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.