Volunteers vouch for ballot integrity, indicted officials remain on government payroll, judge rules Tommy Waters ineligible for 3rd term, Tropical Storm Fausto weakens, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Volunteers vouch for process as first ballots counted. The first batch of mail-in ballots arrived at the state Capitol Monday to be counted for the Aug. 8 party primary elections, with volunteers representing both Republicans and Democrats vouching for the security of how they’re handled inside the Capitol, as President Donald Trump continues to sow doubts over U.S. elections. Star-Advertiser.

‘Culture Of Corruption’? Records Link Arrested Lawmaker To Lobbyist. Prosecutors allege that lobbyist Tobi Solidum paid Rep. Ryan Yamane in a series of cash and check installments between 2020 and 2022 to take official actions culminating in a scheme, prosecutors allege, to direct emergency funds to a pricey Covid-testing program run by the kidney foundation. Solidum made millions of dollars from the testing program, according to court documents.  Civil Beat.

Fuchigami on paid leave, Luke still officially Hawaii’s LG. Transportation officials said Airports Director Ford Fuchigami has been placed on paid, 30-day leave by the department effective Monday. He was indicted along with Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke on bribery charges. Despite the indictment and bribery allegations, Luke is still officially the state’s Lieutenant Governor. KHON2.

TRACKING FAUSTO Tropical Storm Fausto nears Hawaii, bringing dangerous surf as Genevieve remains a powerful major hurricane. Tropical Storm Fausto is moving closer to Hawaii and is expected to pass north of the islands from Tuesday night through late Wednesday. As of the latest update, Fausto was about 340 miles east-northeast of Hilo with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph. The storm continues moving west-northwest and is expected to weaken further over the next few days. KITV4. KHON2. Hawaii News Now. 

HECO plans to bring online about 1,650 gigawatt-hours of new solar and wind power, the equivalent of about 15% of all the energy on its grids. HECO announces new renewable energy procurement, looks to natural gas. Hawaiian Electric says that new renewable energy generation will help the state reduce its dependence on oil. Hawaii Public Radio.

DOE spends millions on campus repairs ahead of school year.  Over $140 million worth of repairs and renovations are happening across the state Department of Education’s campuses ahead of the new school year. Jesse Souki, the department’s deputy superintendent of operations, said that the work is focused on extending the lifespan of school facilities, while also creating environments where students can focus on their academics. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Judge rules Waters ineligible to seek 3rd Council term. A 1st Circuit Court judge ruled Monday that Honolulu City Council Chair Tommy Waters is ineligible to seek a third consecutive term representing East Honolulu’s District 4. The ruling by Judge James H. Ashford sides with Council candidate and attorney Trevor Ozawa’s legal challenge over the City Charter’s term limits and prevents Waters, also a lawyer, from continuing his campaign for reelection unless the decision is overturned. It’s unclear what this means for voters who have already voted for Tommy Waters in the primary election. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio. KHON2.  Hawaii News Now. 

Skyline’s Kalihi through Civic Center station designs unveiled. The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation has officially released the renderings for the Skyline Segment 3 stations, stretching from Kalihi to Civic Center. KHON2.

Weather worries change RIMPAC plans. Over the weekend, the various forces gathered for the exercise had been slated to carry out a simulated assault at Bellows Beach in Waimanalo using both amphibious landing craft and helicopters to bring troops and equipment ashore. Star-Advertiser.

Filipino national charged with unlawful voting. Bernadette Acaso, a Filipino national who was living in Honolulu and Kahului, was charged by criminal complaint on July 22, with unlawfully voting in the 2024 presidential election. Star-Advertiser.

Salvage company says state owes them more for removing a sunken ship. Hawaiʻi Island-based Pacific Underwater Construction said it sank about $600,000 into removing a roughly 77-foot sunken ship from the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island 

Voter Service Centers Open In Hawaiʻi County. Voter service centers will be open from now through August 8th to provide in-person election services, such as voter registration and accessible voting. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. 

County gets some help from FEMA for blaze in West Hawaii. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has authorized the use of federal funds to assist the state in combating the Kawaihae Road Fire that is still burning. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now. 

Storm-damaged Konawaena HS ready for new school year. Konawaena High School will be ready to reopen for the new school year following extensive flood damage repairs caused by the Kona low storms in March, the state Department of Education said Monday. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Report finds many Maui wildfire survivors still face health, housing challenges. Nearly three years after the Maui wildfires, many survivors are returning to work, gaining health insurance and finding more stable housing, but thousands continue to struggle with food insecurity, mental health challenges and lingering physical health concerns, according to a report released Monday. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

Kaanapali sand replenishment moves forward. The proposal by the Pilikahakai Foundation and the Ka'anapali Operations Association would collect sand that has accumulated offshore beyond the reach of natural processes and redistribute it along the shoreline from Keka'a to Maui County’s Hanakao'o Beach Park. Maui News.

Kauai

DHHL sued over evictions of non-Native Hawaiians in East Kauai project. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is facing another lawsuit. This time it stems over the eviction of residents from an East Kauai complex who don’t meet blood quantum requirements. Hawaii News Now.

Annual report: Surfrider Kauaʻi in 2025 removed nearly 80.3 tons of trash — or 160,552 pounds — from beaches. That total includes two cleanups last year on the Garden Isle that broke the scales — one in January at Anahola Bay where 3,202 pounds were collected and another in June at Nukoli‘i Marine Camp when 2,402 pounds were removed — as reported in national nonprofit Surfrider Foundation's seventh annual beach cleanup report. Kauai Now.

BREAKING: 4 state officials, lobbyist, indicted in bribery scandal

Bribery Charges: Sylvia Luke, Ex-State Rep And Others Indicted In Corruption Case. An Oahu grand jury today indicted Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and four others as part of the state Attorney General’s months-long political corruption probe. After hearing evidence for most of the day, the grand jury this afternoon indicted Luke for criminal conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery and falsifying candidate committee reports. Also indicted were Former state Rep. Ryan Yamane, who is also the former director of the Department of Human Services, for conspiracy to commit bribery and bribery, Ford Fuchigami, deputy director for the Airports Division at state Department of Transportation, for conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery, use of false statement, and obstruction of justice, Leo Asuncion Jr, a former Luke campaign volunteer and Public Utilities Commission chair, for falsifying candidate committee reports, use of false statement, and obstruction of justice and obbyist and businessman Tobi Solidum for four counts of conspiracy to commit bribery and three counts of bribery. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Luke receives AG target letter in bribery probe, more raises for Honolulu officials, lawsuit against Turtle Bay luxury resort headed to court, Kilauea volcano erupting again, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Green to meet with Lt. Gov. Luke after she gets target letter in bribery probe. Gov. Josh Green plans to meet with embattled Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke today after she received a letter from the state Attorney General’s office informing her that she is the target of a bribery investigation involving an “influential state legislator” who allegedly accepted $35,000 in a paper bag at a 2022 dinner. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.  KITV4.

Hawaiʻi Lawmakers Shelve Petition To Further Probe $35K Paper Bag Case. House Speaker Nadine Nakamura tabled the citizen petition with little advance notice or discussion. More than 900 petitioners asked the lawmakers to find out what happened in this transaction, determine if any laws had been broken and figure out what steps should be taken to address ethics problems at the Legislature.  Civil Beat.

A narrowed race for lieutenant governor leaves top state positions unchallenged. Following Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke's announcement that she will not be running for reelection, Kauaʻi Mayor Derek Kawakami is the only significant Democrat vying for the position. Unless someone decides by the June 2 deadline to enter the election for lieutenant governor, it could create an uncompetitive race for both of the state’s top executive positions. Hawaii Public Radio.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Nominee Faces Tough Questions From Senators. Besides his work for a powerful Hawaiʻi super PAC, lawmakers raised concerns about Vladimir Devens’ attendance at a controversial Honolulu cop’s retirement party. Civil Beat.

31 countries to send forces to RIMPAC this summer in Hawaii. The Navy announced Wednesday that the biennial Rim of the Pacific — better known as RIMPAC — will again this summer, from June 24 to July 31, bring troops, warships and aircraft from 31 nations to Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Vegetation growth from recent rains may stoke wildfire risk. Torrential rains in March and April have turned Hawaiʻi's landscapes green with new plant growth. Much of that vegetation is thirsty invasive grasses, which dominate Hawaiʻi's unmanaged lands. Those grasses likely won't stay green for long. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Honolulu salary panel OKs 4.7% pay raises for top city officials. The Honolulu Salary Commission on Wednesday approved a 4.7% pay increase for most of the city’s top elected and appointed officials, with changes set to take effect by July 1. The across-the-board adjustment for the 2027 fiscal year will raise the mayor’s annual salary to $236,712 from $226,080. Members of the nine-member City Council will see their yearly pay increase to $127,800 from $122,064, while the Council chair’s salary will rise to $138,264, up from $132,048. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu Traffic Cams Catch Speeders. But Most Don’t Get Tickets. Cameras at 10 major accident hot spots are catching red light runners and speeders. But ticketing more of them would overwhelm the state’s courts. Civil Beat.

Lawsuit against proposed luxury resort in Turtle Bay set to go to court. Kūpaʻa Kuilima and Earthjustice filed a lawsuit in state court to block the proposed development of a second resort on the Ritz-Carlton’s Turtle Bay property. Hawaii Public Radio.

Residents push back over West Oahu landfill concerns. The City presented its proposal for Makaiwa Hills to the Kapolei Neighborhood Board on Wednesday, and many said they will push back. KHON2. Hawaii News Now. KITV4. 

Macadamia chocolate manufacturer ending sales. Menehune Mac — Hawaii’s oldest existing macadamia nut candy manufacturer, founded in 1939 — has produced its final batch that owner Jimmy Chan hopes will last through Mother’s Day. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Council’s attempt to override Alameda’s veto falls short. The Hawaii County Council came one vote short Wednesday of overturning Mayor Kimo Alameda’s veto of a bill that would have created a commission tasked with advising county officials about construction codes. Tribune-Herald.

Sen. Hirono, Indo-Pacific Commander Discuss Pōhakuloa. Sen. Mazie K. Hirono (D, Hawaiʻi) told Admiral Samuel Paparo that the military should not "short-circuit" land lease discussions by seeking to condemn the land. Big Island Video News.

Hawaiʻi County could give state group $250K for invasive species management. Hawaiʻi Island lawmakers are considering giving the state $250,000 for invasive species management on the island, but have been critical about its efforts so far. Hawaii Public Radio.

Episode 45 of lava fountaining begins at the summit of Kilauea. Episode 45 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu began at the summit of Kilauea at 1:34 a.m. on Thursday. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Budget panel weighs department cuts amid property tax certification, stable revenue. Maui County Council Member Kauanoe Batangan has proposed an across-the-board 1.25% budget cut for non-first-responder departments that would yield somewhat more than $5 million in savings from Mayor Richard Bissen’s fiscal 2027 $1.61 billion budget proposal. Maui Now.

Mayor Bissen halts traffic-calming devices on County roads in Haʻikū in response to community concern. In response to Haʻikū community concerns, Mayor Richard Bissen temporarily halted future design and construction of proposed or pending speed tables, speed humps and similar traffic-calming devices on County of Maui roadways in Haʻikū. Maui Now.

Maui brands get new boost as iShoppes runs former DFS Hawaii sites at Kahului Airport. International Shoppes (iShoppes) was selected by the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation to provide retail and in-bond duty free concessions at the Kahului Airport on Maui. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauaʻi Sea Scouts showcase donated 61-foot yacht at weekend open house. The Kaua‘i Sea Scouts recently received a donated $500,000 boat, Sun Seeker, and are welcoming the community to their open house. The Kauaʻi Sea Scouts will host the event from 4 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 25, welcoming boys and girls ages 12 to 18 to learn about the program, meet current members, and explore its new donated vessel “Sun Seeker.” Kauai Now.

Undersea cable planned to connect 6 islands, gambling bills struggle in Legislature, Intermediate Court of Appeals judicial nominees named, Luke fallout continues, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Draft EA Details Undersea Fiber Optic Cable Between Hawaiian Islands. A University of Hawaiʻi proposal to install a subsea fiber optic cable system connecting the six main Hawaiian Islands is detailed in a new draft environmental assessment.  The subsea cable system would improve and expand high-speed internet access and availability to the six main Hawaiian Islands. Big Island Video News.

Full 1,587-page environmental assessment on Undersea Fiber Optic Cable can be found here.

Gambling bills struggle to remain alive amid Hawaii’s prohibition on wagering.  A bill that would allow cruise ship gambling — even while ships are docked in Hawaii ports — stalled in a House committee Wednesday while another bill that would allow sports betting squeaked through as the state Legislature continues to debate whether to end Hawaii’s prohibition on gambling. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi eyes expanded automatic voter registration with driver's licenses. A state proposal could automatically register eligible residents to vote in elections — unless they explicitly “opt out” of that opportunity. Hawaiʻi already has an automatic voter registration system, but it follows an “opt-in” model.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Election advocates warn of political fallout following recent scandal. Several bills are already teed up this session to crack down on bribery and money-driven influence over lawmakers. Advocates say funding elections publicly is another way to bring ethics back to politics. KHON2.

Unlicensed Teachers Want To Work In Hawai‘i Schools For Longer. The state has become increasingly reliant on emergency hires in recent years, but educational leaders are split on what role they should play in schools moving forward. A package of bills that would allow emergency hires to work in schools for five years is now sparking debate around the role unlicensed teachers should play in Hawaiʻi classrooms.  Civil Beat.

Bill would help repay teachers’ student loans.  A bill moving through the state Legislature would create a new student loan repayment program for public school educators, aiming to ease financial pressures and help address Hawaii’s ongoing teacher shortage. Star-Advertiser.

Bill advances for disclosure and safeguards on conversational AI services in Hawaiʻi. Senate Bill 3001, known as the Artificial Intelligence Disclosure and Safety Act, the measure establishes consumer protections and safety standards for conversational artificial intelligence services operating in Hawaiʻi.  Maui Now.

Gov. Josh Green to choose judge from list of nominees for Intermediate Court of Appeals. The Judicial Selection Commission submitted the following nominees: Lance D. Collins, currently president and principal attorney of the Law Office of Lance D. Collins and a per diem District and Family Court judge; Daniel M. Gluck, currently a deputy corporation counsel for the City and County of Honolulu; Nickolas A. Kacprowski, currently a partner at Dentons US LLP; Robert T. Nakatsuji, currently a deputy prosecuting attorney for the City and County of Honolulu. Big Island Now.

Hawaiʻi Democratic Party eyes local and national midterm elections. Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi Chair Derek Turbin stopped by The Conversation on Monday morning to talk about criticism aimed at national leadership and the possible effects on various state and local-level races. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Luke Donor And Friends Cashed In On City-Funded Covid Testing Program. In a public health crisis, Tobi Solidum saw a business opportunity, and his company made millions from a Honolulu-funded program. Now he’s at the center of a public corruption scandal.  Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

Student homelessness rises on Oahu’s west side. The number of students experiencing homelessness is rising on Oahu’s west side, according to Hawaii State Department of Education officials who say they are seeing the highest numbers in years. Hawaii News Now.

‘Let the kids play’: Legal dispute cancels flag football league for hundreds of keiki. Scott Nunotani, who started the NFL Flag Football Hawaii organization, was slapped with an injunction last Friday by his former employer, Ultimate Lokahi Sports, for starting the company and improperly competing against them. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu woman sentenced for threatening to kill Presidents Biden and Trump on Facebook. A 49-year-old woman was sentenced to seven months in prison on Tuesday after she pled guilty to threatening to kill Presidents Biden and Trump in multiple Facebook posts and comments. KITV4.

Hawaii Island

$33 million well spent? Resolution seeking audit of county homeless fund spending passes. The Hawaii County Council on Feb. 4 voted 8-0 to approve a resolution requesting the county auditor conduct a performance audit of the Office of Housing and Community Development’s Homeless and Housing Fund, a five-year program established by the council in 2022 to combat homelessness. Tribune-Herald.

Grand opening Friday for new Hilo Goodwill store. Goodwill Hawaii has announced that the Hilo Store and Donation Center will be relocating to its Hawaii Island Campus (17 Makaala St.), which offers a larger retail space, more parking and a convenient donation drop-off. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

High court blocks appeal of $4 billion Maui wildfire settlement, but payouts still delayed. For the second time in two years, the Hawaii Supreme Court has blocked insurance companies from acquiring part of a $4 billion Maui wildfire settlement. Star-Advertiser.

Maui Housing Policy Divides Top Candidates For Mayor This Election. Maui County Council member Yuki Lei Sugimura is trying to unseat Mayor Richard Bissen in a closely watched race this election. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Kauaʻi Small Business Energy Efficiency Grant program continues through this year. The grant operates alongside the utility co-op’s Commercial Retrofit Program, which provides funding for efficiency upgrades of existing items and units — including air conditioning, motors and refrigeration. Kauai Now.

New CPR machines coming to Wilcox. Hawaii Pacific Health announced on Tuesday that the Leona M. and Harry B. Hensley Charitable Trust is funding new lifesaving equipment for cardiac emergencies all the Hawaii Pacific Health (HPH) system with a grant totaling nearly $360,000. Garden Island.