Maui commemorates 2023 wildfire, shoppers warned about price hikes, shortages amid tariffs, 4 Big Island police officers under AG investigation, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiian Electric to widen coverage of wildfire safety measures. Hawaiian Electric plans to extend wildfire safety improvements in areas with medium wildfire risk over the next six to 12 months, according to Scott Seu, president and CEO of the utility’s parent Hawaiian Electric Industries. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii business owners warn new tariffs will mean higher prices for consumers. President Donald Trump’s new global tariffs took effect Thursday, and Hawaii business owners, who’ve been absorbing costs for months, say they have no choice but to raise prices.  Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiʻi relies on all kinds of federal data. Is that information still trustworthy?  Hawaiʻi's data analysts say it's important to understand the state's dependence on national statistics amid growing concerns about the integrity of federal data. Hawaii Public Radio.

Industry study says Hawaii’s timeshares generate hundreds of millions in taxes, thousands of jobs. A new economic impact report released by a national vacation ownership trade association could reveal some insight into the industry’s contributions to Hawaii’s economy.  Maui News.

Oahu

Solo EV drivers loses HOV lane access this fall. The rule, in place since 2005, gave states the option to let electric cars in the HOV lane, even with only one occupant. But that exemption runs out at the end of September. KITV4.

Safer roads ahead: Local organizations leading the way for bike riders. This Saturday, Aug. 9, volunteers from the Hawaii Bicycling League and the American Public Works Association, Hawaii Chapter, will be repairing bike lanes along Ward Avenue. KHON2.

State Librarian shares plans for Wahiawā Public Library. Work is underway for the $42.5 million Wahiawā Center for Workforce Excellence, a 43,000-square-foot facility that includes a new public library, community college classrooms and offices for the state Department of Education. Aloha State Daily.

Token time’s up: Chuck E. Cheese Pearl City bids aloha.  After three decades, Chuck E. Cheese in Pearl City is calling it a day. The longtime family entertainment center is closing its doors for good on Sunday, Aug. 10, but not before saying goodbye in a very Chuck E. way. KHON2.

What to know for the Blue Angels Kaneohe Bay Air Show.  The air show will include flight demonstrations from the Blue Angels, their six F-18 Super Hornets, and their C-130 J Super Hercules affectionately nicknamed “Fat Albert,” along with multiple food vendors. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

AG seeks records involving 4 cops. The Hawaii Police Department is fighting a subpoena by state Attorney General Anne Lopez seeking records of an internal affairs probe of alleged misconduct by four current HPD officers. Tribune-Herald. KHON2. 

Hawaii County bars, restaurants to carry life-saving Narcan under new bill. A bill that would require bars and restaurants in Hawaii County to keep naloxone, a medication that reverses opioid overdoses, on-site passed out of a County Council committee Tuesday with unanimous support. Tribune-Herald.

Developers Invited To Bid On Hilo Memorial Hospital Renovation. The County plans to establish a coordinated resource hub on the site of the former hospital on Rainbow Drive. Big Island Video News.

Maui

2 years after the Maui wildfires, here’s how the $4B settlement will be divided. Gov. Josh Green made his priorities clear when it came to compensation for those who were impacted by the devastating Maui wildfires in August 2023. Hawaii Public Radio.

2 Years After Deadly Fire, Lahaina Struggles To Rebuild. Homeowners are running into big gaps between their insurance payouts and the cost to rebuild. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. 

Front Street wildfire recovery moving slower than other parts of Lahaina. Maui wildfire survivors Michele and Qiana Di Bari were able to move back to their Lahaina home last year, but they say it has been at least six months since they have visited Front Street, where their decade-old restaurant Sale Pepe Pizzeria e Cucina was lost to the flames. Star-Advertiser.

County housing department seeks proposals. The Maui County of Maui Department of Housing is seeking proposals for fiscal year 2027-28 grant money from qualified private, nonprofit and for-profit organizations that provide services and programs related to rental assistance and housing counseling within the county. Maui News.

‘The Crisis Isn’t Over’: Maui Kids’ Mental Health Needs Are Mounting. Two years after the Maui fires, many students are still struggling — and not all of them are receiving the help they need.  Civil Beat.

Language challenges remain an issue for many Filipino Lahaina wildfire victims. Human rights, affordable housing, access to social services and more was addressed during a Lahaina Filipino Fire Survivors Association meeting this week. KITV4.

Memorials To Fire Victims Tell Sweeping Story Of Lahaina. Whatever their origins, many of the 102 victims of the 2023 Maui wildfire shared a deep sense of community that each had nurtured in their own way. Civil Beat.

His Life In Lahaina Descended Into Homelessness, Then Death In Fire. Drawn to Maui to surf decades ago, Rex Cole was among four homeless men who dissappeared during the devastating 2023 fire. Civil Beat.

Kauai

DMV offices reopen, online test booking system is live. The Līhuʻe Division of Motor Vehicles serves both appointment holders and walk-ins, as time permits. Appointments are encouraged to avoid long wait times. All road test applicants must book their tests online. Kauai Now.

High surf advisory goes into effect Friday morning for south-facing shores of Kauaʻi, Niʻihau. A large south swell will gradually fill in Aug. 8 and peak Aug. 9 near warning thresholds, causing strong breaking waves and strong currents along the state’s south-facing shorelines. Kauai Now.

Blangiardi attends Hiroshima bombing 80th anniversary ceremonies, Honolulu cancels empty homes tax study, school starts today, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu mayor named ‘honorary citizen’ ahead of Hiroshima bombing anniversary. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi is set to be the only U.S. official to attend a peace ceremony marking the bombing of Hiroshima eight decades later. Hawaii News Now.

Hawai‘i’s lurking nuclear dilemma. Hawai‘i pushes to decarbonize, but also pushes away nuclear energy. But maybe that's starting to change as state officials move to open a nuclear energy conversation. Aloha State Daily.

School is back in session: Hopes for A+ in attendance. The Hawaii State Department of Education has expanded students access to transportation that will provide safe and reliable rides to school. KHON2.

Some Hawaii families scramble for after school childcare. Thousands of keiki across the state are back to school, but many of them still need after school child care. KITV4.

State Boards Must Release Records Showing Hiring Decisions, Judge Says. Two state boards have acknowledged that they violated Hawaiʻi’s Sunshine Law when they hired top-level state employees in a series of closed-door meetings and interviews. Last month, Circuit Court Judge Jordon Kimura issued an order that included the release of previously confidential executive session meeting minutes. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu Is Canceling Its Empty Homes Tax Study. Will That Kill The Bill? The yearlong study was supposed to help inform a now-stalled bill that would have increased property tax rates on unoccupied homes. Civil Beat.

Honolulu DPP launches new building permitting software. Speeding up the city Department of Planning and Permitting’s ability to process building permit applications began Monday, city officials said. Star-Advertiser.

City council to decide on Haleiwa zone change Wednesday. The Haleiwa Backyards Project developer is looking to build roughly 160 low-rise apartment units with 30,000 square feet of office and retail space, parking and a wastewater management system. KHON2.

Renovated classrooms double preschool capacity, cut waitlist. Wai‘alae Elementary Public Charter School is slashing its preschool waitlist by over 50% with the addition of a new classroom for the 2025–26 school year.  Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. 

Nonprofit still searching for COFA citizens on Oʻahu to apply for COVID funeral aid. A federal program providing funeral assistance to those who lost loved ones — excluding citizens of Micronesian nations — to COVID-19 is set to end in late September. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Hawaiʻi’s High-Priced Geothermal Consultants Are Getting Heat. Hawaiʻi wanted to educate Big Island residents about geothermal energy. So far, the plan seems to be backfiring. Civil Beat.

Trial set for Big Island brothers suing state over wrongful conviction compensation. Albert Ian and Shawn Schweitzer are the first to get a trial date of the Hawaii men freed so far because new evidence showed they did not commit the crime that sent them to prison. Hawaii News Now.

North Kohala customers asked to reduce water use by 25% due to down wells. Only one of the three wells serving the region is currently operational, water supply officials say. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. KHON2. 

Maui

Maui fire settlement still ironing out details. As the two-year anniversary of the deadly Maui wildfires nears, a four billion dollar global settlement in principle is still pending in court. KHON2.

Post-wildfire housing stability improvements on Maui reflected in surveys. A running monthly survey of people affected by Maui’s wildfire disaster nearly two years ago suggests that some market rental housing rates have begun to come down after spikes tied to emergency needs. Star-Advertiser.

Better tools for Maui Police Department since 2023 wildfires include new helicopter, rapid DNA machine. The wildfires led to the creation of the Morgue Identification and Notification Task Force, or MINT, and later to the establishment of the permanent Cold Case Unit that MPD launched in October 2023 to investigate unsolved homicides and missing persons cases.  Maui Now.

Lahaina to mark two years since wildfires with memorial gatherings, tributes. Two years after the deadliest U.S. wildfire in over a century tore through Lahaina, the people of Maui will gather to remember the 102 lives lost and reflect on a long and ongoing recovery. Star-Advertiser.

Maui County Charity Walk raised record $1.75 million. It was a record-breaking day for island charities and their benefactors Aug. 1 as The Maui Hotel & Lodging Association held a special reception breakfast at the Westin Maui Resort & Spa celebrating the 46th annual Maui County Charity Walk, which raised an unprecedented $1.75 million for 76 nonprofit organizations. Maui News.

Community hope and healing take root at a native planting project above Lahaina. It’s a sunny morning on the hillside above Lahaina. Volunteers have gathered to spend their Sunday watering more than 4,000 native plants and trees in a lush, 2-acre area. Around it, hundreds of acres are brown and barren. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Kaua‘i County now accepting proposals for this fiscal year’s Innovation Grants. Focus areas include small business, technology, transportation, agriculture, local manufacturing, creative industries, workforce development, circular economies, and tourism destination management and product development. Kauai Now.

Electric and hybrid vehicles temporarily not accepted at Puhi Metals until further notice. Due to the potential for hazardous conditions, shipping and handling procedures of these vehicles are being updated at the recycling center, according to a Kaua‘i County press release. Kauai Now.

Navy announces $8B for Hawaii and Wake Island, state seeks more geothermal plant locations, fishing council asks Trump to open Papahanaumokuakea, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Navy announces $8 billion contract for Hawaii and Wake Island. The Navy announced it has awarded an $8 billion mega contract to 11 companies — including both local and mainland contractors — for a series of construction, maintenance and renovation projects to facilities, as well as the demolition of old facilities, in Hawaii and on Wake Island. Star-Advertiser.

Threats to Hawaii Judiciary officials on pace to double. The Honolulu Police Department notified state and federal court officials after a 911 caller said an unidentified man was going to shoot a judge at a Honolulu courthouse. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi Wants More Geothermal Power Plants But Doesn’t Yet Know Where. The state must spend millions to see if more electricity can be produced using heat deep under the earth. And it will have to convince residents to support such an effort. Civil Beat.

Fishing council to ask Trump to lift fishing ban in Papahanaumokuakea. The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council which sets fishing policies will ask President Trump to allow commercial fishing in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in the northwestern Hawaiian islands. It’s the largest marine protected area in the world. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii’s new fire marshal takes over as state concludes Maui wildfire probe. The state has concluded its investigation into the government’s response to the deadly Aug. 8, 2023, Lahaina wildfire, state Attorney General Anne Lopez announced Thursday. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Big Island Now.

Oahu

Mayor Blangiardi signs laws to shutter illegal game rooms. With the enactment of new city laws, the Honolulu Police Department and related city agencies say they will have more tools to more easily remove illegal game rooms operating on Oahu. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu police arrest 3 in Kakaako illegal game room raid. Officers executed a search warrant at an “illegal gambling room near Kawaiahao St.” at about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to an HPD social media post. They recovered 16 gambling machines, $5,222 in cash and drugs. Star-Advertiser.

Skunk captured in Kakaako Waterfront Park, tested for rabies.  A skunk was captured, euthanized and tested for rabies after it was found running around Kakaako Waterfront Park Wednesday night, state officials said today. Star-Advertiser. KHON2. 

Questions raised over paying to find next Honolulu police chief. A consulting firm is expected to narrow down the list of candidates, but some question the time and money that will be put into it. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Massive lava fountains erupt in episode 26 at Kīlauea. A new eruption at Kīlauea’s Halemaʻumaʻu Crater, known as Episode 26, began around 1:40 a.m. on June 20, 2025. Lava fountains erupted from the north vent, shooting over 1,000 feet into the air.  KITV4.

Hilo Hawaiian Hotel joins Wyndham brand. The Hilo Hawaiian Hotel has officially joined the Trademark Collection by Wyndham, becoming the first property in Hawaii to be part of the global hotel brand, Castle Resorts &Hotels announced Tuesday. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

11 Maui seniors laid off as federal cuts take toll on decadesold program. Maui Economic Opportunity will be suspending an on-the-job training program that has existed for three decades and benefited thousands of senior citizens. Maui News.

Kahoʻolawe wins marine conservation award as Trump rolls back other Pacific protections. The Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve has become the second marine protected area in the Hawaiian archipelago to win the prestigious Blue Park Award. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui Council hears another 70 testifiers on vacation rental phase-out bill; still more to come.  Public debate intensified Wednesday during several hours of sometimes heated testimony over a proposed phase-out of vacation rentals before the Maui County Council’s Housing and Land Use Committee. Maui Now.

Kauai

‘Truly grateful for her years of service’: Kaua‘i County mayor’s office Chief of Staff leaving post in July. A nearly 15-year veteran of the mayor’s office in Kaua‘i County — who has played a key part in helping the Garden Isle through some of its toughest times during her tenure — will be saying her final farewells to colleagues during the next couple of weeks as she prepares to leave her post. Kauai Now.

Kauaʻi Cops Are Using Virtual Reality To Boost Their Firearms Training. With real-time simulations and a high-tech shooting range, the Kauaʻi Police Department hopes to quadruple weapons drills. Civil Beat.

LOOKOUT launches on Kauai. State and county officials said on Wednesday at a statewide press conference that launched the 2025 Wildfire and Drought LOOKOUT campaign that it took a series of devastating wildfires, including the Lahaina fires of 2023, to get people to pay attention to fire risk. Garden Island.

Bills would eliminate middle class income tax, raise general excise tax instead; recreational marijuana bill deferred, Maui firefighters show elevated PFAS, Queen's cuts 100 jobs, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

No Income Tax For Working Class? Unions Float Radical Proposal. Lawmakers are cnsidering bills to eliminate the state income taxes for all residents who earn up to $100,000 and offset the revenue loss by increasing the state excise tax from 4% to 6% on most goods and services sold in Hawaiʻi. Civil Beat.

Hopes For Legal Marijuana In Hawaiʻi Dashed As Politicos Flip-Flop. Less than 48 hours after approving a bill to make marijuana use legal for Hawaiʻi residents aged 21 and older, the Hawaiʻi House of Representatives on Thursday punted the measure until next year. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio.

UH Cancer Center backs bills to boost cigarette tax 2 cents. The University of Hawaii Cancer Center would receive a welcomed funding boost if the Legislature increases the state’s cigarette tax by another 2 cents, while a separate Senate bill would have forced the center to merge with the UH medical school, which UH previously said would jeopardize the center’s accreditation. Star-Advertiser.

Increased harbor inspections and penalties on the table to combat illegal fireworks. The state Legislature is considering several measures to crack down on illegal fireworks. Lawmakers are exploring different tactics from more inspections at the harbors to increasing penalties for violators. Hawaii Public Radio. Maui Now.

Proposed police pursuit policy clears committee. Police could only initiate a pursuit if an individual in the vehicle being chased is believed to have committed murder, manslaughter, negligent homicide, felony assault, sexual assault, domestic abuse, escape or DUI — and the vehicle pursuit “is necessary to identify or apprehend” the suspect. Tribune-Herald.

Senate committee defers bill to subsidize school bus driver certification. The Senate Education Committee on Monday killed a bill that would have created a school bus driver certification subsidy pilot program within the state Department of Education for the next school year. Hawaii Public Radio.

State high court probes conditions of Maui wildfires settlement. Hawaii Supreme Court justices posed many exacting, and sometimes skeptical, questions Thursday to attorneys in a case pertaining to the validity of a $4 billion deal to settle Maui wildfire litigation. It may be weeks before the court’s five justices render a decision. Star-Advertiser. Associated Press. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.  

Oahu

Honolulu Transit Rates Could Go Up. The Honolulu Rate Commission, which reviews the city’s transit rates, is holding four public meetings next week for people to provide feedback. Civil Beat.

Queen’s eliminating positions to adapt to ‘evolving needs’.  The Queen’s Health Systems is eliminating about 100 positions at its hospitals to maintain sustainable operations and adapt to changing times. Queen’s did not specify which positions, how many or when, exactly, they would be eliminated. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.  KITV4.

Honolulu launches $5M grant program to support low-income rental housing. The Department of Land Management is soliciting proposals from nonprofit entities and public agencies for funding opportunities through the Affordable Housing Fund, or AHF, which typically provides funding to develop and expand affordable rental housing for households earning 60% or less of area median income. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu home sales gain as inventory expands. Single-family home resales increased by 6.5% compared with January 2024, with 196 homes sold in January from 184 a year ago. Condominium sales also rose, climbing 6.8% to 312 transactions from 292. Star-Advertiser.

North Shore farmer with no criminal record detained by ICE. Hanjun Shen, 60, has been in Hawaii for 16 years and owns JM Farm in Laie, an 18-acre farm which grows Thai basil, Okinawan sweet potato, taro leaf and other herbs. The undocumented immigrant was under a removal order since his application for asylum was denied. Hawaii News Now.

Kakaako dog owners: Kolowalu Dog Park is opening. After months of anticipation, Kakaako residents will have a place to let their four-legged friends run around and have fun. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Bill Could Allow Maunakea Authority To Side Step Sunshine Law. House Bill 144 was heard by the House Committee on Water & Land on Thursday, although lawmakers have not yet given their recommendation. Big Island Video News.

Volcano Watch: Assembly of volcano scientists to gather in Hilo. Volcano scientists from around the world will gather from Feb. 9-14 in Hilo for the American Geophysical Union Chapman Conference on Caldera-forming Eruptions at Basaltic Volcanoes: Insights and Puzzles from Kīlauea 2018 and Beyond. Big Island Now.

‘We’re watching a coup in real time’. Dozens of West Hawaii activists flocked to the highway Wednesday afternoon in support of a nationwide protest in opposition to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, President Donald Trump and his administration’s ties to Project 2025. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

CDC Report Finds Traces Of PFAs In Maui Firefighters’ Blood. Firefighters who responded to the Maui wildfires had elevated levels of PFAs, a manmade chemical linked to cancer, in their bloodstream, according to a new wildfire report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Associated Press.

Lahaina seaside owners want accelerated rebuilding process. Native Hawaiian Warren Freeland wants to see his family’s historic Pioneer Inn rebuilt as it was before the 2023 wildfire that destroyed a large portion of Lahaina, and he hopes government officials will find a way of accelerating the permitting process in the face of rising construction costs. Maui News.

Air travel crisis on Molokai: Survey reveals devastating impacts to families. An effort is underway aimed at improving the island’s limited access to air travel. This comes after Mokulele, the island’s only air carrier, scrapped dozens of flights last month due to a series of unscheduled aircraft inspections leaving travelers stranded for days, even weeks. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Graveyard Of Kauaʻi Cattle Killed By Anthrax Could Undermine Luxury Homes. A judge will hear a lawsuit that Princeville residents have filed against the developer on Tuesday. The  lawsuit that seeks to shut down the development on Kauaʻi’s North Shore claims the dead cattle left behind millions of still-dangerous anthrax spores capable of sickening and animals — and maybe people — if unearthed during construction. Civil Beat.

Kapa‘a Satellite DMV brings services to island’s largest residential area. There is a new shortcut to service at the Kaua‘i County Division of Motor Vehicles, due to a new satellite office that launched in January in Kapa‘a town, the largest residential area on the island. Kauai Now.

Immigrant rights bills clear first legislative hurdle, Green sounds off against Kennedy appointment, Kakaako housing bill gathers support, 4th graders improve math scores, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Immigration enforcement measures draw support. Four bills relating to immigration enforcement cleared their first legislative hurdle Wednesday, with all passed 7-0 by the House Committee on Economic Development and Technology. The bills would prohibit local law enforcers from complying with federal authorities in detaining individuals without a judicial warrant,  bar the use of government land for detention facilities, establish a program for legal representation and notify detainees of their rights. Tribune-Herald.

‘He’s a liar.’ Green outraged after Kennedy denies role in Samoa measles outbreak. Gov. Josh Green was in the U.S. Capitol hearing room Wednesday while Robert F. Kennedy Jr. denied Green’s allegation that he caused many deaths in Samoa by discouraging the measles vaccine. Green responded with profanity on national television. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii fourth graders show math gains nationally. According to results released early Wednesday by the state Department of Education, Hawaii was one of only 15 states to achieve a statistically significant increase in fourth grade math scores, surpassing the national average by 2 points for the second consecutive assessment. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii eighth in health foundation’s ranking. Hawaii ranked eighth-best among states in key health measures, according to America’s Health Rankings 2024 Annual Report — a drop from sixth place in 2023. Star-Advertiser.

Senate committee puts UH athletics under the microscope for $2M-plus deficit. The University of Hawaiʻi's athletic department came under fire from senators after requesting an additional $3.2 million. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Tourism Authority invests in international markets to draw back tourists.  In Hawaii, you can't talk about tourism without Japan, but since the COVID-19 pandemic, Japanese tourist numbers have not recovered. KITV4.

Kava Growers In Hawaiʻi Fear Being Associated With ‘Gas Station Heroin’. Hawaiʻi lawmakers are considering regulating kratom and banning sales to minors. But kava advocates want an outright ban. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Kakaako Makai housing bill attracts a flood of testimony. A contentious bill to largely undo a state law prohibiting residential development on the peninsula in Kakaako drew almost two-thirds more support than opposition at an initial public hearing Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

‘They pulled up in unmarked vans.’ Kapahulu neighborhood rattled after ICE agents arrest neighbor. Amid Trump’s immigration crackdown across the country, Hawaii law enforcement teams have been hitting locations across Oahu daily, targeting those with criminal records. Hawaii News Now. Star-Advertiser.

Women’s Court May Be Renewed On Oʻahu And Expanded To Other Islands. When the Oʻahu Women’s Court was established in 2022 to offer an alternative to incarceration, officials had a goal of admitting 20 participants a year. As of this month, 33 women were currently enrolled. Civil Beat.

Spike in e-bike accidents prompts rise of new law. The Honolulu City Council passed Bill 52, a measure that aims to establish clear safety guidelines for bicycle riders and pedestrians. KHON2.

OCCC guard pleads guilty to importing illegal aerial fireworks. Gilchrist Fernandez, 35, pleaded guilty to importing aerial devices without a license, and a “criminal attempt” at discharging aerial devices of 25 lbs or more without a license between Nov. 9, 2022, and Dec. 6, 2022, according to state court records. Star-Advertiser. Associated Press. KHON2.

Some Dillingham businesses frustrated over requirements for rail impact grant. The city is now accepting applications for a grant to support businesses affected by rail construction on Dillingham Boulevard, but some business owners say the requirements are too strict. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Woman struck by vehicle on Highway 11 in Kurtistown dies from injuries. Hawai‘i Police Department reports the 21-year-old woman struck by a vehicle Jan. 22 near the 10-mile marker on Highway 11 in Kurtistown has died. She was identified as Jahnya Serquina-Octubre of Mountain View. Big Island Now.

Waipiʻo Valley Road to be closed. Hawai‘i County Civil Defense says Hawai‘i Police Department reports Waipiʻo Valley Road in Hāmākua on the east side of the Big Island will be closed at 6 a.m. Thursday (Jan. 30) because of the flood watch in effect for the island. Waipiʻo Valley residents and farmers are authorized to access the valley. Big Island Now.

 Maui

Attorneys reach agreement in $4B Maui wildfire settlement. A trial was set for Wednesday morning and several victims were prepared to testify. Instead, Judge Peter Cahill was told that attorneys have come to an agreement.  Hawaii News Now.

Senate bill would transfer Māla Wharf and Kīhei Boat Ramp to Maui County. Dissatisfied by state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ management of small boating facilities, West and South Maui Sen. Angus McKelvey has drafted a bill to transfer maintenance and operations of Māla Wharf in Lahaina and the Kīhei Boat Ramp to Maui County. Under the bill, the County could set permit fees to generate revenue for the facilities’ upkeep. Maui Now.

Kilohana temporary housing site has long-term goals to support Maui’s housing crisis. Kilohana consists of 167 modular units on 20 acres of state-owned property in Lahaina. Positioned next door to Ka Laʻi Ola, a temporary housing development project that aims to support up to 1,500 wildfire survivors for the next five years, these homes have been developed and stationed over the past few months, and are expected to be fully occupied by the beginning of February.  Maui News.

Haleakalā National Park closed from noon on Thursday due to severe weather. Haleakalā National Park closed from noon on Thursday due to severe weather. Beginning Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 Haleakalā National Park will be closed due to dangerous weather conditions. The closure will go into effect at noon Thursday for both the Summit District and Kīpahulu district. Maui Now.

Kauai

‘Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning’: Major winter storm to bring possible flash flooding, damaging winds. There is an unusually strong winter storm expected to pass just north of Kaua‘i as it marches east, bringing with it a significant threat of severe weather during the next couple of days. Kauai Now.

Hawaii Legislature fast-tracks bills to protect immigrants, state officials react to Trump's threatened funding cutoff, $4B wildfire lawsuit goes to trial, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Immigration Crackdown Begins In Hawaiʻi As Advocates, Lawmakers Push Back. Legislation to prevent local law enforcement from working with immigration agents and other protections for the undocumented will be heard in the state Capitol on Wednesday. There are between 41,000 and 51,000 undocumented immigrants in Hawaiʻi, according to estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Migration Policy Institute, roughly half from the Philippines. Civil Beat.

Trump’s order to cut federal funding sends shock waves in Hawaii.  State officials do not know whether the list of 2,600 federal accounts used by various state agencies — including the state departments of Health and Human Services and the University of Hawaii — was complete, including how many state workers’ salaries are funded by the federal government. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Hawaii Public Radio.  Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.  KITV4.

Hawaiʻi Bill Ensures Right To Record Law Enforcement Activities.  On Monday, Senate Bill 307 was given a positive recommendation by the Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs. Big Island Video News.

Relief from soaring Hawaii property insurance costs is elusive. Members of two legislative committees Monday expressed frustration instead of optimism over the initiative to have a pair of state insurance programs provide relief to homeowners who since 2024 have been forced to pay staggering premium increases or opt for reduced or no coverage. Star-Advertiser.

Key lawmakers to focus on agricultural crimes, invasive species, food security. The top priorities for state lawmakers in key agriculture positions this year are highlighted by agricultural crimes, biosecurity, and the formation of a sustainable food system. Hawaii Public Radio.

State lawmakers target invasive species. Hawaii lawmakers are proposing to shift the state’s invasive species response to the state Department of Agriculture. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu

Hawaiʻi’s ‘new energy strategy’ opens door to liquefied natural gas imports. The site of Oʻahu’s demolished coal plant may become the home of a new fossil fuel facility. That's one part of a plan released Tuesday by the Hawaiʻi State Energy Office that calls for liquefied natural gas to play a role in Oʻahu’s energy mix. Hawaii Public Radio.

Lawmakers and community leaders oppose planned Oahu landfill site. Elected officials, environmental advocates, agriculture insiders and the city’s top water chief appeared Tuesday at the state Capitol to promote new state-level legislation — namely, eight bills introduced in the state House or Senate — that largely seeks to prevent landfills from being placed above fresh groundwater sources anywhere in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

Harmful Sewage Continues To Pollute Kailua Bay Despite Increased Scrutiny. Large, costly upgrades are underway for  the Kailua treatment plant. But unsafe bacteria levels continue to crop up after strong storms. Civil Beat.

Oʻahu's community gardens are tilling over the rules. The city is holding a public hearing later today about revising the rules for the Community Gardening Program. Those rules were last amended in 1984 and are overdue for an overhaul.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Free Speech Group Blasts UH For Censoring Law School Presentation. Instead of using a generic diagram,  University of Hawaiʻi law instructor Ken Lawson used pictures of real colleagues at UH’s William S. Richardson School of Law to depict a  hypothetical crime. Civil Beat.

Fifth Victim Of New Year’s Eve Fireworks Explosion Dies In Arizona. Man, 29, dies from Jan. 1 Aliamanu fireworks injuries. Kevin Vallesteros died at 6:42 a.m. Hawaii time. He is the fifth fatality tied to the explosion at a house party at 4144 Keaka Drive. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Associated Press. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now.

Kalihi Uka teacher Kristy Inamas awarded $25K Milken educator prize. A kindergarten teacher at Kalihi Uka Elementary School was honored Tuesday as Hawaii’s sole recipient of the 2025 Milken Educator Award. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now. 

Hawaii Island

Julia Neal, publisher of The Ka‘u Calendar newspaper, dies at 75. Julia Neal, owner of the Pahala Plantation House and Cottages and editor-publisher of The Ka‘u Calendar newspaper, died Friday at her Pahala cottage. She was 75. Tribune-Herald.

12 arrested, charged in Puna warrants sweep. The nine men and three women were arrested for offenses ranging from contempt of court, failure to appear and violating terms of release. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A $4B settlement for Hawaii wildfire victims is in legal limbo as an unusual trial starts. When Hawaii Gov. Josh Green announced a $4 billion settlement about a year after the deadliest U.S. wildfire in a century devastated Lahaina in 2023, he touted the speed of the deal to “avoid protracted and painful lawsuits.” Five months later, however, an unusual trial starting Wednesday will delve into difficult questions about survivors’ losses as a judge decides how to divide the settlement. Associated Press.

Council’s 5-4 majority-minority split reflects ‘deeply divided electorate’.  Just three meetings into the new year, the Maui County Council’s five-member majority has shown its upper hand, with minority members chafing at being on the losing end of 5-4 votes in contested issues on the Council floor. Maui Now.

Maui housing advocates beg for help as end of eviction moratorium nears.  The governor’s emergency proclamation protecting renters on Maui is set to expire next week. Now, housing advocates are begging elected officials for help. Hawaii News Now.

Winter Storm Watch: Snow accumulations of up to 4 inches possible at Haleakalā on Maui. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch in effect late Wednesday night through late Thursday night at the summit of Haleakalā on Maui. The forecast calls for snow accumulations of up to four inches with a mix of snow and precipitation expected.  Maui Now.

Kauai

Construction of raised crosswalk at deadly Kauaʻi intersection to begin Feb. 14. In the past four years, Kaua‘i police said there were 17 crashes at that intersection. Two involved either a pedestrian or a cyclist. Kauai Now.

Kauai High School seeking head track and field coach. The Kauai High School Athletic Department is currently seeking applicants to fill the position of head track and field coach. Garden Island.

Musk seeks expansion of SpaceX splashdown zones, Department of Law Enforcement director stepping down, Maui resident population drops following wildfire evacuation, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

SpaceX seeking permit to splash down in Pacific, Gulf of Mexico and Indian Ocean. Public comments are due Jan. 17 on Elon Musk’s plans for his SpaceX rockets to splash down in a much wider area, including Hawaiian waters and 240 nautical miles east of the Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary. Maui Now.

Fire prevention, housing top priorities as new lawmaking session gets underway. Initial bills to address old, new concerns. State lawmakers already have announced their intentions to introduce nearly 500 bills ahead of today’s start of the legislative session. Each legislative session, 2,000 to 3,000 bills are introduced, and about 250 become law.  Maui Now.  Kauai Now.

State legislature drafts several bills cracking down on illegal fireworks. Hawaiʻi lawmakers who hope to curb the use of illegal fireworks already have several bills drafted ahead of the start of today’s new legislative session. KHON2. Star-Advertiser.

Amid a slew of controversies, the director of Hawaii’s Department of Law Enforcement is stepping down, and a Honolulu Police Department major has accepted the position, HNN Investigates confirmed Tuesday. Jordon Lowe was appointed to the role in 2020. Hawaii News Now.

The Number Of Hawaiʻi Children In Foster Care Dropped To Lowest In Decades. The number of children in foster care in Hawaiʻi hit a 20-year low last year, an encouraging development for the troubled state Child Welfare Services Branch. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Resolution opposing landfill sites above Oahu’s aquifer advances. A Honolulu City Council resolution meant to uphold a more than 20-year-old city policy over solid waste landfills and their proximity to Oahu’s drinking water supply has advanced. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu City Council considers increasing penalties for fireworks violations. The Honolulu City Council is considering increasing the penalties for fireworks violations on Oʻahu. According to city law, owning or using illegal aerial fireworks is currently a misdemeanor with a fine between $250 and $2,000, and up to a year in prison. Hawaii Public Radio.

Executives Hope A New Fee Can Save Downtown Honolulu. Honolulu business and political leaders are pushing to create a new special downtown business improvement district, similar to the one governing Waikīkī, to add more safety, sanitation and security to a once thriving neighborhood that has never fully recovered from the Covid-19 pandemic. Civil Beat.

Honolulu proposes to ease ambulance strain with help from rideshare companies, but drivers have questions. A proposal to ease the strain on Oahu’s ambulance crews by enlisting the help of rideshare companies is prompting questions from some drivers. Hawaii News Now.

State Is Banking On Charter Schools To Help Expand Hawaiʻi’s Free Preschool. Hawaiʻi’s first-ever charter preschool is slated to open in Kapolei next month, amid a push to utilize the charter system to increase access to early learning in the state. Parkway Village Preschool is located in an affordable housing complex that recently opened there and will eventually serve up to 80 3- and 4-year-olds. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Lawsuit over EPIC system moves ahead. Oral arguments have been scheduled in a lawsuit in which a Milolii homeowner is suing the county, alleging its Electronic Processing and Information Center system, known as EPIC, has trapped him in a permitting catch-22 that will allow him only to demolish his home — which is in a shoreline management area — not to remodel or live in it. Tribune-Herald.


Playground improvements ongoing at Pu‘u Nui Park.  Playground renovations and the installation of new equipment are underway at Pu‘u Nui Park in Waikoloa Village and are projected to be completed by the end of February, county officials announced last week. West Hawaii Today.

Replacement of narrow Hilo bridge pushed back. Plans to replace the Four Mile Creek Bridge are unlikely to come to fruition before 2028. Tribune-Herald.

Residential Program For Integrated Clinical Care Launched. A grand opening was held for the 6-bed program that "offers transitional housing and structured support for its most vulnerable members experiencing homelessness." Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

Maui

At Least 1,000 People Have Left Maui Since The Fires, Tax Records Show. Hawaiʻi will see its annual income drop by $53 million due to migration from Valley Isle, researchers say. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.  Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

Final Maui Fires Report Calls For Better Communication, Prevention, Education. The Hawaiʻi Attorney General’s office released its final report Tuesday on the August 2023 Maui wildfires, making 140 safety recommendations for state and county agencies, utility companies and landowners. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.  Maui Now. Hawaii News Now.  KITV4.

South Maui Community Pushes Back After Plan Gets More Developer-Friendly. Advisory committee members say the county Planning Department’s changes will contribute to an unsustainable future for the greater Kīhei area. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Kilauea roundabout generating buzz. The ongoing groundwork for the upcoming roundabout on Kauai’s North Shore is anticipated to be completed in 2026. Garden Island.

Wilcox nurses start three-day walk-out. On Tuesday morning starting at 7 a.m., 159 nurses represented by the Hawaii Nurses Association took to the sidewalks fronting the Wilcox Medical Center in a three-day strike that, according to the HNA notice provided to Hawaii Pacific Health, will end at 6:59 a.m. on Friday. Garden Island.

Kaua’i forest bird rescue and recovery organizations joining forces in one facility. Hawai‘i Board of Land and Natural Resources members last week approved a request from Kaua‘i County Mayor Derek Kawakami to cancel a 1955 executive order that set aside state land for the county as the Hanapēpē Dog Pound. Kauai Now.

Lahaina wildfire ruled 'accidental,' Miske crime boss top associate sentenced to 10 years, Kapiolani nurse contract finalized, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Lahaina wildfire ruled ‘accidental': Maui Blames Fallen Power Line. A fallen Hawaiian Electric Co. power line set dry grass on fire on the morning of Aug. 8, 2023, producing a smoldering ember that made its way to a nearby gully, flared up in hurricane-driven winds later that day and grew to engulf the town of Lahaina, Maui officials said Wednesday while releasing the long-awaited report produced in collaboration with federal investigators. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.  Associated Press.  Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.  KITV4. Maui Now.

Maui Fire Chief Gives Detailed Defense Of Firefighters Battling Lahaina Blaze. Firefighters stayed at the blaze for more than five hours – and couldn't have predicted the deadly rekindling that afternoon, Fire Chief Brad Ventura said. Civil Beat.

Governor extends emergency proclamation to address school bus driver shortage. Gov. Josh Green has extended emergency provisions, enabling the Hawai‘i State Department of Education to continue addressing the school bus driver shortage that has disrupted student transportation services. Maui Now.

Green defends water panel vacancy-filling protocol. Gov. Josh Green insists that he is following Hawaii law for filling a vacant special seat on the state water commission amid criticism of his procedure to do so. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Kapi‘olani nurses ratify new 3-year contract. The union nurses at Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women &Children on Wednesday ratified a new, three-year contract that was ironed out after more than a year of negotiations with management. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. KHON2.  KITV4.

Former top associate to Hawaii crime boss sentenced to 10 years, 1 month in prison. A judge has sentenced a man to 10 years and one month in prison for his role as an enforcer for Hawaii crime boss Mike Miske. During Miske’s trial, Jake Smith testified for six days, saying he dealt drugs and carried out numerous assaults on Miske’s personal rivals. Hawaii News Now.

‘There are few places left’: Kapolei homeless feel impact of development. As development expands in Kapolei, there are concerns the second city’s homeless population is running out of places to stay. Hawaii News Now.

Climate scientist says North Shore house collapse gives glimpse of future sea level rise. Homeowner Joshua VanEmmerik, who maintained the house primarily as a short-term rental, had drawn the ire of some local community members and conservationists for his attempts to harden the shoreline in front of his property near Sunset Beach. Hawaii Public Radio.

Newly retired Star-Advertiser writer Tim Hurley dies of aggressive cancer. Hurley, 66, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of Stage 4 “diffuse, large B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma,” spent a week in the intensive care unit and then died, said one of Hurley’s four adult children, Baylee MacGregor. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Veterans housing complex nearly pau. Earlier this year, construction was estimated to be completed by August, and residents could begin moving in by September. But some final construction delays have pushed the move-in date to late October, or possibly even December. Tribune-Herald.

Community invited to give feedback on new district park proposed in Hawaiian Paradise Park. Hawai‘i County Parks and Recreation proposes a new district park in Hawaiian Paradise Park and wants to know what the community thinks about its plans. Big Island Now.

Maui

Maui County Department of Agriculture seeking input on Food and Nutrition Security Plan. The County of Maui Department of Agriculture is collaborating with community partners across Maui, Molokai and Lāna’i to develop a Food and Nutrition Security Plan and is seeking help prioritizing strategies to support Maui County’s food system, according to the county. Maui News.

Maui hospital workers union mulls strike over concerns about safe staffing levels. Last month, 495 of the union’s 930 members participated in a call-to-action vote, with 98% voting to authorize taking actions that included a strike if necessary. On Monday night, their contract expired. Maui Now.

Maui visitor arrivals up a year after wildfires, but still not at pre-disaster levels. Maui visitor arrivals were up almost 80% in August, compared with a year earlier, the month when the Maui wildfires struck Aug. 8-9. But visitor travel to the Valley Isle still lags behind what it was before the disaster, according to a monthly report by the Hawaiʻi Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism. Maui Now.

Kauai

Areas of Ke Ala Hele Makālae trail in Kapa‘a to temporarily close for maintenance. Portions of Ke Ala Hele Makālae trail in Kapa‘a will be closed this week to allow Kaua‘i County crews to perform extensive maintenance. The closure starts on Thursday and continues into Friday. Kauai Now.

Kauai Museum Exhibit Center dedicated. Following a delay created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kauai Museum dedicated the Waimakua and Maryanne Kusaka Exhibit Center on Monday afternoon. Garden Island.
 

Oahu business owner arrested in attempted Trump assassination, union files grievance over 500 unpaid teachers, state encourages students as construction projects top $10B, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Suspect in Trump assassination attempt lived in Hawaii. Oahu business owner Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, who was arrested Sunday in connection with an alleged attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump in Florida was seen as a “rogue” player by some people he worked with in Hawaii to build tiny homes for homeless military veterans. Star-Advertiser. New York Times. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.  KITV4. 

House Speaker Scott Saiki leaves a legacy of addressing hard issues. It will be left to history to reflect the role of outgoing House Speaker Scott Saiki in legalizing same-sex marriage, helping to steer the islands through the unprecedented COVID-19 epidemic and his response to political corruption in the Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

HSTA files step 2 grievance with DOE more than 500 teachers remain unpaid. The Hawaii State Teachers Association said 533 public and charter school teachers have yet to receive their payments, which is up from the 377 teachers that were initially reported. KHON2.

More Hawaii Schools Are Offering Computer Science — But Are All Students Benefiting? The Hawaii Department of Education is now facing a state mandate from 2021 requiring all Hawaii schools to offer at least one computer science course by the end of the 2024-25 academic year.  Civil Beat.

Students encouraged to join construction industry debt-free. Construction in Hawaii is forecast to generate more than $10 billion over the next three to four years. There are currently 1,523 apprentices working in Hawaii, and 576 are between the ages of 18 to 24. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Prisons Are Getting New Scanners That Can Detect Drugs Without Opening Mail. The state agreed to purchase nine of the MailSecur machines for nearly $970,000. It plans to deploy them at eight in-state correctional facilities this fall, according to a statement from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.  Civil Beat.

Oahu

Pearl Harbor shipyard works on 3 top-class submarines. Four dry docks for ship and submarine maintenance exist at the facility. But one, dating to 1942, is too small and shallow to service Virginia-class subs that the Navy continues to procure as replacements for older Los Angeles-class subs in an effort to modernize more of the U.S. fleet, which includes about a dozen submarines home-ported at Pearl Harbor. Star-Advertiser.

Kapiolani nurses vow to keep fighting after being ‘locked out’ post one-day strike amid contract disputes.   Kapiolani Medical Center has locked out its nurses after their one-day strike concluded Saturday morning. About 600 nurses, represented by the Hawaii Nurses Association, attempted to return after the strike ended at 6:59 a.m. Hawaii News Now.

Rental housing tower for DHHL beneficiaries ready to rise. The $154 million project, dubbed Hale Moiliili, will provide 278 units for state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands beneficiaries. Star-Advertiser.

HFD contain 50% of Waialua brush fire. Honolulu firefighters are responding to a brush fire in Kalaeloa Sunday afternoon. The initial alarm came in just before 12:30 p.m. near Coral Sea and Ranger roads.  Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

‘Day of Aloha’ observed in memory of Twinkle Borge.  State and city officials joined the Waianae community Sunday, which would have been Twinkle Borge’s birthday, at Pu‘uhonua o Wai‘anae Farm Village for a memorial service honoring her and dedicating the day as a “Day of Aloha.” Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Kilauea Volcano Alert Level Raised To WATCH. Despite an infrasound signal typical of gas or steam venting, and seismometers recording low frequency tremor, visual evidence of eruptive activity has yet to be seen. Big Island Video News.

Hawai‘i’s only commercial dairy farm faces potential lawsuit for alleged milk, manure discharge into Big Island’s waterways. The law offices of Charles Tebbutt, representing the Center for Food Safety, sent a letter saying it intends to initiate a citizen’s suit in Hawaiʻi Federal District Court against Cloverleaf Dairy in Hawi, which is owned by Boteilho Hawai‘i Enterprises.  Big Island Now.

Native Hawaiian convention slated this week. The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, or CNHA, is bringing its 2024 Native Hawaiian Convention to the Hilton Waikoloa Village from Tuesday through Thursday. Tribune-Herald.

Hurricane Hone ended most of the island’s drought. One effect of Hurricane Hone’s passage to the south of the Big Island late last month was to take almost all of the island out of drought conditions. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Hawaii wildfire victims made it just blocks before becoming trapped by flames, report says. Of the 102 people who lost their lives during the August 2023 wildfires in Lahaina, 80% died in the central part of the town, according to a report released Friday by the Hawaii Attorney General’s office. Associated Press.

Deadly Devastation From The Lahaina Fire Was ‘Years In The Making’. State, county and community inaction including years of ignoring the dangers posed by wildfire made the Aug. 8 fire that destroyed Lahaina worse than it should have been. That is the overwhelming message of the Hawaii Attorney General’s “Lahaina Fire Incident Analysis Report,” the second of a three-part investigation into the Lahaina fires that killed 102 people and destroyed more than 2,200 buildings last year.  Civil Beat. Associated Press.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Fire intensifies Lahaina community’s push for bypass extension. Fire survivor Shayne Kahahane said many in the community want a finished Lahaina Bypass, and believe that its completion would have saved some of the 102 people who died during the Aug. 8, 2023, fire. Star-Advertiser.

Lahaina fire leads to disappearing tourism jobs, desperately needed construction workers. Carl Bonham, executive director of the University of Hawai‘i Economic Research Organization and professor of economics, said as of July, there are about 5,100 construction jobs on Maui, an increase of 400 or 8.9% from a year ago. Maui Now.

Maui’s housing crisis persists with building barriers worsened by the wildfires. Maui residents have been experiencing a massive housing shortage. Some might say, “Just build more houses.” However, it’s not that simple. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Navy hosts environmental assessment open house. The U.S. Navy will be hosting a meeting/open house on Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Kauai Veterans Center located on Veterans Memorial Highway adjacent to the Vidinha Stadium. Garden Island.

Some hikers blame ‘rancid’ toilet facilities for norovirus outbreak on Kalalau Trail on Kauaʻi.  As the Hawaiʻi State Department of Land and Natural Resources continues with its survey to determine the cause of the norovirus outbreak that has affected at least 50 visitors on the Kalalau Trail along the Nāpali Coast on Kauaʻi, some are blaming the virus on the state’s facilities that they say are unsanitary.  Kauai Now.