HNL next to last in airport survey, Hawaii Mormon population growing, Honolulu council mulls taxpayer-paid candidate mailers, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu ranks next to last in large U.S airport survey. Daniel K. Inouye International Airport ranked next to last among large U.S. airports in the latest JD Power North America Airport Satisfaction Study despite Hawaii’s nearly $7 billion airport modernization effort. Only Philadelphia International Airport ranked lower.  Star-Advertiser.

Underdog Gov Candidate Takes On The Democratic Machine — Again. Republican and small businessman Gary Cordery says his children had to move away because they could not afford to stay. He wants to reduce the cost of living. Civil Beat.

Republican ticket brings diverse approaches to gubernatorial race. The Republican ticket for Hawaii governor and lieutenant governor brings together a 66-year-old general contractor whose 13 children and grandchildren all had to leave the state they love because of Hawaii’s high cost of living, and a 48-year-old Kahana Valley breadfruit, taro and pig farmer who lives off the land and homeschools the four youngest of his seven children. Star-Advertiser.

Kauhale builders admit ‘mistakes were made’ as audit looms. The impending release of a highly anticipated critical audit of the state’s kauhale homeless housing initiative has prompted a rebuke of HomeAid Hawai‘i over its billing practices and led the nonprofit to launch its own financial reviews resulting in its CEO repaying $17,982 for expenses considered his “personal responsibility.” Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi Mormon Population Growing, Diversifying In U.S. The membership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or more commonly known as the Mormon Church, has been getting more diverse over time, with the religion popular in the Pacific Islands and growing slightly in Hawaiʻi.  Civil Beat.

Is OHA’s Board In For Another Shakeup? The outcome of the race for three at-large seats on the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees has the potential to change the makeup of the board as it faces several crucial decisions. Civil Beat.

Schatz Pushes AI Oversight As Tech Goes Rogue: ‘Humans In Control’. In an interview with Civil Beat, Hawaiʻi’s senior senator explains why Congress needs to set up AI safety rules now before something “horrifying” happens. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Council mulls limits on taxpayer-funded election-year mailers. The Honolulu City Council is considering new restrictions on elected officials’ use of taxpayer-funded resources for mass communications, including mailers sent to voters near election dates. The action comes amid a parallel effort by the city Ethics Commission to address concerns about incumbent Council members using public resources to promote their work shortly before voters head to the polls. Star-Advertiser.

Well Reopening Near Red Hill Stirs Up Lingering Concerns Over Poisoned Plume. Five years after the fuel spill at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, the U.S. Navy has received conditional approval to reopen the nearby ʻAiea Hālawa Shaft. Civil Beat.

Oʻahu transit agency is paying record-high prices to fuel city buses. As the war in Iran drives up fuel prices, Honolulu's transit agency says it is paying the most it has ever paid for diesel to run city buses. Right now, the city Department of Transportation Services is paying an unprecedented $5.66 per gallon of diesel. Hawaii Public Radio.

Another change of plans for Honolulu's Chinatown. A recent vote by the Honolulu City Council canceled plans to relocate two city agencies to a building in the heart of Chinatown. That set back hopes for new economic development for the area. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Road cameras to be deployed. The state Department of Law Enforcement has plans to install 75 automatic license plate reader cameras, known as ALPRs, on the Big Island as part of an initiative to deploy about 400 of the cameras statewide.  Tribune-Herald.

Online public survey launched for Puna Alternate Route Study. The online survey is aimed at gathering the public’s opinion and thoughts about travel patterns in and out of Puna, existing transportation conditions and concerns as well as emergency access and resilience. Big Island Now.

PGV aims to boost output with new wells. Drilling is scheduled to start this month for several new wells at the Puna Geothermal Venture facility. Tribune-Herald.

Two Kaʻū condo communities deserted after Lala damaged private Punaluʻu utility servicing water, sewer. The condo communities of Colony I and Kalana Estates in Kaʻū look like a ghost town. The nearly 100 units in the remote, southern part of the Big Island survived Hurricane Lala. But , the private utility Punaluʻu Water and Sanitation that services their drinking water and sewer did not. Big Island Now.

Water Restriction Notice Issued For South Kohala Coast. A Water Restriction Notice requires affected customers to reduce water use by at least 25 percent, officials say. Big Island Video News.

Maui

After finishing first in the mayoral primary, Bissen outpaces Sugimura in fundraising. Since incumbent Mayor Richard Bissen finished first in the Aug. 8 primary election, he has out fundraised opponent Yuki Lei Sugimura, but she has spent more as she tries to make up the nearly 5,000-vote gap he had over her in the 10-person field. Bissen’s campaign raised $79,963 to Sugimura’s $65,479, according to the latest spending reports. Maui Now.

Stormy summer takes toll on Maui beaches already battling erosion. Coastlines across Maui are showing the effects of torrential rains and an unusually strong hurricane season in the Pacific. In South Maui, portions of beach parks are roped off due to erosion.  Maui Now.

The Dunes at Maui Lani faces repeated storms in 2026. In March, more than 22 inches of rain caused extensive flooding, toppled 12 trees and forced the course to close for 13 days, according to course officials. Since then, two hurricanes have affected Maui. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai man ‘very grateful’ after surviving debris-clearing accident, loses leg. A Kauai man is on a long road to recovery after he said he nearly lost his life in the aftermath of Hurricane Lowell. Agenhart Puulei, known by many as “Tin Tin,” was using an excavator to clear debris from Hurricane Lowell when one of the logs he picked up fell. Hawaii News Now.

Salt Pond Beach Park remains closed after Lowell damages historic salt-making area. Nearly a month after Hurricane Lowell passed near the state, Salt Pond Beach Park remains closed as crews and community members work to recover from extensive sand and debris damage. KHON2.

Officials advise no swimming, ocean recreation activities because of brown water advisory. Kaua‘i Ocean Safety Bureau officials advise no swimming or other ocean recreation activities because of an islandwide brown water advisory issued by Hawai‘i Department of Health Clean Water Branch. Kauai Now.

Kids saddle up for fall fun at Healing Horses Kauaʻi. Children on Kauaʻi will have the opportunity this week to spend their fall days learning about horses, building riding skills, and exploring their creativity at Healing Horses Kauai’s 2026 Fall Horsemanship and Riding Camps. Kauai Now.

Everything is free at family fun day! Everything at the Puhi park open field was free at the Family Fun Day, Teddy Arroyo said on Sunday. Garden Island.