State labor force hits 6-year high as hospitality industry rebounds, Hawaii DOE hires largest cohort of foreign teachers, 1st in nation savings accounts for foster children, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii’s labor force hits 6-year high; unemployment rate increases to 2.5%. An influx of 1,400 nonfarm payroll jobs in Hawaii’s leisure and hospitality industry in May helped boost the local economy by 1,900 positions for the month as the state’s labor force reached its highest level in more than six years. Star-Advertiser.

Wespac Stacks Seats With Fishing Industry Players As Marine Protections Erode. The Hawai‘i Longline Association’s Eric Kingma and Roger Dang will join the fisheries management council next month. As the Trump administration works to open commercial fishing to U.S. fleets across the Pacific, some of its strongest allies in that push will soon fill open seats on the influential council that oversees fishing grounds around Hawaiʻi and the Western Pacific. Civil Beat.

Lost reef recreation because of climate change could cost Hawaiʻi up to $3 billion by beginning of next century. A new study finds coral reef decline driven by climate change could cost Hawaiʻi residents between $1.8 billion and $3 billion in lost reef-related activities by 2100. Big Island Now.

Hawaii fast-tracks pilot recruiting efforts as aviator shortage looms. Hawaii’s aviation industry is accelerating efforts to rebuild its pilot pipeline, turning to youth training programs and new community partnerships as retirements mount and global demand for cockpit­-ready talent continues to rise. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii DOE welcomes largest cohort of foreign teachers. Hawaii public schools will begin the upcoming academic year with a record 237 new J-1 visa teachers, bringing the state’s total number of international educators in the program to more than 600 as the state Department of Education credits overseas recruitment with helping reduce teacher vacancies to fewer than 100 statewide. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now. 

Gov. Green announces first-in-the-nation savings accounts for foster youth. Gov. Josh Green announced that Hawaiʻi is becoming the first state in the nation to ensure every eligible child in foster care, from newborn through age 17, has a funded, tax-advantaged savings and investment account.  Maui Now.

Grassroot Institute Aims To Keep Growing Its Political Influence. Now in its 25th year, the nonprofit policy research organization wants to play a larger role in influencing state and county governance. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Transportation Barriers Block The Route To Opportunities For Many On Oʻahu, Study Finds. On the same day a study was released calling for more accessible public transportation, fares for TheBus were hiked. Civil Beat.

Honolulu sees improvement in pedestrian safety, national report finds. In a recently released national pedestrian safety report, urban Honolulu ranked among the safer major metropolitan areas, even as pedestrian fatalities remain a persistent challenge locally and nationwide. Star-Advertiser.

Dole Food Co. sells Hawaii’s largest cacao farm. Dole Food Co. has exited the chocolate business in Hawaii after pioneering large-scale farming of cacao on former sugarcane fields in Waialua. Star-Advertiser.

Chinatown, Sewers And Public Safety: State House District 28 Candidate Q&As. Five Democrats are on the primary election ballot to represent urban and industrial Honolulu neighborhoods. Civil Beat.

Hawaii veterans reflect on their service, America’s role in the world. Sterling Kanoa Beair served as an Army combat medic in Iraq. He excelled in the military, attaining the rank of staff sergeant and earning accolades from his comrades and superiors. But he also carried demons from his wartime experiences as he struggled to reintegrate into civilian life, wrestling with post-traumatic stress and substance abuse, eventually finding himself homeless and living in a tent near Kaena Point. Star-Advertiser.

Emergency flood mitigation work to begin in Waianae. State transportation crews are beginning emergency flood mitigation work along Paakea Road in Waianae after recent heavy rains highlighted ongoing flooding concerns in the area. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Paid parking lots debate continues. The Hawaii County Windward Planning Commission voted unanimously Thursday to defer consideration of a bill banning new paid parking lots on the island after hearing input from the planning director and co-author of the measure. Tribune-Herald.

A new state-led vision for Hilo’s Banyan Drive resort district is in the works. Hawaii’s Legislature this year laid a foundation to turn most of the Waiakea Peninsula, including two blighted hotel sites, into a blank canvas for a state agency to plan new development that could include hotels, retail, park space, a cultural center and a performance venue larger than the nearby Edith Kanaka‘ole Multi-­Purpose Stadium that hosts the annual Merrie Monarch Festival. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Now. 

Court Clears The Way For $81M Affordable Rental Project In Kona. The Honuaʻula project was delayed for years by a Big Island affordable housing scandal and then by a dispute with a neighboring land owner. Civil Beat.

Queen’s Health Systems plans its first employee housing at new Kailua-Kona hospital. In the next five years, Hawaiʻi's largest health system will build 150 below-market-rate residential units on Hawaiʻi Island, on the campus of a planned new hospital in Kailua-Kona. They're being built for a specific group: hospital employees. Hawaii Public Radio.

UH lab gives sweet potato farmers a leg up on the Hamakua Coast. A University of Hawaii at Manoa lab, located at the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience facility in Hilo, has been working to tackle threats from numerous diseases by identifying and distributing “clean,” disease-free plants to local farmers. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Exemption path opens for Maui vacation rental phaseout. Owners of a few thousand condominiums on Maui long approved for vacation rental use have a new opportunity to sidestep an approaching ban intended to increase the supply of housing for residents after losses in the 2023 wildfire that destroyed most of Lahaina. Star-Advertiser.

Maui County’s fringe mayoral candidates add unique ideas, opinions, entertainment to race. Anyone who thinks local candidate forums are boring did not attend the Kīhei Community Association’s event on June 16 featuring nine of the 10 people running for mayor of Maui County. Maui Now.

Outdoor marketplace aims to bring business back to Front Street in Lahaina. Plans for a new outdoor marketplace on Front Street in Lahaina are bringing hope to local business owners as Maui County officials and nonprofit partners look to revive commercial activity lost in the 2023 wildfire. Maui News.

Study: Maui among areas facing early reef recreation losses. Leeward Maui is among the areas expected to see the earliest and most severe recreational losses from climate-driven coral reef decline, according to a new study that estimates Hawaii residents could lose between $1.8 billion and $3 billion in reef-related recreation by 2100. Maui News.

Kauai

A New Era for West Kaua‘i’s Agriculture? After decades of being dominated by large seed operations, the state Agribusiness Development Corp.’s Kekaha lands are slowly moving towards increased local food production. Civil Beat.

State hires contractor for Battle of Hanapepe memorial. The state has selected a contractor to build a monument to remember the 1924 Battle of Hanapepe, which was instrumental in shaping Hawaii’s labor rights. Hawaii News Now.

Record numbers of cattle shipped out of state, Oahu to get more traffic cameras in bill before Green, islands commemorate Memorial Day at military cemeteries, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiʻi Is Sending These Animals To The Mainland In Record Numbers. Local cattle are moving offshore despite state efforts to boost slaughterhouse capacity in the islands. Nearly 55,000 shipments of cattle have been made from the islands in the past three years and almost 80% of those were headed out of Hawai‘i, according to state agricultural statistics. Civil Beat.

Dual airline brands create some push back for Alaska Airlines. About 250 Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants reassigned to Seattle to staff new long-haul international routes may no longer wear flowers in their hair, lei or aloha shirts on certain flights — a highly visible change as Alaska Air Group works to merge operations while keeping two distinct brands. Star-Advertiser.

HMSA’s Latest Move Could Worsen Doctor Shortage. The insurer denied that an upcoming change in its payment model should come as a surprise to doctors, but many say the action will imperil small primary care practices. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Oahu traffic cameras would increase under bill before Green. Oahu drivers could see as many as 10 new red-light or speed cameras each year through a program that already has generated $763,000 since 2022. Star-Advertiser.

New Haleiwa agriculture park helps immigrants, refugees start farm businesses. A new 80-acre agriculture park in Haleiwa is growing more than crops. It’s helping refugees plant roots. Hawaii News Now.

Waipahu park to close for 3 months for field renovations. An extensive effort to rejuvenate the play field at Darrell T. Young Waikele Community Park in Waipahu will continue with a three-month resting period for the field that’s scheduled to begin today, city park officials say. Star-Advertiser.

Green sea turtles, a visitor draw, also face harassment. The love for turtles has caused pandemonium — including a constant stream of visitors who want to photograph the turtles, creating not only traffic woes as they dart across a busy, two-lane highway to get to Laniakea, but genuine concerns about disturbances to the sea turtle. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Green, military leaders honor fallen service members at Memorial Day ceremony. Gov. Josh Green hosted the ceremony alongside state and military leaders, veterans organizations and members of Hawaii’s congressional delegation at the Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4. 

Hawaii Island

Chronic No Shows And Tardiness Plague Hawaiʻi County Council. To address no shows at their meetings, the Hawaiʻi County Council adopted a measure to tighten up the definition of unexcused absences, giving the chair greater power to decide when to dock pay.  Civil Beat.

Management plan of polluted Hilo Bay watershed moving forward with $2 million federal grant. Hilo Bay is the state’s largest watershed, covering about 470 square miles from the summits of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa to the sea. But for decades, polluted rain runoff, untreated sewage in groundwater and other factors have led to poor water quality in the bay and its sub-watersheds, negatively impacting endangered habitats and local communities. Big Island Now.

Final EA Published on 4-Mile Creek Bridge Replacement. The plan to replace, raise, and widen the Four Mile Creek Bridge comes with proposed traffic changes at the intersection of Haihai Street and Kilauea Ave. Big Island Video News.

‘Some did not come home’: Speakers reflect on meaning of service as community honors fallen veterans. More than than 100 people gathered Monday morning at East Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2, to celebrate the most somber and patriotic of American holidays. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Facility upgrades proposed for Mākena State Park on Maui. In June, the DLNR Division of State Parks will submit to the Maui Planning Commission a proposal for phased construction that is aimed at improving the overall beach experience at the popular Mākena State Park. Maui Now.

2 rescued after plane goes down off Molokai’s Kalaupapa Airport. Two Oahu men made their way across two miles of open ocean to get to shore at Kalaupapa National Historical Park this morning after their single-engine plane went down west of Molokai’s Kalaupapa Airport, according to Maui fire officials. Star-Advertiser. Maui News.  Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Maui County remembers service members who paid the ultimate sacrifice. About 4,300 flags and lei were placed at gravesites across the Maui Veterans’ Cemetery in Makawao for Memorial Day. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative among the highest in state for renewable energy generation in 2025. Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative achieved a 52.8% Renewable Portfolio Standard for 2025, second highest in the state behind Hawai‘i Island.  Kauai Now.

Thank you, veterans! Hundreds of people took advantage of sunny weather to visit the Kauai Veterans Cemetery to honor veterans and their families resting in the hallowed ground during the Kauai Veterans Council Veterans Day ceremony. Garden Island.

Farm Bureau estimates $40M hit to ag land from Kona lows, Honolulu council blasts slow city response to North Shore flooding, Skyline edges closer to downtown, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Damages on ag land from Kona low storms estimated at $40M. During a joint hearing Wednesday, the Hawaii Farm Bureau updated state lawmakers on the impacts to agricultural lands, which the group estimated at about $40 million. The organization said about 1,600 farmers reported damages through its survey, developed with other agricultural groups — about a quarter of the roughly 6,500 farms in Hawaii. Hawaii News Now.

Measure seeks to curb deceptive cost advertising for live events, hotels. The Legislature is considering a measure that would crack down on companies misrepresenting the costs of live events and hotel lodging: when, during checkout, the total cost has significantly increased from the advertised price due to added fees. Hawaii Public Radio.

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.

Hawaiian Electric bills to soar up to 30% due to higher oil prices. Hawaii’s biggest utility on Wednesday warned customers that typical residential bills may rise between 20% and 30% over the next several months due to global oil prices soaring since late February amid the war in Iran and other geopolitical tensions. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Video News.

Citizen scientists collect hundreds of ocean samples to test storm runoff effects. The project started as a text chain last week between University of Hawaiʻi researchers Sara Kahanamoku, Nyssa Silbiger and Andrea Kealoha. As the state reeled from heavy rains, the group wondered how the resulting runoff of floodwaters into the ocean might affect Hawaiʻi’s reefs. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Honolulu Council Criticizes Slow City Response To North Shore Flooding. City officials didn’t immediately have a clear picture of conditions on the ground. By the time they did, they said evacuation might not have been the safest option.  Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2. 

North Shore Flood Will Add A Month’s Worth Of Debris To Landfill. The city has limited options when it comes to disposing tons of refuse from the flash floods that roared through the North Shore last month. Civil Beat.

Multiple high bacteria advisories in place for North Shore beaches. A high bacteria advisory means there are high levels of enterococci, which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency uses as an indicator of fecal matter in the water and, therefore, the possible presence of disease-causing bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. Star-Advertiser.

First guideway column completed for Skyline’s downtown extension. The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) announced the first of 148 columns that will be installed to support the guideway along Segment 3 stretching from Middle Street to Civic Center Station in Kakaako. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

State’s first health learning lab opens at Waianae High School. Waianae High School, home of the Seariders, became the first public school in Hawaii to get a state-of-the-art health learning lab on Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Land under BOH Waikiki Center sold for $67M. The sale of the leased fee interest under most of the Bank of Hawaii Waikiki Center fronting Kalakaua Avenue and Beach Walk was made to an undisclosed buyer, according to Ian Clagstone of brokerage firm Standard Commercial, who represented the seller. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Progress on roundabout for Waimea near Parker School. Gov. Josh Green has released $1.4 million in capital improvement project funds for initial work on the Waimea Roadways Improvement Project, according to state Rep. David Tarnas, a Waimea Democrat. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now. 

Public Invited To Comment On Plans For 95-acre Shoreline In South Kona. The National Park Service Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail is working on a long-term management plan for the Kauleolī parcel. Big Island Video News.

Police Roll Out New “Blue And White” Patrol Vehicles. Twenty-one new, marked “blue and white” patrol vehicles have been delivered to the Hawaiʻi Police Department, and will soon be appearing in all districts on the Big Island. Big Island Video News.

More help sought in fight against coconut rhinoceros beetle. As detections of the highly destructive coconut rhinoceros beetle in West Hawaii continue to climb, two bills making their way through the state Legislature aim to slow the bugs’ spread in markedly different ways. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Wailuku Water Co.’s damaged system has left farmers without water. Who will repair it? Central Maui’s water supply is short by 3 million gallons a day, with users cut off in Waikapū, after two consecutive Kona low storms last month damaged Wailuku Water Co.’s private system, Maui County officials said Sunday. Maui Now.

DWS requests South Maui conservation of nonessential water use April 3 due to mainline repair. The County of Maui Department of Water Supply is requesting all South Maui customers, including residents, visitors, hotels and condominium properties, to conserve water and limit nonessential use from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, April 3, 2026, while crews work to repair a mainline break. Maui Now.

Legacy Land Conservation Grants awarded to five projects on Maui and Molokaʻi. Pristine coastal areas, culturally significant shorelines, native forest habitat and lands that support traditional practices and community access will now be protected with the help of state funding for land acquisition. Maui Now.

Kalaupapa 'waited it out' during the storms but experienced its share of damage. Many Molokaʻi communities were hit hard by the recent Kona low storms, including the remote peninsula of Kalaupapa. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Community invited to workshop for Kaua‘i Comprehensive Safety Action Plan. Kauaʻi County is developing the safety action plan to identify strategies to improve road safety and move toward the goal of eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries for all road users. Kauai Now.

Commercial aquarium harvesting rules proposed, another raise planned for Honolulu officials, police use pepper spray at middle school, double-digit rise in tourism, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Aquarium fishing considered; 2 public meetings to be held this week. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Aquatic Resources is holding a pair of public meetings as part of what it is calling a “holomua project” on a proposed set of rules that could lead to the return of harvesting fish in West Hawaii for saltwater aquariums worldwide. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii tourism arrivals, spending climb, but challenges loom. Visitor spending in Hawaii rose at a double-digit pace in February, up 10.3% from a year earlier to $1.91 billion, unadjusted for inflation, according to preliminary data released Monday by the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Total visitor arrivals also increased, up 3.6% to an estimated 787,024 visitors during the month. Star-Advertiser.

From farms to produce vendors, Kona low impacts widespread. It’s uncertain what the overall loss will be, but a joint state House and Senate briefing scheduled for Wednesday at the state Capitol will hear early damage estimates, along with “the urgent needs of farmers and ranches,” according to an announcement of the briefing. Star-Advertiser.

State could have to do more outreach on disaster preparation. Hawaiʻi lawmakers could require the state to do more public outreach on how to prepare for major disasters. Hawaii Public Radio.

Affordable housing bills still alive in the Legislature. Attorney Scott Settle joins producer/host Coralie Chun Matayoshi to discuss affordable housing bills including the usual mix of subsidies, permitting reforms, and land use changes, a new idea (housing infrastructure growth bonds) which would allow counties to borrow against future property tax revenue and require a Constitutional amendment, tradeoffs involved in perpetual restrictions to make housing more available and affordable for locals, and notable bills that did not pass this legislative session. KHON2.

Bill to extract more taxes from rental car industry stalls. The last of six bills introduced this year proposing to apply the retail general excise tax on wholesale vehicle purchases by car rental companies was deferred last week after a contentious public hearing. Star-Advertiser.

Kamehameha Schools lawsuit plaintiffs seek anonymity amid death threats. A mother and daughter suing Kamehameha Schools over its admissions policy want to remain anonymous because of death threats to their lawyers. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Another Raise For Honolulu Politicians? Salary Group Says Yes. If approved, it would be the third raise in three years for top city officials.  Civil Beat.

Council proposes defunding city’s Office of Economic Revitalization. A city agency tasked with leading Oahu’s economic development may see much of its funding cut and a majority of its positions slashed following a budgetary proposal by the Honolulu City Council. Star-Advertiser.

Police Use Of Pepper Spray At Hawaiʻi School Boosts Calls For Counselors. Some community members say the incident at a Kapolei Middle School underscores the need for behavioral health staff at the state’s public schools. Civil Beat.

Flooding shuts down Hokulani Elementary through the end of the school year.  One week after rapid floods destroyed their classrooms, Hokulani Elementary School students are getting ready to move to different schools. KITV4.

Central Oahu park to be storm waste site for at least another month. A couple hundred tons of storm debris has been moved from Oahu’s North Shore to Central Oahu Regional Park in the days since the floods. Hawaii News Now.

Cleanup continues on Oahu’s North Shore, 23 homes ‘lost entirely’ .  Folks on the North Shore of Oahu are still clearing out the mess caused by back-to-back storms. KHON2.
 
Hawaii Island

ʻŌhiʻa Restrictions Remain In Effect As Merrie Monarch Festival Nears. A restriction remains in effect on the transport of ʻōhiʻa from Hawai‘i Island, state officials say, as travelers prepare to attending the Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo next week. Big Island Video News.

Tamashiro Market to close April 30 after over 80 years. After more than eight dec­ades serving fresh fish and building a fiercely loyal customer base in Kalihi, Tamashiro Market will close its doors April 30, bringing an end to a family business rooted in immigration, resilience and community. Star-Advertiser.

April’s monthly emergency siren test aligns with 80th anniversary of deadly tsunami to Hawaiian Islands. The upcoming monthly statewide all-hazard siren system test aligns with the 80th anniversary of the devastating 1946 tsunami that struck the Hawaiian Islands, leading to the tragic loss of over 100 lives, according to a news release from Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency. Big Island Now.

Maui

Groundbreaking held for Olowalu Fire Station, additional funding needed for completion. Maui Fire Department Chief Bradford Ventura said that adding a third fire station on the west side is not only a benefit to the community but also to the safety of firefighters.  Maui Now.

Construction Industry of Maui invests $44,000 in UH Maui College trades program. The Construction Industry of Maui is doubling down on the island’s future, announcing a $44,000 donation to University of Hawai‘i Maui College to fund 12 scholarships for students in the construction vocational program. Maui Now.

Kauai

Rudy Tai officially assumes KPD command. The Kauai Police Department held a Change of Command ceremony Monday to mark the official transition of leadership from outgoing Interim Police Chief Elliott Kalani Ke to incoming Police Chief Rudy Tai.  Garden Island. Hawaii News Now.

Kauaʻi County Council hears support, concerns about Santos, an appointee to Planning Commission. The Kaua‘i County Council on Wednesday began considering Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami’s appointment of Ku‘uleialoha Santos to the seven-member Planning Commission, with some community members voicing strong support, highlighting her experience, while others had concerns about potential conflicts of interest. Kauai Now.

‘Pretty Unusual’: Big Changes Are Possible At The Kauaʻi County Council. With four open seats, this election presents a chance for better gender and geographic diversity. Civil Beat.

Community meetings scheduled to discuss proposed water rate increases in Kaua‘i County. The Kauaʻi Department of Water is hosting a series of community meetings to discuss capital infrastructure needs and associated proposed water rate increases. Kauai Now.

Green asks federal government to pick up 90% of $1B storm damage cost, only $500k emergency state relief available for farmers' $11M in damages, PUC approves Waiau power plant, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Green seeks major federal aid as storm strikes again. The state is asking the federal government to assume 90% of the expected $1 billion-plus in Kona-low storm recovery costs, Gov. Josh Green said Monday after yet another punishing round of torrential rain overwhelmed communities. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. 

Here’s what to know as the scope of damage from Hawaii’s floods becomes clearer. The worst flooding to hit Hawaii in two decades has swept homes off their foundations, floated cars out of driveways and left floors, walls and counters covered in thick, reddish volcanic mud.  Associated Press. Hawaii Public Radio. 

Should Oil And Gas Companies Pay To Clean Up Hawaiʻi’s Flood Damage? Disasters linked to climate change are hitting the islands more often, heating up debate over who’s responsible and should ultimately cover the costs. Civil Beat.

Hawai‘i Farmers Confront $11M In Flood Damage Without A Safety Net. Crop insurance is hard to attain in Hawaiʻi, and federal programs are tailored to mainland agriculture. Civil Beat.

State launches emergency relief grants for farmers, ranchers impacted by Kona lows. The Hawaii Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity said the Emergency Farmer Relief Program will provide one-time grants of $1,500 to eligible farms, ranches, and agricultural businesses impacted by Kona Low 1 and Kona Low 2. A total of $500,000 has been authorized for the program. Hawaii News Now.

Homeowners, renters face limited flood-insurance options. Homeowners and renters who did not purchase specific flood insurance before back-to-back Kona-low storms battered the islands likely will have to absorb any financial losses to their homes and property, according to the head of Hawaii’s insurance division. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii DOE updates school closure list, adding 2 on Oahu. The Hawaii Department of Education announced several new school closures due to the heavy rains that have pounded the state since last week. Several already-announced closures were also extended. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now. 

Military officials, community members discuss the future as military land leases near expiration. The first Hawaiʻi-Military Lands Discussion brought together community advocates and activists, military officials and representatives, business leaders, and policymakers to share information and perspectives on military land use in Hawaiʻi. Big Island Now.

Farmers wrestle with proposed statewide rules on agricultural tourism. House Bill 2585 had proposed to create standardized rules for tourism-related activities on agricultural land, like farm tours. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Waiau power plant Biofuel project approved. The state Public Utilities Commission has snubbed a request by the state’s chief energy officer to defer a decision on a proposed biofuel power plant on Oahu, approving the project Monday. Star-Advertiser.

UHERO study: Building condo tower leads to hundreds of existing homes becoming available. A single new condominium tower in Honolulu may have opened up hundreds of additional housing opportunities across Oʻahu, according to new research from the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization. Big Island Now.

Scope of damage from Kona storm flooding becomes clearer. Crews continued to assess the destruction Monday, but authorities said hundreds of homes had been damaged, along with some schools and a hospital. No deaths have been reported, but more than 230 people had to be rescued.  Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2. 

Officials acknowledge mixed messages on Wahiawa Dam risk. Whether Wahiawa Dam was safe or about to fail was top of mind throughout these storms. It became a flashpoint for what officials now acknowledge were “mixed messages” about the risk. KHON2.

Wastewater spills triggered around Oahu, city says. Two Kona-low storms which brought heavy rains that flooded whole communities on Oahu over the past two weeks also triggered numerous wastewater spills across the island, city officials say. Star-Advertiser.

Stay out of ocean after storm, officials warn. From Waikiki to Waimea Bay on Oahu’s North Shore, the storms have transformed near-shore ocean waters from turquoise blue to brown. The Hawaii Department of Health has a message for the public — when the water is brown, stay out. Star-Advertiser.

On Top Of Everything Else Facing Storm-Ravaged Oʻahu … Potholes. After two intense Kona lows, calls to a city hotline to report potholes tripled. As drivers dodge divots, the city is just beginning to assess the damage. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Lightning Grounds Kona Flights, Flood Watch Continues For Hawaiʻi Island. In a sign that the severe weather threat for Hawaiʻi island has not yet ended, the Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole (KOA) underwent a ground stop Monday morning due to lightning. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. 

Maui

Mayor to hold community meetings in storm-impacted areas of Upcountry, ʻĪao Valley and South Maui. Mayor Richard Bissen will hold community meetings for residents Upcountry, and in ʻĪao Valley and South Maui to discuss impacts of the recent kona storms in those areas. Maui Now.

Changes upslope could help curb South Maui’s mud flooding issue, experts say. Maui County Council Member Tom Cook, who holds the Kīhei residency seat, also believes the solution to Kīhei’s flooding and drainage issues has to take place higher up the mountain, or the same thing will keep happening every winter, pointing to the example of the Kūlanihāko‘i gulch that was cleared of thousands of cubic yards of sediment last spring only to be clogged once more after the most recent Kona low.  Maui Now.

Kauai

UPDATE: Wastewater spill at the Līhu‘e Wastewater Treatment Plant has ceased. Approximately 280,000 gallons were released during peak flows from 10 a.m. on March 17, 2026, through March 22. The discharge was contained within the facility and did not reach any public areas or state waters, and does not pose a risk to public health, according to the Wastewater Management Division. Kauai Now.

Audit blasts DOE local foods initiative, US to exhume 88 unknown USS Arizona casualties, Honolulu council defers affordable rental bill, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Push To Feed Hawaiʻi Kids More Local Food Is ‘Structural Disaster’. The DOE has not taken the effort seriously and has no real plan for how to meet a legislative mandate to spend 30% of its food budget locally by 2030, according to a state audit. Civil Beat.

Full report on school lunch program. Office of the Hawaii Auditor.

Free student meals back on the table at the Legislature. On Wednesday the House Committee on Finance moved along House Bill 1779, which would give all students free breakfast and lunch at school starting with the 2029-2030 school year. The measure also includes public charter school students. Hawaii Public Radio.

Officers would have to expose their faces under bills. House and Senate bills that would prohibit law enforcement officers from covering their faces and limit local law enforcement cooperation with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials remain alive and appear ready to move into the opposite chamber of the state Capitol for further consideration. Star-Advertiser.

US aims to exhume and identify 88 USS Arizona crew members buried as unknowns after Pearl Harbor. The U.S. military plans to exhume the remains of 88 sailors and Marines killed when the USS Arizona was bombed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and who were buried as unknowns in a Honolulu cemetery. Associated Press.

People In Crisis Still Keep Their Guns. Can Hawaiʻi Change That? Lawmakers want to raise awareness about the state’s red flag law, which has been virtually unused in the last six years — despite a significant increase in gun deaths. Civil Beat.

State launches 2026 Hawaiʻi Quality of Life and Well-Being Survey. Share your thoughts about quality of life in Hawaiʻi with new survey. Multiple choice and short answer questions range from cost of living to mental health to transportation. Although the survey is anonymous, there are some demographic questions to allow researchers to determine if certain issues are impacting some groups more than others. Hawaii Public Radio. Big Island Now. 

Oahu 

Council defers affordable rentals measure pending further study. Introduced in February by Council Vice Chair Andria Tupola, Bill 18, which proposes amendments to the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu that govern the city’s affordable rental housing laws, was postponed due to a mixed level of support from many in the development community. Star-Advertiser.

City considers loan forgiveness to recruit engineers, cut permit backlog. During a city briefing Thursday, officials said staffing shortages at the Department of Planning and Permitting remain a major factor slowing projects across Oahu, including affordable housing developments. Hawaii News Now.

Agreement opens Kolekole Pass in emergencies. Military and state officials have signed a new memorandum of understanding establishing procedures to open Kolekole Pass during emergencies to support communities along the Waianae coast. Star-Advertiser.

State Agrees To Settle Lawsuit Over Oʻahu Jail Suicide. Lawyers for the defense and prosecution called the jail to warn that a prisoner was suicidal. Then the inmate hanged himself in a cell. Civil Beat.

Police release findings of skeletal remains on Mid-Pacific Institute campus. The human skeletal remains found on Mid-Pacific Institute’s Manoa campus in January appear to be ancient, police said Thursday. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources will further review the remains. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

$13.4 Million In FEMA Funds For Waiānuenue Avenue Bridge. The modernized bridge will be designed to withstand earthquake forces and erosion from flooding. Big Island Video News.

New Hawaii pilot program aims to curb evictions, keep disputes out of court. A new statewide pre-eviction mediation law that went into effect last month has already had success in keeping Hawaii Island tenants in their homes. Tribune-Herald.

Water Restriction Notice Issued After Honomū Well Breakdown. Affected customers are required to reduce water use by at least 25 percent until further notice. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Maui mayor sets housing and rebuilding as top priorities in 2026 State of the County Address. Mayor Richard Bissen highlighted Maui County’s continued progress across housing, recovery, well-being and economic stability, while outlining actions to strengthen communities and build a resilient future. Maui Now.

Maui Wildfire Lawyers Vying For $1 Billion Payday. Lawyers for Maui wildfire victims are lining up for a potential $1 billion payday, pending a ruling by Circuit Court Judge Peter Cahill. But the judge may have a say in the matter, and could reduce the amount paid to those lawyers who represented individual fire victims. Civil Beat.

Long-awaited affordable housing project is underway on Lānaʻi. The first affordable housing project on Lānaʻi in 35 years is set to begin construction this year. Kaiāulu O Lānaʻi will offer 72 rent-to-own units. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui Food Bank purchases eight-acre Central Maui parcel to build future resiliency campus. Maui Food Bank has completed the purchase of an eight-acre parcel of land located at the corner of Kūihelani Highway and Waikō Road in Central Maui for $9.25 million. Maui Now.

Kauai

Līhuʻe Airport’s improvement plan includes modernization, not adding capacity. Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation officials presented a draft optimization plan for Līhuʻe Airport on Tuesday evening, emphasizing the effort is focused on modernization and efficiency — and not expansion. Kauai Now.

Four months later, updates on a Kauaʻi immigration raid. Four months ago, Kauaʻi County Councilmember Fern Holland watched an immigration raid unfold across from her home. It was at 4 a.m., and when it was all over, 44 people — mostly Venezuelan nationals — were picked up. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Foodbank Kauai provides help for TSA workers. The Hawaii Foodbank Kauai rolled out its recently dedicated Mobile Pantry refrigerated transporter to provide more than 150 emergency food packages for local Transportation Security Administration and U.S. Coast Guard workers caught up in a partial government shutdown. Garden Island

New life for state's film industry, Legislature mulls misdemeanor charges for officials who don't report bribery, bill would protect gender-affirming care providers, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

After a dry spell, three film and television productions underway in Hawaii. Hawaii’s film industry is staging a comeback, with three major film and TV productions getting underway in the islands. The Netflix series “Untamed” is the first series since “Rescue HI Surf,” which was canceled in May of last year. It was a blow for a sector that generated over $320 million for the state’s economy in 2024. Hawaii News Now.

The Success Of Hawaiʻi’s Food And Farm Bills Could Depend On One Thing. As Hawaiʻi continues to pinch pennies and fill holes created by federal cuts, lawmakers may have to choose between bills designed to bolster local food or fight invasive species. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke stays silent on state subpoenas. Twelve days after Hawaii’s attorney general said she issued multiple subpoenas and completed interviews in a criminal investigation born out of a federal political bribery case, Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke will not say if she has been subpoenaed by state investigators. Star-Advertiser.

Measure could allow misdemeanor charge for failure to report bribery. Senators advanced a measure Tuesday that would allow elected officials to be charged with a misdemeanor if they're found to have failed to report bribery. Hawaii Public Radio.

Legislative Caucuses Can Help Make The Difference In Getting Bills Passed. Lawmakers combine forces to push measures helping women, kids and working families. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers consider bill to protect gender-affirming care providers. HB1875 would not create any new care standards or practices, but it seeks to ensure that those providing gender-affirming care would be safe from out-of-state legal actions, insurance policies, or licensing consequences. Hawaii Public Radio.

State support could energize movement to equip more homes with plug-in solar. On Tuesday afternoon, the state House Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce deferred one of two remaining balcony solar bills after the Office of the State Fire Marshal and other fire and law enforcement agencies raised concerns that the National Electrical Code would need to be updated to ensure the safe installation of these systems. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

More Design Delays Could Push Back Honolulu Rail Project — Again. The city center segment of the $10B rail project is supposed to open in March 2031, but an outside consultant questions whether that plan is still feasible. Civil Beat.

Red Hill: Fears linger over Navy reopening water shaft. After waiting hours to hear the latest update on the Red Hill water crisis cleanup at a lengthy meeting Tuesday with the Commission on Water Resource Management, concerned community members learned the Navy had left the meeting. Star-Advertiser.

36 city parks designated as ‘On-Leash’ allowing for dogs on leashes. The Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation has added 36 new on-leash dog parks. That move doubles the number already in place. KHON2.

Changes coming to high-traffic Hawaii offramp, intersections. Transportation officials said there have been over 12 serious crashes near the Koko Head offramp in recent years. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Hilo Officer pleads no contest to tampering with evidence in search case. Hawaii Police Department Officer Blane Kenolio pleaded no contest Wednesday to a charge of tampering with physical evidence. The charge stemmed from Kenolio’s unconstitutional search of an arrestee’s belongings on May 24, 2023, inside the Hilo Police Station. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. KITV4.

Hawaiʻi County Changes Mulch Loading Fees For Commercial Customers. Hawaiian Earth Recycling, will be charging commercial customers $5 per cubic yard at the Kealakehe Recycling and Transfer Station. Commercial customers will be charged $20 per cubic yard at the East Hawaiʻi Organics Facility. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

Maui

Plan floated to solve West Maui water crisis. The plan, presented by TY Management Corp. to the state Commission on Water Resource Management on Tuesday, intends to benefit Maui County, financially struggling Maui Land &Pineapple Co., a state agriculture development agency, Native Hawaiian taro farmers, other small farmers, Kapalua homeowners and TY. Star-Advertiser.

Treecovery helps Maui wildfire recovery. In December, Treecovery, three Rotary Clubs, Maui County, and the Lahaina Restoration Foundation helped with a native-planting at Keawaiki Park near Lahaina Harbor. Maui News. 

Controversial $13M Nāpili home now offering partial ownership to buyers. Cohana Homes, which describes itself as a vacation home co-ownership company, is offering 25% ownership of the house for $3.55 million apiece. The entire 7,344-square-foot house at 5385 Lower Honoapi‘ilani Road is listed with a value of $12.9 million. Maui Now.

Kauai

State Senate confirms new circuit court judge for Kaua‘i.  The Hawai’i State Senate voted to confirm Stephanie R.S. Char, Gov. Josh Green’s selection to fill the vacancy in the Fifth Circuit Court of the Fifth Circuit, created by the retirement of Judge Kathleen N.A. Watanabe in August 2025. Kauai Now.

Group created to protect Kauai from CRB. CRB Action Kauai, a new community-driven initiative, has formed to support Kauai residents, landowners, farmers, businesses and community groups responding to the growing threat of the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB), an invasive pest impacting coconut and other palms across the island. Garden Island.

Legislature mulls saving night skies, controlling corporate campaign spending, allowing rodeos and events on ag land, unmasking federal agents; Kauai chicken pox outbreak intensifies, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Supporters of night sky bill say people are 'in the dark about light'.  Efforts to protect Hawaiʻi's night skies are gaining momentum at the state Legislature through a new bill that would regulate artificial lighting. HB1579 would establish outdoor light fixture requirements based on the Kelvin scale and the direction of the light, and it suggests that the fixtures operate on a timer or motion sensor basis. Hawaii Public Radio.

ICE unmasking bill is amended. The first of several bills designed to unmask federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents was amended Thursday in response to concerns from the Honolulu Police Department and state Department of Law Enforcement to allow some of their non-undercover officers to cover their faces in certain instances. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio. 

Could Hawaiʻi pioneer this 'untested' approach to stop corporate campaign spending? Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Karl Rhoads said he wants to get corporate spending in elections under control. In 2024, the last election year, the largest single donation to a political candidate running for state office did not come from a person. It came from a housing development company. Hawaii Public Radio.

Rodeos could be permitted on Hawaiʻi's agricultural land. Rodeos and related activities could be permitted on Hawaiʻi agricultural-zoned land — if a proposal passes through the state legislative session this year. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii's economy remains stable, says Gov. Green at State of Economy event. Governor Josh Green expressed optimism about Hawaii's economy at a State of Economy event on Thursday, stating it is stable and likely to remain so for the rest of the year. KITV4.

SHOPO seats new leadership following 27.5% pay increase. Don Faumuina, SHOPO State President, is a 25-year veteran of Honolulu Police Department. Star-Advertiser.

Report shows strong use of Hawaii medical cannabis program. A new independent economic analysis commissioned by the state Department of Health’s Office of Medical Cannabis Control and Regulation finds that the state’s medical cannabis program captures the vast majority of patient spending and is effectively serving registered users, while also outlining how a future adult-use cannabis market could reshape demand, regulation and public health risks. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu City Council defers affordable housing bill. A Honolulu City Council measure that seeks to amend the city’s affordable housing requirements to allow below-market-rate for-sale and rental units either to be sold or leased more quickly was first under review then just as quickly postponed this week. Star-Advertiser.

Red Hill Victims Dealt A Blow In Their Fight Against The Navy. Red Hill water contamination victims accused the federal government last year of tainting fuel samples which they say would’ve been key to their pending lawsuit, but a federal judge on Wednesday rejected those claims. Civil Beat.

Man charged with threatening to kill federal officer and family. A 40-year-old Waianae man is free on bond and facing a criminal charge after he allegedly threatened to kill a federal law enforcement officer and their family. Nehemiah Kealoha was indicted on Jan. 22 for threatening to assault and murder a federal law enforcement officer in connection with a Nov. 7 incident, U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson announced in a statement. Star-Advertiser.

HPD Officers Fired For Burglary, Assault And Fraud Could Be Rehired. Discharges are usually challenged and can be bumped down to suspensions, the records show, allowing cops to return to work. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. 

City pushes to install paved sidewalks in congested McCully neighborhood. The city’s Complete Streets program is looking at increasing safety in a McCully neighborhood where the streets are narrow, traffic is heavy, and the sidewalks are missing. The densely populated neighborhood is just west of McCully Street, between Kapiolani Boulevard and South King Street. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. 

Makiki Community Garden hit again as fencing plans remain unfinished. Police detectives were in the garden asking questions and hearing from others about the ongoing theft problem. HPD said they are currently investigating the incident as a Theft 4. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Officers’ misconduct detailed. Two Hawaii Police Department officers were fired in 2025, although neither dismissal is final, and an officer fired in 2023 for burglary and assault is seeking to return to the force after a deferred plea acceptance resulted in his conviction being expunged from the record. That’s according to the department’s annual disciplinary report for 2025 to the state Legislature, which also lists 16 incidents of officers being suspended from duty without pay ranging from a day to 30 days. Tribune-Herald.

Mauna Loa Seismic Activity Increased Over Past Month. Seismic activity under Mauna Loa increased slightly over the past month, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported in its monthly update on the massive Hawaiʻi island volcano, published Thursday.  Big Island Video News.

West Hawai‘i Region of Hawai‘i Health Systems Corporation to celebrate opening of new infusion center on Big Island. West Hawai‘i Region of Hawaiʻi Health Systems Corporation invites the public to join the celebration for its newly expanded infusion center at Kona Community Hospital in Kealakekua on the west side of the Big Island. Big Island Now.

Maui

Hawaiʻi Wrongly Jailed Him For 20 Years. Reparations Came Too Late. Alvin Jardine fought for nearly a decade to be paid under the state’s wrongful conviction compensation law. He died before receiving payment. Civil Beat.

Man whose mother was found among 189 decaying bodies tells the story. Derrick Johnson buried his mother’s ashes beneath a golden dewdrop tree with purple blossoms at his home on Maui’s Haleakalā Volcano, fulfilling her wish of a final resting place looking over her grandchildren.Then the FBI called. Hundreds of families learned from officials that the ashes they ceremonially spread or kept close weren’t actually their loved ones’ remains. The bodies of their mothers, fathers, grandparents, children and babies had moldered in a room-temperature building in Colorado. Associated Press.

Judge unseals ‘salacious’ evidence in Maui doctor attempted murder case. New details in the case of a Maui doctor accused of trying to kill his wife revealed shocking claims on both sides, and the judge decided new evidence should be unsealed. Hawaii News Now.

Maui leads state in whale sightings during January survey of koholā. Volunteers counted 694 humpback whales off the shores of Maui during the annual Great Whale Count, the highest number recorded among the islands during the first coordinated survey of the 2026 season. Maui Now.

Kauai 

Kauai chickenpox outbreak increases to 10 cases across 4 schools.  In addition to the five cases reprted last week, reported last week linked to Kilauea Elementary School, five additional cases were reported this morning from three other schools — Hanalei Elementary, Kaua’i Christian Academy and Island School. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

Jennie Chahanovich confirmed to serve partial term on Kauaʻi County Fire Commission. Kaua’i Mayor Derek Kawakami on Wednesday nominated and confirmed Jennie Chahanovich to fill a partial term that was vacant on the Kauaiʻ County Fire Commission. Kauai Now.

Kauai sees the most whales statewide according to most recent count. On Kauai, the total number of whales observed during the day’s count was 467 from the participating sites. According to the statewide results of the Sanctuary Ocean Count released on Thursday, Kauai saw more whales during the count period than any of the other participating islands. Garden Island.

US, China held maritime security talks in Hawaii, flower industry wilting, state gets $31M for high-speed internet, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii’s flower industry wilts as it faces changing tastes, global competition. According to federal and state data, the local floriculture industry generated $83.4 million in 2000 and $75.6 million in 2010; by 2022 that figure dropped to $47.1 million and fell again in 2023 to $43.9 million. The Hawai‘i Agricultural Foundation convened more than 200 industry leaders Tuesday to discuss how to stabilize the sector. Star-Advertiser.

Hawai‘i Farmers Are Investing In Tech To Protect Property And Livestock. Local farmers and ranchers are eager to invest more in technological solutions to their real world problems, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data. Civil Beat.

U.S., China held maritime security talks in Hawaii, Chinese navy says. The U.S. and Chinese militaries last week  held “frank and constructive” maritime security talks in Hawaii, the Chinese navy said Saturday, as the two superpowers gradually restore military-to-military communications after several months of trade tensions. Reuters.

Gov. Green predicts Newsom won't satisfy U.S. desire for a peacemaking leader in 2028. Gov. Josh Green, a Hawaiʻi Democrat who has floated the possibility of running for president, predicted that Americans will want a peacemaker once Donald Trump’s second term is over — and California Gov. Gavin Newsom may not fit the bill. Hawaii Public Radio.

Army in Hawaii reinvests in boats for service in the Pacific. As the U.S. military has tried to shift resources from drawn-out conflicts in the Middle East to confront China and prepare for the prospect of a very different kind of engagement, the Army has dusted off the Kuroda and the Smalls and has more ambitious plans. It also is testing a new boat prototype in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Schatz: Hawai’i to receive $31M in new federal funding to expand high-speed internet. National Telecommunications and Information Administration approved a proposal that will unlock $30.6 million in new federal funding to expand high-speed internet access throughout Hawai‘i. Kauai Now.

New Hawaiian Airlines CEO sees gradual changes continuing under Alaska. Hawaiian Airlines recently named former Alaska Air Group executive Diana Birkett Rakow as its CEO. Alaska Air Group officially acquired Hawaiian Airlines in September of last year for $1.6 billion, setting off a long integration process. Hawaii Public Radio.

Strong cruise recovery collides with Hawaii’s climate rules. Cruise ship visitation to Hawaii has set a course for its strongest rebound in nearly two decades, but new state rules requiring cleaner-burning fuels and expanded “green fees” are sparking legal challenges and raising questions about the industry’s future. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. 

Independent workers in Hawaii brace for skyrocketing health premiums. American Rescue Plan Act premiums are rising an average of 30% in 2026 for states such as Hawaii that use the federal healthcare.gov platform. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Former Lifeguard Chief Who Sparred With Mayor Is Finalist For His Old Job. After falling out with Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi a year and a half ago, former Ocean Safety Chief John Titchen is interested in getting his job back. Civil Beat.

Hitachi files new $320M lawsuit against HART. Skyline’s principal contractor has brought a new $320 million lawsuit against the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation over claims the rail agency caused numerous costly delays during the phased construction of the city’s $10 billion-plus rail line. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi Foodbank gets biggest chunk of state's $50M fund for nonprofits. The Hawaiʻi Foodbank is set to receive $5.5 million from the state Legislature's grant program for nonprofits impacted by federal funding cuts. Hawaii Public Radio.

Waipahu buyback event nets 724 pounds of fireworks. The state Department of Law Enforcement and partner agencies collected 724 pounds of fireworks during a buyback amnesty event Sunday at the Honolulu Police Department’s Training Academy in Waipahu. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.  KITV4.

Botanical garden in Windward Oahu closing for improvements. Camping will be temporarily unavailable at Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden in Kaneohe until 2026.  Hawaii News Now.

Unofficial Security Guard Arrested At ‘Hell Hole’ Honolulu Office Building. There is escalating violence at the squalid building, where Union Mall Development has turned former office suites into housing that lacks proper kitchens and bathrooms. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Jim Wilson dead at 92: Longtime Tribune-Herald publisher was a tireless advocate for the community. Jim Wilson, retired longtime publisher of the Hawaii Tribune-Herald, died Friday morning at home in Volcano. He was 92. Tribune-Herald.

Council passes bill to allow henneries in residential areas. With egg prices still hovering near double digits, Hawaii Island families may soon find relief in their own backyards after the County Council voted Wednesday to legalize household henneries in most residential zones. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiʻi County agency created to improve animal control already seeking new administrator. Last month, Matthew Runnells, the agency’s first administrator selected by former mayor Mitch Roth’s office, was quietly reassigned to a veterinarian technician position at the county-owned Pana‘ewa Zoo at the behest of current mayor Kimo Alameda. Big Island Now.

Hawaii County converting Hilo hotel to affordable rentals. Hawaii County’s Office of Housing and Community Development has purchased the Dolphin Bay Hotel in Hilo, with plans to convert guest rooms into 18 affordable rentals, officials announced Friday. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Video News. 

Final Kona Open Space Network Plan To Be Presented, December 4. The Hawaiʻi County Planning Department will present the final conceptual plan to the public from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Makaeo County Pavilion. Big Island Video News.

County still determining ‘next steps’ for Moku‘ola bridge. Hawaii County is using emergency procurement procedures to hire a structural engineer to analyze the foot bridge between Waiakea Peninsula and Moku‘ola (Coconut Island), according to Parks and Recreation Director Clayton Honma. Tribune-Herald.

Plumbing leaks plague Kealakehe Elementary School. Persistent plumbing problems have plagued Kealakehe Elementary School in Kailua-Kona for years, a crisis that escalated earlier this week when what several teachers described as sewage leaked from the second floor into a third-grade classroom during the school day. Star-Advertiser.


Maui

What’s the health toll of 2023 Maui wildfires on firefighters? Long-term study aims to find out. A team came to Maui two months after the fire and took blood samples from more than 100 firefighters. In October, they returned for another round of samples that will help them keep an eye on the firefighters’ health over time and screen for cancer and other diseases. Maui Now.

Kahului Council candidates interviewed; contrasts emerge in policies, philosophy and personalities. Differing personalities, philosophies and policy positions surfaced Thursday afternoon as Maui County Council members interviewed three applicants vying to fill the unexpired term of the late Council Member Natalie “Tasha” Kama. Maui Now.

At Maui’s only go-kart track, drivers have fun and race toward their dreams. Kart racing at home on Maui is making a comeback. For the first time in six years, the club held a time trial race last weekend. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Kauaʻi utility's wildfire mitigation plan needs improvement, report finds. The Consumer Advocate, which represents the interests of ratepayers in utility matters, hired the outside consulting firm Jensen Hughes to review the plan. According to their findings, Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative's vegetation management program needs critical improvement. Hawaii Public Radio.

Coral rescued from Ahukini. The Department of Land and Natural Resources said the corals of opportunity, or loose corals that have been dislodged from their parent reefs or damaged from storms, boat groundings or anchors, were collected by Hoomalu Ke Kai in collaboration with Kauai Ocean Awareness, Kauai Sea Farm, the DLNR-DAR, and the UH Coral Resilience Lab. Garden Island.