Group outlines spending plan for 'Green fee' tourist tax, Houses urges AG to expedite bribery investigation, Case gathers war chest in congressional race challenged by state legislators, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Group outlines spending plan for new climate change tax. The new Green Fee Advisory Council had to choose from among more than $2 billion worth of funding requests to help Hawaii respond to climate change, but will only have $100 million or so annually to recommend through the first statewide tax of its kind in the country, which has been collecting revenue since Jan. 1. The recommendations that the 10-member, volunteer council made to Green include $1.5 million to track and publicize how the Green Fee is being dispersed among three separate funding “buckets” mandated by Act 96: environmental stewardship; climate and hazard resilience; and sustainable tourism. Gov. Josh Green signed the so-called “Green Fee” into law last year as Act 96. It increases the state’s transient accommodation tax by .075% — to 11% — on overnight lodgings for everyone, including local residents. Star-Advertiser.

House urges Hawaiʻi AG to expedite investigation into alleged $35,000 payment. The state House passed a resolution urging the Hawaiʻi attorney general to expedite the investigation to identify a Hawaiʻi lawmaker who is accused of accepting $35,000 in 2022.  Hawaii Public Radio. Big Island Now.

Ed Case Has Substantial Lead In Money Race For U.S. House Seat.  Two state lawmakers, Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole and Rep. Della Au Belatti, have mounted campaigns against Case. Civil Beat.

The State Capitol Is Buzzing About This Prominent Hawaiʻi Lawmaker. Longtime Sen. Michelle Kidani may be leaving office early amid concerns about whether she is mentally fit. Sources say the 77-year-old lawmaker is suffering from dementia and has been under a doctor’s care. Civil Beat.

Bill deferred that would prohibit open carry of bladed weapons. Multiple machete-related violent crimes across Oahu left Hawaii lawmakers to revisit a proposal that would prohibit the open carry of any deadly or dangerous weapon. KHON2.

Nurses brace for a long haul on second week. The United Nurses Association of California/Union of Health Care Professionals, which represents 31,000 workers, including about 250 in Hawaii, began striking on Jan. 26.  Star-Advertiser.

Dozens of traveling preschools in underserved communities at risk of closing. More than 60 of these early learning programs across the state could soon close with millions in federal funds drying up as early as this summer, leaving more than 2,000 keiki without access. KITV4.

Bankoh passing CEO torch as Ho retires. Bank of Hawaii Corp. CEO Peter Ho is set to hand off the chief executive role at the 128-year-old financial institution to company President and Chief Banking Officer James Polk. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi practitioners say AI has no place in cultural tattoo practices. The rise of AI-generated images has cultural practitioners in Hawaiʻi worried about the misappropriation of Indigenous tattoos and copying designs. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Judge orders mediation for HART, Hitachi litigation. A state judge presiding over contending, multimillion dollar lawsuits brought by the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation and its main contractor has directed both parties to submit to mediation, a HART lawyer confirms. Star-Advertiser.

University of Hawaiʻi to search for separate Mānoa campus chancellor. The University of Hawaiʻi is thinking about splitting President Wendy Hensel’s job into two positions — similar to how it was a decade ago. Hawaii Public Radio.

State Agrees To Settle Case Over Prison Drug Withdrawal Death. The settlement calls for a $600,000 payment to the estate of Brian Kimo O’Gorman after he suffered heart failure while withdrawing from methadone. Civil Beat.

State, county settle lawsuits over wrongful psychiatric detention. When finalized, the deal will end the state and federal civil lawsuits filed by Joshua Spriestersbach, who was 46 years old in 2017 when he was arrested for someone else’s crimes outside a shelter in Chinatown. Hawaii News Now.

No Parking signs near Lanikai Beach could mean more ticketing, towing. About 170 cars are parked illegally along the loop near the popular Lanikai Beach every day, according to city officials, who drafted a proposal to ease congestion in the area. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Honolulu real estate company buys family-owned Pāhoa Village Center. Watumull Properties Corporation acquired the 101,000-square-foot neighborhood shopping center located at 15-2880 Pāhoa Village Road in Pāhoa in October for $4.39 million from the Bellman family. Big Island Now.

Council urges restoration of Isaac Hale park. A resolution urging the county Department of Parks and Recreation “to prioritize and expedite the restoration of Isaac Kepo‘okalani Hale Beach Park at Pohoiki” was approved 6-0 on Jan. 23 by the County Council with council members Ashley Kierkiewicz and Matt Kaneali‘i-Kleinfelder of Puna and Heather Kimball of Hamakua excused. Tribune-Herald.

Kealakehe Elementary breaks ground on $16 million classroom building. The two-story structure will add more than 13,000 square feet of learning space, including four new classrooms, special education areas, faculty offices, and an outdoor learning space. Hawaii News Now.

Waimea Town Hall to address unexploded ordnance cleanup, drug seizures, proposed legislation. At the upcoming Waimea Town meeting on Thursday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will address the current unexploded ordnance cleanup slated to begin at Waimea-Kohala Airport this month, as well as the latest statistics of drug seizures made by Hawai‘i Island police and proposed county legislation. Big Island Now.

Maui

Oceanfront Lahaina Property Owners May Get Buyout In Updated Disaster Plan. The county is seeking an amendment to create a voluntary buyout program with some of its $1.6 billion fire recovery grant from the feds. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Water Service requests rate increase for Kapalua, Maui. Hawaii Water Service Company, which provides water and wastewater services in Kapalua, Maui, is requesting a rate increase. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Hawai‘i governor selects new Kaua‘i Circuit Court judge. Hawai‘i Gov. Josh Green has appointed Stephanie R.S. Char to be Circuit Court judge for the Fifth Circuit on Kaua‘i. Char currently serves as a district family court judge for the 5th Circuit, where she presides over a wide range of civil, criminal and family court matters. Kauai Now.

Finance Department, Mayor celebrate installation of DMV kiosk. Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami and the joined the Western Motor Service ‘ohana, including the Kaiakapu family — Crystal, Koty and Jed — to celebrate the self-service motor vehicle registration kiosk that was installed at the business in December. Garden Island.

Coral reefs recognized as 'legal persons' under bill, Green seeks to repeal 5 years of income tax cuts, Hilo lawyer gets 6 years in affordable housing scam, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Bills would protect reefs, bar military live-fire training, expand robotics. Hawaii’s watersheds and coral reefs would be recognized as “legal persons” with legal rights; high school robotics could become an interscholastic sport; military live-fire training would be banned on state land; and a new fee would be charged on any “sugar-sweetened” beverages under new House and Senate bills to be considered during the legislative session that’s scheduled to adjourn May 8. Star-Advertiser.

Green’s tax cut freeze plan repeals five years of additional savings for taxpayers. Hawaii taxpayers stand to receive dramatically stunted financial savings under a plan by Gov. Josh Green to cancel future state income tax cuts. A single person earning $75,000 a year would miss out on $3,855 in estimated tax savings over the next five years, and $1,103 a year after 2031 if Green’s legislation is approved by the Legislature, according to calculations by the state Department of Taxation. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers look to ban popular ‘prediction market’ wagering. Ahead of Gov. Josh Green’s annual State of the State address last week, online betters placed $448,667 in “prediction market” wagers on whether he would say phrases that included “affordable,” “affordability,” “mainland,” “cost of living,” “aloha,” “kauhale,” “housing,” “health care,” “tourism” and “volcano” as part of an online gambling phenomenon that would be prohibited under House Bill 2198. Star-Advertiser.

Bills address nurse staffing levels and patient safety. A coalition representing thousands of nurses is backing legislation to address what they say have been chronic staffing issues statewide at hospitals in Hawaii to improve patient safety. Star-Advertiser.

New legislative bills would allow residents to kill wild chickens. Two bills being considered this legislative session would allow residents to kill feral chickens, under House Bill 1852 and the latest version of HB 980, which stalled in the 2025 legislative session but automatically rolled into this one. Star-Advertiser.

End of aquarium collecting does not lead to recovery of reef fish in Hawaiʻi waters, new analysis finds. A new analysis of state and federal monitoring data finds that yellow tang populations on Hawaiʻi reefs failed to recover — and in some cases declined — after commercial aquarium fish collecting ended, contradicting long-standing claims that the practice was sustainable. Maui Now.

New UHERO report finds Hawaiʻi’s economy has “lagged behind the rest of the U.S. for years”  According to a new report from the University of Hawaiʻi’s Economic Research Organization, Hawaii’s economy is among the worst in the nation.  KHON2.

DOE to open priority placement process for Kaiapuni education. The state Department of Education announced that a new statewide priority placement process for Hawaiian language immersion programs will open Monday, with the application window to close March 13. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: Hot Political Topics Are Stoking Sunshine Bills This Year. Now that the bill-filing deadline has passed, here’s our handy roadmap for following hundreds of government accountability and political reform bills proposed for the 2026 session. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu City Council’s affordable housing bills face strong resistance. A trio of Honolulu City Council measures is drawing opposition from building developers and housing advocates alike over an effort by some Council members to potentially roll back existing incentives related to affordable housing development on Oahu. Introduced on Jan. 22, Bills 14, 15 and 17 variously look to revise the city’s existing affordable housing laws to reduce or eliminate real property tax exemptions and similar requirements for housing incentives and waivers for developers. Star-Advertiser.

Meet The Oʻahu Woman On A Mission To Stop The Ala Wai Canal Bridge. Laura Ruby has opposed a bridge over the Waikīkī canal for almost 20 years. Even as construction inches closer, she has no plans to stop. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi tech company Servpac is adding a new building to its data center in the Mililani Technology Park. Despite the additional space, most Hawaiʻi data is stored on the continent. Hawaii Public Radio.

Road rehabilitation project to take place in Kaneohe. The city said construction will begin on an 18-month-long project on Monday along Kamehameha Highway from Haiku Road to Likelike Highway and Kaneohe Bay Drive.  Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Operation Reverse Robinhood: Big Island Lawyer Gets 6 Years For Scam. Gary Zamber is the first of the four defendants to be sentenced for conspiring to take advantage of loopholes in the Big Island’s system for handing out affordable housing credits to developers. Civil Beat.

Reed Mahuna Tapped To Serve As Hawaiʻi County’s Next Police Chief. The 28-year veteran cop was born and raised on the Big Island. The Hawaiʻi County Police Commission unanimously chose longtime Big Island cop Reed Mahuna as the department’s next police chief after a two-day hearing that wrapped up Friday.  Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.

Tram collision at Hilton Waikōloa Village prompts suspension of service. Two trams at the Hilton Waikoloa Village on Hawaii Island crashed Saturday night. No one was hurt, and the hotel said emergency services were called to the scene. Hawaii News Now. Big Island Now. 

Spittlebug threatens Hawaii Island’s cattle industry. The tiny black bug has destroyed an estimated 320,000 acres of ranchlands from Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a to South Point. Star-Advertiser.

Kawili Street Paving Project Begins This Week. The project will be carried out in phases, totaling 1.6 miles between Kanoelehua Avenue and Puainako Street. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. 

Maui

PUC to hold public hearing on proposed Hawaiʻi water rate increase in Kapalua, Maui. The Hawaiʻi Public Utilities Commission will conduct a public hearing Monday, Feb. 2 at 6 p.m. at the Maui Preparatory Academy on Hawaii Water Service Company, Inc.’s request for a rate increase for its Kapalua Water and Wastewater Divisions. Hawaii Water is asking the commission to approve  a 59% increase over revenues at current effective rates, including a 7.46% rate of return, a power cost charge pass-through, a water purchase rider and refunds of excess 2021-2025 revenues. Maui Now.

Bezos donation boosts Lahainaluna scholarships and wildfire research. A $3.5 million donation from Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez  includes $1.5 million for Lahainaluna High School graduates affected by the fires and $2 million for vegetation management and land stewardship research. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

Hawaii health officials investigate chickenpox outbreak at Kauai school. The Hawaii Department of Health today said it is investigating an outbreak of chickenpox at Kilauea Elementary School on Kauai. To date, five cases have been reported among four students and one household member. Health officials said none of the individuals were vaccinated against chickenpox, also known as varicella. Star-Advertiser.

Found human remains ends search for missing 19-year-old fisherman on Kauai.  The massive multi-agency search for a 19-year-old Kapaa man was suspended after three days when human remains were found in the waters off Kahili Beach on Saturday afternoon. KITV4.

 

Tourism remains below peak levels, bill could add wealth tax to support Medicaid, Kamehameha Schools tuition to be free, Seattle Seahawks holding flag football clinics this weekend in Hilo and Kona, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii visitor arrivals end 2025 well below pre-pandemic peak. Hawaii ended 2025 with nearly flat visitor arrivals and a tourism economy still short of its pre-COVID peak — and below what many hotels and small businesses say they need to stay afloat. Preliminary data released Thursday by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism shows 9.64 million visitors came to Hawaii last year, a 0.6% dip from 2024 and far short of the 10.4 million arrivals recorded in 2019.   Star-Advertiser.

State lawmakers unveil bills to make up for federal cuts to Medicaid, boost child care tax credits. The bill package includes tax breaks for child care. They also want to add a 2% tax on earnings over $1 million a year to generate more than $70 million annually to help people on Medicaid. Hawaii News Now.

Early Learning Sites Could Close Soon In Hawaiʻi Amid Federal Funding Chaos. Providers are preparing for the possibility of closing down dozens of early learning sites across the state as uncertainty swirls around federal funding and the expiration of grants. Civil Beat.

Abuse protections, reproductive care top priorities for Women's Legislative Caucus. Protecting domestic abuse survivors, preventing human trafficking and safeguarding reproductive care are the focus of the bipartisan Women’s Legislative Caucus this session. Hawaii Public Radio.

Advocates seek to lower drunk-driving threshold. Mothers Against Drunk Driving members gathered at the Capitol rotunda on Thursday morning to once again advocate for making Hawaii only the second state to lower its legal blood alcohol level to drink and drive below .08. House Bill 1827 would lower the allowable blood alcohol content to drive from 0.08 to 0.05, matching only Utah. Star-Advertiser.

Kamehameha Schools tuition to be free, judge rules. A Circuit Court probate judge Thursday granted the Kamehameha Schools trustees’ petition that will allow it to be tuition-free beginning in fall of the upcoming school year. Judge Jeanette Castagnetti said Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop “expressly gave the trustees the power to determine if tuition should be charged.  Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

$5M National Science Foundation award to address outdated wastewater infrastructure. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa researchers are part of a team recently awarded a 3-year, $5 million grant from the National Science Foundation to address the environmental and public health impacts of outdated wastewater infrastructure in island communities. An estimated 83,000 cesspools discharge about 52 million gallons of untreated wastewater into the ground each day in Hawaiʻi alone, contaminating coastal waters and damaging coral reefs. Kauai Now.

Oahu

Honolulu’s only waste incinerator needs fresh investment to bring it up to international standards, council vice-chair says. Figuring out what to do with garbage on a small island is a conundrum that has inspired two recent proposals by local and state lawmakers to lessen the addiction to stowing it in a hole in the ground. Civil Beat.

Farmers cite critical threats to Hawaii food system. Farmers, ranchers and agricultural advocates from across Oahu’s North Shore met Thursday with U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda (D, Hawaii) at Waialua District Park, raising urgent concerns about violence on agricultural lands, labor shortages, land speculation and decades of environmental contamination, which they say undermine Hawaii’s food system. Participants said safety is the most pressing issue facing the industry. Star-Advertiser.

Bill would ban LNG use for electricity. Gov. Josh Green’s administration is facing legislative push-back against a 2025 energy policy reversal recommending interim use of liquefied natural gas, instead of oil, to make electricity on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Student resource officers three weeks in bringing positive change to school campuses. Student Resource Officers, or SROs, are retired cops who were recruited by the Honolulu Police Department to work in an assigned high school, set up with an office, full uniform, and armed. While at first, the program was met with skepticism from school communities, three weeks in, school leaders say they’ve already been seeing a huge success. KHON2.

Hawaii Department of Education breaks ground on first regional food facility. The Hawaii Department of Education (HIDOE) broke ground on the first regional kitchen facility in Whitmore Village that will feed healthier meals to students across multiple central Oahu schools. Hawaii News Now.

5 sentenced to prison for tax fraud conspiracy. Five people to federal prison Thursday and ordered to pay more than $2.5 million in restitution for their roles in a conspiracy to file false tax returns to secure millions that they laundered through local real estate holdings, banks and trusts. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. 

Hawaii Island

Hawaiʻi County Police Commission interviews eight finalists from pool of 64 for new chief. During a special public meeting on Thursday, the Hawai‘i County Police Commission interviewed the eight finalists for chief out of a pool of 64 applicants, of which only 27 met the minimum qualifications. The nine commissioners will reconvene on Friday to make their final selection. Big Island Now. KHON2. 

Seattle Seahawks To Host Flag Football Clinics In Hilo, Kona. The Super Bowl-bound Seattle Seahawks will stop on the Big Island next week, where the NFL organization will host two free girls’ flag football clinics for high school athletes in Hilo and Kona. The events will be held one week before the Seahawks take on the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Former Maui County planning commissioner joins mayoral race. On Thursday, real estate broker and former Maui County planning commissioner P. Denise La Costa announced her candidacy for county mayor. Maui News.

County secures $2M grant from National Park Service to support Lahaina Royal Complex. The County of Maui Department of ʻŌiwi Resources has secured $2 million in highly competitive federal funding through a grant awarded by the National Park Service. Maui Now.

Kauai

Coconut Rhinoceros Beetles Are Attacking A Popular Kaua‘i Golf Course. The county is preparing to go after breeding sites as the invasive species spreads across the island.  The nearly 100-year-old Wailua Municipal Golf Course is home to more than 580 coconut trees. It’s also one of Kaua‘i’s most visible sites for coconut rhinoceros beetle damage.  Civil Beat.

Census shows fewer vacant homes, smaller households; Legislature mulls bill allowing public to video law enforcement; Honolulu raises transit fares, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Fewer Hawaiʻi Homes Are Vacant As Number Of Households Grow. Hawaiʻi added 33,000 new households between 2020 and 2024, but the average household size has shrunk, according to new data from the Census Bureau. Comparisons between the new survey and the one for the preceding five-year period show there were 492,453 households in Hawaiʻi at the end of 2024 compared to 459,424 households at the end of 2019. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers consider measure allowing public to take videos of law enforcement officers. Hawaii lawmakers are considering a bill that makes it clear that the public can use cameras to record law enforcement actions that take place in public settings. Hawaii News Now.

State leaders want to make sure estimated $100 million from visitors ‘Green Fee’ is used wisely. State officials are optimistic that it will come out on top of a federal lawsuit currently blocking cruise ship visitors from paying the new “Green fee”. KHON2.

Hawaiʻi Could See Nation’s Highest Drop In High School Graduates. The declining number of graduates from Hawaiʻi schools reflects larger concerns in the DOE about shrinking enrollment and the potential for school closures. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers press teacher education leaders over licensing delays. State lawmakers on Wednesday sharply questioned education officials and leaders charged with ensuring teachers are adequately prepared over the issues of persistent teacher shortages, licensing backlogs and student achievement gaps — with some senators warning that delays in strengthening the teacher pipeline are harming students. Star-Advertiser.

Keiki bills target vaping, e-bikes, mental health, school meals. Hawaii children could see a ban on flavored nicotine products, e-bike safety regulations, a digital mental health platform and free school meals in charter schools under a package of bills introduced by the state Legislature’s keiki caucus. Star-Advertiser. Kauai Now.  Hawaii News Now.  KITV4.

State lawmakers propose ban on surfboard wax made with ‘forever chemicals’. The effort follows the passage of one bill in 2022 and the failure of other bills in 2024 and 2025 to ban a variety of consumer products made with the same class of chemicals found in thousands of products. Star-Advertiser.

SBA programs for native businesses face scrutiny. The Native Hawaiian Organizations Association is urging President Donald Trump’s administration to distinguish between “isolated allegations” about the Small Business Administration’s program aimed at developing native-run businesses and its success expanding economic opportunity, as U.S. Rep. Ed Case calls for a formal review. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu City Council adopts new transit fares. The Honolulu City Council on a split vote Wednesday moved to increase fares for riders of TheBus, TheHandi-Van and Skyline. Bill 54, as adopted, increases the annual adult fare from $880 to $990. The monthly adult fare will rise to $90, up from the current charge of $80 — a 12.5% increase for both. Single fares will remain at $3, but riders who pay cash will have to pay 25 cents more. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

City says it may have to take over nearby land to expand Oʻahu landfill. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi told state lawmakers this week that the city is currently discussing expanding the landfill into the nearby Makaiwa Hills, which the James Campbell Company wants to develop into a residential community. Blangiardi said the city may have to resort to eminent domain to use that land. Hawaii Public Radio.

Some call for ban on riding in truck beds after deadly crash. A 27-year-old woman was sitting in the bed of a pickup truck that was traveling eastbound on the H-1 Freeway in Aiea when it was rear-ended. The woman was ejected from the truck and pronounced dead at the scene.  Hawaii News Now. KHON2. 

Hawaii Island

Crucial Hawaiʻi County Commissions Stymied By Members’ No-Shows. Hawai‘i County’s two planning commissions had to cancel more than a third of their regular meetings last year after failing to have the minimum number of members present, resulting in monthslong delays for some projects.  Civil Beat.

Public invited to 5 public meetings regarding Maunakea. The Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority, or MKSOA, in partnership with Kua o Wakea, has announced a series of community workshops across the Hawaiian Islands. Tribune-Herald.

Emergency Banyan Tree Removal Set For Hilo. An assessment recently done on 48 banyan trees on Banyan Drive identified the single tree for removal because of structural instability. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. 

Marine biologists hope 'Limu Ark' will protect Hawaiʻi's seaweed biodiversity. Alongside fellow UH Hilo professor Maria Haws and marine science students Emma Poland, Lauren Runnels and Abigail Nason, Karla McDermid created the Limu Ark, a living library of about 70 limu species. The collection is housed in a Matson container at the Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resources Center in Hilo. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui

Factory-built housing bill stirs debate: Cost versus durability for wildfire survivor housing. The Maui County Council passed a bill on first reading Friday that would allow for factory-built housing in the Lahaina burn zone, a measure intended to accelerate housing recovery for survivors of the August 2023 wildfires. Maui Now.

Restoring sand dunes could save Maui’s north shore, one of Hawaiʻi’s most eroded coastlines. Tara Owens and her team at the University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant program are spearheading an effort to restore the sand dunes along a 1.5-mile stretch of coastline from Wawau Point (Baby Beach) to Lower Pā‘ia Park. Maui Now.

Kauai

U.S. Coast Guard, partners search for missing 19-year-old off Kauaʻi beach. Matthew Kai’mana Packard-Asai was last seen Wednesday (Jan. 28) fishing on the rocks near the northern point of Kahili Beach in Kīlauea.  Kauai Now.

Green asks Legislature for help protecting immigrants, candidate filing opens Monday, swastikas deface Kauai hiking trail, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Governor Wants New Laws To Protect Immigrants — Fast. Lawmakers were surprised by his comments, which came after a rally at the Capitol where hundreds protested ICE and the killings of protesters.In the wake of two killings of protesters by federal agents and amid bitter national debate over immigration enforcement, Gov. Josh Green said Tuesday he’d welcome action by the state Legislature to fast-track legislation protecting immigrants.  Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2. 

Senate President Ron Kouchi weighs in on state of the islands. The Conversation invited Senate President Ron Kouchi to talk about the governor’s plan to pause tax breaks intended to help with the cost of living. Kouchi says he wants to see more details.  Hawaii Public Radio.

2026 Election Candidate Filing Opens Feb. 2 in Hawai‘i. In order to qualify, candidates must obtain a nomination paper and collect signatures from registered voters in the district they represent. The filing deadline is June 2, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. KITV4.

Hawaii lawmakers to consider placard program for firearms. Senate Bill 3041 would require business owners to post color-coded signs indicating whether they allow guns and large knives on their properties. KITV4.

NOAA asks mariners to watch out for entangled humpback whale. Wildlife officials said the 40-foot-long whale – referred to as Palette — was last seen Thursday off Lahaina by the monitoring team of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi's wildlife refuges brace for potential federal funding cuts. There are 10 refuges across Hawaiʻi, including James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge on Oʻahu, Keālia Pond on Maui, and Hakalau Forest on the Big Island. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Waiʻanae Group Wants A New Homeless Shelter. Can They Overcome Objections? Disagreements include whether more services will help current Westside homeless or if they will just become a magnet for more. Civil Beat.

Queen’s May Cut Ties With This For-Profit Medicare Insurer. The contract dispute with Humana highlights broader health system woes. The Queen’s Health Systems has notified patients with Humana Inc. medical insurance that they soon may need to find a new doctor or get new health insurance. Civil Beat.

8 Honolulu police officers attacked in Waikiki since June. Waikiki is HPD’s patrol District 6, the department’s smallest patrol area at 1-1/2 square miles, covers the Waikiki peninsula bordered by the Ala Wai Canal, Diamond Head and the ocean. Star-Advertiser.

Washington Place renovations to begin in February. Historic Hawaii home Washington Place will soon undergo repairs and restoration. But that work will keep the public out until the end of 2027. KITV4.

Hawaii Island

As Palm-Killing Beetles Spread On Big Island, State Action Is Slow. Hawaiʻi island residents have been tracking coconut rhinoceros beetles’ destruction throughout the islands. Fearing the same for their home, they’re urging the state to move faster. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.  Hawaii Public Radio.

County acquires coastal property in E. Hawaii. An 81-acre site on the Hilo/Hamakua coast will be preserved in perpetuity following its purchase by Hawaii County. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News. 

The Hawaii Police Department is now leading the state in total drug seizures. Police say the nearly two pounds of illicit fentanyl recovered alone had the potential to cause 500,000 fatal overdoses. KHON2. KITV4. 

Maui

Mayor Bissen: Maui’s wildfire recovery shifts gears to housing delivery and infrastructure investment. Mayor Richard Bissen told state lawmakers Monday that his administration has shifted its focus from immediate wildfire recovery to housing delivery and large-scale infrastructure investments, forecasting the construction of approximately 3,000 affordable and workforce homes by 2030. Maui Now.

Community input welcome on Māla Boat Ramp site improvements. The community is invited to a Feb. 4 meeting to provide input on a proposed improvement project for Māla Boat Ramp on Maui’s west side. Maui Now.

Forensic Sciences Lab secures last remains of venerated Saint Marianne of Molokaʻi. More than a century after her death, the story of a saint who served those with Hansen’s disease and died on Moloka’i is being told anew—through science. Chaminade University’s Forensic Sciences Unit is helping evaluate her remains. Maui Now.

Kauai

Swastikas deface Sleeping Giant hiking trail on Kauai. Hikers were alarmed Sunday to find 14 swastikas spray-painted on trees, rocks and a bench with the word “Aloha” carved into it, along the popular Sleeping Giant hiking trail on Kauai. Star-Advertiser.

Green seeks suspension of promised tax cuts in State of the State address, Hawaii county council wants audit of homeless funding, statewide point-in-time count ongoing, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. Green proposes suspension of historic tax breaks in 2027. Record state tax breaks that went into effect two years ago would be suspended for all Hawaii income earners for three years beginning in the 2027 tax year, Gov. Josh Green said in his State of the State Address Monday. “In 2025, the federal government’s severe cuts and other actions took over $3 billion out of our state’s economy, leaving us with an unforeseen budget shortfall,” Green told a packed joint House and Senate session on the House floor. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio.  Big Island Now.  KHON2.  KITV4.  Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi lawmakers want more revenue streams to craft future of culture and arts. As the state projects a $3 billion loss in federal funding and many programs that once supported artists nationally have been cut, Hawaiʻi lawmakers are introducing bills that aim to save the arts. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii’s homeless first point-in-time count being conducted since 2024. Hawaii is conducting its first point-in-time count since 2024, and volunteers are fanning out across the state to gauge the homelessness problem in the Islands. KHON2.

Oahu

Lawmakers question officials over affordable housing, landfill. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration outlined Monday the city’s ongoing efforts to modernize city services including speeding the time to get city building permits, creating more affordable housing projects and dealing with homelessness on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Homeless count shows gaps in the system. For the first time since 2024, Oahu on Monday resumed its unsheltered Point in Time count of people living on the streets. Outreach teams, service providers and city officials fanned out across Honolulu — including Chinatown, one of the island’s most visible areas of homelessness. Star-Advertiser.

Oʻahu’s Sugar Canals Decay As State Acquisition Lags. It has been almost three years since the state agreed to take Lake Wilson and Wahiawā Dam off Dole’s hands, but it has yet to take possession of the hazardous system. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Council members seek audit of county homeless funding. The County Council’s Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs on Thursday voted to send to the full council a resolution requesting the county auditor conduct a performance audit of the Office of Housing and Community Development’s Homeless and Housing Fund, a five-year program established by the council in 2022 to combat homelessness. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiʻi County Council urges state to ban commercial aquarium fishing. The Hawaiʻi County Council is pushing state lawmakers to end a decades-long battle against aquarium fishing this legislative session through a resolution that urges state lawmakers to ban all harvesting of fish for commercial aquariums. Hawaii Public Radio.

State set to review CRB containment measures for Hawaiʻi Island. Community groups on Hawaiʻi Island are pushing the state Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to take steps to contain the spread of invasive coconut rhinoceros beetles. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui

Gov. Green highlights Maui wildfire recovery in annual State of State Address. Gov. Josh Green pledged to extend rent support for Maui wildfire survivors through February 2027 and proposed halting future state tax cuts to preserve social services during his State of the State address today in the House Chambers at the State Capitol. Maui Now.

Floor plans and renderings available for Hoʻokumu Hou reconstruction program. Home design renderings and floor plans for the Hoʻokumu Hou Single-Family Homeowner Reconstruction Program are now available to view on the Hoʻokumu Hou website, and the application deadline has been extended through August 2026, the County of Maui Office of Recovery has announced. Maui Now.

Maui December unemployment rate is 2.4%. The Hawai‘i State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism today announced that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for December was 2.2%, the same as in November. On Maui, the unemployment rate was 2.4% in December, down from the 2.5% rate the previous month and the 3.5% rate reported at the same time last year.  Maui Now.

Kauai

Overnight closures planned for Kūhiō Highway near Hanalei Bridge beginning Feb. 2. Kūhiō Highway is scheduled to be fully closed overnight on Hanalei Hill on weeknights beginning in February to allow for road reconstruction work near the Hanalei Bridge, according to the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation. Kauai Now.

Kauai Coffee Company Faces Uncertain Future As Land Lease Nears Expiration. Kauai Coffee Company has been a Westside fixture since the late 1980s. It’s grown into a roughly 140-employee business that manages 4 million coffee trees across 3,100 acres, making it the largest coffee grower in the U.S. today. Civil Beat.

Bill seeks cellphone ban at schools, Kaiser Permanente strike begins today, Schofield soldiers doubling up in barracks as US military beefs up Hawaii presence, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Teachers, parents divided over proposed school cellphone ban. Cellphones and all other telecommunication devices would be banned in Hawaii’s public schools under a House bill that attempts to resolve a divisive issue, even among Hawaii’s public school teachers. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi Lawmakers Are Full Of Ideas For Improving Schools. Few Will Pass. Lawmakers are prioritizing free meals for students and stronger protections for school employees this session, but less than 10% of education bills become law each year. Civil Beat.

Math at the center of Hawaii’s education priorities as leaders look ahead. Math readiness has emerged as a defining education issue for Hawaii as lawmakers and school leaders prepare for the 2026 legislative cycle, framing numeracy not only as an academic concern but as a foundation for workforce readiness, economic mobility and long-term student success. Star-Advertiser.

Japanese American soldiers once branded ‘enemy aliens’ to be promoted posthumously. Seven Japanese American soldiers will be promoted to officer ranks in a solemn ceremony Monday, eight decades after they died fighting for the U.S. during World War II despite having been branded “enemy aliens.”  The seven were students at the University of Hawaii and cadets in the Reserve Officer Training Corps, on track to become Army officers, when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.  Associated Press.

Kaiser strike set to begin despite union offer to resume bargaining. Hundreds of Kaiser Permanente Hawaii employees are set to walk off the job on Monday at 7 a.m. Approximately 240 pharmacists, rehabilitation therapists and certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) in Hawaii will be joining thousands of others in California from the United Nurses Association of California and the Union of Health Care Professionals. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

'We have to push back,' ACLU president on mission to uphold civil liberties. Deborah Archer has been the president of the national ACLU since 2021. She spoke with HPR about how the ACLU has changed during the second Trump administration. Hawaii Public Radio. 

Hawaiian Kingdom enters lawsuit against Kamehameha Schools. The Council of Regency, as interim government of the Hawaiian Kingdom, on Jan. 21 filed a motion to intervene with an accompanying motion to dismiss in the Students for Fair Admissions vs. Kamehameha Schools lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court. Big Island Now.

Oahu

Schofield soldiers forced to ‘double up’ in barracks with more troops coming. Some soldiers on Oahu are being told they might be living “doubled up” in their barracks rooms for at least 15 months or longer as the U.S. Army increases the number of troops in Hawaii under a major force restructuring. The Army has been putting increased emphasis on Hawaii as a hub for Pacific training and operations amid tensions with China. Star-Advertiser.

City seeks new headquarters for Ocean Safety Department.  HOSD’s plans include a proposed land swap arrangement involving the Kapiolani Park Trust to temporarily accommodate mobile trailers near its existing headquarters in the Waikiki area. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Fireworks Citations Offer Glimpse Into Use Of New Laws. Fireworks citations and fines were up on Oʻahu, but the jury is still out on how effective aerial drones will be. Civil Beat.

Hawaii slows speed camera expansion after warning period. The state Department of Transportation is declaring its recently activated automated speed limit enforcement program in urban Honolulu a success, but expansion is going to be slower and smaller than previously planned. Star-Advertiser.

Strike at Kaiser Moanalua set to begin today. No resolution is yet in sight over a new contract between Kaiser and the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals, which represents 31,000 registered nurses, pharmacists and others, including about 250 in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

For those who depend on coconuts, few options exist to fight invasive beetles. The invasive coconut rhinoceros beetle, or CRB for short, has killed thousands of coconut trees on Oahu since its arrival in 2013. Around 1-1/2 years ago, it first appeared in Kahana Valley. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Update On Ashfall, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park After Episode 41. The ongoing eruption at the summit of Kīlauea volcano is once again paused, following the high lava fountaining of episode 41 that covered the surrounding area in tephra and dispersed fine ash as far as Hilo.  Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. Hawaii News Now. 

New artificial intelligence degree debuts later this year at University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. The College of Business and Economics is launching a new artificial intelligence concentration in the bachelor of business administration program beginning in the 2026 fall semester. It will formally interface with the university’s data science program. Big Island Now.

Police investigating Thursday afternoon affray in Hilo. At 3:17 p.m., police responded to a report of a disturbance involving an estimated 30 to 40 teenagers at Mohouli Park. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Mayor Bissen to make annual appearance with Hawai‘i mayors before state lawmakers. Mayor Richard Bissen will join the state’s other three mayors in making presentations Monday afternoon before members of the Senate Ways and Means and House Finance committees at the State Capitol. Maui Now.

Federal Housing Programs For Maui Fire Survivors Extended Until 2027. Federal officials approved the state’s request to extend for a year the program that hundreds of Maui wildfire survivors still rely on for temporary housing and financial assistance, Gov. Josh Green announced on Friday afternoon. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kaiser Permanente releases Maui pharmacy closure details ahead of Monday strike. Kaiser Permanente Hawaiʻi announced operational plans Saturday for Maui County ahead of an open-ended strike by unionized health care workers scheduled to begin Monday. Maui Now.

50 Years On Kahoʻolawe: Inside The Journey To Rescue Hawaiʻi’s Target Island. The goal isn’t just to heal the environment, activists say. It’s to forge an island where Hawaiians can reclaim their culture. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Tsunamis, Floods And Not Enough Space: Kauaʻi Is Moving To Replace Its Jail. With an upcoming highway-widening project expected to encroach on a third of the Wailua facility’s property, the state is finally moving forward with plans to construct a new rehabilitation-focused KCCC on empty agricultural land in Hanamā‘ulu.  Civil Beat.

Updated leadership in Hawaiʻi House of Representatives named for 2026 state legislative session. Members of the Kaua‘i House delegation will be taking leadership roles on the House floor and in committees, including House Speaker Nadine Nakamura (Hā‘ena, Wainiha, Hanalei, Princeville, Kīlauea, Anahola, Keālia, Kapa‘a, portion of Wailua, Kawaihau) and Majority Floor Leader Dee Morikawa (Ni‘ihau, portion of ‘Ōma‘o, Kōloa, Po‘ipū, Lāwa‘i, Kalāheo, Ele‘ele, Hanapēpē, Kaawanui Village, Pākalā Village, Waimea, Kekaha). Kauai Now.