State Senate panel questions lavish spending by homeless contractor, Oregon fisheries group to manage millions in Green Fees, school superintendent Hayashi gets 7% raise, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Fraud Or Incompetence? Lawmakers Probe Homeless Housing Program. The charges had no apparent connection to homelessness: office space, laptops, food and drink — including beer. An oceanview condo in Wailuku. A parking ticket. Steel-toed boots. Jeans from Nordstrom Rack. But HomeAid, the state’s homeless contractor, billed Hawaiʻi taxpayers. And the state paid. State Auditor Les Kondo at a Capitol hearing Thursday defended and amplified his highly critical August audit of the state’s oversight of kauhale spending, which found $13.7 million in state payments for “unauthorized, unsupported or questionable” reimbursements to builder HomeAid Hawai‘i. Civil Beat.  Star-Advertiser.

 Outside Fisheries Group Poised To Manage Millions Of Hawaiʻi’s Green Fee. The state is planning have an Oregon-based group handle proposals and contracts for projects in nearshore waters.  Civil Beat.

Hawaii Elections Commission restarts work after breakdown. A bare minimum of commission members needed to hold a meeting met Thursday and unanimously agreed to elect member Tamara McKay, a former chair of the Hawai‘i Republican Party, as chair pro tem to lead future meetings on a temporary basis and get on with commission duties that include investigating election complaints and evaluating state Chief Elections Officer Scott Nago within two months of the Nov. 3 general election. Star-Advertiser.

BOE OKs 7% pay increase for superintendent. The state Board of Education unanimously approved a 7% performance-based salary increase for Department of Education Superintendent Keith Hayashi on Thursday, raising his base salary to about $315,301 from $294,674. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. 

Centene to lay off 69 employees early next year. Centene, a national health insurer, is pulling out of Hawaii’s Medicaid market known as Med-QUEST, effective Dec. 31, and ending its Ohana Health Plan, which provided medical, behavioral health and long-term services for low-income families for nearly 20 years. Star-Advertiser.

 Hawaiʻi Still Needs Doctors. We’re Gaining On Nurses, At Least. The state still has 3,700 job openings but is making inroads, especially on the neighbor islands. Civil Beat.

Results are in! More than 22,000 students across the Hawaiian Islands cast ballots in the 2026 mock election by Kid’s Voting Hawaiʻi, a nonpartisan organization aimed at getting keiki involved and empowered to vote. KHON2.

Oahu

Some community members want a role in clearing ordnance from Mākua. The Army last month closed several training ranges on Oʻahu and could return them to the state before their leases expire in three years. But clearing the lands after decades of use could take longer. That's particularly true of Mākua, which is littered with unexploded ordnance after decades of live-fire training.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Here's how fuel costs affect your HECO bills. Since May, Oʻahu customers have been paying about 20% to 30% more on their bills every month, largely due to fuel costs. Hawaii Public Radio.

West Oahu traffic lights get camera-radar upgrade. New camera and radar technology is being installed on traffic lights in West Oahu to detect vehicles better and manage signal timing. KHON2.

Waialua engineer sentenced for evading Iran sanctions. Arash Einolghozati, 38-year-old engineer was sentenced to two years in federal prison and will be deported to Iran for evading U.S. financial sanctions with cryptocurrency exchanges and digital payment applications to send more than $220,000 to his uncles in Iran. Star-Advertiser.

A month after a fatal hit-and-run, friends and family plead for the driver to come forward.  It was just over a month ago that a vehicle struck and killed Tiana Nagadome. The driver left the scene. But whoever it was also left behind friends and family grieving and searching for answers. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

New transit hub slated for Kailua-Kona. The Hawaii County Council last Friday greenlighted the proposed purchase of a 3.15-acre property in the heart of Kailua-Kona for the development of a combination park-and-ride and transit hub facility. Tribune-Herald.

Volpe sworn in as new fire chief. Hawaii County Fire Commission voted to formally appoint Daniel Volpe as Fire Chief on Thursday during a meeting in Hilo. The effective date for his appointment was set as Nov. 17. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now. 

New Acting Civil Defense Administrator Takes Over Next Week. Hawaiʻi County Public Works Deputy Director Neil Azevedo will be replacing Darryl Oliveira as the Acting Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Administrator beginning next week. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. 

Hawaii Island residents seek to halt Verizon cell tower planned near homes. A small Hawaii Island community is trying to stop construction of a cell phone tower near their homes. But those behind the project say it’s badly needed and nearly a decade in the making. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Community College has a new interim chancellor. Donnette Leilani Kapono began her tenure as interim chancellor of Hawaii Community College on Nov. 2, returning to a campus where she previously served for eight years and helped expand workforce training and educational opportunities across Hawaii Island. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Hawai‘i’s immigrant communities have feared increasing enforcement. New laws aim to increase protections. In September 2025, Roots Reborn got word that federal immigration officers were searching Ka La‘i Ola, the state’s temporary housing project for displaced Lahaina fire survivors. But next year, a new law will take effect in Hawai‘i that will restore protections to community locations operated by state and county governments. Maui Now.

‘Very insidious’: Maui bill targets contractor fraud against fire survivors. Over the past year and a half, Maui County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Martin said his office has fielded dozens of complaints from fire survivors claiming contractors defrauded them. With more expected, Martin is advocating for Maui County Council’s Bill 147, which proposes creating a position in his office dedicated to investigating fraudulent contractors targeting fire survivors.  Hawaii News Now.

Two Maui areas designated as federal Opportunity Zones. Lahaina’s Front Street area and a section of Kihei have been designated for a federal investment incentive program aimed at attracting private capital to economically distressed communities, according to Gov. Josh Green’s office. Maui News.

Kauai

Four legends, including 1 from Kauaʻi, inducted into Hawaiʻi Waterman Hall of Fame. Five-time state outrigger canoe champ, 1976 U.S. Open Surfing champion and 1977 U.S. Open Tandem Surfing champ Lāʻola Lake Aʻea of the Garden Isle is a 2026 inductee, sporting — among those already mentioned — a long list of surfing and paddling accomplishments. Kauai Now.

Veterans honored, Katherine Kealoha released from prison, Green Party state House win confirmed in final ballot count, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Ceremonies statewide honor veterans past and present. Across Hawaii, service members were honored in solemn Veterans Day ceremonies on Wednesday. Hawaii News Now.

Computer Science Is In More Hawaiʻi Schools. Not All Kids Are Taking It. Students are more likely to take a computer science class in elementary school compared to middle or high school, a new report shows.  Civil Beat.

Hawaii election tally is finalized. Tuesday’s final tally didn’t alter any race outcomes. In fact, winners in four out of the five closest races added to their winning margins by two to 20 votes after voters cured envelope signature deficiencies. Star-Advertiser.

 Hawaiʻi’s Green Party Finally Lodges Big Win After Decade. The third political party has only seen a handful of its own win county offices. But Pāʻele Kiakona’s victory for a state House seat has members excited about a “green” future. Civil Beat. Maui Now. 

 Money To Fight Opioids Poured Into Hawaiʻi. The Real Problem Was Meth. Hawaiʻi launched an anti-opioid initiative in 2017 when the federal government started making grants to the states. But no such initiative has ever addressed methamphetamine.  Civil Beat.

Oahu

Gathering honors service, sacrifice on Veterans Day. Veterans, military leaders and community members gathered Wednesday at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl to honor those who served in the U.S. military and remember those who never returned home. Star-Advertiser. KHON2. KITV4. 

Katherine Kealoha to leave prison after serving fraction of 13-year sentence. Katherine Kealoha, the former high-ranking deputy city prosecutor convicted of fraud, conspiracy and obstruction, will be moved this month from a federal prison to a halfway house years before her 13-year sentence is up. Hawaii News Now. KITV4. 

Honolulu Marathon surveillance plan raises concerns. The city’s plan to use overt video surveillance during the 2026 Honolulu Marathon has drawn criticism from civil rights advocates, who warn expanded government monitoring could infringe on individual privacy rights. Star-Advertiser.

Artificial reef project has support, but some question its proposed location. The REEFrame project wants to put 150 modules — each six-by-six feet — in about 40 to 60 feet of water to establish a new coral nursery over 11 underwater acres near the mouth of the ‘Apuakehau Channel, just outside the breaks known as Threes, Paradise and Populars. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

‘We are a breed apart’: Veterans Day commemorated in moving Hilo ceremony. About 100 or so gathered at the appointed date and time for the ceremony at East Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 1 in Hilo hosted by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3830 and its auxiliary. Tribune-Herald.

‘They answered the call’: Honoring those who served during a ceremony at West Hawai‘i Veterans Cemetery. At least 200 veterans, public officials and community members gathered at the cemetery to celebrate Veterans Day with a ceremony hosted by the Kona American Legion Post 20. Big Island Now.

Native Hawaiians ‘Take The Torch’ Of Big Island Council Majority. Native Hawaiians will hold a majority of the Hawaiʻi County Council seats when newly elected members take office next month — the first time in at least three decades.  Civil Beat.

Maui

Outgoing Council to vote on mayor’s picks for corporation counsel, prosecutor for next term. The outgoing Maui County Council will vote this week on Mayor Richard Bissen’s picks for corporation counsel and prosecuting attorney, two positions that begin under the new Council elected Nov. 3. Bissen is asking the Council to approve Mimi Desjardins as corporation counsel and Andrew Martin as prosecuting attorney.  Maui Now.

Red Cross honors veterans and military families on Veterans Day. On this Veterans Day, the American Red Cross Pacific Islands Region honors Jasmine Ricks, Mara Eck and Rodney Boucher. Maui Now.

Kauai

Many hearts and hands remember 250 years of veterans. Retired USAF Gen. Mary Kay Hertog, commander of the host Kauai Veterans Council, said the annual service received unexpected guests, including newly elected Lt. Gov. Derek S.K. Kawakami and his security detail, and Speaker of the House Nadine Nakamura. Garden Island.

40k business filings backlogged in Hawaii Business Express system, secrecy surrounds new Maui data center, new Honolulu license plate honors Duke Kahanamoku, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Software firm Salesforce is helping free up roughly 40,000 backlogged business filings. At least 20 tech experts from the cloud-based software firm Salesforce recently began helping the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs fix problems with its new registry system that other information technology contractors retained by DCCA deployed in July with flaws using a Salesforce platform after years of delays and budget increases. The new Hawaii Business Express system was initially expected to be finished by May 2023. Star-Advertiser.  Hawaii News Now. 

Hawaiʻi House Republicans: We'll 'fight for the people' despite heavy election losses. The blue wave that swept the country on Election Day last week helped topple four House Republicans in Hawaiʻi, leaving the GOP with only six of 51 seats in the chamber. Hawaii Public Radio.

State Senate announces leadership, committee assignments. Sen. Ronald Kouchi will serve as president of the Hawaii State Senate when the 34th Legislature convenes Jan. 20, with Lorraine Inouye as vice president, Dru Mamo Kanuha as majority leader and Rachele Lamosao as majority floor leader. Maui News.

SNAP benefits could be cut for thousands of Hawaii residents. Thousands of Hawaii residents could potentially lose food assistance benefits, under proposed changes by the federal government. On average 141,000 people in Hawaii receive SNAP benefits every month. KITV4.

Hawaiʻi’s top-rated nursing homes revealed by U.S. News & World Report. The right care can make a difference in a person’s recovery, safety and quality of life. For families across Hawaiʻi, the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings offered a starting point for comparing facilities. KHON2.

Oahu

Lawsuit alleges ‘rogue’ Honolulu Council members violated Sunshine Law in leadership selection. Kaimuki resident Tim Garry has sued the City and County of Honolulu and the City Council, alleging five “rogue” Council members violated Hawaii’s Sunshine Law by secretly discussing and potentially deciding the panel’s next leadership slate during an Oct. 5 gathering at Zippy’s Waipahu. Star-Advertiser.

This Kāneʻohe Couple Hopes To Resolve Permit Issues Before They Die. The homeowners say the permit department is MIA, and they’re worried how an outstanding issue could impact their kids’ inheritance. Civil Beat.

Sextortion, cybercrimes focus of high school safety lessons. In light of recent reports of bullying on Hawaiʻi school campuses and threats that have led to lockdowns, Kaimukī High students are getting valuable lessons from their school resource officers on navigating today’s challenges. Hawaii News Now.

Duke Kahanamoku license plate available on Oahu starting Monday. A new license plate honoring Olympic swimmer and surfing icon Duke Kahanamoku will be available to purchase Monday. The City and County of Honolulu said the commemorative plate will be available to purchase at all Oahu satellite city halls.  Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii National Guard concludes Lala response and recovery operations. Soldiers and airmen assigned to the 93rd Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Enhanced Response Force Package worked alongside Hawaii County, cultural practitioners, archaeologists and other subject-matter experts to conduct the sensitive recovery mission with care and respect for the affected community.  Tribune-Herald.

12-Unit Supportive Housing Complex Opens in Kona. HOPE Services hosts ceremony for Kani Leʻa housing project in Kona. Kani Le‘a is located in Kailua-Kona and features 12 two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartments, each with its own kitchen. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News. 

Maui

How Much Water Will The Future Maui Data Center Use? The Military Won’t Say. The nearly $100 million facility received special exemptions that skirted the traditional oversight provided by the county. Civil Beat.

County’s temporary Safe Parking Program in Central Maui launches with 20 individuals. The County of Maui has completed its three-day coordinated cleanup of Pūlehu Road and launch of its temporary Safe Parking Program in Central Maui. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now. 

New Lahaina marketplace restores businesses by Front Street. The first storefronts returned to Lahaina’s commercial core Tuesday as the ‘Ulu o Lele Marketplace opened on the former Outlets of Maui site, marking a major milestone in the town’s recovery more than three years after the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfire devastated the community. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. 

Kauai

‘Free Palestine’ Stickers Get Librarian Criminally Convicted On Kauaʻi. A Kauaʻi librarian said her pro-Palestine sticker at a local falafel business was advocacy. The Jewish community saw an antisemitic attack.  Civil Beat.

Local filmmakers expand casting for $1.8 million Kauaʻi adventure film, ‘Thackeray’. From acting to behind-the-scenes production, Kauaʻi residents of all experience levels are invited to get involved in the new action adventure film. Kauai Now.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Oahu

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

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

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

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

Hawaii Island

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

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

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

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

Maui

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

Kauai

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Oahu

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

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

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

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

Hawaii Island

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

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

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

Maui

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

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

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

Kauai

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Oahu

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

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

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

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

Hawaii Island

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

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

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

Maui

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

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

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

Kauai

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Oahu

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

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

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

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

Hawaii Island

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

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

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

Maui

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

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

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

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

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

Kauai

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

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