Counties grapple with building code changes as affordable housing grants flow in, storms Gilma and Hector expected to weaken, bring weekend rain, newspaper puts the AI in Kauai, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

As stakeholders navigate building code updates, counties bear the burden. Gov. Josh Green's emergency housing proclamation, issued last July, suspended the State Building Code Council. As a result, the 2021 international codes were adopted by the state last month without changes. Hawaii Public Radio.

HECO and KIUC submit plans to strengthen infrastructure against natural disasters. Hawaiʻi's two big electricity providers have filed plans with the Public Utilities Commission about what they are doing to prepare for natural disasters. Hawaii Public Radio.

Storms Gilma and Hector to weaken, bring rain to start the holiday weekend. The latest hurricane center forecasts show that tropical cyclones Gilma and Hector are weakening as they move closer. KHON2. Hawaii News Now.  Star-Advertiser.

DOE contracts with Roberts Hawaii for school bus drivers to expire in October. The State made three contracts to find a solution to the school bus driver shortage. This provides school bus service to students on the Big Island, Maui and Oahu. KITV4.

Young UH-Manoa voters have little enthusiasm for the presidential race. Young voters could play a critical role in deciding who will be America’s next president, but as a new school year begins at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, there’s little enthusiasm in any big way ahead of Nov. 5. Star-Advertiser.

Trump to put Tulsi Gabbard, RFK Jr. on his transition team. Former President Donald Trump plans to name his former rival, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Hawaii’s Tulsi Gabbard, a one-time Democrat, as honorary co-chairs of a presidential transition team that will help him select the policies and personnel of any second Trump administration, according to a campaign senior adviser. New York Times.

Water commission leader is named following wildfire-related controversy. An attorney with complex litigation experience is positioned to be the next administrator of state water resources more than a year after controversy related to the Lahaina wildfire led to the reassignment, reinstatement and resignation of a predecessor. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio.

Lawyer: Hawaii Prisoner Who Was Stabbed Repeatedly In Arizona Must Be Moved. Myles Breiner says his client fears for his life after being stabbed dozens of times in an alleged gang attack at the Saguaro Correctional Center. Civil Beat.

Oahu

$10M in incentives available for affordable housing developers under new law. In an effort to get more affordable housing built, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi signed Bill 3 into law to offer more incentives for owners and developers. KHON2.

State grants contract for Oʻahuʻs 1st teacher workforce housing development. The 109-unit project will be built on the Mililani High School campus for teachers making up to 120% of the state’s annual median income. Hawaii Public Radio.

BWS Consultants: Thousands Of Navy Water Tests After The Red Fuel Leak Are Invalid. Residents who use the water system affected by that spill say the experts' findings support their concerns that there's still something in the water. Civil Beat.

UH researchers granted $4.2M to take on Hawaiʻi’s clean energy needs. A $4.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation will allow a team led by University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa researchers to tackle clean energy needs on multiple fronts, from sustainable solutions and integrating Native Hawaiian knowledge to engaging with high school students. Kauai Now.

Bikinis, surfboards and battle-axes? Hawaii loosens long-strict weapons laws after court ruling. Hawaii’s tourist hotspot of Waikiki is known for bikinis, shopping and surfboards. But resident Andrew Roberts has recently introduced a different item on evening walks through his neighborhood: a long-poled battle-axe. Associated Press.

Former homeless outreach center becomes encampment hotspot in Wahiawa. A facility in Wahiawa that was initially opened to get homeless individuals off the streets is now a hotspot for illegal encampments. Residents said ever since the nonprofit Achieve Zero closed its doors in December, it’s become a place for squatters and suspicious activity. Hawaii News Now.

3 face federal charges in game room robbery. Three men are facing federal charges after they allegedly robbed an illegal gambling operation on Kawaiahao Street at gunpoint early Thursday morning. Star-Advertiser.

Man indicted for allegedly shooting boy, 16, riding TheBus. An Oahu grand jury indicted a 19-year-old man for attempted murder after he allegedly shot a 16-year-old Farrington High School student on Aug. 9 who was riding TheBus after school, according to the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Schofield soldier faces 3 charges in pregnant wife’s disappearance. A 28-year-old Schofield Barracks soldier, who is the husband of a missing 19-year-old pregnant woman, is facing three charges, the U.S. Army in Hawaii announced Tuesday in a news release. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.  KITV4.

Hawaii Island

Safe Space, mobile kitchen to be unveiled Friday at Salvation Army.  Funded through $1.8 million in state and county money, the Hilo Overnight Safe Space will house up to 25 homeless individuals each night at the Salvation Army’s Ponahawai Street location. Tribune-Herald.

Death of Ocean View man by dog mauling led to stronger state penalties for owners of uncontrolled vicious animals. A year after four dogs viciously attacked 71-year-old Bob Northrop while he was out for a walk, the animalsʻ owners Kalani Burgher and Keli Toyama were charged with negligent failure to control a dangerous dog and will face a judge in the case on Sept. 5 in Kona District Court. Big Island Now.

Maui

Queen Kaʻahumanu Center change of zoning gets final Council approval for redevelopment. Maui County Council members approved on second-and-final reading Tuesday land use measures to pave the way for redevelopment of Queen Kaʻahumanu Center as it struggles amid a nationwide decline in brick-and-mortar shopping malls. Bills 67 and 68 advance to Mayor Richard Bissen for final action. Maui Now.

Government Bureaucracy Complicates Maui’s Response To Sea Level Rise. Conflicting guidance from permitting agencies makes it harder for the county to save or move roads threatened by the ocean. Civil Beat.

Corps of Engineers clearing debris from final three properties in Lahaina. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in partnership with federal, state, and local partners, announced that debris removal on the last single- and multi-unit residential properties in Lahaina is currently underway. Maui News.

Maui Woman sentenced to 10 years on prison for involvement in suspicious Central Maui fire. Krystale Kaneakua of Pukalani was sentenced to 10 years in jail on Tuesday by 2nd Circuit Court Judge Peter Cahill for second degree arson in connection with a five acre brush fire along the Maui Veterans Highway two years ago. Maui Now.

Kauai

AI-generated ‘TGI Today’ to launch on Thursday, Aug. 29. Caledo’s AI platform generates captivating studio shows featuring dialogues and interviews between avatars. Caledo will help The Garden Island revolutionize how it produces and distributes news to the communities it serves on the island of Kauai. Garden Island.

Fatal Kauai Helicopter Crash Intensifies Spotlight On Air Tour Industry. A week before the crash, one federal agency criticized another for allowing risky practices and inadequate communication in the Hawaii air tour industry. Civil Beat.

Busy hurricane season expected, Aloha Stadium plans approved, Kapolei middle-schooler arrested after gun brought to school, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Central Pacific region expects 4 to 7 cyclones. The Central Pacific Hurricane Center has predicted a near- to above-normal season for the region this year due to El Nino conditions. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.  Maui Now.  Kauai Now.  Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Honolulu’s Lawsuit Against Big Oil Over Sea Level Rise Just Got A Boost From The Supreme Court. The city is involved in one of more than two dozen lawsuits over the cost of climate change. Civil Beat.

Top State Officials Were Behind A Secretive Process That Steered Millions To A First Responders Center. Here's how $50 million got into the new state budget for a facility that had been rejected earlier in the session. Civil Beat.

MCBH commander hands over the reins. At a Thursday ceremony on the edge of Kaneohe Bay, outgoing Marine Corps Base Hawaii commander Col. Speros Koumparakis handed over the reins to his successor, Col. Jeremy Beaven. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Aloha Stadium project gets OK to go with single developer. There was an air of celebration at Thursday’s monthly meeting of the Stadium Authority. It was announced that Gov. Josh Green and the state are moving forward with a modified version of the public-private partnership plan that has been in the works since 2018. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Hawaii News Now.  KHON2. KITV4.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Kapolei middle student arrested after gun brought to school. Kapolei Middle School was locked down for an hour and 20 minutes Thursday morning after a student allegedly showed off a handgun on campus, according to police and the state Department of Education. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

Honolulu Officers Who Arrested 10-Year-Old Want Protection From Lawsuit. Three Honolulu police officers believe they shouldn’t have to be part of a lawsuit that contends they used excessive force and wrongfully arrested a 10-year-old girl at school over a supposedly offensive drawing in 2020. Civil Beat.

Scheduled field maintenance closes 2 of Oʻahu's largest parks through June. The parks will receive intensive field maintenance including aerating, verticutting, soil cultivation, power washing, irrigation repairs and road renovations. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Community group on why they intend to sue the County of Hawaiʻi over sewage. Hui Mālama Honokōhau is a group of Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners and fishers who use Honokōhau Harbor in Kailua-Kona on Hawaiʻi Island. Hawaii Public Radio.

Former Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim connects the past with present at veterans memorial event. The soldiers served in the Hawaii National Guard 29th Infantry Brigade and made the ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam War in 1968 and 1969. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

How Maui's property tax system could serve as a model for other islands this budget season.  As property assessments and value increase, so does a homeowner’s tax bill. Councils across the state have been trying to balance that by expanding existing exemptions or segmenting tiers. Hawaii Public Radio.

161-lot homestead project in Waikapu breaks ground. Project is first to be funded through historic $600M allocation to DHHL. Maui News.

Kauai

Native Hawaiian group receives $85k grant to revitalize Hawaiian language. Native Hawaiian organization Papahana Kuaola has received a nearly $85,000 grant from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs as part of a multi-organizational effort to revitalize ‘olelo Hawai‘i, the Hawaiian language, from keiki to kupuna. Garden Island.

Fewer storms predicted this hurricane season, Honolulu cuts down Portlock gate and opens beach access, Kaimuki church tried to cover up COVID-19 outbreak, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Tropical cyclones over the years PC:NOAA

Fewer storms predicted for Hawaii’s 2021 hurricane season. The Central Pacific Hurricane Center on Wednesday predicted that the region will see two to five tropical cyclones during the hurricane season that starts June 1. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio. Tribune-Herald.  Big Island Now. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Hawaii poised to change unemployment rules to get more people back to work. Among the changes is requiring the unemployed to look for work in order to keep getting benefits.  KHON2.

Federal Bureau of Investigation taps Steven B. Merrill to lead Honolulu office.  Prior to arriving in Hawaii, Merrill most recently served as a financial crimes section chief in the Criminal Investigative Division at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. where he led the FBI’s efforts to combat fraud related to COVID-19, including pandemic-related scams, vaccine fraud and other offenses. Star-Advertiser.

Ige Looking To Fill Seats On State Land Board. Hawaii Gov. David Ige is recruiting “qualified and dedicated people” interested in serving on the state Board of Land and Natural Resources. Civil Beat.

This New Federal Program Is Expected To Help Hundreds Of Thousands Of Hawaii Kids. Hawaii’s high cost of living means many families need the money, but it won’t go as far here as in many other states, advocates say. Civil Beat.

Retailers deal with mask-mandate confusion. Hawaii’s statewide mask mandate requires customers — fully vaccinated or not — to continue wearing masks when in public settings, including retail stores. Outdoors, Hawaii’s law requires people to wear masks if 6 feet of distance cannot be maintained from a person outside of one’s household. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s Coronavirus Count Rises As State Adds ‘Probable Cases’ To Its Total. Epidemiologists say including the unconfirmed cases will provide a better picture of how the coronavirus is spreading in the islands. Civil Beat. Maui Now. KHON2. KITV4.

Hawaii sees 73 total coronavirus cases as state health officials begin including probable infections to counts. State health officials reported 58 new confirmed and 15 probable cases today. By island, Oahu had 50 new cases, Hawaii Island had nine, Maui had seven, Molokai had four, Kauai had one, and there were five Hawaii residents diagnosed outside the state. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

City cuts down gate blocking beach access in Portlock. A new beach right of way on Portlock Road in Hawaii Kai was officially opened to the public Wednesday. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

COVID-19 cluster at Unified Hawaii church in Kaimuki covered up by congregation, text messages show. ext messages were provided to the newspaper showing lengthy exchanges between church leaders and members who discussed the growing COVID-19 case count among the congregation and their success at evading the state Department of Health’s contact tracers. Star-Advertiser.

Special Series: Will The $12B Honolulu Rail Project Make It To Ala Moana? The Honolulu rail, planned to stretch from Kapolei to Ala Moana, is projected to cost $12.4 billion--more than double the original estimate of about $5 billion. Hawaii Public Radio.

Honolulu police crack down on illegal gambling houses. Honolulu police are shutting down illegal gambling houses at the fastest pace in four years, seizing firearms, drugs, and digital gaming machines in neighborhoods from Waikiki to Waimanalo. Star-Advertiser.

ACLU Accuses HPD Officer Of Bias In Favor Of Business Partner. In a letter sent to HPD on Wednesday, the ACLU says its client Robin Hall was assaulted by her boss in June 2019 and that an HPD officer who responded failed to arrest him because the officer is a friend and business partner of the alleged suspect. Civil Beat.

Honoulu Police Department takes steps to form Micronesian alliances. Honolulu police began a series of meetings recently with officials and Hawaii residents from the Federated States of Micronesia after allegations of racial profiling and protests following the fatal police shooting of 16-year-old Iremamber Sykap. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

Hawaii Island

Dry times ahead: Drought forecast to worsen over leeward areas. Drought conditions are forecast to worsen over leeward areas of the Big Island as the state heads into the dry season. West Hawaii Today. Tribune-Herald.

Landfill lawyers’ money approved: Council OKs another $200k for contract negotiations. Contract negotiations with Waste Management Inc. have already resulted in some savings, a county official told the County Council on Wednesday. West Hawaii Today.

UH-Hilo faces budget cuts. The state budget, currently before Ige for consideration, calls for UH-Hilo’s operating budget to be reduced by $2.28 million in each year of the coming biennium. Tribune-Herald.

Council committee supports zoning amendment for Hilo Iron Works building. A Hawaii County Council committee voted in support of a zoning amendment that aims to make the historic Hilo Iron Works more attractive to investors. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The cost to visit Maui could go up as mayor eyes new taxes, fees for tourists. As the Valley Isle sees an influx of travelers, Maui Mayor Mike Victorino eyes new taxes and fees directed at visitors. On Tuesday alone, nearly 5,000 visitors arrived on the island. Hawaii News Now.

Maui Police Commission split over allowing ex-chief to retire in ‘good standing’. The Maui Police Commission reviewed an investigation into former Maui Police Chief Tivoli Faaumu’s conduct in a traffic accident last year, but there’s disagreement over what to do. Hawaii News Now.

Maui Police Department to Continue Mask Mandate Enforcement. The Maui Police Department today issued a statement saying that officers will continue enforcement of the mandatory mask mandate throughout the county as outlined in Maui Mayor Michael Victorino’s Public Health Emergency Rules. Maui Now.

Local businesses already see mask mandate pushback. Some local businesses have already experienced mask pushback after the federal government last week relaxed guidelines on facial coverings for vaccinated people. Maui News.

Kauai

Rental Cars are booked until early August. A car rental manager from Honolulu on Wednesday, who requested anonymity because of his company’s protocols, said 70% of his rental cars had to be sent back to their mainland warehouse because they were getting charged $8 a day for each car. Garden Island.

Repairs completed, Loop Road reopens. Earlier this week, Loop Road reopened after three years since its initial closure and damage from the April 2018 floods. Garden Island.

Two named cyclones building in Pacific, civil union debate continues, various politicians in various trouble, Maui development, Big island road move forward, more

The eastern Pacific is a hot bed of storm activity right now and that's mainly because the ocean is very warm over there. A pair of cyclones are now spinning off the coast of Mexico, Hurricane Celia and Tropical Storm Darby. Hawaii News Now.

The National Weather Service has extended a red flag warning for Leeward areas of the Hawaiian Islands.KHON2..

The Hawaii Business Roundtable clarified yesterday that it has not taken a position on a civil unions bill, responding to internal dissent and under pressure from gay rights advocates for urging Gov. Linda Lingle to veto the measure. Star-Advertiser.

Why the Roundtable Quieted Its Civil Unions Storm. Civil Beat.

The state won't be able to delay future tax refunds quite as long as it did this year, under a bill signed into law on Wednesday. KHON2.

More serious questions came out Wednesday about the state Tax Department’s contract with a Canadian technology company called CGI. KITV.

The Hawaii County Planning Department won a court victory Tuesday that could set a statewide precedent for other counties that miss self-imposed deadlines. West Hawaii Today.

Nearly eight years after taking office, Gov. Linda Lingle is still excited about Hawaii's renewable energy projects. West Hawaii Today.

Charles Djou raised $1.4 million in his special-election victory for Congress in May and had more cash in the closing weeks of the campaign to outspend state Senate President Colleen Hanabusa and former U.S. Rep. Ed Case, his main Democratic opponents. Star-Advertiser.

A recent fundraising trip to Pittsburgh is again causing heartburn for the Democratic guber- natorial campaign of Mayor Mufi Hannemann. Star-Advertiser.

Former Congressman Neil Abercrombie's campaign for governor will pay a $50 fine for filing notice for an April fundraiser in Washington, D.C., several hours late. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Ethics Commission is allowing city councilman Rod Tam to pay thousands of dollars in restitution and fines interest-free over three years, after an ethics probe found he improperly billed the city for hundreds of meals. KITV

A proposed project to control the spread of strawberry guava is expected to receive a finding of no significant impact, according to a draft environmental assessment released today by state officials. West Hawaii Today.

Residents have until July 23 to comment on an Environmental Assessment concerning the release of a natural predator to control  strawberry guava in Hawai‘i, according to a state Department of Land and Natural Resources news release. Garden Island.

After reviewing petitions to list seven species of Hawaiian yellow-faced bees as endangered under the Endangered Species Act, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has determined that the documents present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that listing may be warranted, and will initiate a 12-month review of the species' status. Big Island Weekly.

Tired of the loss and damage over the years, residents on Oahu's north shore learned about some potential solutions from a special meeting in Haleiwa on Wednesday night. Hawaii News Now.

Now that Hawaii County has the authority to pass laws restricting or even banning the use of fireworks, officials are being careful on what steps they will take next. Hawaii Tribune-Herald.

The Maui Planning Commission got the first public look Tuesday at detailed designs for the long-debated - and for many - long-awaited Honua'ula 1,400-unit housing development in South Maui. Maui News.

North Hawaii residents soon will have an easier time registering motor vehicles, and area crime victims will receive more privacy when talking with prosecutors. HHawaii Tribune-Herald.

The Ane Keohokalole Highway took another step forward Tuesday, when a Hawaii County Council committee approved the donation of nine lots and 16 easements from adjoining landowners. West Hawaii Today.

An early-afternoon brush fire caused massive traffic tie-ups Tuesday in Kahului after police closed a section of Hana Highway because of poor visibility caused by smoke and dust. Maui News.

The Heart Center at Hilo Medical Center is currently operating without its full-time cardiologist. Hawaii Tribune-Herald.

With an adult day care center opening at Home Pumehana in August, caretakers on Molokai can breathe a sigh of relief. Molokai Dispatch.

Our story last week about the changes in Hawaii’s journalistic landscape–and a note here about how those changes affect readers of the Weekly–brought in a strong response from readers. Honolulu Weekly.

Public safety will not be jeopardized, and the public will be inconvenienced minimally under the Honolulu Police Department's furlough plan set to begin next week, Police Chief Louis Kealoha said yesterday. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai County officials recently announced a two-day per month furlough plan that will be effective July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011. Garden Island.