Pressure mounts to bring Hawaii National Guard back from Washington, Green vetoes one bill and wraps up enactments, mail ballots to arrive next week, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Calls grow for Green to recall Hawaii National Guard from DC. A growing chorus of local and national organizations is calling on Gov. Josh Green to recall Hawaii National Guardsmen dispatched to Washington, D.C. Twenty-seven members of the Hawaii Army National Guards 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team arrived in D.C. on July 6.  Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

Ballots for Hawaii primaries expected to arrive by Tuesday. Voters across the state should expect their primary election ballots to arrive in the mail by Tuesday ahead of election day on Aug. 8. County clerks must have voters’ ballots returned and in hand by 7 p.m. Aug. 8 in order for them to be counted. Ballots that are postmarked by Aug. 8 but arrive after 7 p.m. will not be counted, according to the state Office of Elections. Star-Advertiser. Kauai Now. 

Gov. Green vetoes BOE executive director bill. Hawaii Gov. Josh Green signed his final bills of the year Wednesday, wrapping up the legislative session with 266 measures signed and just one veto. The governor vetoed Senate Bill 3262, which required the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to submit three nominees for its executive director to the Board of Education. The board would then appoint an executive director from the nominee list, subject to advice and consent of the Senate. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Green signs bill tackling dementia. Green signed House Bill 1853 into law Tuesday. It creates the Hanai Memory Network Program within the Executive Office of Aging. Hawaii Public Radio.

State e-bike law enacted to curb injuries, deaths. The new law, Act 259, establishes minimum age requirements for riders depending on e-bike class, increases the age for mandatory helmet use, and makes sellers disclose rules. Act 259 also classifies two- and three-wheelers capable of going over 28 mph on electric power as e-motorcycles that are subject to licensing, registration and insurance similar to regular motorcycles. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Video News. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2. 

New laws to modernize transportation system, enhance clean energy economy. Gov. Josh Green signed four bills to enhance efforts in building a clean energy economy, ensuring that Hawaiʻi’s laws keep up with emerging technologies. Big Island Now.

Oahu

Public Begins To Weigh In On Offshore LNG Proposal. The public comment period is the first step in the pre-review of JERA Co.’s proposal, pitched as a fossil-fuel bridge to a future of all-renewable resources. The first public commenters on a $2 billion liquefied natural gas power project proposed for Oʻahu are asking federal regulators to look beyond simply the environmental impacts related to the offshore infrastructure that makes up a relatively small part of the project. Civil Beat.

HART previews Kakaako rail construction, but some want more specific details. Traffic disruptions have been an unavoidable part of the city’s Skyline construction. And those disruptions are about to come to Halekauwila Street, at the tail end of the rail project’s third phase. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Honolulu lawmakers want to ensure residents have proper shelter during disasters. The City and County of Honolulu budget this year includes $18 million for resilience hubs to shelter residents during natural disasters, and city lawmakers want to make sure it’s properly built and equipped to handle severe weather. Hawaii Public Radio.

‘Nobody Did Anything’: Flood Control Long Went Ignored On Oʻahu’s Westside. Māʻili residents were stuck after an emergency evacuation road was inundated during Kona lows. Civil Beat.

About 3K Hawaii soldiers remain without air conditioning. Roughly 3,000 soldiers remain without air conditioning in their barracks after a water system malfunction. The AC units haven’t been working since Friday, July 10, impacting soldiers at Schofield Barracks, Wheeler Army Airfield and Helemano Military Reservation. Hawaii News Now.

Youth Skills, Crime And Sustainability: State House District 30 Candidate Q&As. Two-year incumbent is facing two opponents in the primary. Civil Beat.

Security, Working Families And Infrastructure: State House District 32 Candidate Q&As. The same opponents face each other for the third general election in a row. Civil Beat.

Income Tax, Climate Change And Culture: State House District 33 Candidate Q&A. Incumbent Democrat is running unopposed in the primary election. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Waikoloa evacuation study questioned at meeting. Fears of mass wildfire fatalities in Waikoloa Village boiled over on Tuesday during a community meeting held to discuss evacuation routes after a 200-acre blaze sparked at the edge of the community last week caused partial evacuations and left residents on-edge. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.

Records were set for June rainfall. Halfway into the dry season for most of Hawaii, 11 Big Island sites experienced their wettest June on record, according to the National Weather Service. Tribune-Herald.

Concerns rise about invasive beetle. A Kona community development group on Tuesday heard warnings about the highly destructive Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle from an invasive species biologist — alerts that have taken on a new sense of urgency after one of the bugs was found July 6 at Hilo International Airport. Tribune-Herald.

Kīlauea Episode 51 Ends After 8 Hour Eruption. Tephra fall was restricted to the closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park to the southwest of the active summit vents.  Big Island Video News.

Maui

Former Maui County mayors unite behind Bissen’s re-election. Former Governor and former Maui County Mayor Linda Lingle, along with former Maui County Mayors Alan Arakawa and Charmaine Tavares, have united behind Mayor Richard Bissen’s nonpartisan re-election campaign. Maui Now.

Kahului Airport remained resilient with passenger increase, despite TSA funding lapse this past spring. Kahului Airport screening volumes held steady even as a nationwide TSA funding lapse this spring triggered steep staffing shortages and sharp declines in passenger throughput at major mainland hubs, according to a new analysis from the travel research firm Upgraded Points. Maui Now.

Kimo’s to return to Lahaina. A restaurant that was established on Maui nearly 50 years ago and grew into a chain of 13 establishments across Hawaii and California is returning to Lahaina. Maui News.

Kauai

New Kaua‘i Council Candidates Are Raising The Most Campaign Cash. The 26 candidates racing for the seven council seats have raked in a combined $108,000 so far this election. Civil Beat.

Special community meeting to feature candidate for Hawai‘i lieutenant governor Kaua‘i County Mayor Kawakami. The Indivisible Kaua‘i hybrid meeting, which can be attended in-person or online via Zoom, also includes Deirdre Romney, who will present information about understanding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agreements, what they are and why communities are reconsidering them. Kauai Now.

DOW announces tap water sampling for some customers. In compliance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Lead and Copper Rule, the Department of Water, in partnership with the Hawaii State Department of Health, is conducting a complimentary household tap water sampling program in Kilauea, Haena-Wainiha and Hanalei. Garden Island.

Flight reductions coming to HNL, election commission votes to end vote by mail, ICE arrests 44 on Kauai, school chief gets huge raise, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

HNL on list of airports where FAA will reduce flights. FAA says it's cutting thousands of flights a day starting this week due to shutdown. Hawaii News Now. ABC.

Hawaiʻi Schools Chief Gets $45,000 Raise As His 4-Year Contract Is Renewed. DOE Superintendent Keith Hayashi also could see his salary rise up to $400,900 by the end of the decade if he continues to get good performance reviews. Civil Beat.  Star-Advertiser. KHON2. 

Hawaii elections commission calls for end to mail-in voting. The state elections commission has voted to ask the legislature to ban mail-in and early voting and return to traditional in-person voting on Election Day. Hawaii News Now.

OHA Chief Executive Sues Trustees For Retaliation, Damage To Reputation. Stacy Ferreira, who has been on leave from her position as the chief executive of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs since late September, alleged in a lawsuit filed Wednesday that Board Chairman Kai Kahele retaliated against her for reporting misconduct during the office’s budget sessions earlier this year and “orchestrated” her removal from office. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. 

Hawaii House leaders won’t investigate bribery scandal citing federal case. Circulating petition asks lawmakers to investigate one of their own. It's been a little more than a week since a petition was circulated to put pressure on state lawmakers to investigate one of their own. It stems from a public corruption case that sent two lawmakers to jail: Sen. J. Kalani English and Rep. Ty Cullen. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now.

Ban on e-bikes at Hawaii's public schools. New regulations announced for electric bicycles on school campuses, properties statewide. Hawai‘i Department of Education — effective immediately — implemented new regulations governing the use of electric bicycles, more commonly known as e-bikes, on all department campuses throughout the islands. Big Island Now. KITV4.

Green wants $10B in Hawaii benefits for future Army use of state lands. Gov. Josh Green is proposing a $10 billion deal for future use of state land by the Army for training if the federal government pursues condemnation for such use. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Now.

Hawaiian Airlines Changes Surfboard Policy After PR Wipeout. Travelers can now carry 10-foot, 5-inch surfboard bags on Hawaiian and Alaska Airlines flights. Civil Beat.

Honolulu-bound UPS plane crash kills 12; ‘black boxes’ found. U.S. federal safety investigators have located the “black box” recorders from the wreckage of a Hawaii-bound UPS cargo plane that crashed in flames on takeoff from the airport at Louisville, Kentucky, killing at least 12 people, officials said. Reuters.

Oahu

Queen Emma Land Co. Wants Former Tenant To Tear Down Historic Building. The controversy over the downtown Honolulu building pits one of Hawaiʻi’s oldest real estate services companies against an aliʻi trust established by Queen Emma to benefit her hospital. Civil Beat.

HPD shoots, kills ‘aggressive’ dog; 1 officer injured. Loved ones gathered in the Iwilei area to say goodbye to a beloved pet that was shot and killed by a Honolulu police officer. KHON2.

Filmmaker, caregiver in Hawaii facing deportation to Brazil. A filmmaker from Brazil allegedly living in the U.S. illegally for more than 25 years was arrested by federal agents in Hawaii and is facing deportation after he failed to appear before an immigration judge in August. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio. 

Hawaii Island

Legal wrangling continues in fatal dog attack case. A West Hawaii couple facing petty misdemeanor charges for a fatal dog mauling that occurred more than two years ago in Ocean View has filed separate motions to dismiss their cases in Kona District Court. Tribune-Herald.

Lead contamination found in Hawaii school water. Education officials are investigating lead contamination at Waiakea Intermediate School on the Big Island. Drinking fountains have been shut down after the kitchen water tested above federal limits. KHON2.

Maui

Wildfire Risk Reduction Project set to start Nov. 12 off Waiʻale Road in Wailuku. The County’s Maui Emergency Management Agency, in coordination with County staff and contracted partners, will begin removing hazardous wildfire risks from County-owned parcels near a public school and a church in Wailuku on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. Maui Now.

Complaints of living conditions at Maui public housing facility. Chantia Kaulia lives at Kahekili Terrace in Wailuku. Her life improved dramatically when she moved in about two years ago. But her gratitude has now turned into frustration. Hawaii News Now.

Over 130 health care professionals convene for Maui County Healthcare Stakeholders’ Summit. Health care professionals, administrators, educators, government leaders and nonprofit directors from Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi gathered for a daylong meeting aimed at building bridges and finding solutions to Maui County’s health care woes.  Maui Now.

Kauai

44 people arrested in immigration raids on Kauai. Federal agents have arrested 44 people on Kauai for allegedly violating U.S. immigration law, including two “suspected associates” of the Venezuelan criminal gang Tren de Aragua, after serving warrants at six homes and one business, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Star-Advertiser. Kauai Now.  Hawaii News Now. KHON2.  KITV4.

Kauaʻi County Council approves taxi fare increase to support local drivers. The Kaua‘i County Council has approved an ordinance to raise taxi rates across the Garden Isle, marking the first major fare adjustment in years for local drivers. Kauai Now.

Surfer suffers leg injuries after being bitten by shark at Hanalei Bay. Kauai’s Hanalei Bay is closed until further notice after a surfer was bitten by a shark — leaving him with multiple leg injuries. KHON2. 

Hawaii climate policy at risk in SCOTUS lawsuit, state could hike fines for fire safety violations, hotel occupancy down, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

SCOTUS ruling hints end is near for effort to make climate policy in state courts. If a beach erodes in Honolulu, can a company be sued for producing oil in Holland? And under Hawaii state laws to boot? Sunoco and other energy companies want such lawsuits tossed, arguing that energy policy is set by Congress at the federal level, not municipal lawsuits under state and local laws. Tribune News Service.

Legislation hiking fines for fire safety violations awaits action by Gov. Green. A bill that would allow counties to levy as much as a five-fold increase of monetary fines for fire safety violations is awaiting action by Gov. Josh Green. Maui Now.

Hawaii hotel occupancy fell in May as softness continued. Summer isn’t coming in hot for Hawaii hoteliers, who saw hotel occupancy drop to its lowest level of the year in May and are expecting a continued slowdown. Star-Advertiser.

Unlicensed Care Homes Dodge Increased Enforcement In ‘Cat And Mouse Game’ The Office of Health Care Assurance has issued cease-and-desist orders to an average of six homes per year since 2018. But dozens of these unlicensed facilities, mainly for elderly adults, continue to operate around the state. Civil Beat.

Private Donations Are Helping Hawaii Fire Departments Fill Budget Holes. Fire departments across the islands have long been on the lookout for funding to supplement their county-funded budgets. They apply for state and federal grants, but also look to private sources to fill financial gaps that national advocates say have widened in recent decades. Civil Beat.

Hawaii-developed COVID home test kits being sold online. A locally developed COVID-19 test kit is now on the market as cases of the contagious disease are on the rise in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu Ethics Commission to review city gift-giving bill. Crafted with the assistance of the Ethics Commission, Bill 23 is supposed to tighten existing rules that bar city workers from accepting gifts valued in excess of $50, also clarifying which gifts may be solicited or accepted. Star-Advertiser.

Supporters of embattled rail CEO say her ongoing contract woes could cost taxpayers. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi is still pushing hard to get a contract extension for embattled rail CEO Lori Kahikina. Hawaii News Now.

Downtown Honolulu is plagued by another power outage. Hawaiian Electric repair crews continued to work overnight after a power outage shut down downtown Honolulu — the second disruption in less than a week to affect the area. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

Plans to demolish former PBS building provoke tempers at UH Board of Regents. The University of Hawaii Manoa campus building that housed PBS for decades is finally headed for demolition. But UH Regent and former Gov. Neil Abercrombie fought the plan, which provoked anger from UH President David Lassner. Hawaii News Now.

Oʻahu's new water desalination facility gets $19M in federal funds. The federal government is sending Oʻahu around $19 million for a facility to turn seawater into fresh water. Hawaii Public Radio.

Ex-OCCC officer in murder, kidnapping case called ‘emotional’. Police officers’ testimony Tuesday provided clues as to what was on the mind of a then 44-year-old Oahu Community Correctional Center training officer after he allegedly fatally shot his 66-year-old mother eight years ago in his Maili home. Star-Advertiser.

A deputy sheriff was arrested Tuesday amid a harassment investigation and was placed on paid administrative leave. Authorities said Alvin Turla, 47 was arrested at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Hawaii News Now.

‘It’s out of control’: E-bike crashes and noise concerns spur heated townhall in Ewa. With e-bikes growing in popularity, a town hall in Ewa was held to raise awareness about how to ride them safely. However, concerns about safety, noise, and confusion about e-bike laws have caused pushback from some residents.  Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Council favors proposed performance audit of Hawai‘i County R&D Department. The Hawai‘i County Council wants to know exactly what the Hawai‘i County Department of Research and Development is doing and if its resources are being used effectively. Big Island Now.

Call center nearly complete: Police and fire dispatchers could move in this September. Hawaii County’s police and fire dispatchers are getting closer to moving into a new call center that has been under construction since October 2021. Tribune-Herald.

Community hospital survey finds need for new medical facility closer to Kailua-Kona. A healthcare needs survey from Kona Community Hospital found the need for more preventative care providers and the need to build a new facility. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui

Maui residents: The state wants to know if you don’t have access to broadband internet. State data shows 1 in 10 people do not have access to high-speed internet. Hawaii News Now.

Maui nonprofit offers 40 job opportunities to assist in wildfire relief efforts. Youth job training nonprofit Kupu has positions starting at $16 an hour within resource hubs and education centers. Hawaii News Now.

Community feedback sessions report released on the rebuild plan for King Kamehameha III Elementary in Lahaina. The three choices presented to the community were: the original location on Front Street; Pulelehua, which is near the current temporary location; and Kā’anapali 2020–Pu’ukoli’i Village Mauka. Maui News.

Officials working to curb illegal camping, trespassing at popular South Maui beach. While illegal camping has been an ongoing issue along South Maui shores, some say the problem has gotten worse specifically at Po'olenalena Beach Park over the past few months.  KITV4.

Kauai

Are Kauai residents ready for an emergency? County releases results from new preparedness survey. Did you know 38% of Kauai residents have only one evacuation route in case of an emergency?That’s according to a new county survey of 177 residents conducted earlier in June. Hawaii News Now.