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
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
‘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
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
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.
Monday, January 27, 2025
Excise tax surcharge could be extended, cronyism accusations delay $10.5M housing projects on Hawaii Island, bill would allow Maui to sidestep environmental permits to rebuild Lahaina, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands
Hawaii could see its biggest one-time investment ever from state leaders this year to house the homeless. Gov. Josh Green has asked the Legislature to include $100 million in the state budget over the next two fiscal years to fund the development and operation of communal housing, or kauhale, and many lawmakers are buying in. Star-Advertiser.
Hawaiʻi’s Fishing Industry Wants You To Know Where That Fresh Ahi Came From. Senate Bill 129 and House Bill 534 call on retail outlets selling any raw ahi, including in poke and sushi, to clearly label where the fish was landed. The bills were introduced earlier this month and await scheduling of a committee hearing. Civil Beat.
Wildfire prevention bill set for public hearing Wednesday. A House bill requested by the administration of Gov. Josh Green aimed at preventing wildfires in Hawaiʻi will be heard by two House committees at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. Maui Now.
Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustees In Line To Get Big Pay Raises. The OHA Salary Commission is considering a proposal to boost trustee pay to just over $91,000, a 62% increase over their current $56,000 annual salaries. The chair would make about $100,000 a year, a 50% increase. Civil Beat.
Here's how a pilot program to clear marijuana possession records is going. Last year, the Legislature created a pilot project to see how difficult it would be to expunge – or clear – arrest records for those who were arrested for marijuana possession but not convicted on Hawaiʻi Island before 2020. Possession of under 3 grams of marijuana was decriminalized in 2019. Hawaii Public Radio.
Bill would make it easier for police to tow delinquent vehicles. Delinquent vehicles parked on city and state roads could soon be towed, as one lawmaker wants to make it easier for police to tow vehicles that rack up numerous complaints. KHON2.
Oahu
HART reviews state tax extension bills for Honolulu rail. That includes extension to Honolulu’s 0.5% surcharge on the state’s 4% general excise tax. For the 2026 fiscal year, the rail agency’s share of GET money make up about 28% of the more than $1.2 billion in expected funding sources to construct the nearly $10 billion Skyline. The city’s current surcharge runs through Dec. 31, 2030. Star-Advertiser.
Mother, father arrested in fatal Aliamanu fireworks explosion. Ruben T. Mateo and Jewel Ann Quines Cabras were arrested at 4144 Keaka Drive on suspicion of first-degree reckless endangering, first-degree endangering the welfare of a minor and three fireworks offenses. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.
The federal government is seeking to seize more than $20 million of Michael Miske’s assets after the convicted organized crime leader’s death in a federal detention center upended his criminal case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for Hawaii filed a civil forfeiture action Wednesday seeking two boats, millions of dollars in cash from various bank accounts, properties in Kailua and Portlock, multiple paintings and sculptures, along with five vehicles, including a Ferrari and a 1951 Volkswagen. Civil Beat.
UHERO, city launch ‘subsidized housing tracker’. The interactive tracker consolidates data on government-subsidized housing units across Honolulu County, identifying properties participating in federal, state and local housing programs. The projects are viewable as a table, map or spreadsheet. Star-Advertiser.
Hawaii Island
Accusations of misconduct and exclusions postpone Hawaiʻi County funding to nonprofits. The Hawaiʻi County Council last week postponed voting on the appropriation of $10.5 million for nonprofits addressing housing and homelessness until this Friday, after hearing testimony that accused a former county division manager and an intended funding recipient of idea theft, misuse of power and cronyism. Big Island Now.
How much power should the Maunakea Authority have? State lawmakers will battle it out this session with competing bills dictating the powers of the Maunakea Stewardship and Oversight Authority. Tribune-Herald.
State stuck with another dilapidated Banyan Drive property. The state is once again on the hook for a decrepit building on Banyan Drive after the previous lessee of the former Country Club Condominium Hotel surrendered its permit for the property. Tribune-Herald.
Keaau-Mountain View library could begin to take shape as early as March. Construction could begin this spring on a new public library adjacent to the Keaau Middle School campus. Tribune-Herald.
Maui
Bill in Hawaiʻi Legislature would speed up rebuilding of affordable housing complexes destroyed in Lahaina fire. Senate Bill 1170 would enable Maui County’s planning director to directly issue special management area permits for four specific projects — with a combined 358 units and a planned 50 more — instead of going through the lengthy process required by the state to build within a certain area of the shoreline. Maui Now.
Maui emergency officials unveil report on 2023 fires, explain delay on completion. Updating Maui County’s 15-year-old emergency operations plan, clarifying responsibilities and improving communications during a disaster were among the 44 recommendations made by the Maui Emergency Management Agency’s after-action report from the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires, which killed 102 people and left thousands homeless. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.
FEMA funding to restore some of Lahaina’s historic buildings. U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz said Hawaii will receive nearly $9.8 million in new federal funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to support the ongoing recovery effort on Maui following the devastating Aug. 8, 2023 2wildfires. Star-Advertiser.
Housing pressures increase on Maui as assistance ends. All households in FEMA Direct Housing, whether in a direct lease unit or the Kilohana Group Site, received 90-day notification letters in November, 60-day notifications in December, and this month received 30-day notification letters informing them of the rent requirement, which begins March 1, and of the process to appeal. Star-Advertiser.
Sewer service status amended for 32 West Maui lots. Maui County’s Department of Environmental Management’s Wastewater Reclamation Division has changed the sewer service status for 32 West Maui lots from inactive to active. Maui News.
Kauai
Kaua‘i counts 440 humpback whales during first marine sanctuary ocean count of 2025. Data collected during the Sanctuary Ocean Count and Great Whale Count combined with other research efforts can help reveal trends in humpback whale occurrence within and amongst whale seasons. Kauai Now. Garden Island.
Friday, January 24, 2025
Chief Justice delivers final State of the Judiciary, bills seek to legalize pro sports betting, send homeless back to home states, double HI-5 container fee, ban landfills over aquifers, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands
Full text of Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald's State of the Judiciary can be found here.
Bills seek to legalize betting on pro sports. At least two bills have been introduced in the state Senate with the intent of cashing in by legalizing limited forms of sports wagering — which is still illegal in Hawaii, despite numerous attempts that have gone bust in recent years. Tribune-Herald.
‘Return-to-Home program’ proposed for houseless people to return to their home states. A bill introduced by 13 representatives in the state House calls for establishing a permanent “Return-to-Home program” with an as yet undetermined amount of funding to return homeless people in Hawaiʻi to their home states. Big Island Now.
Working group proposed to study squatting on private property. State lawmakers want a working group to study the problem of people unlawfully occupying private property without the owner’s consent. Maui Now.
Bills to forbid landfills over aquifers advance. Six bills that seek to prevent new solid waste landfills to be placed above fresh groundwater sources anywhere in Hawaii are under review by the state Legislature. Star-Advertiser.
Bill introduced to double Hawaii beverage container fee. Hawaii’s five cent beverage container fee has been incentivizing recycling since 2005 when it was established. A new bill introduced this legislative session seeks to increase that incentive to 10 cents. KHON2.
Lawmakers looking for answers from UH athletics department. More hard questions from lawmakers for the UH athletics department. They want answers as to how the school can recover from a massive budget shortfall. KHON2.
Hawaii offshore wind farm plan buffeted by Trump order. The political winds in Washington, D.C., have shifted against offshore wind energy plans that include at least one ambitious and controversial project proposed for Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.
End Of Free Summer School Is A ‘Huge Equity Issue’ In Hawaiʻi. Hawaiʻi summer school has been free for students over the past four years, but the end of federal funding means schools must find other ways to pay for the programs. Civil Beat.
Hawaiʻi is over-dependent on cars. Can the state spend more on alternative transportation? A local advocacy group is calling on the state Department of Transportation to spend more of its budget building out alternatives to cars. Hawaiʻi Appleseed released a report late last year that examines how HDOT spent its dollars between fiscal years 2019-2024. Hawaii Public Radio.
Report finds toxic environment in Hawaii jails while overtime abuse rises again. A new report describes a toxic working environment in Hawaii’s jails and prisons that’s making corrections workers sick and some thinking of suicide. Hawaii News Now.
Oahu
Waianae becomes home to 18th kauhale for homeless. A long-vacant homeless shelter in Waianae, near several coastal encampments of people living in tents and improvised shelters, was blessed Thursday for a much-needed opening. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.
‘Help us’: Public housing redevelopment forces 60 Kalihi tenants to relocate. Changes are coming to the Kuhio Park Terrace public housing complex in Kalihi — and they’re stirring concern among some residents. Hawaii News Now.
No charges for HPD officer in alleged abuse case. A 29-year-old Honolulu police officer arrested Jan. 14 after he allegedly put a 25-year-old woman in a chokehold in an Ewa Beach home has not been charged. Timothy Christopher Massie was placed on restriction of police authority. Star-Advertiser.
HPD seeks public’s help after officer’s firearm stolen in Hawaii Kai. According to the Honolulu Police Department, the officer’s duty belt, which contained a firearm, badge, and radio, was taken while the officer’s vehicle was parked. KHON2. KITV4.
Hawaiʻi Finally Revokes Professional Licenses Of Registered Sex Offender. Edward Hsu’s acupuncture and physical therapy licenses had remained in good standing two and a half years after his conviction. The state of Hawaiʻi has revoked the licenses of an acupuncturist and physical therapist convicted two and a half years ago of arranging to have sex with an undercover agent he believed to be a 13-year-old boy. Civil Beat.
Falls of Clyde removal contract awarded. The historic Falls of Clyde is one step closer to being removed from Honolulu Harbor. KHON2.
Hawaii Island
Hospice providers form collaborative. In an effort to ensure sustainable, high-quality care for patients and families across Hawaii, six leading nonprofit hospice providers — including two on Hawaii Island — have joined forces to form the Hawaii Palliative and Hospice Care Collaborative. Tribune-Herald.
Kīlauea Summit Eruption Pauses, Ending 5th Episode. The summit fountain activity stopped suddenly at about 4:30 a.m. Thursday morning, along with the end of lava effusion from the vent. Big Island Video News.
Maui
$62M passenger waiting area dedicated at Kahului Airport on Maui. The new space, which serves Gates 1 to 15 in the airport’s southern concourse, was constructed by connecting two existing waiting areas, each approximately 6,000 square feet, and enclosing the open-air walkway that separated them. Maui Now. Maui News.
West Maui Greenway RAISEs the bar: Federal grant fuels vision for a resilient future. A vision decades in the making is now becoming a reality with the announcement of a $15.43 million federal grant to fund the West Maui Greenway. The grant is from the US Department of Transportation’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity or ‘RAISE’ program. Maui Now.
Kauai
Months after announcing retirement, embattled KPD chief won’t reveal departure date. More than two months after Kauai’s embattled police chief announced he’s retiring, Todd Raybuck still won’t reveal exactly when he’ll step down. Meanwhile, the police commission has made little progress to find his replacement. Hawaii News Now.
Kauai Fire Department celebrates 4 new firemen, 2 promotions. The Kauai Fire Department and the County of Kauai honored the graduates of the 33rd Recruit Class and promotions from the Kauai Fire Department and Ocean Safety Bureau. Garden Island.
Overcrowding prompts Kauaʻi Humane Society to ask public to adopt, foster or volunteer. The organization is currently housing 578 animals — it reported to the Kauaʻi County Council this week — but only employs seven full-time animal care technicians. Hawaii Public Radio.
Thursday, January 23, 2025
Prison guards stressed from staff shortages, former Speaker Saiki finds government job, Legislature mulls toll roads, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands
Saiki returns to help control insurance coverage, costs. Former House Speaker Scott Saiki has returned to state government service following his 2024 election defeat — this time to help consumers obtain and afford homeowner’s insurance. For the last several weeks, Saiki has served as a special assistant with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, which has a mandate to protect Hawaii consumers. Star-Advertiser.
New bill paves the way for toll roads in Hawaii. Toll roads are a foreign concept to Hawaii drivers, but a new bill (SB217) could pave the way for them in the islands giving the Department of Transportation (DOT) tolling authority, focusing first on a very popular, and problematic, highway on Maui. KHON2.
Native Hawaiian leaders object to Trump’s ‘race-blind’ actions. In the last 48 hours, President Donald Trump has swept away diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, halted civil rights investigations, and eliminated White House initiatives to bring minority groups to the table, including an initiative for Native Hawaiian, Asian American and Pacific Islander access to White House decision-making. Now Native Hawaiian leaders fear programs that directly support their community could be next. Hawaii News Now.
Alaska Air’s profit rises despite costly acquisition. Alaska Air Group posted stronger-than-expected earnings Wednesday in its first full quarter report filed since its merger with Hawaiian Airlines, which it anticipates will help generate $1 billion in additional pretax profit over the next three years. Star-Advertiser.
Oahu
City, state take action on fireworks crackdown. To prevent tragedies like the New Year’s Aliamanu fireworks explosion that killed four people and injured dozens, city and state officials are mulling stricter legal penalties for those caught using, buying and selling illegal fireworks throughout Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.
How Honolulu Crime Boss Mike Miske Fed The Illegal Fireworks Market. Miske’s operation sold thousands of fireworks to dealers on Oʻahu between 2008 and 2010. Civil Beat.
Hilton Hawaiian seeks key permits for new tower. Hilton Hawaiian Village got mixed reviews Wednesday at a hearing to seek two critical permits needed to construct its planned Ala Moana Boulevard Tower that will add approximately 515 rooms to what is already Waikiki’s largest resort property. Star-Advertiser.
City holds Honolulu lifeguard recruit tryouts. The city is opening up tryouts Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 at Ala Moana Beach Park. Hawaii News Now.
Hawaii Island
Brothers Exonerated In Dana Ireland Murder Case Sue Hawai’i County Police. Albert Ian and Shawn Schweitzer say police framed them for the 1991 rape and murder of a tourist on the Big Island. Civil Beat. Associated Press. Tribune-Herald. Hawaii News Now.
Mayor Alameda Presents To State Lawmakers. Hawaiʻi County Mayor Kimo Alameda was on Oʻahu Tuesday, making the annual presentation to state lawmakers at the start of the legislative session. The biggest funding concern for Hawaiʻi island is regarding the Big Island's wastewater infrastructure, Mayor Alameda told the joint committee. Big Island Video News.
Hawaiʻi County Council measure asks state to consider humane avian flu control methods. The Hawaiʻi County Council has introduced a resolution urging the state Department of Agriculture to work with local poultry farmers to develop a comprehensive plan to manage the flu. It heard the resolution in a council committee meeting on Tuesday. Hawaii Public Radio.
Kilauea Summit Eruption Resumes As Episode 5 Begins. Kīlauea is once again erupting at the summit caldera within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Big Island Video News. KITV4.
Maui
Maui airport gets $62M upgrade. Hawaii transportation officials unveiled a newly expanded passenger hold room at Kahului Airport on Wednesday. The new 17,000-square-foot space, which serves gates 1 to 15 in the airport’s southern concourse, can seat nearly 500 passengers. Hawaii News Now.
Hale Mahaolu plans to redevelop Lahaina Surf and Front Street Apartments. Hale Mahaolu, a nonprofit affordable housing provider, has announced plans to redevelop its Lahaina Surf property, and the Front Street Apartments, which is owned by the Hawai‘i Housing Finance and Development Corporation. The redevelopment projects are expected to provide 304 units of family housing for Maui residents. Maui Now.
At least 450 residents moved off Maui after the fires, UHERO says. The University of Hawai‘i Economic Research Organization estimates at least 430 to 510 residents have moved out of state because of the fire, and the island's population was reduced by at least 1,000 individuals. That's due to migration, as well as fewer people moving in. Hawaii Public Radio.
Kauai
Vacant lot in Līhu‘e sells for $13.25 million; new owner plans to build U-Haul center. An Arizona-based company purchased 11 acres of vacant land fronting Kūhiō Highway in Līhu‘e for $13.25 million, with plans to build a new U-Haul center, according to the commercial real estate firm that handled the sale for the seller. Kauai Now.
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Governor's State of the State speech highlights affordability, housing; new House rules ban members from disparaging other members on social media, Maui cop indicted in tasing, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands
Full text of Green's State of the State address.
Public preschool, food insecurity among House Democrats' top priorities. The state House of Representatives majority caucus will focus on preparing keiki for school, combating high costs of living and food insecurity across the state. Hawaii Public Radio.
State House updates its rules on public testimony, social media use. The state House of Representatives amended the rules that governs how it operates, from when public testimony gets uploaded to the power of committee chairs. Public testimony will now be available at least two hours before hearings in the House. There will also now be a list of organizations that have bills introduced by request. Lawmakers are prohibited from disparaging one another on social media. Hawaii Public Radio.
Hikers who trespass might pay for search, rescue costs. Bills introduced to the Legislature say trespassing hikers who ignore a warning notice or sign of closure would have to pay all or a portion, but not less than half, of all search and rescue expenses, which typically involve county firefighters, helicopters, pilots, ambulances and medical crews. Star-Advertiser.
22 states, including Hawaii, sue to stop Trump’s birthright citizenship order. Attorneys general from 22 states, including Hawaii, sued President Donald Trump in two federal district courts today to block an executive order that refuses to recognize as citizens the U.S.-born children of immigrants in the country illegally, the opening salvo in what promises to be a long legal battle over the Trump administration’s immigration policies. New York Times. Associated Press. KHON2.
Hawaiʻi ‘Proud Boy’ Founder, US Army Soldier Get Jan. 6 Pardons From Trump. Nicholas Ochs was accused of throwing a smoke grenade toward police while Alexander Poplin is alleged to have beat an officer with a flag pole. Civil Beat.
Oahu
Fireworks Injuries, Deaths Reached 14-Year High On New Year’s. Oʻahu accounted for 84% — 91 people — of the hospitalizations on New Year’s Eve and New Year's Day this year. Injuries on neighbor islands were also higher than last year. Civil Beat.
It’s been 2+ years since a high-profile fireworks bust at OCCC. Where’s the accountability? In December, 2022, a corrections officer was suspected of having boxes filled with illegal fireworks shipped to Oahu Community Correctional Center under inmates' names. Hawaii News Now.
Hawaii Island
School preps new plan for a campus in Kaumana. Connections Public Charter School officials, twice rebuffed for their plans to build a campus on 70-plus acres of leased state land in Kaumana, are set to submit a scaled-down proposal for a 15-acre campus. Tribune-Herald.
Hawaii chicken farmers asked to guard against bird flu. The bird flu virus, H5N1, was first detected in Hawaii in November at a bird sanctuary on Oahu. Since then, the virus has been detected at the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant in December, and last week trace amounts were detected on Kauai. Tribune-Herald.
West Hawaii residents urge crackdown on ‘predatory paid parking providers’. A group of business owners and residents on Tuesday appealed to the County Council’s Committee on Communications, Reports and Council Oversight and urged action against “predatory paid parking providers,” who have dominated much of Kailua Village’s available parking spaces over the last two years. Tribune-Herald.
Maui
Maui police officer indicted and fired after tasing incident. Federal grand jury indicts former Maui police officer on alleged civil rights violation. A former officer with the Maui Police Department is facing decades behind bars after a federal grand jury indicted him on allegations he had no legal justification for using a Taser and then tried to cover up his crime by falsifying a police report. Maui News. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.
Cost Of 450 Temporary Homes For Maui Wildfire Victims: $411,000 Each. Costs are up 60% just this year, and it is unclear what will happen to the homes after 5 years. But families are grateful to be settling into their own homes. Civil Beat.
Fire buffer zone planned for Maui Meadows. Maui County fire officials said they are moving forward with looking at creating a fire buffer zone around a South Maui community and improving the fire code to prevent wildfires. Maui News.
New bills provide Hawaiian language and culture-based learning to county employees. The Maui County Council gave final approval Friday to legislation providing Hawaiian language and culture-based learning for county employees in partnership with University of Hawaiʻi – Maui College. The bills also implement requirements to include ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi in official documents pursuant to Charter Section 13-17. Maui Now.
Kauai
Transformative outcome: Community-built comfort station coming to Hā‘ena State Park. Hā‘ena on Kaua‘i’s scenic North Shore is the newest model of a Hawai‘i community where residents and organizations joined forces to get an important capital improvement project designed, planned and paid for instead of waiting for somebody else to do it for them. Kauai Now.
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Lawmakers grill ag chief over lack of biosecurity progress, gender inequality evident in high school career prep, Maui council passes water measures, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands
Additional inspection requirements aimed at preventing increasing spread of invasive species. U.S. Reps. Ed Case and Jill Tokuda, both Democrats from Hawaiʻi, are battling serious threats to the state’s agriculture, environment and economy by reintroducing the Hawai‘i Invasive Species Protection Act. Big Island Now.
Crisis fund access stirs feud between HTA and DBEDT. The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority’s attempt to dip into another $5 million from its Tourism Special Emergency Fund after declaring a continued tourism emergency related to the softness following the Aug. 8, 2023, Maui wildfires has been blocked by Business, Economic Development and Tourism Director James Kunane Tokioka. Star-Advertiser.
Youth advocate for more local food, climate action this legislative session. Many of the young people meeting with lawmakers are a part of the Climate Future Forum and want to see the state take more action on climate change. Hawaii Public Radio.
Connors speaks about Trump transition, future for U.S. Attorney's office in Hawaii. Clare Connors spent more than two decades delivering justice across the country, most recently as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii appointed by former President Biden and approved in 2022. KITV4.
Hawaii wildfire risks lead to demand for more sheep. As the state looks for innovative ways to prevent wildfires, Hawaii’s struggling livestock industry may be part of the solution. Hawaii News Now.
Girls Are Losing Out In Hawai‘i’s Push To Train Kids For High-Paying Jobs. Career-based education has rapidly gained traction in Hawaiʻi schools, but not all programs are attracting boys and girls equally. Civil Beat.
What The Data Shows About Gender Inequality In High School Career Prep. Use Civil Beat’s searchable database to see how your school is doing when it comes to closing gender gaps in career preparation program. Civil Beat.
Here's why this year's Point in Time Count will not survey unsheltered people. Partners In Care Director Laura Thielen said her group and its partner on the neighbor islands, Bridging The Gap, are only mandated to do the count every other year. She said the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development changed its funding cycle to a two-year term. Hawaii Public Radio.
Oahu
Limits On Honolulu Landfills Could Change After Opposition to Wahiawā Site. A bill proposed by state Rep. Sean Quinlan would bar siting landfills over aquifers but loosen restrictions against placing them near communities. Civil Beat.
DPP software upgrade delayed due to technical snag, city says. The Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting’s upgrade to its electronic plan review software for building permits has suffered a delay, DPP announced. Star-Advertiser.
Downtown business improvement district is proposed. Downtown Honolulu, once bustling with office workers who frequented eateries at lunchtime, has seen a downturn in office space occupancy since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and needs revitalization, say businesses and developers. Star-Advertiser.
Oahu man faces federal charges for allegedly smuggling fish. Shane Takasane faces federal charges after he allegedly ran an illegal aquarium fish smuggling operation with non-native, endangered species and protected Hawaii reef fish for sale starting at $300 each. Star-Advertiser.
Hawaii Island
12 motorists arrested for DUI during week of Jan. 1-5 on Big Island roads. Hawai‘i Police Department officers during the first week of the new year continued their crackdown on motorists who drive under the influence of an intoxicant on Big Island roadways, arresting 12 drivers for DUI from Jan. 1-5. Four of those motorists were involved in traffic crashes. Big Island Now.
Maui
Maui County Council passes bills to ease water use. Bill 180 allows farmers to expand the storage capacity of their private water catchment and storage tank system from 15,000 to 30,000 gallons in agricultural, residential and rural districts. Bill 146 could allow existing water customers to have a farm or ohana dwelling without obtaining an additional water meter. Maui News.
Committee referral item sparks discord among Maui County Council members. It was mostly smooth sailing for the Maui County Council’s first regularly scheduled meeting of 2025, but then decorum hit choppy waters as the Friday agenda drifted to a planned referral of three bills to the Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee. Maui Now.
December housing median price nudges close to all-time record in Maui County. The median sales price of a single-family home in Maui County rose to $1,374,238 in December 2024, a 14.5% increase over the same month in 2023 and just 2.4% less than the all-time highest median price of $1,408,287, set in September 2024. Maui Now.
Mokulele Airlines resumes flights after safety pause, some cancellations remain. According to Mokulele Airlines’ website, it states that only certain flights have been cancelled. KITV4.
Kauai
State urges more biosecurity measures to protect flocks from avian flu. With low levels of the H5 influenza found in the wastewater samples on Kauaʻi, the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture Animal Industry Division urges commercial poultry operations and backyard bird owners to increase biosecurity measures to protect their flocks. Kauai Now.
GoFarm offering course to Kauaʻi residents wanting to become next crop of farmers. This year, no prior experience is required to join the six-month AgXcel course. It is open to anybody who has the passion for learning and for sustainable agriculture and growing food, program manager Lily Nguyen said. Kauai Now.