UH enrollment reaches 8-year high, Honolulu council mulls Skyline extention to colleges, state ranks first in access to mental health care, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

University of Hawaii enrollment hits 8-year high with 51,400 students. Enrollment across the University of Hawaii’s 10 campuses climbed to 51,411 students this fall, the system’s highest total in eight years and a 2% increase over 2024, according to new figures released Sunday. Star-Advertiser. Kauai Now.

Native Hawaiian Convention: Federal cuts, shutdown elicit a call for unity. The economic pressures of living in Hawaii are mounting, so much so that more than 50% of Native Hawaiians are now living outside of the state. Star-Advertiser. KHON2. 

Tourism industry deepening ties to film industry. Hawaii tourism officials are looking to harness the power of film to put a spotlight on Hawaii as a visitor destination, while creating a more authentic understanding of the islands and providing employment for local residents. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi ranked No. 1 in nation for affordability of mental health care in new report. Hawaii is among the best states in the nation for mental health, according to a new national report that praised the state’s affordability of care, youth well-being and access to providers, while also highlighting areas that still need improvement. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Now. 

Wespac moves toward reopening Pacific monument to commercial fishing. Members of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, or Wespac, voted Sept. 17 to move toward allowing commercial fishing within four marine national monuments, including Papahanau­mokuakea and the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

 Honolulu Investigator Accused Of Witness Tampering Has Been Reinstated. The prosecutor’s office halted the investigation into one of its own employees, blaming a paperwork issue. Now he’s back at work.  Civil Beat.

Proposed Skyline extension to UH spurs debate. A legislative push by the Honolulu City Council to see the city’s more than $10-billion Skyline potentially extend to the campus of the University of Hawaii at Manoa or to West Oahu destinations near Ko Olina resort is ongoing. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Permit Director Blames Delays In New System On Growing Pains. New technology has not yet been able to “accelerate everything” as the mayor promised, but the permitting director is urging people to keep the faith. Civil Beat.

Aloha Stadium swap meet site being swapped. An outdoor retail marketplace that’s been a fixture around Aloha Stadium for 46 years is about to move to a new and largely improved location. Star-Advertiser.

Competency hearing set for Pearl City woman who threatened Biden, Trump. Rebecca Ann Folley, 48, who is also known as Becca Waters, was charged by federal criminal complaint April 2 with one count of making threats against the president and one count of making illegal interstate communications. Star-Advertiser.

Feds Were Told Of Miske’s Suicidal Thoughts. The convicted crime boss died in 2024 while awaiting sentencing. The nature of his death remains unresolved. Civil Beat.

Rainbow Tours helicopter makes precautionary landing in Kapiolani Park. Lacrosse players at Kapiolani Park encountered an unusual sight at around 8 a.m. Sunday morning, after a tour helicopter landed nearby. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Sentencing delayed for culprits in county housing credits fraud. Attorney Gary Charles Zamber was to have been sentenced Tuesday and businessman Rajesh P. Budhabhatti on Wednesday, while attorney Paul J. Sulla Jr. was to have been sentenced on Oct. 21.  Sentencing for Alan Scott Rudo — a former housing specialist in the county Office of Housing and Community Development from 2006 to 2018 who testified against the three in their trial — is now set for Nov. 19. Tribune-Herald.

Man who murdered UH-Hilo student in 1978 granted parole. Steven Ray Simpson was convicted for the death of University of Hawaii at Hilo student Mary Catherine Drapp, 24, whose body was found Dec. 11, 1978, in tall grass in Fern Forest in Puna. Star-Advertiser.

Council to mull proposed Hilo housing development near police station. The Hawaii County Council’s Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions Committee will hear a presentation Tuesday at 11 a.m. about a request to extend the construction deadline for a 64-unit affordable housing development in Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

Kona Sewer Project Begins October 15. The $6.4 million Hale Hālāwai Force Main Replacement Project – required under Hawaiʻi County’s Administrative Order on Consent with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – will be conducted in five phases, the County of Hawaiʻi reports. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Maui Council committee advances bills for acquisition of Wailuku Executive Center, expansion of Kula Ag Park. The Maui County Council’s Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee has recommended full Council approval of bills to acquire a new building for the Department of Prosecuting Attorney and to re-appropriate funds for phase one expansion of the Kula Agricultural Park.  Maui Now.

First neighbor island kauhale preparing to open on Maui. The state is preparing to welcome the first of at least 64 homeless people into Hawaii’s first neighbor island “kauhale” starting Oct. 20, as Gov. Josh Green’s vision of these tiny-home enclaves for those in need expands across the islands. Star-Advertiser.

Master Plan complete for restoration, reconstruction of eight Lahaina historic landmarks. The Lahaina Restoration Foundation announced the completion of the Historic Building Restoration Master Plan, a comprehensive roadmap for the restoration and reconstruction of eight of Lahaina’s most significant historic landmarks. Maui Now.

Volunteer-made firebreaks above Lahainaluna High bring safety and peace of mind. West Maui residents, neighbors and families recently got their hands dirty to protect something special to them: Lahainaluna High School. Hawaii Public Radio.

Historic return of Maui County Fair draws 30,000 fair entrants on opening night. An estimate 30,000 people attended the 98th Maui County Fair on Thursday’s opening day, according to fair organizers. The historic return of the Maui County Fair kicked off festivities with the traditional parade up Kaʻahumanu Avenue.  Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauai Island Utility Cooperative funding in jeopardy. KIUC has been notified that federal grants for two projects that would have boosted electric grid reliability and reduced Kauai’s vulnerability to supply-chain issues and foreign oil pricing may have been canceled. KIUC was positioned to receive $18.2 million in federal assistance toward the $35.8 million cost of the combined two projects. Garden Island.

Renowned Kauai kumu hula dies from cancer. Leināʻala Pavao-Jardin, a beloved Kauaiʻi kumu hula, has died at 51 after her battle with cancer. KITV4. 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.

Hawaii braces for vote-by-mail restrictions, alleged jail gang members found not guilty, Honolulu police chief selection process may go to the voters, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiʻi primarily votes by mail. Here's how a proposed Trump order could change that. President Donald Trump has renewed his campaign against mail-in ballots, saying he is considering an executive order to do away not just with voting by mail but with voting machines as well — ahead of next year's midterm elections. Hawaii Public Radio.

Future Of Commercial Fishing In Protected Pacific Waters In Courts’ Hands. Conservationists scored an early court victory, but a larger decision looms on whether the fishing opened up under Trump can continue. Civil Beat.

UH signs agreement with military’s POW/MIA agency.  The five-year agreement signed Tuesday creates a formal framework that will give UH students and faculty access to the DPAA’s facilities and data collections for research, while DPAA will be able to call on UH’s own faculty, students and research to help it in its mission to find and identify the remains of missing service members from past conflicts. Star-Advertiser.

DLNR offers $6.7M in land conservation grants. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is now accepting applications for its Legacy Land Conservation Program, with about $6.7 million available for land acquisition grants in fiscal year 2026. Tribune-Herald. Kauai Now.

Charting an easier path: State Land Survey Division continues work digitizing maps. The Hawaiʻi Department of Accounting and General Services Land Survey Division plans to make the maps with the information publicly available whenever they want to or need to find them. Kauai Now.

Alaska, Hawaiian join their loyalty programs to form Atmos Rewards. Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines Tuesday introduced Atmos Rewards — a combined loyalty program that is one of the major consumer-­facing milestones since Alaska Air Group’s $1.9 billion acquisition on Sept. 18 of Hawaiian Holdings, parent company of Hawaiian Airlines. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Oʻahu voters may get to decide who can hire and fire the police chief. A new proposal would give Honolulu’s mayor the ability to hire and fire the city’s chief of police — a move that proponents say could improve oversight of the Honolulu Police Department. Hawaii Public Radio.

Honolulu City Attorney Used Fictional Case Law To Combat Civil Rights Suit. Courts are increasingly grappling with mistakes made by an unethical reliance on artificial intelligence programs, but Honolulu’s top lawyer says the erroneous argument in the high-profile case was the result of sloppy work. Civil Beat.

Three Alleged Gang Leaders Found Not Guilty in Jail Beating Death. Current and former inmates testified that the gang ruled an OCCC module, but their accounts of the 2023 killing failed to convince a jury. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. 

Evacuations lifted for Kunia as brushfire danger eases. The Kunia area continues to be a hot spot for brush fires. Honolulu firefighters responded to that vicinity Tuesday afternoon for at least the third time over the past week to fight a blaze that initially prompted evacuations. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.  KITV4.

New UH Mānoa housing complex adds 316 units with priority for grad students. The newest addition to the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa's on-campus housing offerings is officially welcoming tenants just before the start of the new academic year. Hawaii Public Radio.

Removal process begins for grounded shuttle boat at Kewalo Basin. The Atlantis boat “Discovery” has been removed from Kewalo Basin after being stuck there for more than a week. KHON2.

Hilo Family Fights To Bring A Missing Woman Home From Oʻahu’s Streets. A 33-year-old woman with mental struggles disappeared after she was medevaced from Hilo to The Queen’s Medical Center. Then she ended up on the unfamiliar streets of Honolulu. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Council moves forward with resolution urging end to military activities at PTA. A County Council committee voted 8-0 on Tuesday to support a resolution regarding the Pohakuloa Training Area, sending the measure to the full council for further discussion. Tribune-Herald.

Council moves to strengthen fight against financial crimes. The Hawaii County Council is poised to approve a resolution that would authorize Mayor Kimo Alameda to enter into an agreement with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Honolulu Division to collaborate on the Hawaii Financial Crimes Task Force. Tribune-Herald.

Big Island judge to rule next month on state subpoena requesting files of disciplined police officers. A 3rd Circuit Court judge will decide next month whether or not to grant the Hawaiʻi Attorney General’s subpoena to force Hawai‘i County to release investigative files compiled by the Hawai‘i Island Police Department into the alleged misconduct of four officers. Big Island Now.

County to expand Kailua-Kona parking lot. The expansion of the lot between Kuakini Highway and Likana Lane is expected to add 23 new free parking stalls, according to spokesman Tom Callis of the mayor’s office. Tribune-Herald.

Waimea Middle School Welcomes Two Buses Donated By Benioffs. Two brand-new school buses, donated by two longtime Waimea philanthropists, will help provide Waimea Middle Public Conversion Charter School students with free and reliable transportation.  Big Island Video News.

Judge: BJ Penn cannot contact his mother for a year. A judge on Tuesday granted Hilo businesswoman Lorraine Shin a one-year order for protection from her son, former two-division UFC champion BJ Penn. Tribune-Herald. Hawaii News Now. 

Maui

Community groups ask Hawaii Supreme Court to rollback ruling on foreclosures. A coalition of community groups led by Maui attorney Lance D. Collins and joined by state Rep. Tina Nakada Grandinetti is asking the Hawaii Supreme Court to reconsider its recent decision in the Bank of New York Melon v. White. Maui News.

Funds drying up for study tracking Maui fire health effects. Half of young survivors of the 2023 Maui wildfires show symptoms of depression two years after the disaster, 20% reported severe symptoms and 4.2% considered killing themselves, according to a ongoing study that’s running out of funding and staff. Star-Advertiser.

Maui County, US Geological Survey collaborate on West Maui water project. The Maui County Council’s Water and Infrastructure Committee received a briefing Monday afternoon on a bill that would authorize the mayor to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the US Geological Survey for water resource exploration in West Maui. Maui Now.

Maui Land & Pineapple sued over West Maui water control. The billionaire owner of Kapalua Golf, and several homeowners’ associations, are accusing Maui Land &Pineapple Co. of mismanaging West Maui’s water supply, causing increased rates, water shortages and wildfire conditions that hurt residents and businesses. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. 

Kauai

Chief of War screening on Kauai paired with a work day at taro patch. The screening of the series at the Waimea Theatre was coordinated by Kumano I Ke Ala on Friday, which was followed by an exclusive panel with cast members. Then on Saturday, several cast members helped at a community work day in a taro patch. Hawaii News Now.

Five Kaua‘i students awarded newly created scholarships through Andy Irons Foundation. The foundation, founded in honor of the late three-time world champion surfer Andy Irons, honored the inaugural recipients during a ceremony on Aug. 9 at Pine Trees in Hanalei.  Kauai Now.

Tokuda raises hurricane concerns, Honolulu inflation among worst in the nation, ethics remains a concern in county government, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hurricane concerns for isles increase after federal cuts. Hawaii’s hurricane outlook calls for a below-normal season, but ongoing cuts to the federal government have U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda concerned about the state’s ability to both predict the weather and respond if a hurricane hits the islands. Star-Advertiser.

Some Hawaiʻi Counties Are Shortchanging Efforts To Keep Government Ethical. Experts agree full-time staff support is essential to the success of the neighbor island boards, but only Maui is taking that step. Civil Beat.

UH board to vote on president’s athletics director pick. The University of Hawaii’s President Wendy Hensel picked Matt Elliot to lead the athletics department, now it’s up for approval at the UH Board of Regents meeting. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Report: Honolulu Inflation Among Worst In Nation. It’s a mixed bag. Inflation on Oʻahu ticked up very slightly in May and was higher than the nationwide rate, but continued an overall decline. Civil Beat.

City seeks developer for Iwilei transit-oriented housing. A master planning effort to potentially transform about 80 acres along Honolulu’s over $10-billion rail line into mixed-use, transit- oriented development is underway, city officials say. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

An Embarrassing Housing Scam Triggers Big Island Reforms. A dishonest public worker and his partners slurped up millions of dollars by illegally manipulating a complex system of affordable housing credits. Civil Beat.

Goal of new partnership of hospitals: More specialty doctors for Big Island, fewer medical trips to Oʻahu. To alleviate the increasingly unmanageable workload, a shared workforce agreement was entered into at the beginning of June by Hawai‘i Health Systems Corporation’s West Hawaiʻi Region, The Queen’s Health Systems on O‘ahu and Aliʻi Health Center in Kona. Big Island Now.

The Food Basket distributes $700,000 to dozens of Big Island ag operations. The Food Basket on Hawaiʻi Island has distributed around $700,000 in grants to over 30 island producers in an effort to promote local farming and improve food security. Hawaii Public Radio.

Ali‘i Drive to return to two-way traffic by Monday. The Hawaii County pilot program created 46 additional free parking stalls in the south-bound lane of that busy section of roadway. The program concluded after measuring the community’s feedback about the one-lane traffic pattern for more than 30 days. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Drones drop mosquitoes over Maui to save honeycreepers. Conservationists working to save Hawaii’s endangered, native birds are now using drones to deliver lab-reared, male mosquitoes over Maui. Star-Advertiser.

As Maui County farmers and ranchers grow old, younger replacements are desperately being sought. An aging farming community drastically needs to develop younger farmers to be able to take over the food production. Farms are not being handed down generation to generation as much as in the past. Maui Now.

Maui Wildfire Debris Is On The Move Again. What Happens Next? Maui County officials are still discussing the future use of the Olowalu site where wildfire debris is being temporarily stored. Civil Beat.

Former pineapple plantation operator in Hawaii embracing agave as new crop.  Maui Land & Pineapple Co. is ramping up plans to establish an agave tequilana farm on the Valley Isle. Star-Advertiser.

South Maui brush fire scorches 500 acres. A quick-spreading brush fire fueled by strong winds in Kahikinui scorched 500 acres of South Maui land Sunday, but no injuries or structural damages have been reported, according to the Maui Fire Department. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

Kauai

Investigators: High Winds, Rotor Flap Caused Fatal Kauaʻi Helicopter Crash. Three people died during an air tour over the Nāpali Coast in July 2024. Investigators attributed the accident to weather and a known weakness in the model of the helicopter. Civil Beat.

Princeville Public Library reopens today after closing for nearly 20 months for renovations. The project included replacing the air conditioning, repainting, re-flooring, and making structural improvements to both the interior and exterior of the building. Kauai Now.

Foster care in crisis, state Supreme Court mulls HMSA insurance denials, Maui mayor signs $1.56B budget, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiʻi Foster System In Crisis: Kids Still Sleeping In Offices, Hotels. A toddler, age 2, spent the night in a government office on Kauaʻi. A 13-year-old slept on an Oʻahu office futon for almost two months. And a 15-year-old lived for more than three months out of offices and hotel rooms on Hawaiʻi Island. For some Hawaiʻi foster youth, government offices and hotels are a home of last resort.  Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s biggest insurer defends provider contracts before state Supreme Court.  The Hawaii Supreme Court saw a historic argument as Hawaii’s biggest insurer defended its rules against some doctors and patients. They say Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA) preauthorization and contract rules interfere with patient care, while the company says they help doctors do their jobs quickly and effectively. Hawaii News Now. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu

Kapolei affordable housing project sought on city-owned site. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration says it’s seeking a developer to turn a vacant city-owned parcel in West Oahu into a mixed-use, transit-­oriented development that will feature 600 to 800 affordable housing units. Star-Advertiser.

Queen’s holds blessing ceremony for expanded downtown emergency department. The department recently underwent renovations that expanded its size, more than doubling the number of its treatment rooms, and now offers dedicated facilities for state-of-the-art CT and X-ray services. Star-Advertiser.

Miske Case: Prosecutors Agree To Negotiate Settlement Over Asset Forfeiture. The deal to settle over millions of dollars in assets is an indication that the government is seeking to avoid another long, complex and expensive trial in the case. Civil Beat.

No markings, no clarity: Crosswalk changes create risky guessing game in Honolulu. Over the past decade, the city has eliminated dozens of Honolulu crosswalks. Officials say the changes aim to make streets safer by encouraging pedestrians to cross at traffic lights. But critics argue that rarely happens along a busy stretch of S. King Street. Hawaii News Now.

UH president appoints Vassilis Syrmos as interim Mānoa provost. University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel on Monday appointed Vassilis Syrmos as UH Mānoa’s interim provost. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Pohoiki Boat Ramp dredging begins. Dredging work began today to restore access to the lava-barricaded Pohoiki Boat Ramp, eight years after an eruption of Kilauea volcano rendered the structure unusable. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now.  KHON2.

State senator pitches hydropower plant on Kohala Mountain. State Sen. Tim Richards has an idea on how to provide more renewable energy and clean water to Hawaiʻi Island residents -- a pumped storage hydropower plant on Kohala Mountain. Hawaii Public Radio.

Protective order against former UFC champ B.J. Penn extended. Penn must immediately vacate the home he shares in Hilo with his 79-year-old mother, Lorraine P. Shin. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Maui mayor signs $1.56B budget into law towards housing, recovery, natural resources. Mayor Richard Bissen signed Maui’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget of approximately $1.56 billion that addresses housing for kamaʻāina, recovery and cultural and natural resources. KITV4.

Recent drownings in Wailea put spotlight on Maui’s longtime issue of too many unguarded beaches. Before the Aug. 8, 2023 wildfire that drastically curbed tourism, Maui County had the second-highest ocean drowning fatality rate per capita in the state from 2019-2023, according to the Hawai‘i Water Safety Plan released in January. And, the average per capita rate of drownings was twice as high on Neighbor Islands as on O‘ahu.  Maui Now.

Maui’s main stadium shuts down for major repairs. War Memorial Stadium will be closed for more than a year to undergo much-needed repairs. That means sports events and even graduations will have to go somewhere else. Hawaii News Now.

A `promise to restore balance’: Mayor Bissen makes his case for vacation rental phase-out. Citing Maui’s severe post-wildfire housing crisis, the Bissen administration presented its formal case to a County Council committee to phase out approximately 6,000 short-term vacation rentals mostly in West and South Maui. Maui Now.

With housing and economy at stake, Maui County weighs phase-out of 7,000 vacation rentals. The Maui County Council is currently weighing whether or not to pass a bill that would phase out roughly 7,000 transient vacation rentals in apartment-zoned districts, nearly half of the island’s supply. Hawaii Public Radio. Maui News.  Maui Now.

MPD seeks help with unclaimed bodies. Maui police are asking for help contacting the family members of five people who are deceased. Maui News.

Kauai

Annual sewer rate increase on Kaua‘i kicks in on July 1. A sewer rate increase approved by the Kaua‘i County Council in 2022 increases the sewer rate by 11% per year over five years.  Kauai Now.

Kauai’s most remote areas now covered by high-speed internet.  The island of Kaua‘i is now fully fiber-enabled, providing Hawaiian Telcom customers access to high-speed internet. Hawaii News Now.

New ambulance station in Hanalei will increase calls, enhance response times for the secluded east side of the island. The new station is staffed 24/7 every day of the year and will enhance emergency coverage and response times for the more secluded area of the island. Kauai Now.

Kauai mayor ponders political future, Green revisits federal prison as county jail, fees proposed for Panewa zoo, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Could Kauaʻi’s Mayor Ride Wave Of Strong Fundraising To Statewide Office? Mayor Derek Kawakami has not decided his next move, which may depend on a looming decision by Hawaiʻi Senate President Ron Kouchi, whom he calls a mentor. Civil Beat.

University of Hawaiʻi astronomers discover biggest explosion since the Big Bang. A team at the University of Hawaiʻi’s Institute for Astronomy has uncovered a dazzling new kind of cosmic explosion, more energetic than anything seen before, according to a news release from the university.  Big Island Now.

UH president recommends Matt Elliott for AD post. Matt Elliott, who was an innovative administrator for 13 years with UCLA and the past 18 months with the Hawaii Community Foundation, one of the state’s leading nonprofit organizations, is set to be named UH’s athletic director. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.  KITV4. Aloha State Daily.

Oahu

Honolulu City Council adopts $5.19B budget package. Two late votes by the Hono­lulu City Council Wednesday evening finalized approval of a $5.19 billion budget package for the city’s 2026 fiscal year, which begins July 1. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Green revisits acquiring federal prison building to replace declining OCCC. The Honolulu Federal Detention Center could be back on the table to replace the deteriorating and overpopulated Oʻahu Community Correctional Center. Hawaii Public Radio.

City Attorney Delays Raise Price Tag In $3.25M Settlement. Honolulu City Council approved a payout to the United Public Workers to resolve a dozen disputes over garbage collector pay. Delays by city officials added thousands in fees and fines. Civil Beat.

US soldier gets 23 years for killing his pregnant wife with a machete and dumping her in the trash. The court martial of Army Pfc. Dewayne Arthur Johnson, 29, concluded Thursday as a military judge sentenced him to 23 years in prison for killing his pregnant wife, 19-year-old Mischa Mabeline Kaalohilani Johnson, and their unborn child on July 12. Star-Advertiser. Associated Press. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

Long-awaited legal racetrack on former Navy land in Kalaeloa closer to reality. The city got the deed to the land in September. The goal is to build a sprawling park along with campsites. But the raceway is the first project. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Hawaiʻi County proposes new fees for zoo, increased fees for equestrian center. To pay for new positions, programs and other needs, Hawai’i County has proposed new fees for residents and visitors at the Panaʻewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens in Hilo that would begin on July 1. The zoo now is free for everyone. Big Island Now.

Affordable housing scheme ends in guilty verdicts. Three men who conspired with a Hawaii County worker for seven years to secure and sell $10.9 million in land and affordable housing credits in exchange for $1.9 million in bribes and kickbacks were found guilty by a federal jury Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Residential building that survived Lahaina fire on Front Street set to reopen later this month. The 42-unit building opens at a pivotal time, as the Maui County Council prepares to decide on Mayor Richard Bissen’s proposal to ban more than 7,000 short-term rentals for certain condominiums in apartment districts, including Lahaina Roads. Maui Now.

Maui Takes 1st Steps Toward Restoring Historic Royal Site In Lahaina. Moku’ulu, the royal compound where Native Hawaiian nobility resided for centuries, is buried beneath the burned remnants of a ballpark. Maui County officials hope to restore the Lahaina landmark over the next several years. Civil Beat. Maui News. 

Maui County preschool program gets federal funds in time for next school year. Maui Economic Opportunity received notice that its Head Start preschool program was approved for federal funding. This comes after uncertainty about whether the program could continue under the threat of federal budget cuts. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Change of command: Capt. Stevenson retires after 35 years of service. The Change of Command ceremony held on Thursday in the hangar of the Pacific Missile Range Facility saw Capt. Robert A. Prince relieve Capt. Brett A. Stevenson as the Commanding Officer. Garden Island.

Office of Economic Development announces 2025 Kauai Cultural Grant Program and Events awardees. From educational workshops and music festivals to heritage celebrations and creative place-making, this year’s awardees reflect the island’s cultural richness and resilience. Their work strengthens Kauai’s communities, enhances quality of life, and promotes sustainable cultural and economic futures. Garden Island.

Survey to assess emergency preparedness level of Kauaʻi households this month. The Hawaiʻi Department of Health’s Kauaʻi District Health Office will conduct a Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) survey to assess the emergency preparedness level of Kauaʻi households at the end of June. Kauai Now.

UH cuts travel, raises and expenses amid federal cuts, Gedeon named to House seat, Kaui police chief leaving June 12, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

UH Scrambles To Address ‘High-Risk’ Financial Situation Amid Trump Cuts. The university has been bracing for the trickle-down effect of $83.4 million in research funding cuts. The University of Hawaiʻi has suspended merit pay increases, curtailed nonessential travel and imposed greater scrutiny of grant-funded hires to maintain financial stability amid major research cuts imposed by the White House. Civil Beat.

Slower growth with long-term stability expected for Hawaii’s economy. The new outlook from the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism published Wednesday anticipates that Hawaii’s economy will expand 1.5% next year after growing 1.2% this year. Star-Advertiser.

Hawai‘i Tourism Authority could be replaced with new governance. Rep. Adrian Tam (D, Waikiki), chair of the House Committee on Tourism, warned the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority during a Wednesday board meeting that the coming passage of Senate Bill 1571 —which upon Gov. Josh Green’s signature will dramatically change HTA’s governance model — reflects a loss of confidence so deep that he is already considering a bill to upend the agency next year. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi solar industry expects setbacks from U.S. House spending bill. If the Republican-led measure makes it through the Senate and President Donald Trump signs it into law, clean energy companies would need to break ground on new commercial projects within 60 days of the bill’s signing to be eligible for certain tax credits. Hawaii Public Radio.

Gedeon to replace Republican Gene Ward. Democratic Gov. Josh Green has named Republican Joe Gedeon to succeed the late Republican Rep. Gene Ward to represent Hawaii Kai-Kalama Valley. Green picked Gedeon out of a list of three potential replacements sent to him by a panel of Hawaii Republican Party members in Ward’s district. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. KHON2. 

Failed ‘Assault Rifle’ Ban Was The Victim Of Convoluted Politics. Hawaiʻi has some of the most restrictive firearms laws in the nation, but senators balked in the 11th hour at a ban on semiautomatic rifles and large-capacity magazines. Civil Beat.

There Are Plenty Of Aggressive Drivers In Hawaiʻi, But Is It ‘Road Rage’? Researchers and law enforcement officials are seeing increases in careless and aggressive driving in Hawaiʻi. It’s challenging to quantify the extent of the problem. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Changes coming to city grant program for rail-affected businesses. The City and County of Honolulu’s financial relief effort for small businesses negatively affected by ongoing construction of the over-$10 billion Skyline project is on track for proposed changes. Star-Advertiser.

Facing required wastewater upgrades, City Council moves toward shorter fee hike schedule. The Honolulu City Council has proposed a six-year sewer fee hike plan for Oʻahu that incentivizes water savings, instead of the original 10-year plan. Hawaii Public Radio.

Land Board approves research to raise native and endemic limu species. Last week the board approved a project submitted by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Aquatic Resources and the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaiʻi to construct a limu — or seaweed — nursery at the Ānuenue Fisheries Research Center on Oʻahu’s Sand Island. Hawaii Public Radio.

Waikiki visitors undeterred by fee increase. An upcoming increase in the state hotel room tax of less than 1% — or $3 more per night for a $400 room — won’t deter any of nearly two dozen Waikiki tourists from coming back, especially if it provides money to restore beaches, fight erosion and prevent future wildfires, they unanimously told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Assault video exposes use of untrained guards at Oahu jail. A rampaging inmate at Oahu Community Correctional Center injured two corrections officers Monday while an untrained emergency guard watched helplessly. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Kilauea summit lookout reopens for the first time since 2018. An observation deck on Kilauea volcano’s summit that provides panoramic views of the caldera and Halema‘uma‘u crater has reopened in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now.  KHON2.

Public preschool classroom opens in South Kona. It’s the second public pre-K classroom to open in West Hawaii since the launch of the Ready Keiki initiative, which now operates classrooms on all islands. Hawaii News Now.

Former UFC champion BJ Penn faces family abuse charge; slapped with restraining order. Former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion BJ Penn was arrested and charged twice in the past few days for abusing his 79-year-old mother, according to the Hawaiʻi County court documents. Big Island Now.

Hawaiʻi Island coffee grower hopes to keep things brewing during tariff uncertainty. Ralph Gaston is part of Rusty's Hawaiian Coffee, a family business on the Big Island that grows, roasts and distributes coffee.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Nearly 30 pounds of pot found in Kona airport luggage.  Airport after checked baggage for a Honolulu-bound flight on Southwest Airlines was found to contain about 26 pounds of marijuana. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Council hears support for proposed real property tax rates. Maui County Council members accepted oral and written testimony Tuesday on revised real property tax rates that reduced rates in some categories while retaining proposed rates in others.  Maui Now.

Lahaina Filipino Fire Survivors Association launches to fight for working class migrants. LFFSA, an initiative of the Hawaiʻi Workers Center, is a grassroots organization of directly impacted worker leaders organizing for a long term recovery that addresses the most crucial needs of Lahaina’s Filipino fire survivors in the aftermath of the 2023 wildfires. Maui Now.

Trolling permitted in Kahoʻolawe for 2 weekends in June. The Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission has announced permitted trolling dates during two weekends this June.  Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauaʻi police officers ready to move forward as Chief finally announces retirement date. In a letter to the Kauaʻi Police Commission, Chief Todd Raybuck said he’s retiring on June 12. He first announced he was leaving back in November. KHON2.

Metal, appliance drop-off closed until further notice at some county facilities. Contractor staffing issues are forcing Kaua‘i County Department of Public Works Solid Waste Division to close scrap metal and metal appliances recycling until further notice beginning today (May 29) at some of its collection facilities. Kauai Now.

Goodwill to host reuse collection event later this week in Līhu‘e. Residents, businesses and other organizations can bring unwanted or unneeded items for reuse to Kaua‘i Resource Center in Līhu‘e from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 30. Kauai Now.

Judiciary programs win legislative approval, Carvalho wants to be Kauai mayor again, Honolulu airport faces baggage handler layoffs, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Chief Justice Says He’ll Retire On High Note After Rare Legislative Success. In his last year on the Supreme Court, Mark Recktenwald helped secure funding for Judiciary programs throughout Hawaiʻi. Civil Beat.

Many UH med school grads plan to stay in Hawaii amid physician shortage. As Hawaii faces a shortage of nearly 800 physicians, a very special ceremony was held Sunday for some of the state’s newest doctors. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Proposed Cuts To Food Stamps Program Could Be ‘Horrific’ In Hawai‘i. Under Republican proposals, Hawaiʻi could face more than $100 million in new costs to maintain the food stamp program. Civil Beat. Some 157,600 residents — roughly 1 in 9 — will receive SNAP benefits this year. Civil Beat.

Judge Blocks Trump Health Funding Cuts For Hawaiʻi, Other States. Hawaiʻi could have lost more than $89 million for critical community health programs, the Attorney General’s Office said. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

Student Debt Puts Hawaiʻi’s Older Adults At Risk Of Social Security Cuts. People who stopped paying their student loans during the Covid-19 pandemic could soon start facing reductions in their monthly Social Security benefits. Some 8,400 adults aged 62 or older in Hawaiʻi owe roughly $440 million in federal student loans, according to the U.S. Department of Education.  Civil Beat.

Federal funding for Hawaiian Home Lands on chopping block.  President Donald Trump is proposing to eliminate the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant program as part of a rough budget plan for the next federal fiscal year beginning Oct. 1. Star-Advertiser.

UH researchers, faculty suffering from federal cuts. As of Friday, 77 grant awards at the University of Hawaii had been terminated, stopped or were being phased out. Of those, 66 grants have been terminated, amounting to $83 million in federal dollars, according to a UH spokesperson. Star-Advertiser.

Airline outlook weakens as Hawaii heads into peak summer travel season. The outlook for airline seats into Hawaii softened this month with losses widening into the peak summer tourism season, exacerbating concerns that demand for leisure travel will hold amid worldwide economic uncertainty. Star-Advertiser.

Bill passes allowing darker tints on vehicles. The state Legislature has passed a major reform bill for vehicle window tinting laws, which marks the most significant update since originally enacted in 1983, the House of Representatives announced Friday. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Dozens of workers face layoffs at Honolulu airport. A company that provides baggage-handling services to the airlines at Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport is ending its operations there. That means dozens of workers will lose their jobs.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Concern for University Lab School as officials discuss possible ‘UH CampusTown’. The prospect of a mixed-use development to create a more vibrant atmosphere for students at the University of Hawaii at Manoa is drawing fire from supporters of University Laboratory School who fear the K-12 campus would be displaced in the process. Star-Advertiser.

State agency’s preschool production pipeline bulges while other projects hit roadblocks. Inside what looks like it could’ve been an art classroom at a Moiliili elementary school, a former engineer is leading a small team on a big quest to develop preschool classrooms, teacher housing and a more than $300 million new school. Star-Advertiser.

The newest kauhale, Alana Ola Pono, moves 11 people into long-term homes. The Alana Ola Pono kauhale represents the newest of 21 that have gone up around the state, with more planned in Waimanalo and Kapolei, on Middle Street and off of Nimitz Highway by Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. Star-Advertiser.

Straub Benioff Medical Center to see new facilities. The Straub Benioff Medical Center is undergoing a massive transformation, according to Hawaiʻi Pacific Health. KHON2.

Honolulu Council might widen surveillance at parks. Overt video monitoring at city-owned parks prone to high crime has advanced under a new Honolulu City Council resolution. Star-Advertiser.

Miske’s Trust: A Look At His Moves To Control His Fortune From The Grave. In amending his revocable living trust shortly before he died, Michael J. Miske confirmed his granddaughter is the primary beneficiary. It is the first time the provisions of Miske’s trust have been made public. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia to make final stop in Hilo ahead of global, 3-year voyage. The canoes are expected to arrive in Hilo on Tuesday afternoon and stay for more than a week to engage with the community and make final voyage preparations.  Big Island Now.

Zoo fees revisited: County mulls charging admission to popular attraction. Hawaii County is holding another hearing to consider proposed entry fees for Pana‘ewa Rainforest Zoo &Gardens. Tribune-Herald.

Reservations for bunkhouse, cabins open daily. The Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Forestry and Wildlife has announced that the Keanakolu Bunkhouse and Ranger Cabins off Mana Road are now available for camping reservations seven days a week. Tribune-Herald.

Military presence at Pōhakuloa Training Area critical to community safety. But at what cost to the land, native species? In the summer of 2022, when the Mana Road fire burned more than 44,000 acres of land, destroyed some homes and livestock, and threatened Waikōloa Village, small Hawaiʻi County received help from the U.S. Army. Big Island Now.

Maui

Maui Council passes fiscal 2026 budget on first reading; final reading set for June 3. The Council will hold another public hearing on tax rates at 9 a.m. May 27 in the eighth floor Council Chambers of the Kalana O Maui Building. Maui Now.

For Immigrants After Lahaina Wildfire, Survival Is A ‘Daily Challenge’. A new survey shows that many immigrants are struggling with housing, jobs and stress after the 2023 fire. Civil Beat.

This Molokaʻi dental provider's waitlist is 1 year long. Expanded services are coming soon. If you live on Molokaʻi and need to see a dentist, you may have to wait as long as one year. The Molokaʻi Community Health Center is one of just two dental providers on the island, and right now, its wait list is 10 pages long. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hoʻoikaika Partnership awarded $100,000 grant. Hoʻoikaika Partnership, a coalition of more than 75 organizations working to prevent child maltreatment and strengthen families across Maui County, has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the Maui Strong Fund of the Hawai’i Community Foundation. Maui News.

Kauai

Carvalho announces mayoral candidacy. Bernard Carvalho Jr. is a council member who served as Kauai’s mayor from 2008 through 2018. Garden Island.

More than 160 walk through rain at Kauai Community College graduation. More than 160 Kauai Community College students braved the Friday afternoon showers to participate in the 60th Annual Kauai Community College Commencement held on the Puhi campus. Garden Island.

Līhu‘e transfer station again taking trailer loads and construction, demolition waste. Kaua‘i County Public Works Solid Waste Division announced Friday that waste disposal restrictions on construction and demolition debris as well as trailer loads — which have been in effect since September 2024 — are lifted effective immediately at the Līhu‘e transfer station. Kauai Now.

Army's last remaining live-fire training in jeopardy at Pohakuloa, 1-4 hurricanes predicted this season, Honolulu to allow private sponsorship of public facilities, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Is The Military In For A Wake-Up Call As Hawaiʻi Leases Near End? The state’s rejection of the U.S. Army’s environmental assessment of impacts of its training may foreshadow the future, one some Native Hawaiians say won’t be smooth sailing.  Civil Beat.

Gov. Green on balancing national security and the environment in military land leases.  The Army says Pōhakuloa is the only remaining place where it conducts live-fire training for its troops and for the state’s first responders. But the community has resisted, with some arguing the leases should not be renewed. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii troops forge alliances in Philippines. The 40th iteration of the Exercise Balikatan — Tagalog for “shoulder to shoulder” — brought in service members from the U.S. as well as troops from Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom, France and Canada. Among them were troops from Hawaii-based units. Star-Advertiser.

Forecasters predict 1 to 4 hurricanes this season. With hurricane season beginning June 1, Hawaii officials are urging residents to prepare now as forecasters predict near- to below- normal tropical cyclone activity in the Central Pacific this year. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald.  Big Island Video News.  Big Island Now.  Maui News.  Hawaii News Now.

See Which Hawaiʻi Agencies Have Been Hit Hardest By Trump Funding Cuts. The total amount of confirmed federal funding cuts to Hawaiʻi state and county programs as of Thursday stands at nearly $95 million, according to figures compiled by Civil Beat. The full extent of the cuts won’t be clear for several more weeks or longer as official termination letters must be issued and legal challenges resolved. Civil Beat.

For the first time in seven years, tuition is increasing across the University of Hawaii system beginning this fall. The 2% increase was approved by the UH Board of Regents in 2023 as part of a four-year tuition schedule. KHON2.

UH risks losing $78 million in federal research funds due to cuts. In a report to the Board of Regents on Thursday, UH President Wendy Hensel said the university expects to lose more than $78 million in federal research funding due to recent grant cancellations and suspensions. KHON2.

Hawaiʻi Electricity Shut-Offs Are Nearly Triple Pre-Pandemic Levels. Expiring post-Covid payment plans, state’s cost of living blamed for spike in residential disconnections. Civil Beat.

Tourism agency brings back passenger counts after data blip. The state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism has restored passenger counts from international and domestic travelers, correcting at least part of the blip in data caused by the pilot program for a digitized agriculture disclosure form. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu Council OKs sponsorship of public facilities. Legislation to allow private sponsorship of city parks and other public facilities in order to garner more revenue for the city was unanimously adopted Wednesday by the Honolulu City Council. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu City Council approves property tax-fueled fund for climate projects. The measure would deposit 1.5% of property tax revenue into a fund dedicated to climate resiliency. That’s about $8.6 million a year. Hawaii Public Radio.

Navy to remove USS Arizona mooring platforms after 80 years. The U.S. Navy will be placing buoys and anchors in Pearl Harbor waters next week to prepare for the removal of decades-old mooring platforms on the USS Arizona. Hawaii News Now.

Manoa Falls Trail closed due to fallen tree limb, bamboo. Manoa Falls Trail was closed Thursday after a large tree limb fell, bringing down a large swath of bamboo with it. Three people sustained minor injuries. Hawaii News Now.

HPD seizes cash, gambling machines in Kalihi. When police raided the operation and how many devices and cash was confiscated during the operation was not immediately made public. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Kona property housing migrants under investigation for code violations. A Kona property where dozens of migrants were reportedly living in poor conditions is now under scrutiny by Hawaii County building enforcement officials. KHON2.

Admission fees back on the table for Pana‘ewa Rainforest Zoo & Gardens. Admission fees at Pana‘ewa Rainforest Zoo & Gardens are back on the table as Hawaiʻi County is moving forward with revised proposed rule changes for the Pana‘ewa Recreational Complex. Big Island Now.

Maui

Maui County taxpayers encouraged to weigh in on budget proposal. Despite a whopping $1.5 billion proposed budget for fiscal year 2026, Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen proposed tax cuts for owner-occupied homes. Hawaii News Now.

Arts program for Maui fire survivors loses White House funding. The Archive for Health, Arts, and Spirit has been able to provide an arts for healing program to residents with a $100,000 grant from the White House Initiative on Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Property owner troubled by ICE raid that turned up ‘nothing’.  The property owner is criticizing the manner in which armed Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents rousted her and her family, along with other occupants including Philippine teachers with visas, at a multi-family dwelling in Kahului. Maui News.

DOH issues red placard to Maui L&L on Dairy Road for a cockroach infestation. The Hawaiʻi Department of Health, Maui Food Safety Branch issued a red “closed” placard and immediately closed a Maui location of L&L Hawaiian Barbecue owned and operated by Maui L & L Food Inc. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kaua‘i councilman announces run for mayor. Bernard Carvalho Jr. announced his candidacy on Wednesday at the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall in Līhu‘e. While he currently serves as a council member, Carvalho previously served as mayor from 2000-2018.  Kauai Now.

Kaua‘i Bus launches new tap-and-ride system. The Kaua‘i Bus has a new account-based ticketing system powered by Masabi’s Justride open platform. Kauai Now.

Dorcey and Smith are ‘Outstanding’.  Ten Kauai older adults who were nominated by the public were honored and recognized for their service. Garden Island.