Anti-corruption bills await introduction, Hawaii Trump supporters head to Washington, parasitic wasps to be deployed against coffee pest, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Bills aimed at corralling Hawaii government corruption raise hopes. A new round of bills have been introduced — or are pending introduction — at the newly convened state Legislature, with the goal of continuing to crack down on government corruption ever since the federal guilty pleas of the former Senate majority leader and the then-vice chair of the House Finance Committee on bribery charges in the early weeks of the 2022 legislative session. Star-Advertiser.

Bill seeks tougher penalties for sex trafficking in Hawaii. A new bill this legislative session seeks to amend penalties for sex trafficking in Hawaii, proposing fines ranging from $50,000 to $100,000 and a prison term of up to 20 years without the possibility for parole, suspended sentences or probation. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers introduce multiple proposals targeting fireworks. Every year bills are introduced aimed at controlling the barrage of illegal pyrotechnics shipped into the islands that regularly maim — and sometimes kill — New Year’s revelers while also igniting brush and structure fires. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

In-Laws Of Rep. Sue Lee Loy Claim She Doesn’t Live In Her Hilo District. Lee Loy said she moved into the district before running for office, but still spends time at a house outside the district to care for her disabled adult son. Civil Beat.

State seeks to stop neglect at adopted government cemeteries. The state Department of Accounting and General Services is proposing to create and fund a cemetery management office to regularly maintain eight cemeteries on three islands that don’t receive routine groundskeeping service. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

More than a dozen Hawaii Trump supporters made the almost 5,000 mile journey to Washington D.C. for Monday’s inauguration ceremony. Due to cold weather, the president-elect announced Friday the inauguration was take place inside the U.S. Capitol, leaving many of those who traveled to D.C. without seating inside. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Service members occupy nearly 14% of Oahu rentals, Pentagon says. The Pentagon’s latest report says that 60% of service members stationed on Oahu today reside on military installations. It also found that 2,150 service members own homes on the island. Star-Advertiser.

Rail-affected businesses could soon get grants. Honolulu businesses affected by the ongoing construction of the nearly $10 billion Skyline rail project can soon apply for financial relief, city officials announced last week. Star-Advertiser.

HPD officers to be deposed in connection with Jan. 1, 2024, beating. Investigators with the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney and a deputy prosecutor are looking into evidence turned over by Honolulu police following the criminal investigation of an alleged beating of a 25- year-old man by 10 to 12 officers on Jan. 1, 2024. Star-Advertiser.

California developer revives plans to build first U.S. Atlantis resort in West Oʻahu. A California developer bought oceanfront land at Ko Olina Resort last week. The seller was financially troubled China Oceanwide, which acquired the land in 2016 with big plans to build the first Atlantis Resort in the U.S.  Hawaii Public Radio.

North Shore residents push for first responder hub following multiple deaths. In the last four months, there have been eight deaths within a two mile radius of Sharks Cove. KHON2.

Search for 2 missing teens on Oahu’s North Shore enters 3rd day. The multi-agency search for two teens who went missing in waters off Oahu’s North Shore is entering its third day Monday, and authorities are also asking the public to keep an eye out for the pair. The search for 17-year-old Samantha Chun and 18-year-old Joseph “Joey” Fujioka will resume at first light Monday. Hawaii News Now. Star-Advertiser.  KHON2. KITV4.

Hawaii Island

Parasitic wasps to help combat CBB; officials look to release them this spring. Swarms of parasitic wasps will descend upon Kona coffee farms this spring as a long-gestating plan to control the coffee berry borer. Tribune-Herald.

Restoration of Highway 137 begins; contract awarded for Pohoiki Road. Work to rebuild part of Highway 137 in lower Puna began Jan. 9 with contractor Isemoto Contracting grading the area adjacent to “Four Corners,” where Highway 137 meets Highway 132. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

Plotting Banyan’s course: As razing of Uncle Billy’s finishes, officials mull future of area. The end of the former Uncle Billy’s Hilo Bay Hotel marks the beginning of a new era for Banyan Drive, Hilo stakeholders hope. Tribune-Herald.

Kilauea Summit Eruption Pauses Again. The inactive vents at the summit continue to glow and degassing currently remains at a high level. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

Maui

Maui Officials Want Legislature To Lean Into Water, Police, Midwifery Issues. The county has thrown its support behind bills that address needs beyond the ongoing recovery from the August 2023 fires. Civil Beat.

Bury all power lines or rebuild the town fast? In Lahaina fire recovery, it’s hard to do both. For Hawaiian Electric, which is already on the hook for half of the $4 billion settlement reached for the damages caused by the fire, the priority is putting everything back in the same place in order to get residents back home more quickly. But they say these installations come with changes that will address the risk their equipment posed before.  Maui Now.

Maui businesses hope for a return to Lahaina. Commercial redevelopment has not kicked into high gear; however, some recent progress has been made.  Star-Advertiser.

Maui's eviction moratorium ends soon. What does that mean for tenants and landlords? An eviction moratorium on Maui will expire Feb. 4, after being repeatedly extended over the past year. Hawaii Public Radio.

$19.4M sewer line extension to support Kilohana housing and Lahaina community. A sewer line being built for the Kilohana Temporary Group Housing Site on Maui will have long-term benefits for Lahaina, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Maui Now.

Meeting set for Lahaina Recreation Center playground area. The Maui County Department of Parks and Recreation will host a community meeting regarding the Lahaina Recreation Center playground from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Feb. 4 at the Lahaina Civic Center Social Hall. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai Police Department issues drone guidelines for Kauai.  Permission from KPD is not required to fly a drone on the island; however, drone regulations are governed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that states all drones must be registered with the FAA. Garden Island.

Hawaii should count homeless population

 

 

Did you hear? Hawaii has solved its homeless problem.

The solution was so obvious it’s amazing no one thought of it sooner. Just stop counting them!

That’s right, this year, when the Jan. 22 Point in Time Count rolls around, Hawaii agencies will count only those homeless already in shelters. The vast majority of our unhoused population – those living under storefront awnings, tents, umbrellas and tarps on the sidewalks, under and even in the trees – nah, no need to count ‘em.

And here I thought the purpose of the annual homeless population count was to assess the need for more shelters, more treatment options, more housing even. Well, guess what? No need!

I think I’m going to try that approach with my middle-age spread. Why step on that scale? Voila! My pot belly disappears.

Hey, we can expand it to other government programs, like our beleaguered Department of Education. Our kids falling behind on math and science, reading comprehension and spelling? Easy-peasy. Just quit testing them!

No need to give more money to the struggling Department of Agriculture to stem the influx of invasive species decimating crops from coffee to the iconic coconut palms. Quit counting those bugs already!

“You don't fatten a pig by weighing it,” drawled a rural Florida legislator, back when standardized testing was proposed for the nation’s schools. But how do we know how skinny that pig is getting if we don’t even weigh that sucker?

Sure, we can avert our eyes, not see the homeless problem, just like we try not to meet the eyes of the sad or belligerent people crowding our sidewalks as we carefully sidestep their little camps. We choose not to notice the families who are feeding their young children from beat-up old cars crowded with all their earthly possession in public lots, trying to help their kids live a normal life in a society that deliberately overlooks them. How might those kids thrive, to be the next Einstein or Tesla or even the next Bill Gates, if we don’t nurture them?

We can legally skip a year. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires the homeless count of unsheltered homeless just once every two years. But should we? We’ve counted them – or tried to count them -- every year since 2012, except for a break in 2020, when the pandemic kept everyone at home, whatever home looked like at the time.

The most recent federal report shows total homeless people in Hawaii rose 87% between 2023 and 2024. (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Annual Homeless Assessment Report.)

Previous Hawaii counts have shown there are twice as many unsheltered homeless people as those in shelters.

And while state and local agencies and nonprofits should be commended for taking the steps they have in trying to count our ever-elusive homeless population and help them into stable housing, it’s a daunting task. Last year’s count, for example, showed fewer unsheltered homeless on most Hawaiian Islands, even though those of us who are out regularly can see with our own eyes that’s not necessarily the case.

“We did one last year; it was quite a bit of work, and so we opted not to do it this year,” Maude Cumming, a former chair of the neighbor island’s nonprofit contractors, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

It’s not like the public hasn’t been generous donating to homeless charities. Three such nonprofits alone -- The Institute For Human Services Inc, HOPE Services Hawaii and Mental Health Kokua Safe Haven – reported almost $50 million revenue in their latest IRS filings.

I’ve seen the tent cities crowding Honolulu’s sidewalks. I see the displaced every morning in Hilo, where they’re quick to collapse their tents and umbrellas and gather up their belongings into stolen shopping carts to clear the premises before the cops come around. Can’t let the tourists see them! Where do they spend their days? Who knows?

But more importantly, who cares? I care. And so should you. Because if the most needy in our society aren’t counted – or don’t count – what does that say about us as a people?

Commentary. Nancy Cook Lauer, who’s covered state and local governments for more than 30 years in Hawaii and Florida, is the publisher of All Hawaii News (www.allhawaiinews.com)

More job cuts for Hawaiian Airlines, House GOP seeks stand-your-ground law, Maui wants eminent domain process to protect water sources, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiian Airlines Announces More Job Cuts. The airline expects additional cuts as it integrates operations with Alaska Air. Hawaiian Airlines said it has sent pink slips to 61 Hawaii-based employees as the company continues to cut non-union jobs after its merger with Alaska Airlines. The latest cuts are in addition to 57 job losses announced in October by the Honolulu-based carrier due to the merger. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.

House GOP Wants A Stand-Your-Ground Law For Hawaiʻi. Republicans’ legislative package includes bills to ban cell phones in schools and set up more places to vote. Civil Beat.

Hawaii lawmakers vow to stabilize property insurance market as climate change fuels higher premiums. Hawaii lawmakers began a new legislative session Wednesday with a vow to try to stabilize the state’s property insurance market as hurricanes, wildfires and other climate change-influenced disasters at home and elsewhere prompt insurance carriers to raise rates. Associated Press. Hawaii Public Radio.

Senator defends ‘mahu’ remarks in one of two controversies on Legislature’s opening day. A Republican who defied convention with a speech that called two transgendered leaders mahu, and a rookie Democrat who challenged leadership alone provided some unexpected drama on the Hawaii Legislature’s usually tradition-bound opening day. Hawaii News Now.

Nurses unions call for law regulating staffing ratios. The leaders of three unions representing more than 5,000 nurses joined forces Thursday at the state Capitol to rally for legislation ensuring safer standards of staffing at Hawaii hospitals. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Now. KITV4.

Hawaiʻi Teens Less Likely To Drink Alcohol — Or Use Sunscreen. High school students in the islands reported lower rates of bullying and drug abuse than peers on the mainland, but fell behind them in other health measures. Civil Beat.

BOE Votes Against Hiking School Meal Fees In Hawaiʻi— For Now. A Hawaiʻi Board of Education committee voted against raising school meal prices on Thursday, but did not address how schools are supposed to cover the rising cost of meals or comply with a state law that requires them to charge more. Civil Beat.

Hawaii public schools regress in farm-to-plate program. The state Department of Education, which is mandated to spend 30% of its total school food bill on local ingredients by 2030, managed to achieve 5.4% during the 2023-2024 school year. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Opponents voice concern over possible Wahiawa landfill. A top Honolulu official defended the actions taken by Mayor Rick Blan­giar­di’s administration to site the next municipal solid waste landfill on an active pineapple field in Central Oahu, directly above the island’s freshwater aquifer. Star-Advertiser.

Mo'ili'ili residents plead with city for relief from parking meters. Honolulu City Councilmember Scott Nishimoto said the city is considering alternatives such as a residential parking program so residents won't be charged $1.50 an hour to park on Isenberg Street near their homes. KITV4.

Honolulu police officer arrested after allegedly strangling roommate. According to department officials, officer Timothy Massie has been stripped of his police powers. The 29-year-old is now free on bail, suspected of misdemeanor abuse. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Subaru Telescope gets a significant upgrade. The Subaru Telescope on Maunakea will be able to observe more than 2,000 celestial objects at once with a new instrument that will go online in February. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now.

County Signs Lease To Relocate Hilo Fire Station. With the Central Fire Station in need of significant repairs, fire personnel and equipment will relocate to 1382 Kīlauea Avenue under a five-year lease. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Legislative measure would have state acquire all West Maui water systems through eminent domain. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources would be required to acquire all West Maui water systems through eminent domain and then hold them in trust for the management by Maui County, according to a bill introduced this legislative session. Maui Now.

State proposes new route for West Maui highway. The state Department of Transportation has selected a preferred six-mile route in its pursuit of an alternative to the two-lane coastal Honoapiʻilani Highway in West Maui. Maui News.

Maui County receives $15.43M grant for West Maui Greenway project. The County of Maui was recently awarded a $15.43 million grant from the federal government to support the first phase of the West Maui Greenway, a project that will contribute to several key areas of Lahaina’s recovery from the 2023 Maui wildfires. Maui Now.

Maui locals respond to Congress allocating more than $2 billion in disaster recovery funding for Lahaina. On Thursday, residents in Wailuku were asked their thoughts about the recent news that Congress will distribute more than $2 billion in disaster relief funding to Maui County to help with the Lahaina rebuild.  Maui News.

Kauai

Wilcox meeting with federal mediator. Wilcox Medical Center announced in a Wednesday afternoon release that the hospital will meet with a federal mediator separately from the Hawaii Nurses Association before a face-to-face meeting. Garden Island. Kauai Now.

Vendors, patrons trying to save Princeville farmers market after complaint shuts it down. A recent citizen’s complaint regarding zoning prompted the shutdown of the popular Princeville Farmers and Artists Market, leaving vendors on the North Shore of Kaua‘i scrambling after being cut off from a vital source of income. Kauai Now.

Hawaii Legislature opens with pageantry, dissent; big hike proposed for school lunches; Kilauea volcano lava fountains draw crowds, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Prickly dissent colors opening day of Hawaii Legislature.  The 33rd Hawaii State Legislature convened Wednesday morning, welcoming new members and House leadership, including Hawaii’s first female House Speaker. Hawaii government policies and leadership long dominated by Democrats were criticized in a floor speech by Sen. Brenton Awa as the new leader of the three-member Republican Senate caucus, while newly elected Rep. Kim Coco Iwamoto voted against her fellow Democratic colleague Rep. Nadine Nakamura becoming House speaker. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Big Island Now. KHON2. KITV4.  Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii lawmakers vow to stabilize property insurance market as climate change fuels higher premiums. Hawaii lawmakers began a new legislative session Wednesday with a vow to try to stabilize the state’s property insurance market as hurricanes, wildfires and other climate change-influenced disasters at home and elsewhere prompt insurance carriers to raise rates. Associated Press.

Hawaiʻi Families Could Face Big Price Hike For School Meals. Charging elementary and middle school students $4.75 for lunch would be a huge hit to working families, advocates say. Civil Beat.

Climate team urges funding sources, better planning for destructive disasters. The Climate Advisory Team, convened by Green last year, is urging the state to prepare for this new reality in which climate-fueled disasters are more destructive and more frequent. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiʻi is the only state without a fire marshal. We need one ASAP, new report says. Last year, the state Legislature passed a law to establish the Office of the State Fire Marshal. Since then, the State Fire Council, which is composed of all the county fire chiefs, has been working through the hiring process. Hawaii Public Radio.

Invasive Species In Hawaiʻi: Lawmakers Float New Plan As Urgency Mounts. Draft legislation proposes consolidating programs under a renamed Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, but critics say the agency already has a spotty track record on invasive species. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Police Department major nominated to lead state agency. The director of the state Department of Law Enforcement is stepping down and a Honolulu Police Department major has been nominated to replace him, according to Gov. Josh Green. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now.

Mokulele flight disruptions highlight service vulnerabilities. Southern Airways Express LLC, doing business as Mokuele Airlines, temporarily suspended all of its interisland airline routes across Hawaii on Wednesday morning, citing maintenance needs and an abundance of caution. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.  KITV4.

Navy holds public meetings over mine warfare training plan around Hawaii. This type of training is traditionally done in Southern California, but the Navy wants more of it around Hawaii. As for why, project managers would only say it’s to respond to a requirement from operational commanders. Hawaii News Now.

Will NOAA’s Race To Make Papahānaumokuākea A National Sanctuary Survive Trump? The added protection for the environmentally and culturally sensitive area in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands is set to take effect in March. Civil Beat.

Oahu

City's proposed landfill site draws strong opposition at Wahiawa town hall meeting. For the first time, Wahiawa area residents got the chance to react to the city’s proposal to build a 15-acre landfill on agricultural land in Central Oahu. Hawaii News Now.

California developer revives plans to build ‘iconic’ resort in West Oahu. Some of Ko Olina’s empty fields could be the future site of what developers are calling an “iconic resort.” The “Atlantis” would be built on Oahu on 26 acres of land, next to Disney’s Aulani Resort. Hawaii News Now.

Queen’s Medical Center nurses ratify tentative agreement. Nurses at The Queen’s Medical Center are celebrating a huge victory after ratifying a tentative agreement to secure a three-year contract. KHON2. KITV4.

Hawaii Island

Eager visitors flock to see spectacular lava fountaining from Kilauea eruption in Hawaii. People were flocking to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on Wednesday to get a glimpse of fountaining lava. Associated Press. Tribune-Herald.  Big Island Video News.

A face-lift for Central Fire: Decrepit downtown Hilo station will be repaired, renovated starting later this year. Firefighters will vacate the Central Fire Station in downtown Hilo as early as this spring while the nearly 90-year-old building undergoes long-overdue repairs. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now.

Maui

Lahaina Library and Spring House one of many issues coming before Maui County Council this week. A bill related to the demolition of the historic Lahaina Library and Spring House that was ravaged by the 2024 Lahaina wildfire is on the Maui County Council’s agenda for Friday. Maui News.

Maui Emergency Management Agency urges public to avoid restricted areas in Lahaina. MEMA has received numerous reports of vehicles parked on private property or in private lots. Also, there have been reports of individuals disregarding signage and entering unsafe, restricted zones, according to county officials. Maui Now.

Kauai

Bird flu detected in samples collected at Līhuʻe Wastewater Treatment Plant. Hawai‘i Department of Health State Laboratories Division officials say bird flu, specifically H5 avian influenza, was detected at very low levels in wastewater samples collected at the Līhuʻe Wastewater Treatment Plant. Kauai Now.

Upcoming symposium to address future of Kauaʻi Community Correctional Center. The Hawaiʻi Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation will share updates, receive feedback, and explore best practices on the relocation plans for the Kauaʻi Community Correctional Center next Saturday. Kauai Now.

Nurses strike continues at Wilcox Medical Center with staffing ratios as sticking point. The 159 nurses now on strike at Wilcox Medical Center, the largest medical center on Kaua‘i, say five minutes of delayed care can be a matter of life and death. Kauai Now.

Musk seeks expansion of SpaceX splashdown zones, Department of Law Enforcement director stepping down, Maui resident population drops following wildfire evacuation, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

SpaceX seeking permit to splash down in Pacific, Gulf of Mexico and Indian Ocean. Public comments are due Jan. 17 on Elon Musk’s plans for his SpaceX rockets to splash down in a much wider area, including Hawaiian waters and 240 nautical miles east of the Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary. Maui Now.

Fire prevention, housing top priorities as new lawmaking session gets underway. Initial bills to address old, new concerns. State lawmakers already have announced their intentions to introduce nearly 500 bills ahead of today’s start of the legislative session. Each legislative session, 2,000 to 3,000 bills are introduced, and about 250 become law.  Maui Now.  Kauai Now.

State legislature drafts several bills cracking down on illegal fireworks. Hawaiʻi lawmakers who hope to curb the use of illegal fireworks already have several bills drafted ahead of the start of today’s new legislative session. KHON2. Star-Advertiser.

Amid a slew of controversies, the director of Hawaii’s Department of Law Enforcement is stepping down, and a Honolulu Police Department major has accepted the position, HNN Investigates confirmed Tuesday. Jordon Lowe was appointed to the role in 2020. Hawaii News Now.

The Number Of Hawaiʻi Children In Foster Care Dropped To Lowest In Decades. The number of children in foster care in Hawaiʻi hit a 20-year low last year, an encouraging development for the troubled state Child Welfare Services Branch. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Resolution opposing landfill sites above Oahu’s aquifer advances. A Honolulu City Council resolution meant to uphold a more than 20-year-old city policy over solid waste landfills and their proximity to Oahu’s drinking water supply has advanced. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu City Council considers increasing penalties for fireworks violations. The Honolulu City Council is considering increasing the penalties for fireworks violations on Oʻahu. According to city law, owning or using illegal aerial fireworks is currently a misdemeanor with a fine between $250 and $2,000, and up to a year in prison. Hawaii Public Radio.

Executives Hope A New Fee Can Save Downtown Honolulu. Honolulu business and political leaders are pushing to create a new special downtown business improvement district, similar to the one governing Waikīkī, to add more safety, sanitation and security to a once thriving neighborhood that has never fully recovered from the Covid-19 pandemic. Civil Beat.

Honolulu proposes to ease ambulance strain with help from rideshare companies, but drivers have questions. A proposal to ease the strain on Oahu’s ambulance crews by enlisting the help of rideshare companies is prompting questions from some drivers. Hawaii News Now.

State Is Banking On Charter Schools To Help Expand Hawaiʻi’s Free Preschool. Hawaiʻi’s first-ever charter preschool is slated to open in Kapolei next month, amid a push to utilize the charter system to increase access to early learning in the state. Parkway Village Preschool is located in an affordable housing complex that recently opened there and will eventually serve up to 80 3- and 4-year-olds. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Lawsuit over EPIC system moves ahead. Oral arguments have been scheduled in a lawsuit in which a Milolii homeowner is suing the county, alleging its Electronic Processing and Information Center system, known as EPIC, has trapped him in a permitting catch-22 that will allow him only to demolish his home — which is in a shoreline management area — not to remodel or live in it. Tribune-Herald.


Playground improvements ongoing at Pu‘u Nui Park.  Playground renovations and the installation of new equipment are underway at Pu‘u Nui Park in Waikoloa Village and are projected to be completed by the end of February, county officials announced last week. West Hawaii Today.

Replacement of narrow Hilo bridge pushed back. Plans to replace the Four Mile Creek Bridge are unlikely to come to fruition before 2028. Tribune-Herald.

Residential Program For Integrated Clinical Care Launched. A grand opening was held for the 6-bed program that "offers transitional housing and structured support for its most vulnerable members experiencing homelessness." Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

Maui

At Least 1,000 People Have Left Maui Since The Fires, Tax Records Show. Hawaiʻi will see its annual income drop by $53 million due to migration from Valley Isle, researchers say. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.  Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

Final Maui Fires Report Calls For Better Communication, Prevention, Education. The Hawaiʻi Attorney General’s office released its final report Tuesday on the August 2023 Maui wildfires, making 140 safety recommendations for state and county agencies, utility companies and landowners. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.  Maui Now. Hawaii News Now.  KITV4.

South Maui Community Pushes Back After Plan Gets More Developer-Friendly. Advisory committee members say the county Planning Department’s changes will contribute to an unsustainable future for the greater Kīhei area. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Kilauea roundabout generating buzz. The ongoing groundwork for the upcoming roundabout on Kauai’s North Shore is anticipated to be completed in 2026. Garden Island.

Wilcox nurses start three-day walk-out. On Tuesday morning starting at 7 a.m., 159 nurses represented by the Hawaii Nurses Association took to the sidewalks fronting the Wilcox Medical Center in a three-day strike that, according to the HNA notice provided to Hawaii Pacific Health, will end at 6:59 a.m. on Friday. Garden Island.

Kaua’i forest bird rescue and recovery organizations joining forces in one facility. Hawai‘i Board of Land and Natural Resources members last week approved a request from Kaua‘i County Mayor Derek Kawakami to cancel a 1955 executive order that set aside state land for the county as the Hanapēpē Dog Pound. Kauai Now.

Hawaii climate lawsuit against oil and gas companies to proceed, governor doubles down on invitation to California fire survivors, HECO unveils $450M wildfire mitigation plan, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Supreme Court clears a path for climate lawsuits to proceed. US Supreme Court declines to hear from oil and gas companies trying to block climate change lawsuits. The Supreme Court said Monday it won’t hear an appeal from oil and gas companies trying to block lawsuits seeking to hold the industry liable for billions of dollars in damage linked to climate change. The order allows the city of Honolulu’s lawsuit against oil and gas companies to proceed. Associated Press. New York Times.

Hawaiian Electric submits wildfire safety plan. Hawaii’s largest electrical utility has formalized a three-year plan to reduce future wildfire risks in a new report filed with state regulators. Hawaiian Electric said its latest wildfire safety strategy is expected to cost $450 million to implement over three years through 2027 after $120 million spent on wildfire risk mitigation in 2024. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald. Maui Now. KHON2.  KITV4.

Hawaii offering discounts to survivors, first responders. Gov. Josh Green has asked Hawaii’s visitor industry to partner with the state to offer heavily discounted packages to give California residents and first responders an opportunity to come to Hawaii for respite, and film crews displaced by the California wildfires to continue their work here. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

Hawaiʻi Agriculture Department Loses Another Deputy. High vacancy rates, particularly in key leadership positions, have cast doubt over the department’s ability to strengthen protections against invasive species. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s governor responds to deadly fireworks blast with proposed $300 fines, more prison time. Hawaii Gov. Josh Green on Monday proposed a range of new penalties to crack down on those who flout the state’s fireworks laws, nearly two weeks after a fireworks explosion at a Honolulu home on New Year’s Eve killed four people and injured about 20 others. Associated Press. Star-Advertiser.  Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

Weather Monitoring System Dispatched In Hawaiʻi. An advanced network of weather monitoring stations are being installed across the state of Hawaiʻi to strengthen flood and wildfire early warning systems. Big Island Video News. Hawaii News Now.

Lawmakers look to expand preschools, tackle teacher shortages this year. Expanding preschools, tackling teacher shortages, and banning cell phones in the classroom are some of the priorities on lawmakers' to-do lists. Hawaii Public Radio.

Struggling To Survive: Hawaiʻi Residents Take On Debt, Think About Leaving. Report: More people having trouble getting by are on neighbor islands. A quarter of households in Hawaiʻi spent more than their income in 2024.  Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Kai Kahele, OHA board chair, on a renewed push to develop Kakaʻako Makai. Current law bans residential housing on the ocean side of Ala Moana Boulevard. The state transferred the Kakaʻako Makai land to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs years ago as a land base. For the past several years OHA has tried unsuccessfully to get the zoning changed to allow it to build high-rise towers as part of a development called Hakuone.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting temporarily shutters online system. The Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting today is expected to perform the second major upgrade to its electronic plans review software called ePlans. Star-Advertiser.

Strike at Queen’s is averted in final hours. A strike by union nurses at two Queen’s hospitals on Oahu was averted Monday after a tentative agreement on a new, three-year contract was reached during the early morning hours. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio.  KITV4.

Possible security threat triggers evacuations at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. The commissary and base exchange on Hickam Air Force Base were shut down Monday evening due to a possible security threat. An alert was posted by Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam at around 4:16 p.m. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Island begins new year in drought. Most of the island is in moderate drought, with a sliver of the northern portion of West Hawaii in severe drought, according to an update Friday by the National Weather Service in Honolulu. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Rescuers free two whales entangled in lines off Maui. Two humpback whales were rescued in separate incidents by disentangling them from lines in waters off Maui at the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Maui News. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now.

Millions of dollars soon to be available for Maui immigrant fire survivors. Maui immigrant fire survivors will soon be eligible for millions of dollars to help with their recovery efforts. Roots Reborn has launched the Our Financial Future program aimed to help immigrants who lost their jobs or homes in the 2023 fires. Hawaii News Now.

Public comment sought on Maui County Food and Nutrition Security Plan. The Food and Nutrition Security Plan aims to ensure that all Maui County residents have access to affordable, nutritious and culturally appropriate food. Maui Now.

Discovery of hollow grenade halts play at Waiehu Golf Course. Play was suspended at the Waiehu Golf Course on Saturday not because of the weather but because of the discovery of what appears to be an unexploded grenade. Maui News.

Kauai

Nurses at Wilcox Medical Center to start a three-day strike Tuesday morning. Wilcox Medical Center nurses will go through with a strike this morning after negotiations with the hospital ended last night without an agreement.  Kauai Now.

The Kaua‘i County Office of Boards and Commissions will be closed to the public from Wednesday through Jan. 31 because of construction. In-person service is expected to resume Feb. 3. Kauai Now.

New hours for Kauai Police Department. The Records window will now be open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the Firearms window will also be open on the weekdays but will be available from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Garden Island. Kauai Now.

Homeless count curtailed, governor offers Hawaii hotels for LA fire survivors, housing crisis front and center in new legislative session, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Point in Time Count to skip unsheltered homeless this year.  Hawaii’s Continuums of Care will forgo this year’s unsheltered Point in Time Count — a key measure of homelessness conducted annually since 2012, though the sheltered count will proceed as planned. Partners in Care, in collaboration with the neighbor islands’ Continuums of Care known as Bridging the Gap — which represents Kauai, Maui and Hawaii counties — will report the number of people staying in homeless shelters across the state to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development based on data from the night of Jan. 22. Star-Advertiser.

‘We can help’: Hawaii hotels could house California fire survivors. Gov. Josh Green said Hawaii has around 25,000 hotel rooms statewide. But he said thousands of those rooms are empty and could be used to house displaced fire survivors. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Democrats and Republicans vow collaboration in 2025. State House Democratic and Republican leaders have announced that they are in lock-step when it comes to “shared values” on the eve of Wednesday’s opening of the 2025 legislative session, while Senate Democrats say they are committed to collaborating with their Republican colleagues. Star-Advertiser. Kauai Now.

Solving Hawaiʻi’s Housing Crisis Front And Center In New Legislative Session. Zoning regulations, use of public funds to spur housing construction are among different approaches to addressing housing needs on the agenda in 2025 session. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

Hawaii Legislature will again focus on illegal fireworks. Clamping down on illegal fireworks and changing outlaw pyrotechnic behavior will be the early focus of the legislative session that begins Wednesday following the deaths of five people — including a 3-year-old boy — and injuries to dozens more that marred New Year’s Eve celebrations. Star-Advertiser.

Clash erupts over Hawai‘i Tourism Authority’s search for new leader. The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority board and the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism are at odds over budget and hiring — two categories that are the first litmus test of what it means for the tourism agency to be fully attached to DBEDT. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Finds Pierick Won House Race. The state House incumbent defeated challenger Corey Rosenlee by a mere 11 votes. Rejecting a lawsuit against Hawaiʻi election officials, the state’s highest court on Friday said state Rep. Elijah Pierick prevailed in the 2024 race for District 39. Civil Beat.

12 deputies still suspended amid investigations. A dozen of Hawaii’s nearly 300 state deputy sheriffs have had their law enforcement powers restricted following arrests and internal investigations into allegations of misconduct that started in 2024. Star-Advertiser.

Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders Suffer For Lack Of Health Insurance. Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander adults are more likely to turn to traditional or cultural practices as a substitute for conventional medicine. Their health outcomes remain poor compared to white people. Civil Beat.

Lagging Japan arrivals point to slow recovery for Hawaii tourism. Hawaii’s top source of international visitors, Japan, is not projected to recover to pre-pandemic levels this decade. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii attorney general launches web page focused on preventing human trafficking. Passed by the Legislature in 2023, the Human Trafficking Prevention Program is designed to support victims and create statewide strategies to combat trafficking. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu City Council ‘reaffirms’ opposition to landfill over aquifer. The Council’s Committee on Housing, Sustainability, Economy and Health is expected to review Resolution 3 at 1 p.m. Tuesday inside City Council Chambers, 530 S. King St. Star-Advertiser.

How Recruiting More Women Could Help Police Solve A ‘Staffing Crisis’. Leaders say implementing policies, like paid maternity leave, could help bring more women to the force and improve policing overall. Civil Beat.

‘It’s Out Of Hand’: Fireworks Amnesty Event Collects Scores Of Unused Explosives. In response to the deadly New Year’s Eve explosion, the state Department of Law Enforcement said it collected more than 500 pounds of illegal fireworks. Civil Beat. KITV4.

Queen’s nurses move up strike time Monday amid talks. The strike was originally scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Monday, but both HNA and Queen’s management subsequently agreed to a start time of 7 a.m. If there is a strike, it would continue through Thursday at 6:59 a.m. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

Honolulu’s newest affordable housing site breaks ground in Punchbowl. The newest affordable housing site sits at the corner of Pensacola and Wilder Streets and will be home to a 90-unit development. KHON2.

Visitors asked to ‘stay out of Lanikai,’ during Kailua roundabout construction. The city is asking visitors and residents to stay out of Lanikai and go to another beach instead. Parking restrictions are now in effect to reduce congestion during a major construction project in Kailua. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Big Island lawmakers talk about legislative priorities for upcoming 2025 session. From cleaning up iconic Banyan Drive in Hilo to remodeling the Kohala courthouse, Big Island lawmakers are looking forward to advocating for the needs of their constituents during this year’s legislative session. Big Island Now.

Hawaiʻi County Council could join call for free school meals statewide. The Hawaiʻi County Council could urge the state Legislature to implement a universal free school meals program for public school students statewide. A resolution introduced by the council said that Hawaiʻi Island has the highest rate of food insecurity in the state, but the issue is statewide. Hawaii Public Radio.

Home sales up compared to last year. According to multiple listing service data, there were 2,009 single-family homes sold on the island in 2024, a 3.6% increase over 2023. Those sales also generated 22.3% more money than 2023 sales, with more than $2 billion spent purchasing single-family residences last year. Tribune-Herald.

Aloha Petroleum lease extension put on hold. A lease snafu could cause Aloha Petroleum’s Waiakea fuel depot property to revert back to the state. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

It’s a challenge: Expediting the rebuilding of homes in Lahaina’s downtown without compromising historic character. Maui County is trying to expedite rebuilding by easing up on shoreline requirements, proposing changes at the State Legislature and taking things off the plate of the Cultural Resources Commission, which has struggled to meet for months over quorum issues.  Maui Now.

Feds to give Maui $1.6B for wildfire recovery. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on Friday announced a grant award to Maui County for the funding, which can be used for homeowners to replace lost residences, to build affordable rental housing, to improve infrastructure including roads and utility systems, and to benefit small businesses, schools and health care. Star-Advertiser.

State sets Jan. 15 deadline to complete interim housing applications. The deadline to complete applications for the Hawaiʻi Interim Housing Program, also known as HIHP, for Maui residents displaced by the August 2023 wildfires is Jan. 15. Maui News.

Lana‘i volunteers sought for Maui County boards and commissions. Lānaʻi residents are needed to serve as volunteer members on several Maui County boards and commissions, including the Lānaʻi Planning Commission, Liquor Control Commission, Police Commission, Board of Variances and Appeals, Fire and Public Safety Commission and Maui County Cultural Resource Commission. Maui News. Maui Now.

Kauai

Recreational Use Only: Princeville Park Dispute Shutters Kaua‘i Farmers Market. A neighbor’s complaint triggered an investigation by the county Planning Department. Civil Beat.

Kapaa woman faces charges for allegedly stealing COVID rent relief. A 46-year-old Kauai woman faces federal charges after she was indicted for allegedly taking more than $126,026 in relief funds intended for people struggling to pay rent during the pandemic. Star-Advertiser.

Wilcox nurses to strike for 3 days this week. The strike begins at 7 a.m. Tuesday, keeping with the legal requirement to give their employer 10 days advance notice, and continue until 6:59 a.m. Friday. Kauai Now.

Fewer kids getting routine vaccinations, state agencies and advocates seek money as legislative session gears up, LA fires likely to raise Hawaii insurance premiums, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Fewer Kids In Hawaiʻi Are Getting Routine Vaccines. The state health department is warning that more unvaccinated students could put children at higher risk for infections like measles. In the 2023-24 school year, 21% of students were missing vaccinations, up from nearly 19% in the previous year.  Civil Beat. Big Island Now.

Report urges help for Hawaii households struggling financially. The 2024 ALICE in Hawaii report shows that while the percentage of households below the poverty line decreased to 12% in 2024 from 14% in 2022, the proportion of ALICE households remained unchanged at 29%. Nearly one-third of Hawaii households are classified as ALICE  — asset-limited, income-constrained, employed. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

Advocates renew push for Hawaii legislative reforms. A coalition of local community organizations seek changes in ethics, public access and campaign rforms. The coalition delivered a letter and petition with about 1,600 signatures to House and Senate lawmakers asking for five rule changes to legislative procedures and five new laws in the wake of high- profile corruption scandals and reduced voter participation that the letter writers said lead people to question whether engaging with Hawaii’s legislative system even matters at all. Star-Advertiser.

State Department of Agriculture asks for additional $28M in general funds. Hawaiʻi's Agriculture Department is asking state lawmakers for an additional $28 million in general funds over the next two years. The governor’s proposed budget for the next biennium would allocate $73.4 million to the state Department of Agriculture and $71.5 million for its operating budget over the next two fiscal years, respectively. Hawaii Public Radio.

DOE Gets An F: Hawaiʻi Schools Miss Their First Local Food Target. The department has included bottled water in its accounting for locally produced food. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Electric to close Shift and Save rates program to new enrollments as of Feb. 1. Hawaiian Electric will close its Shift and Save time-of-use rates program to new enrollments as of Feb. 1, 2025, following the completion of a one-year pilot. Customers enrolled in Shift and Save before that date will be allowed to continue in the program with the ability to opt out at any time. Maui Now.

Hawaiian Telcom targets 2026 for state to be fully fiber-enabled. Hawaiian Telcom announced a groundbreaking initiative Thursday to make Hawaii the nation’s first fully fiber-enabled state by 2026, with the project already more than halfway completed. The company is replacing its outdated copper network with a state-of-the-art fiber- optic system, marking a significant shift in broadband infrastructure. Star-Advertiser.

LA inferno likely to hike Hawaii insurance. The state Insurance Division said in a statement: “These events have significantly impacted the insurance industry, particularly in California, where major insurers have withdrawn from high-risk areas…Such large-scale events can have indirect effects on our local insurance landscape.” KHON2.

Oahu

OHA pitches community on Kakaako Makai housing. The state Office of Hawaiian Affairs worked to wrangle public support Wednesday night for its revamped proposal to undo a state law prohibiting residential use of land it owns in Kakaako. Star-Advertiser.

Legislators consider new laws to restrict where landfills can be placed. Debate over landfill site is aired before lawmakers. Two joint Legislature committees held an informational meeting over the city’s plan to site its dump on Dole Food Co. Hawaii property near Wahiawa. A 2020 law places restrictions on locating waste-disposal facilities, particularly those close to conservation lands or half-mile “buffer zones” near residential areas, schools or hospitals, as well as near airports or tsunami inundation zones. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio.

Federal investigators join HFD in search for answers in deadly McCully fire. Federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are on Oahu working closely alongside the Honolulu Fire Department at the scene of a deadly fire along Young Street. Together, investigators are trying to piece together a cause of the blaze that killed a young firefighter Monday night. Hawaii News Now.

Death At Illegal North Shore New Year’s Eve Party Stokes Safety Concerns. A young woman’s death at an illegal New Year’s Eve party in a North Shore state forest reserve has left a community grieving and many neighbors wondering why authorities hadn’t cracked down on the annual event sooner. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

County plans to install dozens of drywells along Kawili Street. The Hawaii County Department of Public Works is in the early stages of a $21 million construction project to improve East and West Kawili streets and Manono Street by installing a continuous sidewalk along the road, as well as other various pavement and striping maintenance. Tribune-Herald.

Lots of work still ahead for road into Waipi‘o Valley.  Almost three years after the county restricted access, Department of Public Works spokeswoman Sherise Kana‘e-Kane said the project remains “in its preliminary design stages.” Tribune-Herald.

New EIS Prep Notice Posted For Expansion At Leilani Quarry. Sanford’s Service Center is seeking a State Land Use District Boundary Amendment to reclassify 94-acres in order to expand mining of black-colored cinder at the quarry. Big Island Video News.

Captain Cook Post Office to get name change honoring Vietnam War Veteran Lt. Kauhaihao. President Joe Biden signed US Rep. Jill Tokuda’s bill into law, naming the Captain Cook Post Office on Hawaiʻi Island the “Army 1st Lt. John Kuulei Kauhaihao Post Office Building.” Maui Now.

Maui

Federal disaster funding signals a shift for Lahaina. There was a shift at Wednesday’s disaster recovery community meeting in Lahaina where residents were informed Maui County is gearing up to distribute more than $1 billion funds that’s been allocated to the county through the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery funds.  Maui News.

HIDOE to restore one additional school bus route for Kalama Intermediate School on Maui. The Hawai‘i State Department of Education announced today that one previously suspended school bus route serving Samuel E. Kalama Intermediate School will be reinstated starting on Monday, Jan. 13, restoring service for approximately 31 student bus riders. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kaua‘i County is notifying the public that the Real Property tax collections office at the Līhu‘e Civic Center is closed until further notice because of unforeseen circumstances. Payments can be made in the Real Property tax assessment office or online. Kauai Now.

Kapa‘a Bypass closed daily starting Monday, will shut again in February for repairs. Traffic will be re-routed to Lehua Street, according to the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation. The road will be open every afternoon after 3 p.m. and on weekends and holidays. Kauai Now.

Green sounds alarm about RFK Jr. in Washington, Legislature mulls natural disaster resistance, biosecuirty; shortages plague health care, education, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. Josh Green sounds alarm in Washington over RFK Jr. Even as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, returned to Capitol Hill on Wednesday to meet with top Senate committee leaders, Hawaii’s Democratic governor came to Capitol Hill to urge the Senate to reject his nomination. CQ-Roll Call. Fox News. CNN video via Instagram.

’Sobering’ report issued on Hawaii natural disaster resilience spending needs. A panel advising Gov. Josh Green is urging the state Legislature to appropriate almost $2 billion over the next five years to help reduce and respond to future natural disaster damage in Hawaii. Recommendations in the 58-page report by the Climate Advisory Team include helping homeowners strengthen their residences against hurricanes, enhancing natural protections from storm surges and inland flooding, expanding Firewise community programs, creating a permanent Hawai‘i Resilience Office and establishing a “properly funded” Office of the State Fire Marshal. Star-Advertiser.

Find the full 58-page Climate Advisory Team report here.

State Sees A Rare Surge In Inheritance Taxes. The state Council on Revenues, a committee tasked with projecting state tax collections, is projecting general fund tax collections will grow from about $9.57 billion last fiscal year to nearly $10.2 billion in the year that ends on June 30. Civil Beat.

State Department of Agriculture shares biosecurity budget wishlist. The new legislative session kicks off next week — but key budget briefings with lawmakers are in full swing. The state Department of Agriculture was called before the state Senate on Tuesday afternoon to discuss their budget. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii still facing health care work shortages, report says. The 2024 Hawaii Healthcare Workforce Initiative report, published every two years by the nonprofit trade group Healthcare Association of Hawaii, noted some easing of shortages for some categories, but found the state short of more than 4,600 health care workers in 94 professions. Star-Advertiser.

Education summit explores solutions to teacher shortage in Hawaii. Members of Hawaii’s education community came together to address the teacher shortage across the state. The summit addressed, in part, building a pipeline of teachers for the next generation, which includes strengthening support for high school students to become teachers. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

That Cop Pulling You Over May Soon Be A State Deputy Sheriff. Unlike other states, Hawaiʻi generally leaves it to the counties to almost exclusively enforce traffic laws. But now lawmakers are being asked to authorize a new traffic enforcement unit staffed with two dozen state deputy sheriffs to help patrol Oahu highways and enforce regulations on commercial vehicles. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

EPA Clean Ports Program contributes to Honolulu Harbor and climate change solutions. Hawaii is more dependent on goods being brought in by ship than any other state in America and Honolulu Harbor is getting a $59 million grant from the federal government. KITV4.

Maintenance cited as possible cause of Kamaka crash. The National Transportation Safety Board issued a preliminary investigation report that could provide clues as to what might have caused the Dec. 17 Kamaka Air Flight 689 crash that killed two young pilots shortly after takeoff on an instructional flight to Lanai. Star-Advertiser. KHON2. KITV4.

ATF sends team to Honolulu to help investigate fatal McCully fire. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is sending dozens to assist with the investigation into an apartment fire on Young Street that killed Honolulu firefighter Jeffrey Fiala on Monday. Hawaii News Now.

Miske Case: 2 More Co-Defendants Sentenced. The cases against Michael Miske’s co-defendants continue more than a month after the convicted crime boss was found dead in his cell. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Hawai‘i County Council unanimously supports Mayor Alameda’s chosen cabinet leaders. On Tuesday, during Hawai‘i County Council’s Governmental Operations and External Affairs Committee, Alameda sought confirmation of nine of his selected department heads.These mayoral appointees received unanimous support from the council committee members but they must go before the full council for final approval on Jan. 22 in Kona. Big Island Now.

Family of man killed by dogs says petty misdemeanor charges are ‘insufficient’. The ex-wife and a daughter of a 71-year-old Ocean View man fatally mauled by dogs 17 months ago said authorities aren’t doing enough to hold the owners of the dogs responsible for the attack. Tribune-Herald.

Roundabout plan advances: Final EA issued for Waikoloa Village road project. The Department of Public Works published on Wednesday a final environmental assessment for a project to build a two-lane roundabout at the intersection of Waikoloa Road, Paniolo Avenue and Pua Melia Street. Tribune-Herald.

Industrial fire affects county metal recycling. The acceptance of metals and appliances at East Hawaii transfer stations has been put on hold because of a fire Wednesday morning at Big Island Scrap Metal, Hawaii County’s contracted recycling partner. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

 Draft study completed for mauka move of vulnerable portion of Honoapi‘ilani Highway. About a 6-mile segment of Honoapi‘ilani Highway from Ukumehame to Launiupoko would be moved mauka, beyond the reach of rising sea levels, to protect a vital roadway to West Maui. Maui Now.

Baldwin Beach restoration work continues. The effort is funded from a more than $1 million grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s National Coastal Resilience Fund to develop site-specific plans for dune restoration at Kapukaulua, from Lower Pāʻia Park to Wawau Point, or Baby Beach. Maui News.

New program allows Moloka‘i residents to scrap two cars per year. A new tow and scrap program for Molokaʻi residents to recycle their unwanted qualified vehicles at no cost. Maui News.

Kauai

57 households face relocation as Hawaiian Home Lands nears purchase of Kaua‘i condos. The state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is preparing to acquire an East Side apartment complex on Kauaʻi in early February, which has led 57 households to confront a daunting future: Where will they relocate? Kauai Now.

Slope stabilization to close one lane of Kūhiō Highway at the Waikoko turn for 7 months. The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation notifies highway users about a single lane closure of Kūhiō Highway (Route 560) at the Waikoko hairpin turn for emergency slope stabilization. Kauai Now.