Green signs 'historic' tax cut bills, Kilauea eruption pauses, Maui Council tackles resolution opposing Space Force telescopes, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. Josh Green Gives Final Approval To Income Tax Break He Hopes Will Make Hawaii Affordable. The Governor also signed a bill that exempts medical services reimbursed by Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE from the state’s General Excise Tax.  Gov. Josh Green signed the largest income tax cut in state history into law on Monday, giving final approval to a measure that should deliver bigger paychecks for many of Hawaii’s working people as early as the beginning of next year. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio.  Big Island Now.  Star-Advertiser.  Tribune-Herald.  Hawaii News Now. KHON2.  KITV4.  Big Island Video News.

Governor declares emergency to avoid loss of phone, internet services for Hawaiian Home Lands households. Hawai‘i Gov. Josh Green on Friday signed an emergency proclamation to avoid loss of telecommunications services for many Hawaiian Home Lands households across the state. Big Island Now.

Hawaiian Home Lands Broadband Customers Say The Service Has Been Bad For Years. State regulators and the governor stopped the communications company from cutting off phone and internet services over the weekend. Civil Beat.

Telecom service can’t last, Sandwich Isles founder says. Sandwich Isles Communication founder Albert Hee said Monday that despite the company’s lack of resources, services have continued for about 1,500 customers on Hawaiian home lands because of Gov. Josh Green’s emergency proclamation Friday evening to prevent the loss of telecommunications services. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

DHHL Has Big Plans For More Homes. But It Needs A Lot More Money. The department and its developers are pushing for a mixed bag of financing and housing options. But not everyone is happy with proposals for more rentals. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s Department of Health is investigating the Badia brand seasonings after food inspectors in New York confirmed elevated levels of lead.  Hold off on using Badia ground ginger and cinnamon products. Hawaii News Now.

73 public schools to offer summer meals to children under 18. Thanks to the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) program, two meals will be served Monday through Friday at 73 participating schools, excluding state-observed holidays. KHON2.

Oahu

Uncertainty over Honolulu rail leadership could put funding in jeopardy. The Federal Transit Administration on Monday warned that leadership uncertainty at the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation could jeopardize another $250 million in federal money needed by the city’s rail system. Star-Advertiser.

City land donation proposed for Kailua Hawaiian homesteads project. For the third time in two decades, city officials are seeking to make residential use out of a large parcel of vacant city land in Kailua. Star-Advertiser.

New injunction is sought to stop Haiku Stairs’ removal. The Friends of Haiku Stairs have filed a new legal motion meant to stop the city’s planned demolition of the World War II-era staircase, above Haiku Valley and the H-3 freeway, in Kaneohe. Star-Advertiser.

NOAA: Post-mortem exam confirms monk seal pup attacked by dog. Federal wildlife officials today said a post-mortem exam confirms a newborn monk seal pup born on Oahu’s North Shore died from injuries due to a dog attack. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.  KITV4.

Hawaii Island

Kīlauea eruption within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park has paused. The eruption that began southwest of Kīlauea’s summit at approximately 12:30 a.m. has paused. However, activity in this region remains dynamic and could change quickly, according to a press release from Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.  Big Island Now. Big Island Video News.  Star-Advertiser.  KITV4.

DHHL To Bring Wi-Fi Hotspots To Puʻukapu Pastoral Leases. SIC broadband customers in Puʻukapu who have been without service since April 2024 will be eligible for the AT&T Wi-Fi hotspot distribution. Big Island Video News.

Police, fire, National Guard, others stage exercise at Hilo school today. Waiakea High School will take on the appearance of Ground Zero today — but rest assured, this is only a drill. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui Council Hears Opposition To Proposed Space Force Telescopes On Haleakala. The council will vote on a resolution on Wednesday to officially oppose construction of up to seven telescopes on the dormant volcano. More than 20 people from Hawaii to Tahiti urged the Maui County Council on Monday to oppose the military’s plan to build more telescopes atop Haleakala, the Valley Isle’s highest peak at 10,000 feet. Civil Beat. Maui Now.

73 public schools, including eight in Maui County to offer summer meals to children. The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education announced today that 73 public schools will serve meals free of charge over the summer to children ages 18 and younger – regardless of public school enrollment status – through its summer food service program. The list includes five schools on Maui and three on Molokaʻi. Maui Now.

Kauai

PMRF honors Hawaiian place name as Major’s Bay becomes Waiapua‘a Bay. The US Navy’s Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kekaha formally changed a recreation area at its military base to its Native Hawaiian place name during a sign unveiling ceremony on Friday, May 31, as  Major’s Bay officially became Waiapua‘a Bay.  Kauai Now. Garden Island.

State to ‘closely monitor’ cruise ships after large liner appeared too close to Na Pali Coast. The state is putting cruise ship operators on notice after the large liner Celebrity Edge appeared to come too close to Kauai’s Na Pali coast a month ago. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Kilauea erupts, Hawaii seaweed touted to reduce cattle methane emissions, Honolulu mulls gift ban bill, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Cattle Are A Major Source Of Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Hawaii Seaweed Could Change That. Local businesses are getting big funding boosts to help make farmed algae part of the solution in addressing the amount of methane cattle produce. Civil Beat.

 Kilauea erupting as alert level raised to red. Kīlauea erupts; fissures active likely about a mile south of caldera, within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Big Island Now.  Star-Advertiser.
 Big Island Video News. . Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

Established Hawaii business groups question fledgling chamber. The head of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii says a new organization called the Chamber of Sustainable Commerce has generated confusion among some island businesses and does not represent traditional business interests. Star-Advertiser.

PUC orders halt to phone, internet service disconnections for 1,500 Hawaiian Home Lands households.  The state Public Utilities Commission has ordered Sandwich Isles Communications not to cut phone and internet service to about 1,500 Hawaiian Home Lands households statewide. Hawaii News Now.

State chief information officer retiring. State Chief Information Officer Doug Murdock retired from public service Friday, Gov. Josh Green announced.. Murdock served as CIO since January 2019. Star-Advertiser.

Big Island senator assigned new interim chair Senate Committee. Sen. Herbert M. “Tim” Richards III (Senate District 4, North Hilo, Hāmākua, Kohala, Waimea, Waikoloa, North Kona) will be the interim Chair of the Senate Committee on Hawaiian Affairs. Big Island Now.

New members appointed to Hawaiian Homes Commission. Renown waterman and Maui activist Archie Kalepa was appointed to represent the Valley Isle, effective immediately.  Gov. Josh Green also appointed Lawrence Lasua, former president and CEO of Moloka‘i Community Federal Credit Union, effective July 1. Star-Advertiser.

Falck protests EMS contracts for Maui, Kauai going to AMR. The company that initially won the state contracts for emergency medical services for Maui and Kauai counties and then lost it in a rebidding process is formally contesting awarding of the work to International Life Support, dba American Medical Response, or AMR. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Council advances gift ban bill for Honolulu city and county employees. A Honolulu City Council measure to prohibit city and county employees from accepting gifts from lobbyists or other third-party sources in relation to their official duties is nearing final approval. Star-Advertiser.

Tweaks To Honolulu’s Land Use Law Could Jeopardize Kahuku’s Controversial Wind Farms. Repairs may soon be needed, but those could run into legal trouble as the City Council considers new restrictions. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Has Been Fighting Over Illegal Vacation Rentals Since The 1970s. Whether tourists destroy neighborhoods or provide a critical financial lifeline to residents is an argument that goes back a generation. Civil Beat.

Tensions at HART leave future of rail leadership in doubt. Lori Kahikina’s future as the CEO and executive director of the city’s rail project — and the future of the project itself — has been thrown into doubt with six months left on her contract and relations continuing to break down between her and the chair of the board that oversees the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation. Star-Advertiser.

Navy’s Red Hill tank ventilation rattles some residents. Navy Closure Task Force-Red Hill announced on its mobile app last week that the state Department of Health had approved its plans to begin cleaning operations and venting of the facility’s Tank No. 8. Star-Advertiser.

City land donation proposed for Kailua Hawaiian homesteads project. For the third time in two decades, city officials are seeking to make residential use out of a large parcel of vacant city land in Kailua. Star-Advertiser.

Working group formed as lead testing continues near Marine rifle range. The Marine Corps Puuloa Range Training Facility in Ewa Beach has been in continuous operation for more than a century. But in recent years complaints about noise and concerns about environmental effects of the shooting range have put it under increasing scrutiny from the surrounding community. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

UH observatory removed from Mauna Kea; CSO will be next. The Hoku Kea Observatory, the University of Hawaii’s educational telescope, was the first of five Mauna Kea observatories slated for removal as part of the university’s Maunakea Comprehensive Management Plan and, as of the end of May, was the first to be completely removed from the summit. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald.  Big Island Now.  KHON2.

Court rejects access road claim: Justices rule DOT erred when it designated thoroughfare to Maunakea a state highway. The Hawaii Supreme Court on Thursday ruled the state Department of Transportation’s 2018 designation of Maunakea Access Road as a public highway “took almost all property rights” from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Tribune-Herald. Hawaii News Now.


ROD fight continues: Experts hope to limit spread by preventing injuries to trees. While the fight against Rapid ‘Ohi‘a Death continues throughout Hawaii, scientists have shifted their focus to managing ungulates and other invasive species. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Help for Maui’s fire-impacted businesses trickles down slowly. It’s been more than nine months since the Maui wildfires, but thousands of Maui business owners who applied for the Maui Bridge Grant or a Small Business Administration disaster loan are still waiting. Star-Advertiser.

Lahaina Fire Sparks Bitter Business Disagreement Over Who Is Responsible For Rebuilding. One issue in the case of West Maui Center is whether insurance should cover both the landlord's and the tenant's loss. Civil Beat.

FEMA Is Canceling Some Of Its Direct Leases To House Maui Fire Survivors. The property owners are now scrambling to figure out what to do with their units which sat empty for months at the expense of taxpayers. Civil Beat.

Will We Recognize Lahaina Once It’s Rebuilt? A Maui Lawmaker Ponders The Question. Angus McKelvey says the state government needs to do more to prevent a massive sell-off of land. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Property tax rate hikes approved by Kauaʻi County Council. Resolution No. 2024-31 proposes to create a tiered system for real property tax rates for the 2024 to 2025 fiscal year, where more expensive properties are placed into a higher tax rate.  Kauai Now.

Restaurants haven't recovered from COVID-19 downturn, governor signs condo, energy bills, Boy Scouts settle wrongful death lawsuit, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii’s Restaurant Industry Still Hasn’t Recovered From The Pandemic. Even well-established eateries are struggling with high food costs, a shortage of workers and fewer Japanese tourists. Civil Beat.

Visitors arrivals, spending down in April as summer cooldown looms for Hawaii tourism. Visitors to Hawaii and their daily spending fell more sharply in April than they had in any month since the Aug. 8 Maui wildfires — an indication that even the peak summer season could prove soft. Star-Advertiser.

Governor signs bills benefiting condominium residents, owners. Gov. Josh Green on Thursday signed into law a package of bills benefiting condominium owners, associations and residents — another component of Green’s commitment to addressing statewide housing challenges. Star-Advertiser.  Big Island Video News.  Maui Now.

Bills providing improved access to clean energy approved by Gov. Josh Green. Addressing housing challenges in Hawai‘i, Governor Josh Green signed several bills Thursday aimed at benefiting condominium owners, associations, and residents statewide.  KITV4.

Military backs new work to locate, safely detonate wartime munitions dumped off Hawaii. An estimated 100,000 military bombs were sunk off Hawaii in the 1940s alone, according to a University of Hawaii researcher. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

City Ocean Safety facility on Windward coast begins work.  Honolulu Ocean Safety made history Thursday with a blessing ceremony for a groundbreaking $2.5 million project: the first facility tailored for lifeguard services in its 107-year history. Star-Advertiser.

‘Outside the box’: In a first, indoor Oahu mall to host volleyball championship. Volleyball fans across the state will see a historic first this weekend: The Hawaii Club Volleyball Championship is set for this Saturday and it will be played not at an arena or gym but at Windward Mall. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Hilo Councilwoman Sue Lee Loy Is Hoping To Move Up To The Legislature. State House Rep. Richard Onishi is retiring this fall, and longtime Hawaii County Councilwoman Sue Lee Loy moved to a rented home in Onishi’s Hilo district in April just weeks before filing to run for office there. Civil Beat.

Schatz visits HVNP, discusses funding.  Long-deferred maintenance projects are finally underway at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park after an infusion of millions of dollars in federal funds. Tribune-Herald.

Plaintiffs, Boy Scouts settle wrongful death case. A civil lawsuit filed by the family of an 11-year-old Boy Scout killed in 2023 by a rifle bullet at Camp Honokaia near Honokaa has been settled. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui Council Budgets $300,000 To Study Impacts Of Eliminating 7,000 Vacation Rentals. The council wants more precise information before taking action that could cost thousands of jobs and millions in lost tax revenue. Civil Beat.

No Water, No Problem? Council Is Steering $33 Million Toward West Maui Housing Project. Paul Cheng, a Texas developer with a criminal past, says he'll use the money to construct phase one of Pulelehua, the island's largest affordable housing project in decades. Civil Beat. Maui Now.

Maui County donates Kahului lots for affordable housing development. Maui County has donated seven lots in Kahului to the nonprofit Nā Hale O Maui for affordable housing.  Hawaii Public Radio. Maui Now.

Maui firefighter charged with sex assault has history of domestic violence. A battalion chief with the Maui Department of Fire and Public Safety charged with continuous sexual assault of a girl under age 14 has a history of domestic violence, according to state court records. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

‘We can’t afford to wait’: Effort to build new West Maui fire station gains momentum. A Hurricane Lane After Action Report included recommendations for more resources, but it went largely ignored by county officials. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Fourth annual Kaua‘i Poke Fest approaches. Final preparations are underway for the fourth annual Kaua‘i Poke Fest with Sam Choy and friends as more than 20 competitors prepare to compete for the title of Hawai‘i’s Best Poke on June 8 at Kōloa Landing Resort. Kauai Now. KITV4.

HECO unveils power shutoff plan for wildfires, Turtle Bay sale rebrands as Ritz-Carlton, food insecurity grows, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiian Electric lays out initial plan for wildfire prevention power shutoffs. About 48,000 Hawaiian Electric customers on four islands should start preparing for power shutoffs possibly lasting several hours to a few days under a new effort to prevent wildfires during high-risk weather conditions. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Tribune-Herald.  Big Island Video News. Maui Now.  Hawaii News Now.  KITV4.

Hawaii Council On Revenues Trims Its State Tax Collection Estimate. The Council on Revenues is projecting that state government will have about $65 million less to spend this fiscal year than lawmakers and Gov. Josh Green’s administration had anticipated during the past legislative session. Civil Beat.

Hawaii bills address two very different uses for AI. Hawaii is preparing for the advent of artificial intelligence through a pair of proposed laws on the verge of passage. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Foodbank shares concerns over food insecurity. Nearly one in three households in the state experienced food insecurity last year, and in 29% of households with children, at least one child faced food insecurity, according to the Hawaii Foodbank’s 2023 report released Wednesday. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald. KITV4.

Feeding Kids Can Be Tough For Some Hawaii Charter Schools. Without state funding, principals say they need to find creative solutions to offer lunches to their students. Civil Beat.

COVID is on the rise in Hawaii; possible summer wave ahead. Health officials on Wednesday reported an average positivity rate of 10.5%, up from 8.5% the previous week. On May 1, the average positivity rate was at 4.3%. The seven-day average reported Wednesday reached 100 per day, double what it was mid-May. Star-Advertiser.

Virginia Beck reflects on 20 years of engaging the public in the legislative process. Virginia Beck has been the head coordinator at the Public Access Room for nearly 10 years, and has worked there for almost 20. She will retire at the end of the week. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Turtle Bay Resort sold and to be rebranded as Ritz-Carlton. A Maryland-based lodging and real estate investment firm said Wednesday that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the 450-room Turtle Bay Resort and nearby land for at least $680 million. Star-Advertiser.

Blangiardi signs resolution creating standalone Ocean Safety Department. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi signed a resolution creating a standalone Ocean Safety Department in a ceremony at Honolulu Hale on Wednesday afternoon. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

City salaries resolution closer to 2024 ballot. The Honolulu City Council resolutions urging voter-approved charter amendments to overhaul how the city pays its employees were reduced to one this week. Star-Advertiser.

City cannot recoup $12.5M from man facing gun, drug charges. The 38-year-old man awarded $12.5 million after he sued the city following injuries suffered in a 2021 police pursuit appeared in court Wednesday to face federal charges that he used a ghost gun while selling methamphetamine in Waianae. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Judge Orders New Environmental Review Of West Oahu Wave Pool. A judge has halted plans for an artificial wave pool until developers can revise an environmental assessment to address concerns raised by Native Hawaiians and others who say the project is unnecessary in the birthplace of surfing and a waste of water. Associated Press.

‘Honolulu is the safest place to visit in the world’ . According to a survey conducted by Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection, Honolulu is the safest place to visit in the world. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Hawaiʻi Food Insecurity Highest On Big Island, Report Finds. Food insecurity rates were reported to be the highest of Hawaiʻi island (40%), followed by Maui (31%) and Oʻahu (28%). Big Island Video News.  Big Island Now.

Maui

FEMA seeks over 20 long-term positions on Maui.  FEMA is on a hiring spree to fill nearly two dozen long-term positions on Maui. Departments include media relations, IT, and digital communications. Hawaii News Now.

Red Cross Regional CEO Was Fired After Standing Up For Maui Wildfire Survivors, Lawyer Says. Former Hawaii Red Cross CEO Diane Peters-Nguyen was fired from the nonprofit disaster relief organization in early May after she called for reforms and urged the organization to stop prodding Maui wildfire victims to move off-island, her attorney says.  Civil Beat.

Maui Fire battalion chief charged with sexually assaulting minor. Prosecutors on Wednesday charged a veteran Maui Fire Department battalion chief with first-degree sexual assault and continuous sexual assault of a minor under 14 years old. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Maui’s police chief defends pricey night-vision chopper request. Maui Police Chief John Pelletier wants to invest $24 million over the next decade on a helicopter program that he says will improve safety in the county.  Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Maui Fire Survivor Gets Kicked Out Of Emergency Shelter In Hotel While Away On A Work Trip. The Lahaina businesswoman had made prior arrangements with the Red Cross but says she's not inclined to fight its decision since the program is winding down anyway. Civil Beat.

Kauai

DLNR says it found no evidence cruise ship violated state rule. The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources today said it failed to find any evidence that a Celebrity Cruise Lines ship violated state rules while sailing off Kauai’s Na Pali Coast earlier this month. Star-Advertiser. Kauai Now.

Hawaii governor signs bill allowing greater density on residential lots, Covid-19 increasing in the islands, Honolulu mulls video surveillance at popular tourist spots, insurance premiums shoot up after disasters, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii governor signs housing legislation aimed at helping local residents stay in islands. Solving Hawaii’s housing crisis by building more units. Keeping local families in Hawaii is what Governor Josh Green hopes will happen after he signed new affordable housing legislation into law on Tuesday. Senate Bill 3202: Requires counties to adopt or amend ordinances by December 31, 2026, to allow for at least two accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on all residentially zoned lots. KHON2. KITV4. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi Health Department’s new Respiratory Disease Dashboard shows increasing COVID-19 activity. COVID-19 activity is on the rise, according to a new Respiratory Disease Activity dashboard released by the Hawai‘i State Department of Health. Maui Now.

Bill to create 'harm to students registry' for local schools awaits governor's signature. The registry could contain information on school employees, contractors or volunteers who were found to have inflicted harm on a student. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawai‘i gender pay gap largely driven by motherhood, according to latest report. Full-time working women in Hawaiʻi made 86 cents for every dollar earned by a man, while the national average was 84 cents for every dollar, according to data between 2015 to 2022 from the American Community Survey (ACS). Big Island Now.

In wake of disasters, homeowners report soaring rates for property insurance. Homeowners and agents tell HNN insurance premiums have shot up by as much as tens of thousands of dollars each year for everything from single-family homes to condos. Hawaii News Now.

Military labs in Hawaiʻi and Nebraska identify World War II soldiers decades after they died. A federal lab tucked away above the bowling alley at Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha and a sister lab in Hawaiʻi are steadily answering those lingering questions, aiming to offer 200 families per year the chance to honor their relatives with a proper burial. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Honolulu City Council considers video surveillance at East Oʻahu scenic areas. To help deter thieves from breaking into cars at East Oʻahu scenic spots, the Honolulu City Council is considering a resolution to allow surveillance cameras. Hawaii Public Radio.

‘It doesn’t cut it’: Low-flow beach showers prompt complaints as city tries to save water. It all started as an effort to save water at beaches across Oahu, but pushback is increasing to the showers that are designed to use about one-tenth of the water as the current showers. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii to host 27 Pacific nations for first FestPAC celebration. The 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture, the world’s largest celebration of Pacific Islanders will be hosted on Oahu for the first time in its 52-year history. Officials are calling it a once-in-a-lifetime event. KHON2.

An Affordable Complex to Open in Wahiawā, with Eight More Projects Underway. After a slow start, Honolulu’s Bill 7 – designed to get more low-rise rental units built on unused land – is seeing results. Hawaii Business magazine.

Hawaii Island

EPA talks dismal state of the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently reached a consent decree with Hawai’i County on its aging sewage system, including the Hilo treatment plant. EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman was in the islands last week. Hawaii Public Radio.

No signs of imminent eruption at Kīlauea despite continued unrest, experts say. Heightened seismic unrest beneath the Kīlauea summit continued over the past day. According to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, it is impossible to say whether this increase in activity will lead to an intrusion or an eruption, or simply continue as seismic unrest at depth. Big Island Now.

Maunakea Park Playground To Close For Repairs. The County of Hawai‘i Department of Parks & Recreation says the closure is needed to allow for the installation of a new safety surfacing system. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Land Board rejects plea for contested case hearing from Nakoa luxury yacht owners. The Board of Land and Natural Resources has rejected a request from the owners of the luxury yacht Nakoa for a formal contested case hearing to fight a $1.8 million fine assessed last month. Maui Now.

Maui County to purchase Kula parcel that encompasses community center. Maui County will be purchasing land in Kula that currently houses the community center and other public use facilities.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Washington visitor dies in waters off beach park in Kauai. A Washington visitor died after being pulled from waters off ‘Anini Beach Park in Kauai on Friday afternoon. Kauai police officials say the victim has been identified as 70-year-old David Kositsky. Hawaii News Now.

At 92, Kauai veteran receives high school diploma years after making a difficult decision. There was a special guest of honor at Kauai High School’s graduation ceremony on May 24. Sitting quietly on stage among school administrators and dignitaries in a red cap and gown was 92-year-old Stanley Oshima. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Green almost certain to sign major income tax cut bill, former foster children win $1.8M abuse settlement, Japan coast guard trainees visit the state, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. Josh Green Is Poised To Sign A Big Income Tax Cut. But Can Hawaii Really Afford It? Gov. Josh Green seems certain to sign into law the whopping state income tax cut of 2024, a bill that is expected to reduce the state tax burden for a median-income Hawaii family by nearly $20,000 over the next seven years. Civil Beat.

Japanese coast guard ship, trainees visit Hawaii. Trainees from Japan’s Coast Guard Academy are in Hawaii as part of a training cruise that is taking them across the Pacific. Star-Advertiser.

A Working Group That Emerged From A Tragedy Sets Out To Reform Child Welfare Services. A working group formed to help reform Hawaii’s troubled child welfare system has drafted dozens of recommendations for reform, and the group is about to launch a series of hearings to solicit comments on those ideas. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s Opioid Settlement Fund Is Growing And, After Delays, Starting To Be Spent. The appointment of a full-time project coordinator to manage Hawaii’s opioid settlement trust fund has set the process of allocating money to the counties for drug treatment efforts on a faster track, according to a member of the settlement advisory committee who previously described the pace of spending as “painfully slow.” Civil Beat.

AMR continues ground ambulance service on Maui and Kauaʻi following protest. The Hawai‘i State Department of Health Emergency Medical Services Injury Prevention Systems Branch has issued two Notices of Award to International Life Support, Inc., doing business as American Medical Response (AMR). Maui Now.

Nearly 8 years after his death, new book highlights late US Rep. Mark Takai's contributions. (Video) Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

State pays $1.8M to settle former Waimanalo foster kids’ lawsuit. Three former foster children, now adults, of George Kipapa and his late wife, Jolyn Kipapa, agreed to a $1.8 million settlement in a lawsuit alleging abuses they suffered as foster children over 18 years. Star-Advertiser.

Over 40,000 attend Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawai’i ceremony. A crowd of over 40,000 people gathered for the Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawai’i ceremony as 6,000 lanterns were set afloat in remembrance of loved ones at Ala Moana Regional Park on Memorial Day. The ceremony marked the 25th anniversary of the event with the theme “Many Rivers, One Ocean.” Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

A source of koa for canoe-builders. A 1,200-acre koa forest in Ka‘u is almost ready to be harvested for the first time in nearly two decades. Tribune-Herald.

Demolition of historic Jaggar Museum begins.  Demolition began this month at the Thomas A. Jaggar Museum, ending a six-year period of disuse after the facility was critically damaged during the 2018 Kilauea eruption. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

DLNR cites 3 men for fishing violations in ‘Ahihi-Kina‘u Area Reserve. Officers recovered a total of 78 different fish from the men at the reserve in southwestern Maui — a nursery and refuge for some of Hawaii’s most important, unique resources. Star-Advertiser. Maui News.

Interest form open to help Lahaina homeowners rebuild. The three-year program will assist up to 500 owner-occupant Lahaina homeowners prevent foreclosure and qualify for financing to rebuild their homes. Maui Now.

Kauai

Home sales leap, median price retreats on Kaua‘i in April. Home sales jumped more than 60 percent in the first full month of spring, as the Kaua‘i housing market continued to rebound from a rough outing in 2023. Garden Island.

Kaua‘i resort, nonprofit cohosting free World Oceans Day event – musicians, vendors still have time to join. Kaua‘i ocean conservation nonprofit Ho‘omalu Ke Kai will install its first beach cleanup station – made of upcycled marine debris – at its biggest World Oceans Day celebration to date, on June 8. Kauai Now.

HECO casts blame on Maui in wildfire lawsuit rebuttal, affordable housing incentive bill could nullify county rules, state may increase water testing, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Moves To Improve Water Testing At Popular Beaches. Advocates have been pushing the state for years to increase how often it tests popular swimming and surfing beaches for harmful bacteria. Civil Beat.

Conflict Of Interest? Some Hawaii Lawmakers Work For Or Even Own Companies That Get State Contracts. An examination of current state legislators’ business interests found that at least a dozen sitting lawmakers are paid by or even own entities that have won more than $56 million in government contracts since 2006. Businesses they're tied to have won contracts in construction, consulting and trash collection. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Legislature aims to alter affordable-housing program, possibly at expense of counties.  The Legislature passed a bill, which if enacted, would give developers credits for affordable units completed under a state program that already has incentives that include exemptions to general excise taxes, county development fees, height limits and density in return for making at least 50% or 60% of a project affordable for moderate-income households. Star-Advertiser.

Survey says isle residents support expanding renewable energy in Hawaiʻi. More than 90% of island residents support more alternative energy in the Hawaiian Islands, according to a survey commissioned by the Ulupono Initiative and released during the 11th Annual Hawaiʻi Energy Conference on Maui. Maui Now.

National Guard commander Hara to retire this year. Maj. Gen. Kenneth Hara, who has served as head of the state Department of Defense since 2019, will step down from his position and retire from the military this fall after 40 years of military service. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

DHHL Tells Beneficiaries To Ditch Sandwich Isles Communications Service. The state is urging Hawaiian homelands beneficiaries to dump Sandwich Isles Communications as their telephone and internet provider and switch to Hawaiian Telcom or Spectrum. Civil Beat. Big Island Video News.  Maui News.

BOE policy aligns with press freedoms for student journalists. Exactly two years after former Gov. David Ige signed a law supporting student journalists and their press freedoms, the state Board of Education has clarified school censorship policy, requiring  school officials to articulate their reasons for censoring student work, aligning its policy with Ige’s student journalism law that’s intended to protect student journalists from legal actions. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Oahu homeless with mental issues could be assessed involuntarily. Homeless people displaying mental health issues could be taken off the street against their will and brought in for assessment at a 3-month-old behavioral center in Iwilei if a new bill becomes law. Star-Advertiser.

Ex-CIA Officer Accused Of Spying For China Pleads Guilty In A Honolulu Courtroom. A former CIA officer and contract linguist for the FBI accused of spying for China for at least a decade pleaded guilty Friday in a federal courtroom in Honolulu. Associated Press.

Growing popularity of e-bikes prompts safety concerns. Community members report that children on e-bikes are zipping around on sidewalks, roadways and through neighborhoods, sometimes popping wheelies along the way, and often without wearing helmets. At the same time, accidents involving e-bikes are on the rise, according to the Honolulu Emergency Serv­ices Department. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

‘Serving the people,’ The Queen’s Medical Center-Wahiawa Emergency Room blessed.  The Queen’s Health System blessed the Emergency Department at The Queen’s Medical Center-Wahiawa on Friday, May 24, celebrating better air conditioning and technology. KHON2.


Hawaii Island

DLNR on dredging Hilo's Wailoa Small Boat Harbor this summer. Last week the state Department of Land and Natural Resources put a bid out to dredge Hilo’s Wailoa Small Boat Harbor. It hopes to begin work by June 17 to provide relief to boaters from the buildup of sediment that has made the harbor almost impassible at times.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Demolition of historic Jaggar Museum begins. Demolition began this month at the Thomas A. Jaggar Museum, ending a six-year period of disuse after the facility was critically damaged during the 2018 Kilauea eruption. Tribune-Herald.

HPP lot owner said to be seeking nearly $1.4M. A California woman being sued by a developer whose contractor mistakenly built a house on her Hawaiian Paradise Park lot in Puna is seeking more than $1.3 million in damages, according to both the developer and Hawaii County. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Hawaiian Electric Co. Says It’s Maui County’s Fault Fire Destroyed Much Of Lahaina. Hawaiian Electric Industries and its utility subsidiaries are fighting back against Maui County with a court filing alleging that failures by the county, and not the company, allowed wildfires to ravage Lahaina in August, killing 101 people and causing an estimated $5 billion in damage. Civil Beat.

Behind Maui's Minatoya List: a look at short-term rentals affected by county proposal. There are nearly 14,000 legal short-term rentals in Maui County. Nearly half are part of what's known as the Minatoya List — a collection of units in apartment-zoned districts that county officials say used to be largely workforce housing.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui Boards May Soon Be Able To Get Back To Business With Settlement Agreement. A legal dispute that for weeks has ensnared a string of appointments to Maui County boards and commissions is about to come to a close with a deal that would correct the process used to fill vacant seats, according to people involved in the settlement.  Civil Beat.

Council supports closures of Holomua Road for public safety in Pāʻia. Maui County members voted 9-0 on Tuesday to approve a bill on first reading to close the mauka portion of Holomua Road above the entrance to old Maui High School to address concerns about brush fires and other public safety issues. Maui Now.

Lahaina Property Owners Urged To Apply For Building Permits As Soon As Possible. The urgency to apply comes despite residents' concerns that Lahaina's infrastructure is yet to be rehabilitated. Civil Beat.

Kauai

State awards ambulance contracts to American Medical Response following protests. The Hawai‘i State Department of Health has made its decision on ground ambulance services for Kauaʻi and Maui following its restarted procurement process, awarding contracts to longtime service provider American Medical Response (AMR), which will now be doing business as International Life Support, Inc. Kauai Now.

Garden Island newspaper moving. As of Tuesday, May 28, the business office and newsroom will be located in the Haleko Building at 2970 Haleko Road, Suite 205, Lihu‘e. Garden Island.

Ethics Commission to renew push for lobbying transparency laws; Kaneshiro, co-defendants found not guilty in corruption trial; HECO execs get raises despite tumultuous year, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Ethics Commission to reintroduce 2 bills to improve transparency.  The executive director of the state Ethics Commission plans to again push for two bills in the next legislative session designed to provide greater transparency about relationships between lawmakers and lobbyists. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Shareholders Overwhelmingly Supported Exec Pay Raises In 2023. Hawaiian Electric Industries investors saw their stock’s value plummet, their dividends disappear and the once-credit worthy company’s bond rating cut to junk status in 2023. But that didn’t stop the investors from supporting raises for the company’s top executives.  Civil Beat.

Hawaii counties differ in approach to regulating vacation rentals. Senate Bill 2919, which became Act 017 when Gov. Josh Green signed it May 3, makes it possible for county lawmakers to “regulate the time, place, manner, and duration in which uses of land and structures may take place.” Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii coffee wins greater protection from Legislature after epic struggle. House Bill 2298, if enacted, will require that by July 1, 2027, roasted, instant and ready-to-drink coffee contains at least 51% of coffee grown in a region of Hawaii if the product package uses the name of the region — such as Kona, Kau, Waialua, Molokai, Maui and Kauai — in a blend with foreign coffee. Star-Advertiser.

Clash over labeling of Hawaii mac nut products results in split legislation. Hawaii lawmakers sent a bill to Gov. Josh Green that, if enacted, would disclose to consumers, starting Jan. 1, 2026, whether macadamia nuts grown in Hawaii are actually in some packaged foods that suggest the nuts are locally grown. Star-Advertiser.

Search for UH president’s replacement to begin soon. The search for the successor to University of Hawaii President David Lassner officially will begin in late May following the Board of Regents’ approval of the job description and leadership profile. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Video News.

‘No Easy Answers’ For How To Keep Hawaii’s Smallest Public Schools Open And Thriving. Principals at small schools say they need more money to adequately serve students, but some state leaders say school consolidation and closures could be the answer. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Jury returns swift not-guilty verdict in corruption trial of Kaneshiro, Mitsunaga.  Former Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Keith Kaneshiro, prominent Hawaii businessman Dennis Mi­tsunaga and four Mitsu­naga &Associates executives were found not guilty on all counts in their pay-to-prosecute conspiracy trial in federal court Friday. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Hawaii Public Radio.

‘No Evidence To Convict’: Jury Foreman Explains Acquittal In Kaneshiro, Mitsunaga Trial. Prosecutors presented only circumstantial evidence that left room for reasonable doubt, a juror said. Civil Beat.

Big increase in homeless families on Oahu puts more keiki at risk. The latest census of Oahu’s homeless population showed a 19% increase in homeless families since January 2023, including 635 children who can suffer lifelong consequences. Star-Advertiser.

This Alternative Method Of Demolishing Structures Could Help Honolulu Avoid A Landfill Crisis. Honolulu is considering how to promote deconstruction and re-use of the materials from buildings that are being torn down, an idea that has already caught on in other cities. Civil Beat.

The Miske Trial: How An Accused Crime Boss Fooled The State To Get A Motor Vehicle Dealer License. When he ran into hurdles because of his criminal background, court testimony shows, he simply lied or fabricated a non-existent entity. Civil Beat.

UH Manoa ranked in top 2.5% globally of 20,000 universities. The University of Hawaii at Manoa was ranked 511 on the Global 2000 list by the Center for World University Rankings, which measured key areas such as education, employability, faculty and research. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Hawaiʻi Supreme Court will decide if farmland can be used for short-term rentals. The Rosehill petitioners argued that if agricultural land from 1976 in the county was allowed to be rented for less than 31 days, then the new 2019 law was more restrictive. That meant the agricultural landowners that were operating STRs before 2019 could be grandfathered in. Hawaii Public Radio.

Bill would change how corporation counsel is selected. Two council members have proposed making the council the sole appointing authority for the position, a move that left some of their fellows excited and others skeptical during a Tuesday meeting of the council’s Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs. Tribune-Herald.

Michael Konowicz announces candidacy for Hawai‘i County representing Kohala Districts. Michael Konowicz of Waikōloa announced his candidacy for Hawai‘i County’s District 9 representing North and South Kohala residents. Big Island Now.

Maui

Why Was The Maui County Finance Director Fired? The absence of former finance director Scott Teruya, which has never been explained, was felt during the county's about-to-conclude critical budget deliberations. Civil Beat.

Another telescope controvery is brewing, this time on Maui. The U.S. Air Force wants to build seven more telescopes on the summit of Haleakala to help better track the growing number of objects whizzing about in space. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

Maui County issues first rebuilding permit for wildfire survivors. The Maui County Recovery Permit Center, which opened three weeks ago to facilitate permitting for August wildfire survivors, has issued its first building permit to a Lahaina couple to rebuild their destroyed home. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Kaiāulu o Kūkuʻia affordable housing waitlist opening; lottery planned. A waiting list opens next month for the Kaiāulu o Kūku′ia affordable apartment project located on Keawe St. in West Maui.  Maui Now.

Public to discuss new site for destroyed Lahaina school. The state Department of Education will hold a community meeting Tuesday to discuss options for a permanent site for the King Kamehameha III Elementary School campus, which was damaged beyond repair in the Aug. 8 wildfires on Maui. Star-Advertiser.

Maui seeks contractor to review MEMA’s Aug. 8 response. County officials are seeking an outside agency to review the response of the Maui Emergency Management Agency during the Aug. 8 wildfires because they said the department currently has only two full-time employees. Star-Advertiser.

Committee authorized $193,274 fine to settle with EPA over county violations of Safe Water Drinking Act. Violations took place in seven different county owned properties with high capacity cesspools. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai apartment residents challenge DHHL as eviction looms. Residents at an apartment complex in Kapaa, Kauai, are rallying to fight the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands’ proposed acquisition of their building, which they say would evict about 300 current residents in over 80 units. Star-Advertiser.

Lawa‘i still cleaning up from flood debris. Between 25 and 30 volunteers, including about a dozen from the U.S. Coast Guard came from as far away as Kapa‘a and toiled to clear the two ditches in the Lawai Valley Estates that were originally put in as drainage aids when the land was used for growing pineapples. Garden Island.

Fern Holland begins second campaign for Kauaʻi County Council. Fern Ānuenue Holland has officially launched her 2024 campaign for a seat on the Kauaʻi County Council, outlining a candidacy that would prioritize affordable housing, agriculture production, drug rehabilitation, and tourism management during a discussion at her first fundraising event at Anahola Marketplace earlier this week. Kauai Now.

Hawaii expects slow summer tourist season; new law allows open carry of switchblades, butterfly knives; $100M Benioff donation aids Straub expansion, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Rosy U.S. summer travel forecast excludes Hawaii. U.S. Transportation Security Administration officials say they are preparing for the highest passenger volumes ever seen at airport security checkpoints nationwide during the peak summer travel season, which begins Memorial Day weekend and runs through Labor Day. Jack Richards, president and CEO of Pleasant Holidays, said summer bookings to Hawaii are still down 28% from 2023. Keith Vieira, principal of KV &Associates, Hospitality Consulting, estimates that hotel bookings to Hawaii for summer are down about 10% to 12% compared with last summer. Star-Advertiser.

Environmental Working Group’s Fire-Related Recommendations Die In Legislature. Bills to provide funding for long-term air and water quality monitoring failed to pass as a new study cites growing health concerns from the fires. Civil Beat.

Amid mounting legal challenges, Hawaii allows open carry of formerly banned blades. As of Monday, it is no longer illegal in Hawaii to carry a dangerous weapon in public — and switchblade and butterfly knives are no longer banned. The governor signed HB 2342 into law Monday without fanfare, making it immediately legal to openly carry weapons that were banned in public until now. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii’s unemployment rate in April remains steady at 3.1%. Hawaii’s unemployment rate held at 3.1% in April for the fourth consecutive month even as nonagricultural jobs decreased by 1,500 from March. By comparison, the national jobless rate rose to 3.9% from 3.8%. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu City Council OKs stand-alone Ocean Safety Department. The City Council voted unanimously in favor of the city’s Resolution 103, which seeks an executive action to quickly create a new public-safety sector. Currently, the city Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Services Division is under the larger Honolulu Emergency Services Department. Star-Advertiser.

Jury deliberating fate of ex-city Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro, campaign donors in bribery trial. Jury deliberations are now underway in the public corruption trial of former Honolulu prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro and five campaign donors. Hawaii News Now.

Spate of heavy rains prompts increased scrutiny of Oahu dams, reservoirs. Records show there are a total of 13 dams and reservoirs on Oahu. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.  Star-Advertiser.

Benefactor Marc Benioff lauds Straub expansion as ‘new beginning’. The Benioffs' $100 million gift is considered the largest donation to Hawaii Pacific Health, which operates Straub, and together with the $50 million donation to Hilo Benioff Medical Center, is considered one of the largest single private donations in Hawaii history. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

200 surveillance cameras to be installed in downtown Pāhoa. The Hawai‘i County Council on Wednesday voted 9-0 to adopt Resolution 487, which grants $65,000 in county geothermal relocation and community benefits funds through the Hawai‘i County Planning Department to the Pāhoa Lava Zone Museum for the purchase, installation and maintenance of 25 surveillance systems, each consisting of 8 cameras, in downtown Pāhoa. Big Island Now.

New Signage At Mauna Kea Park Honors Legacy Of Gilbert Kahele. Hawaiʻi County officials and the Kahele ʻohana marked the occasion on what would have been the late-senator's 82nd birthday. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Council Committee advances bill to allow more space for secondary farm dwellings. The Maui County Council’s Housing and Land Use Committee voted 8-1 Wednesday to recommend passage of a bill to allow a 500-square-foot increase in the size of secondary farm dwellings in agricultural districts on Maui and Lānaʻi. Maui Now.

Maui Wildfire Insurance Losses Estimated At $3 Billion So Far. The first wildfire case to be heard by a Maui jury is to be determined by a coin toss next week. Civil Beat.

Study shows almost 75% of Maui wildfire survey participants have respiratory issues. A University of Hawaiʻi study examining the health effects of last year's deadly wildfires on Maui found that up to 74% of participants may have difficulty breathing and otherwise have poor respiratory health, and almost half showed signs of compromised lung function. Associated Press. Maui News.

Maui April unemployment rate drops to 4.3%. The non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Maui Island was 4.3% in April 2024, compared to 4.9% the previous month, and 2.6% at the same time in 2023. Maui Now.

Kauai

Heavy rains result in high bacteria levels at 8 beaches, streams. Eight of 18 sites tested for water quality monthly were found with high bacteria amounts in May. Kauai Now.

UH farmer training program holding open house on Kauaʻi. A University of Hawai’i beginner farmer training program is hosting an open house at its Kauaʻi site on June 1 and is encouraging interested participants to register.  Kauai Now.

Honolulu homeless increase almost 12%, pay to play regulation a tough sell, Zuckerberg settles wrongful death lawsuit, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

The Number Of People Living On The Streets Of Oahu Has Nearly Doubled In The Last Decade. The Point in Time count — a federally mandated effort to identify the number of people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January — located 4,494 homeless people on Oahu this year, a roughly 12% increase from 2023. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.  KITV4.

Hawaii Ethics Commission Grapples With Pay-To-Play Issues. The Hawaii State Ethics Commission is trying to figure out how to wrangle two groups of people who are proving particularly challenging: high-level state employees who are politically active and legislators who have outside jobs with companies that have government business.  The commission acknowledged that it's tough to oversee lawmakers who resist most accountability measures. Civil Beat.

2 bills aimed at preventing drownings in Hawaii become law. Gov. Josh Green signed Senate Bill 2841 to make every May 15 Water Safety Day for the state, and in tandem Wednesday signed a separate bill to raise money for water safety programs and efforts by authorizing the sale of special Hawaii license plates honoring legendary Hawaiian waterman Duke Kaha­na­moku. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

Hawaii Wants Home Cooks To Play A Bigger Role In Growing The State’s Food System. New legislation awaiting the governor's signature would help businesses operate out of home kitchens. Civil Beat.
 
“Sentinel Landscape” Designation Around Hawaiʻi Military Installations Announced. U.S. Representative Ed Case (D, Hawaiʻi) announced a new partnership on Wednesday in support of a “Sentinel Landscape” designation for two million acres of land near military installations in Hawaiʻi.  Big Island Video News.

Green signs emergency proclamation, pledges National Guard support as kona low nears. The governor has signed an emergency proclamation and pledged an all-of-government response to a kona low system nearing the islands that forecasters warn could bring record rains, flash flooding and thunderstorms. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.  KITV4.

Oahu

Honolulu planning panel considers next step on landfill alternative. The Honolulu Planning Commission continues to wrestle with the city’s request for an extension to find an alternate site for the 34-year-old Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill in Kapolei which is scheduled to close in 2028. Star-Advertiser.

Families on the Navy water system say there is new contamination in their tap water. They say samples they sent to labs have come back with traces of forever chemicals known as PFAS. Hawaii Public Radio.

Elevated bacterial detected from sample taken at Kailua wastewater treatment plant. The city says this week’s downpours likely caused elevated bacteria in treated wastewater discharged about 5,000 feet from shore. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Council bill authorizes County to limit bike tours from select public roads. What began as an effort to reduce bike traffic on specific West Hawaii roads has become a proposed series of regulations upon bike tour operators throughout the Big Island. Tribune-Herald.

County grants lease extension of Kanoelehua Industrial Area property. After years of bureaucratic wrangling, a Hilo lessee of state land has finally secured a 30-year lease extension for property in the Kanoelehua Industrial Area. Tribune-Herald.

County puts up $200K to mitigate invasive insect. Hawaii County will invest in additional biosecurity measures at a West Hawaii waste facility to prevent the spread of a devastating invasive beetle. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui Police Chief Gets Glowing Job Review From Commission. Chief John Pelletier is credited with implementing a five-year strategic plan, something the department lacked when he joined the force in 2021. Civil Beat.

Maui Planning Commission weighs in on Ledcor South Maui’s draft EIS. Maui Planning Commission members finished hearing public comments and then added their own Tuesday to a draft environmental impact statement for Ledcor South Maui’s plans to build as many as 975 homes. Maui Now.

Health declines seen in survivors of Maui wildfires, UH study finds. Nearly half of those affected by the Maui wildfires in August suffered a decline in health, according to a study that aims to track the well-being and social conditions of those exposed to the disaster. Star-Advertiser.

Construction to begin at Lahaina housing site. Heavy construction is set to begin at the Kilohana temporary housing site in Lahaina later this week and will last approximately six months, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Project aims to restore landscape, mitigate deer damage and reduce erosion above Kihei. A collaboration aiming to protect against erosion, reduce flood risk, mitigate axis deer damage, and improve water quality is being implemented in an 11-acre area mauka of Kihei as part of The Hapapa Watershed Axis Deer Damage Mitigation Project, according to the Maui Soil & Water Conservation District. Maui News.

Kauai

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg settles wrongful death case in Hawaii. In the wrongful death lawsuit in Hawaii involving Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the attorneys for both Zuckerberg and the plaintiff, the family of Rodney Medeiros, who worked part-time as a security guard at Zuckerberg’s ranch on Kauai’s North Shore, agreed to dismiss the case. KITV4.

UH farmer training program holding open house on Kauaʻi. A University of Hawai’i beginner farmer training program is hosting an open house at its Kauaʻi site on June 1 and is encouraging interested participants to register. Kauai Now.