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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Oahu

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

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

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

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

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

Hawaii Island

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

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

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

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

Maui

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

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

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

Kauai

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

Luke drops reelection bid, Native Hawaiian health, homelands programs under attack, chief justice nominee Devens' campaign fundraising ties questioned, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke quits reelection campaign amid controversy. Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke announced Sunday that she will not seek a second term in the Aug. 8 Democratic Party primary after being under a cloud of suspicion for months that she is the subject of a state Attorney General investigation into allegations of a powerful lawmaker accepting an illegal campaign donation. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Hawaii Public Radio.  Big Island Now.  Hawaii News Now. KHON2.  KITV4. 

Justice’s Past Political Activity Is Raising Fresh Questions For Some Senators. The nomination of Vladimir Devens to be Hawaiʻi’s next Supreme Court chief justice is scheduled for a hearing this week amid new concerns over his past leadership of a political action committee that spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to elect Gov. Josh Green. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi PUC Chair Appointment Advances In Senate. Governor Green’s appointment of Jon S. Itomura to serve as Chair of the Hawaiʻi Public Utilities Commission has passed committee. Big Island Video News.

Ag department criticized over policy to import goods with 'light' pest infestations. Lawmakers are questioning whether the state Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity should still lead Hawaiʻi’s efforts to manage invasive species. Hawaii Public Radio.

Bills on ICE rules, tax relief advance as Hawaii legislative session nears end. State legislators continue to move bills toward the end of session that would further tighten election and campaign laws, impose new rules for film tax credits, limit local law enforcement involvement with federal agents and roll back some promised Hawaii income tax breaks scheduled through 2031. Star-Advertiser.

Bill to ban disposable e-cigs gains ground. Senate Bill 2175 introduced by state Sen. Tim Richards (D-Kohala), would prohibit the sale or distribution of disposable electronic smoking devices in Hawaii, starting Jan. 1, due to the environmental problems they cause. Star-Advertiser.

Federal lawsuit challenges Native Hawaiian health scholarship program. A mainland advocacy group, led by former University of Pennsylvania’s medical school dean and retired kidney doctor Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, has filed a federal lawsuit challenging a decades-old scholarship program aimed at addressing health disparities among Native Hawaiians, marking the latest legal battle over programs that consider ancestry in eligibility. Star-Advertiser.

Trump proposes cut to Hawaiian Home Lands funding. Indigenous status of Native Hawaiians downplayed in bid to cut federal funds. In his proposed budget for the federal fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, Trump suggests that Native Hawaiians shouldn’t receive funding under the 1996 Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act, or NAHASDA, because Hawaiians are a racial group and not a tribal nation. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. 

Cesspools increase contamination risks for areas hit hard by Kona lows. The Department of Health has identified 43,000 of 88,000 cesspools as posing a risk to water resources, with a total of 53 million gallons of raw sewage released each day.  Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Locked Up Too Long? Legal Tactic Challenges Hawaiʻi ICE Detentions. Big jump in “habeas corpus” petitions in Honolulu mirrors nationwide trend, a reflection of climbing ICE activity under the Trump administration. Civil Beat.

Archery range project proposed for Kaimuki park put on hold. A privately proposed $850,000 Japanese archery range and training facility at the city-owned Mau‘umae Nature Park in Kaimuki has been put on hold as city officials revisit the controversial plan following strong community feedback. Star-Advertiser.

Tangled utility lines complicate Aloha Stadium project. Developers have started demolishing parts of Aloha Stadium to make way for a new $650 million development. But now they must tackle the challenge of relocating utilities.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Waialua residents urged to boil water after E. coli discovered in source wells. The Hawaii Department of Health is warning customers of the Waialua Sugar Pump 2 water system to boil water before drinking or using it after E. coli bacteria was confirmed in the system. Star-Advertiser.

Confusing Donation Drops Run By For-Profits Targeted By Hawaiʻi Lawmakers. Drop off some old clothing, furniture or appliances at the big GreenDrop trailer at Mānoa Marketplace, and you might think you’re donating to the American Red Cross. In truth, the donation mainly supports Savers Value Village Inc., a for-profit international retailer that posted $1.7 billion in net sales in 2025. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii County STVRs measure advances. A Hawaii County Council committee voted unanimously April 7 to forward a controversial vacation rental bill to the county’s planning director and two planning commissions. Tribune-Herald.

‘Renovation Aloha’ Sued For Filming Native Hawaiian Bones. HGTV is releasing a re-edited version of the episode “Bones On The Big Island” after a Hawaiʻi judge ordered the original taken down. Civil Beat.

‘We’re trying to build a resilient, sustainable food system’: The Food Basket makes progress on new Hilo campus. The Food Basket is preparing to break ground on an $86 million Agricultural Innovation Park and Food Systems Campus — called Hoolako — on a 24.5-acre plot of old sugarcane land off of Ponahawai Street. Tribune-Herald.

Visitor from Kansas charged with attempted murder after snorkel tour incident. Police arrested and charged 21-year-old Avery Nissen of Overland Park, Kansas, with attempted murder following a stabbing incident Thursday aboard a boat off the Kona coast. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui AIDS Foundation At Risk Of Losing Money In Trump Budget. The president’s budget denounced the nonprofit as radical while proposing the funding cuts. Civil Beat.

Hāna farmers face years of recovery for crops lost in Kona storm. In the days after the storm, farmers woke up to another kind of nightmare — dozens of trees and plants uprooted and destroyed, undercutting their livelihood and leaving them with a long-term recovery. Maui Now.

Molokaʻi invasive species crew is 'all hands on deck' in CRB emergency response. Molokaʻi’s Lori Buchanan has been working to protect the island from invasive species for over three decades, and last week, one of her worst fears came true. The first two Coconut rhinoceros beetles were detected on Molokaʻi. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Pilot cites ‘vibration’ before fatal Kauai crash. The pilot of a tour helicopter that crashed off of Kauai’s Na Pali Coast killing three people on March 26 told federal investigators the aircraft experienced “high frequency vibration” and spun around twice before going down. Star-Advertiser. Kauai Now. 

Real estate conveyance taxes face stiff increase on high-end property, Green taps Devens for Supreme Court chief justice, Honolulu hotline opens to report ICE sightings, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Taxes paid on real estate sales in Hawaii could become a lot higher for multimillion-dollar properties to fund development of Hawaiian homesteads and housing infrastructure near transit hubs. Two competing bills pending at the state Legislature propose restructuring Hawaii’s conveyance tax, which gets applied when real estate, including homes, is sold. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio. 

Governor Nominates Former Labor Lawyer To Be Hawaiʻi’s Next Chief Justice. Vladimir Devens, a former police officer and labor lawyer, has served as an associate justice of the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court for the past two years. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Video News. KHON2. 

Hawaiʻi School Contract Failures Triggered Holdup Of $30M+ For Meals. Scrutiny of Hawaiʻi school contracting comes as lawmakers raise more questions about the costs of producing school lunches. Civil Beat.

Low-Income Hawaiʻi Patients And Their Doctors Face A Financial Cliff. A senior Hawaiʻi health care leader says issues with government reimbursements are leading to “a state of non-viability” for the state’s entire health care system. Civil Beat.

Ag stakeholders urge immediate assistance for farmers after Hawaiʻi floods. Agriculture advocates are warning state lawmakers that the recent Kona low storms have created a dire situation for local farmers, who need immediate assistance. Hawaii Public Radio. Big Island Now.

Incoming Hawaii storm could have ‘same type of impacts’ of flooding. The National Weather Service is watching a new system that could bring more rain to the Islands after devastating floods from back-to-back Kona Lows. Weather models are hinting at another chance for heavy rainfall and flooding next Wednesday and Thursday. KHON2. Hawaii News Now. 

Oahu

Honolulu City Council considers COVID-era hazard pay for bus workers.  More than 2,000 city bus drivers and mechanics would receive hazard pay for work during the COVID-19 pandemic under a proposal before the Honolulu City Council that would cost nearly $17 million. Star-Advertiser.

New hotline launched on Oʻahu to report ICE activity as arrests rise. A newly-formed coalition on Oʻahu is asking the public to help document immigration enforcement activity, launching a hotline to report sightings of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. KITV4. Hawaii News Now. 

Waialua District Park to serve as storm relief hub starting Friday. The City and County of Honolulu will consolidate all Kona-low storm assistance efforts to a single location at Waialua District Park starting Friday. Star-Advertiser.

DLNR: Avoid whale remnants between Nanakuli and Barbers Point. The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources announced last Friday that blubber, bones and other remnants were washing ashore between Nanakuli Beach Park and Barbers Point, which attracts predators such as tiger sharks. Star-Advertiser.

How a seabird native to Hawaii has adapted to life in Honolulu’s concrete jungle. New data shows the numbers of white terns have jumped more than 50% in the past decade — evidence the seabirds are thriving amid the concrete towers, traffic-clogged roads and Waikiki hotels in the state’s largest metropolis. Associated Press.

Charley Memminger, former Star-Bulletin reporter and humor columnist, dies at age 72. Humorist Charley Memminger, whose writing career spanned three decades as a columnist and reporter at the Honolulu Star- Bulletin, died Tuesday in Waipahu. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Mayor Alameda vetoes Bill 127. Mayor Kimo Alameda on Thursday vetoed Bill 127, which would have established a seven‑member Construction Code Commission. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now. 

Rural health clinic sought for Volcano; Senate resolution requests a feasibility study. The state Senate Health and Human Services Committee voted unanimously Monday to pass a resolution looking into siting a rural health clinic in the town of Volcano. Tribune-Herald.

Irene Midel was ‘beautiful inside and out’. “Aunty Irene” — one of Hilo’s most colorful and visible kupuna -- died at 97 on March 27. Short in stature but huge in aloha, Midel was a grande dame at the Merrie Monarch Festival hula competition and other cultural events. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui County directors of Human Concerns, Planning sworn in. After the appointments were confirmed recently by the Maui County Council, Margaret “Maggie” Willis was sworn in as County of Maui Director of Human Concerns and Jacky Takakura was sworn in as County Director of Planning on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. Maui Now.

Congresswoman Tokuda to host town halls in Lahaina and Molokaʻi. Congresswoman Jill Tokuda of Hawaiʻi will hold community town hall meetings in Lahaina and on Molokaʻi. Maui Now.

Maui Mental Health Providers Face Stress And Uncertainty About State Jobs. Staff at a state-run clinic serving wildfire survivors in Hawai‘i have waited months for permanent jobs. Instead, they got another temporary contract. Inside Climate News.

DHHL deploys drones to survey storm damage in Maui County. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands took to the air this past Friday, sending drones over the island of Molokaʻi, and now its drone survey of the most flood-impacted areas of Maui County is complete. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Kaua’i Helicopter Crash: Here’s What We Know One Week Later. Survivors may provide investigators with valuable details about the March accident. That hasn’t been the case in fatal crashes over the past decade. Civil Beat.

Preserving the unique ecosystem of Kaua‘i: Pacific Missile Range Facility, partners again relocate Laysan albatross. Wildlife biologists at Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands once again worked alongside community partners to promote the long-term protection of native Hawaiian Laysan albatross that find their way to the U.S. Navy facility and attempt to nest. Kauai Now.

Hawaii creates recreational fishing license, new ocean fee; Legislature sets session priorities, feral chickens targeted, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

New Fishing Rules Approved By Hawaiʻi Land Board. New recreational and commercial fishing rules have been approved by the Hawaiʻi Board of Land and Natural Resources, which include the establishment of a non-resident recreational fishing license and a license for commercial marine vessels. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.  KHON2.

New ocean stewardship fund established: $1 will be charged for each customer of commercial vessels, tours. A bill passed into law in 2021 establishing an ocean stewardship special fund became effective Jan. 1. All operators of commercial vessels, water craft, or water sports equipment that are required to have a commercial operator permit are now mandated to charge a $1 user fee from each customer for the fund. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii lawmakers eye help for Maui, housing and ethics ahead of 2024 session. The rebuilding of Lahaina from the tragic Maui wildfires and shortage of homes for thousands of survivors have put into sharper focus the need in Hawaii for affordable housing to help keep local residents from moving to the mainland — issues that will weigh heavily as state lawmakers convene Wednesday for the opening of the 2024 legislative session. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Associated Press.  Hawaii News Now.

Ginoza, Devens Sworn In As Hawaii Associate Justices. Lisa M. Ginoza and Vladimir P. Devens are officially associate justices of the Hawaii Supreme Court. Civil Beat. 

Ryan Kanaka‘ole Named Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources First Deputy. Governor Josh Green on Friday announced his nomination of Ryan Kanaka‘ole, who is currently a Deputy Attorney General, to fill the DLNR position that is being vacated by Laura Kaʻakua, who is moving to the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation. Big Island Video News.

Feral chicken legislation again to be reviewed. The state Legislature once again will consider bills to tackle a feral chicken problem that continues to generate complaints while some people continue to feed them. Star-Advertiser.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs faces large staffing shortage ahead of 2024 legislative session. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is facing a large staff shortage going into this legislative session with nearly one-third of its positions currently unfilled, according to its new CEO Stacy Ferreira. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiian homestead leaders gather at 36th annual convention. The convention  covered an array of topics including Act 80, which would lower the minimum Hawaiian blood quantum requirement for successorship of Hawaiian home lands to one thirty- second, as well as conversations over the spending of funds allocated under Act 279, and the various challenges around reducing the 29,000-person waitlist. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Board of Water Supply rejects $75M offer to reopen Halawa Shaft. The BWS says the Nov. 29 proposal by the state Department of Health, in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, to tap into a portion of the $400 billion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for money to reopen the Halawa Shaft is premature. Star-Advertiser.

City Council pushes for public access to first responder radio transmissions. The island-wide police chase of an armed suspect on Oʻahu on New Year’s Day has prompted calls to the City and County of Honolulu to give the public more access to first responders’ radio communications. Hawaii Public Radio.

Residents left scrambling after West Oahu affordable housing complex announces closure. Scores of Leeward Oahu residents who were once homeless are worried they’ll soon be living on the streets again after they say the management of  Ulu Ke Kukui in Maili announced its closure. Hawaii News Now.

City conducts hearing on proposed amendments to Affordable Housing Requirement Rules.  The Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting held a public hearing to discuss affordable housing requirements on Friday. KITV4.

Three long-delayed Oahu public housing redevelopment projects took big steps forward last week and could produce 554 new homes in 2026 and 911 more in 2028. Star-Advertiser.

Sunset Beach homeowners fined about $1M for unauthorized work. The homeowners, whose properties both on Ke Nui Road front Sunset Beach, were fined by the Board of Land and Natural Resources Friday on the recommendation of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Jury pool whittled down as public corruption trial for ex-city prosecutor nears. Keith Kaneshiro, Dennis Mitsunaga, Terri Otani, Aaron Fujii, Chad McDonald and attorney Sheri Tanaka are charged with multiple counts, including conspiracy to defraud the government and conspiracy against rights of citizens. Hawaii News Now.

Miske’s Daughter-In-Law Agrees To ‘Fully Cooperate’ In Last-Minute Plea Deal. Delia Fabro-Miske's agreement with prosecutors leaves only two defendants in the federal trial as jury selection continues. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Alameda officially launches campaign to oust Roth.  More than 100 community members crowded the sidewalk in front of the King Kamehameha statue in Hilo on Saturday to support Kimo Alameda and his candidacy for Hawaii County mayor. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now.

Big Island traffic fatalities plummet in 2023. Big Island roads saw a significant decrease in traffic fatalities in 2023 compared to 2022, from 34 official traffic deaths to 16, a 53% drop. Tribune-Herald.

2023 drier than normal for much of the island. December brought rainfall to most of the windward Big Island, but most of the gauges islandwide registered less than the average amount of precipitation for the final month of the year. Tribune-Herald.

Fixes slated for Wailoa boat harbor: $3.2M allocated for the project. The harbor, which is one of the only functioning boat launches in East Hawaii after the blockage of the Pohoiki Boat Ramp during the 2018 Kilauea eruption, has not been dredged for years, leading to a buildup of sediment in the mouth of the harbor. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui Council OKs Olowalu As Dump Site For Lahaina Wildfire Waste. The Maui County Council voted 6-2 on Friday to approve the Olowalu site to temporarily store an estimated 400,000 tons of debris and toxic ash from the Aug. 8 wildfire in Lahaina.  Civil Beat. Maui Now.

Maui Has A Bunch Of Community Plans But A Patchy Record Of Following Them. A fresh community plan for South Maui is outlining a vision for some of the last areas available for growth in Kihei. Civil Beat.

Significant finds made at Lahaina’s historic sites.  Numerous artifacts have been recovered by  Lahaina Restoration Foundation, which serves as steward for 14 historic sites in Lahaina. Star-Advertiser.

Kīpahulu to become third community-based subsistence fishing area. The remote Kīpahulu area on the southeast side of Maui will become the third Community-Based Subsistence Fishing (CBSFA) area in Hawai‘i, following previous designations of Hā‘ena on Kaua‘i and Miloli‘i on Hawai‘i Island. Maui Now.

Maui Has An Axis Deer Problem. So The State Has Put A Price On Their Tails. Landowners will get paid for killing the deer as part of a new animal control program run by the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Civil Beat.

Sudden Deluge Does Little To Move The Needle On Maui Drought. The disruptive storm forced many roads and schools to close. But it wasn't enough to erase Maui's persistent drought. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Man wanted in connection with assault on Kaua‘i police officer turns himself in. Kaua‘i police say 24-year-old Travis Bonachita of Kōloa, who was wanted in connection with an assault on a police officer, was taken into custody. Kauai Now.

Serving the houseless at Martin Luther King gathering. The Kaua‘i Soto Zen Temple will be hosting a Martin Luther King Jr. birthday gathering on Monday from 1 to 4 p.m. Garden Island.

Party official wants hearing on new Supreme Court justice's ties to super PAC, new assistant superintendent named to manage school money, another lawsuit in Maui fire aftermath, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Public Hearing Sought On New Supreme Court Justice’s Ties to Super PAC. A state Democratic Party official wants the Senate Judiciary Committee to hold another hearing on Vladimir Devens because the Supreme Court designate did not disclose his involvement with the Pacific Resource Partnership’s political action committee. Civil Beat.

After Spending Debacle, DOE Appoints New Assistant Superintendent To Oversee School Facilities. The Hawaii Department of Education has a new official responsible for overseeing campus facilities as it struggles to handle millions of dollars in capital improvement project funds.  Civil Beat.

Hawaii Prison Chief Wants Department Changes To Bring ‘Paradigm Shift’. Tommy Johnson will become the director of Corrections and Rehabilitation after the Public Safety Department is dissolved on Monday. Civil Beat.

Minimum wage to increase to $14 on Jan. 1. Act 114 incrementally increases the minimum wage to $16 per hour Jan. 1, 2026, and to $18 per hour Jan. 1, 2028. Big Island Now. KITV4.

Food insecurity rises in Hawaii amid increasing costs. A new study from nonprofit Hunger Free America found that 137,000 people across the state lived in food-insecure households between 2020 and 2022 — including 14.7% of children, 8.3% of employed adults and 4.4% of older residents. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Feds back effort to make Honolulu streets safer. Under the federal Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program, a $1.67 million grant to the city’s Department of Transportation Services will allow for the study of alternate roadway configurations and improvements to pedestrian safety on Beretania Street, Kapiolani Boulevard and Wilder Avenue as well as on South King, Young, Piikoi and Kaheka streets, the city says. Star-Advertiser.

Task force seizes 17 more tons of fireworks. The Illegal Fireworks Task Force, operated under the state Department of Law Enforcement, seized about 17 tons of illegal fireworks at Honolulu Harbor on Wednesday from a shipping container that falsely declared its contents as “other items,” the DLE announced in a news release. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.  Hawaii News Now.

State looks for new contractor to remove Falls of Clyde from Honolulu Harbor. The state transportation department will try again to get a third party to remove the worn-down Falls of Clyde ship from Honolulu Harbor. Hawaii Public Radio.

Monster waves roll into Oahu’s North Shore, creating dangerous conditions in the water and on shore. Honolulu Ocean Safety says they’ve got all hands on deck Wednesday with dangerous conditions across the North Shore, including powerful shore breaks and strong rip currents. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Cell tower raises concerns: Proposed project in Hawaiian Ocean View Estates would be located near Kahuku Park. At a Dec. 7 meeting of the Windward Planning Commission, Ocean View resident Colleen Conifer successfully petitioned for a contested case against a plan by Renegade Towers LLC to build a telecommunication facility — including a 150-tall cell tower and an equipment storage space — on a 4,994-square-foot portion of a parcel roughly 700 feet from Kahuku Park at the intersection of Paradise Circle Makai and Keaka Parkway. Tribune-Herald.

Federal plan limits number of helicopter tours in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. It's expected that there will be nearly 10,000 fewer helicopter and air tours a year at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park on Hawaiʻi Island under a new plan from the federal government. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui

Kula residents sue Maui utilities over damage caused by wildfire. Dozens of Kula residents, represented by law firm Singleton Schreiber, have filed a lawsuit against Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc., Hawaiian Electric Co., Hawaii Electric Light Co. and Maui Electric Co., claiming that the utilities are responsible for the Kula fire. Star-Advertiser.

Petition garners 5,287 signatures against use of Olowalu as a fire debris disposal site. The petition from a family on Olowalu Village Road says even temporary storage of these substances from the Aug. 8 wildfires “poses great risk of causing irreversible damage to soil, water, air, the ocean and people.” Maui Now.

Hundreds protest in Olowalu against proposed dump site for toxic fire debris. West Maui families are protesting in opposition to a proposed dump site for toxic fire debris south of Lahaina. Hawaii News Now.

$900K to market Maui to ‘respectful’ Canadian visitors. Tourism officials said visitors to Maui from Canada accounted for almost 8% of arrivals before Tuesday, Aug. 8. KHON2.

Kauai

County seeks approval for ‘Waimea 400’ affordable housing. County seeks approval for ‘Waimea 400’ affordable housing.  As the County of Kaua‘i Housing Agency works to obtain land use and environmental approvals for a new affordable housing development on the island’s westside, the agency is asking members of the public to weigh in on plans for the future project. Garden Island.

Lawmakers mull Maui recovery plan, Honolulu water utility seeks $1.2B from Navy over Red Hill leaks, restless Kilauea prompts closures, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Lawmakers Discuss Draft Report On Maui Business And Jobs Recovery. Hawaii lawmakers should look beyond construction and tourism for job creation, consider on-site solar and battery storage as a way to safely rebuild Maui’s power grid and press Congress to provide pandemic loan forgiveness to businesses affected by fires, concerned citizens on Tuesday told the Hawaii House of Representatives Jobs and Business Working Group. Civil Beat.

Maui Wildfire Lawyers Try To ‘Manage The Unmanageable’. With billions of dollars at stake and the potential for thousands of lawsuits, lawyers are trying to bring order to the chaos of litigation sweeping into Hawaii courts. Civil Beat.

Senate Confirms Ginoza, Devens To Hawaii Supreme Court. The terms are for 10 years and subject to renewal before mandatory retirement at age 70. By a unanimous vote, 21 members of the Hawaii State Senate on Tuesday confirmed Lisa Ginoza and Vlad Devens to serve on the state’s highest court. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.

Total Force Integration in the Pacific makes history with Hawai‘i’s largest airdrop. Total Force Integration in the Pacific makes history with Hawai‘i’s largest airdrop. Joint Forces from across the United States and the Pacific participated in a large-scale joint training exercise Nov. 1-10 that included the largest airdrop in Hawai‘i history. Kauai Now.

State health department extends AMR ambulance contract for Kauaʻi and Maui. The current contract for ground ambulance transportation on Kauaʻi and Maui counties has been extended through the end of September 2024. Hawaii Public Radio.

After 15-year pause, state resumes free pesticide takeback program for businesses. Accepted substances include insecticides, fungicides, boric acid, antifoulants, swimming pool treatments and more. Items such as explosive materials, motor oil, paint, and fertilizers will not be accepted. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Honolulu Water Utility Demands Navy Pay $1.2 Billion For Red Hill Costs. Whether or not the Navy pays up, water users are likely to pay higher rates in the coming years. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2. KITV4.

Hawaii lobbyist wants her DEA statements suppressed. A veteran lobbyist who pleaded not guilty to federal charges that she used a Wisconsin veterinarian’s identity to import large quantities of opioids for a mobile clinic run by her nonprofit organization wants the statements she made to two U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents suppressed. Star-Advertiser.

Environmental concerns arise as U.S. Navy plane sits in Kaneohe Bay. A large U.S. Navy plane remained in Kaneohe Bay Tuesday,  the morning after it overshot a runway and landed in the water, raising concern about environmental damage and questions over how the military would remove the aircraft. Associated Press. KHON2.

Blaisdell Arena reopens after $9 million renovation. The Neal S. Blaisdell Center Arena reopened Tuesday morning with a blessing ceremony after a $9 million renovation that began in May.  Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Restless Kilauea prompts closures. Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park expanded area closures Tuesday after Kilauea Volcano began showing increased signs of unrest in the upper East Rift Zone. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald.

Wanted individuals arrested during Big Island warrant sweep. An inter-agency warrant sweep conducted in the Hilo and Puna districts Nov. 15 through Nov. 17 resulted in the arrest of 18 wanted individuals for a total of 28 outstanding warrants. Big Island Now.

State to introduce legislation to address fairness in permit selection at Kahaluʻu surf spot. The state Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation plans to introduce legislation again in 2024 to try and address the issue of fairness when issuing permits for surf instruction companies to operate at the popular Kahaluʻu Bay surf spot on Hawaiʻi Island. Maui Now.

Maui

Housing Shortage for Maui Fire Survivors Puts Focus On Short-Term Rentals. State and county leaders are considering measures, voluntary and otherwise, to help bring more vacation units into longer term service for displaced families. Civil Beat.

Free Thanksgiving meals available on Maui. Prior to the fires, Maui Food Bank served about 17,000 people per month. In the months following the fires, the organization served 27,163 people in August, 30,577 in September and more than 40,000 in October and November. December is expected to be around the same, the nonprofit said. Star-Advertiser.

$40M emergency stormwater capture system to be installed in Lahaina. The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation, County of Maui, and the Federal Highway Administration is installing an emergency stormwater capture system in Lahaina to reduce the environmental impact from silt, ash and other disaster debris potentially entering storm drainage systems. Maui Now.

Uniting community with federal, state and local leaders for Lahaina’s long road to recovery. Rebuilding Lahaina remains at the forefront for state and city leaders, as well as community advocates. Hawaii News Now.

Nonprofit to develop Kahului project with 300 housing units. Transit hub, civic complex, housing will make up Kahului Civic Center. Maui News.

Community ownership now protects over 8 acres in Hāna from future development. More than 8 acres of Hāna land will now be protected for preservation and cultural stewardship in perpetuity because of a partnership purchase. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

How a massive all-granite, hand-carved Hindu temple ended up on Kauai. It is the only all-granite, hand-carved Hindu temple in the West built without power tools or electricity, and it’s nestled on one of the smaller islands in Hawaii surrounded by lush gardens and forests. Associated Press.

Supreme Court nominees appear to be shoo-ins, COVID vaccinations low as hospitalizations spike, Navy plane slides into Kaneohe Bay, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Senate Panel Approves Supreme Court Nominees. Backed by overwhelming public testimony in support of their nominations, the state Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday voted unanimously to approve Lisa Ginoza and Vlad Devens to serve on the Hawaii Supreme Court. Civil Beat.

Interest in COVID vaccines subsides as holidays approach. As of Wednesday, state Department of Health data showed only an estimated 107,720 people, or roughly 7.6% of Hawaii’s population, received the updated COVID- 19 vaccine. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii hotel bookings dip as travel demand weakens. Total room nights on the books statewide as of Nov. 5 compared with the same time in 2022 were up 3.9% in November, down 3.3% in December, up 0.5% in January, down 5.6% in February and then flat to down all the way to October, which was off 26.8%, according to HVCB’s analysis of TravelClick Data. Star-Advertiser.

Suspect In Fatal Stabbing Of Nurse Pleads Not Guilty. The judge ordered Tommy Carvalho to continue to be held without bail because he poses a “serious risk of danger to the community.” Civil Beat.

Panel rejects plant transportation rules. A controversial revision of state rules regarding interisland transportation of plants was rejected Friday by Hawaii Department of Agriculture’s Advisory Committee on Plants and Animals. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu

Navy plane with 9 aboard slides into Kaneohe Bay. A Navy plane overshot a runway and splashed into Kaneohe Bay on Monday, but authorities said all nine people aboard made it safely to shore with no injuries. Associated Press. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2. KITV4.

The city adding more pedestrian safety measures. Dozens of pedestrians have died on Honolulu roadways so far this year. Officials said they are working on safety counter measures to prevent more senseless deaths. KHON2.

Kalakaua Avenue Bridge in ‘poor’ condition, city says. A nearly 100-year-old bridge built over the Ala Wai Canal will undergo significant repairs over the coming year, the city says. Star-Advertiser.

Halawa Prison Electrical Problems Leave Inmates Sitting In The Dark. Electrical problems at the state’s largest prison have caused outages throughout the facility that left about 20% of the cells without power at one point last month, and it is unclear when the outages started or when they will be fixed. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes NP Cancels Presentations Due To COVID Hospitalizations. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention on November 11 reported a 733.3% increase in Big Island hospital admissions of confirmed COVID-19 from the prior week, jumping from 7.5 (admissions per 100,000 population) to 37.2. Any number over 20.0 is considered “High”. Big Island Video News.

Mayor Roth signs Bill 72, establishing preference for local families.  The bill adds language defining three types of qualified applicants for affordable housing: a “qualified resident,” a “qualified returning student,” and a “qualified worker.”  Big Island Video News. Tribune-Herald.

East Hawaii Island vendors scramble over Dec. 1 enforcement blitz. Street vendors on Hawaii Island have been warned to stay off of Highways by the State Department of Transportation (HDOT). Some could face fines starting Dec. 1 for highway vending. KITV4.

Litigation rekindled over wood-burning Big Isle power plant. An on-and-off effort by the owner of an idle Hawaii island renewable energy power plant to obtain damages in federal court from Hawaiian Electric is on again and seeks over $1 billion. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

New Maui Office Begins Navigating The ‘Complex Landscape Of Recovery’. The county is seeking staff and nearly $21 million for the Office of Recovery, while getting advice from other communities that were devastated by wildfires. Civil Beat.

Rebuild or leave? Lahaina's immigrant families struggle to have hope. It's been more than three months since the fire, and many of Lahaina's immigrant communities are facing the dilemma of deciding whether to wait and rebuild or leave their homes forever. Roughly one-third of Lahaina's population is foreign-born, according to U.S. Census figures.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Disaster Area Restrictions lifted Nov. 24-25 for residents & business in Zones 5G, 7F, 7G. County of Maui Disaster Area Restrictions will be lifted for owners and residents with vehicle passes from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. beginning Friday and Saturday, Nov. 24-25, in Zones 5G, 7F and 7G. Maui Now.

Kula Hospital named in U.S. News and World Report’s ‘Best Nursing Homes’. Kula Hospital was among the 19 percent of skilled nursing facilities that earned a “high performing rating,” the highest possible achievement, and has an overall rating of 5 out of 5.  Maui News.

Kauai

Kaua‘i hotel room rates climb in September. The average daily rate for a room was $398 in September, according to the Hawai‘i Hotel Performance Report published monthly by the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority. That was up 9.7 percent from September 2022 and a hefty 67.0 percent from pre-pandemic September 2019. Garden Island.

Brown Water Advisory issued for Wailuā Bay, Lydgate Beach Park. Heavy rain has resulted in stormwater runoff entering into coastal waters. Kauai Now.

Ginoza, Devens nominated to state Supreme Court, Waikiki hoteliers resist sea level legislation, Maui mayor accelerates tourism plan, DOH cancels ambulance contract, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Green Nominates Ginoza, Devens To Hawaii Supreme Court. Gov. Josh Green on Monday named Vladimir Devens, a Honolulu lawyer from a prominent political family, and Lisa Ginoza, chief judge of Hawaii’s Intermediate Court of Appeals. Both nominations are subject to state Senate confirmation, a process that is expected to be completed no later than Nov. 21. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Video News.  Kauai Now.  Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

Maui County Will Release Its After-Action Report From The 2018 Lahaina Fire ‘Soon’. State emergency officials have said they never received the report, which could have offered guidance on how to prevent the Aug. 8 blaze. A much sought-after report that analyzes a 2018 Lahaina fire will be released to the public “soon,” Maui Mayor Richard Bissen’s spokeswoman Mahina Martin said Monday.  Civil Beat.

Congress pushes HECO, PUC for more answers on Maui fire. What did HECO know, and when did they know it, about the fire risk on Maui and the dangerous fire conditions forecast for Aug. 8? Those are among questions from Congress as their investigation doubles down. KHON2.

Experts: Wildfire recovery could take a decade, cost more than Maui County’s entire budget.  A delegation of Hawaii lawmakers and nonprofit leaders is in Washington, D.C. this week — to advocate for more funding and remind people that the recovery has only just begin. Hawaii News Now.

DOH Cancels Upcoming Ambulance Contracts In Kauai And Maui Counties. The Hawaii State Department of Health announced Monday that it had ended its upcoming $58.9 million contract for ground ambulance services with Falck Northwest Corp., scheduled to begin servicing Kauai and Maui counties in December.  Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.  Kauai Now.  KHON2.  KITV4.

Oahu

Waikiki hoteliers, industry resist sea level legislation. Due to concerns over sea level rise, a Honolulu City Council resolution seeks greater regulation over the inspection and maintenance of Waikiki’s shoreline hotels. Star-Advertiser.

Land board blocks effort to move sand from ancient West Oahu beach to Waikiki. The Board of Land and Natural Resources is blocking an effort to use sand from an ancient Leeward Oahu beach to replenish the Waikiki shoreline. Hawaii News Now.

Over 16 million gallons of fuel removed from Red Hill in first week, military says. Over 16 million gallons of fuel were removed from the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility during the first week of defueling, as of Friday afternoon, according to the military. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

2nd Man Is Exonerated In The Dana Ireland Murder Case. A Hilo Circuit Court judge on Monday reversed the convictions of a man who pleaded guilty to the kidnapping and killing of a woman visiting the Big Island in 1991, saying that new DNA evidence “clearly exonerate” Shawn Schweitzer and his brother, Albert Ian Schweitzer. Civil Beat. Tribune-Herald. KHON2.

Participants sought for Hawaiʻi project to evaluate Kona, Kaʻu coffee labeling, production. Guild Consulting is seeking participants from diverse Kona and Kaʻu coffee stakeholders for a series of surveys, focus groups and interviews that will take place in mid-November. Big Island Now.

Kahaluʻu Surf School Permits Going To Lottery.  Ocean waters commercial use permits to operate surf schools at Kahaluʻu Bay will be determined by a lottery in November. Big Island Video News.

Maui

All Of Maui Except Lahaina Will Be Open To Tourists Starting Next Week. The county is accelerating the timeline for visitors and others to return to the island's west side following the Aug. 8 fires. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.  Hawaii News Now.

How Tourists Escaped A Fiery West Maui After The Blaze. Even as the fires in Lahaina were still burning, even before top state officials knew the magnitude of the disaster, a handful of tourism managers on Maui moved quickly to orchestrate an airlift of some 12,000 visitors off the island and out of harm’s way.  Civil Beat.

AG’s Office Investigating Illegal Rent Increases And Evictions On Maui. Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez announced Monday her office is investigating reports of rent hikes and evictions on Maui following the Aug. 8 fires. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.

Lāhainā fire victims struggle to make mortgage payments on destroyed houses. Monthly mortgages are still due as many homes have burned to the ground, leaving some Lāhainā residents worried as state officials said rebuilding the town could take three years. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Portuguese man o’ war spotted on south-, west-facing shores Monday. Ocean Safety Bureau officials have spotted Portuguese man o’ war in waters off Po‘ipū to Kekaha on Monday. Kauai Now.