Voters left out of selecting Senate candidates, Honolulu mayor vetoes budget cuts in spending bill, Coco Palms developer gets $431M financing, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

New law cuts voters out of picking state Senate candidates. The governor will pick a temporary replacement until a special election in November. And then the parties will pick the candidates. Sen. Michelle Kidani waited just long enough to retire from her Mililani seat to trigger a new law governing her replacement that will cut voters out of much of the process. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio. 

Statewide workshop series to help community organizations better access 'Green Fee' funding opportunities. Act 96 established a dedicated funding source to support Hawaiʻi’s environmental priorities. With approximately $129 million allocated through the state budget, many community organizations will have an unprecedented opportunity to secure resources for projects that protect Hawaiʻi’s natural and cultural resources. Big Island Now.

Philippines ships arrive for RIMPAC amid tensions with China. As the U.S. Pacific Fleet gears up to kick off the biennial Rim of the Pacific exercise this week, ships from around the world are arriving in Pearl Harbor. Star-Advertiser.

Pent‑up demand lifts Hawaii travel ahead of Fourth of July; outlook still mixed. Hawaii’s visitor industry is seeing a modest pick-up heading into the Fourth of July holiday driven by pent-up demand after spring’s Kona-low disruptions and spillover from FIFA World Cup travelers. Star-Advertiser.

‘Making Sanitation Sexy’: Hawai‘i Colleges Are Growing Wastewater Workforce. UH schools on the Big Island and Maui are training students to convert cesspools to cleaner alternatives. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Mayor vetoes budget cuts to Office of Economic Revitalization. The City Council stripped the office of $1.5 million, or 15 positions, after an audit found it was not meeting all of its goals. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Transit fare increase takes effect July 1. The fare changes average roughly 14%, with most fare categories increasing between 11% and 13%, city data indicates. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Spent $450K On Plans For Flood-Prone Stream. Then It Did Nothing. The city has been told repeatedly that failing to clear the North Shore stream would lead to catastrophic flooding. Civil Beat.

Rebuilding Trust And Fiscal Analysis: State Senate District 13 Candidate Q&As. Six candidates are vying for the Oʻahu Senate district that will be left vacant by Sen. Karl Rhoads. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Police issue over 1,000 tickets in Saddle Road enforcement effort. The Hawaii island police have conducted more than 1,000 traffic stops on the Daniel K. Inouye Highway since stepping up enforcement efforts after several traffic fatalities on the road. From June 4-21, Hawaii Police Department officers conducted 1,069 traffic stops on the highway, known as Saddle Road, and issued over 1,000 violations, including 649 for speeding, 17 for reckless driving, six for unsafe passing and 509 for other traffic infractions. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald.  Big Island Video News.  Big Island Now.

Hawaii County urged to develop composting plan. A recent Hawaii County study determined that 26% of the material that ends up in the West Hawaii landfill is organic waste. This includes food scraps, plant trimmings and other natural materials, all of which, if processed correctly, could be composted and used to create healthier soil and help grow more food. Tribune-Herald.

30 Households in Volcano, Impacted By Tephra, Get Catchment Diverters. The free installations come as community continues to experience periodic tephra fall associated with ongoing eruption at Kīlauea.  Big Island Video News.

Maui

Blessing for Front Street railing and walkway project set for July 1. Lahaina officials and residents will gather next week to bless the newly completed Front Street Railing and Walkway Project, marking another step in the area’s recovery from the 2023 wildfire. Maui Now.

Maui Bus expands fare-free program, adds new stops. Maui Bus fixed-route service will be free for students of any age and Maui County employees beginning July 1, the start of the new fiscal year. Existing fare-free categories remain available for riders age 55 and older with valid identification, as well as qualifying riders with disabilities, Medicare recipients and individuals demonstrating financial need who are registered with Maui Economic Opportunity. Maui News. KITV4. 

$2.2M grant supports second phase of Maui wildfires impact study. The three-year funding award from the National Institutes of Health will allow researchers to survey 1,200 people who were living on Maui during the wildfires, including those who were displaced. Hawaii News Now.

Maui Planning Commission defers decision on Makena State Park improvements. State officials want restrooms, showers, water stations and visitor toll booths. Supporters said the upgrades are needed to keep the area clean, while opponents said the park should be left as it is. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Developer of Coco Palms Resort property secures $431 million in financing for 351-room luxury resort. After decades of projects have gone nowhere to redevelop the once iconic resort that was destroyed by Hurricane Iniki in 1992, the new financing has led to a new hotel opening date of 2028. Kauai Now.