Gas prices rising as Iranian-Americans rally, inspectors allowing 'lightly infested' goods into state, Skyline downtown leg delayed, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Average price of gas jumps 11 cents overnight in the US, AAA reports. Hawaii gas prices could increase amid Middle East conflict. Hawaii is thousands of miles away from the Middle East, but experts say the conflict in Iran could trickle down to higher prices at the pump in the islands. KHON2. Associated Press. KITV4.

Former Iran residents living in Hawaii share opposing views on war. Organizers of a rally at the state Capitol Monday evening said there was a similar protest in Hilo at the same time, and others plan to have another rally at the Capitol to voice their opposition to the Trump administration on March 28. Hawaii News Now.

Inspectors Let ‘Lightly Infested’ Goods Into State. Lawmakers Want It To End. Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole is probing the department for evidence of what he believes to be a ‘shadow policy’ of favoring industries the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity is in charge of regulating. Civil Beat.

Bill targets DOE complex superintendents. A proposal to cap the number of top administrators at the state Department of Education and require additional oversight of complex area superintendents received support from the Hawaii State Teachers Association, while many school-level administrators and complex area leaders submitted testimony in opposition. |The bill passed out of the Senate Ways and Means Committee on Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Tourism industry could be required to educate workers on human trafficking. Workers in the tourism industry could soon be getting mandatory education on human trafficking. A bill moving through the state Legislature would mandate a training program on how to spot possible trafficking victims, what to do, and who to contact. Hawaii Public Radio.

Accessing ADHD medication in Hawaiʻi can be a huge headache. Here's why. Stimulant drugs are a common treatment for ADHD. But there's been a nationwide shortage of those medications since 2022. The shortage has affected Adderall and variations of methylphenidate, commonly known under brand names Ritalin or Concerta. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Skyline’s downtown opening in 2031 could be delayed. Design delay involving the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation’s primary contractor could postpone Segment 3’s scheduled revenue service date of March 1, 2031, for the rail line being built to Kakaako, according to a Federal Transit Administration consultant. Star-Advertiser.

Aloha By Zippy’s Stadium? Oʻahu Venue Naming Rights Could Be At Play. To raise revenue for its redevelopment, officials of the Hālawa arena want to join the legions of mainland sports venues named for corporate sponsors. Civil Beat.

New venue opening at the Ala Moana Hotel as the Hawaii Convention Center partially shuts down. With the Hawaii Convention Center now partially shut down until 2028, a new event venue has popped up across the street to fill the void.  The new $15 million venue called Limelight Hawaii is attached to the Ala Moana Hotel. KITV4.

Navy petty officer sentenced to prison in sextortion case.  Navy Petty Officer Rumaldo Valdez, 22, ho sextorted children into cutting themselves for him was sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison today and ordered to pay restitution to 11 underage victims, according to U.S. District Court records. Star-Advertiser.

Man charged with attempted murder after allegedly attacking police officer. Braxton Rabago, 33, is charged with first-degree attempted murder, second-degree assault, and second-degree attempted assault. Hawaii News Now.

Investigator in prosecutor’s office pleads not guilty in witness intimidation case. Christopher Moon, 51, an investigator in the Honolulu prosecutor’s office has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges after he was accused of domestic violence and allegedly tried to prevent the victim from moving forward with the case. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Sherry Bird Selected First Female Deputy Chief Of Hawaiʻi Police Department. Police Chief Reed K. Mahuna has selected Assistant Chief Sherry Bird as deputy chief. The selection is pending approval by the Hawaii County Police Commission. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.  Big Island Now.

Hawai‘i County Council to take up paid parking bill in Historic Kailua Village. For years, business owners and residents in downtown Kona have been advocating for relief from the economic hardship they say is caused by the exorbitant parking rates, which now range from $9 to $21 an hour, although some lots offer free time or discounted prices for residents. Big Island Now.

Maui

The Stakes Have Never Been Higher For Maui Planning Department. The third Maui County planning director in three years plans to prioritize post-wildfire rebuilding and tackle complex local issues. Civil Beat.

Ex-MPD officer receives prison for tasing man who surrendered. Carlos Nahuel Frate,  a 41-year-old ex-Maui Police Department officer was sentenced to nearly five and a half years in federal prison for using a Taser on Jan. 6, 2024, on a suspect who had surrendered, was on the ground, and pleaded with him to stop. Star-Advertiser.

1,935 whales spotted across Hawaiʻi, 847 off Maui during second count for the 2026 season. On Maui, 847 whales were observed, the most of any location, followed by 337 on Kauaʻi, 288 on Oʻahu, 244 on Hawaiʻi Island, 166 on Molokaʻi and 53 on Lānaʻi. Maui Now.

Kauai

Three locations identified as priorities in Hawai‘i Tourism Authority’s draft Destination Management Action Plan for Kaua‘i. The draft of the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority’s latest destination management action plan for Kaua‘i has homed in on three priority hotspots: Kapaʻa – Wailua Corridor, Hoʻopiʻi Falls and Kōkee and Waimea Canyon. Kauai Now.

Life’s Choices awards $1 million. Prosecuting Attorney Rebecca Like recently announced the recipients of $1,000,000 in grant funding. Thirteen non-profit community organizations will be receiving grants through the Life’s Choices Adult and Adolescent Mental Health and Substance Abuse Grant Program.  Garden Island.

Hawaiian Home Lands rent-to-own prospect has few takers. The state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands awarded 25 leases on Saturday for apartments in its recently acquired 82-unit Courtyards at Wai­pouli complex on Kauai where beneficiary households with low to moderate incomes can buy renovated apartments for far below market value after 11 years of paying below-market rent. Star-Advertiser.

Promised income tax cuts circling the drain, state pulling slowly out of recession, overtourism hotspots identified on Big Island and Maui, $7B airports modernization advances, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Suddenly Hawaiʻi Lawmakers Aren't Talking Much About Those Big Tax Cuts. The prospect of having to backpedal on promised tax breaks isn’t going over well in an election year. The killjoy this year is a politically painful chore Gov. Josh Green has assigned to state lawmakers. He wants them to “pause” a series of scheduled state income tax cuts that would save Hawaiʻi taxpayers billions of dollars in the years ahead. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi Gradually Moving Beyond Recession, UHERO Report Says. The University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization has published its first quarter forecast for 2026. Researchers say the Hawaiʻi economy is moving beyond last year’s mild recession, but the recovery will be gradual.  Big Island Video News.

$7 billion overhaul of Hawaii airports advances. The state Department of Transportation is advancing a $7 billion pipeline of airport construction and modernization projects over the next six to seven years, a scale Hawaii has never attempted before as it works to overhaul terminals, airfields and support facilities statewide. Star-Advertiser.

Kidney Nonprofit Charged Taxpayers ‘Outrageous’ Prices For Covid Tests. During the pandemic, the National Kidney Foundation of Hawaiʻi charged island taxpayers premium prices for Covid tests – up to $166 per test – as millions of public dollars flowed to the nonprofit’s consultant, a man who may now be at the center of a major political scandal.  Civil Beat.

State faces scrutiny for treatment of homeless with mental illness. A deepening clash between state lawmakers, community providers and the state Department of Health is putting renewed scrutiny on how Hawaii handles defendants with serious mental illness — and whether gaps in the system are fueling a costly “revolving door” between jail, the Hawaii State Hospital and the streets. Star-Advertiser.

Surveyed residents support the building of community kauhale.  Some 92% of people surveyed  said they support kauhale, or tiny homes, for “the working poor,” according to the survey by HomeAid Hawai‘i, which expects to construct 30 kauhale on all islands by the end of the year. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. 

Hawaiʻi Skies: Total lunar eclipse in the early hours of March 3. Hawaiʻi is one of the only places in the world in the direct path of a lunar eclipse in the early hours of Tuesday, March 3. The moment of "maximum eclipse" is expected around 1:30 a.m. local time. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Social Security numbers of over 1.2M ‘potentially’ exposed in UH cyberattack. The Social Security numbers belonging to 1,241,020 people were “potentially” exposed during a cyberattack that was initially discovered Aug. 31 by the University of Hawaii Cancer Center’s Epidemiology Division. Among the records “possibly exposed” are Social Security numbers and driver’s license numbers from state Department of Transportation records collected in 2000 and Honolulu voter registration records from 1998. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

University of Hawaii begins search for Manoa chancellor. The decision separates the roles of UH system president and UH Manoa chancellor — a dual structure that has been in place in recent years — following months of discussion by the University of Hawaii Board of Regents. Star-Advertiser.

West Oahu refinery to produce plant-based biofuels.  Par Hawaii proposes that part of its 151.4-acre facility at 91-325 Komohana St. in Kapolei will now produce low-carbon-­emission, plant-based biofuels, including renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel and renewable liquefied petroleum gas, among others. Star-Advertiser.

Event marks milestone to bring Honolulu Chinatown’s first arch. A groundbreaking ceremony was held Saturday for Honolulu Chinatown’s first arch, to be erected in about six months at the entrance of Kekaulike Mall at King Street. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi Attorney Accused Of Lying During Kealoha Trial Could Face Discipline. Kevin Sumida could face punishment ranging from a private admonition to suspension.  Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

The Thirty Meter Telescope Is Still Alive — For Now. The TMT project is back under consideration for federal support, but it must complete a final design phase without taxpayer assistance. Civil Beat.

3 priority hotspots identified in Hawai‘i Tourism Authority’s draft management plan for Big Island. The draft of the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority’s latest destination management action plan for Hawai‘i Island has honed in on three priority hotspots – sites under strain that are cherished by residents and visitors – Keaukaha, Kealakekua and Ka Lae, also known as South Point. Big Island Now.

Hearings To Be Held On Kaʻūpūlehu Fisheries Management Plan. As the end of the 10-year “Try Wait” fishing rest period at Kaʻūpūlehu nears, the State plans to create a Fisheries Management Plan for the area. Big Island Video News.

Keaau health center might be ready by 2028; cost of new facility could reach $90M. The estimated cost for a new outpatient medical facility to be built in Keaau by Hilo Benioff Medical Center has increased from $60 million to as much as $90 million. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui vacation rentals face more challenges after setback. Owners of over 4,000 short-term vacation rental units on Maui and Molokai face more uncertainty after the Maui Planning Commission voted overwhelmingly against a proposal to create new hotel zoning districts that would allow owners to continue renting to tourists over local renters. Star-Advertiser.

Maui’s overtourism hotspots Road to Hāna, Honolua Bay targeted for relief under new management plan. After residents across Maui identified a long list of places they feel are overrun, desecrated or disrespected by the island’s millions of annual visitors, the draft of the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority’s latest destination management action plan has homed in on two priority hotspots: the Road to Hāna and Honolua Bay. Maui Now.

Community skeptical of golf course owner’s proposal to buy West Maui water system. The owner of two Kapalua golf courses has a plan to solve water issues in West Maui that would involve investing more than $30 million into acquiring and repairing Maui Land & Pineapple Co.’s water system before turning it over to a state agency. Maui Now.

Kauai

Līhuʻe Airport Optimization Plan public meetings scheduled. The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation will conduct a series of public meetings to provide the community with information about the Līhuʻe Airport Optimization Plan and to offer an opportunity for public input. Kauai Now.

Tanks project for Kapa‘a Homesteads ongoing until May. The work is occurring from Kapuni Road at Kapahi Park to near the Kapahi Road intersection. The work is part of the Kapa’a Homesteads Tanks Project, which is being performed by the Department of Water and its contractor, Hawaiian Dredging Company Inc. Kauai Now.

Celebrating ‘Olelo Hawaii: The Native Hawaiian Language is thriving on Kauai and Niihau. February is recognized as Mahina ‘Olelo Hawaii, or “Hawaiian Language Month,” and Kauai joined the statewide celebrations and festivities. Garden Island.

Lawsuit seeks breakup of Hawaiian-Alaska Airlines merger, bills advance limiting ICE policing, tourism sees double-digit increases, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Lawsuit claims Hawaiian-Alaska Airlines merger creates monopoly on Hawaii flights. An effort to break up the Hawaiian and Alaska Airlines merger is heading back to court. Passengers have filed an appeal seeking a restraining order that would preserve Hawaiian as a standalone airline. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiʻi Can’t Control ICE. Here’s What Lawmakers Want To Do Instead.  A collection of bills intended to protect immigrants and limit cooperation between state and local agencies and federal immigration authorities remain alive as the 2026 legislative session reaches its crucial midpoint. Civil Beat.

Feds claim ‘exclusive control’ over greenhouse gas emissions. Hawaii is harming the United States’ sovereignty by suing private fossil fuel companies for deceptive marketing practices contributing to climate change harms, the federal government claimed in a new court filing. Star-Advertiser.

E-bike regulation cruising after 2025 veto. Legislation to regulate high-speed electric bikes throughout Hawaii is moving down a smooth road so far this year after a bump last year that led to a similar bill being vetoed. Star-Advertiser.

Walk or wait? Bill to change crosswalk rule moves forward. At nearly every busy intersection, that flashing red hand comes with a ticking clock. KHON2.

Tourism industry could be required to educate workers on human trafficking. Workers in the tourism industry could soon be getting mandatory education on human trafficking.A bill moving through the state Legislature would mandate a training program on how to spot possible trafficking victims, what to do, and who to contact. Hawaii Public Radio.

Strong January masks uneven tourism outlook. Visitor spending jumped 19% to $2.26 billion and arrivals rose 10.4% to 874,358, driven almost entirely by powerful U.S. West and U.S. East markets that have now pushed the state past pre‑­pandemic benchmarks, according to preliminary data released Thursday by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Star-Advertiser.

High-spending visitors help drive economic gains. Hawaii’s overall tourism industry was dragged down by a downturn on Maui following the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires, but a Maui resurgence is now driving the state overall, according to the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization, which released its latest economic forecast. Star-Advertiser.

Does Hawaiʻi have room to bring back about 800 men incarcerated in Arizona? Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Director Tommy Johnson maintains that the state would need to build a new medium-security prison to accommodate those who have been sent out of state. For 30 years, the state has sent incarcerated men to the continent to serve their sentences. However, the Hawaiʻi Legislature is weighing options to bring back hundreds who are currently held at the Saguaro Correctional Center, a private prison in Arizona. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

UH begins nationwide search to re-establish Manoa chancellor position. On Wednesday, the university said it has officially launched a national search for the next chancellor for UH Manoa to re-establish the position and ensure dedicated executive leadership for the Manoa campus. UH Manoa is the only UH campus without a dedicated chancellor. Hawaii News Now.

Floating monster home for homeless looms over Honolulu stream.  City officials are working to address a large homeless encampment along Keehi Stream in Kalihi that includes a floating two-story structure anchored in the middle of the waterway. Hawaii News Now.

King Tides And Sea Level Rise Eating Away At Pearl Harbor Bike Path. Riders on the popular trail can run into flooding, forcing them to detour to more hazardous roadways. Civil Beat.

Navy petty officer to be sentenced in sextortion case. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Rumaldo Valdez, 22, aka “Duck,” was charged in a 12-page criminal complaint filed May 16. He pleaded guilty on Oct. 24 to possession of child pornography as part of a plea agreement. Star-Advertiser.

DOE Sexual Abuse Case From 1970s Could Cost Taxpayers $400K. The state of Hawaiʻi is getting ready to pay $400,000 to settle a lawsuit over Campbell High School’s failure to protect a student in the 1970s who reported that a volunteer coach raped her on a team trip to the Big Island.  Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Hilo hospital pauses cardiac rehabilitation program to accommodate overflow patients. Hilo Benioff Medical Center has temporarily halted its cardiac rehabilitation program. However, the hospital has a cardiac care team in place to treat acute cardiac events, such as heart attacks and ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction, the most severe type of heart attack. Big Island Now.

DLNR warns of potential public health risks from whale carcass off Kona coast.  Wind and ocean conditions have recently moved the carcass to a lava flat along the Kona coast where large predators such as tiger sharks, oceanic whitetip sharks, mahi-mahi and visiting dolphins are still utilizing this source of food.  Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now. Big Island Video News. 

Maui

Maui sees double digit increases in visitor spending and arrivals in January 2026. For January 2026, total arrivals (236,180 visitors, +16.7%) and total visitor spending ($664.7 million, +24.3%) on Maui increased compared to January 2025.  Maui Now.

Ag board defers amending Molokaʻi rule that bans potential CRB host material. The state Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity deferred a request to allow gravel to be shipped to Molokaʻi, reinforcing an import ban on the island meant to keep out the invasive coconut rhinoceros beetle. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui Department of ʻŌiwi Resources grants awarded to 11 local projects. The County of Maui Department of ʻŌiwi Resources is awarding funding to 11 local projects through the competitive County of Maui grants program.  Maui Now.

Kauai

Federal funding will support housing, transportation projects on Kaua‘i. Kaua‘i County will receive nearly $7.5 million for three projects. Aloha State Daily.

Survey launched to shape 2026 Ka Pewa Youth Summit in April on Kauaʻi. Ka Pewa Youth Pulse Survey — a youth-driven effort designed to capture what matters most to young people today — will directly inform programming, breakout sessions and resource fair offerings for the 2026 Ka Pewa Youth Summit: Kupu Kelakela. Kauai Now.

New life for state's film industry, Legislature mulls misdemeanor charges for officials who don't report bribery, bill would protect gender-affirming care providers, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

After a dry spell, three film and television productions underway in Hawaii. Hawaii’s film industry is staging a comeback, with three major film and TV productions getting underway in the islands. The Netflix series “Untamed” is the first series since “Rescue HI Surf,” which was canceled in May of last year. It was a blow for a sector that generated over $320 million for the state’s economy in 2024. Hawaii News Now.

The Success Of Hawaiʻi’s Food And Farm Bills Could Depend On One Thing. As Hawaiʻi continues to pinch pennies and fill holes created by federal cuts, lawmakers may have to choose between bills designed to bolster local food or fight invasive species. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke stays silent on state subpoenas. Twelve days after Hawaii’s attorney general said she issued multiple subpoenas and completed interviews in a criminal investigation born out of a federal political bribery case, Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke will not say if she has been subpoenaed by state investigators. Star-Advertiser.

Measure could allow misdemeanor charge for failure to report bribery. Senators advanced a measure Tuesday that would allow elected officials to be charged with a misdemeanor if they're found to have failed to report bribery. Hawaii Public Radio.

Legislative Caucuses Can Help Make The Difference In Getting Bills Passed. Lawmakers combine forces to push measures helping women, kids and working families. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers consider bill to protect gender-affirming care providers. HB1875 would not create any new care standards or practices, but it seeks to ensure that those providing gender-affirming care would be safe from out-of-state legal actions, insurance policies, or licensing consequences. Hawaii Public Radio.

State support could energize movement to equip more homes with plug-in solar. On Tuesday afternoon, the state House Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce deferred one of two remaining balcony solar bills after the Office of the State Fire Marshal and other fire and law enforcement agencies raised concerns that the National Electrical Code would need to be updated to ensure the safe installation of these systems. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

More Design Delays Could Push Back Honolulu Rail Project — Again. The city center segment of the $10B rail project is supposed to open in March 2031, but an outside consultant questions whether that plan is still feasible. Civil Beat.

Red Hill: Fears linger over Navy reopening water shaft. After waiting hours to hear the latest update on the Red Hill water crisis cleanup at a lengthy meeting Tuesday with the Commission on Water Resource Management, concerned community members learned the Navy had left the meeting. Star-Advertiser.

36 city parks designated as ‘On-Leash’ allowing for dogs on leashes. The Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation has added 36 new on-leash dog parks. That move doubles the number already in place. KHON2.

Changes coming to high-traffic Hawaii offramp, intersections. Transportation officials said there have been over 12 serious crashes near the Koko Head offramp in recent years. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Hilo Officer pleads no contest to tampering with evidence in search case. Hawaii Police Department Officer Blane Kenolio pleaded no contest Wednesday to a charge of tampering with physical evidence. The charge stemmed from Kenolio’s unconstitutional search of an arrestee’s belongings on May 24, 2023, inside the Hilo Police Station. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. KITV4.

Hawaiʻi County Changes Mulch Loading Fees For Commercial Customers. Hawaiian Earth Recycling, will be charging commercial customers $5 per cubic yard at the Kealakehe Recycling and Transfer Station. Commercial customers will be charged $20 per cubic yard at the East Hawaiʻi Organics Facility. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

Maui

Plan floated to solve West Maui water crisis. The plan, presented by TY Management Corp. to the state Commission on Water Resource Management on Tuesday, intends to benefit Maui County, financially struggling Maui Land &Pineapple Co., a state agriculture development agency, Native Hawaiian taro farmers, other small farmers, Kapalua homeowners and TY. Star-Advertiser.

Treecovery helps Maui wildfire recovery. In December, Treecovery, three Rotary Clubs, Maui County, and the Lahaina Restoration Foundation helped with a native-planting at Keawaiki Park near Lahaina Harbor. Maui News. 

Controversial $13M Nāpili home now offering partial ownership to buyers. Cohana Homes, which describes itself as a vacation home co-ownership company, is offering 25% ownership of the house for $3.55 million apiece. The entire 7,344-square-foot house at 5385 Lower Honoapi‘ilani Road is listed with a value of $12.9 million. Maui Now.

Kauai

State Senate confirms new circuit court judge for Kaua‘i.  The Hawai’i State Senate voted to confirm Stephanie R.S. Char, Gov. Josh Green’s selection to fill the vacancy in the Fifth Circuit Court of the Fifth Circuit, created by the retirement of Judge Kathleen N.A. Watanabe in August 2025. Kauai Now.

Group created to protect Kauai from CRB. CRB Action Kauai, a new community-driven initiative, has formed to support Kauai residents, landowners, farmers, businesses and community groups responding to the growing threat of the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB), an invasive pest impacting coconut and other palms across the island. Garden Island.

Legislature advances bribery bills, mulls curbing executive powers, reforming public schools; Maui Planning Commission rejects bill to save vacation rentals, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Senate bribery bills progress as corruption allegations linger. Bribing an elected official would bring increased penalties under three bills that passed out of a key Senate committee Tuesday as the state attorney general continues to investigate an unidentified “influential state legislator” allegedly taped in 2022 by federal investigators accepting $35,000 in a paper bag. Star-Advertiser.

Clean Elections advocates call on lawmakers to reform campaign finance. Citing a "trust deficit," the Clean Elections Hawaiʻi Coalition is asking for an impartial, independent special prosecutor to look into pay-to-play donations within the state.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii emergency proclamation powers could be curtailed under new legislation. Concerns about executive overreach during emergencies are sparking action at the State Capitol. Lawmakers are pushing new legislation aimed at reining in emergency powers and adding more oversight. KHON2.

Is Now The Time For Reforming Hawaiʻi Schools? From where the leaders of the Senate Education Committee sit, one thing seems clear: The Hawai‘i public school system is broken. A controversial bill would cut top superintendent positions from the DOE and increase community input in schools. Some families say the change is long overdue. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers renew warnings on fentanyl, cite ‘alarming’ death counts. The number of people who died from fentanyl across the islands dipped from 107 in 2023 to 103 in 2024, which is still far up from 9 in 2018. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Oahu

Honolulu Investigator Obstructed His Own Criminal Case, Hawaiʻi AG Says. A 52-year-old investigator with the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney was indicted by an Oahu grand jury Friday for allegedly abusing his ex-fiance in 2024 and then threatening her into silence. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

Pacific leaders gather in Hawaii for business summit. Leaders from Pacific Island nations and territories gathered this week at the East-West Center in Manoa for an inaugural diplomatic and business summit aimed at promoting private sector investments and contracts across island communities in Oceania. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmaker wants to create homeless buffer zones around bus stops. Safety concerns could clear homeless residents from Oahu bus stops, under a bill proposed this legislative session. KITV4.

Repairs underway for water main break in Haleiwa. On Tuesday, Feb. 24, around 2 p.m., BWS crews responded to the break on Kamehameha Hwy. near Tutu St., about a half-mile from Waimea Bay.  Hawaii News Now.

Kailua military officer admits to ‘compulsive’ online chatting, denies sexual attraction to minors. Lt. Col. Ross Andrew Brown, a Kailua-based Air Force lieutenant colonel and attorney took the stand in his own defense Tuesday at his federal trial for attempted sexual enticement of a 14-year-old girl. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

County acquires Kona property to preserve shoreline access. The 15,372-square-foot site is located near the popular “Banyans” surfing spot and is one of the few undeveloped coastal properties in the area along Ali‘i Drive. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.  Big Island Now.

Hawaiʻi Police Department Welcomes New K9 Trina. A three-year-old Labrador Retriever who was trained as a live-find human tracking canine has joined the Hawaiʻi Police Department.  Big Island Video News.

Maui

Maui Planning Commission Rejects Bill To Save Thousands Of Vacation Rentals. The County Council would now need a supermajority vote to allow thousands of apartment-zoned units to keep operating as short-term rentals. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. 

Maui stream monitoring to flow from fine penalty.  The Commission on Water Resource Management has accepted a Maui Land & Pineapple Co. proposal to spend $150,680 to improve stream-level monitoring in lieu of a maximum $140,000 fine for West Maui stream management violations. Star-Advertiser.

Feasibility study underway for new Kapalua recycled water treatment plant. Hawaii Water Service has selected Carollo Engineering Inc. to complete a feasibility study for a decentralized wastewater treatment plant in Kapalua that would produce recycled water and provide the community with a drought-resistant irrigation supply.  Maui News.

Kauai

Controversial Kōloa Housing Project Gets Green Light In Unanimous Vote. Over objections, the commission cited the dire need for more homes. At least 45% of the units must go to locals. A controversial 148-unit Kōloa housing project got the green light from Kaua‘i’s Planning Commission with the conditions that the units never be turned into vacation rentals and that at least 45% of them go to existing county residents. Civil Beat.

Gluck appointed to Intermediate Court of Appeals, Epstein associates vacationed in Hawaii, advocates continue push for special prosecutor in bribery investigation, Luke speaks out, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. Green appoints Daniel Gluck to Intermediate Court of Appeals. Gov. Josh Green on Monday announced the appointment of Daniel Gluck as an Associate Judge for the Intermediate Court of Appeals. A graduate of Cornell University and Harvard Law School, Gluck previously served as Executive Director and General Counsel of the Hawai‘i State Ethics Commission, the Legal Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai‘i and an attorney in private practice. Maui Now.

Epstein associates vacationed in Hawaii, emails show. Nonprofit advocates say emails highlight local sex trafficking concerns. Emails connected to late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein show his associates vacationed in Hawaii, according to a Hawaii News Now review of documents posted to a public website called Jmail, created by two tech innovators. Hawaii News Now.

Climate Funding Under New Hawai‘i Tax Could Be Cut By Millions. Legislation to instead charge a per-passenger fee would recoup less than half of all the green fee revenues cruise ships were expected to generate. As the cruise industry and the state spar in court over Hawaiʻi’s new green fee, state lawmakers are moving full steam ahead to remove those ships from the landmark climate law and have them instead pay a new fee of around $10 per passenger. Civil Beat.

Clean government groups push for special prosecutor.  Advocates for campaign finance and other “clean government” reforms on Monday renewed the call for the appointment of a special prosecutor to conduct an independent probe of allegations that an unidentified “influential state legislator” accepted $35,000 in a paper bag. Star-Advertiser.

Lt. Gov. Luke addresses campaign finance report errors in new video. Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke posted a video Monday addressing what she says is an innocent mistake in her campaign finance reports. Luke said she’s embarrassed, but never acted in bad faith.  Hawaii News Now.

Tax break halt still alive, gambling bills dying in Hawaii Legislature. Efforts to legalize any form of gambling again appear dead this year but the state Legislature continues to move bills that would eliminate future tax cuts, limit free school lunches to public charter students and prohibit ICE and local law enforcement from covering their faces. Star-Advertiser.

More Local Food? These State Agencies Aren’t Buying It. Few departments met the official 10% goal last year. While cost, quality and lack of consistent supply are concerns, the current pace doesn’t bode well for the larger push to wean the islands off imported food. Civil Beat.

Rising child care costs strain families despite wage gains. With Hawaii’s cost of living ranking among the highest in the nation, state leaders are accelerating public preschool and child care subsidy expansions aimed at helping working families afford early education. Star-Advertiser.

Kaiser Permanente ends strike; talks progress. The United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals, which represents 31,000 workers in California and Hawaii, said they would return to work at 7 a.m. today after walking off the job four weeks ago. Star-Advertiser. Associated Press. Maui Now. 

HMSA Proposal: Hawaiʻi Health Care Could See Radical Transformation. The deal, which would bring together the state’s largest health insurer and one of its biggest hospital companies under a new umbrella organization called One Health, is likely to touch the lives of some 760,000 Hawaiʻi residents and their doctors. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Council OKs HPD transparency legislation. The City Council is formally on record commending Honolulu police for policies favorable to transparency, including not wearing masks when encountering members of the public. Star-Advertiser.

Rail expansion might come down the line faster for Kapolei than UH Mānoa. The planning phase to extend the Honolulu rail to the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa can now start, but a new segment on its other terminus, on the Kapolei side, could come first. Hawaii Public Radio.

Global Entry halt affects international arrivals at Honolulu airport. HDOT expects limited impact on processing times for international arrivals at the airport. Recent investments in modernizing federal inspection facilities and deploying advanced technologies have enhanced passenger facilitation and operational efficiency.  KITV4.

Farmer rescues co-worker from flood in Waialua. A former firefighter, Chris Greer, did not hesitate when his co-worker needed him after being trapped in flood water Saturday at their workplace, Laulau Solutions farm in Waialua. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

House bill would allow for up to 10-year extensions of Mauna Kea leases. A House bill that would authorize the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority to extend existing astronomical observatory leases and subleases for up to 10 years has advanced despite concerns from state departments and overwhelming opposition from residents around the state. Big Island Now.

Rising home insurance in lava zones prompts subsidy proposal. House lawmakers have advanced a measure that would subsidize home insurance for low-income families in lava zones. Insurance premiums on property in lava zones on Hawaiʻi Island have spiked since the 2018 Kīlauea volcanic eruption. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hilo YWCA Demolition, Construction Of New Campus Examined In Draft EA. Under the proposal, the existing pool house and swimming pool would be demolished, and a new preschool facility would be constructed. Big Island Video News.
 
Maui

As focus turns to Lahaina commercial rebuilds, owners face daunting challenges. As Lahaina commercial property owners navigate a daunting post-fire road to rebuilding, some are finding it so challenging that they’re not sure if they’ll be able to reconstruct at all. Hawaii Public Radio.

Two recruits graduate, joining the ranks of the Maui Ocean Safety division. Kelson Lau and Kevin Smallwood completed the 12-week-long training program that covered not only an extensive variety of ocean rescue skills, but also Emergency Medical Responder and CPR skills, ATV/UTV and RWC operation, and communication protocols.  Maui Now.

Kauai

Former state public safety employee on Kaua‘i pleads guilty to embezzling government funds. A former Hawai‘i Department of Public Safety employee waived indictment and pleaded guilty to first-degree theft and official misconduct during a hearing on Monday in Fifth Circuit Court on Kaua‘i. Lisa Kuwamura, who worked as an account clerk for the Sheriff Division – Kauaʻi Section, manipulated computer records that tracked her time and attendance between Oct. 1, 2021, and June 20, 2024, in order to receive more than $64,000 in unearned compensation. Kauai Now.

Endemic pueo killed by collision with vehicle on Kauaʻi’s westside. A pueo, a Hawaiian short-eared owl revered in local culture as an ancestor spirit/guardian, was found dead on a road outside of ‘Ele’ele early Monday morning, underscoring ongoing concerns about vehicle collisions involving Kauaʻi’s native birds. Kauai Now.

An exchange of lifesaving knowledge and culture. The Kauai Ocean Safety Bureau (OSB), in partnership with the Okinawan Lifesaving Association, hosted a certificate ceremony on Friday at the Moikeha Rotunda.  Garden Island.

Family suing Kamehameha Schools gets death threats, Legislature mulls saving coconut palms as food source, rental car tax plans abound, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Bill aims to elevate status of Hawaii’s coconut trees. A bill that would recognize the coconut tree as a food and water source and cultural treasure is moving forward in the state Legislature. A coconut rhinoceros beetle infestation has reached a critical point, but so far the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity have recommended few natural remedies to deal with the beetle. Star-Advertiser.

The People Suing Kamehameha Schools Are Getting Death Threats. A white family suing Kamehameha Schools over its Native Hawaiian admissions policy wants to stay anonymous for the duration of the case over online death threats and fears that being named publicly could affect their careers. Civil Beat.

Two bills pending at the Legislature aim to help a California company launch payloads via rocket into space at low cost from a winged booster ship towed high into the sky by plane. The measures — one to let the firm sell up to $40 million in low-interest bonds and another to have the state help pay for building a high-tech hangar at Hilo International Airport — recently advanced after initial committee hearings. Star-Advertiser.

Measures could incentivize locally produced sustainable aviation fuel. House Bill 1694 creates a tax credit to encourage the production of sustainable aviation fuel, a lower-carbon alternative to conventional jet fuel. If the measure is adopted, distributors of sustainable aviation fuel could get up to $2 back per gallon of fuel sold in the state. Hawaii Public Radio.

New Hawaii rental car tax proposed. A variety of bills are being considered this year to generate around $90 million in new tax revenue annually from the industry for the state’s general fund, or for Hawaiian homestead development, or for retroactive hazard pay for public school teachers who worked during the COVID-19 pandemic. Star-Advertiser.

Bill seeks to facilitate more film productions on agricultural land. State lawmakers are moving along a measure meant to facilitate film production on agricultural land, though some film advocates worry it could add more bureaucracy to the process. Hawaii Public Radio.

Free Buses For Keiki? Supporters Hopeful After Statewide Bill Axed A proposal for statewide free transit died last week at the Legislature, but supporters still have hope for a proposal to make transit free for youth. Civil Beat.

Did Boat Salvage Law Save The State Money? Auditor Says No One Knows. The state’s boating division doesn’t do enough, a new report found, to recover costs from those responsible for stranded and grounded vessels. Civil Beat.

Oahu

OHA to study feasibility of Native Hawaiian cultural center. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs announced Sunday that it selected AEA Consulting to conduct a feasibility study for a proposed Native Hawaiian Cultural Center in Kaka‘ako Makai, launching what officials describe as a community-driven planning process for the long-discussed project. Star-Advertiser.

Controversial Developer Ousted As Manager of Downtown ‘Hell Hole’ Building. Chad Waters, founder of a downtown co-living space that became a squalid nightmare for residents is being removed as the property’s manager, marking the final days for the leading figure in a monthslong drama at the building one former resident dubbed a “hell hole.” Civil Beat.

Flash flooding forces evacuations with more wet weather ahead. Eight feet in 1-1/2 hours.That is how quickly Kaukonahua Stream rose to flood stage Saturday afternoon, causing the Honolulu Department of Emergency Management to evacuate roughly 80 residents from Otake Camp in Waialua on Oahu’s North Shore. Hawaii News Now. Star -Advertiser.

Dole assures no Wahiawa Reservoir Dam breach after heavy rain. Dole Food Company said there was no breach of the Wahiawa Reservoir Dam after heavy rain and flash flood warnings prompted an evacuation order in the Haleiwa-Waialua area Saturday. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Hawai‘i County reduces vacancies by 100 positions in past year, but workforce still down 17%. But vacancies still are high, with 589 out of a workforce of 3,395. Big Island Now.

Reed Mahuna Sworn In As Hawaiʻi Police Chief. Mahuna was sworn in by Mayor Kimo Alameda during a private ceremony Friday in the Mayor’s office in Hilo. County officials say a larger, public swearing-in ceremony will take place on Friday, March 6. Big Island Video News.

Banyan Drive redevelopment bills advance in Legislature. Legislation to facilitate redevelopment of Hilo’s Banyan Drive — once an East Hawaii crown jewel, now a picture of dilapidation and disrepair — continues to move in both the state House and Senate, but not without contention. Tribune-Herald.

Waipiʻo Valley Road To Close For Geophysical Survey. The road will be closed to all traffic between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. each day from Tuesday, February 24 through Friday, February 27. Big Island Video News.

Maui

As demand for organic food rises, federal program to help local farmers transition is cut short. ‘Oko‘a Farms is one of 43 operations, including six on Maui, that is enrolled in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Transition to Organic Partnership Program in Hawai‘i. The five-year initiative that started under the Biden presidency was set to run through 2027. Maui Now.

As focus turns to Lahaina commercial rebuilds, owners face daunting challenges. As Lahaina commercial property owners navigate a daunting post-fire road to rebuilding, some are finding it so challenging that they’re not sure if they’ll be able to reconstruct at all. Hawaii Public Radio.

Planned new telescopes for Haleakala draw strong opposition. As the military moves forward on its plans to build as many as seven new telescopes on the summit of Haleakala, opposition to the project is mounting on Maui. Star-Advertiser.  Maui Now. 

Kauai

Kaua‘i Residents Worry 148-unit Housing Project Will ‘Kill’ Kōloa Town. The Garden Isle needs more housing but Kōloa residents worry the proposed project is too big, will harm the environment and won’t be within reach of community members. Civil Beat.

Hanapēpē bus stop closed due to damage. The Kauaʻi Bus announced that the bus stop in front of the Hanapēpē First United Church is closed until further notice due to damage. Kauai Now.