Homeless czar Mizuno steps down, Legislature taps budget to help nonprofits hit by federal cuts, new Hilo power plant approved, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Critic Of High Costs Of Tiny House Villages Quits Top Homelessness Post. The head of Hawaiʻi’s homelessness program, who publicly criticized excessive operating costs of some state-funded tiny home villages, has stepped down as the director of the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions. Former homeless director John Mizuno will become a special advisor in Gov. Josh Green’s administration. Civil Beat. Spectrum News.

Lifeline considered for Hawaii nonprofits. Hawaii lawmakers are considering a contingency plan to help fund nonprofit organization operations facing federal funding cuts. SB 933 would set aside one-time, non-recurring grants within the state budget to support essential services across the nonprofit sector. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.  Hawaii News Now.

State Is Scrambling To Fix SNAP Food Program Following $11M Fine For Errors. Hawaiʻi hopes the federal government will waive half of the penalty if the state invests more than $5 million in new technology. Civil Beat.

Converting fallow land into agroforests could counteract carbon emissions. Hawaiʻi’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2045 has a team of local and Native Hawaiian researchers cultivating new solutions. They mapped unmanaged, fallow agricultural land around the state and found that if all the land was converted into agroforests, it would counteract the carbon emissions of 100 million barrels of oil.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Home subsidy purchase program expands. Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund Equity Pilot Program run by the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corp. has been expanded to city workers in additional job categories. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Launches Its Own Effort To Hire Federal Workers. The mayor’s announcement comes a little more than a week after the governor launched a similar effort on the state level. Like the state of Hawaiʻi, Honolulu says it will streamline hiring for these workers. That includes waiving certain unnamed city hiring requirements for a 12-month period, according to the press release. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

Oʻahu Public Housing Tenants Promised Relocation Help Hit Dead-Ends. Kūhiō Park Terrace residents have been left angry and bewildered as Hawaiʻi Public Housing Authority moves to relocate them so their homes can be torn down. Civil Beat.

Dismantling Haʻikū Stairs Is Urgent Safety Issue, City Says In Court Filing. Providing security to keep hikers away has proved costly and leaving the stairs partially in place is a safety hazard, the city said in a court filing Wednesday. Civil Beat.

Kamehameha Schools Kapalama receives 3 threats. The Honolulu Police Department opened three felony investigations after a series of anonymous threats of violence at the Kameha­meha Schools Kapalama campus prompted school officials to notify parents, faculty and staff. Star-Advertiser.

Groups to provide ‘one-stop shop’ for immigrant-crackdown concerns. In the wake of the federal crackdown on illegal immigrants, the Filipino Community Center (FilCom) will host a citizenship outreach Saturday to provide legal and informational resources to all, regardless of immigration status or ethnic background. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Hawaiian Homes Commission Greenlights New Hilo Power Plant. The Alahao renewable energy project, proposed for a 12-acre plot in Panaʻewa near Railroad Avenue, would burn diesel produced from plant oils. Hawaiʻi Land & Power, the project developer, said it would cost $250 million with funding from Lotus Infrastructure, an investment firm based in Connecticut. Civil Beat.

General Plan meetings are wrapping up. Janice Hata, long-range planner with the county Planning Department, presented last week a variety of potential policies and actions to help diversify the county’s economy, balancing tourism with agricultural development.  Tribune-Herald.

Green receives list of nominees for Big Island judgeship. The state Judicial Selection Committee has sent four nominees to Gov. Josh Green to fill a vacancy left by the retirement of Kona Circuit Judge Robert D.S. Kim in July 2024. Tribune-Herald.

Kona coffee industry hit by funding freeze and USDA layoffs at 'existential moment'. The Kona Coffee Farmers Association held its annual symposium Tuesday on Hawaiʻi Island. The coffee was delicious, per usual, but the day's agenda was a stark reminder of the many hurdles facing local farmers who grow the beans for Kona's beloved brews. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui

Bissen administration explains years-long delay in homeless overnight parking program. More than two years after Maui County Council members unanimously approved a bill to allow homeless people to sleep in their cars in county parking lots, a pilot program has yet to be implemented, even after the J. Walter Cameron Center’s parking lot was initially identified as an appropriate location in the fall of 2022. Maui Now.

Commission supports food product trucks, trailers on farm land. The Maui Planning Commission has recommended expanding agricultural farm activities on the Valley Isle to include mobile food trucks and trailers after hearing testimonies from farmers about how the county Planning Department first allowed the activity but then decided to shut down the operation. Maui News.

Three major gym renovations on Maui leave sports teams with less space. The projects include the $28.5 million overhaul of War Memorial Gym, the $3.7 million upgrade of the Lahaina Civic Center and the $2.6 million repairs to the Lahainaluna gym. Maui Now.

‘Purely vindictive’: Maui man freed from prison thanks to DNA technology called back to court. Three days after Gordon Cordeiro walked out of prison for the first time in 31 years, the Maui County prosecuting attorney’s office filed a motion seeking a bail hearing. Hawaii News Now.

Lahaina fire survivors beg government leaders for more help. Billions of dollars in federal aid have been allotted to Maui for disaster recovery and economic development. But Lahaina fire survivors fear that the Trump Administration may stall the money. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Officials kick off Kōloa Road Bridge, Kīpū Bridge repair projects with blessing. Repairs on Kōloa Road Bridge begin toward the end of next week, with work on Kīpū Bridge to start after their completion. Kauai Now.

Okinawan lifeguards complete inaugural Lifeguard Exchange Program with Kaua‘i Ocean Safety Bureau. Nine lifeguards from Okinawa, Japan, underwent a series of hands-on training sessions from Feb. 17-21 at various key locations around Kaua‘i, each offering unique challenges for ocean rescues, as part of the inaugural Lifeguard Exchange Program. Kauai Now.

House advances ban on non-medical vaccine exemptions, ICE admits error in detaining Oahu farmer, Maui Council mulls plan to let homeless sleep in cars, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Testifiers sound off on Hawaiʻi measure to ban non-medical vaccine exemptions in schools. The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs narrowly voted in favor of House Bill 1118 on Friday. The 5-3 vote included two votes with reservations, but it’s now set up to cross over to the Senate. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiʻi could create a loan program for condo building repairs. Over 30,000 units in the state are having issues with commercial lenders because they are unable to have full insurance coverage on their buildings. Hawaii Public Radio.

Proposed tax on foreign ships could increase costs in Hawaii. As many Hawaii businesses are already weighing the potential impacts tariffs proposed by Trump could have on them, some are now bracing for even more potential economic consequences if foreign ships visiting the islands have to pay extra for pulling into our harbors — potentially passing those costs on to the consumer, or prompting the ships to avoid Hawaii altogether. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii to launch digitized Agriculture Declaration Form. The initiative, authorized under Act 196 during the previous legislative session, is a step toward modernizing the state’s biosecurity efforts by improving form completion rates and enhancing protections against invasive species. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Big Island Video News. Hawaii News Now.  KITV4.

Oahu

ICE ‘deeply regrets’ error after Hawaii farmer detained, letter says. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement admits it made a mistake after detaining a Laie farmer who faces deportation. Hanjun Shen, 60, who’s from China and owns JM Farm in Laie, Hawaii, was detained by ICE last month and is currently being held in the Federal Detention Center in Honolulu. Hawaii News Now.

Head of Homeland Security Investigations in Honolulu retired ahead of immigration policy shift.  John Tobon, 51, was an assistant director, in charge of Homeland Security Investigations’ Honolulu office until he retired on Jan. 31. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu seeks new exec for troubled Liquor Commission. The Honolulu Liquor Commission is looking to hire a new senior-level executive after it announced a key employee plans to leave the troubled agency after nearly 25 years on the job. Star-Advertiser.

UH researchers conduct dye tracer study at Red Hill. Researchers from the University of Hawaii at Manoa are conducting a dye tracer study to gain insight into the groundwater flow near Red Hill. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Five staff members at Hakalau Forest Refuge on Big Island fired by Trump Administration. Five staff members at the Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge were among the more than 400 employees with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service who were fired earlier this month as part of the drastic downsizing of the federal government by the Trump Administration. Big Island Now.

Proposals Wanted For Kukuiola Emergency Shelter In Kona. The County of Hawaiʻi has issued a Request for Proposals to developers for the construction of the first phase of the Kukuiola Emergency Shelter and Assessment Center. Big Island Video News.

Plans to revitalize prime real estate on Big Island moving forward. Another derelict building on Banyan Drive in Hilo shuts down for good. This as lawmakers move one step closer to creating a master plan to revitalize the surrounding area.The old country club on Hilo’s Banyan Drive is officially closed. KHON2.

University of Hawaiʻi team discovers ancient Hawaiian calendar system at a Hawaiʻi Island heiau. New research has uncovered evidence that an ancient Hawaiian heiau (place of worship, shrine) served as a sophisticated seasonal calendar, demonstrating the advanced scientific knowledge of Native Hawaiian culture.  Big Island Now.

Maui

Council panel to receive update on pilot project for overnight sleeping in cars. The Maui County Council’s Water Authority, Social Services and Parks Committee will receive an update Tuesday morning on the status of a Maui County pilot project to allow people to sleep in their cars in county-owned public parking lots. Maui Now.

Maui leaders, nonprofits push for better medical care for homeless. Homeless advocates say a recent death near Maui Memorial Medical Center raises major concerns about what is being done to help homeless who are on the verge of dying. Hawaii News Now.

Federal funding cuts affect Lahaina fire survivors working at the Maui Humane Society. On Friday, according to MHS, notification arrived by email that funding for the three from the National Dislocated Workers Grant program would be cut, effective immediately. The society had less than 24 hours’ notice. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio.

Few Property Sales, High Prices in Lahaina As Victims Try To Recoup Losses. Sales have increased in recent months, but real estate agents say sellers of burned-down homes have no other choice. Civil Beat.

Kauai

U.S. Department of Agriculture Safety inspector charged in child pornography case. A 39-year-old consumer safety inspector for the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Kauai faces federal charges after he allegedly groomed two minor boys in Fargo, N.D., and Philadelphia into making child pornography. Star-Advertiser.

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.

Hawaii should count homeless population

 

 

Did you hear? Hawaii has solved its homeless problem.

The solution was so obvious it’s amazing no one thought of it sooner. Just stop counting them!

That’s right, this year, when the Jan. 22 Point in Time Count rolls around, Hawaii agencies will count only those homeless already in shelters. The vast majority of our unhoused population – those living under storefront awnings, tents, umbrellas and tarps on the sidewalks, under and even in the trees – nah, no need to count ‘em.

And here I thought the purpose of the annual homeless population count was to assess the need for more shelters, more treatment options, more housing even. Well, guess what? No need!

I think I’m going to try that approach with my middle-age spread. Why step on that scale? Voila! My pot belly disappears.

Hey, we can expand it to other government programs, like our beleaguered Department of Education. Our kids falling behind on math and science, reading comprehension and spelling? Easy-peasy. Just quit testing them!

No need to give more money to the struggling Department of Agriculture to stem the influx of invasive species decimating crops from coffee to the iconic coconut palms. Quit counting those bugs already!

“You don't fatten a pig by weighing it,” drawled a rural Florida legislator, back when standardized testing was proposed for the nation’s schools. But how do we know how skinny that pig is getting if we don’t even weigh that sucker?

Sure, we can avert our eyes, not see the homeless problem, just like we try not to meet the eyes of the sad or belligerent people crowding our sidewalks as we carefully sidestep their little camps. We choose not to notice the families who are feeding their young children from beat-up old cars crowded with all their earthly possession in public lots, trying to help their kids live a normal life in a society that deliberately overlooks them. How might those kids thrive, to be the next Einstein or Tesla or even the next Bill Gates, if we don’t nurture them?

We can legally skip a year. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires the homeless count of unsheltered homeless just once every two years. But should we? We’ve counted them – or tried to count them -- every year since 2012, except for a break in 2020, when the pandemic kept everyone at home, whatever home looked like at the time.

The most recent federal report shows total homeless people in Hawaii rose 87% between 2023 and 2024. (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Annual Homeless Assessment Report.)

Previous Hawaii counts have shown there are twice as many unsheltered homeless people as those in shelters.

And while state and local agencies and nonprofits should be commended for taking the steps they have in trying to count our ever-elusive homeless population and help them into stable housing, it’s a daunting task. Last year’s count, for example, showed fewer unsheltered homeless on most Hawaiian Islands, even though those of us who are out regularly can see with our own eyes that’s not necessarily the case.

“We did one last year; it was quite a bit of work, and so we opted not to do it this year,” Maude Cumming, a former chair of the neighbor island’s nonprofit contractors, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

It’s not like the public hasn’t been generous donating to homeless charities. Three such nonprofits alone -- The Institute For Human Services Inc, HOPE Services Hawaii and Mental Health Kokua Safe Haven – reported almost $50 million revenue in their latest IRS filings.

I’ve seen the tent cities crowding Honolulu’s sidewalks. I see the displaced every morning in Hilo, where they’re quick to collapse their tents and umbrellas and gather up their belongings into stolen shopping carts to clear the premises before the cops come around. Can’t let the tourists see them! Where do they spend their days? Who knows?

But more importantly, who cares? I care. And so should you. Because if the most needy in our society aren’t counted – or don’t count – what does that say about us as a people?

Commentary. Nancy Cook Lauer, who’s covered state and local governments for more than 30 years in Hawaii and Florida, is the publisher of All Hawaii News (www.allhawaiinews.com)

Hawaii imports most seafood, motorists worst in the nation, training of foreign troops intensifies at Army ranges, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Do you know where your fish comes from? It's probably not Hawaiʻi. The fish sold and prepared in Hawaiʻi is mostly a mix of local and foreign. The most cited breakdown comes from a 2012 study that estimated about 57% of all seafood consumed in the state between 2000 and 2009 was imported. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii’s motorists are worst in the U.S., survey says. Based on a survey of 5,000 Americans with a driver’s license — 100 respondents in each state — Hawaii ranked first for changing lanes or turning without signaling, going 20 miles per hour or more over the speed limit and running red lights. Star-Advertiser.

Training by foreign troops increasing in Hawaii at Army ranges. Hawaii is becoming an increasingly active training ground for militaries from around the Pacific and beyond. This month the Army ran an exercise that brought 900 foreign service members to the islands to train alongside 9,000 American troops. Star-Advertiser.

Design to replace state Capitol reflecting pools is taking shape.  Finishing touches are being applied to the design for a waterless representation of the ocean to replace dysfunctional reflecting pools around the state Capitol, paint dot by paint dot applied by roughly 2,000 people across Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Emergency rent, utility help available for Native Hawaiian families impacted by wildfires on Maui, Big Island in 2023. Native Hawaiian families experiencing financial hardship because of the wildfires on Maui and the Big Island in 2023 and are in need of help with rent and utility payments now have another resource that can help them as they continue to recover. Big Island Now.

Oahu

Volunteers work days, nights to ensure secure Hawaii election. The approximately 80 official observers are part of the overall contingent of 320 “counting center officials” who have volunteered for various jobs on Oahu this election year. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu’s e-bike working group updates Council. Following reports of the dangerous and unlawful operation of electric bicycles across Oahu, the City and County of Honolulu formed a working group to study how best to regulate the controversial machines and their often underage riders. Star-Advertiser.

Ala Wai harbor redevelopment is urged. Pau Hana Place, a popular neighborhood eatery on a parcel at the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor, has closed following a battle over the terms of its revocable permit, and come December the state says it plans to temporarily turn the parcel into a parking lot until it can pursue a request for proposals to complete the community’s vision for the site. Star-Advertiser.

‘It actually hurts’: Ala Wai storm debris inundates boat harbor. Waikiki Yacht Club members said when it rains, it’s normal for debris to flow down the Ala Wai, but nothing quite like what they saw on Saturday. Hawaii News Now.

Lead Detected Near Marine Corps Shooting Range Revives Safety Concerns. The Marines say the results are nothing to worry about. Their neighbors and the health department have a different view.  Civil Beat.

The city’s CORE team vows to keep addressing North Shore homelessness. A city team of emergency medical technicians and homeless outreach workers returned to Wahiawa and the North Shore last week, encountered a dozen homeless people and promised to keep coming back to provide first aid, wound care, social services, shelter beds and, ultimately, stable if not permanent housing. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii grown: School lunch made entirely of local ingredients. Friday’s school lunch at Laupahoehoe Public Charter School was one of a kind in the state. Tribune-Herald.

‘Winter is here’: Snow blankets Mauna Kea summit. Mother Nature is definitely being tricky with the weather today at the summit of Mauna Kea, but with precautions in place such as the access road being closed, many Big Islanders are finding the scenery to be more of a treat just in time for Halloween. Big Island Now.

Hōkūleʻa Arrives In Miloliʻi For Two-Week Stop In West Hawaiʻi. The seven-month Pae ʻĀina voyage around the Hawaiian Islands will cover 3,000 miles, before Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia resume the Moananuiākea Circumnavigation of the Pacific in March 2025.  Big Island Video News. KHON2.

Road Resurfacing In Hilo Industrial Area Planned For November. Starting November 4, crews will be conducting road paving on Makaʻala Street, Holomua Street, Poʻokela Street, and Wiwoʻole Street. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Maui Considers New Law To Regulate Homeless Sweeps. A Hawaii Supreme Court ruling against the county prompted a bill to establish procedures for property removal and a right to shelter. Civil Beat.

Maui County Council makes moves on new East Maui Water Authority director, water resolution, more. Maui County Council met Friday morning and voted on a number of matters including a new East Maui Water Authority Director, a resolution regarding recycled water, funding for a Maui nonprofit and more.  Maui News.

Offering $25-$50 per animal, state officials seek Maui landowners’ help controlling axis deer populations. Facing continuing problems with the high number of axis deer in Maui County, state officials are looking for private landowners’ help to take some of the animals off the landscape. Maui News.

Mayor Richard Bissen to travel to Japan for disaster recovery program. Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen will be traveling to Japan on Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, to participate in the Kibou for Maui project in Japan. Maui Now.

Maui County weighs how to legally rebuild Lahaina's historic structures. This week, the Maui County Council’s Housing and Land Use Committee considered a bill that would allow Lahaina buildings that don’t conform to current zoning codes to be rebuilt after the fire. Hawaii Public Radio. Maui Now.

Maui unemployment modest a year after disaster. A state report published Monday showed that the unemployment rate on Maui was 4.0% in September. That compares with 3.2% for all of Hawaii and 3.9% for the nation. A year earlier, Maui’s unemployment rate was 8.9%. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

KIUC looking for 2025 Board Election candidates. The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative announced that the deadline for a KIUC board candidate application or a petition requesting to be considered for a KIUC board candidate is Nov. 14. Garden Island.

Pedestrian traffic to be restricted on part of Kūhiō Highway during slope stabilization. Due to safety concerns, the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation will be restricting pedestrian traffic through the 24/7 single lane closure on Kūhiō Highway at the Waikoko Hairpin Turn at milepost 4.7. This impacts pedestrians using the route to the “Tourist Lumahai Beach.”  Kauai Now.

Former Speaker Calvin Say retires from politics while Hee, Kahele return, Honolulu hikes property taxes on vacation rentals, Maui council unanimously opposes Air Force telescopes, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hee, Kahele reemerge in Hawaii politics as Say exits. Former state senator and Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustee Clayton Hee and former U.S. Rep. Kai Kahele have reentered Hawaii politics this election cycle, while current Council Member Calvin Say, the former speaker of the state House of Representatives, has decided to retire from politics at age 72. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio.  Big Island Video News.

State launches new marketing campaign in bid to recruit hundreds of new corrections officers. The state Department of Corrections is racing to fill nearly 400 positions at its facilities across the state — the highest number of vacancies it’s ever had. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii to cover palliative care through Medicaid. Hawaii has become the first state in the U.S. to cover community palliative care services through Medicaid, according to Gov. Josh Green. Star-Advertiser.

Search for new CEO of Native Hawaiian trust stirs debate over qualifications. The Liliuokalani Trust, named after Hawaii’s last reigning queen, was founded in 1909 to support orphans and children experiencing poverty. As of 2022, the fund was worth more than $1 billion. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Honolulu’s New Budget Includes Higher Property Taxes For Short-Term Rentals. Council members stuck with the higher tax rate in part to avoid cutting more services in the city's $4.5 billion budget, $115 million of which is allocated for hazard back pay from the pandemic. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.  KITV4.

The Backlog Of Honolulu Building Permits Is Taking A Toll On City Revenue. In the 2023 fiscal year alone, Honolulu received close to 20,000 permit applications but issued fewer than 15,000. The difference — carried over into the following year — represents an average of more than $1 billion in taxable construction work and nearly $7 million in building permit fees. Civil Beat.

Fireworks bill moves forward at Honolulu City Council. The Honolulu City Council held its first public hearing on Wednesday on whether or not Oahu should bring back sparklers and fountains. KHON2.

Sand Island business board sued by former lawmaker. A former state lawmaker and executive director of the Sand Island Business Association is suing its board of directors for discrimination and wrongful termination, claiming members allegedly made his job impossible in a toxic work environment. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Mililani care home fined $117K for operating without a license. The state Health Department has fined Emmy’s Care Home LLC in Mililani a penalty of $117,000 for operating an adult residential care home without a license. Star-Advertiser.

DLNR to create separate position at Mauna ʻAla for Native Hawaiian cultural protocols. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources said Tuesday it will create a new position at the Mauna ʻAla Royal Mausoleum to focus solely on Native Hawaiian cultural protocols and community outreach. Hawaii Public Radio.

Undercover sweep of McCully-Moili’ili game rooms result in multiple arrests. Law enforcement agencies conducted multiple raids on game rooms in the McCully-Moili’ili area Wednesday night resulting in several arrests. KHON2.

 Federal agents, state authorities and Honolulu police raided businesses Tuesday in both Kalihi and Mapunapuna. Sources say it was related to possible customs violations. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Homelessness down 28%: Officials credit increases in funding for services, affordable housing. It appears the number of homeless individuals on Hawaii Island has reached its lowest point in the last six years. Tribune-Herald.

Plan to turn Manago Hotel into housing nixed. A $5.5 million county grant to purchase a historic West Hawaii hotel and use it for affordable housing has fallen through. Tribune-Herald.

Bill to regulate bike tours advances. A proposal to impose regulations upon commercial bike tour operators in Hawaii County has advanced despite pushback from bicyclists and tour groups. Tribune-Herald.

Trace Amounts Of Chromium Detected In Laupāhoehoe Water. For the first time, trace amounts of chromium have been detected in water samples from the Laupāhoehoe P-2 Well, which is part of the County of Hawai‘i Department of Water Supply’s Laupāhoehoe-Kapehu system. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Maui County Council votes unanimously against new telescopes atop Haleakala. The Maui County Council voted unanimously Wednesday against a military plan to build up to seven new telescopes at the summit of Haleakala. ayor Richard Bissen doesn’t have to sign off on the resolution. However, a spokesperson in the mayor’s office said he is drafting a letter on the project that he will send to the Air Force. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Council Prioritizes Maui Fire Recovery And Housing In $1.7 Billion County Budget. The Maui County Council on Wednesday unanimously approved a $1.7 billion spending plan for the fiscal year starting July 1, the county’s first budget since the devastating wildfires last summer. More money for affordable rentals, emergency management and firefighters is on tap for 2025. Civil Beat.

Maui Hits Pause Button On Managed Retreat Fund. A fund established to help Maui County deal with the impacts of climate change and sea level rise will be paused for three years and the money earmarked for it in the 2025 fiscal year used instead for the Pulelehua housing project north of Lahaina.  Civil Beat.

Tsuhako appointment as Human Concerns director advances with 7-2 committee vote. Department of Housing and Human Concerns Director Lori Tsuhako faced critics Tuesday who questioned her responsiveness, accessibility and management of homelessness in Maui County. Maui Now.

2024 Point in Time Count shows 7% drop in people experiencing homelessness. The overall homelessness count on Maui dropped by 7% from 704 individuals in 2023 to 654 in 2024, according to newly released data from Bridging the Gap. The report showed that there was a 26% decline in unsheltered homelessness. Maui Now.

Kauai

Navy and NASA looking to renew land use deals. Both the Navy and NASA propose to maintain long-term use of the land they occupy, and to satisfy the requirements for negotiations, both parties are working on creating an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of the proposed real estate agreements. Garden Island.

Hawaii grapples with homeless laws, Chinese hackers target infrastructure, governor threatens Maui rental moratorium, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Homeless laws continue to face legal challenges. In 2022 Hawaii had over 8,000 homeless people, including 300 children — resulting in the second-highest per capita rate of homelessness in the nation, according to Gov. Josh Green. Star-Advertiser.

Green’s Homeless Coordinator Is Leaving Post. Gov. Josh Green has not named a replacement yet for James Koshiba, who has been in the role for just under a year.  Civil Beat.

Gov. Josh Green appoints Tyson Miyake to Maui House seat. Gov. Josh Green has appointed Tyson Miyake — a Maui High School graduate and former chief of staff to then-Mayor Michael Victorino — to the state House representing Wailuku-Waikapu on Maui. Star-Advertiser.

Chinese hackers targeting assets in Hawaii. A water utility and other government and private assets in Hawaii have been targeted this year by hackers working for China’s People’s Liberation Army who are looking for ways to undermine U.S. military capabilities in the Asia-Pacific. Star-Advertiser.

Deep-Sea Mining Vessel Changes Course As Hawaiians Protest From Shore. The Hidden Gem was scheduled to dock in Honolulu Harbor, but it never arrived as demonstrators gathered nearby. Civil Beat.

Coast Guard gets new ship assigned to Hawaii. The Coast Guard has been steadily boosting its footprint in the Pacific.  Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii State Hospital Workers Were Assaulted More Than 1,700 Times Over The Past 11 Years. Hawaii officials have struggled to address the problem despite building a $160 million forensic hospital designed to improve safety. Civil Beat.

State sues makers of ‘forever chemicals’. Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez filed a lawsuit on behalf of the state Thursday against 25 manufacturers of what is commonly called forever chemicals found in aqueous film-forming foam for use in firefighting, as well as common household products, including cookware, stain and water-resistant fabrics, cleaners, paints and carpeting. Star-Advertiser.

Public input sought in selection of next UH president. University of Hawaii students, faculty, staff, alumni and donors in the 10-campus system are being asked along with community members to help in the search for the next university president by completing a survey. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Capitol pool repairs on track for completion. Long-awaited repairs to one of the ground-level reflecting pools at the state Capitol are coming to a close after decades of leaking it caused in the chamber level — just in time for the next legislative session. Star-Advertiser.

Former lawmaker Whitney Anderson remembered for life of service and heart of gold.  Loved ones and community members celebrated the life and legacy of former state lawmaker Whitney Anderson on Sunday morning in Kaneohe. Anderson died last month at his Waimanalo home. He was 91. Hawaii News Now.

Milestone is marked for recovery efforts of Nihoa millerbird. The International Union for Conservation of Nature on Monday downlisted the bird, also known as ululu, from critically endangered to endangered because a second population has been established in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Ewa Politician Says Responsible Gun Owners Will Make Hawaii Safer. Not Everyone Is So Sure. The town hall on Wednesday, organized by state Rep. Diamond Garcia, who represents parts of Varona Village, Ewa and Kapolei, was intended to discuss rising crime rates on West Oahu, as well as address questions from residents curious about how to obtain licenses to carry. Civil Beat.

City measures pave way for transit, stadium development. The Honolulu City Council has adopted two related measures to expand transit-oriented development and rezone 227 acres around Skyline’s Halawa station and the shuttered Aloha Stadium. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio.

Military concludes ‘gravity defueling’ at Red Hill as 60,000 gallons remain. The military task force draining the fuel from the Navy’s underground Red Hill fuel facility announced Friday that it had wrapped up the last of its major milestones for the year, completing “gravity defueling” operations. Star-Advertiser.

Planners approve state permit for Kualoa Ranch expansion. The Honolulu Planning Commission has voted to adopt a state special-use permit to allow Kualoa Ranch Inc. to expand business operations at its Windward Oahu property. Star-Advertiser.

EMS staffing shortage leaves one-third of Oahu’s rigs out of service for 12-hour period. Officials said reasons include a combination of approved holiday vacation leave, maternity leave and illness. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Police: Drugs a factor in half the Big Island’s traffic deaths. That sobering statistic was released Friday as police kicked off its holiday campaign — “If You Fell Different, You Drive Different. Drive High, Get a DUI” — with grant funding assistance from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Tribune-Herald.

North Kohala Water Notice: Two Wells Inoperable. The Hawaiʻi County Department of Water Supply is asking customers from Hāwī To Hala‘ula to reduce water use by at least 10 percent. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Hawaii Tourism Authority to vote Thursday on Maui recovery plan. The forecast for Maui visitor arrivals is still down through 2024, and the overall visitor count to the state is lower at a time when state revenue is needed to support Maui. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Green threatens short-term rental moratorium on Maui. Gov. Josh Green hopes that owners of 3,000 short-term rental units on Maui convert to long-term housing in January for survivors of the Maui wildfires — or face a ban on short-term rentals and higher property taxes. Star-Advertiser. Associated Press. Maui Now. KITV4.

Hawaii House: Short- And Long-Term Solutions ‘Essential’ To Survival Of West Maui. A final report identifies dozens of legislative proposals to ensure that another Lahaina fire does not occur. But if one does, Hawaii will be better prepared. Civil Beat.

Maui developers seek subsidies to alter projects and help fire evacuees. Maui County officials are being asked to subsidize at least two planned residential subdivisions to affordably house people displaced by the Aug. 8 wildfire that destroyed roughly 3,500 homes in Lahaina. Star-Advertiser.

 Kahoolawe Holds Lessons For Maui’s Environmental Recovery From The Wildfires. The severely degraded island has undergone two decades of restoration work after years of overgrazing, bombing and burning.  Civil Beat.

Kauai

BLNR weighs in on Coco Palms land parcels issue. A community group fighting to stop the construction of the Coco Palms Resort was awarded joint temporary access rights, along with the developer, for a small piece of disputed state land during a Board of Land and Natural Resources meeting on Dec. 15. Garden Island.

Namahana gets green light from planning commission. The Kaua‘i County Planning Commission unanimously approved the Namahana School Special Use Permit application at its Tuesday, Dec. 12, meeting. Garden Island.

Agriculture Department to host pesticide collection on Kauai. The Hawaii Department of Agriculture’s Pesticides Branch is running a free pesticide disposal program on Kauai for commercial users of pesticides, the HDOA announced Saturday.Star-Advertiser. Kauai Now.

Smith confirmed as Hawaii federal judge, microplastics found in human placentas, snowfall on Mauna Kea, Zoom testimony returns to Kauai County Council, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

US Senate Confirms Miske Prosecutor To Federal Bench.  The U.S. Senate voted Wednesday to confirm Micah Smith as a federal judge for the U.S. District Court of Hawaii. Smith, a Kauai High School graduate, is an assistant U.S. attorney, who early in his career worked as a law clerk for former Supreme Court Justice David Souter.  Civil Beat. Garden Island.

State aims to cut unsheltered homelessness in half by 2026. There are around 6,500 homeless individuals in the state, according to last year's Point in Time Count, which provides a snapshot of the homeless population. More than 4,000 of those individuals live in unsheltered areas like beaches, parks or sidewalks. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii state Capitol soaked due to leaking reflecting pool. Lawmakers earlier this year appropriated $33.5 million to repair and renovate the pools after appropriating $9.8 million in 2021 for the more than $30 million job. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Should Use Artificial Intelligence To Improve Fire Forecasts, Researchers Say. University of Hawaii researchers are pushing to kickstart the second phase of a yearslong project to help the state better forecast wildfires by using artificial intelligence. Civil Beat.

Retirement savings program unlikely to start before 2025.  Established by a bill signed by then-Gov. David Ige in 2022, the Hawaii Retirement Savings Program is intended to help Hawaii residents prepare for the future by allowing them to enroll in a state-managed individual retirement plan. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Prison Oversight Meetings Are Missing A Key Player — The Prisons Director. Tommy Johnson told the oversight coordinator that neither he nor his staff will attend the meetings, though they'll engage in other ways. Civil Beat.

UH researchers’ study sheds light on prevalence of microplastics. Pregnant women in Hawaii are very likely to have plastic fragments in their placentas, University of Hawaii researchers have discovered, raising further concerns about the long-term health implications of microplastics. Tribune-Herald. KITV4.

Oahu

HART OKs federal agreement to fund rail. The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation’s board of directors Wednesday approved a federal plan to fund the city rail line’s ongoing construction to a planned station in Kakaako. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

Rail construction causes Kalihi street to be closed through July. All lanes of Kohou Street are now closed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, due to rail construction. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Honolulu planes to be diverted to another runway November 29 through December 8 due to construction, warn of possible delays. The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT) will divert all aircraft arriving and departing at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) to Runway 26L from 5 p.m. Wednesday, November 29 through Friday, December 8 due to ongoing remediation work on Runway 8L. KITV4.

Safety concerns at Puuloa Range in Ewa Beach addressed. State Rep. Rose Martinez and U.S. Marine Corps officials said Wednesday that they have come to a “mutually agreeable consensus among all involved parties” regarding potential lead poisoning of soil around the Marines’ Puuloa Range Training Facility in Ewa Beach. Star-Advertiser.

Health Department says PFAS detected in Waialua water system. The Hawaii Department of Health reports that perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, have for the first time been detected in water samples collected from a water system in Waialua. Star-Advertiser.

Navy video shows no widespread reef damage from plane in Kaneohe Bay. Underwater video taken of a Navy P-8A Poseidon plane sitting in Kaneohe Bay shows two points of the plane resting on coral reef but no extensive damage. Star-Advertiser.

Large boulders come crashing down in east Honolulu amid drenching rains. Large boulders, including one about the size of a compact car, crashed down in an Aina Haina community on Wednesday morning amid heavy rains. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Snowfall Closes Hawaiʻi Summit Access Roads. A layer of snow closed the road up to Maunakea on Wednesday, as a Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect for Hawaiʻi island summits. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

Lawmakers tour progress of upgrades at Kona Community Hospital. Two West Hawai‘i state lawmakers on Wednesday were given a guided tour by hospital leaders of upgrades underway at Kona Community Hospital on the Big Island. Big Island Now.

HVNP takes steps to protect nesting nene. Parts of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park have been closed to give a couple of nene parents some space. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.  Big Island Now.

Maui

‘We are trying’: In wake of subpoenas, Maui’s mayor defends response to state investigation. HNN Investigates has obtained copies of three subpoenas issued to Maui County as part of the investigation into the devastating fires. In an interview Wednesday, Mayor Richard Bissen said they are doing their best to cooperate, but experts say if that was true, subpoenas should not be necessary. Hawaii News Now.

Input invited on the role of tourism in supporting Maui’s recovery.  The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority will hold a community meeting to discuss proposed actions for tourism in support of Maui’s recovery. The meeting will be held at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s Morgado Hall on Monday, Dec. 4, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.  Maui Now.

Proposal offers tax incentive for short-term rentals that house displaced residents. Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen is proposing a bill that would offer tax exemptions for short-term rental owners who house residents displaced by the Aug. 8 wildfires.  Maui News. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Maui officials on standby to stop heavy rains from sending ash into storm drains. Maui officials were on standby Wednesday to prevent ash from August's deadly wildfire in Lahaina from flowing into storm drains after forecasters said a winter storm could bring heavy rain and strong winds to the island. KITV4.

Kauai

Commentary:  Zoom testimony returns to Kaua‘i County Council. The Kaua‘i County Council is once again accepting remote public testimony “live” via the internet. Members of the public must sign up via email to testify no later than noon on the day prior to the meeting. Garden Island.

Lydgate Campground to close Dec. 6.  The Department of Parks and Recreation is announcing that the area surrounding the Lydgate Campground will be closed on Wednesday, Dec. 6, from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Kauai Now.

ACLU sues over Honolulu homeless sweeps, Gov. Green bails out Lt. Gov. Luke's budget overruns, feds probe for money laundering in state real estate transactions, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Lawsuit claims Honolulu’s homeless policies are unconstitutional.  Honolulu’s homeless sweeps and other “anti-houseless” laws should be ruled illegal and unconstitutional because they violate Hawaii’s state constitutional prohibitions against cruel and unusual punishment, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday in Oahu Circuit Court by the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.  KITV4.

Hawaii LG Sylvia Luke Needed Bailout From Governor, Documents Show. Just before the close of the fiscal year, Gov. Josh Green stepped in with a $49,000 solution to a budget problem that threatened to expose Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke to possible liability and removal from office. Civil Beat.

Feds Closely Watching Local Property Deals For Signs Of Money Laundering. Real estate purchases by anonymous shell companies can distort appraisals and tax assessments. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, a branch of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, has begun requiring title companies on Oahu, Maui, Big Island and Kauai to report the identities of the true owners for all-cash purchases of residential real estate exceeding $300,000.  Civil Beat.

Businesses, residents demand more clarity on how new ocean recreation fee will be used. The state is preparing to collect a new $1 fee from every customer of commercial vessels, watercraft and water sports equipment operators. Hawaii News Now.

Law Enforcement Standards Board Inches Toward Hiring Key Staff. The board charged with overseeing police statewide still can’t develop standards, leaving Hawaii the only state unable to certify its law enforcement officers. Civil Beat.

Angelo named as Hawaii’s Consumer Advocate.  The state has named Michael S. Angelo executive director of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs’ Division of Consumer Advocacy. Angelo assumed the position on July 17. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Defense Contractors Likely To Get Probation For Campaign Violations. Clifford Chen and Lawrence Lum Kee, formerly of Navatek LLC, were indicted along with their boss, Martin Kao, after making illegal donations to a senator's reelection efforts. Civil Beat.

Oahu

EPA hosting public meeting to create new community group for Red Hill defueling.  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is hosting a community meeting Thursday night in Salt Lake, joined by Navy officials, to share more information about the formation of the “Community Representation Initiative.” Hawaii News Now.

HPD’s newly converted fleet of pickups taken off patrols after safety concerns surface.  In June, Honolulu police converted 10 Chevy Colorados into the department’s newest patrol vehicles. The trucks were purchased during the pandemic using COVID relief funds. Hawaii News Now.

Planners OK more mixed-use development in Halawa.  The Honolulu Planning Commission voted Wednesday to recommend rezoning 227 acres around Skyline’s Halawa station to allow for more development of mixed-use business, residential and affordable housing sites near the state’s planned New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District. Star-Advertiser.

Former site of Stadium Bowl-o-Drome will be new home for DHHL’s first rental project. The 23-story building in Moiliili will include 278 affordable apartments exclusively for beneficiaries of the Hawaiian Home Lands program. Hawaii News Now.

Developer renews plan for homes below Koko Crater.  A developer has revived plans to extend a subdivision of million-dollar homes in Hawaii Kai onto land zoned for preservation after making similar efforts twice before in recent decades. Star-Advertiser.

Nearly 300 tsunami hazard road signs installed across Oahu. The city says this is part of phase 2 of its project to alert people where the danger zone begins and ends. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Council votes to change process for ag land tax assessments.  An effort to offer Big Island commercial farmers a better break on their taxes took a new form Wednesday. Tribune-Herald.

UH reaches agreement with hackers in Hawaii Community College ransomware attack.  The University of Hawaii has reached an agreement with those responsible for a ransomware attack on the Hawaii Community College network. Tribune-Herald. Hawaii News Now.

Board hearing over TMT construction is postponed.  Land Board Chair Dawn Chang has formally declared she can be fair and unbiased in the matter despite having previously worked for the University of Hawaii and the Department of Land and Natural Resources in matters related to the Mauna Kea summit and its astronomy uses. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Roadway along rural Alelele Point reopens 3 months after rockfall.  Maui County’s roadway along rural Alelele Point in East Maui reopened Tuesday, nearly three months after a rockfall forced emergency work to remove rock debris and stabilize the cliffside.  Maui News.

Outrigger finalizes acquisition of Kāʻanapali Beach Hotel; welcomes Maui Brewing Co. restaurant this summer. Outrigger Resorts & Hotels finalized its acquisition of the iconic Kāʻanapali Beach Hotel on Wednesday. The 11-acre, 432-room property is now rebranded as Outrigger Kā‘anapali Beach Resort.  Maui Now.

School bus routes modified to handle driver shortage. Some Maui public school students will head to campus on modified or consolidated routes, similar to last school year, as the island deals with a shortage of 29 bus drivers, the state Department of Education said.  Maui News.

Kauai

Kaua‘i Bus to offer free passes to high school students this upcoming school year.  With ongoing staffing shortages for school bus drivers, the state will partner with counties for the second year in a row to provide transportation for students attending Hawai‘i public schools. Kauai Now.

Kauaʻi Community College begins chancellor search.  Margaret Sanchez was appointed interim chancellor on Jan. 3, 2023 after the previous chancellor, Joseph Daisy, retired in December 2022. Kauai Now.

Tour companies host free sightseeing event at Kikialoa Small Boat Harbor.  Tour companies at Kikialoa Small Boat Harbor gave free Napali Coast sightseeing tours to more than 200 Kaua‘i residents on Wednesday, July 26, launching what organizers say will be an annual event for locals. Garden Island.