Hawaii airports to remain open amid partial government shutdown, 13 public schools close for storm repairs, backroom dealing alleged in Oahu power plant case, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii airports remain open amid partial government shutdown. The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation is reassuring the public that all Hawaii airports are being staffed and remain operational amid the partial government shutdown. HDOT says they are aware of national news stories reporting that small airports nationwide may close or pause operations due to the partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security and funding of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).  Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii braces for higher travel costs. Surging global fuel prices — driven by escalating conflict involving Iran and continuing disruption in the Strait of Hormuz — are emerging as a new threat to Hawaii’s airline-dependent travel industry, raising the risk of higher airfares, reduced service, and renewed pressure on the state’s fragile tourism recovery. Star-Advertiser.

13 Oahu, Big Island and Molokai schools to close due to storm-related damage. Thirteen public schools on Oahu, Hawaii island and Molokai will be closed Monday or for the week for storm-related damage assessments, cleanup and repairs, according to the Hawaii State Department of Education. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio. KHON2.  KITV4. 

State launches guides to help understand flood insurance. On Sunday, the Hawaii Insurance Division said it created a Post-Disaster Insurance Claims Guide along with an instructional video on how to file a claim. Hawaii News Now.

Upgrade delayed for Hawaiian history archives. As Hawaii lawmakers weigh years of deferred maintenance across the Capitol district, the State Archives faces an unclear path forward after Senate Bill 2916 — meant to fund planning toward a new facility — appears dead this legislative session. Star-Advertiser.

Bill would grant overdue diplomas to certain veterans. State lawmakers on Thursday advanced Senate Bill 2614, which would allow the state Department of Education to award diplomas to certain veterans who served in the three wars. The bill offers no estimate of how many left high school to fight. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

‘Backroom deal’ meddling alleged in power plant case. Mark Glick, head of the Hawaii State Energy Office, is being accused of meddling in a quasi-judicial proceeding on an Oahu renewable- energy project in favor of an alternative power project proposal announced Tuesday by the governor. Star-Advertiser.

Is Hawaiʻi's corporate power shifting off island? In the past few months, two locally founded companies underwent changes that have altered their relationship to Hawaiʻi by shifting C-suite decision-making toward the continent. Hawaii Public Radio.

Neighborhood Parking Limits Off To Choppy Start In Kalihi Valley. Residents in this Honolulu neighborhood clamored for parking restrictions. Now they’ve got mixed feelings about it. Civil Beat.

City to conduct emergency storm debris pickup in North Shore. The city’s Department of Environmental Services said crews will be deployed to the North Shore starting Monday. Hawaii News Now.

Mud, Mud And More Mud: Residents Of Oʻahu’s North Shore Start To Dig Out. Residents of Haleʻiwa and Waialua were allowed over the weekend to return to their neighborhoods, flooded in the second of two powerful Kona lows. Civil Beat. KHON2. 

Flood-ravaged Otake Camp leans on volunteers as residents face housing struggles. As excavators lifted waterlogged furniture from gutted homes and volunteers shoveled thick mud under a blazing sun, residents of Otake Camp were left to pick up the pieces after devastating flooding from the second Kona-low storm — many without clear answers from property owners or government agencies. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. 

Hawaii Island

More pushback on county housing plan. A resolution to allow leases of six county-owned residential properties to nonprofits to provide “long-term permanent housing for underserved populations who face significant barriers to secure, safe and affordable housing” was shelved for a second time last week by the County Council Finance Committee. Tribune-Herald.

Council votes to expand ‘no parking’ area near Kahalu‘u Beach Park. The Hawaii County Council voted unanimously Wednesday to expand “no parking any time” zones along Ali‘i Drive fronting Kahalu‘u Beach Park in an effort to protect beach-goers from passing cars. Tribune-Herald.

County hosts animal control summit. About 100 people representing Hawaii County departments and community organizations participated in the first Animal Control and Protection Summit held Feb. 27 at the Kahilu Town Hall in Waimea. Their input will be used t o develop a strategic plan for the new Animal Control and Protection Agency.  Tribune-Herald.

$107M Lava buyout program winds down, helping many impacted by 2018 eruption in Puna move on. The final batch of Puna residents who opted to sell their properties affected by the 2018 Kilauea eruption to Hawaii County should be getting paid out by this summer. Tribune-Herald.

Kona low devastates 176-year-old coffee farm on Big Island. Greenwell Farms on Hawai‘i Island has been producing coffee for 176 years. But current owner Tom Greenwell said the Kona low storm that brought heavy rains, flooding, high winds and debris on March 14 was the most destructive to ever hit the family farm. Big Island Now.

Maui

Iwi Kūpuna Desecrated During Lahaina Fire Cleanup, Lawsuit Says. A family is suing a Maui landowner and the state for not protecting Native Hawaiian remains as required by law. Civil Beat.

200,000 gallons of treated wastewater overflows at Lahaina Wastewater Reclamation Facility during kona storm 2. Approximately 200,000 gallons of partially treated wastewater (backwash) overflowed at the Lahaina Wastewater Reclamation Facility, 3300 Honoapiʻilani Highway, Lahaina, during kona storm 2 on March 21, 2026, according to the County of Maui Department of Environmental Management. Maui Now.

Most MEMA evacuation warnings and advisories for Maui County zones lifted Sunday night. Maui Emergency Management Agency LIFTED evacuation warnings and advisories for most zones throughout Maui County as of 6 p.m. on Sunday, March 22, 2026, due to improving kona storm conditions and dissipating threats. Maui Now.

Kauai

Editor’s note: Due to the number of candidates for council and our limited staffing, The Garden Island requests council candidates to submit a press release and we will run them on a first come basis. Garden Island.

Council candidate Paul Applegate wants a ‘Safe Kauai’.  Paul Applegate, a candidate for the Kauai County Council, will be hosting a series of “Talk Story” events at various locations across the island. Dates, times, and venues for each event will be shared through his campaign website and social media channels.  Garden Island.

Royal Order of Kamehameha I, Chapter 3 hosts annual protocol. The commemorative service hosted by the Royal Order of Kamehameha I, Chapter 3, and Na Wahine Hui O Kamehameha celebrated the 150th birthday of Prince Kuhio on Saturday — five days prior to the actual March 26 birth date that is a recognized Hawaii state holiday. Garden Island.

Kaua‘i County addressing ongoing wastewater spill contained to the Līhu‘e Wastewater Treatment Plant. The discharge remains confined within the facility and has not reached any public areas or state waters, and does not pose a risk to public health, according to a news release from Kaua‘i County Sunday afternoon. Kauai Now.

'Legislator X' lampooned, Recktenwald honored in annual Torch of Light, Lava Tube awards

 

There are a whole lot of anti-media movements running riot on the national scene, but one group – the Big Island Press Club – continues focusing on matters closer to home. As it's done for the past 28 years, the 59-year-old nonprofit press club this week released the 2025 Torch of Light and Lava Tube awards. 

 

Here’s the press release:

    The Big Island Press Club is awarding its annual meritorious Torch of Light Award to Mark Recktenwald, who served as Hawaii’s chief justice from 2010 to 2025. 
    In addition, BIPC is awarding its Lava Tube dishonor to “Legislator X,” the elected official caught on tape accepting a paper bag containing $35,000, according to federal court records. 
    The Torch of Light award is given to an individual or entity for illuminating the public’s right to know, while the Lava Tube dishonor is given for a lack of communication and keeping the public in the dark. 
    As it has for past 28 years, the 59-year-old press club announces the awards yearly on March 16, Freedom of Information Day. The date marks the birthday of James Madison, widely regarded as the father of the U.S. Constitution and the leading advocate for openness in government among our founders.

 Torch of Light Honor

 
    Recktenwald leaves an enduring legacy of public service that transformed the Judiciary, bringing the court to the people. 
    Under his watch, Hawaii state courts rolled out electronic filing and implemented remote proceedings statewide. More cameras came into the courtroom and access to court documents was simplified. 
    Recktenwald, a former UPI reporter stationed in Honolulu, understands the importance of a free press and its role in democracy. He addressed BIPC scholarship winners in a Zoom session during the pandemic, stressing the importance of their work in maintaining a free society. 

 

Since his mandatory retirement at age 70, Rectenwald has joined the Alliance of Former Chief Justices, a nonpartisan initiative launched in December 2025 by Keep Our Republic to defend judicial independence, the rule of law and the constitutional balance. The group engages in public education, working with legal, media, and community organizations to support a fair, impartial judiciary. 
    The iconic torch award will be presented to Recktenwald at BIPC’s annual meeting later this year. 

Lava Tube Dubious Honor
The identity of “Legislator X” is still unknown to the public. This person was allegedly recorded by a wired FBI informant accepting $35,000 in a paper bag from an also unnamed person. Nor, four years later, have the two investigative agencies — federal and state — been forthcoming about the details of this investigation. 
The statute of limitations on a bribery case expires in 2027. 
    What we do know, from media reports and the rare unredacted federal court records that have been unsealed is this: Ty Cullen, former legislator and vice chairman of the powerful House Finance Committee, pleaded guilty and agreed to be a government informant in a bribery case that sent him and another sitting legislator, former Sen. J. Kalani English, to federal prison. 
Both have already served their sentences and been released. 
    Cullen’s recorded actions kept investigators investigating. And they still are. In the midst of it, Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke disclosed that she had taken campaign checks — but not in a paper bag — from an associate of Cullen’s during a dinner with Cullen and the contributor. Luke, who was House Finance Committee chairwoman at the time and running for higher office, recently disclosed the checks that weren’t on her 2022 campaign finance report until the lapse was pointed out by Civil Beat, with its coverage providing most of the few details we know. 
    “Ethical — and perhaps legal — breaches aren’t usually a subject of the Big Island Press Club’s Lava Tube award. But a lack of transparency is. Thus Legislator X, who we still can’t identify, is the winner of this year’s Lava Tube award,” said BIPC board member Nancy Cook Lauer.

Previous Torch of Light Honorees 
2024 Julia Neal, founder and publisher of Ka’u Calendar (posthumously)
2023 Daniel Foley, retired Intermediate Court of Appeals judge
2022 Cindy Reves, Hawaii state director for the Journalism Education Association
2021 State Sen. Dru Mamo Kanuha
2020 James Hustace and the Waimea Community Association
2019 W.H. Shipman Ltd. President Margaret “Peggy” Farias
2018 Sue Lee Loy, Hawaii County Councilwoman
2017 Brian Black of the Civil Beat Law Center
2016 West Hawaii Today reporter Nancy Cook Lauer
2015 State Sen. Lorraine Inouye
2014 USGS HVO Scientists
2013 Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi 
2012 County Councilwoman and State Rep. Helene Hale (posthumously) 
2011 State Judicial Selection Commission 
2010 Hawaii County Civil Defense and other departments 
2009 Legislature, Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle 
2008 Les Kondo, Office of Information Practices 
2007 West Hawaii Today 
2006 Lillian Koller, State Department of Human Services 
2005 Retired Circuit Judge Paul de Silva 
2004 UH Manoa Journalism Professor Beverly Keever 
2003 U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink (posthumously) 
2002 Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim 
2001 Hawaii County Clerk Al Konishi 
2000 Hawaii Gov. Ben Cayetano 
1999 Jerry Rothstein and Judith Graham 
1998 Environment Hawaii and Common Cause 
1997 Society of Professional Journalists, Hawaii Chapter 

Previous Lava Tube Dishonorees 
2024 Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA)
2023 HI-EMA Administrator James Barros
2022 Hawaii Gov. David Ige
2021 Group of 10 senators, led by Sen. Kalani English
2020 Hawaii Gov. David Ige
2019 Pohakuloa Training Area Public Affairs Officer Michael Donnelly
2018 Hawaii County Civil Defense
2017 Hawaii Office of Information Practices
2016 Former Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi
2015 State Land Board Chairwoman Suzanne Case
2014 State Chief Elections Officer Scott Nago
2013 Democratic Party House District 5 Council 
2012 State Sen. Clayton Hee 
2011 Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie 
2010 Hawaii County Council 
2009 Noelani Whittington, County Department of Public Works 
2008 Mayor Harry Kim and Hawaii County Council 
2007 State Board of Education 
2006 Honolulu, Kauai, and Hawaii County Councils 
2005 District Judge Matthew S.K. Pyun 
2004 State Land Board Chairman Peter Young 
2003 State Sen. Cal Kawamoto 
2002 University of Hawaii Board of Regents 
2001 University of Hawaii Board of Regents 
2000 State Rep. Eric Hamakawa and Hawaii County Councilman James Arakaki 
1999 Hawaii County Council 
1998 Hawaii Gov. Ben Cayetano 
1997 Hawaii County Councilman Elroy Osorio 

Tax fairness, education bills mulled by Legislature, 135 mph wind gust clocked on Big Island, catastrophic flooding on Oahu as Kona low resumes, what Jones Act reprieve means to the state, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Tax fairness promoted in bills would implement major changes. The Hawai‘i Tax Fairness Coalition is advocating for bills that would make major changes to the state’s income tax, capital gains tax, real estate sales tax and a tax on income for real estate investment trusts, putting more pressure on the wealthiest to pay more. Star-Advertiser.

From Free Meals To Teacher Safety, An Array Of Bills For Hawaiʻi Schools. Proposals have made it halfway through the legislative session, and some advocates are cautiously optimistic that legislation that failed in past years will make it this year. Civil Beat.

Free Bus Rides For Keiki? So Much For That. An initiative to make transit free for all youth across Hawaiʻi that had raised supporters’ hopes appears dead, a victim of tight budgets and funding concerns. Civil Beat.

Hawaii agricultural damage estimated in the millions after Kona Low. The Hawaii Farm Bureau said damage to agricultural crops and infrastructure is in the millions. KHON2.

Nearly 300 damage reports at schools as another Kona low approaches Hawaii. The state Department of Education is continuing to assess damage to campuses statewide after a powerful Kona low storm brought heavy rain, flooding and strong winds across multiple islands, as another system is expected to impact the islands from Thursday evening through Monday. Star-Advertiser.

What To Know About The Jones Act As Trump Unveils A 60-Day Waiver. U.S.-flagged ships are generally more expensive to both operate and build than foreign ones. And those costs are especially damaging to states that are supplied by sea, such as Hawai‘i. Associated Press.

Four deals fuel $2.9B in commercial real estate investment. Hawaii’s commercial real estate market saw its strongest performance in four years in 2025 with $2.9 billion in sales volume across 279 transactions, driven by four blockbuster deals. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Catastrophic flooding hits northern Oahu today. On Oahu, a large band of heavy showers and thunderstorms has already dropped 5 to 10 inches of rain in just six hours, causing catastrophic flooding in the northern part of the island. KITV4.

City’s $24.6M land purchase paves way for responder hub. Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration and the owner of a commercial center on Oahu’s North Shore have finalized a $24.6 million land sale agreement that may lead to a first-responder hub built close to the area’s residents and to those visiting its world-renowned beaches, city officials say. Star-Advertiser.

‘We’re Screwed’: Dole Did Little To Fix Dangerous Wahiawā Dam. Hawaiʻi’s proposal to acquire the dam, and have taxpayers foot the bill for repairs, let the company off the hook. Civil Beat.

Kahuku students escape school bus fire on H-3 Freeway. The Kahuku High School girls’ flag football team escaped a raging bus fire on the H-3 Freeway Thursday night. School principal Walter Santiago confirmed the team was on the bus, and the coaches and players got off safely with no injuries. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.  KITV4. 

Hawaii Island

135 mph Wind Gust Recorded On Hawaiʻi Island. The University of Hawaiʻi’s Hawaiʻi Mesonet recorded the hurricane-force wind gust at Kaiāulu Puʻuwaʻawaʻa during last weekend’s kona low storm. Big Island Video News.

Emergency Repairs Planned for Pāhala Transfer Station. Emergency repairs will begin Friday at the Pāhala Recycling and Transfer Station, due to a subsidence issue at the facility. Big Island Video News.

Pahoa food drop draws large crowd — and plenty of aloha. The aid event was organized by Vibrant Hawaii, a nonprofit organization running a network of community resilience hubs across Hawaii Island supporting disaster preparedness and relief work. Tribune-Herald.

Maui 

Council hears updates on kona low response, Lahaina wildfire rebuilding. While Maui County braces for more severe weather, council members are poised to take action Friday morning on a $15 million request for emergency funding, following a Wednesday committee update on the effort to rebuild from the August 2023 Lahaina wildfire disaster. Maui Now.

Planning Department navigates ‘relentless’ workload amid staffing shortages. Maui County planners are managing a “relentless” amount of work, including permit applications for Lahaina rebuilding, while operating with 15 staff vacancies, acting Planning Director Jacky Takakura told Maui County Council members Wednesday. Maui Now.

Kauai

No public risk from ongoing wastewater discharge in Līhuʻe. An ongoing wastewater spill at the Līhuʻe Wastewater Treatment Plant is being contained on-site and does not pose a threat to pubic health, Kauaʻi County officials announced in a press release. Kauai Now.

County again urges vigilance ahead of severe weather. The Kauai Emergency Management Agency is urgently warning the public to stay alert and take action, as the National Weather Service warns that another Kona low system poses a significant threat to Kauai this weekend. Garden Island.

Jones Act waived for 60 days, tax and fee hikes loom in the Legislature, Blangiardi targets housing, affordability in State of the City address, new Kona low looms, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Trump orders Jones Act waiver amid Iran war.  The White House on Wednesday announced a 60-day waiver of the Jones Act.  The waiver, a rare exception to the century-old law, temporarily would allow foreign-flagged vessels to move ‌fuel, fertilizer and other goods between U.S. ports in hopes of curbing sharp price increases and supply disruptions from the intensifying conflict. Star-Advertiser.

‘Very Scary’ Stack Of Bills Seek To Boost Taxes On Lots Of Stuff In Hawaiʻi. A stack of bills under consideration by lawmakers would increase taxes or impose new levies on cars, liquor, real estate, capital gains and more. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi House Approves $10B State Budget That Prioritizes Essential Services. The budget now passes to the Senate which will continue fine-tuning the state’s spending priorities for the coming fiscal year. Civil Beat.

Lower DUI threshold draws mixed reviews. Hawaii lawmakers are considering lowering the state’s legal blood alcohol limit for drivers from 0.08 to 0.05. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers push new protections for kids online. Lawmakers at the Capitol are advancing new efforts to protect kids online – from artificial intelligence to social media. KHON2.

‘Left To Struggle’: Hawaiʻi Parents’ Long Wait For Paid Family Leave. Several bills over the years have been pared back to studies and advocates are impatient. But the state says it must get it right.  Civil Beat.

New storm poses threat across Hawaii. The National Weather Service issued a flood watch for Oahu, Maui, Molokai and Hawaii Island from 6 p.m. today to 6 p.m. Sunday, warning of widespread rain and potential flash flooding. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.  Hawaii News Now. 

Oahu

Honolulu Mayor Blangiardi targets housing, affordability. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s sixth State of the City address Wednesday evening focused on affordability, or lack thereof, for those who live and work on Oahu. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2. KITV4.

Spreadsheet error inflated benefits of LNG by up to $1.2 billion, expert says. As Hawaii considers a proposal from Tokyo-based JERA Co. Inc. to build a liquefied natural gas-fueled power plant on Oahu, the state’s top energy official has acknowledged a spreadsheet error in a key LNG study, while stopping short of accepting independent experts’ claims that the mistake overstated projected benefits by as much as $1.2 billion. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio. 

Hawaii Island

Second Hawaiʻi Police Officer Pleads No Contest In Evidence Tampering Case. Noah Serrao, a 29-year-old Hawaii Police Department officer, pleaded no contest Tuesday to charges of perjury, making a false sworn statement in official matters, and tampering with a government record. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. 

Areas Reopen In Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.  Some sections of the park reopened Wednesday morning, but other areas remain closed due to major storm and volcanic impacts. Big Island Video News.

Konawaena High will transition to distance learning during storm repairs. Hawai‘i Department of Education reported Tuesday evening, March 18, that the school will be closed March 23-27 to students to allow time for cleanup and repair work. School staff will use that week to prepare for distance learning. Big Island Now. Hawaii News Now. 

Maui

Monthly cash payments could boost disaster survivors. A Maui nonprofit tries it out.  Some 69 households are enrolled in an experimental program sending Lahaina fire survivors cash for one year, an effort to stabilize some of the most at-risk during the island’s protracted recovery. Associated Press.

Maui Food Bank coordinates airlift of 2,000 pounds of food to Hāna. The Maui Food Bank is coordinating with the Maui Emergency Management Agency and Maui United Way to load helicopter flights to deliver 2,000 pounds of shelf-stable food to Hāna residents cut off by the recent “March Kona Low” storm system.  Maui Now.

‘Worst it’s ever been’: In Hāna, power and roads still limited days after storm. Three days after leaving the office when a Kona low storm knocked out the power at Hāna Health, Executive Director Cheryl Vasconcellos returned to work on Monday to face thousands of dollars worth of spoiled vaccines and damaged crops on the clinic’s 15-acre organic farm. Maui Now.

Historic Maui home to be demolished after Kona storm triggers partial collapse.  The historic Baldwin Home will need to be torn down and rebuilt after one of its stone walls collapsed after a recent Kona storm, days after stabilization work began. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Recent storms cause overflow, resulting in a wastewater spill of 70,000 gallons per day. An ongoing wastewater spill of about 70,000 gallons per day at the Līhuʻe Wastewater Treatment Plant remains confined within the facility and does not pose a risk to public health at this time, county officials say. Kauai Now.

Kaua‘i County officials gather to bless water line improvements project in Hanalei. Contracted with Koga Engineering & Construction Inc., the $3.1 million project will upgrade the water main infrastructure to meet current water system standards, including existing fire flow requirements.  Kauai Now. Hawaii News Now. 

Kauai Mayor Kawakami to run for lieutenant governor, UH professional assembly endorses Luke, aquarium fishing ban remains in play in Legislature, Tokyo firm releases Oahu LNG plant plans, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kauai mayor launches bid to unseat Lt. Gov. Luke.  Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami plans to challenge Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke’s reelection bid as speculation at the state Capitol continues over whether Luke is the focus of an investigation regarding the “influential state legislator” who allegedly accepted a $35,000 bribe in a bag. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Kauai Now.  KHON2. 

University of Hawaiʻi Professional Assembly endorses Sylvia Luke for lieutenant governor. The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly board of directors and leadership team issued a statement Tuesday reaffirming its support for Sylvia Luke as lieutenant governor in the upcoming election.  Kauai Now.

Oahu

LNG electric plant proposed. Tokyo-based JERA Co. Inc. submitted its plan Tuesday for the roughly $2 billion liquefied natural gas project to state officials Tuesday after signing a collaboration agreement with Gov. Josh Green on Oct. 6 during a visit to Japan by the governor, according to the Hawaii State Energy Office. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

Navy continues ‘degassing’ of Red Hill facility fuel tanks. The Navy this week continues the decommissioning, shutdown and remediation process at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, beginning the process of “degassing” Tank 12 of the World War II-era fuel farm. Star-Advertiser.

6 Oʻahu communities to pilot including food waste in green compost bins. Recycling food waste curbside is the goal of a new pilot program launching next month in six communities across Oʻahu.  Hawaii Public Radio.

North Shore Oʻahu farms face long-term cleanups after heavy rains and flooding. Farmers on Oʻahu's North Shore are dealing with the damage caused by some of the worst flooding they've seen in years. Hawaii Public Radio.

High-rise residents stuck without elevators, hot water days after storm. Residents at The Diamond Head Vista on Pualani Way in Waikiki have been getting their steps in since Friday’s storm. The high-rise has 35 floors. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

A Do-Or-Die Moment For One Of Hawaiʻi’s Most Contested Trades. A proposed aquarium fishing ban is in play as state aquatic resource officials move to revive the controversial fishing practice. Civil Beat. 

Kailua Village parking bill stalls again; measure aimed at capping fees draws spirited discussion. Hawaii County Council members again sparred with property managers Tuesday during committee discussions about a proposed bill that would limit fees at private parking lots in downtown Kona. Tribune-Herald.

Ready for another Kona low storm? Another system is forecast to hit the Big Island later this week. As the Big Island works to recover from the Kona low pressure storm that caused flooding and power outages over the weekend, a smaller, weaker Kona low system is forecast to arrive later this week. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.  Big Island Now.

Maui

Mayor Bissen seeks $15 million in emergency funds for storm repairs. Mayor Richard Bissen is requesting $15 million from the Maui County Council to cover emergency repairs and rising operational costs following the recent destructive Kona low storm. The Council will take up the emergency funding request during an emergency meeting at 8:45 a.m. Friday. Maui Now.

Maui braces for weeks-long recovery after Kona low, prepares for incoming storm. Maui County is grappling with widespread damage and a prolonged recovery effort after a powerful Kona-low storm swept across Hawaii over the weekend, flooding neighborhoods, cutting off roads and straining already limited infrastructure — even as another storm threatens to slow cleanup and deepen the damage. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio.

Iwi Kūpuna Desecrated During Lahaina Fire Cleanup, Lawsuit Says. A family is suing a Maui landowner and the state for not protecting Native Hawaiian remains as required by law. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Measles virus detected in Kauai wastewater raises health concerns. Department of Health monitors positive wastewater detection of measles in Kauaʻi. A wastewater sample collected from a site in east Kauaʻi County on Feb. 25 has tested positive for the measles virus, according to the Hawaiʻi Department of Health. Kauai Now. KITV4.  

Governor to choose next Hawaii Supreme Court chief justice, average gas price jumps to $4.95 a gallon, Lahaina House rep switches to GOP, cat sterilization bill advances, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. Josh Green to choose new Chief Justice, circuit judge from list of nominees. The nominees for chief justice are:  Lance D. Collins, Vladimir Devens, David M. Forman, Benjamin E. Lowenthal and Sabrina S. McKenna. Big Island Now.

Legislature kills bill intended to seek damages from fossil fuel companies. Senate Bill 3000, which would have authorized the state attorney general to bring a civil action on behalf of the people of the state to recover losses from any responsible parties after a climate disaster, was voted down in the Ways and Means Committee. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii average gas prices jump to $4.95 a gallon. Gas prices have made a huge jump, resulting in high prices at the pump. Gas prices are roughly 70 cents higher than they were two weeks ago.  KHON2.

Should tax dollars be used for campaigns? These election reform bills are still alive. Campaign finance has been a topic of interest this legislative session. The heightened focus can be attributed to a federal investigation that unearthed allegations of an unknown lawmaker accepting $35,000 in a paper bag. Hawaii Public Radio.

Neighbor Islands Could See A Rare Political Win In The Legislature. Bills primarily serving Hawaiʻi, Maui and Kauaʻi counties often struggle to gain traction, but a major housing bill has promise. Civil Beat.

Lahaina Rep. Elle Cochran switches party affiliation to Republican. State House Rep. Elle Cochran of Lahaina announced on Monday that she is switching her political party affiliation from Democrat to Republican. Her move to the other side of the aisle increases the House Republicans’ numbers to 10. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii bill requiring sterilization of cats advances. House Bill 1736 establishes a special spay- neuter fund, but also requires owners of all pet cats ages five months or older to get their felines sterilized and prohibits intact cats from being imported into Hawaii, with some exceptions. Star-Advertiser.

Weaker storm forms as damage resonates. A powerful storm that drenched Hawaii over the weekend delivered rainfall totals not seen statewide since the early 1980s, overwhelming rivers, knocking out power and destroying homes and property. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now. 

Oahu

Wahiawa dam owner says failure risk overstated. Dole Food Co. Hawaii, owner of a dam in Wahiawa that city officials warned could fail and endanger North Shore residents amid a deluge on Friday contends that the dam functioned as designed, is safe, and actually reduced flood risks. Star-Advertiser.

Skyline trains halted by storm-related power outages.  The city Department of Transportation Services partially suspended operations of Skyline due to power outages that affected automated, driverless trains from East Kapolei to the Waipahu Transit Center. Several stations were operating on backup power, city officials said. Star-Advertiser.

Days-long power outage forces eateries to toss thousands worth of food. As Hawaiian Electric crews work to restore power for thousands across the islands, impacted customers can file claims. Hawaii News Now.

Storm aftermath: Recovery begins across Oahu. For one Waiahole Valley neighborhood, recovery began the moment the towering banyan tree came crashing down on Saturday, March 14. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

‘Plan for prolonged outages’: Thousands on Big Island still without power after Kona low storm. Roughly 8,000 Hawaiian Electric Company customers across Hawaii Island were still without electricity Monday afternoon as utility crews raced to clear fallen trees and repair power lines damaged by the Kona low storm over the weekend. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiʻi Island Storm Recovery Update. Hawaiʻi County officials provided an update on the status of local government services and facilities following the recent Kona low storm that produced flash flooding across the Big Island.  Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. KHON2. 

Maui

Maui recovers from inundation, prepares for next storm. The powerful Kona-low storm that drenched the state over the weekend hit Maui County the hardest.  Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.

Community raises $48,000 for couple whose home washed away in ʻĪao. A GoFundMe campaign has raised more than $48,000 for an 80-year-old couple living in a storage container after recent floodwaters destroyed their home and property in ʻĪao Valley. Maui Now.

Kauai

County asks residents to submit information on damages from storm. The County of Kauaʻi is collecting preliminary assessments of affected areas to understand the scope of damages and community impacts. Kauai Now.

Hawaii begins mopping up from storm, HECO warns of prolonged power outages, legislative session reaches midpoint, LNG may not save as much as originally forecast, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii shifts into recovery mode. Communities across Hawaii began shifting into recovery Sunday after days of intense rain, flash flooding and damaging winds from a powerful Kona-low storm. The state Department of Transportation Highways Division is estimating $23.04 million in damage statewide — roughly $14 million on Oahu, $7 million on Maui, $2 million on Hawaii island and $35,000 on Kauai — to cover contractor response, debris clearing, rock removal, guardrail and sign repairs, bridge inspections, traffic signal fixes and road repairs. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Hawaii Public Radio.

HECO warns of prolonged outages for customers still in the dark. Hawaiian Electric said more than 26,000 customers are still without power. They include about 7,000 on Oahu, 4,600 on Maui and 14,500 on Hawaii Island.  At the same time, Kauai Island Utility Cooperative reported 18 active outages across Kauai. Star-Advertiser.

Storm triggers travel chaos, millions in tourism losses. Hawaii’s tourism industry is bracing for millions of dollars in lost revenue after the Kona-low storm disrupted travel statewide, prompting hundreds of flight delays, dozens of cancellations and a wave of last-minute hotel reservation wipeouts across the islands. Star-Advertiser.

Storm exposes transportation system vulnerabilities. As a powerful Kona low lashed the islands with heavy rain and strong winds, state transportation officials say the storm is revealing a deeper problem: that much of Hawaii’s infrastructure was designed decades ago for conditions that no longer exist. Star-Advertiser.

Rain Check: 5-day totals show Kona Low dumped more rain than expected across Hawaii. Preliminary rainfall totals through 10 a.m. Sunday show some of the highest five-day amounts reported statewide were concentrated on Maui and Hawaii Island, with multiple gauges topping 20 inches. Hawaii News Now.

Future of Hawaii tax breaks cloudy as House and Senate trade bills. The Legislature has reached the halfway point of its five-month session with different approaches between the House and Senate over how to preserve tax breaks for most Hawaii residents as legislators move nearly 850 bills to the opposite chamber for further debate. Star-Advertiser.

As legislative session hits midpoint, federal funding impacts remain the focus. The crossover deadline means that if a bill was introduced in the House, it needed to pass by Thursday and be sent to the Senate, and vice versa. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Sun Is Still Shining For Key Reform Bills Halfway Through Session. But a few significant issues failed to generate much interest this year as legislators scurried to meet the crossover deadline. Civil Beat.

Independent analyst disputes reported cost savings of powering Hawaiʻi with LNG. A former University of Hawaiʻi professor claims that a landmark state report may have overestimated the potential cost savings of swapping liquefied natural gas for oil by more than a billion dollars. Hawaii Public Radio.

Fake Farms Get Tax Breaks, But Hawaiʻi Can’t Stop Them Yet. Not everyone living on agricultural land is a farmer. But state agencies have struggled to distinguish the genuine food producers from the hobby farmers looking for a tax break. Civil Beat.

Families Want Playground Access. They Could Get A Criminal Record Instead. DOE wants more support in keeping unwanted visitors off its campuses, but families say school playgrounds are an important part of the community. Civil Beat.

Hawaii film productions to bring economic boost. Netflix’s second season of “Untamed,” Jason Momoa’s action‑comedy “Protecting Jared,” and the third film in the “Jumanji” franchise have all begun, marking one of the busiest periods for local filming in recent years. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Cleanup efforts underway at Ala Wai Canal after Kona Low storms. Crews are working to clean debris from the Ala Wai Canal after recent Kona low storms brought heavy rain and runoff to Oʻahu. KHON2.

Home gets swept into the ocean near Keehi Stream. The Honolulu Fire Department responded to a home that washed into the ocean at Kahauiki Village near the Keehi Stream on Friday night. KITV4.

North Shore Oʻahu Farmers Search For Answers In The Kona Storm Wreckage. Farmers spent Saturday wading through their properties, trying to pick up the pieces from crops and livestock lost during torrential rains, flooding and high winds this week. Civil Beat.

Farmer releases 500 animals to seek shelter from storm. Waimanalo farmer Claude Colton, owner of Colton Farms, released 500 of his animals, hoping for the best at the height of the storm and was particularly worried about the survival of a newborn calf and other young ones in the heavy rainfall and gusting winds. Star-Advertiser.

Osano family renews legacy with major Kyo‑ya renovations. The Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort, marked its 125th anniversary last week with three generations of the Osano family — owners of Kyo-ya Hotels & Resorts since 1963 — on hand to reaffirm their commitment to family stewardship and ongoing upgrades across the company’s six U.S. hotels, all of which have ties to Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Mayor: Hawaii Island hit with ‘worst flooding I’ve seen’ . County officials on the Big Island said cleanup is underway after some portions of the Island saw over 20 inches of rain overnight. KHON2.

Hawaiʻi Storm Update for Sunday at 6 p.m. About 14,500 Hawaiian Electric customers are without power, with the majority in Puna, South Point, and North and South Kona. The electric company says crews completed repairs to two transmission lines on Sunday, and expect to complete repairs to a third line by tomorrow. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. 

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park remains closed due to storm-related damage. The park could reopen some areas Monday, but there is no timeline, officials said. Hawaii News Now.

Resilience hubs provide aid to affected residents during kona low storm response. Across Hawaiʻi Island, communities are responding to multiple challenges with speed, care, and coordination through Aloha in Action. Big Island Now.

Maui

Kīhei shoreline hit hard in Kona low storm: ‘It’s just total chaos. It’s a total river.’ The roaring water, much of it starting high on 10,000-foot Haleakalā, was a maroon-brown color from collecting sand, sediment and who knows what else along the way. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now.

10 years after sugar plantation’s closure, Puʻunēnē Mill’s transformation in the works. The property’s owner, Oʻahu-based Nan Inc., wants to repurpose many of the Maui landmark’s buildings and features to transform the area into light industrial for local businesses. Maui Now.

Kauai

3 chosen for Kauai Island Utility Cooperative Board of Directors. KIUC incumbent directors Allan A. Smith and Jim Mayfield were re-elected to office following the vote counting by Merriman River Group. The third director position will be filled by Bryson Ponce, retired from Kauai Police Department Administration. Garden Island.

New study on Kauaʻi finds surge in road deaths for Hawaiʻi’s state bird, the nēnē. A new research effort on Kauaʻi’s west side is uncovering a troubling trend that far more endangered nēnē, the Hawaiʻi state bird, are dying along a rural highway than previously believed. Kauai Now.