'Hidden Hawaii' host gets $584k nobid tourism contract, FEMA denies Huricane Lala relief, former UH football coach June Jones dies, Honolulu council leadership battle may have broken Sunshine Law, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Taxpayers To Fund Mainland TV Host’s ‘Hidden Hawaiʻi’ Show. A new show hosted by travel journalist Peter Greenberg will get up to $584,000 from Hawaiʻi taxpayers through a no-bid contract. Local filmmakers get far less for their projects. Civil Beat.

FEMA denies request for Lala assistance, state plans appeal. Hawaiʻi County emergency officials learned last week that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has denied a request for individual assistance for residents affected by Hurricane Lala. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii election tiebreaker rules set. Formalized rules for breaking Hawaii election ties may be in place for results of Tuesday’s general election after a decision Thursday by state Chief Elections Officer Scott Nago. The statute simply requires election ties be broken “by lot,” meaning some form of random decision. Star-Advertiser.

Gambling in Hawaiʻi — lock it down or make it legal?  With tourism talk taking over the top of everyone's minds, lawmakers are looking at new ways to bring visitor dollars in. One suggestion? Gambling. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hurricane fallout batters Kauai tourism, weighs on statewide visitor numbers.  Statewide, visitor arrivals fell 3.6% to 672,990 and visitor spending declined 9% to $1.41 billion, according to data released Thursday by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii drivers to receive nearly $2.9M in settlement over GM data tracking. The Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Office of Consumer Protection said from 2016 to 2024, GM allegedly enrolled millions across the country into its Smart Driver program, which tracked driver habits. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Council leadership fight involves claims of illegal meeting. Honolulu City Council member Tyler Dos Santos-Tam has introduced a resolution to become chair of the City Council. His rival for the job, Andria Tupola, said he is moving too quickly and may have broken the law. Hawaii News Now. KITV4. 

Police chief defends staffing shifts, touts increased pace of hiring at ‘talk story’ session. Honolulu Police Chief David Lazar defended staffing shifts that would add 100 more officers on patrol. Lazar made the comments after a “talk story” session Thursday night at the Mission Memorial Auditorium. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. 

UH sports study estimates $753M in economic activity. The University of Hawaii at Manoa athletics program generated an estimated $752.9 million in economic activity between fiscal years 2023 and 2026, according to a new study that Gov. Josh Green cited Thursday in making the case for additional investment in the university’s sports programs. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s winningest football coach June Jones left a lasting mark on generations of players. Former University of Hawaii football coach June Jones, 73, who led the Rainbow Warriors to unprecedented achievements, died Wednesday in Portland, Oregon. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Now. KITV4. 

Plans For New Jail To Include Community-Based Treatment. Alternatives to jail are picking up momentum as state officials seek to replace the overcrowded Oʻahu Community Correctional Center. Civil Beat.

Two candidates face off for Honolulu City Council's East Honolulu seat. Voters in District 4, which covers Waikīkī through East Honolulu (including Kapahulu, Kaimukī, Kahala, Āina Haina, and Hawaiʻi Kai), will be deciding between Trevor Ozawa and Tara Malia Gregory in the election. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority seeks executive director. The leader will guide the state authority through critical transition period of taking over management of Mauna Kea from the University of Hawaiʻi and the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. Big Island Now.

OHA Providing Additional Recovery Assistance for Kaʻū Families Impacted by Hurricane Lala. Native Hawaiian households are being offered a choice of $750 in direct financial assistance, or a backup generator valued at approximately $840. Big Island Video News.

Maui

No Relief For Maui Wildfire Survivors Losing Thousands To Contractors. Homeowners rebuilding in Lahaina have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars to unlicensed or unreliable contractors. Government officials have so far failed to hold anyone accountable. Civil Beat.

Maui Prosecutor To Hire Investigator Focused On Post-Wildfire Contractor Fraud. The Maui Department of the Prosecuting Attorney is expected to soon have an investigator working full-time on contractor fraud cases targeting survivors of the deadly 2023 Lahaina wildfire, county officials say. Civil Beat.

Five things voters should know about the Maui County Council races this election. Seven of the nine Maui County Council seats are contested in the Nov. 3 election, and the county's elected leadership could see a shake-up based on the results. Maui News.

Kahului Airport ranks third among medium-sized US airports for holiday travel surge, study finds. Kahului Airport ranked third among 35 medium hub airports for its percentage increase in average daily passenger traffic during the 2025 holiday periods, according to an analysis by travel booking platform Luxury Link. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauaʻi Fire Department proposes contracted emergency helicopter pilots become county employees. The Fire Department has relied on Airborne Aviation for pilot services since 2010 but said now is the time to make the pilots permanent employees to maintain their expertise of Kauaʻi terrain. Kauai Now.

Kapaʻa DMV reopens Nov. 4 by appointment only; booking opens Nov. 2. The County of Kaua‘i Division of Motor Vehicles will reopen at its Kapa‘a office on Wednesday, offering a full range of services by appointment only. Appointment booking opens Monday, at www.kauai.gov/DMV. Garden Island.

USDA doubles down on retracting a Kauaʻi nonprofit's SNAP eligibility. Mālama Kauaʻi, a nonprofit that works to boost local food production and access on the Garden Isle, had its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program accreditation revoked. Hawaii Public Radio.

Avian flu virus detected in Kauai wastewater, state says. It is the first detection of the virus associated with this year’s migratory bird season, which typically runs from August to May, as well as the first detection of genotype D1.1 in Hawaii, according to the Hawaii Department of Health. Star-Advertiser.

Vegas leaders offer Hawaii gambling tips, Todd Apo named OHA CEO, scary candy prices for Halloween, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Las Vegas leaders offer expertise as Hawaii weighs gambling legalization. That topic was one of the many as leaders from the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce hosted a business exchange summit in Waikiki. The goal – share insight about the “fun economy” – sports, tourism, entertainment and gaming – with their counterparts here. KHON2.

Looks Like OHA Has A New CEO. A vote finalizing Todd Apo’s appointment to head the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is expected Thursday. Todd Apo is the top pick to be the next chief executive for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs following a 5-to-4 vote by the office’s Board of Trustees on Wednesday afternoon. Civil Beat. KITV4.

Alaska Air Group says Hawaii market remained a drag in 2026, but sees conditions improving in 2027. awaii has been a drag on Alaska Air Group’s performance so far this year, but executives told investors Wednesday they are increasingly optimistic about the market in 2027 as industry capacity growth slows and temporary headwinds begin to ease. Star-Advertiser.

So What’s With All These Charter And Constitutional Amendments? Here’s what you need to know about charter amendments for Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, Maui and Kauaʻi counties, plus state constitutional amendments. Civil Beat.

Candy prices in Hawaii could see a spike as Halloween draws closer. Halloween is 10 days away, and candy is usually flying off the shelves, but candy is seeing a noticeable rise in price in Hawaii. KHON2.

Oahu

HPD staffing reassignments come amid 453 officer vacancies. The Honolulu Police Department’s evolving reassignment of officers to patrol districts comes as the department is working to fill 453 uniformed and 182 civilian vacancies as of Oct. 1. Star-Advertiser.

Public transit as billboards? Honolulu weighs new ad laws. The City’s transit system costs more than $475 million per year, but brings in only about $50 million. Bill 59 would let the City sell ad space on the outside of TheBus to help address the shortfall. KHON2.

80+ Oahu farms still struggling after months of repeated storms. Dozens of Oʻahu farms and homes hit by three different storms are still struggling to recover. Hawaiʻi groups and a national network called Extreme Weather Survivors are coming together to help them rebuild. Hawaii News Now.

Court restores $14M in McKinley sex abuse case. A mother whose daughter 15 years ago was repeatedly sexually abused by about a dozen male students at McKinley High School says the state Department of Education has never apologized or taken responsibility for its failure to protect her daughter, even after the Hawaii Supreme Court restored a $14.17 million judgment against the state. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Busy day for the County Council. Homelessness and housing funding, vacation rental regulations, and a proposed development in Waikoloa were all hot topics on the Hawaii County Council meeting agenda Wednesday. Tribune-Herald.

Commission interviews 6 fire chief hopefuls; final decision expected today. The Hawaii County Fire Commission on Wednesday publicly interviewed all six candidates vying to become the island’s next fire chief. Three of the candidates are current members of the department: Daniel Volpe, and battalion chiefs Stacy Domingo and Melanie Keolanui. The other three are: Garrett Kim, a retired HFD captain; Michael Fine, a retired fire captain from the Ventura County Fire Department north of Los Angeles; and Cole Thompson, a former battalion chief in the Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District in San Diego County. Tribune-Herald.

Hurricane Lala prompts Hawai‘i County Council to explore ways to proactively manage vegetation. The County Council is urging the governor and mayor to prioritize and fund proactive vegetation management to mitigate trees falling over power lines and roadways during natural disasters. Big Island Now.

Sadistic’ Cult: Hilo High Schooler Preyed On Girls Online. Kalana Limkin targeted vulnerable young girls, including a 12-year-old in Waiʻanae, amid a rise in what federal investigators call online nihilistic violent extremism.  Civil Beat.

With Their Taps Dry For 9 Weeks And Counting, They Want To Take Over. There’s no projected timeline for repairs to a private water system in Punalu‘u that Hurricane Lala damaged in August, an attorney for Eva Liu, the absentee developer who owns the system, told state regulators this week. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi County revitalization project met with hesitation. Some historic places and common public areas across Hawaiʻi Island could be getting a facelift through a measure introduced in the Hawaiʻi County Council. The new piece of legislation would appropriate up to $1 million annually to establish and fund a Town Revitalization Program. The money would go to commercial districts, downtowns, historic areas, and town centers. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui

Meet the contenders in the unusual 3-party race for West Maui's House seat. There are three candidates on the ballot for West Maui's House District 14 State Representative seat. That's unusual because one candidate is running under the Green Party. There's only been one other Green candidate for the seat since 1992, which is when the State Elections Office's online available records end. Hawaii Public Radio.

Council committee backs temporary sewer deal for new Central Maui school. A Maui County Council committee voted 9-0 on Monday to recommend passage of a bill that would let the county provide temporary wastewater service to the new Central Maui school in Waikapū if the school opens before the county’s planned Central Maui wastewater plant is completed. Maui Now.

New program offers working Maui households up to $800 monthly.  Applications opened Monday for Maui United Way’s Kamaʻāina Credit for ALICE Households Pilot Program, which will provide monthly financial assistance to approximately 910 eligible households across Maui County for one year. Maui News.

County homebuyer program issues 100th shopping letter. Eighteen households displaced by the 2023 Maui wildfires received shopping letters Tuesday through a county homebuyer assistance program, bringing the total number of letters issued to 100. The Ho'okumu Hou First-Time Homebuyer Opportunity Program offers qualified households up to $600,000 to bridge the gap between what they can finance through a mortgage and the cost of purchasing an eligible home within Maui County. Maui News. Maui Now. 

Kauai

Circuit Court approves agreement with Hilario that imposes 20-year sentence in 16-year-old Kaua‘i murder case. The Fifth Circuit Court on Wednesday approved a stipulated agreement that imposes a 20-year sentence on Vincente Hilario for a murder that took place 16 years ago on Kauaʻi. Kauai Now.

Organizations address ongoing housing, rebuilding needs for long term recovery. After distributing $364,000 in relief, Kauaʻi organizations prepare to transition to long-term recovery with emergency assistance applications closing on Oct. 24. Kauai Now.

Green seeks to tap rainy day fund as disaster costs top $1B, billionaire Hawaii landowners coy about how they're helping, Nolo poised to become a hurricane today, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiʻi Governor says more than $1B needed for 2026 disaster and recovery needs so far, seeks to tap Rainy Day Fund. Gov. Josh Green will ask the Hawaiʻi Legislature for $300 million from the state’s $1.7 billion rainy day fund to help the state recover from a series of natural disasters this year, the governor said Wednesday. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio. Tribune-Herald.  Big Island Now. KHON2. KITV4. 

Tropical Storm Nolo strengthens, hurricane watch issued for Hawaii County, expected to bring heavy rainfall to Hawaii Island. The National Hurricane Center said at 5 a.m. Thursday, Nolo was centered about 285 miles south of South Point, or 455 miles south-southeast of Honolulu. It was moving slowly to the north at 2 miles per hour. Nolo’s maximum sustained winds have increased to 60 miles per hour. Tropical storm force winds extend outward 90 miles from the center. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.  KITV4. 

National Hurricane Center 5 a.m. update and maps on Tropical Storm Nolo. NHC.

Hawaii’s wealthiest respond to historic storm season. Some of the world’s wealthiest and most powerful people also own homes and property across Hawaii. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reached out to several to see what, if anything, they are contributing as communities recover, rebuild and brace for the next storm. Star-Advertiser.

FBI shut down inquiry tied to Hawaii contractor’s claims. The FBI in 2025 shut down an inquiry into allegations that a political adviser to Sen. Susan Collins had participated in a scheme to funnel illegal campaign contributions from Hawaii defense contractor Martin Kao — the former head of Martin Defense Group LLC, formerly known as Navatek LLC —  current and former officials said.  New York Times.

Oahu

Voters to decide 20 Charter amendments in November. The proposed amendments include everything from food security, ranked-choice voting, housing and historic preservation, to elections, immigration enforcement, cultural stewardship and the structure of city government. Star-Advertiser.

State To Decide Fate Of West O‘ahu Charter School After Board Quits. The school can’t stay open without a governing board, but it may have few options for recruiting a new one. The Hawaiʻi State Public Charter School Commission will decide what happens next on Thursday. Civil Beat.

HPD has shut down 7 illegal gambling operations on Hausten Street since July. The Honolulu Police Department confiscated 74 gambling machines, $38,000 in cash and shut down four illegal gambling operations on Hausten Street in Moiliili on Monday night. Star-Advertiser.

Ala Wai ‘Pirate Ship’ Is Pau But Public Is Stuck With The Bill. A derelict party boat is part of a longstanding problem with abandoned vessels that end up as dead weight in the budget of the state’s boating division. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii Island closures announced for government offices, schools. Gov. Josh Green announced that state and county offices, state Department of Education public schools and University of Hawaii campuses and facilities on Hawaii Island will close Thursday and Friday as the state prepares for potentially dangerous impacts from Tropical Storm Nolo. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News. KHON2. 

Draft EA clears the way for improvements to Isaac Hale Beach Park. Eight years after lava flows from Kilauea’s 2018 eruption ran through parts of Isaac Kepo‘okalani Hale Beach Park in lower Puna, Hawaii County is moving forward with plans to restore and make improvements to the recreational area. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui County prepares for another cyclone. As Tropical Storm Nolo strengthens into what is predicted to be a major hurricane as it nears Hawaii, Maui County officials and residents still recovering from Kona lows, Hurricane Lala and Hurricane Lowell are preparing for another potentially destructive weather system. Star-Advertiser. Maui News. Maui Now.

Corp Counsel: South Maui plan meets legal minimum on costs—but Council can demand more. Maui County Council members spent all Monday and half of Tuesday working through the South Maui Community Plan update, getting a legal opinion on the plan’s fiscal estimates, hearing more public testimony and moving to strengthen the plan’s emergency evacuation provisions. Maui Now.

DLNR asks drivers to slow down after 3 nene killed on Molokai. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources said three nene from the same family were killed in September, just one day apart, by drivers on Molokai, and is asking the public to slow down. Hawaii News Now.

Coconut rhinoceros beetle rules pass on Maui, Lānaʻi; expire on Molokaʻi. One-year import restrictions to slow the spread of invasive coconut rhinoceros beetles have passed for Maui and Lānaʻi, but frustrations remain as similar rules for Molokaʻi expire. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

KIUC urges preparation for possible TS Nolo impact. Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative is closely monitoring Tropical Storm Nolo, which could bring weather impacts, such as high winds, to Kaua‘i as early as this weekend. Garden Island.

Websites share what's open and still closed on Kauaʻi after hurricane. People wondering where to eat, go shopping or take care of errands on Kauaʻi after Hurricane Lowell can turn to two different websites to find out. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauaʻi Sea Scouts’ newly acquired Sun Seeker sinks after Hurricane Lowell hits Nawiliwili Harbor. The prized 63-foot yacht had been donated to the nonprofit and was expected to give generations of Kauaʻi youth a chance to learn seamanship and experience extended voyages. Kauai Now.

Red Cross installs 145 smoke alarms after recent brush fire near Kaumakani Village. The American Red Cross's home fire safety campaign aims to have every community member feel informed, feel prepared, and know what to do during an emergency. Kauai Now.



 

Lawmakers push for special session on contractor campaign donations, federal Covid spending review likely, Kapaa Quarry mulled for Oahu landfill, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Indictment sparks calls for special session on contractor donation ban. Indictments against Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, current and former state employees, and a contractor in an alleged bribery conspiracy are prompting calls for a special legislative session focused on campaign finance reform. Some lawmakers are pushing for a return to the Capitol to take up Senate Bill 2530, a measure that would ban government contractors and their immediate family members from donating to political candidates. Hawaii News Now.

Federal review of COVID-19 spending likely in wake of alleged corruption, Case says. U.S. Rep. Ed Case, a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, said he expects federal scrutiny of Hawaii’s COVID-19 contracts following a public corruption indictment involving Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and four others. Star-Advertiser.

Betting On Hawaiʻi Politics Is Legal Despite State’s Gambling Ban. Users can now wager on when indicted Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke may resign on the prediction market app Kalshi, which is not covered by Hawaiʻi’s gambling law. Civil Beat.

State airports administrator on paid leave after indictment. State Airports Administrator Ford Fuchigami was placed on paid leave for 30 days, effective Monday, after he and four others were indicted Friday in an alleged criminal conspiracy to bribe state officials to secure money for COVID-19 testing during the pandemic. Star-Advertiser.

Rules to limit CRB spread passed on Big Island and Maui. The coconut rhinoceros beetle’s hold across the Hawaiian Islands has grown in recent months, prompting the state Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity to expand restrictions on transporting potential host material between infested islands and areas. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Now. 

Gen Z’s new travel habits to Hawaiʻi . Hawaiʻi's hospitality industry is seeing a new kind of visitor in Generation Z. How they travel could bring changes to the state's largest private industry. Hawaii Public Radio.

Alan B. Carpenter chosen to lead DLNR Division of State Parks. Alan B. Carpenter assumes responsibility for the care and management of 55 state parks and 14 other places of interest, which encompass 34,000 acres of coastal and wildland recreational areas, scenic waysides and cherished places spanning from Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park on Kauaʻi to ʻAkaka Falls State Park on Hawaiʻi Island. Maui Now.

This Hawaiian Waterbird Is Making A Comeback. Should It Still Be Endangered? Most agree efforts to save the aeʻo, the native stilt, have succeeded so far, but some worry about lifting its ‘endangered’ status in a Trump era with looser conservation rules. Civil Beat.

Fausto now a remnant low as it passes north of Hawaiian Islands. Fausto is no longer a tropical cyclone and is now a remnant low passing north of the islands. The Central Pacific Hurricane Center said in data valid at 5 a.m. Wednesday, post-tropical cyclone Fausto was 285 miles north of Hilo, or 225 miles northeast of Honolulu. It was moving west-northwest at 13 miles per hour. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Voters in Waters’ district confused as name remains on ballot after being ruled ineligible to run. While Honolulu election officials try to figure out what to do for Tommy Waters’ council seat, the district’s voters are left confused with his name still on the ballot. As of Tuesday morning, thousands have already cast their votes. KHON2.

City eyes Kapaa Quarry for Oahu’s next landfill. The City is eying Kapaa Quarry as a potential site for Oahu’s next landfill, and Windward lawmakers are pushing back. KHON2.

These Historic Oʻahu Homes Pay Practically No Property Tax. Honolulu homes valued in the millions are getting a major tax break. One City Council member says the program is being abused. Civil Beat.

State-subsidized rental housing for middle-income households blessed in Waipio. Scott Glenn, a housing adviser to Gov. Josh Green, said the new homes — one-bedroom apartments renting for $1,800 to $2,280 a month depending on household size — allow Koa Ridge to include residents who might not be able to afford new market-priced housing being built in the 3,500-home community master-planned by Castle &Cooke Hawaii in Waipio. Star-Advertiser.

Beach Cleanup Activist Challenges Longtime Incumbent In East Oʻahu. Kahi Pacarro has mounted an aggressive campaign against the low key Rep. Mark Hashem in the District 19 Democratic primary. Civil Beat.

Fresh lei, hot pizza? Oahu’s one-of-a-kind vending machines turn heads. Need a fresh flower lei for a graduation, special event or last-minute celebration? There is now a vending machine for that. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

A reprieve for 5 early childhood education sites on isle. Several months after nonprofit Partners in Development Foundation prepared to close five early childhood education sites on Hawaii Island — and 16 on other islands — due to federal funding cuts, the organization recently announced the sites will now be staying open. Tribune-Herald.

New reports document energy priorities, concerns of Puna, Kaʻū residents. The reports reflect responses from a total of 481 community members — 340 in Puna and 141 in Kaʻū — and examine energy affordability, power outages, household preparedness, renewable energy development, community participation, protection of ʻāina and cultural resources as well as benefits residents expect from future energy investments. Big Island Now.

Speed limit to be reduced on part of Puainako Street Extension. The speed limit on a portion of the Puainako Street Extension — also known as Hawaii Route 2000 — will be lowered from 55 mph to 45 mph as part of an effort to improve roadway safety. Tribune-Herald.

Episode 52 fountaining ends at Kilauea summit. Episode 52 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption ended at 2:36 a.m. on Wednesday. High lava fountaining from the north vent in Halemaʻumaʻu began at 7:10 p.m. HST on Tuesday evening. Big Island Now. KITV4. Hawaii News Now. Big Island Video News. 

Maui

Maui Council advances new hotel zoning for over 2,000 apartment-district vacation rentals. Maui County Council members voted Friday to send two bills to the Maui Planning Commission that would move vacation rental units, currently operating in A-1 and A-2 apartment districts, into new hotel zoning classifications. Maui Now.

County to pull four speed tables in Haiku, hold community meeting. Responding to residents' concerns, Maui County officials plan to remove four speed tables on West Kuiaha Road as part of an ongoing review of traffic-calming devices in Haiku. Maui News.

Plan to rebuild popular Kaanapali Beach with offshore sand faces scrutiny. Plan would move 75,000 cubic yards of sand to restore beach to 1980s condition. Kaanapali Beach on Maui’s west side has been eroding for four decades, and a plan is now moving forward to restore it to how it was in the 1980s — but the proposal is facing some community opposition. Hawaii News Now.

Audubon Society asks for pueo study with Lahaina Bypass project. The National Audubon Society has asked state transportation officials to include a biological review of the Hawaiian short-eared owl in the study of Lahaina Bypass connector alternatives near Wahikuli Gulch in West Maui. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauaʻi police join countywide emergency alert system to expand public safety notifications. The partnership, announced by the Kauaʻi Emergency Management Agency, expands use of the Everbridge Emergency Mass Notification System, which is already used by the emergency management agency, the Kauaʻi Fire Department and the county Department of Water. Kauai Now.

Kauai Habitat starts 5 homes in Waimea. Volunteer opportunities are available at the Kauai Habitat build sites, such as the current one in Waimea, the Kauai Habitat office in Hanapepe, or the ReStore at Hanapepe. Garden Island.

Plane fares climb in war aftermath, Honolulu City Council opponent pushes to declare Waters ineligible, Big Island medical marijuana card holders won't be disqualified for gun permits, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Fuel-price shock hits Hawaii as Iran strikes push fares higher.  Hawaii’s visitor industry is absorbing a new round of fuel-driven shocks as oil prices climb following President Donald Trump’s latest bombing campaign in Iran — a shift that is pushing airfares higher just as summer travel demand had begun to stabilize. Star-Advertiser.

Upgrade or eyesore? Locals react to the new Hawaiʻi driver’s license. It’s the first major change to the design in 17 years, and it includes 50 new security features to prevent identity theft. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Ozawa presses for ruling in suit over Council term. Honolulu City Council candidate Trevor Ozawa is asking a state judge to declare Council Chair Tommy Waters ineligible to seek a third consecutive term representing East Honolulu’s District 4, arguing the City Charter bars him from running again. Star-Advertiser.

Concrete issues at Civic Center parking lot causes concerns, forces closures of stalls. Work is underway to fix issues at the Honolulu Civic Center parking structure. But some said the improvement can’t come soon enough, as concrete has already fallen and damaged cars. KHON2.

Filipino dignitaries embrace hospitality amid outside protests. Aboard the Philippine navy ship BRP Miguel Malvar on Wednesday night, prominent members of Honolulu’s Filipino community rubbed shoulders with military personnel and diplomats as they wined and dined on its deck as it sat docked in Pearl Harbor before it and its crew set sail to join other warships participating in the biennial Rim of the Pacific exercise. Star-Advertiser.

DOH fines Pearl City tow company over $400K for alleged violations. The Hawaii Department of Health has ordered a Pearl City towing company to cease operations and fined it more than $200,000 for allegedly failing to properly store and remove solid waste from its site. Star-Advertiser. KHON2. 

Police shut down three gambling operations in one building in Moili’ili on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. Officials recovered 57 gaming machines, more than $12,000 in cash and illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia. No arrests have been made at this time. KITV4.

3 candidates to be considered for District 18 seat. The Democratic Party of Hawaii selected three nominees to fill the vacant Senate District 18 seat, serving Central Oahu, Mililani, Waipio and Waipahu, after Sen. Michelle Kidani’s retirement. The party announced Thursday that Sechyi Laiu, Beth K Fukumoto, and Danielle Bass were submitted for selection to fill the seat. Hawaii News Now.

Firebreaks And Landfills: State Senate District 20 Candidate Q&As. Three GOP candidates are running in the primary for a Senate seat in West Oʻahu. Civil Beat.

Pedestrian Safety And School Lunches: State House District 21 Candidate Q&As. Incumbent’s run for Senate opens up opportunity to represent vibrant urban and hillside communities. Civil Beat.

Tax Burdens And Emergency Hubs: State House District 29 Candidate Q&As. Partisan contest lining up for the urban Honolulu seat. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

HPD changes its stance on medical marijuana cards and guns. The chief of the Hawaii Police Department confirmed in a recent letter that people who possess a medical marijuana permit will no longer be categorically disqualified from legally possessing firearms. Tribune-Herald.

Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority’s first executive director announces retirement. The Maunakea Stewardship and Oversight Authority Board on Thursday accepted the retirement of Executive Director John De Fries, effective July 31. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now. 

Paid parking lot operators on Hawai‘i Island will be required to post rates. After a bill to cap paid parking in the Historic Kailua Village failed to move forward, Hawai‘i County Council Member Rebecca Villegas is addressing what she describes as predatory practices in other ways. Big Island Now.

Hawaii Island lawmakers share priorities, concerns at town hall. Three state lawmakers outlined priorities and Puna community members voiced concerns at a June 28 town hall in the Keaau Armory, with the overarching issue being the state’s budget and its effect on one of Hawaii’s most impoverished areas. Tribune-Herald.

Palm-Killing Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle’s Discovery In Hilo Stokes Fear. The Hilo community has been crying out for better protections from the state Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity. Civil Beat. Big Island Now. 

Maui

Maui Council committee advances bills rezoning dozens of Kīhei, West Maui apartment complexes as hotels. The Maui County Council’s Housing and Land Use Committee voted 6-2 Monday to forward two resolutions that would begin the process of moving dozens of vacation rentals from apartment-zoned districts into newly created hotel zoning. Maui Now.

Park Maui to launch July 15 at Kamaole Beach Parks I and III. Standard rates for nonresidents will be $10 for daily parking, $50 for a weekly pass and $150 for a monthly pass. Parking will remain free seven days a week at all Park Maui beach parking areas for residents with a Hawaii driver’s license. Maui News.

Protest Delays National Park Service’s Reopening Of Kalaupapa Tours. Protesters, including a Maui Council member, blocked the entrance to the historical park’s trailhead on Thursday morning. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Kīlauea community says it has ‘lost trust’ in Kauaʻi police after lack of action resulted in deadly shooting. New Kauaʻi Police Chief Rudy Tai and members of the criminal justice system attended a public meeting Tuesday to explain their actions and hear concerns involving a homicide, attempted homicide and 2-day manhunt of William "Billy" Sinclair. Kauai Now.

New comfort station at Ha‘ena state park a community-led effort. Relief has arrived for visitors to Ha‘ena State Park in the form of a new comfort station at the entrance parking lot.  Garden Island.

No swimming advised at Hanalei Bay due to heavy runoff, brown water. Kaua‘i County’s Ocean Safety Bureau is advising no swimming or other ocean activities at Hanalei Bay due to heavy runoff and brown water. Kauai Now. KITV4. 

Comptroller Regan named acting Lt. Gov. as Luke takes indefinite leave, Jones Act waiver extended 90 days, Honolulu inalienable right to food charter amendment faces axe, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Sylvia Luke on indefinite leave as Keith Regan becomes acting lieutenant governor. Gov. Josh Green announced on Thursday that state Comptroller Keith Regan — fifth in line in order of state government leadership succession — had accepted the job as acting lieutenant governor. Regan will continue serving as comptroller and director of the Department of Accounting and General Serv­ices while doing triple duty as acting lieutenant governor. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio. KHON2.  Hawaii News Now. 

Hawaii Attorney General targets at least 3 in state bribery investigation. The state Department of the Attorney General emailed target letters last week not only to Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and a lobbyist whom she dined with on Jan. 20, 2022, but also to a volunteer with her 2022 campaign for lieutenant governor. Star-Advertiser.

Trump extends Jones Act waiver 90 days to ease energy costs. President Donald Trump granted a 90-day extension to a shipping waiver that makes it easier to move oil, fuel and fertilizer around the United States, the White House said Thursday. Reuters.

Hawaiʻi Slashes Pay For Autistic Student Aides On Neighbor Islands. The education department offered more money for specialists serving autistic students on the neighbor islands. Four years later, it’s retracting its offer. Civil Beat.

New leadership positions aim to help move Hawaiʻi tourism into regenerative model. The Hawaiʻi Visitors and Convention Bureau appointed three new leaders to strengthen the organization as it evolves beyond the traditional destination marketing model. Maui Now. 

Oahu

Honolulu’s Right To Food, A Trailblazing Proposal, Faces The Axe. More than a dozen groups are calling on the Honolulu Charter Commission to disregard recommendations to kill a proposal to make food an inalienable right. Civil Beat.

Police seize 16 gaming machines, cash in Aiea raid. Officers from the Narco/Vice Gambling Detail, assisted by a District 3 Crime Reduction Unit, Forfeiture Detail and Specialized Serv­ices Division, recovered 16 gaming machines and more than $6,000 in cash, the Honolulu Police Department announced in a news release Thursday. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

More sections of Aloha Stadium toppled. Dismantlement of the old Aloha Stadium remains on schedule despite the Kona-low storms of recent weeks, developers said Thursday, after a large section of the 50,000-seat structure was pulled down by Aloha Halawa District Partners, the private entity in partnership with the state in the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District project. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Run! Ala Moana Crosswalk Has Pedestrians Counting Down The Seconds. Cars power through this busy Ala Moana pedestrian crossing, while walkers are still trying to reach the other side. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Research could resume at space simulation facility on Mauna Loa. A bubble-like structure on Mauna Loa’s northern slope could once again host simulation-based experiments meant to mimic conditions on Mars and the moon. The Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation, or HI-SEAS, facility was previously operated by the University of Hawaii at Manoa with funding from NASA until grant funding ran out. Tribune-Herald.

Civil Defense launches campaign to help residents apply for federal storm relief. Staff from Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency and volunteers will visit communities across Hawaii Island to provide help for residents and business owners applying for federal assistance to recover from the recent Kona low storms. Tribune-Herald.

Man accused of stealing from Kamehameha Schools Hawaii pleads not guilty. Zachary Heltz, a 32-year-old Honolulu man accused of embezzling almost $360,000 from Kamehameha Schools Hawaii when he was employed there has repaid $69,500 to the educational trust and has been making monthly $3,500 restitution payments. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui Resort’s Plastic Barrier To Save Beach Faces Public Pushback. Plans to install a 360-foot long plastic “erosion protection skirt” on Kāʻanapali Beach are in limbo following pushback from community members and environmental advocates who say the barrier could accelerate erosion and harm a neighboring beach that is beloved by locals. Civil Beat.

Habitat for Humanity Maui celebrates completion of its first Lahaina rebuild. The home was originally one of ten homes built by Habitat Maui in 2020 for a Lahaina family. Rebuilding it marks an important step forward as families begin returning to the neighborhood following the devastating 2023 wildfires. Maui Now.

Mayor Bissen announces 99th Maui County Fair will return to War Memorial in Wailuku. Highlighting last year’s successful comeback of the beloved fair, Mayor Richard Bissen on Thursday announced that the Maui County Fair is returning once again October 1-4, 2026. Maui Now.

Kalaupapa legacy honored with annual Dutton Day. Gov. Josh Green signed Senate Bill 2256 on Thursday as Act 4, establishing April 27 as Brother Joseph Dutton Day, formally honoring his contributions to Hansen’s disease patients in Molokai’s remote Kalaupapa peninsula. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now. 

Kauai

Lifeguards gain official first responder recognition on Kaua’i. The Kauaʻi County Council passed a resolution on Wednesday formally recognizing ocean lifeguards as first responders, a designation supporters say reflects the reality of their role on the front lines of emergency response. Kauai Now.

Kaua‘i residents invited to write messages for Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawai‘i event. Community members are invited to write messages about loved ones who have passed on that will be sent over to O‘ahu for the upcoming annual remembrance ceremony next month at Ala Moana Beach Park. Kauai Now.

Hawaii House seeks free school lunch for all students, state panel researches legalized gambling, eight applicants to be interviewed for Big Island police chief, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Bill would feed every public school student for free. Every public school student — regardless of family income — would receive free meals at school under a bill introduced Thursday by nearly half of all 51 House members. Hawaii’s public schools — not including charter schools —currently educate about 150,000 students across the state. As of Dec. 30, just over 10,400 students qualify for reduced-price meals. Star-Advertiser.

State panel begins research for legalized gambling. A new state working group that critics say will pave the way for legalized gambling in Hawaii held its first meeting Thursday under a directive to deliver results for the Legislature to consider about a year from now.The Tourism and Gaming Working Group, which stems from a resolution state lawmakers adopted last year after a divisive vote, is in part tasked with developing a comprehensive tourism gambling policy framework for Hawaii. Star-Advertiser. KHON2. 

House GOP Caucus Wants Voters To Pick Chief Election Officer. Hawaiʻi GOP lawmakers rolled out their priorities for the legislative session on Thursday in an announcement that was critical of their Democratic counterparts for focusing too much on the Trump administration and its potential impact on the state budget. Civil Beat. KHON2. KITV4. 

Shoring up the state's social safety net is a focus of 2026 Legislature. The state Legislature is back in session, and its focus this year will be on federal funding impacts and addressing the cost of living in Hawaiʻi.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Microsoft Global Outage Impacts Hawaiʻi State Senate. The Hawaiʻi State Senate reports it is experiencing delays in email communications due to the global Microsoft Exchange outage. Big Island Video News.
 
Hawaiʻi Democrat Seeks Federal Review Of Native Hawaiian Contracting Program. U.S. Rep. Ed Case is walking a thin line between his longstanding concerns about the SBA program and his desire not to join in the Trump administration’s anti-DEI campaign. Civil Beat.

FAA redesigning Hawaii flight paths. The Federal Aviation Administration is redesigning flight paths nationwide, starting in Hawaii, and residents are using the process as an opportunity to speak up. Hawaii News Now.
 
Oahu 

Illegal gameroom crackdown brings new city law. Arcade-style games aren't just for kids anymore, the Honolulu Police Department (HPD) said some are being used for illegal gambling. KITV4.

Hawaii red light, speed camera program to expand. The Hawaii Department of Transportation is expanding its red light and speed camera program on Oahu. KHON2.

HART board of directors cancels today’s meeting. A scheduled meeting today for the board of directors of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation was canceled. The meeting, which was to start at 8 a.m. with the convening of committees prior to the full board meeting, was rescheduled to Jan. 30. Star-Advertiser.

Kaiser Permanente begins construction on new oncology wing. Kaiser Permanente Hawaii celebrated the start of construction on a new hematology and medical oncology wing at Moanalua Medical Center. The 12,500-square-foot wing will be on the first floor of the hospital’s Diamond Head Tower and nearly triple the size of the existing space.  Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Seven men and a woman in running for Big Island’s top cop. Eight applicants, including two current members of the Hawaii Police Department, will be interviewed by the Hawaii County Police Commission for the vacant chief’s position. The two local candidates are Interim Chief Reed Mahuna and Assistant Chief Kenneth Quiocho.  Other applicants are Chad Janis, captain of the Yakima Police Department in Yakima, Washington; Jennifer Krauss, assistant chief of the Cheverly Police Department, in Cheverly, Maryland; Anthony Kumamaru, retired lieutenant of the Las Vegas Department of Public Safety in Nevada; John Matagi, a captain of Washington State Patrol; Timothy Wilson, former chief of police in Niue, South Pacific; Paul Yang, retired lieutenant, San Diego Police Department, California. Tribune-Herald.   Big Island Video News.  Big Island Now. KHON2. 

Maui

Maui Properties Get State Money For Preservation. After an emotional and sometimes tearful two-day meeting in Wailuku, the state Legacy Land Conservation Commission announced it had chosen four iconic properties to recommend for purchase under a cash-strapped state-funded program that rescues at-risk real estate. Civil Beat.

Maui Powerhouse Gym announces plans for facility and retail village adjacent to Kahului Costco. Maui Powerhouse Gym has announced the acquisition of a 2.2-acre property adjacent to Costco in Kahului, paving the way for a new flagship gym and wellness-focused commercial village designed to serve the Maui community for generations.  Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauaʻi Security Guard Made Off With $400K. Police Still Haven’t Caught Him. A former Loomis employee is accused of stealing cash from a truck that was making deliveries to three banks on the island. Civil Beat.

Invasive ramie moth caterpillar found on Kauai. An invasive pest that has already spread through the islands of Maui, Hawaii and Oahu has now been detected on Kauai. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources said that a single live ramie moth caterpillar was reported to the Kauai Invasive Species Committee.  Hawaii News Now.

Health care positions to increase with 6.1% projected employment rise, Honolulu police chief prepares to sue over forced retirement, developer loses fight to build on old Kauai anthrax site, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii projects 41,000 new jobs by 2032. Hawaii’s total employment rate is projected to grow by 6.1% by 2032, with health care positions on the rise, according to the latest report from the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations’ Research and Statistics Office.The report said that in 2022 there were 671,010 jobs, which will increase to 712,200 by 2032. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi Braces For Cuts That Could Strip Medicaid From Tens Of Thousands. The federal Medicaid program provides health care coverage to just over 400,000 Hawaiʻi residents with low incomes and limited resources. But dramatic changes are in store. Civil Beat.

Arts agency copes with funding gaps. While the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts is due to receive about $1 million in federal funds from the National Endowment of the Arts, it grapples with about a $1 million shortage in state funds after the Legislature dramatically changed how the state agency can use money from its Works of Art Special Fund. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

HPD chief wants to be paid for his term, takes first step toward lawsuit over departure. Arthur “Joe” Logan sent a demand letter to the city seeking salary for the remaining two years of his five-year term, and a lawsuit could be ahead. Logan makes about $230,000 a year.  Hawaii News Now.

Navy in cleaning phase of Red Hill facility. Later this year, Navy officials expect to begin removing 10 miles of fuel transmission pipes and reactivating one of two closed drinking water wells. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu police say about 100 illegal game rooms could be removed by year's end. The Honolulu Police Department is touting its more “aggressive" approach to illegal game rooms on Oʻahu, saying it's on pace to reduce the game room operations by around 100 by the end of the year.  Hawaii Public Radio.

HPD distributes $11,100 in exchange for 234 unwanted firearms. Honolulu police and the state Department of Law Enforcement distributed a total of $11,100 in exchange for 234 unwanted firearms during its gun buyback event held Saturday at the Wahiawa Police Station. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu opens Section 8 housing waitlist. The City and County of Honolulu opened its waiting list for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program Monday, offering rental assistance to eligible low-income households. The federally funded program is supported by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Star-Advertiser.

State finalizes contractor to sink Falls of Clyde vessel out at sea. Built in 1878, Falls of Clyde has been docked at Honolulu Harbor for free since 2008. The state impounded it in 2016. Hawaii Public Radio. KITV4. 

Final codefendant in Miske enterprise sentenced. The last of Mike Miske’s codefendants received a 30-year federal sentence Monday for his role in the criminal enterprise. Lance “Hammah” Bermudez was allegedly involved in several violent crimes and a murder-for-hire plot. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Two ex-HPD officers indemnified in wrongful death suit. The Hawaii County Council voted unanimously last week to indemnify two former police officers who shot and killed a driver in Kailua-Kona two years ago following a traffic crash related to a manhunt. Tribune-Herald.

Permit Program Launched For Roadside Vending On Ane Keohokālole Highway. Hawaiʻi County is now accepting applications for special activity permits authorizing temporary roadside vending near the West Hawaiʻi Civic Center. Big Island Video News.

Kona Airport To Receive $5.5 Million In Federal Funding. The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $5,512,623 in new federal grant funding for runway improvements at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole. Big Island Video News.

Historic Manago Hotel drops sale price after year on the market. The historic Manago Hotel, which opened in 1917 in Captain Cook, is perched at 1,350 feet above sea level, providing a vast view of the Pacific Ocean overlooking the South Kona coastline, including Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau. Big Island Now.

Maui

Mayor Richard Bissen out of state until Friday, July 25. Mayor Richard Bissen will visit New York City from July 15-18 to speak at the UN on sustainability and attend UN Foundation meetings with Hawai‘i Green Growth. From July 20-25, he will travel to Los Angeles to support wildfire recovery efforts with After the Fire USA. Maui Now.

With its funding at stake, Akakū prepares for July 23 court hearing. Spectrum is renewing its franchise agreement for Maui, the legal contract that lets Spectrum operate cable services on Maui. Maui News.

Kauai

Developer Loses Court Fight To Build Luxury Homes On ‘Anthrax Graveyard’. After five years of battling a developer’s plan to build luxury homes on an overgrown golf course that sits atop the decomposed remains of hundreds of cattle killed during a series of anthrax outbreaks more than a century ago, community activists have won their effort to protect the area as open space. Civil Beat.

Military seeks Kauaʻi's feedback on Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands. A series of community meetings will take place on Kauaʻi this week to discuss the Navy’s draft environmental impact statement for continued use of over 8,000 acres of state land near Barking Sands — now home to the military’s Pacific Missile Range Facility and a NASA observatory. Hawaii Public Radio.

Only 17% of Kauaʻi residents surveyed have an emergency 14-day supply. A new report from the state Department of Health shows the latest statistics on the health and resource needs of Kauaʻi residents. Hawaii Public Radio.

Agencies, officials canvas neighborhood to discuss wildfire preparedness. KEMA, in partnership with various partners including the Kauai Fire Department, the Kauai Police Department, the Department of Water, Kauai Island Utility Cooperative and the Office of the Mayor, participated in the wildfire preparedness outreach exercise that involved the door-to-door notifications of approximately 200 households in the Kaumakani camp. Garden Island.

Legislature advances 'green fee' on short-term stays, hotels and cruise ships; union workers get 4% or less raises; pay-to-play, sports betting bills DOA, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiʻi Legislature Takes Historic Step Toward A Visitor ‘Green Fee’. Under the bill, the transient accommodations tax that visitors pay on their nightly hotel and short-term rental stays will increase by .75%, plus travelers who dock in Hawaiʻi on cruise ships will start paying that tax as well, to cover the new fee. Civil Beat.

New Contracts Give More Than $1 Billion In Union Pay Raises.  Unionized state workers received raises of 4% or less per year for the next four years. Civil Beat.

State bill would change oversight of Hawai’i Tourism Authority. State lawmakers advanced a bill by the Legislature session deadline that will significantly change the governance model for the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority for the first time since it created the agency in 1998. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi Lawmakers Kill Pay-to-Play Bill — Again. The Legislature has refused to close a loophole in state law that has allowed millions of dollars to flow to Hawaiʻi political campaigns from people who get big state contracts. Civil Beat.

Hawaii lawmakers to vote on over 200 bills this week. If approved by the full House and Senate Wednesday, the bills would go to Gov. Josh Green, who has already signed 27 new laws this year, including further tightening firearms requirements across the islands, which already have some of the strictest firearms laws in the country. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers scurry to advance flurry of bills past key deadline. Casualties included a bill to legalize online sports betting in Hawaii and one to give the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands an additional $600 million to develop homesteads for beneficiaries. Bills that cleared the hurdle included one to raise the state’s transient accommodations tax in part to help sustain Hawaii’s natural resources, and one to expand the use of cameras to ticket speeding drivers on roadways statewide. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi will not legalize online sports betting this year. Online sports betting will not be legalized this legislative session. Lawmakers decided to defer the measure Friday afternoon. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiʻi Lawmakers Kill Pay-to-Play Bill — Again. The Legislature’s powerful money committees wouldn’t sign-off on what had become a much-watered down measure. Civil Beat.

Hawai‘i Lawmakers To Require Audit Of Green’s Kauhale Homeless Initiative. The governor says the funding legislators also approved will keep the state on track to have 30 kauhale villages by 2026. Civil Beat.

Bill to create food systems working group likely to pass Legislature. Senate Bill 1186, which passed the conference committee process this week, seeks to create a “statewide interagency food systems coordination team” that would include leaders along the food supply chain — from farms to restaurants. Hawaii Public Radio.

Reducing the Hawaiian homestead waitlist: DHHL on track to award 2,600+ leases in 2025. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands presented an ambitious awards schedule before the Hawaiian Homes Commission last week and announced its plan to issue more than 2,600 leases by the end of 2025. Big Island Now.

Hawaii is ranked low for emergency readiness. The Trust for America’s Health evaluated each state, using 10 key indicators ranging from public health funding to workforce mobility. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Too Many Exemptions From Empty Homes Tax Could Cost Honolulu $150 Million. The city council has been trying to pass a 1% to 3% tax for years but wants to target offshore investors, not local residents. Civil Beat.

Settlement in $324M Hitachi suit is coming, HART says. A more than $324 million lawsuit brought by rail’s principal contractor against the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation in 2024 appears on the verge of a final settlement, while condemnation actions will proceed on four downtown area properties. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii crews clear 45 homeless camps on Diamond Head slopes. LNR officials said there are large amounts of camping gear and buckets of human waste that litter the slopes. Star-Advertiser.

Government gridlock on evacuation plan frustrates Leeward residents. Leeward Coast residents — already worried about being trapped if Farrington Highway turns into gridlock during an emergency — received frustrating news from federal, state and city governments recently that help isn’t coming anytime soon. Star-Advertiser.

Consumers in Hawaii prepare for tariffs’ impact. While businesses have already been hit hard by the international trade war, the impact has only just begun to trickle down to local customers and visitors, who will ultimately have to pay more to keep the businesses alive, according to Justin Tyndall, an associate professor at University of Hawaii’s Economic Research Organization. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Next Waimea Town Meeting to dig deep into Hawai‘i County budget, revenue policies. North Hawai‘i community members have the opportunity to dig deep into Hawai‘i County budget and revenue policies — including those governing property taxes and short-term vacation rentals — during the next Waimea Town Meeting. Big Island Now.

‘They see things no one should see’: Book by UH Hilo professor being used to help first responders. First responders are learning about the surprising causes and unique therapies for challenges prevalent among their community thanks to workshops in Hilo and Kona that derive treatment strategies from a new book. Tribune-Herald.

Bikeshare ridership increases islandwide. Cyclists took 11,305 rides on rented bikes from HIBIKE kiosks across the island in 2023, which rose to 12,463 rides throughout 2024. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui Asks Feds To Flex Rules Governing $1.6 Billion Wildfire Recovery Grant. The county wants to use some of the money to rebuild accessory dwelling units but is primarily focused on securing final approval. Civil Beat.

Replanting at Kahoma Village to support Lahaina recovery, growth following wildfires. Nearly 200 Kahoma Village homeowners, community members, and local organizations gathered Saturday to restore the landscape in Lahaina by planting 100 native and resilient species to support ongoing post-wildfire recovery.  Maui Now.

Maui volunteers recycle mountains of fire-donated clothing otherwise doomed for the landfill. Clothes in good condition will be gifted to targeted community partners for those in need. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Kaua‘i state legislators tout support for key Garden Isle investments in state budget.  Here’s a look at important Kaua‘i County investments appropriated in the biennium state spending plan for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, from highest to lowest price tag. Kauai Now.

Kauai councilmember sounding ’emergency alarm’ on coconut rhinoceros beetles. Councilmember Fern Holland says the destructive beetle has been spotted from Hā’ena to Waimea. KHON2.