Budget cuts could eliminate after-school options, AG says Lahaina wildfire not a crime, 2,500 Honolulu ballots could be tossed for signature issues, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kids May Lose After-School Options Under Hawaii’s DOE Budget Cuts. The $2.3 billion budget, which will be presented to the Board of Education on Thursday, would eliminate funding for school learning centers statewide. Civil Beat.

Governor defends controversial water commission appointment in exclusive interview. Governor Josh Green is making a strident defense of his nominee to the state Commission on Water Resource Management, and is calling for compromise on water and development issues. Hawaii News Now.

Rural Hawaiian Homelands Residents Should Be Online By 2025. Most of the 150 households on the Big Island and Maui left without internet and phone service earlier this year after Sandwich Isles Communications said it would disconnect its customers should be back online by the end of the year, officials from the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and Hawaiian Telcom told state lawmakers Wednesday.  Civil Beat. KITV4.

Commerical harbor users to launch modernization and resilience campaign. Over 20 companies make up the Hawaiʻi Harbor Users Group, which will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2025. It’s been planning for rising seas and bigger vessels — all part of becoming more efficient and resilient due to Hawaiʻi's dependency on harbors for goods and services.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii awarded $59M for hydrogen station. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded the state of Hawaii $59.2 million for the deployment of zero-emission equipment and other climate adaptation projects at its ports. Star-Advertiser.

Grassroot Institute proposes expedited permitting for housing shortage relief. The institute released a policy brief written by Grassroot policy researcher Jonathan Helton. The aim is to relief one of Hawaiʻi’s “most persistent homebuilding headaches: building-permit delays, which are a major contributor to the state’s housing crisis,” according to the institute. Maui Now.

Corrections Officials Deny Prison Water Made Hawaii Inmates Sick. But in an 'abundance of caution,' water filters have been ordered for housing units in Arizona where Hawaii prisoners are held. Civil Beat.

Oahu

2,500+ ballots may not be counted due to signature issues. The Honolulu county clerk said signature issues may cause a couple thousand ballots to not be counted but they said there’s time to fix the issues. KHON2.

Honolulu updates its nondiscrimination law. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi hosted city officials and community groups focused on diversity, equity and inclusion on Wednesday to sign Bill 32 into law, updating Honolulu’s nondiscrimination policy that prohibits discrimination in hiring and employment within Oahu as well as in the delivery of city services. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu’s next landfill site is slated to be named in November, city says. But whether that new dump site — which replaces the 35-year-old Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill in Kapolei — will actually be usable remains to be seen. Star-Advertiser.

Piles of historic Honolulu sidewalk and curb stones irk commission. The Oahu Historic Preservation Commission is raising concerns about the lack of a city policy or plans to preserve or reuse granite stone sidewalks that have existed in parts of Chinatown and downtown Honolulu for over a century, as well as historic lava rock curbs that for many years have been disappearing from downtown streets and other old Honolulu neighborhoods. Star-Advertiser.

Pickleball part of the Hawaii’s long-game sports tourism strategy. The Hawai‘i Convention Center hosted a blessing Wednesday celebrating the expansion of its sports courts program, which includes 45 new pickleball courts, some 19 of which have been designated for use in the Aloha Pickleball Games &Festival that debuts Friday and runs through Sunday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Number of students at UH Hilo down 4% while most other UH campuses see gains. While the entire UH system overall had a 3% enrollment increase — and some campuses, like Leeward Community College and UH Maui College had increases of 7% and 6%, respectively — UH Hilo’s enrollment fell by 4% from 2023, from 2,781 to 2,668 students. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiian homesteads may have a wealth of geothermal energy — but can it help beneficiaries? Scientists think that the energy the island currently uses may be a fraction of the resource’s potential, and an abundance of geothermal power could lie below land set aside for Hawaiian homesteads. Hawaii Public Radio.

Reported Unexploded Ordnance Closes Waimea Nature Trail. The Waimea Nature Trail was temporarily closed from Opelo Road to Kahawai Street, police say, after a report of a UXO found in the stream next to the trail. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

Maui

Fatal Lahaina fire was not a crime, state AG says. No criminal charges will result from the state investigation into the wildfires that leveled Lahaina, killed 102 people and destroyed Maui’s visitor industry, according to state Attorney General Anne E. Lopez. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.

Maui Fire Settlement Cases Inch Toward Victim Payout. A proposed settlement could become final by early 2025. Civil Beat.

Historians calling on community to help preserve Lahaina’s past. The Lahaina Restoration Foundation is calling on the community to send in their photos, videos, documents, even physical items to help tell Lahaina’s story before, during and after the disaster to co-create the 2023 Lahaina Fire Archive. Hawaii News Now.

Last-minute negotiations could avoid Maui Health workers strike, but the two sides appear to be far apart. Unless a new labor agreement is reached beforehand, a number of essential workers at Maui Memorial Medical Center in Wailuku, Kula Hospital and Lanai Community Hospital are planning a three-day strike beginning at 7 a.m. Monday and ending when they return to work Nov. 7. Maui News.

Half Of All Coral Reefs Are Dead. A Maui ‘Super Reef’ Offers Hope. Olowalu reef may be an example of how to survive climate change disaster — just 4 miles from the epicenter of the August 2023 Maui fire. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Home sales spike in final month of summer on Kauai. Sales of single-family homes leaped 52.94 percent to 26 in September from 17 in September 2023, according to monthly data pooled from multiple sources by Hawai‘i Realtors in Honolulu.  Garden Island.

Efforts to address climate change to be on display at Kauaʻi’s first Community Climate Fair. The state is raising awareness about efforts to address climate change and its bringing its public education campaign to Kauaʻi this weekend for the first time. Kauai Now.

Hawaii insures coral reef to guard against climate change, new Maui Emergency Management head says agency shouldn't take the lead in emergencies, Miske cousin testifies about chemical attack at nightclub, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

More Ocean Area Will Be Covered Under Hawaii’s New Coral Reef Insurance Policy. The novel approach to protecting reefs is expanding as state officials consider the more ways to guard against climate change. Civil Beat.

Bill proposes moving Hawaii school construction oversight back to DOE. Just as the state has been trumpeting its opening 13 public preschool classrooms well in advance of its Ready Keiki plan to open 50 to 80 by August, a bill is advancing to repeal the relatively new state School Facilities Authority and move all school construction back again to the state Department of Education, and the authority’s founding executive director has abruptly resigned. Star-Advertiser.

Measure seeks to grant autonomy to state Water Commission following the fires. A proposal currently advancing in the Legislature aims to strengthen the State Water Code and safeguard the Commission on Water Resource Management from outside influence. Hawaii Public Radio.

Lawmakers may set new requirement for EV charging in state buildings. House Bill 1829 would require that at least 25% of parking stalls be EV charger-ready in any new state building construction. Hawaii Public Radio.

Gender Inequalities Persist In Hawaii High School Sports 6 Years After Locker Room Scandal. A class-action lawsuit over problems at Campbell High School has been settled, but the state still has a lot of work to do to comply with a federal anti-discrimination law. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Defendant in cases against former Honolulu prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro May Pose Danger To Others, Probation Officer Says. Sheri Jean Tanaka, a defendant in a high-profile Honolulu corruption case may be a “danger” to others or the community, and the court should reconsider the terms of her pretrial release, her probation officer said on Thursday.  Civil Beat.

Miske cousin testifies alleged crime boss ordered him to release chemical into nightclub. Kaulana Freitas also explained his role in a chemical attack at the District Nightclub in 2017, saying he released what he believed was tear gas in the club after Miske ordered him to do so. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu city job openings about 2,500, officials say. In May, DHR Director Nola Miyasaki told the Star- Advertiser that city staffing vacancies remained at 2,500 — a number down from over 3,000 vacancies the year prior. In 2022, Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration took measures to quash the six-month wait time it took to fill an average city and county employee position. Star-Advertiser.

After years of delays, redevelopment of Mayor Wright Housing gets the go-ahead. The Hawaii Public Housing Authority announced Thursday that the city’s Planning and Permitting Department has approved plans to redevelop Mayor Wright Housing. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.  KITV4.

New housing development could be coming to St. Francis School property. The property, which is zoned for residential use, was purchased for $23 million according to brokerage firm CBRE. And the developer is looking to build a slew of single family homes to be purchased for roughly $2 million a piece. KHON2.

Newest tiny-home kauhale is blessed on Middle Street. Ho‘okahi Leo — or “a community with one voice” — was built using units relocated from Hawaii’s first “medical respite kauhale,” which went up temporarily in 2023 near the governor’s mansion and across from The Queen’s Medical Center as a pilot project for discharged homeless patients too frail to heal properly on the street. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio.  KHON2.

Experts: Major changes at Wahiawa General will have health care impacts islandwide. Come spring, all inpatient services at Wahiawa General Hospital will be suspended — once Queen’s Health System takes control of the hospital. The reason: Health officials say the aging facility is in such disrepair, it’s not worth investing the money to fix. Hawaii News Now.

Lack of trucks delays refuse and recycling collection on East Oʻahu. City and County of Honolulu officials didn't explain why there was a lack of collection vehicles, but assures the pick-ups will be made over the next couple of days. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Hawaiʻi County Democrats Elect Interim Chair. Pono Kekela was elected Interim Chair of the Hawaiʻi County Committee of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi at its first Quarterly meeting of 2024. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

Camera on Maunakea captures image of blazing space debris. A fiery object seen over Maunakea last week is believed to have been the remains of a falling satellite, astronomers say. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County urges state to stiffen penalties for negligent dog owners.  On Hawaii Island, a county resolution will be heard next Wednesday morning that supporters hope will lead to stiffer penalties for dangerous dog owners who are negligent. KITV4.

Maui

New MEMA Administrator says agency shouldn’t take the lead in future emergencies. Lonokailua-Hewett said he sees MEMA as a coordinating and supporting agency instead. The Administrator for the Maui Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) says he doesn’t believe MEMA should take the lead in future emergencies. Hawaii News Now.

Maui Mayor Mum On Why He Placed County Finance Director On Paid Leave. Scott Teruya has led the department for the past five years but has been off the job since Feb. 2. Civil Beat.

Proposal advances for special board control in rebuilding Lahaina. Two Senate committees voted unanimously to advance Senate Bill 3381 to a third and final Senate committee where passage is expected ahead of a full Senate vote and potential consideration in the House of Representatives. Star-Advertiser.

$53M Maui Airport Industrial Center breaks ground, opening set for 2025. R.D. Olson Development held a groundbreaking recently of the Maui Airport Industrial Center project, located on a 6.3 acre parcel in Kahului near Costco at 250 Lauo Loop.  Maui Now.

Obstetrician shortage on Maui addressed. HMSA’s immediate, short-term solution for expectant Maui moms impacted by the obstetrician shortage included arranging travel and appointments for them to receive care on Oahu with Queen’s physicians.  Maui News.

Maggie Batangan named MEO Chief Administrative Officer. Maggie Batangan has been named to the newly created Chief Administrative Officer position for the nonprofit Maui Economic Opportunity. Maui News.

Kauai

Wailua Heritage Trail pau, for now. A joint effort between the County of Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, Kaua‘i Visitor Bureau, Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources and Royal Coconut Coast Association (RCCA) resulted in the expansion of the Wailua Heritage Trail to a full 3-mile route. Garden Island.