Tulsi Gabbard in tight spot over Iran war, pre-built homes bill advances in Legislature, Blangiardi trims Honolulu spending in proposed budget, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Iran War Puts Tulsi Gabbard, Regime Change Critic, In An Awkward Spot. The former Hawaiʻi congresswoman was an outspoken critic of U.S.-led regime change wars. Then she went to work for Trump. Perhaps no other person in President Donald Trump’s cabinet has been more outspoken against war with Iran than his Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.  Civil Beat.

Hawaii income tax cut freeze debate begins at Legislature. Robust debate over Gov. Josh Green’s proposal to cancel future state income tax cuts took place Tuesday at the Legislature during a public hearing on one of two bills introduced to implement the stoppage. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi House advances Immigration Reform Bills that could reshape State's role. A package of immigration-related bills is advancing at the State Capitol, proposals that could significantly reshape how Hawaii works with federal immigration authorities. KITV4.

A bill that would create a framework for a pre-built home industry in Hawai‘i advances. A bill that would establish a statewide program for pre-built homes, which is touted to help with Hawaiʻi’s housing crisis, on Monday passed unanimously out of the House Finance committee. Kauai Now.

Rooftop solar incentives could be retooled toward lower-income households. Lawmakers may restructure the state’s signature renewable energy tax credit. The Renewable Energy Technologies Income Tax Credit will cover up to 35% of the cost of a new rooftop solar installation, but the total amount that applicants receive is often less. Hawaii Public Radio.

3 seek to represent Iwilei, Chinatown in House. Gov. Josh Green now will have a choice between the manager of a state House representative’s office, the chair of the Chinatown-­Downtown neighborhood board or a labor law attorney to represent Sand Island-­Iwilei-Chinatown in the House. Nominees are Nadia Alves, Ernest D. K. Caravalho and  Michael “Cov” Ratcliffe. Star-Advertiser.

Indicted CEO’s security firm has Hawaii law enforcement contracts. SaferWatch monitors state tip lines for illegal fireworks, gun crimes. The CEO of SaferWatch, a security monitoring company with active contracts in Hawaii, has been indicted on federal bribery charges in the district of New York. Hawaii News Now.

Ahi market prices double affecting businesses operations. The United Fishing Agency says that at this time of year, market changes are common, but some consumers say the changes they’ve seen previously have been the biggest change since the pandemic. KHON2.

Oahu

Mayor unveils $5.08B budget package for 2027. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration Monday formally unveiled its proposed $5.08 billion budget package for the 2027 fiscal year, which begins July 1.  The proposed budget is $133.6 million less than Honolulu’s current total budget of more than $5.2 billion, which the mayor formally signed in June 2025. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.  KITV4. 

Embezzler Or Victim? Native Hawaiian Contractor’s Family Fights Back. In various court filings, Christopher Dawson’s sister is pushing back against the DOJ narrative that he swindled a federal program meant to help his people. Civil Beat.

Zoning questions raised over proposed Hawaii Kai development. The plan would build dozens of new homes near Koko Villas, but residents said there are concerns over zoning and whether the project should move forward. KHON2.

Annual Waianae Coast drill simulates emergency evacuation through Kolekole Pass. Military, city, and state officials simulated an emergency evacuation Tuesday that involved dozens of vehicles using a one-lane road out of the Waianae Coast as part of an annual drill. Hawaii News Now.

City to auction off abandoned, towed vehicles. Law enforcement-towed vehicles will be auctioned Wednesday, March 4, starting at 8 a.m. Towed and abandoned vehicles will be auctioned Thursday starting at 8 a.m. Hawaii News Now.

Waianae man allegedly killed woman in fight over an iPad. Shaison R. Laupola, a 36-year-old man allegedly shot and killed the 26-year-old female cousin of his 16-year-old girlfriend Friday morning after a dispute over a missing iPad, according to state court documents. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Government Funds Hilo Shelter Without Safety Exits Or Fire Inspection. Hale Maluhia provides emergency shelter to vulnerable women but has never been inspected by county fire inspectors. Staff say the units are safe. Hope Services Hawaiʻi received $575,000 from Hawaiʻi County’s Housing and Homelessness Fund in 2025 to operate the Hale Maluhia shelter, and was awarded another $1.5 million in the most recent allocations from the fund. It also received $362,000 from the state Office of Housing and Homelessness last year. Civil Beat.

Renovation, expansion eyed for YWCA’s Hilo campus. The YWCA of Hawaii Island is planning a multi-million dollar renovation to its downtown Hilo campus, including a new building for its preschool program that will increase the student headcount by 40%.  Tribune-Herald. 

Laupāhoehoe Transfer Station Reopens Friday, March 6. A $2.57 million improvement project has been completed at the Laupāhoehoe Recycling and Transfer Station. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. 

Big Island resident rescued out of closed area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park dies. The National Park Service is investigating a fatality after a Hawai‘i Island resident was rescued out of a closed area of the Kīlauea caldera within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Big Island Now.

Maui

Potable water allowance for Kapalua golf course interim irrigation reversed. An environmental law firm has prevailed in an effort to prevent the owner of two Maui golf courses from using potable water for temporary irrigation during shortages of stream water. Star-Advertiser.

Bissen’s State of the County Address coming March 5. Mayor Richard T. Bissen Jr. will present the 2026 State of the County Address from 5 to 7 p.m. March 5 inside the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s Castle Theater. Maui News.

State publishes final EIS for new Central Maui wastewater facility in Waikapū. The state Office of Planning and Sustainable Development has published a final environmental impact statement for a new 14.9-acre Central Maui Wastewater Reclamation Facility on former agricultural lands in Waikapū located between Honoapiʻilani and Kūihelani highways. The department will also install portions of a sewage pipeline and a recycled water pipeline to connect the site with the future 1,400-unit Waikapū Country Town development. Maui Now.

First for-sale affordable housing project in 35 years set for Lanai. Maui County has committed $17 million in startup funding for Kaiāulu O Lānaʻi, the island’s first for-sale affordable housing project in more than 35 years. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Locals Were Crowded Out Of This Kauaʻi Beach. That May Change Soon. Years in the making, the transfer of Hā‘ena Beach Park from the county to the state is intended to alleviate longstanding parking issues and reclaim access for residents.  Civil Beat.

Hospitality company operating 5 Hawaiʻi restaurants shift to employee ownership. The Hawaiʻi-based hospitality company that operates Lava Lava Beach Club in Kapaʻa has transitioned from private ownership to employee ownership. Kauai Now.

Hawaii not prepared for aging population, state bans sale of fluorescent lightbulbs, fireworks abound as officials caution residents, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii lawmakers to confront housing affordability, tourism volatility in 2026. Pressures are mounting as the state faces a predicted mild recession next year, and as Hawaii lawmakers head into the 2026 legislative session to confront housing affordability, tourism volatility and shifting job markets. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s 2.5% jobless rate is second lowest in U.S. The state’s seasonally adjusted rate fell two-tenths of a point to 2.5% in September to tie Vermont for the second lowest in the country, according to recent data from the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Only South Dakota was lower in September at 2.0%. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s traffic fatalities in 2025 skyrocket to 17-year high. As of Saturday, a total of 128 traffic deaths had been counted statewide, according to preliminary statistics from the Hawaii Department of Transportation, up from 97 at the same time last year. Star-Advertiser.

New Navy Report Gauges Training Disruption Of Hawaiʻi’s Marine Mammals. The report shows improvement related to deaths but continued hearing loss and other injuries from some exercises. Civil Beat.

No more fluorescent lightbulbs for Hawaiʻi in 2026. The ban on the sale of fluorescent lights goes into full effect on New Year’s Day, making Hawaiʻi one of 15 states to ban the bulbs. Hawaii Public Radio.

Union seeks raises for teachers not credited for out-of-state experience during salary repricing. The teachers union is fighting to get pay raises for thousands of public school educators. The Hawaii State Teachers Association (HSTA) says they were denied the money because the Hawaii State Department of Education  said they didn’t have enough experience here in Hawaii. Hawaii News Now.

Demand for New Year’s staple ahi peaks in Hawaii. As Hawaii prepares to ring in the new year, demand for fresh ahi is surging across the islands, sending heavier volumes through the Honolulu Fish Auction, extending auction hours and intensifying competition among buyers seeking premium fish for holiday gatherings. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

HPD increases fireworks, DUI enforcement ahead of New Year’s Eve.  With new laws enacted this year, the Honolulu Police Department has issued a warning to parents, property owners and others that it intends to crack down on illegal fireworks as New Year’s Eve approaches. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Associated Press. Hawaii Public Radio.  KHON2. 

Kapi’olani hospital workers end 10-week strike with new contract. The 10-week hospital workers’ strike at Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women &Children has ended, the two sides confirmed Saturday. The stalemate broke just after Christmas and two weeks after a federal mediator stepped in. Star-Advertiser.

Planned rail projects at HCC under negotiations. HART is negotiating with UH over the placement of future rail- related infrastructure and utilities on a portion of Honolulu Community College at 874 Dillingham Blvd. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

New Year’s Fireworks Permits Now Available in Hawaiʻi County. Each permit costs $25 and will entitle the holder to purchase 5,000 individual firecracker, officials says. Multiple permit purchases are authorized. Permits are not required for the purchase of novelties and paperless firecrackers. Big Island Video News.

Maui

New Year’s Eve fireworks in Maui County, information and reminders. There will be two public aerial fireworks displays in Maui County this year — one from the Grand Wailea Resort in South Maui, and the other from the Four Seasons Resort Lānaʻi at Mānele Bay. Both shows begin at approximately 11:59 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, 2025.  Maui Now.

Kauai

New Year’s fireworks, firecrackers go on sale. The TNT Fireworks tent opened for business on Saturday morning at the highway side of the Walmart parking lot. Garden Island.

Collaborative design meeting to engage public in shaping Haleko. A collaborative design meeting aims to engage the public and community stakeholders in shaping the future of Halekō Road between Nāwiliwili Road and Rice Street. Kauai Now.

Ige mulls mandatory vaccinations for state workers, back-to-school guidelines recommend masks indoors, UH to require weekly COVID tests of unvaccinated students, hospitals filling up as cases surge, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Fresh ahi poke on the lanai ©2021 All Hawaii News

No ahi? Low supply, high demand impacting local poke, seafood shops. Local poke and seafood shops are finding themselves in short supply of ahi, leading to a spike in prices for consumers. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Gov. David Ige looks at requiring vaccines for some Hawaii workers. Ige said Monday requiring state employees to be vaccinated for the novel coronavirus or be subject to weekly COVID 19 testing “is a consideration.” Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald. KHON2.

University of Hawaii says unvaccinated students must undergo weekly COVID-19 testing to be on campus. The University of Hawaii will require all unvaccinated students to undergo a mandatory weekly COVID-19 testing to be on any of its 10 campuses this fall, according to UH president David Lassner. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Health Department’s guidance for reopening schools recommends wearing masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status. The state Department of Health’s COVID-19 updated guidance for reopening schools recommends that all teachers and students wear masks to school this year regardless of their vaccination status. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Associated Press. Tribune-Herald. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

State senator asks for federal investigation of Hawaiian Home Lands agency. State Senate Minority Leader Kurt Fevella is asking the U.S. Justice and Interior departments to investigate the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands on claims that it has mismanaged its funds and misled the public and legislators. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s COVID hospitalizations soar to their highest levels since January. Amid an ongoing surge in new infections, overwhelmingly among the unvaccinated, COVID hospitalizations in Hawaii have risen to their highest levels since January. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii hospital capacity leading factor in reimposing restrictions. Over the weekend the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients increased to 90 from 74, and the number of people on ventilators nearly doubled. Star-Advertiser.

Department of Health offers vaccinations at home by appointment. One thing that’s been keeping some people from getting vaccinated is the ability to get to a vaccination site. KHON2.

Hawaii reports 163 new COVID cases; vaccination rate ticks to 59.8%. Of the new cases Monday, 105 were on Oahu, 34 on Hawaii Island, 16 on Maui, and one on Kauai. There were also seven residents diagnosed out-of-state. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Honolulu police are called to testify against fellow officers. Honolulu police officers today will be called to testify against three fellow officers charged with the fatal shooting of 16-year-old Iremamber Sykap to help determine whether the officers charged should stand trial for second-degree murder and attempted murder. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

Honolulu Police Commission Fails To Detail Its Public Agendas, Complaint Says. Police commissioners have been discussing topics without proper public notice and meeting privately without justifying it, a government transparency advocate argues. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Police Need More Interpreters For Pacific Islanders, Advocates Say. Acting Police Chief Rade Vanic acknowledged the need and said the department is searching for grants to help pay interpreters. Civil Beat.

The defense agency backs off a “notional” plan to disinter 85 USS Arizona “unknowns” from the sunken battleship. A Defense Department agency appears to be walking back a “notional plan” to disinter 85 USS Arizona crew members buried as “unknowns” at Punchbowl cemetery and then reinter them, unidentified, onto the sunken battleship, which is a revered memorial in Pearl Harbor. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Spread among unvaccinated families blamed for high case counts on Hawai'i Island. Hawaii Island continues to see a surge in COVID cases. The county has the highest positivity rate in the state at seven percent. KITV4.

EPIC start: County begins paperless permit system. EPIC — short for Electronic Processing &Information Center — is the name of the Energov program that was five years and more than $2.5 million in the making. West Hawaii Today.

Brown Water Advisory For Hilo Bay, Hāmākua Coast. The DOH Clean Water Branch has also maintained the Brown Water Advisory for Hōlualoa Bay in Kona, which has been in place since June 29. Big Island Video News.

Kailua Pier Closure Begins Wednesday, July 28. The State of Hawaiʻi says the closure follows a large number of community complaints about illegal conduct on the pier. Big Island Video News. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Outrigger buying spree signals strengthening of local hotel market. Outrigger Hospitality Group is slated to close in late August on its purchase of the Sheraton Kona Resort &Spa at Keauhou Bay, which expands the company’s investment in Hawaii where its property count is now 26. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Now.

Maui

Maui Memorial Medical Center Vaccine Requirement for Visitors, Effective Today. The updated hospital visitor policy requires visitors to be fully vaccinated before entering the facility. Maui Now.

Maui Invasive Species Committee continues to battle little fire ants in Waihee. The battle against little fire ants continues on Maui after more of the biting pests were believed to be found in Waihee, a remote area on the island’s northwest side, on Monday. Hawaii News Now.

Daneford Wright Named New MEO Assistant Transportation Director. He replaces Patty Copperfield, who was promoted to Director of Transportation in May. Maui Now.

Maui County EMS chief bids farewell. After 45 years of working in emergency medical services, Curt Morimoto is calling it a career. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai’s decaying Coco Palms draws 1 bid for $22M at foreclosure auction. The long-shuttered Coco Palms Resort on Kauai — largely made famous by an Elvis Presley movie 60 years ago — failed to attract competitive bids Monday at a foreclosure auction. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Developer: Proposed wave pool in Waimea not what it seems. Reports of plans for a wave pool in Waimea were blown out of proportion, says a Hawai‘i real estate developer. Garden Island.

DLNR app enlists citizen enforcement, schools superintendent gets big contract, Kawauchi loses license to practice law, Maui pCard audit finds waste and abuse, Thirty Meter Telescope back before Hawaii Supreme Court, Oahu condo owners face new property tax law, Caldwell sells bank shares, Kauai lawsuit names Syngenta, DLNR, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Man approaching honu ©  2017 All Hawaii News

Citizens armed with smart phones are being enlisted to help State Conservation Officers enforce rules on all islands. Hawaii Public Radio.

The state land board unveiled a new smartphone app Wednesday for members of the community to submit anonymous tips to report wildlife and natural resource violations to the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Hawaii News Now.

Hiking in Hawaii: Managed vs. Unmanaged Access. Supplying enough recreation for its residents and the revolving door of tourists is an official task of the state Nā Ala Hele program. The trail and access program manages the state's hiking inventory and maintains all state-sanctioned trails across the island chain. Hawaii Public Radio.

Incoming Hawaii public schools Superintendent Christina Kishimoto will be eligible for incentive bonuses on top of her annual $240,000 base salary, according to her employment contract with the state. Star-Advertiser.

Christina Kishimoto, chosen to lead Hawaii's Public Schools,  is at the center of a nearly $1 million controversy with her current district, located just outside of Phoenix, Ariz. Hawaii News Now.

More students in Hawaii took advantage of free summer meals last year, according to a national report released this week. Tribune-Herald.

United Airlines said Wednesday its plan to add flights to Hawaii will result in more than 400,000 additional seats coming to the islands next year. The extra seats could boost state tourism by about 5 percent in 2018. Star-Advertiser.

More than 6,000 sailors with the USS Carl Vinson strike group are in town with the carrier and escort ships pulling into Pearl Harbor following a five-month deployment. Star-Advertiser.

As the USS Carl Vinson pulled into Pearl Harbor, it was a long anticipated homecoming for some of the sailors on board. KITV.

Hawaii’s longline fishermen will hit their annual 3,138-ton limit for bigeye tuna in the western and central Pacific by early September, according to a forecast Wednesday by federal fishery biologist Christofer Boggs. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Owners of about 8,000 condominiums on Oahu face a Sept. 1 deadline to tell the city whether their property should be taxed at a residential rate or much higher commercial rate as part of a property tax reform initiative. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell sold 2,250 of his shares in Territorial Bancorp Inc. for about $72,000 last week, according to a filing with the Securities Exchange Commission. Star-Advertiser.

The city expects to begin work next spring on a two-year, $80 million project to install a major new sewer line that will run the length of one of the busiest thoroughfares in the Kalihi business district. Star-Advertiser.

Police and prosecutors are taking on far more domestic violence cases, yet still can’t seem to secure more successful convictions due to various inefficiencies in their departments and the courts in general, according to a report released Wednesday by the Honolulu Office of the City Auditor. Civil Beat.

Audit claims new law fails to reduce domestic violence while increasing police workload. KHON2.

The Blood Bank of Hawaii is encouraging the public to give blood after losing 30 percent of its Dillingham Boulevard location’s donors following that collection site’s closure last year. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii-based Toell USA Corp., a bottled water company, is opening a new manufacturing plant on Nimitz Highway in Honolulu. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Former County Clerk Jamae Kawauchi has been suspended from practicing law for misusing client funds. West Hawaii Today.

A former Hawaii County clerk who came under fire for her handling of the 2012 primary election was suspended from the practice of law for 150 days by the Hawaii Supreme Court. Tribune-Herald.

The Thirty Meter Telescope project is headed back to the state Supreme Court. The high court on June 5 accepted an appeal of a lower court ruling that vacated TMT International Observatory’s sublease for 6 acres on Mauna Kea. Tribune-Herald.

Kailua Bay will remain closed to water activities for the rest of the week, although a spill caused by a sewer pipe rupture Monday has been stopped. West Hawaii Today.

Elevated bacteria levels have been recorded at a popular Keaukaha-area beach park. Big Island Video News.

A massive piece of land in Kaʻu is up for sale and the future of the area is likely tied to the person or entity that ends up making the purchase. West Hawaii Today.

The Growing Meat Market On The Big Island. Bolstered by a mobile slaughterhouse and new butcher shops, the fledgling industry is trying to keep it all local in Hawaii County. Civil Beat.

Maui

An audit of county-issued “pCards” or procurement credit cards found that fraud, waste, or abuse may have occurred. Maui Now.

Fraud and abuse. Personal and side-job spending. These are just a handful of findings by Maui County’s auditor after an extensive review of charges on government credit cards. KHON2.

As seas rise, calls grow to move major Maui highway inland. Maui activists say the conditions on Honoapiilani Highway need to be addressed -- before the highway is washed away completely. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

A lawsuit filed in environmental court June 13 alleges Syngenta Corporation broke Hawaii law by failing to conduct an environmental review before starting operations on the island. Garden Island.

A community group on Kauai is filing suit against the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and seed company Syngenta to protect crown lands on Kauai's West Side. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai County Prosecutor Justin Kollar received the OK Wednesday from the Kauai County Council to apply for a $156,285 grant to fund another year of the Sex Assault Prosecution Unit, which is in its second year. Garden Island.

An affordable housing project that may provide the community with 550 residential units will be on the table at a Land Use Commission meeting later this month. Garden Island.

County approves stewardship agreement with Westside nonprofit group. Garden Island.

Another hui has been formed to ensure thriving environmental, social and economic conditions in Hawaii; and its focus is the political arena. Garden Island.

Five businesses from Kauai are at Hawaii on the Hill. Garden Island.

Fishing limits could raise ahi prices, Superferry redux, theft charges for Maui employee who built kitchen, coffee picker shortage, more physical exams for schoolkids, Gorak PUC conflict investigated, Royal Hawaiian Gold Club must clean up, sugar plantation equipment heads to auction, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

courtesy Suisan Fish Market

While prices for ahi are relatively stable this holiday season, some say they could rise next year as fishing limits tighten. Hawaii News Now.

Superferry dreams face cost, public opinion hurdles. Lawmakers approved $50,000 in May to study a possible inter-island ferry, and the state Department of Transportation received a $500,000 grant from the federal Maritime Administration to hire consultants to explore potential routes and boats. Associated Press.

It’s been almost 10 years since protesters rallied against the Superferry in Nawiliwili, but some Kauai residents have their reservations and optimisms about an interisland ferry system that may reemerge, pending a state study. Garden Island.

A new law will take effect this upcoming school year that will double the number of physical examinations Hawaii students will need to get in order to keep attending public school. KHON2.

Two state lawmakers are raising red flags over the legal work Tom Gorak was doing on the side while serving full-time as general counsel of the state Public Utilities Commission. Civil Beat.

Newly elected U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa has decided to get closer to her constituents by moving out of the federal building complex across from Honolulu Harbor. Civil Beat.

Hawaii No. 8 For Electoral Integrity. The integrity of America’s electoral system lags far behind other Western democracies, according to a new report. Civil Beat.

Gov. David Ige gave his support Thursday to two young men who want to make the world a better place. Andrew Tisba and Manuel Frederick of Let’s All Connect say they are on a journey to visit all 50 states. Civil Beat.

A crowd of mostly tourists cheered as President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle arrived at a Waikiki restaurant Thursday night. Associated Press.

Oahu

The owners of the Royal Hawaiian Golf Club must provide bathrooms, parking and trash receptacles for hikers of Maunawili Falls Trail or face losing their permit to operate the 18-hole course, the city said Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

A community association that owns the private marina in Hawaii Kai wants to more permanently inhibit sand from migrating off Portlock Beach into the boat entry channel by constructing a $2 million rock groin. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu building that houses the now-infamous restaurant that posted a sign in its window saying that voters of President-Elect Donald Trump couldn't eat there is up for sale, the broker handling the sale confirmed to Pacific Business News Thursday.

Hawaii

A bumper crop is usually good news for Big Island coffee farmers, but this year, many are facing a severe shortage of pickers. Businesses in both Kona and Kau are losing thousands of dollars. Hawaii News Now.

This past July, Governor David Ige signed a new law that creates a 10-year marine reserve across a three and a half mile stretch of coastline in North Kona. That came as a huge relief to the community leaders and residents in the area who have been fighting to protect the shoreline and its resources for decades. Hawaii Public Radio.

Tamar Elias, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientist, will present “Volcanic Air Pollution: The What, Where, and How of Vog in Hawaii” at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 18 at Hawaii Preparatory Academy’s Gates Performing Arts Center on the Upper Campus. The event is free and open to the public. West Hawaii Today.

A 17.73-pound taro corm grown by a group of farmers and cultural practitioners is being submitted to Guinness World Records. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Theft charges have been filed against a former Maui county employee accused of building a fancy kitchen on the taxpayers’ dime, without permission. KHON2.

A 59-year-old former Maui County Public Works district supervisor was charged with second-degree theft Tuesday, police records show. Maui News.

Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co.’s 36,000-acre plantation on Maui, which closed last week and effectively ended the era of the sugar industry in Hawaii, is auctioning off its equipment and items, Pacific Business News has learned.

The state Real Estate Commission will hold its standing committee meetings on Maui in January and will take comments from residents on current and future programs. Maui News.

Kauai

The entrance to the Princeville at Hanalei resort community will get a new Hawaiian landscaped feature as well as rebuilt roads under projects announced by Princeville Development Company’s president and CEO, Jeff Stone. Garden Island.

Federal Transit Administration extends Honolulu rail finance deadline, Big Island Democrats mull transparency rule changes, workers comp revamp sought, Kauai electric rates fall, Maui leaders join administration, Abe not the first to visit Pearl Harbor,more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Red ohia blooms front Maua Kea this week, Facebook photo

The snowfall is returning to the summits of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea on the Big Island.Hawaii News Now.

Shipping ʻōhiʻa plants and plant parts from Hawaii Island is now illegal on a permanent basis, thanks to new administrative rules drawn up to prevent Rapid ‘Ōhi’a Death from spreading across the state. Big Island Video News.

Shipping ohia from the Big Island is now forever banned. Civil Beat.

Delays, Denials Plague Hawaii’s Program To Help Injured Workers. The state is trying to streamline its workers’ compensation system, but critics say wholesale changes are needed. Civil Beat.

Tuna Commission’s ‘Glacial’ Pace Suits Some In Industry Just Fine. Diverse interests always seem to stymie a global organization charged with saving bluefin and bigeye tuna from overfishing. Civil Beat.

A report has been delivered to the state’s Department of Land and Natural Resources from a group of experts and organizations with interest in establishing non-commercial fishing licenses in Hawaii. Garden Island.

Not the first: Abe predecessor visited Pearl Harbor in 1951. Associated Press.

The faithful turned out in droves Wednesday to remember Pearl Harbor and the men who valiantly tried to defend it on Dec. 7, 1941, three-quarters of a century ago. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii remembers 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor attack: Slideshow Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The rail system’s federal partners have again extended the deadline for the city’s crucial rail “recovery” plan, giving local leaders four more months to deal with daunting budget problems but not as much time as they’d hoped. Star-Advertiser.

The Federal Transit Administration has given Honolulu’s troubled rail project until the end of April to submit a plan for how it plans to bridge a shortfall likely to approach $2 billion. Civil Beat.

The Federal Transit Administration has extended the deadline for the Honolulu rail project’s recovery plan, but did not give the agency overseeing construction of the multibillion-dollar project as much time as it requested. Pacific Business News.

In a letter sent to Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell, the Federal Transit Administration said it’s giving the city a four-month extension to secure more funding for the cash-strapped Honolulu rail project. Hawaii News Now.

The seven-member Honolulu Police Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to make hotel executive Max Sword the chairman of the closely watched panel effective Jan. 1. Star-Advertiser.

A state board is taking more time before deciding whether to approve another condominium high-rise at Ward Village after receiving lots of public testimony for and against the project. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

New rules are being proposed by Hawaii County Democratic Party officials to select candidates to fill legislative vacancies, after a text message between district officers showed the outcome prior to Saturday’s vote of candidates for the House seat vacated by the death of Rep. Clift Tsuji. West Hawaii Today.

Mayor Harry Kim has one more major hire to make as he fills out his administration. Ed Teixeira, who started as interim Civil Defense administrator last May, retired Monday, leaving the administrative position vacant for the time being. Tribune-Herald.

It took about a year of arguing with the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, but we finally got our hands on Ethan Ferguson’s job application. Ferguson is the DLNR officer accused of sexually assaulting a teenager on the Big Island.  Civil Beat.

Food safety rule amendments that will require every restaurant to have at least one certified food handler per shift, among other changes, will be the subject of a public hearing from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. today at the West Hawaii Civic Center. West Hawaii Today.

The leasehold Pagoda Hilo Bay Hotel on the Big Island of Hawaii, known for years as Uncle Billy's Hilo Bay Hotel, could be demolished and be redeveloped into a Hilton Garden Inn under a plan by the owner of the nearby DoubleTree by Hilton Grand Naniloa Hotel, Pacific Business News has learned.

Maui

Familiar faces in Maui County government, including two outgoing council members, are joining Mayor Alan Arakawa’s administration as vacancies open up in some key positions. Maui News.

A dispute over water rights that dominated the last legislative session is expected to continue Friday at a Board of Land and Natural Resources hearing. Civil Beat.

Kauai

The Public Works/Parks and Recreation Committee unanimously approved a bill Wednesday that would allow the sale of alcohol at Wailua Golf Course. Garden Island.

The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative's rates for its members have fallen by 18 percent since 2008, the Lihue-based cooperative said Tuesday. Pacific Business News.

Hanalei Watershed Hui is accepting applications from Hanalei residential property owners interested in a funding subsidy to replace aging cesspools with updated waste water systems. Garden Island.

The last of the 20 Hawaiian Petrels brought into the 7.8-acre Nihoku colony this fall fledged, flying safely out to sea Wednesday on Kauai. Garden Island.

The first real estate component of the 450-acre Hokuala Resort master-planned oceanfront community on the site of the former Kauai Lagoons project in Lihue is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2017. Pacific Business News.

Legislative negotiators agree on $10M for preschools, bluefin tuna at risk, Martin pulls papers for Honolulu mayor, rail could mean more new schools, Maui named top island in the world, Oahu elementary school named for Inouye, igloos for homeless, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Budget conference committee, courtesy Hawaii House

State Senate and House lawmakers began working out their differences on more than 300 bills today.  A high priority this session was homelessness and affordable housing. Hawaii Public Radio.

House and Senate lawmakers have agreed to provide $10 million for Preschool Open Doors, which is expected to help 1,500 at-risk kids access an early education program for low-income families. It was the most significant of many budget decisions that House Finance Chair Sylvia Luke and Senate Ways and Means Chair Jill Tokuda announced Tuesday in a packed conference room at the Capitol. Civil Beat.

Legislative leaders want to boost funding for a program that helps fund preschool for children from low-income families, and say they’ve agreed to increase the budget for the Preschool Open Doors to $10 million. Associated Press.

The latest scientific assessment paints a likely bleak future for the Pacific bluefin tuna, a sushi lovers’ favorite whose population has dropped by more than 97 percent from its historic levels. Associated Press.

Last year nearly a quarter of middle school students in Hawaii said they had seriously considered suicide, according to the 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Civil Beat.

At a recent press conference to show support for bills to help the homeless and provide affordable housing, state Sen. President Ron Kouchi quoted from scripture. Civil Beat.

Chevron Hawaii’s gas stations will be rebranded to Texaco once the sale of the company’s Hawaii assets closes later this year to New York’s One Rock Capital Partners LP, a spokesperson for One Rock Capital said Tuesday. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The answer to “will he or won’t he” took a new turn Tuesday when Ernie Martin pulled papers to run for mayor of Honolulu. Civil Beat.

The state Department of Education anticipates future residential development along the city’s rail line in urban Honolulu will bring with it an additional 10,200 students to area public schools, far exceeding existing capacity and requiring several new schools from Kalihi to Ala Moana. Star-Advertiser.

The state could be saddled with some big school construction costs in coming decades if current housing and population growth predictions hold true for a 4-mile swath of urban Honolulu, according to a Department of Education report. Civil Beat.

A new Department of Education report says approximately 39,000 new residential units will be built between Kalihi and Ala Moana and that could bring in about 10,000 new students to the district. KHON2.

A month after approving a $4.7 million payment to settle two lawsuits filed by one current and two former Honolulu police officers who alleged discrimination, the Honolulu City Council is being asked to approve more money for attorneys’ fees. Star-Advertiser.

Plans to allow two managed homeless encampments on Oahu are moving forward, while the city also plans to build a hygiene center for the homeless. Hawaii News Now.

The City and County of Honolulu has denied a $180,000 grant to Mental Health Kokua Activity Center, a non-profit organization that serves severely mentally ill people in downtown Honolulu and Chinatown. Civil Beat.

Red Hill’s First Assembly of God church wants to erect a dozen igloo-­shaped domes from Alaska to create a “shelter village” somewhere in town for about 40 homeless people. Star-Advertiser.

Officials at an Oahu high school were negligent in not preventing an alleged rape between two special-education students, a lawyer told jurors Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii State Board of Education approved the renaming of Hale Kula Elementary School to Daniel K. Inouye Elementary School during its meeting on Tuesday. KITV4.

Hawaii

After hearing from supporters and critics of embattled Mayor Billy Kenoi, it was the Hawaii County Council’s silence that spoke the loudest Tuesday. Tribune-Herald.

More than two dozen people showed up Tuesday evening to speak their minds on a proposed one-half percent general excise tax increase, with all but one opposed to the idea. West Hawaii Today.

A plan to create a 306-unit multiple family residential development just mauka of the popular Kahalu’u Bay goes before the Leeward Planning Commission this week. Big Island Video News.

After months of uncertainty, plans to build the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy’s long awaited permanent building are finally moving forward. The University of Hawaii on Monday awarded the project to Isemoto Contracting Co. for $31.3 million. Tribune-Herald.

BJ Penn told a mixed martial arts podcast Monday night that allegations of sexual assault that put his plans for a return to fighting on hold “definitely hurt my heart.” Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui is Nō Ka ʻOi once again. The island of Maui was just ranked the Top Island in the World and the Top Island in the US by the travel planning and booking website TripAdvisor. Maui Now.

Developers of a 1,500-home Olowalu development, which has been a decade in the making, have withdrawn their plans in a victory for those who opposed the project as inappropriate for the West Maui area. Maui News.

Developers have withdrawn plans to build 1,500 homes in a west Maui community, a decision that comes months after state officials rejected the project's environmental assessment. Associated Press.

Designs for the final phase of the long-awaited North Shore Greenway - a 7-mile pedestrian and bike-friendly pathway between Kahului and Paia - are "90 percent done," and the project could go out to bid by summer and be completed next year, county Department of Public Works engineers said. Maui News.

The Maui Young Democrats invites the public to attend their Upcountry County Council debate on Wednesday, April 27, 2016, at the Pukalani Community Center. Maui Now.

Kauai

Bills covering smoking in a motor vehicle, homestays and vending on county-owned property are slated to go before the Kauai County Council on Wednesday. Garden Island.

The final report on pesticide use by agribusiness on Kauai is in the works. Garden Island.

State Rep. Dee Morikawa has a list of projects she wants done in her district. Garden Island.

NextEra-Hawaiian Electric hearings pau for now, South China activity worries military, construction equipment removed from Mauna Kea, audit blasts Honolulu H-Power, Trump, Bush on Hawaii GOP ticket so far, 'no-drone zone' for Obama visit, Maui Memorial fined for infections, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii fish on ice © 2015 All Hawaii News

Hawaii longline fishermen are on track to haul in a record amount of bigeye tuna this year thanks to a federal rule that lets them sidestep catch limits by paying Pacific island territories for their unused quota. Civil Beat.

The regulatory hearings regarding NextEra Energy Inc.’s proposed $4.3 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Electric Co., recessed Wednesday after 12 days of testimony, but won't resume until February because the current venue at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu is booked until that time. Pacific Business News.

Executives from NextEra Energy Inc. and Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. haven't discussed extending the current sale end date from June 3, an executive from the Florida energy giant said Wednesday. Pacific Business News.

When it comes to the utility that provides us with our electricity, what do we care more about, value or local values? That question hung in the air at the end of the 12th day of testimony at the Public Utilities Commission’s hearing to decide whether NextEra Energy’s proposed $4.3 billion purchase of Hawaiian Electric Industries should go through. Civil Beat.

The head of U.S. Pacific Fleet likened the “might makes right” actions usually attributed to China in the South China Sea to those taken by Japan preceding World War II in the Asia-Pacific region. Star-Advertiser.

State agriculture officials are looking to increase Hawaii’s food exports to the Middle East next year. Associated Press.

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday announced the first interest rate hike since June 2006, but this historic move will have negative implications on Hawaii’s biggest problem: affordable housing. Pacific Business News.

The United States has more than over 68,000 licensed gun dealers, but less than 140 are in Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Donald Trump has registered for the March 8 Hawaii Republican presidential caucus. The billionaire and current GOP frontrunner joins former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush on the ballot. The Hawaii GOP Caucuses will be held Tuesday, March 8, from 6 to 8 p.m. at dozens of voting locations statewide. Civil Beat.

Oahu

A pervasive lack of oversight at Honolulu’s waste-to-energy facility in West Oahu has cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars — if not millions — in improper and questionable expenses, according to a city audit released this week. Civil Beat.

The city is paying a construction company $3.6 million to settle a lawsuit filed over construction of a sewer line under the Ala Wai Canal in Waikiki. Hawaii News Now.

Two alleged gambling operations right here in Honolulu have been shut down by police. The busts happened across two game rooms near 1684 Kalakaua Avenue just a couple of blocks away from the Hawaii Convention Center. KITV4.

An ownership dispute of a 10,000-square foot segment of Queen Street in Kakaako is raising concerns over further delays to Honolulu's rail transit project. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu’s chief of police says officers will start testing body cameras in the early part of next year. KHON2.

With the increasing popularity of drones, the Federal Aviation Administration is reminding operators that aircraft are prohibited in the designated security zone during President Barack Obama’s Christmas visit. Star-Advertiser.

Temporary flight restrictions will be in place on Oahu from Dec. 18 until Jan. 3, the same restrictions that have been issued during the holiday season for the last several years. Civil Beat.

Honolulu officials helped 465 homeless people find housing on Oahu this year, Mayor Kirk Caldwell said. Hawaii has the largest rate of homeless people per capita of any state in the nation, and the latest count on Oahu found 4,900 people on the streets or in shelters. Associated Press.

The City and County of Honolulu is planning to spend nearly 140 million dollars over two years to address homelessness on O’ahu. Hawaii Public Radio.

A hospital ship struck the dock of the USS Arizona Memorial in May after the pilot and ship's captain lost track of where the ship was going as it was leaving Pearl Harbor, an investigation into the incident released Wednesday said. Associated Press.

Hawaii
Heavy machinery parked at the Thirty Meter Telescope construction site atop Mauna Kea for nearly nine months was removed Wednesday, two weeks after the state Supreme Court overturned the giant observatory’s land use permit. Tribune-Herald.

Gov. David Ige says he supports construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea, as well as the redevelopment of existing telescope sites to replace older, obsolete equipment with newer instruments. Star-Advertiser.

For 24 years, the Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka Space Center helped keep alive the memory of a local hero while introducing travelers — especially children — to the wonders of space. In March — 30 years after the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster that claimed the life of South Kona’s Onizuka — that legacy is going away. West Hawaii Today.

With the official count of confirmed cases of dengue fever now identified on Hawaii Island at 157, the state Department of Health released a new map Wednesday showing updated potential areas of infection. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui Memorial Medical Center is expecting to lose about $600,000 in Medicare funding in the current federal fiscal year for scoring poorly on an Affordable Care Act performance measuring program covering hospital infections and other ailments, according to the Maui hospital's top official. Maui News.

The head of the Maui Memorial Medical Center says the hospital expects to lose about $600,000 in Medicare funding after it scored poorly on an Affordable Care Act performance measuring program. Associated Press.

Maui County Department of Finance offices will be closed Thursday for staff training, according to an announcement. The offices include the director's office, accounts/payroll, central purchasing, the Motor Vehicle and Licensing Division (and its satellite offices), the Treasury Division and the Real Property Tax Collection and Assessment divisions. Maui News.

Maui is ranked number 2 on a top 10 list of domestic destinations being booked for 2016, according to the Travel Trends Survey released today by the Travel Leaders Group, a company that touts itself as America’s largest travel agency company. Maui Now.

Kauai

Traffic congestion, crumbling bridges and road maintenance are just the beginning of Kauai’s $104 million backlog of transportation repairs, and county officials are looking at ways to fund those fixes. Garden Island.

A mystery pipe has sent Kauai’s Department of Water on a scramble to find the owner before the upcoming scheduled 9-hour Kilauea water shutdown, but county officials say it isn’t expected to change the timeline of the overnight project. Garden Island.

Cesspools threaten Hawaii coastline, Honolulu council members cleared on ethics complaint, special prosecutor investigating police chief, bigeye tuna fishing resumes, state selling $750M bonds for projects, tech lawsuit rebuffed, reactions to new solar rules, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Island coastline © 2015 All Hawaii News

Studies Find Growing Evidence of Cesspool Impacts to Coast, Potable Wells. Hawaii remains the only state that allows new cesspools, but it has started offering tax credits for getting rid of them in sensitive areas. Civil Beat.

Hawaii fishermen are once again being allowed to catch a prized tuna species in the fleet's most productive fishing grounds west of the islands, sparking criticism that they are adding to overfishing. Associated Press.

Despite pending litigation and concerns about disrupting international agreements, the U.S. government has decided Hawaii’s longline fishing fleet can reel in an extra 1,000 tons of bigeye tuna by making payments to one of the Pacific island territories. Civil Beat.

A lawsuit filed by the Attorney General’s Office to try to recoup millions of dollars the state spent on a failed Department of Transportation computer project was tossed out of Circuit Court this week. The state is alleging that information technology consulting company Ciber Inc. defrauded the Transportation Department in a failed effort to set up a new computer system for the state Highways Division. Star-Advertiser.

The state is selling $750 million in bonds this week, the first sale for Gov. David Ige’s administration. Civil Beat.

Today is the scheduled last day to register to vote in next month’s Na‘i Aupuni election of delegates to the Native Hawaiian constitutional convention set to begin in February. Star-Advertiser.

State officials are warning Hawaii’s medical marijuana patients and caregivers to tag their plants and carry their registration cards to avoid getting in trouble with the law. Star-Advertiser.

Most Americans have never even heard of the Compact of Free Association, but that may change as federal aid runs out, raising urgent questions about our moral, financial and legal responsibility to Micronesians. Civil Beat.

Energy industry leaders react to the end of Hawaiian Electric's roofop solar program. Pacific Business News.

Rooftop solar panels will no longer be the great deal for Hawaii Island residents that they’ve been in the past, thanks to a decision Tuesday by the state Public Utilities Commission that more than halves the credit solar owners get for selling excess power back to the grid. West Hawaii Today.

The state Public Utilities Commission will end net metering, but has approved two new rooftop PV programs intended to replace the NEM program. In addition, the PUC also agreed to allow the Hawaiian Electric Companies to submit a revised time-of-use rate proposal to further expand options for its customers. Maui Now.

After years of expansion, many are predicting Hawaii's solar industry is about to fall on hard times after the Public Utilities Commission announced new rules Monday for the installation of photovoltaic systems. KITV4.

Oahu

The Honolulu Ethics Commission on Wednesday dropped complaints against City Council members Ikaika Anderson and Ann Kobayashi, and former Councilman Donovan Dela Cruz over claims that they failed to disclose gifts from lobbyists before taking critical votes on the $6 billion rail project. Star-Advertiser.

The city Ethics Commission has dismissed claims made against three Honolulu City Council members over votes involving Honolulu’s rail project. KHON2.

A special prosecutor appointed from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in San Diego has launched a criminal probe into Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his wife, Katherine, a high-ranking city prosecutor. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Wheat is directing the federal investigation, and working with the FBI. Civil Beat.

The city finally cleared out the last of the Kakaako homeless encampment Wednesday after a five-day delay. Star-Advertiser.

For the first time in two years, the sidewalks on Ohe Street in Kakaako are free of tents. Hawaii News Now.

Five condominium towers under construction in Kakaako will soon have more company, with a sixth tower slated to break ground in about two weeks followed by a seventh in March. Star-Advertiser.

Pacific Business News Publisher Bob Charlet to head Houston Business Journal. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

High water temperatures fueled by El Niño are wreaking havoc on East Hawaii’s coral reefs. Tribune-Herald.

County crews are putting the finishing touches on a Kaumana Drive repaving project with the goal of discouraging motorists from speeding. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The J. Walter Cameron Center will undergo its first major renovation since it opened more than 40 years ago by replacing windows, doors and its air-conditioning system next month, officials said. Maui News.

Opinion: We toast Liquor Control Director Frank Silva on his retirement as corruption charges swirl around his department. MauiTime.

Kauai

Demolition of the long-shuttered Coco Palms Resort could begin in the next four to six weeks, a sign of the island’s slowly materializing efforts to revitalize the historic hotel. Garden Island.

The trail leading up to the Daniel K. Inouye Kilauea Point Lighthouse needs maintenance in order to be safe. Help is on the way. Garden Island.