Special session may not be needed, Matson stops shipping electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, 2 women's bodies found in toppled banyan debris, Ellison now world's second-richest person, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Legislative special session may not be needed. State House Speaker Nadine Nakamura recently said dates remain reserved for a potential special session because federal funding decisions and their impact on Hawaii are still unclear. But Gov. Josh Green believes an immediate threat has passed, and that a special session isn’t needed. Star-Advertiser.

State held ‘fruitful’ talk with USDA to boost Hawaii exports. The added costs of President Donald Trump’s tariffs on international imports has hurt some local businesses, but the state’s agricultural industry is working to capitalize on the administration’s support for “made in America” and homegrown products by pushing to remove some of the restrictions on produce that cost Hawaii an estimated $760 million a year. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi Public Defender Urges Governor To Bar Cops From Working With ICE. The state’s Office of the Public Defender has stepped into the convulsive national fray over immigration enforcement, asking Gov. Josh Green to issue an executive order largely barring law enforcement agencies from collaborating with federal immigration authorities. All four county police departments have existing contracts with Homeland Security Investigations — a division of ICE — and other federal law enforcement agencies such as the Drug Enforcement Administration, under which they work together on what officials have said are investigations unrelated to immigration.  Civil Beat.

Matson stops shipping electric vehicles to Hawaiʻi. Hawaiʻi’s largest shipping company told customers this week that it won’t ship electric vehicles to Hawaiʻi anymore. Matson has told customers in a letter that it will stop transporting not only electric vehicles to Hawaiʻi but also plug-in hybrids because of the fire risk. Hawaii Public Radio.

State Medicaid administrators seek to ensure coverage amid federal changes. About 60% of people on Medicaid in Hawaiʻi are currently working, but it’s not yet clear if they would all meet the hourly requirements in the new law. Hawaii Public Radio.

Federal cuts leave Hawaii stations scrambling. Hawaii’s public broadcasting stations are scrambling to make up for a sudden loss in federal funding — forcing Hawaii Public Radio to pull from reserves and hold an emergency fundraising drive, as PBS Hawaii said it remains committed to its community emergency preparedness mission despite the financial strain. Star-Advertiser.

Coalition forms to save Hawaii’s struggling film industry. Hawaii’s film industry is organizing amid a slump in shooting major television series and feature films to better fight for improved state incentives after a bruising legislative session earlier this year. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s visitor industry looks to isle residents to bolster business. Visitors to Hawaii like to see how the locals live, but increasingly, locals are staycationing or island- hopping like visitors due to the many kamaaina specials that have emerged as softening in Hawaii tourism has extended into the peak summer period. Star-Advertiser.

Bloomberg reports Ellison is now world’s second richest person. Oracle founder and Lanai majority landowner Larry Ellison has overtaken Mark Zuckerberg, who owns a large estate on Kauai, to become the world’s second-richest person with a net worth of $251 billion — up nearly $60 billion in 2025 — according to Bloomberg News. Maui News.

Oahu

Trial run for rail’s airport extension delayed, HART says. Segment 2 — built to run from the old Aloha Stadium in Halawa, past the airport, to the Middle Street Transit Center in Kalihi — is scheduled to open for public ridership by Oct. 1. Star-Advertiser.

Nonprofit pushes for new Ala Wai Watershed District. A local nonprofit that wants to advance investments in nature-based solutions to protect the watershed and its communities is circulating an unofficial draft bill requesting that the Honolulu City Council establish a so-called Ala Wai Watershed Special Improvement District No. 6. Star-Advertiser.

HPD to add officers to combat rising crime rate in West Oahu. The Honolulu Police Department is adding a dozen officers to its West Oahu patrol district to address a 24% increase in calls for service and a spate of shootings and violent crime. Star-Advertiser.

Waikīkī Restaurant War Reveals Gaps In Hawaiʻi Business Protections. The dispute between two restaurants with the same name on the same block underscores a weakness in the state’s trademark system. Civil Beat.

Twice Torched Bird Watch Overlook Remains Shut. The popular birdwatching spot in ʻEwa Beach had been closed, then reopened for barely a year before it was closed down again last August. Trespassing brings a hefty fine. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii County names new interim police chief. On July 18, Hawaii County named Deputy Chief Reed Mahuna as the interim chief of police effective Sept. 1. KHON2.

Big Island police recover remains of women from fallen banyan tree. Hawaii Island police on Sunday recovered the remains of two women from within the debris of a downed banyan tree, which had fallen on Kilauea Avenue in Hilo on July 12. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.  Hawaii News Now. 

Episode 29 of the Halemaʻumaʻu eruption abruptly ends after 13 hours.  Episode 29 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption ended abruptly around 6:35 p.m. on Sunday after over 13 hours of continuous lava fountaining. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. 

New Electric Buses Headed To Hawaiʻi Island. 12 new battery-electric buses, manufactured by the Gillig company, are replacing diesel buses on Kauaʻi, Maui and Hawaiʻi Island. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Better late than never: ‘Ohana Hope Village nears completion 2 years after Maui wildfires. Just 11 days after the devastating Maui wildfires on Aug. 8, 2023, the privately funded ‘Ohana Hope Village broke ground in Kahului, moving fast to provide housing for people who had lost their homes. But the off-the-grid, 88-unit temporary village that initially was expected to take six months to build now is approaching the two-year mark. Maui Now.

Maui middle schoolers explore community challenges with 3D printers, coding, AI. A group of Maui middle school students has spent the summer 3D printing ʻohe kapala stamping sticks, creating scenes of the Hawaiian demigod Maui using virtual reality, and using drones in real-world applications. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

5 new homes celebrated by Kauai Habitat for Humanity. The new homes were built with qualified homebuyers in partnership with USDA Sect. 502 Direct Loan to Homebuyers, down payment assistance from the County of Kauai HOME Investment Partnership program, Title Guaranty Hawaii, as well as many community donors and volunteers. Garden Island.

One lane of alternating traffic open on Kūhiō Highway near Hanalei River Bridge. Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency reported just before 6 p.m. Sunday that Kūhiō Highway near Hanalei River Bridge is open to one lane of alternating traffic after being closed that morning and for much of the day because of being inundated from flood waters. Kauai Now.

Lawmakers to discuss wildfire mitigation today, Green gives state workers extra time off, Honolulu council rejects fireworks veto override and $1.5M police wrongful death settlement, Maui seeks delay of water permit plan, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Legislative committees to hold joint informational briefing on HECO Wildfire Mitigation Plan. A joint informational briefing hosted by the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, the Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, and the Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism takes place at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. Maui Now.

Money For New State Fire Marshal Isn’t Nearly Enough, Fire Council Says. Hawaii’s State Fire Council says lawmakers need to invest from $1 million to $4 million to revive the Office of the State Fire Marshal — up to 23 times more than the $172,000 legislators have allocated for the office so far. Civil Beat.

Final ballots confirm GOP hopes and trigger a House recount. The latest tally of the last 18,000 votes cast Tuesday on Election Day flipped the results of a contentious West Oahu seat and now has incumbent Republican Rep. Elijah Pierick winning instead of losing, but that could change again depending on a recount of the nearly 10,000 votes. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

2 Kauai lawmakers to lead Hawaii Legislature. Rep. Nadine Nakamura (D, Hanalei-Princeville- Kapaa) won the job to lead the 51-member House with a majority of votes from colleagues, and assumed the role Wednesday from outgoing Rep. Scott Saiki, who lost his reelection bid in the Aug. 7 primary election. Star-Advertiser. Kauai Now. Hawaii News Now.  KITV4.

Gov. Green gives state workers bonus paid time off. For the third time in three years, Gov. Josh Green is giving state employees extra paid time off work during the holiday season.  Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Council opts not to override mayor’s veto of fireworks bill.  A Honolulu City Council measure to allow the legal sale, purchase and use of fireworks that have been banned in the city for over a decade fizzled in a 4-4 vote Thursday. Star-Advertiser. KHON2. KITV4.

Council cancels vote on $1.5M settlement in fatal HPD shooting. City attorneys will fight a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the widow of an unarmed Black man shot and killed by police following a violent confrontation in 2021 after the City Council scuttled a $1.5 million settlement Opens in a new tab Wednesday. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.  KITV4.

Community weighs in on controversial development on O'ahu's north shore. Tensions escalated at a neighborhood board subcommittee meeting in Hauula on Thursday night over proposed development near Turtle Bay Resort. KITV4.

Years Of Shortchanging Elections Led To Honolulu’s Long Voter Lines. After experiencing long Election Day lines in 2020, city officials thought they knew how to fix them. Their efforts fell short. Civil Beat.

Ameresco moves ahead with renewable energy projects at Pearl Harbor. Clearway Energy recently pulled the plug on plans for three major solar farms, but Hawaiian Electric still has several other projects in the works.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Support urged for housing project. More than 200 new units could be added to an affordable housing development in Hilo under a proposal by the Hawaii Public Housing Authority. Tribune-Herald.

United States Treasurer Chief Visits Hawaiʻi Island. U.S. Treasurer Chief Lynn Malerba was recently on the Island of Hawai‘i to “gain insights on the impacts of Treasury’s State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) program.”  Big Island Video News.

Hawai‘i County in process of contracting with firm to conduct Puna Alternate Routes Study. Hawai‘i County is in the process of contracting with a consulting firm to perform a study about alternate road access in Puna that would alleviate the district’s longstanding traffic congestion and provide an evacuation route when natural disasters strike. Big Island Now.

Honor military veterans on Saturday: Annual parade in downtown Hilo begins at 10 a.m. The Big Island community will unite on Saturday to celebrate and honor service in all its forms at the 17th Annual Hawaii Island Veterans Day Parade. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen asks state land board to hold off on water permit conversation, again. Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen is asking the state land board once again to hold off on discussing a contested case hearing involving a 30-year permit for water from Maui’s Ko’olau Forest Reserve.  Maui News. Maui Now.

Morgue contractor suing Maui police for alleged unpaid bills after Lahaina fire. The owner of Grey Tech LLC is now suing MPD over claims the company’s owed more than a quarter million dollars for services provided following the Lahaina disaster. This comes after MPD said it opened an investigation into the contractor. Hawaii News Now.

Maui Health nurses, workers return to work after 3-day strike. Hundreds of nurses and health care workers from Maui Health returned to work Thursday morning after holding a three-day strike protesting unfair labor practices. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Community condemns ‘desecration and defecation’ of Kauai iwi kupuna found at cesspool conversion site. On Monday, multiple government officials visited the site of a mandatory cesspool conversion project at the Hale Makai Cottages in Wainiha, Kauai. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs says there are at least eight burials found in June and and September.  Hawaii News Now.

Raising awareness about poverty and homelessness. Kaua‘i County officials along with others from around the Garden Isle and a representative from Hawai‘i Gov. Josh Green’s office gathered at the end of last week to raise awareness and educate the public about the issues of poverty and homelessness. Kauai Now.

Nakamura set to become first female state House speaker, Republicans gain some legislative seats, state scrambles to finish counting ballots, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Legislators To Name 1st Female House Speaker In Hawaii History. Nadine Nakamura is expected to be selected as part of a leadership reorganization Thursday. Lawmakers must vote to make it official when the next session begins. Civil Beat.

Senate leadership announced for upcoming 33rd Hawai‘i Legislative Biennium. Hawai‘i Senate President Ronald Kouchi on Wednesday, following Tuesday’s general election, announced the leadership and committee chairpersons for the upcoming 2025-26 Legislative Biennium. Big Island Now.

Reelected state Sen. Brenton Awa slated to become minority leader. For the last two years, the Republicans in the Senate – Awa and Leeward Oʻahu Sen. Kurt Fevella – have not been able to determine a leader.. However, westside Republican Samantha DeCorte secured her district in the general election on Tuesday, defeating Democratic House Rep. Cedric Gates. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Republicans may be gaining seats in Legislature. As of Wednesday evening, House Republican Candidates Garner Shimizu, Chris Muraoka and Julie Reyes Oda are leading their Democratic opponents. Republican Senate candidate Samantha DeCorte is winning against Cedric Gates. KHON2. KITV4.

West Oahu House Race Looks Headed For A Recount. Republican Rep. Elijah Pierick has taken a 20-vote lead over Democratic challenger Corey Rosenlee, according to late election returns released Wednesday night. If the margin between the two stays under 24 votes, it’s likely headed to a recount under a new law passed by the Legislature this year. Civil Beat.

Big Island incumbents all retain seats in Legislature. the Big Island’s delegates in the state Legislature kept their seats Tuesday after cruising to easy victories. Tribune-Herald.

Kaua‘i Democrats defeat opponents in elections for state House seats. Incumbent candidates on Kaua‘i, all of whom are Democrats, defeated all Republican challengers in state-level races this election. Kauai Now.

Lines of mostly Republicans delay vote tally. Long lines of people — overwhelmingly Republicans — who exercised their right to vote in person and even register to vote all day and night Tuesday delayed the release of election votes past midnight Wednesday, the longest delay in Hawaii voting history, said Hawaii Elections Chief Scott Nago. Star-Advertiser.

Here’s What Local Republicans Say A Trump Presidency Will Mean For Hawaii. Trump supporters say a second term should bring peace and prosperity, a lower cost of living and help for Native Hawaiians. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Council mulls veto override for fireworks bill. Adopted by a majority of the Council in early October to allow ground-level fountains and sparklers to be lit in public on Oahu by lifting the city’s partial fireworks ban, Bill 22 was formally vetoed by the mayor on Oct. 25. Star-Advertiser.

Elections officials apologize for voting delays, but will changes be made? Honolulu election officials are apologizing for long waits that left many voters standing in rain and darkness for hours on election night. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Will the Ala Wai pedestrian bridge be a debacle like HART? In response to continued interest from the Waikīkī, Mōʻiliʻili and McCully communities, the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Transportation Services (DTS) is increasing opportunities for public input on the design of the Ala Pono Pedestrian Bridge (formerly known as the Ala Wai Pedestrian Bridge).  KHON2.

Thousands oppose $1.5M proposed settlement of HPD deadly shooting lawsuit. Nearly 2,300 Hawaii residents do not want the city to pay $1.5 million to settle a deadly HPD shooting lawsuit. They’ve signed an online petition supporting officers who shot and killed Rugby star Lindani Myeni in 2021. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Changing of the guard: Alameda, Roth discuss outcome of the mayoral race. Kimo Alameda — a political newcomer who took a decisive victory over incumbent Mayor Mitch Roth in the election Tuesday and will become Hawaii County’s chief executive on Dec. 2 — said Wednesday that finding and assembling a team will be a priority. Tribune-Herald.

Hustace, Kaneali‘i-Kleinfelder look ahead. Councilwoman Cindy Evans was ousted Tuesday by opponent James Hustace. Puna Councilman Matt Kaneali‘i-Kleinfelder defeated incumbent Ikaika Rodenhurst with 57% of the vote. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui County incumbents survive election despite voter frustration about Lahaina fire recovery, economy.  The only Maui race in which a challenger garnered at least 40% of the vote was the District 14 West Maui contest that incumbent Democratic Rep. Elle Cochran won with 51.3% of the vote to Republican Kelly Armstrong’s 40.4%, according to the third printout of results around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.  Maui Now.

Slight lead in Maui County Council race could spell big change. As of Wednesday morning, Maui County Council member Tom Cook held a narrow lead of less than 1% over biodiesel executive Kelly King in a race that could tip the scales on major issues involving hundreds of millions of dollars in future development. Maui News.

Maui Judge Peter Cahill: All Maui Wildfire Insurance Claims Must Be Made Public. Insurance companies have a month to make public lists of every insurance claim related to the wildfire that killed 102 people on Maui and destroyed much of Lahaina, including the amount of each claim, the amount actually paid out and the rationale for the payment.  Civil Beat.

Kauai

Holland, Kaneshiro join Kauai County Council. A tight battle for the final seat on the Kauai County Council ended with a newcomer knocking off an incumbent to join the seven-member governing body on Wednesday. Garden Island.