Green signs emergency COVID proclamation, Maui Land & Pineapple files water shortage counter-suit, campaign finance violations in Honolulu, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Green signs emergency COVID vaccine order. Gov. Josh Green has issued an emergency proclamation to ensure that COVID-19 vaccines remain accessible in Hawaii, after recent federal decisions created uncertainty over who could receive the shots. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Now. Hawaii News Now.

Full text of emergency COVID proclamation.  Office of the Governor.

What to know about the man found guilty of trying to assassinate Trump at a Florida golf course. Ryan Routh, the man who tried to assassinate Donald Trump at a Florida golf course was found guilty by a jury on all counts Tuesday, after which he tried to stab himself in the neck with a pen as his daughter screamed from the courtroom. Associated Press. Reuters. 

What Hawaiʻi families need to know about upcoming federal changes to SNAP program. The Hawaiʻi Department of Human Services is preparing families across the state for changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program known as SNAP that become effective on Oct. 1.  Big Island Now.

Last chance: HawaiianMiles change forever Sept. 26. From Sept. 26 through Sept. 30, you will not be able to log in to your HawaiianMiles account. You cannot view balances, redeem awards, change details or use saved payment and traveler information. Normal access will return on Oct. 1, when Atmos Rewards begins. KHON2.

Oahu

Pay-To-Play: Hawaiʻi CEO Pressured Staff To Make Political Gifts. Court documents in an ongoing felony case reveal new details about how employees were reimbursed for making campaign donations.Real estate developer Timothy Lee pressured employees to donate to political campaigns in 2020 and padded a payment to a contractor to reimburse him for campaign donations, according to testimony before an Oʻahu grand jury. Civil Beat.

HFD fund audit draws public, Council comment. A city audit that showed a Honolulu Fire Department fund meant to support fire prevention efforts on Oahu was instead financing the department’s operations, staffing and new fire equipment purchases with little to no oversight received public comment this week. Star-Advertiser.

City Council proposals to change Oʻahu property tax rates raise revenue questions. Last month, the council passed two bills that would increase exemptions for owner-occupants and seniors. Both measures add $20,000 in exempted tax value from those homes. Hawaii Public Radio.

Damien Memorial School and a former principal settle whistleblower lawsuit. A whistleblower lawsuit filed by the former principal of Damien Memorial School has been settled. Arnold Laanui is a retired FBI agent and a proud graduate of the school. Hawaii Public Radio. 

Hawaii Island

Arraignment set for Honolulu man in large meth bust. A Hawaii Island judge has found probable cause to try 29-year-old Sione Latu Misinale, accused of possessing almost 6 pounds of methamphetamine. Tribune-Herald.

Feedback sought for Kona airport plan. The Hawaii Department of Transportation invites the public to attend the first of four public input sessions to guide future developments at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole (KOA). Tribune-Herald.

Next Kīlauea Lava Episode Expected In One Week. Scientists say the summit is reinflating, and models indicate that episode 34 is likely to start between September 28 and October 1. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Maui Land & Pineapple files countersuit over Kapalua water shortage. Maui Land &Pineapple Co. filed counterclaims in court late Monday night against five entities suing the company over an irrigation water shortage that led the PGA to scrap a prestigious January 2026 golf tournament worth $50 million to Maui’s economy. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Maui Now.  KITV4.

Evacuation order lifted for Paia after wildfire burns hundreds of acres.  The Maui Emergency Management Agency has lifted all evacuation orders and warnings for the Holomua wildfire near Paia, officials said just after 6 p.m. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Associated Press. Maui Now.  Hawaii News Now. 

Hawaiian Homes steps up farm awards. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is stepping up its awards of farm leases on Maui, adding 105 lots, including 55 leases for the Waiehu Mauka subdivision and 50 leases for the Honokowai subdivision. Maui News. Maui Now.

State OKs interim rule to protect Molokai from invasive beetles. The Hawaii Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity on Tuesday voted unanimously to pass an interim rule prohibiting the transport of plants, soil, compost and other host material — including gravel and erosion socks — to Molokai from other parts of the state. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Energy developer seeks community input on Kauaʻi solar project. The energy developer AES Hawaiʻi is hosting a community meeting Wednesday on Kauaʻi to discuss a proposed solar farm. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii issues own vaccine guidance ahead of federal plans, Kaiser Permanente workers mull strike, Hawaii County unveils vacation rental study, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiʻi And Western States Issue Vaccine Guidance Ahead of CDC Meeting. California, Oregon, Washington and Hawai‘i formed a health alliance earlier this month and published vaccine recommendations the day before a federal panel was set to take up the issue. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.  Associated Press.

Hawaiʻi Supreme Court: OHA Trustees Bound By State Ethics Code. The court also upheld dozens of charges against former Trustee Rowena Akana. Civil Beat.

Erosion of democratic norms focus of state Senate committee informational briefing. Committee members will receive an informational briefing beginning at 10 a.m. on Sept. 18 from Colin Moore, a University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization professor. Big Island Now.

Kaiser Permanente hospital workers in Hawaiʻi vote on strike authorization. More than 1,900 Kaiser Permanente hospital workers in Hawai‘i have begun casting ballots in a strike authorization vote this week, while tensions rise over ongoing contract negotiations. Big Island Now. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2. 

Here's what you need to know about a new fee on your HECO bill. A small portion of Hawaiian Electric customers' bills will now be put in a new state trust fund to pay developers of future renewable energy projects. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiʻi High School Seniors Could Face Major Spike In Graduation Costs. A proposal from the state education department would raise the maximum cost for caps and gowns from $25 to $125. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu Overtime Pumps Up Pensions, Costs Taxpayers Hundreds Of Millions.  Public pension spiking fueled by Honolulu employee overtime has cost taxpayers a quarter of a billion dollars over the last seven years, based on department-by-department data the county provided. Civil Beat. KITV4.

City sells $217M in bonds to upgrade wastewater system. The city asserts bond proceeds will finance the costs of certain improvements, including design and construction of projects that rehabilitate Oahu’s existing wastewater system, expand system capacity and upgrade treatment processes. Star-Advertiser.

HPD moves forward with plans for school resource officers at three high school campuses. Honolulu’s interim police chief, Rade Vanic, wants to start a pilot program that would result in law enforcement officers being on campus in some schools. Hawaii News Now.

How Chaminade and HPU are handling the latest federal DOE cuts. Administrators  are still trying to get their arms around the impact of losing what’s known as Title III grants, which is federal money set aside for minority serving institutions like UH, Chaminade University and Hawaiʻi Pacific University. Hawaii Public Radio.

Living in Hawaiʻi just got even pricier: 3 new reports. To live comfortably in 2025, a Honolulu household needs between $225,751 and $280,000 a year, respectively. That amount covers basic needs, discretionary spending, long-term savings and taxes. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

STVRs study unveiled: Report to County Council highlights economic, social impacts. A new study commissioned by the Hawaii County Council is shedding light on the substantial economic and social impact of short-term vacation rentals across Hawaii Island. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News. 

Council mulls another pedestrian safety bill. Bill 82, which passed out of the council’s Policy Committee on Public Works and Mass Transit with a 7-0 vote, will now be considered by the full council. It serves as a follow-up to a previously vetoed measure, offering revisions in response to legal concerns. Tribune-Herald.

High bacteria count notification issued for Lehia Beach Park in Leleiwi. Hawai‘i Department of Health is retesting waters at Lehia Beach Park in Hilo’s Leleiwi community, located on the easternmost edge of the East Hawai‘i town, after bacteria levels of 288 per 100 mL were detected during recent routine beach monitoring. Big Island Now.

Maui

Maui County mulls buying water system amid drought. Maui County is open to acquiring water system infrastructure from a company that can’t meet demand amid a historic drought, though it’s unclear how such an acquisition might help affected customers suing the system’s owner. Star-Advertiser.

State hopes change in course will salvage Sentry golf tournament on Maui.  State officials say they still hope to have the Sentry golf tournament played in Hawaii after the PGA said it could not be played at the Kapalua course that has hosted it for years. Hawaii News Now.

Open house for temporary disposal site restoration plan Sept. 20.  There will be an open house regarding plans for the temporary wildfire debris storage site at Olowalu from 10 a.m. to noon Sept. 20 at the Lahaina Resource Center. Maui News.

Maui Council green-lights fast-track affordable housing at Kahului Civic Center site. Located on 3.4 acres of state land at 153 West Kaʻahumanu Ave., the Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corp. project, developed by EAH Housing, will feature two six-story buildings with 303 residential units and 298 parking stalls. Maui Now.

Poor Protection Of Molokaʻi From Invasive Beetles Called An Emergency. The loss of plants to invasive species would threaten the island’s food security and calls for more serious action. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Kaua’i County holding series of community meetings about future of island’s water. The sessions come after a recently completed Water Systems Investment Plan – a comprehensive island-wide water system study aimed at improving Kauaʻi’s water infrastructure. Kauai Now.

KIUC warns of false claims by solar PV companies on island. The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative said it has received reports from members saying that solar PV and battery system salespersons have provided them with inaccurate or incomplete information on how solar installations interact with KIUC’s electric grid, rates and programs. Star-Advertiser.

 

Regulators vote for commercial fishing at marine monuments, Canadians boycott Hawaii, PGA cancels season opener at Kapalua, school enrollment down, salaries up, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Federal regulators vote in favor of President Trump’s push for commercial fishing in marine monuments. On Tuesday, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council voted to advance President Donald Trump’s executive order to allow commercial fishing inside the Papahanaumokuakea and Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monuments. The decision came after dozens of Native Hawaiians, fishers and scientists voiced opposition. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Canadian Tourists are Boycotting the U.S. Here’s What That Means for Hawai‘i. The amount of money spent by Canadian visitors in the first seven months of 2025 is down 4.9%, from $668.3 million in the same period of 2024, and 7.5% lower, from $686.1 million, in 2019. Hawaii Business magazine.

Hawaiʻi School Superintendents Could See Big Increases In Pay Ranges. Hawaiʻi’s top educational leaders could see some of their biggest pay raises in years under a proposal scheduled to be heard by the state Board of Education Human Resources Committee on Thursday.  Civil Beat.

Hawaii public school enrollment falls 17k since pandemic. New data from the Department of Education shows 150,280 students enrolled in the 2025-2026 school year — that is about 2,000 fewer than the previous school year and more than 17,000 less than before the pandemic. KHON2.

DOE Aims To Avoid School Closures Through Redistricting. The Hawaiʻi Department of Education has changed its course and plans to consider redistricting schools instead of pursuing campus closures. Civil Beat.

State Hospital Overloaded By Law To Offer Mental Health Care In Lieu Of Jail. The goal was to get help faster to non-violent offenders with mental illness. Instead, they are showing up again and again at the state hospital. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi is racing to install rooftop solar before the tax credit sunsets. Hawaiian Electric received over 1,100 applications in July for new residential solar and battery-storage systems, which is almost twice as many applications as customers filed in June. Hawaii Public Radio.

Gov. Josh Green proclaims Sept. 17 as Constitution and Citizenship Day in Hawaiʻi. The special day commemorates the signing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787 and highlights the enduring importance of constitutional governance throughout Hawaiʻi’s history. Big Island Now.

Oahu

Yearlong work added to Kapiolani Boulevard improvement project. A project to replace the existing street lighting system on Kapiolani, from Ward Avenue to Piikoi Street, began Monday. The work is expected to last a year, city officials say. Star-Advertiser.

UH, Army sign environmental agreement. The new Intergovernmental Support Agreement was signed at the Schofield Barracks Seed Lab, where the Army keeps seeds from native plants the service has been working to cultivate and spread across land it controls in the islands. Star-Advertiser.

Coast Guard awards $69M contract for new hangars. The U.S. Coast Guard has awarded a nearly $69 million contract to design and build new hangars and “associated facilities” at Air Station Barbers Point. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

COVID outbreak ends at Hilo  Benioff Medical Center nursing home.  The assisted-living facility, which is home to 55 residents, saw 16 residents and 10 staff testing positive for the virus during the outbreak last month. Tribune-Herald.

Emergency exercise scheduled to take place at Hilo International Airport. The exercise is a triennial requirement by the Federal Aviation Administration to test emergency response protocols, according to a news release from HDOT. Big Island Now.

BJ Penn arrested, charged with violating protective order filed by his mother. Retired UFC champion Jay Dee “BJ” Penn of Hilo was has been arrested and charged with violating a court order for protection that was extended last month by a Hilo judge at the request of his 79-year-old mother. Big Island Now. Hawaii News Now. KITV4. 

Maui

Kapalua won’t host PGA Tour’s season opener as it copes with drought and Hawaii water dispute. The PGA Tour said Tuesday it is leaving Kapalua Resort in Hawaii for its season opener after determining the drought and a water dispute that has left the golf course baked and brown from lack of irrigation cannot be ready to host The Sentry in January.  Associated Press.  Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.  KITV4.

Desperate West Maui residents want action from state water commission to help drought. The land where the water comes from is owned by Maui Land & Pineapple. But water distribution is regulated, so MLP follows guidelines set by the Commission on Water Resource Management. KHON2.

Council approves Waiʻehu housing project exemptions in narrow 5-4 vote. In a split decision, the Maui County Council voted 5-4 last week to grant key procedural exemptions and loan flexibility for the 119-unit Hale Mahaolu Ke Kahua affordable housing project in Waiʻehu, a move developers say is critical for the project to secure competitive financing. Maui Now.

Maui condo prices down 35 percent. The median price of single-family homes was down 3.6% ($1.27 million) and condominium prices by 35% ($650,000) compared to the same month last year, according to the Realtors Association of Maui. Maui News.

Kauai

Kaua‘i Liquor Control Commission to hear testimony on new rule changes. Proposed amendments to the Kauaʻi Liquor Control Commission rules and regulations will be open to public testimony during a hearing next week.  Kauai Now.

New MRI suite coming to Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital. The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust granted more than $10.6 million to help the Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital expand and develop its MRI suite. Garden Island.

Federal grant cuts, lawsuit threaten Native Hawaiian education, millions in Superferry debt still lingers, city leaders want Skyline to extend to university, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiʻi Colleges Face Loss Of Federal Grants For Minority Students. The U.S. Department of Education terminated several grant programs on Wednesday supporting universities with high proportions of minority students, including Asians and Native Hawaiians. Civil Beat.

Amid backlash, lawmakers defend mainland trip over Kamehameha Schools’ admissions policy. State Sen. Brenton Awa and Rep. Diamond Garcia traveled to Virginia to try to convince conservative activist Edward Blum not to challenge Kamehameha Schools’ admissions policy.  Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii still paying millions for Superferry debt 16 years after closure. The Hawaii Superferry has been out of commission for over 15 years, but its financial wake is still hitting the State. KHON2.

Surge In Inmate Suicides Take Toll On Hawaiʻi Taxpayers, Too. Six legal claims are pending over people who killed themselves behind bars, with more to come. Civil Beat.

Data project provides public with information about U.S. immigration enforcement. The Deportation Data Project is a group of professors and lawyers who successfully sued the federal agency for the data on ICE encounters, arrests, and detentions across the country. They’ve made their data accessible to the public. Hawaii Public Radio.

Community meetings at public libraries to discuss Hawaiʻi’s Climate Plan this month. Community meetings at public libraries to discuss Hawaiʻi’s Climate Plan this month. he Hawaiʻi Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission (CCMAC) is partnering with state libraries this month to host a series of community talk-story sessions on the draft Climate Action Pathways (CAP), a plan designed to guide Hawaiʻi toward a safer, healthier and more affordable future. Maui Now.

Hawaiʻi Gov. Green orders flags to fly at half-staff for Patriot Day. Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green has ordered the United States and Hawaiʻi state flags to be flown at half-staff at the State Capitol, all state agencies and offices, and at Hawaiʻi National Guard facilities across Hawaiʻi in honor of Patriot Day. Big Island Now.

E-bike bill veto leaves road safety gap, House Transportation panel chair says. House Transportation Committee Chair Darius Kila says he’s deeply disappointed with Gov. Josh Green’s veto of House Bill 958, which would have encouraged safe riding of electric bicycles on Hawaiʻi roadways. Maui Now.

Diana Birkett Rakow named new Hawaiian Airlines CEO. Birkett Rakow, who is currently serving as Alaska Airlines’ senior vice president of public affairs and sustainability, will take over  on Oct. 29 and will be based in Honolulu, the second largest hub for Alaska Airlines. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Now.

Can This Tree Still Save Us? In Some Places It’s Barely Hanging On. ʻUlu, bia, uru, mā: Breadfruit has been lauded as a climate-resilient solution to world food security. That’s not proving true in the Marshall Islands, where some have relied on it for centuries. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu City Council bill pushes for Skyline to reach UH Manoa.  Bill 60, which the Council recently adopted on the first of three readings, would authorize the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation to conduct planning and preliminary engineering for the rail line to possibly branch for another 3.2 miles beyond its current terminus in Kakaako, to a spot near UH’s 2500 Campus Road address. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii considering anti-squatter law to protect homeowners, cut eviction times. An Oahu landlord who won a court ruling in July to get his delinquent tenants evicted is still waiting for sheriffs to kick them out. His ordeal is shining a light on a problem with Hawaii’s laws to prevent squatting. Hawaii News Now.

City plans for massive crowd in Waikiki for Saturday concert. City officials and Honolulu police are preparing for over 30,000 people to descend on the Tom Moffatt Waikiki Shell and Kapiolani Park on Saturday for the “Fiji Tribute Concert” honoring the late singer George “Fiji” Veikoso. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.  KITV4. 

Hawaii Island

'Return, reconnect, and remember': Native Hawaiian ʻohana gets ownership of ancestral land. A Native Hawaiian nonprofit has successfully preserved Hawaiʻi Island land for generations to come. ‘Anaeho‘omalu Kapalaoa, a 27-acre plot of land in Waikoloa Beach Resort, will now be permanently protected by Nā ‘Ōiwi O Pu‘uanahulu, a Native Hawaiian descendant-led nonprofit. Hawaii Public Radio.

Scientists search West Hawaiʻi for fresh water beneath the ocean floor. Scientists recently completed a two-week expedition along the west coast of Hawaiʻi Island. Their goal is to see if there is fresh water below the ocean and, if so, how much. Hawaii Public Radio.

Drought continues to grip Hamakua; brush fire mostly contained. According  to Hawaii County Fire Chief Kazuo Todd, the drought is a factor — perhaps the most significant one — in a brush fire that has burned in Hamakua, including the Manowaiale‘e Forest Reserve, the past several days. Tribune-Herald.

Drones Treat Palm Trees At Kohanaiki To Stop CRB Spread. The battle to prevent the coconut rhinoceros beetle from becoming established on Hawai‘i Island continues in Kona. Big Island Video News. Hawaii News Now.  KITV4. 

Maui

Maui Land & Pineapple looks at selling Valley Isle water assets. Maui Land &Pineapple Co. is looking to sell or lease its water sources and infrastructure assets amid a historic drought and a lawsuit over irrigation access, according to a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. 

Hawaiʻi Supreme Court reaffirms water advocates' rights to challenge stream water diversion permits. The Hawaiʻi Supreme Court has ruled that the Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi was improperly denied the ability to contest one-year revocable permits that allow the diversion of millions of gallons of water from east Maui streams. Hawaii Public Radio.

State leaders scramble to save Sentry golf tournament at Kapalua. State leaders say they’re scrambling to try to keep the PGA’s Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua. Or at the very least, keep it in Hawaii. Meanwhile, the landowner involved in the dispute is open to giving up the land. KHON2.

Hawaiian homestead agency amps up ‘paper lease’ program. The state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands plans to award more than 1,000 leases for future homesteads on Maui later this year, representing the agency’s biggest move yet to provide beneficiaries with residential lots using a historic 2022 legislative appropriation. Star-Advertiser. Maui News.  Maui Now. 

Wildfires Create Long-Term Academic Challenges For Students. Students’ academic progress since the 2018 California wildfires indicates that Lahaina schools may face a long road to recovery. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Proposals for Kauaʻi Innovation Grants for FY 2025-2026 are available for public review.  Proposals submitted for the Fiscal Year 2025–2026 Innovation Grants program now are available for review and feedback from the public as part of the selection process, the Kauai’i County Office of Economic Development announced.  Kauai Now.

Kaua’i residents advised to prepare for temporary water service shutdown. The Department of Water has scheduled a temporary water service shutdown for parts of Hauaala Road (valley side), Makamaka Street, and Keapana Road in Kapa’a. The shutdown is scheduled for Sept. 11 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Kauai Now.

Mail-in voting, elections chief in commission crosshairs; Honolulu cop runs red light, hits moped; first detection of measles in state wastewater, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Elections Commission Panel Calls For A Shakeup In How Hawaiʻi Votes. The subcommittee wants to end all-mail elections and fire Elections Chief Scott Nago, but it’s unclear whether it has the votes to do either. Civil Beat.

Tariffs tap the brakes on Hawaii auto sales, report shows.  Rising tariffs and trade policy uncertainty have shaken Hawaii’s auto market, contributing to a 3.3% drop in new car and light truck registrations in the state during the first half of 2025 compared to a year earlier, according to a recent report from the Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiian Council program seeks to lower energy costs for DHHL households. A new initiative from the Hawaiian Council — formerly the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement — wants to help local households reduce their energy costs, which are already some of the highest in the nation. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Oahu residents push for better tourism management. The overwhelming majority of Oahu community members attending a virtual community input session held Wednesday by the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority as part of its tourism management planning efforts said the island’s top economic driver is negatively affecting their daily lives. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Offers $7,500 For Firefighters Covid Hazard Pay. They Want More. More than three years after the last pandemic emergency order, firefighters are still negotiating their hazard payments with the city. Civil Beat.

HPD: Officer runs red light, hits moped rider in Ala Moana area. A 25-year-old man was seriously injured after a Honolulu police officer collided with his moped at an intersection in the Ala Moana area, police said. Star-Advertiser.

 Ex-HPD officer gets 23 years in underage sex case. A former Honolulu police officer who used his ex­-girlfriend’s daughters to make child pornography and recruit underage prostitutes will spend 23 years in federal prison. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

Man, 70, charged with arson in connection with Kunia wildfire. Antonio Vierra, 70, was charged on suspicion of second-degree arson in connection with a fire that sparked Aug. 23 near the area of Kunia Road and Leia Street. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4. 

Recent safety enhancements and current needs remain large focus after fireworks tragedy. Approaching September, local officials continue working on enhancing community safety. Preventing future fireworks disasters is among the largest priorities. KITV4.

City, state closer to condemning Wahiawa property known for illegal activity. A homeless man was killed Sunday after being attacked by a pack of dogs at an encampment in Wahiawa. Hawaii News Now.

UH Stan Sheriff Center gets updated name under Bank of Hawaiʻi deal. The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s sports dome will now be known as Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. Hawaii Public Radio.

Shortage Of Swim Lessons Leaves Honolulu Parents Scrambling. Nonprofits are expanding efforts to reach more low-income kids, but a shortage of funding and pool space means not enough swim classes to meet the demand — even for families with money and time to spare. Civil Beat.

Struggling And Lost On Oʻahu’s Streets, Woman Says Yes To Help. A psychiatrist set out to find a 33-year-old Hilo woman who battles homelessness and addiction after a failed medical intervention. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Draft ordinance proposes special district for Pahoa town. Councilwoman Ashley Kierkiewicz will introduce a draft ordinance that would establish a new Downtown Pahoa Commercial District, with goals to support economic development, preserve cultural heritage, and update land use regulations in the area. Tribune-Herald.

‘A hero to many’: Longtime Big Isle judge Greg Nakamura dies at 72. After serving as a clerk to retired Hilo Circuit Judge Ernest Kubota, Nakamura was a civil litigator before devoting nearly three decades to the bench. Tribune-Herald.

Measles detected in West Hawaii wastewater, health officials say. Health officials said in a news release today that the sample was collected Aug. 11 from a site in West Hawaii County and is the first wastewater detection of measles in the state. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald.  Big Island Video News.  Big Island Now. KITV4. 

Keāhole Ag Park Green Waste Fumigated For CRB. A multi-agency response to detections of coconut rhinoceros beetles (CRB) included the mass fumigation and removal of suspected breeding sites. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. Hawaii News Now. 

Hawaii Island mother stirs up discussion over long-standing classroom practice. A Hawaii Island mother is revisiting the debate over a long-standing practice in public school classrooms: the daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and national anthem.  Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Council postpones vote on Waiehu housing project after debate over public input. After a lengthy debate over process and public input, the Maui County Council delayed action Tuesday on a resolution that would grant exemptions and modifications to the Hale Mahaolu Ke Kahua affordable housing project in Waiehu. Maui Now.

Kapalua golf courses to temporarily close to restore grass in attempt to save The Sentry tournament on Maui. Right now, the Maui golf course that hosts the PGA Tour’s prestigious season opener every January for the past 27 years is unplayable at the elite level. Severe water restrictions in West Maui have resulted in brown fairways and dying grass on the greens. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Hawaiʻi Supreme Court rules against state land board in case involving seed research operations on Kauaʻi. The Hawaiʻi Supreme Court has ruled that the state Board of Land and Natural Resources must complete a full environmental assessment before allowing seed research operations to proceed on conservation land in Kekaha. Kauai Now. Hawaii News Now.

Wailua Marina back to normal after spill. Smith’s Kauai employees on Wednesday utilized a crane and scoop nets to remove vegetative debris contaminated with oil from an oil spill. Garden Island.

Hotel workers prevail in tips lawsuit, judge dismisses $324M Honolulu rail lawsuit, Roseanne Barr selling mac nut farm, gun purchasing law to be re-litigated, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hotel workers prevail in service charge lawsuit. A group of over 100 Hawai‘i hotel workers have won a class-action lawsuit against their employers over improperly paid tips. Aloha State Daily.

Less Than Half Of Hawaiʻi Teachers Went To High School In-State. Only a third of educators in a recent survey said they felt well-prepared to integrate Hawaiian language, culture and history into their lessons. Civil Beat.

Hawai‘i gun purchasing laws to be re-re-litigated. Second Amendment advocates criticize court decision to overturn March decision. Aloha State Daily.

Corey Rosenlee will run for Hawaiʻi House seat held by Rep. Elijah Pierick. Educator and former teachers union leader Corey Rosenlee is running for the state House of Representatives in the 2026 election.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Judge dismisses $324M Hitachi lawsuit against HART, city. On Aug. 14, 1st Circuit Court Judge Shirley Kawamura dismissed Hitachi Rail Honolulu JV’s “breach of contract and unjust enrichment” claim that it filed in December against HART and the City and County of Honolulu over stated delays that allegedly occurred during construction of the city’s more than $10 billion rail system. Star-Advertiser.

City Council chair announces run for reelection. City Council chair Tommy Waters plans to run for another term next year. Waters represents District 4, which includes Hawaii Kai, Kuliouou, Niu Valley, Aina Haina, Kahala, Kaimuki, and Waikiki. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu firefighters push for COVID hazard pay. The city is determining how to compensate firefighters with the rest of its $150 million it budgeted for other essential workers.  Hawaii News Now. KITV4. 

Honolulu Police Department arrests 14 at Ala Wai homeless camp. Honolulu police on Tuesday arrested 14 people found in a homeless encampment along the grassy perimeter of the Ala Wai Golf Course, 12 days after “no trespassing” signs went up in the area and tent dwellers were warned of an impending crackdown. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor casts doubt on Waikiki natatorium pool restoration. Hopes for restoration of the pool at the Waikiki natatorium are fading again after Mayor Rick Blangiardi expressed serious doubts about whether the project is feasible. Hawaii News Now.

Can A New Tax Save Downtown Honolulu’s Small Businesses? The proposed fee could improve safety and cleanliness in the area, but critics say it won’t fix the underlying challenge facing downtown. Civil Beat.

Ex-HPD officer seeks reduced prison time for child sex crimes. A former Honolulu police officer who admitted using his ex-girlfriend’s daughter to help set up a child prostitution ring while working as an officer is asking a federal judge for a 15-year prison sentence. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Roseanne Barr’s mac nut farm for sale. Comedian and television star Roseanne Barr has put her Big Island farm on the market, ending nearly two decades of ownership at a property that once drew headlines for legal and land-use disputes. Tribune-Herald.

What to do about tourism? Dozens of Big Island residents offer feedback at HTA meeting. The Hawaii Tourism Authority engaged with over 40 Hawaii Island residents Monday evening during a 90-minute digital meeting to gather input about tourism to help shape the future of welcoming visitors to the island. Tribune-Herald.

Future of Banyan Drive properties mulled. A meeting Monday of the Banyan Drive Hawaii Redevelopment Agency produced no consensus about what should be done with the vacant lot where Uncle Billy’s Hilo Bay Hotel once stood or the property where the dilapidated Country Club Condo Hotel still stands, shuttered. Tribune-Herald.

Attack on cashless bail criticized. The signing of executive orders by President Donald Trump seeking the elimination nationally of cashless bail for pretrial criminal defendants is receiving a negative reaction locally from individuals intimately familiar with courts here. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Trouble in paradise: Kapalua to close ‘dying’ PGA Tour course for 2 months amid Maui water dispute.  Kapalua Resort, the Hawaii course where the PGA Tour has started every year since 1999, is shutting down for two months as it tries to save its water-starved courses during a dispute over the handling of a century-old water system on Maui. Associated Press. KHON2.

Overcrowding in Maui classrooms forces redistricting plan. Overcrowding in Maui schools has forced the Hawaii State Department of Education to come up with a redistricting plan. Hawaii News Now.

Lahaina fire debris transfer to permanent site is over 60% complete. The transfer of approximately 400,000 tons of debris began in June and is expected to continue through November. Hawaii Public Radio. Maui News. 

No significant environmental impact determined for Waiʻale Road extension. Maui County’s Department of Public Works has issued a determination of no significant environmental impacts for a $73 million project to extend Waiʻale Road 1.6 miles in Waikapū.  Maui Now.

West Maui YMCA Resource Center applies for Certificate of Occupancy. Renovations to the 6,500-square-foot facility located at  226 Kupuohi Street in Lahaina have been completed and have successfully passed all required inspections.  The Center is anticipated to open in mid-September.  Maui Now.

Ag board advances petition to protect Molokai from beetles. The Hawaii Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity on Tuesday decided to move forward on a proposed rule halting the shipment of plants to Molokai to protect the island from coconut rhinoceros beetles. Star-Advertiser.  Hawaii Public Radio. 

Kauai

Kauhale o Namahana aims to provide permanent affordable homes on Kauaʻi. Kauhale O Namahana has officially started the vertical construction of its 11 affordable single-family homes in Kīlauea. Kauai Now.

Kauaʻi Man Died On His Birthday After Airport Staff Encounter. In a lawsuit, the homeless man’s mother says her son was beaten to death. Civil Beat.

Kauai man allegedly preyed on underage girls. A 28-year-old Lihue man is facing a federal criminal charge after he allegedly trafficked in child pornography, posed as a teenage boy on Snapchat and tried to collect sexually explicit photos from “hundreds” of underage girls. Star-Advertiser.