Hawaii begins mopping up from storm, HECO warns of prolonged power outages, legislative session reaches midpoint, LNG may not save as much as originally forecast, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii shifts into recovery mode. Communities across Hawaii began shifting into recovery Sunday after days of intense rain, flash flooding and damaging winds from a powerful Kona-low storm. The state Department of Transportation Highways Division is estimating $23.04 million in damage statewide — roughly $14 million on Oahu, $7 million on Maui, $2 million on Hawaii island and $35,000 on Kauai — to cover contractor response, debris clearing, rock removal, guardrail and sign repairs, bridge inspections, traffic signal fixes and road repairs. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Hawaii Public Radio.

HECO warns of prolonged outages for customers still in the dark. Hawaiian Electric said more than 26,000 customers are still without power. They include about 7,000 on Oahu, 4,600 on Maui and 14,500 on Hawaii Island.  At the same time, Kauai Island Utility Cooperative reported 18 active outages across Kauai. Star-Advertiser.

Storm triggers travel chaos, millions in tourism losses. Hawaii’s tourism industry is bracing for millions of dollars in lost revenue after the Kona-low storm disrupted travel statewide, prompting hundreds of flight delays, dozens of cancellations and a wave of last-minute hotel reservation wipeouts across the islands. Star-Advertiser.

Storm exposes transportation system vulnerabilities. As a powerful Kona low lashed the islands with heavy rain and strong winds, state transportation officials say the storm is revealing a deeper problem: that much of Hawaii’s infrastructure was designed decades ago for conditions that no longer exist. Star-Advertiser.

Rain Check: 5-day totals show Kona Low dumped more rain than expected across Hawaii. Preliminary rainfall totals through 10 a.m. Sunday show some of the highest five-day amounts reported statewide were concentrated on Maui and Hawaii Island, with multiple gauges topping 20 inches. Hawaii News Now.

Future of Hawaii tax breaks cloudy as House and Senate trade bills. The Legislature has reached the halfway point of its five-month session with different approaches between the House and Senate over how to preserve tax breaks for most Hawaii residents as legislators move nearly 850 bills to the opposite chamber for further debate. Star-Advertiser.

As legislative session hits midpoint, federal funding impacts remain the focus. The crossover deadline means that if a bill was introduced in the House, it needed to pass by Thursday and be sent to the Senate, and vice versa. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Sun Is Still Shining For Key Reform Bills Halfway Through Session. But a few significant issues failed to generate much interest this year as legislators scurried to meet the crossover deadline. Civil Beat.

Independent analyst disputes reported cost savings of powering Hawaiʻi with LNG. A former University of Hawaiʻi professor claims that a landmark state report may have overestimated the potential cost savings of swapping liquefied natural gas for oil by more than a billion dollars. Hawaii Public Radio.

Fake Farms Get Tax Breaks, But Hawaiʻi Can’t Stop Them Yet. Not everyone living on agricultural land is a farmer. But state agencies have struggled to distinguish the genuine food producers from the hobby farmers looking for a tax break. Civil Beat.

Families Want Playground Access. They Could Get A Criminal Record Instead. DOE wants more support in keeping unwanted visitors off its campuses, but families say school playgrounds are an important part of the community. Civil Beat.

Hawaii film productions to bring economic boost. Netflix’s second season of “Untamed,” Jason Momoa’s action‑comedy “Protecting Jared,” and the third film in the “Jumanji” franchise have all begun, marking one of the busiest periods for local filming in recent years. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Cleanup efforts underway at Ala Wai Canal after Kona Low storms. Crews are working to clean debris from the Ala Wai Canal after recent Kona low storms brought heavy rain and runoff to Oʻahu. KHON2.

Home gets swept into the ocean near Keehi Stream. The Honolulu Fire Department responded to a home that washed into the ocean at Kahauiki Village near the Keehi Stream on Friday night. KITV4.

North Shore Oʻahu Farmers Search For Answers In The Kona Storm Wreckage. Farmers spent Saturday wading through their properties, trying to pick up the pieces from crops and livestock lost during torrential rains, flooding and high winds this week. Civil Beat.

Farmer releases 500 animals to seek shelter from storm. Waimanalo farmer Claude Colton, owner of Colton Farms, released 500 of his animals, hoping for the best at the height of the storm and was particularly worried about the survival of a newborn calf and other young ones in the heavy rainfall and gusting winds. Star-Advertiser.

Osano family renews legacy with major Kyo‑ya renovations. The Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort, marked its 125th anniversary last week with three generations of the Osano family — owners of Kyo-ya Hotels & Resorts since 1963 — on hand to reaffirm their commitment to family stewardship and ongoing upgrades across the company’s six U.S. hotels, all of which have ties to Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Mayor: Hawaii Island hit with ‘worst flooding I’ve seen’ . County officials on the Big Island said cleanup is underway after some portions of the Island saw over 20 inches of rain overnight. KHON2.

Hawaiʻi Storm Update for Sunday at 6 p.m. About 14,500 Hawaiian Electric customers are without power, with the majority in Puna, South Point, and North and South Kona. The electric company says crews completed repairs to two transmission lines on Sunday, and expect to complete repairs to a third line by tomorrow. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. 

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park remains closed due to storm-related damage. The park could reopen some areas Monday, but there is no timeline, officials said. Hawaii News Now.

Resilience hubs provide aid to affected residents during kona low storm response. Across Hawaiʻi Island, communities are responding to multiple challenges with speed, care, and coordination through Aloha in Action. Big Island Now.

Maui

Kīhei shoreline hit hard in Kona low storm: ‘It’s just total chaos. It’s a total river.’ The roaring water, much of it starting high on 10,000-foot Haleakalā, was a maroon-brown color from collecting sand, sediment and who knows what else along the way. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now.

10 years after sugar plantation’s closure, Puʻunēnē Mill’s transformation in the works. The property’s owner, Oʻahu-based Nan Inc., wants to repurpose many of the Maui landmark’s buildings and features to transform the area into light industrial for local businesses. Maui Now.

Kauai

3 chosen for Kauai Island Utility Cooperative Board of Directors. KIUC incumbent directors Allan A. Smith and Jim Mayfield were re-elected to office following the vote counting by Merriman River Group. The third director position will be filled by Bryson Ponce, retired from Kauai Police Department Administration. Garden Island.

New study on Kauaʻi finds surge in road deaths for Hawaiʻi’s state bird, the nēnē. A new research effort on Kauaʻi’s west side is uncovering a troubling trend that far more endangered nēnē, the Hawaiʻi state bird, are dying along a rural highway than previously believed. Kauai Now.

 

Hawaii shuts down as kona low storm hits, former governor Ariyoshi turns 100, Mokulele announces electric aircraft, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiʻi Storm Shutters Schools, State Offices As Weather Expected To Worsen. For the second time in just over a month, the governor has shut down state of Hawaiʻi government offices in anticipation of severe weather.  Gov. Josh Green issued an emergency proclamation Thursday afternoon as heavy rain and flooding were being felt statewide, with more on the way. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Now.   Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi Storm Update: Forecast, Schools, Closures, Shelters, More. Hazardous weather including flash flooding, damaging high winds and thunderstorms was expected through the weekend due to a powerful Kona low storm, according to the National Weather Service. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio. KHON2.  KITV4.  Hawaii News Now.

Former Hawaii Gov. George Ariyoshi turns 100. A former Hawaii governor celebrated his centenary birthday Thursday. Former Gov. George Ariyoshi was born in Honolulu on this day in 1926 and became Hawaii’s third governor in 1974. He was in office through 1986 and is the state’s longest-serving governor. Hawaii News Now.

Economic outlook points to slower growth, DBEDT says. Hawaii’s economy is expected to continue growing over the next several years, though at a slower pace than in 2025, according to a new quarterly economic report released Thursday by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Star-Advertiser.

7 criminal justice reform bills pass Hawaiʻi House and move to Senate. Seven measures Hawaiʻi state lawmakers say will modernize the state’s criminal justice system passed out of the House of Representatives and have crossed over to the Senate. Big Island Now.

Bills to increase tenant protections advance at Legislature. About 40% of Hawaiʻi’s residents are renters. State lawmakers are considering two measures that aim to improve protections for tenants and provide resources to better understand their rights. Hawaii Public Radio.

Mokulele Airlines’ parent company aims to bring electric passenger service to Hawaii. The parent company of Mokulele Airlines struck a deal that aims to launch the first commercial passenger electric service in Hawaii. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiian Airlines nonunion layoffs top 400. Hawaiian Airlines has notified 48 more nonunion employees of layoffs between May and June, bringing the total number of workers slated to lose their jobs due to the merger to several hundred since Alaska Air Group’s $1.9 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Holdings on Sept. 18, 2024. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

City leaders warn powerful storm could bring flooding, strong winds and island-wide impacts to Oahu. City and county leaders said a powerful storm approaching Oahu could bring dangerous flooding, strong winds and widespread impacts across the island through the weekend. KITV4.

Honolulu opens evacuation shelters across island. The City and County of Honolulu announced the opening of emergency shelters for residents impacted by the Kona storm system. KHON2.

Here’s Where Honolulu Wants To Cut Funding For Open Jobs. With 1 in 5 city jobs unfilled, some departments would lose millions of dollars while others would lose nothing. Civil Beat.

Honolulu transit agency proposes $501M budget for FY27. The Honolulu Department of Transportation Services, charged with operating TheBus, Skyline, TheHandi-Van, is requesting a more than half-billion dollar operating budget for fiscal year 2027. Star-Advertiser.

Controversy Engulfs HECO’s Proposed $1 Billion Power Plant. The state energy office and Hawaiʻi’s largest utility are at odds over upgrades to a major Oʻahu power plant that have been in the works for years. Civil Beat.

HPD seizes gaming machines, cash during raid in Wahiawa. Honolulu Police Department officers seized multiple gaming machines and cash on Wednesday after executing a search warrant at an illegal gambling establishment on Mala Street in Wahiawa. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Hawaiʻi County Facilities To Close Friday and Saturday. All non-emergency County services and operations will be closed as a powerful Kona low storm moves across the State and the Big Island. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

Maui

MEO offices to close Friday due to Kona storm. Maui Economic Opportunity will be closing its Wailuku, Hāna, Kaunakakai, Molokaʻi, and Lānaʻi City offices and Head Start preschools Friday, March 13, due to the fierce wind and rain forecast from the powerful kona storm. Maui Now.

Central Maui, Molokaʻi, West Maui, South Maui shelters before kona storm intensifies. In coordination with the Maui Emergency Management Agency and County of Maui Department of Human Concerns, the American Red Cross opened shelters Thursday evening. Maui Now.

Kauai

UPDATE: Flooding remains possible for at least next few hours as rain continues to overspread Garden Isle. Update at 3:46 a.m. Friday, March 13, 2026: Forecasters at the National Weather Service in Honolulu again extended the flood advisory in effect for the island of Kauaʻi as flooding caused by excessive rainfall from a powerful kona low moving through the state continues. Kauai Now.

Red Cross opens Kaua‘i emergency center for residents affected by kona low. Volunteers are standing by at the evacuation location at Kapa‘a Middle School, located at 4867 Olohena Road, and ready to provide safe shelter, snacks, water and emotional support. Kauai Now.

Felicia Cowden enters the mayor’s race. Four-term Kauai County Councilmember Felicia Cowden has joined the race for mayor of Kauai and Niihau, “with a sense of responsibility and enthusiasm to empower the residents of our islands.” Garden Island.

State budget bill advances, Maui severs ties with FBI, immigration measures pass legislative hurdle, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

State budget bill undergoes first revision. The 16-member House Finance Committee has tweaked Gov. Josh Green’s proposed budget for next fiscal year with a roughly $100 million trim mainly from many relatively small changes. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now. 

Hawaiʻi immigration protection measures pass significant legislative hurdle. The Hawaiʻi House of Representatives passed a package of bills that would increase protections for immigrants. The measures have cleared a significant step in the legislative process. Hawaii Public Radio.

Here Comes The Judge? Not So Fast, Says State’s Appellate Court. The Senate wants to add a seventh position to the ICA. Court officials say it’s not needed. Civil Beat.

Solar microgrids offer rural health centers stability amid a myriad of rising costs. Senate Bill 3254 would appropriate about $2.5 million in state funds to construct solar microgrids with storage to power five community health centers. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Council reviews $1.07B HART budget for fiscal ’27. The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation’s next budget is set to fill jobs, tackle the debt service for its over-$10 billion Skyline project and build two 2,000-stall park-and-ride lots at its West Oahu stations. Star-Advertiser.

‘Involuntary’ assessment of troubled Oahu homeless sees early success. More than 30 homeless people who are believed to suffer from mental health or substance abuse issues have been taken off the street and placed under “involuntary” observation through a 4-month-old pilot program that pairs city ambulance crews with Honolulu Police Department officers and state sheriffs deputies in seven Oahu communities. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers see new renderings for proposed Aloha Stadium. A new set of renderings for a new Aloha Stadium was shown to state lawmakers during a briefing Wednesday, including plans that could add more seats. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. 

State breaks ground on new facility to help at-risk students in Central Oahu. The Hawaii State Department of Education broke ground on a new High Core/Storefront program facility on Wednesday for the Leilehua-Mililani-Waialua complex area schools. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Parts of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Reopen After Episode 43 Eruption. Crater Rim Drive West from the park entrance to Kilauea Military Camp has been reopened after tephra was cleared from roads. Big Island Video News.

Hawaiʻi Island Prepares For Storm, Peak Impacts Expected to Start Friday. Emergency officials are urging readiness as a powerful kona storm is expected to impact Hawaiʻi through this weekend, with the peak of the event forecast for Friday and Saturday.  Big Island Video News.

Former Kohala Coast estate of the late Lisa Marie Presley on the market for $17.5M. Realtor Paul Stukin described the 8,178-square-foot home as having a “Hawaiiana vibe.”  Big Island Now.

Maui

ICE Concerns Spur Maui’s Move To Sever Ties With Feds. Worried about immigration actions across the nation, the Maui County Council voids longtime local partnership between its police and the FBI. Civil Beat.

Beyond The Burn Zone: Maui Wildfires Cause Widespread Mental Health Issues. New research shows housing displacement and income loss were central drivers of psychological harm. Civil Beat.

Efforts to restore historic Baldwin Home underway. The Lahaina Restoration Foundation has begun efforts to restore the historic Baldwin Home. Built in the 1830s, it was the oldest home on Maui before the 2023 wildfire left it heavily damaged. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiʻi Energy distributes more than 100 energy-efficient appliances to Lānaʻi homes. Hawaiʻi Energy, the state’s energy conservation program, distributed 132 new energy-efficient refrigerators and freezers to Lānaʻi households today through its Appliance Trade-Up Program. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kawakami touts housing, road projects in final State of the County address. Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami delivered his 2026 State of the County address remotely after weather forced organizers to cancel the in-person event. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Kaua‘i’s Robinson Family Seeks To Evict Major Hawaiʻi Farm. Gay & Robinson has filed a lawsuit demanding nearly $700,000 in unpaid rent from Aloun Farms. Civil Beat.

Severe thunderstorms capable of producing waterspouts moving over Kaua‘i waters. National Weather Service forecasters in Honolulu issued a special marine warning in effect until 5:45 a.m. today (March 12) for Kaua‘i Channel as well as leeward and windward waters of Kaua‘i. Kauai Now.

More bad weather coming. At the wettest point of the overnight Kona Low storm on Kauai, the National Weather Service (NWS) reported that nearly 7 inches of rain — 6.90 inches at the North Wailua recording station — fell in a hydrologic report ending at 5 a.m. Wednesday. Garden Island.

Income tax relief promise erodes in partisan squabble, war uncertainty freezes state economic forecast, officials urge residents to take storm seriously, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiʻi Income Tax Cuts: Lawmakers Chip Away At Promised Savings. Republicans at the State Capitol pounced on Democrats’ plans to defer a huge income tax cut that was promised to state residents in 2024, using prolonged floor debate Tuesday to scold the Democrats for reneging on the original tax cut. The ruling Democrats shrugged off that criticism and easily mustered the votes they needed to win preliminary approval Tuesday in both the House and Senate for two bills that would water down the original tax-cutting plan. Civil Beat.

Iran war uncertainty freezes Hawaii general fund forecast. Uncertainty over the war in Iran has dashed what could have been a more positive revenue forecast for the state’s general fund next fiscal year. The Hawaii Council on Revenues voted unanimously Tuesday to stick with a 2.0% growth rate for the fiscal year beginning July 1, representing no change from its last two forecasts, made in January and September. Star-Advertiser.

Will Hawaiʻi Take This Native Hawaiian Advisory Group Seriously? The Aha Moku Advisory Committee weighs in on issues from fishing to military leases, but many think it’s not as effective as it could be. Civil Beat.

Fragrant flower lei, synonymous with Hawaii, face competition from cheaper imports. Some Hawaii lawmakers think the state should be doing more to help the producers of lei made with locally grown, fragrant flowers. Associated Press.

Oahu

Officials urge residents to take storm seriously. The storm system hitting Hawaii this week could bring up to 30 inches of rain to parts of Oahu through the weekend, and city officials have one key message for residents: stay home. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Honolulu officials brainstorm changing tax structure to boost revenue. With a relatively conservative budget in the works for the upcoming fiscal year, the Honolulu City Council and administration officials are brainstorming possible sources of revenue for Oʻahu. Hawaii Public Radio.

HPD seeks $400M budget for vacancies, vehicles and other needs. The Honolulu Police Department is proposing a nearly $400 million operating budget to fight crime while it tries to fill over 400 sworn-officer vacancies.  Star-Advertiser.

A&B shareholders approve $2.3B takeover of ’Big Five’ company. Alexander &Baldwin Inc., the last publicly traded survivor of Hawaii’s historic “Big Five,” is poised to end more than a century of public ownership after shareholders overwhelmingly approved a $2.3 billion buyout — the largest commercial real estate portfolio sale in state history. Star-Advertiser.

'Responsibility is everything': Women incarcerated on Oʻahu care for kittens. The “Transforming Animal and Incarcerated Individuals’ Lives” program, or TAIIL, is a collaboration between the Hawaiian Humane Society and the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Kona low expected to hit Big Island Thursday or Friday; flash flood watch posted. The forecast calls for wind gusts in Kona as high as 44 mph on Friday night and 47 mph on Saturday. Hilo gusts are forecast to be as high as 32 mph on Friday night and 28 mph on Saturday. Tribune-Herald.

Kilauea latest eruption ends; Hawaiian Air cancels Hilo flights. Episode 43 of lava fountaining at the summit of Kilauea abruptly ended about 6:30 p.m., as Hawaiian Airlines announced  it had canceled five round-trip flights between Honolulu and Hilo, and diverted two flights to Kona due to volcanic ash from the ongoing eruption. Star-Advertiser. Associated Press. Big Island Video News. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense, partners to open tephra information center in Volcano. Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense and partners The Red Cross and Community Response Team will be available beginning today (March 11) in Volcano to provide residents with information about tephra cleanup following Episode 43 of the ongoing episodic summit eruption of Kīlauea volcano. Big Island Now.

Coconut Island Bridge: Permanent Fix Will Take 3 Years, Cost $20 Million. A $2 million temporary replacement for Big Island’s Mokuola bridge is expected to be completed in the next two years. Civil Beat.

Maui

Mayor Bissen signs emergency proclamation ahead of kona storm. Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen signed an emergency proclamation Tuesday as Maui County continued preparations for a powerful kona storm that is expected to bring heavy rain, flooding and strong winds to the Hawaiian Islands this week. Maui News. Maui Now. 

Severe weather forecast prompts closure of all camping areas on Maui, Molokaʻi and Oʻahu. On Maui, this includes: Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area and Waiʻānapanapa State Park. On Molokaʻi, this includes Pālāʻau State Park overlooking Kalaupapa peninsula. Maui Now.

'People want hope that things are moving': Maui County mayor talks housing, water. HPR spoke with Mayor Richard Bissen about his 2026 State of the County address.In the speech, Bissen spoke of affordable housing and a historic water deal: Talks have been underway to bring more of Maui’s water resources under public control. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Flood advisory canceled for Kaua‘i as heavy rainfall diminishes. National Weather Service forecasters in Honolulu report radar shows that heavy rain over the island has diminished and flooding is no longer expected to pose a threat. Kauai Now.

Kauaʻi Coffee Co. delays layoffs while land lease negotiations continue. At Kauaʻi Coffee Co., 136 people will keep their jobs for now as potential layoffs have been delayed for a month while lease negotiations continue to drag on between land owner Brue Baukol Capital Partners and Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA, which owns the local business. Kauai Now.

Luke discloses $7,800 unreported campaign contributions from 2022, Hawaiian Airlines to lay off 48 more employees, Green issues emergency proclamation ahead of Kona low, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Lt. Gov. Luke discloses $7,800 in unreported 2022 donations. Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke did not report $7,870 in campaign donations and $3,882 in spending during the first six months of 2022, according to a statement released by her campaign on Friday. Luke detailed the unreported donations and expenditures in a Wednesday audit released by her campaign on Friday, the same day she filed an amended report with the Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. KITV4.

48 Hawaiian Airlines employees to be laid off. The company notified the state that the cuts affect 48 Hawaii-based, non-union employees whose jobs will end in May or June. KHON2.

Hawaii gas prices tick up amid nationwide spike. Hawaii gas prices have risen only a little in the past week amid a large increase nationally, and it’s uncertain whether a spike driven by the war in Iran could be around the corner. The average price per gallon for regular gas Monday in Hawaii was $4.52, up 3% from $4.39 a week earlier, according to AAA. Star-Advertiser. KHON2. 

Rental car companies might have to pay full GET on fleet purchases. The state House of Representatives passed a law that would subject rental car fleet purchases to the full general excise tax instead of the current wholesale tax rate of 0.5%. The measure will next be heard by the Senate. Hawaii Public Radio.

Finding housing with pets can be rough. State bills seek to improve access. In Hawaiʻi, it’s rough to find landlords who allow pets, and it’s even harder for renters in affordable and publicly funded housing. Hawaii Public Radio.

Former Hawaii lawmaker Bertrand Kobayashi awarded Japan’s Order of the Rising Sun. Former state legislator Bertrand Yoshito Kobayashi was formally presented on March 3 with the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, one of Japan’s highest honors, in recognition of his decades-long work strengthening ties between Japan, Hawaii and the United States. Star-Advertiser.

Sharks Are Taking A Larger Bite Of Hawaiʻi Fishermen’s Catch. At least 1 in 4 licensed fishing trips lose catches — and profits — to sharks in Hawaiian waters. Scientists are developing chemical repellents and magnetic fields as deterrents. Civil Beat.

Gov. Green issues emergency proclamation ahead of expected storm to Hawaiian Islands. A Kona low weather system is expected to produce prolonged heavy rainfall that could lead to flash flooding statewide, with the highest likelihood of flooding impacts across the smaller islands and urban areas, according to a news release from the governor’s office. Big Island Now. KITV4.  Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. 

Oahu

Council reviews mayor’s $5 billion budget for 2027. The Honolulu City Council had its first review Monday of the city’s proposed $5.08 billion budget package for the 2027 fiscal year, which begins July 1. Star-Advertiser.

Developer chosen for transit-oriented affordable housing project in Kalihi. The City and County of Honolulu has selected nonprofit developer EAH Housing to transform the former Dee Lite Bakery property in Kalihi into new transit-oriented affordable housing. The city-owned site at 1930 Dillingham Blvd. and 1907 Eluwene St. sits directly across from the future Mokauea (Kalihi) Skyline Station. Hawaii News Now.

Kaimuki residents voice concerns over new bus route 200 changes. Route 9 used to travel through the main areas of Kaimukī town — connecting riders to places like the library, post office, and Leahi Hospital. But more than a year ago, the route changed to Route 200… now running along Alohea Avenue and 7th Avenue. KITV4.

Mike Miske Killed Himself To Protect $20 Million Estate, Prosecutors Say. The convicted crime boss died of a fentanyl overdose in federal prison in December 2024, before he had been sentenced. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. 

Hawaii Island

‘No Trespass’ Signs Thwart County Inspections Of Kona Dome House. Vacation rentals aren’t permitted on farmland under state law, but recent legal battles show some Big Island landowners want to test that. Civil Beat.

Applications Open For Koa Canoe Logs From Kapāpala. Individuals and organizations can apply acquire a koa canoe log for use in kālaiwaʻa, the construction of traditional Hawaiian canoes. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Mayor Bissen appoints Margaret Willis as new County Director of Human Concerns. Citing successful houseless programs in major California cities and her deep experience addressing human needs with compassion, Mayor Richard Bissen appointed Margaret “Maggie” Willis as the new County of Maui Director of the Department of Human Concerns. Maui Now.

Attorney provides snapshot of immigration enforcement on Maui. Longtime Maui immigration attorney Kevin Block says that enforcement activity on the island has changed dramatically, and that his clients are skipping medical appointments and reducing their inter-island travel out of fear. Hawaii Public Radio.

County in historic negotiations to acquire key West Maui water systems. Maui County is in the process of acquiring key water systems in West Maui that are currently privately owned. Mayor Richard Bissen announced the historic move in his recent State of the County address. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hoʻōla LTRG and Mennonite Disaster Service mark milestone with completion of their first two rebuilt homes in Lahaina. Some 100 community leaders, volunteers, partner organizations, and supporters gathered for two private home blessings and dedications to celebrate the Yadao and Kahahane families’ return home and recognize the collective efforts that made these rebuilds possible. Maui Now.

Kauai

Rudy Tai formally sworn in as Kaua‘i Police chief. Rudy Tai officially began his tenure on Monday as Chief of Police of the Kaua‘i Police Department, following his appointment by the Kaua‘i Police Commission. Kauai Now.

Kauaʻi Wants To Get Tough On Beachfront Home Renovations As Tides Climb. As beaches shrink, the proposal would revise the county’s shoreline setback rules to ensure that coastal homes truly being rebuilt are relocated inland. Civil Beat.

Spending a day at the Capitol. The Kauai delegation to the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities numbered 42 of the 656 attendees at the Day at the Capitol. The event was celebrated on March 4 in observance of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Garden Island.

Lobbyists influence legislation, HECO seeks rate hike, Maui County Council asks Air Force to reject military telescope, Hanabusa remembered, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

The Most Influential People At The State Capitol Are Out In The Hallway. Top lobbyists often have more influence than the lawmakers themselves that pass or reject their bills. Lobbyists argue that the key to successfully lobbying is relationships, which are already central in a small island state that maintains high school connections long after graduation. Civil Beat.

Excess in the state’s special funds may help ease budget concerns. More than 200 special financial accounts at 20 state agencies are being examined by Hawaii lawmakers for excessive holdings that could help pay for general state expenses amid a challenging budgetary environment.  Star-Advertiser.

Senators reevaluate income tax cut plan and renewable energy incentives. The state Legislature continues to look at filling the void left by federal funding cuts and added administrative costs — together an estimated $3 billion in lost revenue over the next six years. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii ambassador would work to restore Canadian travel. Hawaii would be represented by an “unofficial ambassador” to Canada through a bill designed to restore positive relations with Canadian visitors, who represent the state’s fourth-largest, but shrinking tourism market. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric seeks rate hikes for next 2 years. Residents on Oʻahu will see their monthly electric bills increase by about $8 in 2027 and another $3 in 2028 under a proposal that Hawaiian Electric and the Ulupono Initiative have submitted to the state Public Utilities Commission. Residents on neighbor islands could expect bigger jumps. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

Rip currents and hot spots: Hawaii’s drowning dangers revealed. Nearly 800 people have drowned in Hawaiian waters over the past decade and experts say about half of the victims are residents. KHON2.

Former U.S Rep. Colleen Hanabusa dies at age 74. The former congresswoman served as president of the Hawaiʻi Senate and chair of the Honolulu rail authority. Colleen Hanabusa, a formidable Hawaii politician and prominent labor lawyer from Waianae who served in Congress but failed to become Hawaii’s governor and Honolulu’s mayor, died early Friday morning at the age of 74. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Hawaii News Now.  Associated Press.

Oahu

Does Japan Hold The Answer To Fixing Honolulu’s Rail System? Gov. Josh Green is negotiating an agreement with a Japanese rail conglomerate to work on transit-oriented development along the Skyline.  Civil Beat.

With Japan visitor numbers nowhere near pre-pandemic, Waikīkī adapts. The number of visitors from Japan is still only about half of the 1.5 million that came before the COVID-19 pandemic. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu home sales hit record $1,205,000. The median price for Oahu single-family homes in February inched up to a record $1,205,000 as the housing market stabilized ahead of the spring buying season. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu City Council pauses affordable housing bill for more study. A Honolulu City Council proposal that could change how affordable housing projects are built across Oahu is now on pause after lawmakers said they want more data and community feedback. KITV4.

Kūpuna Wait On Fix For Broken Elevator At Liliha Apartments. A five-month elevator outage at a Honolulu apartment building has created significant challenges for the mostly senior residents, many of whom rely on walkers and motorized wheelchairs. Civil Beat.

Homeless encampment moored along Keehi Stream poses knotty challenges. The state, city and outreach teams from the Institute for Human Services continue to try to connect to a growing homeless population living aboard a flotilla of 20 or so structures moored on either side of Keehi Stream in Kalihi, often within reach of the well-established Kahauiki Village community of families who were formerly homeless. Star-Advertiser.

Navy claims fuel contamination was a result of military service. Military families sickened by the 2021 Red Hill water crisis say the federal government is twisting a doctrine meant for battlefield decisions to defend its assertion that injuries from consuming, bathing and cooking with jet‑fuel‑contaminated water were “incident to service.” Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Council awards Kilauea recovery grants to Puna nonprofits. The Hawaii County Council unanimously approved a resolution Wednesday awarding nearly $6 million from the Kilauea Recovery Grant Program to a variety of local nonprofit organizations providing relief to communities impacted by the 2018 lower Puna eruption. Tribune-Herald.

‘A lack of transparency’: Residents blast county’s plan for transitional housing in Waiakea Uka. At issue was a three-bedroom, 3,000-square-foot home on a third-acre of land at 76 Makani Circle. The property was purchased in October by the county’s Office of Housing and Community Development for $809,000 in federal funds. Tribune-Herald.

Council tries to tackle Kailua Village parking fees. Years of grumbling about inflated and unpredictable parking fees in downtown Kona came to a head last Tuesday as the Hawaii County Council considered a bill that would cap rates at privately owned parking lots in Kailua Village. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Military’s Haleakalā Telescope Project Draws Deep Opposition On Maui. Echoing strong community sentiment, the County Council has joined the chorus calling on the U.S. Air Force to reject an environmental review of the project. Civil Beat.

Major housing and infrastructure investments for wildfire recovery move forward. The County of Maui Office of Recovery’s Hoʻokumu Hou program announced major investments in the long-term recovery from the 2023 Maui wildfires with the selection of seven multifamily rental housing projects and 22 infrastructure and mitigation improvement projects that have been conditionally awarded Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funding. Maui Now.

South Maui’s saltier, more turbid waters could signal drought is taking a toll. For the hui that goes out to collect samples every three weeks, every little change in the ocean offers a clue, raising early red flags about how the wider environment could be taking a toll on Maui’s critical reefs and nearshore waters. Maui Now.

Kauai

Bill for prescibing psychologists program on Kauai advances. Some psychologists may be able to prescribe medications for their patients as part of a pilot program on Kauai, if approved by the state Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

Hanalei transfer station halts bagged trash service due to equipment issues. The County of Kauaʻi Department of Public Works reported Sunday morning that the Hanalei Refuse Transfer Station is temporarily not accepting bagged household trash because of equipment issues. Kauai Now.

Audit blasts DOE local foods initiative, US to exhume 88 unknown USS Arizona casualties, Honolulu council defers affordable rental bill, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Push To Feed Hawaiʻi Kids More Local Food Is ‘Structural Disaster’. The DOE has not taken the effort seriously and has no real plan for how to meet a legislative mandate to spend 30% of its food budget locally by 2030, according to a state audit. Civil Beat.

Full report on school lunch program. Office of the Hawaii Auditor.

Free student meals back on the table at the Legislature. On Wednesday the House Committee on Finance moved along House Bill 1779, which would give all students free breakfast and lunch at school starting with the 2029-2030 school year. The measure also includes public charter school students. Hawaii Public Radio.

Officers would have to expose their faces under bills. House and Senate bills that would prohibit law enforcement officers from covering their faces and limit local law enforcement cooperation with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials remain alive and appear ready to move into the opposite chamber of the state Capitol for further consideration. Star-Advertiser.

US aims to exhume and identify 88 USS Arizona crew members buried as unknowns after Pearl Harbor. The U.S. military plans to exhume the remains of 88 sailors and Marines killed when the USS Arizona was bombed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and who were buried as unknowns in a Honolulu cemetery. Associated Press.

People In Crisis Still Keep Their Guns. Can Hawaiʻi Change That? Lawmakers want to raise awareness about the state’s red flag law, which has been virtually unused in the last six years — despite a significant increase in gun deaths. Civil Beat.

State launches 2026 Hawaiʻi Quality of Life and Well-Being Survey. Share your thoughts about quality of life in Hawaiʻi with new survey. Multiple choice and short answer questions range from cost of living to mental health to transportation. Although the survey is anonymous, there are some demographic questions to allow researchers to determine if certain issues are impacting some groups more than others. Hawaii Public Radio. Big Island Now. 

Oahu 

Council defers affordable rentals measure pending further study. Introduced in February by Council Vice Chair Andria Tupola, Bill 18, which proposes amendments to the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu that govern the city’s affordable rental housing laws, was postponed due to a mixed level of support from many in the development community. Star-Advertiser.

City considers loan forgiveness to recruit engineers, cut permit backlog. During a city briefing Thursday, officials said staffing shortages at the Department of Planning and Permitting remain a major factor slowing projects across Oahu, including affordable housing developments. Hawaii News Now.

Agreement opens Kolekole Pass in emergencies. Military and state officials have signed a new memorandum of understanding establishing procedures to open Kolekole Pass during emergencies to support communities along the Waianae coast. Star-Advertiser.

State Agrees To Settle Lawsuit Over Oʻahu Jail Suicide. Lawyers for the defense and prosecution called the jail to warn that a prisoner was suicidal. Then the inmate hanged himself in a cell. Civil Beat.

Police release findings of skeletal remains on Mid-Pacific Institute campus. The human skeletal remains found on Mid-Pacific Institute’s Manoa campus in January appear to be ancient, police said Thursday. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources will further review the remains. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

$13.4 Million In FEMA Funds For Waiānuenue Avenue Bridge. The modernized bridge will be designed to withstand earthquake forces and erosion from flooding. Big Island Video News.

New Hawaii pilot program aims to curb evictions, keep disputes out of court. A new statewide pre-eviction mediation law that went into effect last month has already had success in keeping Hawaii Island tenants in their homes. Tribune-Herald.

Water Restriction Notice Issued After Honomū Well Breakdown. Affected customers are required to reduce water use by at least 25 percent until further notice. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Maui mayor sets housing and rebuilding as top priorities in 2026 State of the County Address. Mayor Richard Bissen highlighted Maui County’s continued progress across housing, recovery, well-being and economic stability, while outlining actions to strengthen communities and build a resilient future. Maui Now.

Maui Wildfire Lawyers Vying For $1 Billion Payday. Lawyers for Maui wildfire victims are lining up for a potential $1 billion payday, pending a ruling by Circuit Court Judge Peter Cahill. But the judge may have a say in the matter, and could reduce the amount paid to those lawyers who represented individual fire victims. Civil Beat.

Long-awaited affordable housing project is underway on Lānaʻi. The first affordable housing project on Lānaʻi in 35 years is set to begin construction this year. Kaiāulu O Lānaʻi will offer 72 rent-to-own units. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui Food Bank purchases eight-acre Central Maui parcel to build future resiliency campus. Maui Food Bank has completed the purchase of an eight-acre parcel of land located at the corner of Kūihelani Highway and Waikō Road in Central Maui for $9.25 million. Maui Now.

Kauai

Līhuʻe Airport’s improvement plan includes modernization, not adding capacity. Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation officials presented a draft optimization plan for Līhuʻe Airport on Tuesday evening, emphasizing the effort is focused on modernization and efficiency — and not expansion. Kauai Now.

Four months later, updates on a Kauaʻi immigration raid. Four months ago, Kauaʻi County Councilmember Fern Holland watched an immigration raid unfold across from her home. It was at 4 a.m., and when it was all over, 44 people — mostly Venezuelan nationals — were picked up. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Foodbank Kauai provides help for TSA workers. The Hawaii Foodbank Kauai rolled out its recently dedicated Mobile Pantry refrigerated transporter to provide more than 150 emergency food packages for local Transportation Security Administration and U.S. Coast Guard workers caught up in a partial government shutdown. Garden Island