Housing shortage driving poverty, US pulls last aircraft carrier from Pacific, Honolulu bars can stay open until 4 a.m., woman faces federal charges in $5.2M Kona coffee scam, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Housing Shortage Driving Poverty In Hawaiʻi More Than Anywhere. A new study says lowering rents could substantially cut poverty in the Aloha State. The study found that as of three years ago, 34% of the state’s poverty was due to housing costs. Civil Beat.

Supreme Court climate change case could set precedent for Hawaii challenges. U.S. Supreme Court justices wrestled Monday with complex questions over whether to let local governments try to hold private oil companies liable for the harms caused by climate change — and their decision could have large impacts on Hawaii’s own cases against fossil fuel producers. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. pulls its last aircraft carrier from the Pacific — what’s next for the region? The Asia Pacific currently does not have a U.S. aircraft carrier in the region — how important is that, and what sort of signal does it send? Hawaii Public Radio.

Tokuda, Awa split on potential Trump impeachment in race for 2nd District. State Sen. Brenton Awa acknowledges he is a significant underdog in his campaign to unseat U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda in Hawaii’s 2nd Congressional District. Tokuda declined a televised debate with Awa, so Hawaii News Now interviewed both candidates separately on where they stand. Hawaii News Now.

Low Test Scores: For Hawaiʻi High Schoolers, The Math Isn’t Mathing. Elementary schoolers do OK in math, but by junior year, many students start falling behind. Educators say they need to catch struggling students earlier.  Civil Beat.

University of Hawaii launches single application for all campuses. The UH system has launched ApplyHawaii, a new undergraduate application that allows students to apply to any of the university system’s 10 campuses through a single application. Star-Advertiser.

Three Finalists Announced For New Office of Hawaiian Affairs CEO. Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs have selected Todd Apo, Kaulana Park and Summer Sylva as finalists for the role of the office’s administrator in charge of advancing OHA’s mission of bettering the condition of Native Hawaiians. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. KHON2. 

Letters reveal price, policy changes for 16,000 HMSA Medicare Advantage members. About 16,000 HMSA Medicare Advantage members will need to choose a new plan for 2027 after changes to two of the company’s plans. HMSA’s Complete Plus and Standard Plus plans will no longer be offered after December 31.KITV4.

Oahu

Honolulu Liquor Commission seeks new records-retention rules. The Honolulu Liquor Commission is seeking final City Council approval Wednesday of a new records-­retention schedule for public information requests and body-worn camera footage amid renewed litigation from a Chinatown nightclub alleging the commission violated a 2025 settlement by restricting public-records access, among other claims. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu bars can now apply to stay open until 4 a.m. during special occasions. The Honolulu Liquor Commission believes its pilot program pushing back closing time at bars is showing promise, but the Honolulu Police Department fears it may not have enough resources to handle rule-breaking patrons. The new license allows establishments to stay open until 4 a.m., instead of the usual 2 a.m., on special occasions only.  Hawaii News Now. KHON2. 

Human teeth found at proposed Chick-fil-A site in Kailua. Two human teeth were discovered at the site of a proposed Chick-fil-A in Kailua. The teeth were found during an archaeological survey at the property near Hamakua Drive and Hahani St. KITV4.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii Island woman to plead not guilty in Kona coffee case.  Patricia Johnson will plead not guilty Wednesday to charges outlined in a superseding indictment that accuses her of falsifying tax filings while earning more than $5.2 million selling “100% Kona coffee” that was sourced from foreign countries and bought in California and Washington. Star-Advertiser.

New leadership at NELHA means new visions about how to grow the agency. The Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaiʻi Authority is filling the gaps in leadership it’s had for months — sparking discussion about how to grow the agency’s ocean-based energy and aquaculture output. NELHA has been without its top official since the death of former Executive Director Riley Saito in May. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island mayor offers timeline, cost estimates for Mokuola bridge rebuild. Mayor Kimo Alameda says work on a temporary pedestrian bridge could start as soon as January with access hopefully being restored by next summer. For the permanent rebuild, however, estimates are around $20 million, the mayor confirmed. Hawaii News Now.

Everything you need to know about the 2026 Ironman World Championship in Kona. The Ironman World Championship 2026 is back in Kona, with events underway throughout the week in West Hawai‘i. Big Island Now.

Plans in the works to rebuild Wild Ginger Hotel. The owners of the Wild Ginger Hotel in Hilo intend to rebuild the historic boutique hotel that was destroyed in a deadly fire almost a year ago, but there is resistance to their plans. Tribune-Herald.

Feral cats found shot to death on Banyan Drive. A woman who feeds cats on Banyan Drive, despite laws against doing so, said at least two cats — a mother and her kitten — were shot to death in late August, calling it “open season on innocent cats and their caretakers.” Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Court ruling clears way for payouts in $4B Maui wildfire settlement. Nearly 22,000 claimants are still waiting for their share of the $4 billion settlement, which has been delayed by a fight over attorneys fees. Hawaii News Now.

Maui County launches housing navigator program for wildfire survivors as state ends case management. Maui County began a housing navigator program Thursday for households affected by the August 2023 wildfires. It takes over case management services that the state had been providing, the county announced. Maui Now.

Maui to host LPGA 2027 LOTTE Championship at Kapalua. For the first time ever, the LPGA Tour’s 2027 LOTTE Championship will be held at the Plantation Course at Kapalua, officials announced on Monday. The LPGA Tour’s 2027 LOTTE Championship will occur from March 18 to March 21. KITV4.

Kauai

Kaua‘i Wildfire Resilience Bill Has Turned Into A ‘Fight Over Numbers’. Local contractors are putting forward vastly different estimates for how much the bill could increase construction costs.  Civil Beat.

Solomon Kanoho named Local Disaster Recovery and Mitigation Manager for Hurricane Lowell recovery. Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami has named Solomon Kanoho as the County of Kaua‘i’s Local Disaster Recovery and Mitigation Manager to lead the County’s recovery from Hurricane Lowell. In this role, Kanoho will coordinate recovery work across County departments, serve as the main point of contact for state, federal, and community partners, and report directly to the Mayor. Garden Island.

Hoomalu Ke Kai performs emergency coral restoration. When Hurricane Nolo brushed near Kauai on Sept. 7 and 8, damage from the storm surge and surf was caused along the South Shore and Westside of Kauai. The damage extended to beyond that which is still visible above the ocean surface. Garden Island.

HNL next to last in airport survey, Hawaii Mormon population growing, Honolulu council mulls taxpayer-paid candidate mailers, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu ranks next to last in large U.S airport survey. Daniel K. Inouye International Airport ranked next to last among large U.S. airports in the latest JD Power North America Airport Satisfaction Study despite Hawaii’s nearly $7 billion airport modernization effort. Only Philadelphia International Airport ranked lower.  Star-Advertiser.

Underdog Gov Candidate Takes On The Democratic Machine — Again. Republican and small businessman Gary Cordery says his children had to move away because they could not afford to stay. He wants to reduce the cost of living. Civil Beat.

Republican ticket brings diverse approaches to gubernatorial race. The Republican ticket for Hawaii governor and lieutenant governor brings together a 66-year-old general contractor whose 13 children and grandchildren all had to leave the state they love because of Hawaii’s high cost of living, and a 48-year-old Kahana Valley breadfruit, taro and pig farmer who lives off the land and homeschools the four youngest of his seven children. Star-Advertiser.

Kauhale builders admit ‘mistakes were made’ as audit looms. The impending release of a highly anticipated critical audit of the state’s kauhale homeless housing initiative has prompted a rebuke of HomeAid Hawai‘i over its billing practices and led the nonprofit to launch its own financial reviews resulting in its CEO repaying $17,982 for expenses considered his “personal responsibility.” Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi Mormon Population Growing, Diversifying In U.S. The membership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or more commonly known as the Mormon Church, has been getting more diverse over time, with the religion popular in the Pacific Islands and growing slightly in Hawaiʻi.  Civil Beat.

Is OHA’s Board In For Another Shakeup? The outcome of the race for three at-large seats on the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees has the potential to change the makeup of the board as it faces several crucial decisions. Civil Beat.

Schatz Pushes AI Oversight As Tech Goes Rogue: ‘Humans In Control’. In an interview with Civil Beat, Hawaiʻi’s senior senator explains why Congress needs to set up AI safety rules now before something “horrifying” happens. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Council mulls limits on taxpayer-funded election-year mailers. The Honolulu City Council is considering new restrictions on elected officials’ use of taxpayer-funded resources for mass communications, including mailers sent to voters near election dates. The action comes amid a parallel effort by the city Ethics Commission to address concerns about incumbent Council members using public resources to promote their work shortly before voters head to the polls. Star-Advertiser.

Well Reopening Near Red Hill Stirs Up Lingering Concerns Over Poisoned Plume. Five years after the fuel spill at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, the U.S. Navy has received conditional approval to reopen the nearby ʻAiea Hālawa Shaft. Civil Beat.

Oʻahu transit agency is paying record-high prices to fuel city buses. As the war in Iran drives up fuel prices, Honolulu's transit agency says it is paying the most it has ever paid for diesel to run city buses. Right now, the city Department of Transportation Services is paying an unprecedented $5.66 per gallon of diesel. Hawaii Public Radio.

Another change of plans for Honolulu's Chinatown. A recent vote by the Honolulu City Council canceled plans to relocate two city agencies to a building in the heart of Chinatown. That set back hopes for new economic development for the area. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Road cameras to be deployed. The state Department of Law Enforcement has plans to install 75 automatic license plate reader cameras, known as ALPRs, on the Big Island as part of an initiative to deploy about 400 of the cameras statewide.  Tribune-Herald.

Online public survey launched for Puna Alternate Route Study. The online survey is aimed at gathering the public’s opinion and thoughts about travel patterns in and out of Puna, existing transportation conditions and concerns as well as emergency access and resilience. Big Island Now.

PGV aims to boost output with new wells. Drilling is scheduled to start this month for several new wells at the Puna Geothermal Venture facility. Tribune-Herald.

Two Kaʻū condo communities deserted after Lala damaged private Punaluʻu utility servicing water, sewer. The condo communities of Colony I and Kalana Estates in Kaʻū look like a ghost town. The nearly 100 units in the remote, southern part of the Big Island survived Hurricane Lala. But , the private utility Punaluʻu Water and Sanitation that services their drinking water and sewer did not. Big Island Now.

Water Restriction Notice Issued For South Kohala Coast. A Water Restriction Notice requires affected customers to reduce water use by at least 25 percent, officials say. Big Island Video News.

Maui

After finishing first in the mayoral primary, Bissen outpaces Sugimura in fundraising. Since incumbent Mayor Richard Bissen finished first in the Aug. 8 primary election, he has out fundraised opponent Yuki Lei Sugimura, but she has spent more as she tries to make up the nearly 5,000-vote gap he had over her in the 10-person field. Bissen’s campaign raised $79,963 to Sugimura’s $65,479, according to the latest spending reports. Maui Now.

Stormy summer takes toll on Maui beaches already battling erosion. Coastlines across Maui are showing the effects of torrential rains and an unusually strong hurricane season in the Pacific. In South Maui, portions of beach parks are roped off due to erosion.  Maui Now.

The Dunes at Maui Lani faces repeated storms in 2026. In March, more than 22 inches of rain caused extensive flooding, toppled 12 trees and forced the course to close for 13 days, according to course officials. Since then, two hurricanes have affected Maui. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai man ‘very grateful’ after surviving debris-clearing accident, loses leg. A Kauai man is on a long road to recovery after he said he nearly lost his life in the aftermath of Hurricane Lowell. Agenhart Puulei, known by many as “Tin Tin,” was using an excavator to clear debris from Hurricane Lowell when one of the logs he picked up fell. Hawaii News Now.

Salt Pond Beach Park remains closed after Lowell damages historic salt-making area. Nearly a month after Hurricane Lowell passed near the state, Salt Pond Beach Park remains closed as crews and community members work to recover from extensive sand and debris damage. KHON2.

Officials advise no swimming, ocean recreation activities because of brown water advisory. Kaua‘i Ocean Safety Bureau officials advise no swimming or other ocean recreation activities because of an islandwide brown water advisory issued by Hawai‘i Department of Health Clean Water Branch. Kauai Now.

Kids saddle up for fall fun at Healing Horses Kauaʻi. Children on Kauaʻi will have the opportunity this week to spend their fall days learning about horses, building riding skills, and exploring their creativity at Healing Horses Kauai’s 2026 Fall Horsemanship and Riding Camps. Kauai Now.

Everything is free at family fun day! Everything at the Puhi park open field was free at the Family Fun Day, Teddy Arroyo said on Sunday. Garden Island.

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Oahu

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

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

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

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

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

Hawaii Island

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

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

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

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

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

Maui

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kauai

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Oahu

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

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

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

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

Hawaii Island

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

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

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

Maui

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

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

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

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

Kauai

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Oahu

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hawaii Island

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

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

Maui

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

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

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

Kauai

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



 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Oahu

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hawaii Island

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

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

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

Maui

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

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

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

Kauai

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Oahu

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

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

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

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

Hawaii Island

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

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

Maui

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

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

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

Kauai

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

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

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

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

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