Many new faces in Hawaii Legislature, Gov.-elect Green seeks staff, Cabinet, inaugural Hawaii Honor Flight lands in D.C., more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Capitol balconies ©2022 All Hawaii News

Low voter turnout on Election Day translates into big turnover at state Legislature. The biggest change is in the state House, which will have 16 new faces out of its 51 seats ― the highest number of newcomers in two decades. The 25-member state Senate could see up to five new faces. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Gains in Hawaii Legislature small, but encouraging for Republican Party. As far as waves being sized up in Hawaii, a “red wave” of winning Republican candidates joining the state Legislature later this year is closer to knee-high than head-high or overhead. Star-Advertiser.

Gov.-elect Josh Green considering new ways to address old problems in Hawaii. Gov.-elect Josh Green won office on Tuesday by the largest vote percentage in state history and with the greatest margin of victory, according to his office, and plans to translate that momentum and support into an early and big vision for the state and its residents even before he’s inaugurated Dec. 5. Star-Advertiser.

Green, Luke say they’re ready to ‘hit the ground running’ to tackle top issues. Following a big win on election night, Gov.-Elect Josh Green and Lt. Gov.-Elect Sylvia Luke told HNN they’re already working hard to prepare for their new positions ― and priorities. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Hawaii Governor-Elect Josh Green Is Hiring For New Administration. Governor-elect Josh Green launched his transition website Wednesday morning announcing more than 100 position openings for the new administration that’s set to be sworn in Dec. 5. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio. Big Island Now. Maui Now.

Ballot trends push back on early voting. Voter turnout patterns showed a bit of pushback against early voting, with more than 10,000 people casting their ballots in person on Election Day. KHON2.

Worker shortage, costs among barriers to adding more Election Day polling places. Hawaii implemented an all mail-in ballot system three years ago, but thousands of people still chose to vote in person on Election Day. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii May Soon Have More Tools To Prosecute Public Corruption. A statewide standards commission recommended new felonies dealing with fraud, false claims and statements that may allow state and county prosecutors to bring charges against public officials similar to those brought by federal prosecutors in a string of public corruption cases this year. Civil Beat.

Inaugural Hawaii Honor Flight lands in D.C.. The first ever Hawaii Honor Flight landed on the National Mall Wednesday where a group of veterans from Hawaii visited the memorials built in their honor. Hawaii News Now.

Omicron subvariants BQ.1, BQ.1.1 gain ground in Hawaii. The evolution of the virus driving the COVID-19 pandemic continues, with the latest chapter being the rise of omicron subvariants BQ.1 and BQ.1.1. The two, described as among the most immune-evasive variants yet, are gaining ground in Hawaii as well as nationwide. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii records 1,288 new COVID-19 cases, 5 more deaths. The state’s average positivity rate also declined to 5.3% compared with 5.5% the previous week. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

Oahu

Mother-son political duo prepares to make Hawaii history. Donna Mercado Kim and Micah Po'okela Kim Aiu will become the first mother-son duo to serve in the Hawaii Legislature at the same time. KITV4.

HPD stands by its scanner access ban, but launches new online system with dispatch details. City declines to restore public access to the radio traffic of first responders. Public access to non-tactical radio traffic of Honolulu police, firefighters, emergency medical services workers and ocean safety personnel will remain restricted for at least the next 90 days as Honolulu Hale has opted not to enter into an agreement with Hawaii media to restore access. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Gov-elect Green asks Ige to pause Aloha Stadium redirection. The future of the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District is still uncertain as many await details from Governor David Ige, but his successor said he’s going to push fast ahead to get it done. KHON2.

Revival of Red Hill fueling operations feared. The Honolulu Board of Water Supply’s top official expressed concern Wednesday that the Navy might try to revive its underground Red Hill storage tanks at some point in the future for fuel use, despite the Department of Defense’s assurances to the contrary. Star-Advertiser.

Hundreds Of Red Hill Families Still Sick A Year Later, Survey Finds. Impacted families are asking the Navy for help with their medical care. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii Island Is Getting New Federal Funds To Tackle Health Care Shortages. Is It Enough?. Gov.-elect Josh Green also has pledged to address problems with accessing care, especially in rural areas. Civil Beat.

Native Hawaiian clinic plans relocation, expansion. A Native Hawaiian health clinic in Waimea has plans to move out of the rented commercial space it currently occupies and build a new facility on two acres of homestead land. Tribune-Herald.

Puna park renamed in former Mayor Billy Kenoi’s memory. Family, friends and county and state officials gathered to rename Pahoa District Park after the former Hawaii County mayor, who served from 2008 to 2016. Tribune-Herald. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Bissen thanks community, talks about the road ahead & visions of Kamaʻāina Prosperity. Before going to sleep last night, the retired judge had garnered nearly 58% of the vote and was leading incumbent Michael Victorino by nearly 6,500 votes.  This morning, his mission was to thank the public with plans to establish a team to help with his administration. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

West Maui Fire Day 2: “Fire on the move” in mountain ridges above Launiupoko. Evacuation is possible for residents in the upper portion of the Launiupoko subdivision, according to a County of Maui update issued on Wednesday afternoon. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Kauai

Kaua‘i election: Final results still not out. Election Administrator Lyndon Yoshioka reported his team had been working through Tuesday night handling 6,000 drop box ballots that arrived on Election Day. In addition, Yoshioka said there were 800 in-person voters, as lines stretched to the steps of the historic county building on Tuesday night. Garden Island.

Farming company to conduct controlled agriculture burn Nov. 10 on Kauaʻi. A controlled agriculture burn will be conducted by a local farming company near the Kaumakani makai area on Nov. 10, from 7 a.m. to noon, weather permitting, according to the Kaua‘i Fire Department Fire Prevention Bureau. Kauai Now.