Green trims $100M from state budget, Rep. Case lone congressional delegation holdout over ICE immigrant tactics, governor signs fireworks bills, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

More Than $100 Million Cut From Hawaiʻi State Budget. Gov. Josh Green signed the nearly $40 billion executive biennium budget bill Monday, allocating $19.8 billion to state operations for fiscal year 2026 and about $19.7 billion for fiscal year 2027. Uncertainty over federal funding and projections for reduced state revenues played a role in the governor’s decision to line-item veto about $110 million in spending across the fiscal biennium. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. KHON2.

Press release with budget highlights. Governor's Office.

As Immigrant Arrests Rise, Hawaiʻi Political Leaders Condemn ICE Tactics. Rep. Ed Case, the lone holdout, said criticisms didn’t capture his or constituents’ views on immigration. With the arrests of immigrants surging, most of Hawaiʻi’s congressional delegation accuse federal immigration agents of creating “fear and terrorizing communities” in the Aloha State in a letter to be sent Tuesday to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Civil Beat.

New Hawaii fireworks laws take effect today. During a ceremony in his office at the state Capitol, Gov. Josh Green signed two “signature” bills passed by the Legislature in May to crack down on rampant use, possession and distribution of illegal fireworks statewide. State Department of Law Enforcement Director Mike Lambert took questions from the media. Star-Advertiser. Associated Press. Big Island Now.  Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Governor: I’ll Be ‘Agnostic’ On How Hawaiʻi Spends Its New Green Fee. Climate experts and proponents of Hawaiʻi’s new green fee will kick off next month what Gov. Josh Green has dubbed the “green fee initiative” — a process to decide how hundreds of millions of dollars for climate- and conservation-related projects will be spent. Civil Beat.

EV owners may opt for state road usage charge starting July 1. Starting Tuesday, owners of passenger EVs have the option of paying the state either a per-mile road usage charge of $8 per 1,000 miles, capped at $50, or an annual flat fee of $50. Star-Advertiser. Kauai Now. 

New law shifts seafood labeling rules. The bill mandates retail establishments that sell products made with raw yellowfin tuna and bigeye tuna, such as poke and sashimi, must label them with the country of origin where the fish was caught. Maui News.

Green Tells Hawaiʻi Tea Farmers Not To Worry About New Labeling Law. The governor had put the legislation on his intent-to-veto list, but ended up signing the measure last week. Civil Beat.

OHA budget battle pits its CEO against the chair of the board. OHA Trustees Race To Beat Deadline For New Controversial Budget. Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs approved a new two-year budget after a marathon meeting on Monday to resolve issues in a spending plan that had drawn intense criticism and scrutiny in recent weeks. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

Hawai‘i gender-affirming care providers brace themselves amid Trump ending LGBTQ+ youth hotline. Hawai‘i advocates said there is already a lack of gender-affirming resources locally, and cuts to that federally funded service could lead to severe consequences. Hawaii Public Radio.

Summer tourism lag risks long-term performance. Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism Director James Kunane Tokioka said in a statement that May’s modest increase in total visitors was led by growth from the U.S. West, which offset arrival drops of 1.1% from the U.S. East, 0.5% from Japan, and 8% from Canada. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Drones To Patrol From Oʻahu Skies For Illegal Fireworks On July 4th Weekend. A measure allowing video evidence from drones was part of a package of bills aimed at cracking down on illegal fireworks that became law Monday. Civil Beat.

Despite an alarming rise in traffic fatalities, officials say safety measures are working. There are more traffic control measures than ever on Oahu: speed humps, red light cameras and now speed cameras. But traffic fatalities are still going up. There have been 39 people killed on Oahu roadways through June. Halfway through 2024 that number was 15. Hawaii News Now.

Prosecutors want ex-prison guard to serve 7 years. The U.S. Department of Justice is asking a judge to sentence a 47-year-old ex-prison guard from Kapolei to seven years in federal prison for raping female inmates and trying to skip town before trial. Star-Advertiser.

Fire causes $150K in damage to Sheridan Park playground. For the second time in less than two months, vandals set fire to a city playground — causing about $150,000 damage and shuttering a section of Sheridan Park. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KITV4. 

Hawaii Island

Big Island students produce first-ever draft genome of endangered palila. Five Big Island high school students were among the six youths who have successfully produced the first-ever draft genome sequence of the critically endangered endemic palila bird. Tribune-Herald.

“Voluntary Compliance Order” Issued To Stop Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Spread. Residents are being asked not to transport palm plants and mulch in an area of West Hawaiʻi this summer, in order to prevent the further spread of the destructive coconut rhinoceros beetle, or CRB.  Big Island Video News.

Kahua Kahe Mālie Integrated Care Hub Opens In Ainaloa. The Kahua Kahe Mālie Integrated Care Hub, a new medical respite and behavioral health care facility, opened Friday in Ainaloa. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Samaritan’s Purse dedicates new homes to Maui families impacted by Lahaina wildfire. Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief organization, dedicated three newly built homes in Lahaina for Maui families who survived the state’s deadliest wildfire in history. Maui Now. KITV4.

6 Maui men arrested for internet-related sexual offenses against children. The latest Operation Keiki Shield action, conducted Friday to Sunday, resulted in the arrest of six Maui individuals for charges related to internet-facilitated sexual offenses against children, according to the Maui Police Department. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.

Kauai

DOW invites the public to attend a discussion on the Kapaa Homesteads Tanks Project. The Department of Water will hold a community event at 6 p.m. today to give the public an opportunity to review the project and share their feedback. Garden Island.

PUC approves 18.1% hike on interisland shipping, Land Board rejects Army's Oahu lease plans, Hawaii County commission seeks pause in plastic recycling plant plan, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

PUC approves 18.1% temporary rate hike for Young Brothers. The state Public Utilities Commission approved Friday an 18.1% temporary rate increase for Young Brothers LLC, effective Tuesday. The move comes in response to the company’s claims of financial distress that it says threatens its ability to maintain essential interisland shipping services. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now. 

Governor seeks clean slate to appoint new Hawai‘i Tourism Authority board. Gov. Josh Green asked for courtesy resignations from the entire Hawai‘i Tourism Authority board following its first meeting as an advisory board Thursday — leaving the agency to process through its biggest leadership shake-up since it was created by the Legislature in 1998. Star-Advertiser.

OHA Staff Baffled By Spending Plan Filled With Dramatic Cuts, Changes. A vote comes Monday for the new budget, which some fear could undermine the Office of Hawaiian Affairs’ mission. Civil Beat.

State Watchdogs Are Keeping The Pressure On For Government Reform. It includes a plan to revive a major pay-to-play bill snuffed out in the Hawaiʻi Legislature this year. Fired up by the fate of a major pay-to-play bill that died in April at the Legislature, the heads of the Campaign Spending Commission and Hawaiʻi State Ethics Commission are stepping up their efforts to lobby for reform in the 2026 session that beings in January. Civil Beat.

Governor signs measures aimed at protecting agriculture in Hawaii. A pilot program to fight agriculture-related crimes in Hawaii will go into effect July 1 on the Big Island and Oahu. The program within the state Department of Law Enforcement is intended to strengthen laws relating to agriculture theft — including cattle rustling — plus trespassing and hunting without permission on private ag land. Tribune-Herald. Maui Now.  KITV4.

Students Learn To Farm Fish, Seaweed. But Where Are The Jobs? Aquaculture is projected to become Hawaiʻi’s strongest food industry, but the state may not be doing enough to ensure there are good jobs in the future for local teens already preparing for the field.  Civil Beat.

Army land retention efforts stalled again. The state Board of Land and Natural Resources voted 5-1 Friday to reject the Army’s final environmental impact statement on potential renewal of leases on state land on Oahu. The action came after the board voted 5-1 in May to reject the Army’s FEIS on plans to retain land at the Pohakuloa Training Area on Hawaii Island. Star-Advertiser.

Culture and fish at center of debate in Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. Shortline fishers as well as Hawaii’s longliners, now have a shot at resuming fishing within the monument, which is comparable in size to the Gulf of Mexico. Star-Advertiser.

What Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship could mean for Hawaii residents. Birthright citizenship has been guaranteed under the 14th Amendment, which says any person born in the United States is automatically a citizen, regardless of their parents’ citizenship or immigration, except children of foreign diplomats. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Land board rejects Army’s final EIS. The state Board of Land and Natural Resources voted Friday 5-1 to reject the Army’s final environmental impact statement on plans to retain state land on Oahu after leases expire in 2029. Star-Advertiser.  Civil Beat.

Connors takes over East-West Center among budget concerns. Celeste Connors, who takes over Tuesday as the new president of the East-West Center, continues to receive emails from across Hawaii and the Indo-Pacific region about what the East-West Center has meant professionally and personally. Star-Advertiser.

Proposed Haleiwa development draws community ire. A planned housing and commercial development in Haleiwa town is being rejected by many nearby residents who say it poses a significant threat to the North Shore area’s agricultural history, rural environment and overall community. Star-Advertiser.

Dozens rally against proposed gondola ride on Oahu’s North Shore.  Dozens protested plans for a gondola spanning a portion of Mount Kaala in the Waianae mountain range. The movement to stop the proposed construction of a tramway along the mountainside has been gaining momentum for years. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. 

New paradigm put forth to protect ancient Hawaiian burials. The beachside town of Kailua could be designated a burial ground, affording more protection to a roughly estimated 3,000 unmarked ancient Hawaiian graves located in the community built largely on sand. Star-Advertiser.

Dog owners seek increased access to parks for furry family members. Youth sports teams say they are struggling to find available fields for their practices and games, while dog owners — knowingly or unknowingly — are ending up at de facto parks because they have nowhere else to bring their four-legged friends to play. Star-Advertiser.

Queen’s shutters clinic specializing in long COVID patients. The long COVID clinic at The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu is closing today after a five-year run treating more than 500 patients. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Plan For Plastic Recycling Plant Alarms Big Island Officials, Residents. A Hawaiʻi County commission calls for a pause in the project until the state establishes rules regulating discharge of micro- and nanoplastics. A plan to launch Hawaiʻi’s first bulk recycling plant for plastic is running into determined pushback from Big Island critics who worry the recycling operation could release contaminants into the environment. Civil Beat.

UH to decommission third Maunakea telescope. The University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy is officially initiating the decommissioning process for the UH-owned UKIRT telescope, formerly known as the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.

University of Hawaiʻi’s telescope dedicated in 1970 now honored for enduring impact on space exploration. University of Hawaiʻi’s 2.2-meter (88 inch) telescope on Maunakea was recognized by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Milestone program for its role in shaping astronomical research worldwide.  Big Island Now.

Trump administration’s actions rattle foreign students at UH Hilo, could hurt enrollment. International students at the University of Hawaii at Hilo are grappling with anxiety about their visas, travel and social media as the university braces for a potential loss of enrollment because of those concerns. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Residents encouraged to attend in-person Lahaina Community Meeting, July 2. Residents are encouraged to attend the County of Maui’s Lahaina Community Meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 2, at the Lahaina Intermediate School cafeteria. Maui Now.

Pair honored for nearly 40 years of work at Maui homeless center. James Worley and John Decker have helped people facing homelessness find housing on Maui through their volunteer work as board members for the nonprofit Ka Hale A Ke Ola Resource Center. The two were honored Thursday for their longtime contribution to the community. Maui News.

Kauai

Kaua’i conservation leaders hope Hawaiʻi’s new Green Fee will prioritize environmental initiatives, not tourism. Kauaʻi nonprofit Malama Hule’ia planned to use a $750,000 federal grant to purchase an aquatic excavator to remove invasive red mangrove around the Hule’ia river watershed in Lihu’e. Kauai Now.

Kauaʻi’s Embattled Drug Addiction Treatment Center For Youth Is No Longer Empty. A new treatment option for drug-dependent youth on Kauaʻi is breathing life into the island’s troubled $7 million adolescent treatment center, a taxpayer-funded facility that fell into disrepair over the four years that it stood vacant.  Civil Beat.

Community encouraged to complete Waimea 400 Affordable Housing Survey by today. The County of Kauai Housing Agency is encouraging community members to provide their input on the Waimea 400 Affordable Housing Master Plan by completing an online survey by today.  Garden Island.
 

Green signs judiciary bills, OHA drops Mauna Kea lawsuits, Aloha Stadium work delayed again, Maui names first ethics director, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii’s governor signs legislation to bolster judiciary. Gov. Josh Green signed new legislation in support of the state judiciary into law Thursday. The funding includes a new district court judge and support staff in Kona, and funds the permanent establishment of three specialty courts on Oahu: Women’s Court, Driving While Impaired Court, and Truancy Court and Early Education Intervention Court." House Bill 400, Act 227, appropriates $214 million for fiscal year 2026 and $212 million for fiscal year 2027.  Hawaii News Now.  KITV4.

Snapshot at the safety check: Odometer photos signal new way to pay for Hawaii’s roads. As of July 1, every vehicle going through a safety inspection must have its odometer reading photographed. KHON2.

Hawai’i Has A ‘Blue’ Fee. What Can It Tell Us About The New Green Fee? The ocean stewardship fee aims to offset impacts of marine tourists. Unlike the green fee, its dollars go into a special fund. As Hawaiʻi prepares to collect a first-of-its-kind green fee to protect the environment — one aimed mostly at short-term visitors — a similar conservation fee on ocean users established last year offers insights. Civil Beat.

HDOT wants to incentivize the transportation industry to use cleaner fuels.  Switching to lower-carbon fuels, including sustainable aviation fuel for air travel, is one of the strategies included in the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation's forthcoming emissions reduction plan. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Court for homeless defendants now permanent. After eight years as a pilot project, Oahu’s Community Outreach Court became permanent on Thursday after helping 703 homeless people clear non-violent criminal cases against them and, more importantly, providing them with social service help to get off the street and turn their lives around. Star-Advertiser.

We are not the mistake': First graduates of Women's Court blossom back into society. Circuit Court Judge Trish Morikawa oversaw the main operations in getting the program off the ground and has worked side-by-side with each woman in the program, getting to know the ins and outs of their cases. Hawaii Public Radio.

Stadium project funding won’t be lost despite delay. The Legislature’s funding of $350 million to private developers to build a new Aloha Stadium will not be forfeited back to the state because a contract with preferred offeror Aloha Ha­lawa Development Partners will not be signed by Monday, officials said at Thursday’s monthly Stadium Authority meeting. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. 

HPD officer vacancies at 461 with twice as many retirement eligible than incoming. There are 461 open uniform positions, which represent 21.2% of the 2,177 positions budgeted. Hawaii News Now.

Registration backlog impacting Honolulu car dealerships. The Honolulu Department of Customer Services said more than 6,700 registrations are still pending after a surge in demand in March and April of 2025. Wait times surged to five weeks at their peak. KHON2.

Nurses’ union delivers petition to Waimea hospital leaders. Nearly 100 union nurses and Queen’s North Hawai‘i Community Hospital in Waimea remain at an impasse over a new contract after six months of negotiations. Star-Advertiser.

Ex-bookkeeper allegedly stole $460,000. Jerry Arthur Goode, 68,  a former bookkeeper for a company that managed Hawaii trade associations and lobbied on its behalf was arrested Wednesday and charged with allegedly stealing about $460,000. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

Low-Flying Helicopter Caused Paraglider Crash At Makapu’u, Lawsuit Claims. A paraglider pilot injured in a 2023 accident is suing an Oʻahu air tour company for negligence. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Bills bolster Judiciary on isle. Gov. Josh Green on Thursday signed several Judiciary-related bills into law, including one that will give the Big Island another judge. Tribune-Herald.

OHA drops Mauna Kea lawsuits for new approach. In a major shift in strategy, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees voted Thursday to withdraw two longstanding lawsuits related to Mauna Kea, signaling a move toward partnership, cultural preservation and shared stewardship of the mountain. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.  KITV4.

Pohoiki dredging project is scheduled to be completed sooner than expected. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources' Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation has begun removing 42,000 cubic yards — about the size of 42,000 large refrigerators — of volcanic debris deposited by the 2018 eruption of Kīlauea at Hawaiʻi Island’s Pohoiki Bay.  Tribune-Herald. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawai’i County police chief apologizes for his ‘premature’ resignation; hopes to keep his job.  Hawai‘i Island Police Chief Ben Moszkowicz issued a public apology on Thursday for submitting a resignation letter to pursue the interim chief opening at the Honolulu Police Department, at the direct request of Honolulu City and County Mayor Rick Blangiardi. Big Island Now. KHON2.

Police: Pahoa man made bombs, ran meth lab. Shannon Hostetler, 54,  is in police custody after several law enforcement agencies searched two homes Wednesday on Oceanview Parkway in the Black Sand subdivision of Pahoa. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News. Hawaii News Now. 

Maui

Inside The ‘Out-Of-Control’ Debate Over Axing Maui Vacation Rentals. The Maui County Council plans to start deliberations next week on legislation aimed at converting thousands of short-term rentals into affordable housing. Civil Beat.

Lauren Akitake named first Executive Director of County Board of Ethics. Following a unanimous vote on June 18, 2025, the County of Maui Board of Ethics appointed Lauren Akitake as its first Executive Director/Legal Counsel. Maui Now.

Five alala are learning to live in the wild again. Whether it produces chicks or not, state wildlife officials are encouraged to see nesting behaviors within a cohort of five alala, also known as Hawaiian crows, released on Maui late last year. Maui News. Maui Now.

Concerned about the future of Honomanu Bay, nonprofit group seeks public feedback. According to the nonprofit East Maui Land Restoration, the absence of basic park infrastructure has contributed to ongoing issues such as excessive camping and occasional concerns about overfishing. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauaʻi Community College’s Performing Arts Center flourishes with new, innovative leadership. From an empty building to a thriving community hub, the Performing Arts Center at Kauaʻi Community College is undergoing a transformation with its new manager, Gregory von Hausch. Kauai Now. Garden Island. 

Youth emissions lawsuit settlement to be costly, new report shows Hawaii County income from vacation rentals, taxpayer-funded legal bills for Leong, Sword top $200k, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Lawmakers Worry Hawaiʻi’s Emissions Goals Could Leave Some In The Dust. State officials have a new roadmap to decarbonize the cars, planes and ships that form Hawaiʻi’s transportation sector, they told legislators on Wednesday – almost exactly one year after they signed a landmark legal settlement with youth climate activists to ramp up those efforts. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.

Filipinos caught in power contest between U.S. and China. Amid increasing hostilities in the South China Sea — a busy waterway through which more than a third of all trade travels — disputed waters around the Philippines are emerging into a potential flashpoint that holds repercussions both there and in Hawaii. Since April, soldiers and Marines from Hawaii-based units have been on the ground in the Philippines for a series of exercises. Star-Advertiser.

Ex-Corrections Official Sues Alleging Discrimination, Wrongful Termination. Pamela Sturz claims workplace harassment after her boss learned she was married to a woman. Civil Beat.

Micronesians Are Suffering From Advanced Breast Cancer. Mammograms Could Help. Micronesians are less likely to get mammograms than women overall in Hawaiʻi. Community advocates say public health officials need to break down barriers to early screening.  Civil Beat.

Oahu

The taxpayer-funded legal bills for the former Honolulu city officials who faced federal charges are in, with fees in the six figures. A Honolulu City Council committee advanced two resolutions following their executive session, adding funds to contracts started two years ago to defend Max Sword and Donna Leong. Leong’s legal bill totaled $102,000 with Sword’s bill totaling almost $106,000. KHON2.

City of Honolulu hit with negligence lawsuit over crash at erased crosswalk. A year after a missionary was nearly killed in a McCully crosswalk that had been stripped of its white lines the city is being sued for negligence. Over the past decade, markings at dozens of Oahu crosswalks have vanished. Hawaii News Now.

HPD: Man shot by police in Makaha was wanted on 3 felony warrants. Honolulu police released the latest details into an officer-involved shooting in Makaha Tuesday that left a 38-year-old man critically injured. For the second time since Sunday Opens in a new tab, Honolulu police had to shoot a suspect who refused to surrender Opens in a new tab after ramming an unmarked police car in Makaha until it burst into flames. Hawaii News Now. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.

Ala Wai Harbor Is A Major Tow-Away Zone. Will Better Warning Signs Help? Repaving is also coming for most of the 900 parking spaces at Hawaiʻi’s largest small boat harbor. Civil Beat.

DPP sorts through thousands of illegal rental notices, more than $90M in fines. Since the passage of Bill 41 in 2022, which limits most short-term rentals to a minimum 30-day stay, the Department of Planning and Permitting has issued more than $90 million in fines. KITV4.

Hahaione Valley residents raise concerns about possible development. Until July of last year, the Japan-America Institute of Management Science occupied a six-acre site at the top of Hawaii Kai Drive between Pepeekeo and Hahaione Streets. Now, residents in Hahaione Valley are wondering exactly what will happen with the parcel. Hawaii News Now.  Star-Advertiser.

Disbarred lawyer indicted in estate theft scheme. A 75-year-old ex-lawyer, who was disbarred in January 2023 for wrongfully laying claim to over $2 million in abandoned property, was charged Friday in a 22-count felony indictment in a similar case, including theft of roughly $750,000 from a dead man’s estate. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

How do short-term vacation rentals affect Hawaiʻi Island's economy?  There’s a new report out that looks at the economic impact of vacation rentals to the county's tax coffers. Hawaii Public Radio.

Full vacation rental report here.

2 dozen coconut rhinoceros beetles detected in Kona since March. Crews are searching for coconut rhinoceros beetle breeding sites in the Kona area, where about two dozen of the invasive beetles have been found since first being discovered there in March. Hawaii Public Radio.

Penn asks judge for ‘identity verification’ of his mother. UFC Hall of Famer BJ Penn has said on social media he believes an identical imposter has taken the place of his mother, Lorraine Shin, his brothers and others around him. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui Council to take up contentious Honuaʻula project for first reading this Friday. The long-debated Honuaʻula master-planned community project is returning to the Maui County Council’s agenda for its regular meeting on Friday. The “hot button” issue has been whether to approve the developer’s request to remove a requirement to build 450 affordable units in the South Maui project district development. Maui Now.

Volunteers sought for Marine Institute to help rescue sea turtles, care for corals. The Marine Institute at Maui Ocean Center is seeking Maui-based volunteers who are passionate about ocean conservation and willing to dedicate at least three hours a week assisting with coral restoration and endangered Hawaiian sea turtle conservation. Maui Now.

Kauai

Sewer rate increase goes into effect July 1. “Increasing 11% per year over a 5-year period, funds from this increase will go into much-needed repairs of facilities that are over 4 decades old,” said Kaua‘i County Engineer Troy Tanigawa in the county’s reminder. Kauai Now.

New mobile pantry fills gaps in access to kupuna and families. Reminiscent of the “yasai trucks” of the rural plantation camps and towns, the Hawaii Foodbank Kauai held a Mobile Food Pantry blessing by Kahu Jade Waialeale Battad on Tuesday, under weather conditions that started out threatening before ending in a downpour at the Kauai Philippine Cultural Center. Garden Island. Kauai Now.

Unions are biggest legislative influencers, preschool subsidies expanded, Hilo zoo to start charging admission, Alexander & Baldwin gives up Maui water rights, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Bills, Backers, and Blocs: A Data-Driven Look at Lobbying in Hawai‘i. When the Hawaiʻi State Legislature mandated the Legislative/Administrative Action Report (LAAR) beginning in 2025, it launched one of the country’s most detailed state-level lobbying datasets. The final filing for the 2025 session (due June 2) revealed 7,188 positions taken by 340 organizations on 1,747 bills.  UHERO. Civil Beat.

State lawmakers grill Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority as it faces restructuring. Gov. Josh Green is reportedly planning on asking all the members of the board to resign so that a new group can oversee the restructured agency, though officials say none of the board members have resigned yet. Hawaii Public Radio.

Tourism briefing reveals unexpected L.A. Rams expense. The state legislators in charge of tourism praised the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority’s partnership with the Los Angeles Rams, but cried foul on HTA when it learned that the agency now expects to pick up the tab for the team’s welcome reception, estimated to cost from $80,000 to $100,000. Star-Advertiser.

Governor Says He May Veto Bill To Reduce Judges’ Pensions. The governor updated his list of potential vetoes, announcing he may reject as many as 20 of the 320 measures passed by state lawmakers this spring. Civil Beat. KITV4. 

Changes on horizon for regulating Hawaiian Electric. The state Public Utilities Commission already has begun gathering input from a working group of key stakeholders over how an existing regulatory framework based on performance might be modified, and an application from Hawaiian Electric is expected by the end of this year to begin a quasi-judicial proceeding to adjust a basis for rates under an updated framework starting in 2027. Star-Advertiser.

 Senators say PUC needs to be tougher to control electric bills. The official in charge of setting electric rates is denying he socializes with Hawaiian Electric executives. That accusation was raised at a hearing Tuesday over whether the Public Utilities Commission is too easy on the utility. Hawaii News Now.

State Utility Official Under Investigation For Bullying Staff, Toxic Environment. Whistleblower says utility commission risks “a mass departure of critical staff.” State regulators are investigating complaints made against a high-level official of the Hawaiʻi Public Utilities Commission, the head of the state’s main consumer protection agency told lawmakers on Tuesday.  Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. 

Hawaii expands its preschool subsidy program. A new law signed Tuesday by Acting Gov. Sylvia Luke will significantly expand Hawaii’s Preschool Open Doors program, extending eligibility to younger children and higher-­earning families, while also easing restrictions on child care providers. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald.  Big Island Now.

How Hawaiʻi’s School Transfer System Leaves Students Behind. Geographic exceptions were intended to give families more flexibility with their children’s education, but the process may be exacerbating educational inequality. Civil Beat.

State homeland security monitoring global tensions, says no credible threats to Hawai‘i. Hawai‘i Department of Law Enforcement Office of Homeland Security assured the public Tuesday afternoon that while geopolitical tensions are running high elsewhere around the globe, there are no specific credible threats to the state of Hawai‘i. Big Island Now.

Oahu

Blangiardi finalizes city’s $5.2B budget adoption. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi on Tuesday signed into law the city’s over-$5.2 billion budget package for fiscal year 2026, which starts July 1. The city’s new financial plan is a nearly 10.9% increase over Honolulu’s current $4.7 billion budget, which expires Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Here's what the Honolulu City Council leadership shakeup could mean for policies going forward. Council leadership is now made up of Council Chair Tommy Waters, Tupola and Kiaʻāina — who are all Native Hawaiians. Hawaii Public Radio.

HPD selects 2 deputy chiefs. Deputy Chief Rade K. Vanic announced the selection of Assistant Chief Ryan Nishibun to serve as the acting deputy chief for Field Operations and Assistant Chief Aaron Takasaki-Young to serve as the acting deputy chief of Administrative Operations. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. 

New Aloha Stadium district contract delayed 6 weeks.  The state and the preferred offeror to build the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District have pushed back their self-­imposed deadline for a signed contract by six weeks, but officials said that will not affect the target date for starting demolition of the old stadium and also will not affect the target of having the new stadium ready for the 2028 football season. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Blangiardi announces Honolulu Ocean Safety Commission nominees. Blangiardi’s nominees — Racquel Achiu, Steven Jenness, Richard Kebo, Kanani Oury and Billy Pratt — come from all over Oʻahu.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Deadly force ‘justified’ in 2023 standoff in Pearl City. Honolulu police were justified to use deadly force to stop a 32-year-old man in June 2023 after he broke into his ex-girlfriend’s Kalauipo Street home and threatened to shoot people with a police officer’s rifle, Prosecuting Attorney Steve Alm announced Tuesday.  Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. 

Accountability Proves Elusive In $25,000 Damage To This Popular Oʻahu Reef . No one was held responsible for the 2024 Kewalo Basin incident, highlighting some of the difficulties in reef damage enforcement. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

New Hilo zoo fees kick in Aug. 1.  The Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation is adopting rule amendments for the Pana‘ewa Recreational Complex, including the introduction of admission fees to the Pana‘ewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now. Hawaii News Now. 

Lease extension still in the works for Hilo mall. A 40-year lease extension for almost 39 acres of homestead land the owner-operators of Prince Kuhio Plaza are seeking from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands could be on the agenda when the Hawaiian Homes Commission next meets on the Big Island. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui Water Wars: A&B Drops Out Of Battle For Long-Term Water Control. Alexander & Baldwin, a legacy plantation company is stepping away from its generations-long hold on a consequential East Maui water system. Civil Beat. Maui Now. 

A novel idea for Maui’s housing crisis: Using vacation rental profits for residents’ down payments. A novel approach to Maui’s severe housing crisis emerged during a third round of emotional public testimony Monday on the hotly debated vacation rental phase-out bill: leveraging short-term rental profits to finance affordable housing for local families. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauai launches foodbank on wheels. The 16-foot refrigerated vehicle is designed to expand access to nutritious food in rural and under served communities. Hawaii News Now. 

Kawakami attends U.S. Conference of Mayors 93rd Annual Meeting. Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami traveled to Washington, D.C., from June 8 to 11, to participate in the 9th annual Hawaii on the Hill, and later attended the 93rd annual U.S. Conference of Mayors held June 19 to 22 in Tampa, Florida. Garden Island.

Tourism grants, HTA board in limbo, Senate Ways and Means chair fails to disclose conflict of interest, Big Island police chief almost loses his job over Honolulu application, EIS released on Kauai bombing range, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Budget delay puts HTA’s community grants in limbo. Hawai‘i Tourism Authority’s community program applicants are in limbo because the agency’s budget was not approved in time to meet the award schedule and the delay is bumping up against the program’s fiscal-year start. Star-Advertiser.

Hawai‘i Tourism Authority board in limbo as lawmakers call for briefing. The state legislators in charge of tourism are holding a post-session informational briefing Monday on the beleaguered Hawai‘i Tourism Authority that could play out more like an exit interview. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi Senator Didn't Disclose Possible Conflict Of Interest Before Voting. Donovan Dela Cruz voted four times in favor of passing a bill designed to protect māmaki tea, even though he owns a māmaki tea business. No other senators declared conflicts either. Civil Beat.

Report ranks Hawaiʻi among top nationally in quality preschool programs. Hawaii is just one of five states that met all 10 benchmarks by the National Institute for Early Education Research. Hawaii Public Radio.

University of Hawaii puts $7.4M into student success platform. The UH Board of Regents approved a $7.4 million, five-year contract for two integrated platforms — EAB Navigate360 and Edify — that will track student behavior and performance in real time, allowing advisers and support staff to proactively intervene before problems escalate. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Now. 

Machine To Turn Local Meat And Produce Into Fancy Food Is Tangled In Red Tape. A $21.6 million machine meant to extend the shelf life of Hawaiʻi-grown products hasn’t been used in the year it’s been at the Wahiawā Value-Added Product Development. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu Wants To Put More Cameras In Public Parks To Reduce Crime. The City Council hasn’t come up with funding yet for the program and research shows cameras alone may not be effective. Civil Beat.

Waikiki’s latest wedding chapel hopes to boost romance travel.  A  partnership between Tsukaki Lognote Hawaii Ltd., and Outrigger Hospitality Group has produced Waikiki’s newest wedding venue. Star-Advertiser.

Former Honolulu Attorney Indicted In Alleged $1.5 Million Probate Fraud. The charges against Robert Earl Chapman appear to mirror those detailed in a 2022 case brought by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel in which he admitted to the misconduct, ending his legal career. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Close call for police chief: Commission sets meeting to let Moszkowicz answer ‘tough questions’. Hawaii Police Department Chief Benjamin Moszkowicz came within a single vote Friday of losing his job as the Big Island’s top cop at the Hawaii County Police Commission meeting in Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

Island facilities struggle to keep up with popularity of pickleball. Since the sport’s popularity exploded in the wake of the pandemic, courts meant for tennis, volleyball and badminton have been taped or re-painted with new lines to suit the needs of pickleball, but the many options islandwide still fall short of meeting the demand by players who would, for some, prefer to play multiple times per day. Tribune-Herald.

Paving work to begin at Onekahakaha park. A paving project at Onekahakaha Beach Park will begin Monday to address concerns raised at a recent community meeting in Keaukaha. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now. 

Maui

Maui council to continue hearing testimonies on short-term rental conversion bill. Maui County councilmembers will head into day three of public testimony regarding a controversial bill to phase out thousands of short-term rentals on June 23, with the community divided on the cause as Lahaina fire survivors and short-term rental owners bring heated testimony to the hearings. KHON2.

Samples indicate pollution in some Maui waters. A nonprofit group that has done tests for the presence of potential pollution on Maui says its latest results are enough to raise concern for some ocean users in North and South Maui. Maui News.

Long before last week’s 330-acre blaze, Kahikinui community spent years preparing for fires. On the steep slopes of the remote Hawaiian homesteading community of Kahikinui, a red house with a salmon-colored roof can be seen surrounded on all sides by blackened landscape in an aerial shot posted last week on social media by Maui County. Maui Now.

Kauai

Navy, NASA complete Draft EIS on land use. Public comments sought for draft EIS for federal installations on Kauaʻi.  The U.S. Department of the Navy and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced on Friday the release of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, or EIS, for the proposed, continued use of state lands on Kauai for the Navy’s Pacific Missile Range Facility and the NASA’s Kokee Park Geophysical Observatory. Garden Island. Maui Now.  Hawaii News Now. 

Ben Osorno named interim chief executive officer at Kaua‘i Humane Society. Kaua‘i Humane Society announced that Ben Osorno is now the organization’s interim chief executive officer, effective immediately. Kauai Now.

Navy announces $8B for Hawaii and Wake Island, state seeks more geothermal plant locations, fishing council asks Trump to open Papahanaumokuakea, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Navy announces $8 billion contract for Hawaii and Wake Island. The Navy announced it has awarded an $8 billion mega contract to 11 companies — including both local and mainland contractors — for a series of construction, maintenance and renovation projects to facilities, as well as the demolition of old facilities, in Hawaii and on Wake Island. Star-Advertiser.

Threats to Hawaii Judiciary officials on pace to double. The Honolulu Police Department notified state and federal court officials after a 911 caller said an unidentified man was going to shoot a judge at a Honolulu courthouse. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi Wants More Geothermal Power Plants But Doesn’t Yet Know Where. The state must spend millions to see if more electricity can be produced using heat deep under the earth. And it will have to convince residents to support such an effort. Civil Beat.

Fishing council to ask Trump to lift fishing ban in Papahanaumokuakea. The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council which sets fishing policies will ask President Trump to allow commercial fishing in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in the northwestern Hawaiian islands. It’s the largest marine protected area in the world. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii’s new fire marshal takes over as state concludes Maui wildfire probe. The state has concluded its investigation into the government’s response to the deadly Aug. 8, 2023, Lahaina wildfire, state Attorney General Anne Lopez announced Thursday. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Big Island Now.

Oahu

Mayor Blangiardi signs laws to shutter illegal game rooms. With the enactment of new city laws, the Honolulu Police Department and related city agencies say they will have more tools to more easily remove illegal game rooms operating on Oahu. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu police arrest 3 in Kakaako illegal game room raid. Officers executed a search warrant at an “illegal gambling room near Kawaiahao St.” at about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to an HPD social media post. They recovered 16 gambling machines, $5,222 in cash and drugs. Star-Advertiser.

Skunk captured in Kakaako Waterfront Park, tested for rabies.  A skunk was captured, euthanized and tested for rabies after it was found running around Kakaako Waterfront Park Wednesday night, state officials said today. Star-Advertiser. KHON2. 

Questions raised over paying to find next Honolulu police chief. A consulting firm is expected to narrow down the list of candidates, but some question the time and money that will be put into it. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Massive lava fountains erupt in episode 26 at Kīlauea. A new eruption at Kīlauea’s Halemaʻumaʻu Crater, known as Episode 26, began around 1:40 a.m. on June 20, 2025. Lava fountains erupted from the north vent, shooting over 1,000 feet into the air.  KITV4.

Hilo Hawaiian Hotel joins Wyndham brand. The Hilo Hawaiian Hotel has officially joined the Trademark Collection by Wyndham, becoming the first property in Hawaii to be part of the global hotel brand, Castle Resorts &Hotels announced Tuesday. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

11 Maui seniors laid off as federal cuts take toll on decadesold program. Maui Economic Opportunity will be suspending an on-the-job training program that has existed for three decades and benefited thousands of senior citizens. Maui News.

Kahoʻolawe wins marine conservation award as Trump rolls back other Pacific protections. The Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve has become the second marine protected area in the Hawaiian archipelago to win the prestigious Blue Park Award. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui Council hears another 70 testifiers on vacation rental phase-out bill; still more to come.  Public debate intensified Wednesday during several hours of sometimes heated testimony over a proposed phase-out of vacation rentals before the Maui County Council’s Housing and Land Use Committee. Maui Now.

Kauai

‘Truly grateful for her years of service’: Kaua‘i County mayor’s office Chief of Staff leaving post in July. A nearly 15-year veteran of the mayor’s office in Kaua‘i County — who has played a key part in helping the Garden Isle through some of its toughest times during her tenure — will be saying her final farewells to colleagues during the next couple of weeks as she prepares to leave her post. Kauai Now.

Kauaʻi Cops Are Using Virtual Reality To Boost Their Firearms Training. With real-time simulations and a high-tech shooting range, the Kauaʻi Police Department hopes to quadruple weapons drills. Civil Beat.

LOOKOUT launches on Kauai. State and county officials said on Wednesday at a statewide press conference that launched the 2025 Wildfire and Drought LOOKOUT campaign that it took a series of devastating wildfires, including the Lahaina fires of 2023, to get people to pay attention to fire risk. Garden Island.