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

Legislative leaders unwilling to cancel promised income tax cuts, Blangiardi approves Skyline expansion plan, FEMA delays Maui fire aid, $4M-plus Big Island homes could see property tax hike, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiʻi Lawmakers Push Back On Green’s Plan To Defer Tax Cuts. A proposal floated by House Finance Chair Chris Todd would continue much of the tax relief that was promised in 2024. A committee of state lawmakers focused on finances made major changes Wednesday to proposed legislation from Gov. Josh Green to repeal the next five years of scheduled annual state income tax cuts. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers consider prohibiting food packaging made with PFAS. House Bill 644 would prohibit the sale, distribution or use of single-use plastic ware that contains perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl — also known as PFAS. Hawaii Public Radio.

Panic Buttons In Schools: $7 Million Effort Is Delayed A Year. The state entered into a contract to provide panic buttons to Hawaiʻi schools two years ago, but DOE campuses still don’t have access to the technology. Civil Beat.

Bill could place additional support in math classrooms. A bill advancing at the state Capitol would establish a statewide numeracy coaching program in Hawaii public schools, as lawmakers and education officials grapple with persistent gaps in math achievement. Star-Advertiser.

New state initiative helps schools buy local produce directly from farms. The Hawaii State Department of Education (HIDOE) said the initiative is part of the department’s broader farm-to-school program, which supports food sustainability in the state and aligns with Act 175’s goal to improve student health while strengthening the agricultural economy. Hawaii News Now.

Out-of-state physicians could be allowed to practice some telehealth. Lawmakers are advancing a measure that would allow out-of-state physicians to practice telehealth in Hawaiʻi if the service is not available locally. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Honolulu mayor approves Skyline rail system expansion plan. On March 4, Mayor Rick Blangiardi signed Bill 60 into law. It gives HART the green light to start planning future rail extensions, even though funding to build them is not in place yet. KHON2. KITV4. 

DTS mulls higher fees, more citations for public parking. The Honolulu Department of Transportation Services is contemplating increased parking fees and high-tech parking citations to free up often congested city-owned public parking stalls on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Digital signs sought for stadium zone. Outdoor digital advertising screens would still be prohibited in Waikiki, but could soon become a part of the New Aloha Stadium district, two key Senate committees decided this week. Star-Advertiser.

Dillingham Plaza is getting a major makeover — and a Costco Gas station. A massive makeover is in the works for an aging retail center in Kalihi, but some are concerned that at least one possible new tenant may add to traffic congestion in the area. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

HPD commander demoted for allegedly sharing details of teen sex assault victim. Juvenile victim’s name and personal information were spread on social media. Ryan Nishibun, who has more than 35 years of service with HPD, has served as the acting deputy chief of field operations since last August, following the retirement of Keith Horikawa. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Council bill targets some ‘luxury’ homes in Hawaii County. The Hawaii County Council voted 5-1 on Wednesday to pass a measure creating a new residential property tax classification for luxury homes worth more than $4 million. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now. 

County bill to cap private parking rates in Historic Kailua Village postponed to consult lawyers. A bill proposing free parking and a cap on hourly and daily rates at privately owned lots in the Historic Kailua Village was postponed Tuesday to allow the Hawai‘i County Council to consult with its attorneys about the legality of the measure. Big Island Now. Big Island Video News.

North Kona’s Primary Aquifer Provides Plenty Of Water — For Now. The Keauhou aquifer’s current usage leaves room for more development, but a changing climate could significantly undercut that. Civil Beat.

Maui

FEMA Maui Fire Aid Delayed By Top Trump Official, Senators Say. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s policy of personally reviewing large grants held up a request to renew emergency housing aid on Maui, a new report says. Civil Beat.

Maui group empowers residents during blackouts with backup batteries. Organizers of the Power Back project are running a pilot program to loan the batteries and panels to community members with backup power needs. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kahului Airport’s main runway built during World War II prioritized for first reconstruction project. Runway 2-20, the only one on Maui long enough to handle those large jets and cargo planes that arrive from the mainland and keep the island’s economy purring, has needed 12 major resurfacing projects over the years to stay functional. Maui Now.

Kauai

Hawaii Department of Transportation-Airports Division seeks input. More than a dozen people opted to spend their lunch hour with the Lihue Airport Optimization Plan team on Wednesday at the Moikeha Building Conference Rooms. Garden Island.

Division of Motor Vehicles, Real Property offices to close for training. Kaua‘i County Division of Motor Vehicles and Real Property Assessment and Collections Section will be closed March 11 to accommodate staff training. Kauai Now.

Tulsi Gabbard in tight spot over Iran war, pre-built homes bill advances in Legislature, Blangiardi trims Honolulu spending in proposed budget, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Iran War Puts Tulsi Gabbard, Regime Change Critic, In An Awkward Spot. The former Hawaiʻi congresswoman was an outspoken critic of U.S.-led regime change wars. Then she went to work for Trump. Perhaps no other person in President Donald Trump’s cabinet has been more outspoken against war with Iran than his Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.  Civil Beat.

Hawaii income tax cut freeze debate begins at Legislature. Robust debate over Gov. Josh Green’s proposal to cancel future state income tax cuts took place Tuesday at the Legislature during a public hearing on one of two bills introduced to implement the stoppage. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi House advances Immigration Reform Bills that could reshape State's role. A package of immigration-related bills is advancing at the State Capitol, proposals that could significantly reshape how Hawaii works with federal immigration authorities. KITV4.

A bill that would create a framework for a pre-built home industry in Hawai‘i advances. A bill that would establish a statewide program for pre-built homes, which is touted to help with Hawaiʻi’s housing crisis, on Monday passed unanimously out of the House Finance committee. Kauai Now.

Rooftop solar incentives could be retooled toward lower-income households. Lawmakers may restructure the state’s signature renewable energy tax credit. The Renewable Energy Technologies Income Tax Credit will cover up to 35% of the cost of a new rooftop solar installation, but the total amount that applicants receive is often less. Hawaii Public Radio.

3 seek to represent Iwilei, Chinatown in House. Gov. Josh Green now will have a choice between the manager of a state House representative’s office, the chair of the Chinatown-­Downtown neighborhood board or a labor law attorney to represent Sand Island-­Iwilei-Chinatown in the House. Nominees are Nadia Alves, Ernest D. K. Caravalho and  Michael “Cov” Ratcliffe. Star-Advertiser.

Indicted CEO’s security firm has Hawaii law enforcement contracts. SaferWatch monitors state tip lines for illegal fireworks, gun crimes. The CEO of SaferWatch, a security monitoring company with active contracts in Hawaii, has been indicted on federal bribery charges in the district of New York. Hawaii News Now.

Ahi market prices double affecting businesses operations. The United Fishing Agency says that at this time of year, market changes are common, but some consumers say the changes they’ve seen previously have been the biggest change since the pandemic. KHON2.

Oahu

Mayor unveils $5.08B budget package for 2027. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration Monday formally unveiled its proposed $5.08 billion budget package for the 2027 fiscal year, which begins July 1.  The proposed budget is $133.6 million less than Honolulu’s current total budget of more than $5.2 billion, which the mayor formally signed in June 2025. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.  KITV4. 

Embezzler Or Victim? Native Hawaiian Contractor’s Family Fights Back. In various court filings, Christopher Dawson’s sister is pushing back against the DOJ narrative that he swindled a federal program meant to help his people. Civil Beat.

Zoning questions raised over proposed Hawaii Kai development. The plan would build dozens of new homes near Koko Villas, but residents said there are concerns over zoning and whether the project should move forward. KHON2.

Annual Waianae Coast drill simulates emergency evacuation through Kolekole Pass. Military, city, and state officials simulated an emergency evacuation Tuesday that involved dozens of vehicles using a one-lane road out of the Waianae Coast as part of an annual drill. Hawaii News Now.

City to auction off abandoned, towed vehicles. Law enforcement-towed vehicles will be auctioned Wednesday, March 4, starting at 8 a.m. Towed and abandoned vehicles will be auctioned Thursday starting at 8 a.m. Hawaii News Now.

Waianae man allegedly killed woman in fight over an iPad. Shaison R. Laupola, a 36-year-old man allegedly shot and killed the 26-year-old female cousin of his 16-year-old girlfriend Friday morning after a dispute over a missing iPad, according to state court documents. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Government Funds Hilo Shelter Without Safety Exits Or Fire Inspection. Hale Maluhia provides emergency shelter to vulnerable women but has never been inspected by county fire inspectors. Staff say the units are safe. Hope Services Hawaiʻi received $575,000 from Hawaiʻi County’s Housing and Homelessness Fund in 2025 to operate the Hale Maluhia shelter, and was awarded another $1.5 million in the most recent allocations from the fund. It also received $362,000 from the state Office of Housing and Homelessness last year. Civil Beat.

Renovation, expansion eyed for YWCA’s Hilo campus. The YWCA of Hawaii Island is planning a multi-million dollar renovation to its downtown Hilo campus, including a new building for its preschool program that will increase the student headcount by 40%.  Tribune-Herald. 

Laupāhoehoe Transfer Station Reopens Friday, March 6. A $2.57 million improvement project has been completed at the Laupāhoehoe Recycling and Transfer Station. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. 

Big Island resident rescued out of closed area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park dies. The National Park Service is investigating a fatality after a Hawai‘i Island resident was rescued out of a closed area of the Kīlauea caldera within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Big Island Now.

Maui

Potable water allowance for Kapalua golf course interim irrigation reversed. An environmental law firm has prevailed in an effort to prevent the owner of two Maui golf courses from using potable water for temporary irrigation during shortages of stream water. Star-Advertiser.

Bissen’s State of the County Address coming March 5. Mayor Richard T. Bissen Jr. will present the 2026 State of the County Address from 5 to 7 p.m. March 5 inside the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s Castle Theater. Maui News.

State publishes final EIS for new Central Maui wastewater facility in Waikapū. The state Office of Planning and Sustainable Development has published a final environmental impact statement for a new 14.9-acre Central Maui Wastewater Reclamation Facility on former agricultural lands in Waikapū located between Honoapiʻilani and Kūihelani highways. The department will also install portions of a sewage pipeline and a recycled water pipeline to connect the site with the future 1,400-unit Waikapū Country Town development. Maui Now.

First for-sale affordable housing project in 35 years set for Lanai. Maui County has committed $17 million in startup funding for Kaiāulu O Lānaʻi, the island’s first for-sale affordable housing project in more than 35 years. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Locals Were Crowded Out Of This Kauaʻi Beach. That May Change Soon. Years in the making, the transfer of Hā‘ena Beach Park from the county to the state is intended to alleviate longstanding parking issues and reclaim access for residents.  Civil Beat.

Hospitality company operating 5 Hawaiʻi restaurants shift to employee ownership. The Hawaiʻi-based hospitality company that operates Lava Lava Beach Club in Kapaʻa has transitioned from private ownership to employee ownership. Kauai Now.