State House leadership hangs in balance as Saiki faces primary battle, Dems rally around Harris, OHA says state has no say in ethics violations, Maui fire victims sue as settlement misses Friday deadline, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

What Happens If Scott Saiki Loses The Primary? More than any other local contest this season, that primary race for the urban District 25 House seat that includes Ala Moana, Kakaako and downtown has the potential to redistribute political power in Hawaii and redirect the Legislature. Civil Beat.

Historic moment might energize Hawaii voters in local elections. Most Hawaii political leaders welcomed President Joe Biden’s decision to drop out of the 2024 presidential race and swiftly expressed support for his replacement pick of Vice President Kamala Harris, but it’s still unclear whether these historic events will energize Hawaii voters enough to affect local elections. Star-Advertiser.

Top Hawaii Democrats Praise Biden’s Decision To Drop Out Of Race. Major leaders in the Democratic Party of Hawaii on Sunday hailed President Joe Biden’s decision to exit the 2024 election, and three members of the state’s congressional delegation are already throwing their support behind Vice President Kamala Harris. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.  Big Island Video News. Maui Now.  KITV4.

Most delegates pledged to Biden’s pick as replacement choice looms. Dozens of delegates representing Hawaii are heading to Chicago next month for the DNC.  According to party rules, right now the pick is Kamala Harris, with committed votes signed sealed and as good as delivered from state-by-state caucuses and primaries earlier this year that pledged to a Biden-Harris ticket. KHON2.

Court Ruling Could Have Major Impact On State Oversight Of The Office Of Hawaiian Affairs. Lawyers for OHA say the state does not have the authority to fine trustees for ethics violations. The Attorney General’s Office disagrees.  Civil Beat.

Hawaii Gave Up Funding For Marine Mammal Protection Because Of Cumbersome Paperwork. Dropping out of the federal program has not hampered efforts to protect the islands' marine species, including monk seals, state and federal agents say. Civil Beat.

National Nonprofit Is Spending Millions To Support Hawaii’s Effort To Jail Fewer Teens. Teens need mental health services and mentorship instead of imprisonment, advocates say — strategies that a $20 million grant is bolstering in the state.  Civil Beat.

Oahu

Red Hill community group is told it won’t be disbanded. The Red Hill Community Representation Initiative received an email Friday from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency confirming that the organization will not be disbanded, despite being notified in June about its potential dissolution in response to Navy complaints. Star-Advertiser.

Trio vies for Council District 5 seat. In the Aug. 10 primary election, William “Bill” Muneno, Brendan Schultz and Scott Y. Nishimoto will respectively face off to fill the Council District 5 seat, which spans St. Louis Heights, Manoa, Moiliili, McCully, Ala Moana, Makiki and portions of Kakaako, after current Council member Calvin Say recently declared he will not run for reelection due to ongoing health concerns. Star-Advertiser.

Kia‘aina faces contenders for Windward Council seat. Since 2021, Esther Kia‘aina has represented Council District 3, which includes Ahuimanu, Heeia, Haiku, Kaneohe, Maunawili, Kailua, Olomana, Enchanted Lake and Waimanalo. Star-Advertiser.

Residents Say Indefinite Closure Of Park Leading To Haiku Stairs Is Unfair. The controversy over the Haiku Stairs hiking trail has spilled over to the other side of the Koolau Range, where Moanalua residents are asking why their entire neighborhood park has to be closed just to block access to a trail that leads to the same summit. Civil Beat.

New development projects for Kalaeloa in West Oʻahu. On Oʻahu, more than 500 acres of Kalaeloa Town are currently under redevelopment. There are nearly 4,000 acres of land that the Navy once used as Naval Air Station Berbers Point.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Is Growing Your Own Food Considered Agriculture? Hawaii County Says No. Subsistence farmers on the Big Island say recent changes to county agricultural laws threaten their ability to keep farming. Civil Beat. Tribune-Herald.

Final draft of Hawai’i County General Plan 2045 to be released by end of July. The general plan will serve as a 25-year blueprint for the long-term growth and sustainable development of Hawaiʻi Island. The document establishes the vision, policies, and actions necessary to enhance the overall quality of life for residents. Big Island Now.

Ed Olson dies at 93. Edmund “Ed” Olson, Big Island businessman and philanthropist, died Monday afternoon at Hilo Benioff Medical Center. The Edmund C. Olson Trust II owns more than 15,000 acres of land, most of which is dedicated to sustainable agriculture, with some also set aside for conservation. Tribune-Herald.

 New Online Map Tracks Hawaiʻi Island Affordable Housing Projects. Studies show Hawaiʻi County needs to add 10,796 affordable housing units by 2025 to meet the community’s needs. Big Island Video News.
Maui

Maui Fire Victims Sue Insurers To Make Sure They Get Fully Paid In Any Settlement. The lawsuit comes after parties failed to meet a Friday deadline for a mediated settlement. A group of Maui wildfire victims has sued several of Hawaii’s largest insurance carriers, alleging the insurers are wrongly seeking compensation from a limited litigation settlement fund before the fire victims are fully compensated for their damages. Civil Beat.

Maui County says second West Maui TDS report shows compliance with environmental regulations. The West Maui Temporary Debris Storage site environmental monitoring quarterly report for the second 90-day operational period shows the findings from sampling and monitoring comply with county, state and federal environmental regulations, the county said in a press release Friday. Maui News.

Costly road damage from fire cleanup leaves Kula residents searching for answers. Huge potholes. Torn-up concrete. Hardly any road left. That’s how some Kula residents described their roads after the fire debris cleanup process wrapped up. Hawaii Public Radio.

EPA: Maui County Must Pay $193K Fine And Shut Down 7 Illegal Cesspools. The cesspools, which hold untreated human waste, are on a parcel of land that includes the Hana police station, the Hana Motor Vehicle and Licensing office and the Public Works vehicle maintenance shop, according to the 30-page settlement. They are also located at the Makawao Baseyard, Maui Veterans Cemetery and the Molokai Veterans Cemetery. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Koke‘e brush fire scorches 1,600 acres; remains 85% contained. The Koke‘e fire remains at 85% contained as of Sunday evening, following efforts to address numerous hot spots throughout the day. Fire officials estimate approximately 1,600 acres have been burned since Thursday. Kauai Now. KITV4.

County mayor announces goal to eliminate traffic fatalities on Kaua‘i by 2040. A Vision Zero advisory group will be formed to advise the Mayor’s Office and County Council on safe transportation laws and policies. Kaua‘i County will also continue investing in programs that make roadways safer for pedestrians, bicyclists and more. Kauai Now.

EPA probe faults Navy on Red Hill, Kauai kids confront VP Harris on fuel leaks, sweepstakes machine distributor sues Honolulu police for gambling raid, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Navy water operators unprepared despite fuel leak risks, EPA reports. The Navy potentially violated numerous state and federal laws relating to safe drinking water in its operation and maintenance of its Joint Base Pearl Harbor- Hickam public water system, an investigation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

State Rep. Patrick Branco’s future uncertain following congressional loss. State Rep. Patrick Branco is supporting former rival state Sen. Jill Tokuda in her congressional campaign and serves as an unpaid volunteer in Lt. Gov. Josh Green’s run to become Hawaii’s next governor as Branco’s own political future is now uncertain after election commercials on his behalf linked Tokuda to the National Rifle Association while showing images of the Uvalde, Texas, school massacre. Star-Advertiser.

Schools Add Emotional Development To The Curriculum. Hawaii educators hope new initiatives and programs will help students recover from social and academic setbacks during the pandemic. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kaiser’s mental health shortage puts patient safety at risk, national agency finds. Kaiser hasn’t denied it has a shortage of mental health specialists, but has stressed that those shortages exist nationwide and were exacerbated by the pandemic. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Distributor sues HPD over damage to dozens of sweepstakes machines. After a bitter, decade-long legal and political battle, the Hawaii distributor of sweepstakes gaming machines is suing the HPD for damaging his equipment. The lawsuit alleges that when Honolulu police seized PJY Enteprises LLC’s 77 sweepstakes machines in 2012, the machines were new and in working condition. Hawaii News Now.

Feds add more spy allegations against Kapolei couple. After backing off on some spy allegations against a Kapolei couple, federal prosecutors are stepping it up by releasing transcripts of the couple’s recorded conversations. KHON2. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Council to consider settling police brutality lawsuit: Puna mother claims excessive force, ADA violations against autistic son. A federal lawsuit claiming police brutality and failure to accommodate under the Americans with Disabilities Act appears headed for settlement by the County Council. West Hawaii Today.

Kehena victim was musician, artist, ‘peacemaker’. “He was the quintessential Puerto Rican renaissance man.” That’s how Bub Pratt, entertainer and owner of Kukuau Studio in Hilo, described Gabriel DeSilva, a 72-year-old Pahoa man police said was the victim of a possible drowning Sunday morning at Kehena Beach in Puna. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiʻi County Police K9, Rory, Retires. The springer spaniel has worked as a narcotics canine for the Area II (west Hawai‘i) Vice Section since 2015. Big Island Video News. Tribune-Herald. KITV4.

Maui

Wastewater Company At Center Of Bribery Scandal Won Big Maui Contracts. H2O Process Systems was awarded millions of dollars in sole source contracts for upgrades and replacement parts for Maui County’s wastewater system. Civil Beat.

Resident input sought for planning of 3.6 miles of Honoapiʻilani, Lahaina to Kāʻanapali. The County of Maui has launched the West Maui Community Corridor Transit-Oriented Development Action Plan to advance strategies for a transit-oriented community in West Maui. Maui Now.

Open house planned for release of draft South Maui Community Plan Update. The Maui County Planning Department will host an open house for the release of the first draft of the updated South Maui Community Plan on from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23, at the Kīhei Community Center. Maui Now.

Thousands on Maui without power early Tuesday morning. According to Hawaiian Electric, crews are currently working to restore power to parts of South Maui, West Maui, Kahului, Wailuku, Waihee and Waiehu, Upcountry and East Maui. KITV4. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Kauai 8th graders confront Vice President Kamala Harris over Red Hill. Throughout Vice President Kamala Harris' vacation on the Garden Isle, groups like the Oahu Water Protectors have held up signs near her Kalihiwai Ridge vacation home, urging more action on the Red Hill water crisis. KITV4.

Jason Momoa TV series seeks Kaua‘i talent. A project spearheaded by actor Jason Momoa is filming on Kaua‘i this fall — and they need local talent. Garden Island.

Fall semester kicks off at Kaua‘i Community College. All Kaua‘i Community College students are welcomed to “E Komo Mai,” presented by the Associated Students of the University of Hawai‘i-Kaua‘i Community College, Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., in the area fronting the campus Learning Center. Garden Island.

Recounts triggered in some races, GOP participation rises, DOT workers arrested at Honolulu airport, VP Kamala Harris vacations on Kauai,more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Nail-biter races in Hawaii primary election trigger recounts. Results from five contests for seats in the state Legis­lature and one for Kauai County Council qualified for the mandatory double- checking by the state Office of Elections because the difference in votes received by competing candidates was fewer than 100 or within 0.25% of votes cast. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

More than 1 in 5 voted Republican in the primary election. The Hawaiʻi Republican Party reports that GOP turnout for this primary gained traction this year. Hawaiʻi Republican Party Chair Lynn Finnegan said Republicans won over 20% of the total vote. Finnegan said this is the highest percentage of total votes since Republican candidate Linda Lingle was elected. Hawaii Public Radio.

Voter turnout in Hawaii’s primary was about 40%. Fewer than half of registered voters in Hawaii turned out to vote, whether by mail, drop box or in person, during Saturday’s primary election, according to data from the state Office of Elections. Star-Advertiser.

More election money may be driving voters away. Candidates for all state and county offices in the 2022 election cycle raised nearly $15 million by the primary, plus took loans of nearly $3.3 million — and spent almost $17 million so far, according to data tracked by the Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission. KHON2.

Hawaii auto sales skidded during first half of year. Statewide registrations for cars fell 18.9% during the first six months while registrations for light trucks, which include vans, SUVs and pickups, decreased 6.4%. Star-Advertiser.

2021 edition of state data book released. The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism released the 2021 edition of the “State of Hawai‘i Data Book,” described as the single most comprehensive compilation of statistical information about Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Theft And Fraud Investigations Shake Up Honolulu Airport. Several Hawaii Department of Transportation employees have been arrested and some have left their jobs in the last 16 months as the Attorney General’s office investigates theft and procurement fraud at the Daniel K. Inouye Airport.  Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

Waikiki residents urge city to fill beach pavilion to increase safety. The city said it is in talks to fill Kuhio Beach Pavilion No. 4 within the next couple of months with a goal of enlivening the space as a tool to increase safety and enjoyment in Waikiki. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu federal housing waitlist opens for low-income applicants. Beginning Monday, Aug. 22, qualified applicants can only apply through an online portal; no applications will be available at the Housing Authority office. The first 1,000 applicants will be accepted.  KITV4.

The Miske Case Has Become One Of The Most Complex Prosecutions In The Country. Defense attorneys are preparing a major attack against a prosecution case that has amassed more than 2 million documents. Civil Beat.

Free bus fare week to alleviate back-to-school jam. Starting today until Aug. 26, residents can get free HOLO cards to ride TheBus free from Monday to Aug. 26, when many universities, community colleges and private schools resume. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

In reversal, state says military training at Big Island range not compatible with conservation land. The Army wants to retain up to 23,000 acres of state land at the Pohakuloa Training Area for continued training and asked for comments on a draft environment impact statement. Hawaii News Now.

Utility seeks extension of water rights. Despite opposition from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Hawaiian Electric has an opportunity to extend its rights to keep generating power on Wailuku River. Tribune-Herald.

Stephen Pause Named Hawaiʻi County Public Works Director. Stephen Pause has been serving as the Acting Director for DPW over the past two months, following the departure of previous director Ikaika Rodenhurst. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

Trying to spark interest: Cost of Government Commission finding departmental feedback a challenge. With just three months before they’re required by the county charter to present a report to the County Council and mayor, some members of the Cost of Government Commission reported Thursday they’re having a hard time drumming up interest from some county departments and boards and commissions. West Hawaii Today.

2022: A deadly year on Big Island roads, so far. As of Monday, there were 25 official traffic fatalities for the year, one fewer than for last year’s 26. And if fatalities on the Big Island’s roads continue at their current rate, there would be 40 for the year, two more than the 38 traffic deaths recorded in 2012, the deadliest year in recent memory. Tribune-Herald.

Mysterious wildcat sighting reported in Hawaii. A report of a large wildcat has some Hawaii Island residents on edge. What appears to be something the size of a large dog was reported by a Big Island man on the rural slopes of Hualalai above Kailua-Kona. KHON2.

Maui

Officials to change protocols after long lines, headaches at Maui’s only voter service center. Voters received their ballots by mail three weeks ago — and Maui election officials admit they were not ready for the crowd. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Overnight vote counts bring surprises on day after primary election. The last batch of ballots brought in late Saturday night made a big difference in some state and county races, with candidates who appeared poised for defeat leapfrogging back into contention. Maui News.

Surfrider Foundation records high bacteria levels at Kahului, Haneoʻo, Maliko, Baby Beach. This is the second month in a row that Kahului Harbor had high levels of Enterococcus bacteria, with results showing a count of 2400 MPN/100mL. It was the third month in a row for high levels at Haneoʻo, which had 454 MPN/100mL, down from the month before when rates were 1152 MPN/100mL. Baby Beach recorded a rate of 175 MPN/100mL, marking the first time this year that the location had high bacteria levels in the monthly report. Maui Now.

Kauai

Vice President Kamala Harris vacations on Kauai in unannounced visit. Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff arrived in Lihue this afternoon for an extended vacation on Kauai. Star-Advertiser. Garden Island.

Kaua‘i seeking grant proposals. The intent of the program is to support projects and activities meeting a distinctive cultural, social or economic need for which adequate federal or state funding cannot be secured. Garden Island. KHON2.

Native Hawaiians wary of pandemic surge, feds OK CARES money for Honolulu robotic dogs, shift of legislative seats unlikely as Reapportionment Commission beings work, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiians kayaking ©2021 All Hawaii News

Native Hawaiian leaders urge the lahui to help stop COVID-19 surge. Dr. Gerard Akaka joined more than 20 Native Hawaiian leaders — kumu hula, educators, health care professionals, public officials and politicians — at a news conference Thursday at the state Capitol to urge their lahui (nation) to help stop the surge of COVID-19 cases by wearing masks, maintaining physical distancing and getting vaccinated. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald. Garden Island. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Afghanistan bombings weigh on Vice President Kamala Harris’ stop in Hawaii. Air Force Two touched down at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport at 2:40 p.m. Thursday and taxied up to the historic operations building at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam just before 3 p.m. after Harris visited Singapore and Vietnam. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

More Hawaii residents are leaving the islands for the mainland, and experts predict the situation will only worsen as a result of COVID-19′s economic fallout. The U.S. Census Bureau says more than 8,600 people left the islands last year alone. Hawaii News Now.

State set to roll out vaccine passport for gyms, bars, and other businesses. The state is poised to roll out a COVID vaccine passport to get into gyms, bars, and restaurants. The governor says he hopes to have it up and running by Labor Day. KHON2.

Governor says ‘extreme measures’ possible if COVID surge worsens. As hospitalizations mount, mayors and the governor are eyeing the possibility of more restrictions. Hawaii News Now.

Green warns ‘life-preserving restrictions’ looming. With no signs of Hawaii’s COVID surge slowing, Lt. Gov. Josh Green said Thursday he plans to call for “life-preserving restrictions” if the number of people hospitalized with COVID reaches 500. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii sees spike in pediatric COVID cases, increase in infant hospitalizations. Doctors said they are seeing an increase of young children testing positive for COVID and some of those cases are ending up in the hospital. KHON2.

Hawaii sees 831 new coronavirus cases, bringing statewide total to 58,578. The new confirmed and probable infection count by island includes 511 new cases on Oahu, 102 on Maui, 176 on Hawaii Island, 32 on Kauai, two on Molokai, one on Lanai and seven Hawaii residents diagnosed outside the state. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

City narrows down new landfill sites to 4 locations. The city has narrowed down the list to four locations from 12. Two of the remaining sites are near the North Shore, one is between Makakilo and Waipahu and one is near Wheeler Army Airfield. Star-Advertiser.

HPD’s Use Of CARES Act Money On Robot Dog, ATVs And Overtime Was Legit, Feds Say. The city submitted documentation stating every purchase was necessary because of the coronavirus pandemic. Civil Beat.

Empty-home tax gains momentum on Oahu amid affordable housing shortage. Empty homes and condos blanket the island while locals struggle to keep up with Honolulu’s cost of living; nearly 40,000 units are vacant at any given time, according to a UCLA study the City commissioned in 2020. KHON2.

Honolulu City Council Nixes Plan To Build Affordable Housing On Kahuku Farmland. The unanimous decision came after the Department of Planning and Permitting recommended against the project amid community opposition. Civil Beat.

Waianae Coast public schools get state office support. With the Waianae Coast surging with COVID-19 infections, some of its public schools are experiencing staff shortages so great that Department of Education staffers from state offices were brought in to help. Star-Advertiser.

Navy detonates unexploded ordnance at Kaneohe Bay. U.S. Navy experts detonated one unexploded ordnance underwater at Kaneohe Bay this morning, and disposed of the other one, which is unarmed, at another site. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

The Miske Case: Death Penalty Is Off The Table. Mike Miske, the former Honolulu business owner who is awaiting trial on federal charges stemming from his alleged control of a violent racketeering organization in Honolulu over two decades, will not face a possible death sentence if convicted. Civil Beat.

Mayor offers condolences to family of city employee who died of COVID. The city has confirmed one of its employees has died of COVID-19. Information on the person’s age, gender and job title was not released. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

8th House seat unlikely. Recently released census data does not support an eighth seat in the state House for Hawaii Island, the state Reapportionment Commission was told Thursday. West Hawaii Today.

Supreme Court to decide whether police chiefs broke law during TMT protests. The ability of county police departments to rapidly deploy resources to other counties in the state is in the hands of the Hawaii Supreme Court, which on Thursday heard oral arguments in a case challenging the presence of Honolulu and Maui police officers on Mauna Kea during telescope protests in 2019. Tribune-Herald. Civil Beat.

Eruption watch canceled for Kilauea Volcano. The U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory announced Thursday morning that earthquake activity and ground deformation beneath the southern part of Kilauea’s summit have subsided over 24 hours, which led HVO to lower an alert level that it raised Tuesday following a swarm of earthquakes. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. Maui Now.

Keauhou Resort Now Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa. The Outrigger Hospitality Group takes over the former Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Sen. Roz Baker calls on state to fire Maui district health officer for promoting dangerous COVID-19 treatments. A growing number of leaders in the Legislature are calling on the state to fire Dr. Lorrin Pang, the Maui district health officer for the state Department of Health. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio. Maui Now. KITV4.

New police chief expected to be picked in October. The Maui Police Commission expects to deliberate on and select a new police chief in October, following a written examination and interviews of five finalists for the job. Maui News.

EPA Appoints Maui County Councilmember King to Local Government Advisory Committee. US Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael S. Regan has appointed Councilmember Kelly Takaya King to the EPA’s Local Government Advisory Committee. She is the only person chosen from Hawaiʻi for the 39-member committee. Maui Now.

Think Tank Report: Kahului Airport Could Generate $935 Million with Private Lease. A new report by Reason Foundation, a nonprofit think tank dedicated to free markets, found Hawaiʻi’s two largest airports could be worth up to $3.6 billion combined via a long-term lease to private airport companies and investors. Maui Now.

Kauai

No new COVID rules yet. In a public-service announcement Thursday, Mayor Derek Kawakami, alongside health-care providers and community leaders, called on residents to reduce travel and gatherings in the face of the most-recent spike in COVID cases, to avoid a more-severe shutdown. Garden Island.

Proposed KPD facility draws mixed response. A handful of residents voiced opposition to the Kaua‘i Police Department’s proposed Kawaihau substation during an informational meeting held online Wednesday. Garden Island.

Vice President Harris to visit Honolulu, Maui mayor calls for voluntary pause in non-essential activity, Kilauea volcano threat level raised, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kamala Harris PC: Twitter

Vice President Kamala Harris to join husband in Honolulu after official trips in Asia. Vice President Kamala Harris will reunite in Hawaii with second gentleman Doug Emhoff on Thursday following separate trips overseas for official White House functions. The couple will stop in Honolulu en route to Washington, D.C. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Guard troops to stay on state COVID-19 duty through December. A federal extension has been granted through December for Hawaii National Guard COVID-19 assistance around the state with the explosion of delta variant cases. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Has A Shortage Of School Bus Drivers, Leaving Some Students Stranded. The shortage follows a warning by a DOE official shortly before the school year began that there was an “alarming influx in driver resignations.” Civil Beat.

Medical experts say COVID’s spread among Hawaii’s kids likely ‘understated’. As of last week, the state Department of Education reported 430 cases over two weeks in schools across the state but said there was no spread within the schools. Dr. Scott Miscovich, who has helped lead Hawaii’s testing effort, doubts that. Hawaii News Now.

State broadband program can accept more households. The Hawai‘i Broadband & Digital Equity Office is encouraging all qualified families and individuals to apply for the program, which provides monthly discounts of up to $50 towards broadband service, or up to $75 for households on state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands parcels. Garden Island.

UH pandemic modelers: Oahu, Big Island in ‘eye’ of COVID hurricane and Maui isn’t far behind. The Hawaii Pandemic Applied Modeling Work Group says there are no signs that the alarming increases in COVID cases and hospitalizations on Oahu and Hawaii County are slowing down. Hawaii News Now.

Physician recommends flu shot as COVID-19 stresses hospitals. Flu season starts on Oct. 9 this year, but doctors say you should get your flu shot as early as possible. That’s around the time many may be getting COVID-19 booster shots. KHON2.

Aug. 24, 2021 COVID-19 Update: 565 New Cases in Hawai‘i. The confirmed cases included: 308 on O‘ahu (+62 probable); 97 on Hawai‘i Island (+3 probable); 65 on Maui (+5 probable); 17 on Kaua‘i; and eight in Hawai‘i residents diagnosed while out of state. Maui Now.

Oahu

City considering a plan to better manage short-term vacation rentals. The Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting is proposing a measure to cut down the number of short-term vacation rentals on Oahu and boost the number of housing units available to residents. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu pilot program to cite red light runners set to start. By the end of the year, 10 Honolulu Intersections could have a camera installed to track and ticket drivers for running red lights. KITV4.

Officials: Plans in place to deploy COVID field hospitals on Oahu if they’re needed. As Hawaii’s COVID crisis worsens, emergency rooms are crowded with a mix of coronavirus patients alongside people with other ailments and injuries. Hawaii News Now.

Cockfights And Corruption: How Police Arbitration Kept This Cop On The Job. In Hawaii, arbitrators look to previous decisions in order to be fair, no matter how serious the misconduct or whether it’s even similar. Civil Beat.

KCC Farmers’ Market closes temporarily. The Kapiolani Community College has temporarily closed its popular farmers market out of an abundance of caution. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Investigation Uncovers Numerous ADA Violations In Hawaii Island’s Transit Service. The county agrees to fix “chronically inoperable” wheelchair lifts and make other changes to avoid getting sued. Civil Beat. West Hawaii Today.

Police survey: High marks, but room for improvement. The results of a Hawaii Police Department community survey conducted in April were released to the public Tuesday, with the majority of respondents finding Hawaii Island is a safe place to live and work. Tribune-Herald.

Kilauea volcano alert raised following earthquake swarms. Scientists are on alert for a possible eruption of Kilauea within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park following a flurry of earthquakes around the volcano’s summit. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now. Big Island Video News. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Maui

Maui Mayor Asks for Voluntary 21 Day Rest from Non-Essential Activity. It’s part of a list of recommendations and requests made by the mayor as he seeks approval of amendments to the County’s Health Emergency Rules. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

A top state health official and a doctor on Maui are promoting controversial COVID-19 treatments. Dr. Lorrin Pang, who has served for more than two decades as the Maui district health officer for the state Department of Health, is co-founder of the Pono Coalition for Informed Consent. Star-Advertiser.

Georgia man cited for holding sea turtle by shell at Maui beach. A 60-year-old Georgia man visiting Maui may be facing federal charges for picking up a sea turtle by its shell and lifting it out of the water at a beach in Kaanapali. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Now. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

WKEP finds no long-term damage in draft environmental assessment. A draft environmental assessment for the West Kaua‘i Energy Project expects no long-term adverse impacts would result from the proposed construction. Garden Island.

Kaua‘i fastest-growing county in state. In a download of U.S. Census Bureau new data released earlier this month, it was revealed Kaua‘i is the fastest-growing county in Hawai‘i at about 9.2%, which is slightly below what county planners had predicted. Garden Island.