Volunteers vouch for ballot integrity, indicted officials remain on government payroll, judge rules Tommy Waters ineligible for 3rd term, Tropical Storm Fausto weakens, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Volunteers vouch for process as first ballots counted. The first batch of mail-in ballots arrived at the state Capitol Monday to be counted for the Aug. 8 party primary elections, with volunteers representing both Republicans and Democrats vouching for the security of how they’re handled inside the Capitol, as President Donald Trump continues to sow doubts over U.S. elections. Star-Advertiser.

‘Culture Of Corruption’? Records Link Arrested Lawmaker To Lobbyist. Prosecutors allege that lobbyist Tobi Solidum paid Rep. Ryan Yamane in a series of cash and check installments between 2020 and 2022 to take official actions culminating in a scheme, prosecutors allege, to direct emergency funds to a pricey Covid-testing program run by the kidney foundation. Solidum made millions of dollars from the testing program, according to court documents.  Civil Beat.

Fuchigami on paid leave, Luke still officially Hawaii’s LG. Transportation officials said Airports Director Ford Fuchigami has been placed on paid, 30-day leave by the department effective Monday. He was indicted along with Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke on bribery charges. Despite the indictment and bribery allegations, Luke is still officially the state’s Lieutenant Governor. KHON2.

TRACKING FAUSTO Tropical Storm Fausto nears Hawaii, bringing dangerous surf as Genevieve remains a powerful major hurricane. Tropical Storm Fausto is moving closer to Hawaii and is expected to pass north of the islands from Tuesday night through late Wednesday. As of the latest update, Fausto was about 340 miles east-northeast of Hilo with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph. The storm continues moving west-northwest and is expected to weaken further over the next few days. KITV4. KHON2. Hawaii News Now. 

HECO plans to bring online about 1,650 gigawatt-hours of new solar and wind power, the equivalent of about 15% of all the energy on its grids. HECO announces new renewable energy procurement, looks to natural gas. Hawaiian Electric says that new renewable energy generation will help the state reduce its dependence on oil. Hawaii Public Radio.

DOE spends millions on campus repairs ahead of school year.  Over $140 million worth of repairs and renovations are happening across the state Department of Education’s campuses ahead of the new school year. Jesse Souki, the department’s deputy superintendent of operations, said that the work is focused on extending the lifespan of school facilities, while also creating environments where students can focus on their academics. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Judge rules Waters ineligible to seek 3rd Council term. A 1st Circuit Court judge ruled Monday that Honolulu City Council Chair Tommy Waters is ineligible to seek a third consecutive term representing East Honolulu’s District 4. The ruling by Judge James H. Ashford sides with Council candidate and attorney Trevor Ozawa’s legal challenge over the City Charter’s term limits and prevents Waters, also a lawyer, from continuing his campaign for reelection unless the decision is overturned. It’s unclear what this means for voters who have already voted for Tommy Waters in the primary election. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio. KHON2.  Hawaii News Now. 

Skyline’s Kalihi through Civic Center station designs unveiled. The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation has officially released the renderings for the Skyline Segment 3 stations, stretching from Kalihi to Civic Center. KHON2.

Weather worries change RIMPAC plans. Over the weekend, the various forces gathered for the exercise had been slated to carry out a simulated assault at Bellows Beach in Waimanalo using both amphibious landing craft and helicopters to bring troops and equipment ashore. Star-Advertiser.

Filipino national charged with unlawful voting. Bernadette Acaso, a Filipino national who was living in Honolulu and Kahului, was charged by criminal complaint on July 22, with unlawfully voting in the 2024 presidential election. Star-Advertiser.

Salvage company says state owes them more for removing a sunken ship. Hawaiʻi Island-based Pacific Underwater Construction said it sank about $600,000 into removing a roughly 77-foot sunken ship from the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island 

Voter Service Centers Open In Hawaiʻi County. Voter service centers will be open from now through August 8th to provide in-person election services, such as voter registration and accessible voting. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. 

County gets some help from FEMA for blaze in West Hawaii. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has authorized the use of federal funds to assist the state in combating the Kawaihae Road Fire that is still burning. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now. 

Storm-damaged Konawaena HS ready for new school year. Konawaena High School will be ready to reopen for the new school year following extensive flood damage repairs caused by the Kona low storms in March, the state Department of Education said Monday. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Report finds many Maui wildfire survivors still face health, housing challenges. Nearly three years after the Maui wildfires, many survivors are returning to work, gaining health insurance and finding more stable housing, but thousands continue to struggle with food insecurity, mental health challenges and lingering physical health concerns, according to a report released Monday. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

Kaanapali sand replenishment moves forward. The proposal by the Pilikahakai Foundation and the Ka'anapali Operations Association would collect sand that has accumulated offshore beyond the reach of natural processes and redistribute it along the shoreline from Keka'a to Maui County’s Hanakao'o Beach Park. Maui News.

Kauai

DHHL sued over evictions of non-Native Hawaiians in East Kauai project. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is facing another lawsuit. This time it stems over the eviction of residents from an East Kauai complex who don’t meet blood quantum requirements. Hawaii News Now.

Annual report: Surfrider Kauaʻi in 2025 removed nearly 80.3 tons of trash — or 160,552 pounds — from beaches. That total includes two cleanups last year on the Garden Isle that broke the scales — one in January at Anahola Bay where 3,202 pounds were collected and another in June at Nukoli‘i Marine Camp when 2,402 pounds were removed — as reported in national nonprofit Surfrider Foundation's seventh annual beach cleanup report. Kauai Now.

Green faces little opposition in gubernatorial reelection bid, political corruption at the top, Honolulu rail to be completed a year late, Hurricane Fausto to weaken north of the state, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Why Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green Is Getting A Free Ride In This Year’s Primary. This election marks the first time in decades a Democrat was so formidable — or so lucky — that he could breeze through the gubernatorial primary with only token opposition. Civil Beat.

Bribery Charges: Sylvia Luke, Ex-State Rep And Others Indicted In Corruption Case. UPDATE: Gov. Green calls on Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke to resign. Prosecutors believe former state Rep. Ryan Yamane is the “most culpable.” Civil Beat.

COVID-19 spending at center of alleged conspiracy. At the heart of a criminal indictment returned Friday against Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and four others is an alleged bribery conspiracy tied to the state’s COVID-19 response, when hundreds of millions of dollars were approved to combat an unprecedented public health crisis. Star-Advertiser.

Sylvia Luke bribery case could be a hard one to prove, legal observers say. Prosecutors may have a harder time proving the criminal bribery and conspiracy case against Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke than with the other four defendants she was indicted with Friday by a 1st Circuit Court grand jury. Star-Advertiser.

Who are the 5 defendants in Hawaii’s political bribery case?  Star-Advertiser.

Pay To Play: Political Corruption Investigations In Hawaiʻi Over The Years. Investigations began in 2018. Here’s the rundown. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. 

Underwater fiber cable project clears hurdle. The cable will run from Nukoli‘i beach on Kauai to Barber’s Point on Oahu, the Molokai Yacht Club, Manele Harbor on Lanai and Kahului Harbor on Maui before reaching Hawaii Island, where it will land at the Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resources Center, just adjacent to Keaukaha Beach Park. Tribune-Herald.

DOCARE request draws questions about ICE at land board meeting. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement was authorized Friday to enter into memoranda of agreement regarding the temporary housing of their pretrial detainees with the four county police departments and the state Department of Law Enforcement. Tribune-Herald.

Nonprofits Face New Political Realities, Threats To Homeless Housing Programs. Programs the federal government has long supported to combat homelessness have fallen out favor. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi lieutenant governor candidate Choi wants to reduce role of money in politics. Civil trial lawyer John Choi is among those vying to be the Democratic Party’s nominee for lieutenant governor, one of the most closely watched races in Hawaiʻi's Aug. 8 primary election. Hawaii Public Radio.

Fausto forecast to pass just north of Hawaii as a tropical storm this week. Hurricane Fausto has weakened slightly on a track that will take it just north of Hawaii this week.The National Hurricane Center said in data valid at 11 p.m. Sunday, Fausto was 670 miles east of Hilo and was moving west at 14 miles per hour. Hawaii News Now. KITV4. 

Oahu 

Another Delay For Honolulu Rail? The Timeline Appears To Be Slipping Again. A consultant that monitors the project for the Federal Transit Administration reports the entire rail line will probably open a year later than the city planned. Civil Beat.

Tower construction maxes out Kakaako electricity infrastructure. High-rise development in Kakaako has outstripped capacity to distribute electricity to several planned residential towers in the growing urban Honolulu neighborhood. The incapacity has contributed to major delays for at least a few projects, including a pair of workforce housing towers and two state-initiated affordable rental towers with apartments reserved for low- and middle-income Hawaii households. Star-Advertiser.

Convention center food and beverage business now in-house. Food and beverage operations, which generate more than half of the Hawai‘i Convention Center’s annual revenue, are being brought in-house following the end of the center’s longstanding contract with Levy Restaurants. Star-Advertiser.

A Community Activist Takes On Donna Kim In Kalihi. Christy MacPherson is canvassing aggressively to defeat the longtime influential state senator. Top labor unions are helping both. Civil Beat.

Utility work near Straub Benioff Medical Center starts Monday. Construction near Straub Benioff Medical Center will close a portion of the far left lane of South King Street starting Monday. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Hilo Council hopefuls share top priorities. Districts 2 and 3 have incumbents seeking reelection — Jennifer Kagiwada in District 2 and Dennis Onishi in District 3. Both have contested nonpartisan primary races on Saturday, Aug. 8. Tribune-Herald.

Candidates for Ka‘ū District seat on Hawai‘i County Council talk priorities for rural and remote area. The five candidates are running for the seat being vacated by Michelle Galimba, who decided not to seek re-election. Big Island Now.

PONC measure dies in narrow council vote. The Hawaii County Council on Thursday nixed a measure that would have removed the $3 million cap on the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation (PONC) maintenance fund. Tribune-Herald.

Kawaihae Road Fire Sunday update #3: Blaze under control; roads reopened. The South Kohala fire scorched approximately 680 acres on the south side of Kawaihae Road. Big Island Now. Hawaii News Now. 

The Big Island’s Rare Coastal Pools Are Under Siege. Sea level rise is endangering the fragile brackish waters on the Kona Coast, but it’s also creating new ones. Civil Beat.

Maui

Committee to discuss Board of Ethics’ legislative priorities Tuesday. The Maui County Council’s Government Relations, Ethics and Transparency Committee will discuss Board of Ethics’ legislative priorities during a meeting set to begin at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. Discussion topics will include legislative proposals on penalties, nepotism and lobbying. Maui Now.

5 political newcomers vying for Chair Lee’s Wailuku seat; winner could change balance of County Council. When longtime Maui County Council Chair Alice Lee announced May 8 she would not seek reelection for the Wailuku-Waiheʻe-Waikapū seat, it created an intriguing race of five political newcomers who all are active in public service. Maui Now.

County launches human resources modernization initiative. Maui County has launched a comprehensive initiative to modernize human resources across county departments, the Maui County Department of Management announced Friday. Maui News.

DLNR urges public to avoid waters near humpback whale remains off Molokai. State officials are urging residents and visitors to stay out of the water along Molokai's south shore near the remains of a humpback whale that died July 10. Maui News.

Kauai

Can Hawaiʻi grow rice again? Yes, and faster than in Japan. Rice fields were successfully cultivated in the uplands of Kaua‘i. Kauai Now. Hawaii News Now. 

State races to save Kauaʻi’s endangered forest birds through captive breeding and relocation. A state wildlife biologist warned that Kauaʻi's iconic honeycreepers are at imminent risk of extinction by the end of the year unless urgent conservation efforts are implemented. Kauai Now.

BREAKING: 4 state officials, lobbyist, indicted in bribery scandal

Bribery Charges: Sylvia Luke, Ex-State Rep And Others Indicted In Corruption Case. An Oahu grand jury today indicted Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and four others as part of the state Attorney General’s months-long political corruption probe. After hearing evidence for most of the day, the grand jury this afternoon indicted Luke for criminal conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery and falsifying candidate committee reports. Also indicted were Former state Rep. Ryan Yamane, who is also the former director of the Department of Human Services, for conspiracy to commit bribery and bribery, Ford Fuchigami, deputy director for the Airports Division at state Department of Transportation, for conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery, use of false statement, and obstruction of justice, Leo Asuncion Jr, a former Luke campaign volunteer and Public Utilities Commission chair, for falsifying candidate committee reports, use of false statement, and obstruction of justice and obbyist and businessman Tobi Solidum for four counts of conspiracy to commit bribery and three counts of bribery. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hurricane Fausto expected to approach Hawaii next week, new Army commander to tackle land leases, Case and Keohokalole differ on immigration enforcement, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hurricane Fausto strengthens into Category 2 storm, expected to approach Hawaiian Islands next week. The risk of some impacts from wind and rainfall in the area is increasing, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said Friday, but it’s too soon to determine the exact location or potential magnitude. Fausto was far from land, about 1,600 miles (2,575 kilometers) east of Hilo, Hawaii. Maximum sustained winds were around 100 mph (161 kph). Associated Press. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. 

New Army leader in Hawaii vows open communication as leases loom. Col. Rick Luce faces setbacks in both its outreach efforts and operations plans. Most significantly, the state Board of Land and Natural Resources voted last summer to reject the Army’s final environmental impact statements for renewing leases on state-­owned land on both Oahu and at the Pohakuloa Training Area on Hawaii Island. Star-Advertiser.

Crop seed producer Bayer plans layoffs in Hawaii. Bayer, which has seed operations on Oahu, Maui and Molokai, said it is making operational changes that include consolidating some of its farm activities on Maui and Oahu over time as part of an effort to better align its land, facilities and resources with the future needs in areas that include plant breeding and agricultural technology. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now. 

Case and Keohokalole agree on ICE abuses, but differ on immigration policy. The two candidates competing for Oahu’s urban 1st Congressional District are both critics of the Trump administration’s immigration tactics, but they differ on key enforcement policies, including border security and deportation procedures. Hawaii News Now. 

Kauaʻi's mayor eyes lieutenant governor's office with some powerful help. Kauaʻi Mayor Derek Kawakami is a surfer. But lately he's spending less time in the water and more time on the campaign trail. Hawaii Public Radio.


Oahu

Facing A Competitive Reelection, Honolulu Council Chair Pitches Tax Breaks. As Honolulu City Council Chair Tommy Waters campaigns for a third term, he is floating the idea of tax breaks for island homeowners and drivers that would save residents money but could reduce city revenue by too much for the city administration’s liking. Civil Beat.

This year’s elections will bring new faces to Chinatown, Iwilei areas. Veteran Sen. Karl Rhoads, from Senate District 13 — which includes Dowsett Highlands, Pu‘unui, Nu‘uanu, Pacific Heights, Pauoa, Punchbowl, Pālama, Liliha, Iwilei, Chinatown, and Downtown — is retiring from office this year. House District 28’s Rep. Daniel Holt — who represented Sand Island, Iwilei, and Chinatown — recently stepped down from his seat to take a job at the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. Hawaii Public Radio.

State Sen. Karl Rhoads reflects on 20 years of service. Sen. Karl Rhoads, the longtime chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, confirmed last year that he would not be seeking reelection at the end of his term in 2026. Hawaii Public Radio.

Honolulu voter service centers to open ahead of primary election. Oahu voters will soon have more opportunities to cast their ballots in person as Honolulu’s full-time voter service centers open Monday, July 27, ahead of Hawaii’s 2026 Primary Election. KHON2.

Hokulani Elementary School getting ready to reopen after devastating floods in Kaimuki. Exactly four months ago flash floods destroyed a dozen classrooms at Hokulani Elementary School in the Kaimuki area, forcing the campus to close down for the remainder of the school year and displacing students to two different schools. KITV4.

Hawaii Island

Democrats to hold Grand Rally on Saturday. A bigger-than-usual turnout is expected Saturday in Hilo as Gov. Josh Green, Mayor Kimo Alameda and U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda speak to voters at the Democratic Party’s Grand Rally. Tribune-Herald.

Short-term rental owners in violation of registering in Hawaiʻi County could get 4-month grace period. A Hawaiʻi County Council committee on Wednesday forwarded with a favorable recommendation Bill 175, which would create a 4-month window during which violation fees would be waived as the county continues to develop and tweak its short-term rental registration platform. Big Island Now.

In Puna, It Takes Years To Get A Mail Box At The Post Office. In the fastest growing part of Hawai‘i, a post office box shortage has made voting, shopping online, accessing important paperwork and sending packages an ongoing challenge. Civil Beat.

State staffing slows coconut rhinoceros beetle response in Kona. The Hawaiʻi County Council is urging state officials to step up enforcement of coconut rhinoceros beetle containment protocols in Kona. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui

FEMA rent increase to hit Maui fire survivors still in temporary housing. (video only) Hawaii News Now.

West Maui nonprofit, resort group unveil plan to restore eroding Kāʻanapali Beach. Pilikahakai Foundation and Kāʻanapali Operations Association Inc. submitted an application for a conservation district use permit from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, marking the first step in what officials described as a multi-year county, state and federal permitting process. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauaʻi public charter school that teaches Niʻihau dialect can open on time until lease dispute is settled. Fifth Circuit Court Judge Stephanie R.S. Char granted a temporary restraining order Wednesday preventing the termination of the charter school's lease while a broader legal dispute over a sharp rent increase moves forward. Kauai Now.

Full-scale, multiagency emergency response exercise scheduled for Nāwiliwili Harbor next Thursday. The exercise is part of a training series aimed at enhancing preparedness for emergencies, which is set for Saturday, July 25 to Friday, July 31. Kauai Now.

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.