Tourism officials seek strategies to attract Japanese market, Honolulu mayor threatens budget veto, state Supreme Court to hear sobriety test refusal case, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

New strategies to attract Japanese visitors to Hawaiʻi . Japanese tourism to Hawaiʻi remains at less than half the level it was before the COVID pandemic. Now tourism officials and industry leaders are shifting their strategy to attract this once high-spending market. Hawaii Public Radio.

Will Doctors Trade 5 Years In Rural Hawaiʻi For Free Med School? Ambitious financial aid program aims to reduce the doctor shortage in remote and underserved parts of the state. Attending medical school will be free starting in September for awardees of the Hawaiʻi Outreach for Medical Education in Rural Under-resourced Neighborhoods (HOME RUN) workforce pipeline program.  Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi Is The Only State Not Tracking Abuse In Childcare. The state blames a bureaucratic hurdle for its failure to follow a federal law requiring it to report abuse and serious injuries in childcare settings. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Supreme Court to hear case on using sobriety test refusals as evidence. Hawaii’s Supreme Court will hear arguments Thursday on whether drivers who refuse voluntary roadside sobriety tests can have that refusal used as evidence of guilt. Hawaii News Now.

U.S., Chinese military officials meet in Hawaii. U.S. and Chinese military officials recently met in Hawaii to discuss tensions at sea as both sides refine their respective strategies in the Western Pacific and the Trump administration seeks to ease tensions. Star-Advertiser.

University of Hawaii cries foul over demise of student-athlete pay legislation. University of Hawaii administrators and state lawmakers sometimes don’t see eye to eye on funding |issues, but an argument has erupted over expressions of widely divergent views on one bill about UH finances that failed last month. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu mayor threatens budget veto over cut to economic revitalization office. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi is threatening to veto the city’s $5 billion budget over a $1.4 million cut to the Office of Economic Revitalization. Hawaii News Now.

Keiki homelessness rising on Oahu. According to the latest Point-in-Time Count snapshot of those experiencing homelessness, the number of children and families increased by almost 20% from two years ago and by more than 40% since 2022. KITV4.

Man pleads guilty for illegally shipping assault rifle parts from Hawaii to Japan. Shoto Yamamoto admitted that he exported or tried to export more than 900 firearms components and accessories, including AR-15 lower receiver parts kits, upper receivers, magazines, and similar components, each of which required a license to export that he didn’t have. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu police look for mob that attacked lifeguard, 15-year-old  on Oahu’s North Shore. Kekoa Tamale, a 23-year-old lifeguard, said he was trying to save his 15-year-old family friend from about a dozen people who were attacking him Saturday night. Instead of intervening, Tamale said other bystanders recorded the beating on their phones. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.  KITV4.

Why are waits so long for Oahu driver licensing appointments?  Oahu residents wait longer for appointments at drivers licensing centers. The city has seen a huge increase in renewals so far in 2026, and it is expected to only get busier. KITV4.

Hawaii Island

It Takes A Village To Help Big Island Residents Drive Less. If Hawaiʻi County’s general plan finally passes this week it could set in motion an effort to improve public transit, make urban areas denser, and add paths for pedestrians and bicycles. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s Kilauea sets record for lava fountaining episodes in any 1 eruption for the volcano. The on-and-off eruption of Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano broke a record Monday with the number of periods it has produced fountains of lava since it began erupting in December 2024, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said. Associated Press.

Brown Water Advisory Issued for Hilo Bay, Hāmākua Coast. The Hawaiʻi Department of Health’s Clean Water Branch said is telling beach users to stay out of waters “that appear brown or murky, especially following storms or heavy rain, even if a Brown Water Advisory has not been issued in the area.” Big Island Video News.

Fight against Rapid Ohia Death advances. While it has also been detected in different forms on other islands, it is most prevalent on the Big Island where it is estimated to have killed over 1 million ohia trees and counting. Tribune-Herald.

Mental exam ordered for triple homicide suspect. Hilo District Judge Jeffrey Hawk on Monday ordered that Jacob “Jake” Daniel Baker be examined by three mental-health professionals to determine his fitness to stand trial as well as penal responsibility — his state of mind at the time of the alleged offenses and whether he could discern the wrongfulness and illegality of his alleged actions. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2. 

Maui

County seeks public input on proposed disaster recovery plan amendment. Maui County is accepting public comments through July 1 on proposed changes to its Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery Action Plan related to the Strategic Voluntary Mitigation Buyout Program. Maui News.

Residents encouraged to attend County’s Lahaina Community Meeting, June 3. In order to provide residents with more individual assistance, representatives from several departments and agencies will be available to offer support at resource tables following a question-and-answer session to close the meeting. Maui Now.

Repairs underway of massive Maui sinkhole after March storms. County officials said record-breaking rainfall from the first Kona low caused damage to multiple underground infrastructure systems and undermining beneath the roadway. Work is not expected to be completed until the fall, officials said. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Department of Health to survey Kaua‘i residents on their household emergency preparedness. The Hawaiʻi Department of Health Kauaʻi District Health Office will conduct a Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response, also known as the CASPER survey, in June to assess the emergency preparedness of Kauaʻi households. Kauai Now.

Michaela Widener joins the mayoral race. Michaela Widener of Koloa joined the Kauai mayoral race on May 28.Widener is a single mother of two indigenous Hawaiian children, who works at the Beach House restaurant in Poipu. Garden Island.

Hawaii schools grapple with AI, congressional candidate pulls gun on Maui County workers, former Hawaii County housing official gets 4 years for taking $1.4M bribe, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Artificial Intelligence Is Here To Stay. Are Hawaiʻi Schools Ready? From preschoolers to high school seniors, Hawaiʻi students share how artificial intelligence is shaping their learning and plans for the future. There's wide variation in how much teachers and students are willing to engage with the new technology. Civil Beat.

Della Au Belatti’s change of plans upends lieutenant governor and U.S. House races. State Rep. Della Au Belatti’s decision to suspend her run for Congress to jump into the race for lieutenant governor has upended both campaigns and brought new attention to the most high-profile campaigns so far leading up to the Aug. 8 Democratic Party primary. Star-Advertiser.

UH commits $5M in student-athlete pay despite failure at Legislature.  The University of Hawaii, which has about 500 student-athletes on 21 teams, did not score taxpayer funding this year to pay student-­athletes. Star-Advertiser.

HMSA’s payment system pivot has Hawaii’s medical community reeling. Hawaii patients could face fewer choices for primary care — and longer waits for services — as the state’s largest insurer Hawaii Medical Service Association reverses a decade-old payment model, prompting fears that some clinics may close or scale back. Star-Advertiser.

Ann Wright, Hawaiʻi's Global Warrior For Peace, Is Not Giving Up The Fight. The retired Army colonel has been active on the frontlines of protest, from the Iraq War to Gaza, from Cuba to Minneapolis, from Red Hill to Pearl Harbor. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu Officials Accept Raises Without Hearing Public Opposition. Members of the public had little opportunity to comment on the raises, which are paid for with their tax dollars. Civil Beat.

HART gets reimbursed $125M for Segment 2 completion. The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation has received a $125 million federal reimbursement connected to last year’s opening of the more than $10-billion Skyline project’s second segment past the airport, the agency’s leadership announced Friday. Star-Advertiser.

Group seeks to restart aquarium fishing on Oahu. The Hawaii Fishers Association is moving to restart the trade on Oahu just one month after a bill to ban it died in the Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

Woman fights $600K in fines for 'mistakenly' advertising short-term rental. An 83-year-old Oʻahu woman is fighting $600,000 in fines from the City and County of Honolulu for an online advertisement of an illegal short-term rental. Sandra May has filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court Thursday for “mistakenly” posting her one-bedroom rental unit in Wilhelmina Rise as a short-term rental, which is available for rent for less than 30 days. Hawaii Public Radio.

City reverses course on Koko Crater Stables eviction notice. Aloha Riding Lessons LLC, the longtime operator of Koko Crater Stables, recently threatened with eviction, has received a reprieve after the city rescinded its notice to vacate the city-owned property.  Star-Advertiser.

Plans for new Costco, Zippy’s closure in Waipahu met with pushback. The vacant building that was once the Don Quijote in Waipahu could be home to Hawaii’s first Costco Business Center. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii National Guard concludes Kona-low storm relief efforts. The Hawaii National Guard has officially concluded its support for relief efforts in the aftermath of two Kona-low storms that swept across the islands and ravaged Oahu’s North Shore in March, as well as intense weather that followed in April.  Star-Advertiser.

Kona-low storm fallout continues to hit North Shore business. Visitor traffic to Waimea Valley has fallen sharply this spring, forcing staff to stretch resources and scale back hiring as fewer travelers make the trip past ongoing traffic restrictions triggered by March’s Kona-low storms. Star-Advertiser.


Hawaii Island

13 applicants in play to be next fire chief. Hawaii County has received applications from 13 individuals it says are conditionally qualified to be the next chief of the Hawaii Fire Department. Those 13 have been culled from 33 applicants. Tribune-Herald.

Former Hawaii County official sentenced to prison for taking $1.9 million in bribes. Alan Scott Rudo, 59, a former Hawaii County housing specialist, will spend nearly four years in federal prison for his role in a seven-year scheme of accepting bribes in exchange for awarding more than $11 million through four affordable housing development agreements. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. 

Her dad’s death led to tougher penalties for dangerous dog owners in Hawaiʻi. Now her daughter tests law after attack. In 2024, Shannon Matson pushed for the passing of a state law that significantly toughens the legal consequences for owners of dangerous dogs after the death of her 71-year-old father, Bob Northrop. Big Island Now.

FEMA doles out $2M to Kona low victims in Hawaii County. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved more than $2.1 million in grants to Hawaii County residents for damage suffered during the two Kona low storms that wreaked havoc statewide in March. Tribune-Herald.

The Earth shook. Tanks burst. Now Kona faces a water crisis. One of the most coveted coffees in the world comes from Kona, where the coffee crops thrive on afternoon rains. So do the farmers, who rely on rainwater to fill the tanks that supply their homes and orchards. Parts of the area have no county water infrastructure. New York Times.

Family, friends share stories about the three men slain in Puna killing spree. Hawaii Police Department suspects Jacob “Jake” Daniel Baker of killing Robert Shine, 69, Chitta Morse, 79, and John Carse, 69, over the course of Monday and Tuesday in a spree of seemingly random violence in Kapoho and Kalapana. Tribune-Herald.

An eclectic, off-grid Hawaii haven, 3 dead men and a suspect caught on surveillance video. For residents of Puna, a remote and eclectic part of Hawaii’s Big Island, the killings of three men known for embracing the community’s off-grid, free-spirited lifestyle became a startling reminder of its struggles too. Associated Press.

Maui

Longshot Congressional Candidate Pulled Gun On Maui County Workers. An armed man entered a Maui County government building Friday morning and brandished his gun during an argument with county workers, but police were not called for an hour and a half. Kirill Basin, who had recently announced he planned to run for Congress, was arrested and charged with Terroristic Threatening in the First Degree. Civil Beat. Maui Now. 

Lahaina harbor restoration moves forward with dredging project. State officials say routine dredging work scheduled to begin Monday at Lahaina Small Boat Harbor will also provide a rare opportunity to dredge the main harbor basin for the first time since 1966. Maui News.

$241M solar energy project to power 18,000 Maui homes moving through permitting process. With the passage of a federal budget severely rolling back clean energy investments, the company behind a $241 million solar project in Central Maui is working feverishly to get through the permitting process and have enough time to build the facility so it can be operational by the end of 2028. Maui Now.

 Akakū Maui Community Media continues fight to preserve Maui County’s public access funding with $400,000 in annual cuts looming. That is about 35% of Akakū’s current operating budget of $1.1 million. Maui Now.

Coast Guard helps 21 people escape disabled vessel off Maui. A Coast Guard crew assisted 20 adults and one child in getting off a disabled charter vessel near Maalaea Harbor offshore Maui on Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Nēnē had died out on Molokaʻi. Now, they're making a comeback, with a little help. There’s a small but thriving flock of the Native Hawaiian geese living and raising their young at Puʻu O Hōkū Ranch. The endangered species is back from the brink of extinction. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Kaua‘i Wants To Expand Its Only Landfill — Again. The island’s sole permitted landfill in Kekaha will fill up in just four years. With a new landfill still a decade away from opening, the Garden Isle is running out of room for its trash. So, to buy time, the county hopes to expand its 73-year-old Kekaha landfill — at a cost of up to $43 million. Civil Beat.

Online visits to remote seabird sanctuaries offered in ‘Year of Our Coastal Kuleana’.  New online field trips are being offered this year to remote seabird sanctuaries: Lehua Island, 19 miles west of Kauaʻi, and Hōlanikū, also known as Kure Atoll, 1,400 miles away at the furthest reaches of the Northwest Hawaiian Islands. Kauai Now.

Belatti switches candidacy to lieutenant governor race, Hawaiian Airlines to scrap free meals in coach, Puna triple homicide suspect captured, OHA drops bid for KITV4, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Belatti Drops Bid For Congress To Run For Lieutenant Governor. Democratic state Rep. Della Au Belatti said the political landscape shifted once Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke opted not to run for reelection while facing criminal investigation. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio. 

Hawaiian Airlines to scrap free meals in coach. Hawaiian Airlines will eliminate complimentary meals in its main cabin on most long-haul mainland routes, replacing them with a prepaid menu developed with a James Beard-­recognized Hawaii chef. Star-Advertiser. Kauai Now. 

Hawaii visitor spending rises despite April drop in arrivals. Hawaii’s visitor industry saw fewer travelers in April but a sharp rise in daily spending, highlighting a widening divide between higher-end visitors who continue to spend freely and more budget-conscious travelers who are pulling back. Star-Advertiser.

Sudden Slashes To Solar Incentives Make It Harder To Go Green. More than 260 of Hawaiʻi’s commercial and industrial projects are at risk after Legislature cuts credits 2026, undermining renewable resource goals. Civil Beat.

Report ranks Hawaiʻi 5th in teachers' union strength. An analysis from the Thomas B. Fordham Institute is an update to the institute's last ranking in 2012, when Hawaiʻi secured the leading spot.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Kapolei community board endorses Amazon project. A $600 million-plus plan by Amazon to build a massive warehouse and order fulfillment center in Kapolei gained some tentative community support Wednesday night. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. 

OHA trustees reject due diligence funding for KITV- KIKU purchase. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees voted against funding due diligence for acquiring KITV Island News and KIKU TV, ending the quasi-government agency’s latest attempt to enter into broadcast media. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now. 

Some question if the JERA natural gas project will deliver meaningful savings. Japanese energy company JERA wants to build a floating gas terminal off the coast of Barber's Point and a new gas-fired power plant in Campbell Industrial Park on Oʻahu. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Chief credits community for helping to nab triple-homicide suspect. Hawaii Police Department Chief Reed Mahuna said during a Thursday afternoon press conference that tips from the public resulted in the apprehension of triple-homicide suspect Jacob Daniel Baker, the subject of a two-day multiagency manhunt involving county, state and federal law enforcers. Tribune-Herald. Star-Advertiser.  Hawaii Public Radio.  Big Island Video News.  Big Island Now.  Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4. 

Puna Murders Raise Questions About Restraining Order Process. Attorneys say TROs are granted in a majority of cases. But that wasn’t the case for the man who allegedly killed three men. Civil Beat.

Maui

Maui council weighs new hotel zones in vacation rental phase-out equation. In an ongoing effort to address controversial Maui vacation rentals, the Maui County Council is considering a measure to create two new hotel zones that would allow legal short-term rentals.  Hawaii Public Radio.

For many sinkholes left by March storms on Maui County roads, cost and timeline for repairs unclear. Before a portion of a beach park and multiple roadways collapsed during two major storms in March, Maui County Public Works Director Jordan Molina had never seen so many sinkholes in the seven years he’d been with the department. Maui Now.

Maui’s Last Wild Beaches: Locals Fear Upgrades Will Sideline Them. Some members of the Maui community worry that proposed upgrades to Mākena State Park could pave the way for more transformative changes in the future. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Intervention granted in review of luxury development at Hanalei Bay. A group of community organizations successfully petitioned the Kauaʻi Planning Commission to grant a petition they sought to intervene in a proposed luxury coastal housing development by Miami-based Starwood Capital Group’s 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay. Kauai Now.

Umi Martin announces candidacy for county council. Lifelong Kauai resident, farmer, small business owner and community leader Umi Martin has officially announced his candidacy for the Kauai County Council in the 2026 election.  Garden Island.

Shipping rates to rise again, military economic impact may be overstated, manhunt in Puna after 3 homicides, tourist banned from beaches after alleged rock-throwing at endangered monk seal, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Interisland Shipping Rates Set To Rise July 1 After Governor Signs Bill. Young Brothers quickly announced a 3% rate hike soon after the bill was signed. State wharfage fees will rise at the same time, potentially driving up prices even more. Civil Beat.

U.S. military’s economic impact in Hawaii overstated, report contends.  The 199-page report from a consortium of groups and activists says the military contributes $7.2 billion to Hawaii’s economy and 6.4% to its GDP annually, about 30% lower than most recently touted by the state and Pentagon. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi solar energy projects at risk after tax credit is signed into law. The governor signed a bill into law on May 21 that will not only phase out solar credits but also affect projects already in the pipeline. Hawaii Public Radio.

Push for renewed look at legislative corruption petition. Former federal attorney Alexander Silvert sent a three-page letter to state House Speaker Nadine Nakamura and Vice Speaker Linda Ichiyama on Wednesday, asking them to bring back the petition he started last year that collected more than 900 signatures. Hawaii News Now.

Teens Suing Kamehameha Didn’t Have Scores To Get In, Lawyer Says. Attorneys for the plaintiffs say race preference permeates the process. Civil Beat.

Oahu

State blesses homeless kauhale village in Waimanalo. Hawaii’s 26th homeless kauhale — 20 tiny homes on the makai side of the former Weinberg Village in Waimanalo — was blessed Wednesday in a community that had seen a nearby homeless encampment at Waimanalo Beach Park grow to more than 40 people lining Kalanianaole Highway last year, which has since been cleared. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Access To Oʻahu Outdoor Recreation Spot Still Restricted After Storm Damage. High above Kaʻena Point, access to the campgrounds and accompanying trails at Peacock Flats has been restricted for more than a month due to damage from this spring’s Kona low storms. Civil Beat. 

Hawaii Island

Manhunt ongoing for Puna man suspected of three homicides. A manhunt continues for 36-year-old Jacob Daniel Baker of Pahoa, who is a suspect in three homicides that occurred over the course of two days in Kapoho and Kalapana earlier this week. Tribune-Herald. Civil Beat. Big Island Video News.  Big Island Now.  Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

Water Conservation Notice Issued After Quake Damages South Kona Tank. The Hawaiʻi County Department of Water Supply says customers in the affected areas must reduce water usage by at least 10%, in order to maintain adequate water storage while DWS performs emergency repairs to the damaged tank. Big Island Video News.

High schoolers granted precious ‘telescope time. Eight Kealakehe High School students were the recipients of Maunakea Scholars awards last Friday, earning them the coveted opportunity to carry out research using the telescope array atop Hawaii Island’s tallest mountain. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

New hotel zoning clears Council committee, 6-1, despite planning commissions’ opposition. The Maui County Council’s Housing and Land Use Committee voted 6-1 Tuesday to advance new hotel zoning districts for thousands of short-term vacation rentals facing a county-mandated phase-out — overriding unanimous rejection from all three county planning commissions. Maui Now.

Man accused of throwing rock at seal is banned from Hawaii beaches. Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk  was released on a $25,000 unsecured bond ahead of his next court appearance. Star-Advertiser. Associated Press. Hawaii Public Radio. KITV4.  Hawaii News Now.

Keoni Kuoha announces campaign for Hawaiʻi State House, District 12. Surrounded by supporters on May 18, 2026, Keoni Kuoha formally announced his candidacy for the Hawaiʻi State House of Representatives, District 12, representing the Maui communities of Makawao, Hāliʻimaile, Pukalani, Kula, Pūlehu, ʻUlupalakua, Kanaio and Kahikinui. Maui Now.

Kauai

Veterans Affairs Pacific Islands Health Care System to host community call, town hall on Kaua‘i. Garden Isle veterans can learn about available services, get health screenings and vaccines, receive assistance with Veterans Affairs healthcare enrollment, renew or replace Veterans Affairs identification cards and more. Kauai Now.

State trails under review, Hawaii offers 'just in case' abortion pills, Amazon pursuing Kapolei expansion, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources is updating its “Na Ala Hele Program Plan” on hiking trails and access for the first time since 1991. DLNR manages a statewide inventory of more than 120 publicly accessible trails in Hawaii. The 855 miles of trails are used for hiking, mountain biking and hunting. Star-Advertiser.

New cellphone limits coming for Hawaii students. Hawaii parents will begin receiving notices from their children’s schools about a new statewide cellphone policy that will restrict when students can use their phones on campus beginning this fall. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii AG joins others pushing back against Vance’s Medicaid allegations. Five attorneys general from New York to Hawaii on Tuesday pushed back against Vice President JD Vance’s insistence that blue states overlook Medicaid fraud and abuse, saying all 50 states experience abuses. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi offers 'just in case' abortion pills. Hawai’i is one of two states to adopt “Just in Case Abortion Pills” through a Planned Parenthood affiliate. This is the first time a Planned Parenthood organization is offering abortion medication ahead of pregnancy. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Fund To Help Hungry Appears On Its Way To Honolulu’s November Ballot. Fund would use existing property tax revenues to support programs to help people who experience food insecurity access locally produced food products. Civil Beat.

Honolulu's affordable housing project hasn't delivered so far, UHERO report says. The University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization reviewed the city's Bill 7 program and sent its report to the Honolulu City Council on March 27. Hawaii Public Radio.

Amazon pursuing expansion in Kapolei. Amazon is seeking to develop a five-floor warehouse and order fulfillment center containing 2.8 million square feet of space at a Kapolei business and industrial park where 1,562 employees split in two daily shifts and assisted by robots would process packages for local delivery. Star-Advertiser. KHON2. 

2 charged in alleged bribe of Army official. Two Florida men are facing federal criminal charges after they allegedly bribed a U.S. Army official with $1.25 million over five years to steer contracts to them from the military’s Hawaii-­Pacific Innovation Campus. Star-Advertiser.

Red Hill Registry seeks more participants, feedback. The University of Hawaii at Manoa has launched Red Hill Registry, which aims to track health outcomes of the 2021 Red Hill water crisis to inform research and clinical guidance on fuel exposure. Star-Advertiser.

City-owned plantation homes crumbling in Ewa Villages. Seven city-owned plantation homes are deteriorating in Ewa Villages while the city and state struggle to provide affordable housing. The houses were part of the Ewa plantation renovation project that promised affordable housing in renovated plantation homes. Hawaii News Now.

Fine Print Reveals Who’s To Blame For North Shore Flooding — To An Extent. The answer is unclear, largely due to the patchwork of land use agreements made during Dole’s decades-long land sell-off.  Civil Beat.

Destructive Hawaiʻi floods displaced residents. Where do they go now? Hundreds of families across O‘ahu's North Shore have been left to pick up the pieces after the second Kona low storm swept through the low-lying areas of Haleʻiwa and Waialua. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now. 

Summer Fun: How Long Is The Waitlist In Your Neighborhood? Summer programs in Honolulu face high demand, while some sites in Leeward and Central Oʻahu still have open spots two weeks into the registration period. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

$4 Million Released For Hilo Airport Improvements. State Sen. Lorraine R. Inouye (D, District 1) announced on Tuesday that Governor Josh Green released the CIP funding for the design of T-Hangar and West Ramp improvements at the Hilo airport. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

Kona Earthquake Left Catastrophic Water Supply Damage For Hundreds. In Kona’s coffee belt, up to 500 farmers and others have lost their primary sources of water — and will be relying on trips to county spigots for the foreseeable future. Civil Beat.

Quake damaged nearly 150 properties. At least five homes in South Kona sustained such substantial damage during last week’s 6.0-magnitude earthquake that they’ve been deemed “destroyed,” the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency said Tuesday. Tribune-Herald.

Progress made on Volcano School of Arts and Sciences’ expansion. A new site covers 14.9 acres and, upon its anticipated completion in 2032, will allow VSAS to serve an additional 287 students, according to Principal Kalima Kinney. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Lawyer says tourist accused of hurling rock at Hawaiian monk seal has been doxed and threatened. The defense attorney for Igor Lytvynchuk, 38, from Washington state accused of hurling a coconut-sized rock at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal says his client was trying to protect sea turtles and has since been physically assaulted, threatened and doxed.  Associated Press. Maui Now. Maui News. Hawaii News Now. 

Timeline for repairs to sinkhole on South Kīhei Road rests on federal funding for Kona Low Storm recovery. The County Department of Public Works’ pursuit of emergency federal funding and the complexity of repairs are shaping the timeline for permanent restoration of South Kīhei Road near Kamaʻole Beach Park II, where a sinkhole forced the closure of both lanes during severe weather in March. Maui Now. Maui News. 

Maui school successfully launches garden to cafeteria lunches. The māla (garden) at Hāna High and Elementary School has everything from ʻuala (sweet potato) to corn and many other crops, providing a hands-on learning opportunity for students. Hawaii News Now.

Wind gusts caused pilot to lose control, crash off Kalaupapa, FAA finds. A training aircraft crashed into the water while approaching Kalaupapa Airport on Molokai at about 11:40 a.m. Monday, according to preliminary findings from the Federal Aviation Administration. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

Kaua‘i unemployment rates for April slightly below state average. Kaua‘i County’s unemployment rate sits slightly below the state average at 2.3%, according to a news release from the Hawai‘i State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Kauai Now.

Taylor Shigemoto enters Kauai County Council race. Taylor H. Shigemoto formally filed his nomination papers with the Elections Division office on Friday. Garden Island.

Record numbers of cattle shipped out of state, Oahu to get more traffic cameras in bill before Green, islands commemorate Memorial Day at military cemeteries, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiʻi Is Sending These Animals To The Mainland In Record Numbers. Local cattle are moving offshore despite state efforts to boost slaughterhouse capacity in the islands. Nearly 55,000 shipments of cattle have been made from the islands in the past three years and almost 80% of those were headed out of Hawai‘i, according to state agricultural statistics. Civil Beat.

Dual airline brands create some push back for Alaska Airlines. About 250 Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants reassigned to Seattle to staff new long-haul international routes may no longer wear flowers in their hair, lei or aloha shirts on certain flights — a highly visible change as Alaska Air Group works to merge operations while keeping two distinct brands. Star-Advertiser.

HMSA’s Latest Move Could Worsen Doctor Shortage. The insurer denied that an upcoming change in its payment model should come as a surprise to doctors, but many say the action will imperil small primary care practices. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Oahu traffic cameras would increase under bill before Green. Oahu drivers could see as many as 10 new red-light or speed cameras each year through a program that already has generated $763,000 since 2022. Star-Advertiser.

New Haleiwa agriculture park helps immigrants, refugees start farm businesses. A new 80-acre agriculture park in Haleiwa is growing more than crops. It’s helping refugees plant roots. Hawaii News Now.

Waipahu park to close for 3 months for field renovations. An extensive effort to rejuvenate the play field at Darrell T. Young Waikele Community Park in Waipahu will continue with a three-month resting period for the field that’s scheduled to begin today, city park officials say. Star-Advertiser.

Green sea turtles, a visitor draw, also face harassment. The love for turtles has caused pandemonium — including a constant stream of visitors who want to photograph the turtles, creating not only traffic woes as they dart across a busy, two-lane highway to get to Laniakea, but genuine concerns about disturbances to the sea turtle. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Green, military leaders honor fallen service members at Memorial Day ceremony. Gov. Josh Green hosted the ceremony alongside state and military leaders, veterans organizations and members of Hawaii’s congressional delegation at the Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4. 

Hawaii Island

Chronic No Shows And Tardiness Plague Hawaiʻi County Council. To address no shows at their meetings, the Hawaiʻi County Council adopted a measure to tighten up the definition of unexcused absences, giving the chair greater power to decide when to dock pay.  Civil Beat.

Management plan of polluted Hilo Bay watershed moving forward with $2 million federal grant. Hilo Bay is the state’s largest watershed, covering about 470 square miles from the summits of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa to the sea. But for decades, polluted rain runoff, untreated sewage in groundwater and other factors have led to poor water quality in the bay and its sub-watersheds, negatively impacting endangered habitats and local communities. Big Island Now.

Final EA Published on 4-Mile Creek Bridge Replacement. The plan to replace, raise, and widen the Four Mile Creek Bridge comes with proposed traffic changes at the intersection of Haihai Street and Kilauea Ave. Big Island Video News.

‘Some did not come home’: Speakers reflect on meaning of service as community honors fallen veterans. More than than 100 people gathered Monday morning at East Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2, to celebrate the most somber and patriotic of American holidays. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Facility upgrades proposed for Mākena State Park on Maui. In June, the DLNR Division of State Parks will submit to the Maui Planning Commission a proposal for phased construction that is aimed at improving the overall beach experience at the popular Mākena State Park. Maui Now.

2 rescued after plane goes down off Molokai’s Kalaupapa Airport. Two Oahu men made their way across two miles of open ocean to get to shore at Kalaupapa National Historical Park this morning after their single-engine plane went down west of Molokai’s Kalaupapa Airport, according to Maui fire officials. Star-Advertiser. Maui News.  Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Maui County remembers service members who paid the ultimate sacrifice. About 4,300 flags and lei were placed at gravesites across the Maui Veterans’ Cemetery in Makawao for Memorial Day. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative among the highest in state for renewable energy generation in 2025. Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative achieved a 52.8% Renewable Portfolio Standard for 2025, second highest in the state behind Hawai‘i Island.  Kauai Now.

Thank you, veterans! Hundreds of people took advantage of sunny weather to visit the Kauai Veterans Cemetery to honor veterans and their families resting in the hallowed ground during the Kauai Veterans Council Veterans Day ceremony. Garden Island.

Health officials perplexed by snorkeling deaths, 28 homes damaged in magnitude 6.0 earthquake, OHA mulls purchase of KITV4, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Health Officials Are Perplexed By Hawaiʻi Snorkeling Deaths. Snorkeling claims the lives of dozens of tourists each year. Some who lost loved ones or nearly drowned themselves say not enough is done to warn people of the risks. Civil Beat.

Hawaii law aims to curb corporate influence in elections but faces hurdles. The new law attempts to bypass the effects of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2010 ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission, which has paved the way for corporations and other outside groups, including labor unions, to spend unprecedented amounts of money on U.S. elections. While it was meant to counter Citizens United’s impact, the Hawaii law restricts enforcement to state-regulated organizations, so it has also raised concerns that it actually might allow entities incorporated in other states to fill the void in political spending in the islands. Star-Advertiser.

Attorney General Lopez provides biweekly update on public corruption investigation. State political investigation continues after 2nd Cabinet member leaves. In the wake of a second top administration official stepping down amid an ongoing criminal investigation, Gov. Josh Green’s office said it is not aware of any other state agency or individuals being included in the probe and that the governor is not “involved in the investigation in any way.” Star-Advertiser. Maui Now. 

Leadership Turmoil And Staffing Shortfalls Plague Child Welfare System. Former Hawaiʻi Department of Human Services Director Ryan Yamane is not the only top child welfare official departing the agency as lawmakers made some efforts this year to improve the system. Civil Beat.

Stalled work to determine OHA ceded land claims revived. Hawaii lawmakers have set out a modified path to determine how much revenue from ceded lands the state owes the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and resolve a nearly half-century dispute. Lawmakers also agreed to distribute $55 million in withheld ceded land revenue to OHA as part of the newly amended legislation, Senate Bill 903, on top of a set annual $21.5 million contribution that OHA regards as far below what is owed. Star-Advertiser.

Prayers push politics aside for Hawaii family members of Tulsi Gabbard. Prayers poured in for the family of Tulsi Gabbard on Friday after the former Hawaii political office holder announced her resignation as director of national intelligence in Washington, D.C., to support her husband battling bone cancer.  Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Voters Could Add Immigrant Protection Measures For HPD In November. In the wake of state legislation seeking to protect immigrants from overzealous federal crackdowns, a Honolulu charter amendment proposal with similar goals is inching forward at the city’s charter commission. Civil Beat.

North Shore homeowners fined nearly $2M for shoreline barriers. Three North Shore homeowners who together amassed a total of nearly $2 million in state fines for illegal shoreline armoring have begun removing the unpermitted structures they installed to shield their Rocky Point properties from erosion. Star-Advertiser.

OHA weighs purchase of KITV-KIKU from Allen Media Group. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs declined to say whether it has entered negotiations with a broadcast company or whether an offer has been made or is imminent. But sources close to the potential deal said the agency’s acquisition target is the Allen Media Group-owned KITV-KIKU, the local ABC affiliate and a station featuring Japanese and Filipino programming. Star-Advertiser.

‘Save the Queen’: Kaimukī residents urge the City to buy dilapidated Queen Theater. The Honolulu City Council's Zoning and Planning Committee on Thursday passed a resolution that would add Queen Theater to the roster of government buildings. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Big Island residents report damage from magnitude 6.0 quake. No injuries were reported but Hawaii County officials received reports Saturday from the Civil Defense Agency that at least 28 houses were damaged, including a post-and-pier home in South Kona that collapsed and is considered unlivable due to extensive damage to its foundation, said Tom Callis, spokesman for the Mayor’s Office. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Now. Hawaii News Now. 

County to use eminent domain to widen Puna road. A Hawaii County Council committee unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday to acquire 3.74 acres of land along Government Beach Road in Puna using eminent domain in order to widen the winding, one-lane scenic seaside route. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

HECO installing sturdier replacement poles in Lahaina, with plans for limited underground lines. Nearly three years after a downed power line sparked the destructive and deadly 2023 Lahaina wildfire, Hawaiian Electric is beginning a two-year, hardening project in the seaside town to replace wooden utility poles with stronger ones made of steel or composite fiberglass. Maui Now.

Hoʻonani Village project recommended for first reading passage by full Council; calls for deferral set aside. Bills 163 and 164 would expand the Maui Island Plan’s urban growth boundary and change the Wailuku-Kahului Community Plan designation from agriculture to business-multifamily for approximately 166 acres near Pūlehu and Hansen roads and Maui Veterans Highway. The site is part of a larger parcel that Hoʻonani Development plans to transform into an approximately 1,608-unit workforce housing community with light industrial, commercial, office and open space components. Maui Now.

Kula Hospital's future uncertain amid ongoing post-storm closure. Kula Hospital was home to more than 100 long-term patients when severe flooding and rain in March damaged the facility. Hawaii Public Radio.

‘She’s up with the saints’: Meli Watanuki, one of Kalaupapa’s last living patients, dies at 91. A beloved member of the Kalaupapa community who loved to dance hula, never missed morning Mass and helped restart tours to the historic town last fall has died, leaving just two survivors of Hansen’s disease living full time on the isolated peninsula on Moloka‘i’s north coast. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauaʻi farmers and small businesses find new home at Anahola Marketplace. A new weekly farmers market focused on local food, small businesses and community connection is set to launch June 1 at Anahola Marketplace on Kauaʻi’s North Shore. Kauai Now.

No swimming advised following shark sighting at Hanalei Bay. According to a preliminary report, ocean safety officials report that a 6- to 7-foot shark was sighted fronting the Pavilion Tower in Hanalei Bay today, May 24, at approximately 2:15 p.m. Lifeguards will reassess the area later on Monday, May 25. If there are no other sightings, the beach will reopen to ocean activities at 2:15 p.m. Kauai Now. Garden Island.