Monsanto settles $45M Hawaii lawsuit, Hawaii Supreme Court upholds Maui wildfire attorney fee caps, Pat Saiki remembered, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

 

Monsanto Co. settles lawsuit with Hawaiʻi over claims it contaminated state’s waterways, natural resources. Hawaiʻi has secured up to a $45 million settlement with Monsanto for polychlorinated biphenyl contamination of Hawaiʻi's waterways and natural resources. Big Island Now. Hawaii News Now. 

Will Courts Block Climate Suits By Hawaiʻi, Other States? New York’s “climate superfund” law has lost twice in court. A U.S. Supreme Court case could soon determine the fate of other efforts to make Big Oil pay. Grist.

HMSA’s Medicare Changes Could Increase Costs For Thousands. HMSA sent a letter to 16,000 kūpuna saying they will no longer have access to their current insurance plan. Civil Beat.

Former Hawaii congresswoman Pat Saiki remembered as political trailblazer. One of Hawaii’s most accomplished Republican political leaders, Pat Saiki, whose service in Congress and the state Legislature spanned four decades, died Wednesday in Honolulu. She was 96, and died peacefully from natural causes at home, according to family members. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio.

State set to appeal $500,000 award to ex-HTA exec Choy. The state plans to appeal a jury verdict awarding former Hawai‘i Tourism Authority executive Isaac Choy more than $500,000 after jurors found he was retaliated against for whistleblowing and wrongfully terminated. Star-Advertiser.

A quick island trip will soon require more planning. Starting Saturday, Oct. 3, neighbor island travelers must check in and drop checked bags at least 50 minutes before takeoff, up from 30 minutes now. KHON2.

ʻUlu demand in Hawaiʻi is outpacing the supply — and there's a lot more room to grow. There's an increasing demand in Hawaiʻi for ʻulu, also known as breadfruit — resulting from years of public awareness campaigns and buy-in from many in the state. The Hawaiʻi ʻUlu Cooperative, which is made up of over 200 local farmers, said its annual production of the crop has grown to a peak of 230,000 pounds since it was formed in 2016 and grew closer to 20,000 pounds. Civil Beat.

Oahu

HPD May Have Shared Your License Plate Data With The IRS. The Honolulu police chief says the department will no longer share data with other agencies, but five months of data remain in the hands of the IRS. Civil Beat.

Got food waste? Get it in the green bin for Oʻahu's G.R.O.W. program. Beginning Oct. 1, the City and County of Honolulu will ask all Oʻahu residents using gray, blue and green bins to put all their food scraps — be it banana peels, chicken bones or plate lunches past their prime — in the green bin. Hawaii Public Radio.

Makiki building will house homeless teens, young adults. Renovations continue on a seven-unit, two-story apartment building in Makiki near Walmart and Sam’s Club that will house and train homeless teenagers and young adults who have aged out of Hawaii’s foster care system and have no place to live. Star-Advertiser.

Ex-Moanalua coach facing child porn charge accused of exploiting girl. A former Moanalua High School girls wrestling coach facing federal criminal charges for sexually exploiting an underage girl was reported to the Honolulu Police Department in 2012 after he allegedly kissed a 13-year-old Roosevelt High School student. Star-Advertiser.

Pālolo Valley sees rapid spread of invasive coqui frogs. State officials have been working to curb an infestation of coqui frogs in Pālolo Valley for almost a decade. In some cases, that means catching and removing the invasive frogs by hand. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Data centers debate continues at county level. A bill aimed at prohibiting artificial intelligence data centers in Hawaii County through the creation of a new definition in the county code is undergoing review by the county’s two planning commissions before it is voted on by the County Council. Tribune-Herald.

Bowling alley, entertainment complex eyed for Hilo. The Windward Planning Commission on Thursday voted 6-0 to forward a favorable recommendation to the County Council for amendments to an ordinance regarding a commercial property that would allow KBXtreme to build a bowling alley and entertainment complex in Hilo similar to its Kailua-Kona facility. Tribune-Herald.

Commentary: In A Sea Of Mainland Grocers, A Taste Of Old Hawaiʻi. As national chains increasingly dominate Hawaiʻi’s grocery options, Big Island residents remain devoted to KTA, with its emphasis on locally grown food.  Civil Beat.

The Hōlei Sea Arch has collapsed. One of Hawaiʻi Island’s geological marvels is no more — the 90-foot Hōlei Sea Arch in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park has collapsed. Hawaii Public Radio. Big Island Now. 

Mokulele Airlines celebrates return of daily flights from Kona to Kahului. Mokulele Airlines has officially restored its direct air service between Hawaii Island and Maui. The first flight from Kona to Kahului since August 2023 took off Thursday at around 8 a.m. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Hawaii Supreme Court upholds Maui wildfire attorney fee caps. The Hawaii Supreme Court has rejected an appeal that was holding up initial payments to Maui wildfire disaster victims. Justices unamiously ruled Wednesday against three attorneys and one fire victim who appealed a state Circuit Court judge’s decision limiting fees of all attorneys representing 21,750 victims with claims in a $4 billion litigation settlement over damage from the Aug. 8, 2023, calamity, which killed 102 people and destroyed most of Lahaina. Star-Advertiser.

Maui Council refers 32 shoreline condo complexes’ hotel-rezoning to Maui Planning Commission. The Maui County Council voted 5-4 on Tuesday to ask the Maui Planning Commission to consider rezoning 32 vacation rental condominium complexes in Māʻalaea, Kīhei and West Maui from apartment to hotel use. The vote came a week after the commission recommended against most of an earlier batch of properties. Maui Now.

South Maui Growth Plan: More Delays Expected. The county is years overdue in updating its vision for the resource-stretched area. Civil Beat.

After wildfire burned Lahaina's library, community will get a temporary library soon. A 20-by-20-foot portable unit has been moved to Lahaina and will transform into a temporary library. The former Lahaina Public Library building was destroyed in the 2023 wildfire.  Hawaii Public Radio.

HECO Blackout: Half Of Molokaʻi May Lose A Summer’s Fish And Game. The utility plans to cut power for eight hours a day over much of the next week to upgrade its grid. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio. 

The water system at Kalaupapa has been fixed, according to state health officials. But now, there’s a power outage. Thus, two Hansen’s disease patients and approximately 50 staff are still waiting to return to their homes at the settlement on Molokai. Star-Advertiser.

Maui News selects two journalists for fellowship. Two journalists living on Maui -- Yiming Fu and Allyson Whaley -- will give The Maui News a nice boost in its elections reporting this fall. The announcement comes after a three-person panel selected Whaley and Fu for the inaugural Maui Nui Media and Creativity Collaborative Investigative Elections Reporting Fellowship. The fellowship will fund seven weeks of original, investigative, print-first reporting focused on the candidates, issues and decisions shaping Maui County’s future in the mayoral and Maui County Council races. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauaʻi bill could help keep kūpuna home on their land. Some Hawaiian families could get a lower property tax rate, thanks to a new bill introduced in the Kauaʻi County Council. Measure 3008 would create a new property tax program called an ʻĀina Kūpuna dedication that would let Hawaiʻi families who can trace their land back to being continuously owned before statehood in 1959 pay a fixed property tax for 10 years. Hawaii Public Radio.

‘Devastated’ Kauaʻi Harbor May Take 5 Years To Fix, State Says. It could take up to five years — and roughly $19 million — to fully repair Port Allen Harbor on Kaua‘i’s Westside, which was home to dozens of boats used for commercial fishing and tours before Hurricane Lowell ripped through its breakwater. Civil Beat.

Hurricane Lowell shapes Kauaʻi Council races as candidates talk disaster response. All 14 candidates competing for Kauaʻi County Council seats gathered on the North Shore to discuss urgent issues regarding the island's emergency response after Hurricane Lowell. Kauai Now.

Amendment to clarify Planning Commission appeals process. Kaua‘i voters will decide in the Nov. 3 General Election on a proposed Charter amendment to clarify and expedite the Planning Commission’s appeals process. Garden Island.

Isaac Choy awarded $500K in whistleblower lawsuit, chronic absences plague schools, Maui vacation rental zoning battle drags on, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Jury awards former HTA executive Isaac Choy $500K. A First Circuit Court jury on Tuesday found that former Hawai‘i Tourism Authority executive Isaac Choy was subjected to whistleblower retaliation and wrongfully placed on unpaid leave and later terminated from his job, awarding him more than $500,000 in damages, including punitive damages against Gov. Josh Green’s Chief of Staff Brooke Wilson. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiian Electric customers weigh in on rate hike request. The state Public Utilities Commission is gathering public input on an application by Hawaiian Electric to raise base rates over the next two years, and comments including opposition from ratepayers are piling up. Hawaiian Electric made an initial request to the PUC in March followed by a detailed application in July to boost annual revenue by $170 million, or 5.3%, over most of the next five years largely to cover high inflation, more expensive insurance premiums and accelerated value depreciation for fossil fuel power generation units anticipated for retirement sooner than previously planned. Star-Advertiser.

HECO Knows What’s Behind Outages. It Just Won’t Tell You. The state’s consumer advocate wants the utility to provide more information about storm outages. Civil Beat.

Half Of Keiki Are Chronically Absent At Some Schools. See How Yours Compares. At some Hawaiʻi public schools, more than 50% of students regularly skip school, state data shows. Civil Beat.

Oahu

HPD chief details plans to address staffing, modernization. Honolulu Police Chief David Lazar says he wants to boost officer pay and recruitment, expand the use of technology and develop a new strategic plan for the Honolulu Police Department’s future. Star-Advertiser.

Happier Days Coming For Neighbors Of Collapsed ‘So Stink’ Dim Sum Restaurant. Health officials address spoiled food issues at closed Happy Days. The state Health Department says spoiled food has been removed from the kitchen area of the shuttered Happy Days Chinese Seafood Restaurant in Kaimuki following an Aug. 18 partial roof collapse. Professional cleaning at the restaurant’s kitchen began Tuesday. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. KHON2. KITV4.

Police arrest woman, 24, in fatal shooting of man in Kailua. The Honolulu Police Department said detectives from the Homicide and Strategic Enforcement Detail, with help from the CID Forensic Video Unit, identified a 24-year-old female suspect, Hilinaikailimakualopali I. Keeno, in the fatal shooting of Thomas Craig Piiliouka Malone, 30. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Aloha State Daily.

Oahu public schools begin serving locally grown pineapples in cafeterias. More than 2,000 pounds of Hawaii-grown pineapple is heading into public school cafeterias across Oahu, giving students a fresh taste of island produce at breakfast and lunch. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

County seeks dismissal of ‘Sammy’ lawsuit alleging officer was negligent in death of teen. A Hawaii County attorney argued Tuesday in court that a Hawaii Police Department officer who hit and killed a pedestrian with a police car almost three years ago is immune from liability, but an attorney for the family of Samuel “Sammy” Mwarey, a 16-year-old boy, argued the officer was negligent and liable. Tribune-Herald.

Thirty Meter Telescope Doubles Down On Mauna Kea, Declines Spain’s $1B Proposal. TMT’s preferred site for the telescope is still on Mauna Kea on the Big Island, after its board could not agree on Spain’s effort to build it in La Palma. Civil Beat.

Council District 5 Candidates Want to Build A More Resilient Puna. What is taken for granted in other communities is needed in Puna: paved roads, public gathering spaces and alternative evacuation routes. Civil Beat.

Maui

Hotel or housing? Battle drags on over which Maui properties should have short-term rentals banned. Properties hope to switch to hotel zoning to avoid a ban on short-term rentals in apartment districts. The Maui County Council is proposing that 3,402 of these units across 48 properties, including timeshares, leasehold properties and apartment complexes that function like hotels, be rezoned as hotel districts. But on Tuesday, the Maui Planning Commission largely disagreed, recommending denial for most of the units and approval for a handful of properties that are entirely timeshares or have variances in place that allow vacation rental use.  Maui Now.

Prosecutors: Revenge motive in fatal shooting of Maui officer. Video footage shows Maui police officers arriving at Clembert Kaneholani’s home in Makawao on the night of Aug. 13, 2025, two days before Officer Suzanne O was fatally shot, to serve him with a temporary restraining order. Hawaii News Now.

A federal judge has eased travel restrictions for a Washington man accused of throwing a rock at a Hawaiian monk seal in Lahaina. Igor Lytvynchuk made headlines in May after he was caught on camera during the incident. Hawaii News Now.

Maui County Fair announces admission and ticket presales, details on E.K. Fernandez rides, safety reminders. The 99th Maui County Fair is just a few days away, and fairgoers can get ready for four days of food, entertainment, exhibits, community activities and carnival rides at the War Memorial Special Events Complex in Wailuku from Thursday, Oct. 1, through Sunday, Oct. 4. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauai community is still waiting for federal disaster relief funding. As Kauai moves into long-term recovery from Hurricane Lowell, community organizers are asking for more outside help as the island continues to wait and see whether President Donald Trump will release federal funding for disaster relief. Star-Advertiser.

Fuel cost rise spikes grocery prices, AI not helping Honolulu permit backlog, Miske ties in Kailua shooting death, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Rising fuel costs prompt spike in Hawaii grocery prices. About 90% of items in a Hawaiʻi shopping cart are shipped in. Containers being unloaded at the warehouse cost about $760 more to bring in than in January, an increase of about 7.5%. Multiplied by 2,000 containers a week, that amounts to $80 million a year out of consumers’ pockets. Hawaii News Now.

Alaska Airlines plans major upgrades for Hawaii brand. Alaska Air Group is expected to use its Investor Day today to signal that Hawaiian Airlines has not been absorbed into Alaska Airlines and instead is being positioned as the company’s flagship brand for Hawaii travel, backed by more than $600 million in planned investments through 2030. Star-Advertiser.

Judges’ Crackdown On Virtual Hearings Adds Hurdles For Immigrants In Court. The changes documented in federal data and noted by advocates increase the financial burden on immigrants living on neighbor islands — and even more so for people living outside of Hawai‘i who have to appear in person.  Civil Beat.

Extreme Weather, Energy Prices Put A Damper On Tourism. A particularly intense year for storms plus surging energy prices driven by war in Iran contributed to sluggish tourism numbers, according to a new UHERO report. Civil Beat.

Farmers Wanted: Hawai‘i Tries To Fix Its Unique ‘Ulu Problem. Breadfruit advocates from around the Pacific and farther afield are all trying to iron out supply chain issues to get more people eating — and growing — the canoe crop. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu building permit backlog grows despite AI processing tools. Honolulu’s Department of Planning and Permitting said new digital and AI tools will help attack the backlog of residential and commercial building permit applications, but under the new system, the backlog has appeared to grow. Hawaii Public Radio.

After a grueling 10-month deployment, the USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. returned to Pearl Harbor on Monday. The destroyer and its crew of 330 sailors had been participating in the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran, coordinating missile defense for the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group as they repelled Iranian drones and missiles. Star-Advertiser.

FBI finds 2 more alleged victims of former coach Sean Sakaida. Two more alleged victims of a former Moanalua High School girls wrestling coach who was arrested last week for sexually exploiting one of his players have come forward to tell their stories to the FBI. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Kaimuki neighbors try to stop the stench at abandoned Happy Days Chinese Seafood Restaurant. The popular restaurant on Waialae Avenue has been closed since the roof caved in during lunch hour on Aug. 18, injuring a handful of elderly customers. KITV4.

Kailua Shooting: Son Of Miske Associate ID’d As Victim. The son of Defend Hawaiʻi owner Michael Buntenbah was killed in the Target parking lot. On Monday, the Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the victim was 30-year-old Thomas Malone, who is the son of Michael Buntenbah, a former associate of crime boss Mike Miske. Civil Beat. KITV4. Aloha State Daily. 

The Portable Pool That Could Help Prevent Hawaiʻi Youth Drownings. The nonprofit Nā Kama Kai says a new mobile pool on the Westside of Oʻahu can offer swim lessons for kids with limited access to public pools. Civil Beat. KHON2. 

Hawaii Island

Nolo dropped less rain than Lala before spinning away.  Big Island residents over the weekend braced for rain that could’ve caused a second dose of Hurricane Lala-type destruction from flooding but were spared any major damage when Hurricane Nolo took a hard turn to the west. Tribune-Herald.

Natural disasters devastated some Big Island business, while boosting income for others. With the storms toppling trees on roads and properties, there has been a boon for debris-clearing and tree-cutting businesses. Damaged residences, stores and other buildings have led to new business for construction companies. Big Island Now.

Maui

Residents Near Maui Wildfires Show Elevated Metals Linked To Impacted Lung Health, Study Says. A study of 1,400 adults found higher internal metal levels associated with respiratory harm up to a year and a half after the fires. Civil Beat. Maui News. Maui Now. 

Chamber of Maui Political Action Committee announces Its 2026 candidate endorsements. The Chamber of Maui Political Action Committee (COMPAC), a non-partisan non-sectarian committee who handles the Maui Chamber’s candidate endorsement process, announced the Chamber’s “business-friendly” endorsements for State and Maui County races this year. Maui Now.

Rules protecting Molokai from invasive beetles expected to be reinstated. Rules regulating the movement of plant materials to prevent the coconut rhinoceros beetle is expected to be reinstated after a Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity employee admittedly misinterpreted precedent and possibly state law. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

Relief organizations urged to assist Kauaʻi as Hurricane Lowell recovery continues. Kauaʻi faces continued challenges in the aftermath of Hurricane Lowell as local organizations strive to fill the void left by limited national aid. Kauai Now.



 

Shortage of HI-5 redemption centers swelling state coffers, Cat 4 Hurricane Nolo remains well south of state, Papaikou resident fights proposed cell tower, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

HI-5 fund swells to $105 million as bottle redemptions decline. The state Department of Health now has over $100 million in a fund from an inefficient and inconvenient program created to boost beverage container recycling with refundable deposits paid by consumers. There is now $105 million in the Hawaii Deposit Beverage Container program fund held by the agency, up from $74 million near the end of last year as redemption rates fall in part due to not enough redemption centers and centers that aren’t very convenient for consumers to use. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald.

New rates for state Health Department’s deposit beverage container program take effect Oct. 1. The change is based on a segregated rate study conducted by Cascadia Consulting Group, which counted and weighed by hand a random sample of more than 145,000 HI-5 containers at centers across the state.  Big Island Now.

'Slow-moving trainwreck': Economist discusses Hawaiʻi's struggles with airfare and AI. Economist Paul Brewbaker is a principal of TZ Economics, a Hawaiʻi economics consulting group, and participated in a recent Hawaii Tourism Authority conference as a panelist. HPR spoke with Brewbaker to hear his thoughts as interest rates, tariffs and the cost of living all creep up. Hawaii Public Radio.

At Issue In Tokuda Vs. Awa: Who’s Better for Native Hawaiians? The rivals in this seat for Congress are both focused on Native Hawaiian homesteads, but have differences on that and several other issues. Civil Beat.

Deliberations continue in trial over former HTA exec Isaac Choy’s firing. A First Circuit Court jury is expected to return today for a second day of deliberations after hearing conflicting accounts of why former Hawai‘i Tourism Authority executive Isaac Choy lost his job with Choy’s attorney arguing he was retaliated against for whistleblowing and the state contending he was fired for workplace misconduct substantiated by an independent investigation. Star-Advertiser.

Invasive deer and other non-native animals are eating away Hawaiʻi’s ranchlands. Axis deer are responsible for the greatest losses of grass and hay on ranches across Hawaiʻi Island and Maui, according to the first study to measure grazing on the state’s rangelands. Maui Now.

Hurricane Nolo close to category 5 intensity, on track away from main Hawaiian islands. Hurricane Nolo is continuing to strengthen and is forecast to become a category 5 system Monday as it moves to the west-northwest. The National Hurricane Center said at 2 a.m. Monday, Nolo was 405 miles southwest of Honolulu, or 565 miles south-southeast of French Frigate Shoals, and was moving to the west-northwest at 12 miles per hour. Hawaii News Now.

Nolo spares Big Island, but outages hit Oahu and Maui. Hurricane Nolo continued to pass farther south of the Hawaiian Islands, bringing heavy rain and strong winds to parts of the state, flooding roads on Hawaii island and prompting five high-water rescues as emergency crews worked through Sunday to respond to storm impacts. Star-Advertiser.

$830,000 in debt forgiveness available for Hawai‘i residents after settlement. Multi-state settlement with Credit Acceptance Corp. offers Hawai‘i borrowers a piece of a $694 million pie. Aloha State Daily.

Oahu

Supreme Court Ruling On Disputed Election May Conflict With State Law. The high court struck down a state-ordered election in House District 43 resulting from a lauhala basket tiebreaker. The remedy is now being called into question. Civil Beat.

Candidates vying for West Oahu Senate seat have sharply different views. It’s a race between former Republican House Rep. Bob McDermott, and first-time Democratic candidate Markus Owens, a former University of Hawaii and San Francisco Giants minor league baseball player and UH baseball radio and television color analyst. Star-Advertiser.

HART reviews tentative $652M budget next year. The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation is proposing a preliminary $651.8 million budget for fiscal year 2028, which begins July 1, rail officials say. HART’s next budget would be about $417 million lower than the $1.07 billion spending plan adopted for the current fiscal year.  Star-Advertiser.

Another high rise could be coming to Oʻahu's skyline. A proposed project that would overhaul a part of the Ala Moana Shopping Center to add a 38-story hotel, as well as more than 200 residential units, is moving through the Honolulu City Council. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Latest Challenge For Honolulu Police: Hire More Women. Honolulu police signed a national pledge to increase the percentage of women in their ranks to 30% by 2030. Few departments have neared the mark. Civil Beat.

After Storms Blow, Humans Help Manu-o-Kū Return To The Trees. Honolulu’s official bird gets a little help from its friends. Civil Beat.

County and state officials lean into user fees. Ten years ago, Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden in Kāneʻohe was a quiet, scenic greenspace set against the Koʻolau Mountains where residents could go to relax and enjoy nature. But today, there’s three times as many visitors to the Windward Oʻahu garden — 724,000 last year alone.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Papa‘ikou resident files appeal challenging cell tower. Patrick Ferreira, who lives next to the intended site of a new Verizon Wireless cell tower in Papa‘ikou, has filed an appeal challenging the project and requesting construction be halted. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Areas Reopen Following Hurricane Nolo. Most areas along Kīlauea summit, as well as the Kahuku Unit in Kaʻū, are now open. Big Island Video News.

$81,000 grant will expand access to low-cost dental services for North Hawaiʻi residents. Hāmākua-Kohala Health’s dental clinic in Waimea will be able to serve another 500 North Hawaiʻi residents with an $81,000 grant from the Hawaiʻi Dental Service Foundation. Big Island Now.

Maui

4 public schools in Lahaina to remain closed Monday.  Four Lahaina schools will remain closed Monday in the aftermath of Hurricane Nolo due to ongoing power outages, uncertainty surrounding the nearby Olowalu brush fire and concerns about maintaining reliable water service at the campuses, according to the state Department of Education. Star-Advertiser. Maui News. KITV4.

Thousands of HECO customers without power in West Maui due to strong winds. HECO said power outages for nearly 10,000 customers in West Maui could last until noon Monday. Power can't be restored until helicopters can fly safely to the ridge area above the Pāpalaua Wayside Park to complete transmission line damage assessments. Hawaii Public Radio. Maui News. 

Crews continue to battle Maui wildfire after blaze forces evacuations in Olowalu. Maui firefighters are battling a fast-moving brush fire that prompted an evacuation of Olowalu Village, as Honoapiilani Highway has reopened with limited visibility. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Building Division open, processing permits; storm repair guidance updated for flood zones. The County of Kaua‘i Building Division is open to the public and processing permit applications starting today. Garden Island.

Kauai North Shore residents concerned about sewage. Almost every property in Haena is on a cesspool system, according to the University of Hawaii’s cesspool prioritization tool, and most homeowners can’t afford the $20,000 to $50,000 bill to switch to another wastewater system. Star-Advertiser.

Hurricanes batter state economy, growth lowest since COVID; Nolo becomes a hurricane; Kauai Shrimp company latest Lowell victim, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Spate of storms batters forecast for state economic growth.  Natural disasters in Hawaii this year are contributing to a big drain on the state economy, where growth is now projected to be its weakest since a 2020 contraction due to COVID-19. University of Hawaii researchers forecast that Hawaii’s economy, after factoring inflation, will grow by a scant 0.6% this year, down from 3.3% last year. Star-Advertiser.

Storm updates: Hurricane Nolo steadily grows stronger. Nolo strengthened into a hurricane Thursday afternoon and is expected to become a major hurricane on Saturday. Hawaii Public Radio. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.  Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

It’s already been an intense hurricane season in the Pacific Ocean — and there’s still quite a ways to go. Tropical storms have spawned in what seems like assembly-line fashion in recent weeks, as El Nino conditions that emerged in June have caused waters to grow warmer than normal, setting off a chain of unusual weather around much of the world. Associated Press.

From the archives: The history behind naming Hawaiian hurricanes. Tropical Storm Nolo joins Lala and Moke as tropical storms and hurricanes that have been given ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi names this hurricane season. The name Nolo, which means "filled full" or "crowded," was picked from a list reserved for storms formed in Hawaiian waters. Hawaii Public Radio.

Aloha, healing and resilience occupy spotlight at Hawai‘i Tourism Conference. More than 700 tourism industry leaders, government officials and community stakeholders gathered Thursday at Hilton Hawaiian Village for a sold-out Hawaiʻi Tourism Conference, where discussions centered on the future of Hawaii’s visitor industry and the role tourism plays in helping communities become more disaster-­resilient. Star-Advertiser.

Unknown odor on Honolulu-bound flight from LA leaves multiple flight attendants feeling sick. Multiple flight attendants were reportedly left feeling sick on Thursday afternoon due to an unknown odor on an Alaska Airlines flight arriving at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. KITV4.

Oahu

This Stretch Of Hawaiʻi Is Edging Republican. The energy seems on the GOP side in part of West Oʻahu that is no longer reliably Democratic. Here, there are opportunities for Republican growth. Civil Beat.

FBI arrests ex-Moanalua High School girls wrestling coach. The ex-Moanalua High School girl’s wrestling coach who led the program to four state titles has been arrested by the FBI and charged with possession and receipt of child pornography. Star-Advertiser.

Oʻahu Charter School Without Leadership But Avoids Closure For Now. A power struggle with school funders prompted at least one governing board member to resign.  Civil Beat.

‘So Stink’: Flies And Stench Overwhelm Collapsed Dim Sum Restaurant. The ceiling of a Kaimukī eatery caved-in, leaving diners to evacuate. A month later, the leftover food remains untouched, swarming with flies. Civil Beat. KHON2. 

Hawaii Island

Hurricane-weary Hawaii Island residents get ready for Nolo. Nolo strengthened into a hurricane Thursday afternoon but there was hope for a bit of a reprieve for the Big Island as the Central Pacific Hurricane Center adjusted its forecast track with a substantial shift south of the islands. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. 

Nolo strengthens as it nears Big Island; County to open five more shelters this morning. Forecasters are predicting heavy rainfall — 20 or more inches in some locations — and high winds for the next several days. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

State aims to open temporary Lahaina library in early 2027. While state officials continue working to get a permanent library in West Maui, they're one step closer to opening a temporary "pop-up" library.The Hawaii State Public Library System announced Wednesday that the temporary location is moving forward after a 20-by-20-foot self-contained unit was installed at the Lahaina Civic Center's upper parking lot next to the Lahaina District Court. Maui News.

Draft environmental assessment released for ʻAlelele rockfall netting project in Kīpahulu. Public comments are due Oct. 23 on a draft environmental assessment on a project to replace deteriorated rockfall netting along the ʻAlelele slope on Hāna Highway in Kīpahulu. Maui Now.

Deaths of three nene prompt warning to drivers. Following the deaths of three nene earlier this month on Molokai, state wildlife officials are urging drivers to watch out for the endangered birds. Maui News.

Kauai

Federal waiver extends relief for Kauaʻi commercial drivers during DMV outage. Kauaʻi commercial drivers and their employers will receive temporary relief from some licensing and record-review requirements under a federal waiver issued Thursday as the island’s driver’s license services remain disrupted following the Sept. 9 fire at the Kapule Building. Kauai Now. Hawaii News Now. 

Kauaʻi Section 8 landlords warned of possible delays in housing assistance payments. Kauaʻi County's Section 8 landlords may face delays in housing assistance payments as recovery efforts from Hurricane Lowell continue.  Kauai Now.

KIUC prepares to restore power to Wainiha and Ha‘ena. Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative, working alongside crews from Premium Utility Contractor, Hawaiian Electric and with helicopter support from Vertical Worx, has made significant progress repairing transmission and distribution infrastructure serving Wainiha and Ha‘ena. Garden Island.

Kauai Shrimp is Hurricane Lowell’s latest victim. Kauai Shrimp has made the difficult decision to close its shrimp farming operations in Kekaha following extensive damage from Hurricane Lowell on Sept. 7. Garden Island.

These Trees Wreaked Havoc During Storms. Hawaiʻi Is Fed Up. As the islands brace for yet another hurricane, community members push for better management of albizia and other fast-growing invasive species that break easily. Civil Beat.

Green seeks to tap rainy day fund as disaster costs top $1B, billionaire Hawaii landowners coy about how they're helping, Nolo poised to become a hurricane today, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiʻi Governor says more than $1B needed for 2026 disaster and recovery needs so far, seeks to tap Rainy Day Fund. Gov. Josh Green will ask the Hawaiʻi Legislature for $300 million from the state’s $1.7 billion rainy day fund to help the state recover from a series of natural disasters this year, the governor said Wednesday. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio. Tribune-Herald.  Big Island Now. KHON2. KITV4. 

Tropical Storm Nolo strengthens, hurricane watch issued for Hawaii County, expected to bring heavy rainfall to Hawaii Island. The National Hurricane Center said at 5 a.m. Thursday, Nolo was centered about 285 miles south of South Point, or 455 miles south-southeast of Honolulu. It was moving slowly to the north at 2 miles per hour. Nolo’s maximum sustained winds have increased to 60 miles per hour. Tropical storm force winds extend outward 90 miles from the center. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.  KITV4. 

National Hurricane Center 5 a.m. update and maps on Tropical Storm Nolo. NHC.

Hawaii’s wealthiest respond to historic storm season. Some of the world’s wealthiest and most powerful people also own homes and property across Hawaii. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reached out to several to see what, if anything, they are contributing as communities recover, rebuild and brace for the next storm. Star-Advertiser.

FBI shut down inquiry tied to Hawaii contractor’s claims. The FBI in 2025 shut down an inquiry into allegations that a political adviser to Sen. Susan Collins had participated in a scheme to funnel illegal campaign contributions from Hawaii defense contractor Martin Kao — the former head of Martin Defense Group LLC, formerly known as Navatek LLC —  current and former officials said.  New York Times.

Oahu

Voters to decide 20 Charter amendments in November. The proposed amendments include everything from food security, ranked-choice voting, housing and historic preservation, to elections, immigration enforcement, cultural stewardship and the structure of city government. Star-Advertiser.

State To Decide Fate Of West O‘ahu Charter School After Board Quits. The school can’t stay open without a governing board, but it may have few options for recruiting a new one. The Hawaiʻi State Public Charter School Commission will decide what happens next on Thursday. Civil Beat.

HPD has shut down 7 illegal gambling operations on Hausten Street since July. The Honolulu Police Department confiscated 74 gambling machines, $38,000 in cash and shut down four illegal gambling operations on Hausten Street in Moiliili on Monday night. Star-Advertiser.

Ala Wai ‘Pirate Ship’ Is Pau But Public Is Stuck With The Bill. A derelict party boat is part of a longstanding problem with abandoned vessels that end up as dead weight in the budget of the state’s boating division. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii Island closures announced for government offices, schools. Gov. Josh Green announced that state and county offices, state Department of Education public schools and University of Hawaii campuses and facilities on Hawaii Island will close Thursday and Friday as the state prepares for potentially dangerous impacts from Tropical Storm Nolo. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News. KHON2. 

Draft EA clears the way for improvements to Isaac Hale Beach Park. Eight years after lava flows from Kilauea’s 2018 eruption ran through parts of Isaac Kepo‘okalani Hale Beach Park in lower Puna, Hawaii County is moving forward with plans to restore and make improvements to the recreational area. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui County prepares for another cyclone. As Tropical Storm Nolo strengthens into what is predicted to be a major hurricane as it nears Hawaii, Maui County officials and residents still recovering from Kona lows, Hurricane Lala and Hurricane Lowell are preparing for another potentially destructive weather system. Star-Advertiser. Maui News. Maui Now.

Corp Counsel: South Maui plan meets legal minimum on costs—but Council can demand more. Maui County Council members spent all Monday and half of Tuesday working through the South Maui Community Plan update, getting a legal opinion on the plan’s fiscal estimates, hearing more public testimony and moving to strengthen the plan’s emergency evacuation provisions. Maui Now.

DLNR asks drivers to slow down after 3 nene killed on Molokai. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources said three nene from the same family were killed in September, just one day apart, by drivers on Molokai, and is asking the public to slow down. Hawaii News Now.

Coconut rhinoceros beetle rules pass on Maui, Lānaʻi; expire on Molokaʻi. One-year import restrictions to slow the spread of invasive coconut rhinoceros beetles have passed for Maui and Lānaʻi, but frustrations remain as similar rules for Molokaʻi expire. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

KIUC urges preparation for possible TS Nolo impact. Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative is closely monitoring Tropical Storm Nolo, which could bring weather impacts, such as high winds, to Kaua‘i as early as this weekend. Garden Island.

Websites share what's open and still closed on Kauaʻi after hurricane. People wondering where to eat, go shopping or take care of errands on Kauaʻi after Hurricane Lowell can turn to two different websites to find out. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauaʻi Sea Scouts’ newly acquired Sun Seeker sinks after Hurricane Lowell hits Nawiliwili Harbor. The prized 63-foot yacht had been donated to the nonprofit and was expected to give generations of Kauaʻi youth a chance to learn seamanship and experience extended voyages. Kauai Now.

Red Cross installs 145 smoke alarms after recent brush fire near Kaumakani Village. The American Red Cross's home fire safety campaign aims to have every community member feel informed, feel prepared, and know what to do during an emergency. Kauai Now.



 

Tropical depression expected to become Hurricane Nolo this week, Maui planning commission rebuffs attempts to lift vacation rental ban, Taiwan to demolish, redevelop Chinatown Cultural Plaza, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Tropical Depression 15-E redevelops, will approach state as Hurricane Nolo. Tropical Depression Fifteen-E has regenerated into a tropical cyclone that could threaten parts of the state with heavy rain and high winds. The system is currently about 400 miles south-southeast of Hilo and is forecast to strengthen into a tropical storm today before becoming a hurricane in the next couple of days. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4. 

SUMMARY OF 500 AM HST...1500 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...14.5N 154.4W
ABOUT 320 MI...520 KM SSE OF SOUTH POINT HAWAII
ABOUT 525 MI...840 KM SSE OF HONOLULU HAWAII
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...35 MPH...55 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 290 DEGREES AT 6 MPH...9 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1004 MB...29.65 INCHES
  National Hurricane Center

Gun permit window, inspection mandate upheld. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld Hawaii’s requirements that gun owners have 30 days to use a permit to acquire a handgun and some new guns have to be brought into police stations for inspection. Star-Advertiser.

This Farmer-Artist Questions Hawaiʻi’s Statehood. He Wants To Be LG. GOP lieutenant governor candidate Daniel Anthony says he’s tired of fighting against the government, and wants to help lead the way to “generational change.” Civil Beat.

Some new Hawaii licenses not scanning at airports. Some Hawaii residents said their new driver’s licenses are not scanning at TSA checkpoints and local stores. Officials are looking into the issue, but said it is not clear the new design is to blame. KHON2.

Oahu

Taiwan to demolish, redevelop troubled Chinatown plaza.  The Taiwan government, owner of Honolulu’s long-troubled Chinatown Cultural Plaza, plans to demolish and redevelop the aging 4-acre complex after years of pressure from Mayor Rick Blangiardi, who has repeatedly urged Taiwanese officials to address what he described as a deteriorating, crime-plagued property in the heart of Chinatown. Star-Advertiser.

What Happens To Your Affordable Housing When Income Rules Run Out? Seniors at a state-owned affordable housing complex in Kakaʻako are scared about rising rents as the development authority seeks to recoup losses at the financially troubled project. Civil Beat.

Kapolei school faces obstacles to its ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi immersion program. Kapolei Middle School’s program, Ke Kula Kaiapuni ʻo Kapōlei, was cut just a few weeks before the school year, meaning that the high school will have fewer incoming students for their program. Another challenge? Students have been resistant to practicing ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Big Isle BOE member resigns, cites a lack of transparency. Hawaii County’s representative on the state Board of Education, Sylvia Lee, recently resigned. Lee provided a copy of her resignation letter to the Tribune-Herald which cited concerns about lack of transparency and oversight among the board’s leadership as the reasons for her decision. Tribune-Herald.

Water department may waive upcoming bill for Big Island customers impacted by Hurricane Lala. Some of the 1,200 customers in the system were cut off from water, others lost their water meters, and some had to boil their water for safety. Big Island Now.

Food shortage puts strain on Pahala residents. On Tuesday, residents of Pahala lined up for free groceries as the community continued to recover from Hurricane Lala — but for some, the food drive was about more than putting food on the table. Star-Advertiser.

County: Electrical failure causes discharge of partially treated sewage in Hilo. The incident took place from 9:06 p.m.to 9:55 p.m. Monday, resulting in approximately 71,000 gallons of partially treated, fully disinfected wastewater being discharged through the facility’s ocean outfall, located about three-quarters of a mile offshore in Puhi Bay. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now.

Maui

Maui Planning Commission rebuffs exemptions to vacation rental ban. A proposal to exempt about 3,400 legal short-term vacation rental properties on Maui from an impending ban met with overwhelming disagreement from a commission Tuesday after heavy public debate. Star-Advertiser.

Trial opens for Maui man accused of killing police officer. Opening statements began Tuesday in the trial of a man charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of a Maui police officer last year. Clembert Alii Kaneholani, 39, is accused of fatally shooting Officer Suzanne O in Paia. Hawaii News Now.

Maui Wildfire Exposure Study gets $6M in federal funding to extend post-fire health tracking to 2031. The Maui Wildfire Exposure Study, through the University of Hawaiʻi, has been awarded nearly $6 million to continue and expand. Hawaii Public Radio.

State, Maui Health and Kaiser Permanente announce restoration and reopening plans for Kula Hospital. The state of Hawaiʻi, Maui Health and Kaiser Permanente today announced that Kula Hospital will be restored and reopened after damage from the March 2026 Kona Low storms forced the temporary closure of the hospital, its Emergency Department and the Hale Makamae care facility. Maui Now. Aloha State Daily.

Meetings planned on Maui SMA boundary. The Maui County Planning Department will hold public meetings Sept. 23 and Sept. 24 as it assesses the Special Management Area boundary for the island of Maui. The project will develop recommendations for a scientifically and culturally based inland SMA boundary that responds to projected environmental and climate changes while balancing environmental protection with permitting and review requirements. Maui News.

County seeks feedback on proposed Paia gym. The Maui County Parks and Recreation Department is seeking feedback on plans to replace the existing Paia Gymnasium with a larger recreational and emergency-response facility. Maui News.

Kauai

State, county emergency orders waive fees, penalties for Hurricane Lowell recovery. Kauaʻi County Mayor Derek Kawakami signed an emergency order Sept. 18 waiving certain repair permits, storm debris disposal fees and property record fees for storm-damaged homes and businesses. Kauai Now.

Painful Lessons From ʻIniki Help Kauaʻi Homes Weather Hurricane Lowell. Requiring hurricane clips to prevent roofs from blowing off and other updates to the building code were hard-fought victories 30 years ago. Civil Beat.

Rare Loulu palms at Kauaʻi’s botanical gardens among the casualties from Hurricane Lowell. Hurricane Lowell has left Kaua'i's National Tropical Botanical Gardens in disarray, with damaged trees, infrastructure, and rare plant collections forcing a suspension of public tours as recovery efforts continue.  Kauai Now.