Hurricane Gilma expected to bring Hawaii weekend storms, Kauai councilman on unpaid leave from teaching job after 'inappropriately' messaging student, Green asks wildfire lawyers to reduce fees, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gilma strengthens to Category 1 hurricane, expected to bring stormy weather over the weekend.  Forecasters are keeping an eye on a pair of weather disturbances over the western portion of the East Pacific basin, about 1,350 miles east-southeast of Hilo. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News. Star-Advertiser. Associated Press. National Hurricane Center. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Green leads Hawaii delegation in nominating Kamala Harris. Hawaii delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago donned light-blue, long-sleeved aloha shirts and dresses and wore green “Hawaii for Harris” buttons Tuesday as Gov. Josh Green pledged Hawaii’s support for Vice President Kamala Harris to become the next president of the United States. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Facing Potential $1 Billion Payday, Wildfire Lawyers Advertise For More Clients. Gov. Josh Green calls on lawyers to reduce fees to help the victims, but the settlement still is not final. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Failed To Change The Way It Builds After Earlier Disasters. Will Lahaina Spur Reform? Lahaina will likely be more resilient when it’s rebuilt. But will the rest of Hawaii’s vulnerable communities agree to tougher building codes to defend themselves? Civil Beat.

HIDOE announces finals for 2025 Hawaii State Teacher of the Year. The finalists consist of 15 complex area teachers of the year and one charter school teacher which were announced on Tuesday, Aug. 20.  KITV4.

Oahu

Why officials are grappling with the decision of where to put Oʻahu's next landfill. It’s been almost five years since the state Land Use Commission ordered the city to close Waimānalo Gulch Landfill, located in West Oʻahu, by 2028. Hawaii Public Radio.

‘Frat House’ Culture | HPD faces lawsuit alleging sexual harassment, discrimination. Allegations have been leveled against the Honolulu Police Department and high-ranking officers, claiming sexual harassment, discrimination, and whistle-blower discrimination. KITV4.

HPD arrest State Deputy Sheriff on suspicion of terroristic threatening. Dibiano Bontog, 35, Bontog is accused of pointing what looked like a firearm at some people he believed were illegally fishing, after videotaping them and getting into a confrontation. KITV4. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Wilcox Medical Center awarded $10.6M grant. The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust has awarded Hawaii a $10.6 million grant to provide Wilcox Medical Center with state-of-the-art diagnostic and radiology equipment. Spectrum News.

How A Human Bone Collection in Honolulu Aids Forensic Anthropology in Asia. Taking advantage of Hawaii's diverse population, scientists have built the state's first known-identity human osteological lab. Civil Beat.

Second opossum in over one month captured in Honolulu. A live opossum was captured in Honolulu on Monday afternoon, according to Department of Agriculture officials. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Nighttime runway work at Hilo International Airport rescheduled. Nighttime runway work at the Hilo International Airport originally scheduled to start Monday has been rescheduled to Aug. 27 to 30. Big Island Now.

3 Big Island educators named among finalists for Hawai‘i State Teacher of the Year. A total of 15 complex area teachers were named finalists by the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education. Big Island Now.

Maui

County sewage service to be available for first time to Fleming Road lots in Lahaina. For the first time, 29 lots on Fleming Road in Lahaina will have the opportunity to access Maui County sewer service, but there are some requirements for property owners, according to an announcement. Maui Now.

HIDOE names two Maui educators finalists for the 2025 Hawai‘i State Teacher of the Year. The Hawai’i State Department of Education on Tuesday named two Maui educators as finalists among the 15 total state complex area teachers of the year candidates.  Maui News. Maui Now.

Removal of trees at popular Maui park spurs disagreement between county, community members. For decades, South Maui resident Keoki Mokiao and several others have took it upon themselves to tend to the popular Cove Beach Park in Kihei. KITV4.

Kauai

Kauaʻi Councilman ‘inappropriately’ messaged student on social media, school investigation reveals. Kaua’i County Councilman Billy DeCosta was put on unpaid leave from his teaching job at Kapaʻa High School earlier this year due to inappropriately messaging a student on social media, according to a June 20 letter sent to DeCosta from the state Department of Education. Kauai Now.

DHHL apartment purchase plan draws demonstrators on Kauai. A contentious plan by the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to buy a Kauai apartment complex for homesteading attracted demonstrators Monday and Tuesday outside a Hawaiian Homes Commission meeting in Wailua. Star-Advertiser.

Kaua‘i Community College gets $1.19 million grant. Kaua‘i Community College announced on Tuesday that it was awarded $1,194,119 by the U.S. Department of Education/Native Hawaiian Education Program. Garden Island.

Hawaii to beef up agriculture, aquaculture programs, RFK Jr. makes campaign stop, Kauai councilman put on leave from state teaching job, homeless woman gives birth, drags newborn on Hilo sidewalk, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii farmers and ranchers to benefit from state landlord swap. A 2003  law was supposed to better support ranchers and farmers by having the Department of Land and Natural Resources give the Department of Agriculture up to 110,000 acres of ag land that DLNR largely leased to food producers. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald. Kauai Now.

How coffee farmers fought counterfeit Kona beans. On the volcanic slopes of Kona, hundreds of farmers produce one of the most expensive coffees in the world. Those farmers recently won a series of settlements — totaling more than $41 million — after a nearly five-year legal battle with distributors and retailers that were accused of using the Kona name in a misleading way. New York Times.

Hawaii Lawmakers Want To Make Fish Farming A Bigger Industry.  The Legislature may give the embattled Agribusiness Development Corp. oversight of aquaculture, seen as a linchpin in Hawaii’s evolving agricultural economy following the plantation era.  Civil Beat.

Governor vows to support lower drunken driving levels in Hawaii. Gov. Josh Green plans a full-court offensive to convince hesitant legislators to finally lower Hawaii’s blood alcohol content level to .05% from .08% after previous bills failed. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Robert Kennedy Jr. makes a campaign stop in Hawaii to get on the ballot for president. Hundreds of people gathered Thursday at the Ko‘olau Ballrooms in Kaneohe to support RFK Jr.’s long-shot bid as an independent to become America’s next president. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

ʻOnipaʻa march draws thousands to commemorate overthrow of Hawaiian Kingdom. Wednesday marked the anniversary of the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom more than 130 years ago. Thousands of Native Hawaiian students, teachers and community leaders from across the islands commemorated the date with the annual ‘Onipaʻa Peace March. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

With 100s of witnesses, trial for so-called ‘Miske Enterprise’ could take half a year. Jury selection is underway for one of the biggest organized crime trials in Hawaii. Businessman and alleged crime boss Michael Miske is facing nearly two dozen counts in a suspected murder-for-hire plot along with an alleged chemical weapons case. Hawaii News Now.

Federal officials are no-shows at Red Hill community meeting. Federal officials were absent when members of the Red Hill Community Representation Initiative met Thursday at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs for an update from the military and the Environmental Protection Agency on ongoing efforts to close the Red Hill fuel storage facility and water testing on the Navy waterline. Star-Advertiser.

HPD chief: ‘Everything that happened’ during fatal police pursuit under investigation. Honolulu Police Department Chief Joe Logan continued to field questions Thursday about a lawsuit filed against the department alleging police brutality. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Woman allegedly drags baby after giving birth on downtown Hilo sidewalk. Police officers and Hawaii Fire Department personnel responded to the intersection of Mamo Street and Keawe Street after receiving reports at about 5:15 p.m. Tuesday that a woman who had just given birth was reportedly dragging the newborn. Tribune-Herald. Star-Advertiser.  Big Island Video News.  Big Island Now.  KHON2. KITV4.

After Fight, Man Dies At Mo‘oheau Bus Terminal In Hilo. A 34-year-old man died after a fight with several men near the homeless encampment along the fence line separating the Mo‘oheau parking lot and Bayfront Highway. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

Maui

Milestone moment as first property is cleared of residential wildfire debris in Lahaina, Maui. A milestone moment was reached on Wednesday as the first residential property was cleared of wildfire debris on Fleming Road in Lahaina. This comes following months of coordinated reentry activities that allowed residents to gain access to their properties and assess damage. Debris removal from residential properties in Lahaina began on Tuesday, Jan. 16. Maui Now.

County film commissioner Tracy Bennett retires, reflects on growth of Maui industry.  After 10 years at the helm, County of Maui Film Commissioner Tracy Bennett has retired from his government post to enter the private sector.  Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauai County Councilman Is Put On Leave From State Teaching Job. The Hawaii Department of Education has placed Kapaa High School teacher Billy DeCosta, a member of the Kauai County Council, on a leave of absence following an undisclosed incident that remains under investigation. Civil Beat.

Kauai County Council member receives ‘credible threat’. The threat was made against Councilman Bill DeCosta, who found what was described as a letter, poster or piece of paper left for him on Tuesday, Jan. 16. Garden Island. Kauai Now.