🌱 How will Bill 9 reshape housing options for Lahaina fire survivors?

Good morning Lahaina! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How will Bill 9 reshape housing options for Lahaina fire survivors?
• How Lahaina’s wildfires are reshaping insurance costs across Hawaii.

Also on today's calendar: Coconut Frond Weaving and 5 more events.

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Lahaina? Post it to Lahaina photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: Times of clouds and sun, with a high of 84 and low of 70 degrees.
• Wednesday: Partly sunny, temps: high: 84, low: 69.
• Thursday: An a.m. shower; partly sunny, with a high of 82 and low of 70 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Maui council passes Bill 9 to claim tourist rentals for local housing (asamnews.com) — Maui County has passed Bill 9, a major shift that will phase out Airbnb-style rentals in thousands of units and potentially free more long-term housing for Lahaina residents displaced by the fires. Supporters, including Lahaina fire survivors and local unions, see it as a hopeful step toward keeping Hawaiian families housed, while some councilmembers warn it could hurt tourism and may not deliver enough units. The law begins taking effect in West Maui in 2029, with options for owners to sell, live in, or long-term rent their properties.
   

• Escalating climate disasters could make homes uninsurable, new report warns (staradvertiser.com) — Lahaina’s 2023 wildfires helped trigger a broader insurance retreat in Hawaii, leaving many condo associations struggling to find coverage and facing massive fee hikes. A new report warns that without swift statewide reforms, more homes could become uninsurable or unsellable, especially older condos that local working families rely on. It also urges making major polluters help pay for climate-driven disaster costs.
   

📸 Around Lahaina

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Lahaina

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Thursday December 18

• Winter Solstice Cacao + Sound Ceremony
  Spa Montage Kapalua Bay, 1 Bay Dr, Lahaina
  4:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday December 18

• Coconut Frond Weaving
  Whalers Village , 2435 Kaanapali Pkwy , Lahaina
  4:30 pm
• Live Music Accompanied by Hula Show
  Hula Grill Kaanapali , 2435 Kaanapali Pkwy , Lahaina
  5:30 pm
• Live Entertainment – Ben Uyetake
  Kimo's Maui , 845 Front St a , Lahaina
  6:00 pm

Friday December 19

• HKFEvents: HKF Presents Ukulele Master Arlie Avery Asiu at Duke's Beach House Maui
  Duke's Beach House Maui , 130 Kai Malina Pkwy , Lahaina
  12:30 pm
• Duke’s Beach House Maui
  Duke's Beach House Maui , 130 Kai Malina Pkwy , Lahaina
  12:30 pm
• Maui Preparatory Pueo vs Lanai High & Elementary School
  Maui Preparatory Academy , 4910 HI-30 , Lahaina
  7:00 pm

Saturday December 20

• Live Music Accompanied by Hula Show
  Hula Grill Kaanapali , 2435 Kaanapali Pkwy , Lahaina
  5:30 pm

📣 Lahaina Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Wednesday December 17

• Wildlife Wednesdays with Hawai’i Wildlife Discovery Center
  Whalers Village , 2435 Kaanapali Pkwy , Lahaina
  10:00 am

Sunday December 21

• HKFEvents: HKF Presents HKF On the Rise Artist Anthony Pfluke at Duke's Beach House Maui
  Duke's Beach House Maui , 130 Kai Malina Pkwy , Lahaina
  3:00 pm

Wednesday December 24

• Christmas 2025 — Taverna Maui
  Taverna , 2000 Village Rd , Lahaina
  4:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• I have been away for several weeks.
  I am retuning tomorrow. My family is coming to stay with us for Christmas, including seven grandchildren. Could anyone recommend a place where I… (Nextdoor Kapalua)
• Just saw a large unfixed dog with golden and white long fur running down( fast) Hui f in Napili ....
  hopefully he knows where he's running to but if not please know your dog is on Hui F (Nextdoor Kapalua)

• Marriott International posted a job opening for Public Area Attendant in Lahaina. Apply here.
• Troon posted a job opening for Housekeeper in Lahaina. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Lahaina here.

🗞 Nearby News

Wailuku

• Mark your calendars for these upcoming holiday events (mauinews.com)

Kahului

• Morning Mākeke announces one-day holiday market Dec. 20 in Kahului (mauinow.com)
• Maui Surf Forecast for December 15, 2025 (mauinow.com)

Wailea

Ok Lahaina! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don't know, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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