Shipping rates to rise again, military economic impact may be overstated, manhunt in Puna after 3 homicides, tourist banned from beaches after alleged rock-throwing at endangered monk seal, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Interisland Shipping Rates Set To Rise July 1 After Governor Signs Bill. Young Brothers quickly announced a 3% rate hike soon after the bill was signed. State wharfage fees will rise at the same time, potentially driving up prices even more. Civil Beat.

U.S. military’s economic impact in Hawaii overstated, report contends.  The 199-page report from a consortium of groups and activists says the military contributes $7.2 billion to Hawaii’s economy and 6.4% to its GDP annually, about 30% lower than most recently touted by the state and Pentagon. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi solar energy projects at risk after tax credit is signed into law. The governor signed a bill into law on May 21 that will not only phase out solar credits but also affect projects already in the pipeline. Hawaii Public Radio.

Push for renewed look at legislative corruption petition. Former federal attorney Alexander Silvert sent a three-page letter to state House Speaker Nadine Nakamura and Vice Speaker Linda Ichiyama on Wednesday, asking them to bring back the petition he started last year that collected more than 900 signatures. Hawaii News Now.

Teens Suing Kamehameha Didn’t Have Scores To Get In, Lawyer Says. Attorneys for the plaintiffs say race preference permeates the process. Civil Beat.

Oahu

State blesses homeless kauhale village in Waimanalo. Hawaii’s 26th homeless kauhale — 20 tiny homes on the makai side of the former Weinberg Village in Waimanalo — was blessed Wednesday in a community that had seen a nearby homeless encampment at Waimanalo Beach Park grow to more than 40 people lining Kalanianaole Highway last year, which has since been cleared. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Access To Oʻahu Outdoor Recreation Spot Still Restricted After Storm Damage. High above Kaʻena Point, access to the campgrounds and accompanying trails at Peacock Flats has been restricted for more than a month due to damage from this spring’s Kona low storms. Civil Beat. 

Hawaii Island

Manhunt ongoing for Puna man suspected of three homicides. A manhunt continues for 36-year-old Jacob Daniel Baker of Pahoa, who is a suspect in three homicides that occurred over the course of two days in Kapoho and Kalapana earlier this week. Tribune-Herald. Civil Beat. Big Island Video News.  Big Island Now.  Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

Water Conservation Notice Issued After Quake Damages South Kona Tank. The Hawaiʻi County Department of Water Supply says customers in the affected areas must reduce water usage by at least 10%, in order to maintain adequate water storage while DWS performs emergency repairs to the damaged tank. Big Island Video News.

High schoolers granted precious ‘telescope time. Eight Kealakehe High School students were the recipients of Maunakea Scholars awards last Friday, earning them the coveted opportunity to carry out research using the telescope array atop Hawaii Island’s tallest mountain. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

New hotel zoning clears Council committee, 6-1, despite planning commissions’ opposition. The Maui County Council’s Housing and Land Use Committee voted 6-1 Tuesday to advance new hotel zoning districts for thousands of short-term vacation rentals facing a county-mandated phase-out — overriding unanimous rejection from all three county planning commissions. Maui Now.

Man accused of throwing rock at seal is banned from Hawaii beaches. Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk  was released on a $25,000 unsecured bond ahead of his next court appearance. Star-Advertiser. Associated Press. Hawaii Public Radio. KITV4.  Hawaii News Now.

Keoni Kuoha announces campaign for Hawaiʻi State House, District 12. Surrounded by supporters on May 18, 2026, Keoni Kuoha formally announced his candidacy for the Hawaiʻi State House of Representatives, District 12, representing the Maui communities of Makawao, Hāliʻimaile, Pukalani, Kula, Pūlehu, ʻUlupalakua, Kanaio and Kahikinui. Maui Now.

Kauai

Veterans Affairs Pacific Islands Health Care System to host community call, town hall on Kaua‘i. Garden Isle veterans can learn about available services, get health screenings and vaccines, receive assistance with Veterans Affairs healthcare enrollment, renew or replace Veterans Affairs identification cards and more. Kauai Now.

Vance says Hawaii lax on Medicaid fraud enforcement, neighbor island homeless count dips, Washington man arrested for throwing rock at monk seal, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Neighbor Island Homeless Count Dips, But There Are Ominous Signs. The number of people experiencing homelessness on the neighbor islands decreased slightly between 2024 and 2026, according to data released Wednesday. Over the course of six days in January, volunteers and nonprofit workers in Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi and Maui counties identified 1,863 people sleeping in shelters and transitional housing, camping in cars and tents, and living in other unsheltered conditions — a 2% dip from the last count. Civil Beat.

Vance singles out Hawaii as weak on Medicaid fraud policing. Federal officials declared a nationwide Medicaid fraud crackdown Wednesday, citing Hawaii as a state having little concern for prosecuting program theft. Vice President JD Vance cited Hawaii, where about 387,000 residents are enrolled in Medicaid under its branded Med-QUEST program, as one state operating a largely federally funded Medicaid Fraud Control Unit that isn’t effective at protecting the health insurance program funded mostly through federal taxes. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

Agribusiness Development Corp. can use eminent domain for ag under new bill. The state Agribusiness Development Corporation could be given the power of eminent domain to acquire land for agricultural purposes, under Senate Bill 2159 awaiting the governor's signature. Hawaii Public Radio.

Luxury Home Tax Pitch To Fund Hawaiian Homes Flopped. Now What? The state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands came away with some funds but will need to look for other revenue sources. Civil Beat.

Native Hawaiian education programs receive reprieve from federal funding cut. Federal funding for Native Hawaiian education programs will continue for at least another year after U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon vowed not to cut the Native Hawaiian Education Program, offering a temporary reprieve to organizations across Hawaii that had warned of widespread service reductions and closures. Star-Advertiser.

Will Hawaiʻi Forfeit $5 Million For Teacher Apprenticeships? State leaders say the program will improve teacher retention and recruitment by providing more mentorship and financial support to prospective educators. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu City Council passes bill on excessive barking and nuisance pets. The Honolulu City Council has passed a bill increasing fines for nuisance animal violations, including excessive barking. First-time fines could jump to $250, with repeat offenses reaching up to $1,000. The measure now heads to the mayor for final approval. KITV4.

Honolulu Police Chief Finalists Share Their Visions For The Department. The three finalists talked about technology, ICE collaboration and transparency.All three finalists vying to be Honolulu’s next police chief say expanding the police department’s use of technology and improving transparency and trust by the community would be top priorities. Civil Beat.

Finalist sees staffing as critical to effective policing. Scott Ebner, one of three finalists seeking to serve as Honolulu’s next police chief, also was in the running for the job in 2022 and believes addressing the department’s staffing shortfall is critical to all aspects of policing on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

City bridge work has residents decrying ‘Carmageddon Kailua’.  The City and County of Honolulu on March 30 began a project to rehabilitate North Kalaheo Bridge on Kalaheo Road  and Monday closed the Kailua-bound lane of the bridge to start the next phase of the project. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Homeless count dips slightly on Big Island. Since 2022, the Hawaii County Council has earmarked more than $33 million in Homelessness and Housing Fund grants through the Office of Housing and Community Development to a variety of projects combating the problem. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.  Big Island Now.

Federal budget cut ends Hawaii National Guard job program for youths. The Academy will shut down due to federal budget cuts after the current class graduates on June 22, 2026. Big Island Video News. Hawaii News Now. Big Island Now. 

Hawai‘i Island’s Next General Plan Splits County Council. The council wants to approve the county’s next long-term guiding document before the November election brings new members on board. Civil Beat.

Maui

Maui unsheltered homeless jumps 40% as overall numbers remain flat, new count shows. Unsheltered homelessness on Maui climbed 40% while overall numbers remained essentially flat, according to results from the 2026 Homeless Point in Time Count released Wednesday. Maui Now.

Maui Council to weigh $1.6 billion budget at Friday meeting. The Maui County Council will take up a $1.6 billion budget Friday morning, following a committee recommendation to trim Mayor Richard Bissen’s proposal by reducing capital improvement projects while still increasing funding for day-to-day operations. Maui Now. Maui News.

Bobby Pahia files for Maui County Council with four generations of family by his side​. Family business owner and agriculture leader Bobby Pahia officially filed his nomination papers for the Maui County Council on Monday, marking the occasion with a show of family unity spanning four generations. Maui Now.

Federal agents arrest visitor accused of throwing rock at Hawaiian monk seal. A 38-year old Washington man is facing federal criminal charges for allegedly stalking an endangered Hawaiian monk seal known as Lani and hurling a large rock at its head in the nearshore waters off Lahaina on May 5. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.  Maui News.  KHON2.  Hawaii News Now. 

Kauai

Homelessness report released. Kauai's report showed total homelessness, sheltered and unsheltered, decreased by 1 percent, from 523 in 2024 to 516 in 2026. Unsheltered homelessness decreased by 5 percent, from 464 in 2024 to 440 in 2026, and sheltered homelessness increased by 28 percent, from 59 in 2024 to 76 in 2026. Garden Island.

New Kauaʻi ordinance makes more land owners eligible for agriculture tax dedication. The ordinance is intended to support the long-term sustainability of agriculture on Kaua‘i by addressing challenges faced by agricultural property owners and operators when multiple uses occur on dedicated agricultural parcels, according to a county news release. Kauai Now.

Free breakfast and lunch available this summer at 3 Kauaʻi public schools. As part of a statewide effort to ensure students have continued access to nutritious food while school is out, three public schools on Kauaʻi will provide free summer meals for children beginning June 9 , the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education announced. Kauai Now.