Hawaii Gas seeks big rate hike; pilikia grows in UH president selection; one dead, two injured in rough surf on North Shore, Kauai workers to get COVID hazard pay, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Public input sought on Hawai‘i Gas rate hike plan. Hawai‘i Gas wants to adjust rates that range from a 19.4% hike on Oahu to a 13.2% decrease on Lanai in an overall effort to bolster annual revenue by $24.3 million, which the company said would cover operational and maintenance costs that have gone up significantly since its last rate increase in 2018. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio. Maui Now.

PUC probing utility’s role in deadly Maui fire. The state Public Utilities Commission has issued more than 30 information requests totaling nearly 200 questions to Hawaiian Electric as part of an ongoing investigation into the Aug. 8, 2023, Lahaina wildfire, which killed 102 people and caused more than $5.5 billion in damage. Star-Advertiser.

Law Professor: UH President Candidate Is Lying About Discrimination Complaint. Professor Tanya Washington and her lawyer say CUNY Provost Wendy Hensel is continuing to gaslight and retaliate in the statements she is currently making. Civil Beat.

UH president finalist Wendy Hensel on her vision for the 10-campus system. Hensel is currently the executive vice chancellor and university provost for the 25-campus City University of New York system, also known as CUNY. Also a Harvard Law School graduate, she has been a lawyer and previously worked at Georgia State University in Atlanta. Hawaii Public Radio.

UH president finalist Julian Vasquez Heilig on what he would bring to the role. Vasquez Heilig, a Stanford University Ph.D. graduate, is currently the provost and vice president for academic affairs at Western Michigan University.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Stargazers capture ‘comet of the century’ soaring over Hawaii. According to NASA, the comet will initially appear low on the western horizon in the glow of twilight about 45 minutes after sunset each day starting Oct. 12, through the end of the month. Hawaii News Now.

‘Humble limu’ faces threat from non-native species. Invasive seaweed may better adapt to changes than native species in Hawai‘i waters. Hawai‘i waters. Botanists from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa have uncovered key survival strategies used by invasive seaweed species in nearshore ecosystems, potentially explaining their dominance over native Hawaiian limu in certain habitats. Maui News. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii bracing for shortage of IV and dialysis fluids after Hurricane Helene disrupts production. Hawaii’s hospitals and dialysis centers are bracing for a shortage of two commonly used medical solutions after Hurricane Helene caused catastrophic damage to one of the nation’s few production sites. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

One dead, two hospitalized after being pulled from rough surf on Oahu's North Shore.  Three people were swept into the ocean at Ke Iki Beach. Despite warning signs, they were apparently walking on the shoreline when a big wave overtook them. KITV4. Hawaii News Now.  Star-Advertiser.

Man convicted in Fujita murders is stabbed to death at Halawa. A Japanese national convicted in the 1994 shooting deaths of a psychic and her son was allegedly stabbed to death in the Halawa Correctional Facility early Monday morning by his 38-year-old cellmate. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.  KITV4.

Illegal dumping an ‘eyesore’ for Tantalus area residents. Those living near Tantalus said it has a reputation for being a dumping ground for crime. KHON2.

Here's the latest on the new container terminal project at Honolulu Harbor. The $555 million Kapalama Container Terminal project started almost seven years ago. This second main offloading site is meant to help make Hawaiʻi more disaster-resilient.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Mauna Kea Closures Set For October 30 For DLNR Animal Control. The Hawaiʻi DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife will conduct aerial shooting from helicopters for feral goats, feral sheep, mouflon and mouflon/feral sheep hybrids within Palila critical habitat. Public animal salvage will be allowed by permit. Big Island Video News.

Citizen brings grenade to police station, halts operations for nine hours. Police say that shortly before noon on Saturday, a Hilo resident arrived at the Hilo Police Station Receiving Desk to turn in what appeared to be an unexploded grenade they had discovered at a vacant home in Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

Court documents reveal names of officers allegedly shot at during Volcano incident. Court documents filed by police identify officers involved in the apprehension of a man alleged to have held off police for about 24 hours in an armed standoff last week in Volcano. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Once banned in schools, ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i now part of push to make Maui County government bilingual. In 2022, Maui County voters passed a charter amendment that would make county operations bilingual in English and ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i, as well as create a Department of ‘Ōiwi Resources that would oversee management of cultural resources and improve planning in culturally sensitive areas. The department launched on July 1, and efforts are underway to move the county toward a bilingual government. Maui Now.

Temporary housing aid for Maui fire survivors is extended for a year. The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Thursday, at the request of the state, approved a one-year extension of the Individuals and Households Program for survivors of the Aug. 8, 2023, Maui wildfires. Star-Advertiser.

Wildfire survivors can get free or reduced-cost designs for home rebuilding.  Maui property owners impacted by the Aug. 8 wildfires can access free or reduced-cost home design plans and rebuilding assistance through a collaborative effort between the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement and local AIA Maui chapter architectural firms, including Hawaii Off Grid Architecture + Engineering. Maui Now.

FEMA hopes to fill jobs at new Long Term Recovery Office on Maui. The agency is seeking qualified and passionate individuals to join the team as Maui continues to recover following the Aug. 2023 wildfires. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauai County UPW to get COVID hazard pay. Kauai County United Public Workers members have voted to accept 15% of their base hourly pay for all the hours worked during the COVID-19 pandemic, the union announced Monday. Star-Advertiser. Kauai Now.

2024 General Election ballots being mailed out to voters. Registered voters in the County of Kauai should begin receiving ballot packets for the 2024 General Election this week. Garden Island.

State restricts movement of palms due to rhinoceros beetle infestations, Chinese missile launch stirs apprehension, not everyone loves a parade, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiʻi Restricts Movement Of Palm Plants Due To Invasive Beetle. The Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture on Friday established a new interim rule to help stop the movement of the coconut rhinoceros beetle across the state. Big Island Video News. Maui News.  Hawaii News Now.

Chinese ballistic missile launch stirs apprehension. In September the Chinese military launched an intercontinental ballistic missile that flew 7,400 miles before splashing down in the Pacific south of Hawaii. Hawaii is the nerve center of U.S. military operations in the Pacific. It hosts headquarters of the U.S. Indo-­Pacific Command and the Navy’s Pacific Fleet, and is home to several other critical U.S. military facilities. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s Marine Littoral Regiment trains for high-tech operations. The Marines are training in preparation for a deployment in 2025 to the Western Pacific to train with military forces around the region. Star-Advertiser.

Finalists for University of Hawaii president to meet regents, pick likely coming soon.  Julian Vasquez Heilig, 49, provost and vice president of academic affairs at Western Michigan University; and Wendy Hensel, 54, executive vice chancellor and university provost for The City University of New York, are scheduled to meet all 11 regents, who are likely to interview them separately in executive session during Wednesday’s regents’ meeting. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

Who Are The 2 Finalists For UH President?  Wendy Fritzen Hensel is a Harvard-educated lawyer, vice chancellor of one of the nation’s largest university systems who calls Hawaii her second home. Julian Vasquez Heilig is a Stanford-trained education leader and provost of a Midwestern university where he’s boosted enrollment. Civil Beat.

Keiki issues a priority for mayoral candidates in Hawaii, survey finds. The survey, conducted by Ward Research and organized by Commit to Keiki — a nonpartisan education initiative under the Early Childhood Action Strategy collaborative — found that over 90% of Oahu and Hawaii island voters want more early childhood programs.  Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

City Council advances bill to establish tax on empty homes. The Honolulu City Councilʻs Bill 46 would create a property tax on homes not occupied by long-term residents for at least six months out of the year. Hawaii Public Radio.

$1.6B state plan aims to boost housing around rail stations in Iwilei, Kapalama. A state plan is being advanced to foster development of nearly 28,000 new homes around planned city rail stations in Iwilei and Kapalama. The estimated $1.6 billion endeavor includes roughly $850 million in infrastructure improvements possibly shared by the state, the city and private property owners, and a $750 million or so state office tower project that includes housing. Star-Advertiser.

State agency helps reduce purchase prices of hard-to-sell units. Hawaii taxpayers are going to help the developer of a year-old Honolulu condominium and hotel tower complex make some of its required affordable housing more attractive to buyers. Star-Advertiser.

Illegal Game Rooms: Landlords May Face More Fines, Code Violations. The city's Gambling Rooms Task Force recommended codifying efforts to hold property owners accountable. Civil Beat.

City looks to reduce the amount of parades and activities in Waikiki.  A bill aimed at reducing the number of parades and activities in Waikiki is getting closer to becoming law.  Hawaii News Now.

Elected officials and guests join union picket line. Waikiki guests and the community are getting weary as more than 1,800 hotel workers represented by UNITE HERE Local 5 enter their 21st day of an open-ended strike at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort. Star-Advertiser.

‘A fire hazard’: Concerns grow about former swap meet space as city issues more violations. Concern is growing in Pearl City after another notice of violation was issued to the owners of the old Kam Swap Meet property recently. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

‘Marquee’ Hawaii general election contest is for Big Island mayor. The headliner bout, for Hawaii island mayor, is between incumbent Mitch Roth and challenger Kimo Alameda. Roth is a former Hawaii County prosecutor who moved to the state more than 40 years ago and is a University of Hawaii graduate. Alameda is a psychologist who was most recently vice president of business development for the Hawai‘i Island Community Health Center and once led Hawaii County’s Office of Aging. Star-Advertiser.

Big plans for Hilo airport: Initial design work will begin soon for $162M runway project. The Hawaii Department of Transportation has received more than $7 million in state funds to prepare for an eventual project to rehabilitate the Hilo International Airport’s main runway in 2027. Tribune-Herald.

Maunakea authority to occupy former Bank of Hawaii building. DLNR will grant a 30-year lease to the Maunakea Stewardship and Oversight Authority at a great discount: the DLNR will waive the authority’s first seven years of rent — determined by appraisal to be more than $95,000 per year — in order to offset the agency’s costs of renovating the building and closing a cesspool on the property. Tribune-Herald.

Land Board approves land transfer of more than 7,000 acres. More than 7,000 acres of pastureland on the Big Island has been transferred from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources to the Department of Agriculture. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii Island resident brings unexploded grenade to police station. A Hawaii Island resident turned in an unexploded grenade they had discovered at a vacant residence in Hilo to Hawaii Island police authorities on Saturday. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii seawater to become jet fuel. A Texas company backed by the U.S. Office of Naval Research plans to do some potentially groundbreaking work on the process of making jet fuel from seawater at a state technology park on Hawaii Island. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Mayor Bissen hosting budget meetings both in Upcountry and Lahaina Oct. 14-15. Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen and his administration will host community budget meetings in Upcountry Maui and Lahaina this week.  Maui News.

Pilot program seeks to improve pediatric mental health support in Maui County. The Mental Health Pediatric Access Line is the “first dedicated warmline designed to significantly improve pediatric mental health services” in Maui County, according to an announcement. Maui Now.

FEMA seeks over hundreds of long-term positions on Maui. (video only). Hawaii News Now.

Voyaging canoe Hōkūleʻa shares history, mission on Maui. Crews from the Polynesian Voyaging Society’s Pae ʻĀina Statewide Sail have been sharing the history and mission of Hōkūleʻa to residents and visitors of Lānaʻi. KHON2.

Kauai

Largest limestone cave in Hawaiʻi to close to public after nonprofit’s lease ends. The Makauwahi Cave Reserve, home to the richest fossil site and largest limestone cave in the state of Hawai‘i, is closing 20 years after its opening on the South Shore of Kaua‘i due to uncertainty about the future use of the property by its landowners. Big Island Now.

Nonprofit against rebuilding of Coco Palms resort hosting event Sunday to ‘empower’ community. A nonprofit group that has been leading efforts to stop Utah-based Reef Capital Partners from redeveloping the Coco Palms resort was scheduled to host an event on Sunday to educate people about why the property and the area is an important part of Native Hawaiian history.  Kauai Now.

UH takes presidential candidate interviews behind closed doors, Honolulu council poised to award $1.5M in police shooting case, SNAP benefits decrease, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Search for next UH president nears conclusion with private final interviews. The University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents plans to interview the two finalists for president — Julian Vasquez Heilig and Wendy Hensel — behind closed doors. However, public interest attorneys say those meetings should take place in public, citing a 2019 state Supreme Court ruling that barred boards and commissions from holding closed meetings unless they prove they are protecting a privacy interest. Hawaii Public Radio.

David Lassner's new role at the University of Hawaiʻi after retirement. Lassner was the 15th University of Hawaiʻi president and will retire in December.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Skyrocketing insurance rates could be a factor in softening real estate market. Realtors said the rising insurance rates could be a factor in the softening of the market, but there are still opportunities out there if you’re smart. KHON2.

SNAP benefits to decrease in Hawaii for second year in a row. Benefits will be $8-$9 less per recipient starting Tuesday. Last year’s reduction already knocked off $7-$8 per person. Hawaii News Now.

Gov. Josh Green proclaims Fire Prevention Week throughout Hawai‘i. Gov. Josh Green has proclaimed the week of Oct. 6 through 12 as “Fire Prevention Week” in the state of Hawai‘i. This year’s theme is “Smoke Alarms: Make them work for you!” Big Island Now.

Oahu

Over Chief’s opposition, city offers $1.5M settlement in police shooting case. Taxpayers may pay $1.5 million to settle a lawsuit over the police shooting of a South African rugby star. The settlement seems certain to be approved at a council meeting Wednesday, despite the prosecutor saying the shooting of 29-year-old Lindani Myeni was justified and the objections of the police chief. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Honolulu Morgue Aims To Start Giving Families Answers Faster With New Deputy. The city has a deputy medical examiner for the first time in five years. The Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office hopes the arrival of its first new deputy in five years will help it winnow down the time it takes to finalize reports, which has mounted due to increasing caseloads and staff shortages. Civil Beat.

Honolulu’s Dying Palms To Be Replaced With This New Tree — For Now. The city begins felling the first of 80 trees marked for removal on the North Shore. Many of the trees will be replaced with shade trees for the foreseeable future — at least until authorities are able to better control the Southeast Asian beetles. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

Views clash over planned homes in Manoa. The city Department of Planning and Permitting held the hearing on an application by local development firm Avalon Group to build 93 homes on what had been the campus of Saint Francis School, which closed in 2019. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Hawaiʻi County Building Code Meetings Set For Late October. Two informational meetings on changes to the International Building Code (IBC) will be held at the Mauna Kea Park is late October. Big Island Video News.

Puna townhall to gather input for upcoming legislative session, possible alternate route. State Sen. Joy A. San Buenaventura, Rep. Jeanne Kapela and Hawaiʻi County councilmember Matt Kanealiʻi-Kleinfelder will host a townhall on Oct. 9 at Mountain View Elementary. Big Island Now.

Park for HPP is at least 4 years from completion. The Department of Parks and Recreation held a community meeting in HPP on Thursday to discuss the subdivision’s long-awaited district park, a project that has been in development since 2018. The project would be built on a county-owned parcel on Kaloli Drive between 25th and 26th avenues. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui Charter Change Would Benefit County Leaders From Molokai And Lanai. The proposal would make it easier to reimburse travel expenses of top officials who live on the other islands. Civil Beat.

Critical Locked Gate Overlooked In Investigation Of Maui Fire Evacuation. The state attorney general’s latest report on the deadly 2023 Lahaina wildfire flagged various locked gates that blocked people trying to flee as flaws in Maui’s evacuation planning. Yet a padlocked gate where the largest cluster of Lahaina wildfire fatalities occurred was not included in the analysis. Civil Beat.

Disaster Recovery Community Update set for Wednesday at Lahaina Civic Center. A status update on wildfire debris cleanup will be provided by the US Army Corps of Engineers on Wednesday, Oct. 9, during a Maui County Disaster Recovery Community Update meeting at the Lahaina Civic Center. Maui Now.

Kauai

Road closure scheduled in Lāwa‘i for resurfacing work. A full closure for a portion of Kua Road in Lāwa‘i is scheduled for road resurfacing work starting Oct. 10.  Kauai Now.

Offshore wind farm plan gets blowback, UH president candidates begin statewide forums, Big Island mayor contest heats up, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Offshore wind farm plan gets blowback. Aukahi Energy LLC, a joint venture involving a subsidiary of French utility giant EDF Group, in recent months has publicly shared its vision to put 22 to 30 floating wind turbines — each taller than a football field — between Oahu and Molokai to supply about 25% of the electricity used on Oahu at an estimated cost of over $1.8 billion. Star-Advertiser.

David Lassner advises next UH president to work on building relationships.  Lassner, who just turned 70, has led a 10-campus system that touches Hawaii and its residents in ways unlike any other state department or agency, and he has exceeded the average career life span of typical university presidents across the country. Star-Advertiser.

Next UH president to face ‘autonomy’ with strings attached. University of Hawaii officials have to defend their annual budget requests to the state Legislature every year because tuition, donations, endowments and other revenue sources aren’t enough to keep the 10-campus system running on a budget of over $1 billion. The institution employs nearly 8,000 people while educating 46,000 students. Star-Advertiser.

Meet the two candidates for UH President at a public forum near you. The public will have the opportunity to meet the two finalists for UH President on Maui, Kauai, Big Island and Oahu starting Monday, Sept. 23. KHON2.

Convention Highlights New Prominence Of Hawaiian Leadership. This year's Native Hawaiian Convention focused on how Hawaiians have played a much bigger role in shaping policy. Civil Beat.

Native Hawaiian council seeks to develop economic opportunities.  The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement already has gotten a firm foothold in tourism products, especially in Waikiki, since securing a multiyear, $27 million contract for stewardship services in 2023 from the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority. Star-Advertiser.

Data consultant on how Native Hawaiians are getting priced out of paradise. The Conversation talked to data and technology consultant Matt Jachowski about his conference presentation titled “Aloha Means Goodbye": why Native Hawaiians have left the islands in droves. Hawaii Public Radio.

Investors push for better deal in Territorial merger. On Tuesday, Blue Hill and other bank investors reaffirmed their commitment to a $12-per-share cash offer for Territorial, initially announced April 29, that would allow up to 30% of current shareholders to remain invested in the state’s fifth-largest bank as it aims for a turnaround under new leadership. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

UH wave energy project with military takes shape off Kāneʻohe. The military has been looking at this wave conversion technology for some 20 years. It's far from perfect, but the possibilities are limitless. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kapi‘olani nurses plan protest before talks resume. Unionized nurses, who have been barred from work for over a week, plan to hold a demonstration today outside Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women &Children after contract negotiations ended Sunday with no resolution. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

Turtle Bay Developer’s Execs Were Part Of A Global Company With A Questionable Environmental Record.  Top executives at the company behind a major residential development near Turtle Bay Resort previously were high-ranking officers with an international developer that has frequently come under fire for environmental practices and community complaints. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Roth, Alameda face off: Mayoral candidates spar while fielding questions during forum. Hawaii County’s two remaining mayoral candidates took potshots at each other in between setting out their own policy plans at a forum on Saturday. Tribune-Herald.

Top Candidates In Tight Big Island Mayor’s Race Offer A Study In Contrasts. While they agree on some issues and diverge on others, Mitch Roth and Kimo Alameda differ sharply in style and presentation. Civil Beat.

Council approves ohana regulation changes. Bill 123’s most significant change allows up to three ohana units — now called “accessory dwelling units” or ADUs — to be built on a single lot, as long as that lot is within a zoning districts that permits ohana units.  Tribune-Herald.

Bid for overhaul of Hilo wastewater plant could be approved next month. Hawaii County next month could approve a bid for contractors to begin the long-awaited overhaul of the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Delays Hamper State Effort To Better Manage West Maui’s Limited Water. The Lahaina wildfire and staffing shortages stymied the state's review of new and existing water users. Civil Beat.

Maui Voters To Decide Whether To Extend Terms For Board And Commission Members. If approved, a charter amendment on the November ballot would allow citizens to serve two consecutive terms or 10 years, whichever is greater. Civil Beat.

Lahaina evacuees urged to vote in burn zone addresses. Lahaina residents whose homes were destroyed in the fire are still able to vote using their old address in the burn zone. (video only). Hawaii News Now.

Maui delegation connects with other fire-stricken counties at wildfire summit. Mayor Richard Bissen joined Maui’s state, county and community leaders at After the Fire USA’s 2024 Wildfire Leadership Summit last week in Sonoma, Calif. Together, they shared updates on Maui’s wildfire recovery efforts and gathered valuable insights from other jurisdictions affected by similar disasters. Maui Now.

Kauai

‘A huge moment’ for Kaua‘i reefs: Coral nursery coming to island with federal funding. A much-needed facility to protect coral reefs, one of the Hawaiian Islands’ most precious natural resources, will be built on Kaua‘i due to a recently awarded grant of nearly $200,000. Kauai Now.

Want to farm on the Garden Isle? AgXposure course still accepting applications on Kaua‘i.  Potential farmers on the Garden Isle have until Sept. 30 to submit applications to AgXposure, a month-long course introducing participants to the ins and outs of small-scale commercial farming. Kauai Now.

Two finalists named in University of Hawaii system president search, Hawaii soldier charged with assault in 2021 Capitol riot, proliferation of cesspools a stinky environmental problem, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

University of Hawaii president search narrowed to 2 finalists.  The  UH Board of Regents has narrowed the search to succeed current President David Lassner to Wendy F. Hensel, executive vice chancellor and university provost for The City University of New York and Julian Vasquez Heilig, provost and vice president of academic affairs for Western Michigan University. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Tribune-Herald.  Kauai Now.  Hawaii News Now.  KITV4.

Cesspools: Too Environmentally Harmful To Keep, Too Expensive To Get Rid Of. A state mandate that all of the tens of thousands of cesspools in the islands must be converted to septic tanks — or connected to sewer systems — by 2050 is causing financial concerns for residents and logistical challenges for state and local lawmakers. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi soldier charged with assaulting police officer during Capitol riot. A U.S. Army soldier has been arrested in Hawaiʻi on charges that he repeatedly struck a police officer with a flagpole during a mob's attack on the U.S. Capitol more than three years ago, according to court records unsealed on Wednesday. Associated Press.

Hawaii loses Georgette Deemer, tireless film industry promoter, advocate. Georgette Deemer — whose 16 years as Hawaii film commissioner launched the islands’ international film and television industry­ — died Sept. 1 in Honolulu after a long battle with cancer. She was 71. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Council backs HPD reimbursement plan. In spite of the city’s objections, a plan to reimburse Honolulu Police Department officers for the cost of purchasing uniforms, extra firearms and other on-the-job policing equipment was recently advanced by the City Council. Star-Advertiser.

It’s Not Just You: City Knows Its New Half-Million-Dollar Beach Shower Isn’t Working Right. The trickling water irks many at Kaimana Beach. It's the first of 11 showers across Waikiki that are being relocated to comply with stormwater rules. Civil Beat.

Local unions for hotel workers join forces amid contract negotiations. Workers from ILWU Local 142 and UNITE HERE! Local 5 held an afternoon rally Tuesday at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort as contract negotiations continued between UNITE HERE! and several hotels. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Multi-agency exercise will simulate a search and rescue mission for missing mariners off Hawai‘i Island. A multi-agency search and rescue exercise is scheduled Thursday in waters off Kawaihae Harbor with the Coast Guard, Hawai’i Fire Department, Hawai‘i Ocean Safety, and the Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources. The partnering agencies will work together in a simulated exercise to rescue missing mariners. Big Island Now. Big Island Video News.

Maui

3 West Maui child care programs open to address wildfire education losses. Three new classrooms have opened with support from Maui County through the West Maui Early Childhood Collective. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui residents are invited to give feedback on marine resource management. A management proposal has been developed by a community-nominated Maui Navigation Team in partnership with the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Aquatic Resources. Hawaii Public Radio.

Four injured when commercial catamaran runs aground on Kāʻanapali Beach. Personnel arrived to find the catamaran aground with 49 passengers and four crew members still aboard. Maui Now.

Building deterioration prompts relocation of mail services for a Maui community. Extensive deterioration of an old structure has prompted the US Postal Service to relocate mail operations for customers in Puunene, Maui. Hawaii News Now. Maui Now.

Kauai

Aerial war targets avian malaria-spreading mosquitoes. The honeycreeper, also known as akikiki, has long been under threat from avian malaria-spreading mosquitoes.  Garden Island.

Kauai norovirus outbreak survey launched to identify illness hotspots. Anyone who hiked the Kalalau Trail between between July 1 and September 4, 2024 is urged to take a survey launched Wednesday by the Department of Health and Department of Land and Natural Resources. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Kauai newspaper debuts AI-generated newscast. Kauai residents are getting up to date on their current events in a new way with one of the nation’s first fully artificial intelligence newscasts. And that’s raising some questions on the future of AI and journalism. Hawaii News Now.