Green limits Hawaii National Guard in immigrant actions, Hurricane Iona, Tropical Storm Keith pose no threat to Hawaii, Honolulu lawsuit against fossil fuel companies heads to court today, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. Josh Green limits activation of Hawaii National Guard.  Gov. Josh Green will require a briefing on the circumstances and the “true need” of a federal request to activate the Hawaii National Guard before considering the deployment of soldiers for any law enforcement duties like President Donald Trump’s effort to carry out the largest mass deportation of immigrants in U.S. history. Star-Advertiser.

Governor steps into national leadership roles, expanding Hawai‘i’s voice on key issues. Gov. Josh Green has been elected to the Executive Committee of the National Governors Association (NGA) and named vice chair of the Western Governors’ Association (WGA). Maui Now.

Iona now a major hurricane, Tropical Storm Keli remains steady; no threats to Hawaii.  Iona has quickly intensified into a major Category 3 hurricane as it continues on a track keeping it well south of Hawaii. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Keli is maintaining is intensity as a weak tropical storm to the southeast of the state. Associated Press. Big Island Now.  Hawaii News Now.  Star-Advertiser.

The Human Rights Defense Center is suing the Hawaiʻi Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for censorship. The center says the department has not allowed its educational publications, books and informational brochures to be delivered to inmates.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Will Political Uncertainty Force Hawaiʻi’s Native Birds ‘Into Oblivion’? Ever since the federal budget ax came for wetland and forest protection jobs earlier this year, nonprofits and private groups have been trying to fill the gap in hopes that the government would soon see the error in its ways. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi Parents Are Giving Schools A Better Grade. Five years after the Covid-19 pandemic started, schools are seeing fewer students who feel unsafe on campus and an increase in the percentage of parents who are satisfied with their children’s school and feel engaged in Hawaiʻi’s public education system.  Civil Beat.

Law enforcement officials rally ranchers, farmers to help curb crime on agricultural land. On Monday, the Department of Law Enforcement held a meeting with dozens of farmers and ranchers, encouraging them to help carry out the newly-signed Act 235.  The department’s new unit is starting off as a pilot program of about 8 officers, with half of them on Oahu and the other half on Hawaii Island. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Honolulu’s lawsuit against fossil fuel companies leads climate change legal fight. Honolulu is not alone in its effort to sue fossil fuel companies to hold them accountable for climate change harms, but the city’s lawsuit is further along than similar litigation across the country. A hearing on Tuesday will indicate how these fights play out in court.  Associated Press.

HPD Is Sending Its Newest Cops To West Oʻahu. Will The Unusual Move Help? The influx of new officers to the Westside is meant to improve response times, but the interim police chief has declined to say how long it currently takes police to respond to calls. Civil Beat.

Haleiwa expansion project progresses. A proposed Haleiwa housing and commercial development continued to spark opposition over the potential loss of agricultural land, increased traffic congestion and the high cost of living even as a Honolulu City Council measure advanced Monday. Star-Advertiser.

North School Street properties eyed for city use. The city agency tasked with helping at-risk families and individuals in need of low-income housing, job training, or battling homelessness, also plans to grow beyond its existing Iwilei area offices. Star-Advertiser.

State deputy sheriff sues the State of Hawaii. State Deputy Sheriff Martin Horton has sued the state for allegedly experiencing discrimination and whistleblower retaliation within the Department of Law Enforcement. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Proposed preschool next to ‘Imiloa clears another hurdle. A recently released final environmental assessment for a proposed Hilo preschool for up to 80 children near the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center helped guide a finalized design and an updated construction schedule for the project. Tribune-Herald.

The last of three inmates to escape Hale Nani has been returned to custody after seven months. Inmate Clyde T. T. Loa is the last of three inmates who left the Hawaiʻi Community Correctional Center’s Hale Nani Facility without permission in December 2024 to be returned to custody. Big Island Now.

Free workshop provides options for financial, technical support to West Hawaiʻi farmers. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is hosting a resource workshop Friday to bring one-on-one, personalized advice and other assistance directly to producers to help them reach their goals through voluntary, incentive-based conservation programs. Big Island Now.

Maui

Ag tourism gets a boost as an accessory use in Maui County agricultural districts, except on Molokaʻi. Maui County Council members unanimously gave final approval Friday to a bill establishing agricultural tourism as permitted accessory use in agricultural districts, except on Molokaʻi. Maui Now.

Mainland company plans to start ghost tours in Lahaina, where more than 100 died in wildfires. Two years after the Maui fires killed more than a hundred people in one of the deadliest wildfires in US history, a mainland tour company is getting ready to start a Lahaina ghost tour, marketing it in the city's most haunted and historic locations. KITV4.

Maui Strong awards $7.5M to help struggling families rebuild from wildfires. The Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, through its Maui Strong Fund, has been awarded $7.5 million to help families on Maui begin rebuilding homes that were lost to the August 2023 wildfires.  Maui News.

Kauai

Navy Hopes Native Hawaiian Outreach Will Help Keep Kauaʻi Missile Base Land. Seeking to avoid pitfalls that have stalled other military negotiations, the U.S. Navy is reaching out to Native Hawaiians and promising to assess cultural impacts in its bid to retain use of land on Kauaʻi needed to support operations at the Pacific Missile Range Facility. Civil Beat.

Kīlauea community to look at site layouts in next town expansion project meeting. The community is collaborating with the Kauaʻi County Housing Agency to develop a master plan for the Kīlauea Town Expansion. Kauai Now.

Kauaians celebrate impacts of new laws. The Kauai contingent of legislators and a group of community advocates met with Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke on Friday to celebrate recent legislation that protects natural resources, improves public land access, and supports community initiatives. Garden Island.

First hurricane of the season to track south of Hawaii, extension sought on state emissions plan, Kauai narrows field for police chief, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hurricane Iona becomes first hurricane of 2025 Central Pacific season. At 5:00 AM HST, the National Weather Service reported that Tropical Storm Iona had strengthened into a hurricane. The storm is currently located about 895 miles southeast of Honolulu, Hawaii, moving west at 10 mph. KITV4. Big Island NowStar-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

Extension sought for public to comment on Hawaii emissions plan. Eight state House members want more time for the public to comment on a transportation emissions reduction plan that could raise costs for consumers in Hawaii. The public has until Thursday to comment on the draft plan produced by the state Department of Transportation. Star-Advertiser.

College Students In Hawaiʻi Could Lose Access To Federal Loans. An estimated 1 in 6 community college students are enrolled in programs at risk of losing federal loan eligibility if UH can’t prove graduates earn more than residents with a high school diploma. Civil Beat.

HIDOE advances efforts to cut food imports, boost local purchasing. With a statewide regional kitchen master plan now in motion, the Hawai‘i Department of Education (HIDOE) is turning its attention to transforming school menus to feature more locally grown and produced foods. Big Island Now.

Success of Women’s Court pilot program helps to make it permanent. Women’s Court provides trauma-informed care and gender-­responsive services, substance use disorder treatment, education and training in domestic violence prevention, and life skills. It was made permanent on Oahu and extended to Hawaii Island after a bill passed by the Legislature was signed June 26 by the governor. Star-Advertiser.

Hawai‘i Public Radio raises nearly half a million dollars after federal funding cuts. Hawai‘i Public Radio raised nearly half a million dollars in a two-day emergency fundraiser that concluded Friday. The campaign took place after Congress last week approved clawing back $1.1 billion in previously approved federal funding to public media. Hawaii Public Radio. Maui Now. 

Oahu

Nearly 500 pounds of illegal fireworks collected. The state Department of Law Enforcement collected 493 pounds of illegal aerial fireworks on Saturday at Aloha Stadium during its first-ever fireworks buyback event — part of a broader effort to prevent holiday season tragedies by giving residents ample opportunities to dispose of banned explosives safely and anonymously. Star-Advertiser. KITV4. 

5 picks for new Honolulu Ocean Safety Commission prioritize chief selection. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s candidates to fill the city’s new Ocean Safety Commission say their priorities are to learn more about the department’s needs and properly choose its chief. Hawaii Public Radio.

North Shore residents rally against proposed gondola. Residents of Oahu’s North Shore are not backing down in their fight against a plan to build a gondola along the slopes of Mount Kaala.  Hawaii News Now.

21 native birds found dead in East Honolulu over weekend. On Saturday, Pacific Rim Conservation executive director Dr. Eric VanderWerf found 21 native birds dead near Halona on Oahu’s East shore. KHON2.

Extended reality redefines Hawaii tourism. XploreRide’s bus tour has become the first of its kind in Hawaii and opens the door for other business in Hawaii’s visitor industry to tap into the expanding global virtual tourism industry. Star-Advertiser.

Food entrepreneurs eye Hawaiʻi's first 'high-pressure processing' machine. Business owners and other interested parties gathered last week in Wahiawā during a food summit at Leeward Community College's Value-Added Product Development Center, where the machine is housed. Hawaii Public Radio.

Former football coach to return to court for defamation lawsuit hearing. The former head football coach of the Kahuku Red Raiders is set to appear in Circuit Court. A hearing is scheduled Monday in Sterling Carvalho’s defamation lawsuit against the Hawaii State Department of Education. Hawaii News Now.

Early Hawaiian petroglyphs on a beach are visible again with changing tides and shifting sands. Hawaiian petroglyphs dating back at least a half-millennium are visible on Oahu for the first time in years, thanks to seasonal ocean swells that peel away sand covering a panel of more than two dozen images of mostly human-looking stick figures.  Associated Press.

Historic Falls of Clyde ship to be disposed of at sea. The state has awarded Shipwright LLC, a Florida-based company, a $4.9 million contract to remove the 146-year-old ship from Honolulu Harbor and to scuttle it at sea, marking a final chapter after decades of wrangling over its fate. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

State releases $1 million for feasibility study, redevelopment planning of Waiākea Peninsula, Banyan Drive in Hilo. State funding that was secured a year ago has finally been released by Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green to begin master planning for the redevelopment of the Waiākea Peninsula that includes iconic Banyan Drive in Hilo. Big Island Now.

Inouye: Banyans near Lili‘uokalani Gardens ‘have been neglected’.  $1 million in bond funding was released as seed money for the peninsula’s redevelopment, despite the failure this legislative session of Senate Bill 1078, introduced by Sen. Lorraine Inouye,  and House Bill 818, introduced by Hilo Rep. Sue Keohokapu-Lee Loy. Tribune-Herald.

Waiākea Uka Park in Hilo set to reopen after being closed for renovations.  The park now also has a reoriented ballfield with a new dedicated comfort station, dugouts, concession building and scorekeeper’s booth. Big Island Now.

UH Hilo to use AI to help students succeed. Two platforms, EAB Navigate360 and Edify, aim to improve student retention and graduation rates by catching students who are falling behind in their studies or attendance. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Goats prove their worth (and appetite) in wildfire mitigation program on Maui. Using grazing animals to help with fire prevention isn’t a new solution, but on Maui, goats are helping with the task. Hawaiian Electric had a herd of goats on its payroll as part of a pilot program. Hawaii Public Radio.

Displaced Lahaina fire survivors eager to rebuild with help from $1.6 billion federal grant. Applications to rebuild have ramped up in the nearly two years since the fire. According to the Maui County recovery dashboard, 453 building permits had been issued in Lahaina and Kula, with another 323 being processed as of Tuesday. So far, 42 buildings, all residential, have been completed. Maui Now.

An Infusion Of Fire Aid Is Changing How The Maui Food Bank Does Business. The Maui Food Bank saw its revenues jump to more than $77 million after the 2023 fires, a nearly eightfold increase from the previous year. It’s trying to use the windfall wisely. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Kauaʻi public, Navy spar over state renewing lease agreements at Pacific Missile Range Facility. Emotions ran high during three recent public meetings in Līhu’e, Kekaha and Kapa’a concerning the U.S. Navy’s and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s joint Draft Environmental Impact Statement for proposed lease renewal agreements on state-owned land on Kauaʻi. Kauai Now.

Kauaʻi Narrows Candidate Field For New Police Chief. Kauaʻi’s efforts to recruit a new chief come as Honolulu and Hawaiʻi island wage their own searches for a new top cop. The Kauaʻi Police Commission decided Friday to advance 13 candidates to become the next police chief to the next round, a process that involves asking the contenders to answer five written essay questions about their background and vision for KPD’s future. Civil Beat.

Army brings long-range rockets to Schofield and Pohakuloa, Honolulu city worker paid not to work for 5 years, House includes $16.7M for East-West Center in budget, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Army adds long-range missiles to its arsenal in Hawaiʻi . In a media briefing Tuesday morning, the military talked about the need to add the capacity of the high mobility rocket launchers to strengthen its defenses in the Indo-Pacific, with the threat from China and North Korea. The Army plans to acquire a total of 16 of these launchers. They will have a range of 250 miles compared to the 25 to 40-mile range of howitzer cannons. Hawaii Public Radio.

ICE Is Moving Immigrants Arrested On The Mainland To Honolulu. U.S. Rep Jill Tokuda said that during a two-hour visit to the detention center on Friday, Bureau of Prisons staff told her that 77 ICE detainees were there. Civil Beat.

Hawaii schools looking into contingency plans for $33 million lost in federal funds. School officials across the state want to reassure parents and families that they are doing all they can to make sure the upcoming school year runs as smoothly as possible, despite possibly losing millions of dollars in federal funds. KHON2.

Toxoplasmosis spread by cats poses growing threat to endangered nēnē, public health. Nēnē, Hawaiʻi’s state bird, face a growing threat not just from predators—but from disease. Feral and free-roaming cats are transmitting toxoplasmosis, a parasitic disease that is increasingly killing these endangered geese, according to conservationists at Pacific Birds Habitat Joint Venture. Maui Now.

Oahu

Honolulu Worker Paid Not To Work For Nearly Five Years. The employee has been paid at least $300,000 while his mileage reimbursements are investigated.  Brandon Kaaa-Swain hasn’t been to work since October 2020, but the Honolulu prosecutor’s office investigator continues to collect a taxpayer-funded paycheck.  Civil Beat.

Ex-HPD chief files $460K pay claim. Honolulu police Chief Arthur “Joe” Logan alleges he was forced to retire and is demanding the city pay him for the two years remaining on his contract. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Hawaii News Now.

‘We are very shorthanded.’ Navy program dealing with forever chemicals cleanup at Red Hill has 50% vacancies. Navy leaders updated state lawmakers Monday during a House Special Committee on Red Hill on the closure of the fuel facility and clean up after the 2021 spill that contaminated Pearl Harbor’s drinking water. Hawaii News Now.

City to launch new permitting software. An effort to speed up Hono­lulu Department of Planning and Permitting’s ability to process building permit applications is scheduled to begin next month, city officials say. Star-Advertiser.

House panel proposes $16.7M for East-West Center. The East-West Center has cleared a crucial early hurdle in the federal budget process, with a U.S. House spending bill proposing $16.7 million in funding for the Hawaii-based institution — despite the White House having recommended zero dollars for the center next year. Star-Advertiser.

Possible new Hawaiʻi jail spurs discussion on reducing OCCC population. As the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation continues to consider how to replace the overcrowded and deteriorated Oʻahu Community Correctional Center, the Correctional System Oversight Commission is considering alternatives to a new, bigger jail. Hawaii Public Radio.

EAH Housing, a nonprofit affordable housing organization in Hawaii and California, today announced the start of leasing at Aloha Ia Halewiliko. The new $62 million rental community aims to provide affordable housing to older adults in ‘Aiea.  Hawaii News Now.

Ewa developer to pay $40 million to resolve lagoon suit. About 2,900 homebuyers at Ocean Pointe and Hoakalei Resort have resolved litigation against developer Haseko (Hawaii) Inc. over the company converting a planned boat marina into a recreational lagoon as the centerpiece of the master-planned community. Star-Advertiser.

Court hearing on ex-Kahuku coach’s job is set for Friday. Kahuku’s former football coach is suing the state Department of Education, a former team captain and the player’s dad alleging he was fired after confronting the player and his father, who complained about playing time in 2023. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Hū Honua, Hawaiian Electric reignite plans for Hawaiʻi Island biomass plant. On June 3, the companies submitted a joint letter to the Public Utilities Commission via their attorneys that expressed their intent to file a new application for HELCO to purchase power from Hū Honua's facility in Pepeʻekeo, a few miles north of Hilo. Hawaii Public Radio.

Ownership of toppled banyan still a bit murky. The county, the state and Kamehameha Schools all have a stake in the disposal of the landmark banyan that fell. The chopped-up tree remains partially on the roof of the church and partially in the parking lot off Kilauea that serves both the church and the Wailoa State Recreation Area. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Sixth West Maui TDS report shows compliance with environmental regulations. The West Maui Temporary Debris Storage (TDS) site environmental monitoring quarterly report for the sixth 90-day operational period shows the findings from sampling and monitoring are in compliance with county, state and federal environmental regulations. Maui Now.

Lahaina Energy Partnership releases new report; announces Phase 2 kickoff workshop. Local partners of the Lahaina Energy Partnership have released the “Community-Identified Energy Pathways Report.” The LEP invites all community members to join the Phase 2 Kickoff Co-Design Workshop on July 24, 2025, to continue shaping a resilient, community-guided energy plan for Lahaina. Maui Now.

Nominations, candidates sought for open judge’s position. position. The vacancy was created after District Judge Blaine Kobayashi retired on July 1 after serving as a district court judge since October 2010. Maui News. 

This Common Precursor To Murder Is Too Rarely Prosecuted On Maui. The Maui County Prosecutor’s Office is looking to crack down on domestic abuse cases involving strangulation, which experts say often precedes homicide. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Navy, NASA hosting 3 public meetings about Pacific Missile Range Facility, Kōkeʻe Park Geophysical Observatory. The U.S. Navy and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration are seeking public comment at three public meetings this week about their recently released draft Environmental Impact Statement for proposed continued use of state lands on Kaua‘i for the Pacific Missile Range Facility and Kōkeʻe Park Geophysical Observatory. Kauai Now.

What If HOAs, Not Government, Enforced Wildfire Prevention Rules? A Kauaʻi County planner thinks homeowners associations should be the first line of defense when it comes to wildfire risk. Kauaʻi County planners are pushing forward a bill to impose new landscaping and construction restrictions on five heritage plantation camp properties. Civil Beat.

Kauai CASPER survey report released. More than a third, or 35 percent, of Kauai households are very concerned, or somewhat concerned about their ability to pay the next month’s rent or mortgage.That’s according to the 2025 Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response, or CASPER survey. Garden Island.

Health care positions to increase with 6.1% projected employment rise, Honolulu police chief prepares to sue over forced retirement, developer loses fight to build on old Kauai anthrax site, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii projects 41,000 new jobs by 2032. Hawaii’s total employment rate is projected to grow by 6.1% by 2032, with health care positions on the rise, according to the latest report from the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations’ Research and Statistics Office.The report said that in 2022 there were 671,010 jobs, which will increase to 712,200 by 2032. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi Braces For Cuts That Could Strip Medicaid From Tens Of Thousands. The federal Medicaid program provides health care coverage to just over 400,000 Hawaiʻi residents with low incomes and limited resources. But dramatic changes are in store. Civil Beat.

Arts agency copes with funding gaps. While the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts is due to receive about $1 million in federal funds from the National Endowment of the Arts, it grapples with about a $1 million shortage in state funds after the Legislature dramatically changed how the state agency can use money from its Works of Art Special Fund. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

HPD chief wants to be paid for his term, takes first step toward lawsuit over departure. Arthur “Joe” Logan sent a demand letter to the city seeking salary for the remaining two years of his five-year term, and a lawsuit could be ahead. Logan makes about $230,000 a year.  Hawaii News Now.

Navy in cleaning phase of Red Hill facility. Later this year, Navy officials expect to begin removing 10 miles of fuel transmission pipes and reactivating one of two closed drinking water wells. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu police say about 100 illegal game rooms could be removed by year's end. The Honolulu Police Department is touting its more “aggressive" approach to illegal game rooms on Oʻahu, saying it's on pace to reduce the game room operations by around 100 by the end of the year.  Hawaii Public Radio.

HPD distributes $11,100 in exchange for 234 unwanted firearms. Honolulu police and the state Department of Law Enforcement distributed a total of $11,100 in exchange for 234 unwanted firearms during its gun buyback event held Saturday at the Wahiawa Police Station. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu opens Section 8 housing waitlist. The City and County of Honolulu opened its waiting list for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program Monday, offering rental assistance to eligible low-income households. The federally funded program is supported by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Star-Advertiser.

State finalizes contractor to sink Falls of Clyde vessel out at sea. Built in 1878, Falls of Clyde has been docked at Honolulu Harbor for free since 2008. The state impounded it in 2016. Hawaii Public Radio. KITV4. 

Final codefendant in Miske enterprise sentenced. The last of Mike Miske’s codefendants received a 30-year federal sentence Monday for his role in the criminal enterprise. Lance “Hammah” Bermudez was allegedly involved in several violent crimes and a murder-for-hire plot. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Two ex-HPD officers indemnified in wrongful death suit. The Hawaii County Council voted unanimously last week to indemnify two former police officers who shot and killed a driver in Kailua-Kona two years ago following a traffic crash related to a manhunt. Tribune-Herald.

Permit Program Launched For Roadside Vending On Ane Keohokālole Highway. Hawaiʻi County is now accepting applications for special activity permits authorizing temporary roadside vending near the West Hawaiʻi Civic Center. Big Island Video News.

Kona Airport To Receive $5.5 Million In Federal Funding. The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $5,512,623 in new federal grant funding for runway improvements at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole. Big Island Video News.

Historic Manago Hotel drops sale price after year on the market. The historic Manago Hotel, which opened in 1917 in Captain Cook, is perched at 1,350 feet above sea level, providing a vast view of the Pacific Ocean overlooking the South Kona coastline, including Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau. Big Island Now.

Maui

Mayor Richard Bissen out of state until Friday, July 25. Mayor Richard Bissen will visit New York City from July 15-18 to speak at the UN on sustainability and attend UN Foundation meetings with Hawai‘i Green Growth. From July 20-25, he will travel to Los Angeles to support wildfire recovery efforts with After the Fire USA. Maui Now.

With its funding at stake, Akakū prepares for July 23 court hearing. Spectrum is renewing its franchise agreement for Maui, the legal contract that lets Spectrum operate cable services on Maui. Maui News.

Kauai

Developer Loses Court Fight To Build Luxury Homes On ‘Anthrax Graveyard’. After five years of battling a developer’s plan to build luxury homes on an overgrown golf course that sits atop the decomposed remains of hundreds of cattle killed during a series of anthrax outbreaks more than a century ago, community activists have won their effort to protect the area as open space. Civil Beat.

Military seeks Kauaʻi's feedback on Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands. A series of community meetings will take place on Kauaʻi this week to discuss the Navy’s draft environmental impact statement for continued use of over 8,000 acres of state land near Barking Sands — now home to the military’s Pacific Missile Range Facility and a NASA observatory. Hawaii Public Radio.

Only 17% of Kauaʻi residents surveyed have an emergency 14-day supply. A new report from the state Department of Health shows the latest statistics on the health and resource needs of Kauaʻi residents. Hawaii Public Radio.

Agencies, officials canvas neighborhood to discuss wildfire preparedness. KEMA, in partnership with various partners including the Kauai Fire Department, the Kauai Police Department, the Department of Water, Kauai Island Utility Cooperative and the Office of the Mayor, participated in the wildfire preparedness outreach exercise that involved the door-to-door notifications of approximately 200 households in the Kaumakani camp. Garden Island.

Elder care added to accepted campaign expenditures, feds mum on cause of Lahaina fire, 13 school bus routes restored, Kapiolani nurse strike set for today, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Candidates running for office in Hawaiʻi will now be able to use their campaign funds for adult dependent care expenses. The Hawaiʻi Campaign Spending Commission approved an advisory opinion that says campaign funds can be used to care for elderly relatives or dependents if it is directly related to campaign activities. Hawaii Public Radio.

State Budget 101: New handbook simplifies process for curious citizens. A handful of state lawmakers have teamed up with the Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice to present a primer in a first step to simplifying the state budget as best they can. Hawaii Public Radio.

Federal Investigators Still Won’t Say What Caused The Lahaina Fire. The state plans to release phase two of its fire report Friday, but the ATF is withholding its findings. Two months after the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives shared its findings on the cause of the Lahaina wildfire with Maui County officials, the agency continues to withhold that information from the public. Civil Beat.

Additional 13 school bus routes return to Oahu and the Big Island on Monday. The Hawaii State Department of Education announced that 13 suspended school bus routes on Central Oahu and the East Hawaii Island will be reinstated on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024.  KITV4. Hawaii News Now.

Nisei military units to be honored at Punchbowl.  Nisei military units that fought heroically in World War II will be honored Sept. 29 at the 19th annual Joint Memorial Service, at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

BWS’ $1.2B Red Hill claim still under review. It’s been nearly a year since the Honolulu Board of Water Supply filed a $1.2 billion claim against the Navy to recover costs for its response to massive jet fuel leaks at the Navy’s Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility in 2021. Star-Advertiser.

Kapi‘olani union nurses strike set for today as lockout looms. Hundreds of union nurses at Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women &Children are holding a one-day strike starting this morning after talks failed to yield a new contract. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.  KITV4.

State grapples with uncertainty over Kakaako affordable condo project debt. The board of the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corp. on Thursday approved using up to $500,000 to recover the bad debt through options that include taking over the midrise project, called The Block 803 Waimanu, through foreclosure or in lieu of foreclosure. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu City Council eyes new e-bike classifications, safety rules. With the popularity of electric bikes, or e-bikes, increasing in Hawaiʻi, the Honolulu City Council is taking up legislation in an effort to better regulate the motorized bicycles. Hawaii Public Radio.

Mayor says its wrong to blame city property enforcement for Waianae mass shooting. With some in the Waianae community blaming lack of property law enforcement for the tragic mass shooting. Mayor Blangiardi called together administration leaders Thursday afternoon, a meeting that reinforced that the city’s powers are limited. Hawaii News Now.

Flags at half staff in remembrance of Twinkle Borge. The Native Hawaiian activist, affectionately known as "Mama" or "Aunty Twinkle," passed away on Aug. 5, 2024. She led the Pu'uhonua O Wai'anae homeless encampment and is credited with turning it into a community. KITV4.

Hawaii Island

Big Island Commission On Efficiency Wants Voters To Help It Be More Efficient. A charter change on the November ballot would give the Hawaii County Cost of Government Commission  more time to study county operations. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Supreme Court Is Considering Whether To Release Investigative Files In Dana Ireland Case. A Hawaii County deputy prosecutor told the Hawaii Supreme Court Thursday that two brothers who have been exonerated of the murder of Dana Ireland are still suspects in the 33-year-old case. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald.  Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.  KITV4.

Six previously suspended school bus routes restored in East Hawai‘i. The Hawai‘i State Department of Education announced Thursday that 13 previously suspended school bus routes in Central Oʻahu and East Hawaiʻi Island will be reinstated starting Monday, restoring service for nearly 300 student bus riders at eight schools. Big Island Now.

Search And Rescue Exercise Completed Off Kawaihae. Participants in the exercise – which simulated an overdue boat and missing persons – included Coast Guard Sector Honolulu, the Hawaiʻi Fire Department, Hawaii Ocean Safety and the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources.  Big Island Video News.

Maui

Maui Ethics Board Says Water Authority Appointee Has No Conflict of Interest. Gina Young sought the ethics opinion after three County Council members declined to vote on moving her appointment forward, voicing concern that she may have had unfair advantages in the job application process — and a conflict of interest because she helped draft the charter amendment that led to the water authority’s creation. Civil Beat.

Plumbing the depths of Maui’s housing shortage: Can small changes have a big impact? Maui County’s water-fixture-unit regulations and related fees have not been updated since 1995 and are at least partially responsible for driving up costs for building much-needed housing, according to a policy brief by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. Maui Now.

Maui rent stabilization topic of special committee meeting on Monday. The Housing and Land Use Committee will have a special meeting on Monday at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber to discuss the possible effects of rent stabilization in Maui. Maui Now.

Debris cleared from 100% of residential properties in the Lahaina Impact Zone. Months ahead of the original January 2025 deadline, debris has been cleared from 100% of the 1,390 residential properties in the Lahaina Impact Zone. Maui News. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Kauaʻi Council bill aims to grow housing supply by allowing more guest units. Bill 2919 would allow one guest house to be built per dwelling unit on properties in certain zoning areas, including agricultural, commercial and most residential districts. Hawaii Public Radio.

Pacific Missile Range Facility releases draft assessment on land-based training, testing impacts in West Kaua‘i. The U.S. Navy will hold a public meeting for Kaua‘i residents to review the potential environmental impacts of conducting land-based training and testing at launch areas and other locations in areas managed by the Pacific Missile Range Facility. Kauai Now.

Domestic passenger count tops 71,000 in August at Lihue Airport. The domestic passenger count weighed in at its third highest total of the year, as more than 71,000 people flew into Lihue Airport in the penultimate month of summer. Garden Island.

FEMA spending millions on empty buildings for Maui fire survivors, AG Lopez acting governor, government wraps up case in Kaneshiro bribery trial, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Attorney General Anne Lopez serving as acting governor.  Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke served as acting governor from the evening of May 4 through Tuesday evening when Hawaii Attorney General Anne E. Lopez is serving as acting governor from the evening of May 7 until Gov. Josh Green’s return May 9.  Green has been in California since May 4 to attend the Milken Institute Global Conference. Maui News.

Deadline effectively set for Justice Department to decide on Alaska-Hawaiian deal. The DOJ said it would decide within 90 days of the two airlines declaring substantial compliance with the DOJ's second and presumably final document request.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Campaign Spending Commission Fines Kaniela Ing Another $18,000.  The Campaign Spending Commission fined former state Rep. Kaniela Ing $18,000 Wednesday for failing to make records available to the commission and falsifying nearly two dozen campaign finance reports during his time as a state representative from 2012 to 2018.  Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

‘Follow the money’ witness wraps up government’s case in Kaneshiro trial. After 22 days of testimony, the government rested its case in the federal bribery trial against ex-city Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro and his co-defendants. Hawaii News Now.

Will Honolulu reach its goal to drop emissions by 45% in the next year?  Ben Sullivan, the deputy director for the Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency, said that Honolulu is on track to achieve closer to a 15% reduction, which is well below the stated goal. Hawaii Public Radio.

City outlines wildfire preparations on Oahu. In the wake of the deadly Aug. 8 Maui wildfires, the City and County of Honolulu says it’s begun efforts to better respond to future wildfire threats on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Federal witnesses defend Navy’s Red Hill response. Government witnesses are taking the stand this week to defend the Navy’s response to the Red Hill water crisis and sow doubts about the severity of the contamination as a federal mass tort lawsuit on behalf of affected families continues. Star-Advertiser.

Residential development planned for former St. Francis School campus. The 11.2 acre campus on the east side of Manoa Valley is already zoned for residential use. The Avalon Group purchased it for $23.5 million and wants to turn it into Aria Lane Manoa, with 76 single-family homes and 26 townhomes. Prices haven’t been set yet. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Growing Demand Puts Pressure On Honolulu’s Sports Fields. Sports leagues are proliferating while the number of fields remains stagnant. One solution: Letting leagues play on school fields during off-hours. Civil Beat.

Plans to redo Paradise Cove at Ko Olina revived.  New development partners are advancing a previously delayed plan to revitalize one of Hawaii’s oldest and most popular tourist attractions, Paradise Cove Luau. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Public clashes with Army over PTA lease.  During a public comment meeting at 'Imiloa Astronomy Center in Hilo on Wednesday, Big Islanders continued to urge the U.S. Army to abandon the Pohakuloa Training Area instead of extending its lease of state land. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.  KITV4.

Visitor spending on Hawaii Island leaps to $854.2 million in the first quarter. Visitor spending on Hawaii Island leaped to $854.2 million in the first quarter from $741.1 million in the first quarter of 2023 and from $646.4 in the first quarter of 2019, according to a monthly report from the state of Hawai‘i Department of Business, Economic Development &Tourism. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

FEMA Is Still Spending Millions On Hundreds Of Empty Housing Units For Maui Fire Survivors. The agency has found available housing but is struggling to get people to move in. On Friday, it ends its support for the emergency hotel program. Civil Beat.

County issues RFP for After-Action Report of Maui Emergency Management Agency’s coordination of the Aug. 8 wildfire. Maui Mayor Richard Bissen announced the County of Maui has issued a Request for Proposals to conduct an After-Action Report assessing the coordination of Maui County Emergency Management Agency’s response to the Maui Wildfires that occurred in August 2023. Maui Now.

Residents invited to offer feedback on draft South Maui Community Plan at May 14 meeting. The Maui Planning Commission will review the latest draft for the South Maui Community Plan during a public meeting from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 14, 2024. Testimony will be accepted. Maui Now.

New Maui Ethics Board Member Instructed Not To Participate Due To Legal Dispute. The short-handed panel desperately needs more members, but a lawsuit is pending over the county's selection process. Civil Beat.

Kauai

US Navy, NASA seek continued use of lands at Pacific Missile Range Facility, Kōkeʻe park. The U.S. Navy and NASA want to continue using more than 8,000 acres of state land on Kaua‘i after existing real estate agreements expire in 2027 and 2030. Kauai Now.

Visitor spending tops $700 million in first quarter on Kaua‘i. Total visitor spending surged to $719.4 million in the three-month period ended March 31, compared with $660.9 million in the three-month period ended March 31, 2023, and $481.9 million in the three-month period ended March 31, 2019. Garden Island.

Mask mandate to end March 25, House approves minimum wage, Mauna Kea bills, NTSB releases report on deadly Kauai military crash, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii to end mask mandate March 25. Gov. David Ige announced Tuesday that Hawaii’s indoor mask mandate will sunset along with the state’s current emergency proclamation for the COVID-19 pandemic at 11:59 p.m. March 25. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Associated Press. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News. Maui Now. Garden Island. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Masks still required indoors at Hawaii public schools, but optional outdoors starting Wednesday. Hawaii public schools will continue to require protective masks indoors for now, but outdoor use becomes optional effective today, state schools interim Superintendent Keith Hayashi has announced. Star- Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio. KITV4.

House Approves Minimum Wage, Mauna Kea Bills After Emotional Floor Debate. As the Legislature nears the halfway mark for this year’s session, measures to provide $600 million for Native Hawaiian housing and increase the capital gains tax also advance. Civil Beat.

Dozens rally at state Capitol calling for raise in minimum wage to $18 an hour. Dozens took to the state Capitol building on Tuesday calling on the government to increase Hawaii’s minimum wage to $18 over the next four years. The state Senate has advanced a bill for a series of wage hikes to increase pay from the current $10.10 an hour. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Native Hawaiians rally as University of Hawaii updates Mauna Kea plans. As the University of Hawaii seeks to update a plan that guides its ongoing management of Mauna Kea, Native Hawaiians who rallied Tuesday at the state Capitol were urged to support a measure that would remove UH from its role on the mountain in favor of a new stewardship authority. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Video News. Hawaii News Now.

Average Gas Prices In Hawaii, US Highest Ever. It comes as President Biden announces a U.S. ban on Russian oil and gas imports. Civil Beat.

New rules for medical cannabis broaden Hawaii’s edible menu. The previously limited menu of edible products at Hawaii’s medical cannabis dispensaries has been expanded under new Department of Health rules allowing the sale of gummies, chocolates, beverages, brownies, cookies and other items. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi reports 63 Covid Cases. There are 51 coronavirus cases on Oʻahu, six on Hawaiʻi Island, one on Kauaʻi and five on Maui. That brings the state total to 237,518. No new fatalities were reported. The state death toll remains at 1,354. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Rail park-and-ride facility’s costs soar ... but so does support for the project. Half a billion dollars. That’s the cost for the the rail system’s park-and -ride facility and related structures at the Pearl Highlands station ― costs rail officials are now trying to rein in. Hawaii News Now.

Half The Areas Impacted By Fuel Contamination Are Now Deemed Safe. Residents who get the all-clear will have to leave their hotel rooms and return home. Civil Beat.

Homeless from out-of-state increases in isles. Throughout the pandemic the number of homeless coming here from the mainland dropped significantly. But now as restrictions are being lifted, there's been a spike in homeless arrivals. KITV4.

Hawaii Island

Feeling the impact: Gas prices climbing, electric bills could increase by up to 20%. In an effort to keep fuel, food, energy and other associated costs down, Mayor Mitch Roth asked residents to help by using as little fuel as possible. West Hawaii Today.

Dog law headed for reform: Moving testimony about attacks fuels unanimous vote. The bill would create within the county statutes a tiered system of penalties for the offense of “negligent failure to control a dangerous dog” that would impose more severe penalties based on the severity of the injuries caused. Tribune-Herald.

Meadow Gold receives final environmental approval for expansion. A planned expansion of Meadow Gold Dairies’ Hilo processing plant has cleared a significant hurdle. Tribune-Herald.

The Big Island Mayor’s Decision To Close Waipio Valley Road Rankles Residents. Some say the risk from rockfall is minimal, and that it’s really just about further restricting access. The public can weigh in at a meeting Wednesday. Civil  Beat. Hawaii Public Radio.

Waikōloa Timeshare, Affordable Housing Project Drives Ahead. A subcommittee of the Hawai‘i County Council moved forward on Tuesday with a plan by a Waikōloa developer to repurpose one of its two golf courses into hundreds of timeshares, multi-family units and lots for single-family homes. Big Island Now.

Maui

State Supreme Court rules in favor of taro farmers. Court says permits to divert water from East Maui were ‘not authorized. Maui News.

Maui County switching to automated online planning and permitting processing. Maui County is transitioning to a new, web-based software designed to provide greater public transparency and improved customer service for planning and permit processing. Maui Now.

Project for 53 luxury homes in Mākena clears hurdle after mixed testimony. After debates on whether adding 53 luxury homes in a hotel area would help or hurt Maui’s housing crisis, Maui Planning Commission cleared a key hurdle today for the project planned on 28 acres in Mākena. Maui Now.

Good Luck Finding A Place To Rent If You Own A Pet — Especially On Maui. The No. 1 reason dogs and cats are surrendered to the Maui Humane Society is a lack of pet-friendly housing. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Woman charged with illegally acting as Russian agent lobbied Kauai politicians. The woman who spearheaded a 2019 lobbying effort to retain the Russian name of a historic Kauai fort was charged by the U.S. Department of Justice Tuesday with illegally acting as an agent of the Russian government in the U.S. Star-Advertiser.

NTSB releases preliminary PMRF helicopter crash report. The helicopter that crashed at the U.S. Pacific Missile Range Facility, killing all four on board last month, was on a mission to retrieve a training torpedo, according to a preliminary report released Tuesday by the National Transportation Safety Board. Garden Island. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

Four dead in military contractor helicopter crash off Kauai, former Big Island councilman sentenced to 46 months for embezzlement, bribery, Hirono tours Red Hill, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

A helicopter crash Tuesday at the Navy’s Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai killed four civilian contractors. A PMRF spokesman said the Sikorsky S-61N helicopter, one of two contracted by the facility, crashed at about 10 a.m. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Associated Press. Big Island Now. Maui Now. Garden Island. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

Hawaii Senate panel passes ban on fundraisers during session. The Hawaii Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday passed a bill that would ban lawmaker fundraisers during the legislative session, one of several measures aimed at addressing corruption after two former legislators pleaded guilty in connection with a bribery scandal. Associated Press. KITV4.

Heidi Haunani Tsuneyoshi running for governor as Republican. First-term Honolulu Councilwoman Heidi Haunani Tsuneyoshi — a frequent critic of the city’s troubled rail project who represents parts of Central Oahu, the North Shore and the Windward side — announced Tuesday that she is running for governor as a Republican. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

Want To Run For Office? Filings Begin March 1. The Hawaii Office of Elections’ candidate deadline is June 7. Civil Beat.

Navy expects 27 countries to attend RIMPAC this summer. A Navy news release said 42 ships, five submarines, more than 170 aircraft and nearly 25,000 personnel are expected to participate in RIMPAC in waters off Hawaii and San Diego. Star-Advertiser.

Last defendant sentenced in scheme to defraud Hawaii housing programs. The last participant in a scheme that defrauded local housing programs of more than $100,000 was sentenced in Hawaii’s U.S. District Court on Tuesday. The scheme ran from approximately April 2015 to August 2017 and involved four people, all of whom have now been sentenced for their participation, including IHS housing specialist Leopoldo Bitte, Jr. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

There Are Widespread Reports of Sex Trafficking, So Why No Convictions? Although state agencies have received hundreds of reports of sex trafficking in Hawaii in recent years, state prosecutors have failed to convict a single person of the crime since legislators formally outlawed the practice in 2016, a review of state and local records found. Civil Beat.

Double the time: Lawmakers consider stiffer penalty for some drunken drivers in fatal crashes. A measure that would impose a stiffer penalty on a person convicted of first-degree negligent homicide while driving under the influence of an intoxicant passed its only committee hearing Friday. West Hawaii Today.

The Nature Conservancy announces new Conservation Director. The Nature Conservancy, Hawai‘i and Palmyra has named Trevor Taylor as Director of Conservation. Maui Now.

Queen’s, Kaiser Permanente ease visitor restrictions amidst declining COVID-19 cases. Both The Queen’s Health Systems and Kaiser Permanente Hawaii have eased visiting guidelines as daily coronavirus cases and positivity rates in the state continue to decline. Star-Advertiser.

Feb. 22, 2022 COVID-19 update: 150 new infections in Hawaiʻi. Todayʻs count includes 10 cases on Maui, 26 on Hawaiʻi Island, 14 on Kauaʻi, 0 on Molokaʻi, three on Lānaʻi, and one out of state.  There are 96 new COVID-19 cases on Oʻahu. Maui Now.

Oahu

Oahu's COVID-19 restrictions coming to an end on March 5, Blangiardi says. The days of carrying a COVID-19 vaccination card or negative test result to go out on the town will soon be over -- Safe Access Oahu will sunset on March 5. KITV4.

U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono calls for closing the Navy’s Red Hill fuel storage facility through the state permitting process. U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono defended her decision Tuesday not to sign onto a congressional bill that would mandate the permanent shutdown of the Navy’s Red Hill fuel facility, telling reporters that she was focused instead on a state permitting process that could accomplish the same goal, but faster. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Hawaii News Now.

Commission considers adjustment to property tax exemptions. The Oahu Real Property Tax Advisory Commission is considering changes to the city’s property tax rates and exemptions — notably, for historic homes, for-profit child care centers and primary residences. Star-Advertiser.

Council chair: Media access to emergency scanners a matter of public safety. City Council Chair Tommy Waters wants to restore the news media’s ability to listen in when first responders are called to emergencies. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Higa sentenced to 46 months in prison. Former County Councilman and Na Leo TV CEO Stacy Higa was sentenced Tuesday to 46 months in prison for embezzling from AmeriCorps and also for offering a bribe in return for federal coronavirus relief funds. West Hawaii Today. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Now. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

Council bill would require EV charging stations for new parking lots. A Hawaii County Council member hopes to legally require developers to include electric vehicle charging stations in new parking lots. Tribune-Herald.

HPD looking for recruits for ‘rewarding career’. Starting salary for a police officer is $65,652 a year, with benefits including paid holidays, vacation, sick leave, military leave, health insurance, group life insurance, a uniform and equipment stipend, automobile subsidy and retirement. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now.

Maui

Major 670-acre housing project in Wailea aims to move ahead; groups intervene. A long-debated master planned community proposed for 670 acres in Wailea called Honuaʻula sought the next phase of county approval today — but two groups are challenging it. Maui Now.

Final assessment for Honokowai project released. Plan calls for hundreds of residential homesteads, multifamily residential units. The state Department of Hawaiian Homelands has published its final environmental assessment for its Honokowai Homestead Community Master Plan, which will include hundreds of residential homesteads, multifamily residential units and subsistence agricultural homestead lots on nearly 800 acres in West Maui. Maui News.

A plan to beautify a shoreline parcel on Maui has hit yet another obstacle. A lot near Kahului Harbor is finally cleared of homeless and ready for food trucks thanks to a local nonprofit organization. But it’s got a pretty foul neighbor — a sewage discharge station. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Waitlists, affordability obstacles in Hawai‘i housing crisis. Hawai‘i leaders met Tuesday to address the public about the state’s on-going housing crisis, recommending a multi-pronged approach to address rising home costs. Garden Island.

Princeville resort part of state’s ‘regenerative tourism’ push. The Cliffs at Princeville resort is donating a portion of guests’ bills to local conservation efforts through a new partnership with the hotel-booking website Kind Traveler. Garden Island.

Honolulu police officers cleared in shooting of 16-year-old, 500 health-care workers deployed to Hawaii, teachers union seeks safer classrooms, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu police officers in court Civil Beat pool photo

3 Honolulu Police officers cleared in fatal shooting of 16-year-old Iremamber Sykap. Three Honolulu police officers who opened fire on a 16-year-old crime spree suspect and his crew after he ignored their orders to surrender and led them on a daredevil chase at rush hour are free of criminal charges after an Oahu District Court judge dismissed the argument that the trio committed murder and attempted murder. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

Hawaii Labor Department scraps plan to reopen state unemployment offices, citing COVID-19 spread. Hawaii labor officials on Wednesday canceled a planned Sept. 7 reopening of unemployment offices statewide for in-person service, citing drastically elevated COVID-19 infection risks. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio. West Hawaii Today. Maui Now.

Hawaii teachers’ union formally demands to enter into negotiations with DOE over working conditions. The union representing more than 13,000 teachers across Hawaii today formally demanded to enter into negotiations with the state Department of Education in regard to working conditions and the safety of employees and students amid the coronavirus pandemic. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Now. Garden Island. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

State mulls changes to Safe Travels program to keep out breakthrough COVID cases. State leaders are discussing the possibility of bringing back the pretravel COVID testing requirement for trans-Pacific passengers as a way to help keep out positive cases, which can be asymptomatic. KITV4.

State explores health pass to verify vaccination. As some lawmakers discuss the possibility of vaccine mandates to enter certain businesses the state is working on a way to verify people are vaccinated. KITV4.

More than 500 mainland staff will be deployed to Hawaii hospitals to help COVID-19 patients. The Hawaii Department of Health today announced that more than 500 experienced health care professionals from out of state will be deployed to 19 hospitals statewide in coming weeks to help with the ongoing coronavirus surge. Star-Advertiser. Garden Island. Hawaii News Now.

Most Hawaii Hospitals Delay Non-Emergency Procedures As Pandemic Worsens. Non-Covid patients are casualties of swelling coronavirus hospitalizations. Civil Beat.

Straub intensive care facilities full; child hospitalizations increasing in Hawaii. The intensive care facilities at Straub Hospital in downtown Honolulu are operating beyond their capacity as COVID-19 cases surge, requiring staff for the first time to execute disaster plans put in place early in the pandemic in order to handle all of the patients. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii records 2 new coronavirus-related deaths, 647 additional infections. Today’s new confirmed and probable infection count by island includes 431 new cases on Oahu, 96 on Maui, 87 on Hawaii island, 26 on Kauai, one on Molokai, and six Hawaii residents diagnosed outside the state. Star-Advertiser.

COMMENTARY: Here's How Hawaii's Top 2022 Political Races Are Shaking Out. The Democratic field for governor appears to be settling while the race for lieutenant governor remains wide open. And who knows what's up with the Republicans. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Former Honolulu City Councilwoman Kym Pine is target of ethics complaint. An ethics investigation, a charge of discrimination from the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and a financial dispute all center around former Honolulu City Councilwoman Kym Pine, alleging that she used city resources for her 2018 unsuccessful bid for mayor, disclosed personal medical history of a former employee and did not properly pay that same staffer. Star-Advertiser.

4 charged with using fake vaccination cards. State prosecutors recently charged two visiting families, one from California and the other from Florida, for allegedly using falsified COVID-19 vaccination cards to travel to Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Settlement reached over a Kapolei company’s alleged hazardous waste violations. Under the settlement, IES Downstream, LLC agreed to pay over $708,000 in civil fines. They are also obligated to send some 289,000 pounds of hazardous waste to a permitted waste treatment, storage and disposal facility on the mainland. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Roth asks Ige to reinstate trans-Pacific pretravel testing, even for those who are vaccinated. Mayor Mitch Roth has urged Gov. David Ige to immediately reinstate pretravel testing requirements for all trans-Pacific passengers, regardless of residency or vaccination status, as the county struggles amid an ongoing surge of COVID-19. Tribune-Herald. KHON2.

Fire chief appeal sent to state Labor Relations Board. The county Merit Appeals Board voted Monday to send a complaint over the selection of the fire chief to the state Labor Relations Board to determine if the county board has jurisdiction. West Hawaii Today.

Big changes for Hele-on: Bus routes will be added, altered under ‘hub-and-spoke model’. Early next month, the county will begin a broad restructuring of the island’s bus system in an effort to make mass transit easier to use. Tribune-Herald.

Settlement in ‘lava bomb’ lawsuit. A settlement has been reached in a federal lawsuit regarding a “lava bomb” that tore through the roof of a lava tour boat and injured numerous passengers near Kapoho on July 16, 2018. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Larger homes would be net-zero energy under new bill. Knowing that housing development and construction operations are among the biggest contributors to climate change, Maui County officials are proposing to require that new one- or two-family residential buildings over 5,000 square feet be zero net energy homes. Maui News.

Maui Charter Commission Seeks Community Input at Aug. 19 Meeting. At its Aug. 19 meeting, the Maui Charter Commission is seeking community input and insights regarding proposed Charter amendments that will be considered for placement on the ballot in November 2022.  Maui Now.

Maui hospital feels weight of record COVID-19 cases. Maui Memorial Medical Center, the island’s only acute-care facility, was treating 40 COVID-19 patients on Sunday, 39 COVID-19 patients on Monday and 31 COVID-19 patients on Tuesday, according to a hospital spokeswoman. Maui News.

Kauai

Council authorizes steps to take over Kilauea property for affordable housing. The Kaua‘i County Council has authorized the first steps in condemnation by eminent domain of a 23.5-acre lot in Kilauea for an affordable housing project. Garden Island.

State has funds for Ke‘e Beach lifeguards. The County Council will discuss renewed state funding of the Ke‘e Beach lifeguard tower at today’s meeting. Garden Island.

Fast-moving Hawaii Marines coordinate strikes on target ship off Kauai. A group of Hawaii-based artillery Marines working under camouflage netting at the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai as part of an “expeditionary advanced base” exercise sensed, located, identified and struck a target ship 60 nautical miles off the coast Sunday using two Naval Strike Missiles. Star-Advertiser.