Friday, February 7, 2025

Bills would eliminate middle class income tax, raise general excise tax instead; recreational marijuana bill deferred, Maui firefighters show elevated PFAS, Queen's cuts 100 jobs, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

No Income Tax For Working Class? Unions Float Radical Proposal. Lawmakers are cnsidering bills to eliminate the state income taxes for all residents who earn up to $100,000 and offset the revenue loss by increasing the state excise tax from 4% to 6% on most goods and services sold in Hawaiʻi. Civil Beat.

Hopes For Legal Marijuana In Hawaiʻi Dashed As Politicos Flip-Flop. Less than 48 hours after approving a bill to make marijuana use legal for Hawaiʻi residents aged 21 and older, the Hawaiʻi House of Representatives on Thursday punted the measure until next year. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio.

UH Cancer Center backs bills to boost cigarette tax 2 cents. The University of Hawaii Cancer Center would receive a welcomed funding boost if the Legislature increases the state’s cigarette tax by another 2 cents, while a separate Senate bill would have forced the center to merge with the UH medical school, which UH previously said would jeopardize the center’s accreditation. Star-Advertiser.

Increased harbor inspections and penalties on the table to combat illegal fireworks. The state Legislature is considering several measures to crack down on illegal fireworks. Lawmakers are exploring different tactics from more inspections at the harbors to increasing penalties for violators. Hawaii Public Radio. Maui Now.

Proposed police pursuit policy clears committee.
Police could only initiate a pursuit if an individual in the vehicle being chased is believed to have committed murder, manslaughter, negligent homicide, felony assault, sexual assault, domestic abuse, escape or DUI — and the vehicle pursuit “is necessary to identify or apprehend” the suspect. Tribune-Herald.

Senate committee defers bill to subsidize school bus driver certification. The Senate Education Committee on Monday killed a bill that would have created a school bus driver certification subsidy pilot program within the state Department of Education for the next school year. Hawaii Public Radio.

State high court probes conditions of Maui wildfires settlement. Hawaii Supreme Court justices posed many exacting, and sometimes skeptical, questions Thursday to attorneys in a case pertaining to the validity of a $4 billion deal to settle Maui wildfire litigation. It may be weeks before the court’s five justices render a decision. Star-Advertiser. Associated Press. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.  

Oahu

Honolulu Transit Rates Could Go Up. The Honolulu Rate Commission, which reviews the city’s transit rates, is holding four public meetings next week for people to provide feedback. Civil Beat.

Queen’s eliminating positions to adapt to ‘evolving needs’.  The Queen’s Health Systems is eliminating about 100 positions at its hospitals to maintain sustainable operations and adapt to changing times. Queen’s did not specify which positions, how many or when, exactly, they would be eliminated. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.  KITV4.

Honolulu launches $5M grant program to support low-income rental housing. The Department of Land Management is soliciting proposals from nonprofit entities and public agencies for funding opportunities through the Affordable Housing Fund, or AHF, which typically provides funding to develop and expand affordable rental housing for households earning 60% or less of area median income. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu home sales gain as inventory expands. Single-family home resales increased by 6.5% compared with January 2024, with 196 homes sold in January from 184 a year ago. Condominium sales also rose, climbing 6.8% to 312 transactions from 292. Star-Advertiser.

North Shore farmer with no criminal record detained by ICE. Hanjun Shen, 60, has been in Hawaii for 16 years and owns JM Farm in Laie, an 18-acre farm which grows Thai basil, Okinawan sweet potato, taro leaf and other herbs. The undocumented immigrant was under a removal order since his application for asylum was denied. Hawaii News Now.

Kakaako dog owners: Kolowalu Dog Park is opening. After months of anticipation, Kakaako residents will have a place to let their four-legged friends run around and have fun. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Bill Could Allow Maunakea Authority To Side Step Sunshine Law. House Bill 144 was heard by the House Committee on Water & Land on Thursday, although lawmakers have not yet given their recommendation. Big Island Video News.

Volcano Watch: Assembly of volcano scientists to gather in Hilo. Volcano scientists from around the world will gather from Feb. 9-14 in Hilo for the American Geophysical Union Chapman Conference on Caldera-forming Eruptions at Basaltic Volcanoes: Insights and Puzzles from Kīlauea 2018 and Beyond. Big Island Now.

‘We’re watching a coup in real time’. Dozens of West Hawaii activists flocked to the highway Wednesday afternoon in support of a nationwide protest in opposition to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, President Donald Trump and his administration’s ties to Project 2025. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

CDC Report Finds Traces Of PFAs In Maui Firefighters’ Blood. Firefighters who responded to the Maui wildfires had elevated levels of PFAs, a manmade chemical linked to cancer, in their bloodstream, according to a new wildfire report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Associated Press.

Lahaina seaside owners want accelerated rebuilding process.
Native Hawaiian Warren Freeland wants to see his family’s historic Pioneer Inn rebuilt as it was before the 2023 wildfire that destroyed a large portion of Lahaina, and he hopes government officials will find a way of accelerating the permitting process in the face of rising construction costs. Maui News.

Air travel crisis on Molokai:
Survey reveals devastating impacts to families. An effort is underway aimed at improving the island’s limited access to air travel. This comes after Mokulele, the island’s only air carrier, scrapped dozens of flights last month due to a series of unscheduled aircraft inspections leaving travelers stranded for days, even weeks. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Graveyard Of Kauaʻi Cattle Killed By Anthrax Could Undermine Luxury Homes. A judge will hear a lawsuit that Princeville residents have filed against the developer on Tuesday. The  lawsuit that seeks to shut down the development on Kauaʻi’s North Shore claims the dead cattle left behind millions of still-dangerous anthrax spores capable of sickening and animals — and maybe people — if unearthed during construction. Civil Beat.

Kapa‘a Satellite DMV brings services to island’s largest residential area.
There is a new shortcut to service at the Kaua‘i County Division of Motor Vehicles, due to a new satellite office that launched in January in Kapa‘a town, the largest residential area on the island. Kauai Now.

Thursday, February 6, 2025

Lawmakers tackle pay-to-play loophole, delivery surcharge for safe streets, year-round legislative session, fireworks regulations, plus more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Bill To Close Pay-To-Play Loophole In Hawaiʻi Moves To Full House. State legislators are seeking to close a 20-year-old loophole that has allowed government contractors to donate to politicians despite a law that purports to ban such contributions. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi lawmakers still considering year-round legislative session. State lawmakers are considering measures to make Hawaiʻi’s legislative session continue throughout the year, although a Senate committee recently killed a pair of those bills. Hawaii Public Radio.

Journalists blast bill proposing regulations.
A bill introduced in the Hawaii Legislature would establish a state-sanctioned journalistic code of ethics and create a Journalistic Ethics Commission and Journalism Review Board that could fine journalists and ban them from covering state government. Tribune-Herald.

Lawmakers consider delivery fees to support pedestrian and biking infrastructure. Senate Bill 1124 would establish a “retail delivery safety fee” for stores that make home deliveries. It would tack on $0.50 to businesses for non-food deliveries, and the fees collected would go into the state's Safe Routes to School special fund to pay for safety projects. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Lawmakers push for stricter fireworks regulations. Various state Senate committees passed bills Wednesday that would increase fines and penalties for people who fire off illegal pyrotechnics and also make it easier for law enforcement to cite and arrest them and for prosecutors to win convictions. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

How can Hawaiʻi meet the goal of 50,000 new rooftop solar systems by 2030?
Both the state Senate and House have introduced bills that reaffirm the goal of 50,000 new solar installations by 2030. Hawaii Public Radio.

Stakes Are High As Maui Wildfire Settlement Case Goes Before Supreme Court. The Hawaiʻi Supreme Court on Thursday is scheduled to hear a case that will impact Hawaiʻi’s economy regardless of which side wins. The results could be bankruptcy for the state’s biggest electric utility or rising insurance premiums. Civil Beat. Associated Press.

Priced Out of Paradise: Hawaii transplants flock to new location in search of lower cost of living.
Over the last decade, Hawaii transplants have flocked to Las Vegas in droves, building a welcoming oasis in the desert. While a lower cost of living brought them to Nevada, islanders say the efforts in Las Vegas to preserve Hawaiian culture is what convinced them to stay. Hawaii News Now.

Binge Drinking On The Rise Among Hawaiʻi Seniors. Roughly 11% of older adults in Hawaiʻi reported excessive drinking in 2022, the highest rate of any state, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analyzed by the United Health Foundation for its annual America’s Health Rankings report. That’s up from 8% in 2021. Civil Beat.

Oahu

New Strategic Housing Plan for Oahu is launched by city. Mayor Rick Blangiardi's plan calls for the merger of the existing Mayor’s Office of Housing with the existing city Department of Land Management — to create the new Department of Housing and Land Management — to supposedly centralize and streamline the city’s development, finance and policy efforts. Star-Advertiser. KHON2. KITV4.

OHA, lawmakers try again to lift residential ban on Kakaʻako Makai lands. A bill aiming to lift a state law banning residential development at the waterfront area of Kakaʻako on Oʻahu cleared its first hurdle in the state Legislature. If Senate Bill 524 becomes law, OHA could develop two 400-foot buildings on that land.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Death Toll From Salt Lake Fireworks Explosion Rises To 6. Eight people are still being treated in burn units in Arizona and Honolulu, and the police investigation is ongoing. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.  Associated Press. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

Military and local agencies practice Kolekole Pass evacuation route. On Wednesday, a large convoy of vehicles drove up Lualualei Naval Road and across Kolekole Pass to Schofield Barracks as part of a “full-scale” exercise. Star-Advertiser.  Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Hawaii Island


Study confirms sewage leaks in Keaukaha. Sewage in Keaukaha is leaching into groundwater 10 times faster than previously believed, according to a study by University of Hawaii scientists. Tribune-Herald.

Hawai‘i County Council roundup:
Adopted resolution urging humane action to deal with potential avian flu outbreak. The Hawai‘i County Council unanimously adopted a resolution that urges state agencies to work with local poultry farmers to humanely deal with potential avian flu outbreaks. Big Island Now.

Maui

Waivers aim to streamline Lahaina rebuilding. Maui Mayor Richard Bissen announced Wednesday that the county will temporarily suspend Special Management Area rules for properties mauka of Front Street or outside of the erosion hazard line — a move that is expected to accelerate reconstruction efforts and support Lahaina’s wildfire recovery. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.  Hawaii News Now.

Rental requirement begins March 1 for FEMA direct housing participants. Wildfire survivors currently in FEMA’s Direct Housing Program will be required to begin paying rent on March 1, 2025. The rental requirement will be in effect for the remainder of FEMA’s housing assistance program, which has been extended through Feb. 10. Maui Now.

Family of fallen Maui firefighter demands changes. Evans Enos filed a lawsuit against the county and his captain stating Tre’ did not have any protection when he was ordered to go near the storm drain while no one’s life was in danger. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Lion dance performances slated to welcome Year of the Snake on Kaua‘i. Saam Fu Chinese Cultural Arts of Honolulu is coming to the Garden Isle this week to continue celebrating Chinese New Year with traditional lion dances at several venues. Kauai Now.

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Green's climate fee bill clears first committee, marijuana legalization gets initial approval, DHHL seeks $20M for geothermal exploration, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

First climate fee bills pass initial hearing, with concerns. Gov. Josh Green’s bills to fund Hawaii’s climate change response by increasing the state’s hotel room tax and dedicating all of the interest from the $1.5 billion rainy day fund were unanimously passed out of a House committee Tuesday, but with concerns that they need “a lot of work.” Star-Advertiser.

Marijuana Legalization Gets Initial Approval From 2 House Committees. The legislation would regulate and tax adult use of pot, as well as medical cannabis and hemp. Civil Beat.

Bill would create statewide policy for police car chases. A bill that would establish a statewide policy for police motor vehicle pursuits will be heard at 10 a.m. Thursday by the House Transportation Committee. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiʻi Might Finally Put The Bite On Bedbugs In Housing — But Not Hotels. Landlords would be required to ensure rentals are free of the tiny bloodsuckers that come out at night. Civil Beat.

Governor questions Trump picks’ experience, tells loyalists: ‘You have been tricked’.  Gov. Josh Green just returned from Washington, D.C., after advocating against President Donald Trump’s nominee for health and human services secretary. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Number of HPD officers disciplined declined in 2024.  Twenty-two Honolulu police officers were disciplined in 2024 for 19 incidents including fleeing the scene of a car crash after a chase, using excessive force against a detainee and falsifying police reports. That is down from 29 Opens in a new tab Honolulu Police Depart­ment officers disciplined in 2023 in connection with 28 incidents.   Star-Advertiser.

OHA Kakaako Makai housing bill advances. 
Three Hawaii Senate committees have advanced a contentious bill to allow housing on land owned by the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs in Kakaako, makai of Ala Moana Boulevard. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu extends deadline for rail-affected businesses to apply for compensation.  The city Department of Budget and Fiscal Services says it will extend the application deadline for the so-called transit construction mitigation fund, or TCMF, grant online portal submissions for an additional two weeks. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

Honolulu Festival to now charge admission.
The Honolulu Festival, a cultural exchange celebrating Japan and the Pacific Rim, will return in March, and for the first time in its 29-year history will charge admission for adults to enter the exhibition hall on the ground floor of the Hawai‘i Convention Center, where a majority of the events are taking place. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island


DHHL Seeks $20 Million For Geothermal Exploration On Hawaiʻi Island
. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has identified three sites for further exploration in South Point, Kawaihae, and Humuʻula. Big Island Video News.

Council blamed for funding loss: Money for Puna alternate route study lapsed last year.
A study to investigate possible alternate traffic routes into Puna apparently died more than six months ago, despite assurances by Hawaii County officials the project was still on track. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now.

Maui

Senate bill passes to waive SMA permits for rebuilding in historic Lahaina town
. Senate Bill 1296 would not require special management area permits for structures in Lahaina town if they were destroyed in the deadly Aug. 8, 2023, wildfire disaster and if planned reconstruction stays within the footprint of the structure as it stood before it was consumed by flames. Maui Now.

Bills to curb rent increases referred to committees, but no hearings scheduled yet. Bills have been referred to committees in both chambers of the Hawaiʻi State Legislature to limit the amount landlords can raise rents for tenants at a time of desperate housing shortages and renters having few, if any, options if they can’t afford demands for higher monthly rent payments. Maui Now.

Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Committee discusses Maui Fair.
On the agenda for Tuesday’s Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Committee was Bill 7, a bill to amend the fiscal year 2025 by increasing carryover and savings from the General Fund by $1,500,000, as well as adding a new appropriation entitled “Festivals of Aloha, Inc. for the 2025 Maui County Fair” in the amount of $1,500,000. Maui News.

Maui police release video of officer-involved shooting in Pukalani. Body camera footage captures the moments leading up to the fatal shooting of Macayla Deponte, less than seven minutes after Maui police officers arrived at a Pukalani residence. Civil Beat. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

Kauai

Helicopters provide critical support for Kaua‘i Forest Bird Recovery Project during field season. More than two dozen people flocked together Feb. 3 in a hangar on the north end of Līhuʻe Airport, joining Kaua‘i Forest Bird Recovery Project for an annual blessing to kick off another season of fieldwork on the Garden Isle. Kauai Now.

Lihue man encounters shark at Lydgate Beach. Chris “Shewy” Shewman of Lihue recounted his frightening experience with a shark that occurred while he was surf-foiling at Lydgate Beach on Feb. 1. Garden Island.

Tuesday, February 4, 2025

Former Honolulu corporation counsel and Police Commission chairman to plead guilty in Kealoha scandal, bills address DUI, ahi labels, paid family leave, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

2 Honolulu Officials To Plead Guilty In Kealoha Payout, Avoiding Jail Time.  Honolulu’s former corporation counsel Donna Yuk Lan Leong and the ex-chair of the Police Commission, Max John Sword, will plead guilty March 4 to a misdemeanor federal conspiracy charge in connection with the $250,000 retirement payment in 2017 to former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha, according to federal court documents. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

Green reiterates opposition to RFK Jr. as U.S. health chief. Gov. Josh Green reiterated his opposition to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. becoming the next secretary of health and human services as a Senate committee is scheduled to vote today on whether to advance the nomination to the full Senate. New York Times.

Schatz to block Trump nominees over USAID move. U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii said today he would block Senate votes on President Donald Trump’s diplomatic nominees in protest of plans to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development and merge it into the State Department. Reuters.

How tariffs could impact Hawaii.
Because Hawaii imports 85 to 90 percent of all its food, a 25% tariff will be felt deeply from restaurants to grocery stores. The Hawaii farm bureau says 80% of fertilizer ingredients come from Canada which is used in farming and food production, and grain feed is also imported from Canada. KHON2.

Debate Keeps Swirling Around Paid Family Leave In Hawaiʻi. Advocates say the need is greater than ever. But unions, businesses and state agencies are resisting. Civil Beat.

Bills would lower legal threshold for drunken driving. For the fifth consecutive year, bills have been introduced in the state Legislature to reduce the blood-alcohol content threshold for a drunken driving charge from 0.08% to 0.05%. Tribune-Herald.

Do you know where your ahi comes from? A state measure could require origin labels. Industry leaders say that imported fish is cheaper and can undercut locally caught fish. Imported fish can also be frozen and gas-treated to look fresher than it is.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Bill would ban immigration detention centers on state land. Immigration detention centers would be banned on state and county lands, and other bills in the Legislature also would ensure due process for any detainees. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio.

Track how opioid settlement funds are being used in Hawai‘i. The Hawaiʻi Department of Health launched a website that allows the public to track where an excess of $100 million in opioid settlement funds paid to the state by pharmaceutical companies is going. Big Island Now.

Oahu

Is 2025 Last Chance For OHA’s Big Development Plans At Kakaʻako Makai?
After years of futility, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs has new support for its plans to build affordable housing and a hotel on 30 acres of the Honolulu waterfront. Civil Beat.

Community weighs in on future plans for Aloha Stadium with questions about affordable housing. Five years after Aloha Stadium shut down, demolition is set to begin in June and then a new community will start taking shape. On Monday, neighbors got to engage with the developers for the first time. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Hawaii’s plan to develop leasehold homes advances. A more than $200 million tower is envisioned in Honolulu with 360 units and leasehold prices ranging from $456,400 for units with one bedroom and one bathroom to $862,600 for units with four bedrooms and two bathrooms. Star-Advertiser.

Multifaceted writer Cliff Slater dies at 91. Cliff Slater — businessman, newspaper columnist, author, photographer and community activist most visible in recent years for his steadfast opposition to Oahu’s controversial $10 billion rail project — died Jan. 20, with his wife and children beside him, at his home in Honolulu. He was 91. Star-Advertiser.

Penalty Reduced For HPD Officers Accused Of Assaulting Prisoner. Honolulu police officers were disciplined for a range of issues in 2024, including failing to activate their body cameras, drunk driving, falsifying police reports and stealing a wallet.  Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Council members question effectiveness of homeless-related grants.
Hawaii County on Friday awarded more than $10 million to various Big Island nonprofits to fight homelessness. Kona Councilwoman Rebecca Villegas said some programs funded through the grants this year spend up to 90% of their awarded funds on employee salaries. Tribune-Herald.

Lava fountains over 250 feet high return to Kilauea volcano. Kilauea volcano resumed its latest eruption Monday, the eighth time that lava fountains have returned to the summit caldera in less than two months. Star-Advertiser.   Big Island Video News.

Hawaii astronomers monitor potentially dangerous asteroid. Hawaii astronomers late last year discovered an asteroid that has a slim likelihood of striking the Earth in about seven years, and a telescope on Maunakea will be used to help track the object’s orbit. Tribune-Herald.

Waikoloa Road project nearly complete. Almost two years of repairs on Waikoloa Road in South Kohala are projected to wrap up by this spring for the 12-mile stretch of roadway, county officials said. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Senate bill advances to increase air medical services.
The state Department of Health has been cost-sharing a helicopter with Maui County and contracts with a private entity to provide staff and operations for the emergency helicopter. Maui Now.

FEMA finishes installing 167 temporary homes at Kilohana. FEMA’s 167-unit Kiohana temporary home site for wildfire survivors was completed this week in Lahaina.  Maui Now.

UH Maui College launches program to support Lahaina’s long-term revitalization. The University of Hawaiʻi Maui College is proud to announce the launch of the 2025 Maui Strong Fellowship Program, an initiative aimed at engaging UHMC students and any interested Maui residents in projects critical to Maui’s long-term care and post-fire recovery.  Maui Now.

Activists worry proposed Grand Wailea expansion could disturb iwi kupuna. For years, the Grand Wailea Resort has been trying to expand and is now seeking approval for a proposal to build 137 additional guest rooms, among other additions.  KITV4.

Kauai


Kauaʻi middle school counselor named 2025 Hawai‘i School Counselor of the Year. Noelani Butcher of Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School in Līhuʻe was named the 2025 Hawai‘i School Counselor of the Year by the American School Counselor Association. Kauai Now.

Monday, February 3, 2025

Japanese tourism slow to recover, proposed constitutional amendment would limit campaign contributions, bills would speed development, oust homeless from bus stops, legalize recreational marijuana, ban flavored vapes, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Japanese visitors are still missing from Hawaiʻi's hospitality picture. Last year, the number of visitors who came to Hawaiʻi from Japan was less than half the number who came in 2019. It's not just the lingering effects of the pandemic keeping some of them away. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii visitors bureau to explore beyond HTA contracts. The Hawai‘i Visitors &Convention Bureau, a more than century-old member of Hawaii’s visitor industry, has for years shaped how visitors think of Hawaii and how residents perceive tourism. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi constitutional amendment proposed as protest of unlimited campaign spending
. Senate Bill 311 would advance a proposed amendment to the Hawaiʻi State Constitution to provide that its freedom of speech protection does not include the expenditure of money to influence elections. Kauai Now.

House bill advances to speed up historic preservation reviews of development projects. House Bill 738 appears aimed at removing one of the “systemic barriers” identified in a report by the Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corp. The report said such barriers in Hawaiʻi constrain housing production and lie at the root of the state’s housing shortage and residents’ high cost of living. Big Island Now.

Bills would require local UH med students to stay in state after graduating. House Bill 221 and Senate Bill 101 would require students who pay in-state tuition to attend UH’s John A. Burns School of Medicine to work in Hawaii for two years after they graduate. If they don’t, they would have to pay the state the difference between their in-state tuition and the cost, nearly double, of nonresident tuition: $36,372 for each academic year, compared with $71,328. Star-Advertiser.

24,000 In Hawaiʻi Call Federal Government Their Boss, For Now. Most federal employees in Hawaiʻi work in the defense sector, but about 5,000 work for other agencies including Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Interior and Commerce, that could be affected by cutbacks under the Trump administration. Civil Beat.

Bill to ban loitering at bus stops sparks concerns about treatment of homeless people
. People without housing may no longer be able to use bus stops as places to sleep or rest for long periods of the day. House Bill 1486 states that loitering within 20 feet of a bus stop will be considered a disorderly conduct offense. The bill allows law enforcement officers to immediately remove anyone who violates this order. Hawaii Public Radio.

Lawmakers try again to legalize recreational pot.
A state bill that would legalize adult personal use of marijuana — as well as regulate recreational cannabis, medical cannabis and hemp within a single office — will get its first committee hearing this week. Tribune-Herald.


Bills aiming to ban flavored vapes reintroduced
. Hawaii health advocates are once again pushing for legislation banning flavored nicotine and vape products to protect youth from becoming victims of the harmful substance. Star-Advertiser. Kauai Now.

Free school meals on legislative menu, once again. During the 2024 legislative session, a number of bills aimed at providing free school meals passed the House but ultimately stalled in the Senate. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi Passed A Law to Pay The Wrongfully Convicted
. No One Has Been Paid. The law requires people to prove they’re innocent to get paid. Even after their convictions have been set aside, no one has been able to meet that standard.  Civil Beat.

Hawaii Marines train with new anti-­drone fighting system. 
Marines in Hawaii are testing out a new anti-­drone fighting system as they prepare for a deployment to the Western Pacific later this year as part of Marine Rotational Force Southeast Asia. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Mint's new $1 coin features Native Hawaiian scholar Mary Kawena Pukui
. A new $1 coin will feature a Native Hawaiian scholar that many credit with preserving and protecting ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Honolulu officials preparing for more 'targeted' attempt at federal funding freeze. The City and County of Honolulu administration expects another attempt at a federal funding freeze, and is preparing for what could be a more “targeted” approach. Hawaii Public Radio.

Cameras almost ready to ticket drivers.
Photo enforcement of speed limits at 10 intersections in urban Honolulu is expected to start with a warning period later this month or in early March after being authorized by state lawmakers last year. Star-Advertiser.

Officials urge action on speeding problem. During a town hall meeting Tuesday at Prince David Kawananakoa Middle School, residents of District 27 — Pacific Heights, Nuuanu and Liliha — voiced concerns about speeding on Pali Highway and in residential areas. Star-Advertiser.

Effluent at Kailua Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant meets standards. The test result taken Saturday showed that the enterococcus bacteria count is within the daily National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit limit for the Kailua wastewater treatment plant, and that the exceedance present on Jan. 31 is not continuing. Star-Advertiser.

Sinkhole repairs trigger partial closure of Kalanianaole Highway. The roadway was closed between Kealahou Street and the vicinity of the Makai Research Pier from 5 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Sunday.  Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island


Questions raised about DEM pick, but ultimately Segawa is approved by council. Mayor Kimo Alameda in November named Wesley Segawa — owner of Big Island consulting engineering firm Wesley R. Segawa and Associates — to serve as the director of the Department of Environmental Management. Tribune-Herald.

Sen. Hirono Questions Army Secretary Nominee On Pohakuloa Training Area. The U.S. Army’s effort to retain lands at Pōhakuloa for military training was briefly discussed at a recent Senate Committee hearing in Washington. Big Island Video News.

What’s next for Banyan Drive? Mayor, state legislators mull future of Waiakea Peninsula. During Wednesday’s meeting of the Banyan Drive Hawaii Management Agency, Mayor Kimo Alameda and three Big Island lawmakers discussed their visions for the peninsula. Tribune-Herald.

Tropical Gardening: Coffee flowering now means abundant harvests coming this fall. This year harvest should be concentrated thus making the harvest short and heavy if all else goes well. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Hawaii Supreme Court considers fate of $4B wildfire settlement. On Thursday, the Hawaii Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments primarily from three groups of litigants with huge stakes in the outcome of more than 600 lawsuits seeking compensation from wildfires that destroyed most of Lahaina and properties in Upcountry Maui on Aug. 8, 2023. Star-Advertiser.

Maui Lawmakers Seek To Speed Up Rebuilding For Some Fire Victims. As temporary housing for survivors has cropped up around the island, efforts to replace permanent housing have been slowed by a special state coastal permit process. Civil Beat.

As eviction moratorium ends, Maui’s renters face pricier market than before wildfires. Rents have dipped in recent months, but they’re still higher than they were before the fires. And even as dozens of people rebuild their burned homes and temporary housing projects go up, early data shows a dip in Maui’s population that economists and advocates worry will only worsen without more safety nets. Maui Now.

Woman killed in police shooting on Saturday. A woman armed with “an edged weapon” was shot dead by a Maui police officer Saturday. Maui Police Department officials said that at about 3:46 p.m., police received a report of an abuse case at a Noho Place residence in Pukalani. Maui News. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.  Hawaii News Now.

Molokaʻi residents turn to risky boat crossings as Mokulele flight cancellations continue. Taking a fishing boat to the doctor's has become commonplace for Molokaʻi families in recent weeks. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Kauaʻi County schedules lane closures for week of Feb. 3-7, announces updated playcourt completion dates. Kauaʻi County Department of Public Works and its contactors announce lane closures. Kauaʻi County Department of Parks and Recreation also updated its schedule for completion of playcourt resurfacing projects at three parks in Wailua and Puhi. Kauai Now.

Friday, January 31, 2025

Governor moves up renewable energy deadline, OHA approves big pay hikes, bills would ban cellphone use in schools, Honolulu advances resident preference housing plan, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Energy stakeholders celebrate renewable goals, but balk at natural gas proposal. In a busy week for local energy policy, Gov. Josh Green moved up the deadline for neighbor islands to eliminate fossil fuel use, and the Hawaiʻi State Energy Office put out a long-awaited report recommending Oʻahu open the door to liquefied natural gas imports. Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi Island, and Maui County are now expected to run on 100% renewable power by 2035 — a decade ahead of schedule. Hawaii Public Radio.

Tulsi Gabbard Met With Bipartisan Skepticism In Confirmation Hearing. Senators quizzed Trump’s pick for Director of National Intelligence on her past support for leaker Edward Snowden and for meeting with Syrian dictator Basha al-Assad. Civil Beat. Reuters.  Associated Press. New York Times.

Bills would ban use of cellphones in schools.
Five similar bills — House bills 298, 458, 1195 and 1224, and Senate Bill 684 — each propose that the state Department of Education limit or prohibit the use of cellphones by students during the school day. Tribune-Herald.

Bill would allow chiropractic students hands-on experience with patients. Hawai‘i is one of only five states in the U.S. that does not allow student chiropractors to intern under existing professionals, according to Dean Shivvers, president of the Hawai‘i State Chiropractic Association. Hawaii Public Radio.

OHA Salary Commission Approves Trustee Pay Raises. The OHA Salary Commission, which acts independently of the trustees, voted unanimously on Wednesday to boost trustees’ annual to $91,560. The chair of the board would make $100,308. Civil Beat.

Flights disrupted at Hawaii airports due to severe weather, visibility issues. Travelers at Hawaii airports experienced delays and cancellations due to severe weather Thursday. A ground stop was issued for interisland flights statewide that essentially kept planes from taking off or landing for about an hour. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu


‘Resident preference’ housing bill unanimously OK’d.
Legislation that seeks a “resident preference” for those who participate in city-run housing programs received Honolulu City Council approval this week. Star-Advertiser.

Council begins Cabinet confirmation process
. At the start of the mayor’s second four-year term, many of those being tapped for the city and county’s key leadership roles have maintained them since Blangiardi first assumed the city’s top elective office on Jan. 2, 2021. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Officers Not Charged In Arrest Mistake Victim Calls Racial Profiling. Officers beat and arrested Tevitatonga Cadiente on Jan. 1, 2024, after mistaking him for a different Tongan man — an armed suspect they were pursuing. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.

Four More Arrested In New Year’s Fireworks Explosion
. A total of six people have been arrested in connection with the explosion that has killed five people. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.

UH campus stadium proposal is revived. A state House bill similar to one in 2024 that died in the Senate intending to move $350 million earmarked for the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District to building a stadium on the University of Hawaii campus instead is making the rounds through House committee hearings. Star-Advertiser.

Case over public beach access at Kahala Hotel sent back to circuit court. A ruling from the Intermediate Court of Appeals over public beach access takes the state land board to task over upholding public trust law.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Waikīkī Restaurant Owner Investigated For Not Paying Workers. State, federal agencies are looking into claims of bounced paychecks from the owner of Makana Lani and Burgers on Bishop. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Hawaiʻi County Council resolution would urge state to consider humane ways to deal with potential avian flu outbreak. In a resolution introduced by Councilmember Heather Kimball, the state departments of Agriculture and Health are urged to consult with local poultry farmers to develop an avian flu response plan and consider alternatives to depopulation as the main response strategy. Big Island Now.

Pahoa man accused of neo-Nazi child sexploitation. Two men, including one from Puna, were arrested today for alleging participating in a neo-Nazi child exploitation enterprise that groomed and then coerced minors to produce sexual abuse material and images of self-harm. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Hawaii wildfire victims spared from testifying after last-minute deal over $4B settlement. Lawyers representing victims of a deadly Hawaii wildfire reached a last-minute deal averting a trial that was scheduled to begin Wednesday over how to split a $4 billion settlement.  Associated Press.

Investigators spent months searching for a man unaccounted for in Lahaina fire. Now his 6 children are asking the court to declare him deceased. Elmer Lee Stevens is one of the last two names still left on the official unaccounted-for list, along with Robert H. Owens. Since June, the confirmed death toll from the wildfire has held steady at 102.  Maui Now.

Kauai

Completion dates for Wailua and Puhi play courts updated. The recreational play courts at the Wailua Homesteads and the Wailua Houselots are estimated to be completed earlier than anticipated, except for the Puhi Park courts in Lihue. Garden Island.

Thursday, January 30, 2025

Immigrant rights bills clear first legislative hurdle, Green sounds off against Kennedy appointment, Kakaako housing bill gathers support, 4th graders improve math scores, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Immigration enforcement measures draw support. Four bills relating to immigration enforcement cleared their first legislative hurdle Wednesday, with all passed 7-0 by the House Committee on Economic Development and Technology. The bills would prohibit local law enforcers from complying with federal authorities in detaining individuals without a judicial warrant,  bar the use of government land for detention facilities, establish a program for legal representation and notify detainees of their rights. Tribune-Herald.

‘He’s a liar.’ Green outraged after Kennedy denies role in Samoa measles outbreak. Gov. Josh Green was in the U.S. Capitol hearing room Wednesday while Robert F. Kennedy Jr. denied Green’s allegation that he caused many deaths in Samoa by discouraging the measles vaccine. Green responded with profanity on national television. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii fourth graders show math gains nationally. According to results released early Wednesday by the state Department of Education, Hawaii was one of only 15 states to achieve a statistically significant increase in fourth grade math scores, surpassing the national average by 2 points for the second consecutive assessment. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii eighth in health foundation’s ranking. Hawaii ranked eighth-best among states in key health measures, according to America’s Health Rankings 2024 Annual Report — a drop from sixth place in 2023. Star-Advertiser.

Senate committee puts UH athletics under the microscope for $2M-plus deficit. The University of Hawaiʻi's athletic department came under fire from senators after requesting an additional $3.2 million. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Tourism Authority invests in international markets to draw back tourists.  In Hawaii, you can't talk about tourism without Japan, but since the COVID-19 pandemic, Japanese tourist numbers have not recovered. KITV4.

Kava Growers In Hawaiʻi Fear Being Associated With ‘Gas Station Heroin’.
Hawaiʻi lawmakers are considering regulating kratom and banning sales to minors. But kava advocates want an outright ban. Civil Beat.

Oahu


Kakaako Makai housing bill attracts a flood of testimony.
A contentious bill to largely undo a state law prohibiting residential development on the peninsula in Kakaako drew almost two-thirds more support than opposition at an initial public hearing Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

‘They pulled up in unmarked vans.’ Kapahulu neighborhood rattled after ICE agents arrest neighbor. Amid Trump’s immigration crackdown across the country, Hawaii law enforcement teams have been hitting locations across Oahu daily, targeting those with criminal records. Hawaii News Now. Star-Advertiser.

Women’s Court May Be Renewed On Oʻahu And Expanded To Other Islands. When the Oʻahu Women’s Court was established in 2022 to offer an alternative to incarceration, officials had a goal of admitting 20 participants a year. As of this month, 33 women were currently enrolled. Civil Beat.

Spike in e-bike accidents prompts rise of new law. The Honolulu City Council passed Bill 52, a measure that aims to establish clear safety guidelines for bicycle riders and pedestrians. KHON2.

OCCC guard pleads guilty to importing illegal aerial fireworks. Gilchrist Fernandez, 35, pleaded guilty to importing aerial devices without a license, and a “criminal attempt” at discharging aerial devices of 25 lbs or more without a license between Nov. 9, 2022, and Dec. 6, 2022, according to state court records. Star-Advertiser. Associated Press. KHON2.

Some Dillingham businesses frustrated over requirements for rail impact grant. The city is now accepting applications for a grant to support businesses affected by rail construction on Dillingham Boulevard, but some business owners say the requirements are too strict. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island


Woman struck by vehicle on Highway 11 in Kurtistown dies from injuries. Hawai‘i Police Department reports the 21-year-old woman struck by a vehicle Jan. 22 near the 10-mile marker on Highway 11 in Kurtistown has died. She was identified as Jahnya Serquina-Octubre of Mountain View. Big Island Now.

Waipiʻo Valley Road to be closed. Hawai‘i County Civil Defense says Hawai‘i Police Department reports Waipiʻo Valley Road in Hāmākua on the east side of the Big Island will be closed at 6 a.m. Thursday (Jan. 30) because of the flood watch in effect for the island. Waipiʻo Valley residents and farmers are authorized to access the valley. Big Island Now.

 Maui

Attorneys reach agreement in $4B Maui wildfire settlement. A trial was set for Wednesday morning and several victims were prepared to testify. Instead, Judge Peter Cahill was told that attorneys have come to an agreement.  Hawaii News Now.

Senate bill would transfer Māla Wharf and Kīhei Boat Ramp to Maui County. Dissatisfied by state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ management of small boating facilities, West and South Maui Sen. Angus McKelvey has drafted a bill to transfer maintenance and operations of Māla Wharf in Lahaina and the Kīhei Boat Ramp to Maui County. Under the bill, the County could set permit fees to generate revenue for the facilities’ upkeep. Maui Now.

Kilohana temporary housing site has long-term goals to support Maui’s housing crisis.
Kilohana consists of 167 modular units on 20 acres of state-owned property in Lahaina. Positioned next door to Ka Laʻi Ola, a temporary housing development project that aims to support up to 1,500 wildfire survivors for the next five years, these homes have been developed and stationed over the past few months, and are expected to be fully occupied by the beginning of February.  Maui News.

Haleakalā National Park closed from noon on Thursday due to severe weather. Haleakalā National Park closed from noon on Thursday due to severe weather. Beginning Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 Haleakalā National Park will be closed due to dangerous weather conditions. The closure will go into effect at noon Thursday for both the Summit District and Kīpahulu district. Maui Now.

Kauai

‘Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning’: Major winter storm to bring possible flash flooding, damaging winds. There is an unusually strong winter storm expected to pass just north of Kaua‘i as it marches east, bringing with it a significant threat of severe weather during the next couple of days. Kauai Now.

Wednesday, January 29, 2025

Hawaii Legislature fast-tracks bills to protect immigrants, state officials react to Trump's threatened funding cutoff, $4B wildfire lawsuit goes to trial, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Immigration Crackdown Begins In Hawaiʻi As Advocates, Lawmakers Push Back. Legislation to prevent local law enforcement from working with immigration agents and other protections for the undocumented will be heard in the state Capitol on Wednesday. There are between 41,000 and 51,000 undocumented immigrants in Hawaiʻi, according to estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Migration Policy Institute, roughly half from the Philippines. Civil Beat.

Trump’s order to cut federal funding sends shock waves in Hawaii.  State officials do not know whether the list of 2,600 federal accounts used by various state agencies — including the state departments of Health and Human Services and the University of Hawaii — was complete, including how many state workers’ salaries are funded by the federal government. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Hawaii Public Radio.  Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.  KITV4.

Hawaiʻi Bill Ensures Right To Record Law Enforcement Activities.  On Monday, Senate Bill 307 was given a positive recommendation by the Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs. Big Island Video News.

Relief from soaring Hawaii property insurance costs is elusive. Members of two legislative committees Monday expressed frustration instead of optimism over the initiative to have a pair of state insurance programs provide relief to homeowners who since 2024 have been forced to pay staggering premium increases or opt for reduced or no coverage. Star-Advertiser.

Key lawmakers to focus on agricultural crimes, invasive species, food security.
The top priorities for state lawmakers in key agriculture positions this year are highlighted by agricultural crimes, biosecurity, and the formation of a sustainable food system. Hawaii Public Radio.

State lawmakers target invasive species. Hawaii lawmakers are proposing to shift the state’s invasive species response to the state Department of Agriculture. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu

Hawaiʻi’s ‘new energy strategy’ opens door to liquefied natural gas imports. The site of Oʻahu’s demolished coal plant may become the home of a new fossil fuel facility. That's one part of a plan released Tuesday by the Hawaiʻi State Energy Office that calls for liquefied natural gas to play a role in Oʻahu’s energy mix. Hawaii Public Radio.

Lawmakers and community leaders oppose planned Oahu landfill site. Elected officials, environmental advocates, agriculture insiders and the city’s top water chief appeared Tuesday at the state Capitol to promote new state-level legislation — namely, eight bills introduced in the state House or Senate — that largely seeks to prevent landfills from being placed above fresh groundwater sources anywhere in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

Harmful Sewage Continues To Pollute Kailua Bay Despite Increased Scrutiny. Large, costly upgrades are underway for  the Kailua treatment plant. But unsafe bacteria levels continue to crop up after strong storms. Civil Beat.

Oʻahu's community gardens are tilling over the rules. The city is holding a public hearing later today about revising the rules for the Community Gardening Program. Those rules were last amended in 1984 and are overdue for an overhaul.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Free Speech Group Blasts UH For Censoring Law School Presentation.
Instead of using a generic diagram,  University of Hawaiʻi law instructor Ken Lawson used pictures of real colleagues at UH’s William S. Richardson School of Law to depict a  hypothetical crime. Civil Beat.

Fifth Victim Of New Year’s Eve Fireworks Explosion Dies In Arizona. Man, 29, dies from Jan. 1 Aliamanu fireworks injuries. Kevin Vallesteros died at 6:42 a.m. Hawaii time. He is the fifth fatality tied to the explosion at a house party at 4144 Keaka Drive. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Associated Press. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now.

Kalihi Uka teacher Kristy Inamas awarded $25K Milken educator prize. A kindergarten teacher at Kalihi Uka Elementary School was honored Tuesday as Hawaii’s sole recipient of the 2025 Milken Educator Award. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now. 


Hawaii Island


Julia Neal, publisher of The Ka‘u Calendar newspaper, dies at 75. Julia Neal, owner of the Pahala Plantation House and Cottages and editor-publisher of The Ka‘u Calendar newspaper, died Friday at her Pahala cottage. She was 75. Tribune-Herald.

12 arrested, charged in Puna warrants sweep. The nine men and three women were arrested for offenses ranging from contempt of court, failure to appear and violating terms of release. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A $4B settlement for Hawaii wildfire victims is in legal limbo as an unusual trial starts
. When Hawaii Gov. Josh Green announced a $4 billion settlement about a year after the deadliest U.S. wildfire in a century devastated Lahaina in 2023, he touted the speed of the deal to “avoid protracted and painful lawsuits.” Five months later, however, an unusual trial starting Wednesday will delve into difficult questions about survivors’ losses as a judge decides how to divide the settlement. Associated Press.

Council’s 5-4 majority-minority split reflects ‘deeply divided electorate’.
  Just three meetings into the new year, the Maui County Council’s five-member majority has shown its upper hand, with minority members chafing at being on the losing end of 5-4 votes in contested issues on the Council floor. Maui Now.

Maui housing advocates beg for help as end of eviction moratorium nears.  The governor’s emergency proclamation protecting renters on Maui is set to expire next week. Now, housing advocates are begging elected officials for help. Hawaii News Now.

Winter Storm Watch: Snow accumulations of up to 4 inches possible at Haleakalā on Maui. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch in effect late Wednesday night through late Thursday night at the summit of Haleakalā on Maui. The forecast calls for snow accumulations of up to four inches with a mix of snow and precipitation expected.  Maui Now.

Kauai

Construction of raised crosswalk at deadly Kauaʻi intersection to begin Feb. 14
. In the past four years, Kaua‘i police said there were 17 crashes at that intersection. Two involved either a pedestrian or a cyclist. Kauai Now.

Kauai High School seeking head track and field coach. The Kauai High School Athletic Department is currently seeking applicants to fill the position of head track and field coach. Garden Island.

Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Green returns to Washington to again oppose Kennedy, immigrant crackdown begins in Honolulu, lawsuit filed over water commission appointment, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. Green to returns to Washington, D.C. Gov. Josh Green, M.D., travels to Washington, D.C., this week to provide input regarding the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Secretary of Health and Human Services. Green has expressed concerns about the potential impact of Kennedy’s confirmation on Hawai‘i and the nation. Maui Now.

Tulsi Gabbard’s unorthodox path to Trump’s intelligence team.
Gabbard, who grew up in a fringe spiritual movement and was a darling of the left during her early years in Congress, has ricocheted across nearly the entire ideological spectrum of American politics, fueling questions about what she stands for and truly believes. New York Times.

Hawaiʻi Conservationists, Taro Farmers Sue To Stop Greenʻs Cultural Pick For Water Board. A new community group argues that Gov. Josh Green bypassed the legal process to select a loea, or expert in traditional stream water rights and uses, when he held off from making an appointment for months only to restart the process after two of the four finalists withdrew. The reset, Hui Kānāwai argues in its suit, invalidates Greenʻs selection of V.R. Hinano Rodrigues to serve as the state Commission on Water Resource Management Boardʻs loea.  Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Latest bills would set term limits, ban cellphones in schools. A flurry of bills introduced last week would lower the blood alcohol content to be found guilty of driving while intoxicated, ask voters whether they want to allow adults to use and possess recreational marijuana, ban cellphones in public schools, impose term limits for state legislators and also bar them from nepotism, among other possible changes. They were among 3,150 bills that legislators have introduced this session. Star-Advertiser.

State House panels to review wildfire prevention bill introduced by Speaker Nakamura. A state House bill intended to prevent wildfires in Hawai‘i, requested by the administration of Gov. Josh Green, will be heard by two committees Wednesday morning. Big Island Now.

Native Hawaiian Caucus prioritizes funding DHHL, protecting cultural branding.  Funding for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and protecting the Native Hawaiian brand are the priorities of the bipartisan Native Hawaiian Caucus this legislative session. One measure would increase the state’s 10.25% transient accommodations tax levied on hotels by 1%, which would go into the Hawaiian Home General Loan Fund. Hawaii Public Radio.

State Legislature hear proposed bills advocating for Hawaiʻi’s keiki. Hawaiʻi state legislators and community advocates joined together to present the 2025 Keiki Caucus Bill Package and priorities dedicated to improving the lives of Hawaiʻi’s children and families. Kauai Now.

Police deferred retirement scheduled for public hearing by House Committee on Labor. The House Committee on Labor will hear public testimony at 9 a.m. Tuesday on a bill aimed at recruiting and retaining police officers in Hawaiʻi. Maui Now.

Hawaiʻi is the country's first statewide Economic Development District. For the first time, the federal government is designating an entire state — Hawaiʻi — as an Economic Development District. The designation will open up doors for more federal funding for local projects, said Lauren Primiano, the manager of strategic initiatives at the state Office of Planning and Sustainable Development. Hawaii Public Radio.

Eight Hawaiʻi school robotics teams advance to the world championships. Eight out of 45 Hawaiʻi VEX robotics teams will advance to the 2025 VEX Robotics World Championship in Dallas, Texas after competing in the 2025 Hawaiʻi High and Middle School VEX V5 Robotics Regional Championships held Jan. 25-26.  Big Island Now. Maui Now.

Oahu

As crackdown begins in Hawaii, advocates urge immigrants to remain calm. The local office of Homeland Security Investigations posted photos on social media of officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Drug Enforcement Administration arresting immigrants. This Sunday, Jan. 26, in Honolulu, HSI participated in a multiagency operation with federal law enforcement partners to enforce federal immigration laws. Hawaii News Now.

Tracking recyclables: GPS devices show us where blue bin items actually go
. HNN Investigates put trackers in residential blue bins for weeks. The trackers stopped at RRR Recycling on Kalaeloa Boulevard, exactly where they were supposed to go. Hawaii News Now.

Speed cameras hit bump in the road. A program meant to nab speeders has hit a bump in the road. The Department of Transportation’s speed camera program was expected to launch this month but it’s been delayed to ensure it has enough manpower to move forward. KHON2.

Kamalani Academy Was Struggling Long Before State Opted To Shut It Down. Hawai‘i’s latest charter school closure highlights longstanding challenges in state oversight.Missing financial statements, undeposited checks, school funds spent on first-class plane tickets for trips with no clear educational benefit and dwindling enrollment contributed to the state’s decision to close Kamalani Academy last week. Civil Beat.
 
Hawaii Island

Wells eyed for DHHL project. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands plans to drill two wells on a North Kona hillside with the intent of providing potable water to residents of the Villages of La‘i Opua, a DHHL master-planned community. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.

Mahukona Beach Park reopens.
Mahukona Beach Park in North Kohala reopened Saturday after over two weeks of demolition work costing $278,000, county officials said. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.

Puainako Street resurfacing could be finished next month. The Hawaii Department of Transportation said in a recent press release it expects to complete major work for the ongoing Puainako Street resurfacing project by the end of March.  Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Council votes to preserve Spring House in historic Lahaina. Maui County Council members passed on second-and-final reading a bill authorizing an intergovernmental agreement for the disposition of the historic Spring House and the Lahaina Public Library, both ravaged by the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfire. Maui Now. Maui News.

MEMA wildfire review calls for clear leadership roles in emergencies. The Maui Emergency Management Agency has released its After-Action Report on the 2023 wildfires.  Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now.

Maui County unemployment drops to 3.4% in December 2024. In Maui County, the not-seasonally adjusted rate for the county was 3.4% in December, compared to 3.7% in November and 5.6% in December of the previous year. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauaʻi Lawmakers Target Housing, Recreation Woes In 2025 Session. With a median home costing $1.4 million on the Garden Isle, lawmakers look to Vail, Colorado, for a solution. Kauaʻiʻs housing market surged more than 20% last year, squeezing out teachers, nurses and firefighters even as the county aggressively funneled money toward affordable developments. Civil Beat.

State proposing to move Kauaʻi’s only jail out of tsunami zone. The Department of Corrections &Rehabilitation has officially designated a location off Maalo Road in Lihue as the preferred site for the new Kauai Community Correctional Center. Garden Island. Kauai Now.

Memorial honoring Hanapēpē Massacre on Kauaʻi closer to completion. A memorial honoring the 1924 Hanapēpē Massacre is taking shape on Kauaʻi as state officials are closer to constructing a monument that is expected to be completed in 2026. Hawaii Public Radio.