Green to host Western Governors' Association winter meeting, Lazar sworn in as Honolulu’s 13th police chief, UH to decommission 3rd Mauna Kea telescope, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. Josh Green leads Western Governors' Association, plans Pearl Harbor meeting. Green, who assumed the position Wednesday at the group’s meeting in Park City, Utah, will serve as host of its winter meeting on Oahu in December. The Dec. 7 gathering, during commemorations of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, will include governors from 19 western states; member representatives from Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; and governors from Japan. Star-Advertiser.

Supreme Court ruling on campaign spending may not affect Hawaii as much — for now. Tuesday’s ruling does away with limits on the amount of money a political party can spend on its candidates. It doesn’t have as much impact for those running at the state level, such as the legislature. However, it could come into play for federal-level races, such as those for Congress. Hawaii News Now.

New chair Jon Itomura looks to speed up Public Utilities Commission's work. Jon Itomura took the helm of the Hawaiʻi Public Utilities Commission in January. While he’s new to his role, he’s on familiar ground. He spent more than a decade as an attorney with the Division of Consumer Advocacy, representing the interests of utility customers in proceedings before the commission. Hawaii Public Radio.

Study: Hawaii patients spent more than $230M on out-of-state cancer care. Hawaii patients spent more than $230 million on cancer care outside the state from 2021 to 2023, according to a new University of Hawaii Cancer Center study that researchers say underscores the financial strain created when patients must travel for specialized treatment. Maui News.

Oahu

Lazar sworn in as Honolulu’s 13th police chief. David S. Lazar, 55, was sworn in as the Honolulu Police Department’s 13th police chief on Thursday and promised to build a culture focused on the wellness of officers, civilian staff and their families. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio. KHON2.  KITV4.

Election announced for vacant Senate District 18 seat. A special election has been scheduled to fill the vacant Hawaii State Senate District 18 seat. The vacancy follows the retirement of Sen. Michelle Kidani. Hawaii News Now.

Storms, Civility And Affordability: State Senate District 10 Candidate Q&As. House member for East Honolulu district is making a move on the incumbent senator for the same area. Civil Beat.

DHHL opens applications for first-ever high-rise rental units in Honolulu. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has opened applications for its first high-rise rental development in Honolulu, a 23-story tower at the site of the former Bowl-a-Drome. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu Honeybees Are Swarming. Yes, That’s A Good Thing. The prevalence of wild, swarming honeybees is concerning for many. But for some, including researchers, it’s a sign of good environmental health.  Civil Beat.

City plans ‘Hawai‘i America250’ celebrations honoring Oahu’s history, diversity. On Oahu, Hawai‘i America250 festivities will include a mix of patriotic and community-focused events, from the annual Kailua Fourth of July Parade and a Kapiolani Park festival to a Pearl Harbor commemoration and a public reading of the Declaration of Independence at Honolulu Hale, according to Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration. Star-Advertiser. KHON2. KITV4. 

Hawaii Island

University of Hawaiʻi to decommission third telescope. UKIRT observatory will end astronomy operations in September. Science operations at the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope will conclude Sept. 15 so it can be decommissioned, the University of Hawaii announced Wednesday. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. Hawaii News Now. 

Emergency Repairs Completed on Hawaiian Ocean View Estates Water Well. Water officials say the Essential Needs Only Notice has been cancelled, and normal water usage from the water spigots may resume. Big Island Video News.

Burial Council rejects iwi kupuna plan at Hawaiian Paradise Park. The Hawaii Island Burial Council voted down the burial treatment plan for iwi kūpuna discovered at Hawaiian Paradise Park. Hawaii News Now.

Inouye honored with Lifetime Achievement Award. State Sen. Lorraine R. Inouye of Hilo was honored on Friday, June 26, with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii’s Impact Gala, recognizing her decades of dedicated public service and lasting contributions to Hawaii’s communities, economy and quality of life. Tribune-Herald.

Maui 

Maui Fraud Risk Assessment reveals inadequate policies, identifies millions of dollars in ‘direct pay’. The County of Maui’s Office of the Auditor presented findings from a Fraud Risk Assessment report during a committee meeting Tuesday and outlined 2027 plans to address concerns. Maui Now.

First storefronts returning to Lahaina’s Front Street. Front Street’s commercial core remains largely empty nearly three years after the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfire, but Maui County and the Hawaiian Council on Thursday unveiled an $8 million pilot marketplace that will return the first storefronts to what was once one of Hawaii’s busiest economic corridors. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now. KHON2. 

Do humpback whales fertilize Hawaiian waters? Maui study tests the “Whale Pump”. PacWhale Eco-Adventures has completed the first round of seawater sampling for a study led by the Marine Mammal Research Program (MMRP) at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, testing whether the seasonal arrival of humpback whales measurably enriches the waters of Maui Nui. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauaʻi’s Hospice’s ‘Concert in the Sky’ is main 4th of July event on the island after military canceled its event. For the United States’ 250th anniversary celebration, Kauaʻi Hospiceʻs 33rd annual “Concert in the Sky” will be the island’s only major Fourth of July event. In early June, the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands announced it was canceling its annual America’s Most West Freedom Fest for reasons that included high costs and budget constraints. Kauai Now. Garden Island.

Price-fixing settlement nets Hawaii 1M eggs, Big Island residents blast vacation rentals legislation, tourist arrivals and spending rise, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii due to receive 1M eggs from price-fixing settlement. Hawaii may be getting 1 million eggs due to a settlement with three of the nation’s largest producers over illegal price fixing, according to the state Attorney General’s office. The 53 million donated eggs will be provided to food banks and nonprofits across the participating states, while meeting all food safety and regulatory standards. Star-Advertiser. 

Attorney General announces charity amnesty program. The Hawaii Department of the Attorney General is offering a 60-day amnesty period to help delinquent charitable organizations return to good standing. Hawaii News Now.

Supreme Court ruling puts attention on Hawaii's first-in-the-nation election law. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that political parties can spend unlimited money in coordination with their candidates, citing First Amendment protections. The decision comes shortly after Hawaii approved Act 11, a first-in-the-nation law targeting corporate political spending. (video only). KITV4.

Shorter Hawaii visitor stays risk tourism growth. Hawaii visitors are trimming their trips to the shortest length in at least seven years, a contraction that threatens to drag on the tourism‑driven economy even as May brought moderate gains in arrivals and visitor spending. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

UH-Manoa gets its own chancellor today. The UH Board of Regents in June appointed Vassilis Syrmos — who served as interim provost for a year — as Manoa’s newest chancellor, joining the other nine campus chancellors who advocate for their individual campuses. Star-Advertiser.

Locals say goodbye to Ward Centre. Ward Centre will be closing its doors for the final time Tuesday. The shopping center's four-decade-long legacy is concluding as developer Howard Hughes Corp. moves forward with the plan to construct two luxury condominiums at the Kakaʻako location. Hawaii Public Radio.

Drains, Schools And Public Trust: State House District 46 Candidate Q&As. The central Oʻahu district was hard hit in the recent Kona low storms. Civil Beat.

Westside Families And Community Safety: State House District 45 Candidate Q&AsTwo partisan candidates are facing off in the West Oʻahu race. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi Bets Millions That Students Will Eat Way More Eggs. The Agribusiness Development Corp. is closing in on a $4.7 million land purchase in Wahiawā for a highly specialized facility to crack eggs. Civil Beat.

Luxury Real Estate Broker Had Sex With Assistant At Homes He Was Selling. Former assistant says sexual activities took place at 10 to 20 listed properties over four years. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Residents blast STVRs legislation; commission defers action. The Hawaii County Leeward Planning Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to defer consideration of a bill seeking to overhaul vacation rental rules during a meeting attended by more than a dozen testifiers, the majority of whom spoke in opposition. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Police Department officer sentenced in perjury case. A Hawaii Police Department officer was sentenced Tuesday to four years of supervision and 400 hours of community service after pleading no contest March 17 to charges of perjury, making a false sworn statement in official matters, and tampering with a government record. Noah Serrao, 29, who is on full-duty status, is allowed to possess and carry a firearm. Tribune-Herald. Hawaii News Now. 

US Army Corps of Engineers to host info session about Laupāhoehoe breakwater repairs. The breakwater sustained wave-related damage that is now impacting the use of the harbor; a design for repairs includes replacement of the breakwater core and installation of a new concrete crest cap and is intended to reduce wave energy in the harbor and improve navigation. Big Island Now.

Maui

Maui struggles to establish safe overnight areas for homeless communities. The Maui County Council granted funding for a Safe Parking Pilot Project in 2023. But despite funding and authorization being approved, the program has stalled. Hawaii Public Radio.

HDOT starting preliminary environmental studies for Lahaina Bypass Phase 1C. Earlier this year, Maui County announced it would allocate $100 million in federal disaster funds from the Maui Wildfires to this extension of the bypass, which is expected to cost between $220 million and $250 million. Maui Now.

Kaiser Permanente, Maui Health plan new Lahaina clinic. Kaiser Permanente Hawaii and Maui Health announced plans Tuesday to open a new clinic in Lahaina, nearly three years after Kaiser’s previous Lahaina clinic was destroyed in the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires. Maui News.

Maui visitor spending climbs 26% in May as arrivals near pre-wildfire levels. Visitor spending on Maui rose 26.4% in May compared with a year earlier, outpacing every other island in Hawaiʻi, according to preliminary statistics released Tuesday by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Maui Now.

Maui wrestling coach sues Hawaii DOE, alleges wrongful termination. Grant Nakamura, a Baldwin High School wrestling coach is suing the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education, alleging his due process rights were violated after he was removed from his position following anonymous complaints. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Crews clean up 1,000-gallon wastewater spill from sewage pump station on Kaua‘i. Cleanup is underway following an estimated 1,000-gallon wastewater spill Tuesday morning due to a communication failure at the Kapaʻia Sewage Pump Station, located near Kūhiō Highway and Ma‘alo Road. State health officials issued a wastewater discharge advisory because of the spill. Kauai Now.

Annual water quality report is available online and in print beginning Wednesday. The Kauaʻi Department of Water’s 2026 Water Quality Report will cover the water quality for all of 2025 for nine systems on Kauaʻi. Kauai Now. Garden Island. 

First cohort graduates from University of Hawai‘i medical school’s Kaua‘i Medical Training Track. Four years after launching an effort to address Hawaiʻi’s rural healthcare needs, the first Kauaʻi Medical Training Track cohort has officially graduated from the University of Hawaiʻi John A. Burns School of Medicine. Kauai Now. Garden Island.

Housing, Affordability Are Center Stage In East Kaua‘i House Race. Rep. Luke Evslin is being challenged by David Hazlebeck, an algae farmer who is new to politics. Civil Beat.

HMSA delays medical reimbursement changes, Kanakaole tapped to head DLNR, Grassroot Institute sues over campaign contribution limits, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

HMSA Delays The Change Threatening Patient Access After Governor Steps In. Change of heart extends insurance reimbursement shift for six months. Hawaiʻi’s largest health insurer is giving primary care doctors more time to adapt to a dramatically different reimbursement model that doctors say threatens their ability to keep their doors open after Gov. Josh Green intervened. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Suit challenges campaign spending activity law. The nonprofit Grassroot Institute of Hawaii filed a federal lawsuit Friday seeking to invalidate the new state law, which intends to bar campaign spending activity by companies, labor unions and other organizations that had such abilities protected in a 5-4 U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2010 under a case called Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission. Star-Advertiser.

Green appoints Kanaka‘ole to head BLNR, DLNR. Gov. Josh Green announced Monday that Dawn Chang will retire as chairwoman of the Board of Land of Natural Resources and director of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, effective July 1. Green appointed Hawaii Island native Ryan Kanaka‘ole to serve as chairman of the board and director of the department. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

Proposed guidelines reignite fight over aquarium fishing. After lawmakers refused to stop aquarium fishing this year, fishers are pushing for new limits, spurring debate over whether the controversial practice can be done sustainably.  Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiʻi advocates say monk seal protection falls short amid harassment case. Hawaiian monk seals have been on the endangered species list for 50 years. But advocates of marine mammals say they need more protection from people, including enforcement and education. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

$3M in illegal rental fines uncollected a year after foreclosure threat. A year after the Honolulu City Council approved foreclosure on a short-term rental owner, the case remains unresolved — and nearly $3 million in fines remains uncollected. Hawaii News Now.

Agency unveils homelessness central response command center. The facility will will serve as a central command center for homelessness response efforts, gathering data from across Oahu and helping connect individuals with housing, support services and other resources. Star-Advertiser. KHON2. 

‘Cannot Happen Again’: Lawmaker Targets Doctors Who Impregnate Patients. After learning a beloved North Shore gynecologist was accused of using his own sperm to inseminate patients without their consent, Rep. Amy Perruso is seeking to outlaw this behavior. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Annual EPIC system update scheduled later this week. Hawaiʻi County Department of Public Works and Planning departments will perform the annual update to the county’s Electronic Processing and Information Center — or EPIC — beginning early Thursday morning, June 11. The EPIC site will be unavailable from 1 a.m. June 11 through 8 a.m. Friday, June 12. Big Island Now.

$6M in renovations planned for UH Hilo theater. The Performing Arts Center at the University of Hawaii at Hilo has changed very little throughout its over 50-year lifespan, manager Lee Barnette-Dombroski said. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Man gets 2 years prison time for filing false FEMA claims. A man who stole more than $60,000 with his ex- girlfriend from the Federal Emergency Management Agency by lying about being victims of the deadly 2023 West Maui wildfires and the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires was sentenced to two years in federal prison Friday. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.  KITV4.

West Maui Taxpayers Association to host candidate forum June 25.  The West Maui Taxpayers Association will host its 2026 Primary Candidates Night on June 25 at the Lahaina Civic Center Social Hall. Maui News.

Empty Shelves: Young Brothers Misses 3 Shipments To Molokaʻi In 21 Days. The shipping monopoly has missed its past four shipments to the Friendly Isle, leaving residents frustrated by empty store shelves and costly alternatives. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Kauaʻi police said financial dispute reason Billy Sinclair allegedly killed a 37-year-old in Hanalei. The victim, who was identified by his cousin on Facebook as Tito Reyes, was killed where he worked at a restaurant in Hanalei, police said. Kauai Now. Garden Island. KHON2. 

Mike Coots joins county council race. Kauai-born photographer, ocean advocate, author and shark attack survivor Mike Coots announced his campaign for the Kauai County Council on Sunday. Garden Island.

Green signs bill limiting corporate spending in Hawaii elections, condo associations in line for low-interest loans, Kash Patel's Pearl Harbor snorkel trip, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. Green signs 4 bills into law, first batch from 2026 Legislative Session. The bills include measures on corporate spending in elections, licene plate covers, Hawaii leadership awards and Love my Library Day. KITV4.

State opens $20 Million loan program for Hawai’i condominium repairs. Hawai’i officials have launched a new state-backed loan program to help condominium associations pay for critical building repairs as rising insurance costs and aging infrastructure continue to strain the state’s condo market. Big Island Now.

Higher oil prices hurting Hawaii’s economy, UHERO report says. Hawaii’s near-term economic outlook “has worsened noticeably” as the war with Iran continues to push oil and consumer prices higher, according to the latest economic forecast by the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization, released Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii attorney general defends Medicaid fraud enforcement. Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez pushed back Thursday against claims leveled a day earlier by Vice President JD Vance that the state isn’t serious about combating Medicaid fraud. Star-Advertiser. KITV4. 

Military leaders meet in Waikiki as land leases remain in limbo. At this week’s Association of the U.S. Army’s annual Land Forces Pacific Symposium, or LANPAC, in Waikiki, military leaders continued to make the case for continuing to use state landas a training and weapons-testing ground for their troops and those of their allies as they prepare forces for a potential showdown with China in Taiwan and the South China Sea. Star-Advertiser.

Amid Funding Fears, Food And Farming Bills Fared Better Than Expected. Lawmakers, farmers and agriculture advocates found tens of millions of dollars for key infrastructure projects this legislative session. Civil Beat.

Hawaii doctor: Hantavirus ‘is not the next pandemic’ . Dr. Scott Miscovich, an infectious disease expert, said Hantavirus, originating from infected rodents, isn’t a new disease. He said it’s more difficult to catch than COVID, and the virus also doesn’t mutate as frequently to create wild new variants. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Emails show FBI Director Kash Patel’s Hawaii trip included ‘VIP snorkel’ at a Pearl Harbor memorial. When Kash Patel visited Hawaii last summer, the FBI took pains to note the director was not on vacation. Left out of the FBI’s news releases was an exclusive excursion that Patel took days later when he participated in what government officials described as a “VIP snorkel” around the USS Arizona in an outing coordinated by the military.  Associated Press.

Honolulu City Council proposes building rules in flood areas. Honolulu lawmakers are working on changes to city construction laws in anticipation of new federal flood maps. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will update its flood areas on Oʻahu on June 10. Hawaii Public Radio.

 Honolulu BWS chief urges residents to store water ahead of hurricane season. Hurricane season in Hawaiʻi traditionally falls between June to November. Hawaii Public Radio.

Honolulu police chief finalists answer questions in live PBS forum. The three finalists to be Honolulu’s next police chief made their only joint public appearance Thursday night on the PBS Hawaii “Insights” program. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. 

Hawaii Island

Permit granted for Falls on Fire festival in Papaikou. The controversial Burning Man-inspired festival known as “Falls on Fire” can continue to be held in Papaikou after the Hawaii County Windward Planning Commission voted 4-1 on Thursday in favor of issuing a special use permit clearing the way for the event to proceed. Tribune-Herald.

County purchases Honolulu Landing property. The $3.7 million acquisition occurred through the County’s Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Commission (PONC) program. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now Big Island Video News.

Maui

Maui Council Races Could Reshape Power Balance. This election will bring new faces — and possibly a progressive majority — to the county’s nine-member lawmaking body. Civil Beat.

Lahaina school rebuild gets nearly $200M, wildfire study misses out on funding. Maui came away with the promise of nearly $200 million to rebuild a burned-down Lahaina elementary school but lost out on funds to expand a study on the health of wildfire survivors as the legislative session closed last week.  Maui Now.

Hawaiian Electric seeks renewable energy proposals for Lanai. Hawaiian Electric is beginning the process to seek proposals of a large-scale renewable energy project on Lanai to reduce the use of imported fossil fuels, cut carbon emissions and stabilize rates. Maui News.

People Usually Get Away With Harming Hawai‘i’s Seals Despite Tourist Case. A Seattle visitor was arrested a week after lobbing a rock at an endangered seal on Maui. But cases involving people killing the seals are rarely prosecuted. Civil Beat.

Kauai

New Kaua’i renewable energy project approved by Hawai‘i Public Utilities Commission. If successfully developed, AES’ Mānā Solar + Storage project, coupled with AES’ previously approved Kaawanui Solar project, would bring Kaua‘i to nearly 90% renewable generation by 2030, according to a news release from Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative. Kauai Now. Garden Island.

Landfill project open house scheduled. The County of Kauai Department of Public Works Solid Waste Division, along with project consultant Tetra Tech, invites the community and Westside residents to attend an informational open house on the proposed Kekaha Landfill Cell 3 Vertical Expansion project on May 27 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.  Garden Island.

Legislators advance bills limiting corporate money in elections, allowing automatic shipping rate hikes, paying UH student athletes; military members lose Red Hill case, Honolulu narrows police chief candidate pool to 3 finalists, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Legislators Advance Bill To Limit Corporate Money In Hawaiʻi Elections. The legislation would make Hawaiʻi one of the first states to sidestep the Citizens United U.S. Supreme Court case that allows unlimited corporate spending in local elections. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.

Shipping rate-hike bill advances to governor. Young Brothers, LLC asked for the automatic increases of up to 5% a year despite receiving a nearly 26% increase last year. Hawaii News Now.

Isle nonprofits face mounting challenges, new report finds. As Hawaii lawmakers finalize state budget priorities and uncertainty looms over federal funding, a new statewide report is raising concerns about the stability of the nonprofit sector, which employs more than 1 in 10 workers and plays a critical role in supporting communities across the islands. Star-Advertiser.

Legislature passes package of health-related bills to strengthen access, care statewide. The Hawaiʻi State Legislature passed a broad package of health-related measures that expand care for kūpuna, mental health access, cancer screening, and long-term care planning. Big Island Now.

Hawaiʻi expected to regulate AI being used by children. Hawaiʻi will likely put protections in place for children using artificial intelligence. Hawaii Public Radio.

Bill to help UH recruit student-athletes set to become law. Hawaiʻi is set to establish “name, image and likeness” rules to recruit and retain student-athletes at the University of Hawaiʻi. Last week,state lawmakers passed Senate Bill 3263, which would require UH to create its own NIL rules. It also agreed to send $2.5 million from the state's general funds to the university system to pay student-athletes. Hawaii Public Radio.

Attention Divers! Hawaiʻi’s Reefs Need Your Help After Destructive Storms. Early reports support fears of widespread damage, but without more monitoring the picture remains incomplete. Officials are calling on more volunteer divers from across the islands to help assess Hawaiʻi’s reefs once it’s safe by posting their photos and reports to the Eyes of the Reef Hawaiʻi website. Civil Beat.

Oahu

3 Finalists Announced For Honolulu Police Chief. The finalists include the director of the Hawai‘i Department of Law Enforcement, a police chief in Georgia and a retired assistant chief in San Francisco. Civil Beat. KHON2.  KITV4. Hawaii News Now.  Star-Advertiser.

Military members lose Red Hill case against the federal government. Despite calling it an “overly harsh and unjust outcome,” a federal judge ruled against military service members affected by the Red Hill fuel crisis and dismissed their case against the government Tuesday — a decision attorneys for the plaintiffs say they are ready to take to the Supreme Court. Star-Advertiser.

Health officials see fewer pathogens in follow-up tests of Kona-low mud samples. The results show a “general decrease” in concentrations of environmental pathogens associated with the storms compared with results from about a month ago, Hawaii Department of Health officials said in a news release. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu housing market lagged in April. The Honolulu Board of Realtors on Wednesday published data showing decreases under 5%, which were relatively small but still represented the first month this year where there were negative figures across sale volume and prices for single-family homes and condominiums. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

A boon for Banyan Drive: State Legislature passes redevelopment bill. A Banyan Drive redevelopment bill is heading to Gov. Josh Green’s desk for his signature. Senate Bill 2001 was affirmed by a unanimous final Senate floor vote of 25-0 Wednesday. Tribune-Herald.

Commission OK’s rezoning plan for Pahoa town. The Hawaii County Windward Planning Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to approve a legislation package that would rezone parts of downtown Pahoa. These bills would change zoning designations for a stretch of mainstreet Pahoa from Village Commercial and Single-Family Residential to a new category — Downtown Pahoa Commercial — and codify standards for the new district’s permitted land uses, building heights and architectural density. Tribune-Herald.

State to remove passing zone on Daniel K. Inouye Hwy. after deadly crash. HDOT Director Ed Sniffen said crews will remove the passing zone at mile marker 26 on the cross-island highway known as Saddle Road. KHON2.  Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiʻi County Expands Kona Low Assistance Centers. Another assistance center will open at the Nā‘ālehu Public Library from May 26th through June 12th. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii Island Seed Bank helps build climate resilience. Containing mostly native plants and some food crops, the Hawaii Island Seed Bank was created to help preserve and protect the island’s native species. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Schatz congratulates Maui families awarded with federal funding to buy first home; Visits ʻĪao and Hālau of ʻŌiwi Art. US Sen. Brian Schatz conducted site visits on the Valley Isle on Wednesday, focus on the progress of recovery efforts on Maui, following the 2023 wildfires and recent Kona Low storms in March of this year.  Maui Now.

Despite A Death And Damage, Maui Stalls On Chronic Kīhei Flooding. Residents remain frustrated by the county’s lack of progress in addressing the decades-long problem facing the burgeoning South Maui town.  Civil Beat.

First neighbor island kauhale is changing lives on Maui. Six months after the largest kauhale in the state opened, residents are finding more than housing at Kīpūola Kauhale on Maui. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Kaua‘i County advances Wildfire Home Assessment Program. Kaua‘i County, in partnership with Hawai‘i Wildfire Management Organization, continues to advance a Wildfire Home Assessment Program to help residents reduce wildfire risk and strengthen community resilience. The program is scheduled to launch Aug. 1. Kauai Now.

Aging fair draws a crowd. More than 200 people surged through the doors of the Kauai War Memorial Convention Hall on Wednesday when organizers opened the Kauai Senior Resource and Disabilities Fair. Garden Island.

Dozens of discarded needles scattered on Kauai shore discovered by Kauai comedian. What started as a normal walk along a Kapa'a shoreline Monday evening quickly turned into something much more alarming for local Kaua'i comedian Zavier Cummings. KITV4.