Higa corruption case costs UH $500K, Otani straw donor case delayed again, electricity rates heading upward, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

University of Hawai‘i to pay $500,000 in federal settlement over mismanaged funds. Public officials embezzled federal grant money. UH could have stopped it, the DOJ alleges. The settlement, announced last week, stems from criminal investigations into Stacy Higa, a former Hawaii County councilman and candidate for mayor as well as CEO of the Big Island’s only public access station, Na Leo TV and the former Executive Director of the Hawai‘i Commission for National and Community Service, who pleaded guilty in 2021 to embezzling grant funds awarded by AmeriCorps, a federally funded network of service programs.  Aloha State Daily.

Straw donor trial delayed again amid plea talks. The trial for Terri Ann Otani, who is accused of illegally funneling money to political candidates, has been delayed for a fifth time as plea negotiations continue. Otani and other employees of engineering firm Mitsunaga and Associates were acquitted of bribery conspiracy in federal court in 2024. But testimony from that trial led the state attorney general’s office to file its own criminal case against the 71-year-old over straw donations. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiian Electric Industries parent company cashed in on bank stock sale. Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. disclosed on Monday that it sold nearly a third of the stock it held in American Savings Bank during ASB’s initial public stock offering Wednesday, and received $29.5 million after transaction fees. Star-Advertiser.

Monthly electricity bills could see a raise if HECO rebasing proposal approved. Beginning Tuesday, public hearings across the state will be held to discuss HECO’s rebasing proposal, which if approved by the Public Utilities Commission, would increase monthly bills for customers statewide. KHON2.

Federal Head Start Reforms Could Cut Supports For Hawai‘i Families. Education advocates worry that proposed rule changes to Head Start could reduce families’ access to education and developmental programs for young children. Civil Beat.

State’s unemployment ranks grow as more people join labor force. The number of people unemployed in the state increased in August to 18,800 from 18,350 in July, marking the highest unemployment figure since there were 18,931 out of work in September 2024, according to data released Thursday by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Star-Advertiser.

Hurricane Lala damage tops $67 million in preliminary public infrastructure costs. Hurricane Lala’s damage to Hawaii is now estimated at more than $67 million in preliminary public infrastructure costs alone, according to new information from the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. KITV4.

Residents advised to prepare for a potential cyclone from a lingering tropical disturbance. Hawaiʻi officials are monitoring a developing storm located to the southeast of the Big Island. As of 5 p.m. Monday evening, the remnants of Tropical Depression Fifteen-E were located several hundred miles southeast of the Hawaiian Islands. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. KHON2. 

Oahu

‘It works’: Lazar outlines plans for reducing youth crime, issues in Kalihi. Honolulu’s new police chief empathized with Kalihi families worried about crime, substance abuse and gambling Monday evening. Chief David Lazar assured residents he has a plan during a talk story event at Farrington High School that drew dozens. Several attendees raised concerns over youth crime. Hawaii News Now.

5 years after the Red Hill fuel spill, Navy seeks to reopen one of its shafts. The U.S. Navy sent letters to customers on its water system stating that it intends to reopen one of three shafts that were closed following the discovery of fuel in its drinking water supply nearly five years ago. Hawaii Public Radio.

Should County Pay For Infrastructure Along The Rail? Voters Will Decide. The ballot measure to approve a type of bond financing used in 48 other states comes amid a concerted push by city and state officials to develop housing around Honolulu’s Skyline. Civil Beat.

High-Need Foster Kids Now Have An Alternative To Staying In State Offices. Officials say they hope a new Oʻahu home will ensure hard-to-place foster children don’t need to sleep in government offices or hotels in the future. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Electrical failure causes over 70,000 gallons of Hilo wastewater to discharge into Puhi Bay. Approximately 71,000 gallons of partially treated, fully disinfected wastewater were discharged through the facility’s ocean outfall, located about three-quarters of a mile offshore in Puhi Bay on Monday night. Big Island Now.

Recovery continues in Naalehu after Hurricane Lala battered Kau. Stores are open. People are returning to work. Gas is available. Community gatherings have resumed. But for many residents of Kau District, the effects of Hurricane Lala are far from over. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Informational Open house for New Central Maui School Project, Oct. 1 and 3. The team behind the planned public school in Waikapū, the New Central Maui School Project, is hosting its second Informational Open House on Oct. 1 and Oct. 3. This is a chance to see how the project has progressed and learn about the effort to plan and design a new public school. Maui Now.

Waena battery storage project hits key milestone, will strengthen Maui grid and support renewables. Hawaiian Electric’s Waena Battery Energy Storage System project reached a major construction milestone with the arrival and installation of the project’s first six Tesla Megapacks at the project site along Pūlehu Road in Central Maui. Maui Now.

Maui storm victims hope federal aid from Lala comes soon. State officials said they are still waiting for a response from the White House on whether President Trump will approve a Major Disaster Declaration after Tropical Storm Lala caused significant damage in Hawaii. Most of the destruction was on Hawaii Island, but storm victims on Maui hope they won’t be forgotten. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Kauaʻi utility seeks to raise bills to cover wildfire costs. Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative has asked the state Public Utilities Commission to approve a new surcharge on customers’ bills. For the typical Kauaʻi resident, bills could go up by about $13 a month starting next year. Hawaii Public Radio.

Rapozo and Carvalho face off in Kauai mayoral runoff. The runoff for Kauai mayor in the general election comes down to two familiar faces. County council chair Mel Rapozo and councilmember and former mayor Benard Carvalho. KHON2.

Some state lands reopen to public on Kaua‘i following Hurricane Lowell providing limited access. The public is urged to use caution when accessing forested areas, as many unmitigated hazards exist. Kauai Now.

New map app details agriculture land, wildfire risks; controversial Maui doctor, pastor named to RFK vaccine panel; retired Honolulu cop claims $236K overtime, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Satellite-based map shares detailed view of what Hawaiʻi farms are growing. A new high-resolution map of Hawaiʻi has been released to reveal trends in what crops farmers are growing — and can potentially be used to assess and even predict wildfires. The map, called the Hawaiʻi Cropland Data Layer, is free and publicly available through the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service website. Hawaii Public Radio. Kauai Now.

Download the app: The Hawaii Cropland Data Layer (HCDL) is the first-ever raster, geo-referenced crop-specific land cover data layer for Hawaii. USDA.

Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander youth face highest rate of sexual violence in Hawai’i. Published in “JAMA Pediatrics,” the study was co-authored by Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health Dean Alex Ortega and Associate Dean Meripa Godinet. The researchers said the findings highlight a critical but often overlooked public health concern. Big Island Now. Hawaii News Now. 

HTA announces advisory board committee leadership. The panels aim to strengthen the authority’s strategic priorities and improve accountability. Maui Now.

Affirmative action opponent’s next target: A private school with admissions preference for Hawaiians. Kamehameha Schools gives admissions preference to the Indigenous people of Hawaii, with a caveat: “to the extent permitted by law.”  Associated Press.

Oahu

Former Secretary Pleads Not Guilty To Making Illegal Political Donations. Prosecutors say Terri Ann Otani, 70, donated $2,000 to former Honolulu mayoral candidate Colleen Hanabusa in 2020 in the names of her sister and niece.  Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. 

Lawmakers push Oʻahu officials for more safety information during strong hurricanes. The state House Public Safety Committee urged the Honolulu Department of Emergency Management to better identify where people should go in the case of a higher category hurricane. Hawaii Public Radio.

HPD probes $236K+ overtime haul by notorious officer. The top-earning officer at the Honolulu Police Department is now the subject of a probe into his overtime claims. Darren Cachola retired in July as a sergeant. He made $371,105.66 in fiscal year 2025 which ended in June. Hawaii News Now.

State Development Agency Pitches Final Plan For Westside’s Walkable City. The Hawaiʻi Community Development Authority is closing in on a final plan for Kalaeloa but major infrastructure needs mean it will be years before new development can begin.  Civil Beat.

DHHL Delays ʻEwa Real Estate Swap To Make Sure Donation Isn’t ‘Dirty Land’. The deal would allow a developer to circumvent county zoning rules by tapping into the Hawaiian housing agency’s special powers. In return, the agency could get a revenue boost for building homes. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. 

Pilot program begins to reduce loud vehicle noise on Oahu. The state is rolling out its pilot program meant to crack down on loud noises coming from vehicles on Oahu roadways.  Hawaii News Now.

DHHL approves development agreement for Kalaeloa racetrack project. On Monday, the Department of Hawaiian Homelands approved a Project Developer Agreement with Legacy Ventures LLC for a ‘world-class raceway.’ KHON2.

Public asked to pick Ho‘omaluhia Botanical Garden’s weekly closure day. Over the past 43 years, Windward Oahu’s lush, tranquil 400-acre Ho‘omaluhia Botanical Garden has been open to visitors nearly the entire time. Star-Advertiser.

Battle continues as Margotto Hawaii announces closure. Margotto Hawaii, a high-end Ala Moana area restaurant, announced Aug. 20 it is temporarily closing until 2026, less than two months after a jury awarded $3.15 million to a former sous chef who sued its executive chef for subjecting him to violent abuse. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Applications Sought For Kīlauea Recovery Grant Program. $6 million in funding is available to support community resilience and revitalization in Lower Puna during this next round of funding, officials say. Big Island Video News.

North Kohala Water Restriction Canceled. Normal water use may resume in the areas from Hāwī to Hala‘ula, following the repair of a failed water well. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. 

Hawaiʻi County to distribute 1,500 free plants during 5 adoption events. The County of Hawaiʻi Office of Sustainability, Climate, Equity and Resilience will distribute 1,500 free plants through five plant adoption events with the first 300 plants available on Saturday during the Hala Fest at the Makuʻu Farmers Market in Pāhoa. Big Island Now.

Ohtani, agent seek dismissal of land deal lawsuit. Attorneys for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani and his agent Nez Balelo have filed a motion in state court to dismiss a lawsuit brought against them Opens in a new tab by real estate investors alleging Ohtani and Balelo conspired to cut them out of a $250 million deal on Hawaii Island. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Maui Doctor Who Promoted Dubious Covid Treatments Joins RFK’s Vaccine Panel. Dr. Kirk Milhoan, a pediatric cardiologist and pastor at Calvary Chapel South Maui, provided the livestock drug ivermectin and the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine to prevent and treat the coronavirus during free house calls for Maui residents. The advisory committee makes recommendations to the CDC on what vaccines the American public should take each year. Civil Beat.

Old military fueling station, other abandoned Maui sites targeted for potential testing, cleanup and future public spaces. When the armory shut down and the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands acquired the 1.77-acre plot of land in 2010, residents were eager to do something with it. The department talked about turning it into a community center. But nearly two decades later, the lot is empty and stubbled with asphalt and dead grass, and neighbors aren’t even sure what’s underground anymore.  Maui Now.

County confirms it is open to purchasing Maui Land & Pineapple. Maui County confirms it is interested in buying a water distribution system that has been supplying the westside for more than a century. The seller is a company that is being sued for leaving its customers dry. Hawaii News Now.

This Lahaina fire survivor has launched a clothing brand that's risen from the ashes. Lahaina resident Courtney Lazo sells her clothing online and at local markets and pop-ups through her clothing company, called Henōhea. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Kauai’s Dark Skies Program aims to protect endangered birds. Developed in partnership with federal, state and community groups, the Pacific Missile Range Facility program  plays a vital role in protecting these threatened birds by reducing light pollution and ensuring safer passage for fledglings from the mountains to the sea. Garden Island.

Kauaʻi residents provide ideas for improving tourism while balancing locals quality of life. On sticky notes, Kauaʻi residents wrote their insights and ideas about the future of tourism on the island during two public input sessions last week that were run by the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority. Kauai Now.