Legislative leaders unwilling to cancel promised income tax cuts, Blangiardi approves Skyline expansion plan, FEMA delays Maui fire aid, $4M-plus Big Island homes could see property tax hike, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiʻi Lawmakers Push Back On Green’s Plan To Defer Tax Cuts. A proposal floated by House Finance Chair Chris Todd would continue much of the tax relief that was promised in 2024. A committee of state lawmakers focused on finances made major changes Wednesday to proposed legislation from Gov. Josh Green to repeal the next five years of scheduled annual state income tax cuts. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers consider prohibiting food packaging made with PFAS. House Bill 644 would prohibit the sale, distribution or use of single-use plastic ware that contains perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl — also known as PFAS. Hawaii Public Radio.

Panic Buttons In Schools: $7 Million Effort Is Delayed A Year. The state entered into a contract to provide panic buttons to Hawaiʻi schools two years ago, but DOE campuses still don’t have access to the technology. Civil Beat.

Bill could place additional support in math classrooms. A bill advancing at the state Capitol would establish a statewide numeracy coaching program in Hawaii public schools, as lawmakers and education officials grapple with persistent gaps in math achievement. Star-Advertiser.

New state initiative helps schools buy local produce directly from farms. The Hawaii State Department of Education (HIDOE) said the initiative is part of the department’s broader farm-to-school program, which supports food sustainability in the state and aligns with Act 175’s goal to improve student health while strengthening the agricultural economy. Hawaii News Now.

Out-of-state physicians could be allowed to practice some telehealth. Lawmakers are advancing a measure that would allow out-of-state physicians to practice telehealth in Hawaiʻi if the service is not available locally. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Honolulu mayor approves Skyline rail system expansion plan. On March 4, Mayor Rick Blangiardi signed Bill 60 into law. It gives HART the green light to start planning future rail extensions, even though funding to build them is not in place yet. KHON2. KITV4. 

DTS mulls higher fees, more citations for public parking. The Honolulu Department of Transportation Services is contemplating increased parking fees and high-tech parking citations to free up often congested city-owned public parking stalls on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Digital signs sought for stadium zone. Outdoor digital advertising screens would still be prohibited in Waikiki, but could soon become a part of the New Aloha Stadium district, two key Senate committees decided this week. Star-Advertiser.

Dillingham Plaza is getting a major makeover — and a Costco Gas station. A massive makeover is in the works for an aging retail center in Kalihi, but some are concerned that at least one possible new tenant may add to traffic congestion in the area. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

HPD commander demoted for allegedly sharing details of teen sex assault victim. Juvenile victim’s name and personal information were spread on social media. Ryan Nishibun, who has more than 35 years of service with HPD, has served as the acting deputy chief of field operations since last August, following the retirement of Keith Horikawa. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Council bill targets some ‘luxury’ homes in Hawaii County. The Hawaii County Council voted 5-1 on Wednesday to pass a measure creating a new residential property tax classification for luxury homes worth more than $4 million. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now. 

County bill to cap private parking rates in Historic Kailua Village postponed to consult lawyers. A bill proposing free parking and a cap on hourly and daily rates at privately owned lots in the Historic Kailua Village was postponed Tuesday to allow the Hawai‘i County Council to consult with its attorneys about the legality of the measure. Big Island Now. Big Island Video News.

North Kona’s Primary Aquifer Provides Plenty Of Water — For Now. The Keauhou aquifer’s current usage leaves room for more development, but a changing climate could significantly undercut that. Civil Beat.

Maui

FEMA Maui Fire Aid Delayed By Top Trump Official, Senators Say. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s policy of personally reviewing large grants held up a request to renew emergency housing aid on Maui, a new report says. Civil Beat.

Maui group empowers residents during blackouts with backup batteries. Organizers of the Power Back project are running a pilot program to loan the batteries and panels to community members with backup power needs. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kahului Airport’s main runway built during World War II prioritized for first reconstruction project. Runway 2-20, the only one on Maui long enough to handle those large jets and cargo planes that arrive from the mainland and keep the island’s economy purring, has needed 12 major resurfacing projects over the years to stay functional. Maui Now.

Kauai

Hawaii Department of Transportation-Airports Division seeks input. More than a dozen people opted to spend their lunch hour with the Lihue Airport Optimization Plan team on Wednesday at the Moikeha Building Conference Rooms. Garden Island.

Division of Motor Vehicles, Real Property offices to close for training. Kaua‘i County Division of Motor Vehicles and Real Property Assessment and Collections Section will be closed March 11 to accommodate staff training. Kauai Now.

Tulsi Gabbard in tight spot over Iran war, pre-built homes bill advances in Legislature, Blangiardi trims Honolulu spending in proposed budget, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Iran War Puts Tulsi Gabbard, Regime Change Critic, In An Awkward Spot. The former Hawaiʻi congresswoman was an outspoken critic of U.S.-led regime change wars. Then she went to work for Trump. Perhaps no other person in President Donald Trump’s cabinet has been more outspoken against war with Iran than his Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.  Civil Beat.

Hawaii income tax cut freeze debate begins at Legislature. Robust debate over Gov. Josh Green’s proposal to cancel future state income tax cuts took place Tuesday at the Legislature during a public hearing on one of two bills introduced to implement the stoppage. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi House advances Immigration Reform Bills that could reshape State's role. A package of immigration-related bills is advancing at the State Capitol, proposals that could significantly reshape how Hawaii works with federal immigration authorities. KITV4.

A bill that would create a framework for a pre-built home industry in Hawai‘i advances. A bill that would establish a statewide program for pre-built homes, which is touted to help with Hawaiʻi’s housing crisis, on Monday passed unanimously out of the House Finance committee. Kauai Now.

Rooftop solar incentives could be retooled toward lower-income households. Lawmakers may restructure the state’s signature renewable energy tax credit. The Renewable Energy Technologies Income Tax Credit will cover up to 35% of the cost of a new rooftop solar installation, but the total amount that applicants receive is often less. Hawaii Public Radio.

3 seek to represent Iwilei, Chinatown in House. Gov. Josh Green now will have a choice between the manager of a state House representative’s office, the chair of the Chinatown-­Downtown neighborhood board or a labor law attorney to represent Sand Island-­Iwilei-Chinatown in the House. Nominees are Nadia Alves, Ernest D. K. Caravalho and  Michael “Cov” Ratcliffe. Star-Advertiser.

Indicted CEO’s security firm has Hawaii law enforcement contracts. SaferWatch monitors state tip lines for illegal fireworks, gun crimes. The CEO of SaferWatch, a security monitoring company with active contracts in Hawaii, has been indicted on federal bribery charges in the district of New York. Hawaii News Now.

Ahi market prices double affecting businesses operations. The United Fishing Agency says that at this time of year, market changes are common, but some consumers say the changes they’ve seen previously have been the biggest change since the pandemic. KHON2.

Oahu

Mayor unveils $5.08B budget package for 2027. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration Monday formally unveiled its proposed $5.08 billion budget package for the 2027 fiscal year, which begins July 1.  The proposed budget is $133.6 million less than Honolulu’s current total budget of more than $5.2 billion, which the mayor formally signed in June 2025. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.  KITV4. 

Embezzler Or Victim? Native Hawaiian Contractor’s Family Fights Back. In various court filings, Christopher Dawson’s sister is pushing back against the DOJ narrative that he swindled a federal program meant to help his people. Civil Beat.

Zoning questions raised over proposed Hawaii Kai development. The plan would build dozens of new homes near Koko Villas, but residents said there are concerns over zoning and whether the project should move forward. KHON2.

Annual Waianae Coast drill simulates emergency evacuation through Kolekole Pass. Military, city, and state officials simulated an emergency evacuation Tuesday that involved dozens of vehicles using a one-lane road out of the Waianae Coast as part of an annual drill. Hawaii News Now.

City to auction off abandoned, towed vehicles. Law enforcement-towed vehicles will be auctioned Wednesday, March 4, starting at 8 a.m. Towed and abandoned vehicles will be auctioned Thursday starting at 8 a.m. Hawaii News Now.

Waianae man allegedly killed woman in fight over an iPad. Shaison R. Laupola, a 36-year-old man allegedly shot and killed the 26-year-old female cousin of his 16-year-old girlfriend Friday morning after a dispute over a missing iPad, according to state court documents. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Government Funds Hilo Shelter Without Safety Exits Or Fire Inspection. Hale Maluhia provides emergency shelter to vulnerable women but has never been inspected by county fire inspectors. Staff say the units are safe. Hope Services Hawaiʻi received $575,000 from Hawaiʻi County’s Housing and Homelessness Fund in 2025 to operate the Hale Maluhia shelter, and was awarded another $1.5 million in the most recent allocations from the fund. It also received $362,000 from the state Office of Housing and Homelessness last year. Civil Beat.

Renovation, expansion eyed for YWCA’s Hilo campus. The YWCA of Hawaii Island is planning a multi-million dollar renovation to its downtown Hilo campus, including a new building for its preschool program that will increase the student headcount by 40%.  Tribune-Herald. 

Laupāhoehoe Transfer Station Reopens Friday, March 6. A $2.57 million improvement project has been completed at the Laupāhoehoe Recycling and Transfer Station. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. 

Big Island resident rescued out of closed area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park dies. The National Park Service is investigating a fatality after a Hawai‘i Island resident was rescued out of a closed area of the Kīlauea caldera within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Big Island Now.

Maui

Potable water allowance for Kapalua golf course interim irrigation reversed. An environmental law firm has prevailed in an effort to prevent the owner of two Maui golf courses from using potable water for temporary irrigation during shortages of stream water. Star-Advertiser.

Bissen’s State of the County Address coming March 5. Mayor Richard T. Bissen Jr. will present the 2026 State of the County Address from 5 to 7 p.m. March 5 inside the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s Castle Theater. Maui News.

State publishes final EIS for new Central Maui wastewater facility in Waikapū. The state Office of Planning and Sustainable Development has published a final environmental impact statement for a new 14.9-acre Central Maui Wastewater Reclamation Facility on former agricultural lands in Waikapū located between Honoapiʻilani and Kūihelani highways. The department will also install portions of a sewage pipeline and a recycled water pipeline to connect the site with the future 1,400-unit Waikapū Country Town development. Maui Now.

First for-sale affordable housing project in 35 years set for Lanai. Maui County has committed $17 million in startup funding for Kaiāulu O Lānaʻi, the island’s first for-sale affordable housing project in more than 35 years. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Locals Were Crowded Out Of This Kauaʻi Beach. That May Change Soon. Years in the making, the transfer of Hā‘ena Beach Park from the county to the state is intended to alleviate longstanding parking issues and reclaim access for residents.  Civil Beat.

Hospitality company operating 5 Hawaiʻi restaurants shift to employee ownership. The Hawaiʻi-based hospitality company that operates Lava Lava Beach Club in Kapaʻa has transitioned from private ownership to employee ownership. Kauai Now.

Promised income tax cuts circling the drain, state pulling slowly out of recession, overtourism hotspots identified on Big Island and Maui, $7B airports modernization advances, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Suddenly Hawaiʻi Lawmakers Aren't Talking Much About Those Big Tax Cuts. The prospect of having to backpedal on promised tax breaks isn’t going over well in an election year. The killjoy this year is a politically painful chore Gov. Josh Green has assigned to state lawmakers. He wants them to “pause” a series of scheduled state income tax cuts that would save Hawaiʻi taxpayers billions of dollars in the years ahead. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi Gradually Moving Beyond Recession, UHERO Report Says. The University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization has published its first quarter forecast for 2026. Researchers say the Hawaiʻi economy is moving beyond last year’s mild recession, but the recovery will be gradual.  Big Island Video News.

$7 billion overhaul of Hawaii airports advances. The state Department of Transportation is advancing a $7 billion pipeline of airport construction and modernization projects over the next six to seven years, a scale Hawaii has never attempted before as it works to overhaul terminals, airfields and support facilities statewide. Star-Advertiser.

Kidney Nonprofit Charged Taxpayers ‘Outrageous’ Prices For Covid Tests. During the pandemic, the National Kidney Foundation of Hawaiʻi charged island taxpayers premium prices for Covid tests – up to $166 per test – as millions of public dollars flowed to the nonprofit’s consultant, a man who may now be at the center of a major political scandal.  Civil Beat.

State faces scrutiny for treatment of homeless with mental illness. A deepening clash between state lawmakers, community providers and the state Department of Health is putting renewed scrutiny on how Hawaii handles defendants with serious mental illness — and whether gaps in the system are fueling a costly “revolving door” between jail, the Hawaii State Hospital and the streets. Star-Advertiser.

Surveyed residents support the building of community kauhale.  Some 92% of people surveyed  said they support kauhale, or tiny homes, for “the working poor,” according to the survey by HomeAid Hawai‘i, which expects to construct 30 kauhale on all islands by the end of the year. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. 

Hawaiʻi Skies: Total lunar eclipse in the early hours of March 3. Hawaiʻi is one of the only places in the world in the direct path of a lunar eclipse in the early hours of Tuesday, March 3. The moment of "maximum eclipse" is expected around 1:30 a.m. local time. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Social Security numbers of over 1.2M ‘potentially’ exposed in UH cyberattack. The Social Security numbers belonging to 1,241,020 people were “potentially” exposed during a cyberattack that was initially discovered Aug. 31 by the University of Hawaii Cancer Center’s Epidemiology Division. Among the records “possibly exposed” are Social Security numbers and driver’s license numbers from state Department of Transportation records collected in 2000 and Honolulu voter registration records from 1998. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

University of Hawaii begins search for Manoa chancellor. The decision separates the roles of UH system president and UH Manoa chancellor — a dual structure that has been in place in recent years — following months of discussion by the University of Hawaii Board of Regents. Star-Advertiser.

West Oahu refinery to produce plant-based biofuels.  Par Hawaii proposes that part of its 151.4-acre facility at 91-325 Komohana St. in Kapolei will now produce low-carbon-­emission, plant-based biofuels, including renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel and renewable liquefied petroleum gas, among others. Star-Advertiser.

Event marks milestone to bring Honolulu Chinatown’s first arch. A groundbreaking ceremony was held Saturday for Honolulu Chinatown’s first arch, to be erected in about six months at the entrance of Kekaulike Mall at King Street. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi Attorney Accused Of Lying During Kealoha Trial Could Face Discipline. Kevin Sumida could face punishment ranging from a private admonition to suspension.  Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

The Thirty Meter Telescope Is Still Alive — For Now. The TMT project is back under consideration for federal support, but it must complete a final design phase without taxpayer assistance. Civil Beat.

3 priority hotspots identified in Hawai‘i Tourism Authority’s draft management plan for Big Island. The draft of the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority’s latest destination management action plan for Hawai‘i Island has honed in on three priority hotspots – sites under strain that are cherished by residents and visitors – Keaukaha, Kealakekua and Ka Lae, also known as South Point. Big Island Now.

Hearings To Be Held On Kaʻūpūlehu Fisheries Management Plan. As the end of the 10-year “Try Wait” fishing rest period at Kaʻūpūlehu nears, the State plans to create a Fisheries Management Plan for the area. Big Island Video News.

Keaau health center might be ready by 2028; cost of new facility could reach $90M. The estimated cost for a new outpatient medical facility to be built in Keaau by Hilo Benioff Medical Center has increased from $60 million to as much as $90 million. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui vacation rentals face more challenges after setback. Owners of over 4,000 short-term vacation rental units on Maui and Molokai face more uncertainty after the Maui Planning Commission voted overwhelmingly against a proposal to create new hotel zoning districts that would allow owners to continue renting to tourists over local renters. Star-Advertiser.

Maui’s overtourism hotspots Road to Hāna, Honolua Bay targeted for relief under new management plan. After residents across Maui identified a long list of places they feel are overrun, desecrated or disrespected by the island’s millions of annual visitors, the draft of the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority’s latest destination management action plan has homed in on two priority hotspots: the Road to Hāna and Honolua Bay. Maui Now.

Community skeptical of golf course owner’s proposal to buy West Maui water system. The owner of two Kapalua golf courses has a plan to solve water issues in West Maui that would involve investing more than $30 million into acquiring and repairing Maui Land & Pineapple Co.’s water system before turning it over to a state agency. Maui Now.

Kauai

Līhuʻe Airport Optimization Plan public meetings scheduled. The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation will conduct a series of public meetings to provide the community with information about the Līhuʻe Airport Optimization Plan and to offer an opportunity for public input. Kauai Now.

Tanks project for Kapa‘a Homesteads ongoing until May. The work is occurring from Kapuni Road at Kapahi Park to near the Kapahi Road intersection. The work is part of the Kapa’a Homesteads Tanks Project, which is being performed by the Department of Water and its contractor, Hawaiian Dredging Company Inc. Kauai Now.

Celebrating ‘Olelo Hawaii: The Native Hawaiian Language is thriving on Kauai and Niihau. February is recognized as Mahina ‘Olelo Hawaii, or “Hawaiian Language Month,” and Kauai joined the statewide celebrations and festivities. Garden Island.

Coral reefs recognized as 'legal persons' under bill, Green seeks to repeal 5 years of income tax cuts, Hilo lawyer gets 6 years in affordable housing scam, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Bills would protect reefs, bar military live-fire training, expand robotics. Hawaii’s watersheds and coral reefs would be recognized as “legal persons” with legal rights; high school robotics could become an interscholastic sport; military live-fire training would be banned on state land; and a new fee would be charged on any “sugar-sweetened” beverages under new House and Senate bills to be considered during the legislative session that’s scheduled to adjourn May 8. Star-Advertiser.

Green’s tax cut freeze plan repeals five years of additional savings for taxpayers. Hawaii taxpayers stand to receive dramatically stunted financial savings under a plan by Gov. Josh Green to cancel future state income tax cuts. A single person earning $75,000 a year would miss out on $3,855 in estimated tax savings over the next five years, and $1,103 a year after 2031 if Green’s legislation is approved by the Legislature, according to calculations by the state Department of Taxation. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers look to ban popular ‘prediction market’ wagering. Ahead of Gov. Josh Green’s annual State of the State address last week, online betters placed $448,667 in “prediction market” wagers on whether he would say phrases that included “affordable,” “affordability,” “mainland,” “cost of living,” “aloha,” “kauhale,” “housing,” “health care,” “tourism” and “volcano” as part of an online gambling phenomenon that would be prohibited under House Bill 2198. Star-Advertiser.

Bills address nurse staffing levels and patient safety. A coalition representing thousands of nurses is backing legislation to address what they say have been chronic staffing issues statewide at hospitals in Hawaii to improve patient safety. Star-Advertiser.

New legislative bills would allow residents to kill wild chickens. Two bills being considered this legislative session would allow residents to kill feral chickens, under House Bill 1852 and the latest version of HB 980, which stalled in the 2025 legislative session but automatically rolled into this one. Star-Advertiser.

End of aquarium collecting does not lead to recovery of reef fish in Hawaiʻi waters, new analysis finds. A new analysis of state and federal monitoring data finds that yellow tang populations on Hawaiʻi reefs failed to recover — and in some cases declined — after commercial aquarium fish collecting ended, contradicting long-standing claims that the practice was sustainable. Maui Now.

New UHERO report finds Hawaiʻi’s economy has “lagged behind the rest of the U.S. for years”  According to a new report from the University of Hawaiʻi’s Economic Research Organization, Hawaii’s economy is among the worst in the nation.  KHON2.

DOE to open priority placement process for Kaiapuni education. The state Department of Education announced that a new statewide priority placement process for Hawaiian language immersion programs will open Monday, with the application window to close March 13. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: Hot Political Topics Are Stoking Sunshine Bills This Year. Now that the bill-filing deadline has passed, here’s our handy roadmap for following hundreds of government accountability and political reform bills proposed for the 2026 session. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu City Council’s affordable housing bills face strong resistance. A trio of Honolulu City Council measures is drawing opposition from building developers and housing advocates alike over an effort by some Council members to potentially roll back existing incentives related to affordable housing development on Oahu. Introduced on Jan. 22, Bills 14, 15 and 17 variously look to revise the city’s existing affordable housing laws to reduce or eliminate real property tax exemptions and similar requirements for housing incentives and waivers for developers. Star-Advertiser.

Meet The Oʻahu Woman On A Mission To Stop The Ala Wai Canal Bridge. Laura Ruby has opposed a bridge over the Waikīkī canal for almost 20 years. Even as construction inches closer, she has no plans to stop. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi tech company Servpac is adding a new building to its data center in the Mililani Technology Park. Despite the additional space, most Hawaiʻi data is stored on the continent. Hawaii Public Radio.

Road rehabilitation project to take place in Kaneohe. The city said construction will begin on an 18-month-long project on Monday along Kamehameha Highway from Haiku Road to Likelike Highway and Kaneohe Bay Drive.  Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Operation Reverse Robinhood: Big Island Lawyer Gets 6 Years For Scam. Gary Zamber is the first of the four defendants to be sentenced for conspiring to take advantage of loopholes in the Big Island’s system for handing out affordable housing credits to developers. Civil Beat.

Reed Mahuna Tapped To Serve As Hawaiʻi County’s Next Police Chief. The 28-year veteran cop was born and raised on the Big Island. The Hawaiʻi County Police Commission unanimously chose longtime Big Island cop Reed Mahuna as the department’s next police chief after a two-day hearing that wrapped up Friday.  Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.

Tram collision at Hilton Waikōloa Village prompts suspension of service. Two trams at the Hilton Waikoloa Village on Hawaii Island crashed Saturday night. No one was hurt, and the hotel said emergency services were called to the scene. Hawaii News Now. Big Island Now. 

Spittlebug threatens Hawaii Island’s cattle industry. The tiny black bug has destroyed an estimated 320,000 acres of ranchlands from Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a to South Point. Star-Advertiser.

Kawili Street Paving Project Begins This Week. The project will be carried out in phases, totaling 1.6 miles between Kanoelehua Avenue and Puainako Street. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. 

Maui

PUC to hold public hearing on proposed Hawaiʻi water rate increase in Kapalua, Maui. The Hawaiʻi Public Utilities Commission will conduct a public hearing Monday, Feb. 2 at 6 p.m. at the Maui Preparatory Academy on Hawaii Water Service Company, Inc.’s request for a rate increase for its Kapalua Water and Wastewater Divisions. Hawaii Water is asking the commission to approve  a 59% increase over revenues at current effective rates, including a 7.46% rate of return, a power cost charge pass-through, a water purchase rider and refunds of excess 2021-2025 revenues. Maui Now.

Bezos donation boosts Lahainaluna scholarships and wildfire research. A $3.5 million donation from Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez  includes $1.5 million for Lahainaluna High School graduates affected by the fires and $2 million for vegetation management and land stewardship research. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

Hawaii health officials investigate chickenpox outbreak at Kauai school. The Hawaii Department of Health today said it is investigating an outbreak of chickenpox at Kilauea Elementary School on Kauai. To date, five cases have been reported among four students and one household member. Health officials said none of the individuals were vaccinated against chickenpox, also known as varicella. Star-Advertiser.

Found human remains ends search for missing 19-year-old fisherman on Kauai.  The massive multi-agency search for a 19-year-old Kapaa man was suspended after three days when human remains were found in the waters off Kahili Beach on Saturday afternoon. KITV4.

 

Tourism remains below peak levels, bill could add wealth tax to support Medicaid, Kamehameha Schools tuition to be free, Seattle Seahawks holding flag football clinics this weekend in Hilo and Kona, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii visitor arrivals end 2025 well below pre-pandemic peak. Hawaii ended 2025 with nearly flat visitor arrivals and a tourism economy still short of its pre-COVID peak — and below what many hotels and small businesses say they need to stay afloat. Preliminary data released Thursday by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism shows 9.64 million visitors came to Hawaii last year, a 0.6% dip from 2024 and far short of the 10.4 million arrivals recorded in 2019.   Star-Advertiser.

State lawmakers unveil bills to make up for federal cuts to Medicaid, boost child care tax credits. The bill package includes tax breaks for child care. They also want to add a 2% tax on earnings over $1 million a year to generate more than $70 million annually to help people on Medicaid. Hawaii News Now.

Early Learning Sites Could Close Soon In Hawaiʻi Amid Federal Funding Chaos. Providers are preparing for the possibility of closing down dozens of early learning sites across the state as uncertainty swirls around federal funding and the expiration of grants. Civil Beat.

Abuse protections, reproductive care top priorities for Women's Legislative Caucus. Protecting domestic abuse survivors, preventing human trafficking and safeguarding reproductive care are the focus of the bipartisan Women’s Legislative Caucus this session. Hawaii Public Radio.

Advocates seek to lower drunk-driving threshold. Mothers Against Drunk Driving members gathered at the Capitol rotunda on Thursday morning to once again advocate for making Hawaii only the second state to lower its legal blood alcohol level to drink and drive below .08. House Bill 1827 would lower the allowable blood alcohol content to drive from 0.08 to 0.05, matching only Utah. Star-Advertiser.

Kamehameha Schools tuition to be free, judge rules. A Circuit Court probate judge Thursday granted the Kamehameha Schools trustees’ petition that will allow it to be tuition-free beginning in fall of the upcoming school year. Judge Jeanette Castagnetti said Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop “expressly gave the trustees the power to determine if tuition should be charged.  Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

$5M National Science Foundation award to address outdated wastewater infrastructure. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa researchers are part of a team recently awarded a 3-year, $5 million grant from the National Science Foundation to address the environmental and public health impacts of outdated wastewater infrastructure in island communities. An estimated 83,000 cesspools discharge about 52 million gallons of untreated wastewater into the ground each day in Hawaiʻi alone, contaminating coastal waters and damaging coral reefs. Kauai Now.

Oahu

Honolulu’s only waste incinerator needs fresh investment to bring it up to international standards, council vice-chair says. Figuring out what to do with garbage on a small island is a conundrum that has inspired two recent proposals by local and state lawmakers to lessen the addiction to stowing it in a hole in the ground. Civil Beat.

Farmers cite critical threats to Hawaii food system. Farmers, ranchers and agricultural advocates from across Oahu’s North Shore met Thursday with U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda (D, Hawaii) at Waialua District Park, raising urgent concerns about violence on agricultural lands, labor shortages, land speculation and decades of environmental contamination, which they say undermine Hawaii’s food system. Participants said safety is the most pressing issue facing the industry. Star-Advertiser.

Bill would ban LNG use for electricity. Gov. Josh Green’s administration is facing legislative push-back against a 2025 energy policy reversal recommending interim use of liquefied natural gas, instead of oil, to make electricity on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Student resource officers three weeks in bringing positive change to school campuses. Student Resource Officers, or SROs, are retired cops who were recruited by the Honolulu Police Department to work in an assigned high school, set up with an office, full uniform, and armed. While at first, the program was met with skepticism from school communities, three weeks in, school leaders say they’ve already been seeing a huge success. KHON2.

Hawaii Department of Education breaks ground on first regional food facility. The Hawaii Department of Education (HIDOE) broke ground on the first regional kitchen facility in Whitmore Village that will feed healthier meals to students across multiple central Oahu schools. Hawaii News Now.

5 sentenced to prison for tax fraud conspiracy. Five people to federal prison Thursday and ordered to pay more than $2.5 million in restitution for their roles in a conspiracy to file false tax returns to secure millions that they laundered through local real estate holdings, banks and trusts. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. 

Hawaii Island

Hawaiʻi County Police Commission interviews eight finalists from pool of 64 for new chief. During a special public meeting on Thursday, the Hawai‘i County Police Commission interviewed the eight finalists for chief out of a pool of 64 applicants, of which only 27 met the minimum qualifications. The nine commissioners will reconvene on Friday to make their final selection. Big Island Now. KHON2. 

Seattle Seahawks To Host Flag Football Clinics In Hilo, Kona. The Super Bowl-bound Seattle Seahawks will stop on the Big Island next week, where the NFL organization will host two free girls’ flag football clinics for high school athletes in Hilo and Kona. The events will be held one week before the Seahawks take on the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Former Maui County planning commissioner joins mayoral race. On Thursday, real estate broker and former Maui County planning commissioner P. Denise La Costa announced her candidacy for county mayor. Maui News.

County secures $2M grant from National Park Service to support Lahaina Royal Complex. The County of Maui Department of ʻŌiwi Resources has secured $2 million in highly competitive federal funding through a grant awarded by the National Park Service. Maui Now.

Kauai

Coconut Rhinoceros Beetles Are Attacking A Popular Kaua‘i Golf Course. The county is preparing to go after breeding sites as the invasive species spreads across the island.  The nearly 100-year-old Wailua Municipal Golf Course is home to more than 580 coconut trees. It’s also one of Kaua‘i’s most visible sites for coconut rhinoceros beetle damage.  Civil Beat.

Green seeks suspension of promised tax cuts in State of the State address, Hawaii county council wants audit of homeless funding, statewide point-in-time count ongoing, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. Green proposes suspension of historic tax breaks in 2027. Record state tax breaks that went into effect two years ago would be suspended for all Hawaii income earners for three years beginning in the 2027 tax year, Gov. Josh Green said in his State of the State Address Monday. “In 2025, the federal government’s severe cuts and other actions took over $3 billion out of our state’s economy, leaving us with an unforeseen budget shortfall,” Green told a packed joint House and Senate session on the House floor. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio.  Big Island Now.  KHON2.  KITV4.  Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi lawmakers want more revenue streams to craft future of culture and arts. As the state projects a $3 billion loss in federal funding and many programs that once supported artists nationally have been cut, Hawaiʻi lawmakers are introducing bills that aim to save the arts. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii’s homeless first point-in-time count being conducted since 2024. Hawaii is conducting its first point-in-time count since 2024, and volunteers are fanning out across the state to gauge the homelessness problem in the Islands. KHON2.

Oahu

Lawmakers question officials over affordable housing, landfill. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration outlined Monday the city’s ongoing efforts to modernize city services including speeding the time to get city building permits, creating more affordable housing projects and dealing with homelessness on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Homeless count shows gaps in the system. For the first time since 2024, Oahu on Monday resumed its unsheltered Point in Time count of people living on the streets. Outreach teams, service providers and city officials fanned out across Honolulu — including Chinatown, one of the island’s most visible areas of homelessness. Star-Advertiser.

Oʻahu’s Sugar Canals Decay As State Acquisition Lags. It has been almost three years since the state agreed to take Lake Wilson and Wahiawā Dam off Dole’s hands, but it has yet to take possession of the hazardous system. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Council members seek audit of county homeless funding. The County Council’s Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs on Thursday voted to send to the full council a resolution requesting the county auditor conduct a performance audit of the Office of Housing and Community Development’s Homeless and Housing Fund, a five-year program established by the council in 2022 to combat homelessness. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiʻi County Council urges state to ban commercial aquarium fishing. The Hawaiʻi County Council is pushing state lawmakers to end a decades-long battle against aquarium fishing this legislative session through a resolution that urges state lawmakers to ban all harvesting of fish for commercial aquariums. Hawaii Public Radio.

State set to review CRB containment measures for Hawaiʻi Island. Community groups on Hawaiʻi Island are pushing the state Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to take steps to contain the spread of invasive coconut rhinoceros beetles. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui

Gov. Green highlights Maui wildfire recovery in annual State of State Address. Gov. Josh Green pledged to extend rent support for Maui wildfire survivors through February 2027 and proposed halting future state tax cuts to preserve social services during his State of the State address today in the House Chambers at the State Capitol. Maui Now.

Floor plans and renderings available for Hoʻokumu Hou reconstruction program. Home design renderings and floor plans for the Hoʻokumu Hou Single-Family Homeowner Reconstruction Program are now available to view on the Hoʻokumu Hou website, and the application deadline has been extended through August 2026, the County of Maui Office of Recovery has announced. Maui Now.

Maui December unemployment rate is 2.4%. The Hawai‘i State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism today announced that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for December was 2.2%, the same as in November. On Maui, the unemployment rate was 2.4% in December, down from the 2.5% rate the previous month and the 3.5% rate reported at the same time last year.  Maui Now.

Kauai

Overnight closures planned for Kūhiō Highway near Hanalei Bridge beginning Feb. 2. Kūhiō Highway is scheduled to be fully closed overnight on Hanalei Hill on weeknights beginning in February to allow for road reconstruction work near the Hanalei Bridge, according to the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation. Kauai Now.

Kauai Coffee Company Faces Uncertain Future As Land Lease Nears Expiration. Kauai Coffee Company has been a Westside fixture since the late 1980s. It’s grown into a roughly 140-employee business that manages 4 million coffee trees across 3,100 acres, making it the largest coffee grower in the U.S. today. Civil Beat.

Legislator seeks ballot question on legalizing marijuana, governor's budget chief wants to scale back promised tax cuts, Hawaii council seeks aquarium fishing ban, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii lawmaker wants to put legalizing cannabis on state ballot. Hawaii voters would be asked in November whether to pass a constitutional amendment legalizing recreational marijuana use for adults under a bill that state Rep. David Tarnas plans to introduce this month. Star-Advertiser.

National Turmoil Is Adding To Hawaiʻi’s Budget Angst. The governor’s budget chief says the administration will submit legislative proposals to walk back promised tax cuts in 2027 and beyond. Civil Beat.

Homebuyers in limbo with mortgage financing. The state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands recently informed a state legislative committee that it is in a bind over a surge in demand for such loans that is outstripping its capacity to supply the special mortgages carrying a 1% interest rate. Star-Advertiser.

State expands nutrition access to support families in need. Under a new referral process, the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, will now share monthly referrals with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, commonly known as WIC. Star-Advertiser.

DFS to close Hawaii operations, laying off 183 employees. DFS Hawaii is closing its operations in Hawaii, including its shops in Waikiki and at Honolulu and Kahului airports, resulting in 183 layoffs. DFS Group LP, which has had a 63-year presence in Hawaii catering to duty-free shoppers, reinvented itself several times. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

O‘ahu’s North Shore Erosion Leaves Homeowners Without Solutions. Residents are struggling to protect their homes from falling into the ocean without violating environmental protections that preserve the island’s iconic beaches.  Civil Beat.

Vietnam veterans memorial wall replica returning to Hawaii. The wall will arrive there today and will have an official 10 a.m. opening ceremony on Wednesday with a military flyover and dignitaries giving speeches. It will begin its 2026 tour on Oahu at University of Hawaii’s West Oahu campus. Star-Advertiser.

New Records Detail How State Bungled ‘Lord Of The Flies’ Foster Home. Judge Kevin Morikone ordered the release of the trial exhibits in a lawsuit brought by a former foster boy who was sexually molested by his foster dad. Civil Beat.

Affordable housing village loses bus service, putting residents at risk. Kahauiki Village, managed by the Institute for Human Services, houses more than 500 residents including kupuna and formerly homeless families.  Hawaii News Now.

Virus to fight coconut rhinoceros beetle shows promising results.  UH-Manoa is assistant investigating a virus to kill the coconut rhinoceros beetle, also referred to as CRB, which is decimating Oahu’s coconut and palm trees. Star-Advertiser.

Waikīkī Roosters Remain At Large, For Now. Chicken nuisance complaints have doubled to 321 complaints per year from 160 since the Honolulu Department of Customer Services started keeping track in 2023. Waikīkī has the most complaints out of any ZIP code on Oʻahu. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Council resolution urges ban on aquarium fishing. A resolution urging a ban on the taking of ornamental fish for aquariums received a 9-0 vote Tuesday by the County Council’s Committee on Government Operations and External Affairs, which forwarded the measure to the full council with a positive recommendation. Tribune-Herald.

Lack of progress at Isaac Hale peeves council members. A resolution urging the county Department of Parks and Recreation “to prioritize and expedite the restoration of Isaac Kepo‘okalani Hale Beach Park at Pohoiki” received a unanimous 9-0 vote Tuesday by the County Council’s Committee on Government Operations and External Affairs. Tribune-Herald.

Fisherman Gets Maximum Penalty For Longline Violation Off Kona. Konane Zager, owner of the vessel Waiʻaka, will be fined $10,051.90 and have his Commercial Marine License revoked for one year, following a vote by the Hawaiʻi Board of Land and Natural Resources on Friday.  Big Island Video News.

Fire Chief Kazuo Todd remembered for his efforts to leave the Big Island a safer, better place. Fire Chief Kazuo Todd remembered for his efforts to leave the Big Island a safer, better place. More than 200 people gathered Sunday at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo in reverence of Hawaiʻi County Fire Chief Kazuo Todd, who died unexpectedly from natural causes on Dec. 14 at age 45. Big Island Now. KHON2. 

Maui

Man wounded in shootout with police succumbs to injuries. According to the Maui Police Department, dispatch received a call at 7:27 p.m. Thursday reporting a possible terroristic threatening incident involving a man armed with a gun in an open field off Kuikahi Drive in Wailuku next to the Hele gas station. Maui News.

With rising seas, erosion threatening Pā‘ia Youth & Cultural Center, plans are underway to build new one. Located at the edge of Pā‘ia town just off Hāna Highway, the youth center has served an estimated 6,000 kids since it was founded in 1993 out of a former sugar plantation workers’ home. Maui Now.

Molokai High School begins $18.7M gym renovation. The 21,000-square- foot gym, affectionately known as “The Barn,” is undergoing a comprehensive upgrade aimed at modernizing student athletic facilities while reinforcing the structure to serve as a Category B hurricane shelter during severe weather events. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

New club leads revival of Anahola trails; organizes mountain bike race on Kauaʻi. A new nonprofit, Mountain Biking Kaua’i, has revived the Anahola trail system, enabling organized off-road cycling and competitive racing on the island’s East Side. Kauai Now.

Legislature to focus on promised tax cuts, Oahu seeks volunteers to count homeless, snowfall atop Mauna Kea, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Taxes Will Drive Agenda Of Hawaiʻi Lawmakers In Coming Session. Federal actions cloud the revenue picture. Immigration, marijuana and energy issues also loom. When state lawmakers begin the 2026 legislative session Jan. 21, they will be forced to navigate some unusual and unwelcome political risks. That’s because Gov. Josh Green and the county mayors seem poised to press for action on touchy tax issues that could prove to be perilous in an election year. Civil Beat.

New $16 minimum hourly wage complicates a cost crunch for Hawaiʻi restaurants. With the new year comes a new minimum wage in Hawaiʻi. It’s now $16 an hour — and many local restaurant owners are concerned about what that means for their industry.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Climate security threats to Hawaii outlined in report. A climate report released by the Council on Strategic Risks outlined how climate change could threaten both Hawaii’s civilian and military communities, and how cuts to programs that monitor weather and other environmental threats could leave both more vulnerable. Security analysts have warned that droughts, sea level rise and other changes risk fueling displacement of communities and competition over resources, potentially destabilizing countries or entire regions. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi lawmakers propose climate literacy program in public schools. State lawmakers have revived a measure that would create a climate literacy program in public schools. House Bill 99 was first introduced last year by a cohort of state representatives who believe "that climate change education is necessary to ensure that the next generation are climate leaders," according to language in the bill. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiian Language Schools Grow As DOE Shrinks. There’s One Big Problem. The state doesn’t have enough teachers to keep up with demand for schools taught in Hawaiian. Upcoming retirements are expected to add to the challenge. Civil Beat.

For Cynthia Thielen, Decades Of Public Service Are 'Just The Right Thing To Do'. The former longtime legislator, attorney and community activist is still deeply involved in her community. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Volunteers needed for annual homeless count on Oahu. The annual Point in Time Count is set take place on Monday, Jan. 26.Organizers said they are looking for volunteers to help their partner agencies in the field for the one-day survey, or by helping pack incentive kits. Hawaii News Now.

UH earns top global rankings in oceanography, atmospheric science. The University of Hawaii at Manoa earned high marks across nearly 20 disciplines in the 2025 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects, with oceanography, atmospheric science and hospitality and tourism management emerging as its highest-ranked programs, according to a news release. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Now. 

Hawaii Island

Snow Covers Hawaiʻi Summits Overnight, High Wind Warning Issued. Observatory webcams using night vision captured a view of the snow after sundown, as the Maunakea Access Road was closed to the public due to the weather conditions.  Big Island Video News.

Big Island traffic fatalities down in 2025. The number of traffic fatalities rose sharply statewide in 2025 with 129 to 102 in 2024, a 26.5% increase and the highest total since 2007. Here in Hawaii County, however, the number of traffic deaths decreased last year from the previous year’s total of 28 to 21, a 25% reduction. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

50th anniversary of ‘Kahoolawe Nine’ begins year-long remembrance, lessons. Fifty years ago, as the U.S. Coast Guard turned away a flotilla of Native Hawaiians trying to make landfall on Kahoolawe, a lone Boston Whaler made its way through while carrying occupants who would become known as the Kahoolawe Nine. Maui Now. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. 

Kauai

Economic slowdown forecast for Kauaʻi in 2026. Steven Bond-Smith with the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization told the Kauaʻi County Council at a briefing in mid-December that factors like inflation and tariffs are dampening domestic consumers’ outlook, which may make them less likely to visit Kauaʻi on vacation. The tourism industry accounts for about a third of Kauaʻi’s economy, and up to 95% of Kauaʻi’s visitors come from the U.S. continent. Hawaii Public Radio.

In last leg of his second term, Kauai mayor looks back at county’s successes. As he prepares for the final 11 months in office, Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami reflected on the strides made while leading the county, and also talked about his final priorities in a one-on-one interview Friday. Hawaii News Now.

The Kauai Bus offers 100 no-cost Holomua Transit Cards. The Kauai Bus is announcing a special promotion offering 100 no-cost Holomua Transit Cards, each preloaded with $5, to the first 100 riders who show up to claim them. Garden Island.

Kawaihau Road utility work, lane closures extended through February. Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co., under contract with Kauaiʻi County Department of Water, extended the utility work and excavation along Kawaihau Road, from the intersection of Kaʻapuni Road to Kapahi Road, through Feb. 28 in Kapaʻa, weather permitting. Kauai Now.

Governor's budget tries to plug federal gaps, doesn't address promised income tax cuts; first lawsuit filed against Maui vacation rental ban; pay hikes for Big Island officials, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. Josh Green’s budget reflects federal culling. Gov. Josh Green has proposed a $20.4 billion supplemental budget that would help the state respond to on-going cuts in federal funding for Hawaii while continuing to focus on affordable housing, climate infrastructure, healthcare and education. The administration is also expected to implement the first year of what’s known as the green fee, a dedicated source of funding from hotel taxes to protect environmental resources and sustain the tourism industry. But the budget doesn’t address large tax cuts for Hawaiʻi residents passed by the Legislature in 2024 that the governor has already talked about scaling back. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. 

Budget in Brief (pdf). Hawaii Department of Budget and Finance.

Condominium insurance prices begin to stabilize. Condominium building insurance rates are beginning to stabilize. This comes five months after the state's Hurricane Relief Fund began issuing policies to buildings that couldn't secure coverage on the traditional market. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Office of Consumer Protection announces $6M settlement with PayPal. The Hawaiʻi Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Office of Consumer Protection (OCP), on behalf of the state of Hawaii, announced on Monday a $6 Million settlement with PayPal, Inc. and PayPal Holdings, Inc.  The settlement resolves OCP’s lawsuit, filed in December 2022, alleging unfair and deceptive acts or practices through PayPal’s operation and Venmo e-payment platforms.  Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Hawaii groups blast SNAP’s restrictions on sugary products. Hawaii Appleseed, the Hawaii Public Health Institute and the Hawaii Children’s Action Network say the rules will raise costs, reduce choices and create extra work for retailers and state administrators without improving health outcomes. Maui News.

State dark sky committee hopes to flip the switch on Hawaiʻi's light pollution. Pushing to regulate artificial light use is one suggestion in a new report from the state's Dark Night Skies Protection Advisory Committee. The report listed suggestions, including implementing warm-glow LED lights or shielded lights in spaces like parks, parking lots, and home fixtures, which is said to reduce sky-glow and energy use. Hawaii Public Radio.

Law enforcement warns of illegal fireworks vigilance ahead of New Year's Eve. Got illegal fireworks? Be warned, after last year’s tragic fireworks explosion in the Salt Lake-Āliamanu area that killed six, there are tougher laws and public safety is top of mind for state officials. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

HART pays $41.3M to settle lengthy Ward Village dispute. On Nov. 25, state Judge John M. Tonaki formally resolved the matter by allowing HART to pay more than $41.3 million to acquire easement access — specifically, for Skyline’s proposed Kakaako Station in the area of Ward Avenue and Queen Street — that could eventually allow the city’s rail project to travel eastward to Ala Moana Center and beyond. Star-Advertiser.

Is Senator’s Affordable Housing Plan Happening? Depends Who You Ask. State authority says market conditions and project requirements put Aloha Homes on the shelf. Sen. Stanley Chang says the Kakaʻako development remains underway. Civil Beat.

Downtown ‘Hell-Hole’ Building Founder Faces Eviction From His Luxury Condo. Honolulu developer Chad Waters’ landlord alleges he owes $5,000 in back rent. The founder of a squalid downtown office building converted into unlicensed apartments now faces his own eviction complaint for allegedly failing to pay rent on the luxury Kakaʻako condo where he lives. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Ocean Safety chief sworn in. Honolulu’s first-ever Ocean Safety Chief was sworn in at a special ceremony at Honolulu Hale Monday morning. Kurt Lager’s appointment to the position earned unanimous approval from the Ocean Safety commission. Hawaii News Now.

UH hotline answers the call to immigration detention in Honolulu. Once it became clear that the Trump administration was pursuing an aggressive immigration policy, the Refugee & Immigration Law Clinic at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa set up a “Deportation Defense Hotline.” Hawaii Public Radio.

Mililani man first to be compensated under Hawaii’s wrongful conviction law. A man imprisoned for a crime he did not commit will become the first person in Hawaii to receive compensation under a 10-year-old law. Roynes Dural will receive $420,833 from the state for the eight years and five months he spent in prison following a wrongful conviction. Hawaii News Now.

Gen X is squeezed, caring for generations before and after. On weekends, Raphael Bacani, 51, packs silken tofu and brown‑sugar syrup into his car and heads to the Waipahu farmers market to sell taho, the Filipino street food that’s one of two side businesses he and his wife run to help cover the bills. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Pay hike for county managers. In its final meeting of the year Monday in Hilo, the Hawaii County Salary Commission approved a 15.29% pay raise for the county’s top officials. The raises, which follow negotiated pay increases for Hawaii Government Employee Association members, will take place in four increments — 3.5% on Jan. 1, 2026, 3.79% on July 1, 2026, and 4% on July 1, 2027, and July 1, 2028. Tribune-Herald.

As promised: Hawai‘i governor commits funding to new Big Island hospital in supplemental state budget. Hawai‘i Gov. Josh Green submitted his Supplemental Budget for Fiscal Year 2027 to the State Legislature Monday, which dedicates $50 million in General Obligation funds to the building of a new hospital on Hawai‘i Island. Big Island Now.

Large-Scale Marijuana Growing Operation Investigated In Ocean View.  During a search at a residence in the 92-8600 block of Jasmine Drive, officers recovered approximately 397 marijuana plants, 364 pounds of processed marijuana, 19,814 grams of marijuana concentrate, 1.2 grams of cocaine, and four firearms. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. 

Maui

Thousands Of Maui Vacation Rentals In Limbo After Council Hits Gridlock. Kāʻanapali condo owners have filed the first lawsuit so far against the county over Bill 9. Civil Beat.

Volunteers replant Keawaiki Park at Lahaina Harbor with native plants. On Dec. 6, representatives from the three Lahaina Rotary Clubs, Treecovery and the Lahaina Restoration Foundation came together to replant Keawaiki Park with native Hawaiian trees, groundcover and vines. Maui News.

Kauai

Building a Future at Lima Ola: KHDC marks first phase success. Kauai Housing Development Corporation (KHDC) announced that 23 of the first 24 three-bedroom, two-bath homes in the Lima Ola Workforce Housing Development have been sold to Kauai families, turning the dream of homeownership into reality for local workers who want to stay on island, according to a press release. Garden Island.

Bills would eliminate middle class income tax, raise general excise tax instead; recreational marijuana bill deferred, Maui firefighters show elevated PFAS, Queen's cuts 100 jobs, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

No Income Tax For Working Class? Unions Float Radical Proposal. Lawmakers are cnsidering bills to eliminate the state income taxes for all residents who earn up to $100,000 and offset the revenue loss by increasing the state excise tax from 4% to 6% on most goods and services sold in Hawaiʻi. Civil Beat.

Hopes For Legal Marijuana In Hawaiʻi Dashed As Politicos Flip-Flop. Less than 48 hours after approving a bill to make marijuana use legal for Hawaiʻi residents aged 21 and older, the Hawaiʻi House of Representatives on Thursday punted the measure until next year. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio.

UH Cancer Center backs bills to boost cigarette tax 2 cents. The University of Hawaii Cancer Center would receive a welcomed funding boost if the Legislature increases the state’s cigarette tax by another 2 cents, while a separate Senate bill would have forced the center to merge with the UH medical school, which UH previously said would jeopardize the center’s accreditation. Star-Advertiser.

Increased harbor inspections and penalties on the table to combat illegal fireworks. The state Legislature is considering several measures to crack down on illegal fireworks. Lawmakers are exploring different tactics from more inspections at the harbors to increasing penalties for violators. Hawaii Public Radio. Maui Now.

Proposed police pursuit policy clears committee. Police could only initiate a pursuit if an individual in the vehicle being chased is believed to have committed murder, manslaughter, negligent homicide, felony assault, sexual assault, domestic abuse, escape or DUI — and the vehicle pursuit “is necessary to identify or apprehend” the suspect. Tribune-Herald.

Senate committee defers bill to subsidize school bus driver certification. The Senate Education Committee on Monday killed a bill that would have created a school bus driver certification subsidy pilot program within the state Department of Education for the next school year. Hawaii Public Radio.

State high court probes conditions of Maui wildfires settlement. Hawaii Supreme Court justices posed many exacting, and sometimes skeptical, questions Thursday to attorneys in a case pertaining to the validity of a $4 billion deal to settle Maui wildfire litigation. It may be weeks before the court’s five justices render a decision. Star-Advertiser. Associated Press. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.  

Oahu

Honolulu Transit Rates Could Go Up. The Honolulu Rate Commission, which reviews the city’s transit rates, is holding four public meetings next week for people to provide feedback. Civil Beat.

Queen’s eliminating positions to adapt to ‘evolving needs’.  The Queen’s Health Systems is eliminating about 100 positions at its hospitals to maintain sustainable operations and adapt to changing times. Queen’s did not specify which positions, how many or when, exactly, they would be eliminated. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.  KITV4.

Honolulu launches $5M grant program to support low-income rental housing. The Department of Land Management is soliciting proposals from nonprofit entities and public agencies for funding opportunities through the Affordable Housing Fund, or AHF, which typically provides funding to develop and expand affordable rental housing for households earning 60% or less of area median income. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu home sales gain as inventory expands. Single-family home resales increased by 6.5% compared with January 2024, with 196 homes sold in January from 184 a year ago. Condominium sales also rose, climbing 6.8% to 312 transactions from 292. Star-Advertiser.

North Shore farmer with no criminal record detained by ICE. Hanjun Shen, 60, has been in Hawaii for 16 years and owns JM Farm in Laie, an 18-acre farm which grows Thai basil, Okinawan sweet potato, taro leaf and other herbs. The undocumented immigrant was under a removal order since his application for asylum was denied. Hawaii News Now.

Kakaako dog owners: Kolowalu Dog Park is opening. After months of anticipation, Kakaako residents will have a place to let their four-legged friends run around and have fun. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Bill Could Allow Maunakea Authority To Side Step Sunshine Law. House Bill 144 was heard by the House Committee on Water & Land on Thursday, although lawmakers have not yet given their recommendation. Big Island Video News.

Volcano Watch: Assembly of volcano scientists to gather in Hilo. Volcano scientists from around the world will gather from Feb. 9-14 in Hilo for the American Geophysical Union Chapman Conference on Caldera-forming Eruptions at Basaltic Volcanoes: Insights and Puzzles from Kīlauea 2018 and Beyond. Big Island Now.

‘We’re watching a coup in real time’. Dozens of West Hawaii activists flocked to the highway Wednesday afternoon in support of a nationwide protest in opposition to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, President Donald Trump and his administration’s ties to Project 2025. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

CDC Report Finds Traces Of PFAs In Maui Firefighters’ Blood. Firefighters who responded to the Maui wildfires had elevated levels of PFAs, a manmade chemical linked to cancer, in their bloodstream, according to a new wildfire report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Associated Press.

Lahaina seaside owners want accelerated rebuilding process. Native Hawaiian Warren Freeland wants to see his family’s historic Pioneer Inn rebuilt as it was before the 2023 wildfire that destroyed a large portion of Lahaina, and he hopes government officials will find a way of accelerating the permitting process in the face of rising construction costs. Maui News.

Air travel crisis on Molokai: Survey reveals devastating impacts to families. An effort is underway aimed at improving the island’s limited access to air travel. This comes after Mokulele, the island’s only air carrier, scrapped dozens of flights last month due to a series of unscheduled aircraft inspections leaving travelers stranded for days, even weeks. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Graveyard Of Kauaʻi Cattle Killed By Anthrax Could Undermine Luxury Homes. A judge will hear a lawsuit that Princeville residents have filed against the developer on Tuesday. The  lawsuit that seeks to shut down the development on Kauaʻi’s North Shore claims the dead cattle left behind millions of still-dangerous anthrax spores capable of sickening and animals — and maybe people — if unearthed during construction. Civil Beat.

Kapa‘a Satellite DMV brings services to island’s largest residential area. There is a new shortcut to service at the Kaua‘i County Division of Motor Vehicles, due to a new satellite office that launched in January in Kapa‘a town, the largest residential area on the island. Kauai Now.