House passes $11.3B state budget that devotes $1B to Maui wildfire losses, DOE steps up construction projects to encumber funding, last known Pearl Harbor attack survivor laid to rest, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

$11.3B state budget advances with a focus on Maui recovery.  Finance Chair Rep. Kyle Yamashita explained that the committee tried to balance funding both Maui recovery and important state functions, with about $1 billion going to Maui wildfire costs. Hawaii Public Radio.

Details on the proposed state budget, HB1800, can be found here.

DOE Says It Can Step Up Spending To Save Construction Projects. The Department of Education is planning to significantly increase its spending on construction in the next three and a half months in an effort to reduce the amount of funding it is set to lose at the end of June because of delays in getting projects off the ground. Civil Beat.

Hawaii students’ learning loss from COVID may cut wages 3.7% lifetime. The learning loss that Hawaii students suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to lower their lifetime earnings by an average of 3.7%, spurring a 1.2% loss in Hawaii’s gross domestic product, or $31.3 billion in present value, according to a new report by the Hoover Institution of Stanford University released Thursday. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Feds seized more than $6 million in Hawaii in ’23. The U.S. Department of Justice more than tripled the amount of money collected through criminal and civil actions by adding $6.64 million to government coffers in fiscal year 2023. Star-Advertiser.

Changes To Hawaii’s Home Battery Program Could Hinder Its Clean Energy Transition. A revision in how much homeowners are paid for the electricity they send to the grid could keep them from participating at all. Civil Beat.

Catastrophes are driving up condo insurance rates in Hawaii and nationwide. A ripple effect across the country is showing up in the condo fees for nearly 200,000 Hawaii residents, and experts say catastrophes are driving up their insurance rates. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Human Services Director Stepping Down In May.  Cathy Betts, director of the Hawaii Department of Human Services is leaving her post to become executive director of the Hawaii State Bar Association. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s last Pearl Harbor survivor laid to rest. Sterling Robert Cale, 102, the last known Pearl Harbor attack survivor living in Hawaii was laid to rest Thursday alongside his late wife at the Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery in Kaneohe. Star-Advertiser.

Deaths of young dolphin, humpback calf highlight importance of responsible boating in Hawaiʻi waters. Within the span of just a few weeks in February, a Hawaiian spinner dolphin yearling and humpback whale calf stranded dead in Hawaiʻi, both suffering injuries consistent with being struck by a vessel. Big Island Now.

Oahu

University of Hawaii housing repair plans axed, records show. University of Hawaii officials trying to learn how the Hale Noelani student housing complex ended up shuttered for seven years have discovered that although some top UH leaders have said they regret being unaware too long of its closure, preliminary work and permit applications actually were initiated and later canceled by the student-housing program in the past few years. Star-Advertiser.

 Honolulu City Council checks on improvements to building permit process. Inadequate staffing, onerous regulations, manual procedures, and outdated technology. On Thursday, the Honolulu City Council focused on the city's backlog problem at the Department of Planning and Permitting. KITV4.

Navy Says Indications Of Petroleum In Pearl Harbor Water May Be ‘False Positives’. More than two years after fuel contaminated Pearl Harbor’s drinking water, residents remain at odds with the Navy about whether the water is clean. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

Malfunction sends eastbound Skyline train in the wrong direction. More than 30 passengers heading into town suddenly found themselves going backward. The City’s Transportation Services Director Roger Morton said this was the programmed response for the rail system. KHON2. KITV4.

Bill to bolster native fish hatchery would help keiki 'bring the ʻanae back to Waiʻanae'. Hawaiʻi lawmakers have advanced a measure to bolster a native fish hatchery program in Waiʻanae that would produce pua, or juvenile mullet, for fishponds and stock enhancement. Hawaii Public Radio

State-run health care center opens in Iwilei. Located in an industrial area of downtown Honolulu where homeless people live in tents or shacklike structures erected on city sidewalks, the stand-alone Behavioral Health Crisis Center  at 806 Iwilei Road will provide short-term “compassionate mental health care," according to the state Department of Health. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

No decision on Punalu‘u Village. Dozens testified before the Windward Planning Commission, which met to decide whether to grant a special management area permit to developer Black Sand Beach LLC. The permit would allow Black Sand Beach to build a roughly 225-unit “residential and commercial community,” called Punalu‘u Village, on a 147-acre parcel. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.  Big Island Now.

Downtown Hilo roadwork nears completion. Excavation and reconstruction of sections of Kilauea Avenue and Keawe Street in downtown Hilo are set to be complete at the end of next week.  Tribune-Herald.

Snow Covers Hawaiʻi Summits As Winter Weather Advisory Continues. Rangers reported the road to the summit of Maunakea was closed at the mid-level Visitor Information Station, due to snow and icy roads causing hazardous driving conditions. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority discusses Maui marketing plan amid lower visitor numbers. The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority is mapping out its marketing plan to deal with softening visitor numbers since the wildfires. That includes a campaign to welcome visitors back to the Valley Isle — Mākaukau Maui. Hawaii Public Radio.

Attorneys claim new evidence in search for spark that set off Lahaina inferno. Maui attorneys representing wildfire survivors are sharing new details of how they believe the fire started last August. One of the attorneys is a victim himself. Hawaii News Now.

Maui releases trove of emails offering new insight into wildfire response. After six months of submitting records requests, HNN Investigates finally obtained hundreds of emails belonging to the former head of Maui County’s Emergency Management Agency Herman Andaya during a key period. Hawaii News Now.

Maui Office of Recovery announces interim housing projects for Lahaina wildfire survivors. Mayor Richard Bissen and officials from the County’s Office of Recovery announced temporary modular home group housing projects being planned in coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the State of Hawaiʻi and private developers to provide an estimated 4,000 interim housing units for wildfire survivors. Maui Now.

Preliminary data shows impacts of wildfire on Lahaina coastal waters. Preliminary data on coastal water quality monitoring in West Maui was presented Wednesday at a public speaker series featuring Andrea Kealoha, Ph.D., an assistant professor of Oceanography at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Maui Now.

Kauai

Hanalei nonprofit wants to transform former church into housing for teachers, lifeguards. A nonprofit organization has taken possession of the Church of Latter Day Saints ward in Hanalei – and it has big plans for the three-quarter-acre plot on the North Shore of Kaua‘i. Kauai Now.

Senate passes same-sex marriage protections, Green seeks $362M emergency Maui funding, bills advance loosening building codes to spur development, federal judge to decide venue for Maui fire lawsuits, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Repeal of Legislature’s authority over same-sex marriages considered. The state Senate will now consider a House bill calling for a constitutional amendment to repeal the Legislature’s authority to limit marriage to opposite-sex couples. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Now.

Legalized gambling likely dead, recreational marijuana still alive. State House and Senate bills to allow a lottery, casino, online gambling and bets on fantasy sports never gained traction to make it to this week’s midpoint of the legislative session, while the effort to legalize adult recreational marijuana use survived in the Senate but, once again, faces an uncertain fate in the House. Star-Advertiser.

Key deadline at the state Legislature determines which measures move forward. Thursday is a major crossover deadline at the state Legislature to clarify which measures are moving ahead with a chance at becoming law. Hawaii Public Radio.

Green quantifies emergency funding request related to Maui fire disaster. Gov. Josh Green has told the Legislature he needs a $362 million emergency funding appropriation he believes is needed to pay Maui wildfire recovery costs through June 30. Star-Advertiser.

Building Code Groups Caution Hawaii Lawmakers Against ‘Deeply Abnormal Response To A Disaster’.  Developers are urging the Legislature to pass a bill this session that would slow down the pace of updating building codes in Hawaii to reduce costs and increase the number of homes that can be built. Civil Beat.

State Senate passes bill to decriminalize jaywalking. SB2630 allows pedestrians to cross streets if there’s no immediate danger of causing a crash.The bill also mandates fines of at least $100 for any driver caught speeding. Hawaii News Now.

Joe Biden easily wins Hawaii Democratic presidential caucuses. President Joe Biden handily won the Demo cratic Party of Hawaii’s caucus Wednesday night, but “uncommitted” equaled nearly 30% of the votes tallied. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Tourism holding back state’s growth. Visitor arrivals to Hawaii are not expected to fully recover until 2027, according to the latest economic forecast from the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Star-Advertiser.

Ex-Public Safety training officer J. Marte Martinez gets probation for false transcripts. A Circuit Court judge Wednesday sentenced the former Department of Public Safety’s once top-ranking training officer to a year of probation and a suspended 30-day jail sentence to run concurrently for falsifying her academic transcripts. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2. KITV4.

Oahu

Red Hill task force removes last ‘residual fuel’.  After months of work, on Wednesday the military task force charged with removing the fuel from the Navy’s underground Red Hill storage facility announced it had extracted the last of the “accessible residual fuel” from the facility. Star-Advertiser.

‘Forever Chemicals’ In Red Hill Groundwater Warrant More Investigation, Regulators Say. The problem goes beyond a high-profile spill of firefighting chemicals in 2022, officials said. Civil Beat.

City Council agrees to settlement for family of man fatally shot by police. The city council has approved a $525,000 settlement for the family of a 26-year-old man shot to death by police in Mililani in 2019. Hawaii News Now.

5 men sentenced for illegal fishing in protected area off Oahu's North Shore. On Wednesday, a judge sentenced five of nine men cited for illegal fishing in the Pupukea Marine Life Conservation District last November. The DLNR says DJ Derno, Jason Sewell, Kerman Kaman, Anson Giden, and Jackson Nithan must complete 50 hours of community service and pay fines of up to $1,000 each. Hawaii News Now.

All Staff Attorneys At One Of Hawaii’s Largest Domestic Violence Organizations Have Quit. With no attorneys on staff, former employees say millions of dollars in grant funding awarded to the Domestic Violence Action Center for legal services could be at risk. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

‘It’s been like a shell game’: Ka‘u residents offer strong opposition to Punalu‘u Village project. The Windward Planning Commission today will discuss an application by developer Black Sand Beach LLC for a special management area permit that would allow it to build a roughly 225-unit “residential and commercial community” on a 147-acre parcel in Punalu‘u. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.

Hawai‘i County Council adopts funding measure for Puna Alternate Routes Study. The Hawai‘i County Council on Wednesday voted 8-0, with Kaʻū Councilwoman Michelle Galimba absent, to adopt Bill 131 by approving its second and final reading. The measure provides $2 million for the Hawai‘i County Department of Public Works to complete a Puna Alternate Routes Study. Big Island Now.

Changes In Store For Hawaiian Beaches Park. The Hawaiʻi County Council advanced a measure on Wednesday that will change the name of Kahakai Park in the Hawaiian Beaches subdivision to Waiakahiʻula, and some archaeological features found in the park will be preserved. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Federal Judge Hears Arguments Over Whether Lahaina Fire Cases Should Stay With Maui Courts. An army of lawyers converged on Honolulu’s federal court Wednesday to argue over a question that will have a major impact on lawsuits related to the Maui wildfires that destroyed much of Lahaina in August. Civil Beat. KHON2.  KITV4.

Maui County seeks to expedite permits for private developers. Maui County’s interim housing plan, which includes developments funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the state and the county, was announced Wednesday evening at the county’s weekly disaster recovery community update meeting at the Lahaina Civic Center. Star-Advertiser.

2 Temporary Group Housing Sites To Be Built In Lahaina For Maui Fire Survivors. The separate FEMA and state projects will be built on one undeveloped property that had been slated for decades as a residential development. Civil Beat.

Maui TANF fire relief expanded to individuals, households without children. Individuals and households impacted by the Maui wildfires—including those without dependent children—may be eligible for Maui Relief TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) Program assistance with housing, car, utility, clothing and school supply payments in a major expansion of the program. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative to receive federal funding to expand solar energy production. Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative is among the first five cooperative utilities in the nation selected to move forward in the U.S. Department of Agriculture awards process for the Powering Affordable Clean Energy program. Kauai Now.

Kaua‘i to get millions in federal funding. Sen. Brian Schatz announced on Tuesday that he secured $394 million in new congressional directed spending, known commonly as earmarks, in the first half of this year’s government funding bill. Garden Island.

Legislature balks at tapping into $1B carryover funds in budget crisis, Senate rejects Nahale-a for second Regents term, more than 36k could have marijuana possession records expunged, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiʻi's reserve funds are there for emergencies. Why are senators afraid to use them? State senators have been reluctant to approve funds to fill a shortfall in the major disaster fund of more than $400 million.  At the center of this conflict is $1 billion from carryover funds, or leftover projected revenue, that has not been assigned anywhere. Hawaii Public Radio.

Senate rejects Nahale-a for second UH regent term.  A deeply divided state Senate voted 13-12 on Tuesday to deny University of Hawaii Board of Regents Interim Chair Alapaki Nahale-a a second five-year term on the board, as critics cited what they saw as his lapses in accountability and leadership on such crucial issues as the worsening disrepair of some Manoa campus housing.  Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Big Island Video News.

Last-ditch effort afoot to kill housing bill aimed at boosting density in residential areas. The current language in SB3202 says it will “allow for at least two additional dwelling units, which shall be considered accessory to any dwelling unit or residential unit duly permitted by ordinance.” Hawaii News Now.

Thousands In Hawaii With Arrest Records For Marijuana Posession Could Have Them Expunged. Over 36,000 people in Hawaii arrested for possessing less than 3 grams of marijuana before that offense was decriminalized in 2019 could have all or part of their criminal records expunged at no cost if legislation to amend the state’s criminal statutes succeeds. Civil Beat.

Hawaii lawmakers consider bill allowing telehealth access for those seeking gender-affirming care. A bill at the legislature is creating serious controversy. House Bill 2079 aims to expand telehealth access to people seeking gender-affirming health services. But some believe the bill is a violation of parental rights. KITV4.

Commentary: Hawaii May Finally Move In The Right Direction On Parental Rights In Child Welfare Cases. Two bills already approved by their respective houses aim to correct a longtime shortcoming, though it remains to be seen if it's the right approach. Civil Beat.

Commercial real estate investment from foreign and out-of-state sources is lagging. Investment in Hawaiʻi fell for the second year in a row, according to Colliers International, which tracks money changing hands in real estate. Hawaii Public Radio.

Nearly $400 Million In Federal Earmarks For Hawaiʻi Non-Profits Listed. U.S. Senator Brian Schatz says he has secured $394 million in new congressional directed spending to boost local non-profits. Big Island Video News.

Oahu

State House tees up bill to kill Aloha Stadium redevelopment. The state House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a bill to scuttle the redevelopment project in favor of building a less costly stadium on the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus. Star-Advertiser.

HPD officer accused of ignoring plea for help before woman’s brutal murder is fired. There are new developments in the case of a woman brutally beaten to death two years ago on the steps of the Kapolei Police Station. Hawaii News Now.

Navy to extend testing of its water system. The Navy announced this week that it will continue monitoring its Oahu water system, which serves 93,000 people, for the next year after a surge in complaints about water and air quality in homes on the military waterline. Star-Advertiser.

City Council considers new Ocean Safety Department. During the City Council’s Committee on Budget meeting Tuesday, the way forward — to stand up, staff, fund and perhaps have public oversight over a larger sector — caused uncertainty among Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s ​administration as well as the Council. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

The clock is ticking for Maunakea authority. The transition of control over the summit of Maunakea has been slow going over the past year, but could speed up soon. Tribune-Herald.

Hilo Medical Center to be renamed, marking Benioffs’ $50M charitable investment. A $50 million investment in Hilo Medical Center by Salesforce Chairman and CEO Marc Benioff and his wife, Lynne, will be used to launch a family birthing center and help the hospital complete its expansion of the intensive care unit. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now.

A bit more free parking for the public in Kailua-Kona: Council resolution paves the way for 14 more stalls. The Hawaii County Council Committee on Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions on Tuesday passed resolution 442 authorizing the acceptance of a quitclaim of a “remnant road reserve” from the state Board of Land and Natural Resources. West Hawaii Today.

Testifiers on Hawai‘i County Council resolution promoting world peace demanded inclusion of Gaza cease-fire. A resolution affirming the Hawai‘i County Council’s commitment to seek and promote peace, diplomacy and civil discourse while demonstrating the values of understanding, cooperation and peaceful co-existence with aloha created some civil — and at one point uncivil — discourse Tuesday. Big Island Now. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Temporary Housing Construction Protected As Green Revises Wildfire Proclamation Again. Gov. Josh Green signed the 10th emergency order to address the aftermath of the Maui wildfires with amendments focused on affordable housing for displaced families. Civil Beat. Maui Now.

Mayor Richard T. Bissen, Jr. will present State of the County Address March 15 at Castle Theater. Mayor Bissen will speak on the County’s response and recovery efforts after the devastating August 2023 wildfires, as well as plans to address critical housing needs, economic recovery and the rebuilding of Lahaina town. Maui News.

County Auditor: Department of Finance was ill-prepared to begin collecting millions in TAT payments. Maui County’s Department of Finance was under-staffed and ill-prepared to collect transient accommodations tax money beginning in November 2021 when a state law allowing the county to tap millions of visitor-generated revenue went into effect, according to a report by the Office of the County Auditor. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now.

Hirono to take Boys & Girls Club of Maui CEO to State of the Union. U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono will take Boys &Girls Clubs of Maui CEO Kelly Maluo-Pearson as her guest for President Joe Biden’s 2024 State of the Union address, she announced Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

The State Is Close To Buying This Old Hotel For Maui Fire Survivors And Longterm Affordable Housing. Council approval is needed for the mayor to complete agreements with the state before the closing can occur on the $38 million property with 175 furnished guest rooms. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Kaua‘i home sales, prices rebound. A dormant housing market awoke from its slumber to start the new year, as home sales and prices rebounded with eye-opening gains in January. Garden Island.

Learn more about homeownership on Hawaiian Home Lands during weekend workshop. Hawai‘i Community Lending, a nonprofit mortgage lender, will host the Pilina Kaiāulu Workshop in Kapa’a from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Kauai Now.

Development regulations could be scaled back to build more housing, arts face funding loss, Senate vote today on Regent Nahale-a, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Lawmakers May Roll Back Development Rules To Speed Housing Projects. Certain new housing developments in Hawaii would be exempt from lengthy environmental and historic reviews in an attempt to build more units faster under bills that appear likely to pass key legislative votes this week. Star-Advertiser.

Building regulations drive up Hawaii condo prices by 58%. Hawaii’s building regulations drive the cost of condominium development up 58%, the highest in the nation, according to a report released Monday by the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization. Star-Advertiser. Kauai Now.  KHON2.

AARP and Hawaiʻi housing agency disagree over possible loss of affordable homes. An AARP Hawaiʻi/Smart Growth America report about the potential danger of losing affordable housing in Hawaiʻi has triggered a defensive response from the Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corp., which is responsible for increasing and preserving the state’s supply of low- and moderate-income housing. Maui Now.

Support for Nahale-a as UH regent swells before vote. Following a flurry of eleventh-hour meetings and negotiations Monday at the state Capitol, state senators are set to vote today on whether to confirm embattled University of Hawaii Board of Regents Chair Alapaki Nahale-a for a second term as a regent. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers envision state visitor app to help manage tourists. The problem of too many people in too few precious places has led to targeted tactics — like reservation requirements, traffic controls and public service videos, which rarely reach a wide audience, according to state House Tourism Chair Rep. Sean Quinlan. Hawaii News Now.

Several bills could impact funding for the state arts agency. Nearly midway through the 2024 legislative session, at least four bills relating to culture and the arts are still alive.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Lawmakers advance bill to increase penalty for dangerous dog attacks. Supporters say the bill would hold dog owners accountable and allow the police to impound dangerous dogs. Critics argue that determination should be made in a court of law. Hawaii Public Radio.

‘The Kids Feel Miserable’ But There’s No End In Sight For Hawaii’s School Bus Shortage. Lawmakers are weighing several proposals to address the lack of school bus drivers, but it's unlikely that any routes will be restored next year. Civil Beat.

What to expect in Hawaiʻi's Democratic presidential caucuses. Hawaiʻi Democrats will hold a presidential preference vote on Wednesday as President Joe Biden moves closer to securing the delegates needed to clinch the nomination for a second term in the White House. Associated Press.

GOP presidential caucus to be held March 12. The 2024 Hawai‘i Republican Presidential Caucus will held on Tuesday, March 12. Garden Island.

Marc and Lynne Benioff donate $150M to 2 Hawaii hospitals. The gift — considered one of the largest single private donations in Hawaii’s history — will connect Hawaii Pacific Health with Hilo Medical Center and UCSF Health. It resulted from more than a year of collaboration among the three entities. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

One Way To Ease Honolulu’s Building Permit Backlog: Pay Workers More. The beleaguered Department of Planning and Permitting, which is drowning in more permit applications than it can process, is getting by on the backs of a low-wage workforce with high turnover.  Civil Beat.

Proposed city Ocean Safety Department under review. A proposed resolution urging that Honolulu’s lifeguard and ambulance services be broken up in order to create a brand new city department is expected to be reviewed today by the City Council’s budget committee. Star-Advertiser.

Entire attorney staff at key domestic violence nonprofit leave, citing internal conflict. Seven staff attorneys at the Domestic Violence Action Center have quit in recent months and tell Hawaii News Now that they all left for the same reason — because other staff were allowed to provide legal advice to clients. Hawaii News Now.

Hawai‘i Convention Center grapples with recurrent vandalism. The Hawai‘i Convention Center completed a $225,000 exterior camera installation project just in time to catch footage linked to the shattering of one of its soaring glass windows, worth about $25,000. Star-Advertiser.

High rise proposed in one of Honolulu’s most congested neighborhoods sparks backlash. This lower Manoa neighborhood is no stranger to residential high-rises, with several already built right across from Punaho School. Hawaii News Now.

Grounded sailboat in pieces off Waikiki. The Coast Guard said after search and rescue operations were completed Sunday, pollution responders assessed the scene, and found no signs of diesel or petroleum product in the water. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Man with loaded sawed-off shotgun, rifle arrested in Bayfront Soccer Fields parking lot. A 32-year-old Puna man, Nainoa Kaluhiwa, has been arrested and charged for being in possession of a loaded, sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun and a rifle of unknown make and model after police contacted him while seated within a vehicle parked in the parking lot at the Bayfront Soccer Fields in Hilo on Feb. 29. Big Island Now.

Prep work begins for HVNP roundabout. Work to prepare for the installation of a traffic roundabout just beyond the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park entrance began Monday. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.  Big Island Now.

Ka‘ū Stewards Complete ‘Āina-based Education Training Program. The non-profit Ka ‘Ohana o Honu‘apo facilitated the Ka‘ū Hoa Pili ‘Āina program, funded by the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority. Big Island Video News.

Maui

EPA Completes Nighttime Inspections Of Sewer Lines In Lahaina. The operation involved debris clearing as well as use of a robotic camera to assess the lines. Civil Beat.

Maui County seeks owners of 21 unclaimed vehicles salvaged from Lahaina wildfire zone. The County of Maui is seeking the owners of 21 intact vehicles that were removed from the Lahaina wildfire disaster zone for debris cleanup progression. Maui Now.

MPD's new cold case detail dedicated to finding those still missing after Lahaina fire. Since its inception in November, the Maui Police Department's very first cold case unit located seven people.  KITV4.

Hāna groups issue advisory against visiting Waiʻoka and Kaihalulu in East Maui. The group Hoʻomakaukau Maui Hikina – “East Maui Ready” Leadership (EMR) is issuing a standing advisory requesting that both Waiʻoka and Kaihalulu areas of East Maui be avoided when looking for recreational spots to visit.  Maui Now.

Only safe house for boys on Maui closes due to staff shortage. The Salvation Army made the difficult decision to close its Family Intervention Services Kanehoalani in Wailuku last week until it can find adequate staffing. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Mālama Kaua‘i, Moloa‘a farmers open ʻĀina Center to increase local food production. Kaua‘i moved closer to fulfilling its nickname of the Garden Isle last week, with the grand opening of the $3.2 million ʻĀina Center in Moloa‘a on Feb. 26. Kauai Now.

Legislature-UH power struggle to play out on Senate floor, state to search across the islands for geothermal energy, HECO campaign contributions, lawmakers' stock holdings analyzed, TMT risks losing billions of NSF funding, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Supporters Say ‘Abuse Of Power’ Is At The Heart Of Senate Committee’s Rejection Of UH Regent. The full Senate is set to vote on Alapaki Nahale-a's reappointment this week.  Civil Beat.

Hawaii Lawmakers Take Campaign Money From Hawaiian Electric But Don’t Own Its Stock. Rep. Richard Onishi, D-Hilo,  appears to be the only elected Hawaii lawmaker who has declared holding any interest in Hawaiian Electric Industries stock, according to the most recent public financial disclosures filed with the Hawaii Ethics Commission. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Electric adjusts customer energy programs. A recent ruling by the state Public Utilities Commission has led Hawaiian Electric to modify and push back the start of new rooftop solar and energy storage programs to April 1. Star-Advertiser.

State to embark on search for geothermal energy sources. In the race to meet the state’s goal of achieving 100% renewable energy by 2045, the Hawaii State’s Energy Office will embark on a new venture by searching for geothermal energy sources throughout the state.  KHON2.

Efforts to lower Hawaii teachers’ housing costs advance. Two bills intended to help retain Hawaii teachers by providing assistance to reduce their housing costs continue to advance through the Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

Senate committees advance marijuana legalization bill. Two Senate committees jointly advanced an amended bill that would legalize recreational marijuana in Hawai’i in a Friday meeting, pushing the measure closer toward final approval.  Big Island Now.

Farmers advocate at the state Capitol for action on agricultural crimes. Agricultural crimes are a nearly universal experience for local ranchers and farmers. Now, the state is being called on to do more about it. Hawaii Public Radio.

After nearly 3 decades, State Representative Bertrand Kobayashi announces decision to retire. He said in a statement Friday that he suffered a “mini cerebrovascular incident” this past December and said the condition “may tend to worsen with time and age.” Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii’s midwifery licensure law comes under fire. The Center for Reproductive Rights, the Native Hawaiian Legal Corp. and law firm Perkins Coie filed a lawsuit last week on behalf of nine women and countless others affected by Hawaii’s “Midwifery Restriction Law,” which they say criminalizes many practitioners including skilled midwives, birth workers and family members who provide care and support to pregnant people and those giving birth. Star-Advertiser.

Coast Guard navigates bureaucracy in fight against illegal fishing. Efforts to protect the Pacific’s fish stocks are becoming increasingly international. Australia, New Zealand and France have joined the U.S. in ramping up support for Pacific island countries to protect fisheries as well as police the high seas. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Mayor identifies affordable housing as key priority in budget proposal for upcoming fiscal year. Honolulu’s mayor revealed his budget proposal for the 2025 fiscal year, prioritizing affordable housing even though the budget was down. Mayor Rick Blangiardi is requesting $3.63 billion in operating costs, up from $3.41 billion from the previous year. Hawaii News Now.

Mayor allocates $80M for COVID hazard back pay in his FY25 proposed budget. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi's proposed $3.6 billion operating budget for the next fiscal year includes $80 million for back pay to city workers exposed to hazardous situations in the pandemic. KITV4.

City Council lays out official strategy for climate change prevention on Oʻahu. Honolulu has adopted Climate Ready Oʻahu, the city’s first-ever climate adaptation strategy. The Honolulu City Council this week approved a resolution to establish the strategy against the impacts of climate change. Hawaii Public Radio.

After Lahaina, Waianae Coast Residents Might Finally Get A Key Evacuation Route. State leaders think it's an opportune time to make much-needed fixes to outdated transportation infrastructure at Kolekole Pass. Civil Beat.

Plan to fund Waikiki hula show could spur lawsuit. A new free Waikiki hula show is attracting visitors and kamaaina alike, but legal challenges on how it will be funded are lingering. Star-Advertiser.

YWCA Laniakea’s wellness program to end after more than 100 years. For more than 100 years, the YWCA Laniakea has offered group exercise classes, a fitness center and access to a one-of-a-kind pool at its downtown campus. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Festival’s return builds bonds. Visitors from Japan are expected to double for this year’s Honolulu Festival, a cultural exchange celebrating Japan and the Pacific Rim that kicks off Friday and runs through March 10. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Thirty Meter Telescope risks losing billions in funding from the National Science Foundation. Funding for the Thirty Meter Telescope may be in jeopardy following a decision by the National Science Foundation board to place a $1.6 billion budget cap on giant telescope projects. Hawaii Public Radio.

Puna groundwater study sought: It would try to determine whether PGV has an impact. The impacts of Puna Geothermal Venture on Puna’s groundwater could be the subject of a nearly $500,000 federal study being proposed by a Hawaii County Council member. Tribune-Herald.

Street Medicine Program Expands On Hawaiʻi Island. The Hawaiʻi Island Community Health Center’s Street Medicine Outreach program is now bringing quality healthcare directly to individuals facing homelessness, across the island. Big Island Video News.

Hundreds rally in Punaluu in protest of major planned development. The protestors are speaking out against Black Sand Beach LLC and its plans to revitalize the area. The company’s website says it’s committed to rebuilding historic structures and listening to the community before building anything new on its more than 400 acres around Black Sand Beach. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Questions remain over threats of moratorium on West Maui vacation rentals. A threat to put a moratorium on Maui vacation rentals has been averted as conversions of short-term units into longer-term housing for wildfire survivors continues, but the attention now turns to West Maui under Gov. Josh Green’s new April 1 deadline to find units for those who don’t want to be relocated away from the area they call home. Star-Advertiser.

Prefab buildings in Lahaina to house wildfire survivors. A state social services agency is working to produce what could be the first temporary housing community developed for Maui fire survivors, a 450-unit project where initial occupancy is expected in a few months. Star-Advertiser.

Army Corps Leader Hands Off Lahaina Recovery Mission After 6 Months Of 24/7 Days. With skills learned in Iraq and Afghanistan, Col. Jesse Curry says he embraced the people and culture to gain support for the Army Corps of Engineers' fire recovery efforts. Civil Beat.

How A Team Of Dedicated Cops And Scientists Sorted Through Ash And Rubble To Identify Lahaina’s Fire Victims. The Maui Police Department was able to quickly bring in the latest DNA technology so a new squad could soon give names to the dead. Civil Beat.

Hawai‘i Unites files appeal in effort to stop release of mosquitoes in East Maui. The environmental nonprofit Hawai‘i Unites has filed an appeal for their case against the State of Hawai‘i Board of Land and Natural Resources and Department of Land and Natural Resources to stop the release of mosquitoes in East Maui and require an environmental impact statement and comprehensive studies of the risks of the project. Maui Now.

In Hawaii, coral is the foundation of life. What happened to it after the Lahaina wildfire? Scientists say there has never been another instance of a large urban fire burning next to a coral reef anywhere in the world and they are using the Maui wildfire as a chance to study how chemicals and metals from burned plastics, lead paint and lithium-ion batteries might affect delicate reef ecosystems. Associated Press.

Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi residents say unreliable flights hinder access to critical health care. Mokulele is the only airline flying to Molokaʻi and the primary air service for Lāna’i residents. Community members say the issues have been ongoing for the past couple of years. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Relay for Life golf tourney draws 60 golfers. Sam Jacinto of Team Sam Jacinto was thrilled with the 60 golfers who sped off the Puakea Golf Course clubhouse area on Saturday. Garden Island.

'Stop the bleeding': Senate panel balks at paying Maui fire victim's rising costs, De Fries confirmed as Maunakea authority director, tourism arrivals and spending down, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Lawmakers: ‘Stop The Bleeding’ Of State Cash To Pay For Maui Fire Victims.  Hawaii state senators are demanding to know how much and how long the state will have to pay for hotel rooms for Maui residents who were displaced by the Lahaina wildfire, and what impact the escalating fire response costs will have on the state budget. Civil Beat.  Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2

UH Regents Interim Chair Vows To Fight For His Job. In spite of a Senate panel’s rejection, Alapaki Nahale-a wants to push ahead with his nomination “for our university and our state.” Civil Beat.  Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii visitor arrivals and spending down. In January some 763,480 visitors came to the Hawaiian Islands, down 3.6% from January 2023, according to DBEDT. Likewise, total visitor spending, without taking inflation into account, declined to $1.81 billion, a drop of 4.5% from January 2023. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Now.

DOH adds more security measures to State Hospital. The Nov. 13 murder of State Hospital nurse Justin Bautista has prompted a serious look at security at the facility. KHON2.

Public Can Weigh In On Making Papahanaumokuakea A Marine National Sanctuary. The move aims to better protect the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and enhance the national monument that's been in place there since 2006. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu leaders focusing on several issues in Climate Adaptation Plan. A new climate adaptation strategy was recently released.  Wednesday the Honolulu City Council unanimously passed (9-0) Resolution 24-016 which adopts the climate ready plan. KITV4.

New ocean safety sector under city consideration. A plan to break up the city Emergency Services Department was formally announced in March 2023 during Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s 2023 State of the City address.  Star-Advertiser.

Avalon Group purchases former Fort Street Mall Walmart property. Avalon Group, a Honolulu-based real estate development, sales and consulting company, purchased the former Walmart property at South King and Bethel streets in downtown Honolulu, it announced Thursday. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio.

Autopsy results in homeless youth’s death put spotlight on dearth of treatment beds. In a distressing update, the Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office has released the official cause of death for Acacia Brown, the 21-year-old who was found dead last summer in some bushes near a homeless encampment in Kailua. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

John De Fries’ selection criticized: Former HTA chief voted in as first Maunakea authority director. After more than a year, the state body that will take over management of the Maunakea summit region has a new director, though not without controversy. Hawaii Public Radio. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.

Decommissioning of Maunakea’s 2nd telescope begins in March. Hoku Ke‘a decommissioning to begin this month. The Hoku Ke‘a Observatory — which has been unused for more than a decade after the teaching telescope that it was meant to house was found to be faulty — will be demolished over the next five months, with the process to begin at an unspecified date in March. Tribune-Herald. KHON2.

Maui

County Council passes Bill 21 on first reading to expedite permits for wildfire rebuilding. Bill 21 would broaden emergency repair provisions of Maui County’s current building code and clarify repair and approval procedures for issuing emergency building permits. Maui Now.

East Maui Water Authority Chooses Water Resource Expert As Board’s First Chair. Former Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa, who had opposed the authority's creation, was unsuccessful in his bid for the leadership role. Civil Beat.

State unveils first federally funded EV station on Maui. The state’s first federally funded EV charging station is now open at the Kahului Park & Ride on Maui. Star-Advertiser. Maui News.  Maui Now.

Kauai

NFL players judging this year’s Kaua‘i Poke Fest; ticket sales will go to Maui Strong Fund. This year’s celebrity judges will include Kaua‘i-born Nick and Nate Herbig, Pittsburgh Steelers professional athletes and brothers. Kauai Now.

Report IDs brownwater discharge sites, billionaire Benioff on Hawaii Island land-buying spree, midwives sue state over right to practice, Maui selects dumpsite for fire debris, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Chronically polluted beaches in Hawaii continue trend, Surfrider report finds. The nonprofit’s 2023 “Hawaii Water Quality Report” found that stream mouths, beaches with freshwater outlets, and bays without much circulation typically have higher bacteria levels. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio.

Lawmakers: Cracking down on illegal vacation rentals won’t solve housing crisis. Lawmakers trying to find solutions to the decades-old vacation rental conflict say the answer is not cracking down on illegal rentals, but getting owners to walk away from lucrative rental businesses operating legally. Hawaii News Now.

Senate Bill Would Boost Salary Cap For Hawaii Schools Chief To $300K. Lawmakers have to address the superintendent's pay range this year before the current law expires. Civil Beat.

Bill seeking to crack down on drunk driving advances; SB2384 proposes lowering the legal BAC to 0.05%. Senate Bill 2384, which proposes to lower the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) for driving from 0.08% to 0.05%, was passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee. Maui Now.

Owners might face felony charges in dog attacks. Owners of vicious dogs that cause serious injury or death would face felony charges instead of petty misdemeanors under proposed legislation. Star-Advertiser.

Bill meant to combat overcrowding in jails stalled. A bill that would have required police to give out citations instead of arrests for certain misdemeanor crimes has stalled. The judiciary committee decided Wednesday the bill addressing overcrowded jails– will not move forward. KHON2.

Hawai‘i state law restricting midwives challenged in court. The Center for Reproductive Rights and the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation filed a case in the First Circuit Court of Hawai’i challenging a new Midwifery Restriction Law that is preventing pregnant people in Hawai’i from using skilled midwives for their pregnancies and births, as they have for generations. Maui News. Hawaii Public Radio.

State seeks input on proposed changes to forest stewardship program rules. The state’s Forest Stewardship Program provides technical advice as well as financial assistance on a cost-share basis so private landowners can more effectively manage, protect and restore important natural resources on their properties. Big Island Now.

Hawaiian Electric delays launch of new solar, energy storage programs one month to make refinements. Hawaiian Electric will postpone the launch of its new rooftop solar and energy storage programs by one month while the company makes changes approved by the Public Utilities Commission, the company announced. Maui Now.

Oahu

Kaneshiro trial won’t be postponed despite investigation into threat against judge. An upcoming bribery trial against Honolulu’s former top prosecutor won’t be delayed despite an ongoing investigation into allegations that a defendant threatened the judge who had been presiding over the case, which prompted his unexpected recusal last month.The trial of former Honolulu prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro and those accused of bribing him will begin next month. Associated Press. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Salary Commission looks at creating a compensation schedule to retain city workers. The Honolulu Salary Commission wants to give councilmembers and top department officials a 3.59% raise for the upcoming fiscal year. Hawaii Public Radio.

Council adopts ‘monster homes’ measure. Cracking down on those who build so-called monster homes on Oahu is the purpose of a new city measure the Honolulu City Council unanimously adopted Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu’s On The Hook For Another $100K Defending Ex-Cops Sued Over Makaha Crash. The officers, who were fired this month by the Honolulu Police Department, are also facing criminal charges. Civil Beat.

A Bar Fight Could Cost A Former Miske Co-Defendant His Kaneohe Home. A federal judge who reviewed a video of the fight says there is no doubt that Michael Buntenbah attacked a man in a bar in January, violating the conditions of his bail. Civil Beat.

Long road to completion may be nearing end for a Maili highway bridge project. When work began to fix the Maipalaoa Bridge on Farrington Highway in Maili, it was considered to be one of the most dangerous bridges in the state. The work is still ongoing nearly nine years later. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

A tech billionaire is quietly buying up land in Hawaii. No one knows why. Marc Benioff, the CEO and co-founder of San Francisco-based Salesforce, one of the world's largest software companies, which owns the popular messaging service Slack and is worth nearly $300 billion. He also owns Time magazine. National Public Radio.

Pending OK, new BI cable provider could come online by March. Hawaiian Telcom applied in December for a 15-year cable television franchise in Hawaii County, which, if approved, would make the company the second cable provider cleared to operate on the island, after Spectrum. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Visitation Increases In 2023. The National Park Service says 1,620,294 people visited the park in 2023, a nearly 2.5% increase from the year before. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Central Maui Property Chosen As Permanent Dump Site For Lahaina Fire Debris. More traffic is expected but survey results found the community prioritized its distance from the ocean, schools and homes. Civil Beat. Maui Now. Star-Advertiser.  Hawaii News Now. KHON2.  KITV4.

‘That’s A Lot Of Money’: Maui Council Signs Off On Funding For Private Security In Lahaina Burn Zone. Members grilled officials over the cost of staffing 63 guards at 13 checkpoints, and the administration said the next contract will go out to bid. Civil Beat.

A $1.5M settlement offer for Lahaina fire victims and families opens this week. Here's what to know. Those who lost loved ones in the Lahaina fire will be able to apply for a $1.5 million settlement on Friday. However, the state Legislature has not yet approved the funds for the program. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Hawai‘i lawmakers vow to tackle homelessness, housing shortages at Līhu‘e community meeting. At a town hall meeting in Līhu‘e on Monday, State Coordinator on Homelessness John Mizuno vowed that Hawai‘i’s rates of homelessness would be cut in half by 2026, as he, along with State Rep. Luke Evslin and Hawai‘i House Majority Leader Nadine Nakamura presented upcoming strategies for combating homelessness and housing shortages across the Garden Isle and state. Kauai Now.

Kaua‘i Fire to partner with Red Cross to install free smoke alarms as part of pilot program. The Kaua‘i Fire Department Fire Prevention Bureau is partnering with the Kaua‘i Red Cross to visit Garden Isle homes and install free smoke alarms in Kaumakani. Kauai Now.

Betty Bell, Kauai medical pioneer who ‘touched many lives,’ dies at 96. A woman who quite literally helped build the framework of medical care for Garden Island residents has died. Betty June Bell died on Feb. 18 at the age of 96. Hawaii News Now.

Legislature mulls tax breaks, panel rejects UH Regents chair, Green releases $175M plan for Maui fire victims, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Counties Fight To Keep Excise Tax As Lawmakers Advance Other Relief Measures. Measures that won preliminary approval in the House Finance Committee would increase standard deductions and adjust tax brackets for inflation. Civil Beat.

Senate Panel Rejects Confirmation Of Interim UH Regents Chair. By a unanimous vote, the Hawaii Senate Higher Education Committee on Tuesday rejected the nomination of Alapaki Nahale-a to serve a four-year term on the University of Hawaii board of regents. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.  Hawaii News Now.

Maui Fires: Money For Victims, Housing For Survivors Are Hawaii Governor’s Priorities in $175M package. Gov. Josh Green renewed threats of a moratorium on vacation rentals in West Maui, citing a need for 850 long-term rentals. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.  Associated Press.  Maui Now.  KITV4.

A bill restoring counties’ regulation of tobacco products may die in state House. A measure that would restore the counties’ power to regulate the sale of cigarettes, tobacco products and e-cigarettes appears to be stalled in the House Finance Committee, and it may die there Wednesday if no action is taken. Maui Now.

Report finds increase in Hawaiʻi's small farm closures, yet remaining prove profitable. Hawaiʻi lost hundreds of its smallest farms and thousands of acres in recent years, but local agriculture has been “significantly” more profitable. Those are some of the findings in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Census of Agriculture, which was released this month. Hawaii Public Radio.

Agency disputes affordable housing loss projection. A risk assessment of potential Hawaii affordable housing losses presented Tuesday at the Legislature is overblown, according to a state agency that helps finance such housing. Star-Advertiser.

Legislature tries to play catchup on drone technology. A pair of bills in the state Legislature would establish “misuse of uncrewed aircraft” as a felony offense in Hawaii. Tribune-Herald.

Lawsuit filed to protect midwifery in Hawaiʻi. A lawsuit was filed Tuesday by the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation an the Center for Reproductive Rights challenging a midwifery law that they say is preventing pregnant people in Hawaiʻi from using skilled midwives for their pregnancies and births, as they have for generations.  Maui Now.

Bill to create alert program for missing kūpuna advances in the House. The House Finance Committee advanced a bill on Monday that would create a statewide alert system for missing kūpuna with cognitive impairments or developmental disabilities. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

HART postpones discussion on scrapping internal audit. A call to scrap a previously sought top-down internal review of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation was postponed this week. Star-Advertiser.

Revised plan extends moving period for outgoing Ulu Ke Kukui tenants having to find shelter by late February. The Ulu Ke Kukui apartments, which sit on Hawaiian Home Lands, are being repurposed into long-term affordable rentals for Native Hawaiians on the DHHL waiting list. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Merrie Monarch organizers release 2024 list of participating halau, judges. On Tuesday, organizers announced on Instagram who will be competing and presiding over the world’s biggest Hula competition. Hawaii News Now.

Surveyors to assess topography of Waipi‘o Valley Road for future safety improvements. Safety improvements on Waipiʻo Valley Road are slated to begin March 4. Control Point Surveying will conduct comprehensive surveying work to facilitate the enhancement of safety measures of the county roadway. Big Island Now.

Fire Closes Puʻuʻeo Community Center In Hilo. The Pu‘u‘eo Community Center at Clem Akina Park in Hilo is closed for the week, following a fire that damaged the building over the weekend.  Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

Certified global, drink it local: Beer pros place Keaau business among ‘Best New Breweries of the Year’. Wailuku Brew Works in Shipman Business Park has been in business only seven months.  Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Bill to establish a nine-member Lele Community District Board for burned Lahaina lands heads to decision making. While the measure puts key decision making in the hands of elected Lahaina community members, some opposed to the bill worry that establishing a new authority under the department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism’s Hawaiʻi Community Development Authority lacks precedent and raises concerns about centralizing power away from the affected community. Maui Now.

Temporary Kamehameha III Elementary School campus transferred to DOE, set to open April 1. The US Army Corps of Engineers announced on Tuesday the successful installation and turnover of the newly constructed temporary campus for King Kamehameha III Elementary School students to the Hawai‘i State Department of Education. Maui Now. KHON2.

Kalaupapa Tours Remain Shut Down 4 Years After Pandemic Closure. One would-be tour provider said the National Park Service has revoked the application process for companies that want to reinstate tours of the isolated peninsula on Molokai. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Kauai Fire Deals $20 Million Blow To Affordable Housing. The controversial project was nearing completion when it burned down over the weekend. Civil Beat.

Tour helicopter crashes on remote Kaua‘i beach, injuring one passenger. According to a preliminary report, a Jack Harter helicopter carrying one pilot and four passengers crashed at Honopū Beach, with one passenger suffering a back injury. Kauai Now. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

Housing top of mind for Legislature, DHHL, Maui to allocate $13M police COVID hazard pay, Green lobbies Washington for aid for Lahaina, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Almost 12,000 affordable homes in Hawaii could be lost over next 20 years, study says. AARP Hawai‘i commissioned the study from Washington, D.C.-based Smart Growth America, and is scheduled to brief two legislative committees today on results. Star-Advertiser.

DHHL changes $600M spending plan to prioritize acquired land development. The state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is making last-minute changes to its spending plan for the $600 million the agency needs to encumber by the end of June.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Why The State’s Housing Working Group Is Being Dissolved. The Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corp. is taking over for the Build Beyond Barriers Working Group. Civil Beat.

Maui costs may lead to budget cuts for state departments. There are serious budget cuts on the table for state departments. In a memo, the Chairman of the Senate’s Ways and Means Committee asked department heads to propose 10% and 15% budget reductions to cover soaring costs from the Maui wildfires. KHON2.

Gov. Josh Green lobbies for more federal aid for Lahaina. Green said his visit with the nation's top leaders paid off because the feds have agreed to pay more than $40 million to get people out of hotels and into condos. KITV4.

On eve of roll-out, fund for wildfire deaths still awaits legislative approval. The Governor’s “One Ohana Fund” aims to pay $1.5 million each to families of people who died or were seriously injured in the Maui wildfire. Hawaii News Now.

Statewide survey shows strong public support for protecting natural resources. A statewide survey commissioned by the Care for ‘Āina Now coalition, formerly known as the Hawai‘i Green Fee Coalition, shows strong support for state funding of legislative bills to fund natural resource stewardship, the coalition announced. Maui Now.

Measure calls for homeless triage center.  A homeless triage center would be established within the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division of the state Department of Health under a proposal advancing at the state Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

Hawai‘i lawmakers to hold public hearing on vicious dog bill. Bills that would increase the penalties for owners whose dogs have seriously injured or killed someone are moving through the State Legislature with a public hearing scheduled this morning in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Big Island Now.

State measure to help combat invasive two-line spittlebug. The State House of Representatives Committee on Finance took up a measure on Thursday to fund mitigation and control of the two-lined spittlebug, an invasive pest that has destroyed thousands of acres of pasture land on the Big Island. West Hawaii Today.

Oahu

Federal Judge Says He’ll Rule Soon On Motions In Kaneshiro Bribery Case. The trial against former Honolulu prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro and those accused of trying to bribe him with campaign donations, including businessman Dennis Mitsunuaga, is currently scheduled for March 12.  Civil Beat.

HART board to consider scrapping internal audit. Plans to scrap a previously sought top-down internal review of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation are expected for review today. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu police fire 3 officers in Makaha crash case. Three Honolulu Police Department officers awaiting trial for allegedly causing a high-speed chase and crash and covering it up in Makaha in September 2021 were fired by the department. Star-Advertiser.

Green ‘super concerned’ about petroleum-based detections in water at 7 Hawaii schools. There’s growing concern after seven public schools in the Pearl Harbor area showed detections of petroleum-based chemicals. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Big Island cable market could see fresh face. The state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs will hold public meetings in Hilo and Kailua-Kona today to solicit feedback about a plan by Hawaiian Telcom to enter the island’s cable television market. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Maui settles COVID hazard pay grievance with police for $13 million. Less than a month after an arbitrator ruled that thousands of state workers were owed COVID-19 hazard pay for their efforts during the pandemic, the County of Maui settled a grievance with the Maui Police Department for about $13 million. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  KHON2.

No high levels of bacteria found off of West Maui in five months following Lahaina wildfire. Ocean water quality samples taken from seven sites off the Lahaina burn zone showed no high bacteria levels five months after the Aug. 8 wildfires, according to the 2023 Blue Water Task Force water quality report released by the Surfrider Foundation Hawaiʻi. Maui Now.

Maui police arrest 13-year-old for alleged threat at Kalama; Investigation remains active at Baldwin and ʻĪao schools. A 13-year-old girl was arrested for Terroristic Threatening in connection with an alleged threat at Kalama Intermediate School.  Police say an investigation revealed the teen was responsible for the Kalama threat and she was arrested at approximately 3:20 p.m.  Civil Beat. Maui Now.  KITV4.

Kauai

Big crowd turns out for Waimea Town Celebration. Hundreds of people collected at the Waimea Product Fair under the shade of the old sugar mill to wrap up the 47th Waimea Town Celebration over the weekend. Garden Island.