Federal shutdown cost state less than expected, Hawaii ranks high for senior health, Honolulu council passes immigrant rights measure, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiʻi Is A Great Place To Grow Old — But Only For Some. The high percentage of kūpuna who exercise regularly — along with Hawaiʻi’s good air and water quality and comparatively low rates of depression —  help make the state one of the healthiest places in the nation for seniors, according to a report from the United Health Foundation.  Civil Beat.

State funding during shutdown less than expected. Hawaii stepped in to provide a financial and food assistance lifeline during the record-long federal government shutdown and now expects to end up paying far less in state funds than expected. Star-Advertiser.

Ethics panel fines state Senator Brenton Awa. An ethics panel has reprimanded and fined state Sen. Brenton Awa for using state resources to encourage voters to elect his former office manager to the Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

Why Hawai’i Tenants Can Be Left Out To Dry By The State. Policymakers say it’s time to reassess a decades-old law that leaves the state’s consumer watchdog agency without teeth to protect tenants. Civil Beat.

Could Hawaiʻi's Japanese visitor market be making a comeback?  Visitors from Japan were up 16% in October — the second month in a row of solid growth — and visitor spending from Japan was up as well. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii ranks fifth nationally in early FAFSA filing. Hawaii high school seniors are filing for federal financial aid at one of the highest rates in the nation, according to new data released by the National College Attainment Network. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu City Council OKs ‘constitutional rights’ measure. The Honolulu City Council is urging Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration to affirm the constitutional rights of all Oahu residents regardless of citizenship or immigration status. Star-Advertiser.

Council Member Accuses Mayor’s Administration Of Coercion Over Housing Vote. Council member Val Okimoto said a “senior administration official” threatened to withhold funding to her district, but she won’t say who did it. Civil Beat.

High stakes at Honolulu Hale: Who will lead Ocean Safety for the next 5 years? A packed room filled with current and former lifeguards, community members and city leaders, leaning in on the Ocean Safety Commission’s most important task in front of them – selecting a chief who will lead the brand new department for the next five years. KHON2.

Police shut down gambling operation in Ewa Beach. The gambling bust took place at a business located near Old Fort Weaver Road at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 3. Honolulu Police Department officers from the Narcotics Vice Division executed a search warrant in which 18 gambling machines worth an estimated value of $155,000, along with $5,037 in cash were seized. KITV4.

Erosion fears prompt removal of 12 ironwood trees at Kailua Beach. Ironwood trees have been part of the Kailua Bay shoreline for years. But more and more of them are becoming casualties as the ocean eats away at the sand that’s beneath them. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Bond revoked for Hilo attorney Sulla. U.S. District Chief Magistrate Judge Kenneth Mansfield on Thursday found probable cause that Paul Sulla engaged in the unauthorized practice of law while free on bond, after being ordered to cease practice by the Hawaii Supreme Court on July 29. Tribune-Herald.

$1.9 Million Awarded For Puapuaʻa Iki Habitat Restoration. The project will restore 11.5 acres of coastal land and provide shoreline stabilization while protecting historic infrastructure on the site. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. 

Maui

Maui Emergency Management Agency wraps up work on monthslong wildfire risk reduction project. A wildfire risk-reduction project on county-owned land in West Maui led to the removal of 123 vehicles, more than 1,200 tires, 10 drums of oil, at least two pieces of heavy equipment and other debris. Maui News. Maui Now.

Bookkeeper’s ‘Miracle’ House listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Pioneer Mill Company/Lahaina Ice Company (PMCo/LICo) Bookkeeper’s House in Lahaina, more recently dubbed the “Miracle House” after the August 2023 wildfires on Maui, has been added to the National Register of Historic Places.  Maui Now. KHON2.

Lahaina fire-ravaged neighborhood to get new sewer system. The Environmental Protection Agency says it is almost finished designing the system to replace the cesspools or septic systems now used by 231 single-family properties. Hawaii News Now.

Pacific Whale Foundation removes more than 12,000 pounds of marine debris in 2025. The Pacific Whale Foundation, the designated Marine Debris Rapid Response partner for Maui Nui, is reporting more progress in its ongoing effort to remove harmful debris from local waters. Maui Now.

Kauai

Līhuʻe and Kapaʻa DMV offices to close for staff training next week. The Kaua‘i Division of Motor Vehicles will close its main Līhu‘e office and the recently opened Kapa‘a satellite location next week to allow for staff training, county officials announced. Both offices are scheduled to close on Wednesday, Dec. 10, and resume normal operations on Dec. 11. Kauai Now.

Kauai RSVP volunteers recognized, celebrated during annual luncheon. The Thursday gathering of more than 250 people at the Koloa Landing Resort came down to honoring and recognizing the volunteer time put forth by members of Kauai Retired &Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), an Americorps Seniors affiliate, and other community volunteers. Garden Island.

FAA ends flight cutbacks, Hawaii SNAP payments resume in full, Honolulu AI police surveillance worries advocates, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

FAA to end cuts to flights at 40 airports, including Honolulu. The FAA says it is ending all commercial flight restrictions that were put in place during the federal government shutdown. Starting Monday, Nov. 17, at 1 a.m. HST, airlines will be able to go back to their regular schedules. KHON2. Reuters. Associated Press.

Hawaii working on restoring SNAP benefits after shutdown. The state Department of Human Services said it successfully issued full November SNAP benefits Nov. 7 to more than 78,000 households representing over 160,000 people statewide. Star-Advertiser.

From Fundraisers To Favors, Ethics Panel Wants To Crack Down On State Workers. New reform measures would prohibit high level state officials from holding fundraisers and stop state employees from doing favors for former employers. Civil Beat.

Travel firms urge increase in marketing as visitor numbers slip. A total of 690,858 visitors came to Hawaii in September, down 2.5% from September 2024, according to state data. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii ranks second highest in the country for women in construction. Construction Coverage, which researches construction software, insurance and related services for builders and real estate professionals, looked at all 50 states in its “Best-Paying States for Women in Construction” report that found that women make up 13.2% of Hawaii’s construction industry. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Job Corps survives federal shutdown attempt. The operator of the Job Corps centers on Oahu and Maui wants the public to know that the facilities didn’t close at the end of June as directed by the U.S. Department of Labor. Star-Advertiser.

Campaign to ID unknowns from USS Arizona reaches milestone. A civilian-led effort called Operation 85 has reached its goal of collecting enough DNA samples from the living relatives of the battleship’s crew to prompt the Defense Department to consider reexamining dozens of unidentified servicemen who were buried in Hawaii after the Pearl Harbor attack. Arizona Daily Star.

Oahu

Advocates Fear ‘Surveillance Creep’ If HPD Starts Using AI To Write Reports. Honolulu police will start testing an AI program for writing reports run by body camera company Axon on Monday. Civil Beat.

Justice Department: Well-Known Hawaiian Defense Contractor Embezzled Funds. Newly public court documents accuse Christopher Dawson and other executives not only of stealing from their federal contracting business but shortchanging Native Hawaiians in the process. Civil Beat.

Centre Urban project would create 72 Waikiki workforce housing units. Centre Urban Real Estate is advancing plans to transform two Waikiki sites, including the long-­derelict 1615 Ala Wai Blvd., into 72 affordable workforce housing units under city guidelines. Star-Advertiser.

Anxious Honolulu bus riders await contract resolution. After months of stalled negotiations and warnings of a possible strike, the approximately 130,000 daily riders of Honolulu’s TheBus have been left in limbo, hoping for a resolution to the contract stand-off. Star-Advertiser.

Strike continues at Kapi‘olani Medical Center. Hundreds of union workers continued their strike Saturday in front of the Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women &Children, marking four weeks since walking off the job Oct. 17. Star-Advertiser.

This Hawaiian Fishpond Is Nearly Restored. All That’s Missing Is Fresh Water. The Heʻeia Fishpond relies on fresh water to create the right conditions to raise fish for the community, but the stream that feeds into it was diverted 85 years ago.  Civil Beat.

Housekeeper sues Hilton Hawaiian Village, alleges co-worker sexually assaulted her. A housekeeper at Hilton Hawaiian Village filed a lawsuit against the hotel, alleging a colleague sexually assaulted her, and arguing her employer should have done more to protect her. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Construction of Hilo roundabout to start in ’27. The intersection of Bayfront Highway, Kamehameha Avenue and Waianuenue Avenue in Hilo is set for a $22 million redesign that includes a roundabout, with construction expected to begin in 2027. Tribune-Herald.

Bill aims to give kupuna farmers property tax relief. Two Hawaii County Council members are proposing a measure that would give longtime kupuna farmers a break on property tax increases after they retire from agricultural work. Tribune-Herald.

Land use debate heats up over controversial ‘Burning Man-inspired’ festival in Pāpaʻikou. On a 15-acre portion of his land in Pāpaʻikou near Hilo, Pennsylvania native Andrew Tepper held a controversial festival in 2023 and 2024 called “Falls on Fire,” an event with a large wooden effigy inspired by the annual weeklong, large-scale Burning Man held in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada. Big Island Now.

Ka‘u student group seeks to minimize waste through composting, recycling. A student-led zero-waste initiative in Ka‘u has kept more than 20,000 pounds of waste out of the West Hawaii landfill since the 2024 start of their grant-supported efforts in trash separation, recycling and composting. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Report projects post-shutdown OGG travel surge with TSA data. Kahului International Airport (OGG) is expected to see one of the nation’s steepest surges in passenger traffic this holiday season, according to a new analysis of Transportation Security Administration data by Luxury Link.  Maui Now.

Who uses the most water in Lahaina? A new report says non-owner-occupied homes. Single-family dwelling was the biggest category of water use in West Maui by meter type, at approximately 5.5 million gallons per day, with hotels coming in second at about 3.5 million. Hawaii Public Radio.

Japan’s richest person loves Kapalua, but not its water crisis. The owner of the course, Japanese billionaire Tadashi Yanai, has been eagerly pursuing avenues to secure a new adequate supply of irrigation water. Star-Advertiser. Maui News. 

Nation’s first communal dialysis home in Hāna needs repairs to keep operating at full capacity. Maui County, which owns the home and leases it to the nonprofit Hui Laulima O Hāna led by Cosma, plans to provide funding to help with the repairs.  Maui Now.

Kauai

Kaua’i Council advances measure targeting disposable bodyboards. The Kaua‘i County Council is considering a proposal to ban disposable bodyboards in an effort to reduce plastic waste and protect the island’s beaches and marine life. Kauai Now.

Kaua‘i County comes together to observe National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.  Kaua‘i County Housing Agency on Nov. 10 joined community members and county officials during a special ceremony in the Mo‘ikeha Rotunda at Līhu‘e Civic Center to proclaim this week, Nov. 16-22, as National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. Kauai Now.

Schatz, Hirono hold fast for health care, rejecting deal to reopen government; SNAP users remain in limbo over payments; state House speaker seeks answers on $35k bribe allegations, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

‘We are not done with this fight’: Hawaii senators reject deal to reopen government. Both Sens. Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz said the compromise, which does not include a guaranteed extension of health care subsidies, fails to address rising health care costs for millions of Americans. Hawaii News Now.

Tens of thousands of Hawaii SNAP recipients in limbo as states told to recover funds. Tens of thousands of Hawaii residents who rely on federal food assistance face renewed uncertainty after the Trump administration on Saturday directed states to undo the distributions and warned of financial penalties for noncompliance, telling states they must “immediately undo” any actions providing full benefits to low-income families. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

What’s Controversial? Teachers Grapple With Free Speech In Hawaiʻi Schools. A parent’s complaint after a class conversation about Charlie Kirk highlights the larger challenges schools face in teaching government and current events. Civil Beat.

House Speaker Seeks Answers About The $35,000 Mystery Money The FBI Revealed. Hawaiʻi House Speaker Nadine Nakamura is wading into the murky political and legal waters swirling at the State Capitol around whether another lawmaker took tens of thousands of dollars as a bribe. Civil Beat.

New state initiative launched to improve pedestrian, biking, transit access across Hawaiʻi. The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation has announced the launch of its Priority Multimodal Network, a statewide initiative identifying 113 projects designed to improve pedestrian, bicycle and transit access across the state highway system. Big Island Now.

Sports to play key role in Hawaii’s tourism new game plan. Over the weekend, the UH baseball team wrapped up a weeklong tour in Tokyo. backed by a $100,000 investment from the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, marked the team’s first international outing and is part of a broader push to position Hawaii as a global sports brand. Star-Advertiser.

Three Hawaii public schools have received top national honors for their work in career- connected education — part of the state’s efforts to integrate college and career readiness from elementary through high school. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu Police Commission cautious about giving mayor oversight of HPD chief. The Honolulu Police Commission appears cautious about some proposed changes to its structure and its oversight of the city's police department. Hawaii Public Radio.

City Council urges repeal of transit fare policy. The Honolulu City Council is urging the city administration to repeal a decades-old cost recovery policy for the city’s bus system to stave off service cuts and potential fare increases for low-income riders on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

‘Hell-Hole’ Building Tenants Gain Traction In Court As Conditions Deteriorate. For weeks, conditions have gone from deplorable to worse for residents of 1136 Union Mall, a derelict, downtown office building that’s been converted into makeshift residences without air conditioning or proper kitchens and bathrooms. Civil Beat.

Hawaii evictions loom as federal shutdown persists. An Oahu family headed by parents who are both working without pay for the shuttered federal government was evicted in the final days of October, and the Mediation Center of the Pacific expects more to follow as the country last week set a record for the longest shutdown in U.S. history. Star-Advertiser.

Former government informant found dead in Waipio. The body of 55-year-old Jonnaven Monalim was found Friday night in Waipio, the Honolulu Police Department confirmed Sunday. Monalim testified in federal court during the 2009 trial of his cousins Ethan Motta and Rodney Joseph Jr., who were charged with racketeering and murder and attempted murder in connection with the Jan. 7, 2004, shootings at Pali Golf Course, which left two men dead and another critically wounded. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. 

Pearl Harbor sites remain open during federal shutdown thanks to local funding. While several national parks and museums across the country have been forced to close or reduce operations during the ongoing federal government shutdown, Pearl Harbor’s historic sites remain open, thanks to local commitment, nonprofit support, and private funding. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Public can weigh in on proposed county raises. The public will have an opportunity to comment on a proposed 15.29% pay hike for Hawaii County’s top officials when the Salary Commission meets at 10 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 17. Tribune-Herald.

Plastic foodware ban postponed. If passed, the ordinance would ban plastic and polystyrene cups, lids, plates, bowls, trays, forks, spoons, stirrers, straws and knives. Tribune-Herald.

UH Hilo gets $15M for improvements. UH Hilo Vice Chancellor for Administrative Affairs Kalei Rapoza said the projects selected for the fiscal year 2026 funding are renovation and improvement of the air-conditioning systems, renovation and improvement of the agricultural facility to provide modern instruction, designing renovations and upgrades to student housing, and designing a “replacement of built-up roofing.” Tribune-Herald.

It could be a not-so-wet rainy season for the Big Island. East Hawaii has received steady rainfall the past few weeks, but the prospect of a rainier-than-normal wet season on the Big Island appears more hope than prediction, according to forecasters. Tribune-Herald.

Kīlauea Episode 36 Ends After 5 Hours Of High Lava Fountains. Episode 36 of the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption started and ended on Sunday, and lasted just under 5 hours.  Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. 

Maui

Maui County Mayor launches reelection campaign. Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen has announced his 2026 reelection campaign after winning over some initial skeptics during his handling of Maui’s devastating wildfires. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now. 

HDOT to host final meeting on Hāna Highway historic bridge improvements, Nov. 18. The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation, in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration Central Federal Lands Highway Division, will hold a public meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, to discuss planned improvements to six historic bridges along Hāna Highway (Route 360) between Huelo and Hāna town in East Maui. Maui Now.

Kauai

Public invited to provide feedback before final phase of Hanalei water line improvements.  The meeting will be from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the cafeteria at Hanalei Elementary School, 5-5415 Kūhiō Highway, on Wednesday. Kauai Now.

Hawaiʻi transportation department launches plan to improve pedestrian, biking, transit access. The virtual meeting for Kauaʻi will take place on Nov. 10 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Register here: Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams. Kauai Now.

Hawaii offers to pay TSA, FAA workers to keep planes flying, state SNAP money arriving earlier than expected, OHA to provide emergency relief to Native Hawaiians, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

State offers to pay TSA, FAA workers to spare Hawaii from air travel cuts. The state Department of Transportation has offered to advance the full salaries and benefits of Federal Aviation Administration air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration airport screeners assigned to Hawaii during the federal funding lapse in a bid to avoid a 10% cut to air traffic that could severely impact the state’s economy and public safety.  Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian, Southwest flights canceled for Friday due to FAA reduction requirements. Hawaiian Airlines has canceled four neighbor island flights scheduled for Friday, Nov. 7, due to flight reduction requirements by the Federal Aviation Administration. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Support via the Hawaiʻi Emergency Food Assistance Program is arriving to SNAP accounts ahead of schedule, officials say. An additional $250 in relief funds should be visible in SNAP accounts now, Governor Josh Green announced on Thursday. Big Island Video News. Hawaii News Now.

OHA outlines plan to administer $6.1M in emergency relief to Native Hawaiians. The office said that payments of up to $350 will go to kupuna (age 60 and holder), low-income adults, or disabled beneficiaries who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding but do not meet the criteria for the Hawaii relief program. Hawaii News Now.

Longtime OHA Leader Rowena Akana Has Died. Her tenure as a trustee was marked by a commitment to Native Hawaiians but also ethical challenges and board power struggles. A long-serving member of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees, Rowena Akana, has died. She was 82. Civil Beat.

Deep-sea mining risks disrupting the marine food web, study warns. Drilling for minerals deep in the ocean could have immense consequences for the tiny animals at the core of the vast marine food web — and ultimately affect fisheries and the food we find on our plates, according to a new study by University of Hawaii researchers. Associated Press.

Oahu

Should HART Be Allowed To Manage City Projects Beyond Honolulu Rail? Mayor Rick Blangiardi says he’s opposed to the idea but the rail authority has submitted a proposal to the Honolulu Charter Commission anyway. Civil Beat.

How parking spot mandates affect affordable housing in Honolulu. It’s been about five years since the City and County of Honolulu eliminated parking mandates for developers in the urban core, transit-oriented development districts, and areas within half a mile of a rail station. Hawaii Public Radio.

Honolulu councilmembers shift gears to limit cycling on sidewalks. A new bill moving through the city council is trying to clean up the language in the city’s traffic code, which says that bikes are not allowed on sidewalks in business districts. Hawaii Public Radio.

Police make arrests, seize $13k and 48 gambling machines after raids. The Honolulu Police Department said it seized cash, gambling machines, and made an arrest after raiding three game rooms this week. Hawaii News Now.

Thousands line up for food at Aloha Stadium as shutdown drags on. A line of cars stretched through the Aloha Stadium parking lot Thursday morning as more than 2,000 households pulled up for a drive-thru food distribution — the Hawai‘i Foodbank’s largest yet since the start of the federal government shutdown. Star-Advertiser.

City and nonprofits partner to protect East Honolulu ridge. The city’s purchase of the final parcel to the last undeveloped ridgeline in East Honolulu was lauded Thursday by area preservation groups and Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration. Star-Advertiser.

Infrastructure around King Kamehameha Statue is crumbling. The King Kamehameha Celebration Commission is worried about the crumbling infrastructure surrounding the statue. Hawaii Public Radio.

City starts master plan process for botanical garden that’s rocketed in popularity. The city started the process of finding ways to manage the increasing popularity of Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden, with a community workshop Thursday evening at Windward Community College. Hawaii News Now.

Prices jump 5.7% for Oahu home sales in October. The Honolulu Board of Realtors on Thursday reported that sale volume for previously owned homes on Oahu rose for condominiums but was flat for single- family houses last month compared with a year earlier, and that median sale prices were higher for both parts of the market. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Controversial Geothermal Firm Wants OHA To Invest $5 Million In A New Plant. Waikā Consulting said the agency’s involvement would lead to economic returns for Native Hawaiians, but it faced pushback from local communities on the Big Island. A geothermal consulting firm that came under fire earlier this year during taxpayer-funded outreach efforts on the Big Island is asking the Office of Hawaiian Affairs for a $5 million investment in exchange for a stake in a future $275 million geothermal plant. Civil Beat.

Nighttime military flight operations planned between Pōhakuloa, Kona airport, Hāwī. Pōhakuloa Training Area officials alert the public to scheduled nighttime military helicopter flight operations planned for tonight on Hawai‘i Island between the training camp in the saddle region between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport and Hāwī. Big Island Now.

Another Destructive Beetle Is Spreading, Killing Hawaiʻi’s Trees. Big Island farmers want the state to tackle the Queensland longhorn beetle before it spreads to the rest of the state and wreaks havoc like the coconut rhinoceros beetle.  Civil Beat.

Free Republican Party event features three speakers this Sunday. The West Hawaiʻi GOP is hosting an event in Kailua-Kona to grow membership and strengthen the conservative voice in West Hawaiʻi. Big Island Now.

Maui

Police officer reassigned after allegedly hitting handcuffed suspect. Officer under investigation for alleged misuse of force. A Maui Police officer is under investigation after the department reported a video surfaced on social media appearing to show the officer using unjustified force while taking a person into police custody. Maui News. Maui Now.  Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

County to clear area near Maui Lani Parkway and Waiale Road. With 13 fires in the area this year and calls for police up 174% over last year, the Maui County Emergency Management Agency plans to start removing dangerous debris and wildfire fuels from approximately 52 acres of county-owned land in Wailuku. Maui News.

Pulelehua zoning condition amendment gains Council committee approval, despite West Maui water scarcity concerns. A Maui County Council committee tried to breathe life Wednesday into the languishing 304-acre Pulelehua development in West Maui, a “shovel ready” housing project with the promise of hundreds of affordable units but long dying of thirst. Maui Now.

Residents detail water priorities for East Maui. Priorities include the county taking control of the East Maui water system and the creation of a new East Maui base yard, in addition to other infrastructure upgrades and watershed health initiatives. Maui News.

Kauai

West Kauaʻi highway becomes focus of new initiative to reduce nēnē deaths. A new conservation initiative is underway on Kauaʻi’s west side to address a troubling trend: frequent vehicle collisions with the endangered Hawaiian goose known across the islands as nēnē (Branta sandvicensis).  Kauai Now.

Kauai ICE raid leads to community concern, rumors. Council members and community organizers on Kauai are hoping to ease concerns on Thursday, Nov. 6, after an ICE raid led to dozens of arrests across the Garden Isle in the early morning hours of Wednesday, Nov. 5. KHON2.

Producers can now apply for compost reimbursement, including transportation costs. Hawai’i Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity Plant Industry Division is now accepting applications for the Compost Reimbursement Program for fiscal year 2026. Kauai Now.

Petition seeks identity of mystery lawmaker who took $35k bribe, governor announces relief effort as federal benefits are frozen, Kapalua golf course to reopen, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

New push underway to expose ‘influential’ lawmaker who took $35,000 bribe. A new petition is calling for lawmakers to investigate one of their own after federal court documents revealed an “influential state legislator” took a $35,000 bribe but was never charged. Hawaii News Now.

Governor announces relief effort to protect families from federal gov’t shutdown impacts. Aid for Hawaii housing costs now available as federal food aid loss nears. A new $100 million state program is offering rent and utility payment assistance to Hawaii residents with children facing financial instability as federal food aid for almost 170,000 people statewide is scheduled for suspension Saturday. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Hawaii Public Radio. Big Island Now.  Hawaii News Now.  KHON2. KITV4. 

SNAP work requirement changes take effect Saturday. H.R.1, or the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act, expanded work requirements for what it called “able-bodied adults,” which currently apply to residents ages 18 to 54 with no dependents, to a broader population to remain eligible for SNAP, America’s food stamp program. Under federal law, these adults will have to complete 80 hours of work or training per month to remain eligible for SNAP. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

Coral reefs have reached a climate tipping point, but Hawaiʻi researchers say hope remains. A new global report warns coral reefs have already reached a climate tipping point, dying faster than they can naturally recover. KITV4.

Oahu

Chinatown seniors face steep rent increases at affordable housing complex. Seniors living at an affordable housing complex in Chinatown are facing significant rent increases, with some residents reporting hikes of more than 34%. At the Halewaiʻolu Senior Residences on River Street, 155 affordable rental units house residents 55 and older. Hawaii News Now.

Financing secured for first phase of Kūhiō Park Terrace redevelopment. In this phase, 60 of the current 174 aging public housing units will be replaced with 302 new affordable rental homes and two manager units. Aloha State Daily.

Mental health clinic for veterans and families celebrates 5 years. The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic in Mililani celebrated five years of operations Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Shutdown halts Hawaiʻi's primary way of confirming Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death. The government shutdown has paused a critical detection component of the effort to contain Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death in Hawaiʻi's native forests. For the duration of the shutdown, a U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service lab in Hilo is not testing new samples to confirm cases of ROD. Hawaii Public Radio.

Long-term solutions being explored after dredging of Pohoiki Boat Ramp failed. After the recent dredging at Pohoiki Boat Ramp failed, state Rep. Greggor Ilagan of Puna described two options for a long-term solution. Big Island Now.

Food Lines Form In Hawaiʻi As SNAP Benefits Near Expiration. The Food Basket held an ‘Ohana Drop food distribution in Hilo last week, as the federal government shutdown continues. Big Island Video News.

Waimea District Park Playground Closed, Temporarily. The repairs to the playground equipment are expected to be completed by November 8, depending on weather conditions and other factors. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Kapalua’s Plantation Course to reopen Nov. 10. Seeing improved conditions after the Plantation Course turned brown without water over the summer, Kapalua is preparing to reopen the course Nov. 10. Maui News.

East Maui group escalates dispute with state over visitor misbehavior on Hāna Highway. Famed for its hundreds of twists and turns through lush East Maui rainforests and dozens of one-lane bridges, the Road to Hāna has become infamous for something else — the head-scratching antics of visitors. Maui Now.

Upcountry drought concerns continue after Maui County downgrades water shortage. The County of Maui has downgraded the severity of a historic drought, but local officials are no less concerned about dry conditions. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Kauai Independent Food Bank helps feed federal workers’ families. More than 8,500 pounds of food were distributed on Monday from the Kauai Independent Food Bank facility for federal workers affected by the government shutdown. Garden Island.

North Shore Give caravan delivers gratitude to Kauaʻi’s first responders. In a moving gesture of appreciation on National First Responders Day, local nonprofit North Shore Give took to the road, forming a caravan of gratitude that stopped at fire stations, police departments and ambulance bases across Kaua’i. Kauai Now.