Building permit streamlining bill advances, state to rehab Wahiawa dam, some want Jones Act waiver permanent, Maui mayor seeks $1.6B budget, flood fallout lingers, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Bill aims to speed up building permit process. Two state Senate committees approved a bill Monday requiring annual training for permitting agency employees in a push to streamline building permit approvals. House Bill 1964 calls for greater professional development for state and county workers involved in the permitting process, like building plan reviewers, inspectors and policy staff. Tribune-Herald.

Here's why some want the Jones Act waiver to be permanent. A week has passed since President Donald Trump announced he was waiving the Jones Act for 60 days to ease the pressure on shipments of oil and fertilizer across the globe. Hawaii Public Radio.

University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents to fill four open seats representing three counties. The Candidate Advisory Council for the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents has presented a list of candidates to Gov. Josh Green to fill seats representing Oahu, Maui and Hawaii Islands. Big Island Now.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs approves nearly $4 million in disaster aid for Native Hawaiian households. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has activated about $3.96 million in disaster aid to support Native Hawaiian households and communities affected by the recent floods and rains across the state. Kauai Now.

Power outages can quickly become emergencies for families with home medical devices. Power outages from this month's storms have sent ripples through the health care system. Access to power is crucial for people who rely on certain medical devices like oxygen.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Council OKs changes to zoning rules for housing. A Honolulu City Council measure designed to relax zoning rules to allow more infill housing projects in the city’s urban core was approved on its third and final reading Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

State moving forward with rehab of hazardous Wahiawa Dam. The state is working to jump-start safety upgrades on the privately owned Wahiawa Dam, which last week neared a feared failure point that triggered emergency evacuations for thousands of residents on Oahu’s North Shore.  Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. 

North Shore residents, officials tread a fine line on recovery and tourism after flooding. Officials are walking a fine line, trying to help those communities while making sure the state’s main economic driver isn’t impacted. Parts of the North Shore and Waialua are open, but business has taken a hit. Hawaii News Now.

Flying Blind: Honolulu Officials Held Off On Evacuations As North Shore Flooded. By the time emergency management officials told people it was time to evacuate in Waialua and Haleʻiwa, some residents had already been swimming for their lives. Civil Beat.

EMS loses ambulance in flood, rescues family on North Shore. The City and County of Honolulu lost a new ambulance to flash floods while responding to a call early Friday morning on Oahu’s North Shore. Star-Advertiser.

City to open help center in Waialua; North Shore boil water notice lifted. City officials said  they will open a Community Assistance Center on Thursday at Waialua District Park for residents affected by Kona-low storm flooding, and the Board of Water Supply said the boil water notice has been lifted for all of Haleiwa and Waialua. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio. KHON2. KITV4. 

Man Institutionalized Due To Mistaken Identity Will Get $975K Settlement. The man could also receive a $200,000 payment from the state. In a case of mistaken identity, a man who was wrongfully arrested and detained at a Hawaiʻi state psychiatric hospital for two years is set to receive a $975,000 payout from the City and County of Honolulu. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Updated Water Restriction Notice For Kawaihae, South Kohala Resorts. Customers, including irrigation users, are required to reduce water use by at least 25 percent. Big Island Video News.

South Kona school closures extended following damaging storm. Konawaena Middle School and the Hawaiian immersion school, Ke Kula ‘O ‘Ehunuikaimalino in South Kona, will be closed through April 1 as cleanup continues after campuses were flooded during the Kona low storms.  Big Island Now.

Big Island hunting to temporarily revert to standard rules used 2 years ago. They included adjustments to season lengths, bag limits and tag requirements for several hunting areas on Hawaiʻi Island. Big Island Now.

Maui

Maui Mayor’s $1.6 Billion Budget Focuses On Housing, Water, Fire Recovery. The proposed spending plan sets aside money to buy private water systems and wells. County will rely on emergency reserves for recent storm damage. Civil Beat. Maui Now.

Department of Housing undergoes pre-budget scrutiny. The Maui County Council’s Housing and Land Use Committee conducted a preliminary review last week of the Department of Housing in preparation for the Council’s annual budget deliberations. Maui Now.

Second Kona low storm showed flood risks in Lahaina’s fire-bared landscape. West Maui received some of the most rain on the island during the second Kona low to wallop Hawai‘i in two weeks. Two rain gauges in Lahaina logged more than 6 inches each from 8:45 a.m. Saturday to 8:45 a.m. Sunday, while Honolua recorded more than 7 inches and Olowalu saw over 5 inches, according to the National Weather Service.  Maui Now.

Kauai

2 more candidates join Kauaʻi mayoral race to replace term-limited Derek Kawakami. Former Kauaʻi County finance employee Laura Lindsey and businessman Megeso-William Denis have entered the 2026 race for Mayor of Kauaʻi to replace term-limited Derek Kawakami. The two political newcomers join a field that already includes three well-known political figures on the Garden Isle: former Kauaʻi mayor and current councilmember Bernard Carvalho Jr., Kauaʻi County Council Chair Mel Rapozo and Councilmember Felicia Cowden. Kauai Now.

Homeless Program Grants awarded. Of the 12 proposals received, 10 were eligible for consideration. A selection committee reviewed and scored all the eligible projects and selected the top five proposals to fund for a total of $500,000. Garden Island. Kauai Now. 

Green asks federal government to pick up 90% of $1B storm damage cost, only $500k emergency state relief available for farmers' $11M in damages, PUC approves Waiau power plant, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Green seeks major federal aid as storm strikes again. The state is asking the federal government to assume 90% of the expected $1 billion-plus in Kona-low storm recovery costs, Gov. Josh Green said Monday after yet another punishing round of torrential rain overwhelmed communities. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. 

Here’s what to know as the scope of damage from Hawaii’s floods becomes clearer. The worst flooding to hit Hawaii in two decades has swept homes off their foundations, floated cars out of driveways and left floors, walls and counters covered in thick, reddish volcanic mud.  Associated Press. Hawaii Public Radio. 

Should Oil And Gas Companies Pay To Clean Up Hawaiʻi’s Flood Damage? Disasters linked to climate change are hitting the islands more often, heating up debate over who’s responsible and should ultimately cover the costs. Civil Beat.

Hawai‘i Farmers Confront $11M In Flood Damage Without A Safety Net. Crop insurance is hard to attain in Hawaiʻi, and federal programs are tailored to mainland agriculture. Civil Beat.

State launches emergency relief grants for farmers, ranchers impacted by Kona lows. The Hawaii Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity said the Emergency Farmer Relief Program will provide one-time grants of $1,500 to eligible farms, ranches, and agricultural businesses impacted by Kona Low 1 and Kona Low 2. A total of $500,000 has been authorized for the program. Hawaii News Now.

Homeowners, renters face limited flood-insurance options. Homeowners and renters who did not purchase specific flood insurance before back-to-back Kona-low storms battered the islands likely will have to absorb any financial losses to their homes and property, according to the head of Hawaii’s insurance division. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii DOE updates school closure list, adding 2 on Oahu. The Hawaii Department of Education announced several new school closures due to the heavy rains that have pounded the state since last week. Several already-announced closures were also extended. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now. 

Military officials, community members discuss the future as military land leases near expiration. The first Hawaiʻi-Military Lands Discussion brought together community advocates and activists, military officials and representatives, business leaders, and policymakers to share information and perspectives on military land use in Hawaiʻi. Big Island Now.

Farmers wrestle with proposed statewide rules on agricultural tourism. House Bill 2585 had proposed to create standardized rules for tourism-related activities on agricultural land, like farm tours. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Waiau power plant Biofuel project approved. The state Public Utilities Commission has snubbed a request by the state’s chief energy officer to defer a decision on a proposed biofuel power plant on Oahu, approving the project Monday. Star-Advertiser.

UHERO study: Building condo tower leads to hundreds of existing homes becoming available. A single new condominium tower in Honolulu may have opened up hundreds of additional housing opportunities across Oʻahu, according to new research from the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization. Big Island Now.

Scope of damage from Kona storm flooding becomes clearer. Crews continued to assess the destruction Monday, but authorities said hundreds of homes had been damaged, along with some schools and a hospital. No deaths have been reported, but more than 230 people had to be rescued.  Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2. 

Officials acknowledge mixed messages on Wahiawa Dam risk. Whether Wahiawa Dam was safe or about to fail was top of mind throughout these storms. It became a flashpoint for what officials now acknowledge were “mixed messages” about the risk. KHON2.

Wastewater spills triggered around Oahu, city says. Two Kona-low storms which brought heavy rains that flooded whole communities on Oahu over the past two weeks also triggered numerous wastewater spills across the island, city officials say. Star-Advertiser.

Stay out of ocean after storm, officials warn. From Waikiki to Waimea Bay on Oahu’s North Shore, the storms have transformed near-shore ocean waters from turquoise blue to brown. The Hawaii Department of Health has a message for the public — when the water is brown, stay out. Star-Advertiser.

On Top Of Everything Else Facing Storm-Ravaged Oʻahu … Potholes. After two intense Kona lows, calls to a city hotline to report potholes tripled. As drivers dodge divots, the city is just beginning to assess the damage. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Lightning Grounds Kona Flights, Flood Watch Continues For Hawaiʻi Island. In a sign that the severe weather threat for Hawaiʻi island has not yet ended, the Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole (KOA) underwent a ground stop Monday morning due to lightning. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. 

Maui

Mayor to hold community meetings in storm-impacted areas of Upcountry, ʻĪao Valley and South Maui. Mayor Richard Bissen will hold community meetings for residents Upcountry, and in ʻĪao Valley and South Maui to discuss impacts of the recent kona storms in those areas. Maui Now.

Changes upslope could help curb South Maui’s mud flooding issue, experts say. Maui County Council Member Tom Cook, who holds the Kīhei residency seat, also believes the solution to Kīhei’s flooding and drainage issues has to take place higher up the mountain, or the same thing will keep happening every winter, pointing to the example of the Kūlanihāko‘i gulch that was cleared of thousands of cubic yards of sediment last spring only to be clogged once more after the most recent Kona low.  Maui Now.

Kauai

UPDATE: Wastewater spill at the Līhu‘e Wastewater Treatment Plant has ceased. Approximately 280,000 gallons were released during peak flows from 10 a.m. on March 17, 2026, through March 22. The discharge was contained within the facility and did not reach any public areas or state waters, and does not pose a risk to public health, according to the Wastewater Management Division. Kauai Now.

Hawaii airports to remain open amid partial government shutdown, 13 public schools close for storm repairs, backroom dealing alleged in Oahu power plant case, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii airports remain open amid partial government shutdown. The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation is reassuring the public that all Hawaii airports are being staffed and remain operational amid the partial government shutdown. HDOT says they are aware of national news stories reporting that small airports nationwide may close or pause operations due to the partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security and funding of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).  Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii braces for higher travel costs. Surging global fuel prices — driven by escalating conflict involving Iran and continuing disruption in the Strait of Hormuz — are emerging as a new threat to Hawaii’s airline-dependent travel industry, raising the risk of higher airfares, reduced service, and renewed pressure on the state’s fragile tourism recovery. Star-Advertiser.

13 Oahu, Big Island and Molokai schools to close due to storm-related damage. Thirteen public schools on Oahu, Hawaii island and Molokai will be closed Monday or for the week for storm-related damage assessments, cleanup and repairs, according to the Hawaii State Department of Education. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio. KHON2.  KITV4. 

State launches guides to help understand flood insurance. On Sunday, the Hawaii Insurance Division said it created a Post-Disaster Insurance Claims Guide along with an instructional video on how to file a claim. Hawaii News Now.

Upgrade delayed for Hawaiian history archives. As Hawaii lawmakers weigh years of deferred maintenance across the Capitol district, the State Archives faces an unclear path forward after Senate Bill 2916 — meant to fund planning toward a new facility — appears dead this legislative session. Star-Advertiser.

Bill would grant overdue diplomas to certain veterans. State lawmakers on Thursday advanced Senate Bill 2614, which would allow the state Department of Education to award diplomas to certain veterans who served in the three wars. The bill offers no estimate of how many left high school to fight. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

‘Backroom deal’ meddling alleged in power plant case. Mark Glick, head of the Hawaii State Energy Office, is being accused of meddling in a quasi-judicial proceeding on an Oahu renewable- energy project in favor of an alternative power project proposal announced Tuesday by the governor. Star-Advertiser.

Is Hawaiʻi's corporate power shifting off island? In the past few months, two locally founded companies underwent changes that have altered their relationship to Hawaiʻi by shifting C-suite decision-making toward the continent. Hawaii Public Radio.

Neighborhood Parking Limits Off To Choppy Start In Kalihi Valley. Residents in this Honolulu neighborhood clamored for parking restrictions. Now they’ve got mixed feelings about it. Civil Beat.

City to conduct emergency storm debris pickup in North Shore. The city’s Department of Environmental Services said crews will be deployed to the North Shore starting Monday. Hawaii News Now.

Mud, Mud And More Mud: Residents Of Oʻahu’s North Shore Start To Dig Out. Residents of Haleʻiwa and Waialua were allowed over the weekend to return to their neighborhoods, flooded in the second of two powerful Kona lows. Civil Beat. KHON2. 

Flood-ravaged Otake Camp leans on volunteers as residents face housing struggles. As excavators lifted waterlogged furniture from gutted homes and volunteers shoveled thick mud under a blazing sun, residents of Otake Camp were left to pick up the pieces after devastating flooding from the second Kona-low storm — many without clear answers from property owners or government agencies. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. 

Hawaii Island

More pushback on county housing plan. A resolution to allow leases of six county-owned residential properties to nonprofits to provide “long-term permanent housing for underserved populations who face significant barriers to secure, safe and affordable housing” was shelved for a second time last week by the County Council Finance Committee. Tribune-Herald.

Council votes to expand ‘no parking’ area near Kahalu‘u Beach Park. The Hawaii County Council voted unanimously Wednesday to expand “no parking any time” zones along Ali‘i Drive fronting Kahalu‘u Beach Park in an effort to protect beach-goers from passing cars. Tribune-Herald.

County hosts animal control summit. About 100 people representing Hawaii County departments and community organizations participated in the first Animal Control and Protection Summit held Feb. 27 at the Kahilu Town Hall in Waimea. Their input will be used t o develop a strategic plan for the new Animal Control and Protection Agency.  Tribune-Herald.

$107M Lava buyout program winds down, helping many impacted by 2018 eruption in Puna move on. The final batch of Puna residents who opted to sell their properties affected by the 2018 Kilauea eruption to Hawaii County should be getting paid out by this summer. Tribune-Herald.

Kona low devastates 176-year-old coffee farm on Big Island. Greenwell Farms on Hawai‘i Island has been producing coffee for 176 years. But current owner Tom Greenwell said the Kona low storm that brought heavy rains, flooding, high winds and debris on March 14 was the most destructive to ever hit the family farm. Big Island Now.

Maui

Iwi Kūpuna Desecrated During Lahaina Fire Cleanup, Lawsuit Says. A family is suing a Maui landowner and the state for not protecting Native Hawaiian remains as required by law. Civil Beat.

200,000 gallons of treated wastewater overflows at Lahaina Wastewater Reclamation Facility during kona storm 2. Approximately 200,000 gallons of partially treated wastewater (backwash) overflowed at the Lahaina Wastewater Reclamation Facility, 3300 Honoapiʻilani Highway, Lahaina, during kona storm 2 on March 21, 2026, according to the County of Maui Department of Environmental Management. Maui Now.

Most MEMA evacuation warnings and advisories for Maui County zones lifted Sunday night. Maui Emergency Management Agency LIFTED evacuation warnings and advisories for most zones throughout Maui County as of 6 p.m. on Sunday, March 22, 2026, due to improving kona storm conditions and dissipating threats. Maui Now.

Kauai

Editor’s note: Due to the number of candidates for council and our limited staffing, The Garden Island requests council candidates to submit a press release and we will run them on a first come basis. Garden Island.

Council candidate Paul Applegate wants a ‘Safe Kauai’.  Paul Applegate, a candidate for the Kauai County Council, will be hosting a series of “Talk Story” events at various locations across the island. Dates, times, and venues for each event will be shared through his campaign website and social media channels.  Garden Island.

Royal Order of Kamehameha I, Chapter 3 hosts annual protocol. The commemorative service hosted by the Royal Order of Kamehameha I, Chapter 3, and Na Wahine Hui O Kamehameha celebrated the 150th birthday of Prince Kuhio on Saturday — five days prior to the actual March 26 birth date that is a recognized Hawaii state holiday. Garden Island.

Kaua‘i County addressing ongoing wastewater spill contained to the Līhu‘e Wastewater Treatment Plant. The discharge remains confined within the facility and has not reached any public areas or state waters, and does not pose a risk to public health, according to a news release from Kaua‘i County Sunday afternoon. Kauai Now.

Tax fairness, education bills mulled by Legislature, 135 mph wind gust clocked on Big Island, catastrophic flooding on Oahu as Kona low resumes, what Jones Act reprieve means to the state, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Tax fairness promoted in bills would implement major changes. The Hawai‘i Tax Fairness Coalition is advocating for bills that would make major changes to the state’s income tax, capital gains tax, real estate sales tax and a tax on income for real estate investment trusts, putting more pressure on the wealthiest to pay more. Star-Advertiser.

From Free Meals To Teacher Safety, An Array Of Bills For Hawaiʻi Schools. Proposals have made it halfway through the legislative session, and some advocates are cautiously optimistic that legislation that failed in past years will make it this year. Civil Beat.

Free Bus Rides For Keiki? So Much For That. An initiative to make transit free for all youth across Hawaiʻi that had raised supporters’ hopes appears dead, a victim of tight budgets and funding concerns. Civil Beat.

Hawaii agricultural damage estimated in the millions after Kona Low. The Hawaii Farm Bureau said damage to agricultural crops and infrastructure is in the millions. KHON2.

Nearly 300 damage reports at schools as another Kona low approaches Hawaii. The state Department of Education is continuing to assess damage to campuses statewide after a powerful Kona low storm brought heavy rain, flooding and strong winds across multiple islands, as another system is expected to impact the islands from Thursday evening through Monday. Star-Advertiser.

What To Know About The Jones Act As Trump Unveils A 60-Day Waiver. U.S.-flagged ships are generally more expensive to both operate and build than foreign ones. And those costs are especially damaging to states that are supplied by sea, such as Hawai‘i. Associated Press.

Four deals fuel $2.9B in commercial real estate investment. Hawaii’s commercial real estate market saw its strongest performance in four years in 2025 with $2.9 billion in sales volume across 279 transactions, driven by four blockbuster deals. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Catastrophic flooding hits northern Oahu today. On Oahu, a large band of heavy showers and thunderstorms has already dropped 5 to 10 inches of rain in just six hours, causing catastrophic flooding in the northern part of the island. KITV4.

City’s $24.6M land purchase paves way for responder hub. Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration and the owner of a commercial center on Oahu’s North Shore have finalized a $24.6 million land sale agreement that may lead to a first-responder hub built close to the area’s residents and to those visiting its world-renowned beaches, city officials say. Star-Advertiser.

‘We’re Screwed’: Dole Did Little To Fix Dangerous Wahiawā Dam. Hawaiʻi’s proposal to acquire the dam, and have taxpayers foot the bill for repairs, let the company off the hook. Civil Beat.

Kahuku students escape school bus fire on H-3 Freeway. The Kahuku High School girls’ flag football team escaped a raging bus fire on the H-3 Freeway Thursday night. School principal Walter Santiago confirmed the team was on the bus, and the coaches and players got off safely with no injuries. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.  KITV4. 

Hawaii Island

135 mph Wind Gust Recorded On Hawaiʻi Island. The University of Hawaiʻi’s Hawaiʻi Mesonet recorded the hurricane-force wind gust at Kaiāulu Puʻuwaʻawaʻa during last weekend’s kona low storm. Big Island Video News.

Emergency Repairs Planned for Pāhala Transfer Station. Emergency repairs will begin Friday at the Pāhala Recycling and Transfer Station, due to a subsidence issue at the facility. Big Island Video News.

Pahoa food drop draws large crowd — and plenty of aloha. The aid event was organized by Vibrant Hawaii, a nonprofit organization running a network of community resilience hubs across Hawaii Island supporting disaster preparedness and relief work. Tribune-Herald.

Maui 

Council hears updates on kona low response, Lahaina wildfire rebuilding. While Maui County braces for more severe weather, council members are poised to take action Friday morning on a $15 million request for emergency funding, following a Wednesday committee update on the effort to rebuild from the August 2023 Lahaina wildfire disaster. Maui Now.

Planning Department navigates ‘relentless’ workload amid staffing shortages. Maui County planners are managing a “relentless” amount of work, including permit applications for Lahaina rebuilding, while operating with 15 staff vacancies, acting Planning Director Jacky Takakura told Maui County Council members Wednesday. Maui Now.

Kauai

No public risk from ongoing wastewater discharge in Līhuʻe. An ongoing wastewater spill at the Līhuʻe Wastewater Treatment Plant is being contained on-site and does not pose a threat to pubic health, Kauaʻi County officials announced in a press release. Kauai Now.

County again urges vigilance ahead of severe weather. The Kauai Emergency Management Agency is urgently warning the public to stay alert and take action, as the National Weather Service warns that another Kona low system poses a significant threat to Kauai this weekend. Garden Island.

Governor to choose next Hawaii Supreme Court chief justice, average gas price jumps to $4.95 a gallon, Lahaina House rep switches to GOP, cat sterilization bill advances, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. Josh Green to choose new Chief Justice, circuit judge from list of nominees. The nominees for chief justice are:  Lance D. Collins, Vladimir Devens, David M. Forman, Benjamin E. Lowenthal and Sabrina S. McKenna. Big Island Now.

Legislature kills bill intended to seek damages from fossil fuel companies. Senate Bill 3000, which would have authorized the state attorney general to bring a civil action on behalf of the people of the state to recover losses from any responsible parties after a climate disaster, was voted down in the Ways and Means Committee. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii average gas prices jump to $4.95 a gallon. Gas prices have made a huge jump, resulting in high prices at the pump. Gas prices are roughly 70 cents higher than they were two weeks ago.  KHON2.

Should tax dollars be used for campaigns? These election reform bills are still alive. Campaign finance has been a topic of interest this legislative session. The heightened focus can be attributed to a federal investigation that unearthed allegations of an unknown lawmaker accepting $35,000 in a paper bag. Hawaii Public Radio.

Neighbor Islands Could See A Rare Political Win In The Legislature. Bills primarily serving Hawaiʻi, Maui and Kauaʻi counties often struggle to gain traction, but a major housing bill has promise. Civil Beat.

Lahaina Rep. Elle Cochran switches party affiliation to Republican. State House Rep. Elle Cochran of Lahaina announced on Monday that she is switching her political party affiliation from Democrat to Republican. Her move to the other side of the aisle increases the House Republicans’ numbers to 10. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii bill requiring sterilization of cats advances. House Bill 1736 establishes a special spay- neuter fund, but also requires owners of all pet cats ages five months or older to get their felines sterilized and prohibits intact cats from being imported into Hawaii, with some exceptions. Star-Advertiser.

Weaker storm forms as damage resonates. A powerful storm that drenched Hawaii over the weekend delivered rainfall totals not seen statewide since the early 1980s, overwhelming rivers, knocking out power and destroying homes and property. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now. 

Oahu

Wahiawa dam owner says failure risk overstated. Dole Food Co. Hawaii, owner of a dam in Wahiawa that city officials warned could fail and endanger North Shore residents amid a deluge on Friday contends that the dam functioned as designed, is safe, and actually reduced flood risks. Star-Advertiser.

Skyline trains halted by storm-related power outages.  The city Department of Transportation Services partially suspended operations of Skyline due to power outages that affected automated, driverless trains from East Kapolei to the Waipahu Transit Center. Several stations were operating on backup power, city officials said. Star-Advertiser.

Days-long power outage forces eateries to toss thousands worth of food. As Hawaiian Electric crews work to restore power for thousands across the islands, impacted customers can file claims. Hawaii News Now.

Storm aftermath: Recovery begins across Oahu. For one Waiahole Valley neighborhood, recovery began the moment the towering banyan tree came crashing down on Saturday, March 14. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

‘Plan for prolonged outages’: Thousands on Big Island still without power after Kona low storm. Roughly 8,000 Hawaiian Electric Company customers across Hawaii Island were still without electricity Monday afternoon as utility crews raced to clear fallen trees and repair power lines damaged by the Kona low storm over the weekend. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiʻi Island Storm Recovery Update. Hawaiʻi County officials provided an update on the status of local government services and facilities following the recent Kona low storm that produced flash flooding across the Big Island.  Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. KHON2. 

Maui

Maui recovers from inundation, prepares for next storm. The powerful Kona-low storm that drenched the state over the weekend hit Maui County the hardest.  Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.

Community raises $48,000 for couple whose home washed away in ʻĪao. A GoFundMe campaign has raised more than $48,000 for an 80-year-old couple living in a storage container after recent floodwaters destroyed their home and property in ʻĪao Valley. Maui Now.

Kauai

County asks residents to submit information on damages from storm. The County of Kauaʻi is collecting preliminary assessments of affected areas to understand the scope of damages and community impacts. Kauai Now.

Hawaii begins mopping up from storm, HECO warns of prolonged power outages, legislative session reaches midpoint, LNG may not save as much as originally forecast, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii shifts into recovery mode. Communities across Hawaii began shifting into recovery Sunday after days of intense rain, flash flooding and damaging winds from a powerful Kona-low storm. The state Department of Transportation Highways Division is estimating $23.04 million in damage statewide — roughly $14 million on Oahu, $7 million on Maui, $2 million on Hawaii island and $35,000 on Kauai — to cover contractor response, debris clearing, rock removal, guardrail and sign repairs, bridge inspections, traffic signal fixes and road repairs. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Hawaii Public Radio.

HECO warns of prolonged outages for customers still in the dark. Hawaiian Electric said more than 26,000 customers are still without power. They include about 7,000 on Oahu, 4,600 on Maui and 14,500 on Hawaii Island.  At the same time, Kauai Island Utility Cooperative reported 18 active outages across Kauai. Star-Advertiser.

Storm triggers travel chaos, millions in tourism losses. Hawaii’s tourism industry is bracing for millions of dollars in lost revenue after the Kona-low storm disrupted travel statewide, prompting hundreds of flight delays, dozens of cancellations and a wave of last-minute hotel reservation wipeouts across the islands. Star-Advertiser.

Storm exposes transportation system vulnerabilities. As a powerful Kona low lashed the islands with heavy rain and strong winds, state transportation officials say the storm is revealing a deeper problem: that much of Hawaii’s infrastructure was designed decades ago for conditions that no longer exist. Star-Advertiser.

Rain Check: 5-day totals show Kona Low dumped more rain than expected across Hawaii. Preliminary rainfall totals through 10 a.m. Sunday show some of the highest five-day amounts reported statewide were concentrated on Maui and Hawaii Island, with multiple gauges topping 20 inches. Hawaii News Now.

Future of Hawaii tax breaks cloudy as House and Senate trade bills. The Legislature has reached the halfway point of its five-month session with different approaches between the House and Senate over how to preserve tax breaks for most Hawaii residents as legislators move nearly 850 bills to the opposite chamber for further debate. Star-Advertiser.

As legislative session hits midpoint, federal funding impacts remain the focus. The crossover deadline means that if a bill was introduced in the House, it needed to pass by Thursday and be sent to the Senate, and vice versa. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Sun Is Still Shining For Key Reform Bills Halfway Through Session. But a few significant issues failed to generate much interest this year as legislators scurried to meet the crossover deadline. Civil Beat.

Independent analyst disputes reported cost savings of powering Hawaiʻi with LNG. A former University of Hawaiʻi professor claims that a landmark state report may have overestimated the potential cost savings of swapping liquefied natural gas for oil by more than a billion dollars. Hawaii Public Radio.

Fake Farms Get Tax Breaks, But Hawaiʻi Can’t Stop Them Yet. Not everyone living on agricultural land is a farmer. But state agencies have struggled to distinguish the genuine food producers from the hobby farmers looking for a tax break. Civil Beat.

Families Want Playground Access. They Could Get A Criminal Record Instead. DOE wants more support in keeping unwanted visitors off its campuses, but families say school playgrounds are an important part of the community. Civil Beat.

Hawaii film productions to bring economic boost. Netflix’s second season of “Untamed,” Jason Momoa’s action‑comedy “Protecting Jared,” and the third film in the “Jumanji” franchise have all begun, marking one of the busiest periods for local filming in recent years. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Cleanup efforts underway at Ala Wai Canal after Kona Low storms. Crews are working to clean debris from the Ala Wai Canal after recent Kona low storms brought heavy rain and runoff to Oʻahu. KHON2.

Home gets swept into the ocean near Keehi Stream. The Honolulu Fire Department responded to a home that washed into the ocean at Kahauiki Village near the Keehi Stream on Friday night. KITV4.

North Shore Oʻahu Farmers Search For Answers In The Kona Storm Wreckage. Farmers spent Saturday wading through their properties, trying to pick up the pieces from crops and livestock lost during torrential rains, flooding and high winds this week. Civil Beat.

Farmer releases 500 animals to seek shelter from storm. Waimanalo farmer Claude Colton, owner of Colton Farms, released 500 of his animals, hoping for the best at the height of the storm and was particularly worried about the survival of a newborn calf and other young ones in the heavy rainfall and gusting winds. Star-Advertiser.

Osano family renews legacy with major Kyo‑ya renovations. The Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort, marked its 125th anniversary last week with three generations of the Osano family — owners of Kyo-ya Hotels & Resorts since 1963 — on hand to reaffirm their commitment to family stewardship and ongoing upgrades across the company’s six U.S. hotels, all of which have ties to Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Mayor: Hawaii Island hit with ‘worst flooding I’ve seen’ . County officials on the Big Island said cleanup is underway after some portions of the Island saw over 20 inches of rain overnight. KHON2.

Hawaiʻi Storm Update for Sunday at 6 p.m. About 14,500 Hawaiian Electric customers are without power, with the majority in Puna, South Point, and North and South Kona. The electric company says crews completed repairs to two transmission lines on Sunday, and expect to complete repairs to a third line by tomorrow. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. 

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park remains closed due to storm-related damage. The park could reopen some areas Monday, but there is no timeline, officials said. Hawaii News Now.

Resilience hubs provide aid to affected residents during kona low storm response. Across Hawaiʻi Island, communities are responding to multiple challenges with speed, care, and coordination through Aloha in Action. Big Island Now.

Maui

Kīhei shoreline hit hard in Kona low storm: ‘It’s just total chaos. It’s a total river.’ The roaring water, much of it starting high on 10,000-foot Haleakalā, was a maroon-brown color from collecting sand, sediment and who knows what else along the way. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now.

10 years after sugar plantation’s closure, Puʻunēnē Mill’s transformation in the works. The property’s owner, Oʻahu-based Nan Inc., wants to repurpose many of the Maui landmark’s buildings and features to transform the area into light industrial for local businesses. Maui Now.

Kauai

3 chosen for Kauai Island Utility Cooperative Board of Directors. KIUC incumbent directors Allan A. Smith and Jim Mayfield were re-elected to office following the vote counting by Merriman River Group. The third director position will be filled by Bryson Ponce, retired from Kauai Police Department Administration. Garden Island.

New study on Kauaʻi finds surge in road deaths for Hawaiʻi’s state bird, the nēnē. A new research effort on Kauaʻi’s west side is uncovering a troubling trend that far more endangered nēnē, the Hawaiʻi state bird, are dying along a rural highway than previously believed. Kauai Now.