Showing posts with label Kyle Yamashita. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kyle Yamashita. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Yamashita ousted as Finance Committee chair, April shipping down 30%, Trump lawsuits pile up, hundreds of Kauai workers owed back pay, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Yamashita Ousted As Chair Of State House Finance Committee. House Speaker Nadine Nakamura told the 51-member House in a memo that Rep. Kyle Yamashita has been replaced by Rep. Chris Todd to lead the powerful House Finance Committee. The change is effective Wednesday. Lawmakers say Democrats were disappointed with his leadership, especially with the Hawaiʻi Legislature facing financial uncertainty from Trump. Civil Beat.

Native history exempt from DEI, CRT restrictions. The U.S. Department of Education said Native Hawaiian, American Indian and Alaska Native history will not be categorized as “diversity, equity and inclusion” or “critical race theory” under the federal government’s new directive for the nation’s schools. Star-Advertiser.

Matson cargo business from China is broadsided by Trump trade tariffs. The U.S.-led trade war with China has delivered a hard initial blow to one of Hawaii’s largest companies, ocean cargo transportation firm Matson Inc. On Monday, Matson said its container volume sank about 30% in April from a year earlier. Star-Advertiser.

Businesses in Hawaii pessimistic about tariffs and economy. Some 37% of Hawaii businesses said tariffs make them “very concerned,” while another 40% are “somewhat concerned,” adding up to a whopping 77% of businesses feeling tariff anxiety, according to a new survey by ProService Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Bills to increase food security go to governor. With statistics showing the state of Hawaii imports about 90% of the food its residents consume, a pair of bills with the goal of improving food security has made it through the Legislature and to Gov. Josh Green. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiʻi Fireworks Reforms Put Enforcement Onus On Police. For years, law enforcement agencies said the law held them back from effective fireworks prosecutions. A reform measure awaiting the governor’s OK counts on them to step up. Civil Beat.

 Trump Lawsuits: Tracking Hawaiʻi’s Legal Actions Against The White House. A new database will track Hawaiʻi lawsuits against executive orders and other actions taken by the second Trump administration. Civil Beat.

20 attorneys general ask judge to reverse deep cuts to U.S. Health and Human Services. Attorneys general in 19 states and Washington, D.C., are challenging cuts to the U.S. Health and Human Services agency, saying the Trump administration's massive restructuring has destroyed life-saving programs and left states to pick up the bill for mounting health crises. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii blocks Trump’s order to dismantle libraries, museums and more. The dismantling of three federal agencies (Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) and Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS)) was halted on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 through a court order the State of Hawaii won. KITV4.

Hawaiʻi moves ahead with lawsuit against oil industry despite pushback from Trump. The day before the state filed its lawsuit against the oil industry, the federal government filed its own complaint against Hawaiʻi in an attempt to block the state's legal action. Hawaii Public Radio.

Commentary: Hawaiʻi’s Working Families Need More Support. Advocates for working families are concerned that bad things are coming with federal cuts and hoped the Legislature would do more to increase the state’s safety net. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Longtime Chinatown business facing tariffs says Hawaiʻi's lei will survive. Mother's Day is this weekend, and graduations are just around the corner, making it the busiest time of year for lei makers. But tariffs are raising the price of flowers, and families are feeling a squeeze in their budgets.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu real estate market favors buyers, but sales lower despite high inventory
. Amid a growing inventory of single-family homes and condominiums on Oahu, year-to-date sales volumes in both markets remained depressed in April from the same period in 2024 but rose slightly from March’s numbers, according to a monthly report released Tuesday by the Honolulu Board of Realtors. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu EMS unveils new ambulances. In a line that stretched the length of one of the park’s parking lots, the city showed off 16 brand-new or newly refurbished ambulances — namely, 14 Emergency Medical Serv­ices rigs and two Crisis Outreach Engagement and Response Sprinter vans — meant to respond to a myriad of lifesaving emergencies and medical care incidents across Oahu, on a 24/7 basis. Star-Advertiser.

Controversy over Royal Summit youth treatment facility in Aiea. In the quiet Royal Summit neighborhood, residents are riled up over a new residential program for teens with histories of sexual behavior problems. KITV4.

Straub discharges final burn patient from Aliamanu fireworks explosion. Charmaine Benigno was the last survivor of the New Year’s Day explosion in Aliamanu to be discharged in Honolulu. Hawaii News Now. Star-Advertiser.

The Aloha Stadium Swap Meet set to make its move. After years of discussion and planning, the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet and Market place is just weeks away from relocating. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Big Island journalist on uncovering the housing corruption case set for trial. Alan Scott Rudo, a former Hawaiʻi County housing official, pleaded guilty to taking bribes and is awaiting sentencing. Three others, including Hawaiʻi Island attorneys Paul Joseph Sulla Jr. and Gary Charles Zamber, go to trial next week in Honolulu's federal court before Judge Jill Otake. Hawaii Public Radio.

County Seeks Proposals For Affordable Housing Production Program. The County’s Office of Housing and Community Development is seeking non-profit and for-profit organizations, public agencies, and community land trusts who may be eligible for Affordable Housing Production (AHP) Program funding. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

Hawaii County seeks public input on proposal to charge admission at zoo. The new proposal said that keiki and kupuna who are county residents would still be free, but adult residents would pay $4.  Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiian warrior’s feathered cape returns home to Hawaii Island. Chief Keaoua Kekuaokalani wore the ahuula when he was killed in the Battle of Kuamoo in 1819. The Smithsonian Museum in Suitland, Maryland, had held the cape since 1869. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Maui Health achieves ACS Level III Trauma Center verification. Maui Health announced that Maui Memorial Medical Center has been verified as an American College of Surgeons (ACS) Level III Trauma Center.  Maui News.

3 Hawaiian Immersion students from Maui ask for help to get to D.C.  Three Hawaiian language immersion students from Ke Kula Kaiapuni ʻo Kekaulike on Maui are calling on the community to help raise $12,000 to represent Hawaiʻi at the 2025 National ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi Showcase in Washington, D.C., this June. Maui Now.

Kauai

Hundreds of workers owed back pay.
The U.S. Department of Labor is actively seeking hundreds of workers who are owed their share of more than $3.8 million in unpaid overtime deliberately withheld by a Kilauea staffing agency and Lihue cleaning contractor following a federal investigation and litigation. Garden Island.

Namahana School gifted $1 million for new middle school classrooms
. An anonymous donor couple gifted $1 million to a public charter school on Kaua‘i, which will go toward building middle school classrooms. Kauai Now.



Tuesday, December 10, 2024

Big changes coming to state tax code, U.S. Supreme Court won't take up gun rights case, UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting suspect recently lived in Honolulu, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawai‘i House Finance Chair Has Plans For Big Changes In The Tax Code. Rep. Kyle Yamashita has been talking about shifting millions of dollars in tax surcharge revenue from the counties back to the state. Civil Beat.

U.S. Supreme Court avoids Hawaii legal fight over gun rights. The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected a Hawaii man’s bid to throw out criminal charges for carrying a pistol while hiking, as the justices declined to review a ruling by the liberal-leaning state’s top court that denounced an expansion of gun rights by the nation’s highest judicial body. Reuters. Associated Press. Hawaii News Now.

Luigi Mangione’s Hawaiʻi Friends Shocked By Arrest In UnitedHealthcare CEO Shooting.
Luigi Mangione lived at the Surfbreak co-living community near Ala Moana Park on Oʻahu and later at 801 South St. Friends recall him as a natural leader who led a book club where members would share ideas while watching sunsets from a place called Magic Island. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.  Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.  KITV4.

Senators Urged To Examine Gabbard’s ‘Deep and Intense’ Ties To Hawaiʻi Sect. A former member of the scretive Science of Identity Foundation is warning members of Congress about the potential dangers of confirming Tulsi Gabbard as President-elect Donald Trump’s next director of national intelligence. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers again introduce measures to boost civic education and media literacy. Hawai‘i lawmakers are renewing efforts to help students identify disinformation and improve their understanding of how the government works. Hawaii Public Radio.

UH, Navy, Marines team up on resource management. The University of Hawaii and the Department of the Navy signed Monday an unprecedented 10-year agreement aimed at safeguarding natural and cultural resources on Navy and Marine Corps installations in the state. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian to take over Seattle-based routes, add airplanes and crews. Alaska Air Group today plans to tell investors in New York that Hawaiian Airlines will take over West Coast routes from Alaska Airlines to Hawaii and fly new nonstop routes from Seattle to Japan and South Korea, and announce more Hawaiian Air planes, and flight and ground crews. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu City Council to vote on standards for office-to-residence conversions. The Honolulu City Council will have its final vote Wednesday on a bill that would lay out the standards to convert commercial buildings to residential. Hawaii Public Radio.

City Council to vote Wednesday on empty homes tax bill. More than 9% of Oahu homes are vacant. That’s 34,000 unoccupied units based on 2020 U.S. Census data. Hawaii News Now.

Property values are going up again, here’s why
. Heads up to homeowners, real property assessments will be mailed out soon and valuations are up again. That means many will be paying higher property taxes. KHON2.

Hawaiʻi Has Money To Police Agriculture Crime, But No Timeline To Start. Despite the high-profile killing of an Oʻahu rancher, local law enforcement don’t receive any specialized training in agricultural crime. Civil Beat.

City and state collaborate to improve Kailua Beach Park. The city Department of Parks and Recreation, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands and the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program say they plan to work with community groups to smooth and flatten the dunes toward the makai side of the park. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

The Case Against Mike Miske Could Be About To Disappear As If It Never Happened. A federal legal doctrine requires all actions be vacated if a defendant dies before being sentenced or if any appeals remain. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Military Exemption To Hawaiʻi Nuclear-Free Law Repealed. The military is no longer exempt from Hawaiʻi County’s Nuclear-Free Law, according to Big Island lawmakers.  Big Island Video News.

Agency sees uptick in marine debris. The Hawaii Wildlife Fund has removed about 350 tons of marine debris from Big Island shores between 2003 and 2023, the majority of which came in the form of net bundles, masses of tangled rope and nets that can weigh hundreds of pounds. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui County Council considers ban on flavored tobacco sales. The council passed the measure through its first reading on Friday after a series of mostly supportive testimony. If passed, retailers would not be allowed to sell or market flavored tobacco, including menthol products. Hawaii Public Radio.

This unsheltered Maui community is stepping up to improve the road they call home. It’s shower and laundry day at Holomua Road in Pāʻia, where nearly 30 Maui residents live unsheltered. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui coalition of the Hawaiʻi Workers Center departs to Washington D.C. to demand Congress release disaster recovery funds for Lahaina.
A Maui coalition of the Hawaiʻi Workers Center has departed to Washington D.C. where they will demand that Congress release disaster recovery funds for Lahaina.  Maui Now.

Private Maui school’s proposed anti-trans policy stirs controversy. A West Maui school is considering controversial new guidelines that would essentially ban transgender students. The proposed changes would come to Maui Preparatory Academy in 2025. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

University of Hawai‘i and the US Navy partner to support Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands. The University of Hawaiʻi and the Department of the Navy signed a historic 10-year agreement to support the protection and management of natural and cultural resources on Navy and Marine Corps installations in Hawaiʻi. Kauai Now.

Wednesday, April 3, 2024

Recreational marijuana bill dies in House committee, fee on electric bills could finance HECO fire prevention, Kauai police chief loses his gun twice, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii bill to legalize recreational marijuana stalls. The latest effort to legalize recreational marijuana for adults appears dead once again after House Finance Chair Kyle Yamashita declined to hold a vote on Senate Bill 3335. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald.  Big Island Now. KHON2.

Your Electric Bill Could Be Going Up To Help Pay For Wildfire Prevention Measures. Hawaii lawmakers are considering a new fee to help HECO's fire-fighting plan but there was strong testimony against it. Civil Beat.

Bill aims to exempt private practice physicians from GET. A bill resurrected from last year’s legislative session to exempt medical providers from the state’s general excise tax will be heard today by the House Committee on Finance. West Hawaii Today.

LGBTQ+ support push for same-sex marriage bill. House Bill 2802, which calls for a state constitutional amendment to repeal the Legislature’s authority to limit marriage to opposite-sex couples, remains alive as advocates worry about a conservative-­leaning U.S. Supreme Court possibly overturning same-sex marriages across the country. Star-Advertiser.

Bill could remove government powers to limit communication during emergency. Some members of the press say a section of the Hawaii revised Statutes, allowing for the seizing of control of electronic communications in a time of emergency, is out of date. A bill striking those powers is being heard this week. KITV4.

Senate Bill 2575 prohibits deep-sea mining in Hawaii waters. Senate Bill 25-75 aims to protect Hawaii's marine life by prohibiting the removal of rare metals from Hawaii's seafloor with certain exemptions. KITV4.

Lawmakers advance measure to address misinformation and objective reporting. A resolution in the state Senate is asking the Hawaiʻi chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists to establish a process to identify ethical and objective sources of news. Hawaii Public Radio.

Push for more homes on smaller lots statewide suffers setback. Three state House committees have eviscerated a bill to increase single-family housing densities statewide after receiving much more negative than positive testimony. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio.

UH Regents Are Stepping Up The Search For A New President. Public forums are set to begin this month with finalists to be named by September and a new leader announced in October.  Civil Beat.

Deadline Extended To Apply For Vacancy On Hawaii State Ethics Commission. The deadline to submit applications to fill a vacancy on the Hawaii State Ethics Commission has been extended to April 15 from March 22, the Judiciary Council announced Tuesday. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s Deaf Community Is Struggling With Lack Of Certified ASL Interpreters. There are no state-credentialed American Sign Language interpreters living on Kauai, Molokai, Niihau or Lanai. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Rift emerges on Honolulu Ocean Safety department plan. During the City Council’s Committee on Budget meeting, the proposal to establish, staff, fund and perhaps have public oversight over a larger city lifeguard department caused division between Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration and a few Council members. Star-Advertiser.

‘No aloha’: Council grills head of preservation society opposing hula show venture. Honolulu City Council members put the head of a preservation group on the hot seat for opposing a Hawaiian nonprofit’s effort to pay for its free hula show. Council members are trustees of Kapiolani Park, where the show is offered. Hawaii News Now.

Guilty plea expected in pandemic benefits theft case. A 54-year-old Kunia woman is expected to plead guilty today to federal charges that she stole $52,270 from a pandemic unemployment insurance program using other people’s identities. Star-Advertiser.

‘Cloudy’ tap water stirs concern, but tests show it’s safe to drink. The Honolulu Board of Water Supply says there’s a new timeline to fix cloudy tap water in Mililani Mauka. Officals say the pump that needs to clear air bubbles from the lines will take two months to get here. Hawaii News Now.

Queen’s completes purchase of Wahiawa General Hospital. The Queen’s Health System is now the owner of the Wahiawa General Hospital, the purchase was finalized on Tuesday. Hospital officials said the facility will be closed for services but they are prioritizing reopening the emergency room by the summer. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Hawaiʻi Island Beekeeping To Expand Under New Council Bill.
A bill that would remove some of the existing barriers to beekeeping on the Big Island was heard by the Hawaiʻi County Council’s Policy Committee on Health, Safety, and Well-being on Tuesday.  Big Island Video News.

Hawaii Island’s ‘cryptic’ potential name change explained. The Hawaiʻi Board of Geographic Names is mulling alternatives. A decision on the naming was not made on Tuesday, the two main options are still Hawaiʻi and Hawaiʻi Island. KHON2.

How one Hawaiʻi Island teacher is setting an example for AI in classrooms. To speed up the work, Anderson-Moxley, who is a teacher at West Hawaii Explorations Academy, launched an artificial intelligence tool called Roborubrics this year.  Hawaii Public Radio.

No tickets required this year for Hō‘ike, donations encouraged at event to help those impacted by Lāhainā fire. The hula exhibition and folk dance from across the Pacific takes place tonight at 6 p.m., a day before the three-night competition commences. Big Island Now.

Big Island author talks new novel about Maunakea. The Conversation thought it would be a good time to talk to Big Island author Tom Peek about his new novel, "Mauna Kea: A Novel of Hawaiʻi."  Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui


Maui Budget Earmarks $2.6 Million For Lahaina Wastewater Permit. One line item in particular in the Department of Environmental Management’s proposed budget triggered questions over $2.6 million in proposed funding for preparation of a federal Clean Water Act permit for treatment of Lahaina’s wastewater. Civil Beat.

Mayor Bissen’s Weekly Disaster Recovery Community Update Meetings resume Wednesday in Lahaina. Officials from the US Army Corps of Engineers and the US Environmental Protection Agency will offer current information on Lahaina debris removal during this week’s meeting. Maui Now.

COFA citizens can now apply for FEMA disaster assistance
. Citizens of the Freely Associated States, collectively known as COFA citizens, whose primary residences on Maui were affected by the August wildfires and high winds may now apply for FEMA disaster assistance, according to a press release from FEMA.  Maui News. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauai police chief could face disciplinary action after losing his firearm a second time.
According to a complaint filed with the Kauai Police Commission, Chief Todd Raybuck seems to be making a habit out of leaving his service weapon in the same stall of the same restroom. Hawaii News Now.

‘Death threat’ investigation against Kaua‘i councilman remains ongoing. Kaua‘i County Councilmember Bill DeCosta remains on administrative leave from his second job at Kapa‘a High School due to an undisclosed January incident that coincided with the local politician receiving an alleged handwritten death threat. Kauai Now.

Visitors spend big in February on Kaua‘i.
Visitor spending broke through the $200 million barrier in February for the second time, in turn setting a new high for the month on the island of Kaua‘i. Garden Island.

Emergency zone declared near Kῑkῑaola Boat Harbor.
The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation plans to declare a traffic emergency zone on Kaumuali‘i Highway near mile post 24.4 in in the vicinity of Kῑkῑaola Boat Harbor for emergency culvert repair. Kauai Now.

Wednesday, January 25, 2023

Big Island man free after 25 years in prison for rape, murder he didn't commit, youth sue state over climate change, tourism agency seeks to curb visitors' bad behavior, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Big Island man free after decades imprisoned for murder, rape he didn’t commit. Judge overturns Ian Schweitzer’s conviction in Dana Ireland’s rape, murder. A judge on Tuesday ordered that a Puna man who spent 26 years of his life behind bars for perhaps the most notorious murder in Hawaii’s history “be released from his shackles immediately.” Tribune-Herald. Star-Advertiser. Associated Press.  Big Island Now.  Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

How A Longtime Politician Became The Chair Of The House Finance Committee. Rep. Kyle Yamashita, who is known for his quiet nature, is leading one of the most powerful committees in the Legislature. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Ag Director Plans To ‘Go Big’ If Confirmed. The department's funding has become cause for concern after losing a special revenue stream. Lawmakers say they are listening, but they expect the next director to ask for more. Civil Beat.

Freshman lawmakers aim to rebuild Hawaii’s GOP. Freshman state Sen. Brenton Awa — who is embroiled in a stalemate with the Senate’s only other Republican over who will lead their two-member caucus — wants to reinvigorate and rebrand Hawaii’s Republican Party by helping disenfranchised, working-class families in his rural district on the Windward side of Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Fourteen young people in Hawaii who are plaintiffs in a climate change lawsuit against the state are preparing for their day in court. Ranging between the ages of 8 to 20, they call the case Navahine v. Hawaii Department of Transportation. Hawaii News Now.

HTA: ‘Room for improvement’ in efforts to discourage bad behavior among visitors. The Hawaii Tourism Authority is responding to incidents bad behavior among visitors that have gone viral on social media. And they’re acknowledging the need for more education. Hawaii News Now.

DOE: $2.4B in repair, deferred maintenance backlog. From roofing to interior and exterior construction, the Department of Education said its price tag for repairs and deferred maintenance has climbed to a hefty amount. KHON2.

Why School Enrollment Declines Are A ‘Significant Concern’ In Hawaii. Hawaii is on track to have fewer students enrolled in state-run schools by 2027 than at any point since the early years of statehood.  Civil Beat.

This program has diverted scores of mentally ill people from jail to treatment.
It’s also saved millions. A program that pushes mentally ill defendants into community treatment instead of jail has saved taxpayers millions of dollars — and it’s still just in the testing phase. Advocates, judges and lawmakers say the results prove it’s time to beef up the program. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Report condemns Hawaii’s policies on sale of flavored tobacco products. Hawaii received an “F” grade for its policies on flavored tobacco products, according to the American Lung Association’s annual State of Tobacco Control report. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu

New Park Rangers To Serve As Beach Sleuths. A set of mobile cops will fan out across Oahu's parks, looking for the rogue operators that are driving residents crazy. Civil Beat.

Handi-Van to improve service under DOJ deal. Following a public complaint over the inability to easily book rides on the city’s prime paratransit service, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Tuesday it entered into a settlement agreement with the City and County of Honolulu to improve the operations of TheHandi-Van. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Secretary of the Army addresses Red Hill concerns, but residents remain dissatisfied. The Secretary of the Army is on Oahu connecting with military members to try to improve their quality of life, but some Red Hill families were not satisfied. Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth is in Hawaii to focus on aging infrastructure and quality of life issues. Hawaii News Now.

Former Kamehameha Schools head appointed Bishop Museum interim CEO.  Former Kamehameha Schools Bishop Estate CEO Dee Jay Mailer has been appointed interim president and CEO of Bishop Museum. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Bill to require County Council approval of time extensions postponed. A bill that would require County Council authorization of time extensions to zoning ordinances was temporarily set aside Tuesday after an amendment to the measure. West Hawaii Today.

Bills would limit BLNR’s power over lease extensions. Big Island lawmakers are hopeful they can get a struggling program to revitalize parts of Hilo back on track. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiʻi Land Trust names new steward, educator for Māhukona on Big Island.
Keone Emeliano has joined the Hawaiʻi Land Trust as the Māhukona steward and educator.  Māhukona on the Kohala Coast of the Big Island is the center for traditional navigation for the entire Pacific Ocean. Big Island Now.

Maui

2 arrested, others rally outside Waiehu land at center of Native Hawaiian ownership debate. Two people were charged with trespassing while others rallied holding signs Tuesday outside Waiehu land at the center of an ownership dispute between Native Hawaiians and nonprofit Maui Economic Opportunity Inc. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

$198,000 grant allows for launch of Native Hawaiian Owner-Builder project on Molokaʻi. Hawai‘i Community Lending announced grant awards totaling $1.3 million that aim to increase economic stability on Moloka‘i by helping the island’s native Hawaiian community to actualize affordable homeownership.  Maui Now.

Feeding and careless driving cause undue risk to nēnē population on Maui. A female nēnē was struck and killed by a passenger truck on Haleakalā Highway near the Dairy Road/Keolani Place junction in Kahului last Tuesday, according to state officials.  Maui Now.

Attorney: judge’s decision in case involving HNN is a win for First Amendment. A federal judge has ruled HNN Chief Investigative Reporter Lynn Kawano doesn’t have to provide Maui County attorneys with information she gathered while covering the case of a Maui police officer who is now behind bars. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Kaua‘i planning commission meeting sparks Coco Palms revelations. After an eye-opening hearing on Tuesday, the County of Kaua‘i Planning Commission ruled in favor of Coco Palms hotel developers and shut down a petition to void their permits due to lack of progress. Garden Island. Kauai Now.

Nagramada appointed head of Island School. Nancy Nagramada will assume the head of school duties at Island School effective July 1, states an announcement by the school. Garden Island.

Kaua‘i public schools to receive $3.1M in federal funds. A federal funding mechanism that provides money for elementary and secondary education is projected to deliver more than $3 million to the County of Kaua‘i. Garden Island.