Green sticks to Maui tourist reopening plan despite petitions, personal attacks; EPA approves Red Hill defueling plan, UH cloning pioneer Ryuzo Yanagimachi dies at 95, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Governor Sticks To Reopening West Maui To Tourists Next Week. A group of local activists and politicians delivered a petition with more than 14,000 signatures to Gov. Josh Green’s office on Tuesday, imploring him to put off reopening West Maui to tourism. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. Associated Press. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Governor’s absence fuels anger at West Maui anti-tourism rally. Governor: People threatening him are calling his personal cell, targeting his kids. The governor and First Lady Jaime Green say racist threats and harassment aimed at them increased after the wildfires and are even being sent directly to the governor’s personal cell phone. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Hawaii’s Aquaculture Industry Is Set To Boom But It Needs State Help. Sales of Hawaii’s aquaculture products jumped by 12% in 2022 and production has more than tripled in the past 20 years, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, bucking the statewide trend of declining agriculture. Civil Beat.

Nationwide emergency alert test set for Wednesday on phones, TV.  The test is slated to start at 8:20 a.m. Hawaii Time Wednesday. Associated Press. Hawaii Public Radio.  Big Island Now.

Hawaii DOE Names 2024 State Teacher Of The Year. The Department of Education recognized Jackie Freitas for her dedication to her students and colleagues at Leilehua High School. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.

University of Hawaii cloning pioneer Ryuzo Yanagimachi dies at 95. Ryuzo Yanagimachi, a renowned University of Hawaii fertility researcher who created the technique to develop the world’s first cloned mouse, died last week at the age of 95. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

EPA approves Navy’s Red Hill defueling plan. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Tuesday that it has approved the military’s plan to defuel the Navy’s underground Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, set to begin Oct. 16. Star-Advertiser.

New Vacancy Opens On Honolulu Salary Commission. David Hayakawa resigned from the volunteer commission last week due to his appointment to the First Circuit District Court. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Responds To ACLU Homelessness Lawsuit. Two months after the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit against the City and County of Honolulu over its policies on homeless encampments, the City has responded saying the allegations won’t hold up. Civil Beat.

Lawsuit-generating Palolo roadway reopens. Over a period of years, a Palolo Valley neighborhood reportedly suffered a slow but inexorable underground landslide that caused its roads to buckle, its hills to erode, its houses to slide, its waterlines to break and burst, and its retaining walls to crack and crash into neighboring properties. Star-Advertiser.

Queen’s specialized nurses picket for better contract. Dozens of specialized nurses held a picket Monday evening at The Queen’s Medical Center to express their frustration over lack of progress in their third month of contract negotiations. Star-Advertiser.

Waianae-Castle prep football game canceled following threats. A football game between Castle and Waianae high schools that was scheduled for Friday has been canceled to “prioritize the safety and well-being of our students,” the principals of both schools announced in a joint letter. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.  KITV4.

Hawaii Island

Hawaiʻi County Managing Director To Retire At End Of 2023. Managing Director Lee Lord has announced that he will retire at the end of the year to assist in caring for aging family members.  Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

County settles suit over concealed-carry permit application. Hawaii County has come to an agreement with the plaintiff in a federal lawsuit who argued the county’s requirement he sign a waiver of liability for a background check as part of the concealed-carry firearms permit application violates his constitutional right to privacy. Tribune-Herald.

Council members mull plan to allow county to fix streets in private subdivisions — with caveats. A plan to allow Hawaii County to conduct maintenance on private subdivision roads received some tentative support Tuesday from County Council members. Tribune-Herald.

Hawai‘i County conducts park rules enforcement at Honl’s Beach. The Hawaiʻi County Department of Parks and Recreation, in coordination with the Hawaiʻi Police Department, the Office of Housing and Community Development, and various other State agencies and nongovernment service providers, conducted a park rules enforcement effort at Honl’s Beach in Kailua-Kona. Big Island Now.

Pepeekeo land eyed for preservation. A large tract of land along the Pepeekeo coast is being considered for Hawaii County acquisition and preservation. Tribune-Herald.

Mayor Holds Town Hall In Pāhoa. Mayor Mith Roth and his administration met with the Puna community in Pāhoa on Tuesday night, in a continuation of his ongoing town hall series that is being held across Hawaiʻi island. Big Island Video News.

Maui

State says it will likely take months before commercial boats can launch out of West Maui. Mala Warf is the only remaining boat ramp in west Maui following the Aug. 8 fires. The Mala ramp is in the burn zone and is currently closed to the public, but the state says it hopes to reopen it within the next 30-60 days. Hawaii News Now.

Maui police raise county’s official wildfire death toll to 98. Maui police updated the county’s official fire death toll to 98 on Tuesday, four days after a Lahaina woman’s family confirmed she had died from injuries sustained in the Aug. 8 wildfire. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.

New Housing Program Launched To Assist Lahaina Fire Survivors. The $4 million pilot program will provide participants $375 per month per displaced person they house. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now.  Star-Advertiser. KITV4.  Civil Beat.

Owners at large Maui hotel-condo say they’re being forced to evict wildfire evacuees. The state is investigating the Honua Kai Condominium Association, one of the largest hotel-condominiums in West Maui after some owners alleged they were being forced to evict wildfire evacuees. Hawaii News Now.

Restrictions to be lifted for Zones 2A, 2B and 2F including parts of Malo and Malalani streets, Kalani, Kekai and ʻĀinakea roads. Disaster area restrictions will be lifted on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 6 and 7, for owners and residents of Zones 2A, 2B and 2F. This includes parts of Malo St., Kalani Rd., Kekai Rd., ʻĀinakea Rd., and Malanai St. Maui Now. KITV4.

Could West Maui’s Old Cane Haul Road Have Helped More People Escape The Fire? A longstanding project to convert the alternate path into a paved trail and evacuation route has been stuck in "perpetual planning." Civil Beat.

Kauai

Clean Energy series tackles potential waste incineration this Thursday, Saturday. The Kaua‘i County Council is considering pyrolysis, gasification and direct combustion of the island’s waste. Kauai Now.

Former county council candidate in legal trouble. Wally Nishimura, who allegedly abused a teenage family member earlier this year, appeared in Fifth Circuit Court on Tuesday, at which a date was set for him to either accept a guilty plea or head to trial. Garden Island.

KCC staff, volunteers work to keep Kauaʻi honey bees free of disease. Some of the state’s last honey bee colonies without disease are on Kauaʻi, and beekeepers are trying to keep it that way. Hawaii Public Radio.

Congressional committee grills Hawaiian Electric, utility regulators; Honolulu seeks tougher standards for emergency manager, tourism tumbles in fire aftermath, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

House panel questions actions of HECO, PUC. Testifying under oath Thursday before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Shelee Kimura, president and CEO of Hawaiian Electric,  said  the 132-year-old utility has a team investigating exactly what happened with the utility poles and power lines that went down amid high winds brought on by Hurricane Dora. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Hawaii Public Radio.  Associated Press.  Maui Now.  Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

Tourism tumbles for Hawaii in aftermath of Maui fires. Visitor arrivals and spending for the state fell in August as visitor arrivals to Maui plummeted nearly 58% and spending fell 49% after the devastating Aug. 8 Lahaina wildfire — the worst natural disaster in state history and the deadliest U.S. wildfire in over a century. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Minimum Qualifications Proposed For Honolulu Emergency Manager. A draft charter amendment would require at least five years of experience for the job. Civil Beat.

Navy censures officers for ‘leadership failings’ on Red Hill. The Navy has sent letters of censure to three retired admirals and seven Navy captains regarding “leadership failings” that it says set the stage for the 2021 Red Hill water crisis. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Hawaii Public Radio.  Hawaii News Now.

Search For Gunman Prompts Lockdown At Army’s Schofield Barracks. Authorities arrested the suspect after lifting the shelter-in-place order,. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.  Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

Micronesian Tenants Fight Back Against ‘Terrible’ Apartment Conditions. Advocates call for the state's landlord-tenant code reformed to better protect tenants from "unscrupulous" landlords. Civil Beat.

Deadline for filing Oahu home exemptions looms. The deadline for qualified homeowners on Oahu to file a home exemption with Honolulu’s Real Property Assessment Division is this Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Paid parking to begin at Coconut Grove. Another lot in Kona will be charging for parking starting October 1, making free parking in Kailua Village scarce. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

More assistance with insurance for Maui fire victims needed, advocates say. Lahaina fire survivors without renter’s or property owner’s insurance — and even those with insurance — received no assurances Thursday that the state can help them recover their losses anytime soon. Star-Advertiser.

Maui’s Fire Victims Are Frustrated By Insurance Hassles, Financial Delays. Numerous people showed up at a state Senate hearing on Maui where lawmakers urged state agencies to do more to protect consumers. Civil Beat.

High Water Bills Surprise Kula Residents Who Helped Fight Wildfires. Maui's top water official said the county will be lenient on a case-by-case basis and may offer relief but can't forgive all the bills because it needs the revenue. Civil Beat.

More Lahaina fire zones to open for reentry. Three more residential zones in areas burned by the deadly Aug. 8 Lahaina wildfire are being opened for reentry by property owners and residents. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Lahaina parents, teachers call for safety monitoring for students.  Many West Maui families and educators doubt that the three Lahaina public schools reopening in October are as safe as officials say, and they want to see stronger monitoring for toxic substances and emergency and evacuation plans set up well before students and employees return, according to numerous testifiers at an emotional public meeting Thursday. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

Maui tomato farmer says Aug. 8 storms caused a 'complete nosedive' in production. Joel Winicki and his family live in Olinda. They own and operate Maui Grown Tomatoes, with their main farm in Haʻiku. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Council approves support staff funding. A budget allotment for the seven Kauai County Council members of $100,000 for personal support staff sparked heated debate in Wednesday’s finance committee meeting, with the majority of council members accepting the funding. Garden Island.

HI-EMA: use sirens to warn of fire, Congressional inquiry today on Lahaina fire cause, Kona coffee brand wins in court, Hokulea returning to pay Maui tribute, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

HI-EMA clarifies that sirens can be used to warn of fire. A review of outdoor warning siren protocols following the Lahaina fire disaster has led the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to reiterate that fire is indeed one of the hazards that can prompt siren activation. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Congressional inquiry to focus on the cause of the deadly Lahaina fire. Members of Congress today will attempt to get to the bottom of what led to the deadly Lahaina firestorm — including questions that to date have gone largely unanswered about the timeline of what happened Aug. 8, Hawaiian Electric Co.’s electrical grid, and wildfire mitigation measures. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

An old car tire, burnt trees and a utility pole may be key in finding how the Maui wildfire spread. Though findings of a cause are not expected for months, the focus on Hawaiian Electric’s role in managing brush in its right-of-way could strengthen claims of negligence against the utility, which is facing an onslaught of lawsuits blaming it for failing to proactively cut electricity in the face of high-wind warnings, upgrade its power poles and clear foliage from around its lines. Associated Press.

Nominees announced for Hawaii State Supreme Court vacancies: Vladimir Devens, of the Law Offices of Vladimir Devens LLC. Lisa Ginoza, state Intermediate Court of Appeals chief judge. Summer Kupau-Odo, Oahu District Court judge. Karen Nakasone, state Intermediate Court of Appeals associate judge. Catherine Remigio, Oahu Circuit Court judge. Clyde Wadsworth, state Intermediate Court of Appeals associate judge. Star-Advertiser.

Lassner setting goals for final 15 months as UH president. University of Hawaii President David Lassner says that when he recently announced that he’ll retire in late 2024 and wrote that meanwhile “anyone who expects me to act like a ‘lame duck’ will be sorely disappointed,” he did not mean that as any metaphorical shot fired across the bow of certain state lawmakers who have publicly said they want him to resign. Star-Advertiser.

Hokule‘a announces return to Hawaii due to Maui wildfires. The Hokule‘a has made a major change to its sail plan — an unexpected return home to Hawaii in late December before continuing its circumnavigation of the Pacific. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio. Kauai Now.

Oahu

Council’s Tulba seeks more film studios for Oahu. On Tuesday, Augie Tulba introduced Bill 59, which would, if adopted, provide greater real property tax incentives for eligible film studio facilities to locate on the island. Star-Advertiser.

New Wahiawa civic center to emerge from rich history. The $76 million Wahiawa Civic Center on the California Avenue site of the old one is scheduled to open in mid-2026 and reunite state and city functions, said state Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz (D, Mililani-Wahiawa- Whitmore Village). Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Another legal win for Kona coffee. In another win for Kona Coffee Farmers, a Washington federal judge Thursday approved convenience store chain MNS Ltd.’s (ABC Stores) $12 million settlement over claims that the chain sold products that were falsely advertised as authentic Kona coffee. West Hawaii Today.

Hawai‘i County Council gives nod to measures that will further Big Island broadband connectivity initiatives. The Hawai‘i County Council wants all Big Island residents to have equitable access to high-speed internet connectivity and recently moved ahead with four measures aimed at getting the county closer to that goal. Big Island Now.

Another delay for lower Puna. The restoration of roads and waterlines in lower Puna is delayed yet again after a federal agency told Hawaii County earlier this week it needs to review comments from the community.  Tribune-Herald.

Mayor Holds Town Hall In Pāhoa. The Roth administration took questions from the public on various topics, including alternate routes, housing, geothermal permitting, and eruption recovery projects. Big Island Video News.

Maui

West Maui tourism to return in phases. Maui Mayor Richard Bissen on Wednesday announced the staggered reopening of tourism in West Maui, starting Oct. 8 with the northernmost resort area of Kapalua. Star-Advertiser.

Tourism Executives Campaign To Bring Needed Visitors To Maui. With West Maui's famous resorts set to re-open to travelers Oct. 8, local residents are telling their own stories to convince visitors to come back. Civil Beat.

West Maui residents call on county council to put tourism second in Lahaina’s future. Hundreds of West Maui residents jammed into a hotel ballroom in Kaanapali on Wednesday to share their vision for rebuilding Lahaina with the Maui County Council. Hawaii News Now.

Lahaina’s Filipino Community Mourns The Loss Of 9 Family Members. Those who died included store employees, a janitorial service worker and a pair of dishwashers who worked hard to take care of their families, friends recalled. Civil Beat.

Maui Fire Survivors Plead With County Council For Help And Accountability. Struggling with financial and emotional stress, community members sought rent and property tax relief and voiced concerns over school evacuation routes. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Police await DNA results from human teeth found in Kalalau.  More than 8 months after roughly a dozen partially decomposed teeth were discovered near the Kalalau trail, the Kaua‘i Police Department says the investigation is still ongoing — as DNA results have yet to be obtained. Garden Island.

Kaua‘i County Agency on Elderly Affairs symposium to focus on fraud and scam prevention. Kaua‘i County will host its 5th annual Agency on Elderly Affairs symposium on Oct. 4 at the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall in Līhu‘e. Kauai Now.

$30M to repair leaky roof at Capitol, state braces for federal government shutdown, Lahaina schools to reopen next month, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Leaky ceilings at State Capitol lead to $30M in repairs. After years of leaky ceilings at the state capital, repairs are finally underway on the 54-year-old building. Hawaii News Now.

Can The GOP Set Aside Partisan Politics To Find Out What Really Happened In Maui? A House oversight committee will hold its first public hearing focused on the role of Hawaiian Electric in the Aug. 8 Maui fires. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii House members hope to keep U.S. government running. The possibility that the federal government might shut down this weekend could mean that more than 30,000 federal employees in Hawaii — including “essential” workers helping Lahaina fire survivors — may have to keep working, but without pay. Star-Advertiser.

Battle over federal spending could hurt Hawaii economy. A University of Hawaii economist said Tuesday a prolonged federal government shutdown could have serious local consequences. Tribune-Herald. KHON2.

Study finds La Ninas lasting longer, intense El Ninos likely to follow. A new University of Hawai‘i study has discovered that La Nina climate events are growing more common and lasting longer, increasing the likelihood of extreme weather events across the globe. Garden Island.

Federal Wildfire Grant Opportunities Open For Hawaii. Three grants are now available to help Hawaii's landowners fortify their wildfire defenses. Civil Beat.

This Lahaina Fundraiser Quickly Raised $1M Amid Conspiracy Theories And Questions By Critics. The Lahaina Fire Fund was never a registered nonprofit yet collected hundreds of thousands of dollars through online donation sites. Civil Beat.

DLNR opens grant applications to purchase land for conservation. Each year, the state gives a portion of its revenue from real estate conveyance taxes to the Land Conservation Fund. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiian Electric postpones, revises ‘Save and Shift’ program.  Originally, customers with advanced smart meters were selected at random to test time-of-use rates on Oahu, Hawaii island and Maui under an order by the state Public Utilities Commission, which regulates public utility companies. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.

Hawaii Inmate Gets Life In Prison After Death Penalty Case Dropped. Pinal County Attorney Kent Volkmer finally abandoned the effort to have Miti Maugaotega Jr. sentenced to death for the killing of another prisoner in Arizona. Civil Beat.

Kaiser clinics offer COVID vaccines in Hawaii. Kaiser Permanente Hawaii officials say updated Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines will be available to members at most clinics statewide, starting Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Government shutdown would not affect Red Hill defueling, Navy says. The top officer in charge of defueling the Navy’s underground Red Hill fuel storage facility says a possible federal government shutdown would not affect the operation. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Kohala community could be months away from preserving Mahukona into perpetuity. Community groups are trying to preserve more than 640 acres of culturally and historically significant land along the Kohala coast on the north side of Hawaiʻi Island. Hawaii Public Radio.

First phase of lava buyouts nearly pau. Nearly 300 residents whose primary homes were damaged or destroyed during the 2018 Kilauea eruption in lower Puna have had their properties bought out by Hawaii County. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Lahaina schools to reopen to students in October. Lahainaluna High, Lahaina Intermediate and Princess Nahi­enaena Elementary schools in Lahaina will reopen to students in a phased plan after the October fall break now that their soil, water and air have been deemed safe, and monitoring will continue, state and federal officials have announced. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  KHON2.  KITV4.

States partners with Corps of Engineers to erect temporary Lahaina school by January. Experts say the pandemic underscored just how key reopening schools is to restoring normal life and emotional wellness. Hawaii News Now.

Lahaina family members are latest fatalities named. The Maui Police Department on Tuesday released the names of six people who died in the Aug. 6 Lahaina wildfire — all members of an extended Filipino clan who lost eight family members in the disaster, with one still missing. Star-Advertiser.

Furloughs, layoffs mount on Maui as economic headwinds continue. Nearly two months after wildfires decimated Lahaina town, Maui’s economy continues to suffer — and unemployment claims are mounting. Hawaii News Now.

Former Civil Defense council chair: Officials failed to heed key warnings ahead of Lahaina disaster. A hazard mitigation plan published by the county back in 2020 warned if any section of the road or utility line were to be damaged by a wildfire the entire system could collapse. Hawaii News Now.

Maui's price freeze extended for essential commodities and services. The existing price freeze that was implemented for Maui in August will now only continue for essential goods and services, according to the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs’ Office of Consumer Protection. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Lawsuit Accuses Kauai Chief Judge Of Sexually Harassing His Assistant. The Hawaii Judiciary prohibits hugging, which the assistant alleges Chief Judge Randal Valenciano did in a "sexualized" manner numerous times. Civil Beat.

Cesspools threaten coral reef, Lahaina residents begin inspecting destroyed homesites, food security grants available for small farms, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Cesspools Are Killing Hawai‘i’s Coral – But It Doesn’t Have to Be That Way.  An expert explains how to reverse the damage from the state’s 83,000 cesspools, including using treated wastewater for irrigation and landscaping. Hawaii Business magazine.

Some residents face heartbreak, closure as they return to Lahaina. It was like a funeral procession as the first Lahaina evacuees with passes to reenter the burn zone began returning Monday to their homes along Kaniau Road, known as Zone 1-C. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Hawaii Public Radio. Associated Press. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

Senate Committee on Water and Land supports reinstatement of Kaleo Manuel.  More support for Commission on Water Resource Management’s former deputy chair Kaleo Manuel, this time coming from Senator Lorraine Inouye who is the Chair of the Senate’s Committee on Water and Land. KITV4.

More than $3.5M in grants to promote food security in Hawaiʻi. The grants, made possible through the Micro-Grants for Food Security Program, will provide support for small-scale gardening, herding, and livestock operations to increase the quantity and quality of locally grown food in communities experiencing food insecurity.  Maui Now.

KITV’s local newscasts return after several days of ‘serious technical issues’. KITV4 Island News returned today with the 6 p.m. local newscast, after being knocked off the air since Thursday. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

Oahu

Board of Water Supply eyes rate increases, military's Red Hill defueling process.  Residential water rates follow a tier system, but the BWS reports an average family using 9,000 gallons monthly would see their bills increase from $60 to nearly $100 by July 2028. Hawaii Public Radio.

University of Hawaii launches Red Hill resource hub. As the military prepares to begin draining the Navy’s underground Red Hill fuel storage facility next month, the University of Hawaii at Manoa has launched the Red Hill Information Hub, which it describes as a “one stop shop of the latest information, data and tools that can also be used for education, communication and research.” Star-Advertiser.

Plans For A New Honolulu Jail Hit Another Snag. The jail is supposed to be built on the site of the old animal quarantine station in Halawa, but the quarantine station probably won't relocate for another two or three years. Civil Beat.

City installs new surveillance cameras in Chinatown. Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s office has announced that the first phase of the city’s new Chinatown security camera system upgrades are complete. Star-Advertiser.

In civil suit, Hawaii pediatrician accused of sexually assaulting mothers of his patients. Ten women have accused a high-profile Oahu pediatrician of sex abuse and misconduct, and five have now filed a civil suit against him. The remaining five are expected to join the claim against Dr. Gregory Yim. Hawaii News Now.


Hawaii Island

Lawsuit seeks to force Big Island to apply for pollution permit. A community group filed a lawsuit against Hawaii County on Monday saying treated wastewater from the county’s Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant is polluting Honokohau Harbor in violation of the Clean Water Act. Star-Advertiser.

Tackling Puna’s cesspools: Environmental impact statement outlines options for wastewater treatment services. A final environmental impact statement about the addition of wastewater treatment services for Puna was released Saturday by the state Office of Planning and Sustainable Development. Tribune-Herald.

Police Body Cam Video Shows Fatal Officer-Involved Shooting In HPP. 30-year old Kaena Kaohu of Kea‘au was shot and killed by police after an exchange of gunfire in Hawaiian Paradise Park on Saturday. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.  Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

Maui

Maui police identify Lahaina resident, 83, as latest fire fatality. Of the 97 confirmed fatalities, 83 have been publicly identified after notification of next of kin, while six others have been identified but their families have not been located or notified. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

A Major Power Outage In Lahaina The Day Of The Fire Likely Saved Lives. High winds and the power failure caused many businesses in Lahaina to shut down the day of the fire, which reduced visitors and foot traffic on the streets of the town. Civil Beat.

Kaulana Mahina: Lottery nears for workforce apartment homes in Wailuku. Applications will soon be available for an upcoming lottery planned for the Kaulana Mahina apartment homes in Wailuku. The development features 324 apartment homes with 195 designed as Workforce Housing, reserved for households earning more than 50% and up to 140% of the area median income. Maui Now.

UH-Maui enrollment higher than last fall. Enrollment at the University of Hawai’i Maui College is up 7.5 percent this fall over the fall 2022 semester, the college said. Maui News.

Kauai

Future of converting Kapaa housing development to affordable housing uncertain. Kaua‘i County Council members approved a resolution urging the county to acquire the Courtyards at Waipouli apartments last week, but the future of the complex as an affordable housing development remains unclear. Garden Island.

Kaua‘i firefighters extinguish 12-acre brush fire in Anahola – arson suspected.  No injuries were reported, and no structures were damaged. However, first responders advised homes along Pilipoli Road to evacuate as a precaution. Kauai Now.

Census shows most Native Hawaiians now live outside Hawaii, Green vows Maui residents won't be displaced by tourists, school enrollment flat, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

US Census shows majority of Native Hawaiians now live outside of Hawaii. According to the 2020 Census, 46.7% of Native Hawaiians or part Hawaiians lived in Hawaii, compared to 55% in 2010. Hawaii News Now.

Green Promises West Maui Residents Won’t Be Displaced By Tourism’s Return. Officials say visitor demand to the Valley Isle is very low and Lahaina fire survivors will continue to be housed in area hotels as needed. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.  Tribune-Herald.  Big Island Video News.  Maui Now.  Hawaii News Now.

University of Hawaii report details ‘heavy blow’ to Maui’s economy after fires. Wildfires have delivered a “heavy blow” to Maui’s economy and will exert costs on the county and state that will last well into the future, according to a University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization report released today. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Maui Now.  Garden Island.

Maui to host PGA Tour opener in January, 5 months after deadly fires. The PGA Tour is returning to Maui to start the new season with the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua, five months after deadly wildfires destroyed nearby Lahaina and killed at least 97 people. Associated Press.

Little change in enrollment at Hawaii public schools. The number of students enrolled is 167,649, compared with an enrollment of 168,634 students at the start of last school year — a difference of 0.6%, the DOE said in a new release. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.

Regaining public trust could be an uphill battle for the state Water Commission. After 12 hours of deliberation and public testimony at the monthly meeting of the state Commission on Water Resource Management (CWRM), it was clear that regaining the public's trust could be an uphill battle for Commission Chair Dawn Chang and Gov. Josh Green. Hawaii Public Radio.

Native Hawaiian churches urge investigation into missionary role in federal boarding schools. The history of Christianity in Hawaiʻi is a complicated one. And now parts of that history have led to an investigation by the United Church of Christ.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Reduced light and caution urged during turtle nesting season.  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other agencies are asking the public to be on the lookout for turtles on local beaches this nesting season, which began in mid-April and continues through September but can last as late as December. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu Police Chief Had A Good 1st Year But There’s ‘Room To Grow,’ Eval Says. The police commission largely praised Chief Joe Logan's job performance but said he can do better with communications. Civil Beat.

City to hold public hearing on proposed rule changes for shore water events. Shore water events include surf contests, canoe regattas, triathlons and swim races. Hawaii News Now.

Criminals beware: New Chinatown camera system boasts next-level surveillance. Phase one of the city’s upgraded Chinatown surveillance system is now online. It boasts state-of-the-art capabilities like 360-degree coverage, on-screen tracking and much more. KHON2.

Bidding Deadline For The Last Major Honolulu Rail Contract Is Extended. HART blamed state licensing delays, but the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs says there is no backlog. Civil Beat.

State agency disputes HART CEO’s comments over delays.  The state agency that licenses construction industry contractors says recent claims that the Maui wildfire disaster has caused long delays within its application system that have hampered the progress of the Skyline project to Kakaako are unfounded. Star-Advertiser.

Prosecutor handling Hawaii Loa murder case is fired. Honolulu Prosecutor Steve Alm this week fired the deputy prosecutor handling the case against the man accused of murdering a Hawaii Loa Ridge resident and concealing the body in a cement-filled bathtub. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Kailua Post Office suffering from lack of cleaning. The local President of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 5516 that represents letter carriers assigned to the Kailua-Kona Post Office says the lack of janitorial services has created unsightly and unhealthy work conditions. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaiʻi County Provides Resource Hub For Displaced Maui Residents. In tandem with Governor Green’s announcement on finding longer-term housing options for displaced Maui residents, the County of Hawaiʻi unveiled a virtual resource hub to assist. Big Island Video News.

Paving work starts on Waikōloa Road next week. Work on the long-awaited $26 million Waikōloa Road Rehabilitation Project is a reason to celebrate for many people. Big Island Now.

Maui

Passes to Maui disaster zone now available. Thirty-six street addresses are included in the first residential zone to reopen to property owners and residents who will be able to see for themselves the destruction left behind by the deadly Aug. 8 Lahaina wildfire. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Maui News.  Maui Now.

Hawaiian Electric begins restoration work in Lahaina at request of Maui Emergency Operations Center.  The work will restore power to wastewater pumps and telecommunication services and improve electrical service reliability to surrounding residents and neighborhoods. Maui Now.

How a Maui PD officer worked with community to open an evacuation route. Alfredo Malapira is grateful to the Maui County PD officer who acted decisively on Aug. 8, opening a closed off route leading to Old Stuart Road (off of Keawe Street), at the urging of the community. KITV4.

Kauai

Corteva Agriscience grants awarded to local schools. The schools — King Kaumuali‘i Elementary School, Kalaheo Elementary School, Kaua‘i High School and Waimea Canyon Middle School and Waimea High School — all received their Corteva Agriscience grant moneys as part of the $35,000 total awarded by Corteva Agriscience for 2023. Garden Island.

Kaua‘i led counties in hotel performance last month, new report shows. Kaua‘i hotels came out on top last month, according to the Hawai‘i Hotel Performance Report published by the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority. Kauai Now.

$42M to improve Hawaii green space, state Senate committee investigating Lahaina insurance issues, HECO taps utility bankruptcy expert as CFO, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii's congressional delegation announces over $42M to improve state’s green spaces. U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded $42,585,500 in grants to nine Hawaii organizations to plant and maintain existing trees, combat extreme heat and improve access to green spaces in communities throughout the state. Spectrum News.

The Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection announced that it will hold a field briefing in Lahaina to address questions and take testimony pertaining to wildfire-related insurance claims. The briefing will take place from 10:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m., Sept. 28. KITV4.

Chief Pelletier to Maui Police Commission: ‘We saved lives’. The Maui Police Department’s preliminary after-action report of its response to the deadly Aug. 8 wildfires will not be completed for a few more months, and the final report may take up to two years. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now.

Mayor Bissen responsible for Lahaina evacuation per Hawaii Revised Statutes. The Hawaii Revised Statutes states under section 127A-13 (b)(4) that "under a local state of emergency," the Mayor has the power to "direct and control the mandatory evacuation of the civilian population." KITV4.

Hawaiian Electric Industries Hires Utility Bankruptcy Expert As CFO. Investment banker Scott DeGhetto will be paid about $1.5 million for a 15-month gig. Civil Beat.

HMSA says it resolved COVID-19 shot coverage confusion. Hawaii Medical Service Association is telling members it is covering the updated COVID-19 vaccine for the fall and winter after some people said they paid out of pocket for the shot, HMSA official said a technical issue on its end is being blamed for the confusion. KHON2.

Oahu

Landlords Hosting Illegal Game Rooms Could Face Fines Of $1,000 Per Day. Draft Honolulu City Council legislation would raise the stakes for landlords who allow illegal gambling in their units. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.  Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

City in high-stakes talks with military over proposed new landfill site. Last year, the city went back to the drawing board on selecting a new site for a municipal landfill after the Board of Water of Supply said six potential locations identified to replace Waimanalo Gulch in Nanakuli were too close to Oahu’s aquifer. Hawaii News Now.

‘This has got to end’: Pipes leaking millions of gallons of water a month at Dillingham Airfield still not fixed. Leaky pipes at Dillingham Airfield on Oahu’s North Shore have been a problem for years, causing millions of gallons of water to be wasted monthly. Hawaii News Now.

City to close Moiliili Neighborhood Park for month-long maintenance and renovations. Moiliili Neighborhood Park is one of the city’s busiest. But when you look at its nearly three and a half acres, you can definitely tell its overdue for a refresh. Hawaii News Now.

2 Kailua schools earn 2023 National Blue Ribbon recognition. Ka‘elepulu and Maunawili Elementary schools in Kailua  received the National Blue Ribbon award from the U.S. Department of Education. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii County Council works to identify legislative priorities for next year. The Hawaii County Council wants the state Legislature to pursue bills to better regulate vaping and allow counties more control over dangerous roads. Tribune-Herald.

Critically Endangered, Nocturnal Seabird Found On Hawaiʻi Island. A Critically Endangered ‘akē‘akē, or band-rumped storm-petrel, was recently found nesting on Hawaiʻi island within the Mauna Loa Forest Reserve. Big Island Video News. Garden Island.

Maui

Maui County announces first residential reentry zone. Maui County late Wednesday announced reentry procedures for Lahaina residents to access properties in the restricted disaster zone that have been off-limits in the aftermath of the Aug. 8 firestorm, which killed at least 97 people and destroyed more than 2,200 properties. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.  KITV4.

In wake of devastating wildfire, experts propose new sources of water for parched West Maui. The West Maui water shortage is part of the reason for the devastating wildfire in Lahaina — and has caused huge division in the community. Hawaii News Now.

DOE opens distance learning hub in Kahana for over 250 students. The state Department of Education opened a distance learning hub in Kahana on Tuesday that will host displaced Lahaina students while their campuses remain closed following the Aug. 8 wildfire.  Maui News.

Planned Lahaina visits divide survivors. Maui County plans to let some survivors back into the devastated historic Lahaina fire area Monday and Tuesday, but evacuees have mixed feelings about what they’ll see and how they’ll feel. Star-Advertiser.

One more victim identified by police six weeks after Lahaina wildfire. The Maui Police Department on Wednesday added Lahaina resident Kirk Carter, who died Aug. 15 at Straub Medical Center’s Burn Unit in Honolulu, to its official list of fatalities from the Aug. 8 Lahaina wildfire. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.

Kauai

FFA students given scholarships to attend national convention. Four Kaua‘i High School students from the school’s Future Farmers of America will be joining a group of about 50 people from Hawai‘i at the national FFA convention in Indianapolis, Indiana, starting on Oct. 29 and wrapping up on Nov. 5. Garden Island.

Lassner to retire as UH president, new COVID vaccine not yet available to many, Maui mayor creates Lahaina Advisory Team, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

UH President David Lassner Will Retire Next Year. He has run the University of Hawaii since 2013, an institution he first began working at in 1977. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio. Big Island Now. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.  KITV4.

Maui Activists Urge Return Of DLNR Water Official To Former Job. A meeting of Hawaii’s Commission on Water Resource Management was dominated Tuesday by calls to reinstate a senior water official who was reassigned amid criticism over decisions made during the Aug. 8 Lahaina fire. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.  KHON2.

Insurance lag results in wait for COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccines became available following a steady upward trend in U.S. COVID-19 hospitalizations since summer. Star-Advertiser.

Dems To NOAA: Hold Wespac Accountable For Misspending Nearly $1 Million. Members of Congress sent a letter seeking accountability for the fishery council's "transgressions." Civil Beat.

Oahu

Navy ‘recklessly destroyed’ Red Hill evidence, lawyers allege. Attorneys representing families sickened by the 2021 Red Hill water crisis introduced a motion in Honolulu’s U.S. District Court on Tuesday that alleges that Navy officials “recklessly destroyed” text and phone rec­ords between two key officials. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Affordable rental project and 2 preschools break ground. Oo sticks, wielded by Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, Mayor Rick Blangiardi and an assortment of bankers, developers and other local officials, broke ground Tuesday on a $199 million affordable rental project offering two on-site preschools in Kapolei. Star-Advertiser.

With school in session, Skyline sees a positive bump in ridership. Officials are seeing about a 14% increase in demand that they say is fueled partly by students. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

County looks to the future: General Plan 2045 envisions next 25 years, seeks to balance growth with sustainability.  Public comments on the plan, a 25-year blueprint for the long-term growth and sustainable development of Hawaii Island, are being accepted until Nov. 20 through Konveio, an interactive online platform. Tribune-Herald.

Two Big Island nonprofits will receive a share of more than $42 million in grants awarded by the US Department of Agriculture through the Inflation Reduction Act to nine organizations for planting and maintaining trees, combat extreme heat, and improve access to green space in communities throughout the state. West Hawaii Today.

Small amounts of chemical TCP found in Mt. View water source. Trace amounts of a potentially carcinogenic chemical have been detected in a Mountain View water source, according to the state Department of Health. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui mayor announces: Lahaina Advisory Team, community meetings, creation of Office of Recovery.  Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen has formed a 5-member Lahaina Advisory Team comprised of Lahaina residents that will meet with him weekly to ensure the County makes decisions based on the needs and desires of the community.  Maui Now. Hawaii News Now.

Council begins talks on recovery plan after fires. Committee seeks public input, will hold another meeting in West Maui Sept. 27.  It was the first time the committee took up the resolution that aims to develop a comprehensive recovery and resiliency plan in response to Maui’s wildfires in Lahaina and Kula on Aug. 8. Maui News.

Amid calls for accountability, Maui’s mayor steers clear of spotlight and avoids news conferences. A month and a half after a wall of flames tore through Lahaina town, killing at least 97 people and erasing the town, scores of key questions linger. Despite that, Maui Mayor Richard Bissen hasn’t publicly answered questions at a news briefing since Aug. 29. Hawaii News Now.

Criticism building against Lahaina's Oct. 8 reopening to tourists. Thousands of Maui residents are expressing their opposition to Gov. Josh Green's decision to reopen Lahaina to tourists on Oct. 8.  KITV4.

‘The Wildfire Litigation Industry’ Takes On Hawaiian Electric. The outcome of numerous lawsuits will affect victims, shareholders and, potentially, 470,000 customers statewide. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

 Harrowing Eyewitness Accounts Cast Doubt On Official Lahaina Fire Narrative. Those who fled the fire by car tell of being blocked or funneled into narrow gridlocked streets. The county has not said when it will release a detailed report on what happened. Civil Beat.

Firefighters contained early fire, left for short break and returned to find flames anew.  Five firefighters who fought the Aug. 8 Lahaina fire left the scene that day after nearly eight hours containing the blaze so Maui Electric Co. workers could repair downed utility poles and power lines, one of the firefighters and a Maui County attorney said.  Civil Beat.

They face ‘unimaginable challenges’ but a new reason for hope: A full ride at UH for a year. UH will offer full scholarships to every Lahainaluna High senior for one academic year. UH President David Lassner made the announcement in a class assembly at the school’s temporary location at Kulanihakoi High School in Kihei. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Kauai

Kaua‘i household hazardous waste collection set for Sept. 23 and 24. Among the items that will be accepted are automotive products, lead-acid batteries, lawn and garden products, oil-based paints, thinners and stains, fluorescent lights, batteries and more. Kauai Now.

Green to change emergency housing proclamation to address concerns, U.S. House seeks answers on Maui fire from HECO, PUC, state energy office, drought worsens, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. Josh Green to amend Hawaii emergency housing panel powers.  Green plans to issue a second emergency housing proclamation today that he hopes will mollify concerns and satisfy lawsuit complaints in order to fast-track construction of 50,000 new homes to give island residents a major reason to stay home. Seeking compromise, a new document to be signed Friday restores environmental review, historic preservation and open meetings laws. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

Congressional committee to probe Maui fires amid demand for answers.  The U.S. House committee investigating the deadly Aug. 8 Maui firestorm said it expects the heads of Hawaiian Electric Co., the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission and the State Energy Office to testify at its first hearing on the disaster. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Maui Now.  Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

$1000 Hotel Rooms? House GOP Wants Answers From FEMA On Maui Wildfires. The House Oversight and Accountability Committee sent a letter to FEMA's top administrator asking questions about its response to the Maui wildfires. Civil Beat.

Drought worsened, expected to intensify across Hawaii.  More than 81%, of the Hawaiian islands are now in moderate to severe drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor map released today. The rest are abnormally dry. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Hawaii AG Raises Concerns About Proposed New HART Rules. The rules would infringe on the rights of some rail authority board members to speak publicly about the massive rail project, according to the attorney general. Civil Beat.

U.S. government files motion to block prominent physician’s testimony in Red Hill suit. Tthe U.S. government is trying to block the testimony of a prominent Hawaii physician in a Red Hill lawsuit that includes allegations of medical negligence. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu City Council proposal seeks to help state collect unpaid traffic fines. Two Honolulu City Council members want the city administration to work with the state to collect a reported $81 million in uncollected assessed traffic fines owed to the State of Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Why Everybody Had To Move Out Of This Affordable Housing Project. A $7.5 million apartment building purchased by the City and County of Honolulu in 2018 to provide housing for low-income and homeless people is now sitting vacant due to problems with the building.  Civil Beat.

City extends feral chicken service. The city is extending a cage and disposal service to help tackle the issue of feral chickens.  KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Stoplight slated for Kaiminani. Two more traffic lights are in the initial design phase for installation on Highway 190, or Mamalahoa Highway in North Kona. West Hawaii Today.

Keaukaha Park Closure Set For Road, Parking Lot Restriping. James Kealoha Beach Park, known locally as “4-mile”, will be closed 7:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. daily from September 18 to September 22. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Maui councilmembers suggest improvements to state's recent housing proclamation. The Maui County Council’s Housing and Land Use committee reconvened Wednesday, picking up discussion on the governor’s emergency proclamation on housing and how that may come into play following the Maui wildfires. Hawaii Public Radio.

A Maui County Council committee is considering a possible investigation into how firefighters, police, emergency management and public works officials performed while responding to the wildfires in August. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

Lahaina property owners allowed to return Sept. 25. Owners and renters who lost their homes and businesses in the deadly Aug. 8 Lahaina wildfire will be allowed escorted visits to their properties on a zone-by-zone basis starting Sept. 25. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Maui Now.  Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

‘First day’ for Maui public school students displaced by wildfire.  For nearly 600 Maui public school students displaced by the closure of their schools by the Lahaina wildfire, Thursday was a “first day of school” like none other. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now. KHON2.

American Lung Association questions state’s messaging on Lahaina air quality. The head of the American Lung Association Hawaii says the state Health Department is not doing enough to protect Lahaina fire victims from contaminants in the air. The group is especially concerned about the state’s release of some confusing data on air quality. Hawaii News Now.

The battle over water rights in West Maui is generational for this Kauaʻula taro farmer.  Taro patches once dominated the landscape in Lāhainā, with more than 1,700 recorded in the region in the mid-1800s. But once water started being diverted for sugar cane cultivation, taro farmers from Kauaʻula Valley fought back in one of the earliest recorded legal battles over water rights in West Maui. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Lihu‘e Airport bustling in August. A total of 78,648 passengers deplaned domestic flights in August, compared with 83,331 in August 2022, according to data compiled by the state of Hawai‘i’s Department of Business, Economic Development &Tourism. Garden Island.

Fire season getting longer on Kaua‘i. Fire Chief Michael Gibson told The Garden Island he previously considered fire season to run from June through September, but that has started to expand to March through November. Garden Island.