First hurricane of the season to track south of Hawaii, extension sought on state emissions plan, Kauai narrows field for police chief, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hurricane Iona becomes first hurricane of 2025 Central Pacific season. At 5:00 AM HST, the National Weather Service reported that Tropical Storm Iona had strengthened into a hurricane. The storm is currently located about 895 miles southeast of Honolulu, Hawaii, moving west at 10 mph. KITV4. Big Island NowStar-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

Extension sought for public to comment on Hawaii emissions plan. Eight state House members want more time for the public to comment on a transportation emissions reduction plan that could raise costs for consumers in Hawaii. The public has until Thursday to comment on the draft plan produced by the state Department of Transportation. Star-Advertiser.

College Students In Hawaiʻi Could Lose Access To Federal Loans. An estimated 1 in 6 community college students are enrolled in programs at risk of losing federal loan eligibility if UH can’t prove graduates earn more than residents with a high school diploma. Civil Beat.

HIDOE advances efforts to cut food imports, boost local purchasing. With a statewide regional kitchen master plan now in motion, the Hawai‘i Department of Education (HIDOE) is turning its attention to transforming school menus to feature more locally grown and produced foods. Big Island Now.

Success of Women’s Court pilot program helps to make it permanent. Women’s Court provides trauma-informed care and gender-­responsive services, substance use disorder treatment, education and training in domestic violence prevention, and life skills. It was made permanent on Oahu and extended to Hawaii Island after a bill passed by the Legislature was signed June 26 by the governor. Star-Advertiser.

Hawai‘i Public Radio raises nearly half a million dollars after federal funding cuts. Hawai‘i Public Radio raised nearly half a million dollars in a two-day emergency fundraiser that concluded Friday. The campaign took place after Congress last week approved clawing back $1.1 billion in previously approved federal funding to public media. Hawaii Public Radio. Maui Now. 

Oahu

Nearly 500 pounds of illegal fireworks collected. The state Department of Law Enforcement collected 493 pounds of illegal aerial fireworks on Saturday at Aloha Stadium during its first-ever fireworks buyback event — part of a broader effort to prevent holiday season tragedies by giving residents ample opportunities to dispose of banned explosives safely and anonymously. Star-Advertiser. KITV4. 

5 picks for new Honolulu Ocean Safety Commission prioritize chief selection. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s candidates to fill the city’s new Ocean Safety Commission say their priorities are to learn more about the department’s needs and properly choose its chief. Hawaii Public Radio.

North Shore residents rally against proposed gondola. Residents of Oahu’s North Shore are not backing down in their fight against a plan to build a gondola along the slopes of Mount Kaala.  Hawaii News Now.

21 native birds found dead in East Honolulu over weekend. On Saturday, Pacific Rim Conservation executive director Dr. Eric VanderWerf found 21 native birds dead near Halona on Oahu’s East shore. KHON2.

Extended reality redefines Hawaii tourism. XploreRide’s bus tour has become the first of its kind in Hawaii and opens the door for other business in Hawaii’s visitor industry to tap into the expanding global virtual tourism industry. Star-Advertiser.

Food entrepreneurs eye Hawaiʻi's first 'high-pressure processing' machine. Business owners and other interested parties gathered last week in Wahiawā during a food summit at Leeward Community College's Value-Added Product Development Center, where the machine is housed. Hawaii Public Radio.

Former football coach to return to court for defamation lawsuit hearing. The former head football coach of the Kahuku Red Raiders is set to appear in Circuit Court. A hearing is scheduled Monday in Sterling Carvalho’s defamation lawsuit against the Hawaii State Department of Education. Hawaii News Now.

Early Hawaiian petroglyphs on a beach are visible again with changing tides and shifting sands. Hawaiian petroglyphs dating back at least a half-millennium are visible on Oahu for the first time in years, thanks to seasonal ocean swells that peel away sand covering a panel of more than two dozen images of mostly human-looking stick figures.  Associated Press.

Historic Falls of Clyde ship to be disposed of at sea. The state has awarded Shipwright LLC, a Florida-based company, a $4.9 million contract to remove the 146-year-old ship from Honolulu Harbor and to scuttle it at sea, marking a final chapter after decades of wrangling over its fate. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

State releases $1 million for feasibility study, redevelopment planning of Waiākea Peninsula, Banyan Drive in Hilo. State funding that was secured a year ago has finally been released by Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green to begin master planning for the redevelopment of the Waiākea Peninsula that includes iconic Banyan Drive in Hilo. Big Island Now.

Inouye: Banyans near Lili‘uokalani Gardens ‘have been neglected’.  $1 million in bond funding was released as seed money for the peninsula’s redevelopment, despite the failure this legislative session of Senate Bill 1078, introduced by Sen. Lorraine Inouye,  and House Bill 818, introduced by Hilo Rep. Sue Keohokapu-Lee Loy. Tribune-Herald.

Waiākea Uka Park in Hilo set to reopen after being closed for renovations.  The park now also has a reoriented ballfield with a new dedicated comfort station, dugouts, concession building and scorekeeper’s booth. Big Island Now.

UH Hilo to use AI to help students succeed. Two platforms, EAB Navigate360 and Edify, aim to improve student retention and graduation rates by catching students who are falling behind in their studies or attendance. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Goats prove their worth (and appetite) in wildfire mitigation program on Maui. Using grazing animals to help with fire prevention isn’t a new solution, but on Maui, goats are helping with the task. Hawaiian Electric had a herd of goats on its payroll as part of a pilot program. Hawaii Public Radio.

Displaced Lahaina fire survivors eager to rebuild with help from $1.6 billion federal grant. Applications to rebuild have ramped up in the nearly two years since the fire. According to the Maui County recovery dashboard, 453 building permits had been issued in Lahaina and Kula, with another 323 being processed as of Tuesday. So far, 42 buildings, all residential, have been completed. Maui Now.

An Infusion Of Fire Aid Is Changing How The Maui Food Bank Does Business. The Maui Food Bank saw its revenues jump to more than $77 million after the 2023 fires, a nearly eightfold increase from the previous year. It’s trying to use the windfall wisely. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Kauaʻi public, Navy spar over state renewing lease agreements at Pacific Missile Range Facility. Emotions ran high during three recent public meetings in Līhu’e, Kekaha and Kapa’a concerning the U.S. Navy’s and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s joint Draft Environmental Impact Statement for proposed lease renewal agreements on state-owned land on Kauaʻi. Kauai Now.

Kauaʻi Narrows Candidate Field For New Police Chief. Kauaʻi’s efforts to recruit a new chief come as Honolulu and Hawaiʻi island wage their own searches for a new top cop. The Kauaʻi Police Commission decided Friday to advance 13 candidates to become the next police chief to the next round, a process that involves asking the contenders to answer five written essay questions about their background and vision for KPD’s future. Civil Beat.

Green trims $100M from state budget, Rep. Case lone congressional delegation holdout over ICE immigrant tactics, governor signs fireworks bills, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

More Than $100 Million Cut From Hawaiʻi State Budget. Gov. Josh Green signed the nearly $40 billion executive biennium budget bill Monday, allocating $19.8 billion to state operations for fiscal year 2026 and about $19.7 billion for fiscal year 2027. Uncertainty over federal funding and projections for reduced state revenues played a role in the governor’s decision to line-item veto about $110 million in spending across the fiscal biennium. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. KHON2.

Press release with budget highlights. Governor's Office.

As Immigrant Arrests Rise, Hawaiʻi Political Leaders Condemn ICE Tactics. Rep. Ed Case, the lone holdout, said criticisms didn’t capture his or constituents’ views on immigration. With the arrests of immigrants surging, most of Hawaiʻi’s congressional delegation accuse federal immigration agents of creating “fear and terrorizing communities” in the Aloha State in a letter to be sent Tuesday to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Civil Beat.

New Hawaii fireworks laws take effect today. During a ceremony in his office at the state Capitol, Gov. Josh Green signed two “signature” bills passed by the Legislature in May to crack down on rampant use, possession and distribution of illegal fireworks statewide. State Department of Law Enforcement Director Mike Lambert took questions from the media. Star-Advertiser. Associated Press. Big Island Now.  Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Governor: I’ll Be ‘Agnostic’ On How Hawaiʻi Spends Its New Green Fee. Climate experts and proponents of Hawaiʻi’s new green fee will kick off next month what Gov. Josh Green has dubbed the “green fee initiative” — a process to decide how hundreds of millions of dollars for climate- and conservation-related projects will be spent. Civil Beat.

EV owners may opt for state road usage charge starting July 1. Starting Tuesday, owners of passenger EVs have the option of paying the state either a per-mile road usage charge of $8 per 1,000 miles, capped at $50, or an annual flat fee of $50. Star-Advertiser. Kauai Now. 

New law shifts seafood labeling rules. The bill mandates retail establishments that sell products made with raw yellowfin tuna and bigeye tuna, such as poke and sashimi, must label them with the country of origin where the fish was caught. Maui News.

Green Tells Hawaiʻi Tea Farmers Not To Worry About New Labeling Law. The governor had put the legislation on his intent-to-veto list, but ended up signing the measure last week. Civil Beat.

OHA budget battle pits its CEO against the chair of the board. OHA Trustees Race To Beat Deadline For New Controversial Budget. Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs approved a new two-year budget after a marathon meeting on Monday to resolve issues in a spending plan that had drawn intense criticism and scrutiny in recent weeks. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

Hawai‘i gender-affirming care providers brace themselves amid Trump ending LGBTQ+ youth hotline. Hawai‘i advocates said there is already a lack of gender-affirming resources locally, and cuts to that federally funded service could lead to severe consequences. Hawaii Public Radio.

Summer tourism lag risks long-term performance. Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism Director James Kunane Tokioka said in a statement that May’s modest increase in total visitors was led by growth from the U.S. West, which offset arrival drops of 1.1% from the U.S. East, 0.5% from Japan, and 8% from Canada. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Drones To Patrol From Oʻahu Skies For Illegal Fireworks On July 4th Weekend. A measure allowing video evidence from drones was part of a package of bills aimed at cracking down on illegal fireworks that became law Monday. Civil Beat.

Despite an alarming rise in traffic fatalities, officials say safety measures are working. There are more traffic control measures than ever on Oahu: speed humps, red light cameras and now speed cameras. But traffic fatalities are still going up. There have been 39 people killed on Oahu roadways through June. Halfway through 2024 that number was 15. Hawaii News Now.

Prosecutors want ex-prison guard to serve 7 years. The U.S. Department of Justice is asking a judge to sentence a 47-year-old ex-prison guard from Kapolei to seven years in federal prison for raping female inmates and trying to skip town before trial. Star-Advertiser.

Fire causes $150K in damage to Sheridan Park playground. For the second time in less than two months, vandals set fire to a city playground — causing about $150,000 damage and shuttering a section of Sheridan Park. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KITV4. 

Hawaii Island

Big Island students produce first-ever draft genome of endangered palila. Five Big Island high school students were among the six youths who have successfully produced the first-ever draft genome sequence of the critically endangered endemic palila bird. Tribune-Herald.

“Voluntary Compliance Order” Issued To Stop Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Spread. Residents are being asked not to transport palm plants and mulch in an area of West Hawaiʻi this summer, in order to prevent the further spread of the destructive coconut rhinoceros beetle, or CRB.  Big Island Video News.

Kahua Kahe Mālie Integrated Care Hub Opens In Ainaloa. The Kahua Kahe Mālie Integrated Care Hub, a new medical respite and behavioral health care facility, opened Friday in Ainaloa. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Samaritan’s Purse dedicates new homes to Maui families impacted by Lahaina wildfire. Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief organization, dedicated three newly built homes in Lahaina for Maui families who survived the state’s deadliest wildfire in history. Maui Now. KITV4.

6 Maui men arrested for internet-related sexual offenses against children. The latest Operation Keiki Shield action, conducted Friday to Sunday, resulted in the arrest of six Maui individuals for charges related to internet-facilitated sexual offenses against children, according to the Maui Police Department. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.

Kauai

DOW invites the public to attend a discussion on the Kapaa Homesteads Tanks Project. The Department of Water will hold a community event at 6 p.m. today to give the public an opportunity to review the project and share their feedback. Garden Island.

Fraud alleged in homeless village construction, Honolulu and HGEA finalize $41M Covid hazard pay settlement, teachers learn their rights vs ICE, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Manager Alleges Potential Fraud In Homeless Village Construction. A licensed contractor employed as a construction manager for the state’s Kauhale Initiative has written to Gov. Josh Green, alleging violations of building codes, contract terms and other issues with the homeless housing program — allegations that the initiative’s developer denies. The allegations involve the nonprofit HomeAid Hawaiʻi, and CM&D, which HomeAid has hired to manage the sprawling statewide initiative. Civil Beat.

Advocates explain rights regarding ICE agents. Advocates and educators gathered virtually Tuesday evening to share critical guidance with Hawaii families and public school staff on how to respond if U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents show up at school. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Criminals Mailing Illegal Fireworks To Hawaiʻi Mostly Get Away With It. People are sending undeclared explosives via U.S.P.S. on a regular basis. Few face arrest or prosecution.  Civil Beat.

Hawaii high school surfing still a tough wave to catch. Lawmakers passed House Bill 133, which has the backing of Gov. Josh Green and would appropriate $685,870 in each of the next two fiscal years to help cover expenses for public high schools in regional athletic leagues that include surfing as an interscholastic sport, which is something that currently exists only on Maui. Star-Advertiser.

Bomb threat delays Hawaiian Airlines flight to Honolulu. A Hawaiian Airlines flight from San Diego bound for Honolulu Tuesday morning was stopped shortly before takeoff after a passenger allegedly threatened to bomb the aircraft. Star-Advertiser. Associated Press. Maui News. Hawaii News Now.

Sweet potato to become part of the regular menu in Hawai‘i’s public schools. Approximately 372 pounds of local Okinawan sweet potatoes were distributed to 91 participating schools. The effort is part of the Hawai‘i Department of Education’s farm-to-school initiative, which aims to enhance food sustainability in Hawai‘i and aligns with the goals of Act 175 to improve student health while supporting local farmers. Big Island Now.

Oahu

HGEA finalizes $41 million hazard pay settlement. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blan­giardi’s administration has finalized a multimillion-dollar settlement with the Hawaii Government Employees Association involving dangerous COVID-19-era work. Star-Advertiser.

Army official discusses proposed return of state land on Oʻahu. A week after a brutal seven-hour public hearing before the state Land Board over the military's land lease at Pōhakuloa on the Big Island, the U.S. Army released a report signaling it was considering drastically pulling back on its footprint on Oʻahu. Hawaii Public Radio.

Judge Rules Miske’s Mother Can’t Represent Granddaughter’s Interests. The mother of convicted racketeering boss Mike Miske, who died last year, had been seeking guardianship of his granddaughter. Civil Beat.

Waikiki will step up safety efforts this summer. There will be new enhanced patrols starting up and a plan to tap into hundreds of private cameras overlooking public areas. KITV4.

Fire prevention pilot program in Oʻahu neighborhood park turns to lamb-scaping. The 3.5-acre Laukahi Slopes Mini Park in the middle of a Waiʻalae Iki neighborhood on Oʻahu is hilly and overgrown with trees, bushes and grass — a fire risk. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Thousands on the Big Island could face cuts in SNAP benefits. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program helps 21,472 Hawaii Island households by providing an average of $365 in monthly federal support for food, according to state DHS statistics from mid-May. Tribune-Herald.

Hokule‘a, Hikianalia head to Hilo. The Hokule‘a and Hikianalia voyaging canoes are expected to arrive in Hilo this afternoon, and celebrations honoring their trans-Pacific journey will be happening this weekend.  Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Federal lawsuit details graphic sexual harassment allegations against Pāʻia Inn owner. A federal lawsuit alleges that Pāʻia Inn owner Michael Baskin used drugs to try to engage in sexual acts with female employees, some teenagers, while in his hotel room, and the young women were “unable to consent” because “they were under the influence of drugs and alcohol.” Maui Now.

Maui woman breaks silence on her disappearance. Hannah Kobayashi, a Hawaii woman who Disappeared rom Los Angeles International Airport in November, kicking off an international search before resurfacing in Mexico a month later, spoke out on social media this week about her “loss, pain and suffering.” New York Times.

Kauai

Graduation time: Public high school graduations this Friday. Friday marks a milestone for nearly 700 seniors in the three public high schools on Kauai as the students and their support group of family, relatives and friends celebrate graduation. Garden Island.

Full closure scheduled on Temporary Kapa‘a Bypass Road later this month. A full closure of the Temporary Kapa‘a Bypass Road (Route 5600) is scheduled for later this month to install new striping and paving markers on the newly paved road, according to Hawai‘i Department of Transportation. Kauai Now.

Traffic deaths up 51%, Legislature ends regular session, state seeks to tap private security cameras for realtime surveillance in Waikiki, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii traffic deaths up 51% from same time last year. It’s been a deadly year on Hawaii roadways with the state seeing a 51% increase in fatalities compared to this time last year, and experts warn the deadliest days are ahead. From January 1, 2025 to May 2, 2025 there have been 50 deaths on Hawaii roads; compared to 33 the same time in 2024. KHON2. KITV4.

Hawaiʻi Residents Could Face Electric Rate Hike In 2026. Utility regulators have given Hawaiian Electric Co. the green light to pursue its first major rate increase in more than five years. The result could mean higher electric bills for residents and businesses by the end of 2026.  Civil Beat.

Potential Medicaid cuts would be ‘devastating’ for Hawaii. In Hawaii, Medicaid is administered as Med-QUEST, and provides health care coverage for more than 400,000 residents. It provides health care for 1 in 3 keiki and covers 1 in 3 births in the state. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi Legislature Adjourns — For Now. Before ending the regular session for the year, lawmakers stashed away money to shield Hawaiʻi from federal budget cuts. The Legislature adjourned its 2025 session on Friday with a promise to return in the months ahead to aid programs facing federal funding cuts from the Trump administration. To accomplish that, lawmakers have set aside a $200 million fund that can be tapped for resources should federal dollars run dry.  Civil Beat.

Legislative session ends with hotel, cruise ship room tax increase to aid Hawaii’s climate fight. Tourists — and local residents — who book hotel rooms and cruise ship cabins will begin providing $90 million to $100 million annually in new funding for Hawaii to adapt to climate change and prevent future wildfires, under legislation that Gov. Josh Green plans to sign into law. Star-Advertiser.

How major bills fared at the Capitol. Here is the status of major bills following the end of Hawaii’s annual 60-day legislative session on Friday. The bills listed as passed were approved by both the House and Senate. Acts refer to bills that have already been signed into law by Gov. Josh Green. Star-Advertiser.

$50M in grants set aside for Hawaiʻi nonprofits affected by federal cuts. Lawmakers passed a measure this week that will give $50 million in grants to nonprofits that have been impacted by federal cuts. A four-member selection committee is exempt from having to hold their meetings in Public. Hawaii Public Radio. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: Bolder Action Needed To Protect Hawaiʻi’s Environment. Legislators passed a historic new green fee. They also kicked some of Hawaiʻi’s most daunting environmental challenges down the road. Civil Beat.

Hawai‘i Tourism Authority under scrutiny amid allegations of hostile work environment. A state senator and some Hawai‘i Tourism Authority board members and former staff say the two main state agencies overseeing tourism failed to respond promptly to complaints about a hostile work environment — including alleged racist and sexist comments — that they said contributed to the recent resignations of five Native Hawaiian members of HTA’s leadership team. Star-Advertiser.

Hawai‘i mourns passing of Prince David Kawānanakoa. Hawai’i Gov. Josh Green has ordered that flags be flown at half-staff until sunset May 9 in honor of Prince David Klaren La’amea Kaumuali’i Kawānanakoa. According to the governor’s office, Prince David Kawānanakoa died Thursday. Maui News.

Oahu

State seeks access to surveillance feeds from Waikiki businesses. The state is pitching a plan to Waikiki hotels and businesses that would allow real-time access to the footage from their private security cameras to help monitor crime and maintain public safety. The Safety Via Technology initiative, referred to as SVT, and partnerships with private businesses is used in cities such as San Francisco and Miami and is being explored in other tourist hubs. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu police say new recruitment tactics are working. After a change in recruitment tactics, the Honolulu Police Department says more people are applying to become officers.Last year, it got more than 2,000 applications — a 20% increase from 2023. Hawaii Public Radio.

Will A Ban On Wheelies Stop The ‘Absolute Mayhem’ On Oʻahu Roads? Bike stunts are good fun for some, but the number of e-bike accidents that EMS responded to on Oʻahu nearly tripled from 2022 to 2024. Civil Beat.

Hawaii state lawmakers advance illegal fireworks measures. With the horrific and disturbing aftermath of this year’s New Year’s explosion in Salt Lake still fresh on their minds, state lawmakers in both the House and Senate approved four key measures in the effort to prevent a similar tragedy from happening. Hawaii News Now.

Investigation underway after newly renovated playground destroyed by arson. Officers responded to a fire at Wahiawa District Park at around 11 p.m. Thursday and found the playground structure fully engulfed in flames. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Ancient auwai are the kuleana of a Nuuanu neighborhood. There were 14 original auwai in Nuuanu that fueled the entire wetland of kalo by directing the flow of water from the elevated Nuuanu Stream to pass through downstream loi kalo before returning to the central ditch and, eventually, back to the stream. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Board seeks comment on proposed island name change. The Hawai‘i Board on Geographic Names is scheduled to vote in its upcoming June meeting on its proposal, first floated in March 2024, to change the official name of the largest island in the Hawaiian Archipelago from the “Island of Hawai‘i” to simply “Hawai‘i.” Tribune-Herald.

Survey to assess emergency preparedness level of east Hawaiʻi County households next week. The Hawaiʻi Department of Health Hawaiʻi District Health Office will conduct a Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) survey to assess the emergency preparedness level of east Hawaiʻi County households in the North and South Hilo, Puna and Kaʻū districts from next week. Survey teams will go door-to-door to 30 randomly selected census blocks. Big Island Now.

Maui

Eight judges confirmed across Hawaiʻi including Toma on Maui. Sonya H. Toma was confirmed as District Family Court Judge, Second Circuit. Maui Now.

Utility work to impact traffic on Honoapiʻilani between Lahainaluna and Hinau, May 5-9. Hawaiian Electric crews and contractors will be upgrading utility poles using bucket trucks on Honoapi‘ilani Highway between mile markers 21 and 22 between Lahainaluna Rd. and Hinau St. in the West Maui area from Monday, May 5 to Friday, May 9, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauai sanctuary is hugely popular with native and transpacific water birds. West Kauai’s Mana Plain is attracting larger numbers of native waterbirds and migratory shore birds than DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) biologist Jason Vercelli has ever seen in his 18 years of work in the wetlands. Garden Island.

Kauaʻi communities encouraged to share feedback on Climate Adaptation Plan. The county of Kauaʻi is seeking public input after completing a draft of the Climate Adaptation and Action Plan, which includes 79 bold actions to help Kauaʻi prepare for climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Kauai Now.

Kapolei grandmother sues Child Welfare Services in toddler death, Legislature hits halfway mark, endangered wildlife in jeopardy from federal cuts, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Federal Cuts May Clip Wings Of Hawaiʻi’s Endangered Birds. Workers who had hoped to spend their careers supporting these at-risk local species have been let go. Now, who might take over remains up in the air. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi congressional delegation introduces legislation to protect native species. The Hawai‘i Native Species Conservation and Recovery Act would fund conservation and recovery projects addressing invasive species, the ecological consequences of climate change, native species’ habitats, and population recovery. Big Island Now.

Insurance, fireworks and federal cuts are key topics as legislators reach the halfway point. The legislative session is at its halfway point — Thursday was the key deadline, called "crossover," for bills to pass out of their originating chamber to survive. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiʻi Senate moves bill to protect access to contraceptives. The Hawai‘i State Senate passed Senate Bill 350, which proposes an amendment to the state’s Constitution that protects individuals’ rights to access contraceptives and make decisions about their reproductive health. Maui Now.

Litigation spikes over Hawaii home construction. The University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization report said at least 17,555 new Hawaii homes over the past 25 years, or 702 homes annually on average, have been subject to construction defect litigation. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

‘Utter failure’: Grandmother of murdered toddler sues state over handling of child abuse reports.  The grandmother of a Kapolei 3-year-old who died from alleged abuse and neglect is suing the state, claiming it failed to act on reports to child welfare services. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

Oahu home prices hit record high of $1,185,000. Oahu single-family home prices in February hit a rec­ord high for the first time in nearly three years while condominium activity softened as the housing market diverged. Star-Advertiser.

Co-conspirator of late crime boss Mike Miske sentenced. Harry Kauhi will spend nearly nine years in prison for his role in the Miske criminal enterprise. Kauhi was sentenced Tuesday after accepting a plea deal in 2022, and testified against Mike Miske at trial. Hawaii News Now.

Builder is sought for Iwilei Center redevelopment project. An experienced builder who can convert Iwilei Center’s aging warehouse space into a new mixed-use, transit-­oriented development on the edge of downtown Honolulu is now being sought, city officials say. Star-Advertiser. Spectrum News.

Campbell High breaks ground on athletics facility expansion. This marks the second phase of renovations after the installation of artificial track and turf on the football field two years ago. This next wave includes new boys and girls locker rooms, a press box, and bleachers for the stadium along with new lights. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Symphony Orchestra back at Blaisdell Center Concert Hall after nearly three years. The Hawaii Symphony Orchestra takes the stage for the first time in nearly three years. The concert hall completed the first phase in its $10 million renovation project. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

County to move ahead with Puna route study. Contract being finalized, but state funding remains lapsed. County Public Works Director Hugh Ono on Thursday reassured a Hawaii County Council committee that a study of possible new traffic routes in and out of Puna can still happen using county funds, despite surprise news last month that state funds allocated in 2023 for that purpose had expired in 2024 without anyone noticing. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiʻi County calls for public feedback on hazard mitigation plan. Hawaiʻi County is updating its hazard mitigation plan for the first time since 2020, and the county is taking public feedback on the plan now. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now.

Public input sought for affordable housing effort. The Hawaii County Office of Housing and Community Development is seeking community input on Hawaii Island’s housing needs for the Affordable Housing Production Program. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui County Faces Huge Funding Gap For Wildfire Recovery, Draft Plan Shows. The county is hosting public meetings on the plan starting Saturday. Billions of dollars from other funding sources must be identified to achieve long-term goals.  Civil Beat.

Affordable housing project moves forward with $15.5M in financing secured. The team that’s building Hale O Pi’ikea III, the final phase of a three-phase affordable housing development in southwest Maui, has reportedly closed $15.5 million in federal and state financing for the project. Maui News. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauaʻi Mayor Derek Kawakami on navigating 'a sea of uncertainty'. Illegal vacation rentals, federal funding uncertainties, budget plans and more were the topics of a live discussion with Kauaʻi County Mayor Derek Kawakami as he prepares to deliver his state of the county address next week on March 13. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauaʻi volunteers break record collecting over 160,000 pounds of marine debris. Surfrider Foundation Kauaʻi announced Wednesday that its volunteers collected more than 162,902 pounds of marine debris and trash in 2024 from the beaches and coastlines of Kauaʻi, beating the previously held record of 120,000 pounds in 2017. Hawaii Public Radio.

4 homes blessed at Waimea Huakai. The crowd for four new homes being dedicated on Thursday was large, with more than 100 individuals, including Kauai Habitat for Humanity staff, building volunteers, and a visiting Collegiate Challenge group for the passing of four keys at the Waimea Huakai subdivision. Garden Island.

House seeks to sock away $200M for hard times, state growth projections reduced, Honolulu mayor proposes $5B budget, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiʻi House Wants To Set Aside $200 Million As A Hedge Against Hard Times.  House lawmakers want to bank $200 million in state funds as a cash cushion to help cope with any federal budget cuts or other fiscal problems that may be crop up in the years ahead. The House Finance Committee, in passing a budget Wednesday, made public some highlights from its proposed spending plan for the next two years, which would authorize slightly more than $20.48 billion next fiscal year and $20.22 billion the following year. Civil Beat.

DBEDT reduces Hawaii’s economic growth rate to 1.7% for 2025. The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism on Wednesday lowered its economic growth projections for this year on the expectation that tourism growth will slow, consumer inflation will rise, and policy uncertainty will increase at the national and international levels. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi food banks report canceled shipments and frozen funds amid federal cuts. Six shipping containers worth of food for the Hawaiʻi Foodbank, which serves Oʻahu and Kauaʻi, were scheduled to be shipped to the state during the first half of the year. But those shipments have been canceled. Hawaii Public Radio.

Trump’s recent executive order declared English as the official language of the country for the first time, but the Hawaiʻi State Judiciary says the order does not impact the state.  Hawaiʻi is the only state that has two official languages: ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi and English.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Honolulu Mayor’s $5B Budget Boosts Homeless Funding And Addresses Federal Cuts. The city is bracing for federal cuts, but the mayor said there are no plans to increase property taxes. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.  Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Honolulu Will Allow Some Developers To OK Their Own Projects. The council acted in November 2023 to reduce a backlog of permit applications, but the program hasn’t launched yet. Civil Beat.

‘Calculation error’ discovered in Skyline audit. In a report issued Feb. 27 involving the audit of the city Department of Transportation Services’ Skyline operations, the city auditor found the audit mistakenly cited a 77% decrease in rail ridership from July 2023 to December 2023. The correct percentage decrease in ridership on the city’s rail line was later determined to be almost 44%. Star-Advertiser.

Hidden Links Exposed: Hawaiʻi Fireworks Bust Tied To Mainland Suppliers. One mysterious address on shipping documents in a seizure at Honolulu Harbor is the first in a chain of clues that lead across the country and through the decades — a mysterious web of connections between the legal and illegal fireworks trade. Civil Beat.

Controversial youth transitional living facility moves forward in Makaha. A nonprofit is moving forward with a plan to help homeless youth get off the streets in Leeward Oahu, but some neighbors are asking the governor to cancel the project. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

County, HGEA reach COVID compensation agreement. The arbitrated agreement will pay certain Hawaii Government Employees Association members who were county employees 15% of their hourly pay over a two-year period based on when the pandemic began and when cases began to flatten. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Island police kill murder suspect, 28, in shootout. Hawaii Island police said officers killed a 28-year-old murder suspect in a Tuesday evening shootout in Volcano, ending a day-long manhunt after the early-morning shooting death of a 25-year-old woman in Puna. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald.  KITV4.

Immigration enforcement operation raising concerns among Latino population. A federal immigration enforcement operation was conducted at a Kona coffee farm Wednesday afternoon, increasing concerns among the island’s Latino community. Hawaii News Now.

Waimea nonprofit eyes lunar landings. The arrivals of two lunar landers on the moon this week bodes well for a Big Island company’s plan to set up a permanent observatory on the moon. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui County’s economic recovery trails rest of the state; construction builds momentum. Maui County’s economic recovery remains slower than other islands, particularly in tourism and employment, suggesting lingering effects from the August 2023 wildfires disaster that disrupted tourism and local businesses, according to the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism the 2025 Statistical and Economic Report, published in this first quarter. Maui Now.

Maui losing 10 stores, 80 jobs after company overseeing iconic surfing brands files for bankruptcy. The Honolua Surf Company store in The Shops at Wailea is one of 10 surf stores on Maui — four Honolua Surf Company, two Quiksilver, two Volcom and two Billabong — that are liquidating their stock and closing their doors for good after their operator, Liberated Brands LLC, filed for bankruptcy a month ago in the U.S. District of Delaware. Maui Now. KITV4.

Maui residents divided on proposal for street extension connecting two communities. Maui County officials are asking for public feedback about a proposal for a new road connecting the Wailuku and Waiehu communities. Hawaii News Now.

Maui County DWS to host community meetings on water pipe inventory project. The Maui County Department of Water Supply is inviting the public to an informational meeting about an ongoing water service line inventory to comply with the latest U.S. Environmental Protection Agency lead and copper ruling, which is established to monitor the lead and copper levels at customers’ water pipes at homes, schools and businesses. Maui News.

Kauai

Hawaiʻi pays 64% above national average for electricity. While Hawaiʻi’s average monthly usage is lower than the U.S. average, its average rate per kWh is significantly higher, at 39.62 cents per kWh, which is well over double the national average of $137 per month. Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative said 60% of its electricity comes from renewables and rates on Kauaʻi range between 33 and 39 cents, but the need for energy storage capacity becomes apparent when the sun doesn’t shine and the wind stops blowing. Kauai Now.


 

Eggs at a premium, federal court upholds age-based gun ban, appeals court rules against hotel in beach use, casino gambling bill introduced, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Demand skyrocketing for local eggs. Demand for local eggs in Hawaii has skyrocketed as a shortage persists across the U.S. due to continual outbreaks of bird flu. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii leaders challenge federal buyout plan. State Attorney General Anne Lopez announced Sunday that she is leading a coalition of 21 state attorneys general in supporting the legal challenge against the directive, which offers federal workers up to eight months of pay and benefits in exchange for their immediate resignation. Employees who decline the offer face potential termination. Star-Advertiser.

Bill is back to clear way for Filipino WWII vets to reunite with families. A group of bipartisan lawmakers in Congress has reintroduced legislation aimed at expediting the visa process for the children of Filipino World War II veterans, many of whom have spent decades separated from their families due to immigration backlogs. Star-Advertiser.

Federal Court upholds Hawaii’s age-based firearms acquisition law. On Friday, a federal judge upheld Hawaii’s law banning those under 21 from buying a gun. Hawaii News Now.

New bill seeks to build casinos and legalize gambling. Hawaii is one of two states in the country where gambling is illegal. A new bill aims to bring in casinos and legalize gambling. KHON2.

Lawmakers are trying to help families pay their electric bills. With what funding?  State senators have proposed two measures to create utility assistance programs for low-income households: Senate Bill 191 and Senate Bill 994. Hawaii Public Radio.

Racism Is Common In Hawaiʻi Schools — And Often Goes Unaddressed. Nearly half of white high school students and more than half of Black students in the state said they’d experienced racism in schools, according to a federal survey recently pulled from the internet by Trump administration orders. Civil Beat.

Measures target ‘fentanyl tsunami’.  At least three bills have been introduced by the Legislature this year to crack down on fentanyl trafficking. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiian Homes agency seeking an additional $600M. Hawaii lawmakers are considering big funding increases to produce homesteads for state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands beneficiaries after a historic $600 million appropriation in 2023. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi Water Safety Coalition reveals state’s first-ever Water Safety Plan. The Hawaiʻi Water Safety Coalition on Thursday released its first Hawaiʻi Water Safety Plan to address the drowning crisis that is threatening the health of Hawaiʻi’s residents and visitor-dependent economy.  Maui Now.

Oahu

Kahala hotel’s use of public beach in dispute and could affect other hotels. A recent ruling by the state’s Intermediate Court of Appeals could become precedent-setting when it comes to protecting the public’s interests at public beaches. The appeals court ruled Jan. 29 in David Kimo Frankel v. the Board of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Land and Natural Resources and Resort Trust Hawaii LLC — owner of the Kahala Hotel & Resort — that BLNR breached its public-trust duties when it authorized the hotel’s exclusive use of a portion of land designated for use as a public beach. Star-Advertiser.

Military launches new effort to ID unknown soldiers from West Loch Disaster. On May 21, 1944, as American troops prepared for the invasion of Japanese-­occupied Saipan in the Northern Marianas, a series of explosions in West Loch killed at least 163 people and injured 396, though some historians have alleged that shoddy record keeping by military officials in a rush to keep the operation on track may have left more uncounted. Star-Advertiser.

E-bike bills advance at City Council, Legislature. The state Department of Health asserts the average number of reported e-bike incidents statewide more than doubled from an average of 10 per month in 2022 to 24 per month in 2024. Oahu experienced a nearly threefold increase, from an average of seven per month in 2022 to 19 per month in 2024, the data indicates. Star-Advertiser.

Council mulls proposal to strengthen fireworks laws. Bill 7 seeks to amend the city’s fire code to increase penalties for possessing, using and causing the explosion of any aerial device, pyrotechnic or display fireworks on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Several gambling machines found at illegal game room bust in Kalihi. An illegal game room in Kalihi was raided where 11 gambling machines and cash were seized. Honolulu police executed the search warrant on Thursday, Feb. 6 where the machines and cash was found.  KITV4.

ACLU Cites ‘Pattern Of Violence’ After Murder At Oʻahu Jail. The death of OCCC inmate Eric Scotton is apparently the third homicide in the Hawaiʻi correctional system in less than a year. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Contested case could decide fate of Papaikou’s ‘Falls on Fire’. A Papaikou property owner’s plan to host an annual “Burning Man-style” festival on his land is being challenged by neighbors. In 2023, Andrew Tepper opened a portion of his more-than-1,400-acres located on Indian Tree Road north of Papaikou for a multiday festival called “Falls on Fire.”  Tribune-Herald.

2 more school bus routes to be restored in East Hawaiʻi starting Monday. The routes serve Pāhoa High and Intermediate School, Pāhoa Elementary School and Keonepoko Elementary School.  Big Island Now.

Under the big top: Super American Circus comes to Hilo this week. Look for the big top at the Afook-Chinen Civic fairgrounds in Hilo on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and at Old Kona Airport Park on Feb. 21, 22 and 23. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Meeting could help chart course for Hana Community Pathway. Design concepts for the Hāna Community Pathway will be presented at the next in-person community meeting scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Feb. 18 at Helene Hall in Hāna. Maui News.

With massive flooding in Kīhei wreaking havoc every winter, community wonders: When will things change? Maui County says while it is following a master drainage plan, South Maui’s wetland origins make it inherently vulnerable to flooding. But residents and environmental scientists say more concrete action needs to be taken, and more quickly.  Maui Now.

Kauai

Kaua‘i Community College works to fund scholarship for graduating island seniors. The Ho‘olei Scholarship Fund aims to cover first-year tuition, after financial aid, for every senior graduating from a public or charter high school on Kauaʻi. Kauai Now.

Lawmakers tackle pay-to-play loophole, delivery surcharge for safe streets, year-round legislative session, fireworks regulations, plus more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Bill To Close Pay-To-Play Loophole In Hawaiʻi Moves To Full House. State legislators are seeking to close a 20-year-old loophole that has allowed government contractors to donate to politicians despite a law that purports to ban such contributions. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi lawmakers still considering year-round legislative session. State lawmakers are considering measures to make Hawaiʻi’s legislative session continue throughout the year, although a Senate committee recently killed a pair of those bills. Hawaii Public Radio.

Journalists blast bill proposing regulations. A bill introduced in the Hawaii Legislature would establish a state-sanctioned journalistic code of ethics and create a Journalistic Ethics Commission and Journalism Review Board that could fine journalists and ban them from covering state government. Tribune-Herald.

Lawmakers consider delivery fees to support pedestrian and biking infrastructure. Senate Bill 1124 would establish a “retail delivery safety fee” for stores that make home deliveries. It would tack on $0.50 to businesses for non-food deliveries, and the fees collected would go into the state's Safe Routes to School special fund to pay for safety projects. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Lawmakers push for stricter fireworks regulations. Various state Senate committees passed bills Wednesday that would increase fines and penalties for people who fire off illegal pyrotechnics and also make it easier for law enforcement to cite and arrest them and for prosecutors to win convictions. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

How can Hawaiʻi meet the goal of 50,000 new rooftop solar systems by 2030? Both the state Senate and House have introduced bills that reaffirm the goal of 50,000 new solar installations by 2030. Hawaii Public Radio.

Stakes Are High As Maui Wildfire Settlement Case Goes Before Supreme Court. The Hawaiʻi Supreme Court on Thursday is scheduled to hear a case that will impact Hawaiʻi’s economy regardless of which side wins. The results could be bankruptcy for the state’s biggest electric utility or rising insurance premiums. Civil Beat. Associated Press.

Priced Out of Paradise: Hawaii transplants flock to new location in search of lower cost of living. Over the last decade, Hawaii transplants have flocked to Las Vegas in droves, building a welcoming oasis in the desert. While a lower cost of living brought them to Nevada, islanders say the efforts in Las Vegas to preserve Hawaiian culture is what convinced them to stay. Hawaii News Now.

Binge Drinking On The Rise Among Hawaiʻi Seniors. Roughly 11% of older adults in Hawaiʻi reported excessive drinking in 2022, the highest rate of any state, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analyzed by the United Health Foundation for its annual America’s Health Rankings report. That’s up from 8% in 2021. Civil Beat.

Oahu

New Strategic Housing Plan for Oahu is launched by city. Mayor Rick Blangiardi's plan calls for the merger of the existing Mayor’s Office of Housing with the existing city Department of Land Management — to create the new Department of Housing and Land Management — to supposedly centralize and streamline the city’s development, finance and policy efforts. Star-Advertiser. KHON2. KITV4.

OHA, lawmakers try again to lift residential ban on Kakaʻako Makai lands. A bill aiming to lift a state law banning residential development at the waterfront area of Kakaʻako on Oʻahu cleared its first hurdle in the state Legislature. If Senate Bill 524 becomes law, OHA could develop two 400-foot buildings on that land.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Death Toll From Salt Lake Fireworks Explosion Rises To 6. Eight people are still being treated in burn units in Arizona and Honolulu, and the police investigation is ongoing. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.  Associated Press. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

Military and local agencies practice Kolekole Pass evacuation route. On Wednesday, a large convoy of vehicles drove up Lualualei Naval Road and across Kolekole Pass to Schofield Barracks as part of a “full-scale” exercise. Star-Advertiser.  Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Hawaii Island

Study confirms sewage leaks in Keaukaha. Sewage in Keaukaha is leaching into groundwater 10 times faster than previously believed, according to a study by University of Hawaii scientists. Tribune-Herald.

Hawai‘i County Council roundup: Adopted resolution urging humane action to deal with potential avian flu outbreak. The Hawai‘i County Council unanimously adopted a resolution that urges state agencies to work with local poultry farmers to humanely deal with potential avian flu outbreaks. Big Island Now.

Maui

Waivers aim to streamline Lahaina rebuilding. Maui Mayor Richard Bissen announced Wednesday that the county will temporarily suspend Special Management Area rules for properties mauka of Front Street or outside of the erosion hazard line — a move that is expected to accelerate reconstruction efforts and support Lahaina’s wildfire recovery. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.  Hawaii News Now.

Rental requirement begins March 1 for FEMA direct housing participants. Wildfire survivors currently in FEMA’s Direct Housing Program will be required to begin paying rent on March 1, 2025. The rental requirement will be in effect for the remainder of FEMA’s housing assistance program, which has been extended through Feb. 10. Maui Now.

Family of fallen Maui firefighter demands changes. Evans Enos filed a lawsuit against the county and his captain stating Tre’ did not have any protection when he was ordered to go near the storm drain while no one’s life was in danger. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Lion dance performances slated to welcome Year of the Snake on Kaua‘i. Saam Fu Chinese Cultural Arts of Honolulu is coming to the Garden Isle this week to continue celebrating Chinese New Year with traditional lion dances at several venues. Kauai Now.

Governor's State of the State speech highlights affordability, housing; new House rules ban members from disparaging other members on social media, Maui cop indicted in tasing, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Governor highlights achievements and work to do during State of State speech. Building more affordable housing. Working together with the Legislature. Addressing the health care shortage. Recovering from the Maui fires. Those were the top issues Gov. Josh Green addressed in his third State of the State Tuesday morning.  Hawaii Public Radio. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Video News.  Maui Now.  Kauai Now.  Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Full text of Green's State of the State address.

Public preschool, food insecurity among House Democrats' top priorities. The state House of Representatives majority caucus will focus on preparing keiki for school, combating high costs of living and food insecurity across the state. Hawaii Public Radio.

State House updates its rules on public testimony, social media use. The state House of Representatives amended the rules that governs how it operates, from when public testimony gets uploaded to the power of committee chairs.  Public testimony will now be available at least two hours before hearings in the House. There will also now be a list of organizations that have bills introduced by request. Lawmakers are prohibited from disparaging one another on social media.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Hikers who trespass might pay for search, rescue costs.  Bills introduced to the Legislature say trespassing hikers who ignore a warning notice or sign of closure would have to pay all or a portion, but not less than half, of all search and rescue expenses, which typically involve county firefighters, helicopters, pilots, ambulances and medical crews. Star-Advertiser.

22 states, including Hawaii, sue to stop Trump’s birthright citizenship order. Attorneys general from 22 states, including Hawaii, sued President Donald Trump in two federal district courts today to block an executive order that refuses to recognize as citizens the U.S.-born children of immigrants in the country illegally, the opening salvo in what promises to be a long legal battle over the Trump administration’s immigration policies. New York Times. Associated Press.  KHON2.

Hawaiʻi ‘Proud Boy’ Founder, US Army Soldier Get Jan. 6 Pardons From Trump. Nicholas Ochs was accused of throwing a smoke grenade toward police while Alexander Poplin is alleged to have beat an officer with a flag pole. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Fireworks Injuries, Deaths Reached 14-Year High On New Year’s. Oʻahu accounted for 84% — 91 people — of the hospitalizations on New Year’s Eve and New Year's Day this year. Injuries on neighbor islands were also higher than last year.  Civil Beat.

It’s been 2+ years since a high-profile fireworks bust at OCCC. Where’s the accountability? In December, 2022, a corrections officer was suspected of having boxes filled with illegal fireworks shipped to Oahu Community Correctional Center under inmates' names. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

School preps new plan for a campus in Kaumana. Connections Public Charter School officials, twice rebuffed for their plans to build a campus on 70-plus acres of leased state land in Kaumana, are set to submit a scaled-down proposal for a 15-acre campus. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii chicken farmers asked to guard against bird flu. The bird flu virus, H5N1, was first detected in Hawaii in November at a bird sanctuary on Oahu. Since then, the virus has been detected at the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant in December, and last week trace amounts were detected on Kauai. Tribune-Herald.

West Hawaii residents urge crackdown on ‘predatory paid parking providers’. A group of business owners and residents on Tuesday appealed to the County Council’s Committee on Communications, Reports and Council Oversight and urged action against “predatory paid parking providers,” who have dominated much of Kailua Village’s available parking spaces over the last two years. Tribune-Herald.

 Maui

Maui police officer indicted and fired after tasing incident. Federal grand jury indicts former Maui police officer on alleged civil rights violation. A former officer with the Maui Police Department is facing decades behind bars after a federal grand jury indicted him on allegations he had no legal justification for using a Taser and then tried to cover up his crime by falsifying a police report. Maui News. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.  KITV4.

Cost Of 450 Temporary Homes For Maui Wildfire Victims: $411,000 Each. Costs are up 60% just this year, and it is unclear what will happen to the homes after 5 years. But families are grateful to be settling into their own homes. Civil Beat.

Fire buffer zone planned for Maui Meadows. Maui County fire officials said they are moving forward with looking at creating a fire buffer zone around a South Maui community and improving the fire code to prevent wildfires. Maui News.

New bills provide Hawaiian language and culture-based learning to county employees. The Maui County Council gave final approval Friday to legislation providing Hawaiian language and culture-based learning for county employees in partnership with University of Hawaiʻi – Maui College. The bills also implement requirements to include ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi in official documents pursuant to Charter Section 13-17. Maui Now.

Kauai

Transformative outcome: Community-built comfort station coming to Hā‘ena State Park. Hā‘ena on Kaua‘i’s scenic North Shore is the newest model of a Hawai‘i community where residents and organizations joined forces to get an important capital improvement project designed, planned and paid for instead of waiting for somebody else to do it for them. Kauai Now.