New tourism authority formed, Aloha Stadium reconstruction delayed, Maunaloa carbon research station in peril, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

HTA establishes advisory board, wants public input for planning. The governance and future focus of the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority is expected to be redefined under a newly appointed HTA advisory board, and by the community members who take part in HTA’s latest planning cycle, which seeks to ensure greater balance between tourism’s economic and community benefits. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

Hawaiʻi Sex Abuse Case Shows How Predatory Teachers Can Go Undetected. Laws passed last year aim to protect students by creating a shared database of teachers who have abused kids in public and private schools. But other states have had a hard time getting schools to comply with similar laws.  Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi’s False Killer Whales Trending Toward Extinction. A new report finds that efforts to protect the dolphins are not working. Experts blame both fishing vessels and NOAA. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi medical school's Willed Body Program pauses new enrollments indefinitely. The University of Hawaiʻi John A. Burns School of Medicine announced that it will not accept new enrollments for the Willed Body Program due to an overwhelming amount of interest and limited space. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Aloha Stadium opening pushed to 2029. Replacing Aloha Stadium has advanced a step closer to initiation, but the new facility is now slated to be smaller and completed later than previously planned. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  KHON2.

Maunalua Bay now under conservation management. Nighttime spear fishing has been outlawed in Maunalua Bay and new catch limits have been imposed as part of a 20-year conservation effort in East Honolulu that led the Board of Land and Natural Resource to approve the state’s latest fisheries management area. Star-Advertiser.

As Mainland Egg Prices Drop, Waialua Fresh Eggs Invests In Hawaiʻi. Waialua Fresh Eggs is building four new barns at its Central Oʻahu farm, which will add 120,000 hens to the farm’s flock of 400,000. Those hens will lay an egg a day, to help supply about one-third of Hawaiʻi’s daily egg demands. Civil Beat.

Ex girls basketball coach to be sentenced in sex case. Dwayne Yuen, a Honolulu man who coached at Punahou and was involved with girls basketball in Hawaii for 20 years, will be sentenced today before Senior U.S. District Judge J. Michael Seabright. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Maunaloa research station, vital to global CO2 data, could close due to NOAA cuts. Since 1958, instruments at NOAA's Mauna Loa Observatory have taken nearly continuous measurements of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The Trump administration has proposed funding cuts to NOAA that would shutter the observatory, as well as other hubs in the country's greenhouse gas monitoring network. Hawaii Public Radio.

Schatz town hall draws hundreds. Nearly 250 people gathered at the Kahilu Town Hall in Kamuela on Tuesday to engage with U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, who fielded over a dozen questions about topics ranging from ICE raids and protecting democracy, to the environment and America’s relationship with Israel. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.

Mauna Kea Authority Holds Community Talk Story Session. The Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority held a community talk story in Kaʻū on Wednesday, as part of an ongoing effort to engage Hawaiʻi residents and gather public feedback.  Big Island Video News.

Water restrictions lifted in North Kohala following repair of well. Water restrictions for North Kohala customers, in place for just over a week, were lifted. Big Island Now.

School bus service changes to Hilo route raise student safety concerns. The bus transports students attending Hilo High School, Hilo Intermediate School and Haʻaheo Elementary School to and from the Wainaku Gym. But Kaiwiki Road extends four more miles and ends at a significant elevation. Big Island Now.

Maui

Last-ditch efforts to kill Honuaʻula project amendments fail amid bickering; controversial development passes final vote. On a day full of intense tension and high drama, the Maui County Council voted 5-4 to approve amendments on second-and-final reading for the hotly debated Honuaʻula project. Maui Now.

Work to reduce fire hazards in West Maui leads to dispute over homeless rights and arrests. An effort to clear wildfire hazards in West Maui on Wednesday led to a dispute over homeless rights and ended with seven people in handcuffs. Hawaii News Now.

Maui real estate market a mixed bag in July. Single-home sales on Maui were up in July while condominium sales continued to decrease, according to the Realtors Association of Maui. Maui News.

County of Maui Department of Agriculture invites grant applicants for Fiscal Year 2026. Eligible Maui County nonprofits, for-profits and sole proprietors are invited to apply for reimbursable grants through the County of Maui Department of Agriculture for Fiscal Year 2026. Maui Now.

Kauai

Immediate water conservation request issued for some Kalāheo residents. Kauaʻi County Department of Water has announced an immediate water conservation request — in effect until further notice — for residents on the entire makai side of Kaumualiʻi Highway in Kalāheo. Kauai Now.

Proposals for FY 2025-26 Kaua‘i County Innovation Grants now being accepted. Kaua‘i County Office of Economic Development is accepting proposals for fiscal year 2025–26 Innovation Grants. Application deadline is 4 p.m. Sept. 2. Kauai Now.

Auditor calls classroom cooling project a $120M disaster, deadline nears for proposed uses of green fee, Honolulu inflation rate slows, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Auditor: Plan To Cool Hawaiʻi Classrooms A ‘$120 Million Disaster’. A multimillion-dollar effort to cool the state’s school classrooms has fallen well short of its goals due to rushed planning and poor decision-making, the state Office of the Auditor found in a damning report released Tuesday.  Civil Beat.

Full audit report on cooling school classrooms. One DOE funding report dated November 7, 2018, more than a year after Governor Ige and DOE declared success at cooling 1,000 classrooms, placed the total amount spent at $122.8 million, which included $22 million for consultants, $95 million for construction, and another $6 million on LED lighting and water coolers. Office of the Auditor.

Deadline approaching to give opinion on Hawaii’s Green Fee. A deadline is fast approaching for the public to give input on how funding from Hawaii’s green fee legislation can address critical shortfalls of Hawaii’s natural resources. “Care for Aina Now” is urging the public to share their input before the Aug. 15 deadline for the statewide survey. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiian Airlines to suspend 3 underperforming routes this fall. Hawaiian Airlines announced Tuesday that it is suspending service in November on three underperforming routes, including service between Honolulu and Boston, Incheon, South Korea, and Fukuoka, Japan. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

HECO builds out network of AI-powered wildfire detection cameras. Hawaiian Electric has deployed 180 AI-powered cameras across Hawaiʻi Island, Oʻahu, and Maui County to help detect early signs of wildfires in remote areas. Hawaii Public Radio.

The fight to save Hawaii’s coconut palms. Across Hawaii, what looks like a bad haircut on the landscape is marking the slow death of the coconut palm, that icon of paradise. The culprit: the coconut rhinoceros beetle, a glossy, thumb-size scarab that bores into the crowns of palms to feed on sap. New York Times.

Opportunities to export local goods increased through passage of Act 237. The Senate Committee on Ways and Means received a comprehensive update on Tuesday from the Agribusiness Development Corporation on the development of Hawai‘i’s food and product innovation efforts to help scale up local farmers and entrepreneurs and increase economic resilience.  Maui Now.

Hawaiʻi Providers Fear RFK Jr. Could Roll Back Access To Abortion Pill. Women in remote and rural parts of Hawaiʻi have long struggled to access abortion care. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Oahu inflation slows amid tariff backdrop. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on Tuesday reported that prices for a broad sampling of goods and services on the island generally rose 2.3% over 12 months through July. This inflation rate for Oahu compared with 4.5% in the 12-month period through July 2024. Star-Advertiser.

Aloha Stadium Contracts Are Set For Final Vote. The Aloha Stadium Authority plans to vote Wednesday on whether to approve hundreds of millions of dollars of redevelopment contracts, a big step forward in the long-stalled $400 million project to rejuvenate the surrounding area and open a new home for the University of Hawaiʻi’s football team.  Civil Beat.

Sen. Schatz pledges to support community health centers amid federal cuts. Hawaiʻi U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz visited the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center on Oʻahu as health care facilities and low-income families brace for looming federal cuts. Hawaii Public Radio.

Honolulu City Council accepts donated CPB property for city use. The Honolulu City Council has formally accepted Central Pacific Bank’s donation of more than $1.63 million in real and personal property for use by the city Department of Community Services near Aala Street and the H-1 freeway. Star-Advertiser.

Colliers talks latest findings on Honolulu's empty office space. The real estate company Colliers tracks industry trends and just released its Q2 report on downtown occupancy rates. Honolulu has the second-highest rate in cities across the country for planned office space conversions to residences. Hawaii Public Radio.

Feds Investigating At Least One Prison Guard’s Actions In OCCC Killing. The U.S. Department of Justice has issued a “target letter” to a state corrections officer signaling his actions are under investigation in connection with the beating death of an inmate — allegedly by other prisoners — at the Oʻahu Community Correctional Center two years ago. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. 

Hawaii Island

New Building Department eyed. The Hawaii County Council is proposing a County Charter amendment that would create a Department of Building aimed at speeding up the permitting and inspection process and easing the workload of the Department of Public Works — but Mayor Kimo Alameda is not convinced it’s the right approach. Tribune-Herald.

Puna, Waiākea communities invited to share ideas to improve conservation. Puna and Waiākea community members are invited to join their neighboring farmers and ranchers for upcoming meetings of local working groups with U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service. Big Island Now.

Hawaiʻi Drought Update: Extreme Drought On Maunakea. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor map shows severe dryness in northern interior parts of the Big Island. Big Island Video News.

Mother of former UFC star B.J. Penn seeks to extend restraining order. Former UFC star B.J. Penn appeared in court on Tuesday defending himself as his mother sought to have the temporary restraining order she has against him extended for a year. KITV4.

Pancho & Lefty’s authorized to reopen after passing follow-up inspection. Hawai‘i Department of Health Food Safety Branch authorized the reopening of a downtown Kailua-Kona eatery after being forced to immediately shutter last week following a failed food safety inspection that revealed multiple food safety violations, including dead and live cockroaches on food-contact surfaces and in ready-to-eat food.  Big Island Now.

Maui

Fire at Kula Lodge guts beloved Maui restaurant and puts Upcountry community ‘on edge’.  The iconic restaurant on the slopes of Haleakalā had caught fire, gutting the rustic dining room with a cozy fireplace where countless Maui families and visitors gathered for brunches and celebratory dinners. With its good food and sweeping views of the central valley, Kula Lodge also was a must stop for many people going to and from the national park. Maui Now.

Maui Film Festival’s 25-year run is over; Wailuku Film Festival to start in 2026 with different focus. For 25 years, the Maui Film Festival was a beloved event, bringing new movies to the island and for more than a decade featuring “Celestial Cinema” nights on the joint driving range of the Emerald and Gold golf courses in Wailea. Maui Now.

Kauai

New free airport wayfinding app enhances passenger experience at Līhuʻe Airport. Hawai‘i Department of Transportation launched a pair of free airport wayfinding smartphone apps — including one for a Kaua‘i airport — designed to make the airport experience less stressful and more enjoyable for travelers. Kauai Now.

Construction of temporary bridge on Anahola Road expected through December. Kaua‘i County Department of Public Works and Cushnie Construction notify the public that construction of a temporary bridge over Olokauha Stream on Anahola Road in Anahola is anticipated through December. The bridge will remain closed to traffic for the full duration of construction. Kauai Now.

Thousands of pounds of marine debris removed from Kauai coastline. More than 9,000 pounds of marine debris was removed from the remote coastline of Moloaa on Kauai. Hawaii News Now.

Green raises possibility of presidential run, Hawaii Supreme Court allows out-of-state attorneys; nurses, hotel workers, teamsters mull strikes, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. Josh Green raises possibility of 2028 run for president.  Gov. Josh Green told NBC News he is considering a 2028 campaign for president of the United States with a possible platform of healing the nation after the bitterly divisive era of American politics that has consumed the country. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. 

Hawaiʻi lawmakers consider clarifying the National Guard's role in the islands. This comes after President Donald Trump activated the National Guard in California in June without the governor's consent, due to protests against immigration enforcement. Hawaii Public Radio.

A climate science network may lose its Pacific hub. Here's what that means for local researchers. The Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center is one of nine regional hubs in a climate research network funded by the federal government. Hawaii Public Radio.

NOAA budget cuts threaten climate research in Hawai‘i. Right now, climate science is at a critical crossroads, as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) faces major budget cuts that could upend research programs and fellowship opportunities across the U.S., with Hawai‘i among the hardest-hit locations. KITV4.

Hawaiʻi Needs Lawyers. Now, Mainland Attorneys Can Practice Here. To help address serious staffing shortages at the state public defenders’ and county prosecutors’ offices, the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court is allowing licensed attorneys from other states to work at these agencies without taking the state bar exam.  Civil Beat.

Tropical storms Iona, Gil move west with no threat to Hawaii. Tropical Storm Iona continued racing west across the Central Pacific while Tropical Storm Gil strengthened far to the east, with both systems posing no threat to Hawaii, forecasters said. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii tourism cools off this summer as arrivals dip.  Arrivals to Hawaii in June decreased to 857,102, a 1.8% drop from the same month last year, according to preliminary numbers released Thursday by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. The state department reported that June visitor spending rose to nearly $1.97 billion, a 2.8% gain in nominal visitor spending. Star-Advertiser.

Red flag warning signals extreme wildfire risk for Hawaii. The National Weather Serv­ice issued the warning Thursday morning, just two days after the state was under a tsunami warning that led to mass evacuations and gridlock but no major damage. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio.  Hawaii News Now. 

Thieves target business, homes during tsunami evacuation. As thousands across Hawaiʻi evacuated coastal areas during July 29’s tsunami warning, criminals took advantage targeting homes and businesses on Maui and Oʻahu. KHON2.

Teamsters on Oahu, Hawaii Island strike Airgas. Unionized workers of Airgas on Oahu and Hawaii Island have been on strike since Monday, and negotiation set for today have been canceled. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

New Protections Sought For Kailua Neighborhoods. Concerned about gravesites and a new law to quicken development, the Preservation Commission wants area added to historic register. Civil Beat.


Aloha Stadium Authority board fills 2 top positions. The Aloha Stadium Authority voted board members Eric Fujimoto as chair and Andrew Pereira as vice chair in its monthly meeting Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Union rallies for Ilikai Hotel workers ahead of possible strike. The union representing some 60 workers at the Ilikai Hotel staged a rally Thursday afternoon as they seek a new contract. Hawaii News Now.

Defense Claims Oʻahu Jail Killing Had ‘Nothing To Do With Being In A Gang’. Lawyers for three defendants acknowledged their clients’ gang affiliations, but said other inmates beat Chris Vaefaga to death. Civil Beat.

Hawaii News Now wins 14 Society of Professional Journalists awards for journalism excellence. The Society of Professional Journalists Hawaii Chapter recognized the islands’ outstanding journalists Wednesday. An awards ceremony took place at the Japanese Cultural Center. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Big Island Mayor Says State Won’t Meet 2050 Deadline To Wipe Out Cesspools. The state mandate to get rid of the reef-killing sewage systems is unrealistic, according to Mayor Kimo Alameda.  Civil Beat.

Groundbreaking held for $337M in upgrades to Hilo sewage plant. Under the gun due to an administrative consent order between Hawaii County and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ground was broken Thursday for critical upgrades and long-needed improvements to the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant in Keaukaha. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.

Nurses threaten short strike at Waimea hospital. The majority of 100 nurses from Queen’s North Hawaii Community Hospital in Waimea have voted “overwhelmingly in favor” of going on strike for three days if contract negotiations with the hospital’s leadership continue to fall short of the nurses’ demands. Tribune-Herald.

Loan program seeks to help lower-income Big Island homeowners maintain properties. Hawaiʻi County's Office of Housing and Community Development announced its home improvement loan program as a way for low and moderate-income homeowners to repair and improve their homes without as heavy a financial burden. Hawaii Public Radio.

Waikoloa Village evacuation drill Saturday. A red flag warning has been issued for most of West Hawaii through tonight, just as Waikoloa residents are about to prepare for the wildfire season with the final Hulu Street evacuation drill of the year set for 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Police, other agencies investigate ordnance found near landfill. Maui police requested the assistance of the Hawaii Inter-Island Bomb Squad Maui unit on Wednesday following reports of a possible military ordnance discovered off Pulehu Road, about a quarter mile mauka of the Central Maui Landfill. Maui News. Maui Now.  KHON2. 

Memory of 2023 wildfires taught Maui community, government to respond more urgently to tsunami warning. Already in the back of most minds was the fast approaching two-year anniversary of the deadly fires on Aug. 8. Maui Now.

Kauai

KIUC discusses goals during 23rd Annual Membership Meeting. Despite “challenges” to meeting the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative goal of being 100 percent renewable by 2033, there was little for the more than 100 people, or members, to be concerned about on Wednesday at the 23rd Annual Membership Meeting held at the Kauai Philippines Cultural Center. Garden Island.

Mufi Hannemann investigated for freebies, Hegseth tours Hawaii bases, Honolulu to purge inactive building permits, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Mufi Hannemann’s Events Spark Inquiry Into Freebies From Tourism Agency. A state audit has triggered an investigation of whether the HTA board chair’s nonprofits inappropriately received free food and use of state facilities from his own agency. The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority board on Tuesday questioned Hannemann at length about the events hosted by HTA for Hannemann’s organizations.  The Ethics Commission has already begun interviewing people as part of an inquiry into more than $14,000 in food and beverages provided for the two events.  Civil Beat.

Hegseth tours Hawaii bases, makes appeal to Pacific allies. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth continued his tour of Hawaii on Tuesday, meeting with troops, touring bases and giving a speech in Waikiki in which he made overtures to American allies in the Pacific and called on them to help the U.S. confront China. Star-Advertiser.

Prince Kuhio Day eve event rallies support for $600M Hawaiian Homes funding. The state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands held a unity rally Tuesday at the state Capitol to pay tribute to Prince Kuhio a day ahead of his birthday and to counteract recent resistance to homestead development funding at the Legislature. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

The Unlikely Odyssey Of Prince Jonah Kūhiō. Raised in nobility and imprisoned after the overthrow of the monarchy, Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole had an outsized impact on modern Hawaiʻi. Civil Beat.

Digitized agriculture form disrupts tourism data. Akamai Arrival, the pilot program for a digitized agriculture disclosure form, left out the optional tourism questions from the back of the form, creating a blip in the state’s continuous tourism arrivals set that goes back to before the jet age. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu permitting department to purge building permit applications that have been in system more than 1 year. DPP announced that effective immediately, it will purge building permit applications that have been in its review system for more than 365 days, with no activity from the applicant. This includes permits that have been approved to be issued but have not been picked up. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio.

Co-Owner Of Waiʻanae Company Arrested For Import Of Illegal Fireworks. The seizure of 24 tons of fireworks was the largest single interdiction by the state Illegal Fireworks Task Force. Josephine Quintanilla, a co-owner of Explicit Pyrotechnics, was charged on March 11 with allegedly importing fireworks into Hawaiʻi without a state license, a class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.  Civil Beat.

Lawmakers vote to support new Aloha Stadium project. A public hearing held at the state’s capitol building Tuesday, with two resolutions urging lawmakers to support the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District Project. KITV4.

TheBus, Skyline, Handi-Van phone lines resume after outage.  The outage follows scheduled maintenance early Tuesday, after which the phone lines failed to come back online. Star-Advertiser.

Balancing safety: Speed humps reduce crashes. But may be slowing Honolulu Fire’s response times. The Department of Transportation started installing speed humps in 2019. In total, there are 180 across Oahu with 11 more in the works. Hawaii News Now.

School Harassment Case Could Cost Hawaiʻi Taxpayers $150K. Stevenson Middle School Principal Katherine Balatico sued the education department for failing to protect her and her family after they received death threats through her job. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Kilauea begins ‘15th episode’ of eruption. Scientists at Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said “episode 15” of the ongoing eruption commenced at 12:04 p.m. Tuesday  “with the onset of vigorous overflows from the north vent,” along with “continuing cycles of lava rise, fountaining and vigorous overflows, and drainback events.” Star-Advertiser. Associated Press.  Big Island Video News.

Sayre Foundation partners with Life Flight Network to provide Big Island with new air ambulance. The Big Island will soon have a new tool able to rapidly respond to and transport the most critical patients from even its most rural areas because of two nonprofits dedicated to saving lives. Big Island Now.

A monument for Vietnam vets planned for school in Kona. Vietnam vet Clyde Brumaghim is currently leading an effort to raise money from the community for an elegant monument that will stand at Konawaena High School to honor the Wildcats who served in the Vietnam War, which took place from 1954 to 1975. Tribune-Herald.

Management plan for a popular Big Island trail focuses on capacity, cultural preservation. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources' new management plan for the Pololū Trailhead aims to perpetuate Native Hawaiian culture, preserve the ʻāina, and address the overwhelming number of visitors. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui

Mayor Bissen presents $1.512 billion FY2026 budget to Maui County Council. The document addresses funding needed for housing, recovery and well-being, natural and cultural resources, water, infrastructure and public safety. Maui Now.

Lawsuit challenges Trump freeze on Maui funding. The state Department of Human Services will have to shut down its ongoing relief efforts for 4,431 remaining survivors of the 2023 Maui wildfires on April 4 unless the Federal Emergency Management Agency lifts a funding freeze, according to a federal lawsuit filed by attorneys general from both Republican and Democratic states. Star-Advertiser.

Shuttered Maui Fire Victims Jobs Effort Gets Funds, But Fate Still Unclear. Nonprofit that ran the dislocated worker grant program will get the new funding to cover expenses it already racked up. Civil Beat.

Commission supports Wailea housing project. The Maui Planning Commission has recommended moving forward with a revised plan for a 670-acre housing development in Wailea that reduces the requirement to provide affordable housing from 700 to 288 units. Maui News.

Lānaʻi Clinic Pushes To Prescribe Drugs As Telehealth Bill Moves Forward. The legal battle comes as the Legislature debates a bill that would allow pharmacists on neighbor islands to remotely supervise services at rural medical clinics. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Did you hear the siren? Let Kaua‘i Emergency Management know with new online tool. Kaua‘i County’s emergency management agency launched a new online reporting tool so residents and businesses can voluntarily help monitor the monthly tests. Kauai Now.

Hanalei Pavilion and parking lot to close. The Department of Parks and Recreation has scheduled Hanalei Pavillion to close for two weeks for septic repairs and maintenance. Garden Island.

Legislature unlikely to hold public hearings on big pay hikes, first $1.5M payment made to Maui victim's estate, suspect dead in Big Island police shooting, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

 Lawmakers Likely To Let Big Pay Raises Take Effect Without Public Hearings. There is still time for the Legislature to hold public hearings on proposed raises for lawmakers, judges, the governor and other state officials, but there is a good chance any further objections from the public will be smothered. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi jurors could get a pay bump to $50 a day for their service. Lawmakers advanced a bill that would pay jurors $50 each day they spend in court. They currently receive $30. Hawaii Public Radio.

Housing Authority Wants To Dump Evicted Tenants’ Things More Quickly. Under a bill that’s part of Gov. Josh Green’s legislative package, the housing authority could get rid of tenants’ stuff after 14 days. Currently, it must hold onto them 30 days. Civil Beat.

State House lawmakers defer hate crime bill. The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs deferred a bill Tuesday that would broaden the current definition of a reported hate crime and push more resources to recording hate crime data and training law enforcement officers. Star-Advertiser.

Senate committee advances a bill artists say would threaten arts funding. House Bill 1378 would shift some of the funding from the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, which is used to pay its employees and the state art museum, from special funds to general funds. Hawaii Public Radio.

How Trump’s Economic Policies Are Roiling Hawaiʻi’s Economy. Economists struggle to predict the fallout, while tourism, construction and retail businesses seek their own paths through upheaval. Civil Beat.

University of Hawaii faculty preparing for the worst as funding cuts loom. The University of Hawaii officials got some positive news Friday when U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon announced that UH had been dropped from a list of universities being investigated for possible violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian immersion schools are standing firm in uncertain times. The state Department of Education’s Ka Papahana Kaiapuni Hawaiian immersion school program has played a key role in helping restore a critical mass of Hawaiian speakers in Hawaii and expanding the use of Hawaiian among residents and visitors. Star-Advertiser.

Health officials recommend vaccines amidst rise in measles cases. Measles cases this year have so far been reported in at least 15 states, including Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Alaska, California, and Florida — but not in Hawaii.  Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii jobless rate holds at 3% for seventh straight month. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in January held at 3.0% for the seventh straight month after six consecutive months at 2.9%, according to data released Friday by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Star-Advertiser. Maui News.

Oahu

Honolulu Mayor to give State of the City Address.  Bold plans in the city’s agenda will be shared during Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s State of the City Address on March 18. KHON2.

Hawaiʻi Senators Want More Accountability For Aloha Stadium Spending. But they are declining to advance provisions that would have defunded the stadium and given the money to the University of Hawaiʻi instead. Civil Beat.

Amid Concerns About Campus Violence, Police To Come To Oʻahu Schools. Students were more likely to be arrested on a campus with a school resource officer, according to Department of Education data. Civil Beat.

Some places in Hawaiʻi falling into sea faster than others. That discovery, published recently in a study by researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, also highlights that as sea level rises, the infrastructure, businesses and communities in these low-lying areas are at risk of flooding sooner than scientists anticipated — particularly in certain urban areas of Oʻahu. Kauai Now.

Hawaii Sports Media Legend Cindy Luis, dies at 70.  Luis was a trailblazer for women in media here in Hawaii throughout her career. As she became the first woman sports editor of a daily newspaper in Hawaii. KHON2. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Big Island manhunt ends; suspect dead. The manhunt for Christopher Lucrisia, a 39-year-old fugitive accused of shooting a Hawaii Police Department officer midday Friday, ended Sunday afternoon when police reported him dead after a shooting involving an officer. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Video News. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.  KITV4.

Astronomy could be in jeopardy amidst federal cutbacks. While it is still too early to predict how cuts to the National Science Foundation will impact the observatories’ operations, the situation could eliminate the U.S. as a competitive player in global astronomy. Tribune-Herald.

Hilo Bay watershed management plan is sought. The Hawaii County Department of Research and Development announced Wednesday that it is requesting proposals from contractors to develop a “Hilo Bay Resilience and Watershed Management Plan.” Tribune-Herald.

Lava buyouts program is winding down. A Hawaii County program offering to purchase Puna residents’ lava-damaged properties should finally wrap up this year. The Voluntary Housing Buyout Program launched in 2021 to offer residents whose properties were damaged, destroyed or isolated by the 2018 Kilauea eruption. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

First $1.5M payment has been made to the estate of a Maui wildfire victim as part of state’s $175M One ʻOhana Fund. Gov. Josh Green, M.D., announced the initial disbursements from the $175 million One ‘Ohana Fund, a key initiative of the Maui Wildfires Compensation Program. This fund was created to provide direct financial relief to the families of those who lost loved ones and to individuals who suffered serious physical injuries in the Aug. 8, 2023, Maui wildfire. Maui Now.

$1.6B in federal recovery funding coming to Maui will focus on housing. If all goes as planned, $1.6 billion in recovery funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will help the Lahaina community get back on its feet. It’s known as Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funding, and it comes with strict requirements. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Revitalization plan in works for milk production on Kauai. One of the biggest local growers of fruits and vegetables, Aloun Farms, is seeking legislative backing to establish a dairy farm on Kauai described as a project to “revitalize” Hawaii’s dairy industry. Star-Advertiser.

Former Honolulu corporation counsel and Police Commission chairman to plead guilty in Kealoha scandal, bills address DUI, ahi labels, paid family leave, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

2 Honolulu Officials To Plead Guilty In Kealoha Payout, Avoiding Jail Time.  Honolulu’s former corporation counsel Donna Yuk Lan Leong and the ex-chair of the Police Commission, Max John Sword, will plead guilty March 4 to a misdemeanor federal conspiracy charge in connection with the $250,000 retirement payment in 2017 to former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha, according to federal court documents. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

Green reiterates opposition to RFK Jr. as U.S. health chief. Gov. Josh Green reiterated his opposition to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. becoming the next secretary of health and human services as a Senate committee is scheduled to vote today on whether to advance the nomination to the full Senate. New York Times.

Schatz to block Trump nominees over USAID move. U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii said today he would block Senate votes on President Donald Trump’s diplomatic nominees in protest of plans to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development and merge it into the State Department. Reuters.

How tariffs could impact Hawaii. Because Hawaii imports 85 to 90 percent of all its food, a 25% tariff will be felt deeply from restaurants to grocery stores. The Hawaii farm bureau says 80% of fertilizer ingredients come from Canada which is used in farming and food production, and grain feed is also imported from Canada. KHON2.

Debate Keeps Swirling Around Paid Family Leave In Hawaiʻi. Advocates say the need is greater than ever. But unions, businesses and state agencies are resisting. Civil Beat.

Bills would lower legal threshold for drunken driving. For the fifth consecutive year, bills have been introduced in the state Legislature to reduce the blood-alcohol content threshold for a drunken driving charge from 0.08% to 0.05%. Tribune-Herald.

Do you know where your ahi comes from? A state measure could require origin labels. Industry leaders say that imported fish is cheaper and can undercut locally caught fish. Imported fish can also be frozen and gas-treated to look fresher than it is.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Bill would ban immigration detention centers on state land. Immigration detention centers would be banned on state and county lands, and other bills in the Legislature also would ensure due process for any detainees. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio.

Track how opioid settlement funds are being used in Hawai‘i. The Hawaiʻi Department of Health launched a website that allows the public to track where an excess of $100 million in opioid settlement funds paid to the state by pharmaceutical companies is going. Big Island Now.

Oahu

Is 2025 Last Chance For OHA’s Big Development Plans At Kakaʻako Makai? After years of futility, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs has new support for its plans to build affordable housing and a hotel on 30 acres of the Honolulu waterfront. Civil Beat.

Community weighs in on future plans for Aloha Stadium with questions about affordable housing. Five years after Aloha Stadium shut down, demolition is set to begin in June and then a new community will start taking shape. On Monday, neighbors got to engage with the developers for the first time. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Hawaii’s plan to develop leasehold homes advances. A more than $200 million tower is envisioned in Honolulu with 360 units and leasehold prices ranging from $456,400 for units with one bedroom and one bathroom to $862,600 for units with four bedrooms and two bathrooms. Star-Advertiser.

Multifaceted writer Cliff Slater dies at 91. Cliff Slater — businessman, newspaper columnist, author, photographer and community activist most visible in recent years for his steadfast opposition to Oahu’s controversial $10 billion rail project — died Jan. 20, with his wife and children beside him, at his home in Honolulu. He was 91. Star-Advertiser.

Penalty Reduced For HPD Officers Accused Of Assaulting Prisoner. Honolulu police officers were disciplined for a range of issues in 2024, including failing to activate their body cameras, drunk driving, falsifying police reports and stealing a wallet.  Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Council members question effectiveness of homeless-related grants. Hawaii County on Friday awarded more than $10 million to various Big Island nonprofits to fight homelessness. Kona Councilwoman Rebecca Villegas said some programs funded through the grants this year spend up to 90% of their awarded funds on employee salaries. Tribune-Herald.

Lava fountains over 250 feet high return to Kilauea volcano. Kilauea volcano resumed its latest eruption Monday, the eighth time that lava fountains have returned to the summit caldera in less than two months. Star-Advertiser.   Big Island Video News.

Hawaii astronomers monitor potentially dangerous asteroid. Hawaii astronomers late last year discovered an asteroid that has a slim likelihood of striking the Earth in about seven years, and a telescope on Maunakea will be used to help track the object’s orbit. Tribune-Herald.

Waikoloa Road project nearly complete. Almost two years of repairs on Waikoloa Road in South Kohala are projected to wrap up by this spring for the 12-mile stretch of roadway, county officials said. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Senate bill advances to increase air medical services. The state Department of Health has been cost-sharing a helicopter with Maui County and contracts with a private entity to provide staff and operations for the emergency helicopter. Maui Now.

FEMA finishes installing 167 temporary homes at Kilohana. FEMA’s 167-unit Kiohana temporary home site for wildfire survivors was completed this week in Lahaina.  Maui Now.

UH Maui College launches program to support Lahaina’s long-term revitalization. The University of Hawaiʻi Maui College is proud to announce the launch of the 2025 Maui Strong Fellowship Program, an initiative aimed at engaging UHMC students and any interested Maui residents in projects critical to Maui’s long-term care and post-fire recovery.  Maui Now.

Activists worry proposed Grand Wailea expansion could disturb iwi kupuna. For years, the Grand Wailea Resort has been trying to expand and is now seeking approval for a proposal to build 137 additional guest rooms, among other additions.  KITV4.

Kauai

Kauaʻi middle school counselor named 2025 Hawai‘i School Counselor of the Year. Noelani Butcher of Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School in Līhuʻe was named the 2025 Hawai‘i School Counselor of the Year by the American School Counselor Association. Kauai Now.

Hawaii braces for federal shutdown, state income tax cuts set to kick in, man sentenced for sending Chinese mothers to Hawaii to give birth, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii jobless claims, tourism jumped in last federal closure. Unemployment claims jumped in Hawaii, but so did visitor arrivals, the last time the federal government struggled through a partial shutdown six years ago through the holidays. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Green lays out his priorities in current political climate. A federal government shutdown looms as Congress goes down to the wire on a Friday night deadline to deal with the budget. Hawaii Public Radio.

Income tax cuts set to kick in. Hawaii taxpayers should have a happy New Year as the first of a series of historic tax cuts takes effect in January. Each year until 2031, the new tax plan will eliminate the lowest tax brackets, reduce the tax rates for all brackets, and increase the standard income tax deduction. Tribune-Herald. Maui News.

UH initiative aims to provide accessible cancer care across the state. The University of Hawai‘i Cancer Center and the John A. Burns School of Medicine have launched the Ka ‘Umeke Lama initiative to address health disparities and access to care in the state. Hawaii Public Radio.

HECO’s Report On Maui Wildfires Mirrors Prior Investigations. Utility does not dispute earlier findings its equipment started the fire that destroyed much of Lahaina in 2023. Hawaiian Electric Co. added to the pile of reports on Thursday, filing a 59-page accounting to the Hawaiʻi Public Utilities Commission that provided no new information about the cause of the blaze or the companyʻs response. Civil Beat.

California man behind ‘birth tourism’ scheme told Chinese clients to fly to Hawaii.  Michael Liu, 59, was sentenced Monday to 41 months in federal prison for his role in the scheme. Court records show Liu and 47-year-old Jing Dong charged people from China tens of thousands of dollars to help them get to the U.S. so that they could give birth. Hawaii News Now.

Former Hawaiʻi Public Radio Executive Dead At 61.  Staff and supporters of public radio in the islands are mourning the death of José Fajardo, who died Thursday. Fajardo was president and general manager of Hawai‘i Public Radio from 2016 until earlier this year. He died at age 61 from complications from ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Developer releases new renderings of New Aloha Stadium project. The goal – have a venue that people can visit 365 days a year. That’s what developers of the New Aloha Stadium said Thursday, as they gave the public a glimpse of what’s being planned. KHON2.

United flight attendants rally at Honolulu airport before travel rush. United flight attendants held a labor picket Thursday at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in advance of the busy holiday travel rush when travelers don’t want to think about disruptions and delays. Star-Advertiser.

Aid soon on its way to Dillingham businesses hit hard by rail construction. The city is getting closer to providing relief to businesses derailed by construction along Dillingham Blvd.  The Rail Transit Mitigation Fund, announced in July, hasn’t paid anyone yet because the city had to develop rules, a way accept applications, and award the funds. KHON2.

Would Eddie go this Sunday? Yellow alert active for North Shore surf contest. A yellow alert was issued for the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational with a possible run this Sunday.The 2024-2025 Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational will take place if surf consistently reaches 40 feet between Dec. 14, 2024 to March 13, 2025. KITV4.

With ‘The Eddie’ possible, groups and organizers urge safety — and to leave a lot at home. The world-famous beach can normally accommodate huge crowds, but that’s not the case when Eddie-sized swells roll in for the Super Bowl of surfing. Hawaii News Now.

Surge in pedestrian crashes on Oahu highlights disturbing trend. Between Jan. 1, 2024 and Dec. 11, 2024, Honolulu EMS responded to 137 pedestrian crashes — a number that has already surpassed last year’s total of 121. That’s a 13% increase. And the year’s not over. Meanwhile, the Honolulu Police Department says fatal crashes are up nearly 40% from 11 in 2023 to 15 so far this year. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Hilo jail expansion unveiled. Corrections officials, dignitaries and other prominent community members gathered Thursday at Hawaii Community Correctional Center’s main Hilo campus to dedicate the brand-new Kamana Housing Unit. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now.

Maui

Land Board rejects revetment proposal for Hololani Resort erosion. By a narrow 4-3 vote, the Board of Land and Natural Resources rejected a request last week from Hololani Resort apartment owners seeking an amendment to 2018 board action for a sheet pile and rock revetment to protect the property from shoreline erosion. Maui Now.

Maui County recognized for budget presentation, financial reporting. Maui County recently received awards for distinguished budget presentation and excellence in financial reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association. Maui News. Maui Now.

Transgender-related policies proposed for Maui Preparatory Academy face backlash. The proposed rules would require students to use he/she pronouns only and no alternatives will be acknowledged. Restrooms would be used based on biological birth gender and students would only be allowed to dress themselves in the uniform of their birth gender.  KITV4.

New study looks at effects of plastic in live wedge-tailed shearwaters. The Hawaiian Islands are magnets for plastic debris from around the Pacific Basin. Plastic accumulates on our shorelines, where it’s eaten by fish, birds, and other wildlife.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

County council celebrates waterman Nick Beck. Nick Beck received the Kauai County Council’s commendation during the Wednesday council meeting for his induction into the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation Waterman Hall of Fame. Garden Island.

FBI sets up election command post, Board of Education restores money for after-school programs, judge clears the way for 350-unit hotel at Coco Palms site, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

FBI Honolulu sets up command post to monitor Election Day. FBI Honolulu will set up an Election Command Post for election security starting on Monday, Nov. 4. The post will be staffed 24 hours a day to monitor a host of potential scenarios related to election fraud, voter suppression, foreign malign influence, malicious cyber activity against election infrastructure, and threats to election workers. Its jurisdiction covers Hawaii, Guam, U.S. Commonwealth in the Pacific Ocean (CNMI), and American Samoa. KITV4.

Alaska’s first financial report since Hawaiian acquisition shows combined strengths. Leaders at Alaska Air Group were bullish Thursday on their merger with Hawaiian Airlines in their first quarterly report filed since the move, indicating Hawaiian could almost break even by the fourth quarter. Star-Advertiser.

Board Of Education Restores Cuts For School Learning Centers. After strong public opposition the proposed budget cuts, DOE will continue to request state funding to support school learning.  Civil Beat.

Visitor arrivals up 7.8%. Visitor arrivals in Septem­ber recovered to 96% of Sept­ember 2019’s pre-­pandemic level — the best recovery rate since the devastating Maui wildfires in August 2023 interrupted tourism’s recovery. Arrivals to Hawaii rose 7.8% year over year to 707,486 visitors, according to preliminary statistics released Thursday by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Star-Advertiser.

Water commission appointee takes seat over advocates' objections. Gov. Josh Green’s two key appointees to the state water commission officially started work Thursday.The appointments have brought new attention to the debate over whether taro farmers and affordable housing are in competition for water. Hawaii News Now.

$1.5M grant goes toward students pursuing food, agriculture studies in Hawaiʻi. A handful of University of Hawaiʻi campuses have been awarded a $1.5 million grant to strengthen Native Hawaiian-serving institutions by supporting students in food and agricultural sciences. The USDA grant was awarded to UH West Oʻahu, Leeward Community College, Hawaiʻi Community College, and UH Mānoa’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Governor’s Office To Help YMCA Residents Facing Huge Rent Hike. The state’s Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions promised to make sure no tenant has to move out after Honolulu’s Central YMCA announced it would end rental subsidies for eight long-term residents. Civil Beat.

New airport parking structure the start of big plans at HNL. The state’s currently taking bids for a new parking structure at Honolulu Airport. Officials say it’s not just another project, but a key piece for future plans there. KHON2.

Stadium rebuild on track with selection of developer. Aloha Halawa District Partners has met state requirements and received approval as master developer for the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District, with the planned opening of a new stadium in August 2028 still intact. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Street Festivals Frustrate Waikiki But Chinatown Wants More. In a tale of two neighborhoods, street festivals can be a headache for people in Waikiki while community leaders say they could be an economic lifeline for Chinatown. Civil Beat.

Work starts next week on new transit-only lane in Waikiki. The city will begin work next week on making the right westbound lane of Kuhio Avenue a transit-only lane for buses and certain other vehicles. It will take about a month to make the change from Kapahulu Avenue to Launui Street. Hawaii News Now.

City council looking at Mililani police substation. The Honolulu City Council is considering the need for a new police sub-station in Mililani, it comes after several high profile cases last year. KHON2.

3 charged in Afghan immigration fraud scheme. A Honolulu man and two others face federal charges in connection with a six-year scheme starting in 2018 to provide more than 200 fraudulent visa application recommendations for citizens of Afghanistan to live in the U.S. — accepting $500 each, and emeralds in one instance. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Fire Department unveils new twin-engine helicopter. Starting in 2025, the Honolulu Fire Department will fly a new twin-engine helicopter to incidents ranging from searches and rescues to fighting wildland fires across not only Oahu, but perhaps to the other islands as well. Star-Advertiser.

DLNR investigating ‘cruel and inhumane’ cat killings. State authorities have launched an investigation after at least eight cats appear to have been killed in a cruel manner at the Sand Island harbor in October. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii County Mayor’s Race Is Getting Lots Of Cash This Year. Hawaii County Mayor Mitch Roth has raised and spent tens of thousands of dollars more than his opponent, Kimo Alameda, in his bid to win a second term. Civil Beat.

Salvation Army Opens Safehouse For Girls In Hilo. The Salvation Army’s Noho ‘Olu Safehouse for Girls opened its doors on Monday. The new four-bedroom safehouse in Hilo serves girls aged 13 to 17,and will offer “life skills and academic training, essential resources, and compassionate care to help each girl thrive and build a bright future.”  Big Island Video News.

Maui

Healthcare workers announce three-day strike, beginning Monday morning. Hundreds of nurses and other healthcare workers will walk off the job for three days beginning 7 a.m. Monday, impacting care from essential staff at Maui Memorial Medical Center, Kula Hospital and Lāna‘i Community Hospital. Maui Now.

New Maui police statement reveals county protocol violations in Lahaina fire victim recovery. Concerns raised by the department’s former morgue contractor cast doubt on whether all the ashes families received are those of their loved ones. Hawaii News Now.

Meeting addresses new ocean fiber cable construction on Maui. Construction of a submarine optical fiber cable system aimed at improving high-speed broadband internet throughout the state may start construction on Maui in the near future.  Maui News.

First steps underway for Summit-to-Sea Restoration project on Maui. Work to restore what is known as “Maui’s mother reef” began this week with a contractor starting to drill test bores for a possible retention basin in Manawaipueo Gulch. Maui News.

Maui County, again, leads state in vacation rental supply in September. Maui County continued to have the largest vacation rental supply in the state in September — 263,900 available unit nights, compared with 230,500 on Oʻahu, 214,600 on Hawaiʻi Island and 136,600 on Kauaʻi, according to a monthly vacation rental performance report by the state Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism. Maui Now.

Kauai

Judge denies attorney’s motion to stop construction at Coco Palms property. Fifth Circuit Court Judge Randal Valenciano on Thursday denied an attorney’s motion to grant a preliminary injunction to stop all construction work on a controversial 350-unit hotel on the site that once housed the iconic Coco Palms Resort on Kauaʻi. Kauai Now.

Cesspool grant program notifies 100 awardees on Kauai. A grant program aimed at helping island residents convert cesspools on their properties has selected 100 recipients, each of whom are eligible to receive a $20,000 reimbursement. Garden Island. Kauai Now.

Lydgate Campground to close for two weeks. The closure is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 12. The campground will reopen at noon on Thursday, Nov. 21. Garden Island.

HECO to compensate battery storage customers after partner withdraws, Maui abandons rent stabilization plan, Aloha Stadium set to open for 2028 football season, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiian Electric to compensate customers after Swell Energy closure. Hawaiian Electric is stepping in to pay upfront incentives owed to customers with battery storage systems following the closure of Swell Energy Inc., the third-party provider that managed the Home Rewards Battery Program on Oahu, Maui and Hawaii Island. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Bank Proxy War Heats Up. The former chairman and chief executive of Bank of Hawaii is stepping up a bid for Honolulu’s Territorial Savings Bank, seeking to upend a pending merger with Los Angeles-based Hope Bancorp Inc. by convincing shareholders to vote against the deal next month. Civil Beat.

State encourages people to help protect young seabirds as they embark on first flight. Seabird fallout season happens every year from roughly Sept. 15 to Dec. 15. Kauai Now.

Oahu

Board anticipates stadium’s completion for 2028 season. The state will likely miss a self-imposed deadline Monday, but Stadium Authority board members said at Thursday’s monthly meeting they don’t see it affecting the overall timeline that still has a new Aloha Stadium in Halawa built in time for the 2028 football season. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Honolulu Council seeks more public input on city’s next landfill.  Honolulu City Council resolution seeks both transparency and assurance over how the city’s site selection process to find the next municipal solid waste landfill on Oahu will affect the public. Star-Advertiser.

Federal mediator joins talks between Kapi‘olani and nurses. The nurses union and Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women &Children began working with a federal mediator Thursday morning to help resolve their dispute in reaching a new three-year contract. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

In act of solidarity, Waikiki hotel workers march alongside striking Hilton employees. A show of support on Thursday for nearly 2,000 striking hotel workers from the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Workers from other Waikiki hotels, including the Royal Hawaiian and Sheraton, walked in solidarity with the hotel workers on the picket Hawaii News Now.

Officials try to ease concerns over ‘kauhale’ homeless village in Iwilei. Residents in a neighborhood that has had persistent homelessness have been raising concerns about a new kauhale, or tiny village for the homeless. The kauhale in Iwilei will be the state’s 17th. The 58 units will be operated by the Institute for Human Services. Hawaii News Now.

Crew demolishing partially collapsed North Shore home. Demolition began Thursday afternoon on the property at 59-147 Ke Nui Road by Sunset Beach that had started to erode into the ocean. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Volunteers To Help People Clear Up Minor Legal Woes ‘Without Fear Of Arrest’. A free legal clinic in Waianae offers participants a chance to resolve outstanding warrants and clear arrest records without being detained or posting bail. Civil Beat.

Pickleballers to petition to fix lights at Ke’ehi Lagoon courts. When new pickleball courts at Ke’ehi Lagoon Beach Park were announced back in March 2023, players were hoping to enjoy the game all day and into the night, but many players said they’ve been left disappointed for over a year. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

UH-Hilo to get $21M to spruce up facilities. Gov. Josh Green has released $21 million in capital improvement project funds to cover four construction and rehabilitation projects at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

County receives large donation of animal control equipment.  The Hawaii County Council approved a resolution earlier this month accepting a donation of equipment worth $144,595 for the county’s Animal Control and Protection Agency. Tribune-Herald.

More funding in the works to battle ROD. Additional federal funding to combat Rapid ‘Ohi‘a Death has strong support in Congress after a bill by Hawaii lawmakers unanimously passed the House of Representatives this week. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Pushback: Maui rent stabilization stopped before it’s started. Even before a bill’s drafted to rein in Maui’s runaway long-term rental increases, the chair of the Maui County Council’s Housing and Land Use Committee said she’s not considering any legislation that regulates rent. Maui Now.

Maui Mayor Convinces State To Back Off Long-Term Water Plan. State officials have agreed to hold off on considering a long-term license for millions of gallons of Maui water after Maui Mayor Richard Bissen stepped in and asked the state to work with the county on how water should be distributed. Civil Beat.

Property Theft Concerns Rise As Lahaina Neighborhoods Reopen. Police offer to help residents set up a neighborhood watch program, but they haven't rebuilt yet. Civil Beat.

Maui United Way dedicates additional $1M to address food insecurity through new Mā’ona Food Security Grant. Maui United Way announced the launch of its Mā’ona Food Security Grant, a new initiative aimed at addressing the growing food insecurity challenges faced by residents of Maui County.  Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauaʻi homeowners can apply for up to $20K to convert cesspools. The deadline for Kauaʻi residents to apply for up to $20,000 for a cesspool grant is this Friday. It's federal money from the infrastructure bill to help homeowners comply with laws to mandate conversion.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Anahola nonprofit leads fire mitigation efforts on Hawaiian Homelands. Dozens of high school students and volunteers removed over 30 abandoned cars from a parcel of Hawaiian homelands in Anahola Thursday as part of a community effort to reduce the risk of wildfires in the area. Kauai Now.