Lawsuit challenges Legislature's shell bills, Hurricane Kiko to weaken to tropical storm north of state today, Honolulu council seeks audit on homeless response, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Suit Challenges How Legislators Turn Blank Bills Into Mid-Session Surprises. League of Women Voters targets the use of short-form measures that start out as empty shells. The Hawaiʻi Legislature’s practice of introducing mostly blank placeholder bills and then transforming them into substantive measures mid-session is unconstitutional, the League of Women Voters of Hawaiʻi says in a new lawsuit. Civil Beat.

Major changes, political conflict create confusion over COVID-19 vaccines in Hawaii.  While the federal approval process for COVID-19 vaccines over past years was routine, this year’s process is full of strife and disruption, with conflicting recommendations. Star-Advertiser.

Hurricane Kiko is weakening on a forecast path expected to take it north of Hawaii. As of 5 a.m. today, maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 85 mph (140 km/h) with higher gusts.  Additional weakening is forecast during the next few days, and Kiko is expected to become a tropical storm by the end of the day.  Associated Press. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.  National Hurricane Center.  Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.  KITV4. 

Hawaii Army National Guard meets its recruiting goals. After a yearslong slump in efforts to recruit new guardsmen and retain old ones, the Hawaii Army National Guard is finally making its recruiting goals. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolululu City Council requests audit of homeless response program. The Office of the City Auditor is expected to delve into the administration and operation of the city’s homeless response program currently overseen by the Honolulu Emergency Services Department. Star-Advertiser.

Police report progress on shuttering illegal game rooms on Oahu. The number of arrests at illegal game rooms on Oahu so far this year has surpassed the total for 2024, as Honolulu police work with city planning officials to shut down the operations, which have often been the scene of shootings, robberies and other violent and illicit activities. Star-Advertiser.

State agency to further invest in troubled Kakaako condo. The Block 803 Waimanu, an “extraordinary boutique condominium” midrise in Kakaako is headed for an extraordinary intervention by a state agency trying to salvage a nearly $10 million investment in the project. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi's wealthiest ZIP code may surprise you. 96814 is the ZIP code for the Ala Moana-Kakaʻako area of Honolulu. And it's the wealthiest ZIP code in the state, when you count not just home values but such data points as per capita income, education and population density. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiʻi's only marine debris recycling facility searches for funding to stay afloat. Hawaiʻi’s only marine debris recycling center is running at full capacity after opening last summer. It’s part of Hawaiʻi Pacific University’s Center for Marine Debris Research — and a full-time staff of four is turning plastic trawl nets into building materials, roads and more. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiian Airlines, Honolulu CC expand aviation training. Honolulu Community College and Hawaiian Airlines are expanding their partnership with the launch of the Maintenance Technician Development Program, a new initiative to train and hire the next generation of aircraft maintenance technicians. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Council advances charter amendment on Environmental Management director qualifications.  The Hawaii County Council on Wednesday passed the first of three required readings of a bill that would amend the County Charter to change qualifications for the director of Environmental Management. Tribune-Herald.

What to do about feral cats? Group stresses education, sterilization in County Council presentation. Aloha Animal Alliance $10 million is spent annually on animal welfare today between county Animal Services, county and state-funded grants, and other donations from animal welfare nonprofits. About $4.7 million came from the county. Tribune-Herald.

Big Island police dog dies after being left in hot car. A police dog with the Hawai‘i Police Department died Thursday after he was left in a police car for a long period of time. KITV4.

Hawai’i Island police post clarification regarding social media video of raid in Puna. The Hawaiʻi Police Department issued a statement clarifying that the activity in the Kalapana area was related to a fugitive arrest case involving illegal drugs and guns, not immigration enforcement. Big Island Now.

Immigration detainer, ‘substantial real property’ in labor trafficking case. A 26-year-old Kona woman accused of forcing a minor to work has substantial real property, according to the state attorney general’s office. Ludin Yorleny Pena Miranda on Thursday pleaded not guilty of nine counts of first-degree labor trafficking. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui County drums up interest in more 'empathetic' approach to relocating homeless individuals. The Maui County Council on Thursday deferred the drafted set of rules, including those that would have required the county to give notice to residents and outreach providers before encampments were removed, and inform those displaced about shelters and “safe zones” where they can stay. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui commercial boating industry struggling while waiting for Lahaina Harbor to reopen, tourism to rebound. Most companies were just recovering from the pandemic’s six-month shutdown of tourists to Maui, when the Lahaina fire led to visitors being told initially to stay away, a message that still lingers two years later. Maui Now.

Burying power lines along Lahainaluna Road part of Hawaiian Electric’s grid hardening plan. The plans include burying 2.5 miles of power lines along Lahainaluna Road, which could be done in conjunction with Maui County’s plan to widen the major thoroughfare in Lahaina. Maui Now.

Solar nanogrids bring energy independence to these off-grid Molokaʻi families. With federal financial assistance from the Department of Energy, technical and design support as well as funding were funneled through Sandia National Laboratories and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

New boat for Kauaʻi Sea Scouts arrives at Nāwiliwili Harbor. For the first time in 15 years, the Sea Scouts of Kauaʻi have a new boat with the support of the local community. Kauai Now.

Kaua’i volunteers mobilize for 40th Annual International Coastal Cleanup. The Ocean Conservancy is celebrating 40 years of action and impact, scheduled for Sept. 20 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., marking one of the largest single-day efforts worldwide to clean trash from beaches and waterways. Kauai Now.