Attorney General updates concealed weapon status, state police force gains traction, lawmakers wrangle HECO rescue bills, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Over 2,200 are licensed to carry concealed guns in Hawaii. In the first-ever look at the number of people licensed to carry a concealed handgun in Hawaii, the state Department of the Attorney General announced Wednesday that 2,207 people can pack in public, about 0.2% of the state’s resident population age 20 or older. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald.

State police force plan gains traction, but funding, staffing still concerns. Mike Lambert, the new director of the Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement, wants to launch the force with a priority to protect rural areas and state facilities. Hawaii News Now.

Lawmakers Wrangle HECO Rescue Bills As Session Deadline Looms. After a big win before the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court in February, Hawaiian Electric is making a final push before the Legislature. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi lawmakers, judges, governor to receive substantial raises through 2030. The state Legislature did not take up a resolution that would have rejected the recommended pay increases from the state Commission on Salaries. Hawaii Public Radio.

Big changes could be coming for Hawaii’s film industry — and they aren’t good. A bill meant to boost the film industry in Hawaii, now threatens to do the opposite according to an industry expert. The lawmaker who introduced the bill said the changes are sending the wrong message. KHON2.

Lawmakers put Hawaii’s foster care system on blast at State Capitol. Hawaii’s foster care system was on the hot seat at the State Capitol in the wake of deadly child abuse cases and an audit from a year ago pointing out problems. KHON2.

Abuse protections sought for Hawaii’s homeschooled children. Homeschooled Hawaii children might be required to appear periodically in public school if an idea discussed Wednesday by a legislative panel trying to prevent child abuse is realized. Star-Advertiser.

State seeks input on wildlife action plan. The Department of Land and Natural Resources divisions of Aquatic Resources (DAR) and Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) said it’s an opportunity for residents, conservation partners and others to share their views on conservation priorities for the state. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Kuilei Place ‘affordable’ condo project breaks ground. Kuilei Place, a 43-story, $619 million tower complex, which includes 603 “affordable” units at 2599 Kapiolani Blvd., is touted as one of the largest projects of its kind currently under construction on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Safety concerns mount at Oahu’s largest jail with fence lines in need of repair. Photos taken inside Oahu Community Correctional Center (OCCC) show wooden props holding up a portion of the perimeter fence after it nearly collapsed during a recent storm. Hawaii News Now.

Woman charged with repeatedly posting threats to Biden, Trump. Rebecca Ann Folley, 48, aka “Becca Waters” of Pearl City  is facing federal criminal charges after allegedly posting more than 200 social media threats to kill the president of the United States as a way to draw attention to being a victim of human trafficking. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii Island name change vote coming this June. The Hawaii Board of Geographical Names (HBGN) is debating whether to change the big island's official name from 'Island of Hawaii' to ‘Hawai'i’. They say this will match the nearby islands like Oahu or Maui. KITV4.

West Hawaiʻi Needs More Water. But At What Cost? The battle over a single Kona well site shows the tension between development and protected Indigenous water rights. Civil Beat.

Volunteers complete cleanup of tire graveyard in Kailua Bay. Four boats full of 40 volunteers came together on Sunday to finish the project of removing nearly 100 dumped tires that have been sitting for a couple decades on the ocean floor in pristine Kailua Bay. Big Island Now.

Maui

Maui Emergency Management Agency lays out progress and plans for fiscal 2026. Maui County Council members heard about progress and plans for future needs Tuesday from the Maui Emergency Management Agency, now less than two years after the August 2023 wildfires disaster. Maui Now.

ACLU demands Maui Prep rescind anti-transgender policy. The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii has issued a formal legal demand to Maui Preparatory Academy in Lahaina, alleging the school has adopted a discriminatory policy targeting transgender students in violation of state anti-­discrimination laws. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. KITV4.

Speaker Series to feature Maui voyager for Earth Day talk. In honor of Earth Day, the Mayor’s Sustainability Speaker Series will feature Maui educator and voyager Mary Anna (Enriquez) Grimes for a special presentation at noon April 17 in the Mayor’s Conference Room on the ninth floor of the County Building at 200 S. High St. Maui News.

Kauai

Renovated Princeville library begins limited door service in May. Princeville Public Library closed its doors Oct. 30, 2023, for a $7 million face-lift that included health and safety improvements. Kauai Now.

Commercial airliner crash simulation at Līhu‘e Airport to bring multiple agencies together. The “crash” is the premise for an emergency response exercise from 9 a.m. to noon April 15 in the general aviation ramp area at the north end of Līhu‘e Airport. Kauai Now.

Foreign ownership of Hawaii farmland spikes, Calvin Say ends long political career, Queen's nurses vote to strike, 3 dead, dozens injured in Oahu fireworks explosion, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

 

From Busboy To House Speaker: Longtime Hawaiʻi Lawmaker Calvin Say Retires. Say’s critics see him as emblematic of Hawaiʻi’s “old boys’” style of politics. He defends his cautious style as necessary to keep the state running smoothly. Civil Beat.

Foreign ownership of Hawaiʻiʻs farmland has spiked over the past five years from 166,000 acres to 278,000 acres — a 65% increase, most of it purchased by companies and investors from Canada — according to a USDA Farm Service Agency report released this month. Civil Beat.

New year begins with lower state taxes for all. The state Legislature in 2024 passed the first of what’s intended to be seven years of historic tax cuts designed to make Hawaii increasingly more affordable over the course of the cuts. Star-Advertiser.

Hawai‘i Has Been Arguing Over How To Tax Tourists For Generations. Gov. Josh Green’s push for tourists to help fund climate mitigation is just the latest round of a debate that goes back nearly a century. Civil Beat.

Did The Legislature Have Authority To Defer Pay Raises During the Pandemic? Two prominent members of the state Salary Commission question whether lawmakers violated the state constitution in 2021 and 2022. Civil Beat.

Here’s How A Second Trump Term May Impact Hawaiʻi Police. Police officials are taking a wait-and-see attitude as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office after pledging to be tough on crime. Civil rights advocates are worried about criminal justice reform efforts. Civil Beat.

State moves forward with more cameras to crack down on red-light runners. Ten additional cameras planned for 2025.  A proposed list will be presented to state lawmakers for approval and a public information period will follow. Hawaii News Now.

New Hawaiʻi law seeks to protect domestic abuse survivors from excessive litigation. Abusive litigation is when an abusive partner files excessive, and often meritless, legal actions against their partner or former partner. Hawaii Public Radio.

HEI sells 90% of American Savings Bank to help pay for Maui fire settlement. Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. has sold over 90% of its subsidiary American Savings Bank to independent investors in a transaction that will provide HEI with much-needed funds to help pay its share of the $4 billion Maui wildfire lawsuit settlement while also keeping Hawaii’s third-largest bank under local leadership. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Oahu

3 people dead, over 2 dozen wounded in Aliamanu fireworks explosion. Three women were killed and about two dozen people injured at an Aliamanu home when a “cake bomb” filled with illegal aerial fireworks set off massive explosions at 12:01 a.m. at a large New Year’s Eve party. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Associated Press. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2. KITV4.

Inauguration ceremonies for mayor, Council to take place Thursday. Inauguration ceremonies for Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s second term and the incoming Honolulu City Council will take place separately Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Council salary cap, other laws take effect. New laws that go into effect with the new year include capping future Honolulu City Council raises at 5% annually, after the Council in 2023 was approved for a whopping 64% pay hike. Star-Advertiser.

Town hall meetings slated on proposed sewer fee hikes. A city-initiated measure that calls for a more than 124% increase to sewer fees for Honolulu’s average single-family residential customer over a 10-year period will be part of upcoming city-hosted town hall meetings in January. Star-Advertiser.

90% Queen’s Medical Center nurses vote in favor of strike. More than 1,900 nurses at The Queen’s Medical Center have voted in favor of a strike over unfair labor practices. KHON2.

Council OKs settlement in Portlock flooding lawsuit. Filed in 1st Circuit Court in November 2023, the lawsuit by plaintiffs Michael Sklarz and Jo Frasier claimed their residence at 158 Hanapepe Loop in the Portlock neighborhood of Hawaii Kai was severely damaged after “contaminated floodwater, wastewater, and debris” overflowed from a nearby storm drain onto their property and into their home. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Big Island traffic fatalities nearly doubled in 2024, contributing to a statewide increase. Hawaiʻi County saw the second highest number of traffic-related fatalities with a total of 29 — a nearly 100% increase from 15 in 2023. Traffic-related crashes resulted in 102 fatalities statewide in 2024, which is a 10% increase from 93 fatalities last year, according to the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation. Big Island Now.

Kīlauea Volcano Eruption Continues Into 2025. Eruptive activity has been confined to Halemaʻumaʻu with sustained lava fountaining. Big Island Video News. Garden Island.

Maui

Maui tourism rebounds in November 2024, visitor spending surpasses pre-wildfire levels: Maui visiors up more than 21% over November 2023. On Maui, there were 197,622 visitors in November, which was 21.6% higher than November 2023 (162,470), but still down 14.9% from November 2019 (232,330). Visitor spending increased to $435.7 million in November, compared to $378.2 million in November 2023 and $377.9 million in November 2019. Maui News. Maui Now.

Kauai

Endangered native birds hatch at Kauai Community College taro field. Six endangered alae ula, or the Hawaiian Moorhen, showed up at the loi a few months before December, and the chicks hatched in the loi in December. Garden Island. Hawaii News Now.

HECO bailout bill a top legislative priority, Green signs executive order to protect cannabis caregivers, all the top stories of 2024, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Plan To Bail Out HECO’s Credit Rating Would Cost Customers $48 A Year. A proposed wildfire settlement fund tops the utility’s legislative agenda for 2025. Hawaiian Electric Co. customers would have to pay $4 more per month under a proposal to create a settlement fund meant to bolster the power company’s battered credit rating in an era of catastrophic wildfires. Civil Beat.

Green Moves To Protect Medical Cannabis Caregivers from ‘Undue’ Enforcement. The governor’s executive order addresses a state law that is set to expire Wednesday. Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green on Monday said caregivers should still be allowed to provide medical cannabis to qualified patients. Civil Beat. Big Island Video News. Hawaii News Now.

The rise in mail voting comes with a price, as mismatched signatures lead to ballot rejections. As with many voters on Maui, Joshua Kamalo thought the race for president wasn’t the only big contest on the November ballot. He also was focused on a hotly contested seat for the local governing board. Associated Press.

Water commission leader supports higher code violation fines, quicker emergency response. First Deputy Ciara Kahahane, who Gov. Josh Green appointed to the commission in August, recently informed commissioners of potential measures she wants to include in the governor’s legislative package for the upcoming session. Hawaii Public Radio.

'I make nothing': Local fishers weigh leaving the industry as inflation drives up costs. There are some 140 Hawaiʻi-based longline fishing vessels that bring in more than 20 million pounds of tuna annually. Collectively, the state’s longline commercial fishing industry is one of the largest local food producers. Hawaii Public Radio.

Proposal to expand mine warfare training around Hawaii sparks concerns. The Navy wants to renew its operating permit for training at sea around Hawaii and California with more mine warfare training around the islands. Hawaii News Now.

Year in review: 2024 was a tumultuous one for Hawaii. 2024 will be remembered for the $1.9 billion merger of Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines, announcement of a $4 billion settlement for victims of the Maui wildfires, the selection of Wendy Hensel to replace retiring University of Hawaii President David Lassner, and labor unrest that led to hospital nurses and hotel workers walking picket lines, as well as increased gun violence on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi’s Top Stories Of 2024: How Civil Beat Covered A Year Of Upheaval. Let’s take a month-by-month look at stories that made the year memorable. Civil Beat.

9 community stories we were excited to share with you in 2024. From Ice Cream Aunties to a student-led climate change lawsuit, here are nine news stories HPR was eager to share with you this past year. Hawaii Public Radio.

Eventful year includes many newsmakers: Here are the University of Hawai‘i News top people stories for 2024. The University of Hawaiʻi News posted nearly 1,500 stories throughout an eventful 2024. Many of them involved people with connections to the university system making headlines. Big Island Now.

Surfer, judge, Pearl Harbor survivors among notable deaths in 2024. Hawaii mourned the loss in 2024 of people who influenced island life in ways that changed the course of Hawaii history, shaped island culture and entertained through song, art and acting. They included a North Shore surfing legend and lifeguard who was killed by a shark, a federal judge who upheld Kamehameha Schools’ admissions policy in preference of Native Hawaiians, the last known Pearl Harbor survivor still living in Hawaii and a former insurance commissioner who fought to protect residents from unfair insurance practices. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii residents donated over $10M on GoFundMe this year. Hawaii residents in 2024 gave more than $10 million to strangers, as well as friends and relatives in need, through the world’s leading online fundraising (and crowdfunding) platform. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Unauthorized message appears on Moanalua Freeway sign. An unauthorized message was made on a sign on Moanalua Freeway to say “Gay Furry Pride uwu” on Sunday evening. OT crews disabled the sign as quickly as possible and reset the board for safety measures. An investigation is underway to find out the origins of the message and how someone got access. KITV4.

Popular all-you-can-eat McCully restaurant to close after 25 years. McCully Buffet, which sits in Hana Market on McCully Street, announced on Monday, Dec. 30 that they will cease operations Sunday, Feb. 2. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Mayor Alameda Appoints Hawaiʻi County Corporation Counsel. Mayor Kimo Alameda has appointed Renee Schoen as Corporation Counsel and J Yoshimoto as Assistant Corporation Counsel. The selections complete Alameda’s cabinet for the start of his first term in office. Big Island Video News.

Aloha, 2024! A recap of the top 10 Big Island news stories of the year. Hospital expansion, homelessness, workforce housing and regulating short-term vacation rentals are top stories in 2024. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiian Knowledge And Western Science: A Recipe For Reef Recovery? Kahaluʻu Bay on the Big Island has become a focal point for blending science, tourist education and cultural know-how. So far, hopeful signs abound.  Civil Beat.

Chief: Fireworks crackdown could provide some relief. The Big Island’s police chief hopes that the seizure of at least 75 tons of fireworks in Honolulu by the Illegal Fireworks Task Force over the past year will make for a somewhat quieter New Year’s Eve. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now.

Maui

Restrictions ease in Lahaina burn zone. Maui County is lifting access restrictions to much of a largely commercial area of Lahaina destroyed by wildfire more than a year ago. Star-Advertiser.

Schatz secured $6 billion for Hawaiʻi in 2024, including funds to support Maui’s recovery. In 2024, US Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) helped secure more than $6 billion in federal funding for Hawai‘i as he led efforts to deliver resources to support Maui’s recovery from last year’s fires and advance a range of other priorities for the state.  Maui Now.

A Model for Maui: Regenerative “Green Streets” blessed at Honoiki and Keoneʻōʻio. A blessing was held last week for the new “Green Streets” project in Mākena, a transformative milestone in sustainable, low-impact development on Maui, according to managers.  Maui Now.

Kauai

Wilcox nurses hold vote on strike. The 159-member nursing staff at Wilcox Medical Center on Kauai began voting Sunday, and has until 8 p.m. Wednesday to cast a vote that could lead to a strike. Star-Advertiser. Kauai Now.

Results are in for top 2024 story on Kaua‘i. With only days left until the start of 2025, Kaua‘i Now readers have determined the year’s top story, which is the latest in the decades-long soap opera surrounding the once-grand Coco Palms Resort. Kauai Now.

Hawaii homeless nearly double, Navy seeks to expand mine warfare training, Hawaii leaders remember Jimmy Carter, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

 

 Homelessness Nearly Doubled In Hawaii After Maui Fires, New Federal Report Says. The state experienced an 87% increase from 2023 to 2024, compared to an 18% increase nationally. The number of people who were homeless in Hawaiʻi in 2024 grew from 6,223 to 11,637 – an 87% jump – according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Annual Homeless Assessment Report. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.

Read the full U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress here.

Navy seeks to expand mine warfare training in Hawaii. The Navy’s draft environmental impact statement Opens in a new tab, which is open for community input and will be the subject of public meetings in California and Hawaii next month, lays out a request to install and maintain new ranges to train troops to avoid, disable, destroy or — in some cases — use ocean mines during operations at sea. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric delivers answers to PUC probe. Hawaiian Electric has delivered a 96-page report to the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission in response to 30 information requests and nearly 200 questions about the Aug. 8, 2023, Lahaina fire, which killed 102 people, caused $5.5 billion in damage, left thousands homeless and decimated Maui’s visitor industry. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi Leaders Mourn Loss Of Jimmy Carter. The 39th U.S. president died Sunday in Georgia at the age of 100. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.  Hawaii News Now. KHON2.  KITV4.

Ahi prices surge for New Year’s. Bluefin tuna prices are holding steady at $40.95 per pound this year, but the prices for other types of fish have yet to be determined. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Green Proposes Spending Another $30 Million On A New Oʻahu Jail. Ultimately it could be a $1 billion project. Meanwhile, some are advocating for greater emphasis on keeping people out of prison. Civil Beat.

Honolulu rail agency requests eminent domain on 7 properties. The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation’s board of directors has approved resolutions to acquire by eminent domain portions of seven adjacent properties along the rail corridor as construction continues toward Kakaako. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu neighborhood board election registration now open. People interested in running for a seat on their local neighborhood board can now register as a candidate for the 2025 election, the city Neighborhood Commission Office announced. Star-Advertiser.

Waikiki transit-priority lane finishes first phase, city says. In what is deemed as a pilot project, the city Department of Transportation Services and Honolulu Complete Streets’ new transit-priority lane is a westbound lane that stretches along Kuhio Avenue, from Kapahulu Avenue to Launiu Street. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Kīlauea eruption continues with steady, moderate activity as new ‘hazard’ erupts. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported Sunday in its daily update that fountaining vigor increased during the past day as the third episode of the eruption persists, but the intensity was still below that seen during the eruption’s first few days last week. Big Island Now.

Alameda’s work on fentanyl task force led to the job where he can make an even bigger difference. Two years ago, Kimo Alameda was holding a horn in one hand and Narcan in the other, teaching people at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo how to use the nasal spray that can reverse an opiate overdose and potentially save a life. Big Island Now.

‘It brings the family together’: Takeya family celebrates 100th anniversary mochitsuki. One Hilo family, the Takeyas, on Sunday celebrated its 100th New Year’s mochitsuki — the ceremonial pounding of the sticky, glutinous rice into a pliable dough that’s then rolled into sweet rice cakes. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Fire Ravaged Upcountry Maui, Too. Residents There Try To Heal. The same day flames tore through Lahaina in 2023, another fire in Kula caused millions of dollars in damage. The recovery effort there has been quiet but intense. Civil Beat.

Heartwarming holiday homecoming: 14 wildfire survivors get help coming home to Maui for the holidays. This holiday season, Maui United Way, in partnership with Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines  and the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, is spreading the spirit of aloha by reuniting four wildfire survivor families with their island home. These families, displaced to the continent following the devastating 2023 wildfires, now have the chance to return to Maui to celebrate the holidays and visit with their loved ones, experience the warmth of home once again. Maui Now. KHON2.

Kauai

Facebook CEO addresses Hawaii ‘Doomsday bunker’ rumors in rare interview. Tech billionaire Mark Zuckerberg is speaking out for the first time about reports of having a Doomsday bunker under his property on the Garden Island. Hawaii News Now.

Education department’s pilot program serves locally grown squash in Kaua‘i cafeterias. Fourteen years ago, the nonprofit Mālama Kaua‘i established initiatives to get local food on cafeteria plates.This month, it finally happened, with 200 pounds of prepared kabocha squash distributed to four public schools across the Garden Isle through a farm-to-school pilot program. Kauai Now.

HECO seeks state partnership to shore up shaky credit, feds send Honolulu rail $250M, Maui is poised for $1.6B in federal funding, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

HECO’s Shaky Credit Prompts Proposal For Help From State. Hawaiian Electric Co. is working with lawmakers on a plan that would make the state take over energy projects if HECO defaulted, a situation lawmakers say is unlikely to occur. The new idea is a proposal to backstop HECO’s renewable energy contracts using the state’s creditworthiness. “With the state’s ability to step into the utility’s place, it is likely that financing parties will view contracts with the utility as being supported by the investment grade credit rating of the state instead of the utility, avoiding higher bills and risks to reliability,” the company said in a presentation. Civil Beat.

Defense bill includes funding for Hawaii facilities, environmental cleanup.  The U.S. Senate voted Wednesday to pass the latest iteration of the National Defense Authorization Act, the annual military spending bill that sets the Pentagon’s priorities. It included pay raises for troops and a major emphasis on military infrastructure in the Pacific amid simmering tensions with China and North Korea. The bill authorizes over $2.2 billion in spending on Hawaii facilities. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi Braces To Protect Milk Supply As Bird Flu Spreads On The Mainland. Bird flu has been found in dairy cows in 16 states and in more than 60 humans on the mainland so far this year. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Plane Crash Exposes State’s Fragile Air Cargo Infrastructure. Tuesday's fatal accident is the most serious incident in a turbulent three years at Kamaka Air. It comes less than two years after another Kamaka Cessna crashed on Molokaʻi. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.  Associated Press. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Feds send another $250M for Honolulu rail construction. Honolulu’s Skyline rail project will receive another $250 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation as part of its funding agreement with the city, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz announced Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

New leaders of Honolulu climate change office set out to paint 'picture of a better future'.  Benjamin Sullivan, director of the Honolulu Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency, took the helm in September, and Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi appointed Kealoha Fox as the team’s deputy director in mid-November. Hawaii Public Radio.

CDC studies community recovery in wake of Red Hill fuel spill. The Red Hill Community Representation Initiative is in a spat with the Navy over its absence at a meeting last week. The group points to what it calls a lack of transparency from the Navy Closure Task Force - Red Hill.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Innovative affordable housing community opens in Kapolei. A new, innovative affordable housing community is welcoming families in West Oahu. Parkway Village at Kapolei celebrated its grand opening Tuesday with 401 rental units — from studios to four-bedroom homes — serving individuals and families earning 30 to 60 percent of the area median income (AMI). Hawaii News Now.

Windward Oahu opens first off-leash dog park in Kaneohe. The new park, located at the makai end of Kulauli Street, spans about 3 acres and offers separate areas for large and small dogs.  KHON2.

Rare Hawaiian snail reintroduced into Koʻolau Mountains on Oʻahu. After more than 33 years in captivity, a rare Hawaiian snail species known as Achatinella fuscobasis was released recently into the Honolulu Watershed Forest Reserve of the Ko‘olau Mountains on Oʻahu. Maui Now.

Hawaii Island

Hawaiʻi Island lawmakers try again to ask Legislature for expanded midwifery laws. A Hawaiʻi County Council resolution heard Wednesday urges the Legislature to permanently exempt birth attendants from being required to have a state midwifery license and to expand the eligibility criteria for the license. Hawaii Public Radio. Tribune-Herald.

Fishpond caretakers in Keaukaha ask drivers to stop 'burning rubber'. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported tire microplastics from synthetic rubber tires are a major contributor of microplastic pollution. KITV4.

Judge picks contractor to demolish mistakenly built house in HPP. Kona Circuit Judge Kimberly Tsuchiya has selected the proposal by Sanborn General Contracting Inc. of Hilo to remove the house mistakenly built on a lot owned by Annaleine “Anne” Reynolds. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui is poised for $1.6B in federal funding to rebuild Lahaina. The U.S. Senate has tentatively agreed to $12 billion to respond to disasters across the country, including $1.6 billion to help Maui rebuild following the 2023 wildfires, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz said Tuesday. With Congress scheduled to adjourn Friday, the U.S. House likely will take up the bill this week before sending it back to the Senate, Schatz said. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Hawaii Public Radio. Maui Now.

Maui County’s public access network Akakū fighting to prevent significant cuts to its funding. Maui County’s public access television network Akakū, which provides news coverage of local government and a variety of other community programming and services, already is operating with a lean budget. But now the nonprofit is battling to prevent the loss of hundreds of thousands in funding from cable company franchise fees. Maui Now.

Maui OKs Lahaina wildfire waste site on first reading. A plan to use 79 acres near the Central Maui landfill to dispose of waste from the August 2023 wildfires seems headed for final passage by the Maui County Council. Maui News.

The wildfire that destroyed Lahaina in August 2023 is continuing to have a ripple effect with tourism decreases on several Hawaiian islands including Maui. Maui has experienced a 10.1% decrease in visitor numbers for the first 10 months of this year, state Chief Economic Eugene Tian said. Maui  News.

Kauai

Public asked to weigh in on Waimea 400 Affordable Housing Master Plan project. The Kaua‘i County Housing Agency is seeking public feedback following a community workshop in November about the Waimea 400 Affordable Housing Master Plan project. Based on previous community feedback, affordable housing will comprise roughly 60 acres of the site, just west of Waimea Sunset subdivision. Kauai Now.

Taiwan president to visit Hawaii, Meadow Gold to lay off almost 200 workers, Maui sets disposal site for wildfire waste, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Taiwan president plans Hawaii visit on sensitive trip to Pacific. Taiwan President Lai Ching-te is planning to stop in Hawaii and maybe Guam on a visit to Taipei’s diplomatic allies in the Pacific in the coming weeks, sources told Reuters, a sensitive trip coming shortly after the U.S. election. Reuters.

Meadow Gold to lay off nearly 200 people. According to the filing, 49 people on Oahu, 24 in Hilo, 19 in Kahului and seven on Kauai are losing their jobs. KHON2.

Hawaiian Electric removes ‘going concern’ warning in latest earnings report. Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. on Friday removed a warning about its ability to remain in business, saying that a recent capital raise helped mitigate the concerns and that it’s reviewing strategic options for its clean energy subsidiary. Star-Advertiser.

Artist brings community into large ocean-inspired glass mural to surround the Capitol. The State Foundation on Culture and the Arts contracted Solomon Enos to design a mural that represents the ocean around the Capitol building. The $11 million large-scale art project involves fabricated glass that will cover more than 54,000 square feet of the pools. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Honolulu Condos: City Might Water Down Fire Safety Law Again. Seven years after the fatal Marco Polo fire, Honolulu might extend a key deadline for condo associations after failing to pass a sprinkler law. Civil Beat.

911 Outage Complicated By Failure Of Backup System, Honolulu Police Say. Police described a cascade of problems that led to a delay in informing the public about the outage. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

Avian flu outbreak occurs at Wahiawa sanctuary. The outbreak occurred at Susie’s Duck Sanctuary, a nonprofit started two years ago by Susan Wilkinson to rescue abandoned ducks and geese in the state. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.  KITV4.

Hawaii Island

Inaba, Onishi tapped to lead council. Kona-Kohala Councilman Holeka Goro Inaba (District 8) will serve as chairman, and incoming Hilo Councilman Dennis “Fresh” Onishi (District 3) will serve as vice chairman. Tribune-Herald.

Community expresses ideas about fixing Kona’s downtown parking problems. About 250 people gave up their Friday night to attend a public meeting at the West Hawaiʻi Civic Center to discuss the high cost of parking and batter around a bunch of ideas, included providing a shuttle parking service for employees in the village and creating an annual parking pass. Big Island Now.

Large West Hawaii  coral recovery project complete. A team of divers from several agencies — including the DLNR’s Division of Aquatic Resources, The Nature Conservancy and Arizona State University — worked for three days to remove hundreds of coral heads from a decommissioned offshore fish farm pipe ring. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui County Council committee looks at tobacco bill. A new bill going through the Maui County Council may one day prohibit the sale, distribution and marketing of flavored cigarettes.  Maui News.

Maui County could ask Legislature to allow all birthing practices. The county resolution follows a 2019 state law that established a licensing structure for midwives. But it’s been controversial because it limits traditional birthing methods. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui County finds long-term disposal site for wildfire debris. An agreement with construction company Nan, Inc. was reached to purchase 49 acres of previously quarried land, plus 30 acres of land currently being used as a quarry. This is located near the Central Maui Landfill. KITV4.

Community input sought on proposed County acquisition of Von Tempsky property. Residents are invited to provide feedback on the County of Maui’s proposed acquisition of the approximately 273-acre Von Tempsky property, formerly known as Kula Ridge Mauka in Kula. Maui Now.

Hawaii’s ‘Rosie the Riveter’ dies on Maui at age 98. Lucille “Cille” MacDonald, a Maui resident who was recognized by Congress for her work building ships during World War II and escaped the 2023 Lahaina fire, died Friday just weeks short of what would have been her 99th birthday. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

Kauai Police Chief’s Retirement Plans Won’t End Disciplinary Proceedings. Todd Raybuck has had a troubled tenure, including allegations of discrimination and leaving his loaded gun in a bathroom at the police station. Civil Beat.

Meeting about Wailua Bay shoreline mitigation set for Thursday. For the past four months the Surfrider Foundation Kauaʻi Chapter has been opposing the implementation of “sand savers,” the last of three parts of the Kūhiō Highway Emergency Shoreline Mitigation Project for Wailua Bay. Kauai Now.

State investigation continues into uncovered human burials at Wainiha property. The order to stop all work followed the arrest of three people that were part of a group that had occupied the property for days in protest. At least eight burials have been found at the property between June and September, according to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Kauai Now.

HECO to compensate battery storage customers after partner withdraws, Maui abandons rent stabilization plan, Aloha Stadium set to open for 2028 football season, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiian Electric to compensate customers after Swell Energy closure. Hawaiian Electric is stepping in to pay upfront incentives owed to customers with battery storage systems following the closure of Swell Energy Inc., the third-party provider that managed the Home Rewards Battery Program on Oahu, Maui and Hawaii Island. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Bank Proxy War Heats Up. The former chairman and chief executive of Bank of Hawaii is stepping up a bid for Honolulu’s Territorial Savings Bank, seeking to upend a pending merger with Los Angeles-based Hope Bancorp Inc. by convincing shareholders to vote against the deal next month. Civil Beat.

State encourages people to help protect young seabirds as they embark on first flight. Seabird fallout season happens every year from roughly Sept. 15 to Dec. 15. Kauai Now.

Oahu

Board anticipates stadium’s completion for 2028 season. The state will likely miss a self-imposed deadline Monday, but Stadium Authority board members said at Thursday’s monthly meeting they don’t see it affecting the overall timeline that still has a new Aloha Stadium in Halawa built in time for the 2028 football season. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Honolulu Council seeks more public input on city’s next landfill.  Honolulu City Council resolution seeks both transparency and assurance over how the city’s site selection process to find the next municipal solid waste landfill on Oahu will affect the public. Star-Advertiser.

Federal mediator joins talks between Kapi‘olani and nurses. The nurses union and Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women &Children began working with a federal mediator Thursday morning to help resolve their dispute in reaching a new three-year contract. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

In act of solidarity, Waikiki hotel workers march alongside striking Hilton employees. A show of support on Thursday for nearly 2,000 striking hotel workers from the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Workers from other Waikiki hotels, including the Royal Hawaiian and Sheraton, walked in solidarity with the hotel workers on the picket Hawaii News Now.

Officials try to ease concerns over ‘kauhale’ homeless village in Iwilei. Residents in a neighborhood that has had persistent homelessness have been raising concerns about a new kauhale, or tiny village for the homeless. The kauhale in Iwilei will be the state’s 17th. The 58 units will be operated by the Institute for Human Services. Hawaii News Now.

Crew demolishing partially collapsed North Shore home. Demolition began Thursday afternoon on the property at 59-147 Ke Nui Road by Sunset Beach that had started to erode into the ocean. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Volunteers To Help People Clear Up Minor Legal Woes ‘Without Fear Of Arrest’. A free legal clinic in Waianae offers participants a chance to resolve outstanding warrants and clear arrest records without being detained or posting bail. Civil Beat.

Pickleballers to petition to fix lights at Ke’ehi Lagoon courts. When new pickleball courts at Ke’ehi Lagoon Beach Park were announced back in March 2023, players were hoping to enjoy the game all day and into the night, but many players said they’ve been left disappointed for over a year. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

UH-Hilo to get $21M to spruce up facilities. Gov. Josh Green has released $21 million in capital improvement project funds to cover four construction and rehabilitation projects at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

County receives large donation of animal control equipment.  The Hawaii County Council approved a resolution earlier this month accepting a donation of equipment worth $144,595 for the county’s Animal Control and Protection Agency. Tribune-Herald.

More funding in the works to battle ROD. Additional federal funding to combat Rapid ‘Ohi‘a Death has strong support in Congress after a bill by Hawaii lawmakers unanimously passed the House of Representatives this week. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Pushback: Maui rent stabilization stopped before it’s started. Even before a bill’s drafted to rein in Maui’s runaway long-term rental increases, the chair of the Maui County Council’s Housing and Land Use Committee said she’s not considering any legislation that regulates rent. Maui Now.

Maui Mayor Convinces State To Back Off Long-Term Water Plan. State officials have agreed to hold off on considering a long-term license for millions of gallons of Maui water after Maui Mayor Richard Bissen stepped in and asked the state to work with the county on how water should be distributed. Civil Beat.

Property Theft Concerns Rise As Lahaina Neighborhoods Reopen. Police offer to help residents set up a neighborhood watch program, but they haven't rebuilt yet. Civil Beat.

Maui United Way dedicates additional $1M to address food insecurity through new Mā’ona Food Security Grant. Maui United Way announced the launch of its Mā’ona Food Security Grant, a new initiative aimed at addressing the growing food insecurity challenges faced by residents of Maui County.  Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauaʻi homeowners can apply for up to $20K to convert cesspools. The deadline for Kauaʻi residents to apply for up to $20,000 for a cesspool grant is this Friday. It's federal money from the infrastructure bill to help homeowners comply with laws to mandate conversion.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Anahola nonprofit leads fire mitigation efforts on Hawaiian Homelands. Dozens of high school students and volunteers removed over 30 abandoned cars from a parcel of Hawaiian homelands in Anahola Thursday as part of a community effort to reduce the risk of wildfires in the area. Kauai Now.

Hawaii Supreme Court rules against short-term vacation rentals on ag land, court to decide fate of $4B wildfire settlement, Honolulu advances empty homes tax, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Vacation rentals not OK in Hawaii’s agricultural land district. Poorly regulated use of homes on farmland around the state has been somewhat reined in by a unanimous Hawaii Supreme Court decision Tuesday. The court ruled against 17 owners of ag land on Hawaii island who objected to a 2019 Hawaii County ordinance that aimed to regulate short-term vacation rental use of dwellings built after the creation of the state’s land-use law in 1976.  Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald.  Big Island Now.

Hawaii Supreme Court To Decide Fate Of $4 Billion Wildfire Settlement. A decision about whether insurers can pursue their own lawsuits could come by year's end. The state of Hawaii, Maui County, Hawaiian Electric Co., Hawaiian Telcom, Kamehameha Schools and other defendants have agreed to pay $4.04 billion to settle the claims of hundreds of individual fire victims. Civil Beat. KHON2.  KITV4.

Hawaiian Electric Industries has added to its take from selling newly issued shares of stock. The company said today that an option for stock sale underwriters to buy up to $75 million in new shares has been fully exercised. Star-Advertiser.

Transportation experts say more steps are ahead to curb rising pedestrian deaths. So far this year, there have been 71 traffic fatalities in Hawaii, according to the state Department of Transportation. Out of those, 26 were pedestrians. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Honolulu Empty Homes Tax Proposal Advances. A plan to increases taxes on homes that sit empty on Oahu moved forward Wednesday when a Honolulu City Council committee agreed to send it on to the council budget committee. Bill 46 passed out of the Housing, Sustainability and Health Committee on a 3-2 vote. Civil Beat.

Honolulu City Council advances lawsuit for 2021 police-involved shooting. The Honolulu City Council's Executive Matters & Legal Affairs Committee voted Wednesday to advance the request to settle the lawsuit against the city filed by the widow of Lindani Myeni. KITV4.

Ewa community developer Haseko facing $27M judgement again after appeal. About 1,800 homeowners at Ocean Pointe and Hoakalei Resort are entitled to $27 million in damages under a 2013 class-action lawsuit against the developer of the Ewa community, according to an appellate court. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu’s west side violence a ‘public health crisis’.  Waianae health care officials are launching a “comprehensive public health response” focused on addressing the deteriorating mental health of a community plagued by the high cost of living and deadly gun violence. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. KHON2.

Pupukea home that erodes into ocean spurs legal action. The state Department of the Attorney General took legal action Wednesday against a North Shore property owner after part of a beachfront home collapsed onto state land and into the ocean. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Expansion completed at Women’s Community Correctional Center. A multi-million dollar expansion project at the Women’s Community Correctional Center, Hawaii’s only women’s prison, has officially been completed. KHON2.

DLNR to deploy drones to eradicate coqui frogs at Kuliouou. A new colony of invasive coqui frogs has been discovered in Kuliouou in East Honolulu — just about 200 meters below the summit of the Kuliouou Ridge Trail, according to Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.

UH Starts Raising Marine Animals In Manoa To Grow Hawaii’s Aquaculture Industry. A new facility researches how to make sea creatures more resilient in Native Hawaiian fishponds. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

New affordable housing project slated for Waikoloa Village. Na Hale Makoa will feature 139 one-, two- and three-bedroom units serving households earning up to 140% of area median income, as well as one resident manager’s unit. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

5,000 Tires Tossed On Hawaiʻi Island. Hawaiʻi County officials say the recent "Toss Your Tires" recycling event held on September 21 was a success. Big Island Video News.

One of its greatest strengths: UH-Hilo continues to be one of most diverse universities in nation. The Hilo campus earned a diversity index score of 0.76, ranking as one of the most diverse universities in the country and coming in just behind prestigious institutions such as Stanford and Johns Hopkins. Big Island Now.

UH Hilo lab develops AI to analyze forest bird soundscapes. Biology Professor Patrick Hart and his team have been recording forest soundscapes for months at a time and uploading the files to a computer. He said they've developed ways to teach a computer, using AI, how to detect every bird's song. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui

Maui Fire Department receives ATF report; public release set for next week. The County of Maui Department of Fire and Public Safety received the Lahaina Fire Summary of Findings and Conclusions report from the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. Maui Now. KHON2.

Wildfire debris removed from all Lahaina homes and 64% of commercial properties. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in partnership with other organizations, have completed debris removal for all homes and for 64% of commercial properties affected by the Lahaina wildfires. KITV4.

Council resolution urges prioritized recycled wastewater use for new housing. A lack of fresh water resources has long held back housing development on Maui. And now that there’s a post-disaster housing shortage, the Maui County Council will consider Friday a resolution calling for increased production and expansion of recycled wastewater use to make more potable water available for human consumption. Maui Now.

County’s West Maui Business Center providing assistance to local businesses. The County of Maui Office of Economic Development in collaboration with local partners and nonprofits, has launched the West Maui Business Center and online business portal www.WestMauiBusinessCenter.org to aid local businesses directly and indirectly impacted by the August 2023 wildfires. Maui News.

Coral damaged by grounded yacht ready to return to Honolua Bay after recovering in nursery. In a saltwater aquarium at the Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute’s facilities, a cluster of tiny corals are building up their strength for a big journey back home.  Maui Now.

Brush fire near Molokai Airport 100% contained after burning 80 acres. A brush fire that sparked near Molokai Airport on Tuesday is now 100% contained, according to the latest update from the Maui Fire Department. KITV4.

Kauai

Home sales surge in August on Kauai. Single-family home sales soared 115.79 percent to 41 in August from 19 in August 2023, according to monthly data pooled from multiple sources by Hawai‘i Realtors in Honolulu.  Garden Island.

Queen’s Bath on Kaua‘i closed for winter due to hazardous ocean conditions. The access gate to Queen’s Bath in Princeville is closed through winter, effective immediately. Kauai Now.

State legislator among 10 arrested in Kapiolani nurses strike, state economy still feeling pandemic shock, Kilauea eruption ends, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu police arrest 10 demonstrators outside Kapi‘olani hospital. Those arrested outside the hospital included recently elected state Rep. Kim Coco Iwamoto, Democrat candidate for state House Ikaika Hussey, and John Witeck and Sergio Alcubilla of the Hawaii Workers Center. Star-Advertiser. Associated Press. KHON2.  KITV4.  Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiʻi has yet to recover to pre-pandemic job numbers, report says. As of July, the number of payroll jobs in the state was still about 3.5% short of where it was before the pandemic. Louisiana, Maryland and Washington, D.C., are the only other areas in the nation that have yet to recover to their pre-COVID job numbers, according to the latest forecast report from the University of Hawaiʻi's Economic Research Organization. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiian Electric slumps after disclosing $500M stock offer. Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. disclosed Monday plans to sell up to $500 million worth of its common stock to help fund its part of the Maui wildfire settlement, sending its shares down over 9% in extended trading. Reuters.

Suspect accused in Trump shooting attempt wrote letter detailing plans. The Hawaii man accused in the assassination attempt of Donald Trump at a golf course in Florida left behind a note detailing his plans to kill the former president and kept in his car a handwritten list of dates and venues where Trump was to appear, the Justice Department said Monday. (video only). Hawaii News Now.

Architecture branch manager selected as new State Historic Preservation Administrator. Jessica Puff has been chosen to lead the DLNR State Historical Preservation Division succeeding Dr. Alan Downer who retired earlier this year. Maui News.

Two Native Hawaiians appointed to the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. President Biden has announced his intent to appoint two Native Hawaiians to the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Kamana‘opono M. Crabbe and Krystal Ka‘ai were selected as commissioners of the advisory commission. Maui Now.

 Rule change will increase food aid for Hawaii families. Internal rule change at the state Department of Human Serv­ices will mean 13,000 to 14,000 Hawaii households will be eligible for another $40 million to $45 million — or an average of $3,200 a year — in SNAP benefits, commonly known as food stamps. Star-Advertiser.  Civil Beat.

Local military lab reaches milestone in identifying unknown Korean War soldiers. Thanks to emerging technology and the staff at the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, many families now have closure. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

City Council to review $5M toward potential hazard pay. A city-initiated resolution that urges the Honolulu City Council to reprogram about $5 million in federal COVID- 19 pandemic funds for “revenue replacement” is under review this week. Star-Advertiser.

Downtown Honolulu offices become rental housing with city help. The project used a city affordable-housing subsidy program to help convert a seven-­story office building at 1060 Bishop St. into 52 apartments ranging from studios to two-bedroom units reserved for households earning no more than 80% of Honolulu’s median income. Star-Advertiser.

After years of debate, official says city is 'very close' to naming new landfill site. Honolulu Department of Environmental Services Director Roger Babcock said the city is considering multiple sites. It includes ones that have been excluded in the past and other locations that would require changes to state law. Hawaii Public Radio.

Concrete reefs to be deployed off Oʻahu in a $27 million coastal protection project to slow wave energy, promote coral growth. The first prototype of a concrete reef structure will be placed in the ocean off Windward Oʻahu later this year or early next. Hawaii Public Radio.

$20 million verdict in Ewa marina case is restored on appeal.  huge jury verdict has been restored over scuttled plans for a marina in Ewa Beach. An appeals court says the developer must pay well over $20 million to homeowners who said they were deceived. Hawaii News Now.


Hawaii Island

Kilauea’s latest eruption declared over; alert levels lowered. HVO lowered its volcano alert level for ground-based hazards from “watch” to “advisory,” and the aviation color code from orange to yellow. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Now. Hawaii News Now.

Former Peace Corps volunteers return to E. Hawaii after 60 years. The cohort of about 100 completed its training here before deploying to Malaysia, some as teachers, others as nurses — and all with a mindset to make the world a better place, one community at a time. Tribune-Herald.

Coconut rhinoceros beetle found on Big Island. The State Department of Agriculture reports a single coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB) was found in a trap this week during routine monitoring in Waikoloa on the Big Island.  Big Island Now.

State awards $70K specialty crop grant to nonprofit Malama Sanctuary. The replanting of awa — a canoe plant named Piper methysticum and known elsewhere as kava — would make the beverage more accessible to residents and, at the same time, give growers in the isles a culturally relevant crop to cultivate. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Diane Yogi named Deputy Director of County Department of Transportation. Diane Yogi, who has worked for the County of Maui Department of Transportation since its creation in 2003, has been appointed the departmentʻs deputy director. Her start date was Sept. 3. Maui News. Maui Now.

Alleged threat made toward Maui high school prompts increased police presence. Baldwin High students and staff will notice a larger police presence on and around campus on Monday after an alleged threat was made against the school. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Fire mitigation work scheduled for portion of Ninini Point starting Sept. 23. The county’s Public Information Office said the necessary work will allow various crews to cut and maintain vegetation and remove debris, including abandoned vehicles, that are on the property. Kauai Now.