Federal farm grants, Mauna Loa Observatory face federal budget axe, Air Force surges in huge Pacific exercise, new law removes development obstacle, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

USDA Cancels $30 Million Grant Intended To Boost Hawaiʻi Food Production. Hawaiʻi program leaders say there are few alternative funding options available to local farmers who want to increase and improve operations. Civil Beat.

U.S. Air Force surges forces into Pacific in massive exercise. Hundreds of planes and thousands of service members are flying across the Pacific as part of the largest air fighting exercise in the region’s recent history. About 400 aircraft, 12,000 airmen and 700 Space Force guardians are participating in the exercise from 50 locations across the Pacific and Indian Oceans as the Pentagon tests its ability to surge forces into the region in the event of a major crisis or conflict. Star-Advertiser.

Newly Signed Bill Imperils Historic Places and Burial Sites, Critics Say. Preservationists decry Gov. Josh Green’s late decision to approve a measure to remove an obstacle to development. Civil Beat.

Protecting Coral Habitat May Prove Vital As Ocean Becomes More Acidic. A paper published Monday in the Journal of Geophysical Research found the oceans around Hawai’i will become significantly more acidic throughout the 21st century, based on climate modeling.  Civil Beat.

Oahu

Oahu couple accused of fraud in fire victims scam. An Oahu couple is facing federal criminal charges after allegedly lying about being victims of the Aug. 8, 2023, West Maui wildfires and the January Los Angeles fires — allegedly stealing more than $110,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. 

Huge petroglyphs covered for years unearthed again at Pokai Bay. The kiʻi pōhaku in the shoreline sandstone front cabin 11 at the Pililaʻau Army Recreation Center. The biggest one is more than 3 feet tall. Hawaii News Now.

Applications open for media training program by Hawaii News Now, Kamehameha Schools. Hawaii News Now and Kamehameha Schools Kaiāulu are partnering on a special, hands-on training program for emerging media-makers who are rooted in Hawai‘i. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Trump’s budget would kill Mauna Loa Observatory after seven decades. The observatory is part of a global network of stations that monitor the atmosphere. The research performed at these labs lets scientists assess changes over the long term, figure out what caused the changes and make better predictions for extreme events like heat waves, droughts and floods. New York Times.

Water quality issues remain for Kona aquaculture companies. State officials will meet next week with some tenants of the Hawaiʻi Ocean Science and Technology Park in Kona to discuss lingering problems with water quality amid a pending lawsuit against the state. Hawaii Public Radio.

Over 31 billion gallons of magma have flowed during Kīlauea's episodic eruption. Lava fountaining could soon be returning to the Big Island. The U.S. Geological Survey said pressure is once again building up inside the Halemauʻmaʻu crater. The on-again, off-again eruption at Kīlauea has shot lava up to 1,250 feet just about every week for the past seven months. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kona Skatepark more than doubles in size. The Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation joined community partners Wednesday for the opening of a significant addition to the skatepark. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. 

Taming the ‘Kraken’: Father, son rowing across the Pacific to Hilo. An Atlanta man and his 18-year-old son are on Day 45 of rowing 2,400-plus nautical miles from San Francisco Bay to Hilo to raise awareness about and funds for veterans’ mental health. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Emotions run high as officials clear massive Maui homeless encampment. Maui County started clearing a homeless encampment of about 50 people in Kahului on Thursday. Officials said 23 people went into shelters from the effort. Meanwhile, others moved to other encampments, or down the road and said they were coming right back. Hawaii News Now.

Mayor Bissen leads delegation to United Nations. A delegation led by Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen visited New York to submit the state of Hawai‘i’s third Voluntary Local Review to the United Nations. Maui Now.

North Shore Greenway near Kahului Airport reopened. The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation notifies the public of the re-opening of the North Shore Greenway bike and pedestrian path adjacent to Kahului Airport. Maui Now.

Rising ground beef prices impact ranchers, retailers and burger lovers. The cost of ground beef in the U.S. reached $5.98 per pound in May, the highest it’s been since the Department of Labor started tracking beef prices in the 1980s, according to the Federal Reserve.  That’s about $3 less than the average price of ground beef on Maui. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauaʻi council seeks to shore up restrictions on beachfront home improvements. The Kauaʻi County Council is moving along Bill 2969 primarily to address a county-level exemption for beachfront properties that has allowed owners to make repairs to their homes without adhering to setback rules, which seek to keep them a certain distance from the shoreline. Hawaii Public Radio.

Filipino teachers arrive in time for school. For the third year, members of the Department of Education, the Kauai Filipino Chamber of Commerce, the Kauai Philippine Cultural Center, and the Kauai Filipino Community Council welcomed about 20 new teachers from the Philippines on Tuesday. Garden Island.

Bomb squad called to Wailua Golf Course after suspicious device found in parking lot. According to police officials, the bomb squad was dispatched to the scene to investigate. They quickly secured the area with yellow tape, and it was later determined that the object did not contain any explosive material. Kauai Now.

Green's approval rating at 63%, former House speaker Saiki named insurance commissioner, Hawaiian Airlines to cut 252 positions, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Poll shows Green’s approval rating at 63%. Gov. Josh Green has a 63% approval rating among Hawaii’s registered Democratic, Republican and independent voters, placing him in a tie for the fifth most-popular governor in the nation, according to the results of a voter survey released Wednesday by Morning Consult Pro. Star-Advertiser.

Former House speaker becomes insurance chief. Former state House Speaker Scott Saiki is now Hawaii’s insurance commissioner. The state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs announced Saiki’s appointment Wednesday. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio. Maui Now.

Case May Not Always Vote With Dems, But His Fundraising Is Going Just Fine. A look at the latest campaign finance filings for Hawaiʻi’s congressional delegation. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Airlines cutting 252 noncontract positions. Some of these reductions will take place around Sept. 18, the one-year anniversary of Alaska Air Group’s $1.9 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Holdings. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2. 

Planning a cruise to Hawaiʻi? A state climate plan could cut arrivals in half by 2030. The state Department of Transportation’s new climate roadmap would cut cruise ship travel to Hawaiʻi in half by 2030 and restrict it almost entirely by 2040 in an effort to reduce emissions from maritime travel. Hawaii Public Radio.

How Trump's megabill will affect Hawaiʻi's hospitals, doctors and patients. Rough estimates by the Healthcare Association of Hawaii show that in Hawaiʻi, about 10,000 people on Obamacare and about 30,000 on Medicaid could lose their coverage due to the changes. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiʻi After-School Programs In Limbo Due To Trump Funding Freeze. The state Department of Education told after-school programs to start the year as normal and is making contingency plans for if millions in frozen education grants are never awarded. Civil Beat.

Oahu

HPD interim chief’s priorities include more officers for Waianae area. Rade Vanic’s first day on the job as interim chief for the Honolulu Police Department included his first meeting with the Honolulu Police Commission to outline his priorities. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu Police Commission Moves Forward On Search For New Chief. The Honolulu Police Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to turn its search for a new police chief over to a consultant who can help commissioners pick a candidate to best fit the department. Civil Beat.

U.S. Navy Blue Angels returning to Kaneohe Bay Air Show.  Marine Corps Base Hawaii is is hosting the 2025 Kaneohe Bay Air Show from August 8 to 10. Hawaii News Now.

Major makeover planned for a popular community hub in Nu’uanu. A major makeover is planned for YMCA Honolulu’s flagship campus in Nu’uanu. On Tuesday, leaders announced a $5 million donation from the Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation to get the project started. Hawaii News Now.

Realtors say it’s a buyer’s market even as prices stay stable, inventory jumps. Despite the current economic climate, realtors say the real estate market in Honolulu is stable, but there are some abnormal conditions, making it a prime time for buyers. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Paniolo Struggle To Raise Beef For Hawaiʻi As Drought Shrivels Grass. Big Island ranches stand out for their commitment to grass-fed beef. As climate changes, they are offloading more calves to the mainland. Civil Beat.

Waimea conservation priorities to be discussed in meeting next week. During the meetings, Natural Resources Conservation Service gathers input from a diverse group of stakeholders with agricultural and environmental interests to help guide conservation priorities in local communities for the next year. Big Island Now.

Graduation ceremony held for 8 new adult corrections officers. The state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation on Monday welcomed a new class of eight adult corrections officers at a graduation ceremony at the YMCA in Hilo. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News. 

Maui

County dispersing Amala Place camp. Maui County officials will be removing approximately 40 unhoused people from Amala Place in Kahului. Maui News.

New program at UH Maui College offers esthetician, nail tech programs at request of high school students. Walk into Laulima Building’s classroom 213 at the University of Hawai’i Maui College and you might think you were in the wrong place. Instead of microscopes and beakers in the lab, there are cuticle pushers, waxing pots and people sitting in comfy chairs soaking their feet. Maui Now.

Kauai

Huli ka lepo for housing. The Rice Street Apartments is a mixed use affordable housing community designed to help meet the islands critical housing needs while contributing to the revitalization of Lihue’s historic town core. The four-story development will include three levels of residential units built over a ground floor commercial and retail space. Garden Island.

Surfrider Kaua‘i removes record-breaking 81 tons of trash from island beaches, coasts in 2024. Surfrider Kaua‘i in 2024 led efforts that resulted in the removal of nearly 163,000 pounds — or 81 tons — of marine debris and trash from Kaua‘i beaches and coastlines. That breaks the previous record set in 2017 by almost 43,000 pounds. Kauai Now.

Army brings long-range rockets to Schofield and Pohakuloa, Honolulu city worker paid not to work for 5 years, House includes $16.7M for East-West Center in budget, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Army adds long-range missiles to its arsenal in Hawaiʻi . In a media briefing Tuesday morning, the military talked about the need to add the capacity of the high mobility rocket launchers to strengthen its defenses in the Indo-Pacific, with the threat from China and North Korea. The Army plans to acquire a total of 16 of these launchers. They will have a range of 250 miles compared to the 25 to 40-mile range of howitzer cannons. Hawaii Public Radio.

ICE Is Moving Immigrants Arrested On The Mainland To Honolulu. U.S. Rep Jill Tokuda said that during a two-hour visit to the detention center on Friday, Bureau of Prisons staff told her that 77 ICE detainees were there. Civil Beat.

Hawaii schools looking into contingency plans for $33 million lost in federal funds. School officials across the state want to reassure parents and families that they are doing all they can to make sure the upcoming school year runs as smoothly as possible, despite possibly losing millions of dollars in federal funds. KHON2.

Toxoplasmosis spread by cats poses growing threat to endangered nēnē, public health. Nēnē, Hawaiʻi’s state bird, face a growing threat not just from predators—but from disease. Feral and free-roaming cats are transmitting toxoplasmosis, a parasitic disease that is increasingly killing these endangered geese, according to conservationists at Pacific Birds Habitat Joint Venture. Maui Now.

Oahu

Honolulu Worker Paid Not To Work For Nearly Five Years. The employee has been paid at least $300,000 while his mileage reimbursements are investigated.  Brandon Kaaa-Swain hasn’t been to work since October 2020, but the Honolulu prosecutor’s office investigator continues to collect a taxpayer-funded paycheck.  Civil Beat.

Ex-HPD chief files $460K pay claim. Honolulu police Chief Arthur “Joe” Logan alleges he was forced to retire and is demanding the city pay him for the two years remaining on his contract. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Hawaii News Now.

‘We are very shorthanded.’ Navy program dealing with forever chemicals cleanup at Red Hill has 50% vacancies. Navy leaders updated state lawmakers Monday during a House Special Committee on Red Hill on the closure of the fuel facility and clean up after the 2021 spill that contaminated Pearl Harbor’s drinking water. Hawaii News Now.

City to launch new permitting software. An effort to speed up Hono­lulu Department of Planning and Permitting’s ability to process building permit applications is scheduled to begin next month, city officials say. Star-Advertiser.

House panel proposes $16.7M for East-West Center. The East-West Center has cleared a crucial early hurdle in the federal budget process, with a U.S. House spending bill proposing $16.7 million in funding for the Hawaii-based institution — despite the White House having recommended zero dollars for the center next year. Star-Advertiser.

Possible new Hawaiʻi jail spurs discussion on reducing OCCC population. As the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation continues to consider how to replace the overcrowded and deteriorated Oʻahu Community Correctional Center, the Correctional System Oversight Commission is considering alternatives to a new, bigger jail. Hawaii Public Radio.

EAH Housing, a nonprofit affordable housing organization in Hawaii and California, today announced the start of leasing at Aloha Ia Halewiliko. The new $62 million rental community aims to provide affordable housing to older adults in ‘Aiea.  Hawaii News Now.

Ewa developer to pay $40 million to resolve lagoon suit. About 2,900 homebuyers at Ocean Pointe and Hoakalei Resort have resolved litigation against developer Haseko (Hawaii) Inc. over the company converting a planned boat marina into a recreational lagoon as the centerpiece of the master-planned community. Star-Advertiser.

Court hearing on ex-Kahuku coach’s job is set for Friday. Kahuku’s former football coach is suing the state Department of Education, a former team captain and the player’s dad alleging he was fired after confronting the player and his father, who complained about playing time in 2023. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Hū Honua, Hawaiian Electric reignite plans for Hawaiʻi Island biomass plant. On June 3, the companies submitted a joint letter to the Public Utilities Commission via their attorneys that expressed their intent to file a new application for HELCO to purchase power from Hū Honua's facility in Pepeʻekeo, a few miles north of Hilo. Hawaii Public Radio.

Ownership of toppled banyan still a bit murky. The county, the state and Kamehameha Schools all have a stake in the disposal of the landmark banyan that fell. The chopped-up tree remains partially on the roof of the church and partially in the parking lot off Kilauea that serves both the church and the Wailoa State Recreation Area. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Sixth West Maui TDS report shows compliance with environmental regulations. The West Maui Temporary Debris Storage (TDS) site environmental monitoring quarterly report for the sixth 90-day operational period shows the findings from sampling and monitoring are in compliance with county, state and federal environmental regulations. Maui Now.

Lahaina Energy Partnership releases new report; announces Phase 2 kickoff workshop. Local partners of the Lahaina Energy Partnership have released the “Community-Identified Energy Pathways Report.” The LEP invites all community members to join the Phase 2 Kickoff Co-Design Workshop on July 24, 2025, to continue shaping a resilient, community-guided energy plan for Lahaina. Maui Now.

Nominations, candidates sought for open judge’s position. position. The vacancy was created after District Judge Blaine Kobayashi retired on July 1 after serving as a district court judge since October 2010. Maui News. 

This Common Precursor To Murder Is Too Rarely Prosecuted On Maui. The Maui County Prosecutor’s Office is looking to crack down on domestic abuse cases involving strangulation, which experts say often precedes homicide. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Navy, NASA hosting 3 public meetings about Pacific Missile Range Facility, Kōkeʻe Park Geophysical Observatory. The U.S. Navy and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration are seeking public comment at three public meetings this week about their recently released draft Environmental Impact Statement for proposed continued use of state lands on Kaua‘i for the Pacific Missile Range Facility and Kōkeʻe Park Geophysical Observatory. Kauai Now.

What If HOAs, Not Government, Enforced Wildfire Prevention Rules? A Kauaʻi County planner thinks homeowners associations should be the first line of defense when it comes to wildfire risk. Kauaʻi County planners are pushing forward a bill to impose new landscaping and construction restrictions on five heritage plantation camp properties. Civil Beat.

Kauai CASPER survey report released. More than a third, or 35 percent, of Kauai households are very concerned, or somewhat concerned about their ability to pay the next month’s rent or mortgage.That’s according to the 2025 Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response, or CASPER survey. Garden Island.

Health care positions to increase with 6.1% projected employment rise, Honolulu police chief prepares to sue over forced retirement, developer loses fight to build on old Kauai anthrax site, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii projects 41,000 new jobs by 2032. Hawaii’s total employment rate is projected to grow by 6.1% by 2032, with health care positions on the rise, according to the latest report from the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations’ Research and Statistics Office.The report said that in 2022 there were 671,010 jobs, which will increase to 712,200 by 2032. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi Braces For Cuts That Could Strip Medicaid From Tens Of Thousands. The federal Medicaid program provides health care coverage to just over 400,000 Hawaiʻi residents with low incomes and limited resources. But dramatic changes are in store. Civil Beat.

Arts agency copes with funding gaps. While the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts is due to receive about $1 million in federal funds from the National Endowment of the Arts, it grapples with about a $1 million shortage in state funds after the Legislature dramatically changed how the state agency can use money from its Works of Art Special Fund. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

HPD chief wants to be paid for his term, takes first step toward lawsuit over departure. Arthur “Joe” Logan sent a demand letter to the city seeking salary for the remaining two years of his five-year term, and a lawsuit could be ahead. Logan makes about $230,000 a year.  Hawaii News Now.

Navy in cleaning phase of Red Hill facility. Later this year, Navy officials expect to begin removing 10 miles of fuel transmission pipes and reactivating one of two closed drinking water wells. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu police say about 100 illegal game rooms could be removed by year's end. The Honolulu Police Department is touting its more “aggressive" approach to illegal game rooms on Oʻahu, saying it's on pace to reduce the game room operations by around 100 by the end of the year.  Hawaii Public Radio.

HPD distributes $11,100 in exchange for 234 unwanted firearms. Honolulu police and the state Department of Law Enforcement distributed a total of $11,100 in exchange for 234 unwanted firearms during its gun buyback event held Saturday at the Wahiawa Police Station. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu opens Section 8 housing waitlist. The City and County of Honolulu opened its waiting list for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program Monday, offering rental assistance to eligible low-income households. The federally funded program is supported by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Star-Advertiser.

State finalizes contractor to sink Falls of Clyde vessel out at sea. Built in 1878, Falls of Clyde has been docked at Honolulu Harbor for free since 2008. The state impounded it in 2016. Hawaii Public Radio. KITV4. 

Final codefendant in Miske enterprise sentenced. The last of Mike Miske’s codefendants received a 30-year federal sentence Monday for his role in the criminal enterprise. Lance “Hammah” Bermudez was allegedly involved in several violent crimes and a murder-for-hire plot. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Two ex-HPD officers indemnified in wrongful death suit. The Hawaii County Council voted unanimously last week to indemnify two former police officers who shot and killed a driver in Kailua-Kona two years ago following a traffic crash related to a manhunt. Tribune-Herald.

Permit Program Launched For Roadside Vending On Ane Keohokālole Highway. Hawaiʻi County is now accepting applications for special activity permits authorizing temporary roadside vending near the West Hawaiʻi Civic Center. Big Island Video News.

Kona Airport To Receive $5.5 Million In Federal Funding. The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $5,512,623 in new federal grant funding for runway improvements at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole. Big Island Video News.

Historic Manago Hotel drops sale price after year on the market. The historic Manago Hotel, which opened in 1917 in Captain Cook, is perched at 1,350 feet above sea level, providing a vast view of the Pacific Ocean overlooking the South Kona coastline, including Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau. Big Island Now.

Maui

Mayor Richard Bissen out of state until Friday, July 25. Mayor Richard Bissen will visit New York City from July 15-18 to speak at the UN on sustainability and attend UN Foundation meetings with Hawai‘i Green Growth. From July 20-25, he will travel to Los Angeles to support wildfire recovery efforts with After the Fire USA. Maui Now.

With its funding at stake, Akakū prepares for July 23 court hearing. Spectrum is renewing its franchise agreement for Maui, the legal contract that lets Spectrum operate cable services on Maui. Maui News.

Kauai

Developer Loses Court Fight To Build Luxury Homes On ‘Anthrax Graveyard’. After five years of battling a developer’s plan to build luxury homes on an overgrown golf course that sits atop the decomposed remains of hundreds of cattle killed during a series of anthrax outbreaks more than a century ago, community activists have won their effort to protect the area as open space. Civil Beat.

Military seeks Kauaʻi's feedback on Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands. A series of community meetings will take place on Kauaʻi this week to discuss the Navy’s draft environmental impact statement for continued use of over 8,000 acres of state land near Barking Sands — now home to the military’s Pacific Missile Range Facility and a NASA observatory. Hawaii Public Radio.

Only 17% of Kauaʻi residents surveyed have an emergency 14-day supply. A new report from the state Department of Health shows the latest statistics on the health and resource needs of Kauaʻi residents. Hawaii Public Radio.

Agencies, officials canvas neighborhood to discuss wildfire preparedness. KEMA, in partnership with various partners including the Kauai Fire Department, the Kauai Police Department, the Department of Water, Kauai Island Utility Cooperative and the Office of the Mayor, participated in the wildfire preparedness outreach exercise that involved the door-to-door notifications of approximately 200 households in the Kaumakani camp. Garden Island.

New law could speed up housing construction, Big Island bioenergy plant tries to strike deal with HECO, Keohokalole mulling challenging Case for Congress, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

New law aims to speed up local housing construction. In a bill-signing ceremony Wednesday, Gov. Josh Green enacted a reform to the state's Contractor Repair Act, which gives contractors and property owners the option to fix building issues without lawsuits. Hawaii Public Radio.

House’s New Money Man Talks About His Hopes For Changing The Legislature. Hawaiʻi State Rep. Chris Todd is taking over one of the key financial positions in the Hawaiʻi Legislature amid growing uncertainty about how federal budget cuts might affect the islands. Civil Beat.

Military’s role in immigration policy spurs debate. The Hawaii National Guard confirmed to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that 30 Hawaii guardsmen, members of a Hilo-based helicopter unit, are deployed to California as part of Task Force Sentinel, a military operation providing air support to the U.S. Border Patrol and other agencies. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi Braces For Cuts That Could Strip Medicaid From Tens Of Thousands. Community health clinics offer a window into how the state might be impacted by hundreds of millions of dollars in cuts expected in the coming years. Federal funds are about three quarters of the $3 billion Hawaiʻi spends on Medicaid each year. Civil Beat.

Cheaper solar energy in Hawaii threatened by new federal law.  Changes enacted July 4 under President Donald Trump’s domestic policy bill threaten to imperil several planned utility-scale solar farms and thousands of additional residential rooftop solar systems across the state by eliminating a 30% federal tax credit for such project costs much sooner than previously slated. Star-Advertiser.

School Smartphone Bans Reflect Growing Concern Over Mental Health, Academics. Hawaiʻi’s Legislature considered several bills aimed at banning smartphones in school but none of them passed. Civil Beat.

Keohokalole mulling challenging Case for Congress. State Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole (D, Kaneohe-­Kailua) may challenge incumbent U.S. Rep. Ed Case to represent urban Honolulu in the 2026 midterm elections. Star-Advertiser.

UH awarded $1.5M to aid rural health disparities. The University of Hawaii has been awarded more than $1.5 million in private grant funding to strengthen rural health care systems and shape policy solutions across Hawaii and the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands, where residents face some of the most severe health challenges in the nation. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: How The FBI Interfered In The Legislature And Let A Dirty Lawmaker Get Reelected. A new legal filing makes a compelling argument for why the public needs to be able to scrutinize federal law enforcement investigations. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Could this Hawaii community be the next Lahaina? Some residents fear a similar wildfire fate. Waianae and Lahaina have a lot in common. They’re both situated on parched western island coasts, with road access pinched by topography, and are bastions of Native Hawaiian culture. Associated Press.

Waikiki storm drainage system could fail by 2050. Researchers from the University of Hawaii at Manoa are sounding an alarm that by 2050 large rain events coupled with sea level rise could cause major failure of storm drainage across 70% of Waikiki. Star-Advertiser.

ʻEwa Developer Settles Marina Case For $40 Million. A 14-year legal battle over a disappeared marina in ʻEwa has finally ended. Civil Beat.

Nonprofits join to serve community at Opportunity Center in Kakaako. Goodwill Hawaii and Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawai‘i on Friday announced their recently opened Opportunity Center after hosting a Hawaiian blessing for the property, which they bought in December for $6.3 million from Hawaii State Federal Credit Union. Star-Advertiser.

Waimanalo Beach Park Campground named after George Mahoe Jr. The City and County of Honolulu officially renamed the campground at Waimanalo Beach Park after longtime city parks employee George Kea Mahoe Jr., following a ceremony held Thursday that recognized his more than 40 years of public service to Windward Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Honua Ola, HECO mull possible power deal. After numerous thwarted attempts to go online, a completed but long-idle bioenergy power plant in Pepeekeo is once again in contract negotiations to generate power and sell it to Hawaiian Electric Co. Tribune-Herald.

Hawai‘i County Police Commission to discuss appointment of interim chief. At its next meeting on July 18 in Kona, the Hawaiʻi County Police Commission will discuss the selection of an interim police chief to take over for Ben Moszkowicz, whose last day as chief is Aug. 31. The commission also will discuss the next steps to hiring a new chief. Big Island Now.

Banyan uproots and crashes onto Hilo’s Kilauea Avenue. A portion of Kilauea Avenue, a busy crosstown thoroughfare in Hilo, remained closed Sunday after a massive banyan tree near the corner of Aupuni Street uprooted, toppled and crashed Saturday afternoon. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.  Big Island Now.

Parking lot expansion underway at Kona’s hospital. Parking lot expansion, resurfacing and paving at Kona Community Hospital will begin Tuesday and continue through mid-October, the hospital announced Friday. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

New ownership unlikely to quench conflict over Maui water. A kamaaina company that once operated the biggest sugar plantation in Hawaii has surrendered its interest in a historic water system on Maui after a decade of litigation over state allocations of the public trust resource. Star-Advertiser.

Homeless community at Amala Place must leave by next week, Maui County says. Some 40 unhoused people who received notices to vacate from Maui County, nearly four years after county and state officials forced everyone to leave the area in a sweep that the courts later ruled had violated residents’ rights. Maui Now.

Kahului pump prices steady. According to the latest AAA Hawaii weekend gas watch, as of July 10, the average price in Kahului was $4.48, which is one cent less than last week and 25 cents lower than the price was a year ago. Maui News.

For these Maui paniolo, an annual rodeo is about more than wins — it's about tradition. Thousands of fans cheered as announcer Rob Smets welcomed the crowd at the Fourth of July Makawao Stampede on Maui. It’s Hawaiʻi’s largest rodeo — and a tradition that’s been going strong for almost 65 years. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Social security to school supplies for Congresswoman Jill Tokuda. Tokuda’s trip was added to as the Kauai County Farm Bureau General Membership Meeting had Tokuda talking about the cut in SNAP benefits and how that impacted farmers by eliminating opportunities to provide for the SNAP program. Earlier, the congresswoman opened her Kauai tour with a stop at the Back to School Bash taking place at the Kukui Grove Shopping Center where 2,500 backpacks of school supplies were distributed to elementary, middle and high school students. Garden Island.

Part of county parking lot in Nāwiliwili to be closed until further notice starting July 15. Kaua‘i County Department of Parks and Recreation notifies the public that a portion of the county parking lot in Nāwiliwili — adjacent to Anchor Cove — will be closed until further notice beginning July 15. Kauai Now.

Residents tackle excessive traffic, other issues near trailhead to Ho’opi’i Falls in Kapaʻa. Every day, carloads of mostly tourists drive down the narrow, one-lane, dead-end Kapahi Road in search of the trailhead in Kapaʻa that leads to Hoʻopiʻi Falls, a location used in the 1993 blockbuster Jurassic Park. Kauai Now.

Bill to disburse $50M to nonprofits may be unconstitutional, Noem claims Lahaina fire victims traded sex for food, Native Hawaiian man faces longer prison term for white hate crime, Big Island police chief loses job after seeking Honolulu post, UH scientists predict Waikiki drainage system will fail by 2050, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Lawmakers’ Plan To Give $50M To Nonprofits May Be Unconstitutional. Legislators passed a bill late last session to dole out the money to help organizations hit with federal budget cuts. A key difference is that a committee of four lawmakers, two senators appointed by Senate President Ron Kouchi and two representatives appointed by House Speaker Nadine Nakamura, will decide which organizations receive funds. None of those meetings will be open to the public. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio. 

Last bills passed by Hawaii lawmakers now law. Gov. Josh Green signed six bills Wednesday to cap off decisions on 322 measures sent to him by lawmakers during the legislative session that ran from Jan. 15 to May 2. Of the 322 bills, Green signed 307 and let one become law without his signature. He also vetoed eight bills.  And Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke signed five bills as acting governor. Star-Advertiser.

Leaders decry cuts threatening isles’ safety net. On a sweltering Thursday afternoon, against the backdrop of Honolulu’s Prince Kuhio Federal Building, U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda stood before a coalition of advocates, parents and community leaders with a clear and urgent message: the newly passed federal legislation is a direct “assault” on Hawaii’s working families. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.  KITV4.

Hawaiʻi Energy rolls out new rebates to promote energy efficiency. Residents of Hawaiʻi Island, Oʻahu, and Maui County can get money back on appliances like solar water heaters, energy-efficient AC units, and new Energy Star-certified refrigerators. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

UH study predicts Waikīkī drainage systems will fail by 2050. The study's authors, Chloe Obara and Chip Fletcher, predict that defective drains, rising sea levels, and higher rainfall could result in severe flooding throughout the major tourist city. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now.

Parking Will Be Banned In Lanikai Loop To End Beachgoer Gridlock. The city’s plan to quell Lanikai’s traffic nightmare involves no parking on the main loop and more bike racks and buses. Civil Beat. KHON2.

Families and students protest loss of Punana Leo classroom. A decision by the state Department of Education to reclaim one of Punana Leo o Ko‘olaupoko’s preschool classrooms on the campus of Pu‘ohala Elementary School in Kaneohe has sparked a wave of frustration and protest from families, students and lawmakers. Supporters of the school’s thriving Hawaiian language immersion program say the move threatens to weaken a fragile educational pipeline that begins in preschool and continues through grade 12. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu police to host gun buyback event in Wahiawa. The agencies will give participants $100 gift cards for handguns, rifles, shotguns, bump stocks, and Glock switches; and $200 gift cards for automatic firearms of any type, semi-automatic rifles, and ghost guns, according to an HPD news release. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Big Island Police Chief Forced Out After Trying To Withdraw Resignation. Hawaiʻi County police commissioners said Chief Benjamin Moszkowicz had lost trust with the community after prematurely submitting his resignation and expressing interest in the Honolulu interim chief job. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now.  Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

‘I’m deeply saddened.’ Honolulu mayor addresses Hawaii County police chief’s departure, defends recommendation. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said he was acting in the best interest of the Honolulu Police Department when he recommended last month that Hawaii County Police Chief Ben Moszkowicz serve as HPD’s interim chief. Hawaii News Now.

Trust at risk? ACLU, community sound alarm on local law enforcement assisting ICE in Hawaii . Community members, like those speaking before the Hawaii County Police Commission on July 10, are sounding the alarm over fears of an agreement between Hawaii County’s police departments and federal immigration agencies, specifically ICE and Homeland Security Investigations. KHON2.

Revitalize Puna event this Saturday will focus on community disaster preparedness and recovery updates. Hawaii County invites the community to the next Revitalize Puna event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the William “Billy” Kenoi District Park Gym in Pahoa. Tribune-Herald.

Maui
 
Top Trump Official Made A Startling Lahaina Fire Claim. There’s More To It. While presiding over a FEMA Review Council meeting on Wednesday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem cited an eyebrow-raising statistic: 1 in 6 survivors of the deadly 2023 Lahaina wildfire on Maui exchanged sexual favors for basic supplies. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio.

Native Hawaiian man faces longer prison term for hate crime against white man. A Native Hawaiian man who was convicted of a hate crime against a white man must be re-sentenced, a U.S. appeals court ruled Thursday, and the result could be several more years in prison. The jury found that Alo-Kaonohi and Levi Aki Jr. were motivated by Christopher Kunzelman’s race when they punched, kicked and used a shovel to beat him in 2014 for trying to move into their remote Maui village.  Associated Press.

State says cell service along Hana Highway in East Maui is coming. There are emergency roadside call boxes along the 52-mile route famously known as the Road to Hana. But none are working. Hawaii News Now.

Energy leaders convene on Maui to tackle tough challenges, offer real solutions. The 12th Annual Hawaiʻi Energy Conference, held May 21–22 on Maui, brought together 365 energy leaders, policymakers, innovators and community advocates to explore actionable strategies for Hawaiʻi’s transition to a clean energy future. Maui Now.

State, county monitor air quality fire during debris transfer. Air quality is being monitored and precautions are being taken to ensure the public’s safety as trucks carrying Lahaina wildfire debris move from West Maui to the Central Maui Landfill, according to Maui County and state health officials. Maui News.

Kauai

Scholarships passed at Mayor’s Luncheon. The Kauai Chamber of Commerce got help from Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami and other dignitaries in presenting $10,000 to five students during the 11th Mayor’s Luncheon at the Royal Sonesta Kauai Resort. Garden Island.

Lifeguards face staffing shortage, $50M state fund to help nonprofits hit by federal cuts, military monitors Chinese ship near Hawaii, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Burden For Preventing Drownings In Hawaiʻi Falls On Counties — And Residents. Ocean safety efforts are left up to individual counties, leading to big disparities in drowning prevention across the islands. The state does little to help them. Hawaiʻi’s lifeguards and emergency services are managed and funded at the county level. Neighbor islands, in particular, feel the impact of funding and staffing crunches.  Civil Beat.

Gov. Josh Green signs construction, funding bills into law. Gov. Josh Green finished off the bill signing season by holding two bill signing ceremonies on July 9, signing legislation regarding construction processes and funding for nonprofits.  KHON2.

Special $50M state fund authorized to help Hawaii nonprofits. Hawaii nonprofits affected by federal funding cuts should get ready to apply for grants from a special $50 million state fund created by a bill signed into law Wednesday.  Gov. Josh Green authorized the new fund by signing Senate Bill 933, which he said will help prevent fraying of the social safety net that nonprofits help provide largely in areas of health care, food security, housing support, child care and emergency relief. Star-Advertiser.

Military watching Chinese naval ship near Hawaii. On Wednesday, a spokesperson for the Oahu-based U.S. Indo-Pacific Command confirmed that it is “monitoring a (Chinese People’s Liberation Army) vessel which was operating in international waters in the vicinity of Hawaii.” Star-Advertiser.

Controversial CEO Of Domestic Violence Action Center Steps Down. Monique Ibarra resigned as chief executive officer of the Domestic Violence Action Center last week, according to a news release from a public relations firm representing the agency.  Laurie Tochiki, a Hawaiʻi family law attorney and former executive director of EPIC ʻOhana, will serve as interim CEO.  Civil Beat.

Oahu

Property owners willing to pay for sanitation, safety improvements in downtown Honolulu. Bill 51 focuses on creating a business improvement district funded by property owners and investors who say they are willing to pay to help revitalize the area. Hawaii News Now.

Council advances Haleiwa expansion project. A proposed Haleiwa housing and commercial development project that has sparked community opposition over the loss of agricultural land, increased traffic congestion and the high cost of living advanced Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Demolition begins in Waikiki to make way for new affordable housing project. Demolition began Wednesday at a long-abandoned apartment building on Ala Wai Boulevard, clearing the way for a new affordable housing project. Hawaii News Now.

Plans to demolish Ward Centre begin. Built in the 1980s, Ward Centre is home to over a dozen businesses including shops, boutiques, a co-working space and eateries.  KITV4.

Koko Head Crater Hiking Trail to reopen to public. The popular Koko Head Crater Hiking Trail is set to reopen on the morning of July 10, following a temporary closure by the city. KHON2. KITV4. 

Hawaii Island

What is HPD’s role in ICE raids? Island residents, ACLU seek answers.  Numerous individuals have provided the Tribune-Herald with their written testimony asking the Police Commission to bar local police from assisting the federal government in immigration enforcement raids. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiʻi Island lawmakers consider fining those who feed stray animals. Bill 51 proposes fining those who are caught feeding stray and feral animals on County of Hawaiʻi land — $50 for first-time violators and up to $500 for repeat offenses. Hawaii Public Radio. Big Island Now.

Final phase of Uncle Billy’s hotel demolition underway. This second phase will focus on comprehensive site preparation at the ground level and below. This includes the removal of soil impacted by pesticides, the extraction of underground utilities, surface grading of the entire site and the placing of fresh topsoil and grass. Tribune-Herald. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. 

Maui

Maui Fires Settlement: Kamehameha Schools Poised To Pay $872 Million. A state court will decide soon whether to allow one of Hawaiʻi’s oldest and largest charitable trusts to settle claims related to the fires that destroyed Lahaina. Civil Beat.

Plans To Improve Lahaina Evacuation Routes Are Slowly Inching Forward. Nearly three dozen people died trying to escape the Kuhua Camp neighborhood, where the county is now working to extend and widen roadways. Civil Beat.

Uncertainty clouds Maui housing market with slow sales and lingering inventory. Condo sales and sale prices are down, listings have decreased and single home sale prices are flat. Maui News.

Lahaina rebuilding dilemma: Commission debates parking lot rezoning for Moku Roots. After three failed attempts to reach an agreement, the Maui Planning Commission finally secured a 5-2 vote Tuesday recommending rezoning of a Front Street lot crucial for customer parking for the new Moku Roots vegan restaurant planned for the former Chart House site in Lahaina. Maui Now.

Debris truck traffic adjusted in hopes of addressing concerns. In response to concerns expressed by members of the public, traffic patterns have been changed for the 50 to 70 trucks hauling Lahaina wildfire debris from West Maui to the Central Maui landfill daily, according to Maui County officials. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauaʻi has a plan for the changing climate. Here are 5 things to know. When a thunderstorm brought record-breaking rainfall to Kauaʻi in April 2018, the county didn't have a formal plan for how it would address the impacts of global warming. After seven years, that's about to change. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kaua‘i County to launch wildfire outreach education in communities vulnerable to blazes. A Kaua’i County wildfire preparedness outreach effort kicks off next week in Kaumakani. Kauai Now.

Back to School Bash this Saturday. Nearly 8,900 students will return to class on Aug. 4, according to estimates from the new Kauai Complex Area Superintendent Leila Maeda-Kobayashi. Garden Island.