HIDOE's nearly $2B budget request draws questions on capacity. The state Department of Education is requesting a nearly $2 billion Capital Improvement Budget for the next two years to cover maintenance, advance new and existing projects, meet health and safety requirements, and support the launch of a regional kitchen. Hawaii Public Radio.
Ex-Kanye West Campaigner Funnels Thousands To Hawaiʻi Candidates. A West Virginia-based group registered to the former treasurer of Kanye West’s presidential campaign is sending thousands of dollars to a PAC funding Hawaiʻi candidates. Civil Beat.
Rules proposed for breaking future election ties. The state Office of Elections is proposing to formalize a procedure for breaking Hawaii election ties, and it’s pretty much the same way it determined the winners of two primary election contests in August. Star-Advertiser.
State Law Enforcement Chief Voluntarily Demoted. After an unsuccessful run for Honolulu’s top police job, Mike Lambert is staying at the state law enforcement agency, but not as its leader. Civil Beat.
Ballot question could help Hawaiʻi's housing shortage, supporters say. The question, if approved by a majority of voters, would give counties a new way to pay for sewer, water, drainage and other vital infrastructure for new homes in a defined district. The counties would have the authority to issue bonds that would be paid off by higher property tax revenue generated by the redeveloped area. Hawaii Public Radio.
Military Leases, Kakaʻako, Control Of Board At Issue In OHA Oʻahu Race. Kalei Akaka and Kumu Hina Wong are facing off for a seat on the nine-member Board of Trustees. Civil Beat.
Third Non-Citizen This Year Charged With Voting Illegally In Hawaiʻi. A Polish man living in Hawaiʻi was charged last week with illegally voting in a U.S. election, authorities said, the third such case in the state this year. Civil Beat.
These Hawaiʻi Agencies Have Withheld The Most From The Public. Public records requests can reveal information that would never appear in official news releases. But there is no guarantee agencies will hand the information over. Civil Beat.
Oahu
Ranked Choice Voting Could Shake Up Honolulu Elections. But there’s a catch. The Nov. 3 ballot measure includes a requirement that the Legislature approve this departure from traditional voting. Civil Beat.
Council OKs sharp rise in fines for unlawful peddling. The Honolulu Police Department says illegal peddling can leave tourists vulnerable to aggressive sales tactics, overcharging and scams, with some victims discovering the charges only after returning home. Star-Advertiser.
Historic Wo Fat Building set for new chapter as housing, cultural hub. A pair of local investors are moving forward with a multimillion-dollar effort to revive Honolulu Chinatown’s long-vacant Wo Fat Building, transforming one of the neighborhood’s most recognizable landmarks into affordable housing, retail and cultural space. Star-Advertiser.
Hybrid artificial reef being installed to protect coastline. The reef, which will be made up of 60 engineered concrete reef structures, were specifically designed to absorb wave energy and attract coral and fish. It will be a “living breakwater” system that, if successful, could be replicated in other parts of the state vulnerable to coastal erosion. Star-Advertiser.
Queen’s shuns HMSA’s new Medicare HMO plan. The Hawaii Medical Service Association’s new Select Plus HMO plan, for Oahu members only, is part of a revamp of its Akamai Advantage plans to take effect next year. Star-Advertiser.
Hawaiian Airlines plans to cut 13 jobs as part of Alaska merger. According to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) notice filed with the state on Oct. 2, the cuts will affect non-union employees at three locations on Oahu. The layoffs are expected to happen in December and January. These cuts will be to the approximately 537 non-contract employees who work at the affected facilities. KITV4.
Coqui Frogs: Coming To Your Oʻahu Neighborhood Soon? As coqui frogs threaten to blanket Oʻahu, residents are once again calling on the state to better regulate plant nurseries, which bear much of the blame for the frogs’ spread. Civil Beat.
Hawaii journalist, filmmaker championed press freedoms. Chris Conybeare, a journalist, documentary filmmaker, attorney and advocate for press freedom whose work spanned public television, labor history and human rights, died Sept. 20 in Honolulu. He was 82. Star-Advertiser.
Hawaii Island
VIDEO: HPD releases body-camera video of officer-involved shooting in Ocean View (viewer discretion is advised). The Hawaii Police Department today released body worn camera (BWC) footage of the officer-involved shooting that took place on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, in Ocean View. Tribune-Herald.
‘Imiloa preschool slated to open in 2028. A new immersion preschool in Hilo, adjacent to the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center, is scheduled to open in 2028 to help meet growing demand for Hawaiian language education. Tribune-Herald.
Sick Of Being Sidelined: Kaʻū Council Candidates Want Action After Lala. Recent climate change-fueled disasters have hit the southern part of Hawaiʻi island hard, rising to the top of local candidates’ priorities. Civil Beat.
Rain didn’t damper festivities during the Ironman World Championship in Kona. Families made up many of the spectators who came to watch the athletes participate in the grueling 140.6-mile race. Big Island Now.
Maui
Maui Mayor Bissen Is Under Criminal Investigation, Police Chief Says. Maui Police Chief John Pelletier says he believes he was put on leave because of what he says are investigations into corruption in the mayor’s office. Civil Beat.
Federal, local investigations spur fresh scrutiny and calls for more oversight of Maui Police Department. The arrest of Lt. Michael Vaituulala, the former head of the Maui Police Department’s Criminal Intelligence Unit, and the decision by the Maui Police Commission to place Police Chief John Pelletier on paid leave last week have put fresh scrutiny on the Maui Police Department and raised questions over accountability. Maui Now.
Air Force secretary’s space weapons confirmation raises concerns about planned Haleakalā telescopes. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink’s confirmation that the United States has deployed weapons in orbit has raised new concerns on Maui about the Air Force’s plan to build up to seven more telescopes atop Haleakalā, a summit many Native Hawaiians consider sacred. Maui Now.
Kauai
Yaya bridges the gap between Matsuri and hurricane damage. A large and steady stream of people flowed over the expansive campus of the Kauai War Memorial Convention Hall on Saturday to enjoy the multi-faceted showcase of Japanese culture. Garden Island.
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