Election tiebreaker critiqued, Wahiawa Dam monitoring picked up by state after federal cuts, Maui council rejects vacation rental rezoning, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Election tiebreaker process critiqued at hearing. About 20 people, including two candidates who lost tiebreaker drawings in Hawaii’s Aug. 8 primary election, expressed concerns about or objected to the state Office of Elections adopting administrative rules to formally establish a procedure for carrying out a state law that requires election ties be broken “by lot.”  Hawaii is one of 28 states that determine the winner of a tied election by chance, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Hawai‘i reaffirms commitment to preserving survivor benefits for foster youth. The Hawai‘i Department of Human Services reaffirmed the state’s ongoing commitment to protecting Social Security survivor and disability benefits for children in foster care amid changes to end national policies to support these youths. Kauai Now.

Federal funding available for Hawaiʻi communities exploring energy resilience. Communities and organizations can receive up to $50,000 to support local energy resilience planning through the Energy Technology Innovation Partnership Project. Hawaii Public Radio. 

Heavy rain, flash floods headed for the state. The National Weather Serv­ice on Monday issued a flood watch for all main Hawaiian isles, effective from this morning to late Wednesday night due to a trough passing over the state. Star-Advertiser. KHON2. 

Oahu

Hawaiian Airlines begins construction on new Honolulu lounge. Located at the entrance to the Mauka Concourse at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, the nearly 13,000-square-foot lounge is expected to open in the first half of 2028. Aloha State Daily.

Wahiawa Dam monitoring website to stay operational. A U.S. Geological Survey notice warning that the Wahiawa Dam streamgage website could be discontinued next month sparked concern but the state says the monitoring station will remain operational, with no interruption in service expected as ownership of the dam transitions to the state’s Agribusiness Development Corporation. Star-Advertiser.

Aloha Stadium’s 'Volcano' sculpture has stood for 40 years. Now, it must move. When Hawaiʻi artist Satoru Abe created “Volcano” in 1981, he built it as though it would have a permanent home. The 20-foot copper and bronze sculpture has been the gateway to Aloha Stadium for more than 40 years, sitting in front of the box office.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Trial set in lawsuit over fallen banyan tree that killed two women in Hilo. A jury trial has been scheduled for September 2027 in the wrongful death lawsuit filed on behalf of two women killed last year when a massive banyan tree on Kilauea Avenue in Hilo uprooted and collapsed. The amended complaint filed in late July by the Honolulu law firm Leavitt, Yamane and Soldner on behalf of the families of 48-year-old Michelle Katrina Noelani Comer and 35-year-old Trisha Jaye Almazan names the state, county, Hawaii Electric, Hawaiian Telcom, Imua Landscaping and Tree Works as defendants. Tribune-Herald.

Volcano residents hopeful about prospects for a health clinic. For years, Volcano residents have had to travel to other towns to access healthcare services. That could soon change, pending the results of a feasibility study about the possibility of establishing a rural health clinic in the Volcano Village area. Tribune-Herald.

Hotter Than Ever: Hawaiʻi Preps Kūpuna For Extreme Heat. Heat resilience workshops on the Big Island are giving tools to vulnerable populations to withstand the state’s increasingly common heat waves. Civil Beat.

Kona Historical Society may close due to storms, fewer donations and grants. The Kona Historical Society was founded in 1976 and provides opportunities for residents and visitors to experience Kona’s culture and heritage. It relied on grants to support its educational and preservation initiatives. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Council narrowly rejects resolutions to rezone condos as hotels for continued transient vacation rental use. The Maui County Council voted 5-4 on Friday against sending hotel-zoning proposals for four oceanfront condominium complexes in West Maui and Māʻalaea to the Maui Planning Commission, rejecting the last four properties Council Chair Alice Lee had sought to add to the referral process. The failed resolutions would have allowed rezoning the properties from apartment to hotel use, which would let owners keep renting units to visitors. Maui Now.

Maui Council advances safe parking project for homeless residents despite community concerns. Establishing an area for homeless people in Central Maui to park overnight without risk of citations and sweeps is slowly making progress through the Maui County Council, but not without some pushback from the community. Hawaii Public Radio.

Mayor Bissen proposes $30M in bond funding to protect critical Molokaʻi lands, water assets. Mayor Richard Bissen is proposing that the County of Maui establish $30 million in general obligation bond funding for the proposed acquisition of key land and critical water infrastructure on Molokaʻi, advancing efforts to protect essential public services and preserve important resources for future generations. Maui Now.

Kauai

Taxpayer funding request for Aloun Farms draws criticism. Kaua‘i Shrimp Seeks State Bailout After Hurricane Damage. The company plans to close Saturday but its parent company is leaving the door open to restarting operations if the Agribusiness Development Corp. agrees to help by waiving fees and reducing rent. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio. 

Kauaʻi police reaffirm zero tolerance for threats of violence. A social media post has energized the Kauaʻi Police Department to remind the public that threats of violence involving schools and school-related activities will not be tolerated. Kauai Now.