State audit blasts HTA tourism destination management plan, Ala Wai harbor deteriorates after private takeover plans, bioenergy plant sues HECO over monopoly claims, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

State audit criticizes Hawai‘i Tourism Authority’s destination management. The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority’s destination management focus is “not new — or effective — and the agency remains unable to gauge its own performance,” according to the latest state audit, which was especially critical of its community-driven Destination Management Action Plan effort. Star-Advertiser.

Conservation Groups Sue To Block Commercial Fishing In Pacific Monument. The fishing has resumed in the deep ocean waters that were designated off-limits over a decade ago. Honolulu longliners wasted little time cashing in on President Donald Trump’s decision last month to lift the commercial fishing ban in the deep ocean waters of the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiʻi Lacks Resources For Homeless College Students. The effort to help struggling students at the University of Hawaiʻi is led by volunteer faculty and staff. Other states allocate money to help college students alleviate hardships. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi seeks to control prescription drug costs for underserved populations. The measure aims to adjust the 340B federal program that requires pharmaceutical companies to sell drugs to hospitals that care for disadvantaged populations at a discounted rate. Hawaii Public Radio.

Digital agriculture form will expand after pilot. Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke announced Thursday that the state plans to expand the Akamai Arrival program to additional flights throughout the year, allowing more travelers entering Hawaii to complete a digitized version of the Department of Agriculture’s Plants and Animals Declaration Form.  Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Oahu

Traffic noise, homelessness top concerns at mayor’s sixth town hall meeting. Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s sixth town hall meeting of the year covered a wide geographic area, from Pearl City to downtown. And because of that, the administration was ready for a wide range of questions. Hawaii News Now.

How The Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor Has Gone From Cash Cow To Eyesore. The harbor’s status as a public asset is at odds with the state’s long-term goals for private management boating facilities. Civil Beat.

Ala Moana Boulevard pedestrian bridge now open. The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation (HDOT) announced that the Ala Moana Boulevard pedestrian bridge located between Ward Avenue and Kamakeʻe Street is available for use. KHON2.

Isle Japanese Americans seek to save incarceration history. A March lawsuit against the Department of Government Efficiency has Hawaii’s Japanese Americans concerned about future visits to former incarceration camps, many of which are national historic sites managed by the National Park Service. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Renewable energy plant on Big Island files lawsuit against Hawaiian Electric.  Honua Ola Bioenergy on Hawai‘i Island has filed a lawsuit against Hawaiian Electric, claiming the state’s largest power supplier has created a monopoly that has resulted in the renewable energy plant being unable to operate. Big Island Now.

Hawaiʻi County Council revisits more oversight on the short-term rental industry. Under the measure, properties would have to register with the county’s director of finance and provide information such as the location and number of units for rent. A registration fee of $250 for hosted and $500 for unhosted rentals would apply, and failing to register could result in a $10,000 fine. Hawaii Public Radio.

FDA’s COVID-19 changes worry local health professionals. Big Island health professionals are concerned changes to U.S. Food and Drug Administration rules for COVID-19 vaccines could limit their availability for healthy people under 65 who get vaccinated to protect vulnerable family members. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Support grows to rebuild Lahaina homeless shelter. With $8 million committed to providing emergency shelter and affordable housing in Lahaina, a Maui group is moving forward to rebuild at the Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Center in Lahaina following the 2023 fire. Maui News.

County announces access for noncommerical shoreline recreation near Lahaina Harbor starting Saturday. Beginning Saturday, May 24, 2025, access to the shoreline on the north and south ends of Lahaina Harbor will be made available for recreational, noncommercial purposes, the County of Maui Office of Recovery announced. Maui Now.

Low levels of PFAS detected in water system serving Central Maui. Samples collected from Consolidated Baseyards water system wells were found to contain low levels of Perfluorohexane Sulfonic Acid (PFHxS). Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.

Kauai

Keiki summer program explores animal husbandry, gardening and life skills. The Kauaʻi Animal Education Farm, a farm animal rescue in Kapaʻa, will host weeklong enrichment programs for students ages 8 to 14 throughout the summer. Kauai Now.

Trump executive order opens Pacific marine sanctuary to commercial fishing, UH to cut 36 research programs amid $30M funding loss, Honolulu rail, bus service face cuts, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Trump opens huge Central Pacific protected zone to commercial fishing. President Donald Trump issued an executive order opening up to commercial fishing the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument, covering about 490,000 square miles of ocean southwest of Hawaii. A second executive order directed the Commerce Department to loosen regulations that “overly burden America’s commercial fishing, aquaculture, and fish processing industries.”  New York Times. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

UH loses $30M in federal funds; 36 research programs to be cut. The University of Hawaii announced Thursday it has lost $30 million in federal funding for research, just as the school sees the number of revoked student visas “literally (change) by the hour,” according to a Thursday announcement made by UH President Wendy Hensel. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Veterans advocating for gun safety push for assault weapon ban in Hawaii. A group of U.S. Army veterans are advocating for gun safety urging lawmakers to ban assault weapons this legislative session. KITV4.

Arts advocates say the Legislature continues to put creativity on the chopping block. House Finance Chair Kyle Yamashita has been introducing measures that would either cut, limit or redirect the arts agency’s special fund since 2007, according to the Legislature’s archives. This year, advocates for the arts say Yamashita is much closer than ever to succeeding. Hawaii Public Radio.

Latest tourism agency allegations draw varied responses.  Some of those at the center of the allegations that surfaced Tuesday during an HTA Budget, Finance, and Convention Center Standing Committee say they were blindsided, and want the chance set the record straight before the full HTA board responds. Star-Advertiser.

Loss of $2.1M in federal funds for reproductive care impacts young people, isolated communities. Hawaiʻi receives about $2.1 million in federal Title X funding. It goes to clinics for services like birth control, cancer screenings, and testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants ratify 3 year contract extension. After a little over a month of negotiations, Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants ratified a contract extension, which runs through February 2028. KHON2.

Oahu

Senate Bill Would Put Major State Funding For Honolulu Rail Project In Jeopardy. HART rail board members hope to convince lawmakers to kill the bill. But it has a powerful supporter. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Bus Commuters Are The Latest Victims Of Federal Funding Cuts. The city announced that nearly $10 million for seven programs, including a Waiʻanae Coast bus rapid transit project, has been eliminated. Civil Beat.

Council reappoints Honolulu Emergency Services Department Director Jim Ireland. On Wednesday, the council voted 8-0 to confirm Ireland as HESD’s director. It comes after a slew of former employees in February testified against Ireland, citing the department’s “toxic” work environment, staffing issues and mismanagement of resources. Hawaii Public Radio.

HPD officer arrested again in violation of restraining order. A Honolulu police officer with a history of arrests for violating restraining orders brought by the mothers of his five children was arrested Thursday for allegedly violating a temporary restraining order. Star-Advertiser.

Miske’s Daughter-In-Law Sentenced To 7 Years In Prison. The judge also denied a request for a “non-custodial” sentence that would allow Delia Fabro-Miske to continue raising her daughter. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

Hawaii’s 2nd measles case confirmed in household member. The Hawaii Department of Health today confirmed a second case of measles in an adult household member of the first case, which was in a child under the age of 5. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.
    
Hawaii Island

More snow expected at Big Island summits with extension of winter weather advisory. Additional snow accumulation of up to 2 inches is forecast for Big Island summits as the winter weather advisory for Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa has been extended until 6 a.m. Saturday. Big Island Now.

Trial run: Ali‘i Drive being turned into one-way road for creation of free public parking in Kona. Hawai‘i County is moving forward with its plan to temporarily turn a portion of Ali‘i Drive into a one-way road to create much-needed free parking spaces for the public in the Kona Historic Business District. Big Island Now.

Petition garners more than 2,600 signatures asking Coast Guard to continue search for missing Kona fisherman. Family and friends of a missing Kona fisherman are collecting signatures to petition the U.S. Coast Guard to pick up its search for the 42-year-old who has now been missing at sea for a week. Big Island Now.

Maui

Divisive Maui Pay Hikes: Should A Mayor Earn More Than A Governor? Maui Mayor Richard Bissen, who governs 11% of the state’s population, is set to earn more than even Gov. Josh Green when a slate of generous county pay raises kick in. Civil Beat.

DOH approves fourth medical cannabis retail dispensary for Noa Botanicals. The Hawai‘i Department of Health has issued a formal notice to proceed for Mānoa Botanicals, LLC dba Noa Botanicals after it passed its final on-site inspection for its fourth retail facility. Maui Now.

Kauai

Lawsuit filed in fatal 2024 Kauai helicopter crash. A helicopter crash that happened off Kauai has resulted in a lawsuit after a couple that was vacationing in July 2024 was killed. KHON2.

Officials warn of potentially inclement weather through middle of next week. Kaua‘i County officials are urging the public to remain vigilant as the potential for severe weather conditions continues into early next week. Kauai Now.

Soil sampling to take place at Kekaha Sugar Mill property. Garden Island.