New map app details agriculture land, wildfire risks; controversial Maui doctor, pastor named to RFK vaccine panel; retired Honolulu cop claims $236K overtime, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Satellite-based map shares detailed view of what Hawaiʻi farms are growing. A new high-resolution map of Hawaiʻi has been released to reveal trends in what crops farmers are growing — and can potentially be used to assess and even predict wildfires. The map, called the Hawaiʻi Cropland Data Layer, is free and publicly available through the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service website. Hawaii Public Radio. Kauai Now.

Download the app: The Hawaii Cropland Data Layer (HCDL) is the first-ever raster, geo-referenced crop-specific land cover data layer for Hawaii. USDA.

Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander youth face highest rate of sexual violence in Hawai’i. Published in “JAMA Pediatrics,” the study was co-authored by Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health Dean Alex Ortega and Associate Dean Meripa Godinet. The researchers said the findings highlight a critical but often overlooked public health concern. Big Island Now. Hawaii News Now. 

HTA announces advisory board committee leadership. The panels aim to strengthen the authority’s strategic priorities and improve accountability. Maui Now.

Affirmative action opponent’s next target: A private school with admissions preference for Hawaiians. Kamehameha Schools gives admissions preference to the Indigenous people of Hawaii, with a caveat: “to the extent permitted by law.”  Associated Press.

Oahu

Former Secretary Pleads Not Guilty To Making Illegal Political Donations. Prosecutors say Terri Ann Otani, 70, donated $2,000 to former Honolulu mayoral candidate Colleen Hanabusa in 2020 in the names of her sister and niece.  Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. 

Lawmakers push Oʻahu officials for more safety information during strong hurricanes. The state House Public Safety Committee urged the Honolulu Department of Emergency Management to better identify where people should go in the case of a higher category hurricane. Hawaii Public Radio.

HPD probes $236K+ overtime haul by notorious officer. The top-earning officer at the Honolulu Police Department is now the subject of a probe into his overtime claims. Darren Cachola retired in July as a sergeant. He made $371,105.66 in fiscal year 2025 which ended in June. Hawaii News Now.

State Development Agency Pitches Final Plan For Westside’s Walkable City. The Hawaiʻi Community Development Authority is closing in on a final plan for Kalaeloa but major infrastructure needs mean it will be years before new development can begin.  Civil Beat.

DHHL Delays ʻEwa Real Estate Swap To Make Sure Donation Isn’t ‘Dirty Land’. The deal would allow a developer to circumvent county zoning rules by tapping into the Hawaiian housing agency’s special powers. In return, the agency could get a revenue boost for building homes. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. 

Pilot program begins to reduce loud vehicle noise on Oahu. The state is rolling out its pilot program meant to crack down on loud noises coming from vehicles on Oahu roadways.  Hawaii News Now.

DHHL approves development agreement for Kalaeloa racetrack project. On Monday, the Department of Hawaiian Homelands approved a Project Developer Agreement with Legacy Ventures LLC for a ‘world-class raceway.’ KHON2.

Public asked to pick Ho‘omaluhia Botanical Garden’s weekly closure day. Over the past 43 years, Windward Oahu’s lush, tranquil 400-acre Ho‘omaluhia Botanical Garden has been open to visitors nearly the entire time. Star-Advertiser.

Battle continues as Margotto Hawaii announces closure. Margotto Hawaii, a high-end Ala Moana area restaurant, announced Aug. 20 it is temporarily closing until 2026, less than two months after a jury awarded $3.15 million to a former sous chef who sued its executive chef for subjecting him to violent abuse. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Applications Sought For Kīlauea Recovery Grant Program. $6 million in funding is available to support community resilience and revitalization in Lower Puna during this next round of funding, officials say. Big Island Video News.

North Kohala Water Restriction Canceled. Normal water use may resume in the areas from Hāwī to Hala‘ula, following the repair of a failed water well. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. 

Hawaiʻi County to distribute 1,500 free plants during 5 adoption events. The County of Hawaiʻi Office of Sustainability, Climate, Equity and Resilience will distribute 1,500 free plants through five plant adoption events with the first 300 plants available on Saturday during the Hala Fest at the Makuʻu Farmers Market in Pāhoa. Big Island Now.

Ohtani, agent seek dismissal of land deal lawsuit. Attorneys for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani and his agent Nez Balelo have filed a motion in state court to dismiss a lawsuit brought against them Opens in a new tab by real estate investors alleging Ohtani and Balelo conspired to cut them out of a $250 million deal on Hawaii Island. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Maui Doctor Who Promoted Dubious Covid Treatments Joins RFK’s Vaccine Panel. Dr. Kirk Milhoan, a pediatric cardiologist and pastor at Calvary Chapel South Maui, provided the livestock drug ivermectin and the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine to prevent and treat the coronavirus during free house calls for Maui residents. The advisory committee makes recommendations to the CDC on what vaccines the American public should take each year. Civil Beat.

Old military fueling station, other abandoned Maui sites targeted for potential testing, cleanup and future public spaces. When the armory shut down and the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands acquired the 1.77-acre plot of land in 2010, residents were eager to do something with it. The department talked about turning it into a community center. But nearly two decades later, the lot is empty and stubbled with asphalt and dead grass, and neighbors aren’t even sure what’s underground anymore.  Maui Now.

County confirms it is open to purchasing Maui Land & Pineapple. Maui County confirms it is interested in buying a water distribution system that has been supplying the westside for more than a century. The seller is a company that is being sued for leaving its customers dry. Hawaii News Now.

This Lahaina fire survivor has launched a clothing brand that's risen from the ashes. Lahaina resident Courtney Lazo sells her clothing online and at local markets and pop-ups through her clothing company, called Henōhea. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Kauai’s Dark Skies Program aims to protect endangered birds. Developed in partnership with federal, state and community groups, the Pacific Missile Range Facility program  plays a vital role in protecting these threatened birds by reducing light pollution and ensuring safer passage for fledglings from the mountains to the sea. Garden Island.

Kauaʻi residents provide ideas for improving tourism while balancing locals quality of life. On sticky notes, Kauaʻi residents wrote their insights and ideas about the future of tourism on the island during two public input sessions last week that were run by the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority. Kauai Now.

Elections chief in the spotlight, lawmakers mull recreational marijuana, Maui water woes, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Scott Nago's Bumpy Ride As Hawaiʻi's Chief Election Officer. He’s held the job longer than anyone else in state history and been at the center of controversy nearly every election cycle. Civil Beat.

Hawaii debates legalizing recreational cannabis. Rep. David Tarnas (D-Hawi, Halaula, Waimea, Makahalau, Waikii, Waikoloa, Kawaihae, Mahukona), chair of the House Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, and other lawmakers who support legalizing adult personal use of marijuana plan to come back with another bill next year. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii visitors show high interest in weed tourism. Some 46% of likely Hawaii travelers are interested in experiencing the intoxicating effects of cannabis while on vacation as compared to 39% of likely U.S leisure travelers, according to newly released data from MMGY Travel Intelligence’s summer edition of its Portrait of American Travelers. Star-Advertiser.

Military conference in Waikiki tackles international law. At U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s annual International Military Law and Operations Conference, Adm. Samuel Paparo, the military’s top officer in the region argued that law is “strategic terrain.” Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi Is Turning To Charters To Expand Free Preschool Options. Backers say charter preschools can encourage more teachers to work in early education if the state increases their funding. Civil Beat.

Kamehameha Schools prepares to defend admissions policy again. Kamehameha Schools, the private K–12 system founded by Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop to serve Native Hawaiian children, is facing a new legal push to end its long-standing admissions preference for students of Hawaiian ancestry, reigniting fierce debate over race-conscious remedies to past injustices, cultural preservation and the limits of private institutions’ missions. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Records Reveal 125 HPD Officers Logged More Than 1,000 Hours Of Overtime. Three years after a city audit revealed rampant overtime at the Honolulu Police Department allowed some officers to increase their pay by more than $100,000, the number of officers filing more than 1,000 hours of overtime a year has increased by almost 500%.  Civil Beat.

Honolulu ‘Downtown Business Improvement District’ measure progresses. A proposed revamp to a taxing entity involving downtown Honolulu property owners is being looked at as a way to increase public safety and promote economic revitalization in an area long known for crime, homelessness and shuttered businesses. Star-Advertiser.

Who owns the land under Waikīkī hotels? Last month, investors bought most of the land that's underneath the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa for $215 million. While the price is noteworthy, what's even more remarkable is how long the sellers had owned the ground lease. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kamaʻāina Sunday brings community back to ʻIolani Palace. Kamaʻāina Sunday is held once a month, giving local residents a chance to experience ʻIolani Palace and connect more deeply with Hawaiʻi’s history and culture. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Council to vote on resolution urging acquisition of Honolulu Landing. The County Council is preparing to vote on a resolution urging the Department of Finance to proceed with acquiring a 364-acre coastal property known as Honolulu Landing in the Puna district — a move strongly supported by Mayor Kimo Alameda, who emphasized the importance of preserving the area’s cultural and environmental significance. Tribune-Herald.

Ohtani’s lawyers say he was victim of likeness misuse in real estate deal, move to dismiss lawsuit. Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani and his agent, Nez Balelo, moved to dismiss a lawsuit filed last month accusing them of causing a Hawaii real estate investor and broker to be fired from a $240 million luxury housing development on the Big Island’s Hapuna Coast. Associated Press.

Nitta vs. HMSA sent back to lower court. The Hawaii Supreme Court ruled 5-0 Friday that an arbitration clause in its contract between physicians and Hawaii Medical Service Association, the state’s largest health care insurer, is enforceable. Tribune-Herald.

Underground Fuel Storage Tanks On Maunakea To Be Replaced. A draft Environmental Assessment is being prepared in order to replace three underground tanks with two smaller, above-ground tanks. Big Island Video News.

Public’s help sought in CRB battle. Combatants in the war against the coconut rhinoceros beetle on the Big Island said Wednesday night that their fight is still an effort to eradicate the pest on Hawaii Island, as opposed to managing the spread, as is being done on Oahu. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Residents, lawmakers seek solutions following upgraded water shortage in West Maui. On Friday, the Maui County Department of Water Supply upped the shortage to a Stage 2 because the anticipated demand for water in the area is expected to exceed supply by 16 to 30 percent.  Hawaii News Now.

County Weighs Moratorium On New Backyard Pools In West Maui. The Maui Planning Commission voted 5-2 in support of a moratorium — after members made a few amendments last week — on issuing permits to construct new private pools through at least 2030. The resolution now goes back to the Maui County Council for final approval. Civil Beat.

Real property tax reform focus of new Council special committee. The committee will be looking to make recommendations on updating the county’s real property tax laws based on input from property owners, housing advocates, business leaders and tax policy experts. Maui Now.

Open house to share plans for Olowalu site used for temporary storage of wildfire debris. As the transfer of Lahaina wildfire debris nears completion, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is finalizing plans for the closure and restoration of the Temporary Debris Storage site. Hawaii News Now.

Youth mental health challenges keep mounting 2 years after Maui wildfires. The Hawaii Department of Education estimates more than a third of Maui students lost a family member, sustained a serious injury or had a parent lose a job after the fires, which killed 102 people and damaged more than 3,300 properties in Lahaina.  Associated Press.

State fines Hula Girl catamaran $30,000 for damage in Honolua Bay. On Friday, the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Land Board voted to fine the boat’s owners just over $30,000 for damaging coral and live rock inside the Marine Life Conservation District. KITV4.

Kauai

House Finance Committee walks the talk. When the members of the House Finance Committee visited Kauai last week, the committee did more than meet with members of the Coconut Marketplace Mobility Hub to talk about the first of four planned transportation hubs designed to reduce the number of cars on the road and rely more on shuttle services. Garden Island.

Planning Department holding final public workshop for East Kauaʻi long-range initiative. The county Planning Department is holding its final workshop about its long-range planning initiative for East Kauaʻi on Sept. 16 in Kapaʻa. Kauai Now.

Hawaii Supreme Court rules Green overstepped authority in original housing proclamation, new task force tackles slow permitting process, Honolulu council mulls aid for residents displaced by affordable housing projects, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Puts Guardrails On Governors’ Executive Powers. In a unanimous opinion Thursday, the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court said Gov. Josh Green overstepped his powers early on in his administration two years ago when he suspended dozens of laws under a series of sweeping emergency proclamations intended to spur housing development. Civil Beat. Kauai Now. 

State task force tackles slow Hawaii building permit process. A task force recently created by Hawaii’s Legislature has begun to work on “simplifying” the building permit process statewide in an effort to unleash more construction and economic development.  Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi gas prices hold steady as inflation shifts. The statewide average for regular unleaded is $4.47. That is the same as last week and 17 cents less than one year ago.  KHON2.

Hawaiʻi's dairy industry aims to expand.  For the past six years, Oʻahu consumers have not been able to buy fresh locally produced milk. It's only been available on Hawaiʻi Island, where Cloverleaf Dairy in Kohala is the last remaining dairy farm in the state. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Council wants city help for displaced tenants. The Honolulu City Council is pushing for a city program to assist Oahu residents displaced by the future construction of city-funded affordable housing projects. Star-Advertiser.

HART sets its sights on the next two Skyline stations in Kalihi. As the city gets ready to open the second segment of the Skyline rail project next month, the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) is getting input for stations in the next segment down Dillingham Boulevard. Hawaii News Now.

State House committee looks to improve Honolulu’s response to emergency situations. Better communication. More training. Even using artificial intelligence. Those were just some of the improvements that officials with Honolulu’s emergency management team mentioned as ways to help Oahu deal with emergencies. KHON2.

Has City Homeless Services Program Lost Its Way? Audit Will Check. The program has strayed from its emphasis on social work, according to people who value the program but call it ineffective. Civil Beat.

Team Hickam invites public for Wings of Aloha open house. The public will get a chance to tour military aircraft and equipment, check out interactive booths and learn about careers in aviation at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam this Saturday, Sept. 13, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hawaii News Now.

Eviction order at McCully massage parlor leads to illegal game room bust. Deputy sheriffs with the Department of Law Enforcement served an eviction order at a massage parlor in Pawaa Thursday, only to discover it was actually an illegal game room. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

DAGS creates new district office, hires new program manager. Kailua-Kona civil engineer Ramzi Mansour is stepping into the role of program manager at the recently formed West Hawaiʻi District Office for the Department of Accounting and General Services. (DAGS). Big Island Now.

Council to consider revised pedestrian conduct bill following mayoral veto. The Hawaii County Council is set to revisit legislation regulating pedestrian behavior near roadways, following Mayor Kimo Alameda’s recent veto of a similar measure. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Construction Update. The national park Service recently reported that Phase One of the Disaster Recovery construction projects resulting from the 2018 Kīlauea eruption and summit collapse is almost complete.  Big Island Video News.

This street medicine program lends a helping hand to Hawaiʻi Island's homeless population. It’s been about eight years since the Hawaiʻi Island Community Health Center started doing street medicine, but it wasn't until 2023 that it became a full-time program. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawai‘i Island Republicans to hold vigils in remembrance of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The West Hawai‘i Republican Party is planning vigils around the island over the weekend in the wake of the shooting death in Utah on Wednesday of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Big Island Now.

Maui

Hawaiʻi Supreme Court reaffirms water advocates' rights to challenge stream water diversion permits. The Hawaiʻi Supreme Court has ruled that the Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi was improperly denied the ability to contest one-year revocable permits that allow the diversion of millions of gallons of water from east Maui streams. Hawaii Public Radio. Maui Now.

Maui police launch internal investigation into social media comments. The Maui Police Department reports it is aware of an incident involving a department member who allegedly posted inappropriate comments on social media. Maui Now.

3 Maui projects, 2 on Molokai get funding from Hawaii Tourism Authority. A restoration project at the Haleakalā Visitor Center on Maui is among 26 projects across Hawaii that are being supported by funding from the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Maui News.

Backup wells to help in drought; Stage 1 restrictions continue. The Maui County Department of Water Supply is beginning to use a couple of backup wells to provide potable water for Upcountry residents as a drought continues across the county. Maui News. Maui Now.

Maui Humane Society announces leadership transition. Lisa Labrecque has resigned as the chief executive officer for Maui Humane Society, which runs the island’s only open-admission shelter and cares for more than 4,900 animals a year. Maui News.

Kauai

U.S. Fish and Wildlife seeks feedback on long-term conservation plan for Kauaʻi. The draft Habitat Conservation Plan and Environmental Impact Statement, developed by the Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative, was published in the Federal Register on Aug. 22, beginning a 60-day public comment period. Kauai Now.

Hawaiʻi medical school's Kauaʻi program aims to combat physician shortage on the island. The Kauaʻi Medical Training Track at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine welcomed its fourth cohort of students into its program, which aims to improve healthcare in Kauaʻi's rural areas while also training future physicians. Hawaii Public Radio.

Fixing Up Homes From Kauaʻi’s Plantation Past Could Ease Local Housing Woes. The county was able to help cut development costs by changing its zoning and subdivision codes. Civil Beat.

Federal grant cuts, lawsuit threaten Native Hawaiian education, millions in Superferry debt still lingers, city leaders want Skyline to extend to university, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiʻi Colleges Face Loss Of Federal Grants For Minority Students. The U.S. Department of Education terminated several grant programs on Wednesday supporting universities with high proportions of minority students, including Asians and Native Hawaiians. Civil Beat.

Amid backlash, lawmakers defend mainland trip over Kamehameha Schools’ admissions policy. State Sen. Brenton Awa and Rep. Diamond Garcia traveled to Virginia to try to convince conservative activist Edward Blum not to challenge Kamehameha Schools’ admissions policy.  Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii still paying millions for Superferry debt 16 years after closure. The Hawaii Superferry has been out of commission for over 15 years, but its financial wake is still hitting the State. KHON2.

Surge In Inmate Suicides Take Toll On Hawaiʻi Taxpayers, Too. Six legal claims are pending over people who killed themselves behind bars, with more to come. Civil Beat.

Data project provides public with information about U.S. immigration enforcement. The Deportation Data Project is a group of professors and lawyers who successfully sued the federal agency for the data on ICE encounters, arrests, and detentions across the country. They’ve made their data accessible to the public. Hawaii Public Radio.

Community meetings at public libraries to discuss Hawaiʻi’s Climate Plan this month. Community meetings at public libraries to discuss Hawaiʻi’s Climate Plan this month. he Hawaiʻi Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission (CCMAC) is partnering with state libraries this month to host a series of community talk-story sessions on the draft Climate Action Pathways (CAP), a plan designed to guide Hawaiʻi toward a safer, healthier and more affordable future. Maui Now.

Hawaiʻi Gov. Green orders flags to fly at half-staff for Patriot Day. Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green has ordered the United States and Hawaiʻi state flags to be flown at half-staff at the State Capitol, all state agencies and offices, and at Hawaiʻi National Guard facilities across Hawaiʻi in honor of Patriot Day. Big Island Now.

E-bike bill veto leaves road safety gap, House Transportation panel chair says. House Transportation Committee Chair Darius Kila says he’s deeply disappointed with Gov. Josh Green’s veto of House Bill 958, which would have encouraged safe riding of electric bicycles on Hawaiʻi roadways. Maui Now.

Diana Birkett Rakow named new Hawaiian Airlines CEO. Birkett Rakow, who is currently serving as Alaska Airlines’ senior vice president of public affairs and sustainability, will take over  on Oct. 29 and will be based in Honolulu, the second largest hub for Alaska Airlines. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Now.

Can This Tree Still Save Us? In Some Places It’s Barely Hanging On. ʻUlu, bia, uru, mā: Breadfruit has been lauded as a climate-resilient solution to world food security. That’s not proving true in the Marshall Islands, where some have relied on it for centuries. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu City Council bill pushes for Skyline to reach UH Manoa.  Bill 60, which the Council recently adopted on the first of three readings, would authorize the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation to conduct planning and preliminary engineering for the rail line to possibly branch for another 3.2 miles beyond its current terminus in Kakaako, to a spot near UH’s 2500 Campus Road address. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii considering anti-squatter law to protect homeowners, cut eviction times. An Oahu landlord who won a court ruling in July to get his delinquent tenants evicted is still waiting for sheriffs to kick them out. His ordeal is shining a light on a problem with Hawaii’s laws to prevent squatting. Hawaii News Now.

City plans for massive crowd in Waikiki for Saturday concert. City officials and Honolulu police are preparing for over 30,000 people to descend on the Tom Moffatt Waikiki Shell and Kapiolani Park on Saturday for the “Fiji Tribute Concert” honoring the late singer George “Fiji” Veikoso. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.  KITV4. 

Hawaii Island

'Return, reconnect, and remember': Native Hawaiian ʻohana gets ownership of ancestral land. A Native Hawaiian nonprofit has successfully preserved Hawaiʻi Island land for generations to come. ‘Anaeho‘omalu Kapalaoa, a 27-acre plot of land in Waikoloa Beach Resort, will now be permanently protected by Nā ‘Ōiwi O Pu‘uanahulu, a Native Hawaiian descendant-led nonprofit. Hawaii Public Radio.

Scientists search West Hawaiʻi for fresh water beneath the ocean floor. Scientists recently completed a two-week expedition along the west coast of Hawaiʻi Island. Their goal is to see if there is fresh water below the ocean and, if so, how much. Hawaii Public Radio.

Drought continues to grip Hamakua; brush fire mostly contained. According  to Hawaii County Fire Chief Kazuo Todd, the drought is a factor — perhaps the most significant one — in a brush fire that has burned in Hamakua, including the Manowaiale‘e Forest Reserve, the past several days. Tribune-Herald.

Drones Treat Palm Trees At Kohanaiki To Stop CRB Spread. The battle to prevent the coconut rhinoceros beetle from becoming established on Hawai‘i Island continues in Kona. Big Island Video News. Hawaii News Now.  KITV4. 

Maui

Maui Land & Pineapple looks at selling Valley Isle water assets. Maui Land &Pineapple Co. is looking to sell or lease its water sources and infrastructure assets amid a historic drought and a lawsuit over irrigation access, according to a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. 

Hawaiʻi Supreme Court reaffirms water advocates' rights to challenge stream water diversion permits. The Hawaiʻi Supreme Court has ruled that the Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi was improperly denied the ability to contest one-year revocable permits that allow the diversion of millions of gallons of water from east Maui streams. Hawaii Public Radio.

State leaders scramble to save Sentry golf tournament at Kapalua. State leaders say they’re scrambling to try to keep the PGA’s Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua. Or at the very least, keep it in Hawaii. Meanwhile, the landowner involved in the dispute is open to giving up the land. KHON2.

Hawaiian homestead agency amps up ‘paper lease’ program. The state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands plans to award more than 1,000 leases for future homesteads on Maui later this year, representing the agency’s biggest move yet to provide beneficiaries with residential lots using a historic 2022 legislative appropriation. Star-Advertiser. Maui News.  Maui Now. 

Wildfires Create Long-Term Academic Challenges For Students. Students’ academic progress since the 2018 California wildfires indicates that Lahaina schools may face a long road to recovery. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Proposals for Kauaʻi Innovation Grants for FY 2025-2026 are available for public review.  Proposals submitted for the Fiscal Year 2025–2026 Innovation Grants program now are available for review and feedback from the public as part of the selection process, the Kauai’i County Office of Economic Development announced.  Kauai Now.

Kaua’i residents advised to prepare for temporary water service shutdown. The Department of Water has scheduled a temporary water service shutdown for parts of Hauaala Road (valley side), Makamaka Street, and Keapana Road in Kapa’a. The shutdown is scheduled for Sept. 11 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Kauai Now.

New visa fee could further crimp tourism, restauranteurs eye coming $16 minimum wage, study disputes usefulness of genki balls, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii tourism officials worry about new visa fee starting Oct. 1. The new fee is aimed at deterring visitors from overstaying their visas, and potentially will generate billions in revenue for immigration services. But state tourism leaders like Keith Vieira worry it will slow down our economic recovery even more. KITV4. 

Hawaii restaurants struggling as 2026 minimum wage hike approaches. Owners said the raise in minimum wage to $16 at the start of 2026 means customers might see some changes. KHON2.

Hawaiʻi Loves ‘Genki Balls’ To Clean Water. New Studies Say They Don’t Work. A new two-year research project found the balls not only were ineffective, they might make water quality worse. Supporters of the effort don’t believe it. Civil Beat.

Trump’s Reversal Of EV Policies Will Affect The Road To Clean Electricity. Hitting the brakes on electric vehicles will mean less progress in reducing transportation emissions and less strategic U.S. leadership in a key technology. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi works to restore solar program for low-income households. Hawaiʻi was awarded about $62 million from the U.S Environmental Protection Agency through the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act for the Solar for All program. But in August, the HGIA received a termination letter of the grant from the EPA. Hawaii Public Radio.

Weakened Kiko produces possible dangerous rip currents and high surf. Swells that were generated by Kiko are gradually building from east to west across waters around the islands. This surf is forecast to peak tonight through Wednesday with the potential to produce dangerous surf and rip currents. KITV4.

Oahu

Homeless camps, crime prompted Kailua Beach Park nightly closures. Illegal homeless encampments, vandalism and reports of violent threats to visitors and nearby residents at Kailua Beach Park led to the three-month pilot program that began Friday, imposing nighttime closure hours from midnight to 4 a.m. at the city-owned park, Honolulu officials say. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu clears Piʻikoi Street homeless encampment in early morning operation. Honolulu city crews and police cleared a homeless encampment along Piʻikoi Street early Tuesday morning, removing tents, shopping carts and other personal items from the sidewalks. KITV4.

Honolulu Immigrant Tracked Via Money Transfers Sentenced, Turned Over To ICE. The Mexican citizen had pleaded guilty and was convicted of illegally reentering the United States. Civil Beat.

2 Navy workers face October trial over Red Hill fuel spill. Two U.S. Navy civilian employees accused by federal prosecutors of doctoring documents and lying to cover up the severity of a May 6, 2021, jet fuel spill at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility are scheduled to stand trial next month. Star-Advertiser.

HPD makes step to be more transparent to the public. The Honolulu Police Department has introduced a new online page for its Public Affairs Office.  KHON2.

Oʻahu schools recognized for student success beyond academics. This year, Moanalua, Kaimuki, and Āliamanu middle schools were all recognized by the Association for Middle Level Education, putting them among 24 schools across the country that were given this title for 2025. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Blue Hawaiian’s request to fly lower generates blowback. Big Island locations where Blue Hawaiian is requesting permission to fly as low as 700 feet above ground include: Waikoloa Heliport to Kilauea summit; Kulani Cone to Eucalyptus Tree area; Makuu Point to Kilauea’s Pu‘u ‘O‘o vent; Hilo International Airport, shoreline to Cape Kumukahi, shoreline to Kalapana to Pu‘u ‘O‘o vent; Hilo International Airport, shoreline to Pololu Valley; Waimanu Valley to Waimea; and Honokane Nui or Pololu Valley to either Water Tank or Riders areas. Tribune-Herald.

County moves forward with Four Mile Creek Bridge replacement. The County of Hawaii Department of Public Works is moving forward with plans to replace the aging Four Mile Creek Bridge in Hilo, aiming to improve traffic flow, safety and pedestrian access along Kilauea Avenue and Haihai Street. Tribune-Herald.

Councilwoman Kierkiewicz invites community to presentation on revitalizing downtown Pahoa. The Office of Councilwoman Ashley Kierkiewicz is inviting the community to attend a presentation on new draft legislation aimed at creating economic opportunities and revitalizing Downtown Pahoa. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now.

Hawaii police officer whose K-9 died now on regular patrol, under criminal investigation. Police dog Archer, a drug sniffing K-9, reportedly died after being left in a squad car for an “unacceptable period of time.” Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Residential project leases coming to more than 1,100 DHHL beneficiaries on Maui. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands conducted an orientation Saturday for beneficiaries on the Maui residential waitlist interested in the upcoming award of more than 1,100 residential project leases on the Valley Isle. Maui Now.

New Maui recycling facility seeks to keep green waste out of the landfill and make it usable. A new green waste recycling facility is now open on Maui. Hawai’i Organics Compost in Waikapū is the largest operation of its kind on the island. Hawaii Public Radio.

21st annual Lahaina Town Cleanup returns Sept. 27. In an effort to preserve Maui’s coastline and unite the community for a cleaner coastline, volunteers including students, families, divers, community members and guests have gathered for the Lahaina Town Cleanup for more than 20 years. Maui News.

Senate Ways and Means Committee visits Lānaʻi for updates on local sustainability. The Senate Ways and Means Committee arrived on Lānaʻi to receive updates on economic development and sustainability efforts from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and the Agribusiness Development Corporation. Maui Now.

Kauai

Researchers rediscover 2 native Hawaiian land snails on Kaua‘i last seen nearly a century ago. Researchers from Bishop Museum, along with partners from the Kauaʻi Forest Bird Recovery Project, found live specimens of Godwinia caperata (described in 1852) and Hiona exaequata (described in 1846) on Kauaʻi during recent biodiversity surveys. Kauai Now.

Live mongoose found and captured on Kauaʻi. A live mongoose has been captured on Kauaʻi, where the invasive species does not have an established population. Kauai Now.

Kauaʻi sets new standard with wildfire mitigation ordinance. On Sept. 8, Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami signed into law Bill 2961, an ordinance passed unanimously by the Kauaʻi County Council to advance wildfire mitigation in West Kauaʻi’s plantation camp districts. Kauai Now.

Homeowners rush to beat solar tax credit deadline, residents weigh in on how to spend $100M green fee, state violated due process in Maui water case, Kiko downgraded to tropical storm, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Homeowners rush to install solar on roofs before tax credits expire. Due to the passage in July of H.R.1, the “big, beautiful bill,” the 30% federal tax credit for residential solar PV panels and batteries ends Dec. 31 instead of the end of 2032. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.   Maui Now.

This is what residents think the new 'Green Fee' should be spent on. The state is deciding how it will spend an estimated extra $100 million a year from the new "Green Fee" tax on hotels and cruise ships that starts next year. More than half of those surveyed touted projects that focus on restoration, recovery and workforce development. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kiko downgraded to tropical storm as it passes north of Hawaii. Kiko weakened to a tropical storm Monday night and is on track to pass well north of Hawaii over the next two days. Once a major Category 4 hurricane just a few days ago, Kiko is now a shallow tropical storm and is mostly a swirl of low level clouds. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. 

Girls Remain Underrepresented In Hawaiʻi High School Sports. Seven years after the state education department faced a civil rights lawsuit over gender inequality in sports, Hawaiʻi girls remain consistently underrepresented in high school athletics. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi Report Describes ‘Atrocious’ Conditions For Mentally Ill Inmates. Psychiatrists who inspected state facilities cited problems ranging from overuse of pepper spray to intentionally harsh conditions on suicide watch. Civil Beat.

Blue Hawaiian’s request to fly at lower altitudes gets pushback. In a 20-page petition to the Federal Aviation Administration, Blue Hawaiian explained if its pilots were allowed fly below the 1500-foot minimum altitude in certain areas, they could more easily avoid clouds, which typically form at 1,200 feet on up. Hawaii News Now.

How Small Businesses Are Breaking Into Hawaiʻi’s Big Tourism Markets. Airlines and hotels can provide a lucrative market for Hawaiʻi entrepreneurs, but making inroads with large brands and scaling up production isn’t easy. Civil Beat.

Oahu

HPD Tried To Fire This Cop. He’s Retiring With A Giant Pension Instead. The police department has opened an inquiry into the 2,375 hours of overtime filed last year by Darren Cachola, who is one of the officers being sued along with the department for arresting sober drivers at DUI checkpoints.  Civil Beat.

Council OKs 750-unit affordable rental project in Kapolei. The Council’s approval allows Laulima Affordable Housing LLC, an affiliate of Utah-based the Wasatch Group, to build its project within a part of a 516-acre Kapolei West master-­planned development.  Star-Advertiser.

Hanauma Bay closed for parking lot repaving. Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve is closed for two weeks starting Monday. A city contractor is repaving and restriping the attraction’s two main public parking lots, which includes approximately 280 parking stalls.  Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Council committee passes bill to extend free bus rides through 2028. The move aims to address ongoing staffing shortages within the Mass Transit Agency and give officials time to implement improvements, including a micro-transit program that will better serve rural residents. Tribune-Herald.

Final EIS For Keauhou Bay Management Plan Published. The documents detail Kamehameha Schools' proposal to implement the Keauhou Bay Management Plan on approximately 29 acres at Keauhou Bay.  Big Island Video News.

PETA weighs in on K-9 Archer’s death. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said it sent a letter Monday to Hawaii Police Department Interim Chief Reed Mahuna concerning Archer, the West Hawaii Vice Division K-9 that died Thursday after being left unattended in a police vehicle. Tribune-Herald.

Once homeless, man helps job seekers through the same organization that helped him. When Kevin Aki Jr. first attended an American Job Center Hawaii community outreach event a decade ago, he and his family were “homeless and low-income.” Tribune-Herald.

Maui

State violated due process in Maui water case, Hawaii justices rule. The Hawaii Supreme Court has ruled that the state Board of Land and Natural Resources violated constitutional rights when it allowed Alexander &Baldwin Inc. to divert streams in East Maui without granting community groups a full hearing on the environmental and cultural consequences. Star-Advertiser.

Free building trades courses offered at UH Maui College this fall. The University of Hawaiʻi Maui College is offering a free eight-week carpentry pre-apprenticeship training beginning next Monday, Sept. 15 and running through Friday, Nov. 14. The tuition value is $6,000. Maui Now.

Guided tours resume at the remote Hawaii leprosy settlement of Kalaupapa. A former leprosy settlement in a remote part of Hawaii will reopen this month for the first time since the pandemic, when it closed to shield the few remaining patients, all of whom are over 80, from exposure to COVID-19, officials said Monday.  Associated Press.

Kauai

County strengthens wildfire safety in West Kauai plantation camp communities. On Monday, Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami signed into law Bill No. 2961, an ordinance passed unanimously by the Kauai County Council to advance wildfire mitigation in West Kauai’s plantation camp districts.  Garden Island. Kauai Now.

Healthy coconut trees cut down on Kalalau Trail; state staff reprimanded for not protecting natural resources. The Hawaiʻi State Department of Land and Natural Resources is facing criticism from residents and outdoor enthusiasts after its employees cut down more than a dozen healthy coconut trees along the Kalalau Trail on the Nāpali Coast of Kauaʻi. Kauai Now.

ID card production resumes after temporarily being unavailable on Kauai. The Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) announces that the production of identification cards will resume on Tuesday for Kauai residents. Hawaii News Now.

Lawsuit challenges Legislature's shell bills, Hurricane Kiko to weaken to tropical storm north of state today, Honolulu council seeks audit on homeless response, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Suit Challenges How Legislators Turn Blank Bills Into Mid-Session Surprises. League of Women Voters targets the use of short-form measures that start out as empty shells. The Hawaiʻi Legislature’s practice of introducing mostly blank placeholder bills and then transforming them into substantive measures mid-session is unconstitutional, the League of Women Voters of Hawaiʻi says in a new lawsuit. Civil Beat.

Major changes, political conflict create confusion over COVID-19 vaccines in Hawaii.  While the federal approval process for COVID-19 vaccines over past years was routine, this year’s process is full of strife and disruption, with conflicting recommendations. Star-Advertiser.

Hurricane Kiko is weakening on a forecast path expected to take it north of Hawaii. As of 5 a.m. today, maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 85 mph (140 km/h) with higher gusts.  Additional weakening is forecast during the next few days, and Kiko is expected to become a tropical storm by the end of the day.  Associated Press. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.  National Hurricane Center.  Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.  KITV4. 

Hawaii Army National Guard meets its recruiting goals. After a yearslong slump in efforts to recruit new guardsmen and retain old ones, the Hawaii Army National Guard is finally making its recruiting goals. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolululu City Council requests audit of homeless response program. The Office of the City Auditor is expected to delve into the administration and operation of the city’s homeless response program currently overseen by the Honolulu Emergency Services Department. Star-Advertiser.

Police report progress on shuttering illegal game rooms on Oahu. The number of arrests at illegal game rooms on Oahu so far this year has surpassed the total for 2024, as Honolulu police work with city planning officials to shut down the operations, which have often been the scene of shootings, robberies and other violent and illicit activities. Star-Advertiser.

State agency to further invest in troubled Kakaako condo. The Block 803 Waimanu, an “extraordinary boutique condominium” midrise in Kakaako is headed for an extraordinary intervention by a state agency trying to salvage a nearly $10 million investment in the project. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi's wealthiest ZIP code may surprise you. 96814 is the ZIP code for the Ala Moana-Kakaʻako area of Honolulu. And it's the wealthiest ZIP code in the state, when you count not just home values but such data points as per capita income, education and population density. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiʻi's only marine debris recycling facility searches for funding to stay afloat. Hawaiʻi’s only marine debris recycling center is running at full capacity after opening last summer. It’s part of Hawaiʻi Pacific University’s Center for Marine Debris Research — and a full-time staff of four is turning plastic trawl nets into building materials, roads and more. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiian Airlines, Honolulu CC expand aviation training. Honolulu Community College and Hawaiian Airlines are expanding their partnership with the launch of the Maintenance Technician Development Program, a new initiative to train and hire the next generation of aircraft maintenance technicians. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Council advances charter amendment on Environmental Management director qualifications.  The Hawaii County Council on Wednesday passed the first of three required readings of a bill that would amend the County Charter to change qualifications for the director of Environmental Management. Tribune-Herald.

What to do about feral cats? Group stresses education, sterilization in County Council presentation. Aloha Animal Alliance $10 million is spent annually on animal welfare today between county Animal Services, county and state-funded grants, and other donations from animal welfare nonprofits. About $4.7 million came from the county. Tribune-Herald.

Big Island police dog dies after being left in hot car. A police dog with the Hawai‘i Police Department died Thursday after he was left in a police car for a long period of time. KITV4.

Hawai’i Island police post clarification regarding social media video of raid in Puna. The Hawaiʻi Police Department issued a statement clarifying that the activity in the Kalapana area was related to a fugitive arrest case involving illegal drugs and guns, not immigration enforcement. Big Island Now.

Immigration detainer, ‘substantial real property’ in labor trafficking case. A 26-year-old Kona woman accused of forcing a minor to work has substantial real property, according to the state attorney general’s office. Ludin Yorleny Pena Miranda on Thursday pleaded not guilty of nine counts of first-degree labor trafficking. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui County drums up interest in more 'empathetic' approach to relocating homeless individuals. The Maui County Council on Thursday deferred the drafted set of rules, including those that would have required the county to give notice to residents and outreach providers before encampments were removed, and inform those displaced about shelters and “safe zones” where they can stay. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui commercial boating industry struggling while waiting for Lahaina Harbor to reopen, tourism to rebound. Most companies were just recovering from the pandemic’s six-month shutdown of tourists to Maui, when the Lahaina fire led to visitors being told initially to stay away, a message that still lingers two years later. Maui Now.

Burying power lines along Lahainaluna Road part of Hawaiian Electric’s grid hardening plan. The plans include burying 2.5 miles of power lines along Lahainaluna Road, which could be done in conjunction with Maui County’s plan to widen the major thoroughfare in Lahaina. Maui Now.

Solar nanogrids bring energy independence to these off-grid Molokaʻi families. With federal financial assistance from the Department of Energy, technical and design support as well as funding were funneled through Sandia National Laboratories and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

New boat for Kauaʻi Sea Scouts arrives at Nāwiliwili Harbor. For the first time in 15 years, the Sea Scouts of Kauaʻi have a new boat with the support of the local community. Kauai Now.

Kaua’i volunteers mobilize for 40th Annual International Coastal Cleanup. The Ocean Conservancy is celebrating 40 years of action and impact, scheduled for Sept. 20 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., marking one of the largest single-day efforts worldwide to clean trash from beaches and waterways. Kauai Now.