Public-sector construction falls, teacher turnover intensifies, ousted occupants storm apartment building, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii construction report shows drop in public-sector projects. Pacific Resource Partnership said data for this year through Sept. 30 show that the industry remains strong with spending at $4.3 billion, though the sum trails full-year spending that was over $8 billion in each of the last three years, including $9.5 billion in 2023 and $8.4 billion in 2024. Star-Advertiser.

High teacher turnover challenges Hawaii public schools. The teacher turnover rate averages 15.7% statewide, according to the state Department of Education’s recent analysis. Some schools have posted turnover rates of 30% to 50% over two years. Star-Advertiser.

Bonuses Aren’t Solving Hawaiʻi’s Special Education Teacher Shortage. The Hawaiʻi DOE offers at least $10,000 to special education teachers to fill open positions, but most schools have reported worsening shortages. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi Police Face Unique Barriers To Solving Violent Crimes. The percentage of violent crimes that end in an arrest or a closed case is declining, as agencies grapple with understaffing, insufficient technology and geographical challenges of an island state. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio. 

Hawaiʻi Launches New Online Data Portal About Invasive Species. Lawmakers called on the agriculture department to create the dashboard so the public can keep an eye on what it’s doing to stem the spread of pests. Civil Beat. KHON2. 

Oahu

Deed forgery scheme impacts properties across Oahu. Hawaii’s attorney general has charged two men with stealing three properties, but investigators say a Kalihi lot may be one of about a dozen others taken as part of a much larger deed fraud scheme. Hawaii News Now.

Evicted tenants reoccupy downtown apartment building in ‘hostile takeover’.  The owner of Union Plaza said someone called in a false fire alarm, so that about 30 evicted tenants could storm the building and reoccupy rooms. Hawaii News Now.

Property manager blames clerical error for rent hike notices wrongly sent to low-income seniors. Seniors at two Oahu housing complexes say they were thrown into panic after receiving rent hike notices that turned out to be wrong. EAH Housing now confirms the issue was caused by a clerical error that affected both Ainahau Vista and Artesian Vista. Hawaii News Now.

Local journalists look for a way forward as newsrooms shrink or disappear. The book “Presstime in Paradise” by editor George Chaplin details the life and times of the Honolulu Advertiser from 1856 to 1995. The 'Tiser' was one of Honolulu’s first non-government newspapers under the Hawaiian Kingdom, but it no longer exists. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Hilo hospital expansion on target for 2027 completion. The $80 million expansion of Hilo Benioff Medical Center is taking shape, with certain facilities likely ready for use early next year and full completion expected in 2027, hospital officials said. Tribune-Herald.

Push to expand Hawaiʻi Island bus infrastructure reaches another step in Pāhoa. A proposed Pāhoa Transit Hub is gaining traction in its planning phase, with a preferred location confirmed by Hawaiʻi County's Mass Transit Agency. Hawaii Public Radio.

New access road proposed for Kaʻu Forest Reserve. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is proposing to bulldoze a short access road in the remote Ka‘u Forest Reserve to improve management of native ecosystems and maintain a hooved-animal-proof fence, according to a draft environmental assessment released this week. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Maui County to collect domestic waste.  Maui residents may start making appointments Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, for the County of Maui Department of Environmental Management’s free Residential Household Waste Collection on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, in Central Maui. Maui News. Maui Now. 

Kauai

SHOPO raises concerns about pick for the next Kauaʻi police chief. At a meeting on Friday, the commission made a conditional offer to Rudy Tai, one of four finalists. Tai was born and raised on Oʻahu, but spent his 35-year police career with the San Diego Police Department, where he currently serves as deputy chief. Hawaii Public Radio.

Man dies rescuing children in Kauai surf. A Good Samaritan has died on Kauai after being pulled from the waters of Waiapuaa Bay. KHON2. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

DMV identification cards unavailable through Wednesday. The Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is unable to produce identification cards, such as driving permits, driver’s licenses, and state identification cards, because of hardware issues. Kauai Now.

First cohort of AI Accelerator celebrates. The Capstone Pau Hana held on Friday at the Kuleana Workspace in Kukui Grove celebrated achievements of six members — all local small business owners — of the first AI (Artificial Intelligence) Lab cohort. Garden Island.

US, China held maritime security talks in Hawaii, flower industry wilting, state gets $31M for high-speed internet, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii’s flower industry wilts as it faces changing tastes, global competition. According to federal and state data, the local floriculture industry generated $83.4 million in 2000 and $75.6 million in 2010; by 2022 that figure dropped to $47.1 million and fell again in 2023 to $43.9 million. The Hawai‘i Agricultural Foundation convened more than 200 industry leaders Tuesday to discuss how to stabilize the sector. Star-Advertiser.

Hawai‘i Farmers Are Investing In Tech To Protect Property And Livestock. Local farmers and ranchers are eager to invest more in technological solutions to their real world problems, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data. Civil Beat.

U.S., China held maritime security talks in Hawaii, Chinese navy says. The U.S. and Chinese militaries last week  held “frank and constructive” maritime security talks in Hawaii, the Chinese navy said Saturday, as the two superpowers gradually restore military-to-military communications after several months of trade tensions. Reuters.

Gov. Green predicts Newsom won't satisfy U.S. desire for a peacemaking leader in 2028. Gov. Josh Green, a Hawaiʻi Democrat who has floated the possibility of running for president, predicted that Americans will want a peacemaker once Donald Trump’s second term is over — and California Gov. Gavin Newsom may not fit the bill. Hawaii Public Radio.

Army in Hawaii reinvests in boats for service in the Pacific. As the U.S. military has tried to shift resources from drawn-out conflicts in the Middle East to confront China and prepare for the prospect of a very different kind of engagement, the Army has dusted off the Kuroda and the Smalls and has more ambitious plans. It also is testing a new boat prototype in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Schatz: Hawai’i to receive $31M in new federal funding to expand high-speed internet. National Telecommunications and Information Administration approved a proposal that will unlock $30.6 million in new federal funding to expand high-speed internet access throughout Hawai‘i. Kauai Now.

New Hawaiian Airlines CEO sees gradual changes continuing under Alaska. Hawaiian Airlines recently named former Alaska Air Group executive Diana Birkett Rakow as its CEO. Alaska Air Group officially acquired Hawaiian Airlines in September of last year for $1.6 billion, setting off a long integration process. Hawaii Public Radio.

Strong cruise recovery collides with Hawaii’s climate rules. Cruise ship visitation to Hawaii has set a course for its strongest rebound in nearly two decades, but new state rules requiring cleaner-burning fuels and expanded “green fees” are sparking legal challenges and raising questions about the industry’s future. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. 

Independent workers in Hawaii brace for skyrocketing health premiums. American Rescue Plan Act premiums are rising an average of 30% in 2026 for states such as Hawaii that use the federal healthcare.gov platform. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Former Lifeguard Chief Who Sparred With Mayor Is Finalist For His Old Job. After falling out with Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi a year and a half ago, former Ocean Safety Chief John Titchen is interested in getting his job back. Civil Beat.

Hitachi files new $320M lawsuit against HART. Skyline’s principal contractor has brought a new $320 million lawsuit against the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation over claims the rail agency caused numerous costly delays during the phased construction of the city’s $10 billion-plus rail line. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi Foodbank gets biggest chunk of state's $50M fund for nonprofits. The Hawaiʻi Foodbank is set to receive $5.5 million from the state Legislature's grant program for nonprofits impacted by federal funding cuts. Hawaii Public Radio.

Waipahu buyback event nets 724 pounds of fireworks. The state Department of Law Enforcement and partner agencies collected 724 pounds of fireworks during a buyback amnesty event Sunday at the Honolulu Police Department’s Training Academy in Waipahu. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.  KITV4.

Botanical garden in Windward Oahu closing for improvements. Camping will be temporarily unavailable at Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden in Kaneohe until 2026.  Hawaii News Now.

Unofficial Security Guard Arrested At ‘Hell Hole’ Honolulu Office Building. There is escalating violence at the squalid building, where Union Mall Development has turned former office suites into housing that lacks proper kitchens and bathrooms. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Jim Wilson dead at 92: Longtime Tribune-Herald publisher was a tireless advocate for the community. Jim Wilson, retired longtime publisher of the Hawaii Tribune-Herald, died Friday morning at home in Volcano. He was 92. Tribune-Herald.

Council passes bill to allow henneries in residential areas. With egg prices still hovering near double digits, Hawaii Island families may soon find relief in their own backyards after the County Council voted Wednesday to legalize household henneries in most residential zones. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiʻi County agency created to improve animal control already seeking new administrator. Last month, Matthew Runnells, the agency’s first administrator selected by former mayor Mitch Roth’s office, was quietly reassigned to a veterinarian technician position at the county-owned Pana‘ewa Zoo at the behest of current mayor Kimo Alameda. Big Island Now.

Hawaii County converting Hilo hotel to affordable rentals. Hawaii County’s Office of Housing and Community Development has purchased the Dolphin Bay Hotel in Hilo, with plans to convert guest rooms into 18 affordable rentals, officials announced Friday. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Video News. 

Final Kona Open Space Network Plan To Be Presented, December 4. The Hawaiʻi County Planning Department will present the final conceptual plan to the public from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Makaeo County Pavilion. Big Island Video News.

County still determining ‘next steps’ for Moku‘ola bridge. Hawaii County is using emergency procurement procedures to hire a structural engineer to analyze the foot bridge between Waiakea Peninsula and Moku‘ola (Coconut Island), according to Parks and Recreation Director Clayton Honma. Tribune-Herald.

Plumbing leaks plague Kealakehe Elementary School. Persistent plumbing problems have plagued Kealakehe Elementary School in Kailua-Kona for years, a crisis that escalated earlier this week when what several teachers described as sewage leaked from the second floor into a third-grade classroom during the school day. Star-Advertiser.


Maui

What’s the health toll of 2023 Maui wildfires on firefighters? Long-term study aims to find out. A team came to Maui two months after the fire and took blood samples from more than 100 firefighters. In October, they returned for another round of samples that will help them keep an eye on the firefighters’ health over time and screen for cancer and other diseases. Maui Now.

Kahului Council candidates interviewed; contrasts emerge in policies, philosophy and personalities. Differing personalities, philosophies and policy positions surfaced Thursday afternoon as Maui County Council members interviewed three applicants vying to fill the unexpired term of the late Council Member Natalie “Tasha” Kama. Maui Now.

At Maui’s only go-kart track, drivers have fun and race toward their dreams. Kart racing at home on Maui is making a comeback. For the first time in six years, the club held a time trial race last weekend. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Kauaʻi utility's wildfire mitigation plan needs improvement, report finds. The Consumer Advocate, which represents the interests of ratepayers in utility matters, hired the outside consulting firm Jensen Hughes to review the plan. According to their findings, Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative's vegetation management program needs critical improvement. Hawaii Public Radio.

Coral rescued from Ahukini. The Department of Land and Natural Resources said the corals of opportunity, or loose corals that have been dislodged from their parent reefs or damaged from storms, boat groundings or anchors, were collected by Hoomalu Ke Kai in collaboration with Kauai Ocean Awareness, Kauai Sea Farm, the DLNR-DAR, and the UH Coral Resilience Lab. Garden Island.

Hawaii to require parking fees at 4 more state parks, 95 nonprofits to share $49.5M in state emergency grants, crime drops in Waikiki, Kauai police chief candidates named, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

More state parks to require paid parking for nonresident, commercial vehicles. The state announced Wednesday that it will add parking management and fee systems for nonresident and commercial vehicles for four state parks. The state said the fee structure will follow the same format as the current system in place for the 10 parks that already charge fees for nonresidents. Hawaii residents will continue to receive free parking. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii lawmakers award $49.5M in emergency grants to nonprofits. Four state lawmakers on Thursday picked 95 Hawaii nonprofits to receive $49.5 million in emergency grants to offset impacts of federal cuts by the Trump administration. The special legislative panel made selections from among 213 organizations that applied for $143 million. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

75% of middle-income households may or will leave Hawaiʻi, affordability survey finds. The results of a new survey show that almost half of middle-income workers are unsure if they will have to leave Hawaiʻi to go to a less expensive state. Holomua Collective, a nonprofit focused on affordability issues in Hawaiʻi, asked over 3,000 local workers about cost-of-living issues. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

City Council committee approves settlement in Sykap shooting death. A Honolulu City Council committee has recommended that the city settle a lawsuit brought by the family of Iremamber Sykap, who died after a police pursuit. The shooting happened in April 2021. Sykap, 16, was shot and killed after leading officers on a chase in a stolen car. Hawaii News Now.

Crime drops in Waikīkī as ‘Safe and Sound’ program expands to West Oʻahu. Crime in Waikīkī is down, and officials said a partnership between the Honolulu Police Department and the Waikīkī Business Improvement District is the reason why. KITV4.

Developer looks to build luxury high-rise at Ala Moana Center. Dubbed 1588 Ala Moana, the project is being eyed for the eastern end of a 4.3-acre section of the busy shopping center, specifically the makai parking lot fronting the Macy’s department store, near Atkinson Drive. Star-Advertiser.

City selects partner for Iwilei Center development. On Thursday, the city announced it selected EAH Housing to redevelop the nearly four-acre public parcel, located adjacent to the future Kuwili Skyline Station. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu Officials Are Doing Little To Help ‘Hell-Hole’ Tenants. For months, as living conditions at 1136 Union Mall descended from squalor to violence, tenants have sought help from city officials, the police, city council and neighborhood board members, the courts — anyone who might help — to no avail. Civil Beat.

Here's when Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden will be closed for road repaving. Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden will be periodically closed from Nov. 24 to Dec. 19 to have its roads repaved. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Limited backyard hens will be allowed in residential areas on Big Island — and their eggs can be sold. During Wednesday’s meeting, Council Member Heather Kimball, the creator of Bill 52, addressed some of the concerns that were voiced during public testimonies on the measure, which included criticism over the number of birds being allowed, the coop requirement for the hens and the prohibition of selling eggs or birds. Big Island Now.

Police across the state set to receive largest raises in nearly 2 decades . On Wednesday the Hawaiʻi County Council voted to approve the “across-the-board” raises, which will cost the county a total of $57.3 million by the end of the contract in 2029. Hawaii Public Radio.

Parking Fees Coming To Two Hawaiʻi Island State Parks. Nonresidents will soon have to pay a parking fee to visit Wailuku River State Park and Kekaha Kai State Park. Big Island Video News.

Some relief for isle nonprofits: State announces recipients of $50M in emergency funds. Out of over 200 applications from nonprofit organizations statewide, more than a dozen serving the Big Island were among the 95 selected Thursday to received a portion of $50 million in emergency state funding awarded by the state Legislature from the 2025 Nonprofit Grants Program of Act 310. Tribune-Herald.

Hakalau refuge marks 4 decades of conservation amid funding threats. The nonprofit Friends of the Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge runs the "Find Your Wild" event, which reached capacity this year. 2025 marks the 40th anniversary that Hakalau has been managed as a National Wildlife Refuge by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui

Controversial Vacation Rental Bill Splits Maui Council Vacancy Candidates. Because the eight current council members are evenly split on major policy issues, the late Tasha Kama’s successor will likely determine the fate of hotly contested legislation such as Bill 9, Mayor Richard Bissen’s proposed plan to phase out thousands of vacation rentals in an effort to create more long-term housing for residents.  Civil Beat. Maui Now. 

BLNR holds off on contested case decision for East Maui streams. The state Board of Land and Natural Resources has deferred making a decision on whether to hold a contested case hearing over the diversion of public surface water from the Ko’olau Forest Reserve. Maui News.

Coastal limu testing shows nutrient pollution patterns across Maui shores. The latest round of coastal limu sampling on Maui appeared to find unusually high nitrogen levels at Kahului Harbor and Pōhaku Park, also called “S-Turns,” but low wastewater indicators, according to the Maui Nui Marine Resource Council, which coordinated the project. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauaʻi Police Commission Narrows Search For New Chief To These 4 Finalists. The finalists include Teresa Ewins, a former police chief in Lincoln, Nebraska; Roderick Green, a Kauaʻi police captain; Robert Larson, a police captain in Reno, Nevada; and Rudy Tai, a deputy police chief in San Diego. A fifth unnamed candidate pulled out of the running. Civil Beat.

Wailuā River State Park in Kapaʻa among four more state parks to charge nonresidents for parking. Nonresidents are charged $10 to park noncommercial vehicles at state parks, state monuments, state recreational areas, state historic parks and state wilderness parks, as well as $7 to park at state wayside parks where parking fees have been implemented. Kauai Now.

‘Don’t forget kupuna’. The county’s Employee Council message on Thursday was short and sweet as volunteers canvassed the campus at the Kaniko‘o Rice Camp Senior Housing. Garden Island.

DOJ moves to block green fee on cruise ships, Health Department amends medical cannabis rules, Hawaii County Council advances plastic foodware ban, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Green Fee showdown: DOJ moves to block Hawaii’s climate surcharge. There’s a new twist in the fight over Hawaii’s new Green Fee. The U.S. Department of Justice is jumping into the lawsuit against the state, and it could become a national test case about who gets to regulate ships. KHON2.

Hawaii lawmakers call for colleague to step forward in bribery investigation. State Reps. Della Au Belatti, a Democrat, and Kanani Souza, a Republican, are publicly calling for a colleague linked to a federal bribery investigation to step forward and explain their role in the case. The unnamed legislator is connected to the pay-to-play scandal that sent two former lawmakers, Kalani English and Ty Cullen, to prison in 2022. Hawaii News Now.

Medical Cannabis Dispensary Rules Amended By Health Department. State officials are proposing several changes to the rules regarding medical cannabis dispensaries in Hawaiʻi. Big Island Video News.

Evaluation committee for Act 310 nonprofit grants to announce application decisions. The state’s Act 310 Nonprofit Grants Program evaluation committee will host an information briefing Thursday (Nov. 20) to announce decisions on grant applications for fiscal year 2026. Big Island Now.

Hawai‘i DOE Wants $83,000 To Provide Data On Gender Equity In Schools. The Hawaiʻi Department of Education has recently stepped up its oversight of high school sports, but parents say they want more information on how female athletes are treated. Civil Beat.

Oahu

City Council advances bill to incentivize income-based rental housing program. The Honolulu City Council Budget Committee advanced a bill Tuesday to try to make an unused affordable housing program more attractive to landlords. Hawaii Public Radio.

City council weighs new measures to curb soaring traffic deaths. With traffic deaths nearly doubling compared to last year, Honolulu City Council members said Wednesday they are considering every possible tool, from enforcement to new technology, to get drivers to slow down and pay attention. Hawaii News Now.

Contractor: City Offered $8M To Settle $320M Claim For Honolulu Rail Delays. Hitachi Rail Honolulu JV, which is still on the job, refiles a suit alleging HART exhibited an ‘inability to learn’ from its mistakes.  Civil Beat.

Fatal Police Shooting: Teen’s Family Could Get $1 Million Settlement. The Honolulu City Council is slated to vote on whether to approve the settlement in the 2021 death of 16-year-old Iremamber Sykap at its next meeting. Civil Beat. KITV4. 

Kahala residents push for removal of homeless camps along stream. City officials recently replaced a gate to the access point for the Waialae Nui Stream near Malia Street after the one before it was torn out, allowing homeless people to crawl in. Hawaii News Now.

4 years after fuel leak, Board of Water Supply continues Red Hill remediation. Four years ago today, a massive jet fuel leak forever changed the Navy’s operations at its once-top-secret, underground Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility in Halawa Valley. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers want service members to be able to seek damages for Red Hill. Two Pacific lawmakers are pushing the federal government to allow service members to seek compensation for toxic exposures connected to the Red Hill water crisis. Star-Advertiser.

How City Council could improve food security for Oʻahu residents. The Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice has recommended that the Honolulu City Council work on four areas to improve food security on Oʻahu: disaster planning, summer feeding programs for children, kūpuna programs, and direct funding for food banks. Hawaii Public Radio.

Renowned Chef Chai leaves U.S. with return in doubt. Chai Chaowasaree, 63, will need permission from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to return to Hawaii after leaving to care for his ailing mother in Thailand. Star-Advertiser.

‘The future of Hawaiʻi’s film and television industry’: Local studio group unveils plans for new private studio near UH West Oʻahu. The master plan released on Nov. 19 included renderings and stage layouts for the proposed studio, as the group is currently in final negotiations with UH for a long-term ground lease and development agreement. KHON2.

Mayor urges Oahu residents to take community survey. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi is urging Oahu residents to participate in the City and County of Hono­lulu’s 2025 Community Survey, an annual assessment that measures residents’ satisfaction and tracks priorities ranging from public safety and city services to housing, transportation and overall quality of life. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Disposable foodware bill passes first reading. The Hawaii County Council on Wednesday advanced a second draft of Bill 83 on first reading with an 8-1 vote, moving forward a proposal that would significantly expand the county’s restrictions on disposable plastic and polystyrene foodware. Tribune-Herald.

Funds eyed for Puapuaʻa Iki restoration in Kona. The Hawaii County Council is set to consider a proposed $1.9 million budget amendment today that would fund the restoration of more than 11 acres of deforested land and cultural sites in Puapua‘a Iki in North Kona. Tribune-Herald.

Tsunami evacuation exercise Friday in Keaukaha. According to a county press release, the exercise starts at 9 a.m. with students from participating schools following prepared evacuation plans as far as the airport gates at Andrews, Baker and Pua avenues. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News. 

Maui

Hawaiʻi’s New Remote Weather Stations Boost Wildfire Risk Assessment. The state has installed 16 new weather stations across Maui County since the deadly fires in August 2023 and plans to install more soon on other islands. Civil Beat.

Community survey asks about brownfield sites. Maui United Way, in partnership with Hā Sustainability, is inviting residents to participate in a short survey to help prioritize sites for environmental assessment and cleanup through the Maui United Way Environmental Recovery Initiative. Maui News.

Maui Council explores ways to reduce alarming rate of ocean drownings. Maui County faces a disproportionately high rate of ocean drowning fatalities, driven largely by the high number of visitors lured by the ocean’s beauty but unprepared for its hidden dangers. Maui Now.

‘Small in stature, huge in presence’: Maui bids aloha to Council Member Tasha Kama. Tears, laughter and the soaring voices of 31 grandchildren filled the Castle Theater on Wednesday morning to celebrate a life of love, service and faith as Maui bid farewell to Maui County Council Member Natalie “Tasha” Kama. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank awarded $25,000 grant from Nareit Hawai‘i. Nareit Hawai‘i announced earlier this week that it is awarding a total of $120,000 in grants to five community nonprofits throughout the state. Kauai Now.

Enter to win a toilet from Kauai’s Department of Water. The department will hold a grand prize drawing for three toilets recognized by WaterSense, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency program that identifies water-efficient products that perform as well as or better than conventional models. Hawaii News Now.

Kai Kahele pushes Congress over military land, Maui mulls desalination plant, AI comes to Mauna Kea telescope, government meeting reports, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

OHA presses for role in military land decisions. Office of Hawaiian Affairs board of trustees chair Kai Kahele is appealing to Congress to press the military to engage with Native Hawaiian groups in negotiations for leases on state-owned training lands. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Now.

Grants awarded to strengthen food security for local nonprofits. Kaiser Permanente Hawaii is investing $263,000 in four local nonprofits to expand access to healthy, locally sourced food for families across the islands, the health care provider announced Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Locally created AI tool transcribes and dissects government meetings. Joe Kent is the executive vice president of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaiʻi. He created the Open Hearings tool after he felt he was wasting time and money hiring interns to monitor meetings. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Kakaako Makai housing plan could skirt ban. The state Office of Hawaiian Affairs is pursuing a new strategy to develop housing on land it owns in Kakaako where the Legislature banned residential development in 2006, and it has the potential to sidestep the prohibition. Star-Advertiser.

Council pushes for transparency over unspent money. The Honolulu City Council seeks to hold Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration more accountable over the funding appropriations it provides for the city’s use each year. Star-Advertiser.

Fatal HPD Chases Cost City Millions. Will New Law Change That? As Honolulu looks to settle with the family of a teenager killed in a 2021 chase, efforts to regulate police pursuits continue to draw criticism. Civil Beat.

The Foster Girl’s Bones Kept Breaking. Expert Suggested She Didn’t Feel Pain. In response to a Hawaiʻi Supreme Court decision, case files in one of Hawaiʻi’s most notorious child abuse cases were unsealed. They reveal how the state and experts ignored multiple warnings before Ariel Sellers died. Civil Beat.

$17M in forfeitures sought against company’s late founder Christopher Dawson. Federal prosecutors are seeking to recoup roughly $17 million meant for Native Hawaiian charitable causes that they allege was embezzled to pay for polo, homes in Hawaii and Florida, and other personal expenses of the late founder of Hawaiian Native Corp., according to federal court records. Star-Advertiser.

Popular Downtown Honolulu Street Crossing Needs To Be More Visible. In the past two months, Honolulu architect Joshua Briggs said he has almost been hit three times by cars and even a city bus, all while crossing King Street’s striped crosswalk between ʻIolani Palace and the King Kamehameha statue. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

UH debuts advanced robotic optics on Maunakea, sharpening images in night sky. The University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy (IfA) has launched initial science operations for Robo-AO-2, a robotic laser adaptive optics system now operating at the UH 2.2-meter telescope. Maui Now.

Mobile Family Resource Center rolls out in Puna. The van was made available to Neighborhood Place of Puna through partnerships with state nonprofit organizations Blueprint for Change and Hawaii Ohana Support Network.  Tribune-Herald.

Outreach team from Hawaiian Council coming to Big Island to help with emergency relief applications. The team will provide in-person support for applicants needing help filling out applications, eligibility verification forms and more. Big Island Now.

Puna Geothermal to host final quarterly community meeting of 2025. The meeting is slated for 4 p.m. Nov. 25 at the Pāhoa Neighborhood Facility, located at 15-0322 Kauhale St., in Pāhoa. Big Island Now.

Maui

Maui Water Department begins initial planning for West Maui desalination plant. The Maui County Department of Water Supply is taking the first steps toward developing its first publicly owned desalination facility in West Maui. Maui Now.

Earthjustice asks water commission to stop Kapalua golf courses from using drinking water for irrigation. The environmental law firm Earthjustice is claiming that two Kapalua golf courses unlawfully used millions of gallons of drinking water for irrigation, and with the knowledge of the state water commission chair.  Maui Now.

First eight families receive County of Maui’s First-Time Homebuyer Program shopping letters. Marking a significant chapter in rebuilding, the County of Maui Office of Recovery announced that eight families received First-Time Homebuyer Opportunity Program shopping letters that allow them to begin shopping for a house within their approved price range. Maui Now.

Kauai

State completes $24 million project to secure landslide-prone Hanalei Hill on Kauaʻi. After a four-year effort, the project to stabilize the slope at Hanalei Hill and make one of Kaua‘i’s most vulnerable roadways safe is finally finished, the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation said. Kauai Now.

Project Housing Connect program raising awareness. Tessa Belardo of the Department of Education, Project YES (which stands for Youth Education Stability program) said on Tuesday that even children who are homeless need to be educated. Garden Island.

Interisland shipping rates hiked 25%, more families go hungry, Native Hawaiian telecom company loses operating licnse after fraud case, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Young Brothers Wins 25% Rate Hike But Faces Stricter Oversight. The increase is expected to generate an extra $26 million in revenue, which the interisland barge service says will still leave it operating at a loss next year. The cost of shipping food and other goods between the Hawaiian Islands is about to rocket up more than 25%, sparking dismay among some residents, farmers and business owners.  Civil Beat.  Tribune-Herald. Star-Advertiser.  Kauai Now.  Hawaii News Now. 

More Hawaii families go hungry. Hawaii’s second annual survey of “food insecurity” showed that almost half of island families (or 48%) are either food insecure or on the brink of choosing between food, housing or healthcare — even among households that earn $90,000 or more. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Hawaii News Now. KHON2.  KITV4. 

DHHL Severs Ties To Company That It Says Abandoned Homesteaders. Waimana Enterprises, founded by Al Hee, was hit with utility violations and previously got wrapped up in a fraud case. The telecommunications company that provided broadband internet and telephone service to thousands of rural Hawaiian homesteaders across the state since the mid-1990s was stripped of its operating license Monday after years of service disruptions and other violations, including a federal fraud case that sent the company’s founder to prison. Civil Beat.

2 unions fight to represent Alaska-Hawaiian aircraft technicians. As Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines move closer to completing their $1.9 billion merger, a behind-the-scenes union battle could influence how aircraft maintenance is managed — and shape the future of local jobs and operational efficiency. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

City Council bill aims to proactively identify possible lapsed funding. The Honolulu City Council Budget Committee will consider a bill  Tuesday that aims to bring more transparency to the city’s budget. Hawaii Public Radio.

Honolulu police officers accused of dodging court service in DUI lawsuit. Three Honolulu police officers accused of wrongful DUI arrests are now facing allegations they deliberately avoided a process server in a class action lawsuit. Records show officers Ridge Newcom and Kelsey Messmer, along with recently retired officer Darren Cachola, have been evading service of legal papers. Hawaii News Now.

Massive Convention Center makeover to reshape events for two years starting 2026. The Hawaii Convention Center is moving forward with what will be its most complete renovation since it opened 26 years ago. KHON2. 

Approval process underway for new high-rise project in Ala Moana. Another luxury, high-rise project is being planned in Ala Moana – right on the shopping center’s property. It’ll be a condo and a hotel. KHON2.

USPS removes blue collection boxes around Oahu. The U.S. Postal Service is removing blue collection boxes across Oahu, prompting concerns from residents who rely on them. Removal notices have appeared on boxes in Foster Village, Mapunapuna, and Kapahulu, requiring residents to travel miles to alternative locations. Hawaii News Now.

Roberts bus packages expected to ease traffic to Hanauma Bay. The  City & County of Honolulu is offering visitors a quicker, easier way to get to there through a contract with Roberts Hawaii that offers a package deal including transportation on an electric motorcoach. Star-Advertiser.

Highway Inn sues state over tax on pandemic-era Restaurant Revitalization Fund. HPR sat down with Monica Toguchi Ryan, the third-generation owner of the longtime family restaurant Highway Inn, which has locations in Kakaʻako and Waipahu, plus a cafe at Bishop Museum. Hawaii Public Radio.

What’s A Playground Without A Slide? A Honolulu park slide was removed and its entrance boarded up earlier this year. It’s still unclear when it’ll be replaced.  Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Salary hikes for county officials questioned. At its meeting Monday in Hilo, the Hawaii County Salary Commission received some public pushback on a proposed 15.29% pay hike for the county’s top officials. Tribune-Herald.

New directors at Public Works, DEM. Daniel Girvan has been appointed director of the Department of Environmental Management, and Wesley Segawa, who served as DEM director since December 2024, has been appointed director of the Department of Public Works. Neil Azevedo, who has served as acting DPW Director since March 31, will continue with the department as deputy director. Tribune-Herald.

Public Hearing Set For Puna Geothermal Power Increase, December 8. The Noncovered Source Permit will grant conditional approval for PGV to increase from 41 megawatts (MW) to 46 MW.  Big Island Video News.

Coconut Island footbridge in Hilo collapses, repairs could take two years.  The pedestrian bridge leading to Mokuʻola, commonly known as Coconut Island, collapsed Friday morning as a county worker drove a mini-excavator across the structure, closing the popular Hilo park indefinitely. Hawaii News Now. Big Island Video News. 

DOT plans speed reductions on Highway 19. The Hawaii Department of Transportation announces the planned reduction of the speed limit in four different areas on Hawaii Belt Road (Highway 19), according to a press release. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News. 

Maui

First reading of Bill 9 scheduled for Dec. 1. Maui County Council Chair Alice Lee announced on Monday there will be a special hearing next month for Bill 9, a proposal that would phase transient vacation rentals out of apartment districts on Maui. Maui News.

Temporary potable water use for Maui golf course contested. An environmental law firm is objecting to state condoned use of potable water for irrigating the Maui Kapalua golf course that recently reopened after a two-month closure and loss of an economically valuable January PGA tournament. Star-Advertiser.

Trace levels of selenium detected in Lahaina’s water system. Trace levels of selenium have been detected for the first time in water samples collected from the County of Maui Department of Water Supply’s Lahaina water system. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

New Kauaʻi charter school fills a void for North Shore community. For decades, Kauaʻi’s North Shore has been a learning desert. The Namahana School aims to change that.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Thanksgiving turkeys go out. There were at least 500 turkeys being given to Kauai families on Saturday during the big Hawaii Foodbank Kauai drive-through food distribution at the Kauai Community College. Garden Island.

FAA ends flight cutbacks, Hawaii SNAP payments resume in full, Honolulu AI police surveillance worries advocates, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

FAA to end cuts to flights at 40 airports, including Honolulu. The FAA says it is ending all commercial flight restrictions that were put in place during the federal government shutdown. Starting Monday, Nov. 17, at 1 a.m. HST, airlines will be able to go back to their regular schedules. KHON2. Reuters. Associated Press.

Hawaii working on restoring SNAP benefits after shutdown. The state Department of Human Services said it successfully issued full November SNAP benefits Nov. 7 to more than 78,000 households representing over 160,000 people statewide. Star-Advertiser.

From Fundraisers To Favors, Ethics Panel Wants To Crack Down On State Workers. New reform measures would prohibit high level state officials from holding fundraisers and stop state employees from doing favors for former employers. Civil Beat.

Travel firms urge increase in marketing as visitor numbers slip. A total of 690,858 visitors came to Hawaii in September, down 2.5% from September 2024, according to state data. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii ranks second highest in the country for women in construction. Construction Coverage, which researches construction software, insurance and related services for builders and real estate professionals, looked at all 50 states in its “Best-Paying States for Women in Construction” report that found that women make up 13.2% of Hawaii’s construction industry. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Job Corps survives federal shutdown attempt. The operator of the Job Corps centers on Oahu and Maui wants the public to know that the facilities didn’t close at the end of June as directed by the U.S. Department of Labor. Star-Advertiser.

Campaign to ID unknowns from USS Arizona reaches milestone. A civilian-led effort called Operation 85 has reached its goal of collecting enough DNA samples from the living relatives of the battleship’s crew to prompt the Defense Department to consider reexamining dozens of unidentified servicemen who were buried in Hawaii after the Pearl Harbor attack. Arizona Daily Star.

Oahu

Advocates Fear ‘Surveillance Creep’ If HPD Starts Using AI To Write Reports. Honolulu police will start testing an AI program for writing reports run by body camera company Axon on Monday. Civil Beat.

Justice Department: Well-Known Hawaiian Defense Contractor Embezzled Funds. Newly public court documents accuse Christopher Dawson and other executives not only of stealing from their federal contracting business but shortchanging Native Hawaiians in the process. Civil Beat.

Centre Urban project would create 72 Waikiki workforce housing units. Centre Urban Real Estate is advancing plans to transform two Waikiki sites, including the long-­derelict 1615 Ala Wai Blvd., into 72 affordable workforce housing units under city guidelines. Star-Advertiser.

Anxious Honolulu bus riders await contract resolution. After months of stalled negotiations and warnings of a possible strike, the approximately 130,000 daily riders of Honolulu’s TheBus have been left in limbo, hoping for a resolution to the contract stand-off. Star-Advertiser.

Strike continues at Kapi‘olani Medical Center. Hundreds of union workers continued their strike Saturday in front of the Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women &Children, marking four weeks since walking off the job Oct. 17. Star-Advertiser.

This Hawaiian Fishpond Is Nearly Restored. All That’s Missing Is Fresh Water. The Heʻeia Fishpond relies on fresh water to create the right conditions to raise fish for the community, but the stream that feeds into it was diverted 85 years ago.  Civil Beat.

Housekeeper sues Hilton Hawaiian Village, alleges co-worker sexually assaulted her. A housekeeper at Hilton Hawaiian Village filed a lawsuit against the hotel, alleging a colleague sexually assaulted her, and arguing her employer should have done more to protect her. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Construction of Hilo roundabout to start in ’27. The intersection of Bayfront Highway, Kamehameha Avenue and Waianuenue Avenue in Hilo is set for a $22 million redesign that includes a roundabout, with construction expected to begin in 2027. Tribune-Herald.

Bill aims to give kupuna farmers property tax relief. Two Hawaii County Council members are proposing a measure that would give longtime kupuna farmers a break on property tax increases after they retire from agricultural work. Tribune-Herald.

Land use debate heats up over controversial ‘Burning Man-inspired’ festival in Pāpaʻikou. On a 15-acre portion of his land in Pāpaʻikou near Hilo, Pennsylvania native Andrew Tepper held a controversial festival in 2023 and 2024 called “Falls on Fire,” an event with a large wooden effigy inspired by the annual weeklong, large-scale Burning Man held in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada. Big Island Now.

Ka‘u student group seeks to minimize waste through composting, recycling. A student-led zero-waste initiative in Ka‘u has kept more than 20,000 pounds of waste out of the West Hawaii landfill since the 2024 start of their grant-supported efforts in trash separation, recycling and composting. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Report projects post-shutdown OGG travel surge with TSA data. Kahului International Airport (OGG) is expected to see one of the nation’s steepest surges in passenger traffic this holiday season, according to a new analysis of Transportation Security Administration data by Luxury Link.  Maui Now.

Who uses the most water in Lahaina? A new report says non-owner-occupied homes. Single-family dwelling was the biggest category of water use in West Maui by meter type, at approximately 5.5 million gallons per day, with hotels coming in second at about 3.5 million. Hawaii Public Radio.

Japan’s richest person loves Kapalua, but not its water crisis. The owner of the course, Japanese billionaire Tadashi Yanai, has been eagerly pursuing avenues to secure a new adequate supply of irrigation water. Star-Advertiser. Maui News. 

Nation’s first communal dialysis home in Hāna needs repairs to keep operating at full capacity. Maui County, which owns the home and leases it to the nonprofit Hui Laulima O Hāna led by Cosma, plans to provide funding to help with the repairs.  Maui Now.

Kauai

Kaua’i Council advances measure targeting disposable bodyboards. The Kaua‘i County Council is considering a proposal to ban disposable bodyboards in an effort to reduce plastic waste and protect the island’s beaches and marine life. Kauai Now.

Kaua‘i County comes together to observe National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.  Kaua‘i County Housing Agency on Nov. 10 joined community members and county officials during a special ceremony in the Mo‘ikeha Rotunda at Līhu‘e Civic Center to proclaim this week, Nov. 16-22, as National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. Kauai Now.