Lawmakers to award $50M to help offset federal cuts, Kapiolani Medical Center employees to strike, OHA may jump into military land dispute, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Small Group Of Lawmakers To Award $50M To Nonprofits Facing Federal Cuts. The money will be in addition to $30 million given to nonprofits and social service agencies last spring. Civil Beat.

Hawai‘i Food Banks And Farmers Are In ‘Real Trouble’ With Federal Cuts. Funding for food stamp programs and food banks are under threat, grants to boost farming have been slashed and, now, the state might step up to help. Civil Beat.

Hawaii farmers, families feel strain from federal fallout. Hawaii’s farmers and ranchers are grappling with mounting uncertainty as federal policy shifts, the government shutdown, and delays in renewing the U.S. Farm Bill ripple across the state’s fragile agricultural and food security systems. Star-Advertiser.

Should OHA Play A Bigger Role In Military Lease Negotiations? Activists and prominent community leaders urged the Office of Hawaiian Affairs on Thursday to assert itself as the representative of the Hawaiian community in lease negotiations between the state and federal government for thousands of acres of land used for military training. Civil Beat.

Illnesses at Hawaii schools potentially linked to milk rise to 15. As of Thursday morning, the state Department of Health had received reports of approximately 15 individuals experiencing gastrointestinal illness potentially linked to recently recalled Meadow Gold chocolate milk. Star-Advertiser.

4 Hawaii sheriff deputies sue state after ‘illegal’ arrests. A lawsuit filed by four state sheriff deputies accuses the state and two former Department of Law Enforcement leaders of “illegally” arresting them to help counter accusations in a separate civil lawsuit brought by a commander. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Passengers begin riding extended lines on Honolulu’s Skyline rail system.  Skyline trains Thursday morning were running fuller than they typically have been, with Leeward residents expected to ride rail to the major employment centers at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and the airport. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio.  KHON2. 

Hundreds of Kapiolani Medical Center employees to strike.  Unionized workers at the Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children will begin a strike at 7 a.m. Friday morning. The union represents about 300 of Kapiolani’s technicians, housekeeping, food service staff, and more.  Hawaii News Now. KHON2. 

North Shore gondola project modified amid community concerns. North Shore residents are speaking out against changes to a proposed gondola up Mount Ka’ala. KHON2.

Warning from Board of Water Supply after residents encounter fake water tester. The Honolulu Board of Water Supply is warning residents to be cautious after a man went door to door in Ewa Beach claiming he needed to test people’s tap water. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Lava Emerges At Kīlauea Summit, High Fountains Expected Soon. A series of lava overflows and drainbacks occurred from the south vent on Thursday, while spatter was seen at the north vent. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

Day 3 of Kaiser strike in Hilo. About 15 picketers circled the entrance to the Hilo Kaiser Permanente clinic Thursday on the third day of a labor strike by employees represented by the Alliance of Health Care Unions. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui Planning Commission backs higher Lahaina building limit, parking reform. The Maui Planning Commission voted Tuesday to recommend that the Maui County Council approve a bill that would increase the maximum allowable building heights for new construction in the post-disaster Lahaina National Historic Landmark District from 30 to 35 feet. Maui Now.

Grand opening celebrates 200 affordable housing units in Lahaina. Except for three managerial units, the project offers rent-restricted homes for 197 families who earn between 30% to 60% of Area Median Income, enabling residents to save an average of 53% annually in their rent payments compared to market-rate options.  Maui News. KITV4. 

House Finance Committee visits Maui. Members of the House Finance Committee visited Maui to see firsthand several projects and programs supported by the Legislature. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative bolsters after-hours, weekend customer support services. The cooperative as of Oct. 1 has partnered with Cooperative Response Center — a nationwide 24/7 contact center providing support to rural electric utilities — to accept after-hours and weekend customer service and emergency calls. Kauai Now.

Community rallies to protect trees threatened by Poipu Road safety project. The county said the trees were not on the original plans when engineers designed the improvements. Hawaii News Now.

State settles midwife lawsuit, Honolulu police could start using AI, students fall ill after drinking chocolate milk at school, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

State agrees to let midwives practice without penalties. A state court case that challenged a Hawaii law restricting traditional midwives from assisting in pregnancies and births without state-issued licenses ended Wednesday after the state agreed to settle the matter with nine plaintiffs, including midwives and student midwives. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.

Hawaiʻi, 14 other states launch Governors Public Health Alliance. Fifteen governors from across the United States announced the Governors Public Health Alliance on Oct. 15, with Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green being among the alliance members. KHON2.

OHA Trustees Kill Proposed Pay Raise For CEO On Paid Leave. The trustees voted unanimously against giving Stacy Ferreira a 35% pay raise, saying the proposal was premature and flawed. Civil Beat.

Deputies sue state, claiming false arrests fueled by corruption. Four Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement deputies filed a lawsuit Tuesday claiming they were falsely arrested by their own administration to discredit claims of hostile work environment in a previous lawsuit. Hawaii News Now.

Public can now submit project ideas, suggestions to Green Fee Advisory Council. Green Fee Advisory Council is now accepting ideas from the public for projects that could receive Green Fee funding. Big Island Now.

Financial strain starting to hit furloughed federal workers. Financial strain is now becoming a reality for thousands of workers in Hawaii affected by the federal government shutdown as they dip into savings, look for other work, and try to get unemployment benefits. That comes as furloughed workers got a paycheck this week — their last one until the government shutdown ends. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii students fall ill after drinking chocolate milk at school. The state Department of Health is investigating a cluster of gastrointestinal illnesses among nine students at one Oahu elementary school after they reportedly drank Meadow Gold chocolate milk that was recently recalled over quality concerns. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. 

Hawaiian Airlines will say aloha to ‘HA’ code after nearly 95 years. Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines will begin the process of operating under a single call sign by Oct. 26, 2025. Hawaiian has flown under the code “HA” since 1929 and it will be officially retired in April 2026. KITV4.

Oahu

Honolulu Police Could Start Using AI To Write Reports. AI could reduce the time officers spend completing paperwork, but some groups urge caution about entrusting such a critical part of policing to “unreliable and untested” technology. Civil Beat. KHON2. 

Hawaiʻi DOE Wants Another $30M For  Facility That Hasn’t Been Built. The Department of Education plans to ask state lawmakers for more than $30 million in additional funding next year to retrofit 19 school kitchens in Central Oʻahu so they can serve meals prepared at a centralized food facility. Civil Beat.

Oahu Transit Services: Contract talks continue with TheBus drivers. Oahu Transit Services, which operates TheBus and TheHandi-Van routes on behalf of the City & County of Honolulu, remained at odds Wednesday with the union which represents bus operations and mechanics though to lesser degree. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Segment 2 of Honolulu’s Skyline rail system opens to the public today. An inaugural ride of the city’s Skyline train — with stations at Makalapa/Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, Lagoon Drive and Middle Street in Kalihi — occurred Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Historic Falls of Clyde sunk to its undersea resting place. Hawaii residents bid a final aloha Wednesday morning to the Falls of Clyde, the historic ship that had graced the waters of Honolulu Harbor for decades. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now. KITV4. 

Hawaii Island

Effort to ease qualifications for Public Works director fails. Two proposed charter amendments aimed at altering the qualifications for key Hawaii County department heads failed to pass the full County Council on Oct. 8 — shelving changes that some officials argued might have helped with recruitment for hard-to-fill leadership roles. Tribune-Herald.

Hawai‘i Public Utilities Commission approves water rate increase for Waikōloa area. Residential and non-residential customers will see an increase of 47.89% for monthly water usage on 5/8-inch and 3/4-inch meters from $12.07 to $19.67. Big Island Now.

Funding approved for Kealakehe sewage plant upgrades. The Hawaii County Council has approved a $31 million capital budget amendment to fund construction of a major upgrade to the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant, fulfilling a legal requirement to begin producing high-quality recycled water. Tribune-Herald.

Kona community races to contain coconut rhinoceros beetle. Amid Kona's black lava fields, Keāhole Agricultural Park appears like a lush oasis. Mangoes, plumerias, and palm trees grow tall and green, standing in stark contrast to the brown fountain grass that surrounds the park on all sides. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui

Hundreds of Kaiser Permanente health care workers on Maui go on strike, forcing temporary closure of Kīhei clinic. On Maui, the strike forced the temporary closure of Kaiser’s Kīhei clinic, which offers services that include a pharmacy, laboratory, optometry, pediatrics and physical therapy. Kaiser said the clinic’s providers and services have been shifted to other Kaiser locations on Maui.  Maui Now.

Man charged with threatening to kill congressional, state workers. A 36-year-old man is facing a federal criminal charge after he allegedly threatened to shoot and kill a Hawaii congressional delegation staff member and their family on Maui. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

World-renowned astrophysicist brings the universe to Kauaʻi. UC Berkeley astrophysicist Dr. Alex Filippenko took a pause from his Kauaʻi vacation to treat about 330 astronomy enthusiasts to a rare glimpse of the universe’s earliest galaxies, recently revealed by the James Webb Space Telescope. Kauai Now.

RNC sues Hawaii over voter rolls, teens who filed climate lawsuit say state's interisland travel producing too much carbon, state airports won't play video blaming Dems for shutdown, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Republican National Committee Sues Hawaiʻi Over Voter Rolls. Chief Election Officer Scott Nago failed to address the RNC’s questions about what records the state maintains regarding voter rolls, the suit says, adding that this violates Hawai‘i’s open records law and federal disclosure requirements. Civil Beat.

Hawaii won’t play airport video blaming Dems for shutdown. The state Department of Transportation will not play in Hawaii’s airports a Trump administration video that blames Democrats for the ongoing federal shutdown. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

Teens Who Sued Hawai‘i Say State’s Climate Plan For Aviation Doesn’t Fly. Interisland flights are Hawaiʻi’s biggest transportation carbon producer, making up more than half of all emissions related to civilian travel in the state. Civil Beat.

5-day strike begins at Kaiser Permanente hospitals across Hawaii. Hundreds of unionized workers showed up in force Tuesday morning for the first day of a scheduled five-day strike at Kaiser Permanente hospitals across Hawaii. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio. Associated Press. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. 

UH eyes revamping budget allocations amid record enrollment. In the past, enrollment growth would result in additional funds allocated for infrastructure costs and hiring lecturers. With the new model, the appropriate money will automatically be allocated to the campus based on the enrollment for that semester. Hawaii Public Radio.

Meadow Gold issues recall for chocolate milk distributed at Hawaii schools. The chocolate milk, made and packaged out of state, is being voluntarily recalled due to potential quality control issues. Approximately 70,000 units were distributed in Hawaii since they were received on Sept. 29, 2025.  Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4. 

Oahu

Honolulu City Council postpones fare increases for public transit. The Council’s Budget Committee voted unanimously to postpone Bill 54 — a measure formally requested by the city Department of Transportation Services — citing the need to further study a measure that calls for a new fare structure for the city’s public transit system. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu Transit Services, union at odds. Oahu Transit Services, which operates TheBus and TheHandi-Van routes for the City &County of Honolulu, is urging its 130,000 daily riders of TheBus to consider alternative transportation after officials say they received inquiries about a possible strike by bus drivers. Star-Advertiser.

Will 4 New Stations And A $1 Million Ad Campaign Attract More Rail Riders? Mayor Rick Blangiardi says the city must overcome “almost two decades of negativity and cynicism.” Civil Beat.

 Real estate company faces $2.4M fine from DOH for unauthorized discharge into Kahaluu wetlands. Fill materials were illegally discharged into the wetlands on Wailehua Road from 2015 to 2016 . The Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) issued a $2.4 million fine against real estate company Wailehua I, LLC for unauthorized discharge into the wetlands in Kahaluu. KITV4. Hawaii News Now. 

State warns of possible bird flu case in sick Manoa duck. State officials are urging caution after a presumptive case of avian influenza has been identified in an ailing duck at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Star-Advertiser. KHON2. 

Hawaii Island

Drought conditions prompt water conservation notice in South Kohala. Prolonged lack of rainfall and dry conditions have prompted Hawai‘i County to issue a water conservation notice for both residential and commerical accounts in South Kohala till further notice. Big Island Now. Hawaii News Now. 

Low-Level PFOS Detected In Pepeʻekeo Water System Well; amount within acceptable federal standards. Low levels of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, or PFOS, have been detected for the first time in a Pepeʻekeo water well. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

Officials, supporters gather for blessing of Hilo’s Hale Na Koa ‘O Hanakahi. The $58 million project produced four two-story buildings on the 5.6 acre property at the corner of West Kawili and Kapiolani Streets. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

New hotel zoning weighed to preserve some vacation rentals amid housing crisis debate. A Maui County Council investigative group has recommended creating two new hotel zoning districts to allow some existing short-term vacation rentals in apartment-zoned districts to continue operating, a proposal that drew sharp public debate over balancing economic concerns with residents’ urgent need for housing. Maui Now.

Controversial Bill To Phase Out Maui Vacation Rentals Could Get Watered Down. A temporary investigative group recommended rezoning thousands of apartment-zoned units so they can be used as both short- and long-term rentals. Civil Beat.

Paʻia Elementary School to reopen on Wednesday. Paʻia Elementary School on Maui will reopen to students and staff on Wednesday following its closure for fire cleanup and environmental testing, the state Department of Education said . Star-Advertiser. Maui Now. 

No hunting proposed for Kula forest reserve. A draft management plan proposes no hunting of game animals, except possibly birds, at the new Kamehamenui Forest Reserve in Kula. Maui News.

Kauai

Kaua‘i charter boat spies its first humpback whale of 2025-26 season. Humpback whales — or kohola in Hawaiian — travel about 3,200 miles each winter from Alaska to Hawai‘i to give birth, mate and care for their young.  Kauai Now.

Blessing held for the Poipu Road Safety and Mobility Project. The County of Kauai held a blessing ceremony in Koloa on Tuesday to mark the start of the Poipu Road Safety and Mobility Project, a major infrastructure effort aimed at improving safety and accessibility along one of South Kauai’s busiest corridors. Garden Island. Kauai Now. 

Green promises 64k new homes, Kaiser Permanente workers set to strike, Japanese firm to help meet state energy goals, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Green Says 64,000 New Affordable Homes Are In The Pipeline. Can He Deliver? The market has shown few signs of improving since Green took office. While the resale prices of single-family homes and condos have leveled off, rents have increased 17% since his December 2022 inauguration, according to the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization. Civil Beat.

New state task force targets Hawaii’s permit backlog. A new state task force is taking aim at Hawaii’s notoriously slow and complex permitting system, which has long delayed housing and commercial projects across the islands. Tribune-Herald.

Japanese firm to help Hawaii achieve clean energy goals. Gov. Josh Green and the energy firm, JERA Co. Inc., signed a strategic partnering agreement establishing a framework for the collaboration on Oct. 6 during a weeklong trip to Japan by Green and more than a dozen other officials from state government including lawmakers. Star-Advertiser. Kauai Now. 

OHA’s Chief Executive Could See A 35% Pay Bump While On Leave. Office of Hawaiian Affairs CEO Stacy Ferreira, who was placed on indefinite leave in September, could see her pay jump 35%—to $270,400 — next month under a proposal up for consideration by the office’s Board of Trustees on Wednesday. Civil Beat.

Kaiser workers to strike over wages, staffing, benefits. About 2,300 Kaiser Permanente employees in Hawaii are set to walk off the job this morning as part of a five-day national strike, joining over 45,000 unionized health care workers across the country in one of the largest labor actions in the health care sector in recent years. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald. KHON2.

HCL offers forbearances for federal employees impacted by shutdown. Hawai‘i Community Lending is offering temporary relief to federal workers in Hawai‘i to ensure they do not lose their homes amid the ongoing government shutdown. Maui Now.

Oahu

Honolulu City Council considers fare hikes for public transit. As initially proposed, Bill 54 could increase the annual adult fare from $880 to $990; and fares for monthly adult fare would rise to $90, up from the current charge of $80 — a 12.5% price increase for both. Star-Advertiser.

Uncertainty for TheBus riders as strike talks continue, no advance notice guaranteed. Oahu Transit Services has been receiving inquiries about a pending strike by TheBus employees, prompting the union that represents them to clear the confusion. Hawaii News Now.

Skyline debuts 4 new stops, making its way into the heart of Honolulu. Honolulu’s rail system is expanding again with Skyline Segment 2 opening Thursday, Oct. 16, at 4 a.m.  KHON2.

 Honolulu's TheBus introduces new routes for Skyline expansion. The Department of Transportation Services in Honolulu announced upcoming changes to TheBus routes, effective October 16, 2025, to align with the opening of Skyline Segment 2. KITV4.

Windward Oʻahu Senior Housing Stalls Amid Zoning Appeals Backlog. A proposed senior living facility in Kāneʻohe would bring a range of negative impacts, residents say. The developer says it will help meet a crucial need. Civil Beat.

Father, daughter charged with assaulting HPD officers in Kalihi. Father, daughter charged with assaulting HPD officers in Kalihi. Kaeo Keoki Montalbo, 39, and his daughter, Naehu Montalbo Wong, were charged Monday for allegedly assaulting Honolulu police officers during a large brawl Friday night after a high school football game in Kalihi. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Public input sought on housing project in Hilo. The County of Hawai‘i Office of Housing and Community Development will host a community meeting on Oct. 23 to share information and gather feedback on the proposed ʻĀinakō Subdivision Housing Project in Hilo. Big Island Now.

Parolee who killed Big Island woman in 1978 is ‘under the highest level of supervision’.  The 75-year-old parolee, Steven Ray Simpson, was recently paroled for the 1978 murder of a young woman on the Big Island and suspected by prosecutors of having killed another young woman on the island that same year. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui Is Racing To Spend $20M On Lahaina Land Deal With Prominent Developer. The county plans to use 160 acres from Peter Martin for flood control, evacuation routes and other projects that could help the fire-torn town recover. Civil Beat.

Relief in the works for applicants on Upcountry water meter waitlist. John Stufflebean, director of the Maui County Department of Water Supply, said the department has developed a plan to start processing the list of people waiting for water meters in the Upcountry area. Maui News.

Downed communication cables spark concerns on Maui. Downed cables on Maui have many residents worried it could potentially spark a fire. Hawaiian Telcom, the company that owns the lines, promises there is no danger. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Rat lungworm disease detected in adult on Kaua‘i. A case of neuroangiostrongyliasis, or rat lungworm disease, was identified in an adult on Kaua‘i for the first time since 2019. Kauai Now. Hawaii News Now.

Student vaccinations fall below herd immunity, state boards required to conduct business in public, Maui to release report on vacation rentals, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii student vaccinations fall below average rate. Kindergarten vaccination rates in Hawaii continue to lag behind the national average, according to the latest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While there was a slight improvement over the year, the rates of routine childhood vaccinations for measles, mumps, whooping cough and chickenpox, among others, remain below the national average and failed to meet most rates required to reach so-called herd immunity. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii minimum wage to rise by $2 in 2026. Hawaii workers earning minimum wage will see the state’s biggest pay bump in years when the new rate takes effect on Jan. 1, 2026, jumping from $14 to $16 per hour — an increase of $2 that outpaces most other states. Tribune-Herald.

It's Official: Boards Can't Go Behind Closed Doors For Most Personnel Matters. The Office of Information Practices has finally formally acknowledged court rulings on hiring, firing and evaluating top public officials. Civil Beat.

Senator Voted For Bills Backed By Lobbyists He's Going To Work For. State Sen. Henry Aquino is stepping down to go to work for one of the biggest lobbying firms in the state after serving in the Hawaiʻi Legislature for 17 years. Civil Beat.

Campaign Commission Will Push Again For Reforms Lawmakers Keep Rejecting. Commissioners voted unanimously Wednesday to resurrect four government reform measures next year that were rejected by the 2025 Legislature. Civil Beat.

‘Shows how much they care’: Federal workers in Hawaiʻi keep airports operational despite working without pay. Despite nationwide airport disruptions, Hawaiʻi’s airports have not seen any significant disruption during the government shutdown, the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation said. KHON2. KITV4. Kauai Now. 

Native Hawaiian empowerment gains momentum. Bringing the convention to Washington — the state with the fastest-growing Native Hawaiian population — helped the council expand its reach. As of 2020, more than half of Native Hawaiians in the U.S. (360,000 of 680,000) lived on the mainland. Star-Advertiser.

DTRIC Insurance To Withdraw From Hawaiʻi Market. The Hawaiʻi Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs is alerting DTRIC customers that the insurance company will be withdrawing from the Hawaiʻi market.  Big Island Video News. KITV4.

Federal cuts threaten a digitization project to preserve windows to Hawaiʻi's past. The state archives lost its federal funding this year to help with the preservation effort. It was a $213,000 grant by the Institute of Museum and Library Services’ Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services grant.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Federal shutdown casts doubt on Honolulu rail funding payment. The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation is expecting $125 million in federal funds toward its ongoing rail construction.  Since the federal government’s Oct. 1 shutdown, however, President Donald Trump has acted to suspend federal funds to mass transit projects across the United States. Star-Advertiser.

Skyline’s newest segment opens with high expectations. Honolulu’s Skyline rail system has passed its testing phase — with some lingering challenges — before Thursday’s opening of the next 5.2-mile route for public ridership that will take passengers into four new stations at Makalapa/Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, Lagoon Drive and Middle Street in Kalihi, amid elevated expectations of a significant boost in ridership. Star-Advertiser.

National report calls for urgent action to protect coastlines. A new national report from the Surfrider Foundation is spotlighting Oahu’s North Shore as a leading example of how communities can take the lead in confronting climate change — and calls for more urgent action as Hawaii’s beaches and shorelines face growing danger from erosion and rising seas. Star-Advertiser.

Grant improves water quality assessments along Hawaiʻi coastlines. A new grant for the University of Hawaiʻi’s Water Resource and Research Center will help researchers analyze how fecal contaminants are transferred between shores and the ocean. The $549,960 grant from the National Science Foundation will cover research costs over the next three years and will cover the salaries of two graduate assistants.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Renovation Of Ala Wai Driving Range Is Months Overdue. After missing a spring deadline to reopen, a city spokesperson said the popular golf course driving range will be back in business in November. Civil Beat.

Aloha Stadium Swap Meet moves to new spot in parking lot this week. Starting Wednesday, Oct. 15, the Swap Meet moves to its new location at the Halawa lot. It’s the parking lot right in front of the volcano and the ticket office. KHON2.

Parents Are Hopping Fences To Sneak Into Playgrounds. Lawmakers have pushed schools to open their facilities for recreational use, but the education department has raised concerns about liability and safety. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Building Department considered. A proposed charter amendment to create a new Department of Building in Hawaii County was postponed Tuesday following growing concerns about the department’s cost, scope and necessity. Tribune-Herald.

Drought severe in Hilo. Hilo International Airport received just 2.76 inches of rain in September, 32% of its normal total for the month. For the year, the Hilo airport’s rain gauge has recorded 38.17 inches through September, just 46% of its norm. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii AG investigates case of fallen banyan tree. The circumstances surrounding the collapse of a large banyan tree that killed two women July 12 on Kilauea Avenue in Hilo are now being investigated by the state Department of the Attorney General. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Temporary Investigative Group to release report Oct. 14 on proposed phase out TVRs in apartment districts. Council Member Nohelani Uʻu-Hodgins announced that a report from the temporary investigative group she led on policy responses to the possible phasing out of transient vacation rental uses in Apartment Districts will be released Tuesday. Maui Now.

Affordable housing deed extension bill revived after near-death experience. Maui County Council members killed a bill aimed at maintaining affordable workforce housing when they failed to muster a fifth vote needed for passage, even after the measure passed unanimously out of committee 8-0 last month. Maui Now.

Legal feud over Maui water expands to land. Litigation between two companies on Maui with billionaire owners has spread from contention over water to land, and specifically control of an association representing landowners at Kapalua Resort. Star-Advertiser.

Maui contends with tourism and housing troubles amid ongoing fire recovery. The rebuild efforts are expected to give the island's economy a boost, but it's also facing a tourism slowdown, workforce shortage issues and housing supply scarcity. Hawaii Public Radio.

DAGS hires Maui District Office manager. The Department of Accounting and General Services hired Maui native Wade Shimabukuro as its new Engineering Program Manager. KITV4.

Hundreds more ‘paper leases’ for Hawaiian home lands are being awarded on Maui. Now the state must deliver. Driven by a historic $600 million allocation from the State Legislature and an urgent need for housing after the 2023 Maui wildfires, the department is making a big push to award more than 2,600 leases statewide this year, including more than 1,200 on Maui. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauai Comic Con packs the Kauai War Memorial Convention Hall. Hundreds of people streamed through the secured entry point at the Comic Con that moved from the previous event at the Royal Sonesta Kauai Resort. Garden Island.

$400M state stockpile could soften blow of federal cuts, state libraries banned from saying 'banned' during Banned Books Week, state Senate committees to examine impacts on agriculture food security, IRONMAN kicks off with Kona underpants run, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Legislators to examine federal impacts on ag, food security. Two state Senate committees will hold a joint informational briefing next week to examine how recent federal policy changes are affecting the state’s agricultural and food sectors, amid growing concern over rising costs, trade disruptions and weakening federal support for farmers. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.

Hawaii library system bans displays that refer to ‘Banned Books Week,’ rebrands to ‘Freedom to Read’.  New guidelines issued by the Hawaiʻi State Public Library System ahead of the 41st annual event prohibit the use of the words “censorship” and “banned,” as well as the phrase “banned books week,” in displays at 51 public libraries across the state.  Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi Lawmakers Introduce A Lot Of Bills. See Whose Pass — And Fail. Committee chairs and legislative veterans have the best track record, a review of the data shows. But even they only get a fraction of what they introduce through. Civil Beat.

$400M stockpile for Hawaiʻi low-income families could soften effects of federal cuts. The state has more than $400 million in unspent federal funds for a program to help low-income families through Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF. Hawaii Public Radio.

Tourist Tax Hike Sought For Hawaiian Home Lands. The state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands plans to ask lawmakers to approve a 1% increase to the Transient Accommodations Tax, which could generate more than $100 million in annual revenue for the department to pursue development and assist its beneficiaries with home loans — a key sticking point for many who have languished for decades on a waiting list for housing lots. Civil Beat.

Native Hawaiian Convention wraps up with focus on tourism, culture. The Native Hawaiian Convention wrapped up this week in Tulalip, Washington, after days of cultural exchange and discussion about how tourism can better support local communities. KHON2. Big Island Now. 

1 In 4 Hawai‘i Students Are Chronically Absent From School. Five years after the pandemic upended attendance, many schools are still struggling to get kids to show up regularly. Civil Beat.

Hawai‘i House of Reps accepting applications for 2026 legislative session. Session staff positions are temporary and typically span from December/January through May each year, with salary ranges dependent on the specific position and relevant experience. Kauai Now.

State senators see results — and challenges — during illegal fireworks bunker inspection. Senators also were briefed about the ongoing work of the Hawai‘i Department of Law Enforcement Illegal Fireworks Task Force, highlighting enforcement efforts and challenges of addressing illegal fireworks throughout the islands. Kauai Now.

Oahu

Assaults on Honolulu police officers on the rise. Assaults on Honolulu police officers are up 21% this year compared with the same period last year, and are on pace to surpass 2024’s total of 43 cases, the Honolulu Police Department announced Thursday in a news release. Star-Advertiser. KHON2. 

Hopes high for increase in Skyline ridership. Journalists got to ride the city’s second segment of the Skyline rail system on Thursday that will take passengers down a new, 5.2-mile route to some of the most important stations and major employment centers at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.  KITV4. 

Oceanit donates thousands of COVID test kits to local schools. Honolulu-based Oceanit this week said it has donated thousands of its ASSURE-100 COVID rapid test kits to schools across Oahu. The test kits, authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, were developed by Oceanit scientists and engineers locally. Star-Advertiser.

This School Wanted Officers On Campus. 3 Others Will Get Them First. Representatives of Nānākuli High and Intermediate School say they have been left out of Oʻahu’s upcoming school resource officer pilot program. Civil Beat.

City says improper propane tank disposal sparked waste facility fire. The Department of Environmental Services (ENV) confirmed the fire that sparked Wednesday, leaving piles of charred debris and equipment, was caused by improper disposal of a propane tank. Hawaii News Now.

Ho‘omaluhia Botanical Garden to close Thursdays, city says. City officials say that in the post-pandemic era the number of guests to Ho‘o­maluhia — which in the Hawaiian language translates to “a peaceful refuge” — skyrocketed to a point where the garden itself needed peace and refuge. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Kona Underpants Run Held On Aliʻi Drive. The Kona Underpants Run was held on Aliʻi Drive Thursday morning, part of the IRONMAN World Championship pre-race series of events. Big Island Video News.

2025 IRONMAN World Championship Week In Kona. This year marks the final co-hosting rotation of the IRONMAN World Championship, with the 2025 men’s edition having been held in Nice, France in September, with the women’s edition taking place in Kona this weekend. Big Island Video News.

Restoration Of Honu‘apo Estuary Wetland Planned. A proposal to restore 8 acres of estuary and wetland habitat at Honu‘apo in Kaʻū is examined in a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) published in the October 8th issue of The Environmental Notice.  Big Island Video News.

20 Sheep Killed On Puna Ranch. The sheep were killed sometime between Friday, October 3th, and Monday, October 6th, police say. Investigators discovered what appeared to be dog bite marks on the slaughtered sheep. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. KHON2. 

Maui

Major GMO Seed Company Is Maui County’s Top Water Customer. While the genetically modified seed industry has declined across Hawaiʻi, records show Monsanto, now owned by Bayer, has increased its water usage on two Maui farms by 13% since 2021. Civil Beat.

Public hearing set for Kula Forest management plan.  The state Department of Land and Natural Resources has scheduled a public hearing next week to solicit feedback on a comprehensive plan to manage the 3,434-acre Kamehamenui Forest Reserve in Kula. Maui Now.

DOT completes repairs to erosion-damaged highway on Molokai. The state said it has completed emergency road repairs to the main highway on Molokai damaged by coastal erosion at a cost of $720,000. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

Road work scheduled for various locations in Wailuā Houselots area. Kaua‘i County Department of Public Works and contractor Maui Kupono Builders notify the public about road closures and single-lane contraflows for portions of Nonou Road, Likeke Place, Laʻaukea Place, Eggerking Road and Nānā Place in the Wailuā Houselots area beginning next week. Kauai Now.

U.S. Postal Service hiring for holiday help on Kauaʻi. The holiday positions available are at the Kapa’a and Līhuʻe post offices, with assignments running from Nov. 15 to Dec. 26. Kauai Now.

Hawaii airports good to go so far despite shutdown, growing OB-GYN shortage backlogs appointments, Skyline rail could reach airport this month, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii airports unaffected so far, but safety and morale concerns grow amid shutdown. As the federal government shutdown stretches on, travelers in Hawaii are wondering when the impacts will reach our airports. So far, the state Department of Transportation says operations remain stable. But there’s growing concern about how long that can last.  KHON2.

Chief justice vacancy short on qualified applicants. Filling the position of chief justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court may take some time despite the Hawaii State Judiciary initially announcing the anticipated vacancy nearly a year ago. Star-Advertiser.

State executive branch departments urged to expand use of Operation Hire Hawai‘i. Hawai’i Gov. Josh Green and Hawai‘i Department of Human Resources Development urge executive branch departments to expand use of Operation Hire Hawai‘i to help fill critical state government vacancies. Especially now as the federal government shutdown continues. Big Island Now.

Hawaii faces growing OB-GYN shortage, leaving many women waiting months for care. Across Hawaii, women say finding an OB-GYN is becoming increasingly difficult, with some waiting months for appointments or being told care is only available if they’re pregnant. KITV4.

New HIEMA machines bring water straight from the air. The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency recently acquired two new trailers, which are each equipped with machines that can generate over 200 gallons of water straight from the humidity in the air. KHON2.

Mokulele Airlines gets reprieve as funding continues through November. Hawaii’s rural communities received welcome news Thursday as federal subsidies for essential air service were extended through Nov. 2, providing a temporary reprieve for residents who depend on flights to access medical care and travel between islands. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

All aboard! Skyline rail set to begin service for Kalihi, Honolulu airport and more. October is a big month for Skyline — the city’s rail system opens its second leg from the Aloha Stadium to Middle Street. The 5.2-mile segment will include key employment centers, the airport and Pearl Harbor.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Mayor dropped from key claims in former police chief’s wrongful termination lawsuit. A circuit court judge delivered a significant victory to Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi on Tuesday, ordering him dropped from two of the three counts in the wrongful termination lawsuit filed by former Honolulu Police Chief Arthur “Joe” Logan. Hawaii News Now.

City seeks development partner for affordable housing in Royal Kunia. The city-owned property slated for development is located at the corner of Kupuohi Street and Kupuna Loop. Aloha State Daily.

Park building expansion project begins in Kalihi. A nearly $1.1 million improvement project to expand the interior space of the multipurpose building at Fern Community Park in Kalihi has begun, city Department of Parks and Recreation announced. Star-Advertiser.

HPD wants more surveillance cameras at popular attractions. Rampant crimes came to a sudden halt after HPD began using a surveillance camera at each location at the end of August, the department claims. Hawaii News Now.

One-on-one computer help now available at 5 Oʻahu libraries. The Digital Navigator program launched this week at the ʻEwa Beach Public and School Library, Kailua Public Library, Liliha Public Library, Waiʻanae Public Library and Waipahu Public Library. The program will be available at library branches statewide in the coming weeks. Hawaii Public Radio.

Quieting invasive coquí frogs to hear the heartbeat of Waimānalo. The calls of coquí frogs resound through the forest of Waimānalo, echoing off the nearby valley walls. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island 

Council members make numerous amendments to plastic foodware bill. A heavily amended bill aiming to reduce plastic and polystyrene waste in Hawaii County was discussed by a County Council committee Wednesday before members voted to forward the next draft to the Environmental Management Commission for review and postpone further action until later this month. Tribune-Herald.

Henneries measure advances with tweaks.  A County Council committee on Tuesday advanced amendments to a bill that would allow backyard henneries in residential zones across Hawaii Island, tightening the proposed rules to limit noise, odor and conflicts between neighbors. Tribune-Herald.

144 Units Planned For ʻĀinakō Subdivision In Hilo. A planned affordable housing project on 61-acres of land in Hilo is detailed in a draft environmental assessment published in the October 8th issue of The Environmental Notice.  Big Island Video News.

Maui

Maui Planning Commission to review proposed building height limit changes for Lahaina. The Maui Planning Commission will consider on Tuesday its recommendations on a bill to amend the West Maui Community Plan, increasing allowable building heights from 30 to 35 feet for new construction in the Lahaina National Historic Landmark District. Maui Now.

‘We just have to start’: Nonprofit faces $40 million task of restoring 8 historic sites in Lahaina. The Lahaina Restoration Foundation shared its master plan to restore the historic sites: the Old Lahaina Courthouse, the Seamen’s Hospital, the Baldwin House, the Masters’ Reading Room, Hale Aloha, Old Lahaina Prison/Hale Pa‘ahao, the Plantation House and the Kindergarten Building. Maui Now.

MPD promotes first woman into role of assistant chief. The Maui Police Department is promoting Joy Medeiros to the rank of assistant chief, marking the first time in department history that a woman has held the role. Maui News.

Kauai

DOW Kuhio Highway project ready to go. Work on Phase I of the Kuhio Highway (Hardy-Oxford) Waterline Project is ready to start during the project blessing that was held on Oct. 3, hosted by the Department of Water, Contractor Alpha, Inc., and Construction Manager Bowers + Kubota. Garden Island. Kauai Now.