US traveler vetting plan threatens Hawaii tourism, Hawaii police chief finalists narrowed to 11, Kauai voters could decide on gated community ban, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

U.S. vetting proposal threatens Hawaii economy. Hawaii tourism officials are raising alarms that a new federal proposal requiring millions of foreign visitors to disclose their social media handles could further depress international arrivals — and potentially undermine the benefits of a major national marketing reboot aimed at restoring global travel to the United States. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) published a notice Dec. 10 proposing new vetting rules for travelers from 42 visa waiver countries, including Japan, South Korea, Australia and most of Europe. If it moves forward as proposed, applicants for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) starting on Feb. 8 would have to list all social media accounts used in the past five years. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii senator condemns U.S. travel ban that includes Tonga. State Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole (D, Kaneohe-Kailua) last week condemned a newly announced expansion of federal travel bans that will add 20 countries — including Tonga — to a list of nations facing new U.S. restrictions on travel and immigration. Star-Advertiser.

Trump Administration Threatens Native Hawaiian Higher Ed Programs. Education Secretary Linda McMahon wants to halt “race-based conditions when allocating taxpayer funding.” The U.S. Department of Education said that federally funded programs based on race, including those that serve Native Hawaiians and Alaskan Natives, are unconstitutional, according to an opinion by department lawyers. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi Charter Schools Promised A New Model. Did They Succeed? Hawaiʻi’s charter schools pledged to improve public education through more innovation and family engagement. Three decades later, they’ve gained momentum but still lag in some traditional measures of success.  Civil Beat.

Kamehameha Schools Trustee Finalists Are Walking Into A Challenging Future. The three finalists vying for the vacant seat are startup entrepreneur Olin Lagon, hotelier Keith Vieira and finance executive Eric Yeaman. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi religious institutions make up nearly $200M in real estate deals this year. Religious institutions in Hawaiʻi have collectively made nearly $200 million in just four real estate deals so far this year. That's expanded a wide footprint of church-owned real estate throughout the islands. Hawaii Public Radio.

Battling A Voracious Beetle In The Invasive Species Capital Of The World. Tactics vary by island in the ongoing fight to save Hawaiʻi’s iconic palms from coconut rhinoceros beetles. Civil Beat.

2026 budget informational briefing schedule set by state Senate Ways and Means panel. Hawai’i Senate Committee on Ways and Means last week released its schedule for budget informational briefings during the upcoming 2026 legislative session. Big Island Now.

Oahu

Hawai‘i Convention Center repair climbs to $87M — a 70% surge. A major leak crisis at the Hawai‘i Convention Center — with five meeting rooms affected during a major event this week — is underscoring the urgency of a long delayed rooftop repair project that has now swelled to $87 million and forced the center to reshuffle capital improvement funds to keep construction on track. Star-Advertiser.

HART audit concludes results are positive, rail agency says. The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation announced Friday that a recently completed annual audit of its financial statements proved “positive” for the agency tasked with constructing the more than $10 billion Skyline project. Star-Advertiser.

HART CEO gets $350K following citywide pay raises. The board of directors for the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation has approved a new 4% pay raise for Executive Director and CEO Lori Kahikina to continue to oversee completion of the more than $10 billion Skyline project. Star-Advertiser.

Redeveloping obsolete homes at Kuhio Park Terrace underway. Work is underway to revitalize and expand the state’s largest public housing complex where demolition has begun on part of the Kuhio Park Terrace community in Kalihi to make way for a greater number of low-income rental apartments. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s Millennials juggle unaffordable housing, child care. Corey Strickland spends his days shuttling passengers, spinning music sets and working a third job on Oahu to keep up with Hawaii’s high cost of living. The top financial pressures that financial literacy and wealth management firms say are facing Millennials — housing costs, student debt, consumer debt, and a lack of retirement savings — are even more pronounced in Hawaii, where each strain is magnified by the state’s extreme cost of living. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

HPD chief applicants narrowed down to 11. Eleven candidates for the Hawaii Police Department’s vacant chief position will receive invitations to be interviewed next month by the Hawaii County Police Commission. Tribune-Herald.

HPD officer whose police dog died in overheated car won’t be prosecuted. There will be no criminal animal cruelty charges filed against Hawaii Police Department Officer Sidra Brown, the handler of K-9 Archer, the narcotics detection dog that died Sept. 4 after being left unattended in a police vehicle in Kona. Tribune-Herald.

Emergency repairs on Route 19 to begin Monday. Motorists on Hawaii Belt Road (Route 19) this week between Wainaku and Hakalau could experience traffic delays starting Monday. Tribune-Herald.

Southwest Airlines launches nonstop Hilo-to-Vegas route.  The new nonstop route starts Aug. 6, 2026, and will initially operate Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, according to a Southwest news release. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

In a year of federal cuts and fading fire recovery funds, Maui nonprofits hold fast. The roller coaster of a year was reflective of what many Maui organizations have experienced during massive federal funding slashes and rapidly changing policies under President Donald Trump’s administration.  Maui Now.

Christmas magic in the pedals: This Maui bike shop gifts hundreds of bicycles to local keiki. Maui bike shop Krank Cycles has assembled and distributed about 500 bikes this year. They're purchased and donated by Jim Falk, president of car dealership Jim Falk Motors of Maui. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Kaua‘i Voters Could Decide Whether Gated Communities Should Be Banned. That’s one of several proposals the Charter Review Commission may put on the ballot next fall, along with increasing oversight of the County Council’s budget. Civil Beat.

Kauai coffee farm landowner considering takeover. Denver-based Brue Baukol Capital Partners, a real estate investment firm that bought the land under the farm three years ago, said it is committed to keeping Kauai Coffee open and is actively exploring ways to preserve, improve, or potentially manage the business itself. Star-Advertiser.

'Beyond me': 6th-generation wahine Kauaʻi kalo farmer continues family legacy. Nestled in the valleys of Hanalei and Lumahaʻi on Kauaʻi sits a loʻi kalo that’s been cultivating on the island's north shore for six generations. Hawaii Public Radio.

Federal cuts imperil homeless housing, health insurance; Aloha Stadium demolition begins; gas prices hit year low, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

HUD Plan Leaves Millions For Hawaiʻi Homeless Housing In Limbo. Local nonprofit leaders estimate that more than 400 people could end up back on the streets if funding cuts go through. Millions of dollars for homeless services in Hawaiʻi are at risk as the Trump administration pulls back from funding targeted housing programs that have been the mainstay of efforts to get people off the streets for nearly two decades. Civil Beat.

Gov. Josh Green gears up to cover health care gaps in the short term. If subsidies under the Affordable Care Act expire at the end of the year as expected, that will leave tens of thousands of Hawaiʻi residents with dramatically higher insurance costs and will also affect rural health care across the state.  Hawaii Public Radio.

ICE has been sending immigrants from the continental U.S. to Hawaiʻi, and no one knows why. ICE has been transferring detained immigrants from the continental U.S. to the Honolulu Federal Detention Center since this summer. Local immigration attorneys are facing unprecedented case loads. Hawaii Public Radio.

AAA Hawaiʻi: Island gas prices are at lowest levels of 2025.  Gas price averages statewide and in Honolulu are at their lowest levels of 2025, echoing a pattern seen throughout the US, according to the AAA Hawaiʻi Weekend Gas Watch. The statewide average price for regular unleaded is $4.43, which is one cent lower than last week and 11 cents lower than this time last year. The average national price is $2.89. Maui Now.

Three Kamehameha Schools trustee finalists outline challenges ahead. Three finalists to fill a vacancy on the Kamehameha Schools Board of Trustees vowed to fight a lawsuit challenging the school’s admissions policy favoring Native Hawaiians. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Should A State Worker Be Able To Lease Public Property Without Bids? An agency development director can now enter five-year leases for state-owned property in Kakaʻako at below-market rates without board approval or public notice. Civil Beat.

Demolition of Aloha Stadium begins. Although the outside may look the same for now, the project to tear down Aloha Stadium has begun. On Thursday, the Aloha Stadium Authority held its final meeting inside the stadium, as work began last week to cut utilities and remove hazardous materials. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. 

Aloha Stadium Authority hires executive with construction background. The Aloha Stadium Authority board voted at its final meeting at the facility Thursday to install Michael Yadao as deputy manager ahead of the facility’s dismantling and replacement in Halawa by the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Police Commission to decide how to improve HPD staffing shortage. A city task force presented a report with recommendations on how to address the Honolulu Police Department’s chronic staffing shortage — and now it’s up to the Honolulu Police Commission to choose how to move forward. Hawaii Public Radio.

Red Hill victims win attorney fees as appeal continues. A U.S. District Court judge this month ordered the federal government to pay more than $160,000 in attorneys’ fees to plaintiffs in the Red Hill civil lawsuit, following a nearly $600,000 judgement issued in September and amid an appeal on behalf of child victims. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Meeting to discuss Hilo wilderness park draws large crowd. About 100 people attended a community meeting Wednesday night at Hilo High School concerning a proposal by state Rep. Matthias Kusch to create a wilderness park on 283 acres of land on Akolea Road in Kaumana. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Hawaiian Electric to begin construction of first standalone load-shifting battery energy storage system on Maui. As part of its transition to using more renewable energy and cutting carbon emissions to power Maui, Hawaiian Electric will begin construction in January of the island’s first large standalone load-shifting battery energy storage system (BESS). The Waena BESS will enable the planned retirement of four generating units at the company’s Kahului Power Plant. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kaua‘i’s Robinson Family Quietly Pursues New Industrial Development. The island’s largest private landowner is exploring how to turn the old Olokele sugar mill into the rural Westside’s first industrial park. Civil Beat.

Future is unclear for largest coffee farm in Hawaii. The owner of Kauai Coffee Co., an affiliate of an Italian beverage firm, faces the prospect of losing control of the nearly 40-year old business it acquired more than a decade ago from a local former sugar plantation operator. Star-Advertiser.

Changes sought in solitary confinement law, safety inspections lag as building fires rise, Pentagon denied additional condemnation authority at Pohakuloa, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation seeks changes to solitary confinement law. The state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation wants the state Legislature to loosen a law that sets stronger regulations on the use of solitary confinement on incarcerated individuals. Hawaii Public Radio.

New political action committee aimed at electing inclusive, equality-driven leaders. Community leaders on the third anniversary of the Respect for Marriage Act announced last week the official launch of HOKU PAC, a new non-partisan political action committee dedicated to empowering māhū and LGBTQIA+ candidates — and their allies — seeking county and state office throughout Hawaiʻi.  Big Island Now.

Hawaiʻi Building Fires Are On The Rise; Safety Inspections Aren’t Keeping Up. Regular inspections of hotels and other accommodations required by the state are being inconsistently carried out by most county fire departments. Staffing and resource limitations mean that all of the state’s county fire prevention bureaus only inspect a fraction of the state’s accommodations, leaving visitors and residents at risk.  Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi Wants To Bring Home The Bacon Again — Literally. Pork production in the islands has dropped significantly in the past 20 years. The state is now taking calls for help from piggeries more seriously. Civil Beat.

The state is urging households to use their Hawaii Emergency Food Assistance Program (HEFAP) benefits before they expire on Dec. 31. The Hawaii Department of Human Services said Wednesday that households that received the $250 per person HEFAP benefits should use them as soon as possible. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Deadly force found justified in Keehi Boat Harbor barricade. A Honolulu police corporal was justified to use deadly force when he shot a 37-year-old man high on methamphetamine through the cheek after the man threatened officers with a hammer and a rifle during a standoff June 22 at Keehi Boat Harbor, the Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office said. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Prison guard and wife permanently banned by DOE. The state Department of Education issued a permanent ban from all campuses and properties against a man accused of punching out Moanalua High School’s associate athletic director after allegedly harassing referees at his son’s exhibition basketball game Dec. 4.  Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. 

State begins emergency repairs at Kamehameha Hwy. at Kualoa. The state Department of Transportation has begun emergency repairs to a section of Kamehameha Highway near Kualoa Regional Park after erosion threatened to undermine the roadway. The DOT said the erosion was found on Monday by inspectors, and repairs were started Tuesday because of fears the roadway could fail. Hawaii News Now.

Manoa pool closed again as city fixes renovation problems. After reopening in June following nearly nine months of repairs, the pool shut down once more in late November.  KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Hawaiʻi Island gets new official name. The "Island of Hawaiʻi" will now be known simply as "Hawaiʻi" on official state documents. The Hawaiʻi Board on Geographic Names voted in favor of the change last week after more than a year of discussion on what the island's official name should be. Hawaii Public Radio.

Senate Passes Military Spending Bill, Includes Provision On Pōhakuloa Land. Senator Mazie Hirono says the bill does not provide the military with any additional authority to condemn state land, despite a last-minute push by the Army. Big Island Video News.

Street Medicine Program To End At Year-End. The Hawaiʻi Island Community Health Center says it is terminating its innovative Street Medicine Outreach program for un-housed individuals at year-end. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Maui Police Chief John Pelletier seeks apology as ‘Diddy’ civil lawsuit is dismissed. The civil lawsuit filed in California against rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs — later amended to add a list of co-defendants, including Maui Police Chief John Pelletier — was dismissed on Tuesday for failure to prosecute. Maui Now. Maui News. 

A Maui sailing company is among the first to resume operations in Lahaina Harbor. Lahaina Small Boat Harbor has officially reopened. The harbor sustained $30 million in damage from the 2023 wildfire. Hawaii Public Radio.

Troubled Maui water system due for improvements. A state commission has fined Maui Land &Pineapple Co. for failures earlier this year to manage stream water feeding competing demands that include taro farming, wildlife habitat, golf course irrigation and residential landscaping. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

Mayor Kawakami signs Kauai Climate Adaptation and Action Plan. Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami signed the Kauai Climate Adaptation and Action Plan (KCAAP) on Wednesday, marking an important step in the County of Kauai’s long-term work to prepare for climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Garden Island. Kauai Now. 

Kauaʻi Renters Are Fighting A Hawaiian Homesteads Condo Project. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is being sued over a relocation plan residents say is inadequate. Civil Beat.

Fire at Kauai Sea Farm caused about $144K in damage. Kauai firefighters on Tuesday extinguished a fire at the eastern shore of Nomilu Fishpond in Kalaheo. No injuries were reported. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian, Alaska airlines to use locally made biofuel; COVID-19 impact on life expectancy felt less in Hawaii, Kauai Coffee facing uncertain future, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiian, Alaska airlines to use locally made biofuel. The sister airlines owned by Alaska Air Group also plan to invest in a joint venture between several companies including fuel refinery operator Par Hawaii trying to establish Camelina sativa, also known as false flax, as a major crop in the state for producing sustainable aviation fuel and feed for cattle and chickens. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers consider bills to streamline construction projects' lengthy historic preservation review. Out of the 1,300 projects submitted for review last year, the State Historic Preservation Division completed reviews on a little over half. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Says Current Rules Are Enough To Prevent AI Abuses. Despite lawyers citing fake, AI-generated citations in court documents, a new report finds existing rules provide adequate safeguards. Civil Beat.

UH study: COVID-19 impact on life expectancy felt less in Hawaiʻi. While life expectancy across the United States declined significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, a new study led by researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health and the Hawaiʻi State Department of Health found that Hawaiʻi experienced a smaller decline compared to national trends. Maui Now.

Hawai‘i Gun Deaths: Amid Uptick, Leaders Take Debate Underground. The group that brought public health officials, law enforcement and researchers together to talk about how to prevent gun violence hasn’t met in over a year, and efforts to restart it have failed. Civil Beat.

Nonprofit receives $500,000 infusion for career exploration in public schools. A Hawaii workforce development nonprofit announced Tuesday that it has secured more than $500,000 from local leaders, businesses and organizations to extend career exploration and workforce programs in public schools for another five years, with a broader goal of raising $1 million through a statewide community campaign. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

New segment boosts Skyline’s ridership. When the city Department of Transportation Services opened the rail line’s Segment 2 on Oct. 16, from Halawa to Kalihi, average daily ridership hovered around 5,000 rides. Often that amount could be 2,000 rides per day or less. But by the end of November 2025, according to DTS, daily ridership numbers have effectively doubled and, in some cases, tripled those counted in preceding months. Star-Advertiser.

State-run slaughterhouse could improve local meat production — if done right. This year, state lawmakers budgeted $17 million into a “small-animal” slaughterhouse to be built in the Wahiawā area on Oʻahu. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hanukkah celebration in Waikiki to increase security after Australia shooting. After a mass shooting at a Hanukkah event in Australia killed more than a dozen people over the weekend, the Chabad of Hawaii said it will have more security at its menorah lighting event in Waikiki. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Waiakea subdivision bill to go to full council. The County Council’s Committee on Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions on Tuesday voted to forward a favorable recommendation to the full council for a zoning change allowing an applicant to subdivide a 4.4-acre property near the Hilo Municipal Golf Course into 14 house lots and a road. Tribune-Herald.

Two Coffee with a Cop events will open conversations between West Hawaiʻi police and residents this week. Coffee with a Cop events are intentionally informal and are an essential part of the Hawaiʻi Police Department’s ongoing community outreach to listen to community members. Big Island Now.

Maui

Maui Mayor Makes Appointment To Fill Vacant Council Seat. Maui Mayor Richard Bissen on Tuesday appointed Kauanoe Batangan to fill the seat on the County Council that was left vacant Oct. 26 by the death of Kahului area representative Tasha Kama. Civil Beat. Maui Now.  Hawaii News Now. 

Maui’s Bissen will accept any vacation rentals for long-term housing. After approving a plan to convert 6,208 short-term vacation rentals into long-term housing this week, it will now be up to the Maui County Council to decide how many rentals — out of 4,510 — should be allowed to continue to welcome tourists. Star-Advertiser.

Maui's $140k water mismanagement fine may be waived with improvements. The state has fined Maui Land & Pineapple Company (MLP) $140,000 for not properly maintaining the Honokohau Ditch system, but the company has an opportunity to rectify the situation without paying the fine. KITV4. KHON2. 

2 pleading guilty to fraud for false claims in wildfires. A woman and her ex-­boyfriend are pleading guilty to lying about being victims of the Aug. 8, 2023 West Maui wildfires and the January Los Angeles fires — stealing more than $110,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Star-Advertiser.

The Diddy Combs Case That Entangled Maui Police Chief Has Been Dismissed. Chief John Pelletier was one of several high-profile defendants who were accused of participating in a brutal sexual assault against a California woman. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Kauai Coffee facing uncertain future. Wayne Katayama, the president and general manager of Kauai Coffee, quietly announced that there will be no extensions to the lease, or lease renewals of the lands that Kauai Coffee Company occupies, and 3,100 acres of trees that grow there. Operating since 1987, the company is a vital part of Kauai’s agricultural heritage and local economy. Garden Island.

Kauai Housing Agency requests proposals for homeless program grants. Kauai’s Housing Agency is requesting proposals for homeless program grants.The grant program aims to provide critical services to people currently experiencing homelessness. Hawaii News Now.

Gambling, geothermal, transient accommodations tax hike top Hawaiian Home Lands agenda, Maui to phase out over 6,200 short-term rentals, Honolulu airport adds electric buses, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

DHHL considers gambling, building review and geothermal this legislative session. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands will push for new revenue streams that would allot it to develop more homestead projects for the 2026 legislative session. Raising the Transient Accommodations Tax by 1 percentage point and exploring geothermal energy to generate revenues are some top priorities for the department. The department is also considering a casino.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Influenza cases and 911 calls surging in Hawaii, DOH says. The Hawaii Department of Health is seeing a surge in influenza cases, along with flu-related 911 calls and emergency department visits statewide. A seasonal uptick in flu- related symptoms is expected during the winter months, especially as more gatherings take place indoors. There has, however, been a sharp increase in respiratory-related 911 calls. Star-Advertiser.

State relaunches first-time home buyer program to address high interest rates. State home loan program undercuts market interest rates. Hawaii renters with low or moderate incomes have a new opportunity to become homeowners under a revived state program offering below-market mortgage loans. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio.

Wespac Looks To Expand Commercial Access To Hawaiʻi’s Papahānaumokuākea. Local fishery managers, moving in step with the Trump administration, want to eventually reopen large protected swaths of the Pacific to potentially all sorts of commercial fishing — not just the deep-sea tuna and swordfish sought by longline boats but nearshore lobsters and corals as well. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Hawaiian Home Lands Could Get More Money Out Of ʻEwa Land Swap Deal. The proposed commercial center on donated West Oʻahu land has run into significant opposition this year. But the proposal has evolved and a vote Tuesday will decide its fate. The commission in charge of developing Hawaiian homelands is set to vote Tuesday on a land swap proposal that skirts county zoning rules in a deal that proponents say could raise $100 million for the department over the next 65 years. Civil Beat.

Historic bar in Honolulu to shut down. Smith’s Union Bar, a Chinatown institution and Honolulu’s oldest continually operating bar, will be closing its doors after its landlord apparently decided not to renew its lease. Established in 1934 on Hotel Street, the bar has endured decades and was famous as the watering hole of the crew of the USS Arizona before its destruction during the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor. Star-Advertiser.

New cafe, electric buses blessed at Honolulu airport; looks to make travel smooth, easy. There are some new improvements at Honolulu Airport that officials say are meant to make the travel experience smoother and better, which they say will keep people flying in and out of the islands. KHON2.

Hawaii health officials allow Kaimuki restaurant to reopen. Hawaii health officials have issued a green placard to the Himalayan Kitchen LLC in Kaimuki, authorizing the restaurant to reopen after shutting it down last week. Star-Advertiser.

New lawsuit claims sex abuse, non-consensual videotaping by former Tripler doctor. Already facing sex crime allegations from about 100 women, a former Tripler Army Medical Center gynecologist is at the center of a new lawsuit. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

NOAA funds restoration work along Kona's Aliʻi Drive. Hawaiʻi County has plans to restore native habitat and cultural sites on an 11.5 acre parcel in the middle of Kona's main commercial strip. Hawaii Public Radio.

A new state park for Hilo? Kusch schedules meeting on proposal. Rep. Matthias Kusch has a community meeting slated for Wednesday evening to discuss a proposal to purchase 283 acres of land in the Kaumana area for what he calls a passive recreation wilderness state park for Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

Traffic Emergency Zone Planned For Worsening Highway 19 Conditions. The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation plans to declare a traffic emergency zone on Highway 19 in North and South Hilo, as worsening conditions along the Hāmākua coast highway will require repairs. Big Island Now. Big Island Video News.

Researcher looks into a link between public gatherings in the Pacific and dengue spread. Hawaiʻi Island was recently selected to host the World Indigenous Peoples’ Conference on Education in 2028. The event would bring thousands of educators and leaders to Waikoloa from across the globe. But what impact might large gatherings like this one have on the spread of dengue virus? Hawaii Public Radio.

Former Bank of Hawaii teller indicted for theft, computer fraud. A 24-year-old former Bank of Hawaii teller pleaded not guilty Friday to charges she allegedly embezzled more than $40,000 from bank customers, including two elderly customers. Tribune-Herald. KITV4. 

Maui

Maui to phase out over 6,200 short-term rentals. Maui Mayor Richard Bissen’s Bill 9 passed its final hearing before the County Council on Monday but the future of the more than 6,200 short-term vacation rentals in West and South Maui that have to convert to long-term rental units for local residents remains in doubt. Bissen signed Bill 9 into law after the Council forwarded it to him Monday, starting the clock on converting 6,208 vacation rentals within three years for West Maui and five years for South Maui. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Maui News.  Maui Now.  Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.  KITV4.

Lahaina harbor opens for business. The Lahaina Small Boat Harbor is hosting tour vessels again as of Monday, more than two years after the 2023 Maui wildfires destroyed the historic landmark. Hawaii News Now.

Maui police warn public of ‘spoofing’ scam calls. The Maui Police Department is warning the public of recurring phone scams involving spoofed calls that falsely appear to originate from the MPD. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kaua‘i County now requesting proposals for its homeless. The purpose of this grant program is to provide critical services to those who are currently experiencing homelessness, according to a news release from Kaua‘i County. Kauai Now.

County of Kauai launches motor vehicle registration kiosk in Hanapepe. County of Kauai officials, in partnership with Western Motor Service and Intellectual Technology Inc. (ITI), launched a new self-service kiosk for motor vehicle registrations at Western Motor Service in Hanapepe. Garden Island. Kauai Now. 

Justice Department sues Hawaii over voter data, Hawaii Island fire chief dies at 45, Honolulu council seeks 'open checkbook' online financial program, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii among latest states sued by Justice Department for voter data. The U.S. Justice Department filed federal lawsuits against Colorado, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Nevada on Thursday as part of its effort to collect detailed voting data and other election information across the country.  Associated Press.

Escalating climate disasters could make homes uninsurable, new report warns. Hawaii is facing a rapidly escalating insurance crisis driven by climate change, aging housing, and a sharp retreat by private insurers, according to a new report released by the Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law &Economic Justice. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi Is Reviving A Risky Play To Get Hawaiians Into Homes. Applicants to the Hawaiian Homelands waitlist are receiving leases to homes that aren’t yet built under a heavily criticized program that officials say has been revamped. Civil Beat.

Hawaii slips from ‘Top 10’ in women’s, children’s health. The United Health Foundation ranked Hawaii No. 12 this year in its “2025 Health of Women and Children Report,” down from No. 8 in the U.S. last year, after analyzing 125 measures of health and well- being that include access to care, chronic conditions, and depression, among other factors. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: The Silence Of The Senate: These Legislative Leaders Simply Aren't Talking. Mum’s the word for President Ron Kouchi and Ways and Means Chair Donovan Dela Cruz. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Council bill seeks web-based ‘open checkbook’ into city finances. The leader of the Honolulu City Council is pushing legislation to require the use of real-time, web-based software to effectively shine a more public light on the annual, multibillion dollar budgets and day-to-day finances of the City &County of Honolulu. Star-Advertiser.

With Hunger Growing On Oʻahu, A Push To Put Food Security To A Vote. The Charter Commission is holding a first hearing today of a proposal to create a food security fund using property tax. The proposal, put forward by the Hawaiʻi Foodbank and one of 276 before the commission, proposes directing an estimated $8 million or so a year to food-related programs around the island. Civil Beat.

Desalination plant on Oahu nearing construction after three decades of work. The Honolulu Board of Water Supply has pursued the technology — reverse osmosis — on and off for more than 30 years, and now appears closer than ever to building the first major desalination plant on Oahu to expand and diversify the island’s drinking water supply. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Fire Chief Kazuo Todd dies at 45: He is remembered as hardworking, hands-on public servant.  Todd was appointed fire chief in April 2021 and had served the Hawaii County Fire Department for 21 years. Tribune-Herald. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.  Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.  KITV4. 

Honua Ola eyes new power purchase agreement with Hawaiian Electric. The president of Honua Ola Bioenergy — formerly Hu Honua Bioenergy — said there is “an agreement in principle” for a third power purchase agreement for Honua Ola to sell electricity for Big Island consumers to Hawaiian Electric Co. Tribune-Herald.

Islandwide drought lingers despite some rain. The entire Big Island remains in drought, despite higher rainfall totals the last couple of months and climatologists having declared weak La Nina conditions in equatorial Pacific waters. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui set for final vote on rental conversions. Maui Mayor Richard Bissen’s Bill 9 that would phase out more than 6,000 short-term vacation rentals and convert them into long-term housing heads for a final vote today before the County Council. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

On-demand microtransit ride service could replace least-popular Maui Bus routes. Two Central and Upcountry Maui Bus routes with the lowest ridership in the system could be replaced by an on-demand, flexible ride service that works like a hybrid between Uber and a public bus with the same public bus rates.  Maui Now.

Lahaina Harbor begins phased reopening, a key milestone after 2023 fires. More than two years into the rebuilding of the picturesque community that once served as the seat of the Hawaiian Kingdom, this week’s soft opening of Lahaina Harbor will mark a significant milestone in the town’s recovery from the deadly August 2023 wildfire. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

Kaua‘i Christmas Parade Float Sparks Uproar Over ‘Demonic’ Theme. The costumed Krampus characters were intended to represent another culture’s holiday tradition. Some left feeling scared, others were amused. Civil Beat.

Almost half of new Hawaii teacher hires not licensed, mild recession forecast, deported Hawaii Purple Heart veteran addresses Congress, Hitachi-HART battle over rail funding heats up, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Nearly Half Of DOE’s New Teacher Hires Are Not Licensed To Teach. Hawaiʻi’s public schools have improved teacher retention and reduced vacancy rates since the Covid-19 pandemic, but are relying heavily on emergency hires. Civil Beat.

Hawaii faces ‘weak’ 2026 economy, report says. Hawaii’s economy continues to head toward a mild recession in 2026, driven primarily by the overall U.S. economy, President Donald Trump’s ongoing tariffs, cuts in federal spending and deportations, according to the fourth quarter economic forecast released Thursday by the University of Hawai‘i Economic Research Organization. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s 2026 minimum wage increase could raise prices. While business owners will certainly feel the pinch of an increased minimum wage, both restaurateurs and economists said it will also be passed on to the consumer. KHON2.

Funding bill urges Army to negotiate land leases. The latest version of Congress’s annual defense spending bill includes several provisions for Hawaii and the Pacific, and one major change covering land lease negotiations in the state. Star-Advertiser.

Deported Purple Heart veteran makes virtual appearance at House committee hearing. A Purple Heart Army veteran made a surprise appearance on Capitol Hill Thursday, months after he was forced to self-deport from Hawaii to South Korea. Sae Jun Park, a Purple Heart recipient, self-deported from Honolulu in June after nearly 50 years in the U.S. Hawaii News Now. KITV4. 

‘Fraud Magnet’? Top Senator Wants To Halt SBA Contracts, Citing Hawaiʻi Case. In a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Joni Ernst cited a criminal investigation of Christopher Dawson, accused of hijacking small business funding intended to help Native Hawaiians. Civil Beat.

Priced out of paradise: Hawaii families build new lives in Utah while efforts grow to bring them home. Thousands of Hawaii families have relocated to Utah, driven by the state’s high cost of living but maintain strong cultural connections through businesses, religious networks and community organizations. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

HART files counterclaim against Hitachi’s $320M lawsuit. On Monday, HART filed a counterclaim against Hitachi Rail Honolulu JV, after the train manufacturer brought a new $320 million lawsuit against the rail agency last month, over allegations of numerous costly delays during the phased construction of the city’s more than $10 billion rail line. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

Nearly 1,000 acres of Kāneʻohe Pali land saved for conservation. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Trust for Public Land partnered to buy the area from its previous private owners for nearly $2.6 million. Hawaii Public Radio.

Library welcomes its newest staff member: a robot named Pepper. ʻĀina Haina Public Library was given a humanoid robot named Pepper to help library patrons with greeting visitors, promoting programs and leading story times. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiʻi organization receives $2.5M from Bezos fund toward helping homeless youth. Residential Youth Services and Empowerment, or RYSE, was recently awarded $2.5 million from billionaire Jeff Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sánchez. It is the largest donation in the organization’s history. Hawaii Public Radio.

Honolulu mayor seeks Taiwan’s help to rebuild crime-plagued Chinatown Cultural Plaza.  Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi wants the crime-infested Chinatown Cultural Plaza torn down and rebuilt, and he’s asking Taiwan’s President to get it done. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Seismic data offers new insights into Kīlauea's behavior in 2018. New data suggests that something blocked the flow of magma into the shallow reservoir below Kīlauea's summit caldera in late 2016. That disruption diverted magma pressure towards the East Rift Zone and Puʻuʻōʻō. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui

‘The Maui Method:’ A New Fix For A Major Fire Hazard In Hawaiʻi. Government officials developed a way to deal with tons of electric vehicle batteries left in the aftermath of wildfires and found at illegal dumpsites. Civil Beat.

Lahaina Restoration Foundation announces new leadership. Ekolu Lindsey has been named President of LRF, bringing his deep roots in Hawaiian cultural and environmental stewardship to guide the organization’s mission of preserving Lahaina’s historic and cultural resources. Maui Now.

Kauai

State reports 3rd possible case of H5N1 in duck on Kauai. A third presumptive case of avian influenza has been confirmed in another duck – this time an endangered, native duck from a wildlife refuge on Kauai, according to state officials. Star-Advertiser.  Garden Island.  Kauai Now.