Hurricane-weary state eyes another tropical storm, Honolulu ethics chief seeks to ban taxpayer-funded election mailers, Land Board rejects Maui water-license auction, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Another potential storm raises concerns about more flooding on Hawaii Island. Tropical cyclone likely to develop soon southeast of Hawaii. KHON2. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Tropical Storm Outlook: At 500 AM HST (1500 UTC), the center of Tropical Depression Two-C was located near latitude 11.9 North, longitude 143.1 West. The depression is moving toward the west-northwest near 16 mph, and this general motion is expected during the next few days.  On the forecast track, the center of the system is expected to pass near or south of the Big Island of Hawaii this weekend. Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph (55 km/h) with higher gusts. Gradual strengthening is forecast, and the depression could become a tropical storm later today. National Hurricane Center.
 
Hawaii receives $6M in federal funds for Hurricane Lala recovery. The U.S. Department of Transportation has approved an initial $6 million in emergency “quick release” funds to help Hawaii repair infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Lala. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii House panel considers more regulation of towing industry. The leaders of two House committees held a briefing at the state Capitol on Wednesday where they contemplated merits of having the state Public Utilities Commission regulate the local towing industry with enforcement authority that could include licensing and license-revocation power. Star-Advertiser.

Almost Half Of Hawaiʻi Schools Have Unreliable Fire Alarms. The education department has made significant progress with repairing school fire alarms in recent years, but aging systems and outdated parts remain a concern.  Civil Beat.

Statewide survey on domestic violence reveals the limits of the legal protection. A  new survey is capturing how survivors of domestic violence feel about the laws in place to protect them, and whether there can be other avenues for help and healing. It’s the first statewide survey of its kind. Hawaiʻi County has a 17% prevalence, Maui County has 16%, and Kauaʻi has 15%, and finally Honolulu has 11% prevalence of domestic violence. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Ban Taxpayer-Funded Mailers During Elections, Ethics Chief Says. The Honolulu ethics director says elected officials should not send printed newsletters to constituents within 60 days of elections. Civil Beat.

Developers Want City’s OK To Build Big. Here’s How They Sweeten The Deal. When developers propose big new projects, Honolulu asks them for community benefits in return. Some residents think the city could ask for more. Civil Beat.

Supporters of Tommy Waters file complaint with Hawaii Supreme Court. More legal questions in the East Oahu City Council race, after supporters of Tommy Waters filed a complaint with the Hawaii Supreme Court. KHON2.

Kailua military officer sentenced to 20 years in prison for child sexual enticement. On Wednesday, Lt. Col. Ross Andre Brown, 44, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for two counts of attempted sexual enticement of a minor, two counts of attempted exploitation of a minor, and two counts of attempted receipt of child pornography. Hawaii News Now.

HPD shuts down illegal gambling operation in Kapolei. Honolulu police recovered 11 gaming machines and more than $9,000 in cash, which were submitted into evidence. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Former teacher, 93, among the deaths blamed on storm as Hawaii residents struggle to clean up. A beloved former kindergarten teacher who taught generations of residents in a small town on Hawaii’s Big Island was among the two deaths authorities blamed on a hurricane that lashed the state over the weekend with heavy rain and strong winds. May Doi, 93, was found dead Monday after she was reported missing, police said. Associated Press.

Man found dead in Ka‘u pasture could be second Lala victim. Police are investigating the death of a man in his 60s whose remains were located in a pasture off Highway 11 near the 63-mile marker in the Ka‘u district. Tribune-Herald.

Power still out for thousands of Hawaiʻi Island residents. Here's what some of them are doing. The lights are slowly coming back on around Hawaiʻi Island, but Hawaiian Electric says some pockets of customers could be without power for weeks. Hawaii Public Radio.

Generators expected to arrive in Hawai'i Island for first responders following Hurricane Lala. On Wednesday morning, Generators Hawaii Corporation is flying a total of six 33,000 watts generators loaded off on from one plane to another at the Pacific Air Cargo in Honolulu. KITV4.

Maui 

State land board rejects 30-year East Maui water-license auction, moves ahead with contested-case. The state Board of Land and Natural Resources on Friday unanimously rejected a proposal to put a 30-year East Maui commercial water license up for public auction, while separately voting to advance a court-ordered contested-case hearing over revocable permits held by Mahi Pono and East Maui Irrigation Co. Maui Now.

Meeting to address Haiku speed tables. Maui County will hold a community meeting on speed tables in Haiku from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 26 at the Haiku Community Center, 137 Hana Highway. Maui News.

Pay for Starlink or ‘climb a hill’: How rural Maui endured Hurricane Lala without power, internet, cell service. For those living in rural areas, spotty service is a part of country life. But it’s also a reminder of the gaps on an isolated island three years after the deadly Lahaina wildfires cut off communications for both residents and first responders. Maui Now.

New ownership sparks change in focus at The Maui News. The Maui News was purchased by the Maui Nui Media and Creativity Collaborative, a locally owned nonprofit organization, on Aug. 1. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauaʻi County moves to expand 15-mph school area speed limits around Kalaheo Elementary School. County officials have launched a plan to enforce a permanent 15 mph speed limit around Kalāheo Elementary School, aiming to ensure student safety by extending the limit beyond school hours.  Kauai Now.

Lawmakers push for special session on contractor campaign donations, federal Covid spending review likely, Kapaa Quarry mulled for Oahu landfill, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Indictment sparks calls for special session on contractor donation ban. Indictments against Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, current and former state employees, and a contractor in an alleged bribery conspiracy are prompting calls for a special legislative session focused on campaign finance reform. Some lawmakers are pushing for a return to the Capitol to take up Senate Bill 2530, a measure that would ban government contractors and their immediate family members from donating to political candidates. Hawaii News Now.

Federal review of COVID-19 spending likely in wake of alleged corruption, Case says. U.S. Rep. Ed Case, a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, said he expects federal scrutiny of Hawaii’s COVID-19 contracts following a public corruption indictment involving Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and four others. Star-Advertiser.

Betting On Hawaiʻi Politics Is Legal Despite State’s Gambling Ban. Users can now wager on when indicted Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke may resign on the prediction market app Kalshi, which is not covered by Hawaiʻi’s gambling law. Civil Beat.

State airports administrator on paid leave after indictment. State Airports Administrator Ford Fuchigami was placed on paid leave for 30 days, effective Monday, after he and four others were indicted Friday in an alleged criminal conspiracy to bribe state officials to secure money for COVID-19 testing during the pandemic. Star-Advertiser.

Rules to limit CRB spread passed on Big Island and Maui. The coconut rhinoceros beetle’s hold across the Hawaiian Islands has grown in recent months, prompting the state Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity to expand restrictions on transporting potential host material between infested islands and areas. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Now. 

Gen Z’s new travel habits to Hawaiʻi . Hawaiʻi's hospitality industry is seeing a new kind of visitor in Generation Z. How they travel could bring changes to the state's largest private industry. Hawaii Public Radio.

Alan B. Carpenter chosen to lead DLNR Division of State Parks. Alan B. Carpenter assumes responsibility for the care and management of 55 state parks and 14 other places of interest, which encompass 34,000 acres of coastal and wildland recreational areas, scenic waysides and cherished places spanning from Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park on Kauaʻi to ʻAkaka Falls State Park on Hawaiʻi Island. Maui Now.

This Hawaiian Waterbird Is Making A Comeback. Should It Still Be Endangered? Most agree efforts to save the aeʻo, the native stilt, have succeeded so far, but some worry about lifting its ‘endangered’ status in a Trump era with looser conservation rules. Civil Beat.

Fausto now a remnant low as it passes north of Hawaiian Islands. Fausto is no longer a tropical cyclone and is now a remnant low passing north of the islands. The Central Pacific Hurricane Center said in data valid at 5 a.m. Wednesday, post-tropical cyclone Fausto was 285 miles north of Hilo, or 225 miles northeast of Honolulu. It was moving west-northwest at 13 miles per hour. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Voters in Waters’ district confused as name remains on ballot after being ruled ineligible to run. While Honolulu election officials try to figure out what to do for Tommy Waters’ council seat, the district’s voters are left confused with his name still on the ballot. As of Tuesday morning, thousands have already cast their votes. KHON2.

City eyes Kapaa Quarry for Oahu’s next landfill. The City is eying Kapaa Quarry as a potential site for Oahu’s next landfill, and Windward lawmakers are pushing back. KHON2.

These Historic Oʻahu Homes Pay Practically No Property Tax. Honolulu homes valued in the millions are getting a major tax break. One City Council member says the program is being abused. Civil Beat.

State-subsidized rental housing for middle-income households blessed in Waipio. Scott Glenn, a housing adviser to Gov. Josh Green, said the new homes — one-bedroom apartments renting for $1,800 to $2,280 a month depending on household size — allow Koa Ridge to include residents who might not be able to afford new market-priced housing being built in the 3,500-home community master-planned by Castle &Cooke Hawaii in Waipio. Star-Advertiser.

Beach Cleanup Activist Challenges Longtime Incumbent In East Oʻahu. Kahi Pacarro has mounted an aggressive campaign against the low key Rep. Mark Hashem in the District 19 Democratic primary. Civil Beat.

Fresh lei, hot pizza? Oahu’s one-of-a-kind vending machines turn heads. Need a fresh flower lei for a graduation, special event or last-minute celebration? There is now a vending machine for that. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

A reprieve for 5 early childhood education sites on isle. Several months after nonprofit Partners in Development Foundation prepared to close five early childhood education sites on Hawaii Island — and 16 on other islands — due to federal funding cuts, the organization recently announced the sites will now be staying open. Tribune-Herald.

New reports document energy priorities, concerns of Puna, Kaʻū residents. The reports reflect responses from a total of 481 community members — 340 in Puna and 141 in Kaʻū — and examine energy affordability, power outages, household preparedness, renewable energy development, community participation, protection of ʻāina and cultural resources as well as benefits residents expect from future energy investments. Big Island Now.

Speed limit to be reduced on part of Puainako Street Extension. The speed limit on a portion of the Puainako Street Extension — also known as Hawaii Route 2000 — will be lowered from 55 mph to 45 mph as part of an effort to improve roadway safety. Tribune-Herald.

Episode 52 fountaining ends at Kilauea summit. Episode 52 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption ended at 2:36 a.m. on Wednesday. High lava fountaining from the north vent in Halemaʻumaʻu began at 7:10 p.m. HST on Tuesday evening. Big Island Now. KITV4. Hawaii News Now. Big Island Video News. 

Maui

Maui Council advances new hotel zoning for over 2,000 apartment-district vacation rentals. Maui County Council members voted Friday to send two bills to the Maui Planning Commission that would move vacation rental units, currently operating in A-1 and A-2 apartment districts, into new hotel zoning classifications. Maui Now.

County to pull four speed tables in Haiku, hold community meeting. Responding to residents' concerns, Maui County officials plan to remove four speed tables on West Kuiaha Road as part of an ongoing review of traffic-calming devices in Haiku. Maui News.

Plan to rebuild popular Kaanapali Beach with offshore sand faces scrutiny. Plan would move 75,000 cubic yards of sand to restore beach to 1980s condition. Kaanapali Beach on Maui’s west side has been eroding for four decades, and a plan is now moving forward to restore it to how it was in the 1980s — but the proposal is facing some community opposition. Hawaii News Now.

Audubon Society asks for pueo study with Lahaina Bypass project. The National Audubon Society has asked state transportation officials to include a biological review of the Hawaiian short-eared owl in the study of Lahaina Bypass connector alternatives near Wahikuli Gulch in West Maui. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauaʻi police join countywide emergency alert system to expand public safety notifications. The partnership, announced by the Kauaʻi Emergency Management Agency, expands use of the Everbridge Emergency Mass Notification System, which is already used by the emergency management agency, the Kauaʻi Fire Department and the county Department of Water. Kauai Now.

Kauai Habitat starts 5 homes in Waimea. Volunteer opportunities are available at the Kauai Habitat build sites, such as the current one in Waimea, the Kauai Habitat office in Hanapepe, or the ReStore at Hanapepe. Garden Island.

Hawaii battles EPA over power plants, ballots sent to the dead, Kauai electric customers may be billed for wildfire mitigation, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Attorney General files complaint against EPA over air pollution agreement with Hawaiian Electric. The state Department of Health and a coalition of environmental organizations are challenging a decision by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to partially reject Hawaii’s plan to improve air quality and reduce pollution-related haze. Both filed petitions this week in federal court. Tribune-Herald. Maui Now.  KITV4. KHON2. Big Island Now.

HECO issues renewable energy procurement for Oahu, Hawaii Island, and Maui. Hawaiian Electric Co. recently issued what it says is one of the state’s largest energy procurements. On July 17, the company submitted its Integrated Grid Planning request for proposals, seeking renewable energy projects and storage for Oahu, Hawaii Island, and Maui. Hawaii News Now.

Some deceased voters still got ballots, but officials say it’s not a sign of fraud. Elections officials are required by law to send a ballot to everyone who’s registered to vote. They’re also required to wait two federal election cycles before they can purge people from the list, including people who haven’t voted, or who’ve moved and didn’t leave a new address. So it could be more than four years before a name is taken off the voter rolls. Hawaii News Now.

Campaign signs are not allowed along Hawaii state highways. The Hawaii Department of Transportation is reminding the public that it is illegal to post campaign signs along state highways. Illegally posted signs will be removed and thrown away. Hawaii News Now.

Congressional candidates split on support for Israel and war with Iran.  Israel’s conduct in the Middle East and the war with Iran are emerging fault lines in the Democratic contest for Hawaii’s 1st Congressional District between U.S. Rep. Ed Case and challenger Jarrett Keohokalole. Hawaii News Now.

Abercrombie alleges Ed Case violated House campaign rules. Former Gov. Neil Abercrombie, who represented Hawaii’s 1st Congressional District in Congress for over 20 years, has filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission alleging that U.S. Rep. Ed Case sent a taxpayer-funded “self-promotional” campaign email Monday that violates House rules. Star-Advertiser.

High blank ballot rates prompt OHA voter education effort. With five seats on the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees on the ballot this year, election officials and OHA leaders are urging voters to pay closer attention to one of the state’s least-understood contests. Star-Advertiser.

The Real Fight For Hawaiʻi Congressional District 2 Is Still To Come. U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda, a Democrat, is seeking a third term representing rural Oʻahu and the neighbor islands, but faces little competition from within her own party. The other side of the ballot, however, tells a different story and sets the stage for a more competitive race come November’s general election.  Republican state Sen. Brenton Awa is running unopposed for the GOP nomination. Civil Beat.

Hawaii raises truck bed-riding age to 16 as roads get faster, testing a cherished island tradition. It’s common to see people riding in the beds of pickups in Hawaii, often along country highways sandwiched between towering verdant mountains and the glassy blue expanse of the Pacific. Lawmakers tried for years to put limits on the practice before passing a bill this spring that raises the minimum legal age for riding in truck beds from 12 to 16. Democratic Gov. Josh Green quietly signed it into law last month. Associated Press.

Hawaiʻi residents react to state's 'vape ban' set for 2027. Gov. Josh Green recently signed Senate Bill 2175 into law, which will prohibit the sale of non-refillable and non-rechargeable electronic smoking devices. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Honolulu officials seek input on water quality priorities. Oahu residents are being asked to help shape the island’s long-term water quality priorities as the city prepares for billions of dollars in future wastewater and storm water infrastructure investments. The Honolulu Department of Environmental Services has launched its Oahu Clean Water Survey, which officials say will help identify the water quality issues residents consider most important. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian language advocates ‘devastated’ after school suspends program. Just weeks before the start of the 2026-27 school year, Kapolei Middle School has suspended its Kaiapuni Hawaiian language immersion program after failing to fill two teaching positions — a decision that parents and community advocates say undermines years of progress toward building a full K-12 immersion pathway in West Oahu. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio. KHON2. 

2 men charged in alleged gold bar fraud scheme targeting kupuna. A 25-year-old man from India made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Honolulu Wednesday in connection with a multi-state fraud scheme that lured a Kaneohe kupuna in her 80s into giving him $137,458 in gold bars after liquidating her life savings. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Hawaiʻi County Fire Commission set to choose permanent chief next month from eight finalists. The Fire Commission finalized the criteria and interview process for applicants vying for the position of Hawaiʻi County Fire Chief, with oral interviews set for the next public meeting on Thursday, Aug. 27.  Big Island Now.

County’s auditor provides update to council committee. McAdam told council members her office is “currently conducting an audit of the Office of Housing and Community Development’s management of the Housing and Homeless Fund, as requested by yourselves.” Tribune-Herald.

Another Road Won’t Help Waikōloa In A Wildfire Evacuation, Study Finds. Critics dismissed the new study’s findings while resolving to do more to protect the West Hawaiʻi community from wildfires. Civil Beat.

Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Found in Hilo, Council Talks Quarantine Rule. A Hawaiʻi County Council committee voted in support of resolution on Wednesday in the hopes it will help fight the spread of the invasive coconut rhinoceros beetle on Hawaiʻi island, just days after a CRB was found in Hilo. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Maui mayoral race heats up ahead of August 8 primary election. Ten candidates are on the ballot, but only the top two vote-getters in the August 8 primary will advance to November’s general election. KHON2.

Political newcomers top fundraising in races to fill critical Maui County Council seats. The top fundraisers in the Maui County Council races are political newcomers who are competing in the upcoming Aug. 8 primary election for two critical seats that will be vacated at the end of the year by the chair and vice chair.  Maui Now.

Residents question plans for Lahaina Bypass extension project. The Lahaina Bypass extension project seeks to extend the existing bypass north from Keawe Street to create a continuous highway around Lahaina and Kaanapali. Maui News.

Planning commission approves Makena State Park expansion. The 6-1 vote approving a Special Management Area permit allows the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of State Parks to build two restrooms with shower facilities and expand parking at the 164.4-acre park. Maui News.

Maui farmers, ranchers can learn about ag lending options in July 29 webinar. The Hawaiʻi Farmers Union Foundation is hosting a free webinar on agricultural financing options through American AgCredit and the Farm Credit System. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauai electric customers could start paying for wildfire mitigation. Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative last week filed an application with the state Public Utilities Commission to recover such costs through an initial monthly surcharge starting in April estimated at $12.87 for an average customer to cover $9.4 million in wildfire mitigation expenses. Star-Advertiser.

Department of Transportation declare traffic emergency zone after finding a subsurface void under Kaumualiʻi Highway in ʻŌmaʻo. The traffic emergency zone allows the Department of Transportation to work quickly to restore support beneath the roadway. Kauai Now.

Brown water advisory declared for three beaches on Kaua‘i. A brown water advisory has been issued at Hanamaulu,  Hanalei Bay and Niumalu Beaches. The Hawai‘i Department of Health advises beachgoers to stay out of waters that appear brown or murky, especially following storms or heavy rain, as the water may contain higher-than-normal pollutant levels. Kauai Now. KITV4.

Community Control Of Kauaʻi Fishery Is Showing ‘Remarkable’ Results. Ten years in, Native Hawaiian fishermen, North Shore nonprofit leaders and scientists are encouraged by what they see in the state’s first Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area. Civil Beat.

Niʻihau Language School At Risk Of Losing Kaua‘i Campus. Families say the school has played a critical role in preserving their cultural and linguistic ties to the Forbidden Isle for nearly two decades. Civil Beat.

Hawaii rebuffs federal election security assistance, Texas billionaire supporting Waikiki city council challenger, Honolulu police chief plans drone program, Maui expands accessory dwelling units, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii to DOJ on election law compliance help: No thanks.  Hawaii’s chief election officer has rebuffed an invitation by the U.S. Department of Justice to discuss, or receive assistance with, following federal law governing voter eligibility. Scott Nago, who heads Hawaii’s Office of Elections, was among head election officers in every state who received a July 7 DOJ letter reminding them of federal election laws and pointing out that they faced possible criminal prosecution for violations that include knowingly retaining noncitizens on state voter registration lists. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. 

Green responds to Hawaiʻi National Guard recall demands. Gov. Josh Green said the troops should come home around Labor Day, after celebrations for the America 250 end. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii raises truck bed age minimum, expands move over law. The law tightens safety rules for pickup trucks by raising the minimum age for riding in the bed from 12 years old to 16 years old, with limited exceptions. Drivers must now slow down and change lanes for any stationary vehicle that displays hazard lights or other warning vehicles — the law previously applied only to parked emergency vehicles. KHON2.

'Everything is changing': Della Au Belatti's campaign for lieutenant governor. Belatti is mounting what she calls an underdog campaign for the second-highest elected office in the state. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Texas billionaire money flows into Waikiki Democratic primary race. In the Democratic primary for House District 24, covering Waikiki, McCully and Moiliili, challenger Bulla Eastman is facing incumbent Rep. Adrian Tam. Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission documents show Texas billionaire Douglas Scharbauer and the Patriot Action Political Action Committee spent $30,000 on ads supporting Eastman at a local media outlet. Hawaii News Now.

New Honolulu police chief plans to launch drone program to help catch crime. Newly appointed Honolulu Police Chief David Lazar on Wednesday gave the Honolulu Police Commission his goals for the first three months of his tenure. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now.

City Council urges review of rising energy costs. Concerned about rising fuel and electricity costs, the Honolulu City Council is considering a resolution urging Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration to evaluate how higher energy prices could affect city finances and operations. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu law firm and gun control group distributing 'Guns Not Allowed' signs to businesses. The U.S. Supreme Court recently struck down the Hawaii law banning firearms on private properties without the express consent of property owners. It then shifted the burden to businesses to decide whether or not to put up signs prohibiting guns on their properties. KITV4.

Want To Plant A Community Garden in Honolulu? Get Ready To Wait A Decade. Waitlists are growing for Oʻahu’s community garden program as residents seek green spaces for food, fun and friends. Civil Beat. 

Scientists say North Shore corals are now dying due to mud from the Kona low storms. The flooding from March’s Kona low storms left a coat of mud on coral reefs around Oahu’s North Shore. And a longtime local marine biologist says that coral is now dying because of it. Hawaii News Now.

15 Waianae homeless holdouts could be removed any day. Fifteen homeless people at the Waianae Small Boat Harbor who do not plan to move to the permanent Pu‘uhonua O Wai‘anae community mauka of Farrington Highway can be swept at any time after being served with trespass warnings while the state plans to remove their nine structures and encampments this summer. Star-Advertiser.

Kilauea District Park to remain under city ownership. The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education and the City and County of Honolulu announced that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding confirming the park’s gymnasium, recreation buildings and other facilities will remain under the City’s ownership, management and operation. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Faculty, students weigh in on Hawaii Community College chancellor options. The University of Hawaii is exploring several leadership options for Hawaii Community College following the retirement of Chancellor Susan Kazama, effective July 31. Tribune-Herald.

Open House on August 10 for Waiākea Peninsula Master Plan. The community is invited to help shape the future of the Waiākea Peninsula, which includes the Banyan Drive resorts, during an upcoming event in Hilo.  Big Island Video News.

Crumbling Big Island Tennis Court Has Needed Repaving For Years. The tennis court at Herbert Shipman Park in Kea‘au is dull, cracking and growing weeds. The county has had it on its to-do list for at least the past four years but still hasn’t gotten around to it. Civil Beat.

Paving to reduce hydroplaning on Hawai‘i Island’s Daniel K. Inouye Highway underway. As part of the immediate safety improvements being undertaken, the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation is repaving Saddle Road between mile markers 10 and 22.5 to increase the pavement drainage capability and reduce the potential for hydroplaning.  Big Island Now.

Maui

Maui County adopts new accessory dwelling rules to expand housing opportunities. To ease the island’s severe housing shortage, Maui County has adopted new rules that allow qualifying residentially zoned properties on Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi to be eligible for up to two accessory dwellings in addition to a primary residence — a potential of three residential units on a single lot, the County Department of Planning announced. Maui Now.

Wailuku Greystar property named in statewide housing voucher discrimination complaint. Kaulana Mahina is among the Greystar properties named in a civil rights complaint filed Monday alleging the company illegally refused to rent to prospective tenants using federal housing vouchers. Maui Now.

Displaced Lahaina residents to return for 3-day homecoming event. More than 100 former Lahaina residents displaced by the August 2023 wildfire will return to their hometown this weekend for the inaugural Lahaina Homecoming, a three-day event organizers describe not as a celebration, but as another step in the community’s long healing journey. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Kauai

Report released from 2026 Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response survey. Find the full 2026 Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response survey report here. Kauai Now.

Zero Waste Kauaʻi to host mayoral candidate forum focused on waste, environmental future. Zero Waste Kauaʻi and partners Hōʻike, KKCR Kauaʻi Community Radio, Surfrider Kauaʻi and Kauaʻi Planning Action Alliance are hosting the free online 2026 Kauaʻi Mayoral Candidate Forum: Talking Trash with Kauaʻi’s Next Mayor scheduled for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. July 29 via Zoom. Kauai Now. Garden Island.

Pressure mounts to bring Hawaii National Guard back from Washington, Green vetoes one bill and wraps up enactments, mail ballots to arrive next week, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Calls grow for Green to recall Hawaii National Guard from DC. A growing chorus of local and national organizations is calling on Gov. Josh Green to recall Hawaii National Guardsmen dispatched to Washington, D.C. Twenty-seven members of the Hawaii Army National Guards 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team arrived in D.C. on July 6.  Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

Ballots for Hawaii primaries expected to arrive by Tuesday. Voters across the state should expect their primary election ballots to arrive in the mail by Tuesday ahead of election day on Aug. 8. County clerks must have voters’ ballots returned and in hand by 7 p.m. Aug. 8 in order for them to be counted. Ballots that are postmarked by Aug. 8 but arrive after 7 p.m. will not be counted, according to the state Office of Elections. Star-Advertiser. Kauai Now. 

Gov. Green vetoes BOE executive director bill. Hawaii Gov. Josh Green signed his final bills of the year Wednesday, wrapping up the legislative session with 266 measures signed and just one veto. The governor vetoed Senate Bill 3262, which required the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to submit three nominees for its executive director to the Board of Education. The board would then appoint an executive director from the nominee list, subject to advice and consent of the Senate. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Green signs bill tackling dementia. Green signed House Bill 1853 into law Tuesday. It creates the Hanai Memory Network Program within the Executive Office of Aging. Hawaii Public Radio.

State e-bike law enacted to curb injuries, deaths. The new law, Act 259, establishes minimum age requirements for riders depending on e-bike class, increases the age for mandatory helmet use, and makes sellers disclose rules. Act 259 also classifies two- and three-wheelers capable of going over 28 mph on electric power as e-motorcycles that are subject to licensing, registration and insurance similar to regular motorcycles. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Video News. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2. 

New laws to modernize transportation system, enhance clean energy economy. Gov. Josh Green signed four bills to enhance efforts in building a clean energy economy, ensuring that Hawaiʻi’s laws keep up with emerging technologies. Big Island Now.

Oahu

Public Begins To Weigh In On Offshore LNG Proposal. The public comment period is the first step in the pre-review of JERA Co.’s proposal, pitched as a fossil-fuel bridge to a future of all-renewable resources. The first public commenters on a $2 billion liquefied natural gas power project proposed for Oʻahu are asking federal regulators to look beyond simply the environmental impacts related to the offshore infrastructure that makes up a relatively small part of the project. Civil Beat.

HART previews Kakaako rail construction, but some want more specific details. Traffic disruptions have been an unavoidable part of the city’s Skyline construction. And those disruptions are about to come to Halekauwila Street, at the tail end of the rail project’s third phase. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Honolulu lawmakers want to ensure residents have proper shelter during disasters. The City and County of Honolulu budget this year includes $18 million for resilience hubs to shelter residents during natural disasters, and city lawmakers want to make sure it’s properly built and equipped to handle severe weather. Hawaii Public Radio.

‘Nobody Did Anything’: Flood Control Long Went Ignored On Oʻahu’s Westside. Māʻili residents were stuck after an emergency evacuation road was inundated during Kona lows. Civil Beat.

About 3K Hawaii soldiers remain without air conditioning. Roughly 3,000 soldiers remain without air conditioning in their barracks after a water system malfunction. The AC units haven’t been working since Friday, July 10, impacting soldiers at Schofield Barracks, Wheeler Army Airfield and Helemano Military Reservation. Hawaii News Now.

Youth Skills, Crime And Sustainability: State House District 30 Candidate Q&As. Two-year incumbent is facing two opponents in the primary. Civil Beat.

Security, Working Families And Infrastructure: State House District 32 Candidate Q&As. The same opponents face each other for the third general election in a row. Civil Beat.

Income Tax, Climate Change And Culture: State House District 33 Candidate Q&A. Incumbent Democrat is running unopposed in the primary election. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Waikoloa evacuation study questioned at meeting. Fears of mass wildfire fatalities in Waikoloa Village boiled over on Tuesday during a community meeting held to discuss evacuation routes after a 200-acre blaze sparked at the edge of the community last week caused partial evacuations and left residents on-edge. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.

Records were set for June rainfall. Halfway into the dry season for most of Hawaii, 11 Big Island sites experienced their wettest June on record, according to the National Weather Service. Tribune-Herald.

Concerns rise about invasive beetle. A Kona community development group on Tuesday heard warnings about the highly destructive Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle from an invasive species biologist — alerts that have taken on a new sense of urgency after one of the bugs was found July 6 at Hilo International Airport. Tribune-Herald.

Kīlauea Episode 51 Ends After 8 Hour Eruption. Tephra fall was restricted to the closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park to the southwest of the active summit vents.  Big Island Video News.

Maui

Former Maui County mayors unite behind Bissen’s re-election. Former Governor and former Maui County Mayor Linda Lingle, along with former Maui County Mayors Alan Arakawa and Charmaine Tavares, have united behind Mayor Richard Bissen’s nonpartisan re-election campaign. Maui Now.

Kahului Airport remained resilient with passenger increase, despite TSA funding lapse this past spring. Kahului Airport screening volumes held steady even as a nationwide TSA funding lapse this spring triggered steep staffing shortages and sharp declines in passenger throughput at major mainland hubs, according to a new analysis from the travel research firm Upgraded Points. Maui Now.

Kimo’s to return to Lahaina. A restaurant that was established on Maui nearly 50 years ago and grew into a chain of 13 establishments across Hawaii and California is returning to Lahaina. Maui News.

Kauai

New Kaua‘i Council Candidates Are Raising The Most Campaign Cash. The 26 candidates racing for the seven council seats have raked in a combined $108,000 so far this election. Civil Beat.

Special community meeting to feature candidate for Hawai‘i lieutenant governor Kaua‘i County Mayor Kawakami. The Indivisible Kaua‘i hybrid meeting, which can be attended in-person or online via Zoom, also includes Deirdre Romney, who will present information about understanding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agreements, what they are and why communities are reconsidering them. Kauai Now.

DOW announces tap water sampling for some customers. In compliance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Lead and Copper Rule, the Department of Water, in partnership with the Hawaii State Department of Health, is conducting a complimentary household tap water sampling program in Kilauea, Haena-Wainiha and Hanalei. Garden Island.

Green signs AI protections, judge orders environmental review for Turtle Bay, gambling crackdown on Oahu, Big Island gun buyback, Kim in HGEA crosshairs, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

New Artificial Intelligence Laws Enacted in Hawaiʻi. Governor Josh Green on Tuesday signed two bills relating AI; House Bill 2137, targeting the harmful use of “deepfake” technology, and Senate Bill 3001, dealing with disclosure for AI companions. Big Island Video News. Kauai Now. KHON2. KITV4. 

Hawaiʻi’s Childcare Shortage Is One Of The Nation’s Worst. Nearly every child in Hawaiʻi lives in a community that lacks adequate licensed childcare, with access rates falling far behind the national average, according to recent reports from the Center for American Progress. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s largest public workers union campaigns against veteran senator. The Hawaii Government Employees Association, Hawaii’s largest public workers union has turned against Senate Education Committee Chair Donna Mercado Kim, endorsing a challenger and launching a social media campaign against the 43-year incumbent ahead of the Aug. 8 primary. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Honolulu City Council mulls lowering vehicle weight tax fees. Under Bill 47, the vehicle weight tax rate for passenger vehicles — including buses, ambulances and hearses — would decrease from 6 cents per pound of net weight to 5.5 cents per pound. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu charter amendment proposals near finalization. The commission first started fielding charter amendment proposals from the public in August 2025 and received nearly 300 submissions. That was narrowed down to 19 coming into a scheduled meeting on Monday. Hawaii Public Radio.

Judge orders new environmental review for Turtle Bay project. Court says further environmental review needed for Turtle Bay expansion. First Circuit Court Judge Shirley M. Kawamura ruled Tuesday that the new development at Kuilima on Oahu’s North Shore cannot move forward until more environmental studies are completed. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. KHON2. Hawaii News Now. 

Crackdown on illegal game rooms includes arrests, millions in fines and liens. New laws put landlords on the hook for allowing illegal operations to continue. New lawas and enforcement  have resulted in 30 game rooms being raided so far this year by Honolulu police officers. Four individuals have been arrested and charged with gambling-related crimes, and 451 devices have been seized. Hawaii News Now. 

Downtown Honolulu is getting a new look with the launch of the Downtown Business Improvement District. If you have spotted people in bright pink shirts around Downtown Honolulu, they are part of the city's new Downtown Business Improvement District, or BID. KITV4.

Tsunami Panic: Most Who Evacuated Shouldn’t Have, Report Says. Almost all of Oʻahu’s traffic ​​during the tsunami warning was unnecessary, the report said. In an after-action report released Friday, the Honolulu Department of Emergency said clearer  communication with the public about how to evacuate and better internal coordination of responsibilities are two of its main takeaways.  Civil Beat.

No Charges For Police In Death Of Man Who Rammed Their Vehicle. No charges will be filed against two officers who fatally shot a man in Mākaha last June after he rammed a pickup into their police vehicle, causing the cop car’s engine to burst into flames. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. KITV4. 

Hawaii Island

Got unwanted firearms? Hawaiʻi Island police to host gun buyback event in Hilo. The event at the Hilo Police Station on July 18 is designed to provide community members with a no-questions-asked way to surrender unwanted handguns, rifles, shotguns, bump stocks, Glock switches, assault-style rifles and ghost guns. Big Island Now.

Savings challenge pays off for Hawaii Island families. The Hawaii County Office of Housing and Community Development distributed one-time savings match payments to participants in the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Sponsored Savings Program following completion of a six-month savings challenge. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui housing market posts stronger sales activity in June. Sales of single-family homes increased 16.4% year over year, with 78 homes sold in June. The median sales price rose 4.4% to $1,356,975. Condominium sales increased 51.7% compared to one year earlier, with 88 units sold. The median sales price declined 8.8% to $625,000.  Maui Now. Maui News.

HDOT to conduct runway improvements at Moloka‘i Airport. The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation will temporarily close Runway 5-23 at the Moloka‘i Airport (MKK) nightly from 8:30 p.m. to 5 a.m., July 20-23.  Maui Now.

Lahaina Recreation Center Playground project groundbreaking July 30. The playground will include ADA-accessible pathways, a playscape, family seating and separate play areas for children ages 2-5 and 5-12, along with an adaptive swing set and a kiddie gate. Maui News.

Kauai

Kaua‘i Mayor’s Race: Rapozo Leads Carvalho In Campaign Cash. Kaua‘i County Council Chair Mel Rapozo is outraising and outspending fellow council member and former Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. in the race to become the island’s next chief executive. Civil Beat.

Application period open for Agriculture Farm Expansion grants. The grant program through Kauaʻi County Office of Economic Development invests in projects that expand commercial farming and ranching operations, increase local food production and strengthen long-term sustainability of agriculture on Kauaʻi. Kauai Now. Garden Island. 

Green signs bills giving teachers raises and protections, Sylvia Luke's books are a mess, First Hawaiian pays $2B for California bank, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

New laws set to strengthen teacher workforce. Gov. Josh Green on Monday signed two education bills into law designed to strengthen protections and support for Hawaii’s educators — one expanding workplace safeguards for educational workers facing harassment and the other helping improve teacher recruitment and retention by authorizing annual and longevity salary step increases through future collective bargaining agreements, subject to legislative funding. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald.  Big Island Now.  KHON2.  Hawaii News Now.

Lt. Gov.’s Books Were A Mess. Political Insiders Say It’s Not The Norm. It’s now up to the AG to decide whether to prosecute Sylvia Luke and some of her campaign staffers for alleged campaign finance violations.  Luke's reputation as a state representative stands in contrast with what she’s accused of now: failing to report more than $50,000 in expenditures; reporting more than $30,000 in contributions late, sometimes years after they were received; and allowing unauthorized campaign staffers to sign off on checks. Civil Beat.

Tourists Visiting Hawaiʻi Have Changed Dramatically In Recent Years. A growing number of Californians have been flocking to Hawaiʻi in recent years, while tourism from Japan is half what it was before the pandemic. Civil Beat.

First Hawaiian buys California bank in $2B deal. Honolulu-based First Hawaiian Inc. on Monday announced that it has arranged to buy the parent company of Tri Counties Bank in California for $2 billion in stock. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.  KHON2. 

Oahu

City advances Iwilei redevelopment with key land acquisition. The redevelopment of the city-owned Iwilei Center is expected to transform the nearly four-acre site adjacent to the future Kuwili Skyline Station along Dillingham Boulevard, near Kaaahi Street, into a mixed-use, transit-­oriented community, city officials say. Star-Advertiser. KHON2. 

Up To 5 Billion Gallons Of Water Wasted By The Navy Since Red Hill Crisis. The Navy passed on an opportunity to divert filtered water from Red Hill to a useful purpose. Civil Beat.

The battle over a Honolulu City Council seat before ballots go out. Forget the Max Holloway/Connor McGregor rematch, when it comes to this election - many have their eyes on Tommy Waters and Trevor Ozawa squaring off for a Honolulu City Council seat for the third time. KITV4.

Parks, Beaches, Affordability: Honolulu City Council District 4 Candidate Q&As. The most competitive Honolulu City Council race features a former member running against the incumbent. Civil Beat.

Income Tax, Healthcare, Power Outages: State Senate District 9 Candidate Q&As. Democratic candidate and incumbent Stanley Chang has represented the area since 2016. His challenger is Republican candidate David Croswell.  Civil Beat.

Kaimuki community voices concerns as elections begin soon. Kaimuki residents say neighborhood board meetings are among the best ways to draw attention to problems affecting their community. KITV4.

Trap, neuter, return? Oʻahu residents clash over public spay and neuter programs. Representatives from conservancy groups, veterinary clinics and animal care organizations gathered at a public hearing last week to testify about proposed changes to Honolulu's public spay and neuter programs. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu man pleads guilty to using crypto to evade Iran sanctions. A 37-year-old man pleaded guilty Monday to evading U.S. financial sanctions by using cryptocurrency exchanges and digital payment applications to send about $150,000 to people in Iran. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Hawaiʻi County Council Candidates Rake In Thousands Ahead Of Primary. Seven of the nine seats are contested, with top vote-getters advancing to the November general election. Civil Beat.

Public invited to discuss results of Waikoloa Evacuation Traffic Study. Hawaii County invites residents and other interested parties to take part in a public meeting today to hear and discuss the results of an Evacuation Traffic Study to improve safety in Waikoloa Village and the surrounding areas during a wildfire or other emergency. Tribune-Herald.

BLNR moves to settle $45,000 fine against men who took 4,000 opihi. After three men were caught taking more than 4,000 opihi from a protected area on Hawaii Island, the Board of Land and Natural Resources moved to settle the case in lieu of a more than $45,000 fine after considering both cultural impacts for both the environment and the violators. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Maui Mayor Election: Sugimura Tops Bissen In Campaign Fundraising. Maui County Council member Yuki Lei Sugimura is raising and spending thousands of dollars more than Mayor Richard Bissen in her bid to unseat him this election, state campaign finance records show. Civil Beat.

North extension of Lahaina bypass needed as a critical evacuation route is finally moving forward. The 4.5-mile extension from Lahaina to Kā‘anapali is in the early planning stages, with funding from a $100 million allocation of Maui County’s $1.6 billion federal disaster recovery grant. Maui Now.

Normal irrigation to resume at Waiehu Golf Course after pond liner project completed at end of August. he County of Maui Department of Parks and Recreation is progressing with a project to replace the irrigation pond liner at Waiehu Municipal Golf Course. Maui Now.

Kauai

Anaina Hou hosts upcycling camp focused on beach cleanup and creativity. A weeklong summer camp at Anaina Hou Community Park will give Kauaʻi children the opportunity to transform marine debris collected from local beaches into musical instruments, games, toys and art while learning about environmental stewardship. Kauai Now.

Local nonprofits given more opportunities for natural, cultural stewardship. HB 2218 allows the land board to determine if community groups are qualified for a co-management agreement. That enables the state to share its “management functions and responsibilities and the rights of entry” with those nonprofit groups. Olan Leimomi Fisher is an advocate for Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo, which helped spearhead the bill. Hawaii Public Radio.

State releases campaign spending reports, Green signs anti-corruption bills, Kauai seeks help after Waimea River shifts toward homes, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

See Who’s Getting, And Giving, Millions In Campaign Funds This Year. Hawaiʻi’s political newcomers are raking in the cash, while lobbyists and labor unions top the list of donors. Who is donating to whom has taken on new importance in recent years as ongoing corruption investigations have roiled Hawaiʻi. Civil Beat.

New state laws enacted to deter corruption in Hawaii government. Gov. Josh Green on Friday signed a bill into law that will extend the statute of limitations from three years to nine years for the offense of bribery. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii’s new ‘millionaire tax’ rivals top tax rate among other states. Under part of Act 24, which some call Hawaii’s new “millionaire tax,” a married couple earning over $1 million and filing a joint return would be charged $88,729 plus 13% on any income above $1 million for the 2027 tax year. Star-Advertiser.

Landmark bill gives Native Hawaiians larger public lands role. Gov. Josh Green signed House Bill 2218 into law Wednesday after it unanimously passed both chambers of the state Legislature, creating a formal legal pathway for the state Board of Land and Natural Resources to enter into long-term co-management agreements with qualified community-based nonprofit organizations. Star-Advertiser.

OHA Dissenters Won’t Recant Retaliation Claims. Four trustees from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs are bucking orders to withdraw a court document filed as part of a lawsuit that alleges the office, other members of the board and Chair Kai Kahele unfairly retaliated against CEO Stacy Ferreira. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi forgiveness program to reduce $91M in medical debt. About 50,000 Hawaiʻi residents have accumulated a total of $91 million in medical debt, but a new state program could help absolve lower-income residents of those unpaid bills. Hawaii Public Radio.

Federal aid climbs, thousands apply for Kona-low support. Federal agencies have approved tens of millions of dollars in assistance for survivors of Hawaii’s Kona-low storms in March, with thousands of FEMA, SBA and USDA applications still under review as recovery efforts continue statewide. Star-Advertiser.

Traffic fatalities in Hawaii ticked up after Memorial Day. Since Memorial Day on May 25, there have been at least a dozen fatalities, accounting for roughly 25% of the total, which stood at 48 as of Friday. At the same time last year, the number was at 69. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Waters’ War Chest Dwarfs Opponents In Competitive Honolulu Council Primary. Candidates running for the Honolulu Council District 4 seat have vastly different resources to draw on. Honolulu Council Chair Tommy Waters is sitting on a $320,000 war chest and has so far spent $130,000 in his bid for reelection to Honolulu Council District 4, the latest state campaign finance reports show.  Civil Beat.

Honolulu City Council advances bill aimed at expanding affordable housing. A Honolulu City Council measure aimed at accelerating affordable rental housing construction on Oahu by easing development standards has advanced despite concerns from housing advocates, Council members and other stakeholders over its potential impacts. Star-Advertiser.

Waianae homeless community shrinks as permanent homes arrive. The Pu‘uhonoua o Wai‘anae homeless community at the Wai‘anae Small Boat Harbor has shrunk from a peak of 250 people to just 30 who are waiting for new, permanent homes to arrive so they can join their friends and family who already have moved to a new 20-acre site on the mauka side of Farrington Highway. Star-Advertiser.

HPD sends Aliamanu fireworks case to prosecutors. The Honolulu Police Department’s investigation into the Jan. 1, 2025, explosion of illegal fireworks at a New Year’s party in Aliamanu that killed six people, including a 3-year-old child, has been sent to prosecutors for possible criminal charges. Star-Advertiser.

As pro golf tournaments leave Hawaiʻi, so do millions in charitable giving. Friends of Hawaii Charities hosted the Sony Open PGA golf tournament in Hawaiʻi for 28 years. Over that time, it raised nearly $28 million in grants for nonprofits in Hawaiʻi that serve children, older people and underserved communities. Hawaii Public Radio.

After storm damage, Hawaii’s reefs brace for another blow from El Niño. When back-to-back Kona lows hit the state in March, Alika Garcia got ready to dive.As executive director of Kuleana Coral, a coral restoration group on Oahu, he and his team worked under an emergency permit to survey and restore the affected coral colonies in Maunalua Bay as soon as ocean conditions were safe. Star-Advertiser.

No ‘large cat-like animal’ found at Manoa Falls, DLNR says. After reports of large wild cats at Manoa Falls, the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources said it found no evidence that would require the trail to close. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Most of Big Island sees above average rainfall last month, with 10 sites having wettest June on record. Several locations on the leeward side, on the other hand, didn't fare as well, with much of the Kona and Kohala coasts, slopes and interior higher elevations recording below average rainfall for June. Big Island Now.

A place to call home: DHHL awards 200 lots in Pana‘ewa to Native Hawaiian beneficiaries. For the first time in over 20 years, the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands presented leases for residential lots in East Hawaii to Native Hawaiian beneficiaries Saturday at a ceremony in Hilo, where 200 lots were awarded. Tribune-Herald.

Kona low victims awarded nearly $5M. Hawaii County launched a recovery grant program late last month for businesses impacted by back-to-back Kona low storms that hammered the island in March, just as a similar federal aid effort formed to help storm victims is wrapping up. Tribune-Herald.

Takeout Boxes Are Filling Landfills. This Town Has A Plan To Phase Them Out. As Hawaiʻi island prepares to enact a ban on single-use plastic serviceware, a coalition in Hilo is rolling out the nation’s first comprehensive city-wide reuse program with over $3 million in seed funding. Civil Beat.

Ka‘u cultural center clears another hurdle. A final environmental assessment was recently completed for the site, which is located near Waiohinu on land managed by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.  Star-Advertiser.

Hilo skateboard ramp expected to officially open soon. Intended to “bridge the gap” until the proposed multimillion-dollar roller-sport facility along Piilani Street across from the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium can be built, the 16-foot-wide and 60-foot-long plywood half-pipe ramp was gifted to the county by Oasis Skateboards owner Dan Madsen to create a dedicated space for skaters. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Fired Maui County official sues Mayor Bissen, Board of Ethics for defamation. Luana Mahi, the former director of the county Office of Economic Development, is suing the county for defamation, saying her reputation was tarnished by “inaccurate” claims that she used grant funding to benefit her family members.  Maui Now.

North extension of Lahaina bypass needed as a critical evacuation route is finally moving forward. The 4.5-mile extension from Lahaina to Kā‘anapali is in the early planning stages, with funding from a $100 million allocation of Maui County’s $1.6 billion federal disaster recovery grant. Maui Now.

National Park Service ‘pauses’ Kalaupapa tours after one trip. The National Park Service abruptly paused its planned twice-a-week walking tours of Kalaupapa National Historic Park after its inaugural trip Thursday was met by about 30 Native Hawaiians and Molokai residents demanding a say in the future of the site where 8,000 Hansen’s disease patients were forced to live in isolation for over a century. Star-Advertiser. KHON2. KITV4. 

Rebuilding, Mental Health And Groundwater: Maui County Mayor Candidate Q&As. A ballot full of candidates is running in the primary election to lead Maui Nui. Civil Beat.

RISE Maui Summit will bring together scientists, artists and cultural practitioners. With proceeds benefiting Lahaina’s rebuilding efforts, the RISE Maui: Sustainability + Tech Summit in August at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa will spotlight sustainability and innovation through the lens of regeneration. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauaʻi seeks state assistance as Waimea River mouth shifts towards homes. Kauaʻi County urgently seeks technical assistance because the Waimea River's sudden westward shift threatens nearby homes and properties. Kauai Now. Garden Island. KHON2.  KITV4. 

Kauaʻi Wants New Homes To Resist Fire. It’s Cheaper Than You Might Think. The Garden Isle has a higher wildfire risk than most counties in the country. Civil Beat.