Audit blasts DOE local foods initiative, US to exhume 88 unknown USS Arizona casualties, Honolulu council defers affordable rental bill, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Push To Feed Hawaiʻi Kids More Local Food Is ‘Structural Disaster’. The DOE has not taken the effort seriously and has no real plan for how to meet a legislative mandate to spend 30% of its food budget locally by 2030, according to a state audit. Civil Beat.

Full report on school lunch program. Office of the Hawaii Auditor.

Free student meals back on the table at the Legislature. On Wednesday the House Committee on Finance moved along House Bill 1779, which would give all students free breakfast and lunch at school starting with the 2029-2030 school year. The measure also includes public charter school students. Hawaii Public Radio.

Officers would have to expose their faces under bills. House and Senate bills that would prohibit law enforcement officers from covering their faces and limit local law enforcement cooperation with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials remain alive and appear ready to move into the opposite chamber of the state Capitol for further consideration. Star-Advertiser.

US aims to exhume and identify 88 USS Arizona crew members buried as unknowns after Pearl Harbor. The U.S. military plans to exhume the remains of 88 sailors and Marines killed when the USS Arizona was bombed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and who were buried as unknowns in a Honolulu cemetery. Associated Press.

People In Crisis Still Keep Their Guns. Can Hawaiʻi Change That? Lawmakers want to raise awareness about the state’s red flag law, which has been virtually unused in the last six years — despite a significant increase in gun deaths. Civil Beat.

State launches 2026 Hawaiʻi Quality of Life and Well-Being Survey. Share your thoughts about quality of life in Hawaiʻi with new survey. Multiple choice and short answer questions range from cost of living to mental health to transportation. Although the survey is anonymous, there are some demographic questions to allow researchers to determine if certain issues are impacting some groups more than others. Hawaii Public Radio. Big Island Now. 

Oahu 

Council defers affordable rentals measure pending further study. Introduced in February by Council Vice Chair Andria Tupola, Bill 18, which proposes amendments to the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu that govern the city’s affordable rental housing laws, was postponed due to a mixed level of support from many in the development community. Star-Advertiser.

City considers loan forgiveness to recruit engineers, cut permit backlog. During a city briefing Thursday, officials said staffing shortages at the Department of Planning and Permitting remain a major factor slowing projects across Oahu, including affordable housing developments. Hawaii News Now.

Agreement opens Kolekole Pass in emergencies. Military and state officials have signed a new memorandum of understanding establishing procedures to open Kolekole Pass during emergencies to support communities along the Waianae coast. Star-Advertiser.

State Agrees To Settle Lawsuit Over Oʻahu Jail Suicide. Lawyers for the defense and prosecution called the jail to warn that a prisoner was suicidal. Then the inmate hanged himself in a cell. Civil Beat.

Police release findings of skeletal remains on Mid-Pacific Institute campus. The human skeletal remains found on Mid-Pacific Institute’s Manoa campus in January appear to be ancient, police said Thursday. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources will further review the remains. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

$13.4 Million In FEMA Funds For Waiānuenue Avenue Bridge. The modernized bridge will be designed to withstand earthquake forces and erosion from flooding. Big Island Video News.

New Hawaii pilot program aims to curb evictions, keep disputes out of court. A new statewide pre-eviction mediation law that went into effect last month has already had success in keeping Hawaii Island tenants in their homes. Tribune-Herald.

Water Restriction Notice Issued After Honomū Well Breakdown. Affected customers are required to reduce water use by at least 25 percent until further notice. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Maui mayor sets housing and rebuilding as top priorities in 2026 State of the County Address. Mayor Richard Bissen highlighted Maui County’s continued progress across housing, recovery, well-being and economic stability, while outlining actions to strengthen communities and build a resilient future. Maui Now.

Maui Wildfire Lawyers Vying For $1 Billion Payday. Lawyers for Maui wildfire victims are lining up for a potential $1 billion payday, pending a ruling by Circuit Court Judge Peter Cahill. But the judge may have a say in the matter, and could reduce the amount paid to those lawyers who represented individual fire victims. Civil Beat.

Long-awaited affordable housing project is underway on Lānaʻi. The first affordable housing project on Lānaʻi in 35 years is set to begin construction this year. Kaiāulu O Lānaʻi will offer 72 rent-to-own units. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui Food Bank purchases eight-acre Central Maui parcel to build future resiliency campus. Maui Food Bank has completed the purchase of an eight-acre parcel of land located at the corner of Kūihelani Highway and Waikō Road in Central Maui for $9.25 million. Maui Now.

Kauai

Līhuʻe Airport’s improvement plan includes modernization, not adding capacity. Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation officials presented a draft optimization plan for Līhuʻe Airport on Tuesday evening, emphasizing the effort is focused on modernization and efficiency — and not expansion. Kauai Now.

Four months later, updates on a Kauaʻi immigration raid. Four months ago, Kauaʻi County Councilmember Fern Holland watched an immigration raid unfold across from her home. It was at 4 a.m., and when it was all over, 44 people — mostly Venezuelan nationals — were picked up. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Foodbank Kauai provides help for TSA workers. The Hawaii Foodbank Kauai rolled out its recently dedicated Mobile Pantry refrigerated transporter to provide more than 150 emergency food packages for local Transportation Security Administration and U.S. Coast Guard workers caught up in a partial government shutdown. Garden Island

Legislative leaders unwilling to cancel promised income tax cuts, Blangiardi approves Skyline expansion plan, FEMA delays Maui fire aid, $4M-plus Big Island homes could see property tax hike, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiʻi Lawmakers Push Back On Green’s Plan To Defer Tax Cuts. A proposal floated by House Finance Chair Chris Todd would continue much of the tax relief that was promised in 2024. A committee of state lawmakers focused on finances made major changes Wednesday to proposed legislation from Gov. Josh Green to repeal the next five years of scheduled annual state income tax cuts. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers consider prohibiting food packaging made with PFAS. House Bill 644 would prohibit the sale, distribution or use of single-use plastic ware that contains perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl — also known as PFAS. Hawaii Public Radio.

Panic Buttons In Schools: $7 Million Effort Is Delayed A Year. The state entered into a contract to provide panic buttons to Hawaiʻi schools two years ago, but DOE campuses still don’t have access to the technology. Civil Beat.

Bill could place additional support in math classrooms. A bill advancing at the state Capitol would establish a statewide numeracy coaching program in Hawaii public schools, as lawmakers and education officials grapple with persistent gaps in math achievement. Star-Advertiser.

New state initiative helps schools buy local produce directly from farms. The Hawaii State Department of Education (HIDOE) said the initiative is part of the department’s broader farm-to-school program, which supports food sustainability in the state and aligns with Act 175’s goal to improve student health while strengthening the agricultural economy. Hawaii News Now.

Out-of-state physicians could be allowed to practice some telehealth. Lawmakers are advancing a measure that would allow out-of-state physicians to practice telehealth in Hawaiʻi if the service is not available locally. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Honolulu mayor approves Skyline rail system expansion plan. On March 4, Mayor Rick Blangiardi signed Bill 60 into law. It gives HART the green light to start planning future rail extensions, even though funding to build them is not in place yet. KHON2. KITV4. 

DTS mulls higher fees, more citations for public parking. The Honolulu Department of Transportation Services is contemplating increased parking fees and high-tech parking citations to free up often congested city-owned public parking stalls on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Digital signs sought for stadium zone. Outdoor digital advertising screens would still be prohibited in Waikiki, but could soon become a part of the New Aloha Stadium district, two key Senate committees decided this week. Star-Advertiser.

Dillingham Plaza is getting a major makeover — and a Costco Gas station. A massive makeover is in the works for an aging retail center in Kalihi, but some are concerned that at least one possible new tenant may add to traffic congestion in the area. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

HPD commander demoted for allegedly sharing details of teen sex assault victim. Juvenile victim’s name and personal information were spread on social media. Ryan Nishibun, who has more than 35 years of service with HPD, has served as the acting deputy chief of field operations since last August, following the retirement of Keith Horikawa. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Council bill targets some ‘luxury’ homes in Hawaii County. The Hawaii County Council voted 5-1 on Wednesday to pass a measure creating a new residential property tax classification for luxury homes worth more than $4 million. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now. 

County bill to cap private parking rates in Historic Kailua Village postponed to consult lawyers. A bill proposing free parking and a cap on hourly and daily rates at privately owned lots in the Historic Kailua Village was postponed Tuesday to allow the Hawai‘i County Council to consult with its attorneys about the legality of the measure. Big Island Now. Big Island Video News.

North Kona’s Primary Aquifer Provides Plenty Of Water — For Now. The Keauhou aquifer’s current usage leaves room for more development, but a changing climate could significantly undercut that. Civil Beat.

Maui

FEMA Maui Fire Aid Delayed By Top Trump Official, Senators Say. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s policy of personally reviewing large grants held up a request to renew emergency housing aid on Maui, a new report says. Civil Beat.

Maui group empowers residents during blackouts with backup batteries. Organizers of the Power Back project are running a pilot program to loan the batteries and panels to community members with backup power needs. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kahului Airport’s main runway built during World War II prioritized for first reconstruction project. Runway 2-20, the only one on Maui long enough to handle those large jets and cargo planes that arrive from the mainland and keep the island’s economy purring, has needed 12 major resurfacing projects over the years to stay functional. Maui Now.

Kauai

Hawaii Department of Transportation-Airports Division seeks input. More than a dozen people opted to spend their lunch hour with the Lihue Airport Optimization Plan team on Wednesday at the Moikeha Building Conference Rooms. Garden Island.

Division of Motor Vehicles, Real Property offices to close for training. Kaua‘i County Division of Motor Vehicles and Real Property Assessment and Collections Section will be closed March 11 to accommodate staff training. Kauai Now.

Tulsi Gabbard in tight spot over Iran war, pre-built homes bill advances in Legislature, Blangiardi trims Honolulu spending in proposed budget, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Iran War Puts Tulsi Gabbard, Regime Change Critic, In An Awkward Spot. The former Hawaiʻi congresswoman was an outspoken critic of U.S.-led regime change wars. Then she went to work for Trump. Perhaps no other person in President Donald Trump’s cabinet has been more outspoken against war with Iran than his Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.  Civil Beat.

Hawaii income tax cut freeze debate begins at Legislature. Robust debate over Gov. Josh Green’s proposal to cancel future state income tax cuts took place Tuesday at the Legislature during a public hearing on one of two bills introduced to implement the stoppage. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi House advances Immigration Reform Bills that could reshape State's role. A package of immigration-related bills is advancing at the State Capitol, proposals that could significantly reshape how Hawaii works with federal immigration authorities. KITV4.

A bill that would create a framework for a pre-built home industry in Hawai‘i advances. A bill that would establish a statewide program for pre-built homes, which is touted to help with Hawaiʻi’s housing crisis, on Monday passed unanimously out of the House Finance committee. Kauai Now.

Rooftop solar incentives could be retooled toward lower-income households. Lawmakers may restructure the state’s signature renewable energy tax credit. The Renewable Energy Technologies Income Tax Credit will cover up to 35% of the cost of a new rooftop solar installation, but the total amount that applicants receive is often less. Hawaii Public Radio.

3 seek to represent Iwilei, Chinatown in House. Gov. Josh Green now will have a choice between the manager of a state House representative’s office, the chair of the Chinatown-­Downtown neighborhood board or a labor law attorney to represent Sand Island-­Iwilei-Chinatown in the House. Nominees are Nadia Alves, Ernest D. K. Caravalho and  Michael “Cov” Ratcliffe. Star-Advertiser.

Indicted CEO’s security firm has Hawaii law enforcement contracts. SaferWatch monitors state tip lines for illegal fireworks, gun crimes. The CEO of SaferWatch, a security monitoring company with active contracts in Hawaii, has been indicted on federal bribery charges in the district of New York. Hawaii News Now.

Ahi market prices double affecting businesses operations. The United Fishing Agency says that at this time of year, market changes are common, but some consumers say the changes they’ve seen previously have been the biggest change since the pandemic. KHON2.

Oahu

Mayor unveils $5.08B budget package for 2027. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration Monday formally unveiled its proposed $5.08 billion budget package for the 2027 fiscal year, which begins July 1.  The proposed budget is $133.6 million less than Honolulu’s current total budget of more than $5.2 billion, which the mayor formally signed in June 2025. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.  KITV4. 

Embezzler Or Victim? Native Hawaiian Contractor’s Family Fights Back. In various court filings, Christopher Dawson’s sister is pushing back against the DOJ narrative that he swindled a federal program meant to help his people. Civil Beat.

Zoning questions raised over proposed Hawaii Kai development. The plan would build dozens of new homes near Koko Villas, but residents said there are concerns over zoning and whether the project should move forward. KHON2.

Annual Waianae Coast drill simulates emergency evacuation through Kolekole Pass. Military, city, and state officials simulated an emergency evacuation Tuesday that involved dozens of vehicles using a one-lane road out of the Waianae Coast as part of an annual drill. Hawaii News Now.

City to auction off abandoned, towed vehicles. Law enforcement-towed vehicles will be auctioned Wednesday, March 4, starting at 8 a.m. Towed and abandoned vehicles will be auctioned Thursday starting at 8 a.m. Hawaii News Now.

Waianae man allegedly killed woman in fight over an iPad. Shaison R. Laupola, a 36-year-old man allegedly shot and killed the 26-year-old female cousin of his 16-year-old girlfriend Friday morning after a dispute over a missing iPad, according to state court documents. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Government Funds Hilo Shelter Without Safety Exits Or Fire Inspection. Hale Maluhia provides emergency shelter to vulnerable women but has never been inspected by county fire inspectors. Staff say the units are safe. Hope Services Hawaiʻi received $575,000 from Hawaiʻi County’s Housing and Homelessness Fund in 2025 to operate the Hale Maluhia shelter, and was awarded another $1.5 million in the most recent allocations from the fund. It also received $362,000 from the state Office of Housing and Homelessness last year. Civil Beat.

Renovation, expansion eyed for YWCA’s Hilo campus. The YWCA of Hawaii Island is planning a multi-million dollar renovation to its downtown Hilo campus, including a new building for its preschool program that will increase the student headcount by 40%.  Tribune-Herald. 

Laupāhoehoe Transfer Station Reopens Friday, March 6. A $2.57 million improvement project has been completed at the Laupāhoehoe Recycling and Transfer Station. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. 

Big Island resident rescued out of closed area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park dies. The National Park Service is investigating a fatality after a Hawai‘i Island resident was rescued out of a closed area of the Kīlauea caldera within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Big Island Now.

Maui

Potable water allowance for Kapalua golf course interim irrigation reversed. An environmental law firm has prevailed in an effort to prevent the owner of two Maui golf courses from using potable water for temporary irrigation during shortages of stream water. Star-Advertiser.

Bissen’s State of the County Address coming March 5. Mayor Richard T. Bissen Jr. will present the 2026 State of the County Address from 5 to 7 p.m. March 5 inside the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s Castle Theater. Maui News.

State publishes final EIS for new Central Maui wastewater facility in Waikapū. The state Office of Planning and Sustainable Development has published a final environmental impact statement for a new 14.9-acre Central Maui Wastewater Reclamation Facility on former agricultural lands in Waikapū located between Honoapiʻilani and Kūihelani highways. The department will also install portions of a sewage pipeline and a recycled water pipeline to connect the site with the future 1,400-unit Waikapū Country Town development. Maui Now.

First for-sale affordable housing project in 35 years set for Lanai. Maui County has committed $17 million in startup funding for Kaiāulu O Lānaʻi, the island’s first for-sale affordable housing project in more than 35 years. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Locals Were Crowded Out Of This Kauaʻi Beach. That May Change Soon. Years in the making, the transfer of Hā‘ena Beach Park from the county to the state is intended to alleviate longstanding parking issues and reclaim access for residents.  Civil Beat.

Hospitality company operating 5 Hawaiʻi restaurants shift to employee ownership. The Hawaiʻi-based hospitality company that operates Lava Lava Beach Club in Kapaʻa has transitioned from private ownership to employee ownership. Kauai Now.

Gas prices rising as Iranian-Americans rally, inspectors allowing 'lightly infested' goods into state, Skyline downtown leg delayed, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Average price of gas jumps 11 cents overnight in the US, AAA reports. Hawaii gas prices could increase amid Middle East conflict. Hawaii is thousands of miles away from the Middle East, but experts say the conflict in Iran could trickle down to higher prices at the pump in the islands. KHON2. Associated Press. KITV4.

Former Iran residents living in Hawaii share opposing views on war. Organizers of a rally at the state Capitol Monday evening said there was a similar protest in Hilo at the same time, and others plan to have another rally at the Capitol to voice their opposition to the Trump administration on March 28. Hawaii News Now.

Inspectors Let ‘Lightly Infested’ Goods Into State. Lawmakers Want It To End. Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole is probing the department for evidence of what he believes to be a ‘shadow policy’ of favoring industries the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity is in charge of regulating. Civil Beat.

Bill targets DOE complex superintendents. A proposal to cap the number of top administrators at the state Department of Education and require additional oversight of complex area superintendents received support from the Hawaii State Teachers Association, while many school-level administrators and complex area leaders submitted testimony in opposition. |The bill passed out of the Senate Ways and Means Committee on Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Tourism industry could be required to educate workers on human trafficking. Workers in the tourism industry could soon be getting mandatory education on human trafficking. A bill moving through the state Legislature would mandate a training program on how to spot possible trafficking victims, what to do, and who to contact. Hawaii Public Radio.

Accessing ADHD medication in Hawaiʻi can be a huge headache. Here's why. Stimulant drugs are a common treatment for ADHD. But there's been a nationwide shortage of those medications since 2022. The shortage has affected Adderall and variations of methylphenidate, commonly known under brand names Ritalin or Concerta. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Skyline’s downtown opening in 2031 could be delayed. Design delay involving the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation’s primary contractor could postpone Segment 3’s scheduled revenue service date of March 1, 2031, for the rail line being built to Kakaako, according to a Federal Transit Administration consultant. Star-Advertiser.

Aloha By Zippy’s Stadium? Oʻahu Venue Naming Rights Could Be At Play. To raise revenue for its redevelopment, officials of the Hālawa arena want to join the legions of mainland sports venues named for corporate sponsors. Civil Beat.

New venue opening at the Ala Moana Hotel as the Hawaii Convention Center partially shuts down. With the Hawaii Convention Center now partially shut down until 2028, a new event venue has popped up across the street to fill the void.  The new $15 million venue called Limelight Hawaii is attached to the Ala Moana Hotel. KITV4.

Navy petty officer sentenced to prison in sextortion case.  Navy Petty Officer Rumaldo Valdez, 22, ho sextorted children into cutting themselves for him was sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison today and ordered to pay restitution to 11 underage victims, according to U.S. District Court records. Star-Advertiser.

Man charged with attempted murder after allegedly attacking police officer. Braxton Rabago, 33, is charged with first-degree attempted murder, second-degree assault, and second-degree attempted assault. Hawaii News Now.

Investigator in prosecutor’s office pleads not guilty in witness intimidation case. Christopher Moon, 51, an investigator in the Honolulu prosecutor’s office has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges after he was accused of domestic violence and allegedly tried to prevent the victim from moving forward with the case. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Sherry Bird Selected First Female Deputy Chief Of Hawaiʻi Police Department. Police Chief Reed K. Mahuna has selected Assistant Chief Sherry Bird as deputy chief. The selection is pending approval by the Hawaii County Police Commission. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.  Big Island Now.

Hawai‘i County Council to take up paid parking bill in Historic Kailua Village. For years, business owners and residents in downtown Kona have been advocating for relief from the economic hardship they say is caused by the exorbitant parking rates, which now range from $9 to $21 an hour, although some lots offer free time or discounted prices for residents. Big Island Now.

Maui

The Stakes Have Never Been Higher For Maui Planning Department. The third Maui County planning director in three years plans to prioritize post-wildfire rebuilding and tackle complex local issues. Civil Beat.

Ex-MPD officer receives prison for tasing man who surrendered. Carlos Nahuel Frate,  a 41-year-old ex-Maui Police Department officer was sentenced to nearly five and a half years in federal prison for using a Taser on Jan. 6, 2024, on a suspect who had surrendered, was on the ground, and pleaded with him to stop. Star-Advertiser.

1,935 whales spotted across Hawaiʻi, 847 off Maui during second count for the 2026 season. On Maui, 847 whales were observed, the most of any location, followed by 337 on Kauaʻi, 288 on Oʻahu, 244 on Hawaiʻi Island, 166 on Molokaʻi and 53 on Lānaʻi. Maui Now.

Kauai

Three locations identified as priorities in Hawai‘i Tourism Authority’s draft Destination Management Action Plan for Kaua‘i. The draft of the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority’s latest destination management action plan for Kaua‘i has homed in on three priority hotspots: Kapaʻa – Wailua Corridor, Hoʻopiʻi Falls and Kōkee and Waimea Canyon. Kauai Now.

Life’s Choices awards $1 million. Prosecuting Attorney Rebecca Like recently announced the recipients of $1,000,000 in grant funding. Thirteen non-profit community organizations will be receiving grants through the Life’s Choices Adult and Adolescent Mental Health and Substance Abuse Grant Program.  Garden Island.

Hawaiian Home Lands rent-to-own prospect has few takers. The state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands awarded 25 leases on Saturday for apartments in its recently acquired 82-unit Courtyards at Wai­pouli complex on Kauai where beneficiary households with low to moderate incomes can buy renovated apartments for far below market value after 11 years of paying below-market rent. Star-Advertiser.

Promised income tax cuts circling the drain, state pulling slowly out of recession, overtourism hotspots identified on Big Island and Maui, $7B airports modernization advances, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Suddenly Hawaiʻi Lawmakers Aren't Talking Much About Those Big Tax Cuts. The prospect of having to backpedal on promised tax breaks isn’t going over well in an election year. The killjoy this year is a politically painful chore Gov. Josh Green has assigned to state lawmakers. He wants them to “pause” a series of scheduled state income tax cuts that would save Hawaiʻi taxpayers billions of dollars in the years ahead. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi Gradually Moving Beyond Recession, UHERO Report Says. The University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization has published its first quarter forecast for 2026. Researchers say the Hawaiʻi economy is moving beyond last year’s mild recession, but the recovery will be gradual.  Big Island Video News.

$7 billion overhaul of Hawaii airports advances. The state Department of Transportation is advancing a $7 billion pipeline of airport construction and modernization projects over the next six to seven years, a scale Hawaii has never attempted before as it works to overhaul terminals, airfields and support facilities statewide. Star-Advertiser.

Kidney Nonprofit Charged Taxpayers ‘Outrageous’ Prices For Covid Tests. During the pandemic, the National Kidney Foundation of Hawaiʻi charged island taxpayers premium prices for Covid tests – up to $166 per test – as millions of public dollars flowed to the nonprofit’s consultant, a man who may now be at the center of a major political scandal.  Civil Beat.

State faces scrutiny for treatment of homeless with mental illness. A deepening clash between state lawmakers, community providers and the state Department of Health is putting renewed scrutiny on how Hawaii handles defendants with serious mental illness — and whether gaps in the system are fueling a costly “revolving door” between jail, the Hawaii State Hospital and the streets. Star-Advertiser.

Surveyed residents support the building of community kauhale.  Some 92% of people surveyed  said they support kauhale, or tiny homes, for “the working poor,” according to the survey by HomeAid Hawai‘i, which expects to construct 30 kauhale on all islands by the end of the year. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. 

Hawaiʻi Skies: Total lunar eclipse in the early hours of March 3. Hawaiʻi is one of the only places in the world in the direct path of a lunar eclipse in the early hours of Tuesday, March 3. The moment of "maximum eclipse" is expected around 1:30 a.m. local time. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Social Security numbers of over 1.2M ‘potentially’ exposed in UH cyberattack. The Social Security numbers belonging to 1,241,020 people were “potentially” exposed during a cyberattack that was initially discovered Aug. 31 by the University of Hawaii Cancer Center’s Epidemiology Division. Among the records “possibly exposed” are Social Security numbers and driver’s license numbers from state Department of Transportation records collected in 2000 and Honolulu voter registration records from 1998. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

University of Hawaii begins search for Manoa chancellor. The decision separates the roles of UH system president and UH Manoa chancellor — a dual structure that has been in place in recent years — following months of discussion by the University of Hawaii Board of Regents. Star-Advertiser.

West Oahu refinery to produce plant-based biofuels.  Par Hawaii proposes that part of its 151.4-acre facility at 91-325 Komohana St. in Kapolei will now produce low-carbon-­emission, plant-based biofuels, including renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel and renewable liquefied petroleum gas, among others. Star-Advertiser.

Event marks milestone to bring Honolulu Chinatown’s first arch. A groundbreaking ceremony was held Saturday for Honolulu Chinatown’s first arch, to be erected in about six months at the entrance of Kekaulike Mall at King Street. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi Attorney Accused Of Lying During Kealoha Trial Could Face Discipline. Kevin Sumida could face punishment ranging from a private admonition to suspension.  Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

The Thirty Meter Telescope Is Still Alive — For Now. The TMT project is back under consideration for federal support, but it must complete a final design phase without taxpayer assistance. Civil Beat.

3 priority hotspots identified in Hawai‘i Tourism Authority’s draft management plan for Big Island. The draft of the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority’s latest destination management action plan for Hawai‘i Island has honed in on three priority hotspots – sites under strain that are cherished by residents and visitors – Keaukaha, Kealakekua and Ka Lae, also known as South Point. Big Island Now.

Hearings To Be Held On Kaʻūpūlehu Fisheries Management Plan. As the end of the 10-year “Try Wait” fishing rest period at Kaʻūpūlehu nears, the State plans to create a Fisheries Management Plan for the area. Big Island Video News.

Keaau health center might be ready by 2028; cost of new facility could reach $90M. The estimated cost for a new outpatient medical facility to be built in Keaau by Hilo Benioff Medical Center has increased from $60 million to as much as $90 million. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui vacation rentals face more challenges after setback. Owners of over 4,000 short-term vacation rental units on Maui and Molokai face more uncertainty after the Maui Planning Commission voted overwhelmingly against a proposal to create new hotel zoning districts that would allow owners to continue renting to tourists over local renters. Star-Advertiser.

Maui’s overtourism hotspots Road to Hāna, Honolua Bay targeted for relief under new management plan. After residents across Maui identified a long list of places they feel are overrun, desecrated or disrespected by the island’s millions of annual visitors, the draft of the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority’s latest destination management action plan has homed in on two priority hotspots: the Road to Hāna and Honolua Bay. Maui Now.

Community skeptical of golf course owner’s proposal to buy West Maui water system. The owner of two Kapalua golf courses has a plan to solve water issues in West Maui that would involve investing more than $30 million into acquiring and repairing Maui Land & Pineapple Co.’s water system before turning it over to a state agency. Maui Now.

Kauai

Līhuʻe Airport Optimization Plan public meetings scheduled. The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation will conduct a series of public meetings to provide the community with information about the Līhuʻe Airport Optimization Plan and to offer an opportunity for public input. Kauai Now.

Tanks project for Kapa‘a Homesteads ongoing until May. The work is occurring from Kapuni Road at Kapahi Park to near the Kapahi Road intersection. The work is part of the Kapa’a Homesteads Tanks Project, which is being performed by the Department of Water and its contractor, Hawaiian Dredging Company Inc. Kauai Now.

Celebrating ‘Olelo Hawaii: The Native Hawaiian Language is thriving on Kauai and Niihau. February is recognized as Mahina ‘Olelo Hawaii, or “Hawaiian Language Month,” and Kauai joined the statewide celebrations and festivities. Garden Island.