Lawmakers push for special session on contractor campaign donations, federal Covid spending review likely, Kapaa Quarry mulled for Oahu landfill, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Indictment sparks calls for special session on contractor donation ban. Indictments against Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, current and former state employees, and a contractor in an alleged bribery conspiracy are prompting calls for a special legislative session focused on campaign finance reform. Some lawmakers are pushing for a return to the Capitol to take up Senate Bill 2530, a measure that would ban government contractors and their immediate family members from donating to political candidates. Hawaii News Now.

Federal review of COVID-19 spending likely in wake of alleged corruption, Case says. U.S. Rep. Ed Case, a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, said he expects federal scrutiny of Hawaii’s COVID-19 contracts following a public corruption indictment involving Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and four others. Star-Advertiser.

Betting On Hawaiʻi Politics Is Legal Despite State’s Gambling Ban. Users can now wager on when indicted Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke may resign on the prediction market app Kalshi, which is not covered by Hawaiʻi’s gambling law. Civil Beat.

State airports administrator on paid leave after indictment. State Airports Administrator Ford Fuchigami was placed on paid leave for 30 days, effective Monday, after he and four others were indicted Friday in an alleged criminal conspiracy to bribe state officials to secure money for COVID-19 testing during the pandemic. Star-Advertiser.

Rules to limit CRB spread passed on Big Island and Maui. The coconut rhinoceros beetle’s hold across the Hawaiian Islands has grown in recent months, prompting the state Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity to expand restrictions on transporting potential host material between infested islands and areas. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Now. 

Gen Z’s new travel habits to Hawaiʻi . Hawaiʻi's hospitality industry is seeing a new kind of visitor in Generation Z. How they travel could bring changes to the state's largest private industry. Hawaii Public Radio.

Alan B. Carpenter chosen to lead DLNR Division of State Parks. Alan B. Carpenter assumes responsibility for the care and management of 55 state parks and 14 other places of interest, which encompass 34,000 acres of coastal and wildland recreational areas, scenic waysides and cherished places spanning from Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park on Kauaʻi to ʻAkaka Falls State Park on Hawaiʻi Island. Maui Now.

This Hawaiian Waterbird Is Making A Comeback. Should It Still Be Endangered? Most agree efforts to save the aeʻo, the native stilt, have succeeded so far, but some worry about lifting its ‘endangered’ status in a Trump era with looser conservation rules. Civil Beat.

Fausto now a remnant low as it passes north of Hawaiian Islands. Fausto is no longer a tropical cyclone and is now a remnant low passing north of the islands. The Central Pacific Hurricane Center said in data valid at 5 a.m. Wednesday, post-tropical cyclone Fausto was 285 miles north of Hilo, or 225 miles northeast of Honolulu. It was moving west-northwest at 13 miles per hour. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Voters in Waters’ district confused as name remains on ballot after being ruled ineligible to run. While Honolulu election officials try to figure out what to do for Tommy Waters’ council seat, the district’s voters are left confused with his name still on the ballot. As of Tuesday morning, thousands have already cast their votes. KHON2.

City eyes Kapaa Quarry for Oahu’s next landfill. The City is eying Kapaa Quarry as a potential site for Oahu’s next landfill, and Windward lawmakers are pushing back. KHON2.

These Historic Oʻahu Homes Pay Practically No Property Tax. Honolulu homes valued in the millions are getting a major tax break. One City Council member says the program is being abused. Civil Beat.

State-subsidized rental housing for middle-income households blessed in Waipio. Scott Glenn, a housing adviser to Gov. Josh Green, said the new homes — one-bedroom apartments renting for $1,800 to $2,280 a month depending on household size — allow Koa Ridge to include residents who might not be able to afford new market-priced housing being built in the 3,500-home community master-planned by Castle &Cooke Hawaii in Waipio. Star-Advertiser.

Beach Cleanup Activist Challenges Longtime Incumbent In East Oʻahu. Kahi Pacarro has mounted an aggressive campaign against the low key Rep. Mark Hashem in the District 19 Democratic primary. Civil Beat.

Fresh lei, hot pizza? Oahu’s one-of-a-kind vending machines turn heads. Need a fresh flower lei for a graduation, special event or last-minute celebration? There is now a vending machine for that. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

A reprieve for 5 early childhood education sites on isle. Several months after nonprofit Partners in Development Foundation prepared to close five early childhood education sites on Hawaii Island — and 16 on other islands — due to federal funding cuts, the organization recently announced the sites will now be staying open. Tribune-Herald.

New reports document energy priorities, concerns of Puna, Kaʻū residents. The reports reflect responses from a total of 481 community members — 340 in Puna and 141 in Kaʻū — and examine energy affordability, power outages, household preparedness, renewable energy development, community participation, protection of ʻāina and cultural resources as well as benefits residents expect from future energy investments. Big Island Now.

Speed limit to be reduced on part of Puainako Street Extension. The speed limit on a portion of the Puainako Street Extension — also known as Hawaii Route 2000 — will be lowered from 55 mph to 45 mph as part of an effort to improve roadway safety. Tribune-Herald.

Episode 52 fountaining ends at Kilauea summit. Episode 52 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption ended at 2:36 a.m. on Wednesday. High lava fountaining from the north vent in Halemaʻumaʻu began at 7:10 p.m. HST on Tuesday evening. Big Island Now. KITV4. Hawaii News Now. Big Island Video News. 

Maui

Maui Council advances new hotel zoning for over 2,000 apartment-district vacation rentals. Maui County Council members voted Friday to send two bills to the Maui Planning Commission that would move vacation rental units, currently operating in A-1 and A-2 apartment districts, into new hotel zoning classifications. Maui Now.

County to pull four speed tables in Haiku, hold community meeting. Responding to residents' concerns, Maui County officials plan to remove four speed tables on West Kuiaha Road as part of an ongoing review of traffic-calming devices in Haiku. Maui News.

Plan to rebuild popular Kaanapali Beach with offshore sand faces scrutiny. Plan would move 75,000 cubic yards of sand to restore beach to 1980s condition. Kaanapali Beach on Maui’s west side has been eroding for four decades, and a plan is now moving forward to restore it to how it was in the 1980s — but the proposal is facing some community opposition. Hawaii News Now.

Audubon Society asks for pueo study with Lahaina Bypass project. The National Audubon Society has asked state transportation officials to include a biological review of the Hawaiian short-eared owl in the study of Lahaina Bypass connector alternatives near Wahikuli Gulch in West Maui. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauaʻi police join countywide emergency alert system to expand public safety notifications. The partnership, announced by the Kauaʻi Emergency Management Agency, expands use of the Everbridge Emergency Mass Notification System, which is already used by the emergency management agency, the Kauaʻi Fire Department and the county Department of Water. Kauai Now.

Kauai Habitat starts 5 homes in Waimea. Volunteer opportunities are available at the Kauai Habitat build sites, such as the current one in Waimea, the Kauai Habitat office in Hanapepe, or the ReStore at Hanapepe. Garden Island.

Volunteers vouch for ballot integrity, indicted officials remain on government payroll, judge rules Tommy Waters ineligible for 3rd term, Tropical Storm Fausto weakens, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Volunteers vouch for process as first ballots counted. The first batch of mail-in ballots arrived at the state Capitol Monday to be counted for the Aug. 8 party primary elections, with volunteers representing both Republicans and Democrats vouching for the security of how they’re handled inside the Capitol, as President Donald Trump continues to sow doubts over U.S. elections. Star-Advertiser.

‘Culture Of Corruption’? Records Link Arrested Lawmaker To Lobbyist. Prosecutors allege that lobbyist Tobi Solidum paid Rep. Ryan Yamane in a series of cash and check installments between 2020 and 2022 to take official actions culminating in a scheme, prosecutors allege, to direct emergency funds to a pricey Covid-testing program run by the kidney foundation. Solidum made millions of dollars from the testing program, according to court documents.  Civil Beat.

Fuchigami on paid leave, Luke still officially Hawaii’s LG. Transportation officials said Airports Director Ford Fuchigami has been placed on paid, 30-day leave by the department effective Monday. He was indicted along with Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke on bribery charges. Despite the indictment and bribery allegations, Luke is still officially the state’s Lieutenant Governor. KHON2.

TRACKING FAUSTO Tropical Storm Fausto nears Hawaii, bringing dangerous surf as Genevieve remains a powerful major hurricane. Tropical Storm Fausto is moving closer to Hawaii and is expected to pass north of the islands from Tuesday night through late Wednesday. As of the latest update, Fausto was about 340 miles east-northeast of Hilo with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph. The storm continues moving west-northwest and is expected to weaken further over the next few days. KITV4. KHON2. Hawaii News Now. 

HECO plans to bring online about 1,650 gigawatt-hours of new solar and wind power, the equivalent of about 15% of all the energy on its grids. HECO announces new renewable energy procurement, looks to natural gas. Hawaiian Electric says that new renewable energy generation will help the state reduce its dependence on oil. Hawaii Public Radio.

DOE spends millions on campus repairs ahead of school year.  Over $140 million worth of repairs and renovations are happening across the state Department of Education’s campuses ahead of the new school year. Jesse Souki, the department’s deputy superintendent of operations, said that the work is focused on extending the lifespan of school facilities, while also creating environments where students can focus on their academics. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Judge rules Waters ineligible to seek 3rd Council term. A 1st Circuit Court judge ruled Monday that Honolulu City Council Chair Tommy Waters is ineligible to seek a third consecutive term representing East Honolulu’s District 4. The ruling by Judge James H. Ashford sides with Council candidate and attorney Trevor Ozawa’s legal challenge over the City Charter’s term limits and prevents Waters, also a lawyer, from continuing his campaign for reelection unless the decision is overturned. It’s unclear what this means for voters who have already voted for Tommy Waters in the primary election. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio. KHON2.  Hawaii News Now. 

Skyline’s Kalihi through Civic Center station designs unveiled. The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation has officially released the renderings for the Skyline Segment 3 stations, stretching from Kalihi to Civic Center. KHON2.

Weather worries change RIMPAC plans. Over the weekend, the various forces gathered for the exercise had been slated to carry out a simulated assault at Bellows Beach in Waimanalo using both amphibious landing craft and helicopters to bring troops and equipment ashore. Star-Advertiser.

Filipino national charged with unlawful voting. Bernadette Acaso, a Filipino national who was living in Honolulu and Kahului, was charged by criminal complaint on July 22, with unlawfully voting in the 2024 presidential election. Star-Advertiser.

Salvage company says state owes them more for removing a sunken ship. Hawaiʻi Island-based Pacific Underwater Construction said it sank about $600,000 into removing a roughly 77-foot sunken ship from the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island 

Voter Service Centers Open In Hawaiʻi County. Voter service centers will be open from now through August 8th to provide in-person election services, such as voter registration and accessible voting. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. 

County gets some help from FEMA for blaze in West Hawaii. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has authorized the use of federal funds to assist the state in combating the Kawaihae Road Fire that is still burning. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now. 

Storm-damaged Konawaena HS ready for new school year. Konawaena High School will be ready to reopen for the new school year following extensive flood damage repairs caused by the Kona low storms in March, the state Department of Education said Monday. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Report finds many Maui wildfire survivors still face health, housing challenges. Nearly three years after the Maui wildfires, many survivors are returning to work, gaining health insurance and finding more stable housing, but thousands continue to struggle with food insecurity, mental health challenges and lingering physical health concerns, according to a report released Monday. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

Kaanapali sand replenishment moves forward. The proposal by the Pilikahakai Foundation and the Ka'anapali Operations Association would collect sand that has accumulated offshore beyond the reach of natural processes and redistribute it along the shoreline from Keka'a to Maui County’s Hanakao'o Beach Park. Maui News.

Kauai

DHHL sued over evictions of non-Native Hawaiians in East Kauai project. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is facing another lawsuit. This time it stems over the eviction of residents from an East Kauai complex who don’t meet blood quantum requirements. Hawaii News Now.

Annual report: Surfrider Kauaʻi in 2025 removed nearly 80.3 tons of trash — or 160,552 pounds — from beaches. That total includes two cleanups last year on the Garden Isle that broke the scales — one in January at Anahola Bay where 3,202 pounds were collected and another in June at Nukoli‘i Marine Camp when 2,402 pounds were removed — as reported in national nonprofit Surfrider Foundation's seventh annual beach cleanup report. Kauai Now.

BREAKING: 4 state officials, lobbyist, indicted in bribery scandal

Bribery Charges: Sylvia Luke, Ex-State Rep And Others Indicted In Corruption Case. An Oahu grand jury today indicted Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and four others as part of the state Attorney General’s months-long political corruption probe. After hearing evidence for most of the day, the grand jury this afternoon indicted Luke for criminal conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery and falsifying candidate committee reports. Also indicted were Former state Rep. Ryan Yamane, who is also the former director of the Department of Human Services, for conspiracy to commit bribery and bribery, Ford Fuchigami, deputy director for the Airports Division at state Department of Transportation, for conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery, use of false statement, and obstruction of justice, Leo Asuncion Jr, a former Luke campaign volunteer and Public Utilities Commission chair, for falsifying candidate committee reports, use of false statement, and obstruction of justice and obbyist and businessman Tobi Solidum for four counts of conspiracy to commit bribery and three counts of bribery. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

State releases campaign spending reports, Green signs anti-corruption bills, Kauai seeks help after Waimea River shifts toward homes, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

See Who’s Getting, And Giving, Millions In Campaign Funds This Year. Hawaiʻi’s political newcomers are raking in the cash, while lobbyists and labor unions top the list of donors. Who is donating to whom has taken on new importance in recent years as ongoing corruption investigations have roiled Hawaiʻi. Civil Beat.

New state laws enacted to deter corruption in Hawaii government. Gov. Josh Green on Friday signed a bill into law that will extend the statute of limitations from three years to nine years for the offense of bribery. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii’s new ‘millionaire tax’ rivals top tax rate among other states. Under part of Act 24, which some call Hawaii’s new “millionaire tax,” a married couple earning over $1 million and filing a joint return would be charged $88,729 plus 13% on any income above $1 million for the 2027 tax year. Star-Advertiser.

Landmark bill gives Native Hawaiians larger public lands role. Gov. Josh Green signed House Bill 2218 into law Wednesday after it unanimously passed both chambers of the state Legislature, creating a formal legal pathway for the state Board of Land and Natural Resources to enter into long-term co-management agreements with qualified community-based nonprofit organizations. Star-Advertiser.

OHA Dissenters Won’t Recant Retaliation Claims. Four trustees from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs are bucking orders to withdraw a court document filed as part of a lawsuit that alleges the office, other members of the board and Chair Kai Kahele unfairly retaliated against CEO Stacy Ferreira. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi forgiveness program to reduce $91M in medical debt. About 50,000 Hawaiʻi residents have accumulated a total of $91 million in medical debt, but a new state program could help absolve lower-income residents of those unpaid bills. Hawaii Public Radio.

Federal aid climbs, thousands apply for Kona-low support. Federal agencies have approved tens of millions of dollars in assistance for survivors of Hawaii’s Kona-low storms in March, with thousands of FEMA, SBA and USDA applications still under review as recovery efforts continue statewide. Star-Advertiser.

Traffic fatalities in Hawaii ticked up after Memorial Day. Since Memorial Day on May 25, there have been at least a dozen fatalities, accounting for roughly 25% of the total, which stood at 48 as of Friday. At the same time last year, the number was at 69. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Waters’ War Chest Dwarfs Opponents In Competitive Honolulu Council Primary. Candidates running for the Honolulu Council District 4 seat have vastly different resources to draw on. Honolulu Council Chair Tommy Waters is sitting on a $320,000 war chest and has so far spent $130,000 in his bid for reelection to Honolulu Council District 4, the latest state campaign finance reports show.  Civil Beat.

Honolulu City Council advances bill aimed at expanding affordable housing. A Honolulu City Council measure aimed at accelerating affordable rental housing construction on Oahu by easing development standards has advanced despite concerns from housing advocates, Council members and other stakeholders over its potential impacts. Star-Advertiser.

Waianae homeless community shrinks as permanent homes arrive. The Pu‘uhonoua o Wai‘anae homeless community at the Wai‘anae Small Boat Harbor has shrunk from a peak of 250 people to just 30 who are waiting for new, permanent homes to arrive so they can join their friends and family who already have moved to a new 20-acre site on the mauka side of Farrington Highway. Star-Advertiser.

HPD sends Aliamanu fireworks case to prosecutors. The Honolulu Police Department’s investigation into the Jan. 1, 2025, explosion of illegal fireworks at a New Year’s party in Aliamanu that killed six people, including a 3-year-old child, has been sent to prosecutors for possible criminal charges. Star-Advertiser.

As pro golf tournaments leave Hawaiʻi, so do millions in charitable giving. Friends of Hawaii Charities hosted the Sony Open PGA golf tournament in Hawaiʻi for 28 years. Over that time, it raised nearly $28 million in grants for nonprofits in Hawaiʻi that serve children, older people and underserved communities. Hawaii Public Radio.

After storm damage, Hawaii’s reefs brace for another blow from El Niño. When back-to-back Kona lows hit the state in March, Alika Garcia got ready to dive.As executive director of Kuleana Coral, a coral restoration group on Oahu, he and his team worked under an emergency permit to survey and restore the affected coral colonies in Maunalua Bay as soon as ocean conditions were safe. Star-Advertiser.

No ‘large cat-like animal’ found at Manoa Falls, DLNR says. After reports of large wild cats at Manoa Falls, the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources said it found no evidence that would require the trail to close. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Most of Big Island sees above average rainfall last month, with 10 sites having wettest June on record. Several locations on the leeward side, on the other hand, didn't fare as well, with much of the Kona and Kohala coasts, slopes and interior higher elevations recording below average rainfall for June. Big Island Now.

A place to call home: DHHL awards 200 lots in Pana‘ewa to Native Hawaiian beneficiaries. For the first time in over 20 years, the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands presented leases for residential lots in East Hawaii to Native Hawaiian beneficiaries Saturday at a ceremony in Hilo, where 200 lots were awarded. Tribune-Herald.

Kona low victims awarded nearly $5M. Hawaii County launched a recovery grant program late last month for businesses impacted by back-to-back Kona low storms that hammered the island in March, just as a similar federal aid effort formed to help storm victims is wrapping up. Tribune-Herald.

Takeout Boxes Are Filling Landfills. This Town Has A Plan To Phase Them Out. As Hawaiʻi island prepares to enact a ban on single-use plastic serviceware, a coalition in Hilo is rolling out the nation’s first comprehensive city-wide reuse program with over $3 million in seed funding. Civil Beat.

Ka‘u cultural center clears another hurdle. A final environmental assessment was recently completed for the site, which is located near Waiohinu on land managed by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.  Star-Advertiser.

Hilo skateboard ramp expected to officially open soon. Intended to “bridge the gap” until the proposed multimillion-dollar roller-sport facility along Piilani Street across from the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium can be built, the 16-foot-wide and 60-foot-long plywood half-pipe ramp was gifted to the county by Oasis Skateboards owner Dan Madsen to create a dedicated space for skaters. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Fired Maui County official sues Mayor Bissen, Board of Ethics for defamation. Luana Mahi, the former director of the county Office of Economic Development, is suing the county for defamation, saying her reputation was tarnished by “inaccurate” claims that she used grant funding to benefit her family members.  Maui Now.

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

National Park Service ‘pauses’ Kalaupapa tours after one trip. The National Park Service abruptly paused its planned twice-a-week walking tours of Kalaupapa National Historic Park after its inaugural trip Thursday was met by about 30 Native Hawaiians and Molokai residents demanding a say in the future of the site where 8,000 Hansen’s disease patients were forced to live in isolation for over a century. Star-Advertiser. KHON2. KITV4. 

Rebuilding, Mental Health And Groundwater: Maui County Mayor Candidate Q&As. A ballot full of candidates is running in the primary election to lead Maui Nui. Civil Beat.

RISE Maui Summit will bring together scientists, artists and cultural practitioners. With proceeds benefiting Lahaina’s rebuilding efforts, the RISE Maui: Sustainability + Tech Summit in August at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa will spotlight sustainability and innovation through the lens of regeneration. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauaʻi seeks state assistance as Waimea River mouth shifts towards homes. Kauaʻi County urgently seeks technical assistance because the Waimea River's sudden westward shift threatens nearby homes and properties. Kauai Now. Garden Island. KHON2.  KITV4. 

Kauaʻi Wants New Homes To Resist Fire. It’s Cheaper Than You Might Think. The Garden Isle has a higher wildfire risk than most counties in the country. Civil Beat.

Luke receives AG target letter in bribery probe, more raises for Honolulu officials, lawsuit against Turtle Bay luxury resort headed to court, Kilauea volcano erupting again, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Green to meet with Lt. Gov. Luke after she gets target letter in bribery probe. Gov. Josh Green plans to meet with embattled Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke today after she received a letter from the state Attorney General’s office informing her that she is the target of a bribery investigation involving an “influential state legislator” who allegedly accepted $35,000 in a paper bag at a 2022 dinner. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.  KITV4.

Hawaiʻi Lawmakers Shelve Petition To Further Probe $35K Paper Bag Case. House Speaker Nadine Nakamura tabled the citizen petition with little advance notice or discussion. More than 900 petitioners asked the lawmakers to find out what happened in this transaction, determine if any laws had been broken and figure out what steps should be taken to address ethics problems at the Legislature.  Civil Beat.

A narrowed race for lieutenant governor leaves top state positions unchallenged. Following Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke's announcement that she will not be running for reelection, Kauaʻi Mayor Derek Kawakami is the only significant Democrat vying for the position. Unless someone decides by the June 2 deadline to enter the election for lieutenant governor, it could create an uncompetitive race for both of the state’s top executive positions. Hawaii Public Radio.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Nominee Faces Tough Questions From Senators. Besides his work for a powerful Hawaiʻi super PAC, lawmakers raised concerns about Vladimir Devens’ attendance at a controversial Honolulu cop’s retirement party. Civil Beat.

31 countries to send forces to RIMPAC this summer in Hawaii. The Navy announced Wednesday that the biennial Rim of the Pacific — better known as RIMPAC — will again this summer, from June 24 to July 31, bring troops, warships and aircraft from 31 nations to Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Vegetation growth from recent rains may stoke wildfire risk. Torrential rains in March and April have turned Hawaiʻi's landscapes green with new plant growth. Much of that vegetation is thirsty invasive grasses, which dominate Hawaiʻi's unmanaged lands. Those grasses likely won't stay green for long. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Honolulu salary panel OKs 4.7% pay raises for top city officials. The Honolulu Salary Commission on Wednesday approved a 4.7% pay increase for most of the city’s top elected and appointed officials, with changes set to take effect by July 1. The across-the-board adjustment for the 2027 fiscal year will raise the mayor’s annual salary to $236,712 from $226,080. Members of the nine-member City Council will see their yearly pay increase to $127,800 from $122,064, while the Council chair’s salary will rise to $138,264, up from $132,048. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu Traffic Cams Catch Speeders. But Most Don’t Get Tickets. Cameras at 10 major accident hot spots are catching red light runners and speeders. But ticketing more of them would overwhelm the state’s courts. Civil Beat.

Lawsuit against proposed luxury resort in Turtle Bay set to go to court. Kūpaʻa Kuilima and Earthjustice filed a lawsuit in state court to block the proposed development of a second resort on the Ritz-Carlton’s Turtle Bay property. Hawaii Public Radio.

Residents push back over West Oahu landfill concerns. The City presented its proposal for Makaiwa Hills to the Kapolei Neighborhood Board on Wednesday, and many said they will push back. KHON2. Hawaii News Now. KITV4. 

Macadamia chocolate manufacturer ending sales. Menehune Mac — Hawaii’s oldest existing macadamia nut candy manufacturer, founded in 1939 — has produced its final batch that owner Jimmy Chan hopes will last through Mother’s Day. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Council’s attempt to override Alameda’s veto falls short. The Hawaii County Council came one vote short Wednesday of overturning Mayor Kimo Alameda’s veto of a bill that would have created a commission tasked with advising county officials about construction codes. Tribune-Herald.

Sen. Hirono, Indo-Pacific Commander Discuss Pōhakuloa. Sen. Mazie K. Hirono (D, Hawaiʻi) told Admiral Samuel Paparo that the military should not "short-circuit" land lease discussions by seeking to condemn the land. Big Island Video News.

Hawaiʻi County could give state group $250K for invasive species management. Hawaiʻi Island lawmakers are considering giving the state $250,000 for invasive species management on the island, but have been critical about its efforts so far. Hawaii Public Radio.

Episode 45 of lava fountaining begins at the summit of Kilauea. Episode 45 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu began at the summit of Kilauea at 1:34 a.m. on Thursday. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Budget panel weighs department cuts amid property tax certification, stable revenue. Maui County Council Member Kauanoe Batangan has proposed an across-the-board 1.25% budget cut for non-first-responder departments that would yield somewhat more than $5 million in savings from Mayor Richard Bissen’s fiscal 2027 $1.61 billion budget proposal. Maui Now.

Mayor Bissen halts traffic-calming devices on County roads in Haʻikū in response to community concern. In response to Haʻikū community concerns, Mayor Richard Bissen temporarily halted future design and construction of proposed or pending speed tables, speed humps and similar traffic-calming devices on County of Maui roadways in Haʻikū. Maui Now.

Maui brands get new boost as iShoppes runs former DFS Hawaii sites at Kahului Airport. International Shoppes (iShoppes) was selected by the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation to provide retail and in-bond duty free concessions at the Kahului Airport on Maui. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauaʻi Sea Scouts showcase donated 61-foot yacht at weekend open house. The Kaua‘i Sea Scouts recently received a donated $500,000 boat, Sun Seeker, and are welcoming the community to their open house. The Kauaʻi Sea Scouts will host the event from 4 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 25, welcoming boys and girls ages 12 to 18 to learn about the program, meet current members, and explore its new donated vessel “Sun Seeker.” Kauai Now.

Legislature advances bribery bills, mulls curbing executive powers, reforming public schools; Maui Planning Commission rejects bill to save vacation rentals, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Senate bribery bills progress as corruption allegations linger. Bribing an elected official would bring increased penalties under three bills that passed out of a key Senate committee Tuesday as the state attorney general continues to investigate an unidentified “influential state legislator” allegedly taped in 2022 by federal investigators accepting $35,000 in a paper bag. Star-Advertiser.

Clean Elections advocates call on lawmakers to reform campaign finance. Citing a "trust deficit," the Clean Elections Hawaiʻi Coalition is asking for an impartial, independent special prosecutor to look into pay-to-play donations within the state.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii emergency proclamation powers could be curtailed under new legislation. Concerns about executive overreach during emergencies are sparking action at the State Capitol. Lawmakers are pushing new legislation aimed at reining in emergency powers and adding more oversight. KHON2.

Is Now The Time For Reforming Hawaiʻi Schools? From where the leaders of the Senate Education Committee sit, one thing seems clear: The Hawai‘i public school system is broken. A controversial bill would cut top superintendent positions from the DOE and increase community input in schools. Some families say the change is long overdue. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers renew warnings on fentanyl, cite ‘alarming’ death counts. The number of people who died from fentanyl across the islands dipped from 107 in 2023 to 103 in 2024, which is still far up from 9 in 2018. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Oahu

Honolulu Investigator Obstructed His Own Criminal Case, Hawaiʻi AG Says. A 52-year-old investigator with the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney was indicted by an Oahu grand jury Friday for allegedly abusing his ex-fiance in 2024 and then threatening her into silence. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

Pacific leaders gather in Hawaii for business summit. Leaders from Pacific Island nations and territories gathered this week at the East-West Center in Manoa for an inaugural diplomatic and business summit aimed at promoting private sector investments and contracts across island communities in Oceania. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmaker wants to create homeless buffer zones around bus stops. Safety concerns could clear homeless residents from Oahu bus stops, under a bill proposed this legislative session. KITV4.

Repairs underway for water main break in Haleiwa. On Tuesday, Feb. 24, around 2 p.m., BWS crews responded to the break on Kamehameha Hwy. near Tutu St., about a half-mile from Waimea Bay.  Hawaii News Now.

Kailua military officer admits to ‘compulsive’ online chatting, denies sexual attraction to minors. Lt. Col. Ross Andrew Brown, a Kailua-based Air Force lieutenant colonel and attorney took the stand in his own defense Tuesday at his federal trial for attempted sexual enticement of a 14-year-old girl. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

County acquires Kona property to preserve shoreline access. The 15,372-square-foot site is located near the popular “Banyans” surfing spot and is one of the few undeveloped coastal properties in the area along Ali‘i Drive. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.  Big Island Now.

Hawaiʻi Police Department Welcomes New K9 Trina. A three-year-old Labrador Retriever who was trained as a live-find human tracking canine has joined the Hawaiʻi Police Department.  Big Island Video News.

Maui

Maui Planning Commission Rejects Bill To Save Thousands Of Vacation Rentals. The County Council would now need a supermajority vote to allow thousands of apartment-zoned units to keep operating as short-term rentals. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. 

Maui stream monitoring to flow from fine penalty.  The Commission on Water Resource Management has accepted a Maui Land & Pineapple Co. proposal to spend $150,680 to improve stream-level monitoring in lieu of a maximum $140,000 fine for West Maui stream management violations. Star-Advertiser.

Feasibility study underway for new Kapalua recycled water treatment plant. Hawaii Water Service has selected Carollo Engineering Inc. to complete a feasibility study for a decentralized wastewater treatment plant in Kapalua that would produce recycled water and provide the community with a drought-resistant irrigation supply.  Maui News.

Kauai

Controversial Kōloa Housing Project Gets Green Light In Unanimous Vote. Over objections, the commission cited the dire need for more homes. At least 45% of the units must go to locals. A controversial 148-unit Kōloa housing project got the green light from Kaua‘i’s Planning Commission with the conditions that the units never be turned into vacation rentals and that at least 45% of them go to existing county residents. Civil Beat.

Gov. Josh Green takes the high road: a commentary

 

Poor Josh Green.

Right at the start of his gubernatorial reelection year, right on the cusp of actualizing his long drive to make a name for himself on the national political scene, the governor has been thrown a curve ball by his lieutenant.

Green announced Thursday he’d canceled his planned trip to the National Governors Association annual winter meeting in Washington, D.C. in order to tend to the controversy at home. Had Green left the state, Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke would have been acting governor under state law.

“This annual winter meeting is important to the collaborative work I do on behalf of the people of Hawaiʻi,” Green said in a statement. “However, in light of recent events and to ensure steady leadership for our state during this time, I have canceled out-of-state travel for this month, including my attendance at this long-planned conference.”

It’s hardly fair.

In Hawaii, gubernatorial candidates don’t get to pick their running mate because the lieutenant governor is chosen in a separate race. So the winning governor is stuck with whomever the people picked in the primaries.

Seventeen states elect a lieutenant governor independently, while 26 states elect the governor and lieutenant governor on a joint ticket. Seven states, including Hawaii, nominate candidates in separate primaries, but they run on a single joint ticket during the general election.

At issue is an ongoing federal investigation into a long-simmering bribery case that had already sent two state lawmakers – Sen. J. Kalani English and Rep. Ty J.K. Cullen – to federal prison. Cullen, who turned government witness, secretly taped an “influential” lawmaker accepting $35,000 in a paper bag, according to federal court filings.

Luke, who at the time of the initial investigation was chairwoman of the powerful House Finance Committee, disclosed earlier last week that she accepted $10,000 in campaign checks from Cullen’s associates during a 2022 dinner with Cullen and his associates, but she denied she was the legislator taking $35,000 in a paper bag, as described n court filings.

Accepting $5,000 for a statewide campaign isn’t a crime. 

But as it turns out, Luke’s donations from those individuals weren’t reported to the state Campaign Spending Commission until just last week, after Honolulu Civil Beat started asking questions. Kudos to Civil Beat for flushing this information out of the shadows through its relentless reporting.

But back to the governor.

I must say that Green has been the most open, accessible and forthcoming public official in the 20 years I’ve been working in the state as a government reporter covering four of the most recent Hawaii governors. 

I started covering Green when he was in the state House representing Kailua-Kona, and continued covering him when he progressed to the state Senate and then to lieutenant governor and then to governor. One thing about Green, as a transplant from the U.S. continent, he was never part of the old gang Democratic Party here, always somewhat an outsider, and the more moderate of the party faithful, as far as that went.

His accessibility to the press was such, that when he was still also serving as an emergency room doctor, we would joke that he’d answer our calls even if he had his hands in a patient. OK, maybe not quite, but you get the idea. The man was accessible.

Despite his obvious pleasure in hobnobbing on the national scene, despite the efforts he makes to help not just Hawaii, but humanity, Green is making the right choice. Despite his disappointment in not being able to attend the NGA conference this week, he’s taking the high road.

“As I’ve previously stated, regarding the investigation, accountability is essential — no one gets a free pass,” Green said. “We are in an active phase of this effort led by our Attorney General and I want to see all of the facts released to the people of our state as expeditiously as possible. This needs to be resolved for the good of our public trust.”

You might disagree with his policies, but you can’t disagree with his openness to explain them. And really, isn’t that all we can ask of our elected officials?

Nancy Cook Lauer, who’s covered state and local governments for more than 30 years in Hawaii and Florida, is the publisher of All Hawaii News (www.allhawaiinews.com)

Green cancels trip to National Governors Association conference in light of turmoil over Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, state DOE bans student cellphone use in public schools, lawmakers mull using taxpayer money for UH athletes, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Uproar over Sylvia Luke forces Green to cancel out-of-state trip. Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke will not serve as acting governor this month after Gov. Josh Green announced Thursday that he has canceled his scheduled trip to Washington, D.C., to attend the National Governors Association meeting, as questions swirl over whether Luke is the focus of a state investigation. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio.  KHON2. 

Analysis: What Happens When The Governor Can't Trust His Lieutenant Governor? The two may seem like a team but the Legislature is the only authority that can remove an elected official from office in Hawaiʻi. Civil Beat.

Lobbyist at center of ‘paper bag’ case under federal investigation. Lobbyist Tobi J. Solidum’s company, Geopolicy Development Group LLC,  who donated $10,000 to Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, during a January 2022 dinner is a target of a federal investigation into possible public corruption and an alleged $7 million COVID-19 funding fraud, sources said. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii environmental leaders condemn EPA rollback. State and local environmental leaders strongly condemned President Donald Trump’s move on Thursday to rescind a scientific finding, the loss of which effectively deregulated greenhouse gas emissions under the Environmental Protection Agency — with the state Energy Office calling it “one of the largest environmental rollbacks in U.S. history.” Star-Advertiser.

State Board of Education adopts new policy on student cellphone use; implementation begins next school year. The state Board of Education has adopted a statewide policy establishing new rules for student cellphone use in public schools. The rules ban cellphone use during school hours for elementary, middle and intermediate school and during instructional time in high school. Tribune-Herald.

Proposals to recruit UH athletes with taxpayer money get mixed feedback. State lawmakers are moving along a request by the University of Hawaiʻi to use taxpayer money to help attract and pay student athletes — although pushback against the idea has been prevalent. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Donations scandal puts shadow over city COVID testing program. A $100 million COVID testing program organized by a central figure in an ongoing donations scandal is facing new scrutiny with critics calling the effort a wasteful use of taxpayer money. Tobi Solidum organized a plan for the National Kidney Foundation Hawaii to become a city contractor for testing with subcontractors including his own company and H2O Process Systems, owned by his friend, Milton Choy. Hawaii News Now.

Lobbyist Under Fire Tied To Taxpayer-Funded Kidney Center That Was Never Built. Records show firms associated with politically connected contractor Dennis Mitsunaga collected nearly $1.8 million for a Kapolei building that has never materialized. Civil Beat.

New 4-year bus pact reached with Local 996, OTS says. Following months of back-and-forth negotiations, Oahu Transit Services Inc., which operates TheBus and TheHandi-Van routes on behalf of the City and County of Honolulu, announced Thursday hat it had reached an agreement with its labor union that represents hundreds of bus operators, mechanics and support staff. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Royalty Burial Grounds: Lawmakers Punt On Oversight Woes. Lawmakers are hesitant to move quickly on the sensitive issue and want a task force to come back in two years with a proposal for how to oversee Mauna ‘Ala. Civil Beat.

Waikīkī's Kūhiō Beach Park set to get $1M facelift. Waikīkī’s Kūhiō Beach Park will see $1 million invested into improving its safety, cleanliness, and long-term stewardship. Hilton Grand Vacations is donating the money to the Waikīkī Business Improvement District as part of its Ka Haku Resort deal, which is expected to open its Hilton club later this year. Hawaii Public Radio.

Frustrations aired over long-standing Mapunapuna tidal flooding. The intersection of Ahua and Kilihau streets in Mapunapuna has been notorious for years for flooding during high tides and heavy rains. And community members are demanding to know if there’s any way to keep the tide at bay. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. 

40 affordable rental units for Native Hawaiians coming to Leeward coast. Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is set to redevelop its first affordable rental housing project in the area. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands conducted a ceremonial blessing on 40 affordable rental units that will soon house Native Hawaiian families in Maili. Hawaii News Now. 

Hawaii Island

In State of the County address, Alameda focuses on affordability, housing, homelessness. Among the factors that must be considered, he said, are building codes, roads, energy costs, wastewater and water services, workforce development, home insurance and mortgage rates, property taxes, and support services for the homeless. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now. 

Wastewater spill at treatment plant in East Hawai‘i forces shoreline closures. Portions of East Hawai‘i shorelines are closed following a wastewater spill at the Pāpaʻikou Treatment Plant, which resulted in a discharge of up to 98,300 gallons of fully treated, insufficiently disinfected wastewater. Big Island Now.

High bacteria levels detected in waters off Hilo Bay and Spencer Beach Park.  Levels of 150 per 100 mL were detected during a recent test at Canoe Beach, and levels of 624 per 100 mL were discovered at Spencer. Big Island Now.

Maui

Schatz secures $1 million earmark to improve Molokaʻi Airport. US Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawai‘i secured $1 million in congressionally directed spending, also known as an earmark, in this year’s appropriations deal for Moloka‘i Airport. Maui Now.

HCF’s Maui Strong Fund and House Maui program award $6M to expand housing pathways for wildfire survivors. Hawai‘i Community Foundation (HCF) announced a combined award of $6.34 million to Hawaiian Community Assets (HCA) to expand the Ua Hale A‘ela program, a transformative initiative providing safe, affordable housing and clear pathways to homeownership for families affected by the devastating Maui wildfires. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauaʻi Mayor Campaign Fundraising: Rapozo Outpacing Carvalho. County Council Chair Mel Rapozo is raising and spending more money than his council colleague Bernard Carvalho Jr. in their bid to be Kauaʻi’s next mayor. Civil Beat.

Kauai police show off new training simulator. The department officially unveiled the MILO Training Range in late 2025, which allows officers to engage in real-time, immersive scenarios, including traffic stops, active shooter responses, domestic disturbances, and mental health crises. Hawaii News Now.

Hours adjusted at public swimming pool on Kaua‘i due to staffing issues. Staffing issues at the Kapa‘a Swimming Pool are forcing the county to adjust the facility’s hours. Kauai Now.

Attorney General opens corruption investigation as state Legislature goes into regular session, skeptical Supreme Court mulls Hawaii gun laws, council members push to stop resumption of aquarium fishing, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

AG opens state investigation into alleged corruption. The state Department of the Attorney General changed course Tuesday after an agreement with federal authorities to share evidence — opening an investigation into an unnamed politician who was mentioned in a corruption probe and allegedly accepted $35,000 in a paper bag. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. KHON2. 

Power Players: Our Guide To Who To Keep An Eye On In The 2026 Legislature. Civil Beat political writers and editors have been watching legislative sessions and legislators up close for decades. The players change over time but one thing stays the same: The people at the top have tremendous power and are not afraid to use it, sometimes ruthlessly and often behind closed doors. Public participation is limited. Civil Beat.

Gov. Green on immigration, health care and 2026 legislative priorities. As the state Legislature gears up for a new session, there are plenty of issues on the table. Concerns about the cost of living are deepened by rising health care premiums for tens of thousands across the islands. Hawaii Public Radio.

Limiting immigration enforcement, school cellphone ban among key bills. Dozens of bills are positioned to be introduced in the legislative session that begins today, including measures that would ban cellphones in public schools, bar law enforcement officers from covering their faces, prevent the Hawaii National Guard from helping federal agents deport immigrants in the state, make another effort to prohibit nepotism in the Legislature and Judiciary and give citizens the power to decide contentious issues themselves. Star-Advertiser.

Housing committee chairs lay groundwork to reserve homes for residents. Chairs of both legislative housing committees are considering bills to reserve housing for Hawaiʻi residents. Hawaii Public Radio.

Gov. Josh Green blasts misinformation on measles. During a news conference Tuesday hosted by Protect Our Care, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit, Green lambasted U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for spreading misinformation about vaccines that prevent diseases such as measles. Star-Advertiser.

Supreme Court seems likely to strike down Hawaii’s restrictions on guns in stores and hotels.  Conservative U.S. Supreme Court justices signaled skepticism Tuesday toward a Hawaii law that restricts the carrying of handguns on private property open to the public without the owner’s permission, appearing ready to expand gun rights again. Reuters. Associated Press. Hawaii News Now. 

Hawaiʻi library system hopes to secure funding amid federal uncertainty. The federal Institute of Museum and Library Services gives about $1.5 million to Hawaiʻi's library system annually. But an executive order last summer slashed funding for IMLS, which ended grants for state library systems. Hawaii Public Radio.

State To Spend Millions To Replace Fire Control Systems In Honolulu, Maui. Fire suppression systems in the recently built rental car facilities at the Honolulu and Maui airports contain toxic chemicals known as PFAS, and the state Department of Transportation estimates it will now cost $23 million to entirely replace the two systems. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Man surrenders to police following barricade situation in Kalihi. Honolulu police arrested a 47-year-old man involved in a barricade situation Tuesday in Kalihi. Police issued an alert around 3 p.m. stating there was an active barricade situation on Skyline Drive. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. 

Hawaii Island

Lawmakers try to block reopening of aquarium fishing. Some elected officials are making a new push to stop aquarium fishing from returning to Hawaii waters. In a unanimous vote earlier this month, a Hawaii County Council committee approved a resolution urging the state legislature to introduce a measure to ban aquarium fishing for all islands. Hawaii News Now.

Hawai‘i Island delegation discusses priorities for upcoming State Legislature session. With the 33rd Hawaiʻi State Legislature to begin Wednesday, three Big Island lawmakers who sit on the powerful Senate Ways and Means Committee say their priority is to ensure residents’ receive the basic needs of health care, food and housing amid looming federal cutbacks. Big Island Now.

Speed Limit Changes To Take Effect On Hilo Airport Road. Changes are being made on Kekūanāoʻa Street, also known as Airport Road, to maintain safety and to keep traffic flowing efficiently. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. 

Newborn Big Island monk seal doing well in hospital. Monk seal RU72 was just 3 days old when experts decided to intervene, and admit her into the care of the specialized hospital run by The Marine Mammal Center. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Maui Planning Commission to consider light industrial future for historic Pāʻia Sugar Mill. The Maui Planning Commission will consider a proposal Tuesday to transform nearly 20 acres of the historic Pāʻia Sugar Mill site into a light industrial and commercial hub. Maui Now.

Comment period opens for CDBG-DR Action Plan amendment. Proposed updates to Maui County’s Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery Action Plan are available on the Hoʻokumu Hou website. Maui News.

A New Insight Into Mysterious Tiger Shark Mating Behavior Off Maui. New research reveals what is attracting tiger sharks to areas off of Olowalu during whale breeding season. A study released last week from the University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa has found that tiger shark mating events in Hawaiʻi may directly coincide with humpback calving season. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Wireless Emergency Notification System test scheduled. The Kauai Emergency Management Agency (KEMA) is advising the public of a planned test of the Wireless Emergency Notification System (WENS) at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 26.  Garden Island.

Temporary bridge in Anahola to reopen in March. The temporary bridge over Olokauha Stream on Anahola Road is anticipated to reopen in mid-March after issues with construction materials delayed the project. Kauai Now.

Rhoads sponsors 'no secret police' bill, Health Department moving out of sick building, legislators question HMSA-Hawaii Pacific Health alliance plan, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

'No secret police' bill is high on ACLU's list of Hawaiʻi legislative priorities. State Sen. Karl Rhoads is working with the organization to introduce a “no secret police” bill that would bar state, local and federal law enforcement from concealing their identity by wearing masks or covering their badges. Hawaii Public Radio.

More people are applying to state jobs, but actual hires still lag. The state saw a surge in job applications after several recruiting efforts, although the number of actual hires they’ve resulted in is still low. The state received about 41,500 applications last year, up 27% from 2024. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiʻi Preschool Aid May Not Kick In This School Year After All. The expansion of preschool tuition subsidies is part of the state’s strategy to increase access to early education, but some families are facing delays in receiving aid. Civil Beat.

School Sports Fans Are Getting Meaner. Do Hawaiʻi Laws Fall Short? The recent assault of Moanalua High School’s assistant athletic director has sparked calls to better protect sports officials. Teachers say the DOE needs to do more to keep them safe, too. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi May Add A Test To Driver’s License Renewals As Traffic Deaths Climb. Drivers would have to take written knowledge tests during their license renewals, something Hawaiʻi stopped requiring almost three decades ago. Civil Beat.

Parts of state in drought despite wet December. Last month brought contrasting rainfall patterns across Hawaii, with Kauai and Oahu seeing widespread rain and some flooding, while Maui County and Hawaii island remained largely dry, according to a monthly climate summary released last week by the National Weather Service in Honolulu. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Hawaii lawmakers start looking into HMSA-HPH alliance plan. State lawamakers had dozens of questions Tuesday during a three-hour joint briefing at the state Capitol regarding the impacts of Hawaii’s largest health insurer, Hawaii Medical Service Association, joining forces with Hawai‘i Pacific Health. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.  KITV4. 

Honolulu City Council advances bill to raise transit fares. A proposal to increase fares for riders of TheBus, TheHandi-Van and Skyline for the first time since 2022 is moving forward in the Honolulu City Council. Star-Advertiser.

Asbestos, safety concerns drive Hawaii’s Health Department from headquarters. Relocating 549 employees and some services for the public is slated for later this year, and is expected to cost $3 million for the next fiscal year that begins July 1 to rent space in two downtown Honolulu office towers under a lease slated to run about 15 years. Star-Advertiser.

Fighter jets return to Oahu skies for annual Sentry Aloha Training. The Hawaii Air National Guard is hosting its annual Sentry Aloha fighter exercise from Jan. 14-28. This year’s iteration, Sentry Aloha 26-1, includes about 1,000 personnel and 41 aircraft from seven states with additional support from Australia.  Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Public input sought on the stewardship of Mauna Kea. The Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority, in partnership with Kua o Wākea, will hold a series of 10 community workshops across the Hawaiian Islands starting Jan. 15. Big Island Now.

2 Hawaiʻi Island police officers arrested for perjury, evidence tampering. The State of Hawai‘i Attorney General filed a felony charging complaint in 3rd Circuit Court on Tuesday against two Hawai‘i Island police officers for a variety of charges, including perjury and evidence tampering stemming from unconstitutional searches of an arrestee’s belongings in May 2023. Warrants were issued for the arrests of Officers Blane Kenolio and Noah Serrao. Big Island Now. Tribune-Herald. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.  KITV4.

Questions linger regarding workforce housing bill. An amended version of a bill that would allow residential development in Hawaii County’s industrial-commercial mixed-use zoning districts has been postponed until the Feb. 4 County Council meeting for possible further amendment. Tribune-Herald.

Penn asks Hilo judge to recuse himself in domestic abuse cases. BJ Penn has filed a motion asking Hilo Circuit Judge Peter Kubota to recuse himself from hearing any of Penn’s domestic-abuse related cases. In addition, Penn has filed a motion to discharge his court-appointed defense attorney, Alan Komagome. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui Councilmember Sugimura to challenge Bissen for mayor's office. Maui County Councilmember Yuki Lei Sugimura has announced she will run for mayor. Sugimura was born and raised in Wailuku and has served on the council for nearly a decade. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui Police release details, body worn camera footage from fatal Wailuku shooting. Maui police released body worn camera footage and further details, regarding Thursday night’s deadly shooting in which a suspect was killed during an exchange of gunfire with police in Wailuku. Police have since identified the deceased as 40-year-old Kristopher Austin. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now. 

Kauai

Kauaʻi Coffee Co. employees receive WARN notices with lease ending March 28. Kauaʻi Coffee Co. on Monday sent Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notifications, known as WARN notices, to its 141 employees with its land lease ending at the end of March. Kauai Now.

Lab confirms native duck on Kaua‘i found sick in November died from avian flu. The Koloa Maoli was found sick on Nov. 26 at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Hanalei Wildlife Refuge in Hanalei. The National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed the illness in the bird, which died within 24 hours of being found. Kauai Now.