Trump executive order opens Pacific marine sanctuary to commercial fishing, UH to cut 36 research programs amid $30M funding loss, Honolulu rail, bus service face cuts, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Trump opens huge Central Pacific protected zone to commercial fishing. President Donald Trump issued an executive order opening up to commercial fishing the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument, covering about 490,000 square miles of ocean southwest of Hawaii. A second executive order directed the Commerce Department to loosen regulations that “overly burden America’s commercial fishing, aquaculture, and fish processing industries.”  New York Times. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

UH loses $30M in federal funds; 36 research programs to be cut. The University of Hawaii announced Thursday it has lost $30 million in federal funding for research, just as the school sees the number of revoked student visas “literally (change) by the hour,” according to a Thursday announcement made by UH President Wendy Hensel. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Veterans advocating for gun safety push for assault weapon ban in Hawaii. A group of U.S. Army veterans are advocating for gun safety urging lawmakers to ban assault weapons this legislative session. KITV4.

Arts advocates say the Legislature continues to put creativity on the chopping block. House Finance Chair Kyle Yamashita has been introducing measures that would either cut, limit or redirect the arts agency’s special fund since 2007, according to the Legislature’s archives. This year, advocates for the arts say Yamashita is much closer than ever to succeeding. Hawaii Public Radio.

Latest tourism agency allegations draw varied responses.  Some of those at the center of the allegations that surfaced Tuesday during an HTA Budget, Finance, and Convention Center Standing Committee say they were blindsided, and want the chance set the record straight before the full HTA board responds. Star-Advertiser.

Loss of $2.1M in federal funds for reproductive care impacts young people, isolated communities. Hawaiʻi receives about $2.1 million in federal Title X funding. It goes to clinics for services like birth control, cancer screenings, and testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants ratify 3 year contract extension. After a little over a month of negotiations, Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants ratified a contract extension, which runs through February 2028. KHON2.

Oahu

Senate Bill Would Put Major State Funding For Honolulu Rail Project In Jeopardy. HART rail board members hope to convince lawmakers to kill the bill. But it has a powerful supporter. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Bus Commuters Are The Latest Victims Of Federal Funding Cuts. The city announced that nearly $10 million for seven programs, including a Waiʻanae Coast bus rapid transit project, has been eliminated. Civil Beat.

Council reappoints Honolulu Emergency Services Department Director Jim Ireland. On Wednesday, the council voted 8-0 to confirm Ireland as HESD’s director. It comes after a slew of former employees in February testified against Ireland, citing the department’s “toxic” work environment, staffing issues and mismanagement of resources. Hawaii Public Radio.

HPD officer arrested again in violation of restraining order. A Honolulu police officer with a history of arrests for violating restraining orders brought by the mothers of his five children was arrested Thursday for allegedly violating a temporary restraining order. Star-Advertiser.

Miske’s Daughter-In-Law Sentenced To 7 Years In Prison. The judge also denied a request for a “non-custodial” sentence that would allow Delia Fabro-Miske to continue raising her daughter. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

Hawaii’s 2nd measles case confirmed in household member. The Hawaii Department of Health today confirmed a second case of measles in an adult household member of the first case, which was in a child under the age of 5. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.
    
Hawaii Island

More snow expected at Big Island summits with extension of winter weather advisory. Additional snow accumulation of up to 2 inches is forecast for Big Island summits as the winter weather advisory for Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa has been extended until 6 a.m. Saturday. Big Island Now.

Trial run: Ali‘i Drive being turned into one-way road for creation of free public parking in Kona. Hawai‘i County is moving forward with its plan to temporarily turn a portion of Ali‘i Drive into a one-way road to create much-needed free parking spaces for the public in the Kona Historic Business District. Big Island Now.

Petition garners more than 2,600 signatures asking Coast Guard to continue search for missing Kona fisherman. Family and friends of a missing Kona fisherman are collecting signatures to petition the U.S. Coast Guard to pick up its search for the 42-year-old who has now been missing at sea for a week. Big Island Now.

Maui

Divisive Maui Pay Hikes: Should A Mayor Earn More Than A Governor? Maui Mayor Richard Bissen, who governs 11% of the state’s population, is set to earn more than even Gov. Josh Green when a slate of generous county pay raises kick in. Civil Beat.

DOH approves fourth medical cannabis retail dispensary for Noa Botanicals. The Hawai‘i Department of Health has issued a formal notice to proceed for Mānoa Botanicals, LLC dba Noa Botanicals after it passed its final on-site inspection for its fourth retail facility. Maui Now.

Kauai

Lawsuit filed in fatal 2024 Kauai helicopter crash. A helicopter crash that happened off Kauai has resulted in a lawsuit after a couple that was vacationing in July 2024 was killed. KHON2.

Officials warn of potentially inclement weather through middle of next week. Kaua‘i County officials are urging the public to remain vigilant as the potential for severe weather conditions continues into early next week. Kauai Now.

Soil sampling to take place at Kekaha Sugar Mill property. Garden Island.

Legislature plans special sessions, Honolulu fails to collect $100M in vacation rental fines, state may buy 1k acres of farmland from Kauai billionaire Steve Case, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiʻi lawmakers plan special sessions to address federal funding cuts. The Legislature has about three weeks left of its regular session. But the magnitude of federal cuts and what it means for the state’s budget is still unknown. The budget overhaul being considered by Congress threatens about 75% of the state budget’s $4.6 billion in federal funds. Hawaii Public Radio.

State Legislature poised to pass sweeping weapons ban. Senate Bill 401 proposes to ban the purchase or sale of “assault rifles” and “assault shotguns” in the state after July 8. While such weapons purchased and registered before July 8 would remain legal, those guns could not be again sold within the state. Aloha State Daily.

Geothermal power exploration building up steam. Three state agencies have big ambitions to expand geothermal power production in Hawaii, and two somewhat competing bids for more funding are at a final stage of potential legislative approval. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers take up the issue of midwifery, possibly affecting Native Hawaiian practices. Midwifery and the Native Hawaiian cultural practices that blur the boundaries of statutory definitions are again at the center of a fierce legislative debate that harkens back to the 2019 legislative session, when lawmakers passed what became Act 32 in recognition of “the potential for harm to public health and safety posed by the unregulated practice of midwifery.” Star-Advertiser.

Bills would require youths to wear skateboard helmets. Minors would be required to wear helmets when riding skateboards on public property under two bills that continue to move through the Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

New Zealand’s deputy prime minister visits Hawaii, amid heightened tensions in Asia-Pacific. New Zealand’s deputy prime minister, who also serves as the foreign minister, was set to visit Hawaii over the weekend, leading a high-level, cross-party delegation for key meetings across the Pacific. Hawaii News Now.

Neighbor Island businesses worry of shipping rate hike, tariffs. The state Public Utility Commission has been holding public hearings on Young Brothers’ request for a 27% rate increase for interisland cargo. KHON2.

Board of Education promotes financial literacy for Hawaii students. The state Board of Education has begun discussions to develop a formal policy that would embed financial literacy education throughout the state’s public school system, responding to growing interest from students, educators and the broader community. Star-Advertiser.

Famed war correspondent to be honored at final resting place. Legendary newsman Ernie Pyle, whose vivid reporting from the front lines of World War II won him a Pulitzer Prize and the admiration of readers and the soldiers whose stories he told, will be honored at a ceremony Friday marking the 80th anniversary of his death during the Battle of Okinawa. Star-Advertiser.

Federal Judge Won’t Make Bribery Investigations Public. A federal judge has ruled against Civil Beat in its efforts to obtain the FBI’s investigative files on two Hawaiʻi lawmakers who took tens of thousands of dollars in bribes from a Honolulu businessman in exchange for swaying legislation the way he wanted it to go. Civil Beat.

Oahu

City fails to collect millions in rental fines. The city has issued over $100 million worth of fines for short-term rental violations over the past three fiscal years but has collected less than $2 million — or barely 2% — even after hiring a collection agency in 2023 that was tasked with bringing in every dollar owed to the city. Star-Advertiser.

Speedier Reviews, Quicker Honolulu Building Permits? Not So Fast. The county says it’s doing its job faster, but that’s not yet translating to faster permits for property owners.  Civil Beat.

Navy seeks to reactivate wells closed during Red Hill crisis. More than three years after the Navy shut down two of its Oahu water wells in response to the Red Hill water crisis, the service is now looking to reopen them. Star-Advertiser.

Transit-oriented development forum is set for Kapolei. The city Department of Planning and Permitting announced it will hold a community meeting Wednesday to address proposed land use changes that could allow for TOD development around three city rail stations in the East Ka­polei area. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu residents turn in over 367 firearms in gun buyback program. The guns were exchanged for $37,900 in Foodland gift cards contributed by the Department of Law Enforcement. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu’s traffic fatalities nearly tripled in deadly start to 2025. Oahu, the most populated isle, usually has the greatest share, and so far this year has 22 fatalities, nearly triple the eight fatalities at the same time last year. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers advance bills banning landfills over aquifers. Opponents to plans by Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration to site the city’s next solid-waste landfill on active pineapple fields above Central Oahu’s freshwater aquifer claimed a tentative victory this week. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Vacation Rental Registration Process Subject Of Online Briefing. An upcoming, online informational briefing will be held about a potential registration process for hosted Transient Vacation Rentals (TVR) and hosting platforms in Hawai‘i County. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

Hawaiʻi County Council goes round and round on bus budget.  Hawaiʻi Island's mass transit budget has increased by 400% since 2018. At a budget hearing on Thursday, Hawaiʻi County council members questioned whether that fourfold investment has been worth it. Hawaii Public Radio.

Waikoloa Village wildfire preparedness in the spotlight. The public is invited until April 30 to give input to Hawaii County to help identify potential wildfire risks and opportunities for preparation and prevention in the Waikoloa Village area. Tribune-Herald.

Opposition to fence grows: Some neighbors of muni golf course cite safety concerns. Hawaii County is following through on its plans to fence off the Hilo Municipal Golf Course from nearby residents, to the displeasure of at least some of the neighbors. Tribune-Herald.

Aging Kona Inn Shopping Village struggling to sell despite property’s century history as tourist mecca. Nearly 100 years ago, the opening of Kona Inn along the coastline marked the beginning of commercial tourism for the once sleepy fishing village of Kailua-Kona. Big Island Now.

Maui

Dozens of Maui County officials to get hefty raises after vote by salary commission. More than 40 top county officials, including Maui’s mayor, police and fire chief, will see substantial raises following a vote by the salary commission. Hawaii News Now.

Maui wedding and events industry seeks help. The Maui Wedding and Event Association is asking for $300,000 from Maui County to help to support Maui’s wedding and events industry. Maui News.

Worries About Climate Change Spiked On Maui After 2023 Fires. More than three-quarters of Maui residents said they were concerned about global warming in 2024, according to a national climate survey conducted annually by Yale University — a six percentage point increase from 2022. Civil Beat.

Landscape fire recovery work progresses in Upcountry, Kīhei gulches. More than 20,000 cubic yards of excess sedimentation have been moved, and over 9,200 linear feet of gulches have been cleared of burnt debris and dead or dying trees as part of a major undertaking to address substantial landscape damage caused by the Maui wildfires of 2023, and to protect communities and ecosystems downslope of the burned areas. Maui Now.

Modular homes for wildfire survivors to be in transit next week. The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation notifies highway users of potential traffic delays as modular homes for wildfire survivors are transported from Kahului to the state’s Ka Laʻi Ola housing site in Lahaina. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kaua’i Billionaire Wants To Sell Prime Ag Land. The State Might Buy It. More than 1,000 acres of former Kauaʻi plantation land owned by a billionaire tech entrepreneur Steve Case  are in the sights of the state’s Agribusiness Development Corp. as part of the effort to help Hawaiʻi achieve its local food production goals. Civil Beat.

Kaua‘i County reviewing, updating Multi-hazard Mitigation and Resilience Plan. The Federal Emergency Management Agency requires a community to review and update its Multi-Hazard Mitigation and Resilience Plan at least every 5 years to remain eligible for a range of the agency’s programs, including the agency’s Hazard Mitigation Grant program and the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Grant program. Kauai Now.

Legislature mulls bills to return homeless to U.S. continent, allow farmers to stand their ground, protect gender-affirming care, extend Honolulu rail tax; plus more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Returning homeless to the mainland could become permanent. Popular and successful efforts that have returned over 800 homeless people to the mainland since 2015 would become permanent if either of two bills in the state Legislature becomes law this session. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii ‘Stand your ground’ laws could expand after killing. Hawaii’s current stand-your-ground laws allow lawful gun owners to use deadly force to protect themselves if they believe their lives are in danger on their own property or while they are at work. Some said the rules make confronting armed poachers difficult if they live or work on agricultural land. KHON2. Hawaii Public Radio.

Testimony over gender-affirming care bill gets heated. Lawmakers with the Senate committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Health and Human Services heard a flood of support Tuesday for Senate Bill 1150, which would let children get gender-affirming health care services in Hawaii without other states getting in the way. Hawaii News Now.

‘Modest’ piece of wildfire settlement promoted for insurers. Gov. Josh Green doubts that Hawaii’s insurance market will suffer from a Monday court decision supporting a tentative $4 billion Maui wildfire settlement, but he still sees merit in sharing settlement proceeds with insurers. Star-Advertiser.

Acasio, 7 others sue state House. A former state senator from Hilo is suing the state House of Representatives, accusing the legislative body of violating the state Constitution by holding a Rules Committee meeting behind closed doors. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu

A 15-Year Extension Of Honolulu Rail Tax Advances In The Senate. A Senate committee gave preliminary approval Tuesday to a bill to extend the half-percent excise tax surcharge for rail for another 15 years, a politically volatile move that could lead to billions of dollars in additional funding for the city’s Skyline project. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Mayor Hires New Homeless Coordinator. Honolulu’s newest homelessness czar will be Roy Miyahira, a retired operations manager who spent much of his career at Nestlé Waters in California. Miyahira is taking on a big job. The city’s unsheltered homeless population doubled during the past decade, and much of the local response entails acquiring more shelter space. Civil Beat.

Council ponders bill on revenue-generating sponsorships.  For the second time in nearly 10 years, a Honolulu City Council measure that would allow private sponsorship of city parks and other public facilities is drawing concern from some in the community who fear the legislation will clear the way for large billboards and other outdoor advertising signs that could mar the natural beauty of Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Miske’s half brother gets 20 years in federal prison. The 37-year-old half brother of Michael J. Miske Jr. was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison Tuesday for his role in the criminal organization that sold drugs, committed murder-for-hire, robberies, assaults and used chemical weapons against the opposition. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

Body of a 72-year-old woman found in Kapahulu dumpster. An investigation is underway after a body was found in a dumpster in the Kapahulu area on Tuesday morning, February 11. KITV4. KHON2.  Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Sewage plant prompts emergency proclamation. Mayor Kimo Alameda signed an emergency proclamation Tuesday in preparation for a potential failure of the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant in in Keaukaha. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.  Big Island Now.

Kimo Alameda talks priorities in his first year as Hawaiʻi Island mayor. Alameda and the other three county mayors are presenting their respective requests to state lawmakers this legislative session. Hawaii Public Radio.

Proposal may result in more parking at Akaka Falls. Landowner and businessman Tirtha Luitel has requested that the county permit him to convert about 18,000 square feet of a 98-acre parcel near Akaka Falls State Park in to a 49-stall paid parking lot. Tribune-Herald.

Kealakehe Regional Park project drags on. Efforts to move the Kealakehe Regional Park project forward are underway, but a construction date has not been announced, county officials said. West Hawaii Today.

Micah Kāne To Become Next Parker Ranch CEO. Kāne will transition into the Parker Ranch CEO role in April 2025, and depart the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation effective August 2025. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Environmental assessments online for public review including Wākiu Master Plan in East Maui. Public comments are due March 10 for the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands’ draft Wākiu Master Plan for development of approximately 656 acres south of the Hāna Airport for department beneficiaries. Maui Now.

Bill advances to allow tenants with liability insurance to keep pets in rental units. Maui Residents Can’t Find Housing. Neither Can Their Cats And Dogs. With housing scarce after the Lahaina wildfire, the Maui Humane Society says it’s struggling to find people to adopt animals and its shelter is well over capacity. Civil Beat. Maui Now.

Lānaʻi Culture & Heritage Center focuses on restoration around island heiau. This past weekend the Lānaʻi Culture & Heritage Center brought together a group of volunteers to a sacred and remote heiau, where restoration efforts have been underway for the past nine years.  Maui News.

Kauai

Public input sought on preferred site for new Kauaʻi Community Correctional Center. Land off Māʻalo Road in Līhuʻe, owned by Grove Farm, was identified by the state as the preferred site. The location offers about 20 to 30 acres of usable land, access to infrastructure and proximity to critical support services, including Kaulu I Ka Pono Academy, a treatment and education facility for at-risk youth. Kauai Now. Hawaii News Now.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Oahu

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hawaii Island

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

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

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

Maui

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

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

Kauai

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

Big changes coming to state tax code, U.S. Supreme Court won't take up gun rights case, UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting suspect recently lived in Honolulu, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawai‘i House Finance Chair Has Plans For Big Changes In The Tax Code. Rep. Kyle Yamashita has been talking about shifting millions of dollars in tax surcharge revenue from the counties back to the state. Civil Beat.

U.S. Supreme Court avoids Hawaii legal fight over gun rights. The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected a Hawaii man’s bid to throw out criminal charges for carrying a pistol while hiking, as the justices declined to review a ruling by the liberal-leaning state’s top court that denounced an expansion of gun rights by the nation’s highest judicial body. Reuters. Associated Press. Hawaii News Now.

Luigi Mangione’s Hawaiʻi Friends Shocked By Arrest In UnitedHealthcare CEO Shooting. Luigi Mangione lived at the Surfbreak co-living community near Ala Moana Park on Oʻahu and later at 801 South St. Friends recall him as a natural leader who led a book club where members would share ideas while watching sunsets from a place called Magic Island. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.  Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.  KITV4.

Senators Urged To Examine Gabbard’s ‘Deep and Intense’ Ties To Hawaiʻi Sect. A former member of the scretive Science of Identity Foundation is warning members of Congress about the potential dangers of confirming Tulsi Gabbard as President-elect Donald Trump’s next director of national intelligence. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers again introduce measures to boost civic education and media literacy. Hawai‘i lawmakers are renewing efforts to help students identify disinformation and improve their understanding of how the government works. Hawaii Public Radio.

UH, Navy, Marines team up on resource management. The University of Hawaii and the Department of the Navy signed Monday an unprecedented 10-year agreement aimed at safeguarding natural and cultural resources on Navy and Marine Corps installations in the state. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian to take over Seattle-based routes, add airplanes and crews. Alaska Air Group today plans to tell investors in New York that Hawaiian Airlines will take over West Coast routes from Alaska Airlines to Hawaii and fly new nonstop routes from Seattle to Japan and South Korea, and announce more Hawaiian Air planes, and flight and ground crews. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu City Council to vote on standards for office-to-residence conversions. The Honolulu City Council will have its final vote Wednesday on a bill that would lay out the standards to convert commercial buildings to residential. Hawaii Public Radio.

City Council to vote Wednesday on empty homes tax bill. More than 9% of Oahu homes are vacant. That’s 34,000 unoccupied units based on 2020 U.S. Census data. Hawaii News Now.

Property values are going up again, here’s why. Heads up to homeowners, real property assessments will be mailed out soon and valuations are up again. That means many will be paying higher property taxes. KHON2.

Hawaiʻi Has Money To Police Agriculture Crime, But No Timeline To Start. Despite the high-profile killing of an Oʻahu rancher, local law enforcement don’t receive any specialized training in agricultural crime. Civil Beat.

City and state collaborate to improve Kailua Beach Park. The city Department of Parks and Recreation, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands and the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program say they plan to work with community groups to smooth and flatten the dunes toward the makai side of the park. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

The Case Against Mike Miske Could Be About To Disappear As If It Never Happened. A federal legal doctrine requires all actions be vacated if a defendant dies before being sentenced or if any appeals remain. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Military Exemption To Hawaiʻi Nuclear-Free Law Repealed. The military is no longer exempt from Hawaiʻi County’s Nuclear-Free Law, according to Big Island lawmakers.  Big Island Video News.

Agency sees uptick in marine debris. The Hawaii Wildlife Fund has removed about 350 tons of marine debris from Big Island shores between 2003 and 2023, the majority of which came in the form of net bundles, masses of tangled rope and nets that can weigh hundreds of pounds. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui County Council considers ban on flavored tobacco sales. The council passed the measure through its first reading on Friday after a series of mostly supportive testimony. If passed, retailers would not be allowed to sell or market flavored tobacco, including menthol products. Hawaii Public Radio.

This unsheltered Maui community is stepping up to improve the road they call home. It’s shower and laundry day at Holomua Road in Pāʻia, where nearly 30 Maui residents live unsheltered. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui coalition of the Hawaiʻi Workers Center departs to Washington D.C. to demand Congress release disaster recovery funds for Lahaina. A Maui coalition of the Hawaiʻi Workers Center has departed to Washington D.C. where they will demand that Congress release disaster recovery funds for Lahaina.  Maui Now.

Private Maui school’s proposed anti-trans policy stirs controversy. A West Maui school is considering controversial new guidelines that would essentially ban transgender students. The proposed changes would come to Maui Preparatory Academy in 2025. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

University of Hawai‘i and the US Navy partner to support Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands. The University of Hawaiʻi and the Department of the Navy signed a historic 10-year agreement to support the protection and management of natural and cultural resources on Navy and Marine Corps installations in Hawaiʻi. Kauai Now.

New faces coming to state Legislature, Honolulu city council already set, HART CEO gets 22% raise, cell tower battles in two counties, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Legislature to see 11 new faces even before November election. The state House and Senate will welcome at least 11 new faces for the next legislative session, even before the Nov. 5 general election, which could result in more incumbent upsets. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: The FBI Continues To Stall On Releasing Hawaii Lawmakers’ Bribery Investigations. Former state lawmakers Ty Cullen and J. Kalani English pleaded guilty more than two years ago to taking cash bribes in exchange for swaying legislation to favor Honolulu businessman Milton Choy, who owned a wastewater disposal company. Civil Beat has been trying to get the investigative files on public officials convicted of bribery for more than a year. Civil Beat.

California, Hawaii can ban guns in bars and parks, appeals court rules. Court ruling supports Hawaii gun restrictions. State Attorney General Anne Lopez hailed a ruling of a panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that Lopez said reinstates restrictions on where people can carry firearms in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser. Associated Press.

Waianae Shootings May Spur A Push To Strengthen Hawaii’s Self-Defense Laws. Some lawmakers want to amend the state law on use of deadly force for self-protection, but a key senator says that's unnecessary. Civil Beat.

Oahu

No contested Honolulu city races on general election ballot. All of the contested city races — namely, elections for mayor and City Council — were decided during the Aug. 10 primary election. Star-Advertiser.

HART OKs 22% raise for CEO Kahikina to a $336,000 annual contract. The board of directors for the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation on Friday approved a new contract with a 22% raise for Executive Director and CEO Lori Kahikina to oversee completion of the nearly $10 billion Skyline. Star-Advertiser.

‘It Smells Like Earth’: Honolulu Shows Off Its Alternatives To Landfills. An end-of-year deadline looms for Honolulu officials to name a location for a new municipal landfill. Meanwhile, the city is working to divert waste from needing to go to the disposal site in the first place. Civil Beat.

Kapi‘olani nurses seek injunction to block lockout. The Hawaii Nurses’ Association/Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 50 is seeking an injunction to stop Kapi‘olani Medical Center from locking unionized nurses out of the hospital following a planned one-day strike, the union’s second this year. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

Oahu housing market steady ahead of possible demand increase. According to data released Friday by the Honolulu Board of Realtors, sales and prices ticked up for single-­family homes and down for condominiums. Star-Advertiser.

Ewa Beach to get first hotel. Alaka‘i Development has secured $135 million in financing and is on its way to delivering Ewa Beach’s first hotel: a dual-branded Hyatt Place and extended-stay Hyatt House for the Ho‘opili master-­planned community. Star-Advertiser.

Turtle Bay resort expansion proceeding under new owners. Arete Collective recently hosted an “open house” in Kahuku to share its plan with community members and gather feedback on what its chief executive described as an eight- to 10-year project slated to begin later this year with 20 homes in four buildings between the beach and the 18th hole of the resort’s Arnold Palmer Golf Course. Star-Advertiser.

St. Francis Healthcare pensions face chopping block. Almost all private retirement plans are required to comply with federal pension and tax laws, according to the Pension Rights Center, a nonprofit based in Washington, D.C., with the exception of church pension plans. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

County buys refrigerated containers to store bodies; Morgue at Hilo hospital is overcapacity. Hawaii County has purchased two 40-foot refrigerated containers and is exploring the possibility of an emergency proclamation to start using them as a temporary storage facility for the bodies of decedents whose deaths occurred somewhere other than Hilo Benioff Medical Center. Tribune-Herald.

Changes eyed for cell towers: Proposals would alter the approval process. Cell towers on the Big Island could be installed without a Hawaii County permit under a proposed new policy. Tribune-Herald.

2 Keaukaha projects rejected: Planning commission sides with area residents. The Windward Planning Commission on Thursday considered a pair of applications for special management area use permits to build housing in Keaukaha near Onekahakaha Road. Tribune-Herald.

Public advised to avoid affected waters following sewage spill at Kailua-Kona Pier. On Sunday, September 8, 2024, it was reported that a sewage spill had occurred at the Kailua Kona Pier. Officials state that an unknown amount of sewage had spilled from a restroom and onto the pier, which entered the ocean.  KITV4. Big Island Video News.

NOAA research ship docks in Hilo: Okeanos Explorer to host events throughout week. The team on board — Shannon Hoy, Anna Coulson, Mark Durbin and Caitlin Ruby — just finished conducting 24-hour-a-day exploratory seafloor mapping operations of the atoll’s deep waters for 20 days before traveling to Hilo this past Saturday. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui’s toxic debris could fill 5 football fields 5 stories deep. Where will it end up? The temporary landfill in Olowalu is a former quarry on state-owned land and close to Lahaina, which made it a convenient choice for quickly storing the debris being cleared away so the town can rebuild. Associated Press.

End of an era? Lahaina fire delivers big blow to already declining commercial fishing industry. On Aug. 27, following a request for an update on the harbor work, officials from the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation said the harbor has been cleared of debris and pilings and was expected to be operational in two-plus years, but did not provide more details. Maui Now.

County of Maui acquires Kula community center land for $950,000 for ‘public use in perpetuity’. The County of Maui has acquired approximately seven acres of land beneath the Kula community center and adjacent facilities for “public use in perpetuity,” according to a press release announcing the acquisition. The county has leased the land for over six decades.  Maui News.

Feds Partner With Maui Groups To Develop An Energy Plan For Lahaina. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory is working with three local organizations. Civil Beat.

AES launches state’s largest solar power facility on Maui. The Central Maui project is a key part of Hawaii’s aggressive 2045 Clean Energy Initiative goals as well as AES’ own 2040 goal of net zero carbon emissions from electricity sales. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.

Kauai

Haʻena residents file lawsuit against proposed 5G cell tower. In a continuing effort to stop the construction of a 95-foot tall 5G cell tower in their neighborhood, two Haʻena couples have filed a lawsuit against the California-based property owner who is leasing the vacant lot to AT&T. Kauai Now.

A Stomach Bug Outbreak Brings Uncomfortable Scrutiny To One Of Hawaii’s Most Beautiful Places. Some of the campers who endured the recent norovirus outbreak at the end of Kauai’s famed Kalalau Trail hope the unusual incident, which sickened dozens of people, will lead to better state upkeep of one of the most scenic destinations in Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Ammo age ban likely, German navy joins RIMPAC, Honolulu mulls fake farm bill, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii to ban those under 21 from buying ammo. Gov. Josh Green is expected to sign a new bill into law that will ban those under 21 from purchasing ammunition. KHON2.

German navy makes its debut at RIMPAC in Hawaii. German navy makes its debut at RIMPAC. This year at the biennial Exercise Rim of the Pacific — the world’s largest naval exercise — the German navy has dispatched ships to participate for the first time as Berlin begins putting its ambitious new Pacific strategy into action. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii urged to prepare for wildfire power shutoffs. This week marks the start of Hawaiian Electric’s program of proactively shutting off power in specified areas to protect the public if and when there is a high risk of wildfires on all the islands it serves. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric launches new searchable maps for Public Safety Power Shutoff program. Hawaiian Electric customers can now use a new online search feature to determine if their address is within the high-risk wildfire areas within the company’s Public Safety Power Shutoff program. Maui News. Big Island Video News.

New law boosts funding for Hawaiian language immersion education. Hawaiian language immersion education is getting a boost in funding to create new positions for kaiapuni teachers and curriculum specialists with the state Department of Education. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Honolulu Bill To Rein In Fake Farms Threatens Real Ag Enterprises. Beekeepers, kennels and livestock owners say a proposed change to Honolulu's land use ordinance would drive them out of business. Civil Beat.

City seeks to terminate tow contractor after audit finds hundreds of drivers overcharged. All Island Wreckers, also known as All Island Automative Towing, was contracted by the city in January 2023 and city officials were made aware of the complaints about the fees during the mayor’s town hall in Mililani on April 6, 2023. Hawaii News Now.

EPA fines 2 Oahu nurseries for worker protection standard violations. According to the EPA, the state in 2021 conducted inspections at the nurseries: Olomana Orchids Inc. of Kaneohe and Mari’s Garden’s in Mililani. Both cases were referred to the EPA in 2023 for resolution. Star-Advertiser.

Popular Oahu trail to temporarily close for much-needed maintenance, upgrades. Manoa Falls Trail, one of the most popular hikes on Oahu, will temporarily close for maintenance this month. The closure will run from Monday through July 13.  Hawaii News Now.

A Tale Of 12 Shopping Carts And The Man Who Retrieves Them. It's a dirty business, even in suburban Kapolei. But somebody's got to do it. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Aircraft Alert Issued For Pōhakuloa Training Area, RIMPAC. Residents around Hilo airport have already noticed an increase in military aircraft taking off and landing.  Big Island Video News.

Hawai‘i County park returns to its original place name. A Pāhoa park sign now bears its original place name. On Wednesday, community leaders, students elected officials and local residents held a blessing for Waiakahi‘ula Beach Park, formerly known as Kahakai Park. Big Island Now.

Maui

Moratorium on disconnections of electric service for non-payment for Maui customers extended through Aug. 31. Suspension of service disconnections for all Hawaiian Electric customers on Maui has been extended through at least Aug. 31, 2024, in accordance with the extension of Gov. Josh Green’s emergency proclamation. Maui Now.

Over 30 rebuilding permits have been issued after the fire. Here’s how some Lahaina homeowners did it. A total of 31 disaster recovery permits for residential structures have been issued as of Wednesday, including 28 in Lahaina and three in Kula, according to Desilee Santiago, one of four permit technicians with 4LEAF, which received a three-year, $16 million contract to help Maui County with the permitting process following the fires. Maui Now.

Lahaina Fire Survivors Prepare To Test Maui County’s Rules On Living In The Burn Zone. With the trailer on a barge en route to Hawaii, two business partners plan to set up a makeshift home on the now-cleared property. Civil Beat.

Oahu Coral Group Gears Up To Help Maui’s Battered Reefs. Started by fishermen and firefighters, Kuleana Coral Restoration prioritizes workforce development to aid coral reefs stressed by warming oceans, urban runoff and more. Civil Beat.

Maui chef who served community during fires now fighting for his life. Riko Bartolome was recently diagnosed with leukemia. The specific form he is battling is high risk that affects his blood and bone marrow. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Fireworks determined to be cause of motel lanai fire on Kauai. Kaua'i Fire Department firefighters extinguished a structure fire on Papaloa Road in Wailua on Wednesday, July 3. KITV4.

Kaua‘i Sushi Station crowned best in nation – for the second year in a row. That’s according to popular business review website Yelp, which recently placed Kaua‘i Sushi Station at the summit of its “Top 100 Sushi Spots” of 2024. Kauai Now.

Strong start to summer travel season at Lihu‘e Airport.  A busy start to the summer travel season at Lihu‘e Airport saw more passengers arriving via domestic flights and longer wait times for people leaving the island of Kaua‘i. Garden Island.

Legislature tackles assault weapon ban, warrant-less fireworks searches, public election funding, free school lunches; U.S. Transportation Secretary Buttigieg tours Lahaina, feces found on Honolulu police supervisors' desks, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

More Assault Weapons May Be Banned As Hawaii Seeks To Shore Up Strict Gun Laws. Lawmakers are working to tighten Hawaii’s existing assault weapons ban by passing a bill that would expand the types of weapons it covers, even as the state fends off legal challenges to some of its current gun regulations. Civil Beat.

House committee to hear bill allowing warrantless fireworks searches. A bill that would allow law enforcers and firefighters to search the premises of fireworks licensees without a warrant is making its way through the state House of Representatives. Tribune-Herald.

State Senate approves comprehensive public funding for ‘clean elections’ by 2028. The Hawaiʻi State Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 2381 Senate Draft 2 (SB2381 SD2), which would establish a comprehensive system of public financing for candidates seeking election to state and county public offices, beginning with the 2028 general election year.  Maui Now.

Lawmakers Question Plans For Governor’s Maui Wildfire Death Settlement Fund. The state will contribute $65 million to the fund, which is designed to limit litigation and provide some closure in cases where there were deaths or severe injuries. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.

Should public buildings be able to withstand Category 5 hurricanes? Senate Bill 2972 states that warmer seas and fewer trade winds are making Hawaiʻi more vulnerable to strong hurricanes, and thus future government buildings should be adequately equipped to serve as shelters in a major disaster.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Surveyed lawmakers don’t think Hawaiʻi is prepared for sea level rise. A new survey from the University of Hawaiʻi's Economic Research Organization polled elected officials at the state and county levels to take their pulse on sea level rise.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiʻi gets $50M in federal funds for clean water infrastructure projects. The federal funding comes from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which sets out to invest over $50 billion in clean water initiatives. Hawaii Public Radio.

Governor signs executive order declaring Hawaiʻi a trauma-informed state. It’s an internal message for the state government to collaborate with the Office of Wellness and Resilience to use trauma-informed care in programs and policies. Hawaii Public Radio. Big Island Video News.

Vehicle towing rates in Hawaii could more than double this year. Under a  bill sponsored by state Sen. Kurt Fevella, the rate for a hookup would go up from $65 to $143. KITV4.

Free breakfast and lunch for all public school students could be making a comeback. There’s a bill (HB 1775) gaining traction in the legislature would make it a reality and help thousands of kids who go hungry each day.  KHON2.

CVS Health invests nearly $35 million for affordable housing, preschools in Hawaii. CVS Health on Wednesday announced an investment of almost $35 million for affordable housing developments in Kapolei and Lahaina. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

HPD leadership, morale called into question after police supervisors find envelopes with feces on their desks.  HPD confirms its Professional Standards Office launched an internal probe after someone placed envelopes full of feces on the desks of a Honolulu police commander and a Honolulu police supervisor earlier this month. Hawaii News Now.

7 public schools in Pearl Harbor area show detections of petroleum-based chemicals. Advocates are urging the Navy to warn the public, but the military insists the water is safe. Hawaii News Now.

University Of Hawaii Medical School Resumes Accepting Donated Bodies. The program had been halted in July due to having too many bodies for too few surgical trainees. Civil Beat.

City ethics commission reviews gift prohibitions for employees. During a virtual meeting Wednesday, the Honolulu Ethics Commission discussed but took no formal action on the measure.  Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Meeting On Future Waikoloa Public Library, February 27.  According to the Draft Environmental Assessment for the project published in January 2024, the proposal includes a new, 12,000 square foot public library, with an “approximately 3,000 square foot Early Learning Center (ELC), 71-stall surface parking lot, and complimentary landscaping.  Big Island Video News.

Hilo smoke shop owner accused of selling illegal marijuana products from business. The charges came after police and the state Narcotics Narcotics Enforcement Division executed a search warrant Feb. 15 at Karl Stasik’s business, Hale Hookah at 60 Waianuenue Ave. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.  Big Island Now.

Maui

U.S. Transportation Secretary Buttigieg tours Lahaina destruction.  U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg toured what remains of Lahaina on Wednesday and heard from members of Mayor Richard Bissen’s advisory counsel, who reported sometimes conflicting pressures as Maui continues to recover from the Aug, 8 wildfires. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.  Hawaii News Now.  KITV4.

Pop-Up Village For Maui Fire Survivors Battles Red Tape To Finally Open. Organizers had hoped to have the rent-free housing ready to go within weeks of the fire. They're still waiting. Civil Beat.

State discusses how to shelter displaced residents once FEMA leaves Maui. State lawmakers are concerned there may not be enough housing in place to shelter displaced Lahaina residents by the time the Federal Emergency Management Agency leaves next February. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Kīlauea man killed in blast caused by homemade explosives, police report. On the evening of Monday, Feb. 12, police were dispatched to a residence in Kīlauea following the report of an unattended death, which led to the discovery of a man’s body. The deceased was later identified as Jasper Gunsell, a 37-year-old resident of Kīlauea. Kauai Now.

Convention center and stadium could sport ads, Senate bill limits youth firearms use, rolling blackouts continue, 101st Maui fire victim ID'd, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Bills would allow outdoor ads on stadium, convention center. Naming rights for the Hawai‘i Convention Center would be allowed despite Hawaii’s general ban on outdoor advertising after a key Senate committee approved a bill Tuesday despite concerns. Star-Advertiser.

Bills For A New Ride-Share Fee And A Climate-Impact Fee Advance. State lawmakers gave tentative approval Tuesday to a new fee that would be charged to users of ride-hailing companies such as Uber and Lyft and another proposed new climate-impact fee mostly aimed at tourists. Civil Beat.

State Senate to consider bill on firearms, ammunition regulation changes on Wednesday. A Senate Bill that proposes to prohibit people under the age of 21 to own, possess and control ammunition is drawing fire from gun enthusiasts. KITV4.

Enthusiasm surrounds measure to provide universal free school meals. House Bill 1775 would make meals free for all students. Hawaii Public Radio.

Lawmakers consider a bill that would make it easier to become a teacher in Hawaii. A bill is moving through the Hawaii legislature that would allow individuals who have an associate’s degree or a high school diploma with certain additional coursework to become teachers. KITV4.

Senate bill on legalizing adult-use cannabis moves forward. If passed into law, the measure would establish the Hawaiʻi Cannabis Authority and Cannabis Control Board within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to regulate all aspects of the cannabis plant. Big Island Now. Hawaii News Now.

State lawmakers consider lowering penalty for possession of marijuana. A measure that passed its second reading in the House of Representatives would decrease the fine to $25 and increase the amount of decriminalized marijuana to less than 1 ounce. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiian Electric keeps profit up, seeks financing as Maui wildfire costs loom. Hawaii’s largest electrical utility is maintaining financial stability in the face of still-growing legal claims and recovery expenses from the Aug. 8 Maui wildfire disaster. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

Affordable Connectivity Program ends soon that helped subsidize internet costs for low-income households. A federal program reimbursing low-income households for their internet bills will end within months. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu

City auditor reviews building permit department. A follow-up audit on the city Department of Planning and Permitting found prior recommendations related to the quicker issuance of city building permits to the public have been met, in some cases, but not yet been achieved in other instances. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii flight attendants picket amid worldwide protests. Local flight attendants picketed at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport on Tuesday as part of a Worldwide Day of Action to demand fair contracts. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

State prevails in multimillion-dollar federal lawsuit over Big Island housing development. The State of Hawai‘i prevailed in a multimillion-dollar federal lawsuit brought by a developer claiming damages after a decision to revert its Waikōloa project – Villages at Aina Leʻa – from an urban to an agricultural district.  Big Island Now.

Rolling Power Outages Hit Hawaiʻi Island Tuesday Night. At 7:10 p.m., Hawaiian Electric reported over social media that about 8,300 customers were already without power in parts of Hawaiʻi Island. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.  Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

Kona airport closed again. The state Department of Transportation announced the airport did not open as scheduled at 6 a.m. after overnight paving of the runway due to equipment malfunction and asphalt cooling. West Hawaii Today. Big Island Video News.  Big Island Now.

Cosmic Drive heading to Naniloa: Nighttime Top Golf-like experience will utilize hotel’s driving range. The Grand Naniloa Hotel’s driving range is about to look very different in the evening when it becomes home to Hilo’s newest nighttime attraction — Cosmic Drive. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Lahaina man, 76, identified as the 101st fire victim. Paul Kasprzycki, 76, had been one of three remaining people on the official list of those reported as missing to the Maui Police Department after the Lahaina fire. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Hawaii Public Radio.  Maui Now.  Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

$15,000 hotel bill for Maui evacuee sparks call for new housing solutions. For the first time, the public is getting an idea of how much it’s costing to house just one wildfire survivor in a Maui hotel. That tab is more than $15,000 per month — and advocates say it shows why intermediate housing is needed now. Hawaii News Now.

Officials Confront Lahaina’s Fire Evacuation Route Problem With Computer Simulations. Narrow roads, gates and parking are playing into how the county and residents should rebuild certain neighborhoods. Civil Beat.

Survey on Permanent Maui Disposal Site closes on Thursday. The County of Maui reminds residents that the last day to respond to its survey on a permanent disposal site for wildfire debris from Lahaina is this Thursday, Feb. 15.  Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauai visitors spend a record $2.76 billion in 2023. The willingness of people to dig deep into their pockets, while spending time on the island of Kaua‘i, produced a record-setting year for visitor spending. Garden Island.