FEMA reviews Hawaii Covid funding in wake of corruption investigation, PUC rejects HECO power plant proposal, Hawaiian Telcom nets $150M broadband contract, Peter Boy siblings get $3.25M from state, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

FEMA reviews Hawaii’s COVID funding after Sylvia Luke indictment. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is reviewing FEMA-­funded COVID-19 work that has been tied to the public corruption indictment of Hawaii Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and four others, and the agency said it may seek repayment or other enforcement actions if it finds improper spending. Star-Advertiser.

Hawai‘i Could Hit New Low For Voter Turnout This Year. Oʻahu voters seem apathetic. But competitive mayoral races on Kauaʻi and Maui, where candidates have spent big, are energizing voters. Civil Beat.

New images of the sun show its surface in the finest detail yet.  Researchers were able to peek at its scorching surface with the help of the National Science Foundation’s Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope, located on the island of Maui in Hawaii.  Associated Press. Reuters. 

Anti-war advocates protest RIMPAC in Hawai'i. The 30th Rim of the Pacific, or RIMPAC exercise, ended last week, but dozens of anti-war advocates gathered at the state Capitol Tuesday to protest military action across the islands. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiʻi Moves Forward With $150M Fiber Optic Broadband Expansion. Hawaiian Telcom has been contracted to deliver fiber-optic service to approximately 5,800 homes that currently lack modern broadband access. Big Island Video News. Garden Island.

Oahu

PUC rejects HECO’s power plant proposal ‘without demonstration of need’. The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission declined Hawaiian Electric Co.’s request to add a 500-megawatt power plant, finding that it would not be in the public’s best interest to move forward without identifying whether Oahu needs it. Star-Advertiser.

With Waters’ departure, 3 vie for East Honolulu Council seat. East Honolulu’s City Council race has been reshaped after Council Chair Tommy Waters was disqualified from seeking a third consecutive term, leaving three candidates vying for the seat he has held since 2019. In District 4, former Council member Trevor Ozawa, small-business owner Tara Malia Gregory and city employee Jason Liang are competing to represent the area stretching from Waikiki to Hawaii Kai. Star-Advertiser.

JERA takes public comment on importing LNG to power Hawaiʻi. JERA Americas held the first of two community meeting events in Honolulu on Aug. 3, which drew about 75 people. Hawaii Public Radio.

OCCC inmate captured after nearly 11-hour manhunt. An inmate who escaped from the Oahu Community Correctional Center Wednesday morning was captured after a manhunt that lasted nearly 11 hours. Joseph Tauilemua, 20, was arrested on military property at around 8 p.m. by Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam police, according to the Honolulu Police Department.  Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

Honolulu police use drones as first responders in 2 districts. The Honolulu Police Department is using drones as first responders to 911 calls for police service and requests for help in two patrol districts as part of a push to use technology to expand public safety. Star-Advertiser.

Proposed master plan for Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden includes new tourist fee. Dozens of community members joined botanical garden staff Wednesday night for an interactive presentation of the near-final master plan for Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden, which includes proposals for renovated facilities and a tourist entry fee. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

State agrees to $3.25M settlement with Peter Boy Kema’s siblings. The state has agreed to apologize and pay $3.25 million to the siblings of Peter “Pepe” Kema to settle a years-long civil lawsuit over the 6-year-old’s tragic death. An attorney for the Kema family said the proposed agreement would compensate Chauntelle, Allan, and Lina Acol, who filed the lawsuit against the state in 2018. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiʻi Island lawmakers set to redefine role of main economic agency. The Department of Research and Development collects economic data and supports local industries like agriculture, energy, and tourism. Some county council members say the department’s mandate in county code is vague. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiʻi County reaches agreement with landowner to prevent eminent domain for widening of a Puna road. The Hawaiʻi County Council was going to vote Wednesday on whether to authorize condemnation of 3.74 acres of land to make Government Beach Road safer, but was asked to postpone the decision to allow for the agreement to be finalized with Lum Family Enterprises. Big Island Now.

Council OK’s coconut rhinoceros beetle resolution urging state to do more. Advocates for a new rule aimed at stopping the spread of the invasive coconut rhinoceros beetle on Hawaii Island say that its implementation and enforcement has been lacking since going into effect earlier this year. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiʻi County’s District 4 is an open council seat with Ashley Kierkiewicz unable to run due to term limits. The candidates are Shannon Smiley Burrows, Lloyd Enriquez, Cyd Makanui Hoffeld, and Eileen O’Hara. Big Island Now.

Kona Community Hospital verified as level III trauma Center. The designation, given by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma, means the hospital meets criteria to care for critically injured trauma patients, officials said. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Maui police lieutenant arrested by the FBI. Lieutenant Michael Vaitu‘ulala, a Maui Police Department lieutenant suspended earlier this year after allegations he covered for a New Year’s Eve party featuring illegal aerial fireworks was arrested by FBI agents Tuesday. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now. 

Infrastructure improvements underway at new Līpoa, master-planned community in South Maui. Pacific Rim Land is underway with infrastructure improvements at Līpoa, a 400-acre mixed-use, master-planned innovation community in South Maui featuring commercial, residential and recreation spaces. Maui Now.

Additional Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB) detections on Maui prompt community action alert. Following two recent detections in Central Maui, the Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC) is urging the community to remain alert for invasive coconut rhinoceros beetles. Maui Now.

A Viral Hawaiian Monk Seal Changes The Conversation On Molokaʻi. A critically endangered seal’s chance encounter with the owner of a popular local social media account has brought community members together after recent killings of the protected species. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Six candidates battle in Aug. 8 primary to become Kauaʻi’s next mayor. The candidates, which include three current Kauaʻi County Council members, are all running to replace term-limited Derek S.K. Kawakami.  Three of the candidates are currently county council members: Chair Mel Rapozo, Felicia Cowden, and Bernard Carvalho Jr., who also formerly served as mayor. The other candidates are Laura Andaya-Lindsey, Michaela Widener and Megeso William Denis. Kauai Now.

Kauaʻi County launches solid waste infrastructure survey. Kauaʻi County Solid Waste Division recently launched a countywide survey — limited to a randomly selected sample of Kauaʻi residents — to help county officials better understand resident views about landfills and long-term solid waste needs. Kauai Now.

State poised to disburse $129M in green fee proceeds, new DLNR rules seek to protect wildlife, corruption defendants could lose half their government pensions if convicted, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Applications open for initial Hawaiʻi Green Fee funding opportunities. Community organizations, nonprofits, Native Hawaiian organizations, conservation groups and other eligible entities are encouraged to apply for $129 million in funding through the State of Hawaiʻi’s initial Green Fee Requests for Proposals. Big Island Now.

State wants new protections for native wildlife. To protect threatened and endangered indigenous wildlife across the islands, the Department of Land and Natural Resources announced proposed changes to state law on Tuesday. The changes aim to address harassment toward animals, feeding them, changing their habitat, and harmful species that travel through plants.  Hawaii News Now.

Corruption Defendants, If Convicted, Could Lose Half Their Pensions. The latest bribery case could be the first opportunity for a judge to apply Hawaiʻi’s new pension forfeiture law.  Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, ex-state Rep. Ryan Yamane, Ford Fuchigami, airport administrator of the Department of Transportation and former member of the state Senate’s budget staff, and Leo Asuncion, a state planning official, former chair of the Public Utilities Commission and Luke’s former campaign treasurer, all face bribery charges.
Civil Beat.

Guard Deployment To Washington Into 2029 Will Cost Roughly $1.4B. Hawai‘i will bring home its 27 members later this month after the Freedom 250 Grand Prix. Associated Press.

OHA at-large races draw crowded primary field. Five incumbents are seeking another term on the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees in the Aug. 8 primary election, with the crowded at-large race featuring 15 candidates competing for three seats. Star-Advertiser.

Kupu Awarded $1.75 Million AmeriCorps Grant. Kupu, a nonprofit conservation and youth education organization in Hawaiʻi, has received a federal grant of $1.75 million from AmeriCorps.  Big Island Video News.

Oahu

‘Out Of Options’: Siting Oʻahu’s New Landfill Is A Political Nightmare. Mayor Rick Blangiardi is in an impossible position. With the island’s only municipal landfill ordered to close by 2031, he needs to find a new place to put the island’s trash. But his first three suggestions have been shouted down by communities who refuse to play host to a dump.  Civil Beat.

Cost Of Honolulu Rail Line At Risk Of Climbing Again. A recent analysis suggests the total cost of rail may rise to $10.19 billion, about $111 million more than the current budget. Civil Beat.

HPD launches drone first responder pilot program. The Honolulu Police Department is launching a new pilot program Wednesday that will allow drones to respond to certain 911 calls before officers arrive. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

AI tool will be required for residential permit applications. Applicants for residential permits in Honolulu will be required to use an AI tool to double-check their work starting in September. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hanauma Bay closure extended for additional repairs. The temporary closure of Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve has been extended by one week due to additional sewer-related repairs. The City and County of Honolulu said the preserve is now scheduled to reopen to the public on Wednesday, Aug. 19. Hawaii News Now.

Access to land is one of the biggest issues for Oʻahu farmers. Access to land is one of the most significant barriers for farmers’ success on Oʻahu, according to an interim report from the Honolulu City Council's Agricultural Development Task Force. It published its interim report in July with three key findings, one of the most significant being the “availability, affordability, and long-term protection of agricultural land.” Hawaii Public Radio.

Residents react to post-storm clearing of Manoa Stream.  While Manoa residents are pleased to see mitigation work begin on the stream, many still had questions about the scope and nature of the project, and how it will prevent future floods. The project was funded through $9.5 million from the state’s Major Disaster Fund. Star-Advertiser.

Tommy Waters faces uphill battle with appeal, attorney says. Honolulu City Council Chair Tommy Waters’ appeal of a ruling that disqualified his reelection bid faces major hurdles in court and is unlikely to be heard before Saturday’s primary, an attorney with expertise in election law says. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

District 1: Incumbent Councilwoman Heather Kimball seeks re-election for 4th and final term against two challengers. Kimball is being challenged by retired entrepreneur Ren del Rosario and UFC Hall of Famer BJ Penn. Big Island Now.

Zoo optimistic after implementing admission fees: More than $500,000 collected. A little less than a year after the Pana‘ewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens began charging admission fees, the county-owned and operated park has netted over half a million dollars in revenue. Tribune-Herald.

DKI Highway safety crackdown continues with 283 citations in three days. Hawaii Island police said they issued 283 citations on Saddle Road between July 31 and Aug. 2. This includes 174 speeding citations, 13 moving citations, 12 seatbelt citations, one child restraint citation, eight unsafe overtaking citations, 35 motor vehicle registration and one OVUII arrest. KHON2.

Ha‘aheo Elementary School reopens after 3-year, $25 million project to expand campus in North Hilo. The 138-year-old Ha‘aheo Elementary School is welcoming students back to its renovated campus in North Hilo on Wednesday following a $25 million construction project that doubled the size of the campus facilities, with the addition of three new buildings. Big Island Now.

Maui

Resort riot attracts unwanted attention for Maui tourism. A California family’s widely shared account of an alleged hate-motivated attack while vacationing in West Maui has raised concerns that the negative national publicity could hamper the island’s fragile tourism recovery. Star-Advertiser.

Maui County mayoral primary narrows 10-candidate field to 2 on Saturday. The three candidates who have raised the most campaign funds are incumbent Mayor Richard Bissen, Maui County Councilwoman Yuki Lei Sugimura and real estate broker P. Denise La Costa. Hawaii News Now.

East Maui Water Authority accepting grant applications. From Aug. 12 to Oct. 1, the East Maui Water Authority will accept applications for grants supporting watershed restoration, education, research and cultural knowledge-sharing benefiting Huelo, Honomanū, Keʻanae and Nāhiku. Maui News.

Hawaiian Community Assets announces first Maui Strong homes ready for wildfire survivor families beginning Aug. 28. Hawaiian Community Assets, a statewide nonprofit housing counseling agency, announced that the first four Wailuku homes offered through its Ua Hale Aʻela program for Maui wildfire survivors will be available for occupancy beginning Aug. 28, 2026.  Maui Now.

Lahaina voices: 'Coming home for me is multilayered'. Aug. 8 will mark three years since the 2023 wildfires destroyed Lahaina town and parts of upcountry Maui. Hawaii Public Radio.

Rep. Jill Tokuda visits Lahaina three years after the fire. U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda recently visited the Valley Isle to attend Lahaina Homecoming.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Chan Zuckerberg Fund invests more than $330,000 for Kauaʻiʻs education. Kauaʻi's schools have received over $330,000 in unrestricted funds from the Chan Zuckerberg Kauaʻi Community Fund.  To kick off the school year, the Chan Zuckerberg Kauaʻi Community Fund announced $330,000 in grants to support all 16 of Kauaʻi’s public schools, the island’s seven public charter schools and Kumu’s Cupboard, a Līhuʻe nonprofit that provides free classroom supplies to teachers and other educational support staff throughout the year. Kauai Now. Garden Island. 

Dela Cruz silent on indictment of former staffer, judge allows Trump administration to refile fossil fuels lawsuit against Hawaii, back to school with more HPD officers on Oahu campuses, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Dela Cruz Silent On Bribery Charges Leveled At Former Staff Member. The Senate says the job duties of former staffer Ford Fuchigami, now accused of bribery, didn’t include work on Covid-19 emergency funds. Civil Beat.

Many Candidates For Hawaiʻi Legislature Favor Changes To Business As Usual. Challengers support term limits, investigations when legislators behave badly and better reporting on the financial impact of bills. Civil Beat.

Judge allows feds to file new fossil fuels lawsuit against Hawaii. The Trump administration can now refile its lawsuit to stop Hawaii from suing fossil fuel companies, a judge has ruled. The United States sued Hawaii in April 2025, seeking to stop the state from filing a planned lawsuit against major oil companies for deceptive marketing practices that contributed to climate change harms. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii joins states suing Trump over benefits data sharing with ICE. Hawaii joined a coalition of Democratic-led U.S. states Monday  to sue the Trump administration over a new policy allowing federal immigration authorities to access information on low-income families in cash-assistance programs. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii advocates worry about federal overhaul of Head Start preschool program. The federal government is expected to change the rules to increase local control, cut administrative burdens and shift education standards to states. KITV4.

Hawaii public schools reopen for new academic year. State Department of Education officials said Monday was the official start of Hawaii’s 2026-27 academic year, but schools can set their own schedules and use the first day differently, including for professional development. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii facing ‘sluggish’ job growth through 2034. Overall, the top five best opportunities include jobs for registered nurses, carpenters and bartenders. On the other hand, industries where jobs are expected to contract include retail, agriculture, finance and real estate. Star-Advertiser.

Mokulele resumes interisland flights between Kona and Kahului. You can now make reservations for the newest available interisland flight connecting Hawaiʻi Island and Maui. Mokulele Airlines plans to start the flights linking Kona and Kahului on Oct. 1.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

HPD officers in schools program expands reach on Oʻahu.  Pilot program that puts retired officers on Oʻahu school campuses is expanding on the island's west side, adding Nānākuli High and Intermediate School to the mix. Hawaii Public Radio.

JERA says LNG can save Hawaii money, critics unconvinced. Japanese energy giant JERA invited the public to open house events to learn more about their proposed liquefied natural gas project that some said could lower Hawaii’s electric bills. KHON2.

Dee Lite Bakery demolition begins to make way for affordable housing. Once complete, the redevelopment will become new housing, with the goal of allowing Honolulu residents to live near jobs, services and public transit. KHON2.

East Oahu voters left in limbo as Waters awaits hearing on appeal. The confusion surrounding the District 4 contest continued Monday as Council Chair Tommy Waters awaits a hearing date with the state Intermediate Court of Appeals on his challenge of Circuit Court Judge James H. Ashford’s July 27 ruling that he is ineligible to seek a third consecutive term. Star-Advertiser.

We Reported On A Dangerous Crosswalk. State DOT Fixed It. The previous signal timing put turning vehicles on a potential collision path with pedestrians at a busy Honolulu intersection. State engineers took action. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

District 2 incumbent for Hawai‘i County Council faces 4 challengers. Jennifer "Jenn" Kagiwada is seeking re-election for a third two-year term, but she has competition from Blaine Bautista, JoNelle Fukushima, Wendy Botelho and William Halversen. Big Island Now.

After 3 years, Hilo school reopens amid ongoing $25M upgrade. The site now includes three new buildings, doubling its previous facility size and adding a new cafeteria, library, computer lab, classrooms, common areas and storage space. The entire school, which opened in 1888, was also outfitted with air conditioning and accessibility features. Tribune-Herald. Hawaii News Now. 

Big Island groups receive $625,000 for wildfire mitigation. Just days after a fire scorched 680 acres in South Kohala, three Hawaii Island organizations were recently awarded $625,000 to support mitigation efforts. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Longshot Congressional Candidate Arrested After Maui Beach Altercation. Kirill Basin was charged with two counts of terroristic threatening following an incident at Keawakapu Beach. Bail was set at $1 million. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. 

Maui County’s rapid growth strains its human resources system, slowing hiring, Council committee told. In just six years, Maui County’s budget has nearly doubled. Five new departments have been added, and the county absorbed the aftermath of the 2023 Lahaina wildfires — all while the administrative rules governing hiring and personnel matters have not been updated since December 2002, county officials told a Maui County Council committee Thursday. Maui Now.

Maui Council panel reviews non-binding agreement for ML&P’s Honokōhau ditch system, other West Maui water assets. Maui County could more than double public control of West Maui’s drinking water under a proposed deal with Maui Land & Pineapple Co., but County Council members on Wednesday pushed back on provisions in a memorandum of understanding that would combine the water purchase with zoning changes for housing on land the company wants to keep for development. Maui Now.

Kauai

Not So Public: Kaua‘i Council’s Testimony Policy Leaves Public In The Dark. It’s the only county council in the state that forces citizens to file records requests to access written public testimony. Civil Beat.

Wildfire is top concern in Kauaʻi’s latest hazard mitigation plan. About 75% of Kauaʻi’s population lives in medium and high hazard fire zones, and more than $13 billion worth of property and assets across the county are at risk of burning down. Hawaii Public Radio.

Trump administration admits cutting Hawaii energy grants because it voted Democrat, carpenters union dumps millions into primary campaigns, RIMPAC wraps up, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Trump Administration Lawyers Admit Hawaiʻi Funding Cuts Were Partisan. Hawaiʻi, which voted overwhelmingly for Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election and is represented by an all-Democrat delegation in Congress, had six projects on the Energy Department’s October termination list, representing nearly $68 million in total grant awards. Civil Beat.

RIMPAC wraps up after more than a month of training across the Hawaiian islands. The biennial Rim of the Pacific exercise, first held in 1971, is the world’s largest. This time it brought forces from 30 nations with 30 surface ships, five submarines, nearly 200 aircraft and more than 30,000 personnel to the islands from June 24 to Friday. Star-Advertiser.

Big Money In Hawaiʻi Politics: Carpenters union-backed PAC pours nearly $5M into primary campaigns. Other political action committees are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on candidates, too, but their financial efforts fall far short of the Carpenters Union. Pacific Resource Partnership, a powerful group representing Hawaiʻi carpenters and contractors, is dominating the political landscape this election, according to financial reports filed last week with the Campaign Spending Commission. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

Keohokalole Derides Dark Money. A New Super PAC Is Backing Him. Future Progress, a Washington-based super PAC, reported spending $75,000 on digital advertising last week in support of state Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole, who’s challenging U.S. Rep. Ed Case in the Aug. 8 primary.  Civil Beat.

Luke conspiracy indictment could inspire Republican voters, discourage Democrats. Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke’s recent indictment on conspiracy and bribery charges, coupled with nationwide frustration over President Donald Trump’s war with Iran and tariffs that have been blamed for rising consumer costs in the U.S., could influence Saturday’s party primary elections in Hawaii by discouraging — or energizing — people to actually vote. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii teachers say aging school facilities are disrupting classrooms statewide. Broken air conditioning, termite infestations, aging electrical systems and deteriorating buildings have become familiar challenges. Star-Advertiser.

Air conditioning in classrooms limited by aging infrastructure. For some schools, the challenge isn’t the air conditioning units themselves but the aging infrastructure needed to support them — like at Kealakehe Elementary School in Kailua-Kona, where teacher Jill Jacobs said roughly 80% to 85% of classrooms still lack air conditioning because the electrical system cannot handle the demand. Star-Advertiser.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs launches national search for new CEO. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has launched a nationwide search for its next chief executive officer. The announcement comes amid a whistleblower lawsuit by CEO Stacy Ferreira who was placed on leave. KHON2. Hawaii News Now. 

Oahu

City Clerk: Votes For Tommy Waters Won’t Be Counted. The decision follows a Circuit Court ruling stating the council chair could not seek a third term.  Civil Beat.

Tommy Waters appeals judge’s election eligibility ruling. Honolulu City Council Chair Tommy Waters has appealed a judge’s ruling last week that he was ineligible to run for a third term in Saturday’s primary election because of term limits. In his notice of appeal filed late Friday with the state’s Intermediate Court of Appeals, Waters argued that because his first term was not a full four years, he is eligible for another term. Star-Advertiser.

Empty Homes Tax: Some Like The Idea. Oʻahu Politicians Won’t Hear Of It. The two most recent proposals to tax empty homes in Honolulu have each failed to advance by just one vote. Civil Beat.

DHHL turns down city gift of Kailua land. The state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has turned down a land gift in Kailua from the city after determining that soil conditions aren’t viable for housing. Star-Advertiser.

Windward landfill proposal draws backlash. Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration has identified Kapa‘a Quarry in Kailua as its preferred site for Oahu’s next municipal solid- waste landfill, a proposal that would require changes to state law and has already drawn opposition from Windward lawmakers. Star-Advertiser.

State, City to begin months-long Manoa stream cleanup. Nearly five months after floodwaters from the March Kona low storms swept through Mānoa, sending cars floating down streets and damaging homes, schools and businesses, crews are beginning a major effort to reduce the risk of it happening again. KHON2.

Protesters say hotel is misusing their culture. Native Hawaiian protesters gathered in Waikiki Sunday, claiming a hotel that caters to military personnel is misusing their culture. The group told Hawaii News Now that the luau at the Hale Koa Hotel is offensive to them because the event begins and ends with songs that honor America. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

District 5 candidates for Hawaiʻi County Council bring distinct knowledge, experiences to race. With Hawaiʻi County Council Member Matt Kānealiʻi-Kleinfelder unable to pursue re-election due to term limits, five political newcomers are competing for the open seat representing the Upper Puna district in the Aug. 8 primary election. Big Island Now.

New Papaikou cell tower draws ire. The Hawaii County Planning Department approved the plans for the tower — which will rise about 60 feet tall and be disguised as a palm tree — in December 2024, and in June of this year approved the building permit for construction to begin. Tribune-Herald.

$3.5 Million Released for Hilo’s Kawānanakoa Gym Renovations. State funds have been released to finance the construction phase of long-awaited renovations to Kawānanakoa Gym in Keaukaha. Big Island Video News.

Child and Family Service celebrates new permanent facility in Hilo. Child &Family Service, a Hawaii nonprofit founded in 1899, celebrated the blessing of its new permanent Hilo location on Thursday. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now. 

Blacktip shark ‘nursery’ discovered in Hilo Bay. Research at the University of Hawaii at Hilo has identified the first known blacktip shark nursery habitat in Hawaiian waters, offering new insight into how young sharks use Hilo Bay during their earliest years. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Bissen, Sugimura each raise $100,000 in July for mayoral campaigns ahead of upcoming primary. Incumbent Mayor Richard Bissen raked in $102,799 from July 1 to 24, putting him at a total of $395,447 across the entire election period, while Maui County Council Vice Chair Yuki Lei Sugimura pulled in slightly more at $110,702 in July, giving her $446,259 in total campaign contributions, according to the latest spending reports. MKaui Now.

County to offer wildfire recovery grants for workforce, public services. The funding opportunities, offered through the county’s Hoʻokumu Hou program, are open to nonprofit organizations and government agencies providing recovery-related services to wildfire-impacted communities. Maui News.

Workshop helps Maui nonprofits access $130 million in Green Fee funds. Maui nonprofits will learn how to secure state Green Fee funding during a Wailuku workshop on Aug. 13. The $130 million program helps local organizations protect island resources and survive severe weather. Maui Now.

Three years later, many Lahaina fire survivors are still waiting for a home. Front Street, the famed two-lane thoroughfare along the ocean’s edge in Lahaina, reopened to traffic Saturday for the first time since the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfire gutted much of the historic town, offering one of the clearest signs yet that the community is rebuilding. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now. KITV4. 

Kauai

What you need to know about Kaua‘i County’s Aug. 8 primary election. This year, Kauaʻi residents can vote for mayor, all seven County Council seats and various state and federal offices. Kauai Now.

County of Kaua‘i launches Wildfire Home Assessment Program. The County of Kaua‘i, in partnership with the Hawai‘i Wildfire Management Organization, has launched its new Wildfire Home Assessment Program to help residents reduce wildfire risk and strengthen community resilience. Garden Island.

Top state officials plead not guilty in bribery scandal, bus systems reeling from fuel hikes, 26th homeless village opened on Oahu, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiʻi Bribery Scandal: Luke and others plead not guilty. Green again calls on lieutenant governor to resign. Gov. Josh Green on Thursday called for Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke to resign to “focus on this matter with her family” after she and three others pleaded not guilty to orchestrating a bribery conspiracy to secure state money to pay for COVID-19 testing contracts during the pandemic. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Hawaii Public Radio. KITV4.

Hawaiʻi Lawmakers Demand Special Session Following Bribery Indictments. The legislation would close a government contractor political contribution loophole. Civil Beat.

Gov. Green responds as Luke and other defendants plead not guilty to bribery charges. Green spoke to us for the first time since last Friday, when Luke and four others were indicted on conspiracy and bribery charges. KHON2.

OHA at-large races draw crowded primary field. Four incumbents are seeking another term on the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees in the Aug. 8 primary election, with the crowded at-large race featuring 15 candidates competing for three seats. Star-Advertiser.

OHA Is Looking For A New CEO Amid Legal Battle. The search comes as the office fights a lawsuit from its current chief executive. Civil Beat.

Federal Government Abruptly Cut These Hawaiʻi Markets From Food Stamps Program. USDA moves leave customers who use SNAP with less access to food, and mean that stores can’t buy as much product from the local farmers who supply them. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi's public bus systems are feeling the strain of high fuel costs. Fuel costs started to level off this summer, but recent military strikes in the strait have pushed oil prices up again. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority stresses community input, responsible tourism. The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority released its most recent strategic plan for 2026-2030, stressing the importance of community input, responsible tourism and visitor spending. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Hawaii’s 26th tiny-home kauhale blessed. A seven-member resident council of formerly homeless people living in Hawaii’s 26th kauhale, or tiny-­home community, will select the next 45 or so people to move into the newly completed second phase of the Hookahi Leo kauhale, which was blessed Thursday in the shadow of the H-1 viaduct, tucked away off Middle Street in Kalihi. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu’s Fasi Municipal building faces ongoing elevator problems as City plans modernization. Employees at Honolulu’s Frank F. Fasi Municipal Building said recurring elevator problems have become a daily frustration, with some reporting long delays, missed meetings and concerns about safety. KHON2.

Arrests made and machines seized in illegal gambling bust in Honolulu. The Honolulu Police Department (HPD) busted an illegal gambling operation that was discovered on Kalauokalani Way in Honolulu on Wednesday evening. KITV4.

Standoff erupts at Union Plaza as fumigation plans spark eviction fears. Plans to fumigate a controversial condominium in downtown Honolulu Thursday morning ended with a standoff and renewed cries for help from residents. Tenants at Union Plaza said more than a dozen masked men told them they have to leave to make way for the maintenance. Hawaii News Now.


Hawaii Island

Hawai‘i Island police chief talks story with residents, introduces department’s strategic plan. It outlines six strategic goals and objectives of the department, which currently employs 503 sworn officers and 163 civilian employees, and serves a resident population of approximately 211,000 and nearly 2 million annual visitors. Big Island Now.

Puna, Ka‘u residents surveyed about energy priorities. Vibrant Hawaii surveys gathered input from 340 residents in Puna and 141 in Ka‘u about energy usage, energy concerns and energy-related changes they would like to see in their communities. Tribune-Herald.

Thai restaurant in Kona shut down by state due to ‘rodent infestation’. Baan Thai Family Cuisine in Kailua-Kona has been shut down by the state Department of Health due to a “rodent infestation and multiple critical food safety violations.” Tribune-Herald. KITV4.

Iconic Kauaʻi steakhouse Bull Shed expands to Hawaiʻi Island. The iconic Bull Shed Restaurant, beloved for over 50 years on Kauaʻi, has expanded to the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, offering its renowned steaks and seafood alongside new Hawaiʻi Island-inspired dishes. Kauai Now. Garden Island. 

Maui

Maui Council weighs $6 million purchase of two private West Maui water systems. Maui County is moving toward a $6 million purchase of two privately owned West Maui water systems, a deal county officials say would bring public utility control to areas long served by private companies, with final approval subject to Maui County Council and Public Utilities Commission approval and closing not expected until April 2027. Maui Now.

The Maui News to be sold to Maui Nui Media and Creativity Collaborative. The Maui News soon will welcome new ownership, as the Maui Nui Media and Creativity Collaborative has reached an agreement to purchase the publication and Maui Publishing Co. from The Ogden Newspapers Inc. Maui News.

FBI assisting investigation into alleged Maui hate crime. The FBI is working with the Maui Police Department to determine whether federal charges are warranted after a group of visitors from California alleged that a July 17 riot at the Kaanapali Alii vacation residences in Lahaina was racially motivated. Star-Advertiser.

Casting shade: Maui County breaks ground on new Lahaina playground. Maui County officials and members of the public gathered Thursday to celebrate the start of construction on the $2.4 million playground project, which Maui County Council Member Tamara Paltin described as "community-led and county-supported." Maui News.

Maui Now, journalist team earns four Hawaiʻi SPJ awards for excellence in journalism. Award recipients were recognized during a dinner held July 29 at the Japanese Cultural Center on Oʻahu.  Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauaʻi lawmakers revisit island's curbside recycling program. The Kauaʻi County Council wants a curbside recycling program on the island to divert waste from its single landfill. Hawaii Public Radio.

Nonprofits can apply for bus passes to help Kaua‘i residents. The County of Kauaʻi Transportation Agency will be accepting applications from Kauaʻi-based nonprofit organizations for its Kauaʻi Bus Pass Outreach Program starting Aug. 3. Kauai Now.

93rd CST joins Kauai first responders in tabletop scenario. The Norwegian Cruise Line’s “Pride of America” berthed at its usual Nawiliwili Harbor pier on Thursday to a greeting not of hula girls, musicians and lei, but by the next-level emergency vehicles like the Kauai Police Department’s armored rescue vehicle, the Kauai Fire Department’s hazmat truck, and an assortment of state Harbors Division vehicles. Garden Island.

Retail, agriculture jobs face steep declines, nonprofit purchases 126-year-old Maui News, Southwest Airlines begins Hilo-Vegas nonstop flights, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii retail, agriculture jobs face biggest losses by 2034.  Projections from the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations show retail trade could lose about 600 jobs by 2034, the largest decline of any industry. Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting follow closely behind retail with a projected loss of almost 500 jobs. KHON2.

Hawaiʻi education department turns to regional kitchen to boost local ingredients. A new regional kitchen, set to open in late 2027, is expected to largely boost the amount of locally sourced ingredients used in school meals across the state Department of Education. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiʻi’s 1st Congressional District race tests incumbent Case. U.S. Rep. Ed Case is facing opposition for his re-election campaign in the Democratic Party primary at a time when some voters have shown they’re in the mood to oust incumbents. Hawaii Public Radio.

High Oil Prices Hammer HECO Customers. Oil is trading at close to $90 per barrel these days thanks to the Iran war compared to $65 to $70 a year ago. As a result, the average monthly residential bill rose 27% from June 2025 to this year on Maui and 30% on Oʻahu. Lānaʻi has it worst, up 55%, an average increase of more than $100 a month. Civil Beat.

Farms hit by Kona Low urged to apply for aid. Hawaii agricultural producers and farmers who were affected by the Kona- low storms from March 10 to 24 have until Friday to apply for financial and technical assistance with the Emergency Conservation Program. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Video News.

$1.8M awarded for wildfire mitigation as Hawaii enters peak fire season. The Hawaii Urban Interface (HUI) Wildfire Grant Program awarded funding to eight organizations on Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui and Hawaii Island. The grants will support projects including firebreak construction, invasive vegetation removal, managed grazing, evacuation studies and improved emergency access. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

As Flood Aid Trickles Out For North Shore, Southeast Asian Farmers Are Left Behind. For some Thai and Laotian farmers, language barriers and immigration status stand in the way of seeking help they need after the Kona lows. Civil Beat.

Uncertainty, confusion surround East Oahu’s City Council race.  East Oahu voters, some of whom have already cast their primary election ballots, remain in the dark about the status of the race to represent them on the Honolulu City Council. Star-Advertiser.

Internal power outage hits twin office towers in downtown Honolulu. About 100 businesses in two downtown Honolulu office towers could be displaced for roughly three to five weeks due to an equipment-related power failure at the property. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

Ward Centre closed; looming demolition will make way for new Ward Village towers. Although a timeline has not yet been finalized, sources say that demolition and redevelopment work at the site is expected to begin later this year. Aloha State Daily.

Ex-Social Worker Gets 10 Years In Prison For Daughter’s Death. The public may never know key details about how Sina Pili was able to keep working with children as police investigated her for her daughter’s death. Civil Beat. KHON2. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

A Viable Cesspool Alternative Emerges On Hawaiʻi’s Coasts. After years of research and planning, Puakō residents’ efforts to create a model for the state using a low-pressure sewer system are finally gaining momentum. Civil Beat.

County names new Animal Control administrator. Hawaii County has announced that Regina DoDaro has been hired as administrator for the Animal Control and Protection Agency, effective Monday, Aug. 3. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now.

Southwest Airlines launches nonstop flights between Las Vegas and Hilo. The new route launches Aug. 6 and will operate three times a week on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. Big Island Now.

Future Hawaiian Homestead hub secures state funding for design, initial site preparation in Panaʻewa. State Sen. Lorraine Inouye announced the release of $350,000 for the Panaʻewa Hub, which is being developed by the Keaukaha Panaʻewa Farmers Association.  Big Island Now.

Hilo Man Arrested At Malama Park, Charged With Drug Offenses. Police: Hilo man with nearly 2 pounds of cocaine nabbed at public park.  On Saturday, detectives with the Hawaii Police Department’s Vice Division conducted an operation that resulted in the arrest of Michael Bratt at a public park in Hilo. Tribune-Herald. Hawaii News Now.   Big Island Video News.

Maui

Maui News changes owners. New nonprofit purchases 126-year-old newspaper. (subscription only print). Maui News.

Law firm fights judge’s ruling on attorney fees in Maui wildfire settlement. A law firm is appealing a Maui judge’s ruling over how attorneys will be paid from the multibillion-dollar wildfire settlement. Hawaii News Now.

Maui to open larger emergency operations center in August. County officials say the facility in Wailuku will strengthen preparedness capabilities and emergency response. The building is nearly 10,000 square feet and will increase capacity for partnerships and personnel during activation. Hawaii Public Radio.

Waiohuli Hawaiian Homesteaders Association on Maui and ʻĀina Momona on Molokaʻi to benefit from wildfire mitigation funding. The Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization, in partnership with the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife, awarded $1.8 million to projects on Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Maui and Hawaiʻi Island, an increase from the $1.5 million awarded through the program in 2025. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauaʻi Police Department conducts sex offender compliance checks. Kauaʻi Police Department, in partnership with U.S. Marshals Service and task force officers, recently conducted compliance checks of registered sex offenders to help ensure Hawaiʻi’s Covered Offender Registry remains accurate and current. Kauai Now.

Council candidate Skyler Workman. Skyler Wailea Workman is a candidate for Kauai County Council. He submitted the preceding introduction to himself and his campaign goals. Garden Island.

Lawmakers push for special session on contractor campaign donations, federal Covid spending review likely, Kapaa Quarry mulled for Oahu landfill, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Indictment sparks calls for special session on contractor donation ban. Indictments against Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, current and former state employees, and a contractor in an alleged bribery conspiracy are prompting calls for a special legislative session focused on campaign finance reform. Some lawmakers are pushing for a return to the Capitol to take up Senate Bill 2530, a measure that would ban government contractors and their immediate family members from donating to political candidates. Hawaii News Now.

Federal review of COVID-19 spending likely in wake of alleged corruption, Case says. U.S. Rep. Ed Case, a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, said he expects federal scrutiny of Hawaii’s COVID-19 contracts following a public corruption indictment involving Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and four others. Star-Advertiser.

Betting On Hawaiʻi Politics Is Legal Despite State’s Gambling Ban. Users can now wager on when indicted Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke may resign on the prediction market app Kalshi, which is not covered by Hawaiʻi’s gambling law. Civil Beat.

State airports administrator on paid leave after indictment. State Airports Administrator Ford Fuchigami was placed on paid leave for 30 days, effective Monday, after he and four others were indicted Friday in an alleged criminal conspiracy to bribe state officials to secure money for COVID-19 testing during the pandemic. Star-Advertiser.

Rules to limit CRB spread passed on Big Island and Maui. The coconut rhinoceros beetle’s hold across the Hawaiian Islands has grown in recent months, prompting the state Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity to expand restrictions on transporting potential host material between infested islands and areas. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Now. 

Gen Z’s new travel habits to Hawaiʻi . Hawaiʻi's hospitality industry is seeing a new kind of visitor in Generation Z. How they travel could bring changes to the state's largest private industry. Hawaii Public Radio.

Alan B. Carpenter chosen to lead DLNR Division of State Parks. Alan B. Carpenter assumes responsibility for the care and management of 55 state parks and 14 other places of interest, which encompass 34,000 acres of coastal and wildland recreational areas, scenic waysides and cherished places spanning from Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park on Kauaʻi to ʻAkaka Falls State Park on Hawaiʻi Island. Maui Now.

This Hawaiian Waterbird Is Making A Comeback. Should It Still Be Endangered? Most agree efforts to save the aeʻo, the native stilt, have succeeded so far, but some worry about lifting its ‘endangered’ status in a Trump era with looser conservation rules. Civil Beat.

Fausto now a remnant low as it passes north of Hawaiian Islands. Fausto is no longer a tropical cyclone and is now a remnant low passing north of the islands. The Central Pacific Hurricane Center said in data valid at 5 a.m. Wednesday, post-tropical cyclone Fausto was 285 miles north of Hilo, or 225 miles northeast of Honolulu. It was moving west-northwest at 13 miles per hour. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Voters in Waters’ district confused as name remains on ballot after being ruled ineligible to run. While Honolulu election officials try to figure out what to do for Tommy Waters’ council seat, the district’s voters are left confused with his name still on the ballot. As of Tuesday morning, thousands have already cast their votes. KHON2.

City eyes Kapaa Quarry for Oahu’s next landfill. The City is eying Kapaa Quarry as a potential site for Oahu’s next landfill, and Windward lawmakers are pushing back. KHON2.

These Historic Oʻahu Homes Pay Practically No Property Tax. Honolulu homes valued in the millions are getting a major tax break. One City Council member says the program is being abused. Civil Beat.

State-subsidized rental housing for middle-income households blessed in Waipio. Scott Glenn, a housing adviser to Gov. Josh Green, said the new homes — one-bedroom apartments renting for $1,800 to $2,280 a month depending on household size — allow Koa Ridge to include residents who might not be able to afford new market-priced housing being built in the 3,500-home community master-planned by Castle &Cooke Hawaii in Waipio. Star-Advertiser.

Beach Cleanup Activist Challenges Longtime Incumbent In East Oʻahu. Kahi Pacarro has mounted an aggressive campaign against the low key Rep. Mark Hashem in the District 19 Democratic primary. Civil Beat.

Fresh lei, hot pizza? Oahu’s one-of-a-kind vending machines turn heads. Need a fresh flower lei for a graduation, special event or last-minute celebration? There is now a vending machine for that. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

A reprieve for 5 early childhood education sites on isle. Several months after nonprofit Partners in Development Foundation prepared to close five early childhood education sites on Hawaii Island — and 16 on other islands — due to federal funding cuts, the organization recently announced the sites will now be staying open. Tribune-Herald.

New reports document energy priorities, concerns of Puna, Kaʻū residents. The reports reflect responses from a total of 481 community members — 340 in Puna and 141 in Kaʻū — and examine energy affordability, power outages, household preparedness, renewable energy development, community participation, protection of ʻāina and cultural resources as well as benefits residents expect from future energy investments. Big Island Now.

Speed limit to be reduced on part of Puainako Street Extension. The speed limit on a portion of the Puainako Street Extension — also known as Hawaii Route 2000 — will be lowered from 55 mph to 45 mph as part of an effort to improve roadway safety. Tribune-Herald.

Episode 52 fountaining ends at Kilauea summit. Episode 52 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption ended at 2:36 a.m. on Wednesday. High lava fountaining from the north vent in Halemaʻumaʻu began at 7:10 p.m. HST on Tuesday evening. Big Island Now. KITV4. Hawaii News Now. Big Island Video News. 

Maui

Maui Council advances new hotel zoning for over 2,000 apartment-district vacation rentals. Maui County Council members voted Friday to send two bills to the Maui Planning Commission that would move vacation rental units, currently operating in A-1 and A-2 apartment districts, into new hotel zoning classifications. Maui Now.

County to pull four speed tables in Haiku, hold community meeting. Responding to residents' concerns, Maui County officials plan to remove four speed tables on West Kuiaha Road as part of an ongoing review of traffic-calming devices in Haiku. Maui News.

Plan to rebuild popular Kaanapali Beach with offshore sand faces scrutiny. Plan would move 75,000 cubic yards of sand to restore beach to 1980s condition. Kaanapali Beach on Maui’s west side has been eroding for four decades, and a plan is now moving forward to restore it to how it was in the 1980s — but the proposal is facing some community opposition. Hawaii News Now.

Audubon Society asks for pueo study with Lahaina Bypass project. The National Audubon Society has asked state transportation officials to include a biological review of the Hawaiian short-eared owl in the study of Lahaina Bypass connector alternatives near Wahikuli Gulch in West Maui. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauaʻi police join countywide emergency alert system to expand public safety notifications. The partnership, announced by the Kauaʻi Emergency Management Agency, expands use of the Everbridge Emergency Mass Notification System, which is already used by the emergency management agency, the Kauaʻi Fire Department and the county Department of Water. Kauai Now.

Kauai Habitat starts 5 homes in Waimea. Volunteer opportunities are available at the Kauai Habitat build sites, such as the current one in Waimea, the Kauai Habitat office in Hanapepe, or the ReStore at Hanapepe. Garden Island.