Showing posts with label University of Hawaii. Show all posts
Showing posts with label University of Hawaii. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 11, 2024

State seeks food security, Oahu landfill site selected near water supply, avian flu found in Hilo wastewater, Alaska Air stock takes off after Hawaiian purchase, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

How To Keep Hawaiʻi Better-Fed, According To Food-Security Advocates. Even in the best of times, Hawaiʻi isnʻt doing a good enough job of feeding itself, with 30% of households statewide experiencing food insecurity.  Addressing the underlying issues will require a lot of work, state food system planner Amanda Shaw told attendees at the Hawaiʻi Food Systems Summit on Tuesday during a three-day event at the University of Hawaiʻi West Oʻahu. Civil Beat.

UH study on quality of life cites housing, health care as stressors. A new dashboard launched by the University of Hawaii at Manoa offers data from a survey of more than 8,000 adult residents conducted earlier this year. It offers snapshots of how residents from a broad range of demographics felt about their neighborhood, workplace, housing, mental and physical health and other factors affecting quality of life. Star-Advertiser.

Alaska sees $1B jump in profit after Hawaiian Airlines merger. Alaska Air on Tuesday unveiled a plan to generate $1 billion in additional profits by 2027 by leveraging its acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines and booming demand for premium travel, sparking a rally in its shares. Reuters.

Experiences in Hawaii may hold clues to suspected CEO killer’s anger. Luigi Mangione, who lived in Hawaii for about two years, is accused of shooting to death UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last Wednesday. Police say Mangione left three pages of notes, calling the company’s leaders “parasites.” Hawaii News Now.

A ‘Devil’ Seaweed Is Spreading Inside Hawaiʻi’s Most Protected Place. An invasive algae has wrecked huge sections of reef in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Scientists are racing to find out what it is, where it came from and whether anything can stop it.  Civil Beat.

Oahu

New Oʻahu Landfill Site Is Above Island’s Water Supply. The Honolulu Board of Water Supply opposes the decision, but the mayor and the director of the Department of Environmental Services think they can prevent leaks. After a yearslong search filled with pivots and delays, Honolulu city leaders announced on Tuesday plans to place Oʻahu’s new municipal landfill on land belonging to Dole Food Co. outside of Wahiawā. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.  KITV4.

Price increase expected for Oahu Transit Services. The Department of Transportation Services (DTS) is trying to generate more money to run Oahu Transit Services, TheBus and Skyline, by increasing costs in the next few years. KITV4.

Popping a wheelie on a public street may soon be illegal. The popularity of e-bikes continues to grow along with the number injuries relating to them. So lawmakers are pushing for stricter safety guidelines by banning wheelies on e-bikes and mopeds. KHON2.

Police subsidized vehicle reportedly involved in Aiea hit-and-run. Law enforcement sources say an HPD sergeant, who claimed to be a passenger in that police vehicle, told responding officers the man in the driver’s seat took off. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

State reports H5 avian flu detected in Hilo wastewater. The Hawaii Department of Health today said the H5 avian influenza virus has been detected in a wastewater sample collected from the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant on Hawaii Island. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Cell tower bills head to council. A duel between two proposed regulations on Big Island cell towers ended with both bills victorious, after the Windward Planning Commission punted them both to the County Council on Thursday. Tribune-Herald.

Artificial intelligence being used as tool to protect Hawai‘i’s native birds.
UH Hilo biology professor Patrick Hart’s research, funded by the Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center, uses artificial intelligence to monitor bird populations in remote forests on Hawaiʻi Island. Big Island Now.

Maui

Maui County files for dismissal of election suit.
A motion filed by the Maui County Clerk seeks to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the results of the Nov. 5 general election, arguing that former Maui County Council member Kelly King, who lost to incumbent Tom Cook, failed to provide evidence of any errors or wrongdoing. Star-Advertiser.

Tobacco bill moves forward through Maui County Council.
Multiple individuals testified Friday during a Maui County Council meeting in support of a bill that hopes to ban e-cigarettes and flavored tobacco products on the island some day.  Maui News.

Residents fear cutbacks in Akaku Maui Community Media budget. With a song and a Hawaiian chant, supporters of nonprofit Akaku Maui Community Media testified for more than four hours in favor of preserving the budget for its access channels and production. Maui News.

Maui police seek help contacting families of 11 unclaimed bodies. The Maui Police Department is seeking the public’s help in contacting the family members of 11 unclaimed bodies at its forensic facility. Star-Advertiser. Maui News. Maui Now.

November single-family home prices shy of all-time record, but not by much. The median price of a single-family home on Maui was $1.3 million in November, according to a monthly statistical report by the Realtors Association of Maui. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauai Economic Opportunity to mark 60 years.
Kauai’s Economic Opportunity Inc. will mark an impressive milestone in 2025, celebrating 60 years of helping Kauai residents resolve disputes through effective mediation. Garden Island.

Friday, October 18, 2024

Hensel to earn $675k as new UH president, US attorney named to oversee election complaints, wetter than average rainy season expected, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Next University of Hawaii President Wendy Hensel vows to lead with a ‘heart open wide’. Wendy Hensel, executive vice chancellor and university provost for The City University of New York, will take over the University of Hawaii system in January — earning an annual salary of $675,000 — after UH regents unanimously selected her Thursday. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Hawaii Public Radio.  Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.  Maui News.  Maui Now. KHON2.  KITV4.

US Attorney Named To Oversee Hawaii Election Complaints. Clare Connors, the U.S. attorney for the District of Hawaii, announced this week the appointment of Michael Nammar to lead local efforts in connection with the U.S. Department of Justice’s nationwide Election Day Program. Nammar, an assistant U.S. attorney, will serve as the district election officer to oversee the handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud. Civil Beat.

Voters to decide on selection process of district court judges in state constitutional amendment question. A proposed constitutional amendment in Hawaii aims to unify the appointment and confirmation process for district court judges with that of supreme court justices and circuit court judges.  KHON2.

What happens in Vegas... stays there? Gov. Green on lessons from the new sports hub. When you hear Sin City, you think of casinos, gambling, Las Vegas. But these days, it's become Sports City. That's why Gov. Josh Green was in Nevada. Hawaii Public Radio.

'I make nothing': Local fishers weigh leaving the industry as inflation drives up costs
. There are some 140 Hawaiʻi-based longline fishing vessels that bring in more than 20 million pounds of tuna annually. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii likely to see wetter-than-average rainy season.
After a slow start to Hawaii’s wet season this month, forecasters project above-average rainfall from December through April, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald.  Big Island Video News.  KHON2.

Oahu

What Honolulu Can Learn From An Empty Homes Tax In Vancouver. Honolulu Council members are looking to the Canadian city as a model for their own version. Civil Beat.

Residents in high-risk flood zones could need new insurance.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency released new flood insurance rate maps on Thursday after a five year re-examination of Oahu’s flood hazards, including multiple streams that have never been studied before. Hawaii News Now.

Health department and city settle over wastewater violations at Kailua Bay.  The state Department of Health initially fined the city more than $434,000 for those effluent discharges exceeding permit limits for enterococci that occurred over 13 different days, from April to May 2023, from the city-owned Kailua Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant. Star-Advertiser.

Is Drag Racing A Good Way To Till Soil? This State Farmland Tenant Says So. The Agribusiness Development Corp. will soon deliberate on whether drag racing is an appropriate way to till soil and rejuvenate former plantation lands. That’s because one of its Whitmore Village tenants hosted a “mud drag” event Saturday, which attracted a crowd of about 1,000 to watch souped-up pickups and home-built dragsters churn down a track on state-owned farmland on Oahu. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

A look at the ballot questions: Voters will decide fate of proposed amendments to County Charter, state Constitution. In addition to the contested races on the ballot, there are five ballot questions — three concerning county government and two concerning state government. Tribune-Herald.

Federal investigation underway as packages missing at Hilo post office.  Frustrated business owners say they’re out thousands of dollars after packages dropped off at Hilo’s post office near the airport keep vanishing. Hawaii News Now.

Hawai‘i Island’s technology park celebrates 50 years of researching renewable ocean energy. Founded in 1974, the Hawai‘i Ocean Science Technology Park off Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway was established by visionaries in an attempt to harness the power of ocean thermal energy conversion by mixing deep-sea water with surface-sea water as a source of electricity. On Saturday, the community is invited to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the technology park, now home to 43 companies, at an open house from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Big Island Now.

Maui

County Department of Housing seeks proposals for Affordable Housing Fund projects on Maui.
The County of Maui Department of Housing issued a request for proposals seeking affordable housing projects that will be funded by the Affordable Housing Fund in fiscal year 2026.  Maui News. Maui Now.

Maui paramedic to be honored at Stars of Life Awards Ceremony in Washington D.C. David Kingdon, a paramedic with American Medical Response Maui County, has been named one of 33 Global Medical Response Stars of Life. The Stars of Life program honors emergency medical services professionals who have completed extraordinary acts of service for their patients, colleagues, communities or the profession. Maui Now.

New MEO bus for East Maui blessed. A new Maui Economic Opportunity 14-passenger bus that will be running through the streets of East Maui was blessed Tuesday in Hāna with community members, Maui County officials and MEO staff attending. A new Maui Economic Opportunity 14-passenger bus that will be running through the streets of East Maui was blessed Tuesday in Hāna with community members, Maui County officials and MEO staff attending.  Maui Now.

Kauai

Bill to allow guesthouses on Kauaʻi to address housing shortage passes in committee. To address housing shortages on Kauaʻi, the County Council unanimously approved a bill on Wednesday that would allow the building of guest houses on land zoned residential, agricultural, commercial, open and university.  Kauai Now.

Thursday, October 17, 2024

County mayors to discuss trust, regents grapple with UH present choice, EPA report indicates low-level contamination in Navy water system after Red Hill leak, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Mayors, economists meet to talk about the economics of (dis)trust. Leading economists will provide insight into the state’s economic outlook, and explore the impact of trust in Hawaii. This Friday, Hawaiiʻs county mayors will be on Oahu for the all-day Hawaii Economic Association Conference happening at Halekulani Hotel. KHON2. HEA.

Regents meet privately with 2 finalists for University of Hawaii president.
University of Hawaii regents met privately and separately for about six hours with the two finalists to become UH’s 16th president and ended Wednesday’s regents’ meeting with no announcement, but with plans to resume their special meeting this morning. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

Hawaii voters to decide on changing constitutional amendment to remove language on opposite-sex marriage. The proposed State Constitutional Amendment seeks to remove what is considered outdated language regarding marriage. KHON2.

Oahu

Navy says EPA report that found low-level contamination proves water is ‘safe’.  The Navy released Wednesday a report by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that was the result of an inspection of its water system that serves more than 93,000 people on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Discrimination lawsuit against Honolulu Liquor Commission settled, plaintiffs confirm.
A 2021 federal lawsuit filed by the owners of a Chinatown nightclub and a guide to the islands catering to the LGBTQ+ community in which they alleged anti­-gay discrimination by investigators working for the Honolulu Liquor Commission has tentatively settled. Star-Advertiser.

HPD arrests 16 people trying to illegally access Haiku stairs.  Honolulu Police arrested 16 people who were trying to illegally access the Haiku stairs in Windward, Oahu, early Wednesday morning. HPD says they were arrested for second-degree trespassing. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.  KITV4.

52 warnings given during H3 traffic enforcement. For the first time, the Honolulu Police Department (HPD) and the Marines conducted joint traffic enforcement on the H3 freeway to slow down speeding and dangerous drivers on Monday, Oct. 7. KHON2.

Police shuts down Waianae game room, uncovers 10 gambling machines and a firearm. Honolulu police shut down an illegal game room in Waianae last week with 10 gambling machines and a ghost gun inside it. KITV4.

Hawaii Island

Roadside vendors bill approved by council.
Bill 184 establishes a process by which the county Public Works director can grant special activity permits to people wishing to conduct commercial activities along county roads. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiʻi County Council looks to push more units into affordable rental program. Homeowners in the program must keep the rent they charge below a certain cost, and in exchange, they get breaks on their real property taxes and a cap on how much their assessed value can increase every year. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kona Rabbi’s lawsuit against county appears headed for settlement. The suit, filed on behalf Chabad Jewish Center of the Big Island and Rabbi Levi Gerlitzky, claims that fines levied by the county at Gerlitzky for using his Nani Kailua Drive home for religious gatherings are discriminatory and violate rights guaranteed by both the U.S. and state constitutions. Tribune-Herald.

County wants piece of Ka‘u parcel for sewage plant. The County Council on Wednesday discussed a resolution that would authorize county attorneys to use eminent domain proceedings to acquire 28.7 acres of a parcel just west of Na‘alehu Spur Road in Na‘alehu town that would be the site for an eventual Na‘alehu Wastewater Treatment Plant, which would replace the large-capacity cesspools in the area. Tribune-Herald.

Runway repairs scheduled at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport. A temporary runway closure at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole is scheduled throughout November into December. Big Island Now. KHON2.

Maui

Maui County has 3 charter amendments on November ballot. What would they change? Maui County voters in the general election will be asked to consider three proposals that include giving the Board of Ethics full-time staffing who would be able to prosecute violations. The other proposals would make it easier for people to serve a second term on county boards and commissions as well as better define the role of the Salary Commission. Maui Now.

HECO Calls Off Warning Of Power Shutoffs On Maui. The utility created the Public Safety Power Shutoff program last May to for adverse weather conditions. Hawaiian Electric Co. notified West Maui communities Wednesday that they could face intentional extended power outages to prevent wildfires, but rescinded the warning hours later. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui residents offer feedback about future ferry service. Molokai, which previously had a private ferry service from 1987 to 2016, has been without such a system leaving residents only one option–travel by plane or not at all.  Maui News.

County approves building permits for Kahoma Village reconstruction in Lahaina. The County of Maui has approved with conditions building permits for Kahoma Village to reconstruct four multi-family buildings totaling 24 units that were destroyed in the August 2023 wildfires.  Maui News.

Upcountry Maui fire victims await change as cesspool restrictions block rebuilding
. State law requires 7,400 cesspools in upcountry Maui to be converted to septic tanks by 2050.  Hawaii News Now.

Kauai


Wilcox Medical Center nurses take their battle to the streets.
The event, which was characterized as an informational picket, came after months of contract negotiations between the Hawai‘i Nurses Association and Wilcox Medical Center management. Garden Island.

Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Hawaii Gas seeks big rate hike; pilikia grows in UH president selection; one dead, two injured in rough surf on North Shore, Kauai workers to get COVID hazard pay, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Public input sought on Hawai‘i Gas rate hike plan. Hawai‘i Gas wants to adjust rates that range from a 19.4% hike on Oahu to a 13.2% decrease on Lanai in an overall effort to bolster annual revenue by $24.3 million, which the company said would cover operational and maintenance costs that have gone up significantly since its last rate increase in 2018. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio. Maui Now.

PUC probing utility’s role in deadly Maui fire. The state Public Utilities Commission has issued more than 30 information requests totaling nearly 200 questions to Hawaiian Electric as part of an ongoing investigation into the Aug. 8, 2023, Lahaina wildfire, which killed 102 people and caused more than $5.5 billion in damage. Star-Advertiser.

Law Professor: UH President Candidate Is Lying About Discrimination Complaint. Professor Tanya Washington and her lawyer say CUNY Provost Wendy Hensel is continuing to gaslight and retaliate in the statements she is currently making. Civil Beat.

UH president finalist Wendy Hensel on her vision for the 10-campus system. Hensel is currently the executive vice chancellor and university provost for the 25-campus City University of New York system, also known as CUNY. Also a Harvard Law School graduate, she has been a lawyer and previously worked at Georgia State University in Atlanta. Hawaii Public Radio.

UH president finalist Julian Vasquez Heilig on what he would bring to the role. Vasquez Heilig, a Stanford University Ph.D. graduate, is currently the provost and vice president for academic affairs at Western Michigan University.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Stargazers capture ‘comet of the century’ soaring over Hawaii. According to NASA, the comet will initially appear low on the western horizon in the glow of twilight about 45 minutes after sunset each day starting Oct. 12, through the end of the month. Hawaii News Now.

‘Humble limu’ faces threat from non-native species. Invasive seaweed may better adapt to changes than native species in Hawai‘i waters. Hawai‘i waters. Botanists from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa have uncovered key survival strategies used by invasive seaweed species in nearshore ecosystems, potentially explaining their dominance over native Hawaiian limu in certain habitats. Maui News. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii bracing for shortage of IV and dialysis fluids after Hurricane Helene disrupts production. Hawaii’s hospitals and dialysis centers are bracing for a shortage of two commonly used medical solutions after Hurricane Helene caused catastrophic damage to one of the nation’s few production sites. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

One dead, two hospitalized after being pulled from rough surf on Oahu's North Shore.  Three people were swept into the ocean at Ke Iki Beach. Despite warning signs, they were apparently walking on the shoreline when a big wave overtook them. KITV4. Hawaii News Now.  Star-Advertiser.

Man convicted in Fujita murders is stabbed to death at Halawa.
A Japanese national convicted in the 1994 shooting deaths of a psychic and her son was allegedly stabbed to death in the Halawa Correctional Facility early Monday morning by his 38-year-old cellmate. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.  KITV4.

Illegal dumping an ‘eyesore’ for Tantalus area residents.
Those living near Tantalus said it has a reputation for being a dumping ground for crime. KHON2.

Here's the latest on the new container terminal project at Honolulu Harbor. The $555 million Kapalama Container Terminal project started almost seven years ago. This second main offloading site is meant to help make Hawaiʻi more disaster-resilient.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Mauna Kea Closures Set For October 30 For DLNR Animal Control. The Hawaiʻi DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife will conduct aerial shooting from helicopters for feral goats, feral sheep, mouflon and mouflon/feral sheep hybrids within Palila critical habitat. Public animal salvage will be allowed by permit. Big Island Video News.

Citizen brings grenade to police station, halts operations for nine hours.
Police say that shortly before noon on Saturday, a Hilo resident arrived at the Hilo Police Station Receiving Desk to turn in what appeared to be an unexploded grenade they had discovered at a vacant home in Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

Court documents reveal names of officers allegedly shot at during Volcano incident. Court documents filed by police identify officers involved in the apprehension of a man alleged to have held off police for about 24 hours in an armed standoff last week in Volcano. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Once banned in schools, ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i now part of push to make Maui County government bilingual.
In 2022, Maui County voters passed a charter amendment that would make county operations bilingual in English and ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i, as well as create a Department of ‘Ōiwi Resources that would oversee management of cultural resources and improve planning in culturally sensitive areas. The department launched on July 1, and efforts are underway to move the county toward a bilingual government. Maui Now.

Temporary housing aid for Maui fire survivors is extended for a year. The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Thursday, at the request of the state, approved a one-year extension of the Individuals and Households Program for survivors of the Aug. 8, 2023, Maui wildfires. Star-Advertiser.

Wildfire survivors can get free or reduced-cost designs for home rebuilding.  Maui property owners impacted by the Aug. 8 wildfires can access free or reduced-cost home design plans and rebuilding assistance through a collaborative effort between the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement and local AIA Maui chapter architectural firms, including Hawaii Off Grid Architecture + Engineering. Maui Now.

FEMA hopes to fill jobs at new Long Term Recovery Office on Maui. The agency is seeking qualified and passionate individuals to join the team as Maui continues to recover following the Aug. 2023 wildfires. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauai County UPW to get COVID hazard pay. Kauai County United Public Workers members have voted to accept 15% of their base hourly pay for all the hours worked during the COVID-19 pandemic, the union announced Monday. Star-Advertiser. Kauai Now.

2024 General Election ballots being mailed out to voters. Registered voters in the County of Kauai should begin receiving ballot packets for the 2024 General Election this week. Garden Island.


Monday, October 14, 2024

State restricts movement of palms due to rhinoceros beetle infestations, Chinese missile launch stirs apprehension, not everyone loves a parade, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiʻi Restricts Movement Of Palm Plants Due To Invasive Beetle. The Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture on Friday established a new interim rule to help stop the movement of the coconut rhinoceros beetle across the state. Big Island Video News. Maui News.  Hawaii News Now.

Chinese ballistic missile launch stirs apprehension. In September the Chinese military launched an intercontinental ballistic missile that flew 7,400 miles before splashing down in the Pacific south of Hawaii. Hawaii is the nerve center of U.S. military operations in the Pacific. It hosts headquarters of the U.S. Indo-­Pacific Command and the Navy’s Pacific Fleet, and is home to several other critical U.S. military facilities. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s Marine Littoral Regiment trains for high-tech operations. The Marines are training in preparation for a deployment in 2025 to the Western Pacific to train with military forces around the region. Star-Advertiser.

Finalists for University of Hawaii president to meet regents, pick likely coming soon.  Julian Vasquez Heilig, 49, provost and vice president of academic affairs at Western Michigan University; and Wendy Hensel, 54, executive vice chancellor and university provost for The City University of New York, are scheduled to meet all 11 regents, who are likely to interview them separately in executive session during Wednesday’s regents’ meeting. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

Who Are The 2 Finalists For UH President?  Wendy Fritzen Hensel is a Harvard-educated lawyer, vice chancellor of one of the nation’s largest university systems who calls Hawaii her second home. Julian Vasquez Heilig is a Stanford-trained education leader and provost of a Midwestern university where he’s boosted enrollment. Civil Beat.

Keiki issues a priority for mayoral candidates in Hawaii, survey finds. The survey, conducted by Ward Research and organized by Commit to Keiki — a nonpartisan education initiative under the Early Childhood Action Strategy collaborative — found that over 90% of Oahu and Hawaii island voters want more early childhood programs.  Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

City Council advances bill to establish tax on empty homes. The Honolulu City Councilʻs Bill 46 would create a property tax on homes not occupied by long-term residents for at least six months out of the year. Hawaii Public Radio.

$1.6B state plan aims to boost housing around rail stations in Iwilei, Kapalama. A state plan is being advanced to foster development of nearly 28,000 new homes around planned city rail stations in Iwilei and Kapalama. The estimated $1.6 billion endeavor includes roughly $850 million in infrastructure improvements possibly shared by the state, the city and private property owners, and a $750 million or so state office tower project that includes housing. Star-Advertiser.

State agency helps reduce purchase prices of hard-to-sell units. Hawaii taxpayers are going to help the developer of a year-old Honolulu condominium and hotel tower complex make some of its required affordable housing more attractive to buyers. Star-Advertiser.

Illegal Game Rooms: Landlords May Face More Fines, Code Violations. The city's Gambling Rooms Task Force recommended codifying efforts to hold property owners accountable. Civil Beat.

City looks to reduce the amount of parades and activities in Waikiki.  A bill aimed at reducing the number of parades and activities in Waikiki is getting closer to becoming law.  Hawaii News Now.

Elected officials and guests join union picket line. Waikiki guests and the community are getting weary as more than 1,800 hotel workers represented by UNITE HERE Local 5 enter their 21st day of an open-ended strike at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort. Star-Advertiser.

‘A fire hazard’: Concerns grow about former swap meet space as city issues more violations. Concern is growing in Pearl City after another notice of violation was issued to the owners of the old Kam Swap Meet property recently. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

‘Marquee’ Hawaii general election contest is for Big Island mayor. The headliner bout, for Hawaii island mayor, is between incumbent Mitch Roth and challenger Kimo Alameda. Roth is a former Hawaii County prosecutor who moved to the state more than 40 years ago and is a University of Hawaii graduate. Alameda is a psychologist who was most recently vice president of business development for the Hawai‘i Island Community Health Center and once led Hawaii County’s Office of Aging. Star-Advertiser.

Big plans for Hilo airport: Initial design work will begin soon for $162M runway project.
The Hawaii Department of Transportation has received more than $7 million in state funds to prepare for an eventual project to rehabilitate the Hilo International Airport’s main runway in 2027. Tribune-Herald.

Maunakea authority to occupy former Bank of Hawaii building.
DLNR will grant a 30-year lease to the Maunakea Stewardship and Oversight Authority at a great discount: the DLNR will waive the authority’s first seven years of rent — determined by appraisal to be more than $95,000 per year — in order to offset the agency’s costs of renovating the building and closing a cesspool on the property. Tribune-Herald.

Land Board approves land transfer of more than 7,000 acres. More than 7,000 acres of pastureland on the Big Island has been transferred from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources to the Department of Agriculture. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii Island resident brings unexploded grenade to police station. A Hawaii Island resident turned in an unexploded grenade they had discovered at a vacant residence in Hilo to Hawaii Island police authorities on Saturday. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii seawater to become jet fuel. A Texas company backed by the U.S. Office of Naval Research plans to do some potentially groundbreaking work on the process of making jet fuel from seawater at a state technology park on Hawaii Island. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Mayor Bissen hosting budget meetings both in Upcountry and Lahaina Oct. 14-15. Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen and his administration will host community budget meetings in Upcountry Maui and Lahaina this week.  Maui News.

Pilot program seeks to improve pediatric mental health support in Maui County. The Mental Health Pediatric Access Line is the “first dedicated warmline designed to significantly improve pediatric mental health services” in Maui County, according to an announcement. Maui Now.

FEMA seeks over hundreds of long-term positions on Maui. (video only). Hawaii News Now.

Voyaging canoe Hōkūleʻa shares history, mission on Maui.
Crews from the Polynesian Voyaging Society’s Pae ʻĀina Statewide Sail have been sharing the history and mission of Hōkūleʻa to residents and visitors of Lānaʻi. KHON2.

Kauai

Largest limestone cave in Hawaiʻi to close to public after nonprofit’s lease ends. The Makauwahi Cave Reserve, home to the richest fossil site and largest limestone cave in the state of Hawai‘i, is closing 20 years after its opening on the South Shore of Kaua‘i due to uncertainty about the future use of the property by its landowners. Big Island Now.

Nonprofit against rebuilding of Coco Palms resort hosting event Sunday to ‘empower’ community. A nonprofit group that has been leading efforts to stop Utah-based Reef Capital Partners from redeveloping the Coco Palms resort was scheduled to host an event on Sunday to educate people about why the property and the area is an important part of Native Hawaiian history.  Kauai Now.

Tuesday, October 8, 2024

UH takes presidential candidate interviews behind closed doors, Honolulu council poised to award $1.5M in police shooting case, SNAP benefits decrease, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Search for next UH president nears conclusion with private final interviews. The University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents plans to interview the two finalists for president — Julian Vasquez Heilig and Wendy Hensel — behind closed doors. However, public interest attorneys say those meetings should take place in public, citing a 2019 state Supreme Court ruling that barred boards and commissions from holding closed meetings unless they prove they are protecting a privacy interest. Hawaii Public Radio.

David Lassner's new role at the University of Hawaiʻi after retirement. Lassner was the 15th University of Hawaiʻi president and will retire in December.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Skyrocketing insurance rates could be a factor in softening real estate market. Realtors said the rising insurance rates could be a factor in the softening of the market, but there are still opportunities out there if you’re smart. KHON2.

SNAP benefits to decrease in Hawaii for second year in a row. Benefits will be $8-$9 less per recipient starting Tuesday. Last year’s reduction already knocked off $7-$8 per person. Hawaii News Now.

Gov. Josh Green proclaims Fire Prevention Week throughout Hawai‘i. Gov. Josh Green has proclaimed the week of Oct. 6 through 12 as “Fire Prevention Week” in the state of Hawai‘i. This year’s theme is “Smoke Alarms: Make them work for you!” Big Island Now.

Oahu


Over Chief’s opposition, city offers $1.5M settlement in police shooting case. Taxpayers may pay $1.5 million to settle a lawsuit over the police shooting of a South African rugby star. The settlement seems certain to be approved at a council meeting Wednesday, despite the prosecutor saying the shooting of 29-year-old Lindani Myeni was justified and the objections of the police chief. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Honolulu Morgue Aims To Start Giving Families Answers Faster With New Deputy. The city has a deputy medical examiner for the first time in five years. The Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office hopes the arrival of its first new deputy in five years will help it winnow down the time it takes to finalize reports, which has mounted due to increasing caseloads and staff shortages. Civil Beat.

Honolulu’s Dying Palms To Be Replaced With This New Tree — For Now.
The city begins felling the first of 80 trees marked for removal on the North Shore. Many of the trees will be replaced with shade trees for the foreseeable future — at least until authorities are able to better control the Southeast Asian beetles. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

Views clash over planned homes in Manoa. The city Department of Planning and Permitting held the hearing on an application by local development firm Avalon Group to build 93 homes on what had been the campus of Saint Francis School, which closed in 2019. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Hawaiʻi County Building Code Meetings Set For Late October.
Two informational meetings on changes to the International Building Code (IBC) will be held at the Mauna Kea Park is late October. Big Island Video News.

Puna townhall to gather input for upcoming legislative session, possible alternate route. State Sen. Joy A. San Buenaventura, Rep. Jeanne Kapela and Hawaiʻi County councilmember Matt Kanealiʻi-Kleinfelder will host a townhall on Oct. 9 at Mountain View Elementary. Big Island Now.

Park for HPP is at least 4 years from completion. The Department of Parks and Recreation held a community meeting in HPP on Thursday to discuss the subdivision’s long-awaited district park, a project that has been in development since 2018. The project would be built on a county-owned parcel on Kaloli Drive between 25th and 26th avenues. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui Charter Change Would Benefit County Leaders From Molokai And Lanai. The proposal would make it easier to reimburse travel expenses of top officials who live on the other islands. Civil Beat.

Critical Locked Gate Overlooked In Investigation Of Maui Fire Evacuation. The state attorney general’s latest report on the deadly 2023 Lahaina wildfire flagged various locked gates that blocked people trying to flee as flaws in Maui’s evacuation planning. Yet a padlocked gate where the largest cluster of Lahaina wildfire fatalities occurred was not included in the analysis. Civil Beat.

Disaster Recovery Community Update set for Wednesday at Lahaina Civic Center.
A status update on wildfire debris cleanup will be provided by the US Army Corps of Engineers on Wednesday, Oct. 9, during a Maui County Disaster Recovery Community Update meeting at the Lahaina Civic Center. Maui Now.

Kauai

Road closure scheduled in Lāwa‘i for resurfacing work. A full closure for a portion of Kua Road in Lāwa‘i is scheduled for road resurfacing work starting Oct. 10.  Kauai Now.

Monday, October 7, 2024

Farmers seek more ag agency money, big funding boost hasn't led to student success, Kauai PO Box holders at shuttered Post Office urged to re-register to vote, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Farmers Unite For More Ag Agency Funding. The Hawaii Farmers Union, which represents more than 800 farmers, ranchers and food producers statewide, announced Sunday that it will lobby legislators for a drastic increase to the state Department of Agriculture’s $53.6 million budget over the next two years. Civil Beat.

Test Scores For Hawaii Students Show Little Progress Despite Major Funding Boost. The state has received over half a billion dollars in pandemic support, but there's been no tracking of which investments and programs have actually improved student learning. Civil Beat.

Clash erupts over Hawai‘i Tourism Authority budget request. The director of the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism is planning to make a $70 million legislative budget request for the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, even though its board, of which he is a voting member, voted to request a higher amount. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii remains the top desired destination for Japanese travelers. As Japanese people gradually begin to eye international travel again after the pandemic, Hawaii remains the top dream destination for Japanese travelers, according to research by travel firms and the Japanese government. Star-Advertiser.

For Japan’s Hawaii lovers, a changing relationship with the Aloha State. Changing modes of travel and shifting tastes are changing the way Japanese tourists experience Hawaii. And it’s changing how they perceive island culture — both while visiting Hawaii and back home in Japan. Star-Advertiser.

Budget-conscious younger Japanese travelers seek adventure, authenticity. For generations, Hawaii has been a dream destination for Japanese tourists. But younger Japanese travelers are often looking for something very different from what their parents seek when they travel. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s loan forgiveness program helps ease the burden on health care workers’ families. When the next legislative session begins in January, Green plans to propose an additional $30 million to help the next group of health care workers pay off their loans over the subsequent two years. Star-Advertiser.

Regents on track to select next University of Hawai‘i president in mid-October. The coming announcement follows the completion of a series of public events for the two finalists, Western Michigan University provost and vice president Julian Vasquez Heilig and City University of New York executive vice chancellor and provost Wendy Hensel. Big Island Now.

DHHL forgoes county building permits. The state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has begun to exert a long-held regulatory power to speed up homestead and housing development for beneficiaries. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

City seeks $115,000 to defend against civil rights suit. Honolulu is asking for more legal fees to defend against a 2023 federal civil rights lawsuit alleging three Honolulu Liquor Commission investigators subjected another investigator to discrimination, harassment and a hostile work environment based on his sexual orientation and race after starting his job with the city in 2022. Star-Advertiser.

Development of luxury condo units on O'ahu's north shore now on pause. Utah-based developing firm Areté Collective, which bought about 65-acres of land near Turtle Bay Resort in April, said it is delaying vertical construction until Dec. 1, 2024 to allow for more conversations with the community. KITV4.

Navy chips in to improve Kalaeloa’s electric grid
. Through an intergovernmental support agreement, the Navy is giving $18 million for upgrade work to the Hawaii Community Development Authority, a state agency that governs much of the former base that was closed in 1999 and largely transferred to state, city and private entities for reuse. Star-Advertiser.

UH Cancer Center celebrates federal designation renewal
. The designation from the National Cancer Institute comes with a support grant of $11 million from NCI to help fund further research at the center for another five years. Star-Advertiser.

Coconut Rhinoceros Beetles Deal Fatal Blow To Hawaii Palm Trees. Dozens of infested coconut trees have been marked for removal on Oahu's North Shore. Will they be replaced? Civil Beat.

Kapiolani nurses return to work after tense negotiation, 22-day lockout. New Kapiʻolani contract includes nursing council to oversee staffing conditions. The council is meant to serve as an enforcement mechanism to ensure appropriate staffing levels. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now.

Kailua resident files suit against state to have raised crosswalk removed
. A Kailua man has filed a lawsuit against state transportation officials, claiming that a raised crosswalk has caused damage to his home. Hawaii News Now.

North Shore home hanging on edge as swell set to arrive Monday. A decent-size north, northwest swell is set to arrive on Monday and many are anxious to see what happens to the sand near Sunset Beach, now that two homes are being demolished due to erosion. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Council bill seeks to ease permit restrictions for ag lot owners. At Wednesday’s Planning, Land Use and Development Committee meeting, Puna Councilwoman Ashley Kierkiewicz introduced Bill 212, which would exempt greenhouses and other small structures from requiring building permits on agricultural lots. Tribune-Herald.

EPIC fail? Homeowner sues county over building permits.
The owner of a home in Milolii Beach Lots is suing Hawaii County, claiming its Electronic Processing and Information Center system — known as EPIC — has trapped him in a permitting Catch-22 that only will allow him to demolish his house, not to remodel or live in it. Tribune-Herald.

Bill targets 40-year-old law regarding radioactive materials.
A decades-old Hawaii County law allowing the U.S. Armed Forces to freely transport radioactive materials on the island may be coming to an end. Tribune-Herald.

NOAA seeks to restore road to Mauna Loa Observatory. Access to the Mauna Loa Observatory could be restored by next April, more than two years after the eruption of its namesake volcano cut it off from the rest of the island. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Mayor Bissen hosting community budget meeting in Wailuku on Tuesday. Central Maui residents are encouraged to attend the meeting to provide input as County of Maui departments begin to shape the budget for Fiscal Year 2026, which begins July 1, 2025. Maui News.

Maui County Council committees to hold meetings Oct. 7–9.  The agenda includes integrating seal level rise and coastal threats into planning for county beach parks, discussions regarding domestic violence awareness and the Fiscal Year 2025 budget for the county’s revenues and department of water supply, water operations program. Maui News.

Akakū to broadcast Maui County Council candidate forum hosted by Lahaina Strong. Monday night’s Lahaina Strong candidate forum will be broadcast live by Akakū Maui Community Media from 5:30 to 8 p.m. from Hanakaʻōʻō “Canoe” Beach in West Maui. Maui Now.

Maui Memorial health care workers poised for potential strike. The contract for about 1,000 registered nurses, pharmacists, imaging techs and others represented by United Nurses and Health Care Employees of Hawaii, or UNHCEH, expired Monday. Star-Advertiser.

After Lahaina fire ruled ‘accidental,’ survivors still want accountability, compensation. After losing their family home and the town where they all grew up, Shayne Nameaaea Hoshino and his family filed a lawsuit seeking compensation and accountability from big landowners, the government and utility companies for the August 2023 wildfire. Maui Now.

Molokai residents demand community input as state weighs future of Kalaupapa. A visit from several top state officials to Molokai on Saturday raises questions about the future of the isolated peninsula, which was once home to thousands of Hansen’s disease patients. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

5 proposed Kaua‘i County charter amendments on ballots this Election Day.
The county of Kaua‘i Charter Review Commission has provided background information and the purpose of each proposal at kauaiballotinfo.com. Kauai Now.

Keālia PO Box holders who used them as primary mailing address urged to reregister to vote.
The Kaua‘i County Elections Division is urging voters who had PO Boxes at the now shuttered Keālia Post Office and used them as their primary addresses to reregister to vote with a new mailing address to ensure they receive their ballot for the upcoming Nov. 5 general election.  Kauai Now.

Kaua’i County discusses how to improve search and rescue operations after failed effort. Two months after a failed official effort to find a missing man from Kapa’a led to public criticism of Kauaʻi County’s search and rescue procedures, police and other emergency agencies outlined their handling of missing person cases last week during a tense County Council meeting in which improvements also were discussed. Kauai Now.

ʻUlutopia project at Kauaʻi Community College increasing production and use of breadfruit. On a fraction of a 40-acre farm behind Kauaʻi Community College in Puhi, 64 breadfruit, or ʻulu, trees bear abundant green fruit and teach important scientific lessons. Kauai Now.

Roadwork scheduled on Kauai. A number of road-related projects are on tap in the days ahead with grass cutting, tree trimming and guardrail repair making up the bulk of the work, the Hawaii Department of Transportation said in an update on Friday, Oct. 4. Garden Island.

Wednesday, September 25, 2024

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.

Monday, September 23, 2024

Offshore wind farm plan gets blowback, UH president candidates begin statewide forums, Big Island mayor contest heats up, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Offshore wind farm plan gets blowback. Aukahi Energy LLC, a joint venture involving a subsidiary of French utility giant EDF Group, in recent months has publicly shared its vision to put 22 to 30 floating wind turbines — each taller than a football field — between Oahu and Molokai to supply about 25% of the electricity used on Oahu at an estimated cost of over $1.8 billion. Star-Advertiser.

David Lassner advises next UH president to work on building relationships.  Lassner, who just turned 70, has led a 10-campus system that touches Hawaii and its residents in ways unlike any other state department or agency, and he has exceeded the average career life span of typical university presidents across the country. Star-Advertiser.

Next UH president to face ‘autonomy’ with strings attached. University of Hawaii officials have to defend their annual budget requests to the state Legislature every year because tuition, donations, endowments and other revenue sources aren’t enough to keep the 10-campus system running on a budget of over $1 billion. The institution employs nearly 8,000 people while educating 46,000 students. Star-Advertiser.

Meet the two candidates for UH President at a public forum near you. The public will have the opportunity to meet the two finalists for UH President on Maui, Kauai, Big Island and Oahu starting Monday, Sept. 23. KHON2.

Convention Highlights New Prominence Of Hawaiian Leadership. This year's Native Hawaiian Convention focused on how Hawaiians have played a much bigger role in shaping policy. Civil Beat.

Native Hawaiian council seeks to develop economic opportunities.  The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement already has gotten a firm foothold in tourism products, especially in Waikiki, since securing a multiyear, $27 million contract for stewardship services in 2023 from the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority. Star-Advertiser.

Data consultant on how Native Hawaiians are getting priced out of paradise. The Conversation talked to data and technology consultant Matt Jachowski about his conference presentation titled “Aloha Means Goodbye": why Native Hawaiians have left the islands in droves. Hawaii Public Radio.

Investors push for better deal in Territorial merger. On Tuesday, Blue Hill and other bank investors reaffirmed their commitment to a $12-per-share cash offer for Territorial, initially announced April 29, that would allow up to 30% of current shareholders to remain invested in the state’s fifth-largest bank as it aims for a turnaround under new leadership. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu


UH wave energy project with military takes shape off Kāneʻohe. The military has been looking at this wave conversion technology for some 20 years. It's far from perfect, but the possibilities are limitless. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kapi‘olani nurses plan protest before talks resume. Unionized nurses, who have been barred from work for over a week, plan to hold a demonstration today outside Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women &Children after contract negotiations ended Sunday with no resolution. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

Turtle Bay Developer’s Execs Were Part Of A Global Company With A Questionable Environmental Record.  Top executives at the company behind a major residential development near Turtle Bay Resort previously were high-ranking officers with an international developer that has frequently come under fire for environmental practices and community complaints. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Roth, Alameda face off: Mayoral candidates spar while fielding questions during forum. Hawaii County’s two remaining mayoral candidates took potshots at each other in between setting out their own policy plans at a forum on Saturday. Tribune-Herald.

Top Candidates In Tight Big Island Mayor’s Race Offer A Study In Contrasts. While they agree on some issues and diverge on others, Mitch Roth and Kimo Alameda differ sharply in style and presentation. Civil Beat.

Council approves ohana regulation changes.
Bill 123’s most significant change allows up to three ohana units — now called “accessory dwelling units” or ADUs — to be built on a single lot, as long as that lot is within a zoning districts that permits ohana units.  Tribune-Herald.

Bid for overhaul of Hilo wastewater plant could be approved next month. Hawaii County next month could approve a bid for contractors to begin the long-awaited overhaul of the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Delays Hamper State Effort To Better Manage West Maui’s Limited Water. The Lahaina wildfire and staffing shortages stymied the state's review of new and existing water users. Civil Beat.

Maui Voters To Decide Whether To Extend Terms For Board And Commission Members. If approved, a charter amendment on the November ballot would allow citizens to serve two consecutive terms or 10 years, whichever is greater. Civil Beat.

Lahaina evacuees urged to vote in burn zone addresses. Lahaina residents whose homes were destroyed in the fire are still able to vote using their old address in the burn zone. (video only). Hawaii News Now.

Maui delegation connects with other fire-stricken counties at wildfire summit. Mayor Richard Bissen joined Maui’s state, county and community leaders at After the Fire USA’s 2024 Wildfire Leadership Summit last week in Sonoma, Calif. Together, they shared updates on Maui’s wildfire recovery efforts and gathered valuable insights from other jurisdictions affected by similar disasters. Maui Now.

Kauai

‘A huge moment’ for Kaua‘i reefs: Coral nursery coming to island with federal funding. A much-needed facility to protect coral reefs, one of the Hawaiian Islands’ most precious natural resources, will be built on Kaua‘i due to a recently awarded grant of nearly $200,000. Kauai Now.

Want to farm on the Garden Isle? AgXposure course still accepting applications on Kaua‘i.  Potential farmers on the Garden Isle have until Sept. 30 to submit applications to AgXposure, a month-long course introducing participants to the ins and outs of small-scale commercial farming. Kauai Now.