Lieutenant Governor candidates face off, Belatti files late spending report, Case congressional race gets national attention, voting machines tested statewide, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Lieutenant Governor candidates’ appearance shows similarities, differences. During their joint appearance, frontrunners Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami and state Rep. Della Au Belatti last week shared the need for more affordable housing, reducing Hawaii’s high cost of living, and their overall support for Gov. Josh Green’s kauhale housing program expansion to create permanent, affordable homes for Hawaii’s homeless. Both, however, said the lieutenant governor should remain independent from Green. Star-Advertiser.

Belatti Files Campaign Spending Report A Week Late. Della Au Belatti’s campaign blamed a computer glitch for the delay. State Rep. Della Au Belatti finally filed the reports Thursday afternoon, but not before her rival for lieutenant governor, Kauaʻi Mayor Derek Kawakami, had issued press releases publicly calling her out for the missing report. Civil Beat.

The Race For Lieutenant Governor: A Coveted Political Stepping Stone. While the job itself doesn’t amount to much, it helped elevate four politicians who later became governors, and two others who eventually became U.S. senators. Civil Beat.

Case And Keohokalole Ramp Up Their Spending In Advance Of August Primary. New Federal Election Commission filings show that both candidates raised and spent about the same amount in the last quarter, but Case has more money left over for the final run. Civil Beat.

Honolulu congressional race draws national attention. The race to represent urban Honolulu in Congress has attracted national attention from the New York Times and the Washington Post as an example of younger, left-leaning Democrats like state Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole challenging older, more moderate incumbents like U.S. Rep. Ed Case. Star-Advertiser.

Voting equipment testing statewide as primary election approaches. The Office of Elections held its statewide logic and accuracy test at the State Capitol, with around 60 official observers on Oahu and another 20 on each of the neighbor islands. KITV4.

History shows every vote counts in Hawaii legislative races. All 51 state House seats and 14 of the 25 state Senate seats are up for election this year, but 16 Democratic and Republican legislators face no challenge and will automatically return to office in the Aug. 8 party primary elections. Star-Advertiser.

‘Hawaii Builds’ initiative aims to fast-track affordable housing. Under Senate Bill 2544, which legislators passed almost unanimously on May 6, the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corp. is being directed to help private developers produce at least one affordable-housing project on Oahu, Hawaii Island, Kauai and in Maui County under the new program in part by sidestepping county council reviews. Star-Advertiser.

Military scales up 3D printing, drones and AI to supply RIMPAC forces. Over the last few iterations of RIMPAC, the Naval Postgraduate School’s Consortium for Advanced Manufacturing Research and Education participated in the exercise and experimented with these systems. But this year, military leaders have made a point of massively scaling up their use across the Hawaiian islands and beyond. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Waters holds huge fundraising lead in City Council race. Honolulu City Council Chair Tommy Waters is heading into the Aug. 8 primary election with a commanding financial advantage over his closest challenger as he seeks a third term representing East Honolulu’s District 4, campaign filings indicate. Star-Advertiser.

Tulsi Gabbard’s brother charged in alleged Waikiki ‘stranger danger’ incident. The 55-year-old brother of former U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was arrested and charged Friday with second-degree custodial interference after allegedly trying to lure children to a Waikiki hotel room. Batarti Gabbard, aka Bhakti Gabbard, allegedly approached several children, including a boy, age 9, and offered them gum and money to accompany him to his hotel room, according to police. Star-Advertiser.

HECO seeks energy bids as JERA moves forward with LNG plan. JERA Americas, a subsidiary of Japan’s largest energy company, JERA Co., filed a notice of intent Friday with the Public Utilities Commission seeking approval to establish a new Hawaii-­based regulated wholesale power-generation company called GenCo that would own and operate the proposed power plant and supply liquefied natural gas, or LNG, to Oahu’s energy grid. Hawaiian Electric Co. is arguing the “unprecedented” move would create complexity, inefficiencies and risk in Hawaii’s energy grid. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu could follow other county councils in calling for aquarium fishing ban. The city council is moving along a pair of resolutions urging state-level policymakers to prohibit the collection of fish in the state for the commercial aquarium trade. One urges the state Board of Land and Natural Resources to adopt rules banning aquarium fishing, and the other is directed at the state Legislature. Hawaii Public Radio.

Home at last: New beginning for 815 Native Hawaiian families. On July 18, the Department of Hawaiian Homelands awarded 815 residential leases on Oahu, the largest offering on the island this year. KHON2.

Social media bans impact Honolulu businesses and artists. Several  businesses, community organizations and artists in Hawaii that have come to depend on Meta’s platforms say they’ve dealt with seemingly arbitrary bans, with little explanation from the company as it increasingly turns to AI and other systems for content moderation. Star-Advertiser.

Waikiki organizations unite to boost community, visitor impact. With Hawaii’s tourism marketing resources under pressure and international visitor arrivals still below expectations, two of Waikiki’s leading business organizations have combined operations to strengthen the resort district’s voice, marketing reach and competitive position. Star-Advertiser.

Horse-Trading And Living Costs: State House District 18 Candidate Q&As. Member chosen to replace Gene Ward runs against Democratic challenger. Incumbent representative Joe Gedeon will face Democratic challenger James Wataru in the Nov. 3 general election. Both are running unopposed in the primary. Civil Beat.

Not Again! Another Sidewalk Collapse Next To Barefoot Beach Cafe. For more than a year after a portion of Waikīkī’s popular beachside walkway collapsed into the sand, Barefoot Beach Cafe customers looking to drink out of pineapples as they watched the sunset had to do so through a chain-link fence. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Kona-based company is bringing aquaculture to Florida. Kona-based company Ocean Era recently received approval for a first-of-its-kind aquaculture pilot project off of the Gulf Coast of Florida. Titled the Velella Epsilon project, it will be located in federal waters about 40 miles out from Sarasota, to cultivate 20,000 red drum fish over the course of a year in a submerged net system. Tribune-Herald.

Big Island residents turn in nearly 150 firearms during community gun buyback event. Firearms collected included eight assault-style rifles and nine privately manufactured firearms, commonly referred to as “ghost guns.” Big Island Now.

Community raises questions about Laupahoehoe boat ramp. Dozens of community members gathered July 8 for an informational meeting about planned repairs to the breakwater in Laupahoehoe, which juts out about 100 feet from the rocky coastline. Tribune-Herald.

Investment firm pays $23 million to become outright owner of Kailua-Kona hotel. Nine Brains, headquartered in Santa Monica, Calif., acquired full fee-simple ownership of Pacific 19 Kona hotel — formerly Kona Seaside Hotel — 4 years after it purchased the ground lease for the property. Big Island Now.

New youth hub in Puna to guide young people toward independence. The Neighborhood Place of Puna has opened the Puna ʻŌpio Hub for youth and young adults, ages 14-25, as they explore employment and educational pathways that may seem inaccessible. Big Island Now.

Waimea Continues “Speed Dating” Election Candidate Tradition. Voters sat down with candidates for Hawaiʻi County Council, State House, and Lieutenant Governor. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Lahaina’s Front Street scheduled to reopen on Aug. 1, 2026. Repairs and rebuilding in the area have been ongoing since the 2023 Maui Wildfires, including: removal of wildfire debris and offshore pilings; repairs to the seawall and sidewalk; installation of new railings and planting of trees along the makai side of the street; installation of fencing along the mauka side of the street and around off-limit areas; and road paving and striping. Maui Now.

‘Keep Hawaiʻi Loud’: Car Stereo Enthusiasts Boo Increased Fines On Maui. For some Maui residents, the noise is a source of repeated frustration. Others see the music as part of Hawai‘i’s local culture.  Civil Beat.

Displaced Lahaina residents hope jobs will provide a way home. Hundreds of homes have been rebuilt, according to Maui County officials, and billions of dollars have been committed to disaster recovery. Yet many West Maui families remain displaced, businesses continue to struggle to rebuild their workforce and many former residents still cannot afford to come home. Star-Advertiser.

Moloka‘i growers feeding the island in wake of missed barges, plant shipping restrictions. On an island rich with farmland and resourceful people, the goal is to help make the community more resilient and sustainable during unexpected crises like missed shipments and interisland restrictions. Maui Now.

Airlines compete for Lanai air service contract. Pacific Air Charters and Cape Air are competing against Mokulele Airlines, the only commercial airline currently servicing the island,  receiving federal subsidies to do so. Hawaii News Now.

Selenium detected in Makawao water. Trace levels of selenium have been found for the first time in the Maui County Department of Water Supply’s Makawao water system. Maui News.

Luxury Rentals, Bill 9 And Public Water: Maui County Council, Wailuku-Waiheʻe-Waikapū District. Five candidates are running for the seat held by Council Chair Alice Lee, who is stepping down. Civil Beat.

Wetlands, ICE And Accountability: Maui County Council, South Maui District Candidate Q&As. Itʻs a rematch for the two candidates running in the November general election. Civil Beat.

Invasive Species, Sustainability And Planning: Maui County Council – Kahului District. Three candidates are running in the primary for the council seat covering Mauiʻs largest commercial center. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Kauaʻi keiki bring home free helmets, bikes after annual Keiki Bike Safety Day on Saturday. Forty lucky youngsters pedaled home with new bikes, and hundreds learned essential riding skills and helmet safety from dedicated Wilcox Medical Center physicians and community partner. Kauai Now. Garden Island. 

Disasters, Tourism And Housing: State House District 16 Candidate Q&As. Incumbent Democrat faces Republican challenge for the Kauaʻi House seat. Democratic House Member Luke Evslin, who has represented state House District 16 since 2023, will face Republican opponent David Hazlebeck in the general election in November. Both are running unopposed in the primary. Civil Beat.

Income Tax Relief And Housing Affordability: State House District 17 Candidate Q&As. Longtime Kauaʻi Democratic incumbent faces primary opponent and Republican challenger.Incumbent House member Dee Morikawa is facing Democratic challenger Chad Schimmelfennig in the Aug. 8 primary election for State House District 17, which Morikawa has represented since 2010. Civil Beat.

Plan to rebuild historic Coco Palms Resort gets financial backing. A Utah-based real estate investment firm that acquired the Coco Palms site in 2022 through a state court foreclosure case recently arranged $431 million in financing and said it has begun below-grade construction work on the 32-acre property in Wailua. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii schools grapple with AI, congressional candidate pulls gun on Maui County workers, former Hawaii County housing official gets 4 years for taking $1.4M bribe, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Artificial Intelligence Is Here To Stay. Are Hawaiʻi Schools Ready? From preschoolers to high school seniors, Hawaiʻi students share how artificial intelligence is shaping their learning and plans for the future. There's wide variation in how much teachers and students are willing to engage with the new technology. Civil Beat.

Della Au Belatti’s change of plans upends lieutenant governor and U.S. House races. State Rep. Della Au Belatti’s decision to suspend her run for Congress to jump into the race for lieutenant governor has upended both campaigns and brought new attention to the most high-profile campaigns so far leading up to the Aug. 8 Democratic Party primary. Star-Advertiser.

UH commits $5M in student-athlete pay despite failure at Legislature.  The University of Hawaii, which has about 500 student-athletes on 21 teams, did not score taxpayer funding this year to pay student-­athletes. Star-Advertiser.

HMSA’s payment system pivot has Hawaii’s medical community reeling. Hawaii patients could face fewer choices for primary care — and longer waits for services — as the state’s largest insurer Hawaii Medical Service Association reverses a decade-old payment model, prompting fears that some clinics may close or scale back. Star-Advertiser.

Ann Wright, Hawaiʻi's Global Warrior For Peace, Is Not Giving Up The Fight. The retired Army colonel has been active on the frontlines of protest, from the Iraq War to Gaza, from Cuba to Minneapolis, from Red Hill to Pearl Harbor. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu Officials Accept Raises Without Hearing Public Opposition. Members of the public had little opportunity to comment on the raises, which are paid for with their tax dollars. Civil Beat.

HART gets reimbursed $125M for Segment 2 completion. The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation has received a $125 million federal reimbursement connected to last year’s opening of the more than $10-billion Skyline project’s second segment past the airport, the agency’s leadership announced Friday. Star-Advertiser.

Group seeks to restart aquarium fishing on Oahu. The Hawaii Fishers Association is moving to restart the trade on Oahu just one month after a bill to ban it died in the Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

Woman fights $600K in fines for 'mistakenly' advertising short-term rental. An 83-year-old Oʻahu woman is fighting $600,000 in fines from the City and County of Honolulu for an online advertisement of an illegal short-term rental. Sandra May has filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court Thursday for “mistakenly” posting her one-bedroom rental unit in Wilhelmina Rise as a short-term rental, which is available for rent for less than 30 days. Hawaii Public Radio.

City reverses course on Koko Crater Stables eviction notice. Aloha Riding Lessons LLC, the longtime operator of Koko Crater Stables, recently threatened with eviction, has received a reprieve after the city rescinded its notice to vacate the city-owned property.  Star-Advertiser.

Plans for new Costco, Zippy’s closure in Waipahu met with pushback. The vacant building that was once the Don Quijote in Waipahu could be home to Hawaii’s first Costco Business Center. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii National Guard concludes Kona-low storm relief efforts. The Hawaii National Guard has officially concluded its support for relief efforts in the aftermath of two Kona-low storms that swept across the islands and ravaged Oahu’s North Shore in March, as well as intense weather that followed in April.  Star-Advertiser.

Kona-low storm fallout continues to hit North Shore business. Visitor traffic to Waimea Valley has fallen sharply this spring, forcing staff to stretch resources and scale back hiring as fewer travelers make the trip past ongoing traffic restrictions triggered by March’s Kona-low storms. Star-Advertiser.


Hawaii Island

13 applicants in play to be next fire chief. Hawaii County has received applications from 13 individuals it says are conditionally qualified to be the next chief of the Hawaii Fire Department. Those 13 have been culled from 33 applicants. Tribune-Herald.

Former Hawaii County official sentenced to prison for taking $1.9 million in bribes. Alan Scott Rudo, 59, a former Hawaii County housing specialist, will spend nearly four years in federal prison for his role in a seven-year scheme of accepting bribes in exchange for awarding more than $11 million through four affordable housing development agreements. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. 

Her dad’s death led to tougher penalties for dangerous dog owners in Hawaiʻi. Now her daughter tests law after attack. In 2024, Shannon Matson pushed for the passing of a state law that significantly toughens the legal consequences for owners of dangerous dogs after the death of her 71-year-old father, Bob Northrop. Big Island Now.

FEMA doles out $2M to Kona low victims in Hawaii County. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved more than $2.1 million in grants to Hawaii County residents for damage suffered during the two Kona low storms that wreaked havoc statewide in March. Tribune-Herald.

The Earth shook. Tanks burst. Now Kona faces a water crisis. One of the most coveted coffees in the world comes from Kona, where the coffee crops thrive on afternoon rains. So do the farmers, who rely on rainwater to fill the tanks that supply their homes and orchards. Parts of the area have no county water infrastructure. New York Times.

Family, friends share stories about the three men slain in Puna killing spree. Hawaii Police Department suspects Jacob “Jake” Daniel Baker of killing Robert Shine, 69, Chitta Morse, 79, and John Carse, 69, over the course of Monday and Tuesday in a spree of seemingly random violence in Kapoho and Kalapana. Tribune-Herald.

An eclectic, off-grid Hawaii haven, 3 dead men and a suspect caught on surveillance video. For residents of Puna, a remote and eclectic part of Hawaii’s Big Island, the killings of three men known for embracing the community’s off-grid, free-spirited lifestyle became a startling reminder of its struggles too. Associated Press.

Maui

Longshot Congressional Candidate Pulled Gun On Maui County Workers. An armed man entered a Maui County government building Friday morning and brandished his gun during an argument with county workers, but police were not called for an hour and a half. Kirill Basin, who had recently announced he planned to run for Congress, was arrested and charged with Terroristic Threatening in the First Degree. Civil Beat. Maui Now. 

Lahaina harbor restoration moves forward with dredging project. State officials say routine dredging work scheduled to begin Monday at Lahaina Small Boat Harbor will also provide a rare opportunity to dredge the main harbor basin for the first time since 1966. Maui News.

$241M solar energy project to power 18,000 Maui homes moving through permitting process. With the passage of a federal budget severely rolling back clean energy investments, the company behind a $241 million solar project in Central Maui is working feverishly to get through the permitting process and have enough time to build the facility so it can be operational by the end of 2028. Maui Now.

 Akakū Maui Community Media continues fight to preserve Maui County’s public access funding with $400,000 in annual cuts looming. That is about 35% of Akakū’s current operating budget of $1.1 million. Maui Now.

Coast Guard helps 21 people escape disabled vessel off Maui. A Coast Guard crew assisted 20 adults and one child in getting off a disabled charter vessel near Maalaea Harbor offshore Maui on Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Nēnē had died out on Molokaʻi. Now, they're making a comeback, with a little help. There’s a small but thriving flock of the Native Hawaiian geese living and raising their young at Puʻu O Hōkū Ranch. The endangered species is back from the brink of extinction. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Kaua‘i Wants To Expand Its Only Landfill — Again. The island’s sole permitted landfill in Kekaha will fill up in just four years. With a new landfill still a decade away from opening, the Garden Isle is running out of room for its trash. So, to buy time, the county hopes to expand its 73-year-old Kekaha landfill — at a cost of up to $43 million. Civil Beat.

Online visits to remote seabird sanctuaries offered in ‘Year of Our Coastal Kuleana’.  New online field trips are being offered this year to remote seabird sanctuaries: Lehua Island, 19 miles west of Kauaʻi, and Hōlanikū, also known as Kure Atoll, 1,400 miles away at the furthest reaches of the Northwest Hawaiian Islands. Kauai Now.

Belatti switches candidacy to lieutenant governor race, Hawaiian Airlines to scrap free meals in coach, Puna triple homicide suspect captured, OHA drops bid for KITV4, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Belatti Drops Bid For Congress To Run For Lieutenant Governor. Democratic state Rep. Della Au Belatti said the political landscape shifted once Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke opted not to run for reelection while facing criminal investigation. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio. 

Hawaiian Airlines to scrap free meals in coach. Hawaiian Airlines will eliminate complimentary meals in its main cabin on most long-haul mainland routes, replacing them with a prepaid menu developed with a James Beard-­recognized Hawaii chef. Star-Advertiser. Kauai Now. 

Hawaii visitor spending rises despite April drop in arrivals. Hawaii’s visitor industry saw fewer travelers in April but a sharp rise in daily spending, highlighting a widening divide between higher-end visitors who continue to spend freely and more budget-conscious travelers who are pulling back. Star-Advertiser.

Sudden Slashes To Solar Incentives Make It Harder To Go Green. More than 260 of Hawaiʻi’s commercial and industrial projects are at risk after Legislature cuts credits 2026, undermining renewable resource goals. Civil Beat.

Report ranks Hawaiʻi 5th in teachers' union strength. An analysis from the Thomas B. Fordham Institute is an update to the institute's last ranking in 2012, when Hawaiʻi secured the leading spot.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Kapolei community board endorses Amazon project. A $600 million-plus plan by Amazon to build a massive warehouse and order fulfillment center in Kapolei gained some tentative community support Wednesday night. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. 

OHA trustees reject due diligence funding for KITV- KIKU purchase. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees voted against funding due diligence for acquiring KITV Island News and KIKU TV, ending the quasi-government agency’s latest attempt to enter into broadcast media. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now. 

Some question if the JERA natural gas project will deliver meaningful savings. Japanese energy company JERA wants to build a floating gas terminal off the coast of Barber's Point and a new gas-fired power plant in Campbell Industrial Park on Oʻahu. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Chief credits community for helping to nab triple-homicide suspect. Hawaii Police Department Chief Reed Mahuna said during a Thursday afternoon press conference that tips from the public resulted in the apprehension of triple-homicide suspect Jacob Daniel Baker, the subject of a two-day multiagency manhunt involving county, state and federal law enforcers. Tribune-Herald. Star-Advertiser.  Hawaii Public Radio.  Big Island Video News.  Big Island Now.  Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4. 

Puna Murders Raise Questions About Restraining Order Process. Attorneys say TROs are granted in a majority of cases. But that wasn’t the case for the man who allegedly killed three men. Civil Beat.

Maui

Maui council weighs new hotel zones in vacation rental phase-out equation. In an ongoing effort to address controversial Maui vacation rentals, the Maui County Council is considering a measure to create two new hotel zones that would allow legal short-term rentals.  Hawaii Public Radio.

For many sinkholes left by March storms on Maui County roads, cost and timeline for repairs unclear. Before a portion of a beach park and multiple roadways collapsed during two major storms in March, Maui County Public Works Director Jordan Molina had never seen so many sinkholes in the seven years he’d been with the department. Maui Now.

Maui’s Last Wild Beaches: Locals Fear Upgrades Will Sideline Them. Some members of the Maui community worry that proposed upgrades to Mākena State Park could pave the way for more transformative changes in the future. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Intervention granted in review of luxury development at Hanalei Bay. A group of community organizations successfully petitioned the Kauaʻi Planning Commission to grant a petition they sought to intervene in a proposed luxury coastal housing development by Miami-based Starwood Capital Group’s 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay. Kauai Now.

Umi Martin announces candidacy for county council. Lifelong Kauai resident, farmer, small business owner and community leader Umi Martin has officially announced his candidacy for the Kauai County Council in the 2026 election.  Garden Island.

McKenna named acting Supreme Court chief judge, economists predict Hawaii recession, arson alleged in latest Maui wildfire, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Sabrina McKenna to lead Hawaii Judiciary as acting chief justice. Hawaii Supreme Court Associate Justice Sabrina McKenna will begin serving as acting chief justice Oct. 1, following the retirement of Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald at the end of September, the state Judiciary announced  Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Another state lawmaker launches challenge to Ed Case in Congress. Hawaii’s moderate Democrat in Congress, U.S. Rep. Ed Case, is attracting a growing challenge from within his own political party for next year’s midterm election. State Rep. Della Au Belatti announced on Thursday a campaign to run for the U.S. House District 1 seat held by Case. Star-Advertiser.  KITV4. 

OHA’s Chief Executive Has Abruptly Been Put On Paid Leave. Stacy Ferreira, the chief executive officer of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, was quietly placed on paid leave Tuesday by the OHA Board of Trustees. The circumstances surrounding Ferreira’s exit are unclear. Civil Beat. Big Island Video News.

Economists Forecast Hawaiʻi Recession Tied To Job Losses, Trump Tariffs. The University of Hawaii’s Economic Research Organization's third-quarter economic forecast outlines a long list of forces — many driven by Trump administration policies — that are expected to lead to more job losses, rising costs and a “mild recession” for Hawaii that will affect everyone. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Tribune-Herald. 

State will see SNAP benefit reductions next week. Families across Hawaii are bracing for yet another reduction in food assistance benefits, as the state Department of Human Services prepares to implement federally mandated changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Star-Advertiser.

Confessions could be thrown out because of new Hawaii Supreme Court ruling. Police departments in Hawaii are now required to use video and audio recordings of all interrogations done at police stations if the suspect is under arrest. Hawaii News Now.

Driving change: State gives away 1,000 dashcams to make roads safer. The state Department of Transportation is launching a pilot program called “Eyes on the Road.” The goal is to fix road hazards faster and crack down on unsafe drivers. KHON2.

Hawaiʻi recognized for community resilience, equity at Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting. Gov. Josh Green represented Hawaiʻi at an event featuring leaders from around the world discussing solutions for pressing global challenges, focusing on resilience, health and equity. Big Island Now.

Hawaii Seaglider Initiative expands with new partners. The Hawaii Seaglider Initiative — a coalition advocating electric-powered vehicles known as seagliders as a cleaner, affordable interisland transportation option — announced Thursday it added three major organizations to its membership: Hawaii Medical Service Association, The Queen’s Health System and Kamehameha Schools. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu

Honolulu Mayor Defends Bumpy Rollout Of New Building Permit System. The $7 million system, funded by city and federal funds, has had problems since it launched on Aug. 4. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. 

New Aloha Stadium contracts signed. Two contracts signed Tuesday give  the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District's private partnership group, Aloha Halawa District Partners, the go-ahead to dismantle the old stadium and build the new one at the same site. Star-Advertiser. KITV4. 

A New Plan Is Brewing In The Fight To Save O‘ahu’s North Shore Beaches. University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant teams up with North Shore Community Land Trust to find solutions for the island’s disappearing beaches. Civil Beat.

How Many Crosswalks Have Been Removed In Honolulu? The City Isn’t Sure. The city took out dozens of crosswalks more than six years ago, but city officials they haven’t tallied how many have been removed since then. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Tourism to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park contributes $571 million to economy last year. A new National Park Service report reveals that 1,433,593 visitors to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park in 2024 had a cumulative economic benefit of $571 million for the local economy. Big Island Now.

Residents invited to shape tourism plan at 2 Hawaii Island meetings. The Hawaii Tourism Authority invites residents to take part in community input sessions that will provide space for members of the public to share their insights, experiences and ideas about the future of tourism on their island. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

MFD: Paia wildfire that led to evacuations was intentionally set. The Holomua wildfire that burned about 400 acres, led to the evacuation of over 1,600 Paia residents and has closed a school for three days was intentionally set, Maui Fire Department officials said Thursday. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.  Hawaii News Now.  KITV4.

State-run Ka Laʻi Ola temporary housing for Lahaina fire survivors is finished; 450 units soon-to-be full. There are 432 units completed on site in Lahaina and another 18 units set to go for residential dwellings to be put on property owned by fire survivors. Maui Now.

Maui public schools included in flawed, $100 million-plus solar air-conditioning initiative. On Maui, the schools that received air conditioning were located in Central and West Maui. Kaunakakai Elementary on Moloka’i is listed, but no classrooms received air-conditioning, even though nearly $320,000 was spent for design of units. Maui Now.

Kauai

Access gate to Queen’s Bath closed for winter. Access to the gate is closed due to hazardous ocean conditions and anticipation of the winter season,” said Kauai Fire Department Chief Michael Gibson.  Garden Island. Kauai Now.