Hawaii battles EPA over power plants, ballots sent to the dead, Kauai electric customers may be billed for wildfire mitigation, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Attorney General files complaint against EPA over air pollution agreement with Hawaiian Electric. The state Department of Health and a coalition of environmental organizations are challenging a decision by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to partially reject Hawaii’s plan to improve air quality and reduce pollution-related haze. Both filed petitions this week in federal court. Tribune-Herald. Maui Now.  KITV4. KHON2. Big Island Now.

HECO issues renewable energy procurement for Oahu, Hawaii Island, and Maui. Hawaiian Electric Co. recently issued what it says is one of the state’s largest energy procurements. On July 17, the company submitted its Integrated Grid Planning request for proposals, seeking renewable energy projects and storage for Oahu, Hawaii Island, and Maui. Hawaii News Now.

Some deceased voters still got ballots, but officials say it’s not a sign of fraud. Elections officials are required by law to send a ballot to everyone who’s registered to vote. They’re also required to wait two federal election cycles before they can purge people from the list, including people who haven’t voted, or who’ve moved and didn’t leave a new address. So it could be more than four years before a name is taken off the voter rolls. Hawaii News Now.

Campaign signs are not allowed along Hawaii state highways. The Hawaii Department of Transportation is reminding the public that it is illegal to post campaign signs along state highways. Illegally posted signs will be removed and thrown away. Hawaii News Now.

Congressional candidates split on support for Israel and war with Iran.  Israel’s conduct in the Middle East and the war with Iran are emerging fault lines in the Democratic contest for Hawaii’s 1st Congressional District between U.S. Rep. Ed Case and challenger Jarrett Keohokalole. Hawaii News Now.

Abercrombie alleges Ed Case violated House campaign rules. Former Gov. Neil Abercrombie, who represented Hawaii’s 1st Congressional District in Congress for over 20 years, has filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission alleging that U.S. Rep. Ed Case sent a taxpayer-funded “self-promotional” campaign email Monday that violates House rules. Star-Advertiser.

High blank ballot rates prompt OHA voter education effort. With five seats on the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees on the ballot this year, election officials and OHA leaders are urging voters to pay closer attention to one of the state’s least-understood contests. Star-Advertiser.

The Real Fight For Hawaiʻi Congressional District 2 Is Still To Come. U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda, a Democrat, is seeking a third term representing rural Oʻahu and the neighbor islands, but faces little competition from within her own party. The other side of the ballot, however, tells a different story and sets the stage for a more competitive race come November’s general election.  Republican state Sen. Brenton Awa is running unopposed for the GOP nomination. Civil Beat.

Hawaii raises truck bed-riding age to 16 as roads get faster, testing a cherished island tradition. It’s common to see people riding in the beds of pickups in Hawaii, often along country highways sandwiched between towering verdant mountains and the glassy blue expanse of the Pacific. Lawmakers tried for years to put limits on the practice before passing a bill this spring that raises the minimum legal age for riding in truck beds from 12 to 16. Democratic Gov. Josh Green quietly signed it into law last month. Associated Press.

Hawaiʻi residents react to state's 'vape ban' set for 2027. Gov. Josh Green recently signed Senate Bill 2175 into law, which will prohibit the sale of non-refillable and non-rechargeable electronic smoking devices. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Honolulu officials seek input on water quality priorities. Oahu residents are being asked to help shape the island’s long-term water quality priorities as the city prepares for billions of dollars in future wastewater and storm water infrastructure investments. The Honolulu Department of Environmental Services has launched its Oahu Clean Water Survey, which officials say will help identify the water quality issues residents consider most important. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian language advocates ‘devastated’ after school suspends program. Just weeks before the start of the 2026-27 school year, Kapolei Middle School has suspended its Kaiapuni Hawaiian language immersion program after failing to fill two teaching positions — a decision that parents and community advocates say undermines years of progress toward building a full K-12 immersion pathway in West Oahu. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio. KHON2. 

2 men charged in alleged gold bar fraud scheme targeting kupuna. A 25-year-old man from India made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Honolulu Wednesday in connection with a multi-state fraud scheme that lured a Kaneohe kupuna in her 80s into giving him $137,458 in gold bars after liquidating her life savings. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Hawaiʻi County Fire Commission set to choose permanent chief next month from eight finalists. The Fire Commission finalized the criteria and interview process for applicants vying for the position of Hawaiʻi County Fire Chief, with oral interviews set for the next public meeting on Thursday, Aug. 27.  Big Island Now.

County’s auditor provides update to council committee. McAdam told council members her office is “currently conducting an audit of the Office of Housing and Community Development’s management of the Housing and Homeless Fund, as requested by yourselves.” Tribune-Herald.

Another Road Won’t Help Waikōloa In A Wildfire Evacuation, Study Finds. Critics dismissed the new study’s findings while resolving to do more to protect the West Hawaiʻi community from wildfires. Civil Beat.

Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Found in Hilo, Council Talks Quarantine Rule. A Hawaiʻi County Council committee voted in support of resolution on Wednesday in the hopes it will help fight the spread of the invasive coconut rhinoceros beetle on Hawaiʻi island, just days after a CRB was found in Hilo. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Maui mayoral race heats up ahead of August 8 primary election. Ten candidates are on the ballot, but only the top two vote-getters in the August 8 primary will advance to November’s general election. KHON2.

Political newcomers top fundraising in races to fill critical Maui County Council seats. The top fundraisers in the Maui County Council races are political newcomers who are competing in the upcoming Aug. 8 primary election for two critical seats that will be vacated at the end of the year by the chair and vice chair.  Maui Now.

Residents question plans for Lahaina Bypass extension project. The Lahaina Bypass extension project seeks to extend the existing bypass north from Keawe Street to create a continuous highway around Lahaina and Kaanapali. Maui News.

Planning commission approves Makena State Park expansion. The 6-1 vote approving a Special Management Area permit allows the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of State Parks to build two restrooms with shower facilities and expand parking at the 164.4-acre park. Maui News.

Maui farmers, ranchers can learn about ag lending options in July 29 webinar. The Hawaiʻi Farmers Union Foundation is hosting a free webinar on agricultural financing options through American AgCredit and the Farm Credit System. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauai electric customers could start paying for wildfire mitigation. Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative last week filed an application with the state Public Utilities Commission to recover such costs through an initial monthly surcharge starting in April estimated at $12.87 for an average customer to cover $9.4 million in wildfire mitigation expenses. Star-Advertiser.

Department of Transportation declare traffic emergency zone after finding a subsurface void under Kaumualiʻi Highway in ʻŌmaʻo. The traffic emergency zone allows the Department of Transportation to work quickly to restore support beneath the roadway. Kauai Now.

Brown water advisory declared for three beaches on Kaua‘i. A brown water advisory has been issued at Hanamaulu,  Hanalei Bay and Niumalu Beaches. The Hawai‘i Department of Health advises beachgoers to stay out of waters that appear brown or murky, especially following storms or heavy rain, as the water may contain higher-than-normal pollutant levels. Kauai Now. KITV4.

Community Control Of Kauaʻi Fishery Is Showing ‘Remarkable’ Results. Ten years in, Native Hawaiian fishermen, North Shore nonprofit leaders and scientists are encouraged by what they see in the state’s first Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area. Civil Beat.

Niʻihau Language School At Risk Of Losing Kaua‘i Campus. Families say the school has played a critical role in preserving their cultural and linguistic ties to the Forbidden Isle for nearly two decades. Civil Beat.

Alaska Air revamps Hawaiian Airlines flight plans, AG to release Sylvia Luke decision soon, DOE spells out cellphone limits for new school year, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Alaska Air Group charts new course for Hawaii with bigger interisland jets, cargo expansion. As Alaska Air Group pushes toward its goal of generating $1 billion in profit from its Hawaiian Airlines acquisition, the company unveiled plans Tuesday to replace Hawaiian’s aging interisland fleet with Boeing 737-800s beginning in 2028 and nearly double its cargo aircraft capacity by 2027.  Big Island Now. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Gov. Green says AG’s decision on Lt. Gov. Luke is ‘imminent’.  “Imminent” but unspecified “major announcements” concerning Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke are coming following a seven-month investigation by the state Department of the Attorney General into allegations that an “influential state legislator” accepted $35,000 in a paper bag in 2022, according to Gov. Josh Green. Star-Advertiser.

We Fight’: Leaders Vow To Defend Native Hawaiian Programs. The kickoff of the three-day annual convention began with a gut check about the toll budget cuts and legal attacks could take on Native Hawaiian-serving programs.  Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. KITV4. 

Why Isn’t Hawaiʻi’s ‘Affordable Housing’ More Affordable? A complicated formula results in a price-setting benchmark that’s higher than if it measured only income. The result: More people qualify, but rents are out of reach for many. Civil Beat.

Law puts money back into community college students' hands. Initially, based on a student’s financial need, the Hawaiʻi Promise would grant up to the total amount the student needed to fill any gaps to cover tuition. However, if the student were to receive external scholarships or financial help for indirect costs — things like food, transportation or housing – the program would deduct those amounts from the provided aid. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiʻi Department of Education sends out its policies as the 2026-2027 school year looms two weeks away. Students across Hawaiʻi are set to return to school on August 3, armed with new guidelines, including a statewide cellphone policy that restricts usage during school hours. Kauai Now.

Oahu

Honolulu charter amendment questions finalized, with some big proposals left out. The commission on Monday approved about 20 questions to amend the Honolulu City Charter this election cycle. Hawaii Public Radio.

Honolulu Cut Speed Limits By Schools But Didn’t Change The Signs. The speed limit on Oʻahu school zones is 20 miles per hour. You wouldn’t know it by driving by. Civil Beat.

New red light, speed cameras coming to Hawaii. Ten new camera sites will be finalized and announced by the end of August 2026. Locations already being looked at include parts of West Oahu and the North Shore. KHON2.

An artist group wants to buy Queen Theater. Will they get it? Since Queen Theater was put on the market last month, it's caught the interest of Los Angeles-based Hoodihoo Productions, which curates pop-up movie screenings. Hawaii Public Radio.

Severely Ill Prisoners Granted Early Release Are Left Stuck Behind Bars. Hawaiʻi is the only state without a specific law allowing for compassionate release for prisoners, relying instead on an internal policy. Civil Beat.

With flood repairs nearly done, Hokulani Elementary seeks move-in help. The St. Louis Heights campus will hold a volunteer move-in day Saturday as staff prepare to reopen 12 classrooms damaged in the March Kona low flooding. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Shopping centers’ developer files for bankruptcy. Gary L. Pinkston, developer of the Puna Kai Shopping Center and Waikoloa Plaza, in May filed a raft of lawsuits in Northern District of Georgia U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Tribune-Herald.

Country Club property draws interest; state orders structural inspection. According to DLNR spokesman Andrew Laurence, the department was approached by a third party “who is interested in the building’s potential for rehabilitation.” Tribune-Herald.

4 classrooms under construction to ease overcrowding at Kealakehe Elementary School. The elementary school built in 1969 is one of the largest in the state, but with enrollment increasing the new two-story building slated for completion in September 2027 will provide much needed space. Big Island Now. 

Hawaiʻi County Council District 1 Candidate Q&As. Incumbent Heather Kimball faces BJ Penn and Ren Del Rosario in the primary election for Big Island council seat. Civil Beat.

Transit, Burning Trees, Property Tax: Hawaiʻi County Council District 2 Candidate Q&As. A competitive primary for the council seat that includes Downtown Hilo. Civil Beat.

AirBnBs And Wastewater: Hawaiʻi County Council District 3 Candidate Q&As. The incumbent council member for Hawaiʻi County Council District 3, Dennis ‘Fresh’ Onishi, is facing Kelton Chang in the Aug. 8 primary. Civil Beat.

Tax Codes, State Highways And Energy: Hawaiʻi County Council District 4. Open race to choose new council member for Lower Puna and Pāhoa. Civil Beat.

Maui

Study finds human activity is weakening Maui corals. Human activities are changing the chemistry of coral reefs off Maui and making them less resilient to warming oceans and other environmental stressors, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Maui News.

Maui County unemployment rises to 3.2% in June as statewide job losses continue. Maui County’s unemployment rate rose to 3.2% in June, up from 2.5% in May, according to not-seasonally adjusted figures released Monday by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Maui Now.

Kauai

No Penalty For Kauaʻi Candidates Who Blew Financial Reporting Deadline. Five candidates for Kaua‘i County Council and one for mayor were months late in filing mandated public disclosures about their employers, income, board positions, property and other financial interests. Civil Beat.

Kauaʻi Office of Economic Development seeks applicants for FY 2027 cultural grant program. The County of Kauaʻi’s Office of Economic Development will begin accepting applications Tuesday for its Fiscal Year 2027 Kauaʻi Cultural Programs & Events Grant Program, which will provide about $165,000 to support organizations that preserve and promote the island’s cultural heritage. Kauai Now.

1st Congressional District pits challenger Keohokalole against Case, HECO battles governor's utility partner, flags at half-staff for Oahu soldier killed in Jordan, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Contrasting Campaign Styles Mark Race For 1st Congressional District. Incumbent Ed Case steadily emphasizes his job in Congress as Jarrett Keohokalole actively tries to generate buzz to pull off an upset. Civil Beat.

Case says shipping interests ‘out to get me’ by funding Keohokalole. The incumbent alleges shippers and maritime unions are bankrolling his challenger to protect the Jones Act, as the two clash over affordability in Hawaii’s 1st Congressional District. Hawaii News Now.

HECO seeks to expand renewables, energy storage on 3 islands. Hawaiian Electric seeks plans for competitively priced renewable energy and storage for the Big Island, Maui and Oʻahu to meet growing energy needs and modernize its generation fleet to drive down costs by reducing use of oil for power generation.The utility submitted its Integrated Grid Planning Request for Proposals to Hawaiʻi Public Utility Commission. Big Island Now.

HECO Is At War With Governor’s Energy Partner Over Creating New Utility. Japanese rival JERA Co.wants build a new liquefied natural gas power plant and start a new regulated utility for Oʻahu, ending Hawaiian Electric’s 135-year monopoly. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio. KHON2. 

Flags lowered in honor of fallen Hawai‘i soldier killed in Iran war. Soldier with ties to Hawaii killed in Iran attack. The Pentagon on Monday named 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, a 25-year-old whose military home of record was Ewa Beach, as one of two soldiers killed in an Iranian missile and drone attack against U.S. forces in Jordan on Friday. Star-Advertiser. Associated Press. Big Island Now. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

Endangered Hawaiian Stilt Reclassified To Threatened. The ae‘o, or Hawaiian stilt (Himantopus mexicanus knudseni), has been downlisted from endangered to threatened under the Endangered Species Act.  The change, announced this month and published in the Federal Register, follows more than five decades of conservation work that has helped the long-legged shorebird rebound from an estimated population of about 200 birds in the 1940s to more than 1,500 today. Big Island Video News. Maui News.

Oahu

Empty Homes Tax: Oʻahu Voters Blocked From Weighing In. The decision by the Honolulu Charter Commission may mark the end of a protracted battle over how to handle the island’s thousands of empty homes in the midst of a severe housing crisis. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Ethics Commission appoints new Executive Director. The Honolulu Ethics Commission appointed attorney Sandy Ma as its newest Executive Director and Legal Counsel in charge of enforcing ethics laws in early June.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Honolulu DJ from Jamaica had previously been deported. Bunny Anthony Parlane, aka “DJ Bunnster,” 49, who was deported in 2012 after felony convictions in New York and Pennsylvania, is facing a federal criminal charge after he was arrested in Honolulu where he was living and working as a DJ. Star-Advertiser.

Trash at East Oahu beach highlights community’s homeless problem. Dexter Kubota, a civil engineer for the kauhale project, said during last week’s Waimānalo neighborhood board meeting that they are working on mitigation efforts.  Hawaii News Now.

Progress made as Waianae residents move to new village. A Waianae homeless encampment is seeing progress. Officials said as of Friday, July 17, 80 Puuhonua O Waianae residents have moved from the Waianae Small Boat Harbor into the new 20-acre mauka “Farm Village” in Waianae Valley. KHON2.

Homestead lease opportunities on Oahu draw strong interest. Almost 500 Native Hawaiians on a long homestead waitlist obtained leases over the weekend for future house lots on Oahu planned by the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Former Public Works employee suing county. Julann Sonomura, who previously served as the DPW’s Building Division chief, said she was frequently treated differently than her male colleagues and was undermined and dismissed by her supervisor, DPW Deputy Director Neil Azevedo. Tribune-Herald.

Native plants for sale from state Division of Forestry and Wildlife. Gardeners, landscapers and anyone looking to purchase seedlings on the Big Island and Maui can now shop online for native and non-invasive plants grown in state nurseries managed by Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife. Big Island Now.

Maui

Judge orders hearing on E. Maui water permit. The state Board of Land and Natural Resources failed to adequately consider Native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices — violating its public trust duties — when it approved water-diversion permits to Mahi Pono LLC and East Maui Irrigation Co. LLC, a state judge ruled Friday. Star-Advertiser.

Proposed rules to stop invasive beetle from infesting Maui or Lānaʻi moving forward. The state will consider a petition from the Lahaina Community Land Trust asking for a restriction on imports to Maui or Lānaʻi, in an attempt to keep the islands from being overrun with coconut rhinoceros beetles. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui jury convicts man on 16 counts of sexual assault against a child. Roberto Omar Morales Andrade, 49, was found guilty of eight counts each of first degree sexual assault and third degree sexual assault following a two-week trial. Maui Now.

Kauai

Department of Water plans repairs, intermittent outages along upper Kuamoʻo Road. Residents of Wailua Homesteads near Kuamoʻo Road can expect water disruptions as essential repairs are conducted on a local water tank.  Kauai Now.

Lieutenant Governor candidates face off, Belatti files late spending report, Case congressional race gets national attention, voting machines tested statewide, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Lieutenant Governor candidates’ appearance shows similarities, differences. During their joint appearance, frontrunners Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami and state Rep. Della Au Belatti last week shared the need for more affordable housing, reducing Hawaii’s high cost of living, and their overall support for Gov. Josh Green’s kauhale housing program expansion to create permanent, affordable homes for Hawaii’s homeless. Both, however, said the lieutenant governor should remain independent from Green. Star-Advertiser.

Belatti Files Campaign Spending Report A Week Late. Della Au Belatti’s campaign blamed a computer glitch for the delay. State Rep. Della Au Belatti finally filed the reports Thursday afternoon, but not before her rival for lieutenant governor, Kauaʻi Mayor Derek Kawakami, had issued press releases publicly calling her out for the missing report. Civil Beat.

The Race For Lieutenant Governor: A Coveted Political Stepping Stone. While the job itself doesn’t amount to much, it helped elevate four politicians who later became governors, and two others who eventually became U.S. senators. Civil Beat.

Case And Keohokalole Ramp Up Their Spending In Advance Of August Primary. New Federal Election Commission filings show that both candidates raised and spent about the same amount in the last quarter, but Case has more money left over for the final run. Civil Beat.

Honolulu congressional race draws national attention. The race to represent urban Honolulu in Congress has attracted national attention from the New York Times and the Washington Post as an example of younger, left-leaning Democrats like state Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole challenging older, more moderate incumbents like U.S. Rep. Ed Case. Star-Advertiser.

Voting equipment testing statewide as primary election approaches. The Office of Elections held its statewide logic and accuracy test at the State Capitol, with around 60 official observers on Oahu and another 20 on each of the neighbor islands. KITV4.

History shows every vote counts in Hawaii legislative races. All 51 state House seats and 14 of the 25 state Senate seats are up for election this year, but 16 Democratic and Republican legislators face no challenge and will automatically return to office in the Aug. 8 party primary elections. Star-Advertiser.

‘Hawaii Builds’ initiative aims to fast-track affordable housing. Under Senate Bill 2544, which legislators passed almost unanimously on May 6, the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corp. is being directed to help private developers produce at least one affordable-housing project on Oahu, Hawaii Island, Kauai and in Maui County under the new program in part by sidestepping county council reviews. Star-Advertiser.

Military scales up 3D printing, drones and AI to supply RIMPAC forces. Over the last few iterations of RIMPAC, the Naval Postgraduate School’s Consortium for Advanced Manufacturing Research and Education participated in the exercise and experimented with these systems. But this year, military leaders have made a point of massively scaling up their use across the Hawaiian islands and beyond. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Waters holds huge fundraising lead in City Council race. Honolulu City Council Chair Tommy Waters is heading into the Aug. 8 primary election with a commanding financial advantage over his closest challenger as he seeks a third term representing East Honolulu’s District 4, campaign filings indicate. Star-Advertiser.

Tulsi Gabbard’s brother charged in alleged Waikiki ‘stranger danger’ incident. The 55-year-old brother of former U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was arrested and charged Friday with second-degree custodial interference after allegedly trying to lure children to a Waikiki hotel room. Batarti Gabbard, aka Bhakti Gabbard, allegedly approached several children, including a boy, age 9, and offered them gum and money to accompany him to his hotel room, according to police. Star-Advertiser.

HECO seeks energy bids as JERA moves forward with LNG plan. JERA Americas, a subsidiary of Japan’s largest energy company, JERA Co., filed a notice of intent Friday with the Public Utilities Commission seeking approval to establish a new Hawaii-­based regulated wholesale power-generation company called GenCo that would own and operate the proposed power plant and supply liquefied natural gas, or LNG, to Oahu’s energy grid. Hawaiian Electric Co. is arguing the “unprecedented” move would create complexity, inefficiencies and risk in Hawaii’s energy grid. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu could follow other county councils in calling for aquarium fishing ban. The city council is moving along a pair of resolutions urging state-level policymakers to prohibit the collection of fish in the state for the commercial aquarium trade. One urges the state Board of Land and Natural Resources to adopt rules banning aquarium fishing, and the other is directed at the state Legislature. Hawaii Public Radio.

Home at last: New beginning for 815 Native Hawaiian families. On July 18, the Department of Hawaiian Homelands awarded 815 residential leases on Oahu, the largest offering on the island this year. KHON2.

Social media bans impact Honolulu businesses and artists. Several  businesses, community organizations and artists in Hawaii that have come to depend on Meta’s platforms say they’ve dealt with seemingly arbitrary bans, with little explanation from the company as it increasingly turns to AI and other systems for content moderation. Star-Advertiser.

Waikiki organizations unite to boost community, visitor impact. With Hawaii’s tourism marketing resources under pressure and international visitor arrivals still below expectations, two of Waikiki’s leading business organizations have combined operations to strengthen the resort district’s voice, marketing reach and competitive position. Star-Advertiser.

Horse-Trading And Living Costs: State House District 18 Candidate Q&As. Member chosen to replace Gene Ward runs against Democratic challenger. Incumbent representative Joe Gedeon will face Democratic challenger James Wataru in the Nov. 3 general election. Both are running unopposed in the primary. Civil Beat.

Not Again! Another Sidewalk Collapse Next To Barefoot Beach Cafe. For more than a year after a portion of Waikīkī’s popular beachside walkway collapsed into the sand, Barefoot Beach Cafe customers looking to drink out of pineapples as they watched the sunset had to do so through a chain-link fence. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Kona-based company is bringing aquaculture to Florida. Kona-based company Ocean Era recently received approval for a first-of-its-kind aquaculture pilot project off of the Gulf Coast of Florida. Titled the Velella Epsilon project, it will be located in federal waters about 40 miles out from Sarasota, to cultivate 20,000 red drum fish over the course of a year in a submerged net system. Tribune-Herald.

Big Island residents turn in nearly 150 firearms during community gun buyback event. Firearms collected included eight assault-style rifles and nine privately manufactured firearms, commonly referred to as “ghost guns.” Big Island Now.

Community raises questions about Laupahoehoe boat ramp. Dozens of community members gathered July 8 for an informational meeting about planned repairs to the breakwater in Laupahoehoe, which juts out about 100 feet from the rocky coastline. Tribune-Herald.

Investment firm pays $23 million to become outright owner of Kailua-Kona hotel. Nine Brains, headquartered in Santa Monica, Calif., acquired full fee-simple ownership of Pacific 19 Kona hotel — formerly Kona Seaside Hotel — 4 years after it purchased the ground lease for the property. Big Island Now.

New youth hub in Puna to guide young people toward independence. The Neighborhood Place of Puna has opened the Puna ʻŌpio Hub for youth and young adults, ages 14-25, as they explore employment and educational pathways that may seem inaccessible. Big Island Now.

Waimea Continues “Speed Dating” Election Candidate Tradition. Voters sat down with candidates for Hawaiʻi County Council, State House, and Lieutenant Governor. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Lahaina’s Front Street scheduled to reopen on Aug. 1, 2026. Repairs and rebuilding in the area have been ongoing since the 2023 Maui Wildfires, including: removal of wildfire debris and offshore pilings; repairs to the seawall and sidewalk; installation of new railings and planting of trees along the makai side of the street; installation of fencing along the mauka side of the street and around off-limit areas; and road paving and striping. Maui Now.

‘Keep Hawaiʻi Loud’: Car Stereo Enthusiasts Boo Increased Fines On Maui. For some Maui residents, the noise is a source of repeated frustration. Others see the music as part of Hawai‘i’s local culture.  Civil Beat.

Displaced Lahaina residents hope jobs will provide a way home. Hundreds of homes have been rebuilt, according to Maui County officials, and billions of dollars have been committed to disaster recovery. Yet many West Maui families remain displaced, businesses continue to struggle to rebuild their workforce and many former residents still cannot afford to come home. Star-Advertiser.

Moloka‘i growers feeding the island in wake of missed barges, plant shipping restrictions. On an island rich with farmland and resourceful people, the goal is to help make the community more resilient and sustainable during unexpected crises like missed shipments and interisland restrictions. Maui Now.

Airlines compete for Lanai air service contract. Pacific Air Charters and Cape Air are competing against Mokulele Airlines, the only commercial airline currently servicing the island,  receiving federal subsidies to do so. Hawaii News Now.

Selenium detected in Makawao water. Trace levels of selenium have been found for the first time in the Maui County Department of Water Supply’s Makawao water system. Maui News.

Luxury Rentals, Bill 9 And Public Water: Maui County Council, Wailuku-Waiheʻe-Waikapū District. Five candidates are running for the seat held by Council Chair Alice Lee, who is stepping down. Civil Beat.

Wetlands, ICE And Accountability: Maui County Council, South Maui District Candidate Q&As. Itʻs a rematch for the two candidates running in the November general election. Civil Beat.

Invasive Species, Sustainability And Planning: Maui County Council – Kahului District. Three candidates are running in the primary for the council seat covering Mauiʻs largest commercial center. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Kauaʻi keiki bring home free helmets, bikes after annual Keiki Bike Safety Day on Saturday. Forty lucky youngsters pedaled home with new bikes, and hundreds learned essential riding skills and helmet safety from dedicated Wilcox Medical Center physicians and community partner. Kauai Now. Garden Island. 

Disasters, Tourism And Housing: State House District 16 Candidate Q&As. Incumbent Democrat faces Republican challenge for the Kauaʻi House seat. Democratic House Member Luke Evslin, who has represented state House District 16 since 2023, will face Republican opponent David Hazlebeck in the general election in November. Both are running unopposed in the primary. Civil Beat.

Income Tax Relief And Housing Affordability: State House District 17 Candidate Q&As. Longtime Kauaʻi Democratic incumbent faces primary opponent and Republican challenger.Incumbent House member Dee Morikawa is facing Democratic challenger Chad Schimmelfennig in the Aug. 8 primary election for State House District 17, which Morikawa has represented since 2010. Civil Beat.

Plan to rebuild historic Coco Palms Resort gets financial backing. A Utah-based real estate investment firm that acquired the Coco Palms site in 2022 through a state court foreclosure case recently arranged $431 million in financing and said it has begun below-grade construction work on the 32-acre property in Wailua. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii rebuffs federal election security assistance, Texas billionaire supporting Waikiki city council challenger, Honolulu police chief plans drone program, Maui expands accessory dwelling units, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii to DOJ on election law compliance help: No thanks.  Hawaii’s chief election officer has rebuffed an invitation by the U.S. Department of Justice to discuss, or receive assistance with, following federal law governing voter eligibility. Scott Nago, who heads Hawaii’s Office of Elections, was among head election officers in every state who received a July 7 DOJ letter reminding them of federal election laws and pointing out that they faced possible criminal prosecution for violations that include knowingly retaining noncitizens on state voter registration lists. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. 

Green responds to Hawaiʻi National Guard recall demands. Gov. Josh Green said the troops should come home around Labor Day, after celebrations for the America 250 end. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii raises truck bed age minimum, expands move over law. The law tightens safety rules for pickup trucks by raising the minimum age for riding in the bed from 12 years old to 16 years old, with limited exceptions. Drivers must now slow down and change lanes for any stationary vehicle that displays hazard lights or other warning vehicles — the law previously applied only to parked emergency vehicles. KHON2.

'Everything is changing': Della Au Belatti's campaign for lieutenant governor. Belatti is mounting what she calls an underdog campaign for the second-highest elected office in the state. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Texas billionaire money flows into Waikiki Democratic primary race. In the Democratic primary for House District 24, covering Waikiki, McCully and Moiliili, challenger Bulla Eastman is facing incumbent Rep. Adrian Tam. Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission documents show Texas billionaire Douglas Scharbauer and the Patriot Action Political Action Committee spent $30,000 on ads supporting Eastman at a local media outlet. Hawaii News Now.

New Honolulu police chief plans to launch drone program to help catch crime. Newly appointed Honolulu Police Chief David Lazar on Wednesday gave the Honolulu Police Commission his goals for the first three months of his tenure. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now.

City Council urges review of rising energy costs. Concerned about rising fuel and electricity costs, the Honolulu City Council is considering a resolution urging Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration to evaluate how higher energy prices could affect city finances and operations. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu law firm and gun control group distributing 'Guns Not Allowed' signs to businesses. The U.S. Supreme Court recently struck down the Hawaii law banning firearms on private properties without the express consent of property owners. It then shifted the burden to businesses to decide whether or not to put up signs prohibiting guns on their properties. KITV4.

Want To Plant A Community Garden in Honolulu? Get Ready To Wait A Decade. Waitlists are growing for Oʻahu’s community garden program as residents seek green spaces for food, fun and friends. Civil Beat. 

Scientists say North Shore corals are now dying due to mud from the Kona low storms. The flooding from March’s Kona low storms left a coat of mud on coral reefs around Oahu’s North Shore. And a longtime local marine biologist says that coral is now dying because of it. Hawaii News Now.

15 Waianae homeless holdouts could be removed any day. Fifteen homeless people at the Waianae Small Boat Harbor who do not plan to move to the permanent Pu‘uhonua O Wai‘anae community mauka of Farrington Highway can be swept at any time after being served with trespass warnings while the state plans to remove their nine structures and encampments this summer. Star-Advertiser.

Kilauea District Park to remain under city ownership. The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education and the City and County of Honolulu announced that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding confirming the park’s gymnasium, recreation buildings and other facilities will remain under the City’s ownership, management and operation. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Faculty, students weigh in on Hawaii Community College chancellor options. The University of Hawaii is exploring several leadership options for Hawaii Community College following the retirement of Chancellor Susan Kazama, effective July 31. Tribune-Herald.

Open House on August 10 for Waiākea Peninsula Master Plan. The community is invited to help shape the future of the Waiākea Peninsula, which includes the Banyan Drive resorts, during an upcoming event in Hilo.  Big Island Video News.

Crumbling Big Island Tennis Court Has Needed Repaving For Years. The tennis court at Herbert Shipman Park in Kea‘au is dull, cracking and growing weeds. The county has had it on its to-do list for at least the past four years but still hasn’t gotten around to it. Civil Beat.

Paving to reduce hydroplaning on Hawai‘i Island’s Daniel K. Inouye Highway underway. As part of the immediate safety improvements being undertaken, the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation is repaving Saddle Road between mile markers 10 and 22.5 to increase the pavement drainage capability and reduce the potential for hydroplaning.  Big Island Now.

Maui

Maui County adopts new accessory dwelling rules to expand housing opportunities. To ease the island’s severe housing shortage, Maui County has adopted new rules that allow qualifying residentially zoned properties on Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi to be eligible for up to two accessory dwellings in addition to a primary residence — a potential of three residential units on a single lot, the County Department of Planning announced. Maui Now.

Wailuku Greystar property named in statewide housing voucher discrimination complaint. Kaulana Mahina is among the Greystar properties named in a civil rights complaint filed Monday alleging the company illegally refused to rent to prospective tenants using federal housing vouchers. Maui Now.

Displaced Lahaina residents to return for 3-day homecoming event. More than 100 former Lahaina residents displaced by the August 2023 wildfire will return to their hometown this weekend for the inaugural Lahaina Homecoming, a three-day event organizers describe not as a celebration, but as another step in the community’s long healing journey. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Kauai

Report released from 2026 Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response survey. Find the full 2026 Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response survey report here. Kauai Now.

Zero Waste Kauaʻi to host mayoral candidate forum focused on waste, environmental future. Zero Waste Kauaʻi and partners Hōʻike, KKCR Kauaʻi Community Radio, Surfrider Kauaʻi and Kauaʻi Planning Action Alliance are hosting the free online 2026 Kauaʻi Mayoral Candidate Forum: Talking Trash with Kauaʻi’s Next Mayor scheduled for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. July 29 via Zoom. Kauai Now. Garden Island.

Pressure mounts to bring Hawaii National Guard back from Washington, Green vetoes one bill and wraps up enactments, mail ballots to arrive next week, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Calls grow for Green to recall Hawaii National Guard from DC. A growing chorus of local and national organizations is calling on Gov. Josh Green to recall Hawaii National Guardsmen dispatched to Washington, D.C. Twenty-seven members of the Hawaii Army National Guards 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team arrived in D.C. on July 6.  Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

Ballots for Hawaii primaries expected to arrive by Tuesday. Voters across the state should expect their primary election ballots to arrive in the mail by Tuesday ahead of election day on Aug. 8. County clerks must have voters’ ballots returned and in hand by 7 p.m. Aug. 8 in order for them to be counted. Ballots that are postmarked by Aug. 8 but arrive after 7 p.m. will not be counted, according to the state Office of Elections. Star-Advertiser. Kauai Now. 

Gov. Green vetoes BOE executive director bill. Hawaii Gov. Josh Green signed his final bills of the year Wednesday, wrapping up the legislative session with 266 measures signed and just one veto. The governor vetoed Senate Bill 3262, which required the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to submit three nominees for its executive director to the Board of Education. The board would then appoint an executive director from the nominee list, subject to advice and consent of the Senate. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Green signs bill tackling dementia. Green signed House Bill 1853 into law Tuesday. It creates the Hanai Memory Network Program within the Executive Office of Aging. Hawaii Public Radio.

State e-bike law enacted to curb injuries, deaths. The new law, Act 259, establishes minimum age requirements for riders depending on e-bike class, increases the age for mandatory helmet use, and makes sellers disclose rules. Act 259 also classifies two- and three-wheelers capable of going over 28 mph on electric power as e-motorcycles that are subject to licensing, registration and insurance similar to regular motorcycles. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Video News. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2. 

New laws to modernize transportation system, enhance clean energy economy. Gov. Josh Green signed four bills to enhance efforts in building a clean energy economy, ensuring that Hawaiʻi’s laws keep up with emerging technologies. Big Island Now.

Oahu

Public Begins To Weigh In On Offshore LNG Proposal. The public comment period is the first step in the pre-review of JERA Co.’s proposal, pitched as a fossil-fuel bridge to a future of all-renewable resources. The first public commenters on a $2 billion liquefied natural gas power project proposed for Oʻahu are asking federal regulators to look beyond simply the environmental impacts related to the offshore infrastructure that makes up a relatively small part of the project. Civil Beat.

HART previews Kakaako rail construction, but some want more specific details. Traffic disruptions have been an unavoidable part of the city’s Skyline construction. And those disruptions are about to come to Halekauwila Street, at the tail end of the rail project’s third phase. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Honolulu lawmakers want to ensure residents have proper shelter during disasters. The City and County of Honolulu budget this year includes $18 million for resilience hubs to shelter residents during natural disasters, and city lawmakers want to make sure it’s properly built and equipped to handle severe weather. Hawaii Public Radio.

‘Nobody Did Anything’: Flood Control Long Went Ignored On Oʻahu’s Westside. Māʻili residents were stuck after an emergency evacuation road was inundated during Kona lows. Civil Beat.

About 3K Hawaii soldiers remain without air conditioning. Roughly 3,000 soldiers remain without air conditioning in their barracks after a water system malfunction. The AC units haven’t been working since Friday, July 10, impacting soldiers at Schofield Barracks, Wheeler Army Airfield and Helemano Military Reservation. Hawaii News Now.

Youth Skills, Crime And Sustainability: State House District 30 Candidate Q&As. Two-year incumbent is facing two opponents in the primary. Civil Beat.

Security, Working Families And Infrastructure: State House District 32 Candidate Q&As. The same opponents face each other for the third general election in a row. Civil Beat.

Income Tax, Climate Change And Culture: State House District 33 Candidate Q&A. Incumbent Democrat is running unopposed in the primary election. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Waikoloa evacuation study questioned at meeting. Fears of mass wildfire fatalities in Waikoloa Village boiled over on Tuesday during a community meeting held to discuss evacuation routes after a 200-acre blaze sparked at the edge of the community last week caused partial evacuations and left residents on-edge. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.

Records were set for June rainfall. Halfway into the dry season for most of Hawaii, 11 Big Island sites experienced their wettest June on record, according to the National Weather Service. Tribune-Herald.

Concerns rise about invasive beetle. A Kona community development group on Tuesday heard warnings about the highly destructive Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle from an invasive species biologist — alerts that have taken on a new sense of urgency after one of the bugs was found July 6 at Hilo International Airport. Tribune-Herald.

Kīlauea Episode 51 Ends After 8 Hour Eruption. Tephra fall was restricted to the closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park to the southwest of the active summit vents.  Big Island Video News.

Maui

Former Maui County mayors unite behind Bissen’s re-election. Former Governor and former Maui County Mayor Linda Lingle, along with former Maui County Mayors Alan Arakawa and Charmaine Tavares, have united behind Mayor Richard Bissen’s nonpartisan re-election campaign. Maui Now.

Kahului Airport remained resilient with passenger increase, despite TSA funding lapse this past spring. Kahului Airport screening volumes held steady even as a nationwide TSA funding lapse this spring triggered steep staffing shortages and sharp declines in passenger throughput at major mainland hubs, according to a new analysis from the travel research firm Upgraded Points. Maui Now.

Kimo’s to return to Lahaina. A restaurant that was established on Maui nearly 50 years ago and grew into a chain of 13 establishments across Hawaii and California is returning to Lahaina. Maui News.

Kauai

New Kaua‘i Council Candidates Are Raising The Most Campaign Cash. The 26 candidates racing for the seven council seats have raked in a combined $108,000 so far this election. Civil Beat.

Special community meeting to feature candidate for Hawai‘i lieutenant governor Kaua‘i County Mayor Kawakami. The Indivisible Kaua‘i hybrid meeting, which can be attended in-person or online via Zoom, also includes Deirdre Romney, who will present information about understanding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agreements, what they are and why communities are reconsidering them. Kauai Now.

DOW announces tap water sampling for some customers. In compliance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Lead and Copper Rule, the Department of Water, in partnership with the Hawaii State Department of Health, is conducting a complimentary household tap water sampling program in Kilauea, Haena-Wainiha and Hanalei. Garden Island.

Green signs AI protections, judge orders environmental review for Turtle Bay, gambling crackdown on Oahu, Big Island gun buyback, Kim in HGEA crosshairs, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

New Artificial Intelligence Laws Enacted in Hawaiʻi. Governor Josh Green on Tuesday signed two bills relating AI; House Bill 2137, targeting the harmful use of “deepfake” technology, and Senate Bill 3001, dealing with disclosure for AI companions. Big Island Video News. Kauai Now. KHON2. KITV4. 

Hawaiʻi’s Childcare Shortage Is One Of The Nation’s Worst. Nearly every child in Hawaiʻi lives in a community that lacks adequate licensed childcare, with access rates falling far behind the national average, according to recent reports from the Center for American Progress. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s largest public workers union campaigns against veteran senator. The Hawaii Government Employees Association, Hawaii’s largest public workers union has turned against Senate Education Committee Chair Donna Mercado Kim, endorsing a challenger and launching a social media campaign against the 43-year incumbent ahead of the Aug. 8 primary. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Honolulu City Council mulls lowering vehicle weight tax fees. Under Bill 47, the vehicle weight tax rate for passenger vehicles — including buses, ambulances and hearses — would decrease from 6 cents per pound of net weight to 5.5 cents per pound. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu charter amendment proposals near finalization. The commission first started fielding charter amendment proposals from the public in August 2025 and received nearly 300 submissions. That was narrowed down to 19 coming into a scheduled meeting on Monday. Hawaii Public Radio.

Judge orders new environmental review for Turtle Bay project. Court says further environmental review needed for Turtle Bay expansion. First Circuit Court Judge Shirley M. Kawamura ruled Tuesday that the new development at Kuilima on Oahu’s North Shore cannot move forward until more environmental studies are completed. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. KHON2. Hawaii News Now. 

Crackdown on illegal game rooms includes arrests, millions in fines and liens. New laws put landlords on the hook for allowing illegal operations to continue. New lawas and enforcement  have resulted in 30 game rooms being raided so far this year by Honolulu police officers. Four individuals have been arrested and charged with gambling-related crimes, and 451 devices have been seized. Hawaii News Now. 

Downtown Honolulu is getting a new look with the launch of the Downtown Business Improvement District. If you have spotted people in bright pink shirts around Downtown Honolulu, they are part of the city's new Downtown Business Improvement District, or BID. KITV4.

Tsunami Panic: Most Who Evacuated Shouldn’t Have, Report Says. Almost all of Oʻahu’s traffic ​​during the tsunami warning was unnecessary, the report said. In an after-action report released Friday, the Honolulu Department of Emergency said clearer  communication with the public about how to evacuate and better internal coordination of responsibilities are two of its main takeaways.  Civil Beat.

No Charges For Police In Death Of Man Who Rammed Their Vehicle. No charges will be filed against two officers who fatally shot a man in Mākaha last June after he rammed a pickup into their police vehicle, causing the cop car’s engine to burst into flames. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. KITV4. 

Hawaii Island

Got unwanted firearms? Hawaiʻi Island police to host gun buyback event in Hilo. The event at the Hilo Police Station on July 18 is designed to provide community members with a no-questions-asked way to surrender unwanted handguns, rifles, shotguns, bump stocks, Glock switches, assault-style rifles and ghost guns. Big Island Now.

Savings challenge pays off for Hawaii Island families. The Hawaii County Office of Housing and Community Development distributed one-time savings match payments to participants in the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Sponsored Savings Program following completion of a six-month savings challenge. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui housing market posts stronger sales activity in June. Sales of single-family homes increased 16.4% year over year, with 78 homes sold in June. The median sales price rose 4.4% to $1,356,975. Condominium sales increased 51.7% compared to one year earlier, with 88 units sold. The median sales price declined 8.8% to $625,000.  Maui Now. Maui News.

HDOT to conduct runway improvements at Moloka‘i Airport. The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation will temporarily close Runway 5-23 at the Moloka‘i Airport (MKK) nightly from 8:30 p.m. to 5 a.m., July 20-23.  Maui Now.

Lahaina Recreation Center Playground project groundbreaking July 30. The playground will include ADA-accessible pathways, a playscape, family seating and separate play areas for children ages 2-5 and 5-12, along with an adaptive swing set and a kiddie gate. Maui News.

Kauai

Kaua‘i Mayor’s Race: Rapozo Leads Carvalho In Campaign Cash. Kaua‘i County Council Chair Mel Rapozo is outraising and outspending fellow council member and former Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. in the race to become the island’s next chief executive. Civil Beat.

Application period open for Agriculture Farm Expansion grants. The grant program through Kauaʻi County Office of Economic Development invests in projects that expand commercial farming and ranching operations, increase local food production and strengthen long-term sustainability of agriculture on Kauaʻi. Kauai Now. Garden Island.