were their primary patrons more residents settled into Upcountry neighborhoods—now the stores only sells 5-pound bags of feed—and lifestyles shifted to including more health-conscious eating habits Pukalani Superette has had to increase its selection of health and organic foods to include brands like Bob’s Red Mills and offer gluten-free alternatives.  But there are also items and features that haven’t completely changed at the mom-and-pop shop Pukalani Superette continues to reign popular for grab-and-go foods including bentos lau lau and its famous chili chicken.  A post shared by Pukalani Superette (@pukalanisuperette) “These recipes come from old women,” Nakashima jokes there were six old women making the hot food We just built on those old recipes.”  The multi-generational provisions make Pukalani Superette’s comfort food evoke nostalgia Former Maui residents and homesick college students long for a warm bento “I get messages from the Mainland from homesick people asking for the recipe Usually the chili chicken and tako (octopus) poke,” says Nakashima The grab-and-go bentos at Pukalani Superette.Photo: Courtesy of Pukalani Superette The chili chicken is worth the trip to Pukalani Superette for fried chicken thighs with spicy chili flakes There’s now fried chili tofu for vegetarians to experience that same great flavor.  even the prized chili chicken recipe has also gone through its own alterations “We’ve evolved as we have had the sources The original chili chicken recipe has togarashi in it We don’t have it anymore because it’s too expensive to use in bulk I’d be willing to bring it back and call it old-school chili chicken,” Nakashima says Old school is synonymous with Pukalani Superette It’s the leading store to find the Island’s iconic goods all in one place Operating like an outpost for similar decades-old establishments there are boxes of cream horns from Stillwell’s Bakery and butter rolls from Four Sisters Bakery In addition to Miyako Sushi’s Spam musubi and sushi the snack aisle is stocked with their Dill Ranch pretzels and sweet cheese puffs Working with local businesses and farmers has always been a priority for Pukalani Superette.  “We have long long business relations with companies on Maui,” Nakashima notes No Ka Oi Tofu and Sam Sato’s noodles.  While these relationships have lasted decades and generations the store continues to make space for budding Maui businesses “We’ve done a really strong push to get as many in and encourage local.”  From Maui-made frozen desserts to hot sauces there’s an array of local products to choose from Be tempted by Coconut Glen’s ice cream and Haleakalā Creamery’s “goatlato.” Or test the heat of Shark Bite Hot Sauce and Honolua Hot Sauce.  Megan Nakashima of Pukalani Superette.Photo: Grace Maeda Pukalani Superette promotes local businesses and also actively supports the public the business organizes ongoing food distributions at no cost for families affected by job losses and food shortages.  “Our distributors also supply to the hotels They realized they have a lot of surpluses and offered us the chance to buy at a discount in the spirit that it will be donated,” recalls Nakashima “We bought as much as we could afford We saw the impact and how many people needed it and continued.” Tending to customers and employees is a core value that has been preserved at the family-run store instilled in her that taking care of the community and her team goes hand-in-hand.  Megan Nakashima has been president for a year leading with fresh ideas and creating new avenues for the business “So far it’s been very surprising seeing that the new blood has directions that I never thought of,” Aric Nakashima says “I’ve been here for 40-something years and there are things we’ve never experienced That’s all within the first year she’s been working.” The new president helped build a larger spotlight for local farmers She has also been the driving force behind food distribution pick-ups during the pandemic the store is experiencing change but she preserves the core feeling of family between businesses The Maui Police Department is asking for assistance in identifying a male involved in a burglary that happened on March 5 The Maui Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying a male involved in a burglary reported on Sunday Police advise that the public does not follow or approach a suspect Anyone with information is asked to call Maui police at (808) 244-6400 and refer to report #17-009457 *The above information was provided by authorities and individuals are considered innocent unless and until they are proven guilty.