Kilauea Volcano puts on a show, Legislature tackles accountability, Honolulu council IDs funding cuts in budget, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Government reform bills move ahead. Bills aimed at clamping down on campaign contributions from government contractors while separately providing more public money to run for political office remain alive following a key Senate committee hearing Tuesday, joining other bills aimed at government reform that continue to move through the Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

‘This Has To End’: Revelations Renew Calls For Government Accountability. A growing chorus of good government advocates want the Legislature to increase accountability within its own ranks following a Civil Beat story about an unknown Hawaiʻi lawmaker receiving a $35,000 donation amid an ongoing federal corruption investigation. Civil Beat.

Midwifery bill advances but causes confusion. After months of fluctuating support and opposition, two Senate committees passed a controversial bill Tuesday that would potentially criminalize unlicensed attendants of a home birth who engage in midwifery duties, causing confusion and concern among lawmakers and the midwife community. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers want changes in HTA as new board members confirmed. The two newest members of the Hawaii Tourism Authority board were officially confirmed by a Senate committee on April 1. But lawmakers first demanded some changes throughout the entire organization. KHON2.

Not enough workers to deal with uptick in Hawaiʻi SNAP benefit applications. The state Department of Human Services said it has a 25% vacancy for eligibility workers and 50% for clerical staff at SNAP processing centers. Hawaii Public Radio.

Gov. Green announces three judicial appointments. He has appointed Taryn Tomasa Gifford and Karin L. Holma to the Circuit Court of the First Circuit. These appointments follow the governor’s recent selection of Kauanoe A. D. Jackson to the Circuit Court of the Third Circuit. Maui Now.

Oahu

City Council identifies $25M in cuts to vacant positions to help fund sewer projects. The council is reviewing Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s budget for the next fiscal year and is looking to cut expenses — largely to pay for other projects like wastewater infrastructure. Hawaii Public Radio.

City’s proposed sewer fee increase hits roadblock in council. Plans to raise sewer fees more than 100 percent over 10 years are hitting a wall at the Honolulu City Council. A key committee voted Tuesday to limit the raise and force the city to find other sources of money. Hawaii News Now.

City seeks Iwilei properties to redevelop near future rail station. City officials say they have started acquiring private properties to create affordable housing and transit-oriented development in and around the city-owned Iwilei Center next to Dillingham Boulevard. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

City Plans To Finish Waiʻanae Police Station, But It May Not Mean More Cops. Nine years after opening the station, the city is working to finish construction. But Honolulu is short on police, so there won’t necessarily be more officers on patrol. Civil Beat.

New parking restrictions to allow for street sweeps. The City and County of Honolulu is making an effort to keep drains clear and the water safe by allowing street sweepers to come by every first Monday and Thursday of the month. KITV4.

Hawaii Island

Milolii homeowner wins lawsuit against county. A Kona judge ruled Friday that the Hawaii County Board of Appeals erred when it sided with the Department of Public Works, which revoked a 2020 renovation building permit that was in effect after a man bought a small Milolii Beach Lots house in a shoreline management area four years ago. Tribune-Herald.

Renaming of Captain Cook Post Office in honor of fallen soldier observed at Vietnam War memorial service. More than 50 years after U.S. troops departed Vietnam, the post office in Captain Cook is being named after 1st Lt. John Kuulei Kauhaihao of Hōnaunau, who was killed in action during the war. Big Island Now.

Lava fountains top 700 feet in latest ‘episode’ of Kilauea eruption. The eruption prompts warnings of volcanic ash, rock and vog. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Maui County Council Digs Into The Mayor’s $1.5 Billion Spending Plan. Some members are concerned about the high level of county job vacancies. Civil Beat.

Mayor responds to study suggesting housing bill cost Maui 1,900 jobs or more. Mayor Richard Bissen said the proposal is not meant to be anti-tourism but is pro-resident. Bissen acknowledged that the transition would bring challenges, but the mayor contends delaying action will only make those challenges more severe. Maui News. Maui Now.

Maui United Way invests $1.5M in Lahaina Community Land Trust. Maui United Way is backing an effort to keep the land in Lahaina firmly in the hands of local residents by committing $1.5 million to the Lahaina Community Land Trust. Maui News. Maui Now.

With government help delayed, Upcountry Maui volunteers clear overgrowth ahead of fire season. Hundreds of volunteers have spent countless hours working to clear the land of invasive, fire-prone plants as the drought worsens island-wide. Hawaii News Now.

What Lahaina’s Miracle House Tells Us About Building Fire-Resistant Homes. Building with the right materials saved homes in the Maui and Los Angeles wildfires, but many homeowners can’t afford the price. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Office of Economic Development awards second year of agriculture expansion grants. After a successful first year of funding, the grant program continues to bring more focus on building Kaua‘i’s agriculture portfolio by creating more direct support for the farming community. Kauai Now.

Coworking space now offers AI programs to improve research, education, development. Kuleana.work coworking space in Līhuʻe has launched an AI Lab to provide a space for local entrepreneurs, students and community members to utilize artificial intelligence to benefit their lives. Kauai Now.

Fewer kids getting routine vaccinations, state agencies and advocates seek money as legislative session gears up, LA fires likely to raise Hawaii insurance premiums, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Fewer Kids In Hawaiʻi Are Getting Routine Vaccines. The state health department is warning that more unvaccinated students could put children at higher risk for infections like measles. In the 2023-24 school year, 21% of students were missing vaccinations, up from nearly 19% in the previous year.  Civil Beat. Big Island Now.

Report urges help for Hawaii households struggling financially. The 2024 ALICE in Hawaii report shows that while the percentage of households below the poverty line decreased to 12% in 2024 from 14% in 2022, the proportion of ALICE households remained unchanged at 29%. Nearly one-third of Hawaii households are classified as ALICE  — asset-limited, income-constrained, employed. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

Advocates renew push for Hawaii legislative reforms. A coalition of local community organizations seek changes in ethics, public access and campaign rforms. The coalition delivered a letter and petition with about 1,600 signatures to House and Senate lawmakers asking for five rule changes to legislative procedures and five new laws in the wake of high- profile corruption scandals and reduced voter participation that the letter writers said lead people to question whether engaging with Hawaii’s legislative system even matters at all. Star-Advertiser.

State Department of Agriculture asks for additional $28M in general funds. Hawaiʻi's Agriculture Department is asking state lawmakers for an additional $28 million in general funds over the next two years. The governor’s proposed budget for the next biennium would allocate $73.4 million to the state Department of Agriculture and $71.5 million for its operating budget over the next two fiscal years, respectively. Hawaii Public Radio.

DOE Gets An F: Hawaiʻi Schools Miss Their First Local Food Target. The department has included bottled water in its accounting for locally produced food. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Electric to close Shift and Save rates program to new enrollments as of Feb. 1. Hawaiian Electric will close its Shift and Save time-of-use rates program to new enrollments as of Feb. 1, 2025, following the completion of a one-year pilot. Customers enrolled in Shift and Save before that date will be allowed to continue in the program with the ability to opt out at any time. Maui Now.

Hawaiian Telcom targets 2026 for state to be fully fiber-enabled. Hawaiian Telcom announced a groundbreaking initiative Thursday to make Hawaii the nation’s first fully fiber-enabled state by 2026, with the project already more than halfway completed. The company is replacing its outdated copper network with a state-of-the-art fiber- optic system, marking a significant shift in broadband infrastructure. Star-Advertiser.

LA inferno likely to hike Hawaii insurance. The state Insurance Division said in a statement: “These events have significantly impacted the insurance industry, particularly in California, where major insurers have withdrawn from high-risk areas…Such large-scale events can have indirect effects on our local insurance landscape.” KHON2.

Oahu

OHA pitches community on Kakaako Makai housing. The state Office of Hawaiian Affairs worked to wrangle public support Wednesday night for its revamped proposal to undo a state law prohibiting residential use of land it owns in Kakaako. Star-Advertiser.

Legislators consider new laws to restrict where landfills can be placed. Debate over landfill site is aired before lawmakers. Two joint Legislature committees held an informational meeting over the city’s plan to site its dump on Dole Food Co. Hawaii property near Wahiawa. A 2020 law places restrictions on locating waste-disposal facilities, particularly those close to conservation lands or half-mile “buffer zones” near residential areas, schools or hospitals, as well as near airports or tsunami inundation zones. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio.

Federal investigators join HFD in search for answers in deadly McCully fire. Federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are on Oahu working closely alongside the Honolulu Fire Department at the scene of a deadly fire along Young Street. Together, investigators are trying to piece together a cause of the blaze that killed a young firefighter Monday night. Hawaii News Now.

Death At Illegal North Shore New Year’s Eve Party Stokes Safety Concerns. A young woman’s death at an illegal New Year’s Eve party in a North Shore state forest reserve has left a community grieving and many neighbors wondering why authorities hadn’t cracked down on the annual event sooner. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

County plans to install dozens of drywells along Kawili Street. The Hawaii County Department of Public Works is in the early stages of a $21 million construction project to improve East and West Kawili streets and Manono Street by installing a continuous sidewalk along the road, as well as other various pavement and striping maintenance. Tribune-Herald.

Lots of work still ahead for road into Waipi‘o Valley.  Almost three years after the county restricted access, Department of Public Works spokeswoman Sherise Kana‘e-Kane said the project remains “in its preliminary design stages.” Tribune-Herald.

New EIS Prep Notice Posted For Expansion At Leilani Quarry. Sanford’s Service Center is seeking a State Land Use District Boundary Amendment to reclassify 94-acres in order to expand mining of black-colored cinder at the quarry. Big Island Video News.

Captain Cook Post Office to get name change honoring Vietnam War Veteran Lt. Kauhaihao. President Joe Biden signed US Rep. Jill Tokuda’s bill into law, naming the Captain Cook Post Office on Hawaiʻi Island the “Army 1st Lt. John Kuulei Kauhaihao Post Office Building.” Maui Now.

Maui

Federal disaster funding signals a shift for Lahaina. There was a shift at Wednesday’s disaster recovery community meeting in Lahaina where residents were informed Maui County is gearing up to distribute more than $1 billion funds that’s been allocated to the county through the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery funds.  Maui News.

HIDOE to restore one additional school bus route for Kalama Intermediate School on Maui. The Hawai‘i State Department of Education announced today that one previously suspended school bus route serving Samuel E. Kalama Intermediate School will be reinstated starting on Monday, Jan. 13, restoring service for approximately 31 student bus riders. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kaua‘i County is notifying the public that the Real Property tax collections office at the Līhu‘e Civic Center is closed until further notice because of unforeseen circumstances. Payments can be made in the Real Property tax assessment office or online. Kauai Now.

Kapa‘a Bypass closed daily starting Monday, will shut again in February for repairs. Traffic will be re-routed to Lehua Street, according to the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation. The road will be open every afternoon after 3 p.m. and on weekends and holidays. Kauai Now.

Tourism management bill advances, Captain Cook name change clears House, Bezos tours Maui food bank, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kailua-Kona pool party pre-COVID ©2022 All Hawaii News

State tourism management bill advances. Anticipating resident backlash against over-tourism as the industry rebounds, state lawmakers today advanced a bill that would set money aside to study and implement tourism management. Maui Now.

No legislation after months of Hawaii land management hearings. Six months of special House investigative hearings — ostensibly over mismanagement of state agricultural lands — have failed to produce any legislation addressing problems identified in two state audits that were amplified during the hearings. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Sheriffs Training Chief Arrested On Charges Of Falsifying Records. J. Marte Martinez, who oversees training for the state Department of Public Safety, also is accused of perjury and lying to authorities. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Homeless Survey Reveals Pandemic Effects On Neighbor Islands. The 2022 point-in-time count shows a decrease in homelessness on Maui, while the Big Island and Kauai saw an uptick in people living on the streets or in shelters. Civil Beat.

Order of political parties on ballot announced. The state Office of Elections has announced the order in which political parties will appear on the 2022 primary ballot. The order was determined at random in a drawing on Wednesday. Maui News.

Candidate familiarity overshadows policy details in race for Hawaii governor. The three Democratic Party candidates for governor agree on some key challenges facing Hawaii and provide differing levels of specifics in an election that will ultimately come down to favorability over details, according to longtime political observers. Star-Advertiser.

Bill commemorates 1843 restoration of Hawaiian kingdom. A bill at the state Legislature would declare July 31 an official state day of observance commemorating King Kauikeaouli Kamehameha III’s accomplishments in restoring the Hawaiian kingdom after a British navy captain seized control in 1843. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Ige considers emergency water order as conflicting statements cloud contamination issue. Both the Navy and state Health Department have said there’s no indication that the Navy’s fuel contamination at Red Hill is spreading. But at a meeting last month of the state Commission of Water Resource Management, Navy engineers revealed data shows there is a possibility. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Senate Budget Proposal Puts $350M Toward New Stadium. The Legislature is looking to speed up development of the new Aloha Stadium. Civil Beat.

DOT proposes plan for roundabout at a busy Kahaluu highway intersection. The state Department of Transportation has announced plans to build a traffic roundabout at the intersection of Kahekili and Kamehameha highways in Kahaluu. Hawaii News Now.

Laniakea parking reopens, but some residents say long-term solution needed. For decades, North Shore residents and visitors have complained about a traffic bottleneck at popular Lania­kea Beach, where beach­goers darted haphazardly across two-lane Kameha­meha Highway. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Captain Cook Name Change Adopted By Hawaiʻi State House. The Hawaiʻi House of Representatives voted on Thursday to adopt a resolution, HCR27 HD1,  which requests “the United States Census Bureau to re-designate the census-designated place known as Captain Cook on the island of Hawaii as Ka‘awaloa.” Big Island Video News.

Prosecution calls law enforcement witnesses on Day 3 of drug trial for Big Island doctor. The prosecution in the federal drug trafficking trial of Dr. Rudy Puana, the brother of former Honolulu deputy prosecutor Katherine Kealoha, called several members of law enforcement to the stand on Thursday. KITV4. Civil Beat.

Coast Guard identifies victim of fatal boating incident; nearly $29K raised to support victim’s family. Theresa “Reesa” Butts, a crew member aboard the vessel 40-foot Uhane Nui o Naia, which is operated by Sunlight on Water, died in an accident reported about 6 p.m. in waters about 10 minutes out of Honokohau Small Boat Harbor in Kailua-Kona, U.S. Coast Guard officials said Thursday morning. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos tours Maui Food Bank. Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos was spotted earlier this week at the Maui Food Bank, one of the many organizations he made personal donations to in the second half of 2021. Maui Now.

Maui Resort, Earthjustice Look To Resolve Lawsuit Over Lights Injuring Seabirds. Jay Penniman, who manages Maui Nui Seabird Recovery Project, is advocating for the creation of an islandwide seabird habitat conservation plan like Kauai has. Civil Beat.

Kīhei roundabout sparks Maui residents’ traffic, project concerns. Construction on the Kīhei roundabout — the first multilane roundabout on a state highway — is sparking several concerns among area residents. Maui Now.

Traffic Is A Mess In South Maui. Residents Say These 2 Projects Could Help. With the new Kihei high school set to open its doors next year, community members worry things will only get worse if nothing is done. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Brun associate, Haidee Sueyasu, pleads guilty. The final associate named in the federal indictment against former Kaua‘i County Councilman Arthur Brun pled guilty to a drug charge Wednesday. Garden Island.

Homeowner assistance programs expand on Kauaʻi. Island homeowners in financial hardship can apply to an expanded assistance program. Garden Island.

Hawaii Supreme Court rejects redistricting challenge, candidate filing begins for legislative seats, $300M proposed for low-income housing, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Supreme Court ©2022 All Hawaii News

Candidate filing opens after court rejects challenge to redistricting. Candidate filing for congressional and state House of Representatives and Senate seats is now open, after the Hawaii Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a legal challenge to the new map for state legislative districts. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. West Hawaii Today. Maui Now.

Record funding proposed for Hawaii low-income rental housing. Members of the Senate Ways and Means Committee have proposed giving $300 million to a state agency that helps developers produce affordable homes. Star-Advertiser.

Budget bill allocates $1.7M to mitigate rapid ohia death. Among proposed appropriations outlined in a state House budget bill is nearly $2 million to help combat rapid ohia death throughout Hawaii. Tribune-Herald.

Two years of persistent catalytic converter thefts prompt legislative bills. Bills before state legislators aimed at cracking down on catalytic converter thefts would require anyone selling one to provide a receipt as proof of ownership. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

Regents seek public’s input on University of Hawaii’s future. The University of Hawaii Board of Regents at a special meeting Friday will weigh how the university should grow in its various roles: Indigenous-serving institution, provider of online education, supplier of the state’s workforce, and more. Star-Advertiser.

State To Pay $250,000 To Cover Lawyers’ Fees In Lawsuit Over Covid-19 In Hawaii Prisons. A federal judge ruled the corrections system failed to follow its own protocols for coping with the pandemic, which has now been blamed for 10 inmate deaths. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi National Guard concludes COVID-19 support mission. The Hawai‘i National Guard’s Joint Task Force has transitioned its remaining COVID-19 responsibilities such as vaccinations, testing, COVID-19 mapping, and unemployment office temperature screenings back to the state as of March 15, 2022. Maui Now.

Health risks, ‘mask shaming’ feared when Hawaii public schools drop indoor mask requirement. Now that Gov. David Ige has declared the sunset of the general statewide indoor mask mandate at 11:59 p.m. March 25, how and when the public schools will follow suit is a topic of vigorous discussion in parts of social media and some advocacy and parent groups. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Community Health Centers To Split $23 Million In Federal Funding. The newest round of funding follows over $40 million in federal dollars distributed to Hawaii’s 14 health centers during the pandemic. Civil Beat.

Hawai‘i reports 1,092 Covid cases, 14 new deaths over the last week. In its weekly update, the state Department of Health reported that there were 608 coronavirus cases on O‘ahu, 107 on the Big Island, 160 on Kaua‘i, 122 on Maui, one on Lāna‘i, three on Moloka‘i, and 91 diagnosed out of state. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Honolulu Prosecutor Opens Independent Probe Into Police Involvement In Makaha Crash. The three officers accused of causing the crash are facing felony charges, the interim HPD chief said. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

Plan to stop rail construction at South Street puts several Kakaako properties in limbo. The rail system paid about $12 million for properties it condemned near Kona and Pensacola streets ― land which they now may not need. Hawaii News Now.

Head of Honolulu transportation services on ending rail short of Ala Moana. City Transportation Services Director and HART Board Member Roger Morton says they’ve tested and modeled the plan, which calls for buses to continue service to major destinations in the area. Hawaii Public Radio.

Bill regulating Oahu commercial activity passes. The Honolulu City Council approved a proposal to regulate commercial activities at beach parks on the east side of Oahu on Wednesday, March 16. Bill 38 will go to Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi for signature. KHON2.

Lawmakers call for more clarity on Navy’s timeline for emptying Red Hill tanks. Some lawmakers are expressing concern that the Navy won’t begin draining fuel from the Red Hill tanks before possible mandatory water restrictions this summer. Hawaii News Now.

City halfway to green goal of planting trees. The City and County of Honolulu is half way toward its ambitious goal of planting 100,000 more trees. Four years ago, the city embarked on a plan to plant those trees by 2025. KITV4.

Hawaii Island

South Kona town could be renamed. The town name Captain Cook could be no more under a resolution being considered by state lawmakers. House Concurrent Resolution 27 requests the U.S. Census Bureau re-designate the Census-designated place known as Captain Cook on Hawaii Island as Ka‘awaloa. It further requests the County of Hawaii remove all references to Captain Cook as a place name. West Hawaii Today.

Kanuha receives Press Club’s ‘Torch of Light’ award; San Buenaventura, others, get ‘Lava Tube’ dishonor. The Big Island Press Club awards its annual meritorious Torch of Light Award to state Sen. Dru Mamo Kanuha, a Democrat representing Kona and Ka‘u, and the Lava Tube dishonor award to a group of 10 state senators, including Sen. Joy San Buenaventura, a Democrat representing Puna and Ka‘u. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Victorino Outlines Priorities of Safety, Economy, Housing, Green Infrastructure in State of the County Address. Maui Mayor Michael Victorino delivered his State of the County address in hybrid fashion Wednesday evening from the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. His address included a mix of video and live remarks. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now.

Court upholds approval of Paeahu Solar agreement. Finding that the state Public Utilities Commission properly evaluated a Maui community group’s allegations of harm, the state Supreme Court has upheld the commission’s approval of a power purchase agreement between Maui Electric Co. and Paeahu Solar. Maui News.

Mexican Consulate returns to MEO in Wailuku to process documents. After two years of postponement due to the pandemic, the Mexican Consulate will return to Maui Economic Opportunity to process documents, such as passports and birth certificates, by appointment from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 26 and 27 in Wailuku. Maui Now.

The Deer Population Is Devastating Maui. Hunters Want To Help. For decades, axis deer have threatened everything from ranching to watersheds. Hunters can limit the destruction while feeding their families but accessing the land has proven difficult. Civil Beat.

Kauai

$10M Chan, Zuckerberg donation for Kaua‘i medical program. Using a $10 million commitment gift from Dr. Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg, the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa’s John A. Burns School of Medicine will fund a new Kaua‘i Medical Training Track. Garden Island.