Green signs bills giving teachers raises and protections, Sylvia Luke's books are a mess, First Hawaiian pays $2B for California bank, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

New laws set to strengthen teacher workforce. Gov. Josh Green on Monday signed two education bills into law designed to strengthen protections and support for Hawaii’s educators — one expanding workplace safeguards for educational workers facing harassment and the other helping improve teacher recruitment and retention by authorizing annual and longevity salary step increases through future collective bargaining agreements, subject to legislative funding. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald.  Big Island Now.  KHON2.  Hawaii News Now.

Lt. Gov.’s Books Were A Mess. Political Insiders Say It’s Not The Norm. It’s now up to the AG to decide whether to prosecute Sylvia Luke and some of her campaign staffers for alleged campaign finance violations.  Luke's reputation as a state representative stands in contrast with what she’s accused of now: failing to report more than $50,000 in expenditures; reporting more than $30,000 in contributions late, sometimes years after they were received; and allowing unauthorized campaign staffers to sign off on checks. Civil Beat.

Tourists Visiting Hawaiʻi Have Changed Dramatically In Recent Years. A growing number of Californians have been flocking to Hawaiʻi in recent years, while tourism from Japan is half what it was before the pandemic. Civil Beat.

First Hawaiian buys California bank in $2B deal. Honolulu-based First Hawaiian Inc. on Monday announced that it has arranged to buy the parent company of Tri Counties Bank in California for $2 billion in stock. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.  KHON2. 

Oahu

City advances Iwilei redevelopment with key land acquisition. The redevelopment of the city-owned Iwilei Center is expected to transform the nearly four-acre site adjacent to the future Kuwili Skyline Station along Dillingham Boulevard, near Kaaahi Street, into a mixed-use, transit-­oriented community, city officials say. Star-Advertiser. KHON2. 

Up To 5 Billion Gallons Of Water Wasted By The Navy Since Red Hill Crisis. The Navy passed on an opportunity to divert filtered water from Red Hill to a useful purpose. Civil Beat.

The battle over a Honolulu City Council seat before ballots go out. Forget the Max Holloway/Connor McGregor rematch, when it comes to this election - many have their eyes on Tommy Waters and Trevor Ozawa squaring off for a Honolulu City Council seat for the third time. KITV4.

Parks, Beaches, Affordability: Honolulu City Council District 4 Candidate Q&As. The most competitive Honolulu City Council race features a former member running against the incumbent. Civil Beat.

Income Tax, Healthcare, Power Outages: State Senate District 9 Candidate Q&As. Democratic candidate and incumbent Stanley Chang has represented the area since 2016. His challenger is Republican candidate David Croswell.  Civil Beat.

Kaimuki community voices concerns as elections begin soon. Kaimuki residents say neighborhood board meetings are among the best ways to draw attention to problems affecting their community. KITV4.

Trap, neuter, return? Oʻahu residents clash over public spay and neuter programs. Representatives from conservancy groups, veterinary clinics and animal care organizations gathered at a public hearing last week to testify about proposed changes to Honolulu's public spay and neuter programs. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu man pleads guilty to using crypto to evade Iran sanctions. A 37-year-old man pleaded guilty Monday to evading U.S. financial sanctions by using cryptocurrency exchanges and digital payment applications to send about $150,000 to people in Iran. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Hawaiʻi County Council Candidates Rake In Thousands Ahead Of Primary. Seven of the nine seats are contested, with top vote-getters advancing to the November general election. Civil Beat.

Public invited to discuss results of Waikoloa Evacuation Traffic Study. Hawaii County invites residents and other interested parties to take part in a public meeting today to hear and discuss the results of an Evacuation Traffic Study to improve safety in Waikoloa Village and the surrounding areas during a wildfire or other emergency. Tribune-Herald.

BLNR moves to settle $45,000 fine against men who took 4,000 opihi. After three men were caught taking more than 4,000 opihi from a protected area on Hawaii Island, the Board of Land and Natural Resources moved to settle the case in lieu of a more than $45,000 fine after considering both cultural impacts for both the environment and the violators. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Maui Mayor Election: Sugimura Tops Bissen In Campaign Fundraising. Maui County Council member Yuki Lei Sugimura is raising and spending thousands of dollars more than Mayor Richard Bissen in her bid to unseat him this election, state campaign finance records show. Civil Beat.

North extension of Lahaina bypass needed as a critical evacuation route is finally moving forward. The 4.5-mile extension from Lahaina to Kā‘anapali is in the early planning stages, with funding from a $100 million allocation of Maui County’s $1.6 billion federal disaster recovery grant. Maui Now.

Normal irrigation to resume at Waiehu Golf Course after pond liner project completed at end of August. he County of Maui Department of Parks and Recreation is progressing with a project to replace the irrigation pond liner at Waiehu Municipal Golf Course. Maui Now.

Kauai

Anaina Hou hosts upcycling camp focused on beach cleanup and creativity. A weeklong summer camp at Anaina Hou Community Park will give Kauaʻi children the opportunity to transform marine debris collected from local beaches into musical instruments, games, toys and art while learning about environmental stewardship. Kauai Now.

Local nonprofits given more opportunities for natural, cultural stewardship. HB 2218 allows the land board to determine if community groups are qualified for a co-management agreement. That enables the state to share its “management functions and responsibilities and the rights of entry” with those nonprofit groups. Olan Leimomi Fisher is an advocate for Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo, which helped spearhead the bill. Hawaii Public Radio.

Lackluster primary predicted, electric bills to drop on two islands, JERO and HECO close to power plant deal, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Primary elections unlikely to stir voter enthusiasm, turnout. There is little expectation that voters will turn out in droves for the upcoming Aug. 8 party primaries following the 2024 presidential election year, when only 32.3% of all of Hawaii’s registered voters bothered to vote in the primary, a record low since widespread mail-in voting began in 2020. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: Hawaiʻi Primary Shows There’s Still Hunger For Public Service. At first blush the August primary election would seem to be a bit of a yawner. But dig a little deeper and voters will find a lot of competitive races across the ballot, especially for county-level offices. Civil Beat.

2024 House recount shows importance of every vote. Republican Rep. Elijah Pierick and Democratic Campbell High School teacher Corey Rosenlee know firsthand that every vote matters after their razor-thin race in 2024 flipped from a Rosenlee victory to a win for Pierick by just 11 votes. Star-Advertiser.

Many Hawaii electric bills dipping in June. A typical residential bill on Oahu is edging down 2.5% for June after a 14.4% increase in May that followed a 14% increase in April, according to Hawaiian Electric. On Kauai, the decrease for June is 3.9%.  For Maui County and Hawaii Island June bills for typical residential customers are still higher because of the timing of oil purchases. Star-Advertiser.

Can refusal of sobriety test implicate driver? A challenge to whether a driver’s refusal to take the voluntary field sobriety test can be treated as evidence of guilt is before the Hawaii State Supreme Court. Star-Advertiser.

Healthcare legislation addressed vapes, medical debt. While legislators approved some bills addressing the use of vapes among youth in Hawaii, along with others that expand health services for kupuna, other bills seeking to address the state’s chronic doctor shortage and protect patients’ rights failed. Star-Advertiser.

See How Your Beach Stacks Up To Hawai‘i Water Pollution Standards. “Can I get sick if I swim there?” That’s one question the Surfrider Foundation wants to answer for residents of Oʻahu, Maui and Kauaʻi with its latest water quality report. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu Council: Powerful Incumbent Faces Challengers Old And New. Voters spanning Waikīkī to East Honolulu get to decide this year whether to replace Council Chair Tommy Waters or elect him to a third term. Waters will also have to defend himself against political and legal challenges to his eligibility for the office. Civil Beat.

HPD’s interim chief ready for next chance to protect community. Twice in the last five years interim Chief Rade Vanic was asked to lead the Honolulu Police Department during abrupt leadership changes, but his greatest policing accomplishment came as a sergeant training officers. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Green says JERA and HECO close to deal to bring natural gas to Oʻahu. JERA has proposed building a new facility that would burn natural gas for power on Oʻahu. The governor told HPR a deal could happen as soon as June 8. Hawaii Public Radio.

Potential West Oahu hillside landfill site spared. Makaiwa Hills, a West Oahu hillside property recently touted as the most viable location for Oahu’s next municipal solid waste landfill is now off the table, city officials say. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu homes sales slightly stronger in May; condo sales lag. The Honolulu Board of Realtors on Saturday published data showing the island’s single-family home sales increased 8.5% year-over-year to 255 transactions in May compared to 235 a year earlier. Condo sales continued to lag behind 2025 volume, falling 9.4% year-over-year with 339 closings compared to 374 in May 2025. Star-Advertiser.

Family faces mounting fines after home fell onto shoreline. When their Rocky Point home fell onto the shoreline a little more than four years ago, the Guerrero family didn’t have time to grieve. Star-Advertiser.

Closing time for Hub Coworking Hawaiʻi locations. The owners of a coworking business are closing their two locations in Honolulu at the end of this month. The move will end memberships for 500 people.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Council votes down proposal that sought to limit responsibilities of the mayor. The Hawaii County Council voted 5-3 Wednesday in opposition of a bill that would transfer many of the executive powers vested in the mayor’s office to a newly created “county manager” position in what Mayor Kimo Alameda described as a “total power grab.” Tribune-Herald.

Panel defers bill regarding STVRs. The Hawaii County Windward Planning Commission voted unanimously Friday to defer a bill seeking to overhaul vacation rental rules. Bill 147 would lengthen the rental period considered “short-term” to stays less than 180 consecutive days — as opposed to 30 days under current rules — and set occupancy limits, reduce “quiet hours,” and restrict the types of activities allowed on rental properties. Tribune-Herald.

Emergency roadwork on Saddle Road begins today. The state Department of Transportation on Monday will begin work on the Hilo side of Daniel K. Inouye Highway that authorities hope will end a spate of crashes which have resulted in five fatalities this year — all within a period of less than a month. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.

Councilwoman proposes Hamakua Coast trail. Although parts of the region are largely inaccessible on foot, a proposal for a new trail through the area, running from Hilo to Waipio, could someday change that. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiʻi CC Chancellor Susan Kazama Announces Retirement. Hawaiʻi Community College Chancellor Susan Kazama will step down on July 31, after a 40-year career with the University of Hawaiʻi. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Polls show incumbent Bissen, challenger Sugimura dueling for top spot in 10-candidate mayoral primary race. The race for Maui County mayor features a crowded field of 10 candidates, but two of three polls show County Council Vice Chair Yuki Sugimura with an early lead over incumbent Richard Bissen with two months to go before the August 8 primary election. Maui Now.

Maui Council passes $1.6 billion budget; adds security funding after terroristic threatening arrest. The Maui County Council gave final approval Thursday to a $1.6 billion fiscal year 2027 budget, sending the spending plan to Mayor Richard Bissen’s desk, but not before adding $50,000 for Maui County campus security. Maui Now. Maui News. 

Judge Caps Maui Fire Legal Fees At $222M. A Maui judge has significantly reined in legal fees related to the $4.03 billion Maui wildfire settlement, awarding victims’ lawyers a fraction of the $1 billion they had sought.  he order is an enormous victory for fire victims who will be able to retain the bulk of the settlement money rather than see a large share go to their attorneys. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Costliest repairs to Lahaina Harbor still ahead as dredging gets underway. Lahaina Harbor has been the most visible sign of recovery in an area where most businesses have yet to rebuild and charred historic buildings hopeful of being restored and sensitive areas remain off limits to the public in the wake of the August 2023 wildfire. Maui Now.

Lacking funds, Maui Wildfire Exposure Study has halted, facing an uncertain future. The Maui Wildfire Exposure Study has offered a healthcare lifeline to fire-impacted Maui residents. It also provided a model for tracking the long-term effects of the disaster. Hawaii Public Radio.

Dying At Home Is Harder For These Hospice Patients Stuck On Oʻahu. Medical facilities on Moloka‘i aren’t equipped to provide the level of treatment some residents need, but when they fly to Honolulu for advanced care it can be difficult to make it back to spend their remaining days on the island. Civil Beat.

Condo sales, median price both down in May. There there were 58 single-family home sales in May, up 3.6% from the same month last year. The median sales price fell 9% to $1,174,500 from $1.29 million in 2025. Maui News.

State addresses ‘misconceptions’ over plans for popular Maui beach. Following a slew of rumors on social media, the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) clarified its proposal for upgrades at Makena State Park.  Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Hawai‘i Health and Harm Reduction Center opens new Kauaʻi office. The opening comes just months after H3RC expanded to Kauaʻi following the closure of Mālama Pono Health Services, ensuring critical public health and support services remain available to residents of Kauaʻi.  Kauai Now. Garden Island. 

Thousands turn out to celebrate Pride Month. Several thousand people — including parade participants, spectators and shoppers — turned out Saturday to celebrate the 8th annual Kauai Pride Parade and Festival hosted by the YWCA of Kauai. Garden Island.

Budget cuts jeopardize Convention Center leak repairs, almost all dams classified high hazard, legislation would require Airbnb, other booking companies, to collect tax information, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

$55M cut threatens convention center leak fixes. The Hawai‘i Convention Center’s two-year construction-­related shutdown may not resolve its decades‑old leak problems if lawmakers uphold a proposed $55 million funding cut, raising the likelihood the center will reopen in 2028 with ongoing water intrusion and safety concerns. Star-Advertiser.

Most dams in Hawaii classified as high hazard. Nearly all of Hawaii’s regulated dams are classified as “high hazard,” meaning their failure could result in loss of life — a designation that state officials say reflects downstream development, not the likelihood of collapse. Star-Advertiser.

AccuWeather estimates $2B in damage after storms. As Gov. Josh Green asks the federal government for an emergency designation to secure funding for recovery efforts, AccuWeather estimates the back-to-back Kona-low storms caused around $2 billion in damage and economic loss across the state. Star-Advertiser.

Recent storms trigger widespread cancellations, stalling tourism rebound. Back-to-back Kona-low storms slammed Hawaii just as its visitor industry was beginning to stabilize, triggering widespread trip cancellations, erasing key March and April bookings and stalling what tourism leaders say was the first sustained momentum since the 2023 Maui wildfires. Star-Advertiser.

Airbnb As Tax Collector? It’s A Familiar Debate In The Legislature. Taxpayer information collected by booking companies would be used to collect taxes but not to allow counties to crack down on illegal vacation rentals. Civil Beat.

Energy affordability signaled as state priority with Public Utilities Commission decision. The first decision and order issued by Hawaiʻi Public Utilities Commission, under the direction of Chairperson Jon Itomura, signals energy affordability as a state priority. Big Island Now.

Most Hawaii schools resume normal operations after storm disruptions. Most public schools are scheduled to resume normal operations as recovery efforts continue for impacted campuses, according to the Hawaii State Department of Education. KITV4.

Should Hawaiʻi Pay More For Teachers With Master’s Degrees? Teachers with master’s degrees have a higher starting salary than those with bachelor’s degrees, but research suggests these degrees may not improve educator quality. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Hawaiʻi Land Board Approves Acquiring Wahiawā Reservoir As Costs Increase. A budget request from Gov. Josh Green puts the new price tag on repairs to the dam and reservoir, which rose to dangerous levels during the recent Kona low, at more than $60 million. Civil Beat. Associated Press. Hawaii Public Radio.

Neglected North Shore Plantation Waterways Fueled Damaging Floods. Sugar and pineapple acreage was sold off over the years, divided into hundreds of smaller plots for farming and housing. After the deluge, everyone is pointing fingers. Civil Beat.

Scrutiny of Kaukonahua Stream grows after the devastating North Shore flooding. Families who have lived for generations along the waterway describe a system choked with debris, tangled in jurisdictional confusion and left without consistent maintenance — conditions they say turned a severe storm into a near-deadly event. Star-Advertiser.

Homeless program hit hard by flood wants to help others affected. A homeless program on Oahu’s windward side that was hit hard by the flooding during the Kona low storms now wants to help others who were affected. Hawaii News Now.

‘No Dictators’ demonstrators allowed to return to State Capitol after bomb threat. Demonstrators participating in the “No Dictators” protest were allowed back onto the grounds of the State Capitol around noon Saturday after a bomb threat temporarily closed the area. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Expansion of Hilo Benioff Medical Center making progress; clinic building to open in June. As part of the ongoing expansion of the Hilo Benioff Medical Center campus, a new 20,000-square-foot clinic building is preparing to open in June and a 55,000-square foot building with 55 patient beds is expected to be completed in early 2027. Big Island Now.

Legislation seeks to bolster Pahoa. The Hawaii County Windward Planning Commission will consider three bills at its meeting Thursday that would rezone parts of downtown Pahoa, allowing for a greater scope of commercial activities including agricultural processing, co-working office spaces, “cultural enterprises” — even indoor sports arenas. Tribune-Herald.

Growing agritourism on Hawaiʻi Island. Agritourism has become a powerful tool for Hawaiʻi farmers looking to diversify their income and connect with consumers. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kona area to adopt protocols to limit coconut rhinoceros beetle. The state Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity has approved new measures to limit the spread of coconut rhinoceros beetles on Hawaiʻi Island. Hawaii Public Radio.

‘We’re being called to rise’: More than 3,200 turn out for ‘No Kings’ rally. The sidewalks on both sides of Kamehameha Avenue in downtown Hilo swelled with protesters Saturday as thousands turned out for the third “No Kings” National Day of Nonviolent Action. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Sugimura picks up endorsement in bid for Maui County mayor. The Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters has endorsed Yuki Lei Sugimura for Maui County mayor. Maui News.

Lahaina Wastewater Plant Spilled 200,000 Gallons. Why Did People Still Swim? Several people at nearby beaches said they did not know that backwash had overflowed from the Lahaina Wastewater Reclamation Facility days earlier. Civil Beat.

Floods compound Lahaina fire damages. Wildfires make soil hydrophobic, meaning the soil repels water rather than absorbs it, which can cause greater flash flooding and erosion, according to climatologist and University of Hawaii affiliate faculty member Abby Frazier.  Star-Advertiser.

Displaced by storm damage, over 100 Kula Hospital patients cope with separation between Maui, O‘ahu facilities. The only other hospital on the island aside from Maui Memorial Medical Center in Wailuku, Kula Hospital is a critical access facility with a 105-bed long-term skilled nursing care facility and the nine-bed Hale Makamae as well as urgent and limited emergency care, short-stay acute care, short-term rehab, imaging and lab services, and an onsite family medicine clinic.  Maui Now.

Lahaina Community Meeting to cover plans for a new Lahaina community center, Hoʻokumu Hou updates, kona storm impacts. Residents are encouraged to attend the monthly County of Maui Lahaina Community Meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at the Lahaina Intermediate School cafeteria. Maui Now.

Kauai

Probe of tour copter crash to begin. Federal agencies have begun to investigate the cause of Thursday afternoon’s crash of a tour helicopter off Kauai’s Na Pali coast that killed three people and injured two. Star-Advertiser. Kauai Now. Hawaii News Now.

Kaua‘i Homeowners Can Soon Get A Free Wildfire Home Assessment. The county responded to more than 300 brushfires last year, and officials are making the issue a major focus going forward. Civil Beat.

Kauai speaks out. Nearly 2,000 people of all ages turned out on Saturday, March 28, 2026, to become part of a nationwide protest to protect democracy at the No Dictators rally on Rice Street fronting the historic County Building in Lihue. Garden Island.