Searchers take to the sea looking for Lahaina fire victims, blaze reignites after firefighters thought scene contained, controversy erupts over images of FEMA workers at luxury Maui resort, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

As search for wildfire victims continues on land, recovery operations in the water expand. Maui Fire Department and Ocean Safety personnel conducted grid searches on Wednesday in waters off Lahaina Harbor, where scores of people jumped into the water to flee the flames. Hawaii News Now. Civil Beat. Maui Now. KHON2.

Not enough water to fight Upcountry Maui fires, state claims. The claim that firefighting efforts have been hampered by legal rulings in water was challenged by state Supreme Court justices in a hearing Wednesday. On the day after wind-driven wildfires broke out across Maui, the state filed a complaint to the state Supreme Court claiming that, due to a judge’s ruling, there was not enough water to fight the flames that destroyed some 19 Upcountry homes and thousands of acres. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Maui wildfires renew tensions around water rights in a centuries-old conflict over sacred streams. Shortly after the ignition of the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century, a developer of land around a threatened Maui community urgently asked state officials for permission to divert water from streams to fight the growing inferno. Maui News.

Lahaina inferno began after firefighters departed ‘contained’ scene. More than eight hours before a deadly fire swept through the town of Lahaina on Aug. 8, a small brush fire broke out on the edge of a residential neighborhood located a little more than 1 mile away from the town’s historic waterfront. New York Times.

In deadly Maui fires, those who dodged barricades survived. Car after car was turned back toward the rapidly spreading wildfire by a barricade blocking access to Highway 30. Associated Press.

Images of FEMA workers at luxury Maui hotels stir anger, but agency says it’s there to do a job. Pain and suffering have turned to anger for some residents after national news reports showed FEMA workers staying a luxury hotels on Maui. Hawaii News Now.

5 new COVID-related deaths, 826 new infections recorded in Hawaii, DOH reports. The Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH) reported five new deaths related to COVID-19 and 826 new infections over the last seven days in Hawaii. The total number of deaths stands at 1,965. KITV4.

Oahu

City proposes greater fines for ‘monster homes’.  Builders of so-called monster homes on Oahu could face monster fines of $25,000 or greater under a proposed bill being floated by the city. Star-Advertiser.

Waianae residents taking proactive approach to prepare for disasters. The community gathered for a meeting Wednesday night - organized by the Waianae Kupuna Council. KITV4.

Hawaii Island

Bill’s passage puts Hawai‘i County in position for next round of Kīlauea recovery grants. The Hawai‘i County Council last week adopted a bill aimed at getting additional funds into the hands of nonprofit organizations to not only help lower Puna rebuild and recover from the impacts of the 2018 Kīlauea lower East Rift Zone eruption and lava flow but also support long-term resilience for the community. Big Island Now.

Hawaii County COVID death toll reaches 260. The statewide death toll has climbed to 1,936 people since the start of the pandemic, with the DOH reporting five deaths over the last week, mainly on Oahu. Tribune-Herald.

Inmate Found Dead In Apparent Suicide At Hilo Jail Was Due A Mental Evaluation. A Honolulu lawyer plans to ask a federal judge to appoint a special master to force the state to provide better mental health care to inmates. Civil Beat.

Geothermal sites identified: Report favors energy development on DHHL property. The Hawaiian Homes Commission on Monday voted unanimously to accept and adopt a report identifying two Hawaii Island locations on Department of Hawaiian Home Lands property for potential geothermal development. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

6 more Maui fire victims identified as deaths remain at 115. The Maui Police Department on Wednesday released the identities of six more victims of the Aug. 8 Lahaina wildfire, however the total number of confirmed fatalities remains 115. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.

2,025 Lahaina students not enrolled. About two-thirds of the 3,001 children who once attended Lahaina’s four public schools still have not enrolled in other Hawaii public schools or the state’s distance learning program.  Star-Advertiser.

Nonprofit restoring Wi-Fi to Lahaina survivors cut off from the world. The Starlink receivers rely on satellites sent into near-Earth orbit by Elon Musk’s SpaceX company. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Where Did Lahaina’s Homeless Population Go? Outreach workers are trying to locate those who may have fled the fire or perished, but the search is complicated. Civil Beat.

California Woman Is The Only Tourist Confirmed Killed In Maui Wildfire So Far. There has not been a centralized effort to account for how many of the remaining missing people were visitors to Maui. Civil Beat.

For mourning Maui families, DNA identification can offer an important sense of closure. Maui County said the missing-persons list following the blaze is now at 1,054. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Maui County officials warn of DNA collection scams. Some Maui community members are receiving calls claiming to be with “DNA Services,” according to officials, and should be disregarded as scams.  Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.

Initial Tests Show Water In Maui Burn Zones Is Within Safety Guidelines. Maui County’s top water official says initial sampling of the drinking water supply in Lahaina and Upper Kula turned up no evidence of contamination that exceeds public health standards. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Affordable housing dilemma for County of Kaua‘i. Kaua‘i County Council Chair Mel Rapozo will introduce a resolution next month urging the county to buy the Courtyards at Waipouli apartments, following the state’s decision against purchasing the roughly $43 million development for affordable housing. Garden Island.

Blessing ceremony held for new Kaua‘i High School gym. “Don’t step on the hardwood floors,” said state Department of Education Kaua‘i Complex Area Superintendent Daniel Hamada on Monday afternoon. Garden Island.

Cadaver dogs, DNA matches used to ID Lahaina victims as confirmed dead nears 100, lawsuits begin as Gov. Greenʻs 5th emergency proclamation limits liability, tourists asked to stay away, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Maui families provide DNA to help ID remains of fire victims. The death toll from the Lahaina fire — America’s deadliest in a century — was at 96 on Sunday while families visited a newly created Maui County Family Assistance Center to help document the missing and provide DNA mouth swabs to identify the dead. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio. Associated Press.  Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

Attorneys aim to make Hawaiian Electric pay for Maui disaster. Several law firms have begun suing Hawaiian Electric, alleging that the utility company is negligently responsible for the incredibly deadly and destructive Lahaina fire. Star-Advertiser.

State confirms sirens were not activated as ferocious wildfire ripped through Lahaina. Wildfire Decision-Making To Be Reviewed By Hawaiʻi Attorney General. Hawaiʻi Attorney General Anne Lopez announced on Friday that the Department of the Attorney General will be conducting “a comprehensive review of critical decision-making and standing policies leading up to, during, and after the wildfires on Maui and Hawaiʻi islands this week.” Big Island Video News. Hawaii News Now.

Gov. Green issues 5th Emergency Proclamation relating to wildfires. The fifth proclamation suspends additional laws to facilitate emergency response, recovery, and rebuilding. It confirms that health care facilities and professionals engaging in emergency response are immune from civil liability during the proclamation period, except for willful misconduct, gross negligence, or recklessness. Maui Now.

Hawaii Tourism Authority: Visitors have ‘largely heeded call’ to leave Maui. Since Wednesday, more than 46,000 people have flown out of Kahului Airport. The Hawaii Tourism Authority says visitors who are planning travel to West Maui within the next several months should reschedule their travel plans or consider a different destination. Hawaii News Now.

Billions in losses projected to hit Hawaii’s economy hard.  The statewide economic impact of wildfires on Hawaii island and Maui — where the destruction in Lahaina has become the nation’s deadliest single wildfire in recent history — is likely to hit at least $8 billion to $10 billion in the Hawaiian Islands. Star-Advertiser.

‘Tapped Out’ Maui Firefighters Were Trying To Cover A Lot Of Ground The Day Lahaina Burned. Officials have not publicly commented on the response time to the Lahaina fire, but residents are starting to demand answers. Civil Beat.

As inferno grew, Lahaina’s water system collapsed. During the frantic moments Tuesday after a wildfire jumped containment near a residential neighborhood in Lahaina, firefighters rushing to slow the spread were distressed to find that their hydrants were starting to run dry.  New York Times.

‘We need some help here’: West Maui residents say government aid is scant. Days after the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century ignited in West Maui, killing dozens and leveling more than 2,200 buildings, increasingly frustrated residents said that they were receiving far more help from an ad hoc network of volunteers than they were from the government. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

Governor’s housing working group meets for first time.  At Friday’s inaugural meeting of the Build Beyond Barriers Working Group,  most of the 23 members met via videoconference, but largely limited their activity to introducing themselves and commiserating about the housing problem. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu

Honolulu Suspends Short-Term Rental Law To Aid Wildfire Survivors. The city on Friday suspended a controversial law that mandates a 30–day minimum rental period on vacation rentals to accommodate Maui wildfire survivors in need of emergency housing. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

TRO against release of mosquitoes has yet to impact plans for Big Isle. An ongoing legal battle over a plan to import mosquitoes to Maui to protect endangered birds has not immediately affected a similar plan for the Big Island. Tribune-Herald.

Waimea man challenges county’s liability waiver in firearm-carry application. A Waimea man is suing Hawaii County in federal court, saying its requirement he sign a waiver of liability for a background check as part of the concealed-carry firearms permit application violates his constitutional right to privacy. Tribune-Herald.

North Kohala community pool now open. On Saturday, a blessing took place at Kohala Pool at Kamehameha Park in Kapaau after volunteers spent the past 21 months repairing the aging county aquatic center. West Hawaii Today.

Contract for Hapuna Beach waterline being finalized.  A temporary solution finally is in the works to restore water service to the Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area. Fresh water has not flowed to the popular beach park since October 2022. Tribune-Herald.

Funds for Laupahoehoe Boat Ramp repairs approved, pool reopening also announced. The Laupahoehoe Boat Ramp will receive its long-awaited funding for repairs, according to Hawaii County Parks and Recreation Director Maurice Messina. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui wildfire updates for Aug. 14: West Maui Placard system announced; Unsafe water maps released. Maui Now. KITV4.

Most Maui public schools to re-open; DOE offers options for displaced students. Most Hawaii public schools on Maui will begin phased re-openings this week, state Department of Education officials said. Star-Advertiser.

Maui-Lanai passenger ferry resumes service. The Maui-Lanai Passenger Ferry, operated by Expeditions, resumed interisland service Saturday. Star-Advertiser.

Brief reopening of Lahaina spurs scramble for access. The reopening of the road to Lahaina for West Maui residents to gather supplies such as medicine and food was short lived Friday after a brief opening was stalled by a car accident and people entering active police scenes, according to authorities.  Maui News.

Scientists, Maui officials warn of toxic hazards from fire. Residents are being warned that it remains too dangerous to return and Federal Emergency Management Agency officials are surveying the area for additional hazards.  Associated Press. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui Faces Millions In Lost Revenue From Property That May No Longer Exist. Property tax payments are due on Aug. 21 but county officials haven't said what their plan is for residents and businesses  whose property is gone. Civil Beat.

Lahaina residents worry outsiders may overtake rebuilt Maui town. In deadly Maui wildfires, communication failed. Chaos overtook Lahaina along with the flames.  In the hours before a wildfire engulfed the town of Lahaina, Maui County officials failed to activate sirens that would have warned the entire population of the approaching flames and instead relied on a series of sometimes confusing social media posts that reached a much smaller audience. Associated Press.

Kauai

Short-staffed The Kaua‘i Bus to halt Sunday service. The wheels on the bus are taking a day off. The Kaua‘i Bus officials announced last week that all Sunday bus services, including paratransit, will be suspended indefinitely due to an ongoing staffing shortage beginning Aug. 27. Garden Island.

Kaua‘i County announces closures for Statehood Day.  In observance of Statehood Day, Friday, Aug. 18, Kaua‘i County offices will be closed. Kauai Now.

Hawaii legislators attendance spotty, Honolulu owes $8M in mismanaged federal funds, Honolulu Weekly suspends publication, former Hawaii County officials cleared in defamation suit, rail company losing contracts, Maui residents get electricity rebate, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Legislature sine die 2013 courtesy photo

Hawaii voters elect their legislators to represent them at the state capitol, but are they showing up to work? The House and Senate have just released their attendance records for the 2013 legislative session. Hawaii Reporter.

Millions spent on out-of-state travel by Dept. of Education. KHON2.

Many ranking administrators at the University of Hawaii will no longer be able to routinely request and receive free tickets to football games and other athletic events under policy guidelines adopted by the Hawaii State Ethics Commission last week. Civil Beat.

Local authorities are split on whether the Supreme Court ruling on DNA sampling requires Hawaii lawmakers to amend the law that covers the genetic sampling of arrestees. In its opinion, the high court said police can obtain DNA samples for a "serious offense." KITV4.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel has invited the defense ministers from the 10 countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to Hawaii for their annual meeting next year. Star-Advertiser.

Former Hawaii Republican Party Executive Director Dylan Nonaka has a notable, but certainly not relished, distinction. Nokaka, a 31-year-old former U.S. Marine and current U.S. Army reservist, believes he is one of the few individuals in the country to be named by the Internal Revenue Service in its probe of local tea parties. Hawaii Reporter.

The Hawaii Department of Transportation plans to resume providing translations of drivers license tests in eight languages by the end of the year. Civil Beat.

State roundup for June 5. Associated Press.

State 6/5. Associated Press.

Oahu

A scathing 15-page report by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development calls on the city to return nearly $8 million in Community Development Block Grant funds it issued to a Wahiawa-area nonprofit organization. Star-Advertiser.

Mismanagement of federal grant funds and how the city will come up with $8 million to repay the feds is expected to be part of Honolulu City Council budget talks on Wednesday. Civil Beat.

How Civil Beat Covered a Scandal City Officials Wanted to Avoid.

The Honolulu City Council will consider today whether the top nonprofit employees overseeing the city's TheBus and TheHandi-Van services should be subject to the same ethics training, ethics policies and civil penalties as city employees. Star-Advertiser.

People can tell the city how they feel about the appeals process for the city's new sidewalk nuisance ordinance at a hearing today in Kapolei. A hearing officer will receive spoken testimony from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the first-floor conference room of Kapolei Hale, 1000 Ulu Ohia St. Star-Advertiser.

After months of dealing with technical troubles, Belgian and Dutch railway operators have canceled their contract for high-speed trains from the company hired to provide the trains for the city of Honolulu's planned rail transit system. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Weekly plans to stop publishing today and resume in the fall. The break in publication is due to "financial reasons," according to a posting on the Weekly's Facebook page. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Weekly announced Tuesday that it will go on a “hiatus” for financial reasons, likely until the fall. Wednesday’s issue will be the newspaper’s last issue for the foreseeable future. Pacific Business News.

Lifeguards made more than two dozen ocean rescues Tuesday in Waikiki as waves rose to 6 feet in seasonal South Shore high surf. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

A 3rd Circuit Court has dismissed another portion of the defamation lawsuit against two former county officials. Judge Elizabeth Strance, in a ruling issued Tuesday morning, said the attorney representing Elections Division Chief Patricia Nakamoto and former elections employee Shyla Ayau failed to prove former County Council Chairman Dominic Yagong and former County Clerk Jamae Kawauchi acted in a “willful and wanton” way in investigating and firing four county elections workers last year. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii County Council will consider tightening its rules on public drinking today in response to an apparent loophole in the county code. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii County charter to the contrary, Mayor Billy Kenoi said Tuesday that his appointee to head the Department of Environmental Management doesn’t need an engineering or related degree to qualify for the position. West Hawaii Today.

County finance committee advances vehicle fee hikes. West Hawaii Today.

Big Island nurseries could soon receive a seal of approval from groups trying to control the spread of invasive species. As part of a pilot program, the Big Island Invasive Species Committee will provide “plant pono” certifications to nurseries that follow certain procedures to prevent the importation of unwanted plants and pests. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui Electric Co. residential customers will be receiving a refund of about $39 to $49 in the form of a credit on upcoming electric bills, according to a statement from the utility on Monday. Maui News.

Maui Electric Company has been ordered to refund customers due to “inefficient performance” and customer dissatisfaction, following a decision by the Public Utilities Commission. Maui Now.

About 400 United States military personnel have flown to Maui to provide free medical services through the "Tropic Care" program, beginning today and continuing through June 12 at locations throughout Maui County. Maui News.

Lanai Resorts' concept of developing a new resort and building large-lot and company housing at the old Club Lanai location recently was approved by the Lanai Community Plan Advisory Committee, despite some concerns by committee members. Maui News.

Maui firefighters were working through a "slow process" Monday afternoon to extinguish a compost fire that started Sunday afternoon, closed the Central Maui Landfill and recycling operations there and delayed collections of residential trash on most of the Valley Isle. Maui News.

Kauai

EBT concerns cloud skies over farmers markets. Program ends, worries some shoppers. Garden Island.

An exhibit opened its doors Monday afternoon in the Kauai Society of Artists gallery at Kukui Grove Center. Garden Island.