Green walks tightrope with Trump administration, Hawaii ranks high in reliable utility services, equitable distribution of income, fresh milk returns to Oahu, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green Is Walking A Tightrope With The Trump Administration. As Trump’s domestic military moves and threats play out in DC and LA, the need to balance legal challenges and relationship-building isn’t lost on Hawaiʻi. Civil Beat.

Army chief vows to respect Hawaii culture and environment, but 60-day timeline is questioned. Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll has a vision for soldiers in the Pacific, and part of it centers on renegotiating leases for Hawaii lands the service has trained on for decades that expire in 2029. Star-Advertiser.

Military, state leaders seek to train high-tech workforce. As tensions have heated up in the Pacific amid tensions with China, the military is looking to find ways to manufacture more critical components for its weapons and equipment in the region, where commanders have long complained that supply chains are cumbersome. Star-Advertiser.

Court ruling imperils federal workers’ rights. Federal workers in Hawaii are facing an unprecedented period of uncertainty following a federal appeals court ruling that allows agencies to terminate collective bargaining agreements under executive orders issued by President Donald Trump. Star-Advertiser.

Students Are Missing Out On The Right To Hawaiian Immersion, Lawsuits Say. Two lawsuits filed against the Department of Education this summer allege the state has fallen short of its constitutional duty to provide families with access to Hawaiian language immersion schools. Civil Beat.

Equitable distribution of income makes Hawaii one of the most equal states, researchers say. A combination of lower salaries for high-end earners and higher wages for lower-income jobs compresses Hawaii’s income wage gap, meaning the islands have a more equitable distribution of income, according to researchers at the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii ranks number one in most reliable utility services in the nation. In a study done by UtilityRates.com, an electricity and natural gas rate comparison website, Hawaii was identified as the U.S. state with the most reliable utility services. KHON2.

Immigrant Sent Cash To Family In Mexico; ICE Used That To Nab Him. Experts say it’s the first time they know of that money transfer records have been used to trace someone purely for reentering the U.S. illegally, in this case 17 years ago. Civil Beat.

New specialty license plate honors Duke Kahanamoku. The specialty license plate is expected to be available for purchase late this year through local DMV vehicle registration offices across the islands, with proceeds supporting critical drowning prevention initiatives and swimming programs throughout Hawaii. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now. 

Oahu

Fresh local milk returns to Oahu. Oahu residents can once again buy milk produced entirely in Hawaii, the result of a new partnership between Farm Link Hawaii and Meadow Gold Dairies. The collaboration brings 100% local milk to the island for the first time since 2019. Star-Advertiser.

City Council pushes pair of bills to ease homeowner tax burdens. If adopted, the bills package supposedly would lower future annual property tax bills for many, particularly senior citizens on fixed incomes. Star-Advertiser.

This Former Police Chief Could Be The Next Honolulu Police Commissioner. The Honolulu City Council is considering whether to approve Christopher Magnus, a veteran former police chief as the latest addition to the city’s police oversight board. Civil Beat.

Oahu drivers brace for 5-year Nimitz Highway lane closures for City Rail Project. Starting on Monday, Aug. 18, the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation will close one lane in each direction on Nimitz Hwy between ‘Awa and Bishop St. KITV4.

City struggles to keep up with stream maintenance. The city Department of Facility Maintenance is under pressure to clear vegetation and other debris from nearly 100 city-owned and privately-owned waterways that flow across Oahu to protect the environment and prevent flooding. Star-Advertiser.

Turtle Bay development moving ahead with construction. A project to add new resort homes on Oʻahu's North Shore is moving forward after some lengthy delays. The developer Areté Collective said it's working with the community on its next steps. Hawaii Public Radio.

Aloha Stadium district developer leading project got start carpeting homes. Local real estate developer Stanford Carr expects to sign initial state contracts this week to deliver an estimated $5 billion to $6 billion project far dwarfing anything he has ever produced. The plan to create a mixed-use community anchored by a new stadium on 98 acres of state land in Halawa is a huge endeavor for the 63-year-old Carr, who was born and raised on Maui and got into part of the industry in 1982, when he became a self-employed flooring contractor at age 20 after deciding not to become a doctor. Star-Advertiser.

Suspect arrested in Chinatown acid attack. On Sunday, the Honolulu Police Department said that Marquis Johnson turned himself in at around 5:35 p.m. Johnson allegedly threw acid at a 30-year-old man in Chinatown on Friday, Aug. 8. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. 

Hawaii Island

STVRs law goes into effect soon. New regulations for short-term vacation rentals in Hawaii County are set to take effect in December, following passage of a bill that drew passionate debate from residents, property owners and housing advocates. Tribune-Herald.

Round 2 for Pohakuloa Training Area resolution. The Hawaii County Council is set to resume discussions Tuesday about a resolution urging the state to call for an immediate end to “bombing and desecration activities” at the Pohakuloa Training Area, citing environmental damage, wildfire risk and impacts to Native Hawaiian cultural rights. Tribune-Herald.

HPD clarifies concealed carry permit process at meeting. About two dozen individuals were present but just one testified Thursday during a public hearing in Hilo about proposed changes in the Hawaii Police Department’s rules for issuing licenses for concealed carry of handguns in Hawaii County. Tribune-Herald.

Maunakea Authority seeks community guidance. The first meeting of the year took place Wednesday, Aug. 13, at the Na‘alehu Community Center. Tribune-Herald. 

Nurses at Queen’s North Hawai‘i Community College ratify new contract. A possible 3-day nurses’ strike at Queen’s North Hawai‘i Community Hospital in Waimea — originally scheduled to begin today — was averted during the weekend with a vote on a new contract by hospital neurses. Big Island Now. KITV4.

Hawaiʻi County wants to know what's important to the island's community. The Laulima Community Survey is open to all residents of Hawaiʻi Island. Hawaii Public Radio.

Nonprofit purchases 3 acres in Volcano to grow cat sanctuary now helping only kittens. Erin Young last year started the nonprofit Volcano Cat Sanctuary, where she currently houses 15 cats on her property in Puna and has placed 15 other felines in foster homes. Big Island Now.

Maui

Suspect in Maui police officer’s killing had extensive criminal record. Clembert Kaneholani, the 38-year-old man who Maui police said fatally shot an officer on Friday night in Paia has a long criminal record and is being held without bail. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now. 

Maui police officer served with ‘courage, honor and dedication’.  Maui is mourning the loss of police officer Suzanne O, who was fatally shot Friday night while responding to a terroristic threatening incident in Paia. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Maui News. Maui Now.  Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

First-time homebuyer program most popular among Maui fire survivors seeking aid from $1.6 billion federal grant. Maui County launched a program last week to give fire survivors up to $600,000 to buy a new home. Maui Now.

Over 100 acres in Kula will be a native forest someday. It all starts with a nursery. Two large hoop houses stand in a grassy pasture in Kula that will one day be a native forest. The 60-foot-long structures will grow tens of thousands of native plants. Hawaii Public Radio.

Mahi Pono’s summer interns propagate plants to support Lahaina wildfire recovery. As part of its ongoing commitment to support the recovery of Lahaina, Mahi Pono is working alongside the community to help restore cultural connections.  Maui News.

Kauai

Hawai‘i Public Utilities Commission plans public hearing for proposed Puhi Sewer & Water rate hikes. Hawai‘i Public Utilities Commission scheduled a public hearing next week on Kaua’i to gather community input about an Aqua Puhi — doing business as Puhi Sewer & Water Company — application for proposed rate increases, revised rate schedules and changes to its tariff, which are the company’s regulated rules and policies. Kauai Now.

Hawaiʻi Senate Ways and Means Committee details visit to Kauaʻi. Members of the Hawai‘i Senate Ways and Means Committee — including Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau lawmaker Senate President Ronald Kouchi — spent 2 days this week on the Garden Isle for a whirlwind tour for discussions and meetings with officials with various government agencies and community leaders. Kauai Now. Garden Island. 

Iconic Hawaii license plate not retiring after all, tech billionaire Ellison testifies on Island Air bankruptcy, cleanup begins on Maui, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

The Hawaii rainbow license plate won’t be retiring after all. Good news for fans of the iconic Hawaii rainbow license plate — the state’s rainbow license plate lives on. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Tech Billionaire Larry Ellison Makes A Rare Appearance In A Hawaii Court. Larry Ellison, the man who owns most of Lanai, was forced to testify in the U.S. District Court of Hawaii on Wednesday in an ongoing civil case about the 2017 bankruptcy of his now-shuttered airline, Island Air.  The fourth-richest man in the world testified in federal court Wednesday that he would have saved Island Air if he knew it would suddenly collapse in 2017 without paying its workers. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Illegal drugs are getting smuggled into Hawaii in record numbers. Here’s how. Drug smugglers are finding ways to sneak their products into Hawaii in record amounts, experts say. Hawaii News Now.

State applies for $9.9M in HUD grants for affordable housing. According to the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, whose partners include the Hawaiʻi Public Housing Authority, the Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corporation and the Governor’s Housing Team, the application will help unlock the production of at least 10,800 new housing units within the next six years. Over time and with additional infrastructure, the proposal aims to unlock up to 30,000 new units.  Maui Now.

Nominees For Hawaii Federal Judge Positions Face US Senate Hearing. State Court Judge Shanlyn Park and Assistant U.S. Attorney Micah Smith both fit President Joe Biden's mold for judgeships as he tries to diversify the federal bench. Civil Beat.

Sports community mourns the loss of former UH Football Head Coach Bob Wagner. His death, which comes after recent health challenges, was announced Wednesday. He was 76. His family said he died peacefully at home on Hawaii Island on Tuesday night. Hawaii News Now. Star-Advertiser.  KHON2.

Oahu

Bills on gaming, parking advance. The council voted unanimously Wednesday to pass on first readings Bill 57 and 58, which are meant to aid law enforcement efforts to close the 100 gambling parlors that Honolulu Police Department says operate somewhere on the island each day. Star-Advertiser.

Restricted Parking Zone Bill Passes Honolulu Council, But There Are Catches. Residents near beaches and legal hiking trails will not be able to restrict parking in their neighborhoods. Civil Beat.

Critics claim Navy ‘caught in a lie’ about air quality monitors installed before de-fueling. The Navy is installing roughly 52 air quality monitors. 12 of them will be at or near Red Hill and 40 on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. But critics say the Navy initially lied about it. Hawaii News Now.

Kamalani Academy Charter School Still Faces An Uncertain Future. Parents and teachers have criticized the lack of information about plans for the school and changes in leadership. Civil Beat.

Former Punahou coach indicted on 5 more charges child sex crimes. Former Punahou basketball Coach Dwayne Yuen is now facing five more charges of child sex crimes after three more alleged victims came forward. Hawaii News Now.

Evicted Micronesian family says landlord failed to fix rat-infested Honolulu apartment. A six-unit apartment building in Honolulu’s McCully neighborhood is the focus of a recent tenant dispute. Advocates say the case is an example of broader housing issues facing Micronesians. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hour-long grounding of flights at Honolulu airport now lifted. All flights in and out of the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu that were temporarily grounded due to a medical emergency in the control tower have been lifted, state officials said. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.  KITV4.

Hawaii Island

Council members hear presentation about wildfire concerns facing Hawaii County. During a presentation before a County Council committee Tuesday, Civil Defense Administrator Talmadge Magno and Fire Chief Kazuo Todd discussed the impacts of the August wildfires and how Hawaii County might be able to avoid a disaster in the future. Tribune-Herald.

North Kona subdivision developers to seek extension. At issue is a requested 10-year extension to complete the proposed 450-unit Royal Vistas multiple family housing project planned mauka of Queen Kaahumanu Highway, between Kona Vistas and Pualani Estates subdivisions. West Hawaii Today.

Pair of Hamakua bridges due for repairs. The County Council Finance Committee approved a resolution Tuesday that would allow the county to accept $6 million through the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to conduct minor repairs on the Honoli‘i and Kaiwilahilahi stream bridges north of Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Council to hold special meeting on debris removal bill. The Maui County Council will hold a special council meeting at 8 a.m. Thursday on a debris removal bill and a regular council meeting at 9 a.m. on amending the fiscal year 2024 budget and other matters, Council Chairwoman Alice Lee announced. Maui News.

Office of Recovery outlines key focus areas in wake of fire. Maui County’s Office of Recovery has been speaking to other communities who have also been affected by wildfires and has set six key areas it will focus on, its manager said on Tuesday. Maui News.

EPA urges use of toxic-dust control agent in Lahaina. Despite concerns about cleanup activities, wind and rain sending toxic ash into the air and ocean following the devastating Aug. 8 Lahaina wildfire, Maui County is waiting until owners and residents have been able to visit their homes and properties in burned areas before applying a polymer product to control dust and runoff. Star-Advertiser.

Authorities begin removing boats from Lahaina harbor. State and federal agencies on Maui have begun removing boats from Lahaina Harbor nearly two months after the deadly wildfire that destroyed most of the town. Star-Advertiser.

Maui fire cleanup complicated by island logistics, cultural significance. Cleanup of areas destroyed in the Maui wildfires could end up being one of the most complex to date, federal officials said, given the island's significant cultural sites, its rich history including a royal residence and possibly remains of people who died in the disaster. Associated Press.

Maui farmers want to steer the island away from its dependency on tourism after the fires. Farmers are among the many groups directly impacted by losses in Maui’s food industry from the Aug. 8 fires. Many are looking at this as a chance to reset and reprioritize what powers the island economically. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Gets Federal Funding Boost In Mental Health Support For Maui Fire Victims. While concerns mount about the psychological stress fire victims are experiencing, officials say there has not been an increase in suicide rates. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.

Kauai

Drones to take aim at coconut rhinoceros beetles at Wailua golf course. A troublesome group of beetles have taken up residence at a local golf course, where hi-tech measures are soon to be taken to evict the pesky insects. Garden Island.

‘Lawmakers Listen’ Town Hall with Rep. Luke Evslin, House leadership coming to Kaua‘i. House Representative Luke A. Evslin (D-16 Wailua, Hanamā‘ulu, Kapaia, Līhu‘e , Puhi, portion of ‘Ōma‘o) is inviting Kaua‘i residents to a ‘Lawmakers Listen’ Town Hall on Oct. 10, where residents will have an opportunity to engage with House leadership and the Kaua‘i delegation. Kauai Now.

Condo owners seek to curb over-reaching boards, rainbow license plate being phased out, Big Island investigates officer-involved death as Maui police release video, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Condo Owners Want More Power To Fight Their Homeowners Boards. A new effort is afoot to get the Legislature to create an ombudsman for condos and homeowners’ associations. There were 1,535 condo associations representing 157,614 units in Hawaii in 2021, according to the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii rainbow license plate will soon be retired.  It’s the end of the line for Hawaii’s familiar rainbow license plate design: A sequence of letters and numbers used to make each plate unique to its owner has run its course. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Group looks to speed up $2B-plus effort to cut Hawaii’s cesspools. The Cesspool Conversion Working Group, formed in 2018, recommends that a 2050 deadline to eliminate all homeowner cesspools in the state be advanced to 2030 and 2035 for 26,188 cesspools that pose higher pollution risks. Star-Advertiser.

Hawai’i State House Committee on Finance to hold first informational briefings this week. The Hawai’i State House Committee on Finance will hold its first informational briefings of 2023, during which various state department representatives will provide updates and requests on their budget proposals. Big Island Now.

State Capitol Reopens With Public Parking Options. New pay stations will collect fees starting at $2 an hour. The Capitol’s parking lot, located in its vast, dark and dank basement, is notorious for being unaccommodating to the public.  Civil Beat.

Nomination for new state Office of Wellness and Resilience to focus on 'trauma-informed care' .  Tia Roberts Hartsock, with more than 20 years of mental health and criminal justice experience and currently a project director at the state Department of Health’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division, said trauma-informed care is a prevailing thread to tackle these issues. Hawaii Public Radio.

GOP Infighting Puts Jill Tokuda’s Swearing-In Ceremony On Hold. The first-term Hawaii congresswoman hopes that Tuesday’s disarray will show Republicans that working with Democrats will be in their best interest moving forward. Civil Beat.

US Sen. Schatz sworn in for new term. US Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) was sworn in to a new term in the US Senate today. Schatz won reelection to a second full term last November, garnering more than 71% of the vote – the largest margin of victory by any Senate candidate in 2022.  Maui Now.

Diversified ulu zone can boost profits, report finds. Growing ulu, also known as breadfruit, in a diversified plot can be more profitable than monocrops, according to a report by the Hawaii Ulu Cooperative and Propagate, an agronomy software company.  Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

3 new members sworn in at year’s first City Council meeting. Amid a festive gathering to swear in new council members, the Honolulu City Council also transacted two pieces of business quickly and with unanimous approval. One action will potentially make it harder for the public to influence government actions, share their thoughts with legislators or track testimony about pending legislation. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Report on toxic Red Hill spill delayed. The military says it’s pushed the deadline to the end of this week for an officer to complete his investigation into what caused an estimated 1,300 gallons of toxic fire suppressant to spill from a pipe at Red Hill on Nov. 29, though won’t say when that report might be released to the public. Star-Advertiser.

Oʻahu rooftop battery initiative reaches new tier after positive response.  Early adopters received a one-time payment of $850 per kilowatt of installed battery capacity, along with monthly bill credits for the amount of energy exporting. Hawaii Public Radio.

Eternal flame for Hawaii’s veterans and fallen snuffed out. The state Department of Accounting and General Services, which is responsible for maintaining the memorial, said the propane-­fueled burner is in need of repairs. Star-Advertiser.

Corrections officer suspected after major illegal aerial fireworks bust at Oahu jail. An investigation is underway after nearly 100 pounds of illegal aerial fireworks were confiscated from the mailroom at Oahu Community Correctional Center. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Puna man dead after incident with police: Officers were trying to prevent an apparent suicide attempt. Police say three officers are on administrative leave with pay as the Hawaii Police Department investigates an incident Monday evening that left a 38-year-old Puna man dead. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.  Big Island Now.

Back in play: West Hawaii golf subsidy program returns.  The Village Course at Waikoloa in South Kohala and Makalei Golf Course in North Kona will each offer reduced rates for residents of Hawaii County for six months. West Hawaii Today. KHON2.

Maui

Maui police release camera footage of officer-involved shooting. The Maui Police Department has identified Reynaldo Ricarde, 29, as the Kahului man shot and killed by an officer last week. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Maui Now. Maui News.  Hawaii News Now.  KITV4.

Maui Hotel & Lodging Association announces first Communications Director. The Maui Hotel & Lodging Association has appointed Naomi Cooper to its newly created position as Communications Director. Maui Now.

Kauai

Dozens of concealed carry permits issued on Kaua‘i.  Over the past two months, the Kaua‘i Police Department has issued dozens of concealed carry permits to gun owners throughout the island. Garden Island.

Kaua‘i jobless rate drops to 4.4 percent. The County of Kaua‘i’s labor market was in a hiring mood in the penultimate month of the year, as key sectors rang up big gains to continue a post-pandemic rebound. Garden Island.