Residents concerned about sea level rise, lawmakers mull ticket scalping, suing Big Oil, teacher incentives; Honolulu City Council seeks police transparency, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Sea level rise worries most Hawai‘i residents, new study shows. The report, Public Views on Sea Level Rise in Hawaiʻi: Results from a Statewide Survey, draws on responses from 1,314 adults surveyed in summer 2025 and provides the most comprehensive snapshot to date of how residents view sea level rise and the policy choices it raises. Big Island Now.

Hawaiʻi Senate committee advances bill to allow state to sue Big Oil for climate damage. A state Senate committee pushed forward a bill last Wednesday that would allow the state to sue major corporations for climate-related damages, a move that attempts to stabilize Hawaiʻi’s volatile insurance market. Big Island Now.

Hawaii eyes ban on reselling tickets above face value. Hawaii concert fans are often priced out by ticket scalpers who snatch up seats and resell them for huge markups. KHON2.

Measures tackle Hawaii teacher shortage. A measure that would create a new five-year state permit for visiting international teachers has drawn strong support from the state Department of Education as well as immigrant and educator advocates, as Hawaii continues to grapple with a persistent teacher shortage. Star-Advertiser.

Legislative bills address costs of hike rescues in Hawaii. For at least seven years, the bills have resurfaced, but seldom survive. This year, the idea of reimbursement, along with a prepaid hike card to cover rescue fees, were reintroduced, along with a proposal for a state search-and-rescue coordinator. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii bill aims to provide immediate assistance to wrongfully convicted. Legislation would provide case managers and monthly payments to help exonerees transition after release. Hawaii News Now.

High prices are forecast to lower auto sales this year. Hawaii auto sales reaccelerated and rose 3.7% in 2025 after three straight down years,  but sales are forecast to dip 1.8% in 2026 as consumers grapple with the high price of vehicles and the lingering effect of tariffs. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu City Council to review HPD’s transparency measure. A Honolulu City Council measure that commends the city’s police force for not wearing masks when encountering members of the public it’s sworn to protect and serve is scheduled for final review on Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Hale Nani strike averted after tentative agreement reached. Unionized health care workers at Hale Nani Rehabilitation & Nursing Center said they have reached a tentative agreement with management and will no longer be going on strike.  Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Banyan Drive in spotlight. A pair of bills to facilitate the redevelopment of Banyan Drive in Hilo are scheduled for committee hearings this week. Tribune-Herald.

Water Restriction Notice Issued For Kawaihae, South Kohala Resorts, Again. Effective immediately and until further notice, residents and businesses in Kawaihae, as well as the resort communities along the South Kohala coast, must reduce water use by 25%. Big Island Video News.

State staff discover one of oldest Hawaiian honeycreepers on Big Island. Hawai’i Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife staff recently recaptured — and re-released — one of the oldest ʻiʻiwi ever observed. Big Island Now.

Maui

Public Safety Power Shutoff watch: Hawaiian Electric monitoring wildfire risk conditions this week. Customers in these areas are urged to initiate their own emergency plans should a Public Safety Power Shutoff be necessary, and to prepare for the possibility of extended power outages Monday through Thursday. Maui Now.

Students have been speaking ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi at this Molokaʻi school for over 30 years. Walk down the hallway at Ke Kula Kaiapuni o Kualapuʻu, and you’ll hear students learning and conversing in Hawaiian, practicing oli and studying math. Today, Kumu Lokelani Han’s sixth grade class, or Papa ʻEono, is practicing for a Hawaiian language speech competition next week to celebrate Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi. Hawaii Public Radio.

Haleakala eyed for 7 more telescopes despite opposition. The U.S. Air Force is moving forward with plans to build seven more telescopes on Haleakalā, drawing opposition from those who consider the mountain sacred. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

County postpones remaining rubbish pick up in Anahola, Moloaʻa to Tuesday. Residential trash collection in portions of Anahola and Moloaʻa has been delayed because of staffing shortages, county Solid Waste officials said Monday afternoon.  Kauai Now.

Plan ahead now: Road closure scheduled for Pe‘e Road at intersection of Po‘ipū Road. Kaua’i County Department of Public Works and contractor Goodfellow Bros. notify the public about an upcoming closure of Pe‘e Road at the intersection of Po‘ipū Road. Kauai Now.

Undersea cable planned to connect 6 islands, gambling bills struggle in Legislature, Intermediate Court of Appeals judicial nominees named, Luke fallout continues, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Draft EA Details Undersea Fiber Optic Cable Between Hawaiian Islands. A University of Hawaiʻi proposal to install a subsea fiber optic cable system connecting the six main Hawaiian Islands is detailed in a new draft environmental assessment.  The subsea cable system would improve and expand high-speed internet access and availability to the six main Hawaiian Islands. Big Island Video News.

Full 1,587-page environmental assessment on Undersea Fiber Optic Cable can be found here.

Gambling bills struggle to remain alive amid Hawaii’s prohibition on wagering.  A bill that would allow cruise ship gambling — even while ships are docked in Hawaii ports — stalled in a House committee Wednesday while another bill that would allow sports betting squeaked through as the state Legislature continues to debate whether to end Hawaii’s prohibition on gambling. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi eyes expanded automatic voter registration with driver's licenses. A state proposal could automatically register eligible residents to vote in elections — unless they explicitly “opt out” of that opportunity. Hawaiʻi already has an automatic voter registration system, but it follows an “opt-in” model.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Election advocates warn of political fallout following recent scandal. Several bills are already teed up this session to crack down on bribery and money-driven influence over lawmakers. Advocates say funding elections publicly is another way to bring ethics back to politics. KHON2.

Unlicensed Teachers Want To Work In Hawai‘i Schools For Longer. The state has become increasingly reliant on emergency hires in recent years, but educational leaders are split on what role they should play in schools moving forward. A package of bills that would allow emergency hires to work in schools for five years is now sparking debate around the role unlicensed teachers should play in Hawaiʻi classrooms.  Civil Beat.

Bill would help repay teachers’ student loans.  A bill moving through the state Legislature would create a new student loan repayment program for public school educators, aiming to ease financial pressures and help address Hawaii’s ongoing teacher shortage. Star-Advertiser.

Bill advances for disclosure and safeguards on conversational AI services in Hawaiʻi. Senate Bill 3001, known as the Artificial Intelligence Disclosure and Safety Act, the measure establishes consumer protections and safety standards for conversational artificial intelligence services operating in Hawaiʻi.  Maui Now.

Gov. Josh Green to choose judge from list of nominees for Intermediate Court of Appeals. The Judicial Selection Commission submitted the following nominees: Lance D. Collins, currently president and principal attorney of the Law Office of Lance D. Collins and a per diem District and Family Court judge; Daniel M. Gluck, currently a deputy corporation counsel for the City and County of Honolulu; Nickolas A. Kacprowski, currently a partner at Dentons US LLP; Robert T. Nakatsuji, currently a deputy prosecuting attorney for the City and County of Honolulu. Big Island Now.

Hawaiʻi Democratic Party eyes local and national midterm elections. Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi Chair Derek Turbin stopped by The Conversation on Monday morning to talk about criticism aimed at national leadership and the possible effects on various state and local-level races. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Luke Donor And Friends Cashed In On City-Funded Covid Testing Program. In a public health crisis, Tobi Solidum saw a business opportunity, and his company made millions from a Honolulu-funded program. Now he’s at the center of a public corruption scandal.  Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

Student homelessness rises on Oahu’s west side. The number of students experiencing homelessness is rising on Oahu’s west side, according to Hawaii State Department of Education officials who say they are seeing the highest numbers in years. Hawaii News Now.

‘Let the kids play’: Legal dispute cancels flag football league for hundreds of keiki. Scott Nunotani, who started the NFL Flag Football Hawaii organization, was slapped with an injunction last Friday by his former employer, Ultimate Lokahi Sports, for starting the company and improperly competing against them. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu woman sentenced for threatening to kill Presidents Biden and Trump on Facebook. A 49-year-old woman was sentenced to seven months in prison on Tuesday after she pled guilty to threatening to kill Presidents Biden and Trump in multiple Facebook posts and comments. KITV4.

Hawaii Island

$33 million well spent? Resolution seeking audit of county homeless fund spending passes. The Hawaii County Council on Feb. 4 voted 8-0 to approve 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.

Grand opening Friday for new Hilo Goodwill store. Goodwill Hawaii has announced that the Hilo Store and Donation Center will be relocating to its Hawaii Island Campus (17 Makaala St.), which offers a larger retail space, more parking and a convenient donation drop-off. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

High court blocks appeal of $4 billion Maui wildfire settlement, but payouts still delayed. For the second time in two years, the Hawaii Supreme Court has blocked insurance companies from acquiring part of a $4 billion Maui wildfire settlement. Star-Advertiser.

Maui Housing Policy Divides Top Candidates For Mayor This Election. Maui County Council member Yuki Lei Sugimura is trying to unseat Mayor Richard Bissen in a closely watched race this election. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Kauaʻi Small Business Energy Efficiency Grant program continues through this year. The grant operates alongside the utility co-op’s Commercial Retrofit Program, which provides funding for efficiency upgrades of existing items and units — including air conditioning, motors and refrigeration. Kauai Now.

New CPR machines coming to Wilcox. Hawaii Pacific Health announced on Tuesday that the Leona M. and Harry B. Hensley Charitable Trust is funding new lifesaving equipment for cardiac emergencies all the Hawaii Pacific Health (HPH) system with a grant totaling nearly $360,000. Garden Island.

Almost half of new Hawaii teacher hires not licensed, mild recession forecast, deported Hawaii Purple Heart veteran addresses Congress, Hitachi-HART battle over rail funding heats up, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Nearly Half Of DOE’s New Teacher Hires Are Not Licensed To Teach. Hawaiʻi’s public schools have improved teacher retention and reduced vacancy rates since the Covid-19 pandemic, but are relying heavily on emergency hires. Civil Beat.

Hawaii faces ‘weak’ 2026 economy, report says. Hawaii’s economy continues to head toward a mild recession in 2026, driven primarily by the overall U.S. economy, President Donald Trump’s ongoing tariffs, cuts in federal spending and deportations, according to the fourth quarter economic forecast released Thursday by the University of Hawai‘i Economic Research Organization. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s 2026 minimum wage increase could raise prices. While business owners will certainly feel the pinch of an increased minimum wage, both restaurateurs and economists said it will also be passed on to the consumer. KHON2.

Funding bill urges Army to negotiate land leases. The latest version of Congress’s annual defense spending bill includes several provisions for Hawaii and the Pacific, and one major change covering land lease negotiations in the state. Star-Advertiser.

Deported Purple Heart veteran makes virtual appearance at House committee hearing. A Purple Heart Army veteran made a surprise appearance on Capitol Hill Thursday, months after he was forced to self-deport from Hawaii to South Korea. Sae Jun Park, a Purple Heart recipient, self-deported from Honolulu in June after nearly 50 years in the U.S. Hawaii News Now. KITV4. 

‘Fraud Magnet’? Top Senator Wants To Halt SBA Contracts, Citing Hawaiʻi Case. In a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Joni Ernst cited a criminal investigation of Christopher Dawson, accused of hijacking small business funding intended to help Native Hawaiians. Civil Beat.

Priced out of paradise: Hawaii families build new lives in Utah while efforts grow to bring them home. Thousands of Hawaii families have relocated to Utah, driven by the state’s high cost of living but maintain strong cultural connections through businesses, religious networks and community organizations. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

HART files counterclaim against Hitachi’s $320M lawsuit. On Monday, HART filed a counterclaim against Hitachi Rail Honolulu JV, after the train manufacturer brought a new $320 million lawsuit against the rail agency last month, over allegations of numerous costly delays during the phased construction of the city’s more than $10 billion rail line. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

Nearly 1,000 acres of Kāneʻohe Pali land saved for conservation. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Trust for Public Land partnered to buy the area from its previous private owners for nearly $2.6 million. Hawaii Public Radio.

Library welcomes its newest staff member: a robot named Pepper. ʻĀina Haina Public Library was given a humanoid robot named Pepper to help library patrons with greeting visitors, promoting programs and leading story times. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiʻi organization receives $2.5M from Bezos fund toward helping homeless youth. Residential Youth Services and Empowerment, or RYSE, was recently awarded $2.5 million from billionaire Jeff Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sánchez. It is the largest donation in the organization’s history. Hawaii Public Radio.

Honolulu mayor seeks Taiwan’s help to rebuild crime-plagued Chinatown Cultural Plaza.  Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi wants the crime-infested Chinatown Cultural Plaza torn down and rebuilt, and he’s asking Taiwan’s President to get it done. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Seismic data offers new insights into Kīlauea's behavior in 2018. New data suggests that something blocked the flow of magma into the shallow reservoir below Kīlauea's summit caldera in late 2016. That disruption diverted magma pressure towards the East Rift Zone and Puʻuʻōʻō. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui

‘The Maui Method:’ A New Fix For A Major Fire Hazard In Hawaiʻi. Government officials developed a way to deal with tons of electric vehicle batteries left in the aftermath of wildfires and found at illegal dumpsites. Civil Beat.

Lahaina Restoration Foundation announces new leadership. Ekolu Lindsey has been named President of LRF, bringing his deep roots in Hawaiian cultural and environmental stewardship to guide the organization’s mission of preserving Lahaina’s historic and cultural resources. Maui Now.

Kauai

State reports 3rd possible case of H5N1 in duck on Kauai. A third presumptive case of avian influenza has been confirmed in another duck – this time an endangered, native duck from a wildlife refuge on Kauai, according to state officials. Star-Advertiser.  Garden Island.  Kauai Now. 

Public-sector construction falls, teacher turnover intensifies, ousted occupants storm apartment building, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii construction report shows drop in public-sector projects. Pacific Resource Partnership said data for this year through Sept. 30 show that the industry remains strong with spending at $4.3 billion, though the sum trails full-year spending that was over $8 billion in each of the last three years, including $9.5 billion in 2023 and $8.4 billion in 2024. Star-Advertiser.

High teacher turnover challenges Hawaii public schools. The teacher turnover rate averages 15.7% statewide, according to the state Department of Education’s recent analysis. Some schools have posted turnover rates of 30% to 50% over two years. Star-Advertiser.

Bonuses Aren’t Solving Hawaiʻi’s Special Education Teacher Shortage. The Hawaiʻi DOE offers at least $10,000 to special education teachers to fill open positions, but most schools have reported worsening shortages. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi Police Face Unique Barriers To Solving Violent Crimes. The percentage of violent crimes that end in an arrest or a closed case is declining, as agencies grapple with understaffing, insufficient technology and geographical challenges of an island state. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio. 

Hawaiʻi Launches New Online Data Portal About Invasive Species. Lawmakers called on the agriculture department to create the dashboard so the public can keep an eye on what it’s doing to stem the spread of pests. Civil Beat. KHON2. 

Oahu

Deed forgery scheme impacts properties across Oahu. Hawaii’s attorney general has charged two men with stealing three properties, but investigators say a Kalihi lot may be one of about a dozen others taken as part of a much larger deed fraud scheme. Hawaii News Now.

Evicted tenants reoccupy downtown apartment building in ‘hostile takeover’.  The owner of Union Plaza said someone called in a false fire alarm, so that about 30 evicted tenants could storm the building and reoccupy rooms. Hawaii News Now.

Property manager blames clerical error for rent hike notices wrongly sent to low-income seniors. Seniors at two Oahu housing complexes say they were thrown into panic after receiving rent hike notices that turned out to be wrong. EAH Housing now confirms the issue was caused by a clerical error that affected both Ainahau Vista and Artesian Vista. Hawaii News Now.

Local journalists look for a way forward as newsrooms shrink or disappear. The book “Presstime in Paradise” by editor George Chaplin details the life and times of the Honolulu Advertiser from 1856 to 1995. The 'Tiser' was one of Honolulu’s first non-government newspapers under the Hawaiian Kingdom, but it no longer exists. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Hilo hospital expansion on target for 2027 completion. The $80 million expansion of Hilo Benioff Medical Center is taking shape, with certain facilities likely ready for use early next year and full completion expected in 2027, hospital officials said. Tribune-Herald.

Push to expand Hawaiʻi Island bus infrastructure reaches another step in Pāhoa. A proposed Pāhoa Transit Hub is gaining traction in its planning phase, with a preferred location confirmed by Hawaiʻi County's Mass Transit Agency. Hawaii Public Radio.

New access road proposed for Kaʻu Forest Reserve. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is proposing to bulldoze a short access road in the remote Ka‘u Forest Reserve to improve management of native ecosystems and maintain a hooved-animal-proof fence, according to a draft environmental assessment released this week. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Maui County to collect domestic waste.  Maui residents may start making appointments Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, for the County of Maui Department of Environmental Management’s free Residential Household Waste Collection on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, in Central Maui. Maui News. Maui Now. 

Kauai

SHOPO raises concerns about pick for the next Kauaʻi police chief. At a meeting on Friday, the commission made a conditional offer to Rudy Tai, one of four finalists. Tai was born and raised on Oʻahu, but spent his 35-year police career with the San Diego Police Department, where he currently serves as deputy chief. Hawaii Public Radio.

Man dies rescuing children in Kauai surf. A Good Samaritan has died on Kauai after being pulled from the waters of Waiapuaa Bay. KHON2. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

DMV identification cards unavailable through Wednesday. The Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is unable to produce identification cards, such as driving permits, driver’s licenses, and state identification cards, because of hardware issues. Kauai Now.

First cohort of AI Accelerator celebrates. The Capstone Pau Hana held on Friday at the Kuleana Workspace in Kukui Grove celebrated achievements of six members — all local small business owners — of the first AI (Artificial Intelligence) Lab cohort. Garden Island.

New teacher apprentice program strives to address shortage, HPD officers who handcuffed 10-year-old could face excessive force lawsuits, Lahaina after-action report vendor disqualified, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii’s Latest Effort To Recruit Teachers: Put Prospective Educators In Classrooms Sooner. A new apprenticeship program would provide financial support for future educators and remove some of the barriers to obtaining a teacher's license. Civil Beat.

NATO protection for Hawaii is not clear-cut. A senior State Department official said the agency believes that U.S. allies likely would respond if Hawaii was attacked, but that any chance of explicitly amending the treaty to include it or other U.S. Pacific territories is not likely. Star-Advertiser.

COVID activity in Hawaii has peaked, but is still at high levels. The state Department of Health on Wednesday reported a statewide average positivity rate of 16.3%, up from 14.7% the previous week. The positivity rate — the percentage of all reported tests that are positive — was at 16.1% two weeks ago. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

Bill protection is ending for HECO's Shift and Save program. Utilities charge higher rates for electricity during the evening and overnight, and lower rates during the day. For the first six months of the program, HECO placed a $10 cap on any increases in enrolled customers' electricity bills, which insulated participants as they adjusted to the new rate structure. Hawaii Public Radio.

DOE employees can donate sick leave to Maui wildfire impacted teachers. Hawaii Department of Education teachers across the islands can now share up to 10 sick days with other salaried D.O.E. employees impacted by the Maui wildfires. KITV4.

Oahu

More tiny home ‘kauhale’ to open across Oahu. A flatbed truck on Wednesday carried two more newly built 100-square-foot tiny homes to a new “kauhale” going up at Kalihi’s Cedar Church as the state, counties and a hui of builders and developers work together to create more communities for low-income and homeless people on Oahu by the end of the year. Star-Advertiser.

HPD Officers Who Handcuffed 10-Year-Old Can Be Sued For Using Excessive Force, Judges Rule. Judges in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rule three Honolulu police officers who arrested an elementary school student in 2020 are not entitled to qualified immunity on an excessive force claim. Civil Beat.

After years of waiting, Waianae coast residents may get their highway bypass next year. Paakea Road in the Maili area is part of the emergency access route for the Waianae Coast. However, parts of it are sealed off by rarely opened gates. Hawaii News Now.

HPD launches internal review of escapee incident at Kapolei Police Station. Law Enforcement sources say David Montoya scaled a 15-foot security fence and a retaining wall Sunday morning. This was after an employee unlocked a secured door for the 31-year-old because they thought he was an officer. Hawaii News Now.

Financial help for struggling rail businesses still months away. The City’s Rail Transit Mitigation Fund went into effect at the beginning of the month, but it will still take some time for businesses to see the money. KHON2.

Opossum captured in Downtown Honolulu. The animal was found near S. King Street and Alakea Street just after 7 a.m. So far it is unknown where the animal originated. KITV4.

Hawaii Island

Police commissioner sues HPD and assistant chief.  The complaint alleges Assistant Chief Kenneth Quiocho violated Police Commissioner Anthony Sur's right to privacy by disclosing to the county Board of Ethics in a 2023 complaint against Sur that he carries a concealed firearm.  Tribune-Herald.

Kamehameha Schools Faces Pushback On Plan To Build ‘Low-Impact’ Resort On Big Island. Hawaii’s largest private landowner is asking the public to weigh in on its proposal to build 150 units of bungalow-style lodging at Keauhou Bay, about six miles south of Kailua-Kona on the Big Island’s leeward coast. Civil Beat.

High Bacteria Advisory Posted For Richardson Ocean Center In Keaukaha. Health officials say enterococci levels of 364 per 100 mL have been detected at Richardson Ocean Center during routine beach monitoring. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Vendor disqualification delays Maui fire report. The lone vendor selected to perform an after-action report of the Maui Emergency Management Agency’s response to the fatal Aug. 8 fires that killed 102 people and destroyed the heart of historic Lahaina town is non-compliant with state policies and unable to perform the work. Star-Advertiser.

Maui County considering 2 proposals that could impact Lahaina rebuilding. Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen is proposing to allow destroyed buildings in Lahaina to be rebuilt, even if they don’t meet current zoning rules. Hawaii News Now.

Lahaina wildfire final debris site hits snag. U.S. District Court Judge Kenneth Mansfield denied a motion by Maui County to immediately use 20 acres of privately owned property in Central Maui to expand the county’s adjacent landfill to accommodate fire waste and municipal refuse in advance of a trial to condemn the site and pay the owner a fair value. Star-Advertiser.

EPA completes drinking water and wastewater mission in Lahaina. The US Environmental Protection Agency recently completed its Drinking Water and Wastewater mission in Lahaina as part of a multi-agency emergency response to the 2023 Maui wildfires. Maui Now.

This Lahaina Family Finally Finds A House To Call Home — At Least For A While. In the span of a week, the Dadez family moved from a resort condo to a pair of studio hotel rooms and then, finally, into a five-bedroom home in Napili. Civil Beat.

Scouting America, Aloha Council receives funding to replace cabins at Camp Maluhia. Whittier Trust has donated $100,000 to the Scouting America, Aloha Council to replace five Pop Hutton cabins at Camp Maluhia. Maui Now.

Kauai

Median home price on Kaua‘i highest of four major islands in first half of year. The median price of a single-family home jumped nearly 29 percent on the back of stronger sales in the first half of the year, in turn making Kaua‘i the most expensive housing market of the four major islands in Hawai‘i. Garden Island.

Water conservation request continues for customers in ‘Ōmao and Kōloa. Kaua‘i County’s Department of Water reminds customers located in ‘Ōmao and Kōloa to continue water conservation efforts until further notice. Kauai Now.

Money flows to lawmakers during legislative session, Honolulu mayor rejects Alaska homeless, COVID-19 sends Maui council back to remote meeting, another Big Isle death from dog packs, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Ban On Fundraisers? Hawaii Legislators Continued To Rake In Campaign Cash During Session. Many found ways to raise big donations even though a new law was intended to limit the influence of special interest money. Civil Beat.

Alaska mayor’s plan to send homeless to warmer cities gets pushback in Hawaii. The mayor of Alaska’s largest city says he’s planning to send some of the state’s homeless to warmer cities, citing a lack of shelter space as winter approaches. The program is already getting pushback, including from Honolulu’s mayor. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii DOE Has Changed Up Its Teacher Recruitment And Early Results Are Promising. The department has made 690 local and 277 out-of-state hires to start the school year.  There are around 300 vacant positions in the system now, compared to over 1,000 vacancies at the start of the last school year. Civil Beat.

US Department of Energy funding to support state renewable energy network.  The U.S. Department of Energy named 67 winners for its Energizing Rural Communities Prize. One of them is Shake Energy Collaborative in Hawaiʻi. Hawaii Public Radio.

Department of Hawaiian Home Lands struggling to fill dozens of vacancies. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is positioned to build thousands of homes, but it's the positions behind the desk that first need to be filled. KITV4.

UH sets new record in extramural funding with $515.9 million. For a second year in a row, the University of Hawaii has set a record in extramural funding, pulling in $515.9 million for fiscal year 2023 and surpassing its prior peak by $10.9 million, UH officials announced. Star-Advertiser.

Visitors spent $2B in June, mostly on Maui and Oahu. Neighbor Island visitor spending through first half of 2023 outpacing 2019. Visitors to Hawaii spent $2 billion in June — more than any other month during the record-breaking year before the pandemic — with nearly three-quarters of that total coming from tourists on Maui and Oahu.  Maui News.

Ambitious public housing plan focuses on creating thousands of new units — quickly.  The state’s public housing authority plans to build more than 10,000 affordable units over a decade. Past projects may have failed to build enough housing, but the executive director of the Hawaii Public Housing Authority told Hawaii News Now the $6.6 billion plan is different. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

New city traffic study finds 7 in 10 drivers failed at yield for pedestrians at busy intersection. Hawaii Kai residents are calling for safer crosswalks. The plea comes following a new city traffic study conducted at nine areas with high traffic incidents. Researchers found 71% of drivers failed to yield for pedestrians at the intersection of Lunalilo Home Road and Kaumakani Street in east Oahu. Hawaii News Now.

Audit finds improvements in city hiring shortfalls. An audit into the city’s 2,458 job vacancies is revealing an outdated system and lengthy hiring process. As a result, the city is making improvements to the system. KHON2.

King Tide Leads To New Release Of Partially Treated Wastewater Near Pearl Harbor. The military said water in the area remained safe to use but warned another discharge may occur as ocean conditions persist. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.  Spectrum News.

Invasive Species Are Rampant On Oahu And Stakeholders Are Calling Out DOA. The department said it is taking an "all-hands-on-deck approach" to the issue. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi could see a big hurricane season, but most homes aren't ready.  Two-thirds of the single-family homes on Oʻahu, an island of 1 million people that's home to Honolulu, have no hurricane protections. Associated Press.

Powering O‘ahu 24/7 for 60 Years. Behind the scenes at the Kahe Power Plant, which opened in 1963 and still generates firm power to supplement solar- and wind-generated electricity. Hawaii Business magazine.

Hawaii Island

Police: Ocean View man killed by dogs in ‘horrific attack’.  Hawaii island police are investigating the death of a man who was reportedly attacked by four dogs in the Hawaiian Ocean View Estates subdivision Monday morning. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald.  Big Island Video News.  KHON2. KITV4.

Look South of Hilo for Affordable Homes in Hawai‘i. Hawai‘i Island’s overall median price has been relatively steady this year, but the lowest priced deals – including many inexpensive vacant lots – can often be found in Puna. Hawaii Business magazine.

DHHL awards 15 subsistence-ag lots in Panaewa.  Fifteen Department of Hawaiian Home Lands beneficiaries became the first to be awarded subsistence-agricultural lots Saturday at the Keaukaha Elementary School gymnasium. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui County Council meeting to be held remotely Friday due to COVID-19 cases.  Due to several cases of COVID-19 within the Legislative Branch, Council Chair Alice L. Lee determined that Friday’s council meeting will be held remotely via Bluejeans. Maui Now.

NOAA announces $17M for infrastructure improvements at Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will invest $17 million from the Inflation Reduction Act in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary to improve the climate resilience of the Kīhei, Maui visitor and community center.  Maui Now.

Betty’s Beach Cafe in Lahaina to reopen after inspection.  The state Department of Health Food Safety Branch has allowed Betty’s Beach Cafe in Lahaina to reopen after closing it last week due to a cockroach infestation. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

State suspends bus services at four Kaua‘i schools amid driver shortage.  Kapa‘a High School, Kapa‘a Middle School, Kapa‘a Elementary School and Hanalei Elementary School will see canceled services on Kaua‘i. Garden Island.

Waimea middle school principal removed from position. The principal of Waimea Canyon Middle School has been removed from her position in the midst of increasing complaints from parents, teachers and students. Garden Island.

Hawaii short health-care workers, teachers, corrections officers; cash flows to legislators during session, coffee labeling bill advances, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Lawmakers Consider Higher Bar For Labeling Hawaii Coffee. The label “Kona Coffee” could no longer used by coffee distributors unless more than half of the blended beans were in fact from Kona if a bill moving through the Legislature becomes law. Civil Beat.

Campaign Cash Flowed To Hawaii Senators Just Before An Energy Bill Vote. Reform Measures Won’t Stop It. A bill would prohibit lobbyists from cutting checks to lawmakers during the legislative session, but wouldn't prevent other people with an interest in legislation from writing checks. Civil Beat.

Bills to repeal Hawaii Tourism Authority advance. Two bills are moving forward to repeal the embattled Hawaii Tourism Authority this legislative session, which could prove one of the more contentious for the agency since state lawmakers gave it life in 1998. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers Are Focusing On Hawaii’s Youngest Residents As Other Education Measures Stall. Proposals to increase preschool attendance and stabilize child care centers are receiving the most attention in this legislative session. Civil Beat.

To stem exodus of preschool teachers, lawmakers consider using taxpayer dollars to boost their pay. Hawaii preschools say a shortage of qualified teachers is making Hawaii’s childcare crisis even worse. Now, lawmakers are considering using taxpayer money to give some underpaid educators a raise. Hawaii News Now.

Resurrected afterschool proposal gets approval from Senate committee.  House Bill 69 would give an additional $2.5 million to the DOE's Resources for Enrichment, Athletics, Culture, & Health (REACH) program for middle and intermediate school students. Hawaii Public Radio.

Reports show more healthcare workers leaving Hawaii. According to a recent survey from the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, vacancy rates went from 10% in 2019, to 17% in 2022. KHON2.

Waitlists grow for Hawaii’s long-term care facilities. For years, Hawaii’s long-term care facilities, which include nursing homes, have been dealing with staffing shortages, even before the COVID-19 pandemic. Today the situation has only gotten worse, with long-term care facilities operating in crisis mode. Star-Advertiser.

Labor conflict in Hawaii’s shipping industry playing out at Legislature.  The dispute is largely, or at least partly, between different factions of organized labor, and it could affect the prices and availability of goods. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s state prisons face severe staff shortages. The confirmation hearing for Tommy Johnson to lead the state Department of Public Safety revealed a deep and complex rift between guards and the department over chronic staff shortages, absences and overtime. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

DOH: Fecal bacteria in Kailua Bay exceeds permitted levels; Stay out. The public is advised to avoid Kailua Bay until further notice after wastewater was discharged into the ocean, according to the Hawaii Department of Health. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

State considers closing financial gap to buy Maunawili Valley. More than a thousand acres of Maunawili are privately owned, and for years community members have been raising funds to buy it. Now, with the state’s help, they hope to restore agricultural land and preserve cultural and historical sites. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Permit granted for Ka‘u-based satellite receiver array. The Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics plans to install a system of 10 satellite dishes 20 feet in diameter on a two-acre site on a larger 10.7-acre parcel in Wood Valley in order to observe faint radio pulses from deep space. Tribune-Herald.

60th Annual Merrie Monarch Festival kicks off with Ho‘olaule‘a. Seven halau and a taiko drum group were to entertain an anticipated crowd of hundreds, perhaps thousands, starting at 9 a.m. at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium. Tribune-Herald. Hawaii News Now.  KITV4.

Merrie Monarch Week: The ‘unofficial’ events.  The action during the upcoming 60th Annual Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo on the Big Island isn’t just confined to the official events at Edith Kanaka‘ole Multi-Purpose Stadium and Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium. Big Island Now.

Maui

Bissen’s Spending Plan For Maui Targets Affordable Housing And A Rainy Day Fund. His $1.23 billion spending plan for Maui, Lanai and Molokai is only slightly higher than fiscal year 2023’s $1.21 billion spending plan — the largest budget in county history.  Civil Beat.

Maui experts hope to catch up in battling coquis, Little Fire Ants, miconia. Christy Martin and Teya Penniman have spent more than 20 years successfully leading the fight against alien species on Maui, including the coqui frogs and Little Fire Ants. But they warn budget cutbacks in recent years have hurt their efforts. Maui Now.

Mokulele Airlines struggles to win the trust of its kamaʻāina passengers. Mokulele Airlines serves as a lifeline for the Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi communities, especially for critical medical appointments and off-island work. However, residents say they can no longer depend on Mokulele to get them there.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Kaua‘i police warn of Craigslist apartment rental scams. The already herculean task of finding an affordable apartment on Kaua‘i has been made more difficult by a recent rash of fake listings aimed at scamming tenants. Garden Island.

Therapists to analyze ‘climate psychology’ at next Kaua‘i Climate Action Forum. The Kaua‘i Climate Action Forum – made up of local environmental groups Zero Waste Kaua‘i, Kaua‘i Climate Action Coalition and the Surfrider Foundation Kaua‘i Chapter – will discuss “climate psychology” at its next online meeting. Kauai Now.

Senate 'bullies' create chaos, Hawaii ranked worst state for doctors, Red Hill families drank fuel and antifreeze, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Senate ‘Bullies’ Are Creating Chaos At The Capitol This Year. Donovan Dela Cruz and Michelle Kidani have taken political strong-arming to an alarming level as they work to control business and financial issues, their colleagues say.  Two powerful state senators are pressuring colleagues to derail confirmation of Scott Glenn to lead the Hawaii Office of Planning and Sustainable Development. Civil Beat.

Future of DBEDT confirmation up to nominee. The troubled Cabinet nomination of the head of the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism is up to acting Director Chris Sadayasu to decide whether he wants to take his confirmation vote to the full 25-member Senate. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s Republicans Don’t Get Many Bills Passed, But They’re Playing A Long Game. The minority caucus agrees it needs more members to get things done, but there is disagreement on how to get there. Civil Beat.

‘Misleading’ macadamia nut products prompt legislation in Hawaii. A kamaaina company that claims to be the biggest seller of chocolate-covered macadamia nuts has collided at the Legislature with local macadamia producers over whether Hawaii-branded products containing foreign macadamias should say so. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers consider bill that will allow counselors to file restraining orders for minors. A bill to let trained professionals petition for restraining orders on behalf of minors is now being discussed in the Hawaii state house. Senate Bill 45 includes counselors and other mental health professionals. KITV4.

State's newest homelessness coordinator pitches idea for ʻOhana Zone incentives. The state's homelessness coordinator wants ʻOhana Zone developments to get the same exemptions as affordable housing projects. Hawaii Public Radio.

Teacher Housing Has Been Only In Rural Areas, But That Could Change. Proposed legislation would fund a pilot program with locations in urban Oahu. Civil Beat.

Amid ongoing physician shortage, Hawaii ranked worst state for doctors. Analysts from the financial planning website WalletHub looked at all 50 states and Washington, D.C. and evaluated several factors across two key dimensions: “opportunity and competition” and “medical environment.” When it came to opportunity and competition, Hawaii ranked dead last. Hawaii News Now.

U.S. in ‘better place’ since pandemic, CDC director says during Hawaii visit. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention aims to become more nimble as a result of lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

Oahu

Not Just Fuel: Red Hill Families Drank Antifreeze Too, Lawsuit Says. The Pearl Harbor area residents who drank and showered in fuel-tainted water in 2021 were also exposed to antifreeze, which the Navy used as a fuel additive, according to an amended lawsuit complaint filed on Monday.  Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.  Hawaii News Now.

Board of Water Supply confirms trace amounts of PFAS were found in Waipio well. The state's Board of Water Supply announced Friday that trace amounts of perfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, were found in the Waipio Heights Wells Pumping Station last month during a routine test. Hawaii Public Radio.

Health, safety concerns raised over homeless at State Library. A growing homeless encampment by the Hawaii State Library is raising concerns with library users and nearby residents. They’re calling on the state to do a better job in cleaning the area. KHON2.

A New Recipe: This Program Puts Oahu Inmates In College Cooking Courses. Kapiolani Community College has offered courses to women at the Women's Community Correctional Facility since 2008. Civil Beat.

Keeaumoku Street safety in the works. Under the Honolulu “Complete Streets” program, the city Department of Transportation Services proposes a project along Keeaumoku Street — from Kapiolani Boulevard to Wilder Avenue — to include protected bicycle lanes, traffic-calming measures and pedestrian-­crossing improvements. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii AG: Imprisoned Prison Guard Shouldn’t Get His Job Back. The state says the labor board exceeded its authority and made a "clearly erroneous" decision regarding Jonathan Taum. The Hawaii Attorney General’s Office is appealing a decision by the state labor board that requires that a corrections sergeant who is serving a federal prison term be reinstated with back pay to his job at the Hilo jail. Civil Beat.

Funding requests for the Big Isle’s hospitals slashed. Gov. Josh Green requested that $50 million from the state budget be used to expand Hilo Medical Center, but when the House released its initial budget on Thursday, the amount was cut in half to $25 million. Tribune-Herald.

Progress on Hilo sewage plant. A plan to renovate the decrepit Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant is now a two-part project. Tribune-Herald.

Community Meeting On Waikoloa Road Project Set For March 30. The pavement removal/replacement project is scheduled to begin in May 2023 and run through April 2024. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Want to fix the food system? Maui’s Polipoli Farms aims to help local farmers do just that. Lehia Apana recently won a $10,000 grant from Dove Chocolate to help grow her food hub project.  Maui Now.

Maui Land & Pineapple announces leadership transition. Maui Land & Pineapple announced today the appointment of Race Randle as CEO and Scot Sellers as Chairman, effective April 1, 2023. Maui Now.

Repairs underway for historic church damaged by storm. Ke‘anae Congregational Church has been closed due to safety hazards since 2021. Maui News.

Kauai

Wilcox earns national patient safety award. The Wilcox Medical Center received the Healthgrades 2023 Patient Safety Excellence Award that places Wilcox among the top 10 percent of all short-term acute care hospitals nationwide, as evaluated by Healthgrades, the leading marketplace connecting patients and providers. Garden Island.

Kaua‘i DOCARE presence nearly doubles as 41 new officers commissioned. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources significantly bolstered its ranks on Monday, as 41 new Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement officers were deployed for their first assignments Garden Island. Kauai Now.

Legislature kills tax breaks on food and medicine, teacher and doctor retention falls, Senate to vote on bill legalizing recreational marijuana, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii lawmakers kill excise food tax exemption, but other proposed relief lives on. The proposal to end Hawaii’s 4.5% excise tax on food and medicine has died at the state Legislature, but there is still millions of dollars in income tax relief still on the table as the 2023 session nears its midpoint. Hawaii News Now.

Key state Senate vote today on measure aimed at physician retention. A bill that would exempt medical providers from the state’s general excise tax for treating Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE patients will be voted on today in the Senate. Tribune-Herald.

Report: Teacher Turnover Increases In Hawaii. Hawaii saw a 12.3% uptick in turnover of public school teachers during the 2021-2022 academic year compared with the school year that began in fall 2017, according to an employment report by the state Department of Education. Civil Beat.

Bill To Legalize Weed Set For Vote In Hawaii Senate. Senate Bill 669 would allow residents to grow, consume and sell less than 1 ounce of cannabis within the state of Hawaii. It also establishes taxes for cannabis sales.  Civil Beat.

Tax to fund affordable housing advances in state Legislature. Senate Bill 362, Draft 2, which raises the conveyance tax on property sales over $2 million, has survived committee (a feat that only one in 10 bills achieve) and is set for a final floor vote in the Senate this week. Garden Island.

A push to charge for rescues on hikers blatantly ignoring rules. Senate Bill 786 would charge an individual who ignores warning signs, leave a trail to get to a prohibited area, or go on an illegal hike. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiʻi's economic growth could surpass the national average, DBEDT says. In their latest report, the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism predicted Hawaiʻi to have a better economic outcome than the national average. Hawaii Public Radio.

Lobbying continues for midwifery licensing bill at state Capitol. A bill to define licensure laws for traditional birth attendants died in the state House of Representatives last week, but some members of the public haven’t given up hope.  Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Budget committee chair seeks longer-term solutions within Blangiardi's $4.5B proposal. The Blangiardi administration is proposing a $3.4 billion operating budget and a $1.09 billion Capitol Improvement Plan budget. Both are roughly a 6% increase from the previous year.  Hawaii Public Radio.

HPD seeking budget increase amid recruitment efforts. The staffing woes continue at the Honolulu Police Department with 360 police officer positions remaining unfilled. KHON2.

Honolulu Emergency Services proposal for new Ocean Safety, ambulance facilities. The Honolulu Emergency Services Department is proposing a 17.6% budget increase for fiscal year 2024. KHON2.

Median sales price for Oahu single-family homes stays under $1M. The median sales price of previously owned single-family homes on Oahu stayed below the $1 million mark for the second month in a row, and days on the market nearly quadrupled — signs that the local housing market is continuing to soften amid high inflation, relatively high mortgage rates and concerns about a looming U.S. recession. Star-Advertiser.

Surviving bill would give OHA $6M for an environmental study on Kakaʻako Makai. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs said it is not receptive to reopening the 2012 ceded lands settlement with the state because it is not giving up its Kakaʻako Makai lands. Hawaii Public Radio.

Native Hawaiian protesters who are ‘tired of waiting’ stage protest to claim DHHL lands. This week, the group began placing signs on vacant Department of Hawaiian Home Land parcels in Waianae and Kalaeloa, “reclaiming” the land for beneficiaries. Hawaii News Now.

Gov. Josh Green simplifying Aloha Stadium P3 plan. Gov. Josh Green has decided to pursue an alternate path for redeveloping Aloha Stadium in which a private partner would develop and operate a new stadium wholly or largely paid for by the state. Star-Advertiser.

Council chair: Law needs to be changed to fix flawed Waikiki Safe and Sound program. Critics complain there are no immediate consequences for repeat offenders caught violating Waikiki’s Safe and Sound program. Now, the district’s councilman is calling on the courts for help. Hawaii News Now.

Ex-Mililani athletic director surrenders in theft case. The former Mililani High School athletic director and baseball coach accused of stealing more than $400,000 from the school’s Athletic Booster Club Inc. surrendered to state Sheriff’s deputies this morning. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Official Reports Of Drug Use At Hawaii’s Largest Prison Are Challenged By Staff. Staff allege that the number of inmates who tested positive at the Halawa Correctional Facility is higher than official figures. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Nene’s death sparks call for action in Keaukaha. Nonprofits and native bird enthusiasts are pleading with government officials for help mitigating traffic in Keaukaha after a nene was killed by a driver last weekend. Tribune-Herald.

Maui’s ‘Dolphin Dave’ cited for harassing dolphins, humpback whale at Hawaiʻi Island state park. A 65-year-old Maui man is accused of actively pursuing an adolescent humpback whale and dolphins inside Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park.  Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

800 attend Big Island cockfight; four men charged with firearms, drug offenses. Four men were arrested for firearms offenses on March 4 while at a cockfight in Kealakekua, where drugs and illegal firearms were recovered, along with U.S. currency and two vehicles for forfeiture, according to Hawaiʻi Island police. Big Island Now. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Lease dispute escalates over state land in Hilo. Legal challenges against the state by a Hilo business owner whose lease agreement is in jeopardy could heat up after a hearing Friday. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Excavation starts at site of fuel spill atop Haleakalā. Excavation for cleanup of the Haleakalā fuel spill site began March 2, 2023, at the Maui Space Surveillance Complex following approval of a work plan.  Maui Now.

DLNR pursues owners for costs to remove yacht from Maui reef. The nominee to run the state Department of Land and Natural Resources plans to go after the owners of an illegally moored yacht that broke free, leaked fuel and damaged 20 species of coral near a Maui marine life conservation district. Star-Advertiser.

Contract negotiations for Maui County hospital workers continue, but talks break down. Negotiations between Kaiser’s Maui Health System and the United Public Workers union for a new contract for nearly 500 health care workers continued Monday, but talks broke down after just two hours, officials said. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Lanai Water Utility Seeks Significant Increase In Rates. The Lanai Water Co. is seeking a rate increase that would add $76.78 to the average customer’s monthly bill, which now is $18.75. Civil Beat.

350 still without power; initial outage impacted 6,900 customers from Pukalani to Hāna, Maui. Approximately 6,900 customers from the Pukalani to Hāna area experienced the outage starting around 6:40 a.m. Maui Now.

Kauai

Scrap metal not accepted at Līhuʻe refuse transfer center March 6-10.  The Līhu‘e refuse transfer station will not be accepting residential scrap metal for recycling from March 6 to 10 due to equipment issues. Kauai Now.

Gov. Green's first State of the State address seeks tax reform, solutions to homelessness, climate crisis. More news from all the Hawaiian Islands

 

Gov. Josh Green shares vision for Hawaii. Gov. Josh Green outlined a bold vision for Hawaii’s future that includes tax reform and ideas to turn Hawaii into a global model addressing climate change — immediately after Green signed his first emergency proclamation on homelessness, which received a standing ovation Monday in a joint session of the state House and Senate. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio. Tribune-Herald.  Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. Maui Now.  Maui News. Garden Island. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.  KHON2.

Full text of Gov. Josh Green's State of the State address can be found here.

Decision forthcoming to fill 2 state House vacancies. A social worker, a fire commissioner and a couple of current or former County Council members are in the running to fill two vacant seats in Hawaii’s Legislature. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Lawmakers Seek Shields Against Supreme Court Rulings On Abortion, Guns. Lawmakers are considering statewide regulations on concealed carry and also plan to debate measures protecting doctors who perform abortions. Civil Beat.

‘One set of rules’: Counties look to state for uniformity on concealed carry guns. Every county has been working on its own way of dealing with concealed weapon permits and identifying sensitive places. Now, there’s a push for statewide legislation to clear up confusion. Hawaii News Now.

Teacher shortage complicates Hawaii’s preschool plan. As the state embarks on its ambitious plan to offer universal access to preschool by creating 465 new classrooms by 2032, among the questions stakeholders are asking most is, How will so many additional preschool teachers be found in the midst of the state’s chronic teacher shortage? Star-Advertiser.

Soft hotel occupancy may persist in first quarter. December hotel occupancy was 71.3%, down 9 percentage points from December 2019, according to the Hawaii Hotel Performance Report published by the Hawaii Tourism Authority, using data from STR, a global hospitality data and analytics company. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Police In Hawaii Killed 2 People Last Year. Is It A Sign Of A Downward Trend? The quiet year for the Honolulu Police Department meant it fell marginally on a scale used to compare police killings across departments of comparable size, policing communities with similar populations over the past decade. Civil Beat.

Hundreds petition against a new bar planned for a residential area in Waikiki. The concern is around increased noise and disruptive activity to the residential area just mauka of Kuhio Avenue. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Mayor Roth Presents County Priorities To Lawmakers. Hawaiʻi County Mayor Mitch Roth appeared before a joint meeting of the Hawaiʻi House Finance Committee and the Senate Ways and Means Committee on Monday, offering a perspective from Hawaiʻi County as the 2023 legislative session gets underway. Big Island Video News.

Prisoner in Dana Ireland murder might get freedom. Attorneys for a Native Hawaiian man who has been imprisoned for more than 20 years for the 1991 sexual assault, kidnapping and murder of a white woman visiting Hawaii will ask a judge today to dismiss his conviction due to new evidence — including DNA testing — in the case. Associated Press. Hawaii News Now.

HFD seeks OK to hire grant manager. The Hawaii Fire Department is seeking County Council approval to hire a consultant to manage a nearly half-million dollar federal grant recently awarded to the county. West Hawaii Today.

Retreat expansion headed to contested case hearing. A proposal to more than double the number of rooms at a North Kohala retreat is headed to a contested case hearing after three neighbors successfully petitioned the Leeward Planning Commission. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui County officials ‘eager’ to work with Green on proposals. The Maui County Council’s chairwoman is “eager” to discuss a partnership to help the homeless by setting up tiny home villages across the state, as proposed Monday by Gov. Josh Green during his State of the State address. Maui News.

$198,000 grant allows for launch of Native Hawaiian Owner-Builder project on Molokaʻi. Hawai‘i Community Lending announced grant awards totaling $1.3 million that aim to increase economic stability on Moloka‘i by helping the island’s native Hawaiian community to actualize affordable homeownership. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kaua‘i public schools to receive $3.1M in federal funds. A federal funding mechanism that provides money for elementary and secondary education is projected to deliver more than $3 million to the County of Kaua‘i. Garden Island.

Public may weigh in as Kaua‘i utility seeks 50-year permit. Members of the public have 60 days to comment on a Habitat Conservation Plan developed by the Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative, which is seeking a 50-year incidental take authorization from state and federal agencies. Kauai Now.