Legislature heads into conference committees, Devens narrowly cleared by Senate panel as chief justice, Honolulu mulls new jail, Sulla sentenced to 60 months for role in housing credit scam, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Legislature enters final stretch as key bills hang in the balance. With the 2026 legislative session nearing its end, lawmakers at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol are racing to reach agreements on dozens of major bills now in conference committee. KHON2.

Legislature considers bills to address home insurance issues following disasters. United Policy Holders is a nonprofit that educates consumers on insurance policies. Their equal justice fellow, Sherry Peterson, is advocating for a measure that would have required insurers to annually give homeowners a replacement cost estimate and clearly state if the current policy is adequate. Hawaii Public Radio.

Bill proposes stricter requirements for companies collecting donations for charities. To ensure transparency, House Bill 1810 would require solicitors who collect donations for charities to display prominant signage explaining that the donations will be resold in for-profit stores. The measure also calls for more robust financial reporting to the public. Hawaii News Now.

Senate Panel Narrowly Approves Chief Justice Nominee. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 3-2 Friday to confirm the nomination of Associate Justice Vladimir Devens as Hawaii’s next chief justice, sending its recommendation to the full Senate after hearings that weighed his legal experience and labor background over disclosure and past political activity. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. 

This Rich Hawaiʻi Super PAC Is Already Shaping A Key Statewide Election. Pacific Resource Partnership has become a major player in the state’s most important political races. A political action committee backed by Pacific Resource Partnership is again stepping up with loads of cash at a pivotal moment in Hawaiʻi politics. This time the independent expenditure committee — more commonly known as a super PAC — is called For A Better Tomorrow. Civil Beat.

Luke Fallout Continues With Third Target In Bribery Investigation. Former Hawaiʻi Public Utilities Commission Chair Leo Asuncion Jr. is another target of the state investigation into possible bribery and campaign finance violations. Civil Beat.

Gov. Green addresses questions about Luke’s future. Sylvia Luke was so affected emotionally and physically over a state Attorney General’s investigation, Gov. Josh Green said, he worried about her health and intentionally left her out of important meetings, such as the state’s responses to the back-to- back-to-back storms that began in March. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii leaders push Pentagon for bigger role in military land leases. Office of Hawaiian Affairs leaders spent three days in Washington, D.C., last week, holding talks with congressional lawmakers and Pentagon officials on the future of military-leased lands in Hawaii.  Star-Advertiser.

State unemployment rate rises but still lowest in the country. Hawaii’s unemployment rate inched up by one-tenth of a point in February to 2.3%, but remained tied with South Dakota for the fourth straight month as the lowest in the country. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Now. 

Oahu

New design urged for replacing Oahu jail. A state plan to replace Oahu’s dilapidated jail may be diverted by a legislative initiative to make the long-envisioned new facility more of a restorative place. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation  has received about $55 million mainly from the Legislature over the last decade to advance the OCCC replacement project. Star-Advertiser.

HTA targets North Shore gridlock in updated management plans. With Oahu’s North Shore unusually quiet after recent flooding drove visitors away, the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority is moving toward approval of a new round of destination management plans aimed at mitigating long-standing problems with traffic gridlock, dangerous roadside parking and overcrowded trails. Star-Advertiser.

‘Degassing’ of Red Hill tanks nearing completion, Navy says. Decommissioning the Red Hill Bulk Storage Facility will continue next week, with the Navy announcing Friday that it will be “degassing” Tank 11, which it called “another significant milestone.” Star-Advertiser.

Oʻahu's new flood maps could cost you. In a little more than a month, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s updated Oʻahu flood maps go into effect. And thousands of properties are being added to the flood zone. Hawaii Public Radio.

Sea-level rise might increase tainted water. Waikīkī is at risk of sewage-contaminated flooding as sea levels continue to rise, according to a new study from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio. 

Hawaii Island

Sulla sentenced for role in Hawaii County housing credits scam. A third Hawaii Island man has been sentenced for his role in a conspiracy to pay bribes to a Hawaii County official in connection with affordable housing development agreements worth more than $11 million. Former Big Island attorney Paul Joseph Sulla, 79, of Hilo was sentenced Thursday to 60 months in prison. Tribune-Herald.

Kawaihae Harbor Improvements Detailed In Draft Environmental Assessment. The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation is planning to widen Kawaihae Road and improve the cargo yard. Big Island Video News.

County launches coastal management education tool. In addition to providing an overview of different coastal ecosystems in the county, the site allows users to search an address and select various filters to view potential coastal hazards and regulations specific to that site, among other features. Tribune-Herald.

Victoria Hanes takes reins as new CEO of HICHC. Hanes will succeed current CEO Richard Taaffe, who has held the position since 2005 when he started at West Hawaii Community Health Center, which merged with Bay Clinic in 2022 to form HICHC. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Lawsuit: Maui Mayor’s Former Chief Of Staff Claims Whistleblower Retaliation. Leo Caires, who served as Maui Mayor Richard Bissen’s chief of staff from January 2023 to October 2024, was met with hostility, demoted and ultimately fired after he uncovered and reported financial misconduct being carried out by other county employees, according to a lawsuit filed in circuit court. Civil Beat.

HIDOE opens 47-unit housing project on Maui to support Lahaina educators. The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education marked the opening of its Lahaina educator workforce housing development, a $20 million project designed to support teacher retention and strengthen public education on Maui. Maui Now.

Loss of land in storm complicates recovery for ‘Īao Valley residents. Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen said the county was looking at bringing soil runoff back to restore people’s properties. Maui Now.

Kauai

West Kaua‘i Residents Want This Remote Beach Park Reopened. The remote Polihale State Park is a popular West Kaua‘i beach for locals to swim, camp, fish and surf, but the park’s access gate has been closed for six weeks with boulders blocking the road.  Civil Beat.

‘Shared vision’: Blessing ceremony hosted for new Lima Ola Community Garden in ‘Ele‘ele. A shared vision of partners Kaua‘i County and Leadership Kaua‘i is now reality in ‘Ele‘ele with a new space that will bring community members together for food, connection and stewardship. Kauai Now.

Federal shutdown cost state less than expected, Hawaii ranks high for senior health, Honolulu council passes immigrant rights measure, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiʻi Is A Great Place To Grow Old — But Only For Some. The high percentage of kūpuna who exercise regularly — along with Hawaiʻi’s good air and water quality and comparatively low rates of depression —  help make the state one of the healthiest places in the nation for seniors, according to a report from the United Health Foundation.  Civil Beat.

State funding during shutdown less than expected. Hawaii stepped in to provide a financial and food assistance lifeline during the record-long federal government shutdown and now expects to end up paying far less in state funds than expected. Star-Advertiser.

Ethics panel fines state Senator Brenton Awa. An ethics panel has reprimanded and fined state Sen. Brenton Awa for using state resources to encourage voters to elect his former office manager to the Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

Why Hawai’i Tenants Can Be Left Out To Dry By The State. Policymakers say it’s time to reassess a decades-old law that leaves the state’s consumer watchdog agency without teeth to protect tenants. Civil Beat.

Could Hawaiʻi's Japanese visitor market be making a comeback?  Visitors from Japan were up 16% in October — the second month in a row of solid growth — and visitor spending from Japan was up as well. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii ranks fifth nationally in early FAFSA filing. Hawaii high school seniors are filing for federal financial aid at one of the highest rates in the nation, according to new data released by the National College Attainment Network. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu City Council OKs ‘constitutional rights’ measure. The Honolulu City Council is urging Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration to affirm the constitutional rights of all Oahu residents regardless of citizenship or immigration status. Star-Advertiser.

Council Member Accuses Mayor’s Administration Of Coercion Over Housing Vote. Council member Val Okimoto said a “senior administration official” threatened to withhold funding to her district, but she won’t say who did it. Civil Beat.

High stakes at Honolulu Hale: Who will lead Ocean Safety for the next 5 years? A packed room filled with current and former lifeguards, community members and city leaders, leaning in on the Ocean Safety Commission’s most important task in front of them – selecting a chief who will lead the brand new department for the next five years. KHON2.

Police shut down gambling operation in Ewa Beach. The gambling bust took place at a business located near Old Fort Weaver Road at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 3. Honolulu Police Department officers from the Narcotics Vice Division executed a search warrant in which 18 gambling machines worth an estimated value of $155,000, along with $5,037 in cash were seized. KITV4.

Erosion fears prompt removal of 12 ironwood trees at Kailua Beach. Ironwood trees have been part of the Kailua Bay shoreline for years. But more and more of them are becoming casualties as the ocean eats away at the sand that’s beneath them. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Bond revoked for Hilo attorney Sulla. U.S. District Chief Magistrate Judge Kenneth Mansfield on Thursday found probable cause that Paul Sulla engaged in the unauthorized practice of law while free on bond, after being ordered to cease practice by the Hawaii Supreme Court on July 29. Tribune-Herald.

$1.9 Million Awarded For Puapuaʻa Iki Habitat Restoration. The project will restore 11.5 acres of coastal land and provide shoreline stabilization while protecting historic infrastructure on the site. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. 

Maui

Maui Emergency Management Agency wraps up work on monthslong wildfire risk reduction project. A wildfire risk-reduction project on county-owned land in West Maui led to the removal of 123 vehicles, more than 1,200 tires, 10 drums of oil, at least two pieces of heavy equipment and other debris. Maui News. Maui Now.

Bookkeeper’s ‘Miracle’ House listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Pioneer Mill Company/Lahaina Ice Company (PMCo/LICo) Bookkeeper’s House in Lahaina, more recently dubbed the “Miracle House” after the August 2023 wildfires on Maui, has been added to the National Register of Historic Places.  Maui Now. KHON2.

Lahaina fire-ravaged neighborhood to get new sewer system. The Environmental Protection Agency says it is almost finished designing the system to replace the cesspools or septic systems now used by 231 single-family properties. Hawaii News Now.

Pacific Whale Foundation removes more than 12,000 pounds of marine debris in 2025. The Pacific Whale Foundation, the designated Marine Debris Rapid Response partner for Maui Nui, is reporting more progress in its ongoing effort to remove harmful debris from local waters. Maui Now.

Kauai

Līhuʻe and Kapaʻa DMV offices to close for staff training next week. The Kaua‘i Division of Motor Vehicles will close its main Līhu‘e office and the recently opened Kapa‘a satellite location next week to allow for staff training, county officials announced. Both offices are scheduled to close on Wednesday, Dec. 10, and resume normal operations on Dec. 11. Kauai Now.

Kauai RSVP volunteers recognized, celebrated during annual luncheon. The Thursday gathering of more than 250 people at the Koloa Landing Resort came down to honoring and recognizing the volunteer time put forth by members of Kauai Retired &Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), an Americorps Seniors affiliate, and other community volunteers. Garden Island.

Hawaii sues TikTok parent company, Hawaii County Council passes plastic foodware ban, Honolulu teen's family to get $1M in police shooting, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

‘The mental health and well-being of our keiki must come first’: State announces TikTok lawsuit. The state of Hawaiʻi is suing the parent company of TikTok, Bytedance Inc., for the alleged addictive platform design that causes harm to its users, especially children, whom they have exploited for economic gain. KHON2. KITV4. Hawaii News Now.  Star-Advertiser.

Rep. Lamosao named to replace Sen. Aquino. State Rep. Rachele Lamosao (D-Waipahu) has been selected by Gov. Josh Green to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Sen. Henry Aquino (D, Pearl City- Waipahu-West Loch). Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu Rail Pays $41 Million In Dispute Over Ala Moana Extension. The settlement gives the city the easements it needs to build through Kakaʻako, but HART does not yet have the money to construct that segment. Civil Beat.

City council passes bill to allow media police scanner access. The Honolulu City Council passed Bill 46 Wednesday, which would require the Honolulu Police Department to release certain public information to the public and the media. The measure was introduced by council chair Tommy Waters and council member Augie Tulba in an effort to force the department to allow news organizations to access police scanner communication. Hawaii News Now.

HPD says fraud losses total $7 million in 2025. Law enforcement officials, kupuna advocates and state lawmakers urged caution and vigilance Wednesday after Honolulu police reported Oahu residents lost more than $7 million in 222 fraud cases this year. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Police Shooting: Teen’s Family To Get $1 Million Despite Pushback. Honolulu City Council members approved the settlement to protect the officers involved in the 2021 fatal shooting of Iremamber Sykap from future liability. Civil Beat. Associated Press. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Oʻahu officials reconsider controversial North Shore gondola proposal. A controversial gondola project on Oʻahu could be halted as it is at risk of losing its conditional use permit. Hawaii Public Radio.

HPD staffing task force recommends increased incentives. A Honolulu City Council task force empaneled to help the Honolulu Police Department recruit and retain officers is recommending housing stipends, retention bonuses and other incentives. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Council passes plastic foodware bill despite mayor’s concerns. Mayor Kimo Alameda issued a forceful plea Wednesday urging the Hawaii County Council to reject Bill 83, warning that new restrictions on disposable plastic and polystyrene foodware would drive up costs for families and strain county resources. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now.

Hawaii Health Systems Corp., Queen’s partnership to expand care in Kona. Gov. Josh Green on Wednesday announced plans by a new public-­private partnership to build a new outpatient medical facility, with $50 million in state bonds, next door to the new hospital planned by Queen’s in Kailua-Kona. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald.  Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

Prosecutors seek to detain Sulla, allege wrongdoing on release. Federal prosecutors have filed a motion to revoke bond for a Hilo attorney convicted in U.S. District Court and awaiting sentencing for an affordable housing credits scam.The motion filed by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mohammad Khatib and Margaret Nammar seeks to detain Paul J. Sulla Jr. pending sentencing. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiʻi Island residents can keep riding Hele-On buses for free. Hawaiʻi County's Hele-On bus system will stay free for another three years. Officials voted to extend the late pandemic era program that was set to expire this month. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui

Maui visitor spending increases in October despite fewer visitors. Ten months into 2025, Maui is still outpacing last year’s visitor totals — even though October delivered the island’s first year-over-year dip since midsummer. Maui Now.

Measles virus detected in Maui County’s wastewater surveillance. The Hawaiʻi Department of Health is monitoring the first-ever detection of the measles virus in Maui County’s wastewater. Maui Now.

Kauai

A Month After Kauaʻi ICE Raid, Questions Linger. None of the 44 workers detained that day ended up seeking asylum. Their employer, a local janitorial contractor, has faced federal scrutiny before. Civil Beat.

Kauaʻi Emergency Management Agency seeks public input on disaster mitigation plan. The Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency is inviting residents to help update the county’s Multi-Hazard Mitigation and Resilience Plan, a five-year strategy aimed at reducing risks from natural disasters and strengthening community preparedness. Kauai Now.