Russian spy ship spotted off Hawaii, Green names military land advisory panel, Mauna Kea Thirty Meter Telescope plan draws public opposition, Seaglider completes feasibility study, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Coast Guard monitors Russian spy ship off Hawaii’s coast. U.S. Coast Guard officials said they are monitoring a Russian naval intelligence ship that has been lingering just outside U.S. territorial waters close to the Hawaiian islands for at least two weeks and is currently about 15 miles off the coast of Hawaii Island. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Now.

Hawaiʻi Governor Names Advisory Panel For Military Land Negotiations. Gov. Josh Green announced a 10-member advisory committee composed  mostly of Native Hawaiians to weigh in on land lease negotiations with the U.S. military Thursday, hours before Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustees voted to take a more aggressive approach to inserting the organization into the process. Civil Beat. Big Island Now.  Kauai Now.  Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Lawmakers, advocates defend mail-in voting. State lawmakers and voting­-rights advocates gathered at the state Capitol on Thursday to oppose a recent recommendation from the Hawaii Elections Commission to eliminate universal mail-in voting and return to single-day, in-person elections. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. KHON2. 

Commission wants more candidates to request public funds for their campaigns. Candidates running for office across Hawaiʻi are requesting less public funding for their campaigns, the state Campaign Spending Commission says. Hawaii Public Radio.

Environmental law firm says recent BLNR decisions may not be legally valid. An environmental law firm contends that recent decisions made by the state Board of Land and Natural Resources may not be legally valid for lack of a certain kind of member. Hawaii News Now.

New interisland transportation service is one step closer to coming to fruition. REGENT, the developer of electric Seaglider vessels, just completed a feasibility study to see how ready Hawaii’s infrastructure is for this type of transportation. Hawaii News Now.

Federal corruption inquiry still going following 3 convictions. The acting U.S. Attorney for Hawaii told the state House speaker that a public corruption probe that convicted two state legislators and a Maui County official for bribery remains “active” and that any parallel state probe could interfere — also clarifying that a bribery offense referred to in court documents did not involve an “influential state legislator” mentioned elsewhere in court filings. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Elderly Honolulu Architect Convicted For Attempted $20 Bribe. 92-year-old architect Kiyoshi Toi,  who tried to slip a Honolulu permit worker a $20 bill, has been convicted of bribery of a public servant and now faces potential prison time.  Civil Beat.

Honolulu’s Crackdown Traps Homeless In Loop Of Citations. Ticketing of Honolulu’s homeless population ballooned after the mayor pledged to get 1,000 people off the street in a year, but the effort tends to involve familiar faces. Civil Beat.

Honolulu’s speed enforcement cameras off to slow start with zero citations. Hawaii’s new speed enforcement camera system has issued zero speeding citations in its first 12 days of operation at 10 intersections, despite state officials issuing half a million warnings over the prior seven months. A computer programming glitch has prevented citations from being processed, according to state officials. Hawaii News Now.

Multinational exercise prepares soldiers for high-tech warfare. The 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks is in the closing stages of its annual Hawaii rotation of its Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center training as it puts one of the Army’s first “mobile brigades” to the test. Star-Advertiser.

UH wants $5M in taxpayer funds to recruit, retain college athletes. In a public meeting with state legislators on Wednesday, University of Hawaiʻi officials said the school will ask for $5 million from the state to pay potential students to play at the university.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Kailua roundabout project completed at last. It took three years and cost an estimated $11 million due to numerous hurdles and delays. Star-Advertiser.

Waipahu Intermediate to close Friday due to 8-inch water main break. The break was reported at around 6 p.m. Thursday on Waikele Road fronting Waipahu Intermediate School, and Board of Water Supply crews are working to repair it. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Green’s TMT letter draws strong opposition at Maunakea authority meeting. The Maunakea Stewardship and Oversight Authority took no vote Thursday but heard hours of testimony sparked by Gov. Josh Green’s recent letter outlining a path for permitting the Thirty Meter Telescope on a previously developed site atop Maunakea. Tribune-Herald.

Saddle Road speed limit could be lowered to 55 mph. State Sen. Lorraine Inouye, who introduced a bill that in 2017 increased the speed limit on portions of the Daniel K. Inouye Highway from 55 mph to 60 mph, said she thinks it’s time to roll the speed limit back to 55. Tribune-Herald.

Scouting America could sell Camp Honokaia. The executive board of Scouting America’s Aloha Council recently authorized staff to explore a range of options for Camp Honokaia near Honokaa, including selling it, leasing it or partnering with a third party. Tribune-Herald.

White Guava Café passes DOH inspection. The state Department of Health’s Food Safety Branch authorized the reopening of White Guava Café and issued a green “pass” placard during a follow-up inspection Thursday. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Fight Over The Future Of East Maui Water Returns To The State Land Board. The battle over who controls one of the island’s major water sources — a foreign company or a county board — appears headed to a contested case hearing. Civil Beat.

Biggest water users in West Maui before fire were non-owner-occupied homes, report finds. Nearly 100 applications for existing use water permits in West Maui show that single-family homes were the biggest users of water before the August 2023 wildfire, with some non-owner-occupied homes consuming even more water than ones lived in by owners, according to a report released Wednesday by state water commission staff.  Maui Now.

Maui Council gives final approval for Wailuku Executive Center purchase. The Maui County Council has given final approval to public acquisition of the four-story Wailuku Executive Center for $10 million to buy and renovate the property as the new headquarters for the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney. Maui Now.

Maui County Council backs Kamehameha Schools in lawsuit. The resolution comes as Kamehameha Schools’ admissions policy favoring Native Hawaiians faces a new lawsuit from Students for Fair Admissions, a conservative group based in Arlington, Virginia, that successfully challenged affirmative action in college admissions in 2023. Maui News.

Kauai

Preparing to care for The Kauai Bus future. A new 35-foot electric bus was parked on the side of Hoolako Road on Thursday when the county, project partners and community members broke ground on the Kauai Bus Baseyard Expansion Project that is located across Hoolako Road from the Vidinha Stadium soccer fields. Garden Island. Kauai Now. 

State notifies public about upcoming full closure of Wailuā River Bridge. Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation notifies the public about the planned upcoming full closure of Wailuā River Bridge over Kūhiō Highway, also known as Highway 56, between Kuamoʻo Road and North Leho Drive. The bridge will be closed from 6 to 10 a.m. Nov. 16. Kauai Now.

Case, Tokuda vote no as federal shutdown ends, businesses hurt by Honolulu rail construction struggle for compensation, West Maui water study released, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii’s U.S. House members vote against reopening government, citing lack of health care assurances. Hawaii’s two House members voted against reopening the federal government, saying the legislation contained no guarantees to prevent insurance premiums from rising for island residents who purchase their health coverage through the Affordable Care Act marketplace. Star-Advertiser. KHON2. 

Green Fee Advisory Council to give update about project evaluation, recommendations. The Green Fee Advisory Council will host a webinar next week via Zoom to update the public about its ongoing evaluation criteria along with timelines and next steps in its recommendation process for possible Green Fee projects. Kauai Now.

Hawaiʻi DOE Spending More On Buses For Fewer Students. Schools have fewer bus drivers than before the Covid-19 pandemic, but statewide costs for student transportation have increased. Civil Beat.

AlohaCare expands access to medical equipment for Medicaid, Medicare patients. AlohaCare currently serves about 80,000 residents in Hawaiʻi who have Medicaid and Medicare coverage. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Honolulu Businesses Hurt By Rail Construction Find City Help Falls Short. It took years for the city to set up a program helping businesses that were negatively impacted by rail construction. Now, that program is underutilized and insufficient, business owners say. Civil Beat.

Bribery Case: Architect, 92, On Trial For Failed $20 Gift To City Worker. An elderly architect tried to slip an employee what he called a gratuity. County prosecutors say it was a bribe. A judge will decide. Civil Beat.

Honolulu urged to reduce water usage by 20% . Honolulu Board of Water Supply urged Oahu residents to cut their water usage by 10% when the Halawa Shaft was closed due to Red Hill contamination, and that request doubled in 2025. KHON2.

OHA receives $2M grant for environmental cleanup and redevelopment of Kaka‘ako Makai. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has been awarded a federal Brownfields Assessment Grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to begin critical environmental assessments and planning for the revitalization of 29 acres of Kaka‘ako.  Hawaii News Now.

Ex-informant allegedly killed trying to collect debt. Jonnaven Jo Monalim, 55, was not killed out of retribution for his work as a federal informant during the 2004 Pali Golf Course murder investigation, according to authorities.  Star-Advertiser. KHON2. 

Eligible Oʻahu veterans to get $20 vehicle registration fee exemption. Military veterans 65 and older on Oʻahu will be given a $20 exemption from their annual vehicle registrations. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi has signed a bill that makes the exemption a city law. It will go into effect next July. Hawaii Public Radio.

Chef Chai closed for operating without valid permit. Chef Chai was shut down Wednesday after health investigators said its new owner lacked a valid permit.The restaurant, located at 1009 Kapiolani Blvd., is now owned by Pomaikai Culinary Group, LLC. Hawaii News Now. Star-Advertiser. 
 
Hawaii Island

Input sought on DOT plan to add bus stops, bike lanes, charging stations. Hawaii Island residents should see a significant boost in bike lanes, bus stop improvements, and electric vehicle infrastructure as the Hawaii Department of Transportation moves forward with its Priority Multimodal Network Plan. Tribune-Herald.

How Overhauling A Big Island Sewer Plant Is Energizing A Long-Stalled Park. A lawsuit over a controversial wastewater system in Kona may finally lead to development of a new regional park. Civil Beat.

What's causing Hāmākua's extraordinary fire season? Hāmākua on the northern coast of Hawaiʻi Island has had more than 90 fires so far this year — three times higher than average. Human activity is responsible for the majority of wildland fires. Hawaii Public Radio.

HECO works to restore South Kohala power after being shut off due to wildfire risk. Hawaiian Electric initiated a public safety power shutoff — proactively shutting off power — in South Kohala because of the threat of wildfires from high winds and dry conditions. Hawaii News Now.  Big Island Now.

Maui

West Maui water usage study to underpin better regulation ahead. The Commission on Water Resource Management published an analysis Wednesday on surface and groundwater consumption by West Maui property owners, which will be used to better regulate the public trust resource in an area plagued by severe drought and dominated by private water system operators. Star-Advertiser.

Disabled Maui residents still struggle 2 years after wildfires, report finds. More than two years after the Aug. 8, 2023, Maui wildfires, disabled residents remain among the least recovered — still facing unstable housing, steep income losses and worsening health — according to a new report from the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization. Star-Advertiser.

Play returns to the Plantation as owner donates $750K to Maui nonprofits. About four dozen golfers ages 10 to 17 teed off at the pro-level Kapalua Plantation Course on Sunday — just after watching three junior golf nonprofits receive one big check. Maui News.

Upcountry Maui water shortage downgraded to Stage 1. Following recent rainfall that improved surface water flows and replenished reservoirs, the County of Maui Department of Water Supply (DWS) is suspending the Stage 2 Upcountry water shortage and downgrading it to a Stage 1. Maui Now.

Kauai

County Charter Review Commission invites public comment on proposed amendments. Kaua‘i County Charter Review Commission is considering several changes to the Kaua‘i County Charter that could appear on the 2026 General Election ballot. Kauai Now.

Public can give input on update of county Multi-Hazard Mitigation and Resilience Plan. Garden Isle community members are invited to help update the 5-year Kaua‘i County Multi-Hazard Mitigation and Resilience Plan — a key to strengthening community preparedness and reducing risks from natural disasters. Kauai Now.

State declined to investigate third bribery suspect in Legislature, federal shutdown cancels Veterans Day ceremonies at National Memorial Cemetery, questions surround PUC chairman's abrupt resignation, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

State agencies declined to investigate third legislator in bribery case, internal letters show. Since May, two state representatives have tried unsuccessfully to get the attorney general and two commissions to take action in a public corruption probe. Hawaii News Now.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs says governor rushing deal over military training lands. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is demanding a seat at the table as Gov. Josh Green works to negotiate new military training land leases with the federal government. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiʻi’s Top Utility Regulator Abruptly Steps Down. Outgoing PUC Chair Leo Asuncion gave no reason for leaving before his term is up. Hawaiʻi’s top utility regulator has announced his resignation amid a staff exodus and criticism for failing to implement programs designed to push the state toward its goal of generating all electricity with renewable resources by 2045. Civil Beat.

Community input sought for Statewide Historic Preservation Plan. DLNR’s State Historic Preservation Division is beginning the process to update the Statewide Historic Preservation Plan, which will guide preservation priorities, partnerships and strategies across Hawaiʻi through 2034. Maui Now.

State encourages hemp product retailers to register with DOH. The Hawaii Department of Health has announced a new initiative aimed at encouraging hemp product retailers and distributors to comply with state regulations that are set to take effect in 2026. Tribune-Herald.

Above-average rainfall could help ease drought. Wetter-than-normal conditions are likely across Hawaii in the coming months as a weak La Nina pattern influences the Pacific, according to the National Weather Service. Maui News.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs committee and board meetings to be broadcast by ʻŌlelo. ʻŌlelo Community Media, more commonly referred to as ‘Ōlelo, announces a new 5-year partnership with Office of Hawaiian Affairs to broadcast and stream its committee and board meetings. Big Island Now.

Young seabirds vulnerable with new moon. This month’s new moon coincides with the “seabird fallout” season when young ‘Ua‘u (Hawaiian petrels) and ‘Ua‘u kani (wedge-tailed shearwaters) leave their burrows for their first flights. The young seabirds trying to start their lives at sea can instead become disoriented by lights on land and fall to the ground, where they can be susceptible to predators and traffic. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Shutdown forces Oahu Veterans Day ceremony to move. Veterans gather at Foster Village, the USS Missouri, after traditional ceremonies canceled. The event was held in place of two ceremonies typically held on Oahu. Officials cancelled them after the federal government shutdown caused a lack of funding, staff, or resources. The cancellation meant no missing-man formation flying above the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl, no 21-gun salutes, and no military bands. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

Skyline daily riders skyrocket following Segment 2 opening. Skyline’s October ridership numbers have been released by the city, and the stats show that ridership has more than doubled, according to official Skyline documents. KHON2.

‘It’s a disaster’: High surf chips away at coastlines, worrying oceanfront residents. Hawaii currently prohibits homeowners from altering the shoreline in any way to protect their properties. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu Fire Department Relied On Risky Tactic In Deadly Blaze. Firefighters have a mantra: Risk a lot to save a lot. But a newly uncovered federal investigation into a firefighter’s death cautions fire departments against risking everything when they don’t know whether there’s anyone to save. Civil Beat.

Former Tripler gynecologist sued for allegedly secretly videotaping patients. A U.S. Army gynecologist who used to work at Tripler Medical Center is being sued for allegedly taking secret videos of his patients. Dr. Blaine McGraw is accused of secretly videotaping patients during intimate examinations. Hawaii News Now.

Job fair seeks to expand state workforce amid federal turmoil. The state Department of Human Resources Development is hosting the recruitment event under the Operation Hire Hawai‘i initiative begun in February, largely aimed at filling vacant state positions with skilled federal workers being displaced by Trump administration efforts to slash the size of federal government. Friday’s job fair is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Wahiawa Value-Added Product Development Center with 22 state agencies seeking to fill positions on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

City Council authorizes raises for HPD officers. Honolulu Police Department officers moved closer to banking their largest pay raise Opens in a new tab in 17 years after the City Council unanimously approved a new four-year collective bargaining agreement Nov. 4. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

‘Stand with pride’: Hawaii Island veterans honored for their service. While government workers and schoolchildren had a day off Tuesday, veterans and their families gathered to commemorate those who served the nation in uniform — both the living and those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Tribune-Herald.

Vietnam Medal of Honor recipient interned at West Hawai‘i Veterans Cemetery. Community and family members gathered at West Hawai‘i Veterans Cemetery on Tuesday to honor veterans from Hawai‘i Island, including Army Sgt. 1st Class Rodney Yano, who was killed in Vietnam in 1969. Big Island Now.

High surf forces closure of Hawaii Island beach parks, highway. Dangerous high surf conditions forced two beach parks and a major highway on Hawaii Island to close Tuesday. Bayfront Highway in Hilo remains closed after the high waves spread debris across the road. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Staff say Maui Job Corps’ urgent enrollment goal is to keep program alive. Maui’s only free live-in career training program for young adults is asking the community to help spread the word: Maui Job Corps Center in Makawao is open, enrolling and needs new students to stay active. Maui Now.

Maui Church Makes Space Amid Pews To House Fire Recovery Volunteers. The cost of renting a place to stay has been prohibitively expensive for some who want to come help the island rebuild. Now, there’s a new option. Civil Beat.

Evictions on Maui rapidly rising after moratorium ends. There was an eviction moratorium on Maui after the 2023 fires to help residents who were displaced by the disaster. That was lifted in February. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Shutdown doesn’t stop gratitude. Despite the obstacles created by the government shutdown, the Kauai Veterans Council, under the leadership of retired USAF Gen. Mary Kay Hertog, slogged ahead with the Veterans Day service on Tuesday at the Kauai Veterans Cemetery in Hanapepe. Garden Island.

Another 8-foot shark spotted in waters off Kaua‘i North Shore beach. Kaua‘i County Ocean Safety Bureau officials were telling people to stay out of the water in another area of the Garden Isle on Tuesday afternoon (Nov. 11) just 2 hours after making their first announcement to do the same elsewhere. The reason: Shark sightings. Kauai Now.

Charger shortage stymies EV use, immigration arrests surge, Kamehameha Schools sells prime Waikiki land, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

EV Use Has Skyrocketed In Hawaiʻi. Why Is It So Hard To Find A Charger? Electric vehicle registrations — which number about 40,000 cars statewide, compared to about one million gas-powered vehicle registrations — have doubled in the past three years and quadrupled in the past six, according to the state’s most recently published data from October. A snapshot from the U.S. Department of Energy shows just under 1,000 public chargers statewide, up from about 600 in 2019. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers are urged to act on clean energy cuts. Leah Laramee, coordinator of the Hawai‘i Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, told Sens. Karl Rhoads and Mike Gabbard at the Nov. 3 briefing that it would be incredibly helpful if more local tax credits were made available for renewable energy and climate change impact mitigation projects in the face of federal cutbacks driven by the administration of President Donald Trump. Star-Advertiser.

Profit and debt will fund $2B in Hawaiian Electric ventures. Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc., which owns Hawaiian Electric Co. serving Oahu, Hawaii island, Maui, Molokai and Lanai, anticipates investing between $1.75 billion and $2.35 billion from 2026 through 2028 in capital improvement projects funded by retained profits and recently issued debt. Star-Advertiser.

State seeks applicants to Public Utilities Commission. Gov. Josh Green announced that Public Utilities Commission Chair Leodoloff “Leo” Asuncion Jr. will be leaving his post on Nov. 17.  Kauai Now.

OHA: Give Native Hawaiians A ‘Meaningful Voice’ In Military Land Negotiations. The governor’s office is convening a Native Hawaiian advisory group to participate in the negotiation process, but the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is seeking a larger role.  Civil Beat.

Immigration arrests surge in Hawaii as federal agents target courthouses. Public arrests and large raids documented on social media are just the tip of the iceberg, according to statistics from the Deportation Data Project. There were 153 arrests in the first half of the year, compared to only 41 in the same period last year, and already far ahead of last year’s total of 89. Hawaii News Now.

Confusion over SNAP benefits for nearly 170,000 Hawaii residents. With the back and forth over SNAP benefits, many of Hawaii's EBT recipients still don't know whether or not they'll be able to put food on the table. KITV4.

Probe urged for lawmaker in corruption case. The speaker of the state House of Representatives is asking law enforcement officials to investigate allegations that an unnamed state lawmaker accepted $35,000 in campaign contributions in January 2022 during a federal public corruption probe. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Kamehameha Schools cashes in on Waikiki hotel land. Kamehameha Schools  reported selling the 10.3-acre parcel under the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Waikiki for $510 million to Japan-­based commercial real estate firm Daisho Co. The sale closed Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu City Council approves pay raise for police. On Tuesday, Nov. 4, the Honolulu City Council unanimously approved a new collective bargaining agreement that would grant officers a 27% raise through 2029. Hawaii News Now.

Community groups on the same side against Oʻahu North Shore gondola project. The Kamananui Agribusiness project wants to attract daily visitors for sight seeing and cultural education on the slopes of Mount Ka‘ala. The property was bought from the Dole Pineapple Company in 2017 and is now managed by Kaukonahua Ranch LLC, which received a conditional use permit in 2019. Hawaii Public Radio.

Ewa HOA Hawaiian flag policy sparks controversy. A policy in the Ewa by Gentry Community Association says that the current guidelines only permit the display of the American Flag, meaning all others, including the Hawaiian State flag, are not allowed. KHON2.

Increased shearwater fallout on Oahu ahead of peak season. Rescue centers are reporting unusually high numbers of disoriented native shearwaters crashing into the ground. The peak fallout season has not started yet, but experts say keeping your lights out could save lives. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Rain helps firefighters battle Mana Road blaze. Firefighters battling a wildfire that started Friday on Mana Road received an assist Sunday from Mother Nature. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.

Construction on the Keaʻau-Mountain View Public Library begins this week. The 13,885-square-foot Keaʻau-Mountain View Public Library is intended to replace the two public libraries serving upper Puna, which are attached to Keaʻau Middle School and Mountain View Elementary School. Big Island Now.

Lead contamination at Waiakea Intermediate raises concerns, disrupts meal preparations. Cafeteria meals for Waiakea Intermediate School students and staff are being prepared at Waiakea High School after the discovery of lead contamination in water from taps in the intermediate school’s kitchen. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Three people nominated to fill open seat on Maui County Council. The names of the three people who’ve been nominated are Virgilio “Leo” R. Agcolicol, Kelson Kauanoe Batangan and Carol Lee Kamekona. Maui News.

Maui Is Deploying Water Tanks Around The Island To Help Fight Fires. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources recently installed a 30,000-gallon storage tank and 10,000-gallon helicopter dip tank in South Maui — the first of several to be placed around the island to improve firefighting capabilities, according to Lance DeSilva, the department’s forest management supervisor on Maui. Civil Beat.

Where open land meets development, Maui residents urged to view risks like a firefighter. Wildfire experts were on Maui last month to train with local firefighters and educate community members about what it takes to battle blazes in the wildland-urban interface, which is the area where homes and open land meet. This was the case in the destructive August 2023 wildfires in Lahaina and Upcountry.  Maui Now.

Marine Institute to lead Hawaiian monk seal response program on Maui. The Marine Institute at Maui Ocean Center (MOCMI) is partnering with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to strengthen efforts to protect endangered Hawaiian monk seals on Maui. Maui Now. Maui News. 

Kauai

What a Kauaʻi County Councilmember witnessed at a recent immigration raid. Raids by the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations were carried out across Kauaʻi last Wednesday. County Councilmember Fern Holland was on the scene at 4 a.m. when law enforcement showed up at one house because she happened to live across the street. Hawaii Public Radio.

Have you been hungry? The County of Kauai, including the County Council, joined “the hardworking advocates focusing on homelessness solutions,” and recognized Nov. 16-22 as National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.  Garden Island.

Schatz, Hirono hold fast for health care, rejecting deal to reopen government; SNAP users remain in limbo over payments; state House speaker seeks answers on $35k bribe allegations, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

‘We are not done with this fight’: Hawaii senators reject deal to reopen government. Both Sens. Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz said the compromise, which does not include a guaranteed extension of health care subsidies, fails to address rising health care costs for millions of Americans. Hawaii News Now.

Tens of thousands of Hawaii SNAP recipients in limbo as states told to recover funds. Tens of thousands of Hawaii residents who rely on federal food assistance face renewed uncertainty after the Trump administration on Saturday directed states to undo the distributions and warned of financial penalties for noncompliance, telling states they must “immediately undo” any actions providing full benefits to low-income families. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

What’s Controversial? Teachers Grapple With Free Speech In Hawaiʻi Schools. A parent’s complaint after a class conversation about Charlie Kirk highlights the larger challenges schools face in teaching government and current events. Civil Beat.

House Speaker Seeks Answers About The $35,000 Mystery Money The FBI Revealed. Hawaiʻi House Speaker Nadine Nakamura is wading into the murky political and legal waters swirling at the State Capitol around whether another lawmaker took tens of thousands of dollars as a bribe. Civil Beat.

New state initiative launched to improve pedestrian, biking, transit access across Hawaiʻi. The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation has announced the launch of its Priority Multimodal Network, a statewide initiative identifying 113 projects designed to improve pedestrian, bicycle and transit access across the state highway system. Big Island Now.

Sports to play key role in Hawaii’s tourism new game plan. Over the weekend, the UH baseball team wrapped up a weeklong tour in Tokyo. backed by a $100,000 investment from the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, marked the team’s first international outing and is part of a broader push to position Hawaii as a global sports brand. Star-Advertiser.

Three Hawaii public schools have received top national honors for their work in career- connected education — part of the state’s efforts to integrate college and career readiness from elementary through high school. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu Police Commission cautious about giving mayor oversight of HPD chief. The Honolulu Police Commission appears cautious about some proposed changes to its structure and its oversight of the city's police department. Hawaii Public Radio.

City Council urges repeal of transit fare policy. The Honolulu City Council is urging the city administration to repeal a decades-old cost recovery policy for the city’s bus system to stave off service cuts and potential fare increases for low-income riders on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

‘Hell-Hole’ Building Tenants Gain Traction In Court As Conditions Deteriorate. For weeks, conditions have gone from deplorable to worse for residents of 1136 Union Mall, a derelict, downtown office building that’s been converted into makeshift residences without air conditioning or proper kitchens and bathrooms. Civil Beat.

Hawaii evictions loom as federal shutdown persists. An Oahu family headed by parents who are both working without pay for the shuttered federal government was evicted in the final days of October, and the Mediation Center of the Pacific expects more to follow as the country last week set a record for the longest shutdown in U.S. history. Star-Advertiser.

Former government informant found dead in Waipio. The body of 55-year-old Jonnaven Monalim was found Friday night in Waipio, the Honolulu Police Department confirmed Sunday. Monalim testified in federal court during the 2009 trial of his cousins Ethan Motta and Rodney Joseph Jr., who were charged with racketeering and murder and attempted murder in connection with the Jan. 7, 2004, shootings at Pali Golf Course, which left two men dead and another critically wounded. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. 

Pearl Harbor sites remain open during federal shutdown thanks to local funding. While several national parks and museums across the country have been forced to close or reduce operations during the ongoing federal government shutdown, Pearl Harbor’s historic sites remain open, thanks to local commitment, nonprofit support, and private funding. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Public can weigh in on proposed county raises. The public will have an opportunity to comment on a proposed 15.29% pay hike for Hawaii County’s top officials when the Salary Commission meets at 10 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 17. Tribune-Herald.

Plastic foodware ban postponed. If passed, the ordinance would ban plastic and polystyrene cups, lids, plates, bowls, trays, forks, spoons, stirrers, straws and knives. Tribune-Herald.

UH Hilo gets $15M for improvements. UH Hilo Vice Chancellor for Administrative Affairs Kalei Rapoza said the projects selected for the fiscal year 2026 funding are renovation and improvement of the air-conditioning systems, renovation and improvement of the agricultural facility to provide modern instruction, designing renovations and upgrades to student housing, and designing a “replacement of built-up roofing.” Tribune-Herald.

It could be a not-so-wet rainy season for the Big Island. East Hawaii has received steady rainfall the past few weeks, but the prospect of a rainier-than-normal wet season on the Big Island appears more hope than prediction, according to forecasters. Tribune-Herald.

Kīlauea Episode 36 Ends After 5 Hours Of High Lava Fountains. Episode 36 of the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption started and ended on Sunday, and lasted just under 5 hours.  Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. 

Maui

Maui County Mayor launches reelection campaign. Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen has announced his 2026 reelection campaign after winning over some initial skeptics during his handling of Maui’s devastating wildfires. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now. 

HDOT to host final meeting on Hāna Highway historic bridge improvements, Nov. 18. The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation, in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration Central Federal Lands Highway Division, will hold a public meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, to discuss planned improvements to six historic bridges along Hāna Highway (Route 360) between Huelo and Hāna town in East Maui. Maui Now.

Kauai

Public invited to provide feedback before final phase of Hanalei water line improvements.  The meeting will be from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the cafeteria at Hanalei Elementary School, 5-5415 Kūhiō Highway, on Wednesday. Kauai Now.

Hawaiʻi transportation department launches plan to improve pedestrian, biking, transit access. The virtual meeting for Kauaʻi will take place on Nov. 10 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Register here: Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams. Kauai Now.

Hawaii offers to pay TSA, FAA workers to keep planes flying, state SNAP money arriving earlier than expected, OHA to provide emergency relief to Native Hawaiians, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

State offers to pay TSA, FAA workers to spare Hawaii from air travel cuts. The state Department of Transportation has offered to advance the full salaries and benefits of Federal Aviation Administration air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration airport screeners assigned to Hawaii during the federal funding lapse in a bid to avoid a 10% cut to air traffic that could severely impact the state’s economy and public safety.  Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian, Southwest flights canceled for Friday due to FAA reduction requirements. Hawaiian Airlines has canceled four neighbor island flights scheduled for Friday, Nov. 7, due to flight reduction requirements by the Federal Aviation Administration. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Support via the Hawaiʻi Emergency Food Assistance Program is arriving to SNAP accounts ahead of schedule, officials say. An additional $250 in relief funds should be visible in SNAP accounts now, Governor Josh Green announced on Thursday. Big Island Video News. Hawaii News Now.

OHA outlines plan to administer $6.1M in emergency relief to Native Hawaiians. The office said that payments of up to $350 will go to kupuna (age 60 and holder), low-income adults, or disabled beneficiaries who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding but do not meet the criteria for the Hawaii relief program. Hawaii News Now.

Longtime OHA Leader Rowena Akana Has Died. Her tenure as a trustee was marked by a commitment to Native Hawaiians but also ethical challenges and board power struggles. A long-serving member of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees, Rowena Akana, has died. She was 82. Civil Beat.

Deep-sea mining risks disrupting the marine food web, study warns. Drilling for minerals deep in the ocean could have immense consequences for the tiny animals at the core of the vast marine food web — and ultimately affect fisheries and the food we find on our plates, according to a new study by University of Hawaii researchers. Associated Press.

Oahu

Should HART Be Allowed To Manage City Projects Beyond Honolulu Rail? Mayor Rick Blangiardi says he’s opposed to the idea but the rail authority has submitted a proposal to the Honolulu Charter Commission anyway. Civil Beat.

How parking spot mandates affect affordable housing in Honolulu. It’s been about five years since the City and County of Honolulu eliminated parking mandates for developers in the urban core, transit-oriented development districts, and areas within half a mile of a rail station. Hawaii Public Radio.

Honolulu councilmembers shift gears to limit cycling on sidewalks. A new bill moving through the city council is trying to clean up the language in the city’s traffic code, which says that bikes are not allowed on sidewalks in business districts. Hawaii Public Radio.

Police make arrests, seize $13k and 48 gambling machines after raids. The Honolulu Police Department said it seized cash, gambling machines, and made an arrest after raiding three game rooms this week. Hawaii News Now.

Thousands line up for food at Aloha Stadium as shutdown drags on. A line of cars stretched through the Aloha Stadium parking lot Thursday morning as more than 2,000 households pulled up for a drive-thru food distribution — the Hawai‘i Foodbank’s largest yet since the start of the federal government shutdown. Star-Advertiser.

City and nonprofits partner to protect East Honolulu ridge. The city’s purchase of the final parcel to the last undeveloped ridgeline in East Honolulu was lauded Thursday by area preservation groups and Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration. Star-Advertiser.

Infrastructure around King Kamehameha Statue is crumbling. The King Kamehameha Celebration Commission is worried about the crumbling infrastructure surrounding the statue. Hawaii Public Radio.

City starts master plan process for botanical garden that’s rocketed in popularity. The city started the process of finding ways to manage the increasing popularity of Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden, with a community workshop Thursday evening at Windward Community College. Hawaii News Now.

Prices jump 5.7% for Oahu home sales in October. The Honolulu Board of Realtors on Thursday reported that sale volume for previously owned homes on Oahu rose for condominiums but was flat for single- family houses last month compared with a year earlier, and that median sale prices were higher for both parts of the market. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Controversial Geothermal Firm Wants OHA To Invest $5 Million In A New Plant. Waikā Consulting said the agency’s involvement would lead to economic returns for Native Hawaiians, but it faced pushback from local communities on the Big Island. A geothermal consulting firm that came under fire earlier this year during taxpayer-funded outreach efforts on the Big Island is asking the Office of Hawaiian Affairs for a $5 million investment in exchange for a stake in a future $275 million geothermal plant. Civil Beat.

Nighttime military flight operations planned between Pōhakuloa, Kona airport, Hāwī. Pōhakuloa Training Area officials alert the public to scheduled nighttime military helicopter flight operations planned for tonight on Hawai‘i Island between the training camp in the saddle region between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport and Hāwī. Big Island Now.

Another Destructive Beetle Is Spreading, Killing Hawaiʻi’s Trees. Big Island farmers want the state to tackle the Queensland longhorn beetle before it spreads to the rest of the state and wreaks havoc like the coconut rhinoceros beetle.  Civil Beat.

Free Republican Party event features three speakers this Sunday. The West Hawaiʻi GOP is hosting an event in Kailua-Kona to grow membership and strengthen the conservative voice in West Hawaiʻi. Big Island Now.

Maui

Police officer reassigned after allegedly hitting handcuffed suspect. Officer under investigation for alleged misuse of force. A Maui Police officer is under investigation after the department reported a video surfaced on social media appearing to show the officer using unjustified force while taking a person into police custody. Maui News. Maui Now.  Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

County to clear area near Maui Lani Parkway and Waiale Road. With 13 fires in the area this year and calls for police up 174% over last year, the Maui County Emergency Management Agency plans to start removing dangerous debris and wildfire fuels from approximately 52 acres of county-owned land in Wailuku. Maui News.

Pulelehua zoning condition amendment gains Council committee approval, despite West Maui water scarcity concerns. A Maui County Council committee tried to breathe life Wednesday into the languishing 304-acre Pulelehua development in West Maui, a “shovel ready” housing project with the promise of hundreds of affordable units but long dying of thirst. Maui Now.

Residents detail water priorities for East Maui. Priorities include the county taking control of the East Maui water system and the creation of a new East Maui base yard, in addition to other infrastructure upgrades and watershed health initiatives. Maui News.

Kauai

West Kauaʻi highway becomes focus of new initiative to reduce nēnē deaths. A new conservation initiative is underway on Kauaʻi’s west side to address a troubling trend: frequent vehicle collisions with the endangered Hawaiian goose known across the islands as nēnē (Branta sandvicensis).  Kauai Now.

Kauai ICE raid leads to community concern, rumors. Council members and community organizers on Kauai are hoping to ease concerns on Thursday, Nov. 6, after an ICE raid led to dozens of arrests across the Garden Isle in the early morning hours of Wednesday, Nov. 5. KHON2.

Producers can now apply for compost reimbursement, including transportation costs. Hawai’i Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity Plant Industry Division is now accepting applications for the Compost Reimbursement Program for fiscal year 2026. Kauai Now.

Flight reductions coming to HNL, election commission votes to end vote by mail, ICE arrests 44 on Kauai, school chief gets huge raise, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

HNL on list of airports where FAA will reduce flights. FAA says it's cutting thousands of flights a day starting this week due to shutdown. Hawaii News Now. ABC.

Hawaiʻi Schools Chief Gets $45,000 Raise As His 4-Year Contract Is Renewed. DOE Superintendent Keith Hayashi also could see his salary rise up to $400,900 by the end of the decade if he continues to get good performance reviews. Civil Beat.  Star-Advertiser. KHON2. 

Hawaii elections commission calls for end to mail-in voting. The state elections commission has voted to ask the legislature to ban mail-in and early voting and return to traditional in-person voting on Election Day. Hawaii News Now.

OHA Chief Executive Sues Trustees For Retaliation, Damage To Reputation. Stacy Ferreira, who has been on leave from her position as the chief executive of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs since late September, alleged in a lawsuit filed Wednesday that Board Chairman Kai Kahele retaliated against her for reporting misconduct during the office’s budget sessions earlier this year and “orchestrated” her removal from office. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. 

Hawaii House leaders won’t investigate bribery scandal citing federal case. Circulating petition asks lawmakers to investigate one of their own. It's been a little more than a week since a petition was circulated to put pressure on state lawmakers to investigate one of their own. It stems from a public corruption case that sent two lawmakers to jail: Sen. J. Kalani English and Rep. Ty Cullen. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now.

Ban on e-bikes at Hawaii's public schools. New regulations announced for electric bicycles on school campuses, properties statewide. Hawai‘i Department of Education — effective immediately — implemented new regulations governing the use of electric bicycles, more commonly known as e-bikes, on all department campuses throughout the islands. Big Island Now. KITV4.

Green wants $10B in Hawaii benefits for future Army use of state lands. Gov. Josh Green is proposing a $10 billion deal for future use of state land by the Army for training if the federal government pursues condemnation for such use. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Now.

Hawaiian Airlines Changes Surfboard Policy After PR Wipeout. Travelers can now carry 10-foot, 5-inch surfboard bags on Hawaiian and Alaska Airlines flights. Civil Beat.

Honolulu-bound UPS plane crash kills 12; ‘black boxes’ found. U.S. federal safety investigators have located the “black box” recorders from the wreckage of a Hawaii-bound UPS cargo plane that crashed in flames on takeoff from the airport at Louisville, Kentucky, killing at least 12 people, officials said. Reuters.

Oahu

Queen Emma Land Co. Wants Former Tenant To Tear Down Historic Building. The controversy over the downtown Honolulu building pits one of Hawaiʻi’s oldest real estate services companies against an aliʻi trust established by Queen Emma to benefit her hospital. Civil Beat.

HPD shoots, kills ‘aggressive’ dog; 1 officer injured. Loved ones gathered in the Iwilei area to say goodbye to a beloved pet that was shot and killed by a Honolulu police officer. KHON2.

Filmmaker, caregiver in Hawaii facing deportation to Brazil. A filmmaker from Brazil allegedly living in the U.S. illegally for more than 25 years was arrested by federal agents in Hawaii and is facing deportation after he failed to appear before an immigration judge in August. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio. 

Hawaii Island

Legal wrangling continues in fatal dog attack case. A West Hawaii couple facing petty misdemeanor charges for a fatal dog mauling that occurred more than two years ago in Ocean View has filed separate motions to dismiss their cases in Kona District Court. Tribune-Herald.

Lead contamination found in Hawaii school water. Education officials are investigating lead contamination at Waiakea Intermediate School on the Big Island. Drinking fountains have been shut down after the kitchen water tested above federal limits. KHON2.

Maui

Wildfire Risk Reduction Project set to start Nov. 12 off Waiʻale Road in Wailuku. The County’s Maui Emergency Management Agency, in coordination with County staff and contracted partners, will begin removing hazardous wildfire risks from County-owned parcels near a public school and a church in Wailuku on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. Maui Now.

Complaints of living conditions at Maui public housing facility. Chantia Kaulia lives at Kahekili Terrace in Wailuku. Her life improved dramatically when she moved in about two years ago. But her gratitude has now turned into frustration. Hawaii News Now.

Over 130 health care professionals convene for Maui County Healthcare Stakeholders’ Summit. Health care professionals, administrators, educators, government leaders and nonprofit directors from Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi gathered for a daylong meeting aimed at building bridges and finding solutions to Maui County’s health care woes.  Maui Now.

Kauai

44 people arrested in immigration raids on Kauai. Federal agents have arrested 44 people on Kauai for allegedly violating U.S. immigration law, including two “suspected associates” of the Venezuelan criminal gang Tren de Aragua, after serving warrants at six homes and one business, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Star-Advertiser. Kauai Now.  Hawaii News Now. KHON2.  KITV4.

Kauaʻi County Council approves taxi fare increase to support local drivers. The Kaua‘i County Council has approved an ordinance to raise taxi rates across the Garden Isle, marking the first major fare adjustment in years for local drivers. Kauai Now.

Surfer suffers leg injuries after being bitten by shark at Hanalei Bay. Kauai’s Hanalei Bay is closed until further notice after a surfer was bitten by a shark — leaving him with multiple leg injuries. KHON2.