Hawaii to restrict soda, candy purchases for SNAP users, Kauai bans disposable foam bodyboards, Honolulu official threatens council members with funding loss over confirmation vote, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

USDA: Hawaii can restrict soda purchases for SNAP recipients. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Wednesday  that she has granted waivers to six additional states, including Hawaii, allowing them to prevent the use of food stamps to purchase certain items, like soft drinks and candy. Reuters. 

DBEDT forecasts economic growth of 1.5 percent in 2026. The Hawaiʻi Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism has updated its statewide economic forecast, projecting real gross domestic product growth of 1.6% in 2025 and 1.5% in 2026, according to its latest Quarterly Statistical and Economic Report released Friday. Maui Now.

Lawmaker proposes ‘simple fix’ to prevent damage from land title scams. State Rep. Scot Matayoshi, chairman of the House Consumer Protection Committee, will propose legislation allowing the Bureau of Conveyances to revoke a deed if a notary confirms they did not witness the signatures. Hawaii News Now.

Expiring Tax Credits Could Hamper Hawaiʻi’s Pivot To A Clean Energy Future. Renewable energy developers, with the state’s help, will have to hustle to retain the tax credits that make their latest projects work. Clean energy developers in Hawaiʻi, along with state and county leaders, are scrambling to more quickly build at least a dozen utility-grade solar and wind projects deemed critical for the islands’ future power needs before they lose federal tax credits being phased out by the Trump Administration. Civil Beat.

$18M in loan capital available for non-residential rooftop solar. New funds are open to small businesses and nonprofits seeking to install rooftop solar. The Hawaiʻi Green Infrastructure Authority is making $18 million in loan capital available through the Green Energy Market Securitization program, also known as GEMS. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Here Are The Texts A Honolulu Official Sent Threatening Funding Over Vote. The mayor’s right-hand man says he stands by the messages he sent to two council members ahead of a confirmation hearing. Honolulu Managing Director Mike Formby texted council members Val Okimoto and Radiant Cordero in September that he would withhold funding to their districts if they voted against the mayor’s choice for housing director.  Civil Beat.

More Homeless People Are Dying On Oʻahu. Can We Reverse The ‘Crisis’? An effort underway to bring the death rate down involves outreach, special facilities that offer medical care and shelter, and a controversial new law. Civil Beat.

Federal mediator steps in during Kapi‘olani, union impasse. The two sides — the Hawaii Teamsters &Allied Workers Local 996 and hospital management — met at the table Wednesday, with help from a federal mediator, on the 55th day of the strike. Star-Advertiser.

Shangri La’s request for more events faces pushback from neighbors. After more than 20 years of neighborly relations, there seems to be a shake up, after Shangri La announced it wants to increase the evening events it hosts from seven a year to 30. Hawaii News Now.

Planners review Kualoa Ranch operations, growth. The Honolulu Planning Commission on Wednesday learned of Kualoa Ranch’s existing and proposed improvements at separate, largely agriculture- related parcels within approximately 14 acres of the nearly 4,000-acre ranch in Kaaawa, along the 49-000 block of Kamehameha Highway. Star-Advertiser.

Illegal gambling ring busted in Honolulu; 2 arrested, $135K in machines seized. The Honolulu Police Department executed a search warrant on an illegal gambling operation on Kawaiaha’o St. on Tuesday, resulting in two arrests and the seizing of multiple gaming machines, cash and drug-related paraphernalia. KITV4. Star-Advertiser. 

Hawaii Island

Fire department welcomes arrival of new brush trucks. The Ford F-450 brush trucks, funded by the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, will be assigned to volunteer fire stations in Hawaiian Acres, Na‘alehu and Discovery Harbour. Tribune-Herald.

Police: Holualoa man bitten while trying to help free entangled shark. Police remind the public not to attempt to free or handle entangled marine animals. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News. KHON2.

Nēnē that lost mate has found new partner and is once again nesting in Hilo park. A nēnē that lost her mate in 2024 after it was hit by a car has found a new partner and nesting in Hilo’s Lili‘uokalani Gardens. NTC has faced several tragedies over the past few years. In 2023, her gosling that was abducted from Wailoa State Park was luckily returned to her. She had another gosling that died from toxoplasmosis in 2024. She was also the mate of the nēnē that was struck and killed by a car in 2024 while crossing the street to reach a cat feeding station. Big Island Now.

Maui

Draft environmental review filed for proposed Mākena Mauka residential project. A draft environmental impact statement has been filed with the state Office of Planning and Sustainable Development for a now scaled-back Mākena Mauka master-planned community project in South Maui. Maui Now.

Spiking immigration arrests in Hawaiʻi over past year of Trump’s crackdown causing fear, backlogged cases, challenges for attorneys. On Maui, the migrant community is seeing the cumulative effects of Trump’s first and second terms, the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic and the 2023 Maui wildfires, Block said. People are more scared to participate in civic life and worried about seeking public assistance even after losing their homes or businesses. Maui Now.

State reports second wastewater detection of measles in West Maui County. The latest positive sample was collected Nov. 30 and was tested through the National Wastewater Surveillance System. It follows an earlier detection of measles virus in Maui wastewater from samples collected Nov. 18 in Central and West Maui. Kauai Now.

Kauai

Mayor signs Bill 2976 prohibiting disposable bodyboards to protect Kauai’s environment. The sale and rental of disposable bodyboards will be banned on Kauai next year, thanks to a new bill passed by the County Council this week. Bill No. 2976 was passed unanimously by the Kauai County Council to reduce environmental harm by prohibiting the sale, rental or distribution of disposable polystyrene foam bodyboards in the County of Kauai. Garden Island. Kauai Now.  KHON2.

Free public Wi-Fi now at 7 Kauaʻi County parks, facilities for connectivity, emergency communication. Around Kauaʻi, free public Wi-Fi access now is available at seven county parks and facilities, enabling improved connectivity and emergency communications for lifeguards, hikers, park rangers, government workers, residents and visitors. Kauai Now.

Sustainable food production and agroforestry are the main seeds of this Kauaʻi farm. Intertwining different species is the defining characteristic of Common Ground Kauai. Located on the North Shore of Kauaʻi, the organization’s great connector is food, as the organization’s director of agro-ecology, John Parziale, puts it. Hawaii Public Radio.