Luke drops reelection bid, Native Hawaiian health, homelands programs under attack, chief justice nominee Devens' campaign fundraising ties questioned, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke quits reelection campaign amid controversy. Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke announced Sunday that she will not seek a second term in the Aug. 8 Democratic Party primary after being under a cloud of suspicion for months that she is the subject of a state Attorney General investigation into allegations of a powerful lawmaker accepting an illegal campaign donation. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Hawaii Public Radio.  Big Island Now.  Hawaii News Now. KHON2.  KITV4. 

Justice’s Past Political Activity Is Raising Fresh Questions For Some Senators. The nomination of Vladimir Devens to be Hawaiʻi’s next Supreme Court chief justice is scheduled for a hearing this week amid new concerns over his past leadership of a political action committee that spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to elect Gov. Josh Green. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi PUC Chair Appointment Advances In Senate. Governor Green’s appointment of Jon S. Itomura to serve as Chair of the Hawaiʻi Public Utilities Commission has passed committee. Big Island Video News.

Ag department criticized over policy to import goods with 'light' pest infestations. Lawmakers are questioning whether the state Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity should still lead Hawaiʻi’s efforts to manage invasive species. Hawaii Public Radio.

Bills on ICE rules, tax relief advance as Hawaii legislative session nears end. State legislators continue to move bills toward the end of session that would further tighten election and campaign laws, impose new rules for film tax credits, limit local law enforcement involvement with federal agents and roll back some promised Hawaii income tax breaks scheduled through 2031. Star-Advertiser.

Bill to ban disposable e-cigs gains ground. Senate Bill 2175 introduced by state Sen. Tim Richards (D-Kohala), would prohibit the sale or distribution of disposable electronic smoking devices in Hawaii, starting Jan. 1, due to the environmental problems they cause. Star-Advertiser.

Federal lawsuit challenges Native Hawaiian health scholarship program. A mainland advocacy group, led by former University of Pennsylvania’s medical school dean and retired kidney doctor Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, has filed a federal lawsuit challenging a decades-old scholarship program aimed at addressing health disparities among Native Hawaiians, marking the latest legal battle over programs that consider ancestry in eligibility. Star-Advertiser.

Trump proposes cut to Hawaiian Home Lands funding. Indigenous status of Native Hawaiians downplayed in bid to cut federal funds. In his proposed budget for the federal fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, Trump suggests that Native Hawaiians shouldn’t receive funding under the 1996 Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act, or NAHASDA, because Hawaiians are a racial group and not a tribal nation. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. 

Cesspools increase contamination risks for areas hit hard by Kona lows. The Department of Health has identified 43,000 of 88,000 cesspools as posing a risk to water resources, with a total of 53 million gallons of raw sewage released each day.  Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Locked Up Too Long? Legal Tactic Challenges Hawaiʻi ICE Detentions. Big jump in “habeas corpus” petitions in Honolulu mirrors nationwide trend, a reflection of climbing ICE activity under the Trump administration. Civil Beat.

Archery range project proposed for Kaimuki park put on hold. A privately proposed $850,000 Japanese archery range and training facility at the city-owned Mau‘umae Nature Park in Kaimuki has been put on hold as city officials revisit the controversial plan following strong community feedback. Star-Advertiser.

Tangled utility lines complicate Aloha Stadium project. Developers have started demolishing parts of Aloha Stadium to make way for a new $650 million development. But now they must tackle the challenge of relocating utilities.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Waialua residents urged to boil water after E. coli discovered in source wells. The Hawaii Department of Health is warning customers of the Waialua Sugar Pump 2 water system to boil water before drinking or using it after E. coli bacteria was confirmed in the system. Star-Advertiser.

Confusing Donation Drops Run By For-Profits Targeted By Hawaiʻi Lawmakers. Drop off some old clothing, furniture or appliances at the big GreenDrop trailer at Mānoa Marketplace, and you might think you’re donating to the American Red Cross. In truth, the donation mainly supports Savers Value Village Inc., a for-profit international retailer that posted $1.7 billion in net sales in 2025. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii County STVRs measure advances. A Hawaii County Council committee voted unanimously April 7 to forward a controversial vacation rental bill to the county’s planning director and two planning commissions. Tribune-Herald.

‘Renovation Aloha’ Sued For Filming Native Hawaiian Bones. HGTV is releasing a re-edited version of the episode “Bones On The Big Island” after a Hawaiʻi judge ordered the original taken down. Civil Beat.

‘We’re trying to build a resilient, sustainable food system’: The Food Basket makes progress on new Hilo campus. The Food Basket is preparing to break ground on an $86 million Agricultural Innovation Park and Food Systems Campus — called Hoolako — on a 24.5-acre plot of old sugarcane land off of Ponahawai Street. Tribune-Herald.

Visitor from Kansas charged with attempted murder after snorkel tour incident. Police arrested and charged 21-year-old Avery Nissen of Overland Park, Kansas, with attempted murder following a stabbing incident Thursday aboard a boat off the Kona coast. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui AIDS Foundation At Risk Of Losing Money In Trump Budget. The president’s budget denounced the nonprofit as radical while proposing the funding cuts. Civil Beat.

Hāna farmers face years of recovery for crops lost in Kona storm. In the days after the storm, farmers woke up to another kind of nightmare — dozens of trees and plants uprooted and destroyed, undercutting their livelihood and leaving them with a long-term recovery. Maui Now.

Molokaʻi invasive species crew is 'all hands on deck' in CRB emergency response. Molokaʻi’s Lori Buchanan has been working to protect the island from invasive species for over three decades, and last week, one of her worst fears came true. The first two Coconut rhinoceros beetles were detected on Molokaʻi. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Pilot cites ‘vibration’ before fatal Kauai crash. The pilot of a tour helicopter that crashed off of Kauai’s Na Pali Coast killing three people on March 26 told federal investigators the aircraft experienced “high frequency vibration” and spun around twice before going down. Star-Advertiser. Kauai Now. 

Incumbents lead congressional money race, lawsuit accuses DLNR chief of harassment, Hart OKs eminent domain for rail, Aloha Stadium is coming down, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Incumbents Lead The Money Race For Congress. Will Outside Groups Wade In? Hawaiʻi’s U.S. Reps. Ed Case and Jill Tokuda have significantly more campaign cash than their challengers as races head toward mid-summer primaries. Civil Beat.

Harassment At Center Of Lawsuit Against Top Hawaiʻi Land Official. A former top executive in the state land management bureaucracy is suing his ex-boss Dawn Chang and the Department of Land and Natural Resources alleging he was forced out of his job. Former state Land Administrator Russell Tsuji claims he was accused of being a political mole and was assigned an impossible task in an effort to get rid of him. Civil Beat.

Lawsuit Demands More Information On Hiring Of UH President Wendy Hensel. The public has a right to review the Board of Regents’ discussions when it hired a new president and her special adviser, public interest attorneys say. Civil Beat.

Family Suing Kamehameha Schools Can Stay Anonymous For Now. Their identities will be revealed to the school’s attorneys and the judge presiding over the case. Civil Beat.

Oahu

HART OKs eminent domain for large properties. The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation will pursue legal action against two downtown area property owners to obtain land for two planned rail stations along the over-$10 billion Skyline extension into Kakaako, rail officials say. Star-Advertiser.

Commission to pick next HPD chief May 20. A search firm will detail who the top candidates are to serve as Honolulu’s 13th police chief out of a pool of 41 applicants during a confidential meeting of the Honolulu Police Commission on Monday. Star-Advertiser. KITV4. 

UH Mānoa receives over 100 water-related service requests in student housing. The first storm hit during the university’s spring break, meaning students could have left windows open or AC units on, which may have contributed to the excess bacteria growth. Hawaii Public Radio.

Large section of Aloha Stadium demolished as project proceeds. The dismantling of Aloha Stadium took a big step forward Thursday with the first section of seating pulled down from the steel structure. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

‘Really gross’: Windward Oahu school infested with millipedes. For weeks, students at Kalaheo High School in Kailua say thousands of critters have been crawling about campus. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

County budget of nearly $1B is under review. A Hawaii County Council committee reviewed Mayor Kimo Alameda’s proposed operating budget this week, which includes significant funding increases for public safety, waste processing and debt servicing for the next year. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiʻi County Department of Environmental Management outlines its budget for council. Daniel Girvan, the new director of the Department of Environmental Management, gave a presentation to the Hawaiʻi County Council on Thursday about its priorities that include several wastewater projects for its proposed budget of $95.5 million for fiscal year 2026-27. Big Island Now.

New Parking Payment System Begins At Hilo Courthouse On Friday, April 17. Parking at Hale Kaulike will transition from individual meters to a centralized pay station located inside the courthouse lobby. Big Island Video News.

Hearing set for two East Hawaii men accused of smuggling fireworks. Darrel Goo, 52, of Keaau and Cy Tamura, 45, of Hilo, accused by federal authorities of illegally importing fireworks into Hawaii from the mainland U.S. and distributing them are due in court Monday in Honolulu. Tribune-Herald.

Puna man sentenced to 40 years for sexually assaulting minors. Joseph Donald Tibbs, a  45-year-old Mountain View man, was sentenced Wednesday to 40 years in prison for sexually assaulting two minors and other child abuse incidents that took place between February and May 2025. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now. KHON2. KITV4. 

Maui

Maui Police Department aims for funding for staff shortages, law enforcement modernization. The Maui Police Department is requesting a $12.2 million budget increase next fiscal year, or 11.6% more than this year, to address staffing shortages and modernize public safety technology across Maui County. Maui Now.

Molokaʻi man dies following dog attack. Sylvester Apiki, 69, of Kaunakakai, died following a dog attack reported Tuesday afternoon. The incident was reported at 12 p.m. on April 14 at a home on Hoʻomalu Drive in Kaunakakai. Maui Now.

Lawmakers reject Molokai principal’s appointment to HTSB. The state Senate this week rejected Gov. Josh Green’s nomination of Molokai High School Principal Katina Soares to the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board following pointed floor debate over her leadership and communication record. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

Worker removing invasive species on Kaua‘i trail rescued after suffering apparent leg injury. According to a preliminary report from Kaua‘i County, first responders aboard Air 1 responded to the scene shortly before 11:50 a.m. When they arrived on scene, approximately 2 miles into the trail, they discovered the 36-year-old resident. Kauai Now.

Judge rejects federal challenge to Hawaii fossil fuels lawsuit, state agrees to acquire decrepit Wahiawa Dam, gas prices continue to climb, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Judge rejects Trump administration bid to block Hawaii climate lawsuit. A federal judge on Wednesday dismissed a Trump administration lawsuit seeking to stop Hawaii from suing fossil fuel companies in state court over climate change, citing a “longstanding” policy against federal intervention in state court processes. Reuters. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii income tax cuts hang in balance as legislative session nears end. Leaders in the state House and Senate are expected to soon hash out differences over legislation put forth in January by Gov. Josh Green, who wants annual tax cuts slated for 2027 through 2031 repealed for all taxpayers in order to preserve revenue Green said is needed to offset federal cutbacks over several years. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio. 

Former Hawaii AG works for the state and represents Luke. The Hawaii Attorney General decided there was no conflict with former state Attorney General David Louie representing Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke amid her election year controversies while he is also under contract with the state at $525 an hour to work on a long-standing civil case. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii gas prices continue climb higher into record territory. Gas prices in Hawaii are continuing to climb after reaching a new record high earlier this month. According to AAA Hawaii, the current average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in Hawaii is $5.65.  Hawaii News Now.

State working group weighing benefits of gaming vs. potential problems. The group studying legalized gambling is about halfway through its process. And while they understand the benefits of the revenue gambling can bring, they’re weighing whether the benefits outweigh the potential problems. KHON2.

Trump issues disaster declaration following Kona-low storms. Hawaii has received federal approval to recoup at least 75% of the money it needs to recover and rebuild following the recent string of back-to-back Kona storms that hit Oahu, Maui and Hawaii Island from March 10-24 — and could see up to 90% reimbursement. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio. Big Island Now.  KHON2. Hawaii News Now.

JABSOM researchers discover novel approach to cancer therapy. A lab in Hawaiʻi is chasing a bold idea. It centers on something so small it is easy to overlook; yet it may change how cancer is treated forever. They’re called nanobodies. KHON2.

Oahu

Honolulu council chair Tommy Waters’ reelection eligibility challenged. A registered voter sent an objection letter last month to the city clerk asking for a review of Waters’ eligibility. The letter submitted a written challenge to Waters’ filing paperwork seeking another term and asked for a review to determine if his candidacy complies with term limit provisions. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu Police Chief Candidates Getting Narrowed Down. Twenty community members have agreed to participate in panels that will interview semi-finalists next month. Civil Beat.

Wahiawā Dam Takeover: State Signs Off On Acquisition. The state is one step closer to acquiring the dam, which has a price tag for repairs in excess of $60 million. Directors of the Hawaiʻi Agribusiness Development Corp. have approved the $4.9 million purchase of the remaining land to acquire the 120-year-old Wahiawā dam and spillway, part of a larger deal by the state to acquire an irrigation system that runs from Wahiawā to the North Shore. Civil Beat.

How To Stop Your North Shore Farm From Flooding? Move, Developer Says. Waialua farmers were flooded again last weekend, the fifth time since February. A local developer says it’s time to look for new land, but for many that’s unfathomable. Civil Beat.

Oʻahu's North Shore businesses report losing half their revenue following recent flooding. A majority of businesses on Oʻahu’s North Shore report losing at least half of their expected revenue because of the recent flooding.That's according to data being collected by the North Shore Chamber of Commerce, which is surveying area businesses. Hawaii Public Radio.

Community pushing against planned archery dojo in Kaimuki.  Dozens of Kaimuki residents packed a neighborhood board meeting on Wednesday, April 15, in the hopes of stopping a plan to build an archery dojo at Mau’umae Nature Park. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Making history: Sherry Bird is Hawaii Police Department’s first female deputy chief. A 28-year veteran of the department, Bird, 52, graduated in the same recruit class as Chief Reed Mahuna. As assistant chief of the department’s Administrative Services Bureau since February 2025, Bird was already the highest-ranking woman in the department’s history prior to taking the penultimate step upward. Tribune-Herald.

Three Hawaii County finalists for UH Board of Regents. Gov. Josh Green is considering three candidates for appointment to the University of Hawaii Board of Regents to fill one of two seats representing Hawaii Island. They are Chad Cabral, Makai Freitas and Wendy Laros. Tribune-Herald.

NPS seeks public input on trail plans at Kauleoli. The National Park Service is inviting the community to participate in a planning effort for the Kauleoli Unit of Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now.

Maui

New fire station at Olowalu moves forward. The Maui Planning Commission approved on Tuesday a special use permit for the development of a fire station at Olowalu in West Maui, where there have been numerous wildfires. Maui News. Maui Now.

Maui Emergency Management Agency taking ‘posture forward’ stance in emergency activations. The agency’s fiscal 2027 budget requests include: six additional personnel including specialists for hazard mitigation and flood risk coordination; a request for $70,000 for consulting services to manage emerging hazards like electric vehicle battery incidents; a nearly $1 million request for hazardous fuels and vegetation removal across 1,100 acres; and the establishment of permanent offices and dedicated specialists for isolated communities like Molokaʻi and East Maui.  Maui Now.

New lanes to open on Puʻunēnē Avenue. The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation notifies highway users that the newly added single lanes in both directions on Puʻunēnē Avenue (Route 3500) between West and East Wākea Avenues and Kuihelani Highway (Route 380) will open at 7 a.m., Thursday, April 16. Maui Now.

Kauai

22 sites around Kauaʻi found to have high bacteria levels, exceeding state standards. Surfrider Kauaʻi’s volunteer Blue Water Task Force tests coastal waters around the Garden Island for enterococcus bacteria, a fecal indicator bacteria. 22 sites around Kauaʻi found to have high bacteria levels, exceeding state standards. Kauai Now.

Kaua‘i Community Beetle-Mapping Project May Be A Model For Hawai‘i. Funded by a county grant, the project tracks coconut rhinoceros beetle feeding, breeding, treatment and trap sites. Civil Beat.

Senate advances bills guarding against federal immigration actions, tax relief tug-of-war in the Legislature, SHOPO police union officials' pay increased without approval, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiʻi Legislature Moves To Guard Against Federal Immigration Enforcement. Bills are advancing to prohibit face coverings, protect the right to record police and limit state cooperation. HB 1886 easily passed the Senate Tuesday with only the chamber’s three Republicans voting against it. More than a dozen related measures are still alive as the Legislature works toward a May 8 adjournment. Civil Beat.

Tax relief tug-of-war: Lawmakers divided on balancing budget and savings. A budget battle at the State Capitol. While rejecting the Governor’s proposal to pause tax credits for the next five years, both the House and Senate say they want to put money back in your pocket, but they’re taking very different paths to get there. KHON2.

Oahu aquarium fishing ban advances as DLNR eyes West Hawaii reopening. A ban on aquarium fishing off Oahu moved forward Tuesday, with the Senate passing by a vote of 19-6 its third reading of a bill received from the House. The legislative move comes on the heels of the Division of Aquatic Resources, known as “DAR” and a part of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, holding two public meetings soliciting public comment to modify rules that would reopen the trade in West Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi Police Union Officials Got Pay Raises Without Approval. The state police union’s executive director announced raises for employees without the board’s permission, the union said. The move was quickly undone. Civil Beat.

‘Blew this one’: Gov. Green calls out senator as DLE director leaves over pension. After a failed bill at the state Legislature prompted a top law enforcement official to step down, Gov. Josh Green called out the lawmaker he believes could have prevented the measure’s death and the director’s departure. Green ridiculed state Sen. Brandon Elefante, who chairs the committee, for not scheduling a hearing that could have kept Department of Law Enforcement Director Mike Lambert at his job. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Hawaiʻi is filing more firearm permits every year. According to the Department of the Attorney General, firearm applications have increased by nearly 15 percent in 2025 compared to the previous year. Officials said more than 19,300 private applications were processed across the state — 95 percent were approved and issued permits. KHON2.

Gov. Green: Storms caused $700M in damage as Hawaii recovers. Gov. Josh Green said Hawaii suffered an estimated $700 million in damage from the recent succession of storms over the past four weeks, and that the state is now in recovery mode. Star-Advertiser.

Amemiya, Laderta appointed to UH Board of Regents. Gov. Josh Green has appointed Keith Amemiya and Marie Laderta to the University of Hawaii Board of Regents, with the nominations subject to confirmation by the state Senate. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

State agribusiness agency to vote on acquiring Wahiawā dam and spillway. The state Agribusiness Development Corp. board is set to make a key vote today to acquire the Wahiawā dam and spillway. Hawaii Public Radio.

Council to OK COVID-era hazard pay for bus workers. More than 2,000 city bus drivers and mechanics could receive hazard pay for work during the COVID-19 pandemic under a proposal before the Honolulu City Council that would cost nearly $17 million. Star-Advertiser.

Flood damage threatens Pearl City church’s summer camp for at risk youth. Agape Christian Fellowship Oahu says devastating flood damage from last month’s Kona lows may force leaders to cancel a long-running summer camp serving children with incarcerated parents. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

$21.7M contract awarded for new bridge, roundabout in Waimea. The state Department of Transportation announced Tuesday that Maui contractor Alpha Inc. has been selected to replace the 94-year-old Waiaka Stream Bridge at the intersection of Kawaihae Road and Kohala Mountain Road. Tribune-Herald.

Big Island Residents Say Dangerous Dog Law Has No Bite. After several attacks, police are trying to get the owner of a dog that’s been terrorizing a Puna neighborhood to surrender the animal. Civil Beat.

Maui

Public Works director reports ‘unsustainable’ staffing levels amid disaster recovery efforts. The Maui County Department of Public Works now has a single engineer working to manage two disasters — the recovery from the August 2023 wildfires and the recent Kona Low storms. Maui Now.

Big Island nonprofit gifts two Big Dog Tanker Trucks to Maui Fire Department. Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation partners with nonprofits to donate two tank trucks to the Maui Fire Department after the department lost four trucks in the Lahaina and Kula fires of August 2023. Big Island Now.

Kauai

Career fair at Kaua‘i Community College attended by more than 160 students. More than 160 students attended the first career fair hosted by Kauaʻi Community College in over a decade on April 9, highlighting strong interest in career development and community connection on campus. Kauai Now.

Lawmakers seek to hasten penny phaseout, traffic cameras could monitor vehicle registration, Tokuda visits Honolulu immigrant detention, Kauai absent an auditor for 11 years, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii retailers, caught in a pinch over pennies, seek bill rounding. Five months after the federal government stopped minting new pennies, Hawaii lawmakers are working to accelerate phasing out use of the coins throughout the state. Star-Advertiser.

State eyes measure to track vehicle registration and safety checks. Registration and safety checks could be monitored by traffic cameras under a new bill moving through the state Legislature. Hawaii Public Radio.

Lawmaker targets parking ticket loophole after HNN Investigates found millions unpaid. A Hawaii News Now investigation used data provided by the state Judiciary and found thousands ignore parking citations. Hawaii News Now.

Free School Meals Are Popular. Hawaiʻi Isn’t Sold. Three years after lawmakers first considered making school meals free for all kids, students and teachers are still pushing for change.  Civil Beat.

U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda shares inside look on immigrants held behind bars. With the rise of immigration raids under the Trump administration, more and more immigrants detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement have been held at the Honolulu Federal Detention Center. While it's difficult to acquire information on what happens inside the facility, U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda made her fourth visit to find out more about who’s been detained and why. Hawaii Public Radio.

Labor lawyer ‘Cov’ Ratcliffe appointed to state House. Green announced Michael Covenant “Cov” Ratcliffe as his pick on Monday to represent House District 28 and fill the seat vacated Feb. 13 by then-Rep. Daniel Holt (D, Sand Island-Iwilei- Chinatown). Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Green’s chili fundraiser raises over $5K. On Monday, April 13, Governor Josh Green hosted his Chili and Rice Fundraiser, raising money to support the Hawaii Foodbank as part of the State Employees’ Food Drive. KHON2.

Oahu

HECO's $1 Billion Power Project Is In A Flood Zone. The electric company says the site is located several stories above sea level and has never experienced a flood in almost 90 years. Civil Beat.

Surfrider urges stricter Sand Island wastewater permit limits. As the state Department of Health weighs whether to renew a key wastewater permit for Oahu, environmental advocates are urging regulators to impose stricter limits, warning that current standards could pose ongoing risks to public health and coastal waters.  Star-Advertiser.

Air Force general in charge of recruiting stops in Hawaii. Eleven young men from Hawaii raised their right hands on Monday as they took their oaths of enlistment to join the Air Force at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Star-Advertiser.

Kaimuki residents oppose $850K archery range at park. A private proposal to build an $850,000 Japanese archery range and training facility at a city park in Kaimuki is being shot down by nearby residents who say the dojo threatens public safety, worsens flooding risks, and reduces one of the area’s few remaining green spaces. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Saddle Road speed limit bill dies in state Legislature. A bill that would have lowered the speed limit from 60 mph to 55 mph on portions of the Daniel K. Inouye Highway has died in the state Legislature. Tribune-Herald.

Moku‘ola bridge repair could take 2 years; full reconstruction estimated at $20M. Hawaii County might use a single environmental assessment to cover both the temporary fix and permanent replacement of the damaged Moku‘ola (Coconut Island) pedestrian bridge. Tribune-Herald.

Large Tree Trimming Project At Lili‘uokalani Gardens Begins April 13. The project is expected to last 45 days, with work occurring Mondays-Fridays (excluding state holidays) between the hours of 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Big Island Video News.

Election notification cards arriving soon. The Hawaii County Elections Division has mailed election notification cards to voters on Hawaii Island. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Mayor Bissen to hold community meeting Sunday for storm-impacted residents on Molokaʻi. Mayor Richard Bissen will hold a community meeting at 10 a.m. Sunday, April 19, 2026, at Mitchell Pauole Community Center in Kaunakakai for Molokaʻi residents to discuss impacts of the recent kona storms and severe weather in their area. Maui Now.

Maui Memorial Medical Center Emergency Department registration returns to original location as CDU construction continues. ffective Wednesday, April 15, 2026, Maui Memorial Medical Center’s Emergency Department (ED) patient registration, triage, fast track, and waiting room will return to their original locations inside the ED. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauaʻi Voters Mandated A Watchdog. Auditor Seat Has Sat Empty For 11 Years. Despite a charter mandate for an in-house auditor, Kaua‘i has had to hire outside firms to conduct the county’s financial and performance audits. Civil Beat.

State, county agencies to convene on Kauaʻi for Hawaiʻi Wildfire. Officials on Kauaʻi are calling on residents, emergency responders and community groups to take part in a statewide effort to strengthen wildfire preparedness at the upcoming Hawaiʻi Wildfire Summit 2026. Kauai Now.

Election law changes could bring long lines, state attorney general investigates bribery allegations, Senate halts dedicated funding for tourism authority, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Will Hawaiʻi Voters Once Again See Long Lines On Election Day? Voters may be forced to wait in line this election season after the death of legislation that would have funded more county voter service centers. Civil Beat.

State investigators conduct 18 interviews in campaign contribution probe. State investigators have conducted 18 interviews and reviewed “thousands” of pages of documents as they continue to look into $35,000 in campaign contributions an influential state legislator allegedly accepted during a dinner with another lawmaker working as an FBI informant and a controversial lobbyist. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Residency bottleneck drives exodus of doctors.The University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine currently offers 23 accredited residency and fellowship programs, with additional programs in development. Star-Advertiser.

More Hawaiʻi Students Are Prepped For College. Will They Attend? Hawaiʻi has been pushing for more college and career readiness for high school students, but college enrollment is stagnant. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers look to protect victims of image-based sexual abuse. Hawaiʻi could soon give better protections to those who have intimate images of them shared without their consent. Hawaii Public Radio.

‘Exile’ of Hawaii’s prison population targeted for reduction or end. This year, more than a dozen members of Hawaii’s House of Representatives set out to force the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to bring back most of the roughly 800 Hawaii inmates from a privately operated Arizona prison within five years. Star-Advertiser.

Senate halts effort to restore dedicated tourism funding. After years of legislative skepticism and repeated restructuring, the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority appeared poised this session for a partial restoration of its dedicated funding — until the effort stalled in the state Senate. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Large fallen boulders shut down Kamehameha Highway north of Waimea Bay; 1 lane reopens. Installation of steel plates to protect the waterline from rockfall is expected to take 3 to 4 months. Contra-flow traffic in effect as 1 lane remains open.  KITV4. Star-Advertiser. 

Army to conduct annual prescribed burn at Schofield Barracks. The Army will conduct its annual prescribed burn of the Schofield Barracks training range complex this week to help with wildfire mitigation efforts. The burn will take place Monday, April 13, through Saturday, April 18, as part of the U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii’s natural resource management program to help manage invasive vegetation that can fuel wildfires and harm wildlife. Hawaii News Now.

Fatal Work Accident Spurs Hawaiʻi Immigrant’s Widow To Fight Back. An undocumented Chinese warehouse worker faced safety hazards at a Honolulu job site that a lawsuit says cost him his life after 87 weeks in the hospital.  Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Controversial housing resolution heads to full council. A Hawaii County Council committee last week recommended a favorable vote by the full council on a controversial resolution authorizing the Office of Housing and Community Development to lease homes it purchased with federal funds for “long-term permanent housing for underserved populations who face significant barriers to secure, safe and affordable housing.” Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiʻi Island Fire Department seeks public input for new strategic plan. Officials are inviting residents to complete a brief online survey and attend a series of community meetings to provide feedback on fire department operations.  Big Island Now.

$100K Tab For Failed Hawaiʻi Island Charter School May Fall To Taxpayers. Eight years after Hawaiʻi closed Kaʻu Learning Academy or financial mismanagement and faulty record keeping, taxpayers are on the hook for thousands of dollars worth of rent and property damage the school’s partners failed to pay.  Civil Beat.

Oahu halau with kumu from Keaukaha wins Merrie Monarch. Halau Hi‘iakainamakalehua, under the direction of kumu hula Robert Ke‘ano Ka‘upu IV, took both the overall and kane overall categories with 1,225 points.  Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. 

Maui

Maui Council hears appeals for agriculture and animal shelter relief. Local farmers told Maui County Council members Thursday that the government is falling short of providing island agriculture the help needed to sustain operations. Maui Now.

Council committee reviews budgets for Departments of Water Supply, Management. The Maui County Council’s Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee focused its fiscal year 2027 review Wednesday on addressing emergency resilience and the future of the island’s water infrastructure. Maui Now.

Molokai residents face challenges in flood recovery. Molokai was especially hit hard by the second of two Kona-low storms to sweep across Hawaii in two weeks last month. Star-Advertiser.

Ahupua‘a restoration in Molokai offers potential flooding remedy. The pair of Kona-low storms that hit the Hawaiian Islands in March showed no forgiveness when it descended upon Molokai. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

About 140,000 gallons of wastewater spills near Kauai harbor. Kauai county officials warned the public  to stay out of Kikiaola Harbor after about 140,000 gallons of wastewater spilled on Friday from the Waimea Wastewater Treatment Plant. Star-Advertiser.

Income tax cuts still in the mix as House and Senate grapple with budget, gas prices soar to record highs, Oahu schools, government shut down for storm, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

New draft of state budget bill slims spending. Both the House and Senate rejected the governor’s plan to cancel some tax relief, despite earlier uncertainty about the state’s financial situation. The Senate Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday amended the state budget bill to include $10.4 billion in total state funding appropriations.  The latest draft of House Bill 1800 represents a reduction of about $258 million from a $10.7 billion plan advanced by the House Finance Committee on March 11 that was itself roughly $100 million less than what Green proposed in December. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaiʻi State Senate Becomes A Tax Bill Graveyard. The state House proposed an assortment of potential tax increases for the Senate to consider, but senators buried almost all of them without a hearing. Civil Beat.

A Last-Minute Miracle For A Bill To Help Hawaiʻi Convert Cesspools. The bill would create a new low-interest loan program to help eliminate some of the 80,000 cesspools leaking millions of gallons of sewage into Hawaiʻi’s nearshore waters daily. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi gas prices soar to record highs. Drivers across the islands are now paying record prices for gas after the statewide average for regular fuel climbed to $5.63 per gallon on Thursday, April 9, according to AAA Hawaiʻi. KHON2.

HMSA and Hawaiʻi Pacific Health file with Justice Department for clearance to integrate. HMSA and Hawaiʻi Pacific Health have filed with the Department of Justice to integrate and create a new parent organization called One Health Hawaiʻi. Hawaii Public Radio.

El Nino summer could bring sticky weather, tropical storms. As Hawaii experiences its third major storm in less than a month, the state is also facing the likelihood of a wetter and more humid than normal summer and fall, according to the National Weather Service, which Thursday forecast a 61% chance of an El Nino, which generates warmer ocean waters that can trigger more tropical storms. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Oahu schools, state, city offices close as heavy rain moves in. All state offices and public schools on Oahu, as well as nonessential City and County of Honolulu offices and services, are closed today in anticipation of heavy rain across the island. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now. 

Hawaii Island

Hawaiʻi County Council considering leasing 6 residential properties to nonprofits. In November, the Office of Housing and Community Development issued a request for proposals for the leasehold operation and rental of each of the six residential properties as long-term housing for underserved populations. The nonprofits will each only pay $10 annually for the houses to the county.  Big Island Now.

Kīlauea Eruption Episode 44 Ends After 9 Hours. Episode 44 in the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption ended abruptly at 7:41 p.m. HST Thursday evening, after 9 hours of continuous lava fountaining.  Big Island Video News.

Ivy Leaguer from Maui is Miss Aloha Hula 2026. Faith Kealohapau‘ole Paredes of Halau Kekuaokala‘au‘ala ‘Iliahi scored 1161 points Thursday night — the first evening of the 63rd Annual Merrie Monarch Festival’s hula competition at the Edith Kanaka‘ole Multi-Purpose Stadium in Hilo. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now.  Hawaii News Now. KITV4. 

Maui

‘Don’t Make It Worse’: Kīhei Cleans Up, Braces For More Rain. Residents and business owners are still dealing with March flood damage as Maui readies for the next storm. Civil Beat.

Maui severe weather update: More shelters open, water conservation in effect. Maui Emergency Management Agency, other County of Maui departments and the American Red Cross started proactively opening shelters on April 8, ahead of severe weather.  Maui Now.

Kona lows highlight need for emergency service upgrades on Molokai. Pukoo Fire Station, the only one servicing Molokai’s east end, is actually a two-bedroom house that is more than 100 years old. The aging facility is also in a flood zone, and like many nearby homes, the structure also gets flooded during storms. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Kauaʻi County Council approves Santos for environmental seat on Planning Commission. The Kauaʻi County Council unanimously approved Hanapēpē native Kuuleialoha Santos to fill a vacant environmental seat on the Planning Commission. Kauai Now.

DOW water rate community meeting rescheduled. The new meeting date will be April 15, from 5 to 7 p.m. Garden Island.

Kauai residents warned to stay off roads as storm moves in. Kauai was the first island hit by an incoming storm system Thursday evening. Hawaii News Now.