Green's Cabinet reorganization continues, only two GOP left in state Senate after Awa leaves Republican Party, Honolulu affordable rental housing program falls far short of goal, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Green Picks AG To Replace Lopez, Makes Other Cabinet Changes. Anne Lopez’s first deputy, Matthew Dvonch, will succeed her as Hawaiʻi attorney general and a new health director is expected soon. Civil Beat.

DeCorte leads state Senate minority after Awa leaves Republican Party. Republicans have selected Sen. Samantha DeCorte to be their new Senate minority leader after Sen. Brenton Awa left the party to become an independent. The GOP is now down to two members in the 25-seat chamber, DeCorte and Bob McDermott, who was elected Tuesday to represent ʻEwa Beach. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now.

State House announces leadership team for 34th Legislature. House Speaker Nadine K. Nakamura has announced the House Leadership Team for the 34th Legislature, comprising members with diverse perspectives, experiences, and representation from across the state. Garden Island.

Some Japanese investment is returning to Hawaiʻi .  A weak yen has kept many Japanese travelers away from Hawaiʻi in recent years. But some Japanese investors are taking a closer look at some investment opportunities in the state.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Groups vow to fight commercial fishing in Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument. The Trump administration, via the National Marine Fisheries Service, on Monday proposed a new rule to open about 400,000 square miles of the monument to commercial fishing. Star-Advertiser.

Deadline today for nearly 3,000 flagged Hawaii mail-in ballots. Nearly 3,000 mail-in ballots flagged as invalid in Hawaii could be thrown out if they are not fixed by 4:30 p.m. today. Many were flagged because of missing or mismatched signature issues. Hawaii News Now.

Don’t Fall For This Hawaiʻi Government Website. It’s Not Real. A group calling itself the Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council sent out an email newsletter apologizing for its failure to control invasive species. It wasn’t what it appeared to be. Civil Beat.

Oahu

City’s Bill 7 housing program falling short of goals, report finds. Honolulu’s affordable rental housing program has made apartment development more financially feasible, but it has produced only a fraction of the housing units envisioned when it was established in 2019, according to a University of Hawai‘i Economic Research Organization report released Monday. “Since 2019, 85 projects containing 2,280 units have entered the program, but only seven projects and 224 units have been completed — well below the statutory goal of 500 completed units per year. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Council Sued Over Secret Zippy’s Meeting. A lawsuit seeks to ban members involved in the meeting from council leadership positions. Civil Beat.

Students listen to oral arguments as court weighs animal rights case.  The Hawaii Supreme Court heard arguments Monday from the Nonhuman Rights Project and the City and County of Hono­lulu’s Department of Enterprise Services on whether the Honolulu Zoo’s Asian elephants, Mari and Vaigai, should be granted a habeas corpus proceeding, which would determine whether they have been illegally detained. Star-Advertiser. Civil  Beat. KHON2. 

Centennial Park project nears end, adds historic signage. Rotary leaders expect to complete Waikiki’s Centennial Park by June with the installation of historical signage highlighting the stories of Waikiki and Rotary in Hawaii, while also advancing plans for a peace pole, a symbol of the organization’s mission to promote peace and international understanding. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Hawaiʻi County Council Leadership, Committee Assignments Announced. Council Chair Dr. Holeka Goro Inaba will continue to serve as the chair of the local legislative body going into the 2026–2028 Council term, becoming the first Council Chair in 24 years to be selected to serve consecutive terms in the leadership position. Big Island Video News.

Trial scheduled in federal lawsuit against Roth, Waltjen, others. Trial has been set in Hilo attorney Kai McGuire’s federal lawsuit against Hawaii County, former mayor Mitch Roth, Prosecutor Kelden Waltjen, Deputy Prosecutor Kate Perazich and former deputy prosecutor Sylvia Wan, accusing them of malicious prosecution.  Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiian Electric seeks rate hikes. The Hawaiian Electric Company is seeking to raise its base rates across the state over the next few years. The most significant increase will be on Hawaii Island, where residential customers will pay an estimated $15 more per month by 2028. Tribune-Herald.

Organic Kona coffee farm for sale for $4.8 million. Thirty-five of the 78 acres are dedicated to Kona-certified organic coffee, milled and roasted on-site in a fully off-grid operation. Big Island Now.

Maui

Kīhei brush fire: Preliminary investigation points to possible intentional ignition; crews monitor hot spots. Maui Fire Department officials say there are preliminary indications that Saturday’s brush fire in Kīhei was intentionally set. While there is preliminary indications of possible intentional ignition, the cause of the fire is currently considered undetermined and remains under investigation. Maui Now.

Kauai

Public comment sought about expansion of Waiahi Surface Water Treatment Plant in Līhu‘e. The Kauaʻi Department of Water is holding a virtual meeting on Tuesday at 5 p.m. and an in-person open house at 10 a.m. on Thursday in Līhuʻe. Kauai Now.

County awards $450,000 to 6 agricultural projects across Kauaʻi. The funding will support projects aimed at increasing local food production, improving farm infrastructure and strengthening the island’s food security.  Kauai Now.

State Agriculture Director Hurd resigns, Green to nominate Dvonch for Attorney General, Hawaiian Electric Industries turns a profit despite storm expenses, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiʻi Agriculture And Biosecurity Director Resigns. The departure of Sharon Hurd, longtime agriculture official, creates another vacancy in Gov. Josh Green’s Cabinet. There is now a vacuum in state agricultural leadership, as the department is also searching for a deputy director to oversee biosecurity and the state Agribusiness Development Corp. is job hunting for a new executive director. Civil Beat.

Green to nominate first deputy AG for top job. Gov. Josh Green plans to nominate First Deputy Attorney General Matthew Dvonch to serve as Hawaii’s attorney general after Anne Lopez’s term ends Dec. 7, according to multiple sources with direct knowledge of the situation who are not authorized to comment. Star-Advertiser.

Wespac Seeks A New Executive Director To Replace Kitty Simonds. There’s been speculation for years about whether Simonds would retire — and what that might mean for the federal fisheries council and its role in the Western Pacific. Civil Beat.

Recent storms damaged HEI finances, but company sustains profit. Despite the storm-related financial hits, HEI earned a $35 million profit during the July-September quarter, up from $31 million in the same quarter last year. The recent third-quarter profit was driven by $64 million in realized and unrealized gains from a minority ownership stake in Honolulu-­based American Savings Bank. Star-Advertiser.

Senate president says recent disaster damage will cost Hawaiʻi $300M. Natural disasters and a high fuel prices-induced tourism slowdown will pose budgetary challenges during the next legislative session beginning in January, Senate President Ron Kouchi said Thursday. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiʻi Welcomed These Students To College. They Said No Thanks. A University of Hawaiʻi program is trying to entice more students by offering guaranteed admission. But UH may need to do more to get them to attend.  Civil Beat.

Report calls for statewide fare-free bus system. A new report from the Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law &Economic Justice estimates that making bus transit free for all riders statewide would cost roughly $62.4 million a year and recommends using existing transportation- related revenues to fund the program. Star-Advertiser.

New push aims to resolve ceded land revenue conflict. A reformed state panel is taking on a complex challenge to fairly assess how much state revenue from ceded lands should be paid annually to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. For nearly 50 years, state law has specified that the share of such revenue for OHA is 20%, but since that time state leaders and the agency serving Native Hawaiians have never agreed on how much revenue is derived from the roughly 1.4 million-acre public land trust that includes airports and harbors. Star-Advertiser.

Voters Bring On New Faces To Tackle Old Issues In Neighbor Island Councils. Kauaʻi, Maui and Hawaiʻi county councils will have plenty of fresh perspectives following the election. But will that be enough to change the status quo? Civil Beat.

Oahu

Voters Said Yes To Food Security Fund. How Will Honolulu Spend It? A key question: Should it only support existing programs or is this an opportunity to try something new? Civil Beat.

Tracking gangs: One focus is redirecting troubled youth. The Honolulu Police Department is working to identify the number of gangs operating on Oahu after a 24-year-old felon was accused by federal prosecutors of leading a criminal organization from the Kamehameha IV public housing complex in Kalihi. Star-Advertiser.

High court to decide whether Honolulu Zoo elephants have rights. The Hawaii Supreme Court will hear arguments today from the Nonhuman Rights Project and the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Enterprise Services on whether the elephants should be granted a habeas corpus proceeding, which would determine whether they have been illegally detained.  Star-Advertiser.

Council advances shopping-cart bill despite homeless concerns. Profanity-laced testimony from one opponent and widespread criticism from others failed to put the brakes on a controversial Honolulu City Council measure aimed at curbing shopping-cart theft and abandonment, as Bill 53 advanced Thursday despite detractors’ claims that it unfairly targets Oahu’s homeless population. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Hawaiʻi Island lawmakers review sewer rate hike. If Bill 183 passes, a rate hike would take effect in 2027, increasing household rates from $52 to $63. Rates would then climb incrementally each year until hitting a ceiling of $125 in 2031. Hawaii Public Radio.

Ex-volunteer firefighter’s lawsuit against the county proceeds. Just over five years after Elizabeth Stabo was severely burned while helping to combat a brushfire in Ka‘u, a lawsuit she filed against the Hawaii Fire Department and its leadership at the time is moving forward. Tribune-Herald.

Ng seeks another term on District Family Court bench. Hilo District Family Judge Jeffrey Ng has petitioned the state Judicial Selection Commission to be retained in office for an additional 6-year term. Ng’s first term will expire on May 4, 2027. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Made in Maui County Festival draws more than 7,500 attendees. More than 7,500 people attended the 13th annual Hawaiian Airlines Made in Maui County Festival on Nov. 6-7 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, bringing together local businesses, wholesale buyers and shoppers for the two-day event. Maui News. Maui Now. 

Months after Hurricane Lala, Maui residents want ‘dangerous’ storm debris removed. Nearly three months after Hurricane Lala caused widespread damage around the islands, residents in upcountry Maui say storm debris is still a safety hazard. Hawaii News Now.

The Unrelenting Ordeal Of Wildfire Recovery. A Maui family lays the foundation for a new home three years after it was destroyed by the deadliest U.S. wildfires in a century. Civil Beat.

Kauai

County acquires 155 acres Līhu‘e for future housing development. The property was purchased for $3.7 million from Grove Farm Properties and based on preliminary assessments is expected to accommodate about 400 to 500 new homes. Kauai Now.

Kauaʻi honey competition highlights Garden Isle beekeepers as they advocate for zoning amendment. Kauaʻi's beekeeping community is abuzz as a bill that would enhance local honey production with new regulations and support from the community and officials.  Kauai Now.

Koke‘e and Waimea Canyon State Parks reopen. All state parks, lookouts and comfort stations between Waimea Canyon lookout and Pihea are now open. Reduced services should be expected, as popular visitor amenities such as the Koke‘e Lodge Restaurant and the Koke‘e Museum will not reopen until next week at the earliest. Garden Island.

Blue Congress could be good for Hawaii, BOR approves plan for building new telescopes on Mauna Kea, US Navy and NASA withdraw EIS for Pacific Missile Range Facility, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

More Money, New Problems? What’s Next For Hawaiʻi In A Blue Congress. Sen. Brian Schatz is likely to take the No. 2 spot in the Senate as Democrats pick up seats. Is trouble with the Trump administration on the horizon? Civil Beat.

‘Blue Tsunami’ Missed Hawaiʻi’s Capitol, But Dems Nabbed 3 Seats. The Senate split of Democrats vs. Republicans remains unchanged after the last batch of uncounted votes, all from Oʻahu, was released. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi’s AG Is Soon Out, Lost Support Of Governor Green. Anne Lopez will leave office early next month as the governor begins his second term. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.  Hawaii Public Radio. 

OHA At-Large Trustees: Anderson to join the board after longtime trustee loses reelection bid. Longtime Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee John Waihe‘e IV will be out of office for the first time in more than 20 years. Challenger Ikaika Anderson will be a new face on the nine-member Board of Trustees, alongside incumbents Souza and Brickwood Galuteria. Hawaii Public Radio.

Elections chief explains 'ballot curing' and why the count is still incomplete. Hawaiʻi Chief Election Officer Scott Nago explained why — with the initial counting of ballots complete, there are still unopened ballots that need to be audited and cured before they can be added to the count. Voters have until Nov. 10th to fix, or "cure," their ballots so they can be properly cast. Hawaii Public Radio.

In The War On Mosquitos, Bird Advocates Shift Their Game Plan. Biologists battle to save endangered forest birds from extinction as climate change narrows the window to act.  Civil Beat.

Oahu

Tyler Dos Santos-Tam Elected Honolulu Council Chair. The councilman representing Chinatown was chosen to lead the Honolulu City Council despite concerns about how he secured the council’s support. Civil Beat. KHON2.  Star-Advertiser.

Oahu election results hold firm after 25K more ballots counted. About 25,000 ballots from Oahu voters in Tuesday’s general election tallied up Wednesday night didn’t alter any outcomes among candidates despite a few close races for seats in Hawaii’s Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

Calls for more in-person voting sites in state persist despite efficient election. Worries over long lines of last-minute election-day voters never materialized, and the Honolulu Hale voter serv­ice center was the last one to close in the state, with one final voter casting a ballot after the 7 p.m. end of voting, according to Rex Quidilla, administrator for the Honolulu Office of Elections. Star-Advertiser.

 U.S. Education Secretary visits Nanakuli charter school during nationwide tour. U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon visited a West Oʻahu charter school Thursday, getting a firsthand look at how educators are incorporating Hawaiian culture and academics into the classroom. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Regents support amendments to UH’s Maunakea management plan. A University of Hawaii Board of Regents committee voted Thursday to support amendments to the university’s management plan for the Maunakea summit region that would allow for decommissioned observatory sites to be reused for future astronomical facilities. Tribune-Herald.

Lava fountains cease as Episode 56 of ongoing episodic eruption of Kīlauea volcano comes to end on Big Island. The latest fountaining episode ended just after 6 p.m. Thursday following about 6 hours of continuous activity. Big Island Now.

Plan to rebuild fire-ravaged Wild Ginger Hotel advances. The Windward Planning Commission voted 5-0 Wednesday to forward a favorable recommendation to the Hawaii County Council on an application for a Special Management Area Use Permit by BHG Aloha LLC to construct and operate a new 30-room hotel complex on the 1.6-acre site at 100 Puueo St. where the burned-out shell of the two-story structure built in 1920 remains. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

New Maui council supermajority could reshape tourism, development. Longtime political analyst Dick Mayer said the election shifts the makeup of the nine-member council from a 5-4 majority favoring development to a 6-3 progressive split, bolstered by newcomers and a familiar face. Hawaii News Now.

Gov. Green designates 25 Opportunity Zones statewide, including two census tracts on Maui. The Opportunity Zones 2.0 program offers federal tax incentives to investors who put long-term capital into designated low-income communities, with additional benefits for eligible rural areas. Maui Now.

24 businesses selected for Lahaina’s ʻUlu o Lele Marketplace ahead of Nov. 10 grand opening. Seventeen modular storefronts built in Hilo have arrived on Maui and are being installed at the former Outlets of Maui site ahead of the Nov. 10 grand opening. Maui Now.

Kauai

US Navy, NASA withdraw final environmental impact statement for Pacific Missile Range Facility, Kōkeʻe Park Geophysical Observatory. Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources received notice Thursday that U.S. Department of the Navy and NASA withdrew their final environmental impact statement covering Pacific Missile Range Facility and Kōkeʻe Park Geophysical Observatory on Kauaʻi. The agencies plan to amend the environmental impact statement for the leased sites before resubmitting in 2027. Kauai Now. Aloha State Daily.

Loss of last ‘akikiki in the wild linked to avian malaria. The ‘akikiki, or Oreomystis bairdi, is a Hawaiian forest bird found only on Kauai — more specifically, within a small, approximately 14-square-mile area of the Alaka‘i Wilderness Preserve. Star-Advertiser. Garden Island. 

Attorney General Lopez out of a job as Green plans new Cabinet, Montana man pleads guilty to cyberstalking Green family, most election toss-ups settled, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. Green will not reappoint Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez. Gov. Josh Green has decided not to renew Attorney General Anne Lopez’s contract. The governor’s office said they are assembling Green’s second-term cabinet and will announce appointments at a later date. Hawaii News Now.

Green, Kawakami outline state priorities with major push on housing, affordability. Following their election night victory, Gov. Josh Green and Lt. Gov.-elect Derek Kawakami outlined their administration’s plans for the next four years, placing affordable housing development, energy costs, and state-county alignment at the top of their legislative agenda. Hawaii News Now.

Montana man pleads guilty to cyberstalking after threatening Gov. Green, his family. A Montana man accused of threatening to kill Hawaii Gov. Josh Green and his family pleaded guilty to cyberstalking Wednesday. The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that Eric Lee Boltz, 52, pleaded guilty to one count of cyberstalking. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii’s GOP losses linked to ‘blue tsunami’. House Republicans lost three of their 10 seats Tuesday night and more could be decided by 17,000 to 18,000 Honolulu ballots that were still being processed Wednesday night. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio. Aloha State Daily.

Most OHA Incumbents Ahead But Longtime Trustee Losing His Seat. As of the latest results Wednesday morning, in a six-way contest for three at-large seats on the board, former Honolulu Councilmember Ikaika Anderson led the pack. Trustee Keoni Souza, who trailed in early results, had pulled ahead to second place by Wednesday morning. Trustee Brickwood Galuteria, another incumbent, came in third. John Waiheʻe IV, who has been on the board for 24 years, was in fourth place and may lose reelection. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. 

Oahu

Nail-biter races for Hawaii Legislature seats produce shifting leads. A few election races for seats in the state Legislature remained in limbo Wednesday evening with over 17,000 ballots from Oahu voters awaiting tabulation after an earlier update in the day altered the likelihood of winning or losing for some candidates. Star-Advertiser.

City seeks public input on plans to improve safety along major roadways. The City and County of Honolulu Department of Transportation Services (DTS) held its second public workshop Wednesday at Central Union Church, focusing on Beretania, Young and King streets. Hawaii News Now.

Shopping-cart bill faces scrutiny over homelessness concerns. The Honolulu City Council today is set to consider a controversial measure regulating shopping carts on Oahu, amid concerns over public safety and its potential effects on those experiencing homelessness. Star-Advertiser.

Habitual traffic offender Mitchel Yoshiji Miyashiro gets 20 years for killing teen. A man who had no driver’s license and 164 prior traffic citations to his name when he ran over and killed a 16-year-old girl before fleeing to an illegal gambling den and lying about it to police will spend 20 years in prison. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. 

Hawaii Island

Final 3 council races decided: Enriquez, Rodenhurst, Aki emerge victorious. Despite three tight races in the Hawaii County Council general election runoffs on Tuesday, none were close enough to trigger an automatic recount. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now. 

Brown Water Advisory Issued for Hilo Bay, Hāmākua Coast. The Department of Health Clean Water Branch on Wednesday said beach users should stay out of waters that appear brown or murky, especially following storms or heavy rain when the water may contain higher than normal pollutant levels. Big Island Video News.

Changes planned following fracas at UH Hilo. Officials at the University of Hawaii at Hilo and the state Department of Education have reviewed an affray that occurred Oct. 17 on the university campus at a conference intended to inspire Pacific Islander teens to succeed in college, careers and community service. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Hawaiʻi Green Party Candidate Makes History, Edges Democrat. Pāʻele Kiakona appears to have defeated Sne Patel for the House District 14 seat that includes Lahaina. For only the fifth time in national history, a Green Party candidate appears to have been elected to a state legislature. Civil Beat. Maui Now. 

Election could lead to major changes for Maui County Council. If the results hold, the new council members will join four others who have focused on community-led land and water stewardship initiatives, creating a potential "supermajority" on Maui County Council.  Maui News.

2026 Hawai‘i General Election Results. The Maui results remain unchanged following a fourth statewide summary report released just before 10 p.m. on Wednesday, more than 24 hours after the polls closed at 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Maui Now.

Homeless cleared from encampment offered space in Maui County’s new ‘safe parking’ lot. Program in Puʻunēnē has space for up to 50 vehicles; 23 people had agreed to move as of Wednesday morning. Hawaii News Now.

Mayor Richard Bissen temporarily out of state Nov. 5-10, 2026. Mayor Richard Bissen will travel out of state Thursday morning, Nov. 5, until Tuesday evening, Nov. 10, 2026. During his absence, County of Maui Managing Director Josiah Nishita will serve as acting mayor in accordance with the County Charter. Maui Now.

Kauai

Mel Rapozo claims 56.5% of vote, poised to lead Kauaʻi as next mayor. Rapozo maintained his lead in the mayoral race according to the third election printout results. Kauai Now. Garden Island. 

State investigates 2 cases of Legionnaires’ disease linked to stays at Nihi Kai Villas on Kauaʻi. State health officials received water testing results from Nihi Kai Villas on Oct. 13 indicating the presence of Legionella bacteria, the microorganism that causes the illness, in the property’s water systems. Kauai Now.

Blue Hawaii gains deeper hue, Dems expected to pick up 6 seats in state Legislature, Gov. Green wins reelection by landslide, more election news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Democrat Gov. Josh Green secures 2nd term in Hawaii’s largest gubernatorial victory ever. Gov. Josh Green won a resounding reelection victory Tuesday as he and his running mate, outgoing Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami, defeated the Republican ticket by a record-setting 50 percentage points. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2. KITV4.

Democrats expected to pick up 6 seats in Legislature. Five incumbents in the state Legislature — all Republicans — are facing defeat based on Tuesday night’s second printout results representing most votes cast, though a few races remain too close to call.  Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. 

Voters Embrace Construction Bond Measure Backed By Unions. Voters overwhelmingly favored two proposed constitutional amendments including one that would allow counties to issue special bonds to pay for some infrastructure improvements. The other would give the Senate more time to confirm judges once they are nominated by the governor. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio. 

U.S. Reps. Ed Case and Jill Tokuda easily win reelection. U.S. Reps. Ed Case and Jill Tokuda easily won reelection Tuesday, joining a nationwide “blue tsunami” that will see a return of Democratic control of both the House and Senate when the next Congress is sworn in. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Hawaii Public Radio. KHON2. 

OHA: Most Incumbents Ahead, With Some Leads Still Narrow. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs may have a new at-large trustee if an initial round of election results holds. The overall outcome of this election could change the makeup and leadership of the board, including whether Kai Kahele retains his position as chairman. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio. 

Oahu

Trevor Ozawa Wins Back Honolulu City Council Seat, 8 Years Later. With most votes counted, Trevor Ozawa is on track to comfortably beat his opponent Tara Malia Gregory and win reelection to his old City Council seat representing East Honolulu.  Civil Beat.

Bob McDermott v. Markus Owens: Ewa Beach face off for Senate seat. The race for District 20 has flipped from its first results. Now, Bob McDermott is ahead of Markus Owens. KHON2.

Voters reject ranked choice voting. Ranked choice voting — among the most consequential City and County of Honolulu charter amendment questions before voters — was rejected Tuesday. The 20 Honolulu charter amendment questions covered a variety of issues, including housing affordability, food security funding, immigration enforcement and establishing new government offices. Star-Advertiser.

Oʻahu voters approve new Food Security Fund. Oʻahu voters passed a charter amendment that creates a new Food Security Fund for the City and County of Honolulu. The fund would receive 0.5% of annual real property tax revenues. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Big Island Election Results: 3 New Council Members Win Open Seats. Hawaiʻi island voters decided who would fill three empty council seats on Tuesday. Early voting results show Eileen O’Hara, Ikaika Rodenhurst and Zed Kaʻapana Aki in the lead to represent districts 4, 5 and 6. Civil Beat. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. 

Maui

Maui Election Results: Bissen Blasts Past Sugimura In Mayor’s Race. New members are headed to the Maui County Council, election results show. Civil Beat. Maui News. Maui Now. 

Democrat Patel just 70 votes ahead of Green Party Kiakona in West Maui House race. Fewer than 100 votes separate the two leading candidates in the race to represent West Maui in the state House of Representatives, at the second printout of state election results. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Kauaʻi Election Results: Rapozo Tops Carvalho For Mayor. Kaua‘i County Council Chair Mel Rapozo, with 56.2% of the vote, is in the lead for Kaua‘i mayor, Tuesday’s preliminary election results show, with fellow council member Bernard Carvalho Jr. having 37.9% of the vote.  Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio.  Kauai Now.  Garden Island. 

Army proposes ending some land leases, officials urge ballot drop off rather than in-person voting today, deep dysfunction at OHA, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Army proposes ending leases on lands ahead of expiration. The Army would like to terminate its leases on 4,390 acres at the Kawailoa-Poamoho Training Area and 782 acres at the Makua Military Reservation. It also said that it would like to “partially terminate” leases for 700 acres at the Kahuku Training Area and 3,000 acres at the Pohakuloa Training Area, according to an Army letter to the state Board of Land and Natural Resources. Star-Advertiser.
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OHA decides to delay new CEO selection. Investigative Reports Expose Deep Dysfunction At Office Of Hawaiian Affairs. Systemic issues have prevented the agency and its Board of Trustees from working together, including poorly defined responsibilities for the board chair and CEO, unclear budget policies and conflicting leadership styles. Civil Beat. KHON2. 

Mortgage Payments Soar, Locking Many Out Of Housing Market. As rising costs drive away homebuyers, data shows houses are sitting on the market for longer. Hawaiʻi’s current housing market is inhospitable to both would-be homebuyers and sellers looking to offload a house, according to recent data from real estate platforms Zillow and Redfin. Civil Beat.

Sheriff Deputies’ union opposes proposal to divide pay scales. The union representing the state’s nearly 300 Sheriff’s deputies opposes a plan to reclassify and give a pay bump to 60% of its personnel, calling it divisive and cautioning it will make recruitment and retention worse. Star-Advertiser.

FEMA rejects individual assistance for storm victims. More than 500 property owners impacted by Hurricanes Lala and Lowell will not receive aid from the federal government, and it’s unclear why. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has rejected a request to provide individual assistance for hurricane victims on Kauaʻi and Hawaiʻi County.  Hawaii News Now.

Will Republicans make more gains in Hawaiʻi? 6 things to watch on Election Day. Hawaiʻi's Office of Elections expects to release results on Tuesday evening, after the last person in line at voter service centers has cast their ballot. Anyone in line at 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Election officials urge putting ballots in drop boxes today. The quickest way for Oahu voters to still vote in person today is to do their research at home and place ballots in a drop box outside Honolulu Hale, Kapolei Hale or at a remote drop-box location near where they live, said Rex Quidilla, administrator for Honolulu’s elections division. Star-Advertiser.

Taxpayers Spent $700K On These Tiny Homes. Hawaiʻi Ditched Them For $1. The “jewel in the crown” of Gov. Josh Green’s kauhale initiative for the homeless was offloaded to a Kalihi church. The support services disappeared as well.  Civil Beat.

McCully District Park to close for building, pool renovations. Two renovation projects are set to begin at McCully District Park, bringing temporary closures to its recreation building and swimming pool. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

County hires Kanani Aton as recovery officer. As recovery officer, she will be responsible for leading and coordinating the county’s disaster recovery operations and overseeing community engagement. Tribune-Herald.

Hilo sets a few heat records despite abundant rain. Thundershowers late last week in Hilo led to some substantial rainfall totals for the 96-hour period ending at 8 a.m. Monday. Among populated areas in East Hawaii, Laupahoehoe’s higher-elevation gauge recorded the highest total at 16.48 inches, while Mountain View reported 5.99 inches, and Hilo International Airport measured 5.48 inches. At Hilo International Airport,  the mercury shot up to 89 degrees this past Sunday and on Tuesday and Thursday last week, setting record highs for the dates of Oct. 27 and 29 and Nov. 1. Tribune-Herald. 

State warns of whale carcass pieces floating off the Kona Coast. The sperm whale carcass was first seen drifting along the Kona Coast last Tuesday, according to the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. State officers, along with a trained responder, towed the carcass off shore off Honokohau Harbor on Wednesday evening. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

County to launch safe parking program with Pulehu Road cleanup set for Wednesday-Friday. Led by the county's Department of Human Concerns, a multiagency effort Nov. 4-6 will focus on helping eligible people living along the road move to a designated temporary safe parking site in the Puunene area. Maui News.

Līloa Hale opens applications for 117 affordable senior units in Kīhei, Maui. Līloa Hale, located at 1745 Liloa Drive in Kīhei, will feature 101 one-bedroom, one-bath apartments and 16 two-bedroom, one-bath apartments. The three-story senior housing community will also include private lānai, a multipurpose area, laundry facilities, a manager’s office, mailroom, and on-site parking. Maui Now.

Maui Health selects general contractor for Kula Hospital restoration; Targets late-summer 2027 reopening. The project includes repairs and modernization of interior spaces and essential building systems, including resident rooms, activity rooms, and nurse stations. Exterior windows and doors will be replaced with weather-protective units designed to meet historic-preservation requirements and better protect the facility from future severe weather. Maui Now.

Kauai

Hurricane Lowell recovery, County of Kaua‘i services update. Due to high demand, the Kaua‘i Hurricane Lowell Business Recovery Grant Program is no longer accepting applications. Garden Island.

State survey will assess impacts from Hurricane Lowell. From Nov. 16-20, survey teams will go door to door in 30 randomly selected census blocks. Seven homes within each block will be systematically selected for a total of 210 attempted household surveys. Kauai Now.

League of Women Voters seeks to end filing of blank bills; state tax director Suganuma cleared of workplace violence, whistleblower investigated; Alaska Air lays off 200, citing high fuel costs, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Bill intro deadline appeal lodged with high court. The Hawaii Supreme Court is being asked to put a damper on a common practice at the Legislature that allows state lawmakers to skirt a deadline for introducing bills each year. Used for decades by many lawmakers, the practice involves introducing bills that lack substantive language — effectively blank bills — that can be amended later and made law after a full complement of required public readings. During this year’s legislative session from Jan. 21 to May 8, more than 200 such bills called “short form bills” were introduced. Star-Advertiser.

Court breaks impasse over elections commission meetings.  The Hawaii Supreme Court in a unanimous decision Friday ruled that a single commissioner can direct the state Office of Elections to set up a meeting for the nine-member commission, settling an issue that has prevented the state Elections Commission from holding monthly meetings since its last one in June. Star-Advertiser.

Lauhala Basket Is Back In Proposed Election Tiebreaker Rules. The proposed administrative regulations could still result in the use of a basket and plastic capsules to determine winners by random lot. Civil Beat.

Tax department ‘whistleblower’ now under investigation after director cleared of allegations. State Tax Director Gary Suganuma has been cleared of allegations he had violated the Department of Taxation’s Workplace Violence Action Plan and various executive branch policies regarding discrimination and a harassment-free workplace. Min Meng, the Tax Department’s administrative services officer and its former human resources specialist, is now under investigation.  Star-Advertiser.

Economic woes have residents leaving Hawaii, delaying retirement. Research by the Hawai‘i Workforce Funders Collaborative found that of approximately 371,600 projected job openings in Hawaii between 2022 and 2032, only about 101,200 were in occupations with average wages at or above the estimated living wage for a single adult. Star-Advertiser.

10 Races To Watch In Hawaiʻi’s Nov. 3 Election. Contests could upset the balance of power in Maui, Kauaʻi and Hawaiʻi island. Constitutional amendments and charter changes are also on the ballot. Civil Beat.

Alaska Air lays off 200 workers as fuel costs continue to climb. Facing a potential $700 million loss driven by record fuel costs, Alaska Air Group will cut 200 management jobs, including 48 in Hawaii, as it seeks to reduce overhead and streamline operations.  Star-Advertiser.

Warmer future could bring stronger storms closer to Hawaii, study finds. The current hurricane season, which runs through November, underscored Hawaii’s vulnerabilities to tropical cyclones, and a new University of Hawaii study predicts a warmer future could lead to stronger storms and could bring storms closer to the islands in El Nino years. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu expecting election day surge of in-person voting.  With early returns of mail-in ballots from Oahu voters continuing to lag by about 20% compared to the same point in the last midterm general election in 2022, Honolulu elections officials are bracing for a last-minute surge in-person voting Tuesday, which could once again delay the release of election results statewide. Star-Advertiser.

Council members targeted in Sunshine Law probe. The state Office of Information Practices is investigating an alleged Oct. 5 gathering at Zippy’s Waipahu involving five City Council members. Star-Advertiser.

Lawsuit: Honolulu Officials Protected Firefighter Accused Of Rape. The Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office declined to file charges against a battalion chief accused of raping a colleague in his office, the complaint says. Civil Beat.

City Council urges the return of Bellows military lands to Hawaii. The Honolulu City Council is urging the federal government to return lands used by Bellows Air Force Station in Windward Oahu to the people of Hawaii, citing the property’s historical ties to the Hawaiian Kingdom and arguing that portions are no longer needed for their original military purposes. Star-Advertiser.

She’s Famous As The Shark Whisperer. These Divers Recall A Toxic Boss. More than a dozen former workers report workplace abuses they say they suffered at One Ocean Diving, which has been operating cageless shark tours on the North Shore for more than a decade. Civil Beat.

100 Roosters Are Driving These Oʻahu Neighbors Nuts. Residents in Kahaluʻu are mad that their neighbor is keeping more than 100 noisy chickens – and that the city is doing nothing about it. Civil Beat. 

14 evaluated after pepper spray incident evacuates Blaisdell craft fair. According to a vendor, a customer was examining a pepper spray canister at a booth when they accidentally activated it, releasing its contents into the air. Hawaii News Now. KITV4. 

Hawaii Island

A 6-Month Vacation? Hawaiʻi Council Deadlocked On Short-Term Rental Bill. A bill would expand where vacation rentals are allowed and lengthen the rental period considered short-term to 180 days. Civil Beat.

High court suspends Hilo attorney. The Hawaii Supreme Court on Friday entered an order immediately and indefinitely suspending Hilo attorney Charles Michael Heaukulani from the practice of law in the State of Hawaii for his failure to cooperate with six pending disciplinary investigations. Tribune-Herald.

Iconic Hilo museum is ‘back full-time’. The Pacific Tsunami Museum in downtown Hilo is again open seven days a week with paid staffers after a stormy sail through dire financial straits. Tribune-Herald.

Reusable food containers program kicks off in Hilo. Through the program, participating businesses will offer stainless steel takeout containers in place of disposable ones. Customers can return the dishes to any of the collection bins, where they will be picked up, cleaned, sanitized and returned to restaurants to be reused. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News. 

Maui

County of Maui and Kamehameha Schools propose shared stewardship of Lahaina water resources. The County of Maui and Ke Kula ʻo Kamehameha  on Friday announced a proposed agreement for Kamehameha to transfer its option to acquire the Launiupoko Irrigation Company system to the County. Maui Now.

Construction underway on Kīhei Space Force facility as South Maui leader calls for resource transparency. Construction is underway on the US Space Force’s new Secure Integration Support Laboratory (SISL) in Kīhei at Līpoa on Maui, formerly known as the Maui Research and Technology Park. The 56,000-square-foot, two-story facility has drawn both defense of its operational stability and community scrutiny regarding resource usage and impacts. Maui Now.

Three new electric bus charging stations unveiled at Kahului Transit Center. The Maui County Department of Transportation unveiled three new electric bus charging stations during a blessing ceremony Friday at the Kahului Transit Center. Maui News.

When ballots fly: What happens to Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi votes after the polls close. Ballots from Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi take a trip aboard special flights on Kamaka Air. At the Kahului Airport, the ballots are met by election officials and transported to the County building in Wailuku. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Over 800 Hawaiian homestead leases given on Kauai. The state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is offering beneficiaries 832 leases for homesteads on Kauai largely slated for development in the coming years. Star-Advertiser. Kauai Now. Garden Island. 

Hanamā‘ulu Beach Park to close for maintenance in November.  The park closure is necessary to allow the Department of Parks and Recreation and partner agencies to clean the park, repair facilities, trim trees, maintain the grounds and remove abandoned vehicles. Kauai Now.