24k federal civilian workers in Hawaii brace for shutdown, state Elections Commission divided over mail-in voting, Waikiki bank robber suspect arrested, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

How the federal government shutdown impacts Hawaii. With 24,000 federal civilian workers in Hawaii, it is unclear how many and exactly what services could be impacted. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. 

Mail-in vs in-person: State Elections Commission divided. The state elections commission is divided over mail-in versus in-person voting, with allegations of mishandled and miscounted ballots unresolved, and some calling for the voting director to lose his job. KHON2.

State funding beefs up project possibilities for Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council. The council received 54 funding requests for various pest-related projects, beating the 19 received last year. The nearly $5.7 million HISC has available to distribute is also the most it's had in at least the last decade. Hawaii Public Radio.

Study: 3D-printed shelters by Hawaii scientists protect baby corals. University of Hawaii at Manoa scientists have just released results from more than a year long study on the key to restoring Hawaii’s coral populations. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Honolulu councilmembers urge more department coordination during emergencies. Honolulu councilmembers pushed the city Department of Emergency Management for more coordination and public awareness for evacuation plans following the July tsunami warning. Hawaii Public Radio.

Police arrest suspect in Waikiki bank robbery. 18 people treated at scene after man released pepper spray. Officials said the 66-year-old suspect turned himself in at the Kapolei Federal Building on Tuesday and he was arrested for robbery. Hawaii News Now.

Police praise surveillance camera pilot project for deterring break-ins. The six-month, $65,000 project involves trailers placed in areas of high criminal activity. Hawaii News Now.

Family Court Must Release Records In Isabella Kalua Child Abuse Death. The Hawaiʻi Supreme Court on Tuesday broke with more than two decades of precedent to order the release of 975 pages showing how the 6-year-old was placed with parents now accused of killing her. Civil Beat.

‘You Take What You Can Get’: Hawaiʻi Brushed Off Signs Of Abuse At Foster Home. Some boys tried to warn about what was happening, but their reports were discounted or ignored. Civil Beat.

They Signed Up For Co-Living In Honolulu And Got A ‘Hell Hole’. Dozens of people have been living in a downtown office building without kitchens, air conditioning and proper ventilation. The landlord says he is working to address safety concerns and plans to convert the building to student housing. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Episode 34 eruption at Kīlauea sends lava fountains soaring. By early October 1, lava fountains had reached up to 330 feet high and were tilted slightly to the northeast.  KITV4.

Invasive species control efforts literally are paying off. Three biological control programs aimed at tackling invasive species in Hawaii are showing positive economic returns, with two delivering especially strong results, according to a recent economic analysis conducted by the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Island bus crash in Laupahoehoe sends 22 to hospital. The driver of a Hawaii County Hele-On bus that rolled down an embankment and overturned early Tuesday morning in Laupahoehoe has been relieved of his duties pending further investigation. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald.  Big Island Video News.  Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Police Department holds memorial service to honor K9 Archer. The Hawaii Police Department held a private memorial service on Tuesday to honor the life and service of K9 Archer, who died after being left unattended in a police vehicle. KITV4. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Maui Council approves MPD participation in Joint Terrorism Task Force with the FBI. Maui County Council members have given initial approval to Bill 92, which authorizes the mayor to enter into an agreement with the Federal Bureau of Investigation for Maui County to participate in a Joint Terrorism Task Force, Honolulu Division. Maui Now.

Director of Human Concerns Lori Tsuhako to retire Dec. 31. Maui County Director of Human Concerns Lori Tsuhako, who has served as a director under three different administrations, has announced she is retiring at the end of the year. Maui News.

Maui Plans To Redraw Its Coastal Development Lines. The county has started the long process of reevaluating the Special Management Area maps that govern which parts of the island are subject to enhanced protections for environmental, cultural and historic resources.  Civil Beat.

Maui United Way joins community partners to build firebreak around Lahainaluna HS. Maui United Way brought together local alumni, community leaders and partners including Hawaiian Electric, Maui Land & Pineapple Company, Lahaina Excavation, and Maui Emergency Management Agency to launch the Lahainaluna Firebreak Initiative.  Maui Now.

Kauai

Kapa‘a Swimming Pool reopens this week following 2-week closure. Kapa‘a Swimming Pool reopens Oct. 1 for its regular schedule after Kaua‘i County Department of Parks and Recreation completed repairs of mechanical issues that caused the pool to close 2 weeks ago. Kauai Now.

Aloha ‘Ike resurrected. The Kauai Economic Development Board agreed to “resurrect” the Aloha ‘Ike program, and a fundraising gala at Royal Sonesta Kauai Resort Friday served to formalize the decision. Garden Island.

Police to get hefty raises, bonuses, perks; Green and Driscoll ink preliminary military land agreement; Waikiki bank robbery injures 18, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Arbitrator awards police officers their largest pay raise in 17 years. Police officers in Hawaii secured the increase after an independent arbitrator issued a decision on a new four-year contract that was lauded by union leadership. Police officer pay will increase 40% between 2021 and 2028. The  total compensation package will provide most members an increase of more than 27.5%. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. 

Green signs ‘statement of principles’ with Army on land negotiations. Governor Josh Green and Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll have established a non-binding Statement of Principles as land lease talks continue.  Star-Advertiser. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. 

Young Brothers warns interisland shipping is at risk. A state commission began a multiday hearing Monday to determine whether the distressed company transporting most goods between the main Hawaiian islands deserves a big rate hike plus automated inflationary annual increases. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald. KHON2.

The search is on for a new Hawaii Chief Justice. Longtime Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald is retiring this week, and there aren’t yet enough qualified applicants interested in taking his place. KHON2. Hawaii News Now. 

Shutdown would add to Hawaii’s economic woes. Federal workers in Hawaii who are worried about a shutdown of the federal government that could begin at 6:01 p.m. today (12:01 a.m EDT Wednesday) are likely already cutting back on local spending, adding to Hawaii’s already sluggish economy, according to the head of the University of Hawaii’s Economic Research Organization. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Chemical dispersed during Waikiki bank robbery. Police search for suspect in Waikiki bank robbery; 18 patients treated at scene. Officers were called to the First Hawaiian Bank’s Waikiki branch on Kalakaua Avenue and Lewers Street just after 2 p.m. KHON2. Hawaii News Now. KITV4. 

Skyline stations transform into community food hubs. Honolulu Skyline passengers may notice something different on their morning rail commute: more than half-a-dozen planter boxes full of growing tomatoes, eggplants, scallions and sweet potatoes, among other edible plants. Civil Beat. KHON2.

‘Lord Of The Flies’: How Hawaiʻi’s Model Foster Dad Preyed On Boys. John Teixeira answered a desperate need for the state: Where to put boys no one else would take. He’d eventually take in almost 60. But there would be a cost. Civil Beat.

Community vows to protect Oahu’s water amid Red Hill contamination concerns. Community leaders, advocates and students gathered at Honolulu Hale on Monday afternoon to launch the “Pledge to Our Wai, Pledge to Our Keiki,” a public commitment to protect Oahu’s aquifer from ongoing contamination tied to the U.S. Navy’s Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility.  Star-Advertiser.

Forum on political history of Native Hawaiians seeks to help navigate the future. In a nod to Hawaiian History Month, a forum sponsored by the Honolulu mayor's office and the city council is to take place on Tuesday to highlight the changing political climate and the concern that programs to help Native Hawaiians are being targeted. Hawaii Public Radio.

Blaisdell Center has completed new state-of-the-art parking system. While the upgrade work started on Sept. 22, additional operational adjustments are still being finalized, and the Department of Enterprise Services is asking commuters and visitors to be patient during this transition period. Hawaii News Now.

Ala Wai Golf Course gets major upgrades, including solar and LED lighting. These improvements align with the City's wider initiatives to decrease energy consumption, lower expenses, and advance the objectives of the City's Climate Action Plan. Concurrently, they aim to maintain and enhance the distinguished golf course, which accommodates over 12,000 rounds of golf annually. KITV4.

Hawaii Business Magazine's new editor-in-chief talks next generation, media landscape. Jennifer Ablan returned home from New York after three decades to take the job. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Teen Arrested For Alleged Terroristic Threatening At Kona High School. A 14-year-old female from Ocean View was arrested after the Konawaena High School student allegedly threatened to shoot three fellow students on campus. Big Island Video News.

Construction of county’s Kukuiola project begins. The Kukuiola Emergency Shelter and Assessment Center in Kailua-Kona will include 16 emergency shelter units for the homeless, a manager’s unit, a 2,000-square-foot assessment center, community restroom facilities with showers, a 1,400-square-foot community center and a shared kitchen. Tribune-Herald.

Next Lava Episode In Kilauea Eruption Is About To Begin. Precursory activity in Episode 34 of the Kīlauea eruption got underway overnight at the summit.  Big Island Video News.

Maui

The Sunshine Interview: Maui Mayor Richard Bissen And Recovery Chief John Smith. The county’s chief executive and head of the Maui Office of Recovery discuss federal funding for the rebuilding of Lahaina and Upcountry. Civil Beat.

Pāʻia Elementary School to remain closed through Friday; asynchronous distance learning to begin Wednesday.  While the campus did not sustain direct fire damage, soot continues to impact parts of the campus. Maui Now.

Maui County Fair returns this week. The Maui County Fair is returning to the War Memorial Special Complex this week, featuring dozens of food booths, rides, live entertainment, livestock and poultry exhibits, a petting zoo and much more. Maui News. Maui Now. 

Kauai

Kauaʻi Water Utility Hawks $1.3B Plan To Overhaul Century-Old System. The repairs are needed to protect the island’s drinking water and ensure sufficient supply to face the growing wildfire risk, officials said. Civil Beat.

Kauaʻi-based conservationists sound alarm over mass killing of native birds. At Ninini Point near the Līhuʻe airport, Archipelago Research and Conservation recently discovered 125 dead birds. The group said all the birds had been killed by cats. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauaʻi County’s Housing Agency to open applications for community development block grants. Online applications will be available beginning Friday on the Housing Agency’s CDBG webpage. The deadline to submit applications is Nov. 13, by 4:30 p.m. Kauai Now.

Foster care in crisis, state Supreme Court mulls HMSA insurance denials, Maui mayor signs $1.56B budget, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiʻi Foster System In Crisis: Kids Still Sleeping In Offices, Hotels. A toddler, age 2, spent the night in a government office on Kauaʻi. A 13-year-old slept on an Oʻahu office futon for almost two months. And a 15-year-old lived for more than three months out of offices and hotel rooms on Hawaiʻi Island. For some Hawaiʻi foster youth, government offices and hotels are a home of last resort.  Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s biggest insurer defends provider contracts before state Supreme Court.  The Hawaii Supreme Court saw a historic argument as Hawaii’s biggest insurer defended its rules against some doctors and patients. They say Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA) preauthorization and contract rules interfere with patient care, while the company says they help doctors do their jobs quickly and effectively. Hawaii News Now. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu

Kapolei affordable housing project sought on city-owned site. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration says it’s seeking a developer to turn a vacant city-owned parcel in West Oahu into a mixed-use, transit-­oriented development that will feature 600 to 800 affordable housing units. Star-Advertiser.

Queen’s holds blessing ceremony for expanded downtown emergency department. The department recently underwent renovations that expanded its size, more than doubling the number of its treatment rooms, and now offers dedicated facilities for state-of-the-art CT and X-ray services. Star-Advertiser.

Miske Case: Prosecutors Agree To Negotiate Settlement Over Asset Forfeiture. The deal to settle over millions of dollars in assets is an indication that the government is seeking to avoid another long, complex and expensive trial in the case. Civil Beat.

No markings, no clarity: Crosswalk changes create risky guessing game in Honolulu. Over the past decade, the city has eliminated dozens of Honolulu crosswalks. Officials say the changes aim to make streets safer by encouraging pedestrians to cross at traffic lights. But critics argue that rarely happens along a busy stretch of S. King Street. Hawaii News Now.

UH president appoints Vassilis Syrmos as interim Mānoa provost. University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel on Monday appointed Vassilis Syrmos as UH Mānoa’s interim provost. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Pohoiki Boat Ramp dredging begins. Dredging work began today to restore access to the lava-barricaded Pohoiki Boat Ramp, eight years after an eruption of Kilauea volcano rendered the structure unusable. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now.  KHON2.

State senator pitches hydropower plant on Kohala Mountain. State Sen. Tim Richards has an idea on how to provide more renewable energy and clean water to Hawaiʻi Island residents -- a pumped storage hydropower plant on Kohala Mountain. Hawaii Public Radio.

Protective order against former UFC champ B.J. Penn extended. Penn must immediately vacate the home he shares in Hilo with his 79-year-old mother, Lorraine P. Shin. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Maui mayor signs $1.56B budget into law towards housing, recovery, natural resources. Mayor Richard Bissen signed Maui’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget of approximately $1.56 billion that addresses housing for kamaʻāina, recovery and cultural and natural resources. KITV4.

Recent drownings in Wailea put spotlight on Maui’s longtime issue of too many unguarded beaches. Before the Aug. 8, 2023 wildfire that drastically curbed tourism, Maui County had the second-highest ocean drowning fatality rate per capita in the state from 2019-2023, according to the Hawai‘i Water Safety Plan released in January. And, the average per capita rate of drownings was twice as high on Neighbor Islands as on O‘ahu.  Maui Now.

Maui’s main stadium shuts down for major repairs. War Memorial Stadium will be closed for more than a year to undergo much-needed repairs. That means sports events and even graduations will have to go somewhere else. Hawaii News Now.

A `promise to restore balance’: Mayor Bissen makes his case for vacation rental phase-out. Citing Maui’s severe post-wildfire housing crisis, the Bissen administration presented its formal case to a County Council committee to phase out approximately 6,000 short-term vacation rentals mostly in West and South Maui. Maui Now.

With housing and economy at stake, Maui County weighs phase-out of 7,000 vacation rentals. The Maui County Council is currently weighing whether or not to pass a bill that would phase out roughly 7,000 transient vacation rentals in apartment-zoned districts, nearly half of the island’s supply. Hawaii Public Radio. Maui News.  Maui Now.

MPD seeks help with unclaimed bodies. Maui police are asking for help contacting the family members of five people who are deceased. Maui News.

Kauai

Annual sewer rate increase on Kaua‘i kicks in on July 1. A sewer rate increase approved by the Kaua‘i County Council in 2022 increases the sewer rate by 11% per year over five years.  Kauai Now.

Kauai’s most remote areas now covered by high-speed internet.  The island of Kaua‘i is now fully fiber-enabled, providing Hawaiian Telcom customers access to high-speed internet. Hawaii News Now.

New ambulance station in Hanalei will increase calls, enhance response times for the secluded east side of the island. The new station is staffed 24/7 every day of the year and will enhance emergency coverage and response times for the more secluded area of the island. Kauai Now.

Musk seeks expansion of SpaceX splashdown zones, Department of Law Enforcement director stepping down, Maui resident population drops following wildfire evacuation, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

SpaceX seeking permit to splash down in Pacific, Gulf of Mexico and Indian Ocean. Public comments are due Jan. 17 on Elon Musk’s plans for his SpaceX rockets to splash down in a much wider area, including Hawaiian waters and 240 nautical miles east of the Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary. Maui Now.

Fire prevention, housing top priorities as new lawmaking session gets underway. Initial bills to address old, new concerns. State lawmakers already have announced their intentions to introduce nearly 500 bills ahead of today’s start of the legislative session. Each legislative session, 2,000 to 3,000 bills are introduced, and about 250 become law.  Maui Now.  Kauai Now.

State legislature drafts several bills cracking down on illegal fireworks. Hawaiʻi lawmakers who hope to curb the use of illegal fireworks already have several bills drafted ahead of the start of today’s new legislative session. KHON2. Star-Advertiser.

Amid a slew of controversies, the director of Hawaii’s Department of Law Enforcement is stepping down, and a Honolulu Police Department major has accepted the position, HNN Investigates confirmed Tuesday. Jordon Lowe was appointed to the role in 2020. Hawaii News Now.

The Number Of Hawaiʻi Children In Foster Care Dropped To Lowest In Decades. The number of children in foster care in Hawaiʻi hit a 20-year low last year, an encouraging development for the troubled state Child Welfare Services Branch. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Resolution opposing landfill sites above Oahu’s aquifer advances. A Honolulu City Council resolution meant to uphold a more than 20-year-old city policy over solid waste landfills and their proximity to Oahu’s drinking water supply has advanced. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu City Council considers increasing penalties for fireworks violations. The Honolulu City Council is considering increasing the penalties for fireworks violations on Oʻahu. According to city law, owning or using illegal aerial fireworks is currently a misdemeanor with a fine between $250 and $2,000, and up to a year in prison. Hawaii Public Radio.

Executives Hope A New Fee Can Save Downtown Honolulu. Honolulu business and political leaders are pushing to create a new special downtown business improvement district, similar to the one governing Waikīkī, to add more safety, sanitation and security to a once thriving neighborhood that has never fully recovered from the Covid-19 pandemic. Civil Beat.

Honolulu proposes to ease ambulance strain with help from rideshare companies, but drivers have questions. A proposal to ease the strain on Oahu’s ambulance crews by enlisting the help of rideshare companies is prompting questions from some drivers. Hawaii News Now.

State Is Banking On Charter Schools To Help Expand Hawaiʻi’s Free Preschool. Hawaiʻi’s first-ever charter preschool is slated to open in Kapolei next month, amid a push to utilize the charter system to increase access to early learning in the state. Parkway Village Preschool is located in an affordable housing complex that recently opened there and will eventually serve up to 80 3- and 4-year-olds. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Lawsuit over EPIC system moves ahead. Oral arguments have been scheduled in a lawsuit in which a Milolii homeowner is suing the county, alleging its Electronic Processing and Information Center system, known as EPIC, has trapped him in a permitting catch-22 that will allow him only to demolish his home — which is in a shoreline management area — not to remodel or live in it. Tribune-Herald.


Playground improvements ongoing at Pu‘u Nui Park.  Playground renovations and the installation of new equipment are underway at Pu‘u Nui Park in Waikoloa Village and are projected to be completed by the end of February, county officials announced last week. West Hawaii Today.

Replacement of narrow Hilo bridge pushed back. Plans to replace the Four Mile Creek Bridge are unlikely to come to fruition before 2028. Tribune-Herald.

Residential Program For Integrated Clinical Care Launched. A grand opening was held for the 6-bed program that "offers transitional housing and structured support for its most vulnerable members experiencing homelessness." Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

Maui

At Least 1,000 People Have Left Maui Since The Fires, Tax Records Show. Hawaiʻi will see its annual income drop by $53 million due to migration from Valley Isle, researchers say. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.  Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

Final Maui Fires Report Calls For Better Communication, Prevention, Education. The Hawaiʻi Attorney General’s office released its final report Tuesday on the August 2023 Maui wildfires, making 140 safety recommendations for state and county agencies, utility companies and landowners. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.  Maui Now. Hawaii News Now.  KITV4.

South Maui Community Pushes Back After Plan Gets More Developer-Friendly. Advisory committee members say the county Planning Department’s changes will contribute to an unsustainable future for the greater Kīhei area. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Kilauea roundabout generating buzz. The ongoing groundwork for the upcoming roundabout on Kauai’s North Shore is anticipated to be completed in 2026. Garden Island.

Wilcox nurses start three-day walk-out. On Tuesday morning starting at 7 a.m., 159 nurses represented by the Hawaii Nurses Association took to the sidewalks fronting the Wilcox Medical Center in a three-day strike that, according to the HNA notice provided to Hawaii Pacific Health, will end at 6:59 a.m. on Friday. Garden Island.

Kaua’i forest bird rescue and recovery organizations joining forces in one facility. Hawai‘i Board of Land and Natural Resources members last week approved a request from Kaua‘i County Mayor Derek Kawakami to cancel a 1955 executive order that set aside state land for the county as the Hanapēpē Dog Pound. Kauai Now.

Hawaii sued over gun ban, state agency seeks to fix 'failing' foster care system, Honolulu advances empty home tax, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Lawsuit Challenges Hawaii’s Gun Ownership Ban For Young Adults. The latest lawsuit to take aim at Hawaii’s gun laws challenges the state’s ban on gun ownership for young adults 18 to 20 years old, which Second Amendment advocates say is an unconstitutional restriction on the right of Americans to bear arms. Lawyers assert that Hawaii is the only state with a complete ban on acquiring and owning firearms and ammunition by those who are 18 to 20. Associated Press.

Hawaii agency details plan to improve ‘failing’ foster care. Daisy Lynn Hartsfield, administrator of the Social Services Division overseeing the Child Welfare Serv­ices Branch within the state Department of Human Services, presented corrective action plan goals to a panel of state lawmakers Thursday in the wake of alarming findings in the audit requested by the Legislature in 2022. Star-Advertiser.

Report: Hawai'i suicide hotline calls increased while answer rates dropped. The results showed that call rates rose from about 97 to 137 per 100,000 residents following the Maui wildfire — that’s a 41% increase. But in-state answer rates dropped from about 90.3% to 77.2%. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Sheriff Division Faces New Scrutiny In 2019 Capitol Shooting Trial. A civil trial over a former deputy sheriff’s fatal shooting of a man outside the State Capitol five years ago began this week in a case that cast a spotlight on turmoil in the understaffed sheriff division. Civil Beat.

Gov. Josh Green's concerns about Trump's Cabinet picks. Green expressed concern over some of Trump's Cabinet appointments, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s selection to head the Department of Health and Human Services, as well as Dr. Mehmet Oz to run the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Hawaii Public Radio.

The ‘Ridiculous,’ Growing Trend Of Hawaii Private School Coaching. Tutoring centers helping students with private school admissions have become more popular in recent years, but not all families can afford them. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu City Council’s empty-homes tax measure advances.  Thursday the Honolulu City Council’s Budget Committee voted 3-2, with Esther Kia‘aina and Augie Tulba dissenting, to advance the second of three readings of Bill 46, which could tax a vacant real property by as much as 3%. Star-Advertiser.

West Oahu May Get More Than 800 New Short-Term Rentals In Apartment Zone. Parcels next to the Hoakalei Resort in Ewa were a hot topic at the Honolulu City Council’s final hearing on the overhauling of its Land Use Ordinance. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting improves review times. It's also aggressively trying to double its current staff and has upgraded its software so now you can track the status of your permits. KITV4.

Par Hawaii to invest $90 million in renewable-fuel transformation. A petroleum refinery in the James Campbell Industrial Park officially began its transition into the clean- energy sector with a blessing ceremony Thursday, marking the start of its efforts to adopt more sustainable energy practices and work toward Gov. Josh Green’s goal of achieving 100% renewable energy by 2045.  Star-Advertiser.

HPD pushes for tougher ‘ghost gun’ laws amid spike. The 88 ghost guns recovered by the Honolulu Police Department this year come from crimes they were used in or were found during investigations. The seizures represent a nearly 70% increase from the 52 found by officers in 2023. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Coast Guard establishes first Hawaii-based JROTC program. Coast Guard establishes first Hawaii-based JROTC program. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s recycled plastic, asphalt road shows ‘no increased leaching’ in 2 years. Some Ewa Beach residents have been driving on a road that is partially made of recycled plastic for over two years. KHON2.

Navy to start 'large-scale' effort to remove invasive coral at Pearl Harbor. Unomia stolonifera is a species of “octocoral,” also known as “pulsing coral” or "stoloniferous fire coral," and was first detected in the harbor in 2020. Hawaii Public Radio.

DOH: No humans tested positive for H5N1 from infected flock. The Hawaii Department of Health says so far, no one has tested positive for avian influenza after the first detection of H5N1 in a flock of ducks and geese last week. DOH followed up with 54 individuals for potential exposure to the infected flock in Wahiawa. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Proposal regarding hospitals advances. In order to improve health care access across the Big Island, the Hawaii County Planning Department hopes to expand where hospitals and other medical facilities are allowed to be built. Tribune-Herald.

Hope Services Hawaii Granted $2.5 Million From Bezos Day 1 Families Fund. The grant from Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez will help connect Hawaiʻi island families experiencing homelessness with stable housing and critical services. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Modular home hauling for Lahaina happening Friday and Saturday. The Hawai’i Department of Transportation said Thursday that local drivers may expect slight traffic delays as modular homes for wildfire survivors are being transported from Central Maui to the Ka Laʻi Ola housing site. Maui News.

State Historic Preservation Division working to streamline Lahaina approvals. In an effort to reduce delays and frustration for residents and commercial property owners preparing to rebuild in fire-ravaged Lahaina, the DLNR State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD) is working to balance speed and efficiency with protection of historic and archeological resources, particularly iwi, department officials said. Maui Now.

Panel discusses how ancestral knowledge can guide Lahaina rebuilding following 2023 wildfire. Hundreds gathered at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa for the 2024 Piʻo Summit: Hulihia: Fire and Rain, a free series of forums focused on leveraging ancestral ʻike (knowledge) to support long-term recovery efforts for communities affected by the Lahaina wildfires and the 2018 Kauaʻi floods. Maui Now.

New Kahului homes blessed and move-in ready for two healthcare professionals impacted by the Lahaina fires. The first two completed homes under the Housing for Healthcare initiative were blessed in a private ceremony held with the two new tenants and their families, both Maui healthcare professionals who lost their homes and belongings in the devastating Lahaina fires last year. The families moved into their homes this month. Maui Now.

Maui bus gets stuck in sinkhole the size of a small swimming pool. A Maui bus made an unexpected stop Wednesday when pooling water on a Kahului Street turned out to be a growing sinkhole and the rear wheels of the bus got stuck in the hole. Maui News. Maui Now.

Hawaii News Now responds to Maui Police Department accusations. The Maui Police Department says it has lodged a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission over reports by HNN Investigates about the mishandling of human remains after the Lahaina wildfire. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Community partners feted for wildfire efforts. Various community members and agencies were honored at an awards ceremony Tuesday for their heroic efforts during mid-July wildfires. Garden Island. Kauai Now.

Green almost certain to sign major income tax cut bill, former foster children win $1.8M abuse settlement, Japan coast guard trainees visit the state, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. Josh Green Is Poised To Sign A Big Income Tax Cut. But Can Hawaii Really Afford It? Gov. Josh Green seems certain to sign into law the whopping state income tax cut of 2024, a bill that is expected to reduce the state tax burden for a median-income Hawaii family by nearly $20,000 over the next seven years. Civil Beat.

Japanese coast guard ship, trainees visit Hawaii. Trainees from Japan’s Coast Guard Academy are in Hawaii as part of a training cruise that is taking them across the Pacific. Star-Advertiser.

A Working Group That Emerged From A Tragedy Sets Out To Reform Child Welfare Services. A working group formed to help reform Hawaii’s troubled child welfare system has drafted dozens of recommendations for reform, and the group is about to launch a series of hearings to solicit comments on those ideas. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s Opioid Settlement Fund Is Growing And, After Delays, Starting To Be Spent. The appointment of a full-time project coordinator to manage Hawaii’s opioid settlement trust fund has set the process of allocating money to the counties for drug treatment efforts on a faster track, according to a member of the settlement advisory committee who previously described the pace of spending as “painfully slow.” Civil Beat.

AMR continues ground ambulance service on Maui and Kauaʻi following protest. The Hawai‘i State Department of Health Emergency Medical Services Injury Prevention Systems Branch has issued two Notices of Award to International Life Support, Inc., doing business as American Medical Response (AMR). Maui Now.

Nearly 8 years after his death, new book highlights late US Rep. Mark Takai's contributions. (Video) Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

State pays $1.8M to settle former Waimanalo foster kids’ lawsuit. Three former foster children, now adults, of George Kipapa and his late wife, Jolyn Kipapa, agreed to a $1.8 million settlement in a lawsuit alleging abuses they suffered as foster children over 18 years. Star-Advertiser.

Over 40,000 attend Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawai’i ceremony. A crowd of over 40,000 people gathered for the Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawai’i ceremony as 6,000 lanterns were set afloat in remembrance of loved ones at Ala Moana Regional Park on Memorial Day. The ceremony marked the 25th anniversary of the event with the theme “Many Rivers, One Ocean.” Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

A source of koa for canoe-builders. A 1,200-acre koa forest in Ka‘u is almost ready to be harvested for the first time in nearly two decades. Tribune-Herald.

Demolition of historic Jaggar Museum begins.  Demolition began this month at the Thomas A. Jaggar Museum, ending a six-year period of disuse after the facility was critically damaged during the 2018 Kilauea eruption. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

DLNR cites 3 men for fishing violations in ‘Ahihi-Kina‘u Area Reserve. Officers recovered a total of 78 different fish from the men at the reserve in southwestern Maui — a nursery and refuge for some of Hawaii’s most important, unique resources. Star-Advertiser. Maui News.

Interest form open to help Lahaina homeowners rebuild. The three-year program will assist up to 500 owner-occupant Lahaina homeowners prevent foreclosure and qualify for financing to rebuild their homes. Maui Now.

Kauai

Home sales leap, median price retreats on Kaua‘i in April. Home sales jumped more than 60 percent in the first full month of spring, as the Kaua‘i housing market continued to rebound from a rough outing in 2023. Garden Island.

Kaua‘i resort, nonprofit cohosting free World Oceans Day event – musicians, vendors still have time to join. Kaua‘i ocean conservation nonprofit Ho‘omalu Ke Kai will install its first beach cleanup station – made of upcycled marine debris – at its biggest World Oceans Day celebration to date, on June 8. Kauai Now.

Japanese tourists return to Hawaii for Golden Week, foster kids may keep more federal benefits, more Honolulu red light cameras go live, more news fro m all the Hawaiian Islands

Golden Week sees slow but steady return of Japanese visitors to Hawaii. Japan celebrates four national holidays from April 29 to May 6, making it the longest vacation of the year for many Japanese workers and historically, a lucrative week for Hawaii businesses. Hawaii News Now.

A New Program Aims To Help Hawaii’s Older Adults Keep Their Homes. Hawaii’s financially struggling older adults may get a new support system intended to keep them out of the homelessness crisis. Civil Beat.

Hawai‘i ‘clean elections’ bill nears endgame. The state of Hawai‘i could be weeks away from a radical re-envisioning of politics in the state, as a bill to facilitate full public financing of state and county campaigns awaits debate over final changes by the state Legislature. Garden Island.

Hawai‘i Elections Commission to meet Monday. The commission will receive a status of operations report from the Office of Elections and the public will be provided an opportunity to present public testimony. Big Island Now.

State wants to stop collecting foster kids’ benefits, but says funding needed to fill gap. Dozens of children in Hawaii’s foster system are being stripped of money they may not even know is theirs as part of a controversial practice that’s attracting new criticism. Hawaii News Now.

Reports of child abuse reach a new record high in Hawaiʻi, says DHS. Researchers found that 2021 had a record number of almost 5,820 reported child abuse and neglect cases. It’s the highest number of reported cases since 2009, according to the data. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Taxpayers Will Pay For Indicted Officials’ Defense. The Honolulu City Council will consider spending $100,000 or more per defendant. Former managing director Roy Amemiya and former Honolulu Police Commission chair Max Sword have both requested the local government cover the cost of their defense. Civil Beat.

Nine of Oahu’s 10 red-light cameras will be live by Friday. The red-light safety camera at McCully and Algaroba streets will begin issuing warnings on Friday, according to the Hawaii Department of Transportation. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

HPD Is Considering Buying A Gun That’s Being Shelved By Other Police Departments Over Safety Concerns. The P320 is linked to multiple cases where users allege they were injured by an unintentional firing. Civil Beat.

Long-awaited reopening of Oahu’s only public gun range will also come with new rules. The city has announced that the pistol and rifle ranges at the Koko Head Shooting Complex, the only public gun range on Oahu, will reopen on April 29. Hawaii News Now.

City prepares fare system, security on Honolulu rail ahead of expected July opening. The city expects to receive the completed segment of the Honolulu rail system from Kapolei to Aloha Stadium in July, once safety testing is complete and verified. Hawaii Public Radio.

Honolulu seeks to reduce backlog of building permit applications.  The city’s Department of Planning and Permitting would continue to use third-party reviewers, but licensed architects and engineers would have to attest that their submitted plans comply with applicable laws under a proposed bill. Star-Advertiser.

Former Mililani athletic director negotiating plea deal. The former athletic director accused of stealing more than $360,000 from the Mili­lani High School athletic booster club is in plea agreement negotiations with prosecutors. Star-Advertiser.

Polynesian Voyaging Society to host send-off for Hokule‘a launch. A send-off for the voyaging canoe Hokule‘a before it is shipped to Alaska to embark on a four-year circumnavigation of the Pacific is planned for Saturday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

A House resolution requests the DLNR investigate the factors causing the decline of the palila population on Maunakea. Two senate committees voted recommend the passage of a House resolution on Wednesday dealing with the future of the endangered palila bird, a native species that makes its home only on Maunakea. Big Island Video News.

Pharmacy college aims to shore up enrollment. Over the last decade, enrollment has dropped by about 50% at the University of Hawaii at Hilo’s Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy. Tribune-Herald.

Astronomers using Maunakea telescopes unveil new way to hunt for exoplanets. Astronomers using Maunakea telescopes have developed a technique that they say could revolutionize how to capture images of distant planets. Tribune-Herald.

100 horses to strut their stuff during Merrie Monarch Royal Parade. When you’re a beast of burden on the Big Island, you’re often saddled with carrying around paniolo (Hawaiian cowboys) and working on a ranch or farm. It’s not often you can get gussied up for a day on the town. Big Island Now.

Maui

Full Senate passes draft budget; includes funds for Maui jail and UHMC health center. The Senate’s version of HB300 for the biennium budget covering fiscal years 2024 (FY24) and 2025 (FY25) includes appropriations of $11,652,494,699 and $9,942,927,794 in general funds, respectively. Maui Now.

Iao Valley on Maui to require tourist reservations.  When Iao Valley State Monument soon reopens after a nine-month closure for a slope stabilization project, it will become the fourth state park in Hawaii to require advance reservations for nonresidents. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

Survey shows interest for planting native trees along Rice Street. A recent report published by the Rice Street Business Association, Better Block Hawaiʻi and Solid Ground Connections indicates overwhelming support for replacing dead and dying trees, shrubs and plants along Rice Street with healthy, native greenery. Kauai Now.

Hawaii donors ante up in 2020 presidential race, state accidentally kills fish it meant to protect, proposed Mauna Kea rules released, shearwaters killed on Kauai, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

While Hawaii is infamously known for having the lowest voter turnouts of any state, recent elections have spurred a more active voting culture across the country, with people who previously sat on the sidelines now heading to the ballot box — and the bank — to support their candidate. Using Federal Election Commission campaign donation data from Jan. 1 through June 30, 2019, Pacific Business News gathered information on Hawaii communities that donated to the campaigns of Democratic presidential candidates to see which presidential hopefuls have the most support in the Islands. Pacific Business News.

=====

Ocean Plastic Pollution Prompts Lawsuit. A nonprofit announced its intent to sue the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to protect Hawaiian waters. Civil Beat.

Lawsuit Launched Over “Failure to Recognize Plastic Pollution” in Hawaiian Waters. The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice today of its intent to sue the Environmental Protection Agency for allegedly “failing to protect Hawaiian waters contaminated by plastic pollution.” Maui Now.

=====

Fifteen Unaccompanied Migrant Children Came To Hawaii In The Past Year. The children often crossed the U.S.-Mexico border after traveling from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala. Civil Beat.

Remains of Coast Guardsman, a WWII prisoner, are flown home. On Thursday the remains of Lt. Thomas “Jimmy” Crotty, identified by a Hawaii lab in September, were carefully carried in an flag-draped casket to a C-130J Super Hercules at Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point for the long-overdue journey home and a hero’s burial Saturday in Buffalo, N.Y. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: Handicapping Hawaii’s CD2 Election. Possible candidates include many of the usual suspects, but these are highly unusual times. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Airbnb Crackdown Does Not Deter Oahu Visitors. Visitors to Oahu continued to increase in September despite a crackdown on illegal vacation rentals that some economists predict will seriously hurt the island’s economy. Civil Beat.

=====

Retired Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his former deputy prosecutor wife, Katherine Kealoha, will have to wait 5-1/2 more months to learn their fates. Star-Advertiser.

March Sentencing Set For Kealohas And Their Co-Conspirators. In December, a federal judge is expected to decide whether Katherine Kealoha’s sentencing should be based on sentencing guidelines for deprivation of civil rights or obstruction of justice. Civil Beat.

New sentencing dates set for Kealohas and co-conspirators. Katherine Kealoha is behind bars at the Federal Detention Center, where, according to her attorney, she was recently placed in solitary confinement. KITV.

=====

Controversial developer of an Ala Moana project faces new legal problems. 17 investors from China have filed suit against the developer of a pair of controversial Honolulu construction projects, saying he defrauded them out of their funds. Hawaii News Now.

City opens more appointments for driver license and state ID renewals. An additional 100 slots per day have been opened for residents to book appointments to renew a driver's license or state identification card. KITV.

=====

Honolulu Zoo welcomes 3 cheetah sisters from Smithsonian. The Honolulu Zoo Thursday morning celebrated the arrival of three new South African cheetahs from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, where they were born. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Zoo Welcomes South African Cheetahs. With a nod to Harry Potter, say hello to Fawkes, Nagini and Pickett. Civil Beat.

3 new cheetahs arrive at the Honolulu Zoo. The zoo unveiled its three new South African cheetahs Thursday ― Fawkes, Nagini and Pickett. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

UH Board of Regents is set to consider controversial Mauna Kea rules. Following months of public hearings and revision, the latest version of the controversial Mauna Kea administrative rules will be considered for adoption Wednesday by the University of Hawaii Board of Regents. Star-Advertiser.

Maunakea rules unveiled. The final version of proposed administrative rules for Maunakea lands managed by the University of Hawaii was unveiled Thursday. Tribune-Herald.

Regents to Consider Maunakea Management Rules Draft. The proposed draft of the administrative rules for University of Hawaiʻi managed lands on Maunakea is now available for public review along with related supporting materials. Big Island Now.

Mauna Kea kia’i have concerns over the proposed rules released by the UH Board of Regents Thursday. The latest draft of the rules comes after years of hearings, testimony and research by UH. KHON2.

=====

Recycling groups, projects, cropping up as county reduces recycling. Learning that the county on Oct. 16 stopped collecting recyclable non-HI5 plastics, a bunch of people got together to do it themselves. West Hawaii Today.

Native Hawaiian Chamber Of Commerce Starts On Big Island. The island with the largest population of Native Hawaiians — the Big Island — is now joining by forming its own Native Hawaiian Chamber.  Hawaii Public Radio.

=====

Foster mother is charged with murder of boy, 3. A Hawaii island grand jury has indicted a Waimea woman on a charge of second-degree murder in the 2017 death of a 3-year-old boy while under the temporary foster care of the woman and her husband. Star-Advertiser.

Big Island woman indicted for murder in connection with foster child’s death. A Big Island woman has been indicted for second-degree murder in connection with the death of one of her foster children. Hawaii News Now.

A Big Island woman has been indicted for the death of a three-year-old boy. Fabian Garrett-Garcia died while under the care of his foster mother Chastity Alco-Siba-McKenzie. KHON2.

Maui

State issues apology after thousands of native fish in Wailuku killed. A state project earlier this week meant to boost survival for native fish and shrimp resulted in killing possibly thousands of them days later. Maui News.

Hundreds of Dead ‘O‘opu During Fish Ladder Construction at Wailuku River. A video documenting a substantial fish kill of native ‘o‘opu (gobies) at the mouth of the Wailuku River was brought to the attention of the Commission on Water Resource Management on Wednesday during the installation of a fish ladder that is meant to help such species survive by ensuring mauka to makai water flow. Maui Now.

=====

Owners of Rodeo General Store looking to sell. They are hoping to hand off the torch to a new owner/operator. Maui News.

Kauai

Nearly 150 wedge-tailed shearwaters killed by cats and dogs on Kauai. State wildlife officials said that nearly 150 wedge-tailed shearwaters on Kauai have been killed by off-leash dogs and feral cats during this year’s nesting season, so far. Star-Advertiser.

Wedge-tail massacre. Wedge-tailed shearwaters are common in Hawaii, but are vulnerable to predation by cats, dogs, rats and other predators. Garden Island.

Almost 150 birds dead on Kauai from off-leash dogs and feral cats this year. Off-leash dogs and feral cats are responsible for the killings of between 140 and 150 Wedge-tailed Shearwaters on Kauai during 2019’s nesting season.  KHON2.

AG Chin to step down to seek congressional seat, foster parents lawsuit seeks higher pay, Hawaiian overthrow commemoration set for Legislature's opening day, Honolulu loses almost $5M federal grants due to inertia, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Doug Chin, Mazie Hirono at Aug. 30, 2017 DACA press conference file photo

Attorney General Chin will step down to run for Congress. The decision by state Attorney General Douglas Chin to resign March 15 and begin full-time campaigning for the 1st Congressional District seat is probably a “politically smart move,” according to a University of Hawaii political scientist. Star-Advertiser.

Chin To Step Down As Hawaii AG In Run For Congress. The attorney general was pressured to resign by the person he hopes to succeed, U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin on Sunday announced he will step down to focus on his congressional campaign. Associated Press.

Seeking a seat in U.S. Congress, Hawaii's Attorney General Doug Chin announced Sunday he will step down. Hawaii News Now.

Doug Chin announced Sunday that he is leaving his Attorney General post to concentrate on his campaign for the First Congressional district seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. KITV.

Attorney General Doug Chin will step down to run for Congressional seat. KHON2.

=====

Overthrow observance to shadow Legislature’s opening day. 125 years after the overthrow of Hawaii’s last monarch, a new group of organizers is planning a march and observance ceremony expected to draw thousands to Iolani Palace and to the Capitol courtyard next door. Star-Advertiser.

Ige seeks pay raises for foster parents amid legal battle. A drawn-out legal battle over how much families are paid to care for foster children is headed to court, where attorneys say the dispute could end up costing the state significantly more than a multimillion-dollar settlement that was rejected last year by the Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

A legal battle over how much families are paid to care for foster children could cost Hawaii millions of dollars, state officials said. Associated Press.

More than 800 cases of child sex abuse reported in 2017, likely only a fraction of victims. KHON2.

Navy likely to keep long-standing grip on Pacific Command. here’s been some extra drama attendant to the Pentagon’s selection of the next head of U.S. Pacific Command on Oahu — and not only because that person will have to counter a runaway North Korean nuclear program and a militarily assertive China. Star-Advertiser.

Judge clears way for sale of Island Air operating certificate. Bankruptcy Judge Robert Faris, declaring that something is better than nothing, gave the green light Friday for Island Air’s trustee to take the necessary steps to proceed in the sale of the company’s operating certificate to a subsidiary of Hawaiian Airlines’ corporate parent. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Airlines is likely to exceed $100 million for a second consecutive year in baggage, reservation and change fees. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

How Mismanagement Cost Honolulu Nearly $5 Million In Federal Aid. The unspent money was intended to help ease the city’s critical problems with homelessness and affordable housing. Civil Beat.

The Oahu Real Property Tax Advisory Commission on Thursday passed its final report to the Honolulu City Council, recommending a host of changes aimed at making the tax burden more equitable among the island’s property owners. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Liquor Commission has delayed a decision over a license application for a new Denny’s restaurant in Waikiki due to community opposition. Star-Advertiser.

Court ends first year of decriminalized homelessness. As Oahu’s so-called “homeless court” moves into its second year, the chief justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court wants legislators to know that “it has brought life-changing experiences” to some of its homeless defendants. Star-Advertiser.

Prosecutors say Ransen Taito was a victim of Katherine Kealoha’s financial crimes, but he helped her cover them up anyway. When Ransen Taito walked into the U.S. District Court of Hawaii on Friday to plead guilty to felony conspiracy, he was about to roll over in a big way on his “aunty,” someone he trusted since childhood: Honolulu deputy prosecuting attorney Katherine Kealoha. Civil Beat.

Frustration grows over delay in state takeover of Hawaii's only volunteer-run public library. Hawaii News Now.

Kapiolani Community College has opened its search for a new chancellor and expects to have a hire in place by July. Star-Advertiser.

Diamond Head Theatre redevelopment plan moves forward. Plans are to upgrade the building to a 500-seat venue with improved stage mechanics and enhanced theatre experience. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu’s 2017 housing market finished strong with gains in both condominium and single-family home sales and median prices, and experts from the real estate industry expect the momentum to continue this year, but possibly at a slower pace. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu home prices may reach just under $800K in 2018, Locations says. The median price of a single-family home rose by 3 percent to $760,000, from $735,000 in 2016, while the median price of a condo rose 5 percent to $410,000, from $390,000 in 2016, according to the sales data analyzed by Locations. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

DLNR shuts down aquarium fishing in West Hawaii pending environmental review.  For the first time in decades, West Hawaii waters are off-limits to aquarium fishermen. West Hawaii Today.

2017 a deadly year on Big Island roads. Speed kills. Obvious as it sounds, that’s the lesson to be learned from the majority of the 32 official traffic fatalities that occurred on Hawaii Island in 2017 — the same official total of traffic deaths that took place in 2016. The deaths occurred in 30 collisions. Tribune-Herald.

Criteria To Determine Pre-Existing Lots Discussed. The Hawaii County Council Planning Committee sat down with planning department administrators recently to discuss a new bill to amend the Subdivision Code. Big Island Video News.

Wendell Kaehuaea is hoping the 23rd time will be the charm. After 22 unsuccessful campaigns for local political office, Kaehuaea is shooting for his first statewide race, and this time he’s aiming high. All the way to governor. West Hawaii Today.

Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden nonprofit lands $750K. West Hawaii Today.

A climate for coffee: Researchers work to get ahead of potential threats to Hawaii’s signature crop. West Hawaii Today.

Condo sales on Hawaii's Big Island jump 20% in 2017, single-family sees single-digit gains. The 853 condo units sold on the Big Island in 2017 was 19.97 percent more than the 711 units that sold in 2016. The median price of a Big Island condo in 2017 was $310,000, which was an increase of 1.64 percent from $305,000 in 2016. Pacific Business News.

Maui

LPN shortage leads to higher patient care costs. Hale Makua is working with UH-Maui College on an educational program just for LPNs. Maui News.

Catholic charities planning a senior housing development. Proposed affordable project would have 164 apartments. Maui News.

Three mumps cases reported on Maui. Out of 770 confirmed cases of mumps statewide as of Jan. 4, three cases were on Maui. Maui News.

Kauai

Defendants continue Coco Palms claim. The heated civil trial over 17 acres of land in Wailua where the famed Coco Palms Resort once stood before it was damaged by Hurricane Iniki continued Friday with testimony from Noa Mau-Espirito, one of the two defendants in the matter.  Garden Island.

The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative Nominating Committee has confirmed six candidates for its Board of Directors election on March 10. Garden Island.

Home sales on Kauai dip in 2017 as condo sales take off. There were a total of 450 condo units sold on the Garden Island last year, an increase of 19.05 percent from 378 units sold in 2016. The median price of a condo on Kauai in 2017 rose 9.23 percent to $435,000 from $398,250 in 2016. Pacific Business News.