Energy report could determine future of liquified natural gas favored by Green, Honolulu proposes 124% sewer rate hike, Hilo harbor plan requires private land, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Upcoming fuel report could determine new direction for the state's energy strategy. Gov. Josh Green turned heads this summer when he suggested the state should reconsider importing liquefied natural gas, or LNG. Now, the Hawaiʻi State Energy Office is close to releasing a comprehensive analysis on whether or not the controversial energy resource is a good bet for the islands. Hawaii Public Radio.

Ballot question would change judicial selection process. A proposed constitutional amendment about the appointment of judges will have many voters scratching their heads.Supporters of the change worry that people will ignore the proposal because of confusion -- and cause it to die. Hawaii News Now.

Projected air seat declines underscore Hawaii tourism softening. Total trans-Pacific airline seats for Hawaii’s top U.S. market are projected to drop in November and December, with losses widening at the start of next year and remaining evident into April, according to Hawai‘i Visitors &Convention Bureau market data. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Tourism officials update lawmakers on sustainable practices. Tourism officials briefed lawmakers Wednesday on the management and marketing of Hawaii’s largest industry, focusing on sustainability and cultural preservation. KHON2.

Hawaii man charged in Trump assassination attempt seeks judge’s recusal.  Defense lawyers for Ryan W. Routh of Kaaawa, charged with trying to assassinate former President Donald Trump at his golf course in Florida renewed their efforts Wednesday to get the Trump-appointed judge who is handling the case to step down, citing a recent news article saying she is under consideration for a top legal position if Trump wins the election. New York Times.

Hawaii stores fined nearly $1M this year for unregistered chemicals. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency levied a fine against the local operator of Daiso stores this month to the tune of nearly $315,000 for unregistered pesticides and misbranded pesticide devices. Earlier in the year, the EPA also fined the parent company of Don Quijote, Times Supermarket and Marukai Market over $660,000 for selling unregistered chemicals — think disinfectants, plant growth regulators, as well as insecticides and pesticides for things like roach control. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

City proposing 124% residential sewer fee hikes over the next 10 years on Oahu. Starting July 1, the city plans to increase city sewer fees over a 10-year period that will impact single-family residential customers — who consume 9,000 gallons of water a month toward sewer usage, like flushing the toilet — as well as all other customer classes served by the city and county’s sewer system. Star-Advertiser.

As property insurance rates continue to rise, many condo owners are finding it difficult or impossible to keep up with the costs. As a result, the Honolulu City Council is considering a resolution asking the state Legislature to pass policies next session that would address the issue. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hilton Hawaiian Village workers mark 30 days on strike. Over 1,800 Hilton Hawaiian Village workers marked 30 days on strike Wednesday, and people who don't work there are increasingly siding with the strikers. Hawaii Public Radio.

Leader of heavily armed drug-dealing gang gets 30 years. The leader of a heavily armed Honolulu drug trafficking organization that marketed deadly fentanyl-­laced mixes of opioids, heroin and methamphetamine will serve 30 years in federal prison. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

EA details harbor plan: Document gives DOT green light to purchase five lots to expand the entrance. The state by the end of next year could purchase a little over nine acres of land on Kalanianaole Street to expand the entrance to Hilo Harbor. Tribune-Herald.

In surprise move, state Supreme Court takes on appeal of Hilo doctor’s HMSA lawsuit. Hilo obstetrician-gynecologist Frederick Nitta filed a lawsuit in 2022 against the Hawaii Medical Services Association over several incidents in which the insurer failed to cover certain medications and treatments he considered to be medically necessary for patients. Tribune-Herald.

Ironman’s Parade of Nations in Kona showcases athletes participating from 85 countries. Patrons at the Da Shark Shack threw shakas and cheered as triathletes from around the world walked along Ali’i Drive in downtown Kailua-Kona on Tuesday during the 2024 VinFast Ironman World Championship’’s traditional Parade of Nations. Big Island Now.

Teen killed after utility vehicle driven by 8-year-old veers off road. An investigation is underway following a utility vehicle crash that killed a 13-year-old boy on Hawaii Island. The boy has been identified as Maxim Beregovoy.   KITV4. Hawaii News Now. Big Island Now.

Maui

Maui lawmakers discuss rebuilding 'nonconforming' structures in Lahaina, vacation rentals. The long-standing, bitter debate over vacation rentals on Maui took center stage during a Maui County Council Housing and Land Use Committee meeting on Wednesday discussing Bill 105.  KITV4.

Homes for FEMA’s Kilohana temporary housing site to be delivered next week to Lahaina. Motorists are advised of potential traffic delays as 10 modular homes for wildfire survivors are transported from Kahului Harbor to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Kilohana temporary housing site in Lahaina. Maui Now.

Kahului Public Library to temporarily close beginning Nov. 1 to complete interior renovations. The Kahului Public Library will temporarily close to complete extensive interior renovations beginning Friday, Nov. 1.  At this time, the renovation project is scheduled to be completed in Spring 2025. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauaʻi Island Utility Co-op honored for excellence, innovation in energy. The Association of Energy Engineers — Western U.S. Region presented Kauaʻi Island Utility Co-op with the Award for Institutional Energy Management during the Association of Energy Engineers World Energy Conference & Expo last month in Nashville. Kauai Now.

Jobless rate jumps in September on Kauai. A pullback in a number of employment sectors sent the jobless rate up more than one-half-percentage point in the final month of summer on the island of Kauai. Garden Island.

Aging prisons and jails pose budget challenge, Maui debates pesticide use at county parks, Hawaii County mulls end to military exemption to nuclear ban, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Tough Choices On Hawaii’s Prisons And Jails Lie Ahead, Official Says. Corrections officials need millions of dollars to maintain aging prisons and jails but say the real solution is to build new jails. That would be even more expensive. Civil Beat.

State Fire Council considers expediting fire marshal hiring process. The State Fire Council is composed of all the county fire chiefs and state fire service representatives. The group says it has finalized the job description for the new position, which was approved by Gov. Josh Green in July. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hand delivered letter urges Gov. Green to fill key position on state's Water Board. Students of Ke Kula Kaiapuni 'o Kekaulike—a Hawaiian immersion school on Maui— on Monday, with the help of members of non-profit organization Earth Justice Hawaii, a letter urging the governor to make a selection from a list of candidates was hand delivered. KITV4.

Suspected Trump gunman pleads not guilty. Ryan Routh, the Oahu man charged with attempting to assassinate Donald Trump after allegedly positioning himself with a rifle outside one of the former president’s Florida golf courses on Sept. 15 pleaded not guilty Mon day to five federal charges. Reuters. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiʻi Tourism Conference kicks off as Hilton strike continues in Waikīkī . State tourism officials are gathering at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center this week for the Hawaiʻi Tourism Conference. Striking Hilton Hawaiian Village hotel workers plan to pass out leaflets to draw attention to their labor dispute now moving into its second week. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii’s visitor industry is faced with soft data. Visitor expenditures and arrivals increased in August, but the year-over-year gain was due to the comparison with August 2023, when the devastating Maui wildfires took tourism to new lows. Star-Advertiser.

Shipyard starts building first of 3 new Matson ships. Construction has begun on the first of three new ships for Hawaii-based ocean cargo transportation firm Matson Inc. Star-Advertiser.

Territorial Savings board says no to revised acquisition offer. For the second time in two weeks, board directors of Territorial Bancorp Inc. have rejected a bid by a group of investors to buy the company and reaffirmed their endorsement of an offer from a California-based bank. Star-Advertiser.

UH study finds high prevalence of swine brucellosis in feral pigs. An estimated 60,000 feral pigs currently run loose throughout the state. A new study finds that many carry a nasty disease called swine brucellosis. It can jump over to livestock and humans, and there are several cases in Hawaiʻi each year. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Should Honolulu’s Emergency Management Chief Need Minimum Qualifications? A charter amendment proposal would include a requirement for at least five years of experience in emergency management or public health. Civil Beat.

900-unit affordable complex proposed for Kapolei.  It includes units for extremely low-income households — those earning 30% of area median income, or $41,750 annually for a four- person family — up to 140% AMI, or $168,150 a year for a family of four, according to state data. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii man pleads guilty to violating Atomic Energy Act. On Jan. 9, 2019, after Mark Kazee’s employer’s contract with a Kapolei oil refinery expired, Kazee’s unlicensed company entered into a contract to do “testing and examination services” for the refinery. The equipment Kazee’s company was using “contained Iridium-192 and depleted uranium radioactive source material,” according to U.S. Attorney Clare E. Connors. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

State plans eradication of coqui frog infestation near Kuliʻouʻou trail summit. The Department of Land and Natural Resources said the infestation is in a remote location with steep slopes inaccessible by foot, so crews plan to use drones to apply a non-toxic citric food additive mixed with water. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

A new bill on the Hawaiʻi County Council agenda could end the military exemption to the Big Island’s “Nuclear-Free Law”.  Bill 206 will be heard by the County Council’s Policy Committee on Health, Safety, and Well-being in Hilo on Tuesday at 3 p.m. Big Island Video News.

Hawai‘i County Council to discuss release of additional funds to start rehab of Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant. Hawai‘i County is requesting that the County Council release $116 million in additional funds to enable work to begin on a federally mandated project at the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant. Big Island Now.

State considers extending temporary fishing ban on pākuʻikuʻi, Achilles Tang. A temporary ban on fishing for pāku‘iku‘i off West Hawaiʻi Island is scheduled to end in mid-December, although the state is suggesting an extension to December 2026. Hawaii Public Radio.

Proposal calls for a ‘county radio plan’. State and county agencies and local amateur radio operators should work together to develop an islandwide communication plan to respond to emergencies in case of blackouts, according to a Hawaii County Council proposal. Tribune-Herald.

Hilo fire station still slated for improvements. Work to improve the 91-year-old Central Fire Station building on the corner of Kinoole and Ponahawai Streets in Hilo should begin soon, according to Hawaii Fire Department Chief Kazuo Todd. Tribune-Herald.

Former Youth Challenge staffer sentenced to 10 years for sex assault. A 44-year-old Keaau man was sentenced last week by Hilo Circuit Judge Henry Nakamoto to 10 years in prison for sexually assaulting a then-minor girl six years ago on the campus of the Hawaii Youth Challenge Academy in Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui County Debates A Return To Using Pesticides At Parks, Golf Course. Bill 131, which was heard by the council’s Agriculture, Diversification, Environment and Public Transportation Committee last week, specifically exempts county agricultural parks, county parks with grass playing fields and the Waiehu Municipal Golf Course from the ban on use of the chemicals. Civil Beat.

State project to improve Hāna bridges gets finding of no significant environmental impact. A $40 million project to improve the safety and public use of a half-dozen Hāna Highway bridges while retaining their historic character has received a finding of no significant environmental impact, according to the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation. Maui Now.

Civil Beat Survey: Maui Residents Say County Response To Lahaina Fire Falls Short. About two-thirds of Maui County residents responding to a Civil Beat survey say Mayor Richard Bissen and the County Council have not done a good job helping the island recover from the deadly Lahaina wildfire a year ago. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Kauai Police Commission votes to discipline Chief for losing his gun. On March 4, records reveal Chief Todd Raybuck left his loaded Glock wedged between the wall and a handicap assist bar inside a KPD bathroom stall. An officer later found it and turned it into evidence. Hawaii News Now.

Kauaʻi County Council candidates to speak at two public forums this week. Local community organizations on Kauaʻi are hosting two public forums this week to give residents an opportunity to hear from the candidates running for County Council before the General Election on Nov. 5. Kauai Now.

Kalalau Trail to fully reopen today after norovirus outbreak. State park officials had temporarily closed the trail and campsite at Napali Coast State Wilderness Park on Sept. 4 upon the advice of the Hawaii Department of Health.  Star-Advertiser. Kauai Now.

A group effort to remove abandoned vehicles in Anahola. About 120 students from Waimea High School, Kanuikapono Public Charter School, Kapaa High School and Kauai High School, as well as the Kauai Fire Department (KFD), and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL), were all in attendance for the heavy machinery field trip. Garden Island.

University of Hawaii to renew $285M military contract, strike hits Waikiki resort, Honolulu to offer employees pandemic hazard pay, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

The University Of Hawaii Is About To Get Hundreds Of Millions Of Dollars To Do Military Research. But student government members argue that the research should not be secret and say the university is ignoring their concerns over colonialism. The University of Hawaii is poised to renew a controversial contract to conduct research for the U.S. military worth up to $285 million over 10 years, in what administrators call a major source of federal funding for the university. Civil Beat.

UH president finalist puts emphasis on AI. Wendy F. Hensel, the first of two final candidates to replace the University of Hawaii’s president promised an AI-driven future during a forum Tuesday at UH-Hilo. Tribune-Herald. Hawaii News Now.

1,800 hotel workers strike at Hilton Hawaiian Village. More than 1,800 hotel workers went on an open-ended strike Tuesday at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort, and their union, UNITE HERE Local 5, says they will not return to work until they have a new contract. Star-Advertiser. Associated Press.  Hawaii Public Radio.  Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Hawaii Governor Urges Federal Mediation To Settle Nurse Labor Dispute.  Gov. Josh Green on Tuesday urged the Hawaii nurses union and Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children to seek federal mediation to resolve their long-standing labor dispute. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio.  Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Report: Suspected Trump gunman charged with attempted assassination. Ryan Routh, the Oahu man accused of staking out Donald Trump’s Florida golf course with a rifle was indicted Tuesday on a charge of attempted assassination of a political candidate as prosecutors alleged he intended to kill the former U.S. president. Reuters.

Oahu

City eyes $5M in federal COVID-19 money for possible worker hazard pay.  The City and County of Honolulu might tap roughly $5 million in federal COVID-19 money to help pay the estimated tens of millions of dollars in hazard pay to city workers employed during the pandemic. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Man who killed charging neighbor: ‘I going stop him’.  The 42-year-old man who shot and killed the neighbor who rammed his house and shot and killed three women on Waianae Valley Road said he opened fire after the neighbor pledged to “kill ’em all.” Star-Advertiser.

Beachfront home partially collapses into ocean on Oahu’s North Shore. Witnesses were stunned as a portion of a home off Ke Nui Road, near Sunset Beach, crumbled just before noon Tuesday. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

New chief gets good review: Moszkowicz’s performance in first year ‘commendable’.  The Police Commission on Friday gave Hawaii Police Department Chief Benjamin Moskowicz a positive review for his first year as the Big Island’s top cop, but said in his evaluation letter it is “crucial” the chief “enhances his transparency” with the commission, “particularly in areas where the commission holds oversight authorities.” Tribune-Herald.

Mauna Loa Access Road Restoration Planned After 2022 Lava Flow. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is seeking a state permit to repair the road to the Mauna Loa Observatory. Big Island Video News.

From seawater to jet fuel: Proposed Kona research facility would use NELHA infrastructure. A Texas company has plans to use a site at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority’s Hawaii Ocean Science and Technology Park in Kailua-Kona to make jet fuel from seawater. Tribune-Herald.

Waimea meat processing company wins $1.6M grant.  The Kamuela Meat Co. is a new processor on the Big Island and is planning to use this award to establish a cattle slaughtering and meat processing facility, according to a USDA press release. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

For Some Maui Fire Victims, FEMA May Step In When Private Insurance Benefits Expire. Government officials said an additional $14.5 million is available for eligible applicants. Civil Beat.

DBEDT report: Maui County hotels still impacted by last year’s wildfires. In August, Maui County’s revenue per available room was $284, or 4.6% less than August 2023 and 7.2% lower than the same month, pre-COVID 2019, the department said in its monthly Hawai‘i Hotel Performance Report.  Maui Now.

Molokaʻi brush fire prompts precautionary evacuations, road closures.  Door-to-door, voluntary evacuations by Maui Police Department were under way midday Tuesday for Molokaʻi homes in the vicinity of a brush fire of approximately 100 acres near the Molokaʻi Airport.  Maui News. Maui Now.  Hawaii News Now.  KITV4.

Planning commission discusses contentious South Maui housing project. Supporters of a long-debated project to build more than 1,000 homes in South Maui addressed criticism towards the proposal on Tuesday during a Maui Planning Commission meeting. KITV4.

Kauai

Kauaʻi community group, Earthjustice don't want a 2nd landfill in Kekaha . The island's only landfill, located in Kekaha, is estimated to reach capacity in 2027. The county is in the middle of expanding it, but that's a short-term solution while it figures out another way to manage the 80,000 to 90,000 tons of waste annually. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kaua‘i hotels lead state in August for revenue per available room. Kaua‘i hotels led the state in August revenue per available room at $316, despite it being 10.4% less than August 2023; it was still 50.8 more than August 2019. Kauai Now.

State seeks way to implement 100 recommendations in Maui fire aftermath, Routh's Kaaawa neighbors shocked by alleged would-be assassin in their midst, medical respite facility for Oahu homeless unveiled, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

State grapples with next steps following release of latest Lahaina fire report. The second phase of the attorney general’s report on the Aug. 8, 2023, Maui wildfires includes over 100 recommendations for the state, county, utility companies and general public to better prepare and respond to the threat of wildfires. Hawaii Public Radio.

OHA awards $2.8M in grants to address Native Hawaiian health, culture, economy and homestead needs. Support for traditional healing practices, training for navigators involved in traditional Polynesian voyaging, business education for entrepreneurs, assistance for vulnerable populations and funding for neighborhood watch initiatives on homestead lands are just some of the projects that will be advanced thanks to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Grants Program. Kauai Now.

Hawaii Man Accused Of Trying To Kill Trump Wrote A Book Urging Iran To Assassinate The Ex-President. Ryan Wesley Routh moved to Kaaawa outside of Honolulu in 2018 to go in business with his adult son building small wooden sheds. Associated Press. Star-Advertiser.

Alleged gunman Ryan Routh shocks neighbors in Kaaawa. For the past six years, Ryan Routh has called the quiet and tranquil neighborhood of Kaaawa home.  KITV4.

Oahu

City, state unveil medical respite to provide care for the homeless. In a joint effort to deal with homelessness on Oahu, Mayor Rick Blangiardi and Gov. Josh Green on Monday formally unveiled the Aala Respite at the edge of downtown Honolulu. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Gov. Green says he cannot legally intervene in Kapi‘olani labor dispute. Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women and Children management has said the lockout prohibiting HNA-represented nurses from returning to work will remain in place until the latest contract offer is unconditionally accepted. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio.

HPD Is Adding Dozens Of Extra Police Officers To Westside Patrols. Honolulu police are calling on reserve officers to provide more police presence to the area after a series of shootings and other violent crimes have rattled the community. Civil Beat. KHON2.

This tucked away south shore beach is becoming a “chill spot” for college kids, and some residents are not happy. The beach is right off Diamond Head Road, where vehicles coming down the hill often pick up speed before coming around a curve near the park. Hawaii News Now.

Firefighters suspend operations battling Kalihi Valley brush fire due to darkness; Fire is 75% contained. Honolulu firefighters have suspended fire operations just before 6 p.m. on Monday night due to darkness in their battle with a brush fire in Kalihi Valley. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Hawaii Island

Council members establish wishlist of legislative priorities. Changes to state regulations regarding e-cigarettes and midwives are among a wishlist of state bills the Hawaii County Council hopes to see pass next year. Tribune-Herald.

Kilauea Lava Eruption Resumes On Middle East Rift Zone. The eruption, which resumed at 6 p.m. Monday evening, is occurring within a closed and remote area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Big Island Video News. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

North Kona Water Restriction Ended After Well Repair. The Kalaoa Deepwell has been repaired and returned to service, which means the required 25% water restriction for North Kona has been downgraded to a voluntary 10% water conservation.  Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

Maui

Mayor Bissen hosting community budget meetings for Fiscal Year 2026. Mayor Richard Bissen and his administration will host community budget meetings throughout Maui County starting next week for residents to share their priorities and provide input on the budget for Fiscal Year 2026, which begins July 1, 2025.  Maui Now.

Maui Housing Advocates Push For Rent Control Bill To Cap Soaring Prices. A proposal aimed at stabilizing rents got its first hearing before the Housing and Land Use Committee. Civil Beat.

1-day mass permitting events to continue in West, South Maui. The County of Maui Department of Parks and Recreation will continue one-day mass permitting events for summer 2025 private-­party community center permits in West and South Maui districts. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

Multiple Hanamā‘ulu brush fires ʻintentionally setʻ Sunday. Several small brush fires were extinguished by firefighters in the area of Kalepa Ridge in Hanamā‘ulu on Sunday, Sept. 16, which the Kauaʻi Fire Department believes were intentionally set.  Kauai Now. Spectrum News.

Wilcox nurses holding candlelight vigil for ‘unsafe staffing conditions’ . The nurses of Wilcox Medical Center are holding a candlelight vigil to stand in solidarity with the nurses of Kapi‘olani Medical Center on Monday, Sept. 16, who were recently “locked out” following a one-day strike amid contract contention.  Kauai Now.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Oahu

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

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

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

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

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

Hawaii Island

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

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

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

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

Maui

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

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

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

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

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

Kauai

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

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