Green signs environmental, housing bills into law, Luke faces 2nd criminal investigation, lawmakers want Plan B if USPS doesn't deliver ballots, Taiwan delegation discusses Chinatown, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. Josh Green signs four bills into law, focusing on environmental conservation, housing affordability. Gov. Josh Green signed four measures into law that reinforce Hawaiʻi’s long-term investments in environmental stewardship, housing, and community infrastructure. Big Island Now.

Green signs bill creating fund for cesspool conversion loans. Gov. Josh Green on Wednesday signed into law a measure to establish a fund to provide Hawaii homeowners low-interest or forgivable loans to finance costly, federally mandated conversions of their cesspools to septic systems or sewers. Tribune-Herald.

Luke Campaign Violations Referred To AG For Possible Prosecution. The Hawaiʻi Campaign Spending Commission on Wednesday voted to refer a set of alleged campaign finance violations by Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke’s campaign to the Attorney General’s Office for possible prosecution, which has already been investigating the matter. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.  Hawaii Public Radio.  KHON2.

Hawaii lawmakers want a ‘Plan B’ if USPS won’t deliver ballots. The state Office of Elections is banking on the U.S. Postal Service and judicial system to ensure that Hawaii residents can easily vote in November’s general election, but some state lawmakers are worried over the lack of a contingency plan. Star-Advertiser. KITV4

DEA moves to ban ‘gas station heroin’ sold openly in Hawaii. The Drug Enforcement Administration has filed a notice of intent to ban 7-OH and two related synthetic compounds, MGM-15 and MGM-16, saying the substances have no medical purpose and are dangerous. Hawaii News Now.

Trust, Income Tax And Green Fees: Lieutenant Governor Candidate Q&As. A diverse field is on the ballot for the office left vacant by Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke’s abrupt departure. Civil Beat.

ʻĀina, Army and Mauna Kea: Office Of Hawaiian Affairs Trustee Candidate Q&As. A total of 19 nonpartisan candidates are running for five trustee positions on the nine-person board of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs this year. The agency controls over $600 million in unrestricted funds set aside to improve the wellbeing of Native Hawaiians. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu Slashes Economic Recovery Office Over Mayor’s Objections. The county agency received strong community support, but was also the subject of a scathing audit over its failure to meet goals. Honolulu Mayor Blangiardi condemns City Council’s veto override. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. 

First of at least 8 additional Red Hill trials gets underway.  The first of at least eight additional trials relating to claims stemming from the 2021 Red Hill jet fuel crisis began Tuesday, with U.S. District Judge Leslie Koba­yashi left to contemplate one key question: Was ingesting contaminated ice enough exposure to get sick? Star-Advertiser.

Blangiardi meets Taiwan delegation over Chinatown Cultural Plaza redevelopment. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi met Wednesday with a delegation from Taiwan for two days of talks on plans to redevelop the Chinatown Cultural Plaza on Beretania Street. The $52 million, 4-acre property owned by the Taiwanese government has fallen into disrepair and become a draw for crime. Hawaii News Now.

Influential Energy Researcher Quietly Backed By Big Money Climate Group. Amid Gov. Josh Green’s push to bring liquefied natural gas to Hawaiʻi, one critic has risen to the forefront: a policy research leader who has repeatedly attacked Green’s arguments that LNG belongs in the state’s energy future. Civil Beat.

UH Mānoa's new chancellor shares his vision for the university. The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa welcomed Vassilis Syrmos as its newest chancellor on July 1. Syrmos brings for over three and a half decades of experience as a professor, researcher and administrator to his new role. Hawaii Public Radio.

Falling construction debris prompts road closure in Honolulu. Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company, Inc. Wednesday confirmed that just before 8 p.m., an incident involving a temporary guardrail system occurred at the Straub Benioff Medical Center Construction Project on King Street. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4. 

Hawaii Island

Council votes to tweak bill regarding PONC funds. The Hawaii County Council on Wednesday unanimously approved legislation providing greater flexibility in determining the share of property taxes earmarked for a popular land conservation maintenance fund. Tribune-Herald.

Next phase of Hilo Bayfront Trails project could begin later this year. Nearly two decades ago, the Hilo Bayfront Trails project laid out a vision to better connect the Hilo area through a network of multi-use trails – linking downtown to the harbor and passing through the scenic Wailoa River State Recreation Area and Lili‘uokalani Gardens. Tribune-Herald.

3 convicted sex offenders in Kona arrested for failing to register. Three convicted sex offenders from Kona were arrested during a three-day compliance operation on Hawaii Island last week, according to the state Department of the Attorney General. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald. 

UH study: Big Island spinner dolphins are producing fewer calves. Unexpectedly low calf numbers within the spinner dolphin population off Hawaii Island were revealed in a study led by scientists with the Marine Mammal Research Program, or MMRP, at the University of Hawaii at Manoa along with national and international collaborators. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui Council votes to authorize purchase of West Maui condo unit for kūpuna housing. Maui County Council members voted unanimously to authorize the acquisition of a West Maui condominium unit for up to $278,000 to expand the Nā Hale Kūpuna program, which provides permanent housing for kūpuna displaced by the August 2023 wildfires. Maui Now.

Upcountry Maui Coalition urges action on emergency water infrastructure. Seeking a proactive partnership to safeguard lives and property, the Kula Community Association (KCA) and a broader alliance of organizations issued a formal briefing today to Maui County officials and Hawaiʻi State Legislators. KCA and supporting organizations are calling for leadership accountability and direct budgetary collaboration to fund immediate, localized water infrastructure ahead of the peak wildfire season. Maui Now.

Maui Is Pushing The State To Double Down On Palm-Killing Beetles. Community members around Hawaiʻi say the only way to get the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to do its job is by forcing its hand. Civil Beat.

Kauai

After lease scare ends with 15-year agreement, new chapter brewing at Kauaʻi Coffee Company. At the Kauaʻi County Council meeting on Wednesday, Wayne Katayama was in much better spirits than the last time he addressed the members six months ago with nearly two years of land lease negotiations stalled between the owners of Kauaʻi Coffee Company and its landlord, Colorado- based investment firm Brue Baukol Capital Partners. Kauai Now.

Renovations to stadium on Kaua‘i will close parking lots in phases. The Vidinha Stadium parking lot will close in phases starting July 13 to accommodate continued renovations at the stadium. Kauai Now. Garden Island. 

Nago gets letter threatening criminal prosecution if non-citizens vote, Green signs bevy of bills, Honolulu auditor stymied by disorganized homeless program, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Trump Administration Sends Threatening Letter To Hawaiʻi Elections Chief. The U.S. Justice Department is telling elections officials nationwide they could be criminally liable if they make it possible for non-citizens to vote. The letter from the U.S. Department of Justice outlined penalties faced by people who vote when they’re not allowed to and said “state election officers, including the chief election officer of the state, could be criminally prosecuted for aiding and abetting the violation of any of these provisions.” Civil Beat.

HECO warned the Iran war would raise costs. Here’s how much bills rose. Monthly bills rose by about $60 for the average Maui resident and $30 for the average Hawaiʻi Island resident between March and June.  On Oahu, prices rose by $59. Costs then started to come down in June. Hawaii Public Radio.

Crime Is Down. Why Do So Many In Hawaiʻi Feel Unsafe? Experts say social media and political rhetoric can lead people to believe crime is higher than it is. In testimony at the Hawaiʻi Legislature this year and in social media posts, dozens of people are expressing concern that crime in the islands is rising.  Civil Beat.

New Hawaii laws address domestic violence, human trafficking. House Bill 1959 extends a five-year pilot project intended to decrease repeated incidents of domestic violence, while HB 1960 would establish a program to educate and train transient accommodations workers to recognize human trafficking and report suspected incidents. Tribune-Herald. KITV4. 

Governor Signs Bills On Tobacco Use, Electronic Smoking Devices. Disposable electronic smoking devices can no longer be sold or distributed beginning January 1, 2027. Big Island Video News. Maui News. KHON2. KITV4. 

New Bill on Marine Affairs Aims To Sustain Hawaiʻi “Blue Economy”. Senate Bill 2907 centralizes marine affairs oversight and formally designates the state as a hub for ocean innovation and stewardship. Big Island Video News. Hawaii Public Radio. 

Oahu

Honolulu City Council poised to override mayor’s vetoes. The Honolulu City Council plans today to consider overriding Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s line-item vetoes restoring funding and positions to the city’s Office of Economic Revitalization after the Council eliminated them from the city’s $3.193 billion fiscal year 2027 operating budget, which took effect July 1. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Homeless Services Program Too Disorganized To Assess, Auditor Says. The CORE program was started in 2021 and has changed its focus repeatedly since then, confounding efforts to gauge its effectiveness. Civil Beat.

UHERO temporarily withdraws energy report that Oʻahu doesn’t need any additional power plants – fueled by liquefied natural gas and any other fuel – to keep the lights on. The University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization on Tuesday temporarily withdrew a report that claimed Hawaii did not need additional power plants if it expanded its solar facilities.  The report was withdrawn one day after Gov. Josh Green told KHON2 the report was “baloney” and based in the “opposite of reality.” Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. KHON2.

H-1 Freeway to shut down overnight Saturday for bridge installation. Part of the H-1 Freeway will be fully closed to traffic this weekend while crews work on the Gulick Avenue overpass. The bridge is part of the state’s $100 million federally funded H-1 widening project. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Biki bike-share revamps as the city hopes to invest $1.5 million. The city hopes to invest $1.5 million to purchase 600 new bicycles and refurbish existing stations to rebuild the system. KITV4.

Chinese communist party member arrested in Hawaii on visa fraud charge. A 51-year-old man from China is facing a federal criminal charge in Hawaii after he allegedly hid his background as a lieutenant colonel in the People’s Liberation Army and Communist Party leader on his visa application. He was arrested July 1 at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport trying to enter the country. Star-Advertiser.

East Oahu residents criticize ‘monster home,’ property owner responds. There is growing criticism over construction on a property near Maunalani Heights, with some claiming the owner plans to build a “monster home.” Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Legislation targets data centers in Hawaii County. A Hawaii County Council Committee on Tuesday unanimously approved forwarding a bill banning industrial-scale data centers on the island after hearing testimony from nearly a dozen supporters. Tribune-Herald.

UH seeks to transfer Maunakea master lease to oversight authority. UH recently sent a letter to MKSOA leadership proposing to initiate the transfer of the master lease for the over 11,000-acre summit area. This, along with a recent state bill signed into law in May, would allow MKSOA to extend subleases for observatories on the mountain before officially taking over management responsibilities from UH on Dec. 1, 2029. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

County to discuss Maui shoreline planning boundary on July 14. Community encouraged to attend July 14 meeting on SMA boundary assessment project for Maui. The County of Maui Department of Planning invites community members to learn about the Special Management Area (SMA) boundary assessment project for the island of Maui by attending the Maui Planning Commission meeting at 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 14. Maui Now. Maui News. 

PUC to review Young Brothers after shipping delays. After shipping delays left Molokai and Lanai residents without some basic supplies for days, state regulators are taking a closer look at Young Brothers’ operations. KHON2.

DOT weighs bids for Lanai federally subsidized air service. Lanai’s only commercial airport is again under federal review as the U.S. Department of Transportation weighs competing bids for subsidized essential air serv­ice — a program that guarantees baseline scheduled flights so the rural island can maintain reliable, year‑round travel. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

Public comment period for Kaua‘i’s landfill expansion project coming to an end. Public comment on the Environmental Impact Statement Preparation Notice for an expansion project at Kauai’s only solid waste landfill, which is projected to reach capacity in four years, is nearing its end. The deadline to submit written comments on the statement is Wednesday. Kauai Now.

Kauai residents question police response to murder case, manhunt. Residents on Kauaʻi’s north shore demanded answers Monday night about the police department’s handling of a multi-day manhunt for a murder suspect. Hawaii News Now.

Prepping for Back to School Bash. More than 70 volunteers from sponsors of the Back to School Bash turned out on Tuesday to pack backpacks with school supplies for the Saturday event at the Kukui Grove Center. Garden Island.

Green signs film industry bills, infighting rankles OHA, NYT flags Case as vulnerable in congressional race, robotics programs struggling, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. Green signs bills to support Hawaiʻi’s film industry and economic development. Hawaii movie star Jason Momoa made a cameo appearance by video in the governor’s office Monday to celebrate the enactment of a new state law aimed at expanding the state’s film industry. Gov. Josh Green signed Senate Bill 2580 into law to increase rebates for production spending on movies, episodic shows, TV specials and commercials in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now. 

‘We Can’t Screw It Up’: Infighting Rankles OHA. A legal battle among the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees has spilled out of court and into the public eye. Bitter divisions at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs over how to handle a lawsuit from the office’s ousted CEO are weakening OHA’s ability to defend itself, destabilizing the office’s Board of Trustees and threatening to imperil projects years in the making, trustees and a lawyer for the organization said Monday. Civil Beat.

New York Times flags Rep. Ed Case as vulnerable in Hawaii’s 1st District primary. State Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole ramps up challenge as analyst says Case’s position remains strong. The New York Times has identified U.S. Rep. Ed Case as one of six Democrats vulnerable in upcoming primaries, drawing national attention to his race against state Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole for Hawaii’s 1st Congressional District seat. Hawaii News Now.

Robotics Teams Are Shrinking. Students Say They’re More Important Than Ever. Robotics programs are struggling to find the coaching and funding they need to survive as students and lawmakers search for unique solutions to sustain schools’ teams.  Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi Sea Grant and Pili Nā Moku launch $7M community funding program. The initiative aims to support projects that care for the land, promote cultural and ecological stewardship, and foster resilient communities throughout Hawaiʻi. Each project must be based in one of five districts — Kona, Kauaʻi, Waiʻanae on Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Central Maui, or Kohala on Hawaiʻi Island — and must align with that district’s priorities. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Self-Promotion Or Communication? Taxpayer-Funded Mailers Blur Lines. As Honolulu Council Chair Tommy Waters geared up for what has become a competitive race for reelection, his constituents received a multi-page promotional pamphlet of the ways he is “working for you.”  Civil Beat.

Gov. Green pushes calls UHERO report "baloney". Nearly a week after a new University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization report outlined an argument for the state to pursue more solar electricity production and not investment in Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Hawaii Governor Josh Green is pushing back. KHON2.

17 ballot drop boxes opening across Oahu on Monday. Starting Monday, July 6, a total of 17 official ballot drop boxes will be established throughout Oahu. KITV4.

New Honolulu chief prioritizes strategic planning. On his first day as Honolulu’s new police chief, David Lazar began with an ambitious agenda. His goals include departmental expansion via recruitment and retention, developing a new strategic plan, and integrating modern law enforcement technologies. KHON2.

Oahu home sales: Median price hit record $1,242,500 in June. The 10.4% gain was the biggest year-over-year increase for any month since July 2022 when the median price surged 11.6% to $1,107,944. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor appoints former HART executive Richard Keene to board. Richard “Rick” Keene, HART’s former deputy executive director and chief operating officer who retired last year from the more than $10 billion Skyline project, will begin his duties on the governing body “effective immediately.” Star-Advertiser.

HPD shutters Waipahu gambling den, seizes more than $6K in cash. HPD’s Narcotics/Vice Gambling Detail, with the help of the District Three Crime Reduction Unit, Forfeiture Detail and Specialized Services Division, found 17 gaming machines and more than $6,000 in cash, which were submitted into evidence. Star-Advertiser.

Hanauma Bay scheduled to close for sewer project. The 35-year-old sewer system will be replaced starting in August. The City and County of Honolulu will begin sewer system improvements at Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve in August. The preserve is expected to close from Aug. 3 to Aug. 11 to start the project. Another closure is expected in early 2027. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Data Centers on Hawaiʻi County Council Agenda This Week. Data centers will be the subject of Bill 170, to be heard by the Council Committee on Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use, and Economic Development during a July 7th hearing scheduled for 11 a.m. HST. Big Island Video News.

Dangerous Dogs And Deadly Roads: Hawaiʻi County Council District 5 Candidate Q&As. Five nonpartisan candidates are on the primary election ballot vying to represent the vast Big Island council region of Hawaiʻi County Council District 5, which takes in Kurtistown, Mountain View, Glenwood, Orchidlands Estates, Ainaloa, Hawaiian Acres, Fern Acres, Eden Roc, Fern Forest Estates, mauka of Pāhoa Town, Kaohe Homesteads, Kamaili Homesteads, Kalapana, ʻOpihikao, Kehena and Kaimu. Civil Beat.

Fuel, Food And Disaster Preparation: Hawaiʻi County Council District 7. Three nonpartisan candidates are standing for the Hawaiʻi County Council seat for District 7 in the Aug. 8 primary election as current council member Rebecca Villegas is about to be termed out. Civil Beat.

Maui

Still no parking for Safe Parking project; no overall homeless plan. More than four years after Maui County set aside $200,000 to create an overnight parking program for people living in their vehicles, the pilot program has yet to provide a safe haven for homeless people. And the administration of Mayor Richard Bissen acknowledged Monday that it has no comprehensive plan for managing homelessness — although the Mayor’s Office says that’s been to assess needs and prioritize immediate services, not neglect. Maui Now.

Director of Personnel Services set to retire after 30 years with County of Maui. County Director of Personnel Services Cynthia Razo-Porter has announced she is retiring, effective July 31, 2026. Maui Now. Maui News.

Maui nonprofit argues new coastal deregulation law unconstitutional. A nonprofit community group sued the Maui County Planning Commission in an effort to stop a new law that allows for exemptions for development in coastal areas from taking effect. Star-Advertiser.

Tadashi Yanai donates $500,000 to Aloha Puʻu Kukui, bringing total support for Maui watershed to $1.5M. Kapalua Golf owner and President of TY Management,  Tadashi Yanai, recently donated $500,000 to the nonprofit Aloha Puʻu Kukui, a major commitment to continuing the restoration work of the West Maui Puʻu Kukui Watershed Preserve —a critical resource for the island’s environmental health. Maui Now.

Kauai

Deadline for landfill expansion comments Wednesday. The County of Kauai Solid Waste Division is reminding residents that the deadline to submit written comments on the Environmental Impact Statement Preparation Notice for the Kekaha Landfill Cell 3 Vertical Expansion Project is Wednesday. Garden Island.

State hires contractor to build monument memorializing deadly Hanapēpē labor strike more than a century ago. Construction starts Sept. 1, and it's expected to be completed by February 2027. Kauai Now.

 

State labor force hits 6-year high as hospitality industry rebounds, Hawaii DOE hires largest cohort of foreign teachers, 1st in nation savings accounts for foster children, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii’s labor force hits 6-year high; unemployment rate increases to 2.5%. An influx of 1,400 nonfarm payroll jobs in Hawaii’s leisure and hospitality industry in May helped boost the local economy by 1,900 positions for the month as the state’s labor force reached its highest level in more than six years. Star-Advertiser.

Wespac Stacks Seats With Fishing Industry Players As Marine Protections Erode. The Hawai‘i Longline Association’s Eric Kingma and Roger Dang will join the fisheries management council next month. As the Trump administration works to open commercial fishing to U.S. fleets across the Pacific, some of its strongest allies in that push will soon fill open seats on the influential council that oversees fishing grounds around Hawaiʻi and the Western Pacific. Civil Beat.

Lost reef recreation because of climate change could cost Hawaiʻi up to $3 billion by beginning of next century. A new study finds coral reef decline driven by climate change could cost Hawaiʻi residents between $1.8 billion and $3 billion in lost reef-related activities by 2100. Big Island Now.

Hawaii fast-tracks pilot recruiting efforts as aviator shortage looms. Hawaii’s aviation industry is accelerating efforts to rebuild its pilot pipeline, turning to youth training programs and new community partnerships as retirements mount and global demand for cockpit­-ready talent continues to rise. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii DOE welcomes largest cohort of foreign teachers. Hawaii public schools will begin the upcoming academic year with a record 237 new J-1 visa teachers, bringing the state’s total number of international educators in the program to more than 600 as the state Department of Education credits overseas recruitment with helping reduce teacher vacancies to fewer than 100 statewide. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now. 

Gov. Green announces first-in-the-nation savings accounts for foster youth. Gov. Josh Green announced that Hawaiʻi is becoming the first state in the nation to ensure every eligible child in foster care, from newborn through age 17, has a funded, tax-advantaged savings and investment account.  Maui Now.

Grassroot Institute Aims To Keep Growing Its Political Influence. Now in its 25th year, the nonprofit policy research organization wants to play a larger role in influencing state and county governance. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Transportation Barriers Block The Route To Opportunities For Many On Oʻahu, Study Finds. On the same day a study was released calling for more accessible public transportation, fares for TheBus were hiked. Civil Beat.

Honolulu sees improvement in pedestrian safety, national report finds. In a recently released national pedestrian safety report, urban Honolulu ranked among the safer major metropolitan areas, even as pedestrian fatalities remain a persistent challenge locally and nationwide. Star-Advertiser.

Dole Food Co. sells Hawaii’s largest cacao farm. Dole Food Co. has exited the chocolate business in Hawaii after pioneering large-scale farming of cacao on former sugarcane fields in Waialua. Star-Advertiser.

Chinatown, Sewers And Public Safety: State House District 28 Candidate Q&As. Five Democrats are on the primary election ballot to represent urban and industrial Honolulu neighborhoods. Civil Beat.

Hawaii veterans reflect on their service, America’s role in the world. Sterling Kanoa Beair served as an Army combat medic in Iraq. He excelled in the military, attaining the rank of staff sergeant and earning accolades from his comrades and superiors. But he also carried demons from his wartime experiences as he struggled to reintegrate into civilian life, wrestling with post-traumatic stress and substance abuse, eventually finding himself homeless and living in a tent near Kaena Point. Star-Advertiser.

Emergency flood mitigation work to begin in Waianae. State transportation crews are beginning emergency flood mitigation work along Paakea Road in Waianae after recent heavy rains highlighted ongoing flooding concerns in the area. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Paid parking lots debate continues. The Hawaii County Windward Planning Commission voted unanimously Thursday to defer consideration of a bill banning new paid parking lots on the island after hearing input from the planning director and co-author of the measure. Tribune-Herald.

A new state-led vision for Hilo’s Banyan Drive resort district is in the works. Hawaii’s Legislature this year laid a foundation to turn most of the Waiakea Peninsula, including two blighted hotel sites, into a blank canvas for a state agency to plan new development that could include hotels, retail, park space, a cultural center and a performance venue larger than the nearby Edith Kanaka‘ole Multi-­Purpose Stadium that hosts the annual Merrie Monarch Festival. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Now. 

Court Clears The Way For $81M Affordable Rental Project In Kona. The Honuaʻula project was delayed for years by a Big Island affordable housing scandal and then by a dispute with a neighboring land owner. Civil Beat.

Queen’s Health Systems plans its first employee housing at new Kailua-Kona hospital. In the next five years, Hawaiʻi's largest health system will build 150 below-market-rate residential units on Hawaiʻi Island, on the campus of a planned new hospital in Kailua-Kona. They're being built for a specific group: hospital employees. Hawaii Public Radio.

UH lab gives sweet potato farmers a leg up on the Hamakua Coast. A University of Hawaii at Manoa lab, located at the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience facility in Hilo, has been working to tackle threats from numerous diseases by identifying and distributing “clean,” disease-free plants to local farmers. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Exemption path opens for Maui vacation rental phaseout. Owners of a few thousand condominiums on Maui long approved for vacation rental use have a new opportunity to sidestep an approaching ban intended to increase the supply of housing for residents after losses in the 2023 wildfire that destroyed most of Lahaina. Star-Advertiser.

Maui County’s fringe mayoral candidates add unique ideas, opinions, entertainment to race. Anyone who thinks local candidate forums are boring did not attend the Kīhei Community Association’s event on June 16 featuring nine of the 10 people running for mayor of Maui County. Maui Now.

Outdoor marketplace aims to bring business back to Front Street in Lahaina. Plans for a new outdoor marketplace on Front Street in Lahaina are bringing hope to local business owners as Maui County officials and nonprofit partners look to revive commercial activity lost in the 2023 wildfire. Maui News.

Study: Maui among areas facing early reef recreation losses. Leeward Maui is among the areas expected to see the earliest and most severe recreational losses from climate-driven coral reef decline, according to a new study that estimates Hawaii residents could lose between $1.8 billion and $3 billion in reef-related recreation by 2100. Maui News.

Kauai

A New Era for West Kaua‘i’s Agriculture? After decades of being dominated by large seed operations, the state Agribusiness Development Corp.’s Kekaha lands are slowly moving towards increased local food production. Civil Beat.

State hires contractor for Battle of Hanapepe memorial. The state has selected a contractor to build a monument to remember the 1924 Battle of Hanapepe, which was instrumental in shaping Hawaii’s labor rights. Hawaii News Now.

One nation, indivisible? A commentary.

Hawaii, which became the 50th state almost 67 years ago, was late to the party, and as the 250th anniversary of the United States is observed this weekend, the state's confusion about two competing national celebrations grows even as its enthusiasm for either of them remains muted.

This is a state grounded in cultural history and controversy, where King Kamehameha Day, on June 11, is an official holiday celebrated with parades and events as well as a day off with holiday pay for state and county employees. 

In contrast, Statehood Day, while also a state holiday, finds little celebration for what has become Hawaii's quietest holiday. It's held the third Friday in August.

Meanwhile, Hawaiian Independence Day, Nov. 28, while not an official state holiday, is officially designated as a day of remembrance and recognition and features a number of ceremonies statewide. Known in the Hawaiian as Lā Kūʻokoʻa, it marks the date in 1843 when the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Hawaii was formally recognized by England and France through the signing of the Anglo-Franco Proclamation, and through an oral acknowledgement with the United States.

Enter dual celebrations on the national level this year, with the America 250 bipartisan ceremony, planned since 2024, shorted its funds by a more recent Freedom 250 ceremony pushed by President Donald Trump.

Congress had appropriated $150 million for America 250 bipartisan ceremonies, but tens of millions were subsequently funneled off by the Trump administration to be used for its own ceremonies. That left Hawaii with only $20,000 from the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission. No wonder Hawaii said it didn't have money to send a delegation to staff its designated booth at Trump's Great American State Fair, one of 10 states bowing out.

No wonder Hawaii residents -- and even some in the local media -- are confused. 

Hawaii has traditionally celebrated Independence Day with local parades, parties and fireworks, the latter allowed for private citizens with permits only on New Year's Eve, Independence Day and Chinese New Year. Hawaii residents do love their fireworks!

This year's festivities in Hawaii are pretty much the same as in prior years. 

The exception is Oahu, the state's most populous island, which has added a commemorative event at the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum and a public festival at Kapiolani Park to its usual schedule of parades and fireworks. 

In contrast, Kauai, the state's least populous major island, is holding one major event, after the military bowed out of its annual America’s Most West Freedom Fest at Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands, citing budget constraints.

Face it, a nation indivisible described in our Pledge of Allegiance seems like just a pipe dream. Today, the United States seems more divided than ever. 

Kudos to the Hawai‘i America250 Commission, with its paltry federal funding and no state money, for coordinating events such as Hawaii grade-school students who competed in a national contest expressing what America means to them, production and distribution of more than 100 America250 flags, and a planned mass reading of the Declaration of Independence at about 65 places around the state at noon on July 8.

Still, many people are wondering if that’s enough, while others say, enough already for a holiday with such divergent meanings for its diverse citizens.

But we, as a nation, have been through this before. We emerged battle scarred from the Civil War in 1865, stronger and more aware that humans shouldn’t be held as property. It took many years to more fully recognize people of all races as Americans, and it took just as many years after that to recognize that women have the same rights, too. Recognizing that gay and transgender people have equal rights has taken even more time, but Hawaii is the leader in that.

Recently, thanks to a divisive national leadership, we’ve taken some steps backward, but we, as compassionate, thinking people must soldier on. We can come back together, recognizing our similarities are bigger than our differences.

Call me an optimist, but I think we can recover and build back and learn from our mistakes. It’s just going to take time.

Because this holiday is not about festivals and fireworks. It s about recognizing our past and positioning our nation for reconstruction and a new, better beginning. Let’s all work toward that.

For further reading

 Hawaii commemoration of America’s birthday funded on a shoestring. Star-Advertiser.

Who is paying for America's 250th celebrations? It's complicated. The presence of America250 and Freedom 250 has continued to spark confusion. ABC.

House Democrats accuse Trump of 'hijacking' America's 250th birthday for his own gain. National Public Radio.

Green to host Western Governors' Association winter meeting, Lazar sworn in as Honolulu’s 13th police chief, UH to decommission 3rd Mauna Kea telescope, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. Josh Green leads Western Governors' Association, plans Pearl Harbor meeting. Green, who assumed the position Wednesday at the group’s meeting in Park City, Utah, will serve as host of its winter meeting on Oahu in December. The Dec. 7 gathering, during commemorations of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, will include governors from 19 western states; member representatives from Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; and governors from Japan. Star-Advertiser.

Supreme Court ruling on campaign spending may not affect Hawaii as much — for now. Tuesday’s ruling does away with limits on the amount of money a political party can spend on its candidates. It doesn’t have as much impact for those running at the state level, such as the legislature. However, it could come into play for federal-level races, such as those for Congress. Hawaii News Now.

New chair Jon Itomura looks to speed up Public Utilities Commission's work. Jon Itomura took the helm of the Hawaiʻi Public Utilities Commission in January. While he’s new to his role, he’s on familiar ground. He spent more than a decade as an attorney with the Division of Consumer Advocacy, representing the interests of utility customers in proceedings before the commission. Hawaii Public Radio.

Study: Hawaii patients spent more than $230M on out-of-state cancer care. Hawaii patients spent more than $230 million on cancer care outside the state from 2021 to 2023, according to a new University of Hawaii Cancer Center study that researchers say underscores the financial strain created when patients must travel for specialized treatment. Maui News.

Oahu

Lazar sworn in as Honolulu’s 13th police chief. David S. Lazar, 55, was sworn in as the Honolulu Police Department’s 13th police chief on Thursday and promised to build a culture focused on the wellness of officers, civilian staff and their families. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio. KHON2.  KITV4.

Election announced for vacant Senate District 18 seat. A special election has been scheduled to fill the vacant Hawaii State Senate District 18 seat. The vacancy follows the retirement of Sen. Michelle Kidani. Hawaii News Now.

Storms, Civility And Affordability: State Senate District 10 Candidate Q&As. House member for East Honolulu district is making a move on the incumbent senator for the same area. Civil Beat.

DHHL opens applications for first-ever high-rise rental units in Honolulu. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has opened applications for its first high-rise rental development in Honolulu, a 23-story tower at the site of the former Bowl-a-Drome. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu Honeybees Are Swarming. Yes, That’s A Good Thing. The prevalence of wild, swarming honeybees is concerning for many. But for some, including researchers, it’s a sign of good environmental health.  Civil Beat.

City plans ‘Hawai‘i America250’ celebrations honoring Oahu’s history, diversity. On Oahu, Hawai‘i America250 festivities will include a mix of patriotic and community-focused events, from the annual Kailua Fourth of July Parade and a Kapiolani Park festival to a Pearl Harbor commemoration and a public reading of the Declaration of Independence at Honolulu Hale, according to Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration. Star-Advertiser. KHON2. KITV4. 

Hawaii Island

University of Hawaiʻi to decommission third telescope. UKIRT observatory will end astronomy operations in September. Science operations at the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope will conclude Sept. 15 so it can be decommissioned, the University of Hawaii announced Wednesday. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. Hawaii News Now. 

Emergency Repairs Completed on Hawaiian Ocean View Estates Water Well. Water officials say the Essential Needs Only Notice has been cancelled, and normal water usage from the water spigots may resume. Big Island Video News.

Burial Council rejects iwi kupuna plan at Hawaiian Paradise Park. The Hawaii Island Burial Council voted down the burial treatment plan for iwi kūpuna discovered at Hawaiian Paradise Park. Hawaii News Now.

Inouye honored with Lifetime Achievement Award. State Sen. Lorraine R. Inouye of Hilo was honored on Friday, June 26, with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii’s Impact Gala, recognizing her decades of dedicated public service and lasting contributions to Hawaii’s communities, economy and quality of life. Tribune-Herald.

Maui 

Maui Fraud Risk Assessment reveals inadequate policies, identifies millions of dollars in ‘direct pay’. The County of Maui’s Office of the Auditor presented findings from a Fraud Risk Assessment report during a committee meeting Tuesday and outlined 2027 plans to address concerns. Maui Now.

First storefronts returning to Lahaina’s Front Street. Front Street’s commercial core remains largely empty nearly three years after the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfire, but Maui County and the Hawaiian Council on Thursday unveiled an $8 million pilot marketplace that will return the first storefronts to what was once one of Hawaii’s busiest economic corridors. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now. KHON2. 

Do humpback whales fertilize Hawaiian waters? Maui study tests the “Whale Pump”. PacWhale Eco-Adventures has completed the first round of seawater sampling for a study led by the Marine Mammal Research Program (MMRP) at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, testing whether the seasonal arrival of humpback whales measurably enriches the waters of Maui Nui. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauaʻi’s Hospice’s ‘Concert in the Sky’ is main 4th of July event on the island after military canceled its event. For the United States’ 250th anniversary celebration, Kauaʻi Hospiceʻs 33rd annual “Concert in the Sky” will be the island’s only major Fourth of July event. In early June, the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands announced it was canceling its annual America’s Most West Freedom Fest for reasons that included high costs and budget constraints. Kauai Now. Garden Island.

Campaign Spending Commission files complaint against Sylvia Luke, juror compensation increases to $50 a day, cash rounding law eliminates pennies, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission files 39-page complaint against Sylvia Luke. A 39-page complaint from the Hawaiʻi Campaign Spending Commission accused Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke, her campaign team and committee of violating state campaign finance laws during the 2022 election. KITV4. Hawaii News Now.

Know the rules: Hawaii's new cash rounding law. A new law aimed at easing headaches caused by a nationwide penny shortage took effect in Hawaii on Wednesday, July 1. Businesses are now allowed to round up or down to the nearest nickel. KHON2.

Juror compensation increases to $50 per day. Individuals serving as jurors in Hawaiʻi state courts will receive $50 per day for their service, an increase from the previous rate of $30 per day. The increase marks the first adjustment to juror compensation since 1989, when the daily rate increased from $20 to $30. Maui Now.

Oahu

DPP launches fast-track permit review program. The Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting has launched a new program to fast-track eligible building permit applications using an artificial intelligence-assisted screening platform ahead of the software becoming mandatory later this year. Star-Advertiser.

Unopposed For Reelection, Honolulu Budget Chair Isn’t Afraid To Fight Admin. Council member Val Okimoto has charged into public disputes against powerful members of the city administration. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Rail Riders Face Persistent Station And Elevator Closures. Three years after opening, the city’s Skyline transit system has endured its share of operational hiccups. Civil Beat.

Law enforcement finds 14 endangered children on Oahu. Fourteen endangered, missing children were found by Honolulu Police Department officers working with state and federal law enforcement last week during a two-day operation. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

More sidewalks planned for portion of Kilauea Avenue. A $10 million sidewalk construction project will commence Monday along Kilauea Avenue as part of a federally funded initiative to create a safe, convenient route for students at the three Waiakea schools to walk and bike to class. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News. 

Wastewater In Lava Fields: Delayed Fix Costs Big Island $1K Daily. After a legal settlement, Hawaiʻi County agreed to upgrade the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant beginning in March. Now the project is four months overdue and the county could face a hefty fine. Civil Beat.

Increased aircraft noise possible in Waimea-Kohala region during July 4 military exercises. The training is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. July 4 and will include KC-130J Super Hercules aircraft and MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft operating over parts of the region. Big Island Now.

Big Island mayors celebrate diverse heritage. Hawaii County leaders say the America250 milestone offers a chance to celebrate their island’s rich and diverse culture and its unique place in the nation’s history, which has been shaped both by patriotism and historical inequities. Star-Advertiser. 

Maui

Mayor Bissen announces $6M proposal to purchase Launiupoko, Olowalu water assets for public trust. This marks the critical second phase of a broader effort that will increase public stewardship of West Maui’s drinking water systems from 45% to 93% while supporting much-needed housing development for residents. Maui Now. Maui News. Hawaii News Now. 

Council seeks answers on Maui safe parking pilot program. Maui County Council members are pressing Mayor Richard Bissen’s administration for answers on why a safe parking pilot program for unhoused residents has not opened nearly four years after the council approved legislation allowing the county to create one. Maui News.

Mayoral candidate says campaign signs have been taken.  Maui County Mayoral candidate P. Denise La Costa said more than 18 of her political election signs have been stolen in the past few weeks. Maui News.

National Park Service launches first-of-its-kind Kalaupapa hiking tour. Starting this month, the Kalaupapa National Historical Park will guide visits to the remote peninsula — but there’s a catch. The hike down — and up — the strenuous Pali Trail from topside Molokaʻi is a 1700-foot elevation change over three miles each way. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Community groups win temporary pause to 148-unit Kōloa housing development until court hears appeal. The groups challenging the project have raised concerns about the size of the project, the impact of increased traffic, parking demands and emergency access on the narrow rural roads in the Kauaʻi town. Kauai Now.

Landfill, Cesspools And Another ʻIniki?: Kauaʻi County Council Candidate Q&As. Kauaʻi’s council members face daunting infrastructure needs, a shortage of workforce housing and declining visitor numbers on the island. Civil Beat.

Concert in the Sky anchors Kauai’s July Fourth mix of celebration and care.  Kauai is marking America250 with events that highlight the island’s layered history — from early Native Hawaiian stewardship to Western contact, plantation‑era immigration and modern military ties — as residents navigate mixed feelings about July Fourth. Star-Advertiser.