Monsanto settles $45M Hawaii lawsuit, Hawaii Supreme Court upholds Maui wildfire attorney fee caps, Pat Saiki remembered, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

 

Monsanto Co. settles lawsuit with Hawaiʻi over claims it contaminated state’s waterways, natural resources. Hawaiʻi has secured up to a $45 million settlement with Monsanto for polychlorinated biphenyl contamination of Hawaiʻi's waterways and natural resources. Big Island Now. Hawaii News Now. 

Will Courts Block Climate Suits By Hawaiʻi, Other States? New York’s “climate superfund” law has lost twice in court. A U.S. Supreme Court case could soon determine the fate of other efforts to make Big Oil pay. Grist.

HMSA’s Medicare Changes Could Increase Costs For Thousands. HMSA sent a letter to 16,000 kūpuna saying they will no longer have access to their current insurance plan. Civil Beat.

Former Hawaii congresswoman Pat Saiki remembered as political trailblazer. One of Hawaii’s most accomplished Republican political leaders, Pat Saiki, whose service in Congress and the state Legislature spanned four decades, died Wednesday in Honolulu. She was 96, and died peacefully from natural causes at home, according to family members. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio.

State set to appeal $500,000 award to ex-HTA exec Choy. The state plans to appeal a jury verdict awarding former Hawai‘i Tourism Authority executive Isaac Choy more than $500,000 after jurors found he was retaliated against for whistleblowing and wrongfully terminated. Star-Advertiser.

A quick island trip will soon require more planning. Starting Saturday, Oct. 3, neighbor island travelers must check in and drop checked bags at least 50 minutes before takeoff, up from 30 minutes now. KHON2.

ʻUlu demand in Hawaiʻi is outpacing the supply — and there's a lot more room to grow. There's an increasing demand in Hawaiʻi for ʻulu, also known as breadfruit — resulting from years of public awareness campaigns and buy-in from many in the state. The Hawaiʻi ʻUlu Cooperative, which is made up of over 200 local farmers, said its annual production of the crop has grown to a peak of 230,000 pounds since it was formed in 2016 and grew closer to 20,000 pounds. Civil Beat.

Oahu

HPD May Have Shared Your License Plate Data With The IRS. The Honolulu police chief says the department will no longer share data with other agencies, but five months of data remain in the hands of the IRS. Civil Beat.

Got food waste? Get it in the green bin for Oʻahu's G.R.O.W. program. Beginning Oct. 1, the City and County of Honolulu will ask all Oʻahu residents using gray, blue and green bins to put all their food scraps — be it banana peels, chicken bones or plate lunches past their prime — in the green bin. Hawaii Public Radio.

Makiki building will house homeless teens, young adults. Renovations continue on a seven-unit, two-story apartment building in Makiki near Walmart and Sam’s Club that will house and train homeless teenagers and young adults who have aged out of Hawaii’s foster care system and have no place to live. Star-Advertiser.

Ex-Moanalua coach facing child porn charge accused of exploiting girl. A former Moanalua High School girls wrestling coach facing federal criminal charges for sexually exploiting an underage girl was reported to the Honolulu Police Department in 2012 after he allegedly kissed a 13-year-old Roosevelt High School student. Star-Advertiser.

Pālolo Valley sees rapid spread of invasive coqui frogs. State officials have been working to curb an infestation of coqui frogs in Pālolo Valley for almost a decade. In some cases, that means catching and removing the invasive frogs by hand. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Data centers debate continues at county level. A bill aimed at prohibiting artificial intelligence data centers in Hawaii County through the creation of a new definition in the county code is undergoing review by the county’s two planning commissions before it is voted on by the County Council. Tribune-Herald.

Bowling alley, entertainment complex eyed for Hilo. The Windward Planning Commission on Thursday voted 6-0 to forward a favorable recommendation to the County Council for amendments to an ordinance regarding a commercial property that would allow KBXtreme to build a bowling alley and entertainment complex in Hilo similar to its Kailua-Kona facility. Tribune-Herald.

Commentary: In A Sea Of Mainland Grocers, A Taste Of Old Hawaiʻi. As national chains increasingly dominate Hawaiʻi’s grocery options, Big Island residents remain devoted to KTA, with its emphasis on locally grown food.  Civil Beat.

The Hōlei Sea Arch has collapsed. One of Hawaiʻi Island’s geological marvels is no more — the 90-foot Hōlei Sea Arch in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park has collapsed. Hawaii Public Radio. Big Island Now. 

Mokulele Airlines celebrates return of daily flights from Kona to Kahului. Mokulele Airlines has officially restored its direct air service between Hawaii Island and Maui. The first flight from Kona to Kahului since August 2023 took off Thursday at around 8 a.m. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Hawaii Supreme Court upholds Maui wildfire attorney fee caps. The Hawaii Supreme Court has rejected an appeal that was holding up initial payments to Maui wildfire disaster victims. Justices unamiously ruled Wednesday against three attorneys and one fire victim who appealed a state Circuit Court judge’s decision limiting fees of all attorneys representing 21,750 victims with claims in a $4 billion litigation settlement over damage from the Aug. 8, 2023, calamity, which killed 102 people and destroyed most of Lahaina. Star-Advertiser.

Maui Council refers 32 shoreline condo complexes’ hotel-rezoning to Maui Planning Commission. The Maui County Council voted 5-4 on Tuesday to ask the Maui Planning Commission to consider rezoning 32 vacation rental condominium complexes in Māʻalaea, Kīhei and West Maui from apartment to hotel use. The vote came a week after the commission recommended against most of an earlier batch of properties. Maui Now.

South Maui Growth Plan: More Delays Expected. The county is years overdue in updating its vision for the resource-stretched area. Civil Beat.

After wildfire burned Lahaina's library, community will get a temporary library soon. A 20-by-20-foot portable unit has been moved to Lahaina and will transform into a temporary library. The former Lahaina Public Library building was destroyed in the 2023 wildfire.  Hawaii Public Radio.

HECO Blackout: Half Of Molokaʻi May Lose A Summer’s Fish And Game. The utility plans to cut power for eight hours a day over much of the next week to upgrade its grid. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio. 

The water system at Kalaupapa has been fixed, according to state health officials. But now, there’s a power outage. Thus, two Hansen’s disease patients and approximately 50 staff are still waiting to return to their homes at the settlement on Molokai. Star-Advertiser.

Maui News selects two journalists for fellowship. Two journalists living on Maui -- Yiming Fu and Allyson Whaley -- will give The Maui News a nice boost in its elections reporting this fall. The announcement comes after a three-person panel selected Whaley and Fu for the inaugural Maui Nui Media and Creativity Collaborative Investigative Elections Reporting Fellowship. The fellowship will fund seven weeks of original, investigative, print-first reporting focused on the candidates, issues and decisions shaping Maui County’s future in the mayoral and Maui County Council races. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauaʻi bill could help keep kūpuna home on their land. Some Hawaiian families could get a lower property tax rate, thanks to a new bill introduced in the Kauaʻi County Council. Measure 3008 would create a new property tax program called an ʻĀina Kūpuna dedication that would let Hawaiʻi families who can trace their land back to being continuously owned before statehood in 1959 pay a fixed property tax for 10 years. Hawaii Public Radio.

‘Devastated’ Kauaʻi Harbor May Take 5 Years To Fix, State Says. It could take up to five years — and roughly $19 million — to fully repair Port Allen Harbor on Kaua‘i’s Westside, which was home to dozens of boats used for commercial fishing and tours before Hurricane Lowell ripped through its breakwater. Civil Beat.

Hurricane Lowell shapes Kauaʻi Council races as candidates talk disaster response. All 14 candidates competing for Kauaʻi County Council seats gathered on the North Shore to discuss urgent issues regarding the island's emergency response after Hurricane Lowell. Kauai Now.

Amendment to clarify Planning Commission appeals process. Kaua‘i voters will decide in the Nov. 3 General Election on a proposed Charter amendment to clarify and expedite the Planning Commission’s appeals process. Garden Island.

Isaac Choy awarded $500K in whistleblower lawsuit, chronic absences plague schools, Maui vacation rental zoning battle drags on, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Jury awards former HTA executive Isaac Choy $500K. A First Circuit Court jury on Tuesday found that former Hawai‘i Tourism Authority executive Isaac Choy was subjected to whistleblower retaliation and wrongfully placed on unpaid leave and later terminated from his job, awarding him more than $500,000 in damages, including punitive damages against Gov. Josh Green’s Chief of Staff Brooke Wilson. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiian Electric customers weigh in on rate hike request. The state Public Utilities Commission is gathering public input on an application by Hawaiian Electric to raise base rates over the next two years, and comments including opposition from ratepayers are piling up. Hawaiian Electric made an initial request to the PUC in March followed by a detailed application in July to boost annual revenue by $170 million, or 5.3%, over most of the next five years largely to cover high inflation, more expensive insurance premiums and accelerated value depreciation for fossil fuel power generation units anticipated for retirement sooner than previously planned. Star-Advertiser.

HECO Knows What’s Behind Outages. It Just Won’t Tell You. The state’s consumer advocate wants the utility to provide more information about storm outages. Civil Beat.

Half Of Keiki Are Chronically Absent At Some Schools. See How Yours Compares. At some Hawaiʻi public schools, more than 50% of students regularly skip school, state data shows. Civil Beat.

Oahu

HPD chief details plans to address staffing, modernization. Honolulu Police Chief David Lazar says he wants to boost officer pay and recruitment, expand the use of technology and develop a new strategic plan for the Honolulu Police Department’s future. Star-Advertiser.

Happier Days Coming For Neighbors Of Collapsed ‘So Stink’ Dim Sum Restaurant. Health officials address spoiled food issues at closed Happy Days. The state Health Department says spoiled food has been removed from the kitchen area of the shuttered Happy Days Chinese Seafood Restaurant in Kaimuki following an Aug. 18 partial roof collapse. Professional cleaning at the restaurant’s kitchen began Tuesday. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. KHON2. KITV4.

Police arrest woman, 24, in fatal shooting of man in Kailua. The Honolulu Police Department said detectives from the Homicide and Strategic Enforcement Detail, with help from the CID Forensic Video Unit, identified a 24-year-old female suspect, Hilinaikailimakualopali I. Keeno, in the fatal shooting of Thomas Craig Piiliouka Malone, 30. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Aloha State Daily.

Oahu public schools begin serving locally grown pineapples in cafeterias. More than 2,000 pounds of Hawaii-grown pineapple is heading into public school cafeterias across Oahu, giving students a fresh taste of island produce at breakfast and lunch. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

County seeks dismissal of ‘Sammy’ lawsuit alleging officer was negligent in death of teen. A Hawaii County attorney argued Tuesday in court that a Hawaii Police Department officer who hit and killed a pedestrian with a police car almost three years ago is immune from liability, but an attorney for the family of Samuel “Sammy” Mwarey, a 16-year-old boy, argued the officer was negligent and liable. Tribune-Herald.

Thirty Meter Telescope Doubles Down On Mauna Kea, Declines Spain’s $1B Proposal. TMT’s preferred site for the telescope is still on Mauna Kea on the Big Island, after its board could not agree on Spain’s effort to build it in La Palma. Civil Beat.

Council District 5 Candidates Want to Build A More Resilient Puna. What is taken for granted in other communities is needed in Puna: paved roads, public gathering spaces and alternative evacuation routes. Civil Beat.

Maui

Hotel or housing? Battle drags on over which Maui properties should have short-term rentals banned. Properties hope to switch to hotel zoning to avoid a ban on short-term rentals in apartment districts. The Maui County Council is proposing that 3,402 of these units across 48 properties, including timeshares, leasehold properties and apartment complexes that function like hotels, be rezoned as hotel districts. But on Tuesday, the Maui Planning Commission largely disagreed, recommending denial for most of the units and approval for a handful of properties that are entirely timeshares or have variances in place that allow vacation rental use.  Maui Now.

Prosecutors: Revenge motive in fatal shooting of Maui officer. Video footage shows Maui police officers arriving at Clembert Kaneholani’s home in Makawao on the night of Aug. 13, 2025, two days before Officer Suzanne O was fatally shot, to serve him with a temporary restraining order. Hawaii News Now.

A federal judge has eased travel restrictions for a Washington man accused of throwing a rock at a Hawaiian monk seal in Lahaina. Igor Lytvynchuk made headlines in May after he was caught on camera during the incident. Hawaii News Now.

Maui County Fair announces admission and ticket presales, details on E.K. Fernandez rides, safety reminders. The 99th Maui County Fair is just a few days away, and fairgoers can get ready for four days of food, entertainment, exhibits, community activities and carnival rides at the War Memorial Special Events Complex in Wailuku from Thursday, Oct. 1, through Sunday, Oct. 4. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauai community is still waiting for federal disaster relief funding. As Kauai moves into long-term recovery from Hurricane Lowell, community organizers are asking for more outside help as the island continues to wait and see whether President Donald Trump will release federal funding for disaster relief. Star-Advertiser.

Shortage of HI-5 redemption centers swelling state coffers, Cat 4 Hurricane Nolo remains well south of state, Papaikou resident fights proposed cell tower, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

HI-5 fund swells to $105 million as bottle redemptions decline. The state Department of Health now has over $100 million in a fund from an inefficient and inconvenient program created to boost beverage container recycling with refundable deposits paid by consumers. There is now $105 million in the Hawaii Deposit Beverage Container program fund held by the agency, up from $74 million near the end of last year as redemption rates fall in part due to not enough redemption centers and centers that aren’t very convenient for consumers to use. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald.

New rates for state Health Department’s deposit beverage container program take effect Oct. 1. The change is based on a segregated rate study conducted by Cascadia Consulting Group, which counted and weighed by hand a random sample of more than 145,000 HI-5 containers at centers across the state.  Big Island Now.

'Slow-moving trainwreck': Economist discusses Hawaiʻi's struggles with airfare and AI. Economist Paul Brewbaker is a principal of TZ Economics, a Hawaiʻi economics consulting group, and participated in a recent Hawaii Tourism Authority conference as a panelist. HPR spoke with Brewbaker to hear his thoughts as interest rates, tariffs and the cost of living all creep up. Hawaii Public Radio.

At Issue In Tokuda Vs. Awa: Who’s Better for Native Hawaiians? The rivals in this seat for Congress are both focused on Native Hawaiian homesteads, but have differences on that and several other issues. Civil Beat.

Deliberations continue in trial over former HTA exec Isaac Choy’s firing. A First Circuit Court jury is expected to return today for a second day of deliberations after hearing conflicting accounts of why former Hawai‘i Tourism Authority executive Isaac Choy lost his job with Choy’s attorney arguing he was retaliated against for whistleblowing and the state contending he was fired for workplace misconduct substantiated by an independent investigation. Star-Advertiser.

Invasive deer and other non-native animals are eating away Hawaiʻi’s ranchlands. Axis deer are responsible for the greatest losses of grass and hay on ranches across Hawaiʻi Island and Maui, according to the first study to measure grazing on the state’s rangelands. Maui Now.

Hurricane Nolo close to category 5 intensity, on track away from main Hawaiian islands. Hurricane Nolo is continuing to strengthen and is forecast to become a category 5 system Monday as it moves to the west-northwest. The National Hurricane Center said at 2 a.m. Monday, Nolo was 405 miles southwest of Honolulu, or 565 miles south-southeast of French Frigate Shoals, and was moving to the west-northwest at 12 miles per hour. Hawaii News Now.

Nolo spares Big Island, but outages hit Oahu and Maui. Hurricane Nolo continued to pass farther south of the Hawaiian Islands, bringing heavy rain and strong winds to parts of the state, flooding roads on Hawaii island and prompting five high-water rescues as emergency crews worked through Sunday to respond to storm impacts. Star-Advertiser.

$830,000 in debt forgiveness available for Hawai‘i residents after settlement. Multi-state settlement with Credit Acceptance Corp. offers Hawai‘i borrowers a piece of a $694 million pie. Aloha State Daily.

Oahu

Supreme Court Ruling On Disputed Election May Conflict With State Law. The high court struck down a state-ordered election in House District 43 resulting from a lauhala basket tiebreaker. The remedy is now being called into question. Civil Beat.

Candidates vying for West Oahu Senate seat have sharply different views. It’s a race between former Republican House Rep. Bob McDermott, and first-time Democratic candidate Markus Owens, a former University of Hawaii and San Francisco Giants minor league baseball player and UH baseball radio and television color analyst. Star-Advertiser.

HART reviews tentative $652M budget next year. The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation is proposing a preliminary $651.8 million budget for fiscal year 2028, which begins July 1, rail officials say. HART’s next budget would be about $417 million lower than the $1.07 billion spending plan adopted for the current fiscal year.  Star-Advertiser.

Another high rise could be coming to Oʻahu's skyline. A proposed project that would overhaul a part of the Ala Moana Shopping Center to add a 38-story hotel, as well as more than 200 residential units, is moving through the Honolulu City Council. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Latest Challenge For Honolulu Police: Hire More Women. Honolulu police signed a national pledge to increase the percentage of women in their ranks to 30% by 2030. Few departments have neared the mark. Civil Beat.

After Storms Blow, Humans Help Manu-o-Kū Return To The Trees. Honolulu’s official bird gets a little help from its friends. Civil Beat.

County and state officials lean into user fees. Ten years ago, Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden in Kāneʻohe was a quiet, scenic greenspace set against the Koʻolau Mountains where residents could go to relax and enjoy nature. But today, there’s three times as many visitors to the Windward Oʻahu garden — 724,000 last year alone.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Papa‘ikou resident files appeal challenging cell tower. Patrick Ferreira, who lives next to the intended site of a new Verizon Wireless cell tower in Papa‘ikou, has filed an appeal challenging the project and requesting construction be halted. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Areas Reopen Following Hurricane Nolo. Most areas along Kīlauea summit, as well as the Kahuku Unit in Kaʻū, are now open. Big Island Video News.

$81,000 grant will expand access to low-cost dental services for North Hawaiʻi residents. Hāmākua-Kohala Health’s dental clinic in Waimea will be able to serve another 500 North Hawaiʻi residents with an $81,000 grant from the Hawaiʻi Dental Service Foundation. Big Island Now.

Maui

4 public schools in Lahaina to remain closed Monday.  Four Lahaina schools will remain closed Monday in the aftermath of Hurricane Nolo due to ongoing power outages, uncertainty surrounding the nearby Olowalu brush fire and concerns about maintaining reliable water service at the campuses, according to the state Department of Education. Star-Advertiser. Maui News. KITV4.

Thousands of HECO customers without power in West Maui due to strong winds. HECO said power outages for nearly 10,000 customers in West Maui could last until noon Monday. Power can't be restored until helicopters can fly safely to the ridge area above the Pāpalaua Wayside Park to complete transmission line damage assessments. Hawaii Public Radio. Maui News. 

Crews continue to battle Maui wildfire after blaze forces evacuations in Olowalu. Maui firefighters are battling a fast-moving brush fire that prompted an evacuation of Olowalu Village, as Honoapiilani Highway has reopened with limited visibility. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Building Division open, processing permits; storm repair guidance updated for flood zones. The County of Kaua‘i Building Division is open to the public and processing permit applications starting today. Garden Island.

Kauai North Shore residents concerned about sewage. Almost every property in Haena is on a cesspool system, according to the University of Hawaii’s cesspool prioritization tool, and most homeowners can’t afford the $20,000 to $50,000 bill to switch to another wastewater system. Star-Advertiser.

Isaac Choy HTA whistleblower lawsuit goes to court, Mauna Kea likely site for Thirty Meter Telescope after Canary Islands reportedly nixed, Ariyoshi honored at state Capitol, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Misconduct or retaliation? Fired HTA executive’s suit goes to court. A Circuit Court civil trial is examining whether former Hawai‘i Tourism Authority executive Isaac Choy was fired in retaliation for whistleblowing or for workplace misconduct following an independent investigation that substantiated multiple harassment and discrimination complaints against him. Star-Advertiser.

Texts show fired HTA exec, state official remained in close contact. Hundreds of text messages introduced Thursday in a Circuit Court civil trial showed that state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism Director James Kunane Tokioka remained in regular contact with former Hawai‘i Tourism Authority finance vice president Isaac Choy during and after a workplace harassment and discrimination investigation that ultimately resulted in Choy’s firing. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi GOP Aims To Win More Seats And Fire Up Debate. With an extra House seat, Republicans could force the majority party into painful floor votes on hot topics and hard-to-fix problems Democrats might rather avoid. Civil Beat.

Worries persist in Hawaii despite Supreme Court’s mail-in ballot ruling. While voter rights groups celebrated the court’s ruling, they are urging Hawaii voters to return their mail-in ballots as soon as possible ahead of any potential last-minute attempts to further suppress voter turnout on Election Day, pointing to FBI Director Kash Patel’s refusal to rule out sending armed agents to polling places. And fears continue that federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents could appear at voting locations and detain anyone they suspect of being in the country illegally. Star-Advertiser.

Dark Money Looms Over This Hawaiʻi Congressional Race. U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda has been warning that outside money could flood into her race against Republican State Sen. Brenton Awa. He, too, says he’s wary of super PACs. Civil Beat.

Hawaii voters to decide on measure facilitating housing growth. The state Legislature in May passed a bill that proposes amending Hawaii’s Constitution via a ballot question to allow counties to issue bonds for developers to finance infrastructure needed to produce more housing for residents especially around transit hubs. Star-Advertiser.

Storm damage to Hawaii infrastructure and schools costing hundreds of millions. A series of severe weather events this year brought more than $212 million in damage to public infrastructure across the state, according to preliminary figures from the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii bids aloha to former Gov. George Ariyoshi. Ariyoshi, who died April 19 at the age of 100, lay in state in a closed casket in the Capitol rotunda beginning Friday morning, becoming only the eighth person to receive the honor. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. 

Oahu

Oʻahu’s Shade Trees Could Take Decades To Grow Back After Storms. Forest stewards say Honolulu’s tree canopy is a natural infrastructure worth investing in with more extreme weather around the corner. Civil Beat.

Kapaa Quarry Road unsuitable for landfill, Kailua board says. The 2.5-mile road that winds between Kalanianaole Highway and Mokapu Boulevard has for decades been nicknamed the “dump road,” with the long-­standing reputation still standing due to its history. Now, the “dump road” also may lead to Oahu’s next landfill, which has drawn backlash from the community. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Spilled 27M Gallons Of Sewage In A New System Failure. Heavy rains once again overwhelmed Honolulu’s sewage system last month, leading to spills. Civil Beat.

Honolulu City Council urges expanded groundwater testing around Red Hill. Citing concerns over potential contamination of Oahu’s primary drinking-water aquifer, the Honolulu City Council is urging state and federal regulators to require the Navy to expand groundwater testing around the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility. Star-Advertiser.

Price Shock At Waikīkī Co-op Highlights Vulnerability To Housing Fees. When special assessments and maintenance fees skyrocket, residents who volunteer for housing boards rarely have training and often lack access to important documents to figure out if it’s justified. Civil Beat.

‘Doing our best’: Farm damaged by Lowell gives out free poi. On the island’s west side, thankful passersby were treated to free poi from Aloha Āina Poi Company this week.  Despite the setback, the group still wanted to share its poi with the community, giving out several thousand pounds since the hurricane. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

TMT reportedly rejects Spanish bid to build on Canary Islands. A €1 billion proposal to build the Thirty Meter Telescope in La Palma has reportedly fallen through. Mauna Kea is the only possible site for the controversial Thirty Meter Telescope, after an alternate site in the Canary Islands has reportedly been nixed. Aloha State Daily.

Fire Commission to interview six chief candidates. The county Fire Commission will meet Thursday and Friday in the County Council Chambers in Hilo to complete the selection of the next Fire Chief. Tribune-Herald.

County finance committee votes to extend homeless fund.  Established in 2022, the fund allocates a minimum of $9 million from property tax revenue every year to be distributed to non-profits working to address homelessness in the county. Tribune-Herald.

Council committee postpones vote on Waikoloa development. The County Council’s Committee on Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions last week voted 9-0 to postpone until its Oct. 6 meeting a pair of bills seeking approval for a project that would build some 400 apartments and 300 single-family homes on just over 700 acres in Waikoloa. Tribune-Herald.

DoDaro returns to lead Animal Control and Protection Agency. Three years after Regina DoDaro helped set up Hawaii County’s new Animal Control and Protection Agency, she returned last month to serve at the helm of the department as its administrator. Tribune-Herald.

Despite police enforcement efforts, some continue to drive recklessly on Saddle Road. Police conducted a high-visibility enforcement operation in June on the DKI, also known as Saddle Road. Overall, between June 4 and June 21, 2026, officers conducted 1,069 traffic stops along the highway and identified numerous violations, including: 649 speeding violations; 17 reckless driving violations; six unsafe passing violations; and 509 other traffic violations. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Mayor Bissen signs County Food and Nutrition Security Plan into law. Developed through a multiyear community process led by the Maui County Department of Agriculture, the Maui County Food and Nutrition Security Plan provides a comprehensive vision for the County’s food system, addressing how food is grown, harvested, processed, distributed, consumed and recovered. Maui Now.

Nearly 40 firearms, 58 pounds of fireworks surrendered at Maui buyback. The gun buyback was held through an anonymous amnesty program. No identification was required, and participants were not questioned about the firearms. Maui News.

Maui County-run ferry service aims to launch for Lāna‘i next year, Moloka‘i in 2029. A decade after ferry service to Moloka‘i folded in the face of falling ridership, Maui County is moving forward with plans to take over the existing ferry service to Lāna‘i and restore service to Moloka‘i, expanding options for residents who frequently travel between the islands for jobs, doctor’s appointments, Costco trips and sports. Maui Now.

Delta flight diverted to Honolulu due to onboard fumes. En route to Seattle on Sept. 19, Delta Flight 394 diverted to Honolulu after fumes were detected on the Airbus A321neo following departure from Kahului Airport. KHON2.

Kauai

Kauai residents wary after Hurricane Lowell changes river’s flow. The remote Wainiha and Haena community on Kauai’s North Shore is no stranger to flooding, but Hurricane Lowell brought a new challenge when it changed the path of the Wainiha River. Star-Advertiser.

Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative inches to 97% restoration after Lowell.  As of Sunday afternoon, 97% of Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative members islandwide have been restored, with more than 500 additional members restored since the last update.  Kauai Now. KITV4.  Hawaii News Now.

Even Lowell can’t pierce Niihau’s veil of secrecy. The island is owned by the Robinson family, who have been in control of it since their ancestor Elizabeth Sinclair, a Scottish plantation owner, purchased it from King Kamehameha V in 1864. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai small businesses ask tourists to return after Hurricane Lowell, with aloha and some patience. On Thursday, Kauai County Mayor Derek Kawakami said Kauai is now “welcoming visitors back,” while asking them to respect the ongoing recovery. “Come with patience, spend local, and help us recover,” he said. Associated Press.

Green pushes national agenda, hearings start today on Young Brothers' 27% shipping rate increase, Hanabusa quits HART board, Chief Justice Recktenwald forced to retire, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

'There Can Be Peace': Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green Wants To Heal The Country. In a wide-ranging conversation, the governor makes it pretty clear where his head is at when it comes to combining his ongoing efforts for Hawaiʻi with his future national ambitions. Civil Beat.

Retiring chief justice led with kindness, compassion, wisdom. Mark E. Recktenwald, who turns 70 on Oct. 8, will retire Tuesday due to the state’s mandatory retirement age of 70 for justices and judges. Star-Advertiser.

Choy fired while suing Hawai‘i Tourism Authority for retaliation. Isaac Choy, a former state tax director and state legislator, was terminated from his job at the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority effective Sept. 15, according to a motion to file an amended complaint in his whistle-blower lawsuit. Star-Advertiser. KITV4. 

Young Brothers shipping company proposes a rate increase to shore up finances. The state Public Utilities Commission is holding a weeklong hearing starting today on Young Brothers’ request to raise its rates. The shipping company asked the commission to approve a 27% rate increase last year.  Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now. 

State Tries To Seal Foster Care Files To Protect Info It Already Revealed. When Civil Beat sought exhibits in the trial of an abusive Hawaiʻi foster dad, the Attorney General’s Office intervened to prevent “family trauma” from becoming public. It already had. Civil Beat.

Hawaii consumers hit by higher prices brace for more. Last week, UHERO forecast a bleak economic future for Hawaii for the rest of the year and into 2026 with more job losses expected as federal immigration agents continue to deport immigrants and more federal workers are expected to end their job extensions on Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Keeping Hawai‘i Convention Center repairs on track is vital to stemming tourism losses, officials say. The modified closure of the Hawai‘i Convention Center over at least the next two years will cost the visitor industry hundreds of millions in lost revenue, and a lack of confidence in the state-run project’s timeline is putting future bookings at risk. Star-Advertiser.

Developers seeking to build affordable housing reach new heights. Demand for affordable housing in Hawaiʻi is rising, and so is the number of developers seeking to meet that demand. And now federal changes could mean more housing built.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii schools are climbing back from pandemic slump. The 2025 Strive HI report shows that math proficiency climbed to 41% in the 2024-2025 academic year, science to 43% and language arts proficiency saw a slight increase to 53%, meaning they met benchmarks set by the state Department of Education. Star-Advertiser.

Health care student loans to be paid by year-end. The fourth and final student loan payments for the first 780 Hawaii health care workers has been delayed but are now expected by the end of October, or at least the end of the year, according to the doctor in charge of overseeing the two-year program designed to keep and recruit workers. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Colleen Hanabusa resigns from HART board. Colleen Hanabusa, chairperson of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation board of directors, is resigning from the body that governs construction of the more than $10 billion Skyline rail project, officials announced at Friday’s HART meeting. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

Affordable apartments in Makiki billed as first of many by partnership. The partnership between Tradewind Capital Group and Stanford Carr Development recently received state financing commitments to fund nearly all of the estimated $148 million cost to build their initial tower. Star-Advertiser.

Nonprofits anticipate hunger to worsen in Hawaii. Thousands of people filled the Hawai‘i Convention Center on Saturday for the return of the Empty Bowl fundraiser, where guests selected handmade bowls crafted by local potters and enjoyed soups donated by more than a dozen restaurants. Star-Advertiser.

This Kāneʻohe Road Is Overdue For Repair. Kea’ahala Road connects Kāneʻohe town to major state facilities, but it’s been 20 years since it was properly repaved, and sidewalks are impassable for many.  Civil Beat.

State looks for lessee to revamp and operate Mālaekahana campground. The 36-acre recreation spot in Kahuku closed in 2023 for infrastructure upgrades. Hawaii Public Radio.

Residents reeling after being told to vacate Honolulu apartment building within days. A letter from the owner of Union Plaza posted on Saturday night said residents had until Tuesday to get out.  Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Big Island Housing Scandal Stalls Plans For Apartments. The affordable rentals in Kailua-Kona were supposed to be ready in 2024 and cost $50 million. The developer now hopes to finish in 2027 at a cost of $81 million. Civil Beat.

Keauhou Bay development clears another hurdle. Kamehameha Schools is advancing plans for a resort development on lands above Keauhou Bay, following the county Planning Department’s acceptance of the project’s final environmental impact statement. Tribune-Herald.

Monterey Bay Aquarium granted permit to collect marine life off Kona coast. The Board of Land and Natural Resources has approved a special activity permit allowing George Peterson, director of Marine Operations at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, to collect, possess and transport various regulated and nonregulated marine organisms off the coast of West Hawaii. Tribune-Herald.

Tokuda discusses shutdown threat, health care cuts during Hilo visit. U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda met with the Tribune-Herald on Wednesday during a visit to Hilo, where she discussed the potential for a federal government shutdown, ongoing attacks on Congress, the fight to preserve health care funding and efforts by states to shift the balance of power ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Tribune-Herald.

AG, county reach agreement over HPD internal records. The Hawaii Police Department and the state attorney general have come to an agreement regarding statements made by four HPD officers in an internal affairs investigation of alleged misconduct regarding events in May 2023. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

State mulls rescue help for parched Maui water system. Over 30 years ago, state leaders saw a need to take over Hawaii plantation-era water systems and fallow farmland to support diversified agriculture, and now one such water system that’s become a drain on Maui’s economy is for sale. Star-Advertiser.

Paia Elementary cleans up from nearby brush fire; school to remain closed Monday. The school has now been closed for four school days since Tuesday’s Holomua wildfire burned 400 acres and led to the evacuation of 1,600 Paia residents.  Star-Advertiser. Maui News.  Maui Now. 

Petition calls for Holomua Road closure after 380-acre fire; houseless community says it’s not to blame. Tania Kawa‘akoa shakes her head at the notion that one of the roughly 25 people who live in their cars, tents and temporary shelters along Holomua Road had anything to do with the 380-acre blaze that broke out Tuesday in the open fields above Pā‘ia and Kū‘au. Maui Now.

105 Hawaiian Homes agricultural leases on Maui mark first such awards in over 20 years. It was a day of celebration and anticipation for Maui ʻohana as they received their agricultural lot awards in two homestead projects. Some were on the Hawaiian Homes waitlist for nearly 50 years. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawai‘i Agribusiness Development Corp. to hold first board meeting on Maui, Oct. 16. The Hawai‘i Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC) will hold its next board of directors meeting on Maui, marking the first time the state agency has convened on the island. Maui Now.

Kauai

High Enterococcus fecal indicating bacteria measured at Morgan’s Pond in September. This month 12 of the 29 sites tested had bacteria concentrations higher than the Hawaii state standard (130 mpn) and 14 of the 29 had geometric means high enough to put them on the chronically polluted list. Garden Island.

Scheduled Kaua‘i lane closures on state roadways for Sept. 29 to Oct. 3. Hawai‘i Department of Transportation announces the following lane closures and road work projects for state roadways on the Garden Isle during the week of Sept. 29 to Oct. 3. Kauai Now.

Case blasts military bill as neglecting Hawaii, former HTA finance official claims retaliation, Honolulu reopens popup homeless camp, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Military bill neglects Hawaii’s needs, Case says. U.S. Rep. Ed Case is blasting military appropriation legislation that is moving through the House of Representatives as “shortchanging” priorities critical to Hawaii, including environmental cleanup and military infrastructure. Star-Advertiser. Aloha State Daily.

As immigration fears reverberate, Hawaiʻi's COFA communities work to stay informed. Here in Hawaiʻi, one particularly vulnerable immigrant community is made up of those in the country as part of COFA, the Compact of Free Association — an arrangement between the U.S. and island nations throughout Micronesia that gives citizens of those countries permission to live and work in the U.S. in exchange for a U.S. military presence in their homelands. Hawaii Public Radio.

Top Hawaiʻi Tourism Official Claims Retaliation For Reporting Mismanagement. More problems within the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority are coming to light in the lawsuit by Isaac Choy, a former vice president of finance. Civil Beat.

New laws signed by the governor will soften criminal prosecution of juveniles in Hawaii. One of the new laws would ban the arrest and criminal treatment of any child under 12 years old, and another would guarantee parole for anyone, even multiple murderers who commit the crime before their 21st birthday. Hawaii News Now.

State Legislature rules in favor of Hawaiʻi Judiciary. The 2025 legislative session was one of the most successful for the Judiciary: better compensation, more judge positions, and more diversion programs. Hawaii Public Radio.

House votes to kill funding for public media. The House of Representatives narrowly approved legislation Thursday to eliminate the next two years of federal funding for public media outlets. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii’s school lunch 2nd in US for nutrition. With a score of 76 out of 100, Hawaii is second in the nation for having the most nutritious school meals, according to the 2025 State of School Lunch Report from ProCare Therapy. Maui News.

Oahu

Homeless triage operation is back at Old Stadium Park. The city’s pop-up homeless triage operation has returned to Old Stadium Park in the McCully-Moiliili area of South King Street for the third time to provide temporary — and perhaps long-term — housing for a homeless population that grows when other enforcement occurs in nearby Diamond Head, Waikiki and Chinatown. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

DOE Called For 12 New Schools In ‘Ewa A Decade Ago. It’s Built 2. The education department has been unable to keep up with the housing boom in ʻEwa and Kapolei – even as developers contribute land and money to help build new schools. Civil Beat.

University of Hawaiʻi program for women in geosciences ends due to Trump Administration’s funding cuts. A program at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa that supported dozens of career development activities for women in geosciences and community outreach was terminated by the loss of federal funding, according to a news release from the university. Big Island Now.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii Island Urgent Care centers fined $2.19 million. The attorney representing the owner of the Hilo and Keaau Urgent Care centers on Thursday afternoon said his client is in the process of appealing a cease-and-desist order and fines of $2.19 million for performing clinical laboratory work without the required permits. Tribune-Herald. KHON2. 

Lifeguard Service Launching At Kohanaiki Beach Park. Kohanaiki will be the 13th beach under HFD lifeguard protection. The tower will be staffed daily. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Affordable Housing Gets A Big Boost In Maui County’s $1.56 Billion Budget. Maui County Council members said the budget is aimed at catching up on development projects and social services after years of being focused on the wildfires and Covid-19. Civil Beat.

Hoʻōla iā Mauiakama receives $760,528 grant to launch Volunteer Rebuild Housing Program for Maui fire survivors. The award will launch the new Volunteer Rebuild Housing Program, expand disaster recovery operations, and enhance coordination of direct services for families impacted by the August 2023 wildfires on Maui. Maui Now.

Workshops, open houses to focus on Lahaina Town street design. The Maui County Office of Recovery will be seeking input on the way streets in the commercial core of Lahaina town, including Front Street, are rebuilt during a series of design workshops and open houses June 24-26. Maui News.

Maui’s single-family home prices increase; condo sales decline in April and May 2025. Maui’s housing market experienced similar trends in April and May, with both single-family and condominium sales declining compared to the same time last year, according to the latest data from the Realtors Association of Maui.  Maui Now.

Kauai

Kaua‘i Police Commission seeks public input on traits needed for next chief.  The Kaua‘i Police Commission is seeking input from all residents of Kaua‘i regarding the traits and qualities the next chief should possess and is asking community members to participate in the Police Chief Desirable Traits survey between now and June 30. Kauai Now.