Hawaii Medicaid fraud unit decertified, immigration judge fired, UH-Manoa names new chancellor, Sandy Ma to head Honolulu Ethics Commission, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

State sets up Medicaid fraud task force after funding cut. Hawaii is setting up a task force to work with the state Attorney General to fight Medicaid fraud after President Donald Trump cut $3 million a year in federal support citing the state’s failure to obtain a criminal conviction between 2022 and 2025. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

Hawaiʻi’s Medicaid fraud unit decertified: Trump cuts funds to Hawaii fraud unit, threatening state’s Medicaid funding. Hawaii stands to lose around $3 million in federal funding to fight Medicaid fraud after failing to consistently bring criminal cases, the Trump administration said Thursday. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.  KITV4.

Longtime Hawaiʻi Immigration Judge Fired As Trump Purge Continues. An ongoing purge by the Trump administration has claimed longtime Honolulu Immigration Court judge Clarence Wagner, who said no reason was given for his May 21 firing. However, he said he and colleagues had been under mounting pressure to get through a deep backlog of asylum and deportation cases more rapidly. Civil Beat.

Green establishes emergency response protocols ahead of travel. The Office of Gov. Josh Green announced Thursday he will be traveling out-of-state from Monday through June 23 to spend time with family. While traveling, the news release said, Green will retain executive authority and remain in regular contact with state leadership and cabinet members. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii incumbents with no challengers will cruise to victory. Twenty one incumbent Council members and state legislators have a clear path to reelection with no political opposition, and will return to office following the Aug. 8 party primary elections. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Can Tommy Waters Even Run For A Third Honolulu Council Term? Honolulu Council Chair Tommy Waters is taking advantage of an ambiguity in the City Charter and hoping the courts don’t rule against his effort to get reelected. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Ethics Watchdog Has New Leader. The Honolulu Ethics Commission selected attorney Sandy Ma as its next executive director on Thursday at a public meeting that followed a closed-door interview process. Civil Beat.

UH Board of Regents approves Vassilis Syrmos as new chancellor. Vassilis Syrmos first joined UH Manoa’s faculty 35 years ago. Throughout that time, he served as the University’s Interim Provost, Vice President for Research and Innovation and Associate Chancellor for Research. KHON2.

City says no landfill for Makaiwa Hills. The City had previously called Makaiwa Hills in West Oahu the only viable option, but that location is now off the table.  KHON2. KITV4. 

6 juveniles charged; 7th suspect arrested in North Shore mob beating. The arrests were made in connection with an attack that occurred Saturday, May 30, at Waialēʻe Beach, commonly known as “Dead Man’s Curve.” Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4. 

Lake Waimaluhia shoreline access partially reopens. Loko (Lake) Waimaluhia is set to partially reopen this weekend after repair work and a reinforced pathway down to the lake have been completed. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Police target Saddle Road: HPD steps up enforcement after another fatal crash. Officers will maintain a heightened enforcement presence focused on identifying and addressing hazardous violations — including speeding, impaired driving, distracted driving and seat belt violations, according to HPD. Tribune-Herald.

1 dead in fiery fatal collision near 18-mile marker on Daniel K. Inouye Highway in Hilo. There have been three fatal crashes resulting in five deaths since Jan. 1 on Daniel K. Inouye Highway, also known as Saddle Road. Big Island Now. KHON2.

County seeks to acquire land to expand Puna road despite resistance from owner. The Hawaii County Council voted 7-1 Wednesday in favor of a resolution calling for the acquisition of 3.74 acres of land along Government Beach Road in Puna using eminent domain — a move that has angered the property’s owner. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Kihei man, 30, to be sentenced in laser assault on FBI aircraft. Jesse Kong will be sentenced June 17 after he pleaded guilty to facilitating a laser assault of an FBI pilot in a case federal officials are using to highlight the dangers of impairing a pilot’s vision. Star-Advertiser.

Waiʻānapanapa State Park facility improvements project begins July 6. The project includes a new comfort station adjacent to the park’s eastern parking area and resurfacing of Honokalani Road. Maui Now.

Ukumehame Firing Range set to reopen Friday. The Ukumehame Firing Range is expected to reopen Friday after repairs were made to storm-damaged berms and surrounding areas, according to the County of Maui Department of Parks and Recreation. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauaʻi County triples budget for homeless services. Grants for Kauaʻi County houseless programs would have received $500,000 under the original proposed budget, but will now receive $1.5 million. Hawaii Public Radio.

Bulosan seeking re-election to county council. Addison Bulosan announced his campaign for re-election to the Kauai County Council in a press release ahead of the ballot deadline. Garden Island.

Feather cape gifted to Mercy Whitney returns to Kauai. Following more than 200 years, an ‘ahu‘ula, or feather cape, that was gifted by King Kaumuali‘i to Mercy Whitney in honor of her work as a teacher, was returned to Kauai. Garden Island.

Legislature passes bills to speed up construction permits, judge rules House committee meetings illegal, Honolulu and Kauai councils pass spending plans, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Permitting reform bills aim to speed up process, facilitate housing construction. A handful of bills that passed through the Legislature this year focus on reforming Hawaiʻi's permitting processes to speed up housing construction, including shoring up a shortage of permitting staff. Hawaii Public Radio.

Judge: Closed-door House committee meetings were illegal. A Honolulu judge ruled last week that closed-door meetings of a state House of Representatives committee that were held prior to the 2025 legislative session violated the Hawaii Constitution. Tribune-Herald.

Hot Races For Congress, Lieutenant Governor Top Hawaiʻi Primary. Large fields of candidates are also vying to be mayor of Maui and Kauaʻi and to fill open seats in the Legislature. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu City Council adopts nearly $5B budget package.  In the face of a threatened budget veto by Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi, the City Council on Wednesday voted 6-3 to approve a $4.96 billion budget package for fiscal year 2027, which begins July 1. Civil Beat.  KITV4. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu City Council: Waters, Ozawa in familiar rematch. As of Tuesday, June 2, more notable races are shaping up. Including what’s become a perennial rematch on the Honolulu City Council — East Oahu incumbent chairman Tommy Waters, versus former chairman Trevor Ozawa. KHON2.

Rail construction to bring major disruptions to Kakaako. Construction on Honolulu’s rail project is moving into Kakaako, and major disruptions are expected in the area. Some blocks of Halekauwila Street will be completely shut down as crews move in. KHON2.

North Shore farmers seek city’s help with storm damage. Oahu farmers who suffered $20 million in losses due to the two Kona-low storms in March implored the Honolulu City Council on Wednesday to pass a budget bill that would include a $41 million emergency response and recovery fund to help them as well as provide flood control studies and improvements. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

Honolulu’s $46M Claims Bill: HPD Chases, Bike Accidents, A Tossed Surfboard. Taxpayers are on the hook for more than 90 claims a year on average, from minor property damage to major injuries. Civil Beat.

Oahu man, 60, challenges Hawaiian homes policy. Act as discriminatory and unconstitutional. Oahu resident Eric Sean Ryan, 60, a founder of Hawaii Republican Action, filed a lawsuit Monday alleging that the federal government does not distribute public land by bloodline. Star-Advertiser. Associated Press. 

5th youth arrested in North Shore mob attack; adult suspect sought. The Honolulu Police Department is asking the public for help identifying a man captured in photographs during an assault when a mob attacked a 15-year-old boy and a 23-year-old man who tried to aide the teen at Waialee Beach on the North Shore Saturday night. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. 

Hawaii Island

General Plan approved despite fervent opposition. The Hawaii County Council voted 5-3 on Wednesday in favor of passing a long-term public planning document described by opponents at the meeting as “treason,” an “act of war,” a “blatant land-grab,” “brainwashing,” “immoral” and the product of “blackmail.” Council members Dennis Onishi, Ashley Kierkiewicz and Holeka Inaba all cast “no” votes. Puna Councilman Matt Kaneali‘i-Kleinfelder was absent. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiʻi County Council moves forward on using eminent domain for Puna road project. Resolution 567-26 authorizes the county’s condemnation and acquisition of a long, thin strip of land 55-foot-wide and 1.5-mile-long running along the edge of two separate parcels that total about 230 acres in the Keonepoko Iki subdivision, just north of the Hawaiian Shores neighborhood. Big Island Now.

12 Hawaii Island students receive $47K in scholarships. The Mamoru and Aiko Takitani Foundation has named 12 high school seniors from Hawaii Island as scholarship recipients of its annual Legacy Scholarship Program. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Four lawmakers unopposed for re-election; Mayor’s office and a few Maui Council seats hotly contested. Two Maui County Council members are headed back to office without a fight, along with Central Maui Sen. Troy Hashimoto and Kahului Rep. Justin Woodson who’re also uncontested for re-election. Maui Now.

HDOT starting preliminary environmental studies for Lahaina Bypass Phase 1C. The state Department of Transportation has started preliminary environmental studies for a northern portion of the Lahaina Bypass. The proposed Lahaina Bypass Phase 1C spans approximately 3 miles from Keawe Street to Kakaʻalaneo Drive.  Maui Now.

Kauai

Kaua‘i Ups Funding For Homeless Services, Mental Health, Substance Abuse. The funding is part of the county’s nearly $499 million spending plan for fiscal year 2027. The full council approved the county budget for next fiscal year on Wednesday after a few months of deliberations. Civil Beat.

Pacific Missile Range Facility cancels Freedom Fest 2026 during year to celebrate nation’s 250th birthday. The Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands on Kauaʻi announced via its Facebook page that it is canceling the upcoming America’s Most West Freedom Fest event scheduled for July 2 despite it being the nation’s 250th birthday. Kauai Now.

Public can review University of Hawai‘i Economic Research Organization 2026 Kaua‘i Economic Outlook. Kaua‘i County Office of Economic Development says the outlook — which is prepared annually — provides valuable insights into the economic trends, opportunities and challenges that shape the Garden Isle’s future. Kauai Now.

Top legislative leaders run unopposed as filing deadline ends, man sues Hawaiian Home Lands over blood-quantum rejection, Filipino national charged with illegally voting, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Unopposed races scattered across Hawaii’s primary election ballot. Hawaii News Now reviewed more than 100 candidates running for state legislative and county council seats and found about 23 are running unopposed in the upcoming primary election. That means they will advance automatically and win their races without opposition. Among them are some of the state’s most powerful political figures, including Senate President Ron Kouchi and House Speaker Nadine Nakamura. Hawaii News Now.

Familiar faces reemerge as Hawaii’s primary election takes shape. The marquee races in the Aug. 8 party primaries remain the Democratic elections for lieutenant governor and to represent urban Honolulu in Congress, but there are also interesting down-ballot challenges that will see familiar faces returning to political life or resigning their seats to challenge other incumbents. Star-Advertiser.

New lawsuit targets eligibility requirements for Hawaiian homes leases. A new lawsuit is challenging the constitutionality of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. It was filed Monday by attorneys on behalf of a man named Eric Ryan, who tried to apply for a lease, but was denied due to the 50 percent Native Hawaiian blood quantum requirement. Hawaii News Now. KITV4. 

Legislature shows support for local agriculture, food security. While money was tight at the state Legislature this year, it was still another successful year for local agriculture and food security. Hawaii Public Radio.

State fixes flawed LNG forecast. The Hawaii State Energy Office revised its alternative fuel analysis last month after it found a spreadsheet error in one of its scenarios that inflated benefits of using liquefied natural gas by hundreds of millions of dollars. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

3 juveniles arrested in North Shore attack. Honolulu police arrested three juveniles in connection with an alleged assault by masked assailants at Waialee Beach on Saturday that sent a 23-year-old man and 15-year-old boy to the hospital with broken bones and concussions. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. 

Mayor threatens budget veto if Office of Economic Revitalization is defunded. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi is threatening to veto the city’s proposed fiscal year 2027 budget if the City Council moves forward with plans to slash funding and staff for the city’s Office of Economic Revitalization. Star-Advertiser.

Where, Oh Where, Have The Bikis Gone? Oʻahu Is Missing 800 Bikes. Only 478 bikes remained as of the end of April, down from a peak of roughly 1,300 bikes soon after its start. Civil Beat.

Oahu man is arrested by FBI after threatening to kill Michigan governor. Ronald William Saville, 48, of Honolulu, previously imprisoned for threatening to kill the U.S. president and a federal judge was arrested on suspicion of threatening to kill the governor of Michigan. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu plate lunch spot shuttered due to sewage backup. The state Health Department has issued Grace’s Inn a red placard, immediately shuttering it due to a sewage backup in the kitchen. Star-Advertiser.

Coqui Frogs: Is Haʻikū The New Hilo? Locals Try To Stop The Spread. Frustrated residents say they face a nearly impossible task in stopping the amphibians, as the under-resourced county group tasked with combating invasive species focuses on other priorities.  Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Bill aims to increase funding for PONC maintenance fund. A Hawaii County Council committee unanimously approved legislation Tuesday that would double the share of property taxes earmarked for a popular land conservation maintenance fund. Tribune-Herald.

Extensive upgrade for Pahoa Elementary moves forward. A project to redevelop and upgrade the campus of Pahoa Elementary School is moving forward, nearly 10 years after $500,000 was allocated by the state in 2017 to create a master plan for the site. Tribune-Herald.

NASA funds may bring more missions to Mars — on Maunaloa. The site is called HI-SEAS, or the Hawaiʻi Space Exploration Analog and Simulation, and organizers recently secured NASA funding to resume testing at the research station after a hiatus of several years. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hilo man accused of torching Kona homeless camp. Hawaii Island police have arrested and charged 34-year-old Kaleb Paulus of Hilo in connection with an arson investigation and other offenses stemming from two incidents that occurred May 18 at a homeless encampment in Kailua-Kona. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Filipino national on Maui charged with unlawfully voting in the US. Remedios Alasaas, 66, of Kahului, Maui, came to the United States in or around 2014 on an immigrant visa and registered to vote soon thereafter. According to court records, Alasaas was a non-citizen when she cast votes in two Federal elections: first, in a general election on or about Nov. 8, 2022, and then in a primary election on or about Aug. 10, 2024. Maui Now.

Atlantis Submarines resumes Lahaina Harbor tours. Atlantis Submarines Maui has resumed operations from Lahaina Harbor nearly three years after the August 2023 wildfire destroyed the company's submarine, support vessels and harbor facilities. Maui News.

Hawaiʻi Off Grid starts Maui ‘Bunkhouse’ build as a sustainable, rapid solution for Habitat for Humanity. A lot that once held a home destroyed in the August 2023 Maui wildfires is now the site of something new: the first-ever mass timber home in Habitat for Humanity’s global history. Maui Now.

After 27 years at Kapalua, The Sentry heads to Torrey Pines in 2027. After 27 years at Kapalua on Maui, The Sentry is moving its title sponsorship to Southern California. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Kauai Pride Parade and Festival Saturday. The 8th annual Kauai Pride Parade and Festival will take place on Saturday — the first Saturday of June, which is LGBTQ+ Pride Month — with the parade starting at 10 a.m. from the Vidinha Stadium parking lot, and the festival running until 2 p.m. on the lawn of the historic County Building. Garden Island.

Tourism officials seek strategies to attract Japanese market, Honolulu mayor threatens budget veto, state Supreme Court to hear sobriety test refusal case, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

New strategies to attract Japanese visitors to Hawaiʻi . Japanese tourism to Hawaiʻi remains at less than half the level it was before the COVID pandemic. Now tourism officials and industry leaders are shifting their strategy to attract this once high-spending market. Hawaii Public Radio.

Will Doctors Trade 5 Years In Rural Hawaiʻi For Free Med School? Ambitious financial aid program aims to reduce the doctor shortage in remote and underserved parts of the state. Attending medical school will be free starting in September for awardees of the Hawaiʻi Outreach for Medical Education in Rural Under-resourced Neighborhoods (HOME RUN) workforce pipeline program.  Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi Is The Only State Not Tracking Abuse In Childcare. The state blames a bureaucratic hurdle for its failure to follow a federal law requiring it to report abuse and serious injuries in childcare settings. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Supreme Court to hear case on using sobriety test refusals as evidence. Hawaii’s Supreme Court will hear arguments Thursday on whether drivers who refuse voluntary roadside sobriety tests can have that refusal used as evidence of guilt. Hawaii News Now.

U.S., Chinese military officials meet in Hawaii. U.S. and Chinese military officials recently met in Hawaii to discuss tensions at sea as both sides refine their respective strategies in the Western Pacific and the Trump administration seeks to ease tensions. Star-Advertiser.

University of Hawaii cries foul over demise of student-athlete pay legislation. University of Hawaii administrators and state lawmakers sometimes don’t see eye to eye on funding |issues, but an argument has erupted over expressions of widely divergent views on one bill about UH finances that failed last month. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu mayor threatens budget veto over cut to economic revitalization office. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi is threatening to veto the city’s $5 billion budget over a $1.4 million cut to the Office of Economic Revitalization. Hawaii News Now.

Keiki homelessness rising on Oahu. According to the latest Point-in-Time Count snapshot of those experiencing homelessness, the number of children and families increased by almost 20% from two years ago and by more than 40% since 2022. KITV4.

Man pleads guilty for illegally shipping assault rifle parts from Hawaii to Japan. Shoto Yamamoto admitted that he exported or tried to export more than 900 firearms components and accessories, including AR-15 lower receiver parts kits, upper receivers, magazines, and similar components, each of which required a license to export that he didn’t have. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu police look for mob that attacked lifeguard, 15-year-old  on Oahu’s North Shore. Kekoa Tamale, a 23-year-old lifeguard, said he was trying to save his 15-year-old family friend from about a dozen people who were attacking him Saturday night. Instead of intervening, Tamale said other bystanders recorded the beating on their phones. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.  KITV4.

Why are waits so long for Oahu driver licensing appointments?  Oahu residents wait longer for appointments at drivers licensing centers. The city has seen a huge increase in renewals so far in 2026, and it is expected to only get busier. KITV4.

Hawaii Island

It Takes A Village To Help Big Island Residents Drive Less. If Hawaiʻi County’s general plan finally passes this week it could set in motion an effort to improve public transit, make urban areas denser, and add paths for pedestrians and bicycles. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s Kilauea sets record for lava fountaining episodes in any 1 eruption for the volcano. The on-and-off eruption of Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano broke a record Monday with the number of periods it has produced fountains of lava since it began erupting in December 2024, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said. Associated Press.

Brown Water Advisory Issued for Hilo Bay, Hāmākua Coast. The Hawaiʻi Department of Health’s Clean Water Branch said is telling beach users to stay out of waters “that appear brown or murky, especially following storms or heavy rain, even if a Brown Water Advisory has not been issued in the area.” Big Island Video News.

Fight against Rapid Ohia Death advances. While it has also been detected in different forms on other islands, it is most prevalent on the Big Island where it is estimated to have killed over 1 million ohia trees and counting. Tribune-Herald.

Mental exam ordered for triple homicide suspect. Hilo District Judge Jeffrey Hawk on Monday ordered that Jacob “Jake” Daniel Baker be examined by three mental-health professionals to determine his fitness to stand trial as well as penal responsibility — his state of mind at the time of the alleged offenses and whether he could discern the wrongfulness and illegality of his alleged actions. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2. 

Maui

County seeks public input on proposed disaster recovery plan amendment. Maui County is accepting public comments through July 1 on proposed changes to its Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery Action Plan related to the Strategic Voluntary Mitigation Buyout Program. Maui News.

Residents encouraged to attend County’s Lahaina Community Meeting, June 3. In order to provide residents with more individual assistance, representatives from several departments and agencies will be available to offer support at resource tables following a question-and-answer session to close the meeting. Maui Now.

Repairs underway of massive Maui sinkhole after March storms. County officials said record-breaking rainfall from the first Kona low caused damage to multiple underground infrastructure systems and undermining beneath the roadway. Work is not expected to be completed until the fall, officials said. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Department of Health to survey Kaua‘i residents on their household emergency preparedness. The Hawaiʻi Department of Health Kauaʻi District Health Office will conduct a Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response, also known as the CASPER survey, in June to assess the emergency preparedness of Kauaʻi households. Kauai Now.

Michaela Widener joins the mayoral race. Michaela Widener of Koloa joined the Kauai mayoral race on May 28.Widener is a single mother of two indigenous Hawaiian children, who works at the Beach House restaurant in Poipu. Garden Island.

Hawaii schools grapple with AI, congressional candidate pulls gun on Maui County workers, former Hawaii County housing official gets 4 years for taking $1.4M bribe, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Artificial Intelligence Is Here To Stay. Are Hawaiʻi Schools Ready? From preschoolers to high school seniors, Hawaiʻi students share how artificial intelligence is shaping their learning and plans for the future. There's wide variation in how much teachers and students are willing to engage with the new technology. Civil Beat.

Della Au Belatti’s change of plans upends lieutenant governor and U.S. House races. State Rep. Della Au Belatti’s decision to suspend her run for Congress to jump into the race for lieutenant governor has upended both campaigns and brought new attention to the most high-profile campaigns so far leading up to the Aug. 8 Democratic Party primary. Star-Advertiser.

UH commits $5M in student-athlete pay despite failure at Legislature.  The University of Hawaii, which has about 500 student-athletes on 21 teams, did not score taxpayer funding this year to pay student-­athletes. Star-Advertiser.

HMSA’s payment system pivot has Hawaii’s medical community reeling. Hawaii patients could face fewer choices for primary care — and longer waits for services — as the state’s largest insurer Hawaii Medical Service Association reverses a decade-old payment model, prompting fears that some clinics may close or scale back. Star-Advertiser.

Ann Wright, Hawaiʻi's Global Warrior For Peace, Is Not Giving Up The Fight. The retired Army colonel has been active on the frontlines of protest, from the Iraq War to Gaza, from Cuba to Minneapolis, from Red Hill to Pearl Harbor. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu Officials Accept Raises Without Hearing Public Opposition. Members of the public had little opportunity to comment on the raises, which are paid for with their tax dollars. Civil Beat.

HART gets reimbursed $125M for Segment 2 completion. The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation has received a $125 million federal reimbursement connected to last year’s opening of the more than $10-billion Skyline project’s second segment past the airport, the agency’s leadership announced Friday. Star-Advertiser.

Group seeks to restart aquarium fishing on Oahu. The Hawaii Fishers Association is moving to restart the trade on Oahu just one month after a bill to ban it died in the Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

Woman fights $600K in fines for 'mistakenly' advertising short-term rental. An 83-year-old Oʻahu woman is fighting $600,000 in fines from the City and County of Honolulu for an online advertisement of an illegal short-term rental. Sandra May has filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court Thursday for “mistakenly” posting her one-bedroom rental unit in Wilhelmina Rise as a short-term rental, which is available for rent for less than 30 days. Hawaii Public Radio.

City reverses course on Koko Crater Stables eviction notice. Aloha Riding Lessons LLC, the longtime operator of Koko Crater Stables, recently threatened with eviction, has received a reprieve after the city rescinded its notice to vacate the city-owned property.  Star-Advertiser.

Plans for new Costco, Zippy’s closure in Waipahu met with pushback. The vacant building that was once the Don Quijote in Waipahu could be home to Hawaii’s first Costco Business Center. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii National Guard concludes Kona-low storm relief efforts. The Hawaii National Guard has officially concluded its support for relief efforts in the aftermath of two Kona-low storms that swept across the islands and ravaged Oahu’s North Shore in March, as well as intense weather that followed in April.  Star-Advertiser.

Kona-low storm fallout continues to hit North Shore business. Visitor traffic to Waimea Valley has fallen sharply this spring, forcing staff to stretch resources and scale back hiring as fewer travelers make the trip past ongoing traffic restrictions triggered by March’s Kona-low storms. Star-Advertiser.


Hawaii Island

13 applicants in play to be next fire chief. Hawaii County has received applications from 13 individuals it says are conditionally qualified to be the next chief of the Hawaii Fire Department. Those 13 have been culled from 33 applicants. Tribune-Herald.

Former Hawaii County official sentenced to prison for taking $1.9 million in bribes. Alan Scott Rudo, 59, a former Hawaii County housing specialist, will spend nearly four years in federal prison for his role in a seven-year scheme of accepting bribes in exchange for awarding more than $11 million through four affordable housing development agreements. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. 

Her dad’s death led to tougher penalties for dangerous dog owners in Hawaiʻi. Now her daughter tests law after attack. In 2024, Shannon Matson pushed for the passing of a state law that significantly toughens the legal consequences for owners of dangerous dogs after the death of her 71-year-old father, Bob Northrop. Big Island Now.

FEMA doles out $2M to Kona low victims in Hawaii County. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved more than $2.1 million in grants to Hawaii County residents for damage suffered during the two Kona low storms that wreaked havoc statewide in March. Tribune-Herald.

The Earth shook. Tanks burst. Now Kona faces a water crisis. One of the most coveted coffees in the world comes from Kona, where the coffee crops thrive on afternoon rains. So do the farmers, who rely on rainwater to fill the tanks that supply their homes and orchards. Parts of the area have no county water infrastructure. New York Times.

Family, friends share stories about the three men slain in Puna killing spree. Hawaii Police Department suspects Jacob “Jake” Daniel Baker of killing Robert Shine, 69, Chitta Morse, 79, and John Carse, 69, over the course of Monday and Tuesday in a spree of seemingly random violence in Kapoho and Kalapana. Tribune-Herald.

An eclectic, off-grid Hawaii haven, 3 dead men and a suspect caught on surveillance video. For residents of Puna, a remote and eclectic part of Hawaii’s Big Island, the killings of three men known for embracing the community’s off-grid, free-spirited lifestyle became a startling reminder of its struggles too. Associated Press.

Maui

Longshot Congressional Candidate Pulled Gun On Maui County Workers. An armed man entered a Maui County government building Friday morning and brandished his gun during an argument with county workers, but police were not called for an hour and a half. Kirill Basin, who had recently announced he planned to run for Congress, was arrested and charged with Terroristic Threatening in the First Degree. Civil Beat. Maui Now. 

Lahaina harbor restoration moves forward with dredging project. State officials say routine dredging work scheduled to begin Monday at Lahaina Small Boat Harbor will also provide a rare opportunity to dredge the main harbor basin for the first time since 1966. Maui News.

$241M solar energy project to power 18,000 Maui homes moving through permitting process. With the passage of a federal budget severely rolling back clean energy investments, the company behind a $241 million solar project in Central Maui is working feverishly to get through the permitting process and have enough time to build the facility so it can be operational by the end of 2028. Maui Now.

 Akakū Maui Community Media continues fight to preserve Maui County’s public access funding with $400,000 in annual cuts looming. That is about 35% of Akakū’s current operating budget of $1.1 million. Maui Now.

Coast Guard helps 21 people escape disabled vessel off Maui. A Coast Guard crew assisted 20 adults and one child in getting off a disabled charter vessel near Maalaea Harbor offshore Maui on Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Nēnē had died out on Molokaʻi. Now, they're making a comeback, with a little help. There’s a small but thriving flock of the Native Hawaiian geese living and raising their young at Puʻu O Hōkū Ranch. The endangered species is back from the brink of extinction. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Kaua‘i Wants To Expand Its Only Landfill — Again. The island’s sole permitted landfill in Kekaha will fill up in just four years. With a new landfill still a decade away from opening, the Garden Isle is running out of room for its trash. So, to buy time, the county hopes to expand its 73-year-old Kekaha landfill — at a cost of up to $43 million. Civil Beat.

Online visits to remote seabird sanctuaries offered in ‘Year of Our Coastal Kuleana’.  New online field trips are being offered this year to remote seabird sanctuaries: Lehua Island, 19 miles west of Kauaʻi, and Hōlanikū, also known as Kure Atoll, 1,400 miles away at the furthest reaches of the Northwest Hawaiian Islands. Kauai Now.

Belatti switches candidacy to lieutenant governor race, Hawaiian Airlines to scrap free meals in coach, Puna triple homicide suspect captured, OHA drops bid for KITV4, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Belatti Drops Bid For Congress To Run For Lieutenant Governor. Democratic state Rep. Della Au Belatti said the political landscape shifted once Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke opted not to run for reelection while facing criminal investigation. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio. 

Hawaiian Airlines to scrap free meals in coach. Hawaiian Airlines will eliminate complimentary meals in its main cabin on most long-haul mainland routes, replacing them with a prepaid menu developed with a James Beard-­recognized Hawaii chef. Star-Advertiser. Kauai Now. 

Hawaii visitor spending rises despite April drop in arrivals. Hawaii’s visitor industry saw fewer travelers in April but a sharp rise in daily spending, highlighting a widening divide between higher-end visitors who continue to spend freely and more budget-conscious travelers who are pulling back. Star-Advertiser.

Sudden Slashes To Solar Incentives Make It Harder To Go Green. More than 260 of Hawaiʻi’s commercial and industrial projects are at risk after Legislature cuts credits 2026, undermining renewable resource goals. Civil Beat.

Report ranks Hawaiʻi 5th in teachers' union strength. An analysis from the Thomas B. Fordham Institute is an update to the institute's last ranking in 2012, when Hawaiʻi secured the leading spot.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Kapolei community board endorses Amazon project. A $600 million-plus plan by Amazon to build a massive warehouse and order fulfillment center in Kapolei gained some tentative community support Wednesday night. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. 

OHA trustees reject due diligence funding for KITV- KIKU purchase. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees voted against funding due diligence for acquiring KITV Island News and KIKU TV, ending the quasi-government agency’s latest attempt to enter into broadcast media. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now. 

Some question if the JERA natural gas project will deliver meaningful savings. Japanese energy company JERA wants to build a floating gas terminal off the coast of Barber's Point and a new gas-fired power plant in Campbell Industrial Park on Oʻahu. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Chief credits community for helping to nab triple-homicide suspect. Hawaii Police Department Chief Reed Mahuna said during a Thursday afternoon press conference that tips from the public resulted in the apprehension of triple-homicide suspect Jacob Daniel Baker, the subject of a two-day multiagency manhunt involving county, state and federal law enforcers. Tribune-Herald. Star-Advertiser.  Hawaii Public Radio.  Big Island Video News.  Big Island Now.  Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4. 

Puna Murders Raise Questions About Restraining Order Process. Attorneys say TROs are granted in a majority of cases. But that wasn’t the case for the man who allegedly killed three men. Civil Beat.

Maui

Maui council weighs new hotel zones in vacation rental phase-out equation. In an ongoing effort to address controversial Maui vacation rentals, the Maui County Council is considering a measure to create two new hotel zones that would allow legal short-term rentals.  Hawaii Public Radio.

For many sinkholes left by March storms on Maui County roads, cost and timeline for repairs unclear. Before a portion of a beach park and multiple roadways collapsed during two major storms in March, Maui County Public Works Director Jordan Molina had never seen so many sinkholes in the seven years he’d been with the department. Maui Now.

Maui’s Last Wild Beaches: Locals Fear Upgrades Will Sideline Them. Some members of the Maui community worry that proposed upgrades to Mākena State Park could pave the way for more transformative changes in the future. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Intervention granted in review of luxury development at Hanalei Bay. A group of community organizations successfully petitioned the Kauaʻi Planning Commission to grant a petition they sought to intervene in a proposed luxury coastal housing development by Miami-based Starwood Capital Group’s 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay. Kauai Now.

Umi Martin announces candidacy for county council. Lifelong Kauai resident, farmer, small business owner and community leader Umi Martin has officially announced his candidacy for the Kauai County Council in the 2026 election.  Garden Island.

Shipping rates to rise again, military economic impact may be overstated, manhunt in Puna after 3 homicides, tourist banned from beaches after alleged rock-throwing at endangered monk seal, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Interisland Shipping Rates Set To Rise July 1 After Governor Signs Bill. Young Brothers quickly announced a 3% rate hike soon after the bill was signed. State wharfage fees will rise at the same time, potentially driving up prices even more. Civil Beat.

U.S. military’s economic impact in Hawaii overstated, report contends.  The 199-page report from a consortium of groups and activists says the military contributes $7.2 billion to Hawaii’s economy and 6.4% to its GDP annually, about 30% lower than most recently touted by the state and Pentagon. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi solar energy projects at risk after tax credit is signed into law. The governor signed a bill into law on May 21 that will not only phase out solar credits but also affect projects already in the pipeline. Hawaii Public Radio.

Push for renewed look at legislative corruption petition. Former federal attorney Alexander Silvert sent a three-page letter to state House Speaker Nadine Nakamura and Vice Speaker Linda Ichiyama on Wednesday, asking them to bring back the petition he started last year that collected more than 900 signatures. Hawaii News Now.

Teens Suing Kamehameha Didn’t Have Scores To Get In, Lawyer Says. Attorneys for the plaintiffs say race preference permeates the process. Civil Beat.

Oahu

State blesses homeless kauhale village in Waimanalo. Hawaii’s 26th homeless kauhale — 20 tiny homes on the makai side of the former Weinberg Village in Waimanalo — was blessed Wednesday in a community that had seen a nearby homeless encampment at Waimanalo Beach Park grow to more than 40 people lining Kalanianaole Highway last year, which has since been cleared. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Access To Oʻahu Outdoor Recreation Spot Still Restricted After Storm Damage. High above Kaʻena Point, access to the campgrounds and accompanying trails at Peacock Flats has been restricted for more than a month due to damage from this spring’s Kona low storms. Civil Beat. 

Hawaii Island

Manhunt ongoing for Puna man suspected of three homicides. A manhunt continues for 36-year-old Jacob Daniel Baker of Pahoa, who is a suspect in three homicides that occurred over the course of two days in Kapoho and Kalapana earlier this week. Tribune-Herald. Civil Beat. Big Island Video News.  Big Island Now.  Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

Water Conservation Notice Issued After Quake Damages South Kona Tank. The Hawaiʻi County Department of Water Supply says customers in the affected areas must reduce water usage by at least 10%, in order to maintain adequate water storage while DWS performs emergency repairs to the damaged tank. Big Island Video News.

High schoolers granted precious ‘telescope time. Eight Kealakehe High School students were the recipients of Maunakea Scholars awards last Friday, earning them the coveted opportunity to carry out research using the telescope array atop Hawaii Island’s tallest mountain. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

New hotel zoning clears Council committee, 6-1, despite planning commissions’ opposition. The Maui County Council’s Housing and Land Use Committee voted 6-1 Tuesday to advance new hotel zoning districts for thousands of short-term vacation rentals facing a county-mandated phase-out — overriding unanimous rejection from all three county planning commissions. Maui Now.

Man accused of throwing rock at seal is banned from Hawaii beaches. Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk  was released on a $25,000 unsecured bond ahead of his next court appearance. Star-Advertiser. Associated Press. Hawaii Public Radio. KITV4.  Hawaii News Now.

Keoni Kuoha announces campaign for Hawaiʻi State House, District 12. Surrounded by supporters on May 18, 2026, Keoni Kuoha formally announced his candidacy for the Hawaiʻi State House of Representatives, District 12, representing the Maui communities of Makawao, Hāliʻimaile, Pukalani, Kula, Pūlehu, ʻUlupalakua, Kanaio and Kahikinui. Maui Now.

Kauai

Veterans Affairs Pacific Islands Health Care System to host community call, town hall on Kaua‘i. Garden Isle veterans can learn about available services, get health screenings and vaccines, receive assistance with Veterans Affairs healthcare enrollment, renew or replace Veterans Affairs identification cards and more. Kauai Now.