Higa corruption case costs UH $500K, Otani straw donor case delayed again, electricity rates heading upward, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

University of Hawai‘i to pay $500,000 in federal settlement over mismanaged funds. Public officials embezzled federal grant money. UH could have stopped it, the DOJ alleges. The settlement, announced last week, stems from criminal investigations into Stacy Higa, a former Hawaii County councilman and candidate for mayor as well as CEO of the Big Island’s only public access station, Na Leo TV and the former Executive Director of the Hawai‘i Commission for National and Community Service, who pleaded guilty in 2021 to embezzling grant funds awarded by AmeriCorps, a federally funded network of service programs.  Aloha State Daily.

Straw donor trial delayed again amid plea talks. The trial for Terri Ann Otani, who is accused of illegally funneling money to political candidates, has been delayed for a fifth time as plea negotiations continue. Otani and other employees of engineering firm Mitsunaga and Associates were acquitted of bribery conspiracy in federal court in 2024. But testimony from that trial led the state attorney general’s office to file its own criminal case against the 71-year-old over straw donations. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiian Electric Industries parent company cashed in on bank stock sale. Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. disclosed on Monday that it sold nearly a third of the stock it held in American Savings Bank during ASB’s initial public stock offering Wednesday, and received $29.5 million after transaction fees. Star-Advertiser.

Monthly electricity bills could see a raise if HECO rebasing proposal approved. Beginning Tuesday, public hearings across the state will be held to discuss HECO’s rebasing proposal, which if approved by the Public Utilities Commission, would increase monthly bills for customers statewide. KHON2.

Federal Head Start Reforms Could Cut Supports For Hawai‘i Families. Education advocates worry that proposed rule changes to Head Start could reduce families’ access to education and developmental programs for young children. Civil Beat.

State’s unemployment ranks grow as more people join labor force. The number of people unemployed in the state increased in August to 18,800 from 18,350 in July, marking the highest unemployment figure since there were 18,931 out of work in September 2024, according to data released Thursday by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Star-Advertiser.

Hurricane Lala damage tops $67 million in preliminary public infrastructure costs. Hurricane Lala’s damage to Hawaii is now estimated at more than $67 million in preliminary public infrastructure costs alone, according to new information from the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. KITV4.

Residents advised to prepare for a potential cyclone from a lingering tropical disturbance. Hawaiʻi officials are monitoring a developing storm located to the southeast of the Big Island. As of 5 p.m. Monday evening, the remnants of Tropical Depression Fifteen-E were located several hundred miles southeast of the Hawaiian Islands. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. KHON2. 

Oahu

‘It works’: Lazar outlines plans for reducing youth crime, issues in Kalihi. Honolulu’s new police chief empathized with Kalihi families worried about crime, substance abuse and gambling Monday evening. Chief David Lazar assured residents he has a plan during a talk story event at Farrington High School that drew dozens. Several attendees raised concerns over youth crime. Hawaii News Now.

5 years after the Red Hill fuel spill, Navy seeks to reopen one of its shafts. The U.S. Navy sent letters to customers on its water system stating that it intends to reopen one of three shafts that were closed following the discovery of fuel in its drinking water supply nearly five years ago. Hawaii Public Radio.

Should County Pay For Infrastructure Along The Rail? Voters Will Decide. The ballot measure to approve a type of bond financing used in 48 other states comes amid a concerted push by city and state officials to develop housing around Honolulu’s Skyline. Civil Beat.

High-Need Foster Kids Now Have An Alternative To Staying In State Offices. Officials say they hope a new Oʻahu home will ensure hard-to-place foster children don’t need to sleep in government offices or hotels in the future. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Electrical failure causes over 70,000 gallons of Hilo wastewater to discharge into Puhi Bay. Approximately 71,000 gallons of partially treated, fully disinfected wastewater were discharged through the facility’s ocean outfall, located about three-quarters of a mile offshore in Puhi Bay on Monday night. Big Island Now.

Recovery continues in Naalehu after Hurricane Lala battered Kau. Stores are open. People are returning to work. Gas is available. Community gatherings have resumed. But for many residents of Kau District, the effects of Hurricane Lala are far from over. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Informational Open house for New Central Maui School Project, Oct. 1 and 3. The team behind the planned public school in Waikapū, the New Central Maui School Project, is hosting its second Informational Open House on Oct. 1 and Oct. 3. This is a chance to see how the project has progressed and learn about the effort to plan and design a new public school. Maui Now.

Waena battery storage project hits key milestone, will strengthen Maui grid and support renewables. Hawaiian Electric’s Waena Battery Energy Storage System project reached a major construction milestone with the arrival and installation of the project’s first six Tesla Megapacks at the project site along Pūlehu Road in Central Maui. Maui Now.

Maui storm victims hope federal aid from Lala comes soon. State officials said they are still waiting for a response from the White House on whether President Trump will approve a Major Disaster Declaration after Tropical Storm Lala caused significant damage in Hawaii. Most of the destruction was on Hawaii Island, but storm victims on Maui hope they won’t be forgotten. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Kauaʻi utility seeks to raise bills to cover wildfire costs. Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative has asked the state Public Utilities Commission to approve a new surcharge on customers’ bills. For the typical Kauaʻi resident, bills could go up by about $13 a month starting next year. Hawaii Public Radio.

Rapozo and Carvalho face off in Kauai mayoral runoff. The runoff for Kauai mayor in the general election comes down to two familiar faces. County council chair Mel Rapozo and councilmember and former mayor Benard Carvalho. KHON2.

Some state lands reopen to public on Kaua‘i following Hurricane Lowell providing limited access. The public is urged to use caution when accessing forested areas, as many unmitigated hazards exist. Kauai Now.

Tourism down, spending up; Hawaii's 3rd-largest bank now on the NYSE; military telescopes on Haleakala raise concerns, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

 Fewer Tourists, But They’re Spending More. Is This What Hawaiʻi Wanted? Hawai‘i has long struggled with issues surrounding overtourism, but recent visitor trends may signal long-term problems for the state’s biggest industry. Civil Beat.

Strong El Niño could keep Pacific active as Hawaii heads into fall. A powerful El Niño is still strengthening, and climate scientists said it is already helping shape the unusually wet and stormy summer Hawaii has experienced. KITV4.

Green orders flags at half-staff to honor late Gov. George Ariyoshi. Gov. Josh Green ordered U.S. and Hawaii flags to be flown at half-staff at the state Capitol in honor of the late Gov. George R. Ariyoshi. Flags shall be lowered from sunrise Friday through sunset on the day of his interment, Monday. Star-Advertiser.

American Savings Bank stock begins trading on NYSE. Hawaii’s third-largest bank is now owned in part by public shareholders after an initial sale Wednesday of American Savings Bank stock on a public exchange. The company with 35 branches and $9 billion in assets sold about 8 million shares of stock, or about 12% of the company, for $129 million, in its initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange. Star-Advertiser.

OHA’s Native Hawaiian Trust Fund Has Doubled In Value. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs now oversees nearly $1 billion in assets, including real estate and its trust fund. Civil Beat.

Federal spending on Section 8 in Hawaiʻi surges 70% as rents rise. The outlays amounted to $170 million in 2024, or 70% more than in 2003, when adjusted for inflation, the report from the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization said. Hawaii Public Radio. Star-Advertiser. 

Oahu

Fate Of Proposed Data And Innovation Office In O‘ahu Voters’ Hands. The proposal will be 1 of 20 ballot measures for Honolulu voters to weigh. Civil Beat.

Local ag, food groups rally public to vote for Oʻahu food security fund. In November, Oʻahu voters will decide if part of the City and County of Honolulu's budget should dedicate funding for food security efforts. It'll be the first of 20 proposed amendments to the City Charter voters will decide on during the general election. Hawaii Public Radio.

Honolulu City Council advances sharp increase in fines for unlawful peddling. Honolulu City Council legislation that would significantly increase fines for unlawful peddling violations in public places has advanced, despite questions from some Council members about how effectively the current law is being enforced. Star-Advertiser.

Five years after Red Hill fuel spill, Navy touts progress as residents express skepticism. It’s been nearly five years since the fuel spill at Red Hill contaminated drinking water. While the Navy says it is making progress at re-establishing drinking water systems, people still have concerns and questions. Hawaii News Now.

Dye study raises questions about wastewater reaching Shark’s Cove tide pools. A new dye study at one of Oahu’s most popular North Shore swimming spots is revealing a potential connection between the public restrooms at Pupukea Beach Park and the waters below at Kapoo, or Sharks Cove, tide pools. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Cesspools on Hawaiʻi Island pose billions of dollars in costs. About 49,000 cesspools are scattered around Hawaiʻi Island. An analysis by the state Department of Health found that contamination from cesspools in Keaʻau, Hilo, and Kona may pose a risk to drinking water resources or nearshore coral reefs. Hawaii Public Radio.

UPDATE: Brown water advisory issued 3+ weeks ago for Honuʻapo to Punaluʻu canceled. Hawaiʻi Department of Health, however, still urges the public to avoid brown, murky coastal waters, especially following storms or heavy rainfall. Big Island Now.

Maui

Maui Residents Anxious About More Military Telescopes Atop Haleakalā. The final environmental and cultural review is expected by the end of the year. Civil Beat.

Mayoral candidate battle continues, council power struggle ahead. After Mayor Richard Bissen finished first out of 10 candidates in the primary election, second-place finisher and Council Vice Chair Yuki Lei Sugimura faces an uphill battle as they both vie for the thousands of votes that went to the other candidates. Maui Now.

Upcountry residents asked to conserve water. Upcountry Maui water customers are being asked to conserve water while the Kamole Water Treatment Plant undergoes upgrades, the Maui County Department of Water Supply announced. The plant is expected to return to service in early November. Maui News. Maui Now.

Hawaiʻi's congressional delegation urges home mail delivery for Lahaina. Hawai’i's Congressional Delegation is calling for the U.S. Postal Service to reinstate home mail delivery for rebuilt Lahaina neighborhoods. They sent a joint letter to the postmaster general demanding reconsideration of rebuilt homes as “new developments.”  Since the 2023 wildfire, mail has not been delivered to rebuilt properties. Hawaii Public Radio.

Former Lahainaluna principal wanted on felony charges. Former Lahainaluna High School principal Jeri Dean is wanted on a $200,000 bench warrant for multiple felony offenses, including theft, fraud and official misconduct, according to public court records. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

US Coast Guard restores navigation aids, reopens harbors following Hurricane Lowell. Crews worked from Sept. 9-15 conducting dive operations, repositioning damaged navigation aids and delivering equipment to restore safe access to affected waterways, including Port Allen Small Boat Harbor and Nāwiliwili Harbor. Kauai Now. Hawaii News Now.

Pacific Missile Range Facility guest passes reopen with limited access and select sites. Recovery operations in the aftermath of Hurricane Lowell are ongoing throughout the installation; however, some recreational areas sustained minimal damage during the storm and personnel were able to safely restore select sites for guest recreational use. Kauai Now. Hawaii News Now. 

DLNR lands on remain closed for public safety. All Department of Land and Natural Resources lands on Kaua‘i will remain closed to the public into the foreseeable future due to widespread damage from Hurricane Lowell. In particular, the public is urged to avoid Koke‘e State Park and Koke‘e Road, where many catastrophic, unmitigated hazards exist throughout the landscape.  Garden Island.

Gov. Green surveys storm damage on Kauaʻi's North Shore. HPR spoke with Gov. Josh Green after his visit to Kauaʻi, where he surveyed storm damage along the island’s north shore alongside Kauaʻi Mayor Derek Kawakami and Hawaiʻi Senate President Ron Kouchi. Hawaii Public Radio.

Crews make progress on power, roads as Kauai recovery continues. Contracted debris crews arrived Thursday to begin clearing Wainiha Powerhouse Road for the first time since Hurricane Lowell, focusing on clearing vegetation from tangled utility lines. Star-Advertiser.

HECO bailout bill stalls, utility seeks to divest itself of American Savings Bank; Legislature finds $1B for Maui wildfire recovery; Blangiardi heads to Washington in search of homeless funding, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

HECO’s Bill To Raise Money From Customers For Wildfire Mitigation Has Stalled. The utility wanted to add a fee of up to 5% to customers' bills to finance the program, but a key Senator balked. The governor has stepped in to try to save it. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio.

Report: Hawaiian Electric Is Looking To Sell American Savings Bank. The report comes as alternative efforts to raise cash have stalled in the Legislature. Civil Beat.

About $1B arranged for Maui wildfire expenses. Lawmakers Vote To Provide More Than $800M In New Recovery Money For Maui on top of $200 million committed by Gov. Josh Green.  Members of the House and Senate also agreed to create a new position for a state fire marshal to promote fire safety. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.  Maui Now.

Hawaii legislators face deadline to avoid repeat of ‘chaos’. House and Senate legislators negotiating changes are under pressure to approve final bills by 6 p.m. tonight to avoid what Senate President Ron Kouchi called “the chaos” that surrounded the end of 2023’s session. The 2024 Legislature adjourns in a week, on May 3. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii taxpayers will cough up $18M for state workers’ mistakes, misbehavior. Hawaii taxpayers are on the hook for more than $18 million this year to settle lawsuits filed by dozens of people and companies. Lawmakers, frustrated over repeated failures, did try to make some departments pay the cash themselves. Hawaii News Now.

State lawmakers close to increasing penalties on dog attacks. There could be tougher penalties for dog owners if their dog seriously bites or attacks a person, lawmakers say stricter laws are needed as communities have been dealing with severe, even deadly attacks.  KHON2.

Bill Aims To Reduce Unauthorized Hunting In Hawaii. The legislative proposal would make hunting guides obtain written permission from landowners before leading tours on private lands. Civil Beat.

AAA: Hawaiʻi gas prices continue to increase.  Gas prices statewide continue to increase slowly, according to the AAA Hawaiʻi Weekend Gas Watch. The statewide average price for regular unleaded is $4.81, three cents higher than last week. The national average gas price is $3.66, one cent lower than last week. Maui Now.

Hawaii restaurant inspection reports not easily available: ‘That’s a problem’. There have been at least seven red placards issued to local restaurants since 2024 began but there is no easy way to access the inspection reports that prompted them. KHON2.

Oahu

Mayor Blangiardi heads to Washington, D.C. to advocate for more homeless funding. Mayor Rick Blangiardi leaves Friday for Washington D.C. To meet with officials from the Biden administration where he’s expected to ask for more federal funding to help tackle homelessness in Honolulu. KHON2.

HART receives $125M in federal funding. The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation on Thursday announced $125 million in long-awaited federal funding to aid in the ongoing construction of the nearly $10 billion Skyline project. Star-Advertiser.

Skyline fleet is now complete with delivery of 20th train. All 20 trains for the Honolulu rail, officially called Skyline, are now on Oʻahu. The final train arrived at Honolulu Harbor on Wednesday.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Navy: Recent Elevated Petroleum Levels In Pearl Harbor Water Are False Positives. Chlorine in water samples skewed the results, the Navy says. Residents fear their drinking water remains unsafe. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.  Hawaii News Now.

Officials meet, discuss Makua Valley military training sites. U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda joined community members Thursday in tours and meetings with officials at military sites on Oahu’s Leeward side.  Star-Advertiser.

Defense paints key witness in Kaneshiro bribery trial as a liar.  Retired HPD officer Rudy Alivado was back on the stand Wednesday for cross-examination in the high-profile bribery trial involving Honolulu’s former city prosecutor and employees of a politically-connected engineering firm. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Developer testifies why he sued lot owner over HPP house mistake. Paul Fujinaga, partners with John Mendonca in Keaau Development Partnership, said that no surveyor was brought in to ensure that the contractor, PJ’s Construction, built the house on the one-acre lot on 8th Avenue owned by the developer instead of on the adjoining vacant parcel owned by Annaleine “Anne” Reynolds. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui Strong Fund Providing $40M To Help House Fire Survivors. The Hawaii Community Foundation is providing a $40 million grant through its Maui Strong Fund to support construction of the state’s $115 million, 450-unit Ka La’i Ola interim housing development for fire survivors, the foundation announced Thursday. Civil Beat.

Lahaina Seniors Wanted A Normal Year. The Fires Changed Everything. Students at Lahainaluna High School say they're searching for normalcy after the pandemic moved their freshman year online and the fires disrupted their senior year. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Kauai homeowners sue home construction company over alleged construction defects. Christie Volkmer bought a newly-built home on Kauai from D.R. Horton in 2018. Two years later, she and her family noticed something wrong with their water system. KITV4.

Volunteers sought to cleanup Morgan’s Ponds. The County of Kaua‘i Department of Parks and Recreation opened Lydgate Beach Park and the Kamalani Playground area to the public on Thursday. Garden Island.

Pacific Biodiesel plants its first Kauaʻi sunflower field, modeled after Maui’s. While Pacific Biodiesel is headquartered on Maui, it has nearly 100 employees statewide, including 50 who work at its biodiesel refinery on Hawaiʻi Island. Maui Now.