University of Hawaii withdraws proposed First Amendment restrictions, Honokaa hospital battles major Covid outbreak, Carvalho withdraws from Kauai mayoral debate, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

University of Hawaii withdraws free speech, assembly changes.  In an email to the UH community Wednesday, University of Hawaii President Wendy Hensel wrote that since the implementation of UH’s interim time, place and manner policy “we have heard concerns from some members of our community that the interim rules, particularly around parameters such as the 25-foot building setbacks, the 60-decibel noise thresholds and chalking feel overly restrictive and could discourage expressive activity." Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi Ag Leaders Planned To Oust Official Despite Public Praise. Agribusiness Development Corp. Executive Director Wendy Gady resigned days after the agency’s board celebrated progress. Civil Beat.

World-Traveling Hawaiʻi Bureaucrat Arranged $30M In Tech Contracts. Department directors sent Brandon Asuka o conferences, site visits and presentations all over the world on the taxpayer’s dime in an effort, they say, to set up the agency with the most advanced law enforcement technology available. These trips, in turn, have translated into multimillion-dollar contracts for tech companies — one of which has hired Asuka as a product developer, even as he continues to work for the state as a contractor.  Civil Beat.

Hawaii to receive $76M in landmark Meta settlement. The settlements announced today end a federal trial over allegations that Meta’s products harmed children and the company misled the public about their safety. Reuters.

Oahu

New HPD chief says he favors a new police district for Waianae. HPD’s District 8 actually includes the area all the way from Ewa Beach to Makaha. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu And Dole Sued By Residents Over Negligence In Kona Low Floods. They allege an unkempt stream and inadequate drainage from Lake Wilson caused the flooding of their homes. Civil Beat.

NOAA confirms death of another monk seal on Oahu. Federal wildlife officials confirmed the death of the fifth endangered Hawaiian monk seal in the past month on Oahu – this time, an adult female. Federal wildlife officials confirmed the death of yet another endangered Hawaiian monk seal on Oahu – this time, an adult female. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said monk seal RL70 was found dead, but did not diclose the time or location on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Extent of Red Hill fuel cleanup still undetermined. In a House Special Committee on Red Hill informational briefing Tuesday, the Navy Closure Task Force-Red Hill shared its progress in retiring the facility where a jet-fuel spill contaminated drinking water for about 93,000 Oahu residents in 2021. Star-Advertiser.

Low-Income Seniors Left Stranded After Lala Floods Building Elevator. A multi-story apartment building for seniors was hit by flooding that wiped out its only elevator. Kalākaua Vista is eight-stories high and designated for people aged 62 years and older whose income does not exceed 50% of the county median, currently $53,900 for a single person. Civil Beat.

Repairs underway at eatery where ceiling collapsed. The property owner of a 91-year-old Kaimuki building where a ceiling collapse on Aug. 18, injured patrons of a popular Chinese restaurant, has “begun repairing the wall along 11th Avenue that may pose a hazard,” Department of Planning and Permitting officials said. Star-Advertiser.

Waikiki fentanyl overdose cluster triggers urgent warning for young adults. The Department of Health is warning young adults after 12 overdose calls in less than one week. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Staff at long-term wing in Honoka‘a Hospital dealing with COVID-19 outbreak of nearly half its patients. As of Monday, 26 out of 59 patients in the long-term wing and 12 of the wing’s staff tested positive for the virus. Big Island Now.

HECO outages on Hawaii Island drop to 1,600. Hawaiian Electric Co., which is being supported by 50 utility workers from Southern California Edison, said Wednesday evening it reached a major milestone on Hawaii Island.  with the successful return of a key transmission line from Pahala to Kilauea that has allowed crews to return power to customers in Pahala. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Video News. KITV4. 

Mobile Medical Services Launched in Nāʻālehu After Hurricane Floods Close Health Center. Medical teams working at a flood-damaged health center in Nāʻālehu have opened a mobile clinic in an urgent effort to bring healthcare back to one of the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Lala. Big Island Video News.

DOE announces plan for in-person learning for Ka‘u students. The state Department of Education on Wednesday announced its plan to resume in-person learning for students at Ka‘u High &Pahala Elementary School and Na‘alehu Elementary School as recovery efforts continue following Hurricane Lala. Tribune-Herald. Hawaii News Now. 

DOE kicks off food distribution effort in Ka‘u. Over 850 students in Ka‘u have been out of school since damage from Hurricane Lala shuttered the campuses of Na‘alehu Elementary and Ka‘u High & Pahala Elementary. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui May Allow Even More Condos To Stay Vacation Rentals. Using sea level rise exposure for justification, two resolutions before the council could help more units avoid being phased out for long-term housing. Civil Beat.

New West Maui fire station costing at least $240K more due to U.S.-Canada trade war. A critically needed fire station in West Maui is facing extra costs of more than $240,000 due to tariffs in the mounting trade war launched by President Donald Trump between the United States and Canada. Maui Now.

Agriculture board upholds CRB import restrictions to Maui and Lānaʻi .  The state Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity rejected a proposal to relax import restrictions to Maui and Lānaʻi meant to keep out the invasive coconut rhinoceros beetle, but is open to making changes to those restrictions. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hana Highway bridge project to preserve historic character. Six of the 59 bridges on Hana Highway are scheduled for some construction and improvements with highway officials looking at rehabilitation and replacement alternatives. Maui News.

Kauai

Bernard Carvalho Jr. withdraws from Kauaʻi mayoral debate against Rapozo. The event will go on as planned Thursday night with only Mel Rapozo, current chair of the Kauaʻi County Council, participating. Kauai Now. Hawaii News Now. 

Pacific Missile Range Facility, state awarded $4.73M to support Kaua‘i projects to improve environment, readiness. The federal funding through the U.S. Department of Defense Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program will support the Navy facility and state Division of Forestry and Wildlife expansion of ecosystem restoration, wildfire resilience and watershed protection efforts, among several other projects, on the Garden Isle. Kauai Now.

KEMA reminds public to review potential refuge area list. With the 2026 Central Pacific hurricane season underway, the Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency (KEMA) reminds residents and visitors that an updated potential refuge area list for Kaua‘i is available online at www.kauai.gov/KEMA. Garden Island.