Convention center's $64M repairs in limbo, tax collections to fall amid federal uncertainty, ACLU vows to sue Honolulu police over sober arrests on DUI stops, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Convention Center $64M repair project in limbo amid leadership crisis. Just weeks after posting one of its most profitable months, the Hawaii Convention Center is now facing a new wave of uncertainty. KHON2.

Green testifies in defense of COVID vaccines in D.C. Gov. Josh Green, a medical doctor, on Wednesday defended COVID-19 vaccines before a U.S. Senate subcommittee in Washington, D.C., saying they saved countless lives during the pandemic. Over three hours, however, most of the testimony before the U.S. Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations alleged that federal agencies failed to adequately warn the public about the risk of myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart muscle, from the COVID-19 shots — in particular, the mRNA vaccines. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi Tax Collections Will Be Lower Than Expected Over Next 2 Years. The  state Council on Revenues on Wednesday downgraded projections for the next three fiscal years amid swirling uncertainties over federal policy upheaval. The extra new pessimism was rooted in expected fallout from Trump administration actions to slash the federal workforce, reduce federal spending and tax global imports with high tariffs. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

Opportunity to pay less for electricity during sunlight hours yields mixed results. Last year, Hawaiian Electric put a group of randomly selected Oʻahu and Hawaiʻi Island customers on an experimental rate scheme that made electricity cheaper during the day when solar energy was abundant and more expensive in the evening and nighttime. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiʻi Is Facing A Food Crisis. Can A State Plan Finally Help? Lawmakers are pushing for a comprehensive plan to address Hawaiʻi’s overreliance on imported foods and the growing number of residents who can’t afford groceries. Civil Beat.

Five Troubling Findings From New Report On Hawaiʻi’s Health. University of Hawaiʻi study has followed 2,000 people since 2022. Hawaii’s Health and Wellbeing Journey Over Time – Monitoring Equity And Access found that existing health disparities — including access to care — have widened precipitously in less than two years for most non-white ethnic and racial groups, especially Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.  Civil Beat. Big Island Now.

Honolulu-L.A. United flight turns back after bomb threat in lavatory. A United Airlines flight from Honolulu to Los Angeles returned to the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport early Wednesday morning after a bomb threat was found written on a bathroom mirror. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Oahu

ACLU Hawaii prepares to sue HPD over ‘concerning trend’ of sober drivers arrested for DUI. The American Civil Liberties Union Hawaii could pursue legal action against the Honolulu Police Department over a “pattern and practice of falsely arresting drivers in Honolulu without probable cause and without due process,” a letter sent to the police chief on Tuesday read. Hawaii News Now.

Former BLNR chair on the Army's use of federal land in Mākua Valley. William Aila served as the chair of the state Board of Land and Natural Resources from 2010 to 2014. Hawaii Public Radio.

Illegal gambling arrests on Oahu increased in 2024. The Honolulu Police Department made 115 arrests for gambling equipment violations in 2024, up from 92 in 2023, according to HPD’s data dashboard. Officers also arrested 124 people for operating, promoting or assisting gambling in 2024, up from 109 arrests in 2023. Star-Advertiser.

How UH-Manoa Is Trying To Hold Onto Hawaiʻi’s High School Grads. Federal data shows a decline in students staying home for college. The University of Hawaiʻi is trying to reverse that trend. Civil Beat.

Community honors West Loch disaster anniversary. The West Loch disaster was a deadly — and often forgotten — World War II incident in Hawaii that prompted major reforms in the U.S. military due to the disproportionate death toll of Black service members. Star-Advertiser.

City moves to take over property where family has been squatting for decades. The city is moving to take back a derelict home next to Kapiolani Park. The rundown home on 3808 Paki Avenue has blue tarps, 55-gallon drums, and a mix of household items outside. Hawaii News Now.

Tariffs are making it pricier to bring Filipino food to Hawaii. One importer says it’s absorbing the cost, for now. Filipino food importer Ramar Foods was shocked when President Donald Trump imposed a 17% tariff on Philippine goods, almost triple the previous tax. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Hawaiʻi Island lawmakers consider proposal for 'household henneries'. County law currently only allows chickens to be raised on agricultural land, but Bill 52 would let residents have “household henneries” for non-commercial egg production. Hawaii Public Radio.

Summer meal program set to feed 6,000 keiki throughout Big Island. Kaukau 4 Keiki, a summer food program by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will once again provide free weekly meal kits with a focus on reaching children under 18-years old in rural communities statewide. Big Island Now.

Hokulea, Hikianalia dock in Hilo ahead of Pacific-wide voyage. After two days of travel, Hokulea and Hikianalia are now docked in Hilo. The voyaging canoes were welcomed by the community and hula halau near the Grand Naniloa Hotel. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

LCLT Report: Zero homes sold within typical Maui residents’ financial reach in 2024. The Lahaina Community Land Trust’s “Keeping Lahaina Home,” authored in partnership with Native Hawaiian data scientist Matt Jachowski, seeks to shed light on “how despite our best intentions, most of the homes that we continue to build are not actually meant for our local families.” Maui Now.

Applications now available for Hale O Piʻikea 1 affordable rental housing project in Kīhei. Applications are now being accepted for Hale O Piʻikea I, the first phase of a County-supported, three-phase affordable rental housing initiative by ʻIkenākea Development that will deliver 223 rental homes upon completion.  Maui Now.

Environmental watchdogs tell state officials ‘try again’ for Lahaina pollution control permit. A small, but determined, group testified at the Lahaina Civic Center Wednesday morning. Hawaii Department of Health’s Clean Water Branch listened to their feedback about its revised permit proposal for the Lahaina Wastewater Reclamation Facility. Hawaii News Now.

Corals damaged by yacht returned to Maui waters following rehabilitation. Rehabilitated coral fragments damaged by a grounded luxury yacht more than two years ago were returned Wednesday to Honolua Bay on Maui’s northwestern coast. Kauai Now.

Kauai

Water conservation measures remain in place for Hanalei community and ʻAnini Beach areas. Water conservation measures remain in place for Department of Water customers in the Hanalei community and ʻAnini Beach areas due to a downed water system pump station. Kauai Now.

Tariffs, travel cuts start hitting home, HECO and state tackle wildfire prevention, Legislature earmarks $807M for Lahaina settlement, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Tariffs ‘significantly’ hitting Hawaii businesses. Nearly 70% of Hawaii businesses have been “significantly” affected by President Donald Trump’s tariffs, and 27% have been “moderately” touched, according to preliminary results of a survey still being conducted by the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii. In addition, government-related travel to Hawaii has fallen a whopping 50% since Trump took office and began slashing both federal spending and the federal workforce through Elon Musk’s new Department of Government Efficiency. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi May Cut Grass On More State Land To Prevent Spread Of Wildfires. The state land department is asking for $10 million more to battle wildfires. Civil Beat.

HECO rolls out weather stations, AI cameras as part of wildfire safety plan. Hawaiian Electric's wildfire safety strategy includes installing over 50 weather stations mounted on utility poles across the state by this summer. HECO will also be installing nearly 80 cameras with artificial intelligence for early fire detection. Hawaii Public Radio.

Bill to streamline unemployment applications sent to governor's desk. Representatives advanced House Bill 477 on Monday to streamline the application process for unemployment benefits, in part by allowing documents and decisions to be delivered electronically, instead of by mail. Hawaii Public Radio.

Leaders reach deal on state budget. State government funding is slated to be a little higher in the next two fiscal years compared with the current year under a budget agreement reached Monday evening by state House and Senate leaders. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiʻi Farmers And Ranchers Face $46 Million In Federal Funding Cuts. The USDA decision has led to lost jobs, confusion and a setback on climate initiatives in the agricultural sector. Civil Beat.

Oahu

9 HPD officers are named in civil suit alleging brutality. An amended federal civil complaint alleges nine Hono­lulu police officers beat a 25-year-old man after knowing he wasn’t the prime suspect in a Jan. 1, 2024, pursuit and gunfight with an attempted murder suspect. Star-Advertiser.

State set to pay $750,000 in wrongful death settlement. The state Legislature is expected to approve a $750,000 settlement in the 2019 wrongful shooting death of an unarmed, disabled, homeless man by an on-duty state deputy sheriff, who was not criminally held responsible but since faces scrutiny in the deaths of two more people in 2021 and 2022 while a police officer in San Diego. Star-Advertiser.

Busier West Oahu buses prompt a call for a transportation study, even after federal funds disappear. A study that would have a taken a closer look at bus rapid transportation for the Waianae Coast was funded until cuts to Congress took nearly $5 million away. KITV4.

Hawaiʻi’s Parks Are Strained. Should DOE Open Campuses To Help? With limited space at city parks, communities are calling for the education department to make schools more accessible for recreational use. Civil Beat.

City unveils Blaisdell’s new PV system. To celebrate Earth Day on Tuesday, the City and County of Honolulu formally unveiled a massive installation of 4,554 large-format photovoltaic panels to assist in powering its prime entertainment venue. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

‘Franz gave so much of himself’; W. Hawaii residents mourn loss of community volunteer. Franz Weber, 71, president of the Hawaii Cycling League and a prolific West Hawaii community volunteer, died April 17 at The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu, eight days after the Trek bicycle he was riding rear-ended a Motor Coach Industries tour bus that was stopped on the shoulder of Queen Kaahumanu Highway near the 94.5-mile marker in North Kona. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiʻi County to install fencing at Hilo Transfer Station. The County of Hawaiʻi Department of Environmental Management will begin installing about 600 linear feet of fencing improvements at the Hilo Transfer Station on Monday, April 28. Big Island Now.

Maui

Lawmakers Agree To Pay $807 Million Into Lahaina Wildfires Settlement Fund. The legislation is part of a $4 billion deal that includes money from HECO, Kamehameha Schools and others. Civil Beat.

Maui ethics board given more muscle, autonomy.  A voter-mandated law could expand the independence of the Maui County Board of Ethics, enabling its staff to perform more classes to promote ethical conduct as well as independent investigations into political wrongdoing.  Maui News.

Maui County’s labor force gaining somewhat, first time 19 months after wildfire disaster. Maui County’s labor market conditions have improved, as of March, with the number of employed people at 79,500 being the highest since the August 2023 wildfire disaster, said Chief State Economist Eugene Tian. Maui Now.

Kauai

Taking the battle to the beetles. Over the Easter weekend, a different kind of egg hunting occurred, as community volunteers hunted Kauai’s current invasive pest, the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle. Garden Island.

New agricultural park aims to innovate, accelerate Kauaʻi farming businesses. Mālama Kauaʻi looks for community input on Olohena ‘ĀINA Center, an agricultural park that will increase agricultural production and access for new and experienced farmers in Kauaʻi. Kauai Now.

Experts predict less federal funding, higher costs for Hawaii under Trump; DLNR changes seabird rescue guidelines as avian flu spreads; Honolulu transit loses $100k from cyberattack, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Trump wants to slash federal funding. Here's what that could mean for Hawaiʻi. Federal funds make up about 20% — or over $3 billion — of the state's budget financing. President-elect Donald Trump has made bold claims about slashing the federal budget. Hawaiʻi's congressional delegation, who are all Democrats, are bracing for what that could mean for the federal funding Hawaiʻi receives. Hawaii Public Radio.

How will Trump’s tariffs affect Hawaii? Hawaii Pacific University economist Gerard Dericks said that an increase of $2,000 to $3,000 in spending a year can be expected. Dericks also said an across the board tariffs could impact the ability for domestic and international travelers to spend money. That would clearly impactful Hawaii's number one business sector, the tourism industry. KITV4.

Former State Archaeologist Faces Ethics Probe Into Revolving Door Allegation. A former State Historic Preservation Division archaeologist faces an ethics investigation into an allegation he violated the state’s “revolving door” policy by going to work for a private business before a required one-year cooling off period.  Civil Beat.

You Thought $9 For A Dozen Eggs Was Bad? Bird Flu Might Make It Even Worse. Local chickens are in good health -- but they face a potential threat. Civil Beat.

State adds guidelines for rescue of downed seabirds due to H5N1. The disease, also known as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), has not yet been detected in native seabirds, according to the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, and the risk of human transmission is low. DLNR’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife, however, has amended its seabird rescue guidance to minimize transmission risk. Star-Advertiser. Garden Island.

Hawaii’s hurricane season is below average. As Hawaii’s hurricane season comes to a close, the Central Pacific saw only two tropical cyclones develop, including the more damaging one, which walloped Hawaii Island in August, along with damage to parts of Maui and Oahu. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Video News.

Oahu

At least $100K in transit fare revenue lost from cyberattack. A crippling cyberattack that targeted TheBus and The­Handi-Van earlier this year wound up costing the city $100,000 or more in lost fare revenues, Honolulu officials indicate. Star-Advertiser.

Concern for endangered birds rises as avian flu turns up at Kahuku wildlife refuge. The discovery of the state’s second bird flu location — a North Shore wildlife refuge — is raising fears that the virus will spread island-wide. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service confirmed that the infected bird was at the James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge, home to several endangered and endemic species like the Hawaiian stilt and the Koloa duck. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Honokōhau Harbor’s new Hawaiian monk seal pup neighbor welcomed, but maybe too much? The monk seal pup tagged number T64/T65 and named Keaka is a frequent visitor to busy Honokōhau Small Boat Harbor in Kona, a sprawling West Hawai‘i harbor and marina that serves hundreds of commercial and recreational vessels. Big Island Now.

Maui

FEMA’s Plan For Maui Wildfire Survivors Lacked Safeguards For Residents. FEMA officials said they didn’t want their housing program for survivors of Maui’s 2023 wildfires to displace any residents. But they didn’t bar the agency’s contractors from leasing properties previously occupied by long-term tenants. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s congressional delegation races for federal funding to rebuild housing after Maui wildfires. Hawaii’s congressmembers are racing to get billions of dollars in disaster aid approved for Hawaii and dozens of other states. So far, just two homes have been rebuilt since Maui’s disaster nearly 14 months ago. Wildfires killed more than more than 100 people, destroyed 2,200 structures, caused $5.5 billion in damage, and left 12,000 homeless. Hawaii News Now.

Maui Council member urges Maui Health System to provide fair contract. Maui County Council member Tamara Paltin introduced a resolution on Tuesday, Nov. 26, urging Maui Health to “negotiate in good faith” with healthcare workers on Maui and Lanai. KHON2.

Kauai

Kaua’i Police Department honors officers for excellence in service. Officer Alexander Lacson was named this year’s recipient of the TOP COP Award, presented annually by the Law Enforcement and Security Coalition of Hawaiʻi.  Garden Island.