Justice Department sues Hawaii over voter data, Hawaii Island fire chief dies at 45, Honolulu council seeks 'open checkbook' online financial program, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii among latest states sued by Justice Department for voter data. The U.S. Justice Department filed federal lawsuits against Colorado, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Nevada on Thursday as part of its effort to collect detailed voting data and other election information across the country.  Associated Press.

Escalating climate disasters could make homes uninsurable, new report warns. Hawaii is facing a rapidly escalating insurance crisis driven by climate change, aging housing, and a sharp retreat by private insurers, according to a new report released by the Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law &Economic Justice. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi Is Reviving A Risky Play To Get Hawaiians Into Homes. Applicants to the Hawaiian Homelands waitlist are receiving leases to homes that aren’t yet built under a heavily criticized program that officials say has been revamped. Civil Beat.

Hawaii slips from ‘Top 10’ in women’s, children’s health. The United Health Foundation ranked Hawaii No. 12 this year in its “2025 Health of Women and Children Report,” down from No. 8 in the U.S. last year, after analyzing 125 measures of health and well- being that include access to care, chronic conditions, and depression, among other factors. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: The Silence Of The Senate: These Legislative Leaders Simply Aren't Talking. Mum’s the word for President Ron Kouchi and Ways and Means Chair Donovan Dela Cruz. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Council bill seeks web-based ‘open checkbook’ into city finances. The leader of the Honolulu City Council is pushing legislation to require the use of real-time, web-based software to effectively shine a more public light on the annual, multibillion dollar budgets and day-to-day finances of the City &County of Honolulu. Star-Advertiser.

With Hunger Growing On Oʻahu, A Push To Put Food Security To A Vote. The Charter Commission is holding a first hearing today of a proposal to create a food security fund using property tax. The proposal, put forward by the Hawaiʻi Foodbank and one of 276 before the commission, proposes directing an estimated $8 million or so a year to food-related programs around the island. Civil Beat.

Desalination plant on Oahu nearing construction after three decades of work. The Honolulu Board of Water Supply has pursued the technology — reverse osmosis — on and off for more than 30 years, and now appears closer than ever to building the first major desalination plant on Oahu to expand and diversify the island’s drinking water supply. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Fire Chief Kazuo Todd dies at 45: He is remembered as hardworking, hands-on public servant.  Todd was appointed fire chief in April 2021 and had served the Hawaii County Fire Department for 21 years. Tribune-Herald. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.  Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.  KITV4. 

Honua Ola eyes new power purchase agreement with Hawaiian Electric. The president of Honua Ola Bioenergy — formerly Hu Honua Bioenergy — said there is “an agreement in principle” for a third power purchase agreement for Honua Ola to sell electricity for Big Island consumers to Hawaiian Electric Co. Tribune-Herald.

Islandwide drought lingers despite some rain. The entire Big Island remains in drought, despite higher rainfall totals the last couple of months and climatologists having declared weak La Nina conditions in equatorial Pacific waters. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui set for final vote on rental conversions. Maui Mayor Richard Bissen’s Bill 9 that would phase out more than 6,000 short-term vacation rentals and convert them into long-term housing heads for a final vote today before the County Council. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

On-demand microtransit ride service could replace least-popular Maui Bus routes. Two Central and Upcountry Maui Bus routes with the lowest ridership in the system could be replaced by an on-demand, flexible ride service that works like a hybrid between Uber and a public bus with the same public bus rates.  Maui Now.

Lahaina Harbor begins phased reopening, a key milestone after 2023 fires. More than two years into the rebuilding of the picturesque community that once served as the seat of the Hawaiian Kingdom, this week’s soft opening of Lahaina Harbor will mark a significant milestone in the town’s recovery from the deadly August 2023 wildfire. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

Kaua‘i Christmas Parade Float Sparks Uproar Over ‘Demonic’ Theme. The costumed Krampus characters were intended to represent another culture’s holiday tradition. Some left feeling scared, others were amused. Civil Beat.