UPW state director accused of mishandling funds, golden parachutes, some job cuts after Hawaiian Airlines sale, Kauai mayor seeks to replace Kouchi in 2026, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii United Public Workers Leader Accused Of Misusing Funds. Kalani Werner, who is up for re-election as state director, was put on trial by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees earlier this week. Civil Beat.

Green Fills Hawaii State Ethics Commission Vacancy. Roderick Becker replaces Harry McCarthy on the five-member panel. The agency responsible for administering and enforcing the state ethics code and lobbyist law has a new commissioner. Civil Beat.

‘Golden parachutes’ deployed for top Hawaiian Airlines execs. A few top Hawaiian Airlines executives are out of a job now that Alaska Airlines has acquired Hawaii’s largest air carrier, but they are being well compensated with “golden parachute” benefits totaling close to $25 million.  Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Airlines Takeover: Acquisition By Alaska Will Mean Loss Of Some Non-Union Jobs. Union jobs including flight attendants, pilots and mechanics, will be protected. Civil Beat.

Gun Violence Data In Hawaii Is Incomplete – And Unreliable. Data collection and sharing is so limited that the Attorney General's Office says researching ways to prevent firearm violence is "virtually impossible." Civil Beat.

HIDOE restores 14 more school bus routes statewide. The Hawaii State Department of Education announced that 14 suspended school bus routes on Central Oahu, Upcountry Maui and East Hawaii Island will be reinstated on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. KITV4.

Oahu

Report backs empty-homes tax to address housing crisis on Oahu. The Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law &Economic Justice is recommending that the Honolulu City Council impose a 3-5% empty-homes tax, citing a worsening housing crisis on Oahu where more than 8 in 10 renters now spend at least 30% of their income on housing costs. Star-Advertiser.

Residents protest plans for housing development at former Saint Francis School. Residents of Manoa gathered Wednesday to protest plans by the Avalon Group to convert the old Saint Francis School campus into a housing development.  KHON2.

AES Hawaiʻi reports successful bat deterrent system at Oʻahu wind farm. Birds and bats colliding into large wind turbines were a big concern when the renewable energy projects began appearing across the state. Hawaii Public Radio.

Shooter who ended Waianae rampage won’t be charged. The 42-year-old man who shot and killed the neighbor who rammed his house and shot and killed three women at the home on Waianae Valley Road will not be charged in the incident. Star-Advertiser.

Pickleballers vs. tennis players: Battle for court space heats up at Ala Moana Beach Park. It’s pickleballers versus tennis players vying for court space, and they both say there are long waits to play. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Hawaiʻi Island councilmembers expand number of allowable ADUs.  The Hawaiʻi County Council narrowly passed a bill allowing for more accessory dwelling units on residential properties. Bill 123 would allow property owners to build up to three ADUs, each of which can serve as residential housing units. Hawaii Public Radio.

Discovery of burial site halts work on HPP mailbox project. The discovery of a Native Hawaiian burial site in Hawaiian Paradise Park has some residents concerned. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Radiologic Associates shut down by ‘security incident’.  Hawaii Radiologic Associates has canceled all patient appointments for medical imaging services since late August due to what it called “a security incident that affected some of our systems.” Tribune-Herald.

Kilauea Eruption Changes Prompt New Closures, While Chain Of Craters Reopens. The eruption near Nāpau Crater in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park continues, as the State DLNR announced the closure of the Kahaualeʻa Natural Area Reserve. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

Maui

Judge approves agreement that stops cutting of live trees on wetlands parcel in Kīhei. After more than five hours of talks on Friday, 2nd Circuit Court Chief Judge Peter Cahill approved an agreement Tuesday between the two sides of a dispute over the clearing of a 7.2-acre wetlands parcel in Kīhei. Maui Now.

Maui council to consider rent cap to control skyrocketing prices. As Maui grapples with a housing crisis made even worse by last year’s wildfires, the county council is now considering rent control. Hawaii News Now.

Meeting for Kula homeowners impacted by wildfires to be held Sept. 24. The County of Maui Office of Recovery and the Office of Council Member Yuki Lei Sugimura will be hosting a meeting for Kula homeowners impacted by the August 2023 wildfires on Tuesday, Sept. 24, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Mayor Hannibal Tavares Community Center in Pukalani. Maui Now.

NTSB releases final report into fatal air ambulance crash off Maui. National Transportation Safety Board investigators found that inadequate pilot training and performance tracking played a factor in the crash, which happened on Dec. 15, 2022. KITV4.

Kauai

Kawakami’s campaign office confirms Kauaʻi mayor plans to run for Kouchi’s Senate seat in 2026. The campaign office for Kauaʻi Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami has confirmed the mayor intends to run for Hawaiʻi Senate District 8 in 2026, with the support of the current seat holder, Senate President Ron Kouchi. Kauai Now.

State closes Kalalau trail indefinitely after around 50 hikers became ill with norovirus. Instead of reopening Thursday, the state now says Kauai’s Kalalau Trail will remain closed indefinitely. Hawaii News Now.

Land conservation nonprofit hires Annalise “Anna” Kindstedt as Kaua‘i ‘āina steward and educator. Hawai‘i Land Trust, a statewide land conservation nonprofit, has a new ‘āina steward and educator on Kaua‘i. Kauai Now.

Alaska Airlines purchase of Hawaiian Airlines executed, new leader named; Honolulu nixes federal land for landfill, Native Hawaiian convention kicks off, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

The Biden administration is letting Alaska Airlines buy Hawaiian Air but with conditions. The administration is letting Alaska Airlines complete its $1 billion purchase of Hawaiian Airlines after the carriers agreed to certain conditions, including maintaining current customer reward miles and service on routes between Hawaii and the continental U.S. where they don’t have much competition. Associated Press. Star-Advertiser. New York Times. Hawaii News Now.

Alaska Air Group announces interim Honolulu leadership team to guide merger with Hawaiian Airlines. When the combination was announced, it was shared that Hawaiian Airlines President and CEO Peter Ingram would step down from his role following the transaction close. Current Alaska Airlines regional president of Hawai‘i/Pacific, Joe Sprague, will be named chief executive officer of Hawaiian Airlines. Maui Now.

Alaska Airlines completes acquisition of Hawaiian; here’s what you need to know. As of Wednesday morning, the corporate merger has already been completed. The acquisition was executed in just a matter of hours after getting final federal permission to do so. Hawaii News Now.

Future Of Hawaii’s Lands Is On The Agenda For Native Hawaiian Convention. Lively discussions on land use and finding ways to insert Hawaiians and cultural practices into public policy decisions punctuated the first day of the 2024 Native Hawaiian Convention.  Civil Beat. KHON2.

Media Council Hawaiʻi weighs in on artificial intelligence in journalism. The Garden Island newspaper on Kauaʻi is using artificial intelligence-generated hosts in its new, online broadcast "TGI Today." To further dive into the use of AI in journalism, HPR talked to Gerald Kato, a former real-life newscaster and retired University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa journalism professor. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

City nixes federal lands for next site to replace Waimanalo landfill. The Honolulu Planning Commission is expected today to receive the city’s latest update regarding its ongoing search to find an alternate site for Oahu’s next municipal landfill before the end of this year. Star-Advertiser.

UH Manoa setting enrollment records. The University of Hawaii’s flagship Manoa campus eliminated application fees and increased scholarships for local high school students, helping to drive a new record for freshmen enrollment this fall — and sending overall enrollment to its highest level in 12 years. Star-Advertiser.

Maui Fire Report Heightens Fears That Manoa Development Will Increase Risk There. The home builder says 93 new homes — and 360 parking stalls — will actually mean less traffic in a densely populated corner of the valley. Civil Beat.

Waiʻanae community reflects on recent shootings and offers culture-based solutions. The recent shootings on the Waiʻanae Coast have residents on high alert. Some said their community has never experienced this severity of violence. Hawaii Public Radio.

Governor, Kapiolani Medical Center respond as nurses march over lockout. Dozens of nurses from Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children marched through downtown Honolulu Tuesday, having been locked out by the hospital for a fourth day. Hawaii News Now. Star-Advertiser.

HPD Corporal charged with false reporting after crash that seriously injured motorcyclist. A Honolulu police corporal has been charged with False Reporting to Law Enforcement Authorities after crashing his subsidized vehicle into the back of a motorcyclist near Aloha Stadium last September, seriously injuring the rider. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Hawaiʻi County Council considers asking state lawmakers to expand midwifery practices. The Hawaiʻi County Council is moving a measure to its top legislative priorities for the state’s 2025 session, which will be included in the Hawaiʻi State Association of Counties’ legislative package and delivered to the state Legislature. Hawaii Public Radio.

Lava erupts from Napau Crater: Fountains are reportedly as high as 30 feet. Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano is erupting again in a remote part of a national park. One of the world’s most active volcanoes is erupting again in a remote part of a Hawaii national park. Eruptive activity increased early Tuesday but there is no immediate threat to homes or infrastructure, U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said. Associated Press. Tribune-Herald.  Big Island Now.

Hawaii’s Last Dairy Is Under Fire For Allegedly Violating Environmental Law. The Center for Food Safety says that Cloverleaf Dairy on the Big Island has been knowingly polluting the ocean with animal and milk waste for years. Civil Beat.

Work to replace Pauahi Street Bridge on schedule. Construction on the Pauahi Street Bridge is on schedule, according to the Hawaii County Department of Public Works. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

3,152 Burned Vehicles Have Been Removed From Lahaina, But More Than 350 Remain. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers provided an update on debris removal, which also included 141 boats. Civil Beat.

Rent stabilization considered to slow runaway post-disaster housing costs. Maui County Council members heard Monday evening from more than two dozen testifiers, most of whom favored putting brakes on runaway rental costs. Maui Now.

Maui single-family home sales rise, median prices increase in August. Maui’s housing market saw an increase in home sales in August of 2024, with single-family homes experiencing both a rise in sales and an increase in median prices, according to the latest data from the Realtors Association of Maui. Maui News.

Kauai

Structure fire causes $1.2 million in damages. An evening structure fire on Kauai’s Eastside prompted the partial closure of Ulu Street on Tuesday. Garden Island. Kauai Now. KHON2.

40 years ago, Kauai’s Mokihana Festival was a kane-only hula contest. Now, it’s much more. Kauai’s Mokihana Festival is set for Sept. 22 to Sept. 28 with various events scattered around the islands. Ka Makahiki O Na Mea Ho’okani, or year of instruments & implements, is the theme for this year’s celebration. Hawaii News Now.

State seeks way to implement 100 recommendations in Maui fire aftermath, Routh's Kaaawa neighbors shocked by alleged would-be assassin in their midst, medical respite facility for Oahu homeless unveiled, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

State grapples with next steps following release of latest Lahaina fire report. The second phase of the attorney general’s report on the Aug. 8, 2023, Maui wildfires includes over 100 recommendations for the state, county, utility companies and general public to better prepare and respond to the threat of wildfires. Hawaii Public Radio.

OHA awards $2.8M in grants to address Native Hawaiian health, culture, economy and homestead needs. Support for traditional healing practices, training for navigators involved in traditional Polynesian voyaging, business education for entrepreneurs, assistance for vulnerable populations and funding for neighborhood watch initiatives on homestead lands are just some of the projects that will be advanced thanks to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Grants Program. Kauai Now.

Hawaii Man Accused Of Trying To Kill Trump Wrote A Book Urging Iran To Assassinate The Ex-President. Ryan Wesley Routh moved to Kaaawa outside of Honolulu in 2018 to go in business with his adult son building small wooden sheds. Associated Press. Star-Advertiser.

Alleged gunman Ryan Routh shocks neighbors in Kaaawa. For the past six years, Ryan Routh has called the quiet and tranquil neighborhood of Kaaawa home.  KITV4.

Oahu

City, state unveil medical respite to provide care for the homeless. In a joint effort to deal with homelessness on Oahu, Mayor Rick Blangiardi and Gov. Josh Green on Monday formally unveiled the Aala Respite at the edge of downtown Honolulu. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Gov. Green says he cannot legally intervene in Kapi‘olani labor dispute. Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women and Children management has said the lockout prohibiting HNA-represented nurses from returning to work will remain in place until the latest contract offer is unconditionally accepted. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio.

HPD Is Adding Dozens Of Extra Police Officers To Westside Patrols. Honolulu police are calling on reserve officers to provide more police presence to the area after a series of shootings and other violent crimes have rattled the community. Civil Beat. KHON2.

This tucked away south shore beach is becoming a “chill spot” for college kids, and some residents are not happy. The beach is right off Diamond Head Road, where vehicles coming down the hill often pick up speed before coming around a curve near the park. Hawaii News Now.

Firefighters suspend operations battling Kalihi Valley brush fire due to darkness; Fire is 75% contained. Honolulu firefighters have suspended fire operations just before 6 p.m. on Monday night due to darkness in their battle with a brush fire in Kalihi Valley. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Hawaii Island

Council members establish wishlist of legislative priorities. Changes to state regulations regarding e-cigarettes and midwives are among a wishlist of state bills the Hawaii County Council hopes to see pass next year. Tribune-Herald.

Kilauea Lava Eruption Resumes On Middle East Rift Zone. The eruption, which resumed at 6 p.m. Monday evening, is occurring within a closed and remote area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Big Island Video News. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

North Kona Water Restriction Ended After Well Repair. The Kalaoa Deepwell has been repaired and returned to service, which means the required 25% water restriction for North Kona has been downgraded to a voluntary 10% water conservation.  Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

Maui

Mayor Bissen hosting community budget meetings for Fiscal Year 2026. Mayor Richard Bissen and his administration will host community budget meetings throughout Maui County starting next week for residents to share their priorities and provide input on the budget for Fiscal Year 2026, which begins July 1, 2025.  Maui Now.

Maui Housing Advocates Push For Rent Control Bill To Cap Soaring Prices. A proposal aimed at stabilizing rents got its first hearing before the Housing and Land Use Committee. Civil Beat.

1-day mass permitting events to continue in West, South Maui. The County of Maui Department of Parks and Recreation will continue one-day mass permitting events for summer 2025 private-­party community center permits in West and South Maui districts. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

Multiple Hanamā‘ulu brush fires ʻintentionally setʻ Sunday. Several small brush fires were extinguished by firefighters in the area of Kalepa Ridge in Hanamā‘ulu on Sunday, Sept. 16, which the Kauaʻi Fire Department believes were intentionally set.  Kauai Now. Spectrum News.

Wilcox nurses holding candlelight vigil for ‘unsafe staffing conditions’ . The nurses of Wilcox Medical Center are holding a candlelight vigil to stand in solidarity with the nurses of Kapi‘olani Medical Center on Monday, Sept. 16, who were recently “locked out” following a one-day strike amid contract contention.  Kauai Now.

Oahu business owner arrested in attempted Trump assassination, union files grievance over 500 unpaid teachers, state encourages students as construction projects top $10B, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Suspect in Trump assassination attempt lived in Hawaii. Oahu business owner Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, who was arrested Sunday in connection with an alleged attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump in Florida was seen as a “rogue” player by some people he worked with in Hawaii to build tiny homes for homeless military veterans. Star-Advertiser. New York Times. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.  KITV4. 

House Speaker Scott Saiki leaves a legacy of addressing hard issues. It will be left to history to reflect the role of outgoing House Speaker Scott Saiki in legalizing same-sex marriage, helping to steer the islands through the unprecedented COVID-19 epidemic and his response to political corruption in the Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

HSTA files step 2 grievance with DOE more than 500 teachers remain unpaid. The Hawaii State Teachers Association said 533 public and charter school teachers have yet to receive their payments, which is up from the 377 teachers that were initially reported. KHON2.

More Hawaii Schools Are Offering Computer Science — But Are All Students Benefiting? The Hawaii Department of Education is now facing a state mandate from 2021 requiring all Hawaii schools to offer at least one computer science course by the end of the 2024-25 academic year.  Civil Beat.

Students encouraged to join construction industry debt-free. Construction in Hawaii is forecast to generate more than $10 billion over the next three to four years. There are currently 1,523 apprentices working in Hawaii, and 576 are between the ages of 18 to 24. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Prisons Are Getting New Scanners That Can Detect Drugs Without Opening Mail. The state agreed to purchase nine of the MailSecur machines for nearly $970,000. It plans to deploy them at eight in-state correctional facilities this fall, according to a statement from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.  Civil Beat.

Oahu

Pearl Harbor shipyard works on 3 top-class submarines. Four dry docks for ship and submarine maintenance exist at the facility. But one, dating to 1942, is too small and shallow to service Virginia-class subs that the Navy continues to procure as replacements for older Los Angeles-class subs in an effort to modernize more of the U.S. fleet, which includes about a dozen submarines home-ported at Pearl Harbor. Star-Advertiser.

Kapiolani nurses vow to keep fighting after being ‘locked out’ post one-day strike amid contract disputes.   Kapiolani Medical Center has locked out its nurses after their one-day strike concluded Saturday morning. About 600 nurses, represented by the Hawaii Nurses Association, attempted to return after the strike ended at 6:59 a.m. Hawaii News Now.

Rental housing tower for DHHL beneficiaries ready to rise. The $154 million project, dubbed Hale Moiliili, will provide 278 units for state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands beneficiaries. Star-Advertiser.

HFD contain 50% of Waialua brush fire. Honolulu firefighters are responding to a brush fire in Kalaeloa Sunday afternoon. The initial alarm came in just before 12:30 p.m. near Coral Sea and Ranger roads.  Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

‘Day of Aloha’ observed in memory of Twinkle Borge.  State and city officials joined the Waianae community Sunday, which would have been Twinkle Borge’s birthday, at Pu‘uhonua o Wai‘anae Farm Village for a memorial service honoring her and dedicating the day as a “Day of Aloha.” Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Kilauea Volcano Alert Level Raised To WATCH. Despite an infrasound signal typical of gas or steam venting, and seismometers recording low frequency tremor, visual evidence of eruptive activity has yet to be seen. Big Island Video News.

Hawai‘i’s only commercial dairy farm faces potential lawsuit for alleged milk, manure discharge into Big Island’s waterways. The law offices of Charles Tebbutt, representing the Center for Food Safety, sent a letter saying it intends to initiate a citizen’s suit in Hawaiʻi Federal District Court against Cloverleaf Dairy in Hawi, which is owned by Boteilho Hawai‘i Enterprises.  Big Island Now.

Native Hawaiian convention slated this week. The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, or CNHA, is bringing its 2024 Native Hawaiian Convention to the Hilton Waikoloa Village from Tuesday through Thursday. Tribune-Herald.

Hurricane Hone ended most of the island’s drought. One effect of Hurricane Hone’s passage to the south of the Big Island late last month was to take almost all of the island out of drought conditions. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Hawaii wildfire victims made it just blocks before becoming trapped by flames, report says. Of the 102 people who lost their lives during the August 2023 wildfires in Lahaina, 80% died in the central part of the town, according to a report released Friday by the Hawaii Attorney General’s office. Associated Press.

Deadly Devastation From The Lahaina Fire Was ‘Years In The Making’. State, county and community inaction including years of ignoring the dangers posed by wildfire made the Aug. 8 fire that destroyed Lahaina worse than it should have been. That is the overwhelming message of the Hawaii Attorney General’s “Lahaina Fire Incident Analysis Report,” the second of a three-part investigation into the Lahaina fires that killed 102 people and destroyed more than 2,200 buildings last year.  Civil Beat. Associated Press.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Fire intensifies Lahaina community’s push for bypass extension. Fire survivor Shayne Kahahane said many in the community want a finished Lahaina Bypass, and believe that its completion would have saved some of the 102 people who died during the Aug. 8, 2023, fire. Star-Advertiser.

Lahaina fire leads to disappearing tourism jobs, desperately needed construction workers. Carl Bonham, executive director of the University of Hawai‘i Economic Research Organization and professor of economics, said as of July, there are about 5,100 construction jobs on Maui, an increase of 400 or 8.9% from a year ago. Maui Now.

Maui’s housing crisis persists with building barriers worsened by the wildfires. Maui residents have been experiencing a massive housing shortage. Some might say, “Just build more houses.” However, it’s not that simple. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Navy hosts environmental assessment open house. The U.S. Navy will be hosting a meeting/open house on Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Kauai Veterans Center located on Veterans Memorial Highway adjacent to the Vidinha Stadium. Garden Island.

Some hikers blame ‘rancid’ toilet facilities for norovirus outbreak on Kalalau Trail on Kauaʻi.  As the Hawaiʻi State Department of Land and Natural Resources continues with its survey to determine the cause of the norovirus outbreak that has affected at least 50 visitors on the Kalalau Trail along the Nāpali Coast on Kauaʻi, some are blaming the virus on the state’s facilities that they say are unsanitary.  Kauai Now.

Elder care added to accepted campaign expenditures, feds mum on cause of Lahaina fire, 13 school bus routes restored, Kapiolani nurse strike set for today, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Candidates running for office in Hawaiʻi will now be able to use their campaign funds for adult dependent care expenses. The Hawaiʻi Campaign Spending Commission approved an advisory opinion that says campaign funds can be used to care for elderly relatives or dependents if it is directly related to campaign activities. Hawaii Public Radio.

State Budget 101: New handbook simplifies process for curious citizens. A handful of state lawmakers have teamed up with the Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice to present a primer in a first step to simplifying the state budget as best they can. Hawaii Public Radio.

Federal Investigators Still Won’t Say What Caused The Lahaina Fire. The state plans to release phase two of its fire report Friday, but the ATF is withholding its findings. Two months after the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives shared its findings on the cause of the Lahaina wildfire with Maui County officials, the agency continues to withhold that information from the public. Civil Beat.

Additional 13 school bus routes return to Oahu and the Big Island on Monday. The Hawaii State Department of Education announced that 13 suspended school bus routes on Central Oahu and the East Hawaii Island will be reinstated on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024.  KITV4. Hawaii News Now.

Nisei military units to be honored at Punchbowl.  Nisei military units that fought heroically in World War II will be honored Sept. 29 at the 19th annual Joint Memorial Service, at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

BWS’ $1.2B Red Hill claim still under review. It’s been nearly a year since the Honolulu Board of Water Supply filed a $1.2 billion claim against the Navy to recover costs for its response to massive jet fuel leaks at the Navy’s Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility in 2021. Star-Advertiser.

Kapi‘olani union nurses strike set for today as lockout looms. Hundreds of union nurses at Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women &Children are holding a one-day strike starting this morning after talks failed to yield a new contract. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.  KITV4.

State grapples with uncertainty over Kakaako affordable condo project debt. The board of the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corp. on Thursday approved using up to $500,000 to recover the bad debt through options that include taking over the midrise project, called The Block 803 Waimanu, through foreclosure or in lieu of foreclosure. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu City Council eyes new e-bike classifications, safety rules. With the popularity of electric bikes, or e-bikes, increasing in Hawaiʻi, the Honolulu City Council is taking up legislation in an effort to better regulate the motorized bicycles. Hawaii Public Radio.

Mayor says its wrong to blame city property enforcement for Waianae mass shooting. With some in the Waianae community blaming lack of property law enforcement for the tragic mass shooting. Mayor Blangiardi called together administration leaders Thursday afternoon, a meeting that reinforced that the city’s powers are limited. Hawaii News Now.

Flags at half staff in remembrance of Twinkle Borge. The Native Hawaiian activist, affectionately known as "Mama" or "Aunty Twinkle," passed away on Aug. 5, 2024. She led the Pu'uhonua O Wai'anae homeless encampment and is credited with turning it into a community. KITV4.

Hawaii Island

Big Island Commission On Efficiency Wants Voters To Help It Be More Efficient. A charter change on the November ballot would give the Hawaii County Cost of Government Commission  more time to study county operations. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Supreme Court Is Considering Whether To Release Investigative Files In Dana Ireland Case. A Hawaii County deputy prosecutor told the Hawaii Supreme Court Thursday that two brothers who have been exonerated of the murder of Dana Ireland are still suspects in the 33-year-old case. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald.  Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.  KITV4.

Six previously suspended school bus routes restored in East Hawai‘i. The Hawai‘i State Department of Education announced Thursday that 13 previously suspended school bus routes in Central Oʻahu and East Hawaiʻi Island will be reinstated starting Monday, restoring service for nearly 300 student bus riders at eight schools. Big Island Now.

Search And Rescue Exercise Completed Off Kawaihae. Participants in the exercise – which simulated an overdue boat and missing persons – included Coast Guard Sector Honolulu, the Hawaiʻi Fire Department, Hawaii Ocean Safety and the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources.  Big Island Video News.

Maui

Maui Ethics Board Says Water Authority Appointee Has No Conflict of Interest. Gina Young sought the ethics opinion after three County Council members declined to vote on moving her appointment forward, voicing concern that she may have had unfair advantages in the job application process — and a conflict of interest because she helped draft the charter amendment that led to the water authority’s creation. Civil Beat.

Plumbing the depths of Maui’s housing shortage: Can small changes have a big impact? Maui County’s water-fixture-unit regulations and related fees have not been updated since 1995 and are at least partially responsible for driving up costs for building much-needed housing, according to a policy brief by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. Maui Now.

Maui rent stabilization topic of special committee meeting on Monday. The Housing and Land Use Committee will have a special meeting on Monday at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber to discuss the possible effects of rent stabilization in Maui. Maui Now.

Debris cleared from 100% of residential properties in the Lahaina Impact Zone. Months ahead of the original January 2025 deadline, debris has been cleared from 100% of the 1,390 residential properties in the Lahaina Impact Zone. Maui News. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Kauaʻi Council bill aims to grow housing supply by allowing more guest units. Bill 2919 would allow one guest house to be built per dwelling unit on properties in certain zoning areas, including agricultural, commercial and most residential districts. Hawaii Public Radio.

Pacific Missile Range Facility releases draft assessment on land-based training, testing impacts in West Kaua‘i. The U.S. Navy will hold a public meeting for Kaua‘i residents to review the potential environmental impacts of conducting land-based training and testing at launch areas and other locations in areas managed by the Pacific Missile Range Facility. Kauai Now.

Domestic passenger count tops 71,000 in August at Lihue Airport. The domestic passenger count weighed in at its third highest total of the year, as more than 71,000 people flew into Lihue Airport in the penultimate month of summer. Garden Island.

Two finalists named in University of Hawaii system president search, Hawaii soldier charged with assault in 2021 Capitol riot, proliferation of cesspools a stinky environmental problem, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

University of Hawaii president search narrowed to 2 finalists.  The  UH Board of Regents has narrowed the search to succeed current President David Lassner to Wendy F. Hensel, executive vice chancellor and university provost for The City University of New York and Julian Vasquez Heilig, provost and vice president of academic affairs for Western Michigan University. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Tribune-Herald.  Kauai Now.  Hawaii News Now.  KITV4.

Cesspools: Too Environmentally Harmful To Keep, Too Expensive To Get Rid Of. A state mandate that all of the tens of thousands of cesspools in the islands must be converted to septic tanks — or connected to sewer systems — by 2050 is causing financial concerns for residents and logistical challenges for state and local lawmakers. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi soldier charged with assaulting police officer during Capitol riot. A U.S. Army soldier has been arrested in Hawaiʻi on charges that he repeatedly struck a police officer with a flagpole during a mob's attack on the U.S. Capitol more than three years ago, according to court records unsealed on Wednesday. Associated Press.

Hawaii loses Georgette Deemer, tireless film industry promoter, advocate. Georgette Deemer — whose 16 years as Hawaii film commissioner launched the islands’ international film and television industry­ — died Sept. 1 in Honolulu after a long battle with cancer. She was 71. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Council backs HPD reimbursement plan. In spite of the city’s objections, a plan to reimburse Honolulu Police Department officers for the cost of purchasing uniforms, extra firearms and other on-the-job policing equipment was recently advanced by the City Council. Star-Advertiser.

It’s Not Just You: City Knows Its New Half-Million-Dollar Beach Shower Isn’t Working Right. The trickling water irks many at Kaimana Beach. It's the first of 11 showers across Waikiki that are being relocated to comply with stormwater rules. Civil Beat.

Local unions for hotel workers join forces amid contract negotiations. Workers from ILWU Local 142 and UNITE HERE! Local 5 held an afternoon rally Tuesday at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort as contract negotiations continued between UNITE HERE! and several hotels. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Multi-agency exercise will simulate a search and rescue mission for missing mariners off Hawai‘i Island. A multi-agency search and rescue exercise is scheduled Thursday in waters off Kawaihae Harbor with the Coast Guard, Hawai’i Fire Department, Hawai‘i Ocean Safety, and the Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources. The partnering agencies will work together in a simulated exercise to rescue missing mariners. Big Island Now. Big Island Video News.

Maui

3 West Maui child care programs open to address wildfire education losses. Three new classrooms have opened with support from Maui County through the West Maui Early Childhood Collective. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui residents are invited to give feedback on marine resource management. A management proposal has been developed by a community-nominated Maui Navigation Team in partnership with the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Aquatic Resources. Hawaii Public Radio.

Four injured when commercial catamaran runs aground on Kāʻanapali Beach. Personnel arrived to find the catamaran aground with 49 passengers and four crew members still aboard. Maui Now.

Building deterioration prompts relocation of mail services for a Maui community. Extensive deterioration of an old structure has prompted the US Postal Service to relocate mail operations for customers in Puunene, Maui. Hawaii News Now. Maui Now.

Kauai

Aerial war targets avian malaria-spreading mosquitoes. The honeycreeper, also known as akikiki, has long been under threat from avian malaria-spreading mosquitoes.  Garden Island.

Kauai norovirus outbreak survey launched to identify illness hotspots. Anyone who hiked the Kalalau Trail between between July 1 and September 4, 2024 is urged to take a survey launched Wednesday by the Department of Health and Department of Land and Natural Resources. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Kauai newspaper debuts AI-generated newscast. Kauai residents are getting up to date on their current events in a new way with one of the nation’s first fully artificial intelligence newscasts. And that’s raising some questions on the future of AI and journalism. Hawaii News Now.

Selection process for judges on November ballot, Honolulu Emergency Management director resigns, new plan tackles misinformation during volcanic eruptions, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Proposed Ballot Question Would Streamline Selection Of Judges And Justices. Hawaii voters will be asked to consider a proposed constitutional amendment on the Nov. 5 ballot aimed at clearing up the process of nominating state judges and justices so that it is more efficient and uniform. Civil Beat.

Hawaii condo owners starting to feel insurance rates increase. Many condo and townhouse owners are starting to pay up for the increased maintenance fees due to skyrocketing insurance costs. KHON2.

‘Stranded’: Hawaii parents frustrated over school bus shortage. More than a month into the school year and the school bus shortage still has not been resolved. Hawaii News Now.

Tokuda reads names of Maui victims into Congressional record. U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda used her 5-minute opportunity to address the House today by honoring the 102 victims and the two people missing from the Aug. 8, 2023, Maui wildfires by reading all of their names into the Congressional record. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now. KHON2.

Oahu

City's top Emergency Management Official resigns for role in California. Hiro Toiya, who serves as Director of the city's Emergency Management Department, is stepping down and leaving for a new job in Northern California. KITV4.

Council OKs $3M flood study of Wailupe Stream. The Wailupe Stream is the last major valley stream in East Honolulu that’s not fully lined with concrete — one of 10 such streams that drains its watershed into the roughly 7-mile-long Maunalua Bay. Star-Advertiser.

This Mililani Company Packages Salt From The Mainland And Sells It As Hawaiian. Is That Cheating? Hawaii's commercial salt producers say bulk salt shipped in from elsewhere and sold as 'Made in Hawaii' is hurting their business. Civil Beat.

Deadline nears to apply for Oʻahu property tax exemption. The City and County of Honolulu is offering significant property tax relief this year, but homeowners have to apply by the end of the month.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Despite 2021 threat, police chose not to arrest suspect accused in deadly Waianae shooting. The man who shot five neighbors and killed three of them threatened the family three years before — but was not arrested. Hawaii News Now.

Kapiolani hospital and nurses union set to meet in last ditch effort to avoid strike. There’s a last ditch effort to avoid a potential strike Friday and a rare lockout of hundreds of nurses at Kapiolani Medical Center. Both sides are set to meet Thursday and part of the issue is claims of retaliation over complaints about unsafe staffing. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Nearly three-month closure lifted after landslide on Tantalus Drive. After rocks, mud and trees came tumbling down nearly 3 months ago, Tantalus Drive is now back open.The City closed the section of the road just before it turns into Round Top Drive on June 25. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii County Charter Proposal Would Fill Some Council Vacancies Quicker. The ballot measure would allow a candidate who wins a seat in the primary to take office early when there is a vacancy. Civil Beat.

New interagency plan tackles misinformation during volcanic eruptions. When an eruption occurs on Hawaiʻi Island, a coordinated team from the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Agency, and Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park quickly assembles to respond. Hawaii Public Radio.

Work to reconstruct section of Highway 137 in lower Puna will begin later this month. Hawaii County announced Tuesday it’s ready to reconstruct a 3.64-mile section of Highway 137 in lower Puna, between the makai end of Pohoiki Road and the intersection of Highway 132 — also known as “Four Corners.” Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui Whistleblower Lawsuit Could Cost Taxpayers Up To $450,000. Former mayoral aide Chris Salem, who was fired, alleges a range of wrongful behavior by county officials in a lawsuit filed three years ago. A Maui County Council committee has voted in favor of paying as much as $450,000 to a Honolulu law firm to defend the county against allegations of wrongful termination and government corruption by a former mayoral aide. Civil Beat.

Baldwin Beach Park finally collapses. What now? Community members await dune restoration efforts at Baldwin Beach Park after collapsed pavilion. Maui News.

Maui community invited to review nearshore management proposal. Maui residents are encouraged to attend one of three upcoming information exchange sessions to provide feedback on managing Maui’s nearshore waters.  Maui News.

Kauai

Renovations to refuse transfer stations to begin starting with Līhu‘e location. The work is part of the Island-wide Refuse Transfer Station Improvements project, which also targets stations in Hanalei, Kapa‘a and Hanapēpē. Lihue Refuse Transfer Station shuttered for renovations. During the renovation work, the Lihue RTS will be closed from Sept. 11 to Nov. 2. Garden Island. Kauai Now.

Entire Kalalau Trail section closed. The closure could last until at least Sept. 19. In the meantime, the Kalalau Trailhead will be manned by law enforcement personnel 24 hours a day, seven days a week to prevent entrance onto the popular trail. Garden Island.

Same-sex marriage protection on November ballot, $35M project could reopen Waikiki Natatorium, Bissen heads to California wildfire conference, we're still the happiest state, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Voters Asked To Ensure Protection Of Same-Sex Marriage. A proposed constitutional amendment calls for repealing lawmakers' authority over gender and matrimony. Civil Beat.

$18M headed to Hawai‘i to make buildings more energy efficient, lower bills, combat climate change. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced Hawai‘i will receive $18.1 million in federal funding to adopt a building performance standard for energy efficiency in commercial buildings.  Maui Now.

Some Hawaii Nonprofits May Get Good Financial News From OHA After Delay. Trustees for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs are being asked to approve nearly $3 million in funding for nonprofits that was delayed in May amid concerns the money was not being equitably distributed. Civil Beat.

Pacific Islanders Are Often Left Out Of Medical Studies. This Team Wants To Change That. The University of Hawaii is participating in a national study of gaps in health research for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. Civil Beat.

High School Surfing Is A Thing In Hawaii, But Not As Much As You Might Think. Schools have struggled to start official teams with limited funding and no recognition from local athletic leagues. Civil Beat.

Hawaii trafficking charges part of case against arrested Philippine mega-church pastor. Philippine televangelist Apollo Quiboloy, accused of human trafficking and sex assault — including in Hawaii, was arrested this weekend in the Philippines after a two week stand-off between law enforcement and his followers. Hawaii News Now.

Study: Hawaii ranks #1 as happiest state in America. Lucky we live in Hawaii! A new 2024 study revealed that the Aloha state has been ranked the “Happiest State in the Nation.” KHON2.

Oahu

State eyes takeover of struggling affordable condo project in Kakaako. A state agency that helped finance the project called The Block 803 Waimanu is considering foreclosure against the developer after financial difficulties stemming from 61 unsold units in the 153-unit complex despite prices as low as $276,102 for a studio.  Star-Advertiser.

City, nonprofit aims to reopen shuttered Waikiki natatorium after 40 years. More than 40 years after a Waikiki natatorium was deemed unsafe and closed, a $35 million project aims to reopen the gates for public swimming. Hawaii News Now.

West Oahu refinery seeks to develop plant-based biofuels. PAR Hawaii Refining LLC proposes that part of its 151.4-acre facility in Kapolei produce low-carbon-­emission, plant-based biofuels, including renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel and renewable liquefied petroleum gas, among others. Star-Advertiser.

Iwilei autopsy facility re-opens after $5.9M transformation. After completing nearly $6 million in renovations, the Department of the Medical Examiner received a modern look for its Iwilei headquarters. KHON2.

City launches rock slide mitigation project to enhance safety on Pacific Heights Road. The City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Design and Construction will begin rock slide mitigation work on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024 for the lower portion of Pacific Heights Road. KITV4.

Hawaii Island

Cesspool Closures In Naʻalehu Examined In Draft EA. The County of Hawaiʻi must close three large capacity cesspools that serve approximately 164 private residences in Naʻalehu. Big Island Video News. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiʻi Island Forest Reserve Fencing Projects Planned. Three draft environmental assessments have been published for fenceline and access projects in the Kaʻū and Upper Waiakea Forest Reserves, as well as the Manukā Natural Area Reserve. Big Island Video News.

NOAA ship ‘has a special mission’: Reporters get closer look at Okeanos Explorer. A vessel dedicated to exploring the unknown parts of the ocean is docked this week at the Port of Hilo for the first time as the crew and scientists prepare for the next part of their expedition. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Mayor Richard Bissen to travel out of state for wildfire summit. Mayor Bissen, along with County of Maui Managing Director Josiah Nishita and other County staff, will travel to California to attend the After the Fire USA 2024 Wildfire Leadership Summit. Maui News.

Feds Partner With Maui Groups To Develop An Energy Plan For Lahaina. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory is working with three local organizations. When efforts to clean up debris from the fire that leveled much of Lahaina in August 2023 were still in the early stages, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory sent a team to Maui to better understand what happened and to eventually help create a sustainable energy plan for the rebuilding of the historic town. Civil Beat.

EPA’s Maui Wildfire Emergency Response Team awarded government service equivalent of an ‘Oscar’. Pete Guria, Steve Calanog, Tara Fitzgerald of the Environmental Protection Agency (San Francisco) directed more than 300 EPA personnel to remove tons of hazardous materials from the Maui wildfires while respecting local cultural norms and setting standards for federal response teams that followed.   Maui Now.

County declares Stage 1 water shortage for Central and South Maui. A water shortage is underway on Maui, and county officials are calling for conservation measures. The Department of Water Supply has declared a Stage 1 water shortage for the Central Maui System. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Officials highlight cesspool conversion funding for Kaua‘i homeowners already feeling the pinch.  The Kaua‘i County Residential Cesspool Conversion Grant Program will divide $2 million among 100 qualifying homeowners ($20,000 per household). Kauai Now.

New faces coming to state Legislature, Honolulu city council already set, HART CEO gets 22% raise, cell tower battles in two counties, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Legislature to see 11 new faces even before November election. The state House and Senate will welcome at least 11 new faces for the next legislative session, even before the Nov. 5 general election, which could result in more incumbent upsets. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: The FBI Continues To Stall On Releasing Hawaii Lawmakers’ Bribery Investigations. Former state lawmakers Ty Cullen and J. Kalani English pleaded guilty more than two years ago to taking cash bribes in exchange for swaying legislation to favor Honolulu businessman Milton Choy, who owned a wastewater disposal company. Civil Beat has been trying to get the investigative files on public officials convicted of bribery for more than a year. Civil Beat.

California, Hawaii can ban guns in bars and parks, appeals court rules. Court ruling supports Hawaii gun restrictions. State Attorney General Anne Lopez hailed a ruling of a panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that Lopez said reinstates restrictions on where people can carry firearms in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser. Associated Press.

Waianae Shootings May Spur A Push To Strengthen Hawaii’s Self-Defense Laws. Some lawmakers want to amend the state law on use of deadly force for self-protection, but a key senator says that's unnecessary. Civil Beat.

Oahu

No contested Honolulu city races on general election ballot. All of the contested city races — namely, elections for mayor and City Council — were decided during the Aug. 10 primary election. Star-Advertiser.

HART OKs 22% raise for CEO Kahikina to a $336,000 annual contract. The board of directors for the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation on Friday approved a new contract with a 22% raise for Executive Director and CEO Lori Kahikina to oversee completion of the nearly $10 billion Skyline. Star-Advertiser.

‘It Smells Like Earth’: Honolulu Shows Off Its Alternatives To Landfills. An end-of-year deadline looms for Honolulu officials to name a location for a new municipal landfill. Meanwhile, the city is working to divert waste from needing to go to the disposal site in the first place. Civil Beat.

Kapi‘olani nurses seek injunction to block lockout. The Hawaii Nurses’ Association/Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 50 is seeking an injunction to stop Kapi‘olani Medical Center from locking unionized nurses out of the hospital following a planned one-day strike, the union’s second this year. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

Oahu housing market steady ahead of possible demand increase. According to data released Friday by the Honolulu Board of Realtors, sales and prices ticked up for single-­family homes and down for condominiums. Star-Advertiser.

Ewa Beach to get first hotel. Alaka‘i Development has secured $135 million in financing and is on its way to delivering Ewa Beach’s first hotel: a dual-branded Hyatt Place and extended-stay Hyatt House for the Ho‘opili master-­planned community. Star-Advertiser.

Turtle Bay resort expansion proceeding under new owners. Arete Collective recently hosted an “open house” in Kahuku to share its plan with community members and gather feedback on what its chief executive described as an eight- to 10-year project slated to begin later this year with 20 homes in four buildings between the beach and the 18th hole of the resort’s Arnold Palmer Golf Course. Star-Advertiser.

St. Francis Healthcare pensions face chopping block. Almost all private retirement plans are required to comply with federal pension and tax laws, according to the Pension Rights Center, a nonprofit based in Washington, D.C., with the exception of church pension plans. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

County buys refrigerated containers to store bodies; Morgue at Hilo hospital is overcapacity. Hawaii County has purchased two 40-foot refrigerated containers and is exploring the possibility of an emergency proclamation to start using them as a temporary storage facility for the bodies of decedents whose deaths occurred somewhere other than Hilo Benioff Medical Center. Tribune-Herald.

Changes eyed for cell towers: Proposals would alter the approval process. Cell towers on the Big Island could be installed without a Hawaii County permit under a proposed new policy. Tribune-Herald.

2 Keaukaha projects rejected: Planning commission sides with area residents. The Windward Planning Commission on Thursday considered a pair of applications for special management area use permits to build housing in Keaukaha near Onekahakaha Road. Tribune-Herald.

Public advised to avoid affected waters following sewage spill at Kailua-Kona Pier. On Sunday, September 8, 2024, it was reported that a sewage spill had occurred at the Kailua Kona Pier. Officials state that an unknown amount of sewage had spilled from a restroom and onto the pier, which entered the ocean.  KITV4. Big Island Video News.

NOAA research ship docks in Hilo: Okeanos Explorer to host events throughout week. The team on board — Shannon Hoy, Anna Coulson, Mark Durbin and Caitlin Ruby — just finished conducting 24-hour-a-day exploratory seafloor mapping operations of the atoll’s deep waters for 20 days before traveling to Hilo this past Saturday. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui’s toxic debris could fill 5 football fields 5 stories deep. Where will it end up? The temporary landfill in Olowalu is a former quarry on state-owned land and close to Lahaina, which made it a convenient choice for quickly storing the debris being cleared away so the town can rebuild. Associated Press.

End of an era? Lahaina fire delivers big blow to already declining commercial fishing industry. On Aug. 27, following a request for an update on the harbor work, officials from the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation said the harbor has been cleared of debris and pilings and was expected to be operational in two-plus years, but did not provide more details. Maui Now.

County of Maui acquires Kula community center land for $950,000 for ‘public use in perpetuity’. The County of Maui has acquired approximately seven acres of land beneath the Kula community center and adjacent facilities for “public use in perpetuity,” according to a press release announcing the acquisition. The county has leased the land for over six decades.  Maui News.

Feds Partner With Maui Groups To Develop An Energy Plan For Lahaina. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory is working with three local organizations. Civil Beat.

AES launches state’s largest solar power facility on Maui. The Central Maui project is a key part of Hawaii’s aggressive 2045 Clean Energy Initiative goals as well as AES’ own 2040 goal of net zero carbon emissions from electricity sales. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.

Kauai

Haʻena residents file lawsuit against proposed 5G cell tower. In a continuing effort to stop the construction of a 95-foot tall 5G cell tower in their neighborhood, two Haʻena couples have filed a lawsuit against the California-based property owner who is leasing the vacant lot to AT&T. Kauai Now.

A Stomach Bug Outbreak Brings Uncomfortable Scrutiny To One Of Hawaii’s Most Beautiful Places. Some of the campers who endured the recent norovirus outbreak at the end of Kauai’s famed Kalalau Trail hope the unusual incident, which sickened dozens of people, will lead to better state upkeep of one of the most scenic destinations in Hawaii. Civil Beat.