Honolulu airport near bottom of national survey, rail contractor gets notice to proceed on final leg, first humpback of whale season spotted, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

The Honolulu airport moves up in passenger satisfaction, but is still fourth worst. Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, the largest in the state, moved up in a ranking of large airports, but it’s still fourth from the bottom, according to the latest J.D. Power North America Airport Satisfaction Study. Star-Advertiser.

UH President Candidate Targeted Black Law Professor For Speaking Out, Review Found. As the search for a new University of Hawaii president nears the end, documents show one finalist, Wendy Hensel, was involved in retaliating against a law professor who questioned her. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s Prison System Confronts ‘A Huge Mental Health Crisis’. Licensed psychologists have been leaving correctional facilities in the state at an alarming rate, which is creating gaps in care. Civil Beat.

Todd Apo Appointed To Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority Board. The CEO of a Kohala-based nonprofit has been appointed to the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority board. Big Island Video News.

First humpback sighting reported for 2024 whale season. The sighting was at approximately 10 a.m. Sunday by Capt. Matt Talbot and the crew of Teralani during a snorkel sail off the coast of Ka’anapali. Maui Now.

Oahu

HART officially proceeds on final Skyline segment. The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation has issued a “notice to proceed” to its chosen contractor that is tasked with finishing the nearly $10 billion Skyline project by the start of the next decade. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Fence returning to Diamond Head seawall amid increased erosion. Fencing is going back up at the Leahi Beach Park seawall on the edge of Diamond Head, according to the city Department of Parks and Recreation. Hawaii News Now.

Homeless hotspot transforming into $155M high-rise for Native Hawaiians. After numerous delays, a 23-floor, $155 million “high-rise hale” to house Native Hawaiians is set to break ground by the end of 2024. The Old Bowl-O-Drome in Moiliili has been closed for more than two decades. Hawaii News Now.

City attorneys reach $1.5M settlement with family of Black man killed by police. City attorneys are proposing to pay $1.5 million to settle a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the widow of a 29-year-old citizen of South Africa who was shot and killed by Honolulu police officers after a bloody fight at a Nuuanu home on April 14, 2021. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Roth signs bill to expand housing availability. The bill — co-drafted by council Chair Heather Kimball, Councilwoman Ashley Kierkiewicz, Planning Director Zendo Kern and Deputy Director Jeff Darrow — allows homeowners to build up to three accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, with a size limit of 1,250 square feet on their properties. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now.

Voting explainer: 2024 Hawaiʻi Island charter amendment ballot questions. The questions are related to councilmember vacancies, department head appointments, and the Cost of Government Commission. Hawaii Public Radio.

Pahoa bus hub/library could break ground in 2025.  A 9.5-acre parcel between the Pahoa Marketplace and the Puna Kai Shopping Center will be developed as a nexus for a “hub and spoke” public transportation network in Puna. Tribune-Herald.

Demolition of Uncle Billy’s Hilo Bay Hotel underway. The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources said the wooden lobby and restaurant were demolished weeks ago, while work began Monday morning to knock down the first of two, concrete hotel wings. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Now.  KHON2.

Maui

New survey tracks recovery of households affected by Maui fires. The University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization reported Tuesday that 29% of fire-affected households now live below the poverty line, up from 14% before the fires that destroyed most of Lahaina and claimed 19 homes in Upcountry Maui on Aug. 8, 2023. Star-Advertiser. Associated Press. Maui News.  Maui Now.  KITV4.

Mishandling of human remains: Local forensic company breaks silence on Lahaina disaster response. The owner of a forensic morgue team hired by the Maui Police Department claims that many protocols for the respectful and accurate recovery of victims were not followed. Hawaii News Now.

Proposed resolution aims to increase use of Maui’s recycled water, stretches into Lahaina rebuild. A new resolution making its way through the Maui County Council discusses the use of recycled water on Maui but mixes in language regarding Lahaina rebuild, sparking concerns amongst residents and council members. Maui News.

State postpones Upcountry overnight road closure for lane striping work. The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation has postponed roadway striping work on Makawao Avenue heading mauka onto Haleakalā Highway. Maui Now.

Blessing marks Maui County’s acquisition of Kula Community Center property. A blessing Monday at the Kula community center marked Maui Countyʻs acquisition of the 7-acre property that includes the center, ensuring the area is held for public use in perpetuity.  Maui Now.

‘It’s the rebirth of Kaho‘olawe’: Native species documented on former bombing range. Native life has returned to the island of Kaho’olawe after decades of work to restore the former military bombing range. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Should Kauai County Spend Money To Save Money?  Cost Control Commission proposed a county charter amendment would require the county to pay for initiatives that could lead to savings in the future. Civil Beat.

UH takes presidential candidate interviews behind closed doors, Honolulu council poised to award $1.5M in police shooting case, SNAP benefits decrease, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Search for next UH president nears conclusion with private final interviews. The University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents plans to interview the two finalists for president — Julian Vasquez Heilig and Wendy Hensel — behind closed doors. However, public interest attorneys say those meetings should take place in public, citing a 2019 state Supreme Court ruling that barred boards and commissions from holding closed meetings unless they prove they are protecting a privacy interest. Hawaii Public Radio.

David Lassner's new role at the University of Hawaiʻi after retirement. Lassner was the 15th University of Hawaiʻi president and will retire in December.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Skyrocketing insurance rates could be a factor in softening real estate market. Realtors said the rising insurance rates could be a factor in the softening of the market, but there are still opportunities out there if you’re smart. KHON2.

SNAP benefits to decrease in Hawaii for second year in a row. Benefits will be $8-$9 less per recipient starting Tuesday. Last year’s reduction already knocked off $7-$8 per person. Hawaii News Now.

Gov. Josh Green proclaims Fire Prevention Week throughout Hawai‘i. Gov. Josh Green has proclaimed the week of Oct. 6 through 12 as “Fire Prevention Week” in the state of Hawai‘i. This year’s theme is “Smoke Alarms: Make them work for you!” Big Island Now.

Oahu

Over Chief’s opposition, city offers $1.5M settlement in police shooting case. Taxpayers may pay $1.5 million to settle a lawsuit over the police shooting of a South African rugby star. The settlement seems certain to be approved at a council meeting Wednesday, despite the prosecutor saying the shooting of 29-year-old Lindani Myeni was justified and the objections of the police chief. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Honolulu Morgue Aims To Start Giving Families Answers Faster With New Deputy. The city has a deputy medical examiner for the first time in five years. The Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office hopes the arrival of its first new deputy in five years will help it winnow down the time it takes to finalize reports, which has mounted due to increasing caseloads and staff shortages. Civil Beat.

Honolulu’s Dying Palms To Be Replaced With This New Tree — For Now. The city begins felling the first of 80 trees marked for removal on the North Shore. Many of the trees will be replaced with shade trees for the foreseeable future — at least until authorities are able to better control the Southeast Asian beetles. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

Views clash over planned homes in Manoa. The city Department of Planning and Permitting held the hearing on an application by local development firm Avalon Group to build 93 homes on what had been the campus of Saint Francis School, which closed in 2019. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Hawaiʻi County Building Code Meetings Set For Late October. Two informational meetings on changes to the International Building Code (IBC) will be held at the Mauna Kea Park is late October. Big Island Video News.

Puna townhall to gather input for upcoming legislative session, possible alternate route. State Sen. Joy A. San Buenaventura, Rep. Jeanne Kapela and Hawaiʻi County councilmember Matt Kanealiʻi-Kleinfelder will host a townhall on Oct. 9 at Mountain View Elementary. Big Island Now.

Park for HPP is at least 4 years from completion. The Department of Parks and Recreation held a community meeting in HPP on Thursday to discuss the subdivision’s long-awaited district park, a project that has been in development since 2018. The project would be built on a county-owned parcel on Kaloli Drive between 25th and 26th avenues. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui Charter Change Would Benefit County Leaders From Molokai And Lanai. The proposal would make it easier to reimburse travel expenses of top officials who live on the other islands. Civil Beat.

Critical Locked Gate Overlooked In Investigation Of Maui Fire Evacuation. The state attorney general’s latest report on the deadly 2023 Lahaina wildfire flagged various locked gates that blocked people trying to flee as flaws in Maui’s evacuation planning. Yet a padlocked gate where the largest cluster of Lahaina wildfire fatalities occurred was not included in the analysis. Civil Beat.

Disaster Recovery Community Update set for Wednesday at Lahaina Civic Center. A status update on wildfire debris cleanup will be provided by the US Army Corps of Engineers on Wednesday, Oct. 9, during a Maui County Disaster Recovery Community Update meeting at the Lahaina Civic Center. Maui Now.

Kauai

Road closure scheduled in Lāwa‘i for resurfacing work. A full closure for a portion of Kua Road in Lāwa‘i is scheduled for road resurfacing work starting Oct. 10.  Kauai Now.

Farmers seek more ag agency money, big funding boost hasn't led to student success, Kauai PO Box holders at shuttered Post Office urged to re-register to vote, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Farmers Unite For More Ag Agency Funding. The Hawaii Farmers Union, which represents more than 800 farmers, ranchers and food producers statewide, announced Sunday that it will lobby legislators for a drastic increase to the state Department of Agriculture’s $53.6 million budget over the next two years. Civil Beat.

Test Scores For Hawaii Students Show Little Progress Despite Major Funding Boost. The state has received over half a billion dollars in pandemic support, but there's been no tracking of which investments and programs have actually improved student learning. Civil Beat.

Clash erupts over Hawai‘i Tourism Authority budget request. The director of the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism is planning to make a $70 million legislative budget request for the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, even though its board, of which he is a voting member, voted to request a higher amount. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii remains the top desired destination for Japanese travelers. As Japanese people gradually begin to eye international travel again after the pandemic, Hawaii remains the top dream destination for Japanese travelers, according to research by travel firms and the Japanese government. Star-Advertiser.

For Japan’s Hawaii lovers, a changing relationship with the Aloha State. Changing modes of travel and shifting tastes are changing the way Japanese tourists experience Hawaii. And it’s changing how they perceive island culture — both while visiting Hawaii and back home in Japan. Star-Advertiser.

Budget-conscious younger Japanese travelers seek adventure, authenticity. For generations, Hawaii has been a dream destination for Japanese tourists. But younger Japanese travelers are often looking for something very different from what their parents seek when they travel. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s loan forgiveness program helps ease the burden on health care workers’ families. When the next legislative session begins in January, Green plans to propose an additional $30 million to help the next group of health care workers pay off their loans over the subsequent two years. Star-Advertiser.

Regents on track to select next University of Hawai‘i president in mid-October. The coming announcement follows the completion of a series of public events for the two finalists, Western Michigan University provost and vice president Julian Vasquez Heilig and City University of New York executive vice chancellor and provost Wendy Hensel. Big Island Now.

DHHL forgoes county building permits. The state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has begun to exert a long-held regulatory power to speed up homestead and housing development for beneficiaries. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

City seeks $115,000 to defend against civil rights suit. Honolulu is asking for more legal fees to defend against a 2023 federal civil rights lawsuit alleging three Honolulu Liquor Commission investigators subjected another investigator to discrimination, harassment and a hostile work environment based on his sexual orientation and race after starting his job with the city in 2022. Star-Advertiser.

Development of luxury condo units on O'ahu's north shore now on pause. Utah-based developing firm Areté Collective, which bought about 65-acres of land near Turtle Bay Resort in April, said it is delaying vertical construction until Dec. 1, 2024 to allow for more conversations with the community. KITV4.

Navy chips in to improve Kalaeloa’s electric grid. Through an intergovernmental support agreement, the Navy is giving $18 million for upgrade work to the Hawaii Community Development Authority, a state agency that governs much of the former base that was closed in 1999 and largely transferred to state, city and private entities for reuse. Star-Advertiser.

UH Cancer Center celebrates federal designation renewal. The designation from the National Cancer Institute comes with a support grant of $11 million from NCI to help fund further research at the center for another five years. Star-Advertiser.

Coconut Rhinoceros Beetles Deal Fatal Blow To Hawaii Palm Trees. Dozens of infested coconut trees have been marked for removal on Oahu's North Shore. Will they be replaced? Civil Beat.

Kapiolani nurses return to work after tense negotiation, 22-day lockout. New Kapiʻolani contract includes nursing council to oversee staffing conditions. The council is meant to serve as an enforcement mechanism to ensure appropriate staffing levels. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now.

Kailua resident files suit against state to have raised crosswalk removed. A Kailua man has filed a lawsuit against state transportation officials, claiming that a raised crosswalk has caused damage to his home. Hawaii News Now.

North Shore home hanging on edge as swell set to arrive Monday. A decent-size north, northwest swell is set to arrive on Monday and many are anxious to see what happens to the sand near Sunset Beach, now that two homes are being demolished due to erosion. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Council bill seeks to ease permit restrictions for ag lot owners. At Wednesday’s Planning, Land Use and Development Committee meeting, Puna Councilwoman Ashley Kierkiewicz introduced Bill 212, which would exempt greenhouses and other small structures from requiring building permits on agricultural lots. Tribune-Herald.

EPIC fail? Homeowner sues county over building permits. The owner of a home in Milolii Beach Lots is suing Hawaii County, claiming its Electronic Processing and Information Center system — known as EPIC — has trapped him in a permitting Catch-22 that only will allow him to demolish his house, not to remodel or live in it. Tribune-Herald.

Bill targets 40-year-old law regarding radioactive materials. A decades-old Hawaii County law allowing the U.S. Armed Forces to freely transport radioactive materials on the island may be coming to an end. Tribune-Herald.

NOAA seeks to restore road to Mauna Loa Observatory. Access to the Mauna Loa Observatory could be restored by next April, more than two years after the eruption of its namesake volcano cut it off from the rest of the island. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Mayor Bissen hosting community budget meeting in Wailuku on Tuesday. Central Maui residents are encouraged to attend the meeting to provide input as County of Maui departments begin to shape the budget for Fiscal Year 2026, which begins July 1, 2025. Maui News.

Maui County Council committees to hold meetings Oct. 7–9.  The agenda includes integrating seal level rise and coastal threats into planning for county beach parks, discussions regarding domestic violence awareness and the Fiscal Year 2025 budget for the county’s revenues and department of water supply, water operations program. Maui News.

Akakū to broadcast Maui County Council candidate forum hosted by Lahaina Strong. Monday night’s Lahaina Strong candidate forum will be broadcast live by Akakū Maui Community Media from 5:30 to 8 p.m. from Hanakaʻōʻō “Canoe” Beach in West Maui. Maui Now.

Maui Memorial health care workers poised for potential strike. The contract for about 1,000 registered nurses, pharmacists, imaging techs and others represented by United Nurses and Health Care Employees of Hawaii, or UNHCEH, expired Monday. Star-Advertiser.

After Lahaina fire ruled ‘accidental,’ survivors still want accountability, compensation. After losing their family home and the town where they all grew up, Shayne Nameaaea Hoshino and his family filed a lawsuit seeking compensation and accountability from big landowners, the government and utility companies for the August 2023 wildfire. Maui Now.

Molokai residents demand community input as state weighs future of Kalaupapa. A visit from several top state officials to Molokai on Saturday raises questions about the future of the isolated peninsula, which was once home to thousands of Hansen’s disease patients. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

5 proposed Kaua‘i County charter amendments on ballots this Election Day. The county of Kaua‘i Charter Review Commission has provided background information and the purpose of each proposal at kauaiballotinfo.com. Kauai Now.

Keālia PO Box holders who used them as primary mailing address urged to reregister to vote. The Kaua‘i County Elections Division is urging voters who had PO Boxes at the now shuttered Keālia Post Office and used them as their primary addresses to reregister to vote with a new mailing address to ensure they receive their ballot for the upcoming Nov. 5 general election.  Kauai Now.

Kaua’i County discusses how to improve search and rescue operations after failed effort. Two months after a failed official effort to find a missing man from Kapa’a led to public criticism of Kauaʻi County’s search and rescue procedures, police and other emergency agencies outlined their handling of missing person cases last week during a tense County Council meeting in which improvements also were discussed. Kauai Now.

ʻUlutopia project at Kauaʻi Community College increasing production and use of breadfruit. On a fraction of a 40-acre farm behind Kauaʻi Community College in Puhi, 64 breadfruit, or ʻulu, trees bear abundant green fruit and teach important scientific lessons. Kauai Now.

Roadwork scheduled on Kauai. A number of road-related projects are on tap in the days ahead with grass cutting, tree trimming and guardrail repair making up the bulk of the work, the Hawaii Department of Transportation said in an update on Friday, Oct. 4. Garden Island.

HART seeks $1B from state, more than 100 modular homes headed to Lahaina, $12M grant for health care reform, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

HART requests $1 billion appropriation from state. The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation has petitioned the state Department of Budget and Finance to appropriate that sizable sum for the agency’s next two budget cycles. The $1 billion would come from the mass transit special fund, created under a 2017 state law known as Act 1. Star-Advertiser.

Insurance Companies Are Still Trying To Block The $4 Billion Maui Fire Settlement. Insurance companies hoping to recoup billions of dollars they’ve already paid in claims to Maui fire victims are asking a federal judge to get in the middle of a legal squabble that has been playing out in state court. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s tourism goals unlikely to keep up with inflation. The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority board on Thursday approved a goal for Hawai‘i Tourism USA, the global marketing team responsible for driving travel demand to Hawaii from its core U.S. market, to grow visitor spending by just 1.4%. Star-Advertiser.

UH Foundation raises over $115M for students, programs, research. The University of Hawaii Foundation raised $115.2 million in fiscal year 2024, exceeding its $100 million annual goal by 15%, marking the fourth consecutive year of surpassing the $100 million milestone. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.

Hawaiʻi receives $12M federal grant to establish health care reform. Hawaiʻi is one of only six states chosen to participate in this program, making it a rare opportunity. Hawaii Public Radio.

Report: Deaths associated with with hepatitis C happening at earlier age in Hawaiʻi than elsewhere in the United States.  The Hawaiʻi Department of Health released “Premature Deaths and Disparities Associated with Hepatitis C: The Hawaiʻi Hepatitis C Mortality Report” as part of Liver Cancer Awareness Month, which is observed in October. Big Island Now.

Here are the changes to SNAP benefits starting this month. Several changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP, start Tuesday. This year, the USDA has increased maximum allotments but also changed eligibility requirements for SNAP benefits, but exact amounts vary based on where you live and the size of your household. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Honolulu Voters To Decide Whether Lifeguards Need Oversight Commission. Whether to create a volunteer commission that would oversee the Department of Ocean Safety and have the power to appoint and remote its chief will be up to voters in November. The commission would be analogous to those that oversee the city’s police and fire departments. Civil Beat.

Could a vacant home tax end the housing crisis? That means, in addition to paying Hawaii real property taxes annually, anyone with a home that is vacant six months out of the year, would have to pay taxes on 1% of its assessed value the first year, 2% the next year and 3% after that. KHON2.

Catholic church sells land to senior living complex. The nonprofit operator of the Kahala Nui senior living complex is buying the land under the project built in 2005 on a parcel leased from the Roman Catholic Church of Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Homeless kauhale units still without power, city says. Over the summer, the Aala Respite facility was set up as part of a joint effort between the city and state to provide shelter and medical care for vulnerable, medically fragile people who’ve experienced long-term homelessness on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Increased Hawaii park surveillance without public approval. City officials plan to more than double the video surveillance at Ala Moana Regional Park. KHON2.

Kapi‘olani nurses set to return to work Sunday morning. With a new contract in place, union nurses are scheduled to return to work Sunday at the Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children. Star-Advertiser.

Tensions rising after ten days of a workers strike at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Striking workers at the Hilton Hawaiian Village aren’t happy that after ten days of striking, they’re still not any closer to getting a new contract, or even an offer to return to the bargaining table. Also unhappy are guests, some surfers and neighbors around the resort. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

A 76-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a brush fire that happened in Haleiwa on Tuesday, Honolulu police said. Police arrested the man Thursday afternoon for fourth-degree arson. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Ex-Miske Associate Sentenced To More Than 10 Years In Prison. Jake Smith emerged as a key witness against the convicted Honolulu crime boss after agreeing to a plea deal with prosecutors. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

OHA Grant Supports Hale Mua Cultural Group Efforts In Waipiʻo Valley. The $145,000 grant will assist the ʻAi Me Ka Iʻa Waipiʻo: Perpetuating ʻOhana Connection to Loʻi Kalo and Loko Wai Program. A program reinforcing cultural practices and freshwater fishpond preservation in Waipiʻo Valley is getting support from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Opening of residential areas off Lahainaluna Road set for today. With residential debris removal 100 percent complete, opening of residential areas off Lahainaluna Road is set for Friday, Oct. 4, at 6 a.m. This is Phase 4 of the Maui Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) zone reopening plan and marks one of the final large residential zones to be reopened. Maui News. Maui Now.

Traffic Alert: Caravans to carry over 100 modular homes for Maui wildfire survivors. The Hawaii Department of Transportation is alerting drivers of potential traffic delays as modular homes for wildfire survivors are being transported from Kahului to Lahaina starting on Friday. Hawaii News Now.

Timeline shows Maui Electric inspection missed damage before power started fire. MPD commanders and the federal ATF did say that the fire was caused when damaged electric lines were re-energized. But the detailed timeline shows a key inspection failed to find the damaged equipment - and led to a decision to throw the switches that sparks the flames. Hawaii News Now.

Kahului man pleads guilty in Maui explosives case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Robert Francis Dumaran, 47, entered a plea agreement in federal court in Honolulu Wednesday, pleading guilty to possessing explosive powders as a convicted felon and possessing an unregistered destructive device. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

This Lahaina Fire Survivor Tends The Memorial Every Day. Susie Richter hauls up jugs of water for the plants amid the crosses and portraits of Maui fire victims. She often has company. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Disciplinary proceedings being initiated for Kauaʻi police chief who left gun in bathroom. The Kauaʻi Police Commission is considering disciplinary measures for Police Chief Todd Raybuck after he left his gun unattended in a bathroom earlier this year.  Kauai Now.

Kapa‘a transfer station to be closed nearly 1 year beginning in early November. The renovations are part of the county’s islandwide Refuse Transfer Station Improvements project. Kauai Now.

'It needs to get better' | Calls continue for change to search and rescue operations on Kauai. Nearly two months after a Kauai man was found dead in Wailua, calls are growing for change to the way official search and rescue efforts are conducted. KITV4.

Padraic Gallagher named executive director Kauai Humane Society.  Gallagher, the former disaster program manager at the American Red Cross in Lihue, will be the new executive director. Garden Island.

Lahaina wildfire ruled 'accidental,' Miske crime boss top associate sentenced to 10 years, Kapiolani nurse contract finalized, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Lahaina wildfire ruled ‘accidental': Maui Blames Fallen Power Line. A fallen Hawaiian Electric Co. power line set dry grass on fire on the morning of Aug. 8, 2023, producing a smoldering ember that made its way to a nearby gully, flared up in hurricane-driven winds later that day and grew to engulf the town of Lahaina, Maui officials said Wednesday while releasing the long-awaited report produced in collaboration with federal investigators. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.  Associated Press.  Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.  KITV4. Maui Now.

Maui Fire Chief Gives Detailed Defense Of Firefighters Battling Lahaina Blaze. Firefighters stayed at the blaze for more than five hours – and couldn't have predicted the deadly rekindling that afternoon, Fire Chief Brad Ventura said. Civil Beat.

Governor extends emergency proclamation to address school bus driver shortage. Gov. Josh Green has extended emergency provisions, enabling the Hawai‘i State Department of Education to continue addressing the school bus driver shortage that has disrupted student transportation services. Maui Now.

Green defends water panel vacancy-filling protocol. Gov. Josh Green insists that he is following Hawaii law for filling a vacant special seat on the state water commission amid criticism of his procedure to do so. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Kapi‘olani nurses ratify new 3-year contract. The union nurses at Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women &Children on Wednesday ratified a new, three-year contract that was ironed out after more than a year of negotiations with management. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. KHON2.  KITV4.

Former top associate to Hawaii crime boss sentenced to 10 years, 1 month in prison. A judge has sentenced a man to 10 years and one month in prison for his role as an enforcer for Hawaii crime boss Mike Miske. During Miske’s trial, Jake Smith testified for six days, saying he dealt drugs and carried out numerous assaults on Miske’s personal rivals. Hawaii News Now.

‘There are few places left’: Kapolei homeless feel impact of development. As development expands in Kapolei, there are concerns the second city’s homeless population is running out of places to stay. Hawaii News Now.

Climate scientist says North Shore house collapse gives glimpse of future sea level rise. Homeowner Joshua VanEmmerik, who maintained the house primarily as a short-term rental, had drawn the ire of some local community members and conservationists for his attempts to harden the shoreline in front of his property near Sunset Beach. Hawaii Public Radio.

Newly retired Star-Advertiser writer Tim Hurley dies of aggressive cancer. Hurley, 66, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of Stage 4 “diffuse, large B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma,” spent a week in the intensive care unit and then died, said one of Hurley’s four adult children, Baylee MacGregor. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Veterans housing complex nearly pau. Earlier this year, construction was estimated to be completed by August, and residents could begin moving in by September. But some final construction delays have pushed the move-in date to late October, or possibly even December. Tribune-Herald.

Community invited to give feedback on new district park proposed in Hawaiian Paradise Park. Hawai‘i County Parks and Recreation proposes a new district park in Hawaiian Paradise Park and wants to know what the community thinks about its plans. Big Island Now.

Maui

Maui County Department of Agriculture seeking input on Food and Nutrition Security Plan. The County of Maui Department of Agriculture is collaborating with community partners across Maui, Molokai and Lāna’i to develop a Food and Nutrition Security Plan and is seeking help prioritizing strategies to support Maui County’s food system, according to the county. Maui News.

Maui hospital workers union mulls strike over concerns about safe staffing levels. Last month, 495 of the union’s 930 members participated in a call-to-action vote, with 98% voting to authorize taking actions that included a strike if necessary. On Monday night, their contract expired. Maui Now.

Maui visitor arrivals up a year after wildfires, but still not at pre-disaster levels. Maui visitor arrivals were up almost 80% in August, compared with a year earlier, the month when the Maui wildfires struck Aug. 8-9. But visitor travel to the Valley Isle still lags behind what it was before the disaster, according to a monthly report by the Hawaiʻi Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism. Maui Now.

Kauai

Areas of Ke Ala Hele Makālae trail in Kapa‘a to temporarily close for maintenance. Portions of Ke Ala Hele Makālae trail in Kapa‘a will be closed this week to allow Kaua‘i County crews to perform extensive maintenance. The closure starts on Thursday and continues into Friday. Kauai Now.

Kauai Museum Exhibit Center dedicated. Following a delay created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kauai Museum dedicated the Waimakua and Maryanne Kusaka Exhibit Center on Monday afternoon. Garden Island.
 

Locked-out striking nurses, Kapiolani Medical Center reach deal, DHHL launches in-house permitting to get families off wait-list, Honolulu tackles agriculture land use laws, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kapi‘olani and nurses reach deal. Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women &Children and the Hawaii Nurses’ Association on Tuesday reached a tentative contract agreement after over a year of contentious negotiations and on the 18th day of the hospital’s lockout of roughly 600 unionized nurses. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.  KITV4.

DHHL launches in-house permitting, fast-tracking its ability to get beneficiaries off the waitlist and into homes. In a milestone initiative, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands Director Kali Watson signed the program’s first in-house building permit for its Yorktown transitional housing project Monday. Big Island Now.

Hawaii tourism industry talks merger, recovery and regeneration. After Alaska Airlines’ $1.9 billion deal to buy Hawaiian Airlines was officially completed two weeks ago, there’s now new marketing as “two beloved brands.” Hawaii News Now.

Voting equipment tested in-person ahead of Nov. 5 general election. In-person logic and accuracy testing was performed Saturday at 875 Waimanu St., No. 106, in Honolulu on voting equipment to be deployed to voter service centers for the Nov. 5 general election. Tests and certification are being conducted this week in each neighbor island county. Big Island Now.

Takamine appointed to state labor board. Gov. Josh Green has appointed Dwight Takamine — a former state legislator, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations director and lawyer — to the Hawaii Labor Relations Board. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu

Voting explainer: 2024 Honolulu charter amendment ballot questions.  Four Honolulu charter amendment questions in the November election related to the environment, councilmember salaries, an oversight commission, and the hiring of the city’s emergency management leaders. Hawaii Public Radio.

‘Ideological choice’ faces House District 39 voters. Voters in Royal Kunia-Waipahu-­Honouliuli — part of a West Oahu area that’s been increasingly turning politically red — will have a clear choice between a traditional union-backed Democrat and an incumbent, evangelical Christian Republican whose views are sometimes so extreme that he was condemned by a West side Republican senator. Star-Advertiser.

City Council tackles agriculture changes in land use ordinance overhaul. The Honolulu City Council last week tackled proposed changes to farming, including some to its land use ordinances that  will likely impact housing on farms, raising livestock, beekeeping, agritourism and many other facets of farming operations. Hawaii Public Radio.

State Funding Of Waianae Emergency Room Lags Far Behind Peers. Health center officials want to expand mental health programs, but ER expenses are eating into the budget. Civil Beat.

Cesspool under collapsed North Shore home prompts environmental concerns. The recent partial collapse of an Oʻahu home into the ocean at Kammies Beach has raised a number of environmental concerns, including what's to be done with the property's cesspools. Hawaii Public Radio.

Increase in dog bites on Oahu prompts concern and legislative action. Data shows the number of emergency calls for people who’ve been attacked has jumped nearly 20% in the past year. Hawaii News Now.

Cams to deter West Oahu dumping: ‘I’m tired of waiting’ . Mattresses, washers and dryers and now, a large truck. These are just some items that are dumped along Paakea Road in West Oahu. KHON2.

Honolulu Zoo bids aloha to last 2 resident chimpanzees. The Honolulu Zoo today announced it has bid aloha to its last two chimpanzees, and that they are now living in Texas as preparations get underway for habitat improvements. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.  KITV4.

Reinauguration of damaged statue to mark Gandhi Day.  The Gandhi International Institute for Peace will hold a ceremony today, on Mahatma Gandhi Day, to celebrate the restoration and reinauguration of the Gandhi statue in Waikiki. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Second finalist for UH president attends forum in Hilo. The second of two final candidates for the position of University of Hawaii president emphasized respect for Hawaiian culture during a forum Tuesday at UH-Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

Pōhakuloa Training Area Advisory Issued. The Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center is underway on Hawaiʻi island, and the U.S. Army says this year’s event has increased in size, scope, scale and noise compared to previous years.  Big Island Video News.

Trails Partially Reopen Following Kīlauea Volcano Eruption. Officials say areas east of Makaopuhi crater remain closed due to volcanic and wildfire-related hazards. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Maui Mayor Richard Bissen announces changes in executive leadership, names Cynthia Lallo new chief of staff. Mayor Richard Bissen on Tuesday announced changes in his executive leadership team, designed to enhance his administration’s reach in renewable energy while reorganizing the structure of the Office of the Mayor and the Office of Economic Development. Maui News. Maui Now.  KITV4.

Cause and origin of Lahaina blazes to be released. The Maui Department of Fire and Public Safety will make public today the cause and origin of the Aug. 8, 2023, Lahaina wildfires that killed 102 people, left thousands homeless and crippled Maui’s visitor industry. Star-Advertiser.

Nurses at Maui’s main hospital vote for strike if they don’t get more help. Maui Memorial Medical Center is the only acute care hospital on the island and employees say the safety of the community is at risk. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Maui tourism numbers make jump in August compared to 2023. Visitor numbers still remain below 2019 levels for Maui, state. Maui News.

Kauai

Hawaii’s Popular Kalalau Trail Reopens After Norovirus Outbreak. The area's popular cave will stay closed, however, because fecal matter was found there as part of the testing and cleanup. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio.

Work on Coco Palms project could be halted by mortgage broker seeking ‘owed’ $1 million commission for securing funding. An upcoming court hearing about the ownership of a prime property on Kauaʻi could lead to another setback for the Utah-based developer who is building a controversial 350-unit hotel on the site that once housed the iconic Coco Palms Resort. Kauai Now.

Visitor arrivals and spending fall in August on Kauai. The Island of Kauai might not have seemed lighter in August, at least by a people count, but it was as the number of visitors and the money they spent dropped significantly in the second full month of summer. Garden Island.

University of Hawai‘i presidential finalists visit Kaua‘i as regents’ decision looms. The two finalists for the president of the University of Hawai‘i’s 10-campus system both visited Kauaʻi to introduce themselves and talk about their vision as part of a three-day state tour. Kauai Now.

Aging prisons and jails pose budget challenge, Maui debates pesticide use at county parks, Hawaii County mulls end to military exemption to nuclear ban, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Tough Choices On Hawaii’s Prisons And Jails Lie Ahead, Official Says. Corrections officials need millions of dollars to maintain aging prisons and jails but say the real solution is to build new jails. That would be even more expensive. Civil Beat.

State Fire Council considers expediting fire marshal hiring process. The State Fire Council is composed of all the county fire chiefs and state fire service representatives. The group says it has finalized the job description for the new position, which was approved by Gov. Josh Green in July. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hand delivered letter urges Gov. Green to fill key position on state's Water Board. Students of Ke Kula Kaiapuni 'o Kekaulike—a Hawaiian immersion school on Maui— on Monday, with the help of members of non-profit organization Earth Justice Hawaii, a letter urging the governor to make a selection from a list of candidates was hand delivered. KITV4.

Suspected Trump gunman pleads not guilty. Ryan Routh, the Oahu man charged with attempting to assassinate Donald Trump after allegedly positioning himself with a rifle outside one of the former president’s Florida golf courses on Sept. 15 pleaded not guilty Mon day to five federal charges. Reuters. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiʻi Tourism Conference kicks off as Hilton strike continues in Waikīkī . State tourism officials are gathering at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center this week for the Hawaiʻi Tourism Conference. Striking Hilton Hawaiian Village hotel workers plan to pass out leaflets to draw attention to their labor dispute now moving into its second week. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii’s visitor industry is faced with soft data. Visitor expenditures and arrivals increased in August, but the year-over-year gain was due to the comparison with August 2023, when the devastating Maui wildfires took tourism to new lows. Star-Advertiser.

Shipyard starts building first of 3 new Matson ships. Construction has begun on the first of three new ships for Hawaii-based ocean cargo transportation firm Matson Inc. Star-Advertiser.

Territorial Savings board says no to revised acquisition offer. For the second time in two weeks, board directors of Territorial Bancorp Inc. have rejected a bid by a group of investors to buy the company and reaffirmed their endorsement of an offer from a California-based bank. Star-Advertiser.

UH study finds high prevalence of swine brucellosis in feral pigs. An estimated 60,000 feral pigs currently run loose throughout the state. A new study finds that many carry a nasty disease called swine brucellosis. It can jump over to livestock and humans, and there are several cases in Hawaiʻi each year. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Should Honolulu’s Emergency Management Chief Need Minimum Qualifications? A charter amendment proposal would include a requirement for at least five years of experience in emergency management or public health. Civil Beat.

900-unit affordable complex proposed for Kapolei.  It includes units for extremely low-income households — those earning 30% of area median income, or $41,750 annually for a four- person family — up to 140% AMI, or $168,150 a year for a family of four, according to state data. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii man pleads guilty to violating Atomic Energy Act. On Jan. 9, 2019, after Mark Kazee’s employer’s contract with a Kapolei oil refinery expired, Kazee’s unlicensed company entered into a contract to do “testing and examination services” for the refinery. The equipment Kazee’s company was using “contained Iridium-192 and depleted uranium radioactive source material,” according to U.S. Attorney Clare E. Connors. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

State plans eradication of coqui frog infestation near Kuliʻouʻou trail summit. The Department of Land and Natural Resources said the infestation is in a remote location with steep slopes inaccessible by foot, so crews plan to use drones to apply a non-toxic citric food additive mixed with water. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

A new bill on the Hawaiʻi County Council agenda could end the military exemption to the Big Island’s “Nuclear-Free Law”.  Bill 206 will be heard by the County Council’s Policy Committee on Health, Safety, and Well-being in Hilo on Tuesday at 3 p.m. Big Island Video News.

Hawai‘i County Council to discuss release of additional funds to start rehab of Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant. Hawai‘i County is requesting that the County Council release $116 million in additional funds to enable work to begin on a federally mandated project at the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant. Big Island Now.

State considers extending temporary fishing ban on pākuʻikuʻi, Achilles Tang. A temporary ban on fishing for pāku‘iku‘i off West Hawaiʻi Island is scheduled to end in mid-December, although the state is suggesting an extension to December 2026. Hawaii Public Radio.

Proposal calls for a ‘county radio plan’. State and county agencies and local amateur radio operators should work together to develop an islandwide communication plan to respond to emergencies in case of blackouts, according to a Hawaii County Council proposal. Tribune-Herald.

Hilo fire station still slated for improvements. Work to improve the 91-year-old Central Fire Station building on the corner of Kinoole and Ponahawai Streets in Hilo should begin soon, according to Hawaii Fire Department Chief Kazuo Todd. Tribune-Herald.

Former Youth Challenge staffer sentenced to 10 years for sex assault. A 44-year-old Keaau man was sentenced last week by Hilo Circuit Judge Henry Nakamoto to 10 years in prison for sexually assaulting a then-minor girl six years ago on the campus of the Hawaii Youth Challenge Academy in Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui County Debates A Return To Using Pesticides At Parks, Golf Course. Bill 131, which was heard by the council’s Agriculture, Diversification, Environment and Public Transportation Committee last week, specifically exempts county agricultural parks, county parks with grass playing fields and the Waiehu Municipal Golf Course from the ban on use of the chemicals. Civil Beat.

State project to improve Hāna bridges gets finding of no significant environmental impact. A $40 million project to improve the safety and public use of a half-dozen Hāna Highway bridges while retaining their historic character has received a finding of no significant environmental impact, according to the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation. Maui Now.

Civil Beat Survey: Maui Residents Say County Response To Lahaina Fire Falls Short. About two-thirds of Maui County residents responding to a Civil Beat survey say Mayor Richard Bissen and the County Council have not done a good job helping the island recover from the deadly Lahaina wildfire a year ago. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Kauai Police Commission votes to discipline Chief for losing his gun. On March 4, records reveal Chief Todd Raybuck left his loaded Glock wedged between the wall and a handicap assist bar inside a KPD bathroom stall. An officer later found it and turned it into evidence. Hawaii News Now.

Kauaʻi County Council candidates to speak at two public forums this week. Local community organizations on Kauaʻi are hosting two public forums this week to give residents an opportunity to hear from the candidates running for County Council before the General Election on Nov. 5. Kauai Now.

Kalalau Trail to fully reopen today after norovirus outbreak. State park officials had temporarily closed the trail and campsite at Napali Coast State Wilderness Park on Sept. 4 upon the advice of the Hawaii Department of Health.  Star-Advertiser. Kauai Now.

A group effort to remove abandoned vehicles in Anahola. About 120 students from Waimea High School, Kanuikapono Public Charter School, Kapaa High School and Kauai High School, as well as the Kauai Fire Department (KFD), and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL), were all in attendance for the heavy machinery field trip. Garden Island.

Erosion risks increase on Oahu's famed North Shore, Navy plans to double bombing of bird sanctuary island, ICE detention worries Lahaina immigrants, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

State, city officials warning Sunset Beach residents of increasing erosion risks. State and city officials are warning homeowners and community members of increasing risks along a stretch of Sunset Beach where erosion caused part of a house to collapse last week. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Navy Plans To Double Bombing Of This Tiny Hawaiian Island. U.S. Navy plans bombing exercises at state bird sanctuary amid community backlash. Ka'ula is vital to maintain military readiness for the Pacific, the Navy says. But its plan to boost training there alarms the community, environmentalists. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

Saving corals requires cutting carbon emissions, University of Hawai‘i study finds. Hawai‘i researchers have discovered that eight of the most common species of coral around the islands can adapt to ocean warming and acidification, but only if efforts to cut carbon emissions are made. Big Island Now.

A tribute to longtime Maui resident Kris Kristofferson. One of the greatest songwriters of the 20th century, Kristofferson often donated his time for worthy causes, particularly in his hometown of Hana. He died at his Maui home on Saturday at age 88. Maui News. Reuters.

Oahu

Voters To Decide Pay Raises For The Honolulu City Council. Honolulu voters will get a say on how City Council members’ salaries are determined, a response to widespread criticism over the 64% raises given to them last year by the city salary commission. Civil Beat.

Election will decide whether Kailua turning left or right.  Voters in Kailua and a portion of Kaneohe will pick someone new to represent them in the state House of Representatives on Nov. 5, choosing between a Democrat and a Republican who disagree whether Kailua has become more progressive or more conservative after decades of reelecting moderate Republican Rep. Cynthia Thielen. Star-Advertiser.

Age, philosophy divide rivals for Kaneohe-to-Mokuleia seat. Republican state Sen. Brenton Awa, 38, faces his first reelection contest on Nov. 5 against a fellow Native Hawaiian who’s a generation older, 65-year-old Democrat Ben Shafer, to represent a vast and diverse district that runs from the northern end of Kaneohe, up the Windward side and across the North Shore to Mokuleia. Star-Advertiser.

Locked out Kapiolani nurses to keep benefits; contract talks to resume Monday.  The hospital’s administration said that it would continue medical, dental and vision benefits after Monday after the union agreed to continue using a federal mediators for negotiations and not to disrupt access to the hospital. Hawaii News Now.

Waikiki center closer to redevelopment. The Hawaii Housing Finance Development Corp. is entering into a memorandum of agreement with the Waikiki Community Center that clears the way for redevelopment of the existing center and remaining property, which could include a 135- to 200-unit affordable housing tower. Star-Advertiser.

Waipahu park reopens after nearly $4.2 million in renovations. After about 21 months of renovations and nearly $4.2 million later, Waipahu’s Hans L’Orange Neighborhood Park has reopened to the public. KHON2.

Waiʻanae farm gets $100k grant to bolster workforce housing and retain employees. A $100,000 grant will help provide housing for farmers working in Waiʻanae for MAʻO Organic Farms. The grant is part of a Nareit initiative to support affordable housing projects provided by nonprofit organizations. Hawaii Public Radio.

State receives 6 bids to remove Falls of Clyde. The latest development could well signal an end to the long saga of the 145-year-old ship currently berthed at Pier 7, where it once served as a floating museum for the Hawaii Maritime Center. Star-Advertiser.

Ex-Army man faked marriage for ill-gotten benefits. An ex-Army soldier was sentenced to three months in federal prison Thursday and must pay $202,309 in restitution after conspiring with a woman to evade U.S. immigration laws, enter into a fake marriage and steal federal benefits. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Puna Traffic Alert: Changes To Highway 130 Contraflow Start Monday. The Hawaiʻi DOT says changes will include right turns only into and out of Kaloli Drive and a 0.3-mile extension in both directions. Big Island Video News.

3 Hawaiian monk seal pups admitted to marine mammal hospital in Kona. Three underweight Hawaiian monk seal pups observed in the Northern Hawaiian Islands were brought to the marine mammal center in Kona as researchers were concerned for their survival heading into winter. Big Island Now.

County receives large donation of animal control equipment. The Hawaii County Council approved a resolution earlier this month accepting a donation of equipment worth $144,595 for the county’s Animal Control and Protection Agency. Tribune-Herald.

More funding in the works to battle ROD.  Additional federal funding to combat Rapid ‘Ohi‘a Death has strong support in Congress after a bill by Hawaii lawmakers unanimously passed the House of Representatives this week. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

An ICE Detention In Lahaina Rocks The Immigrant Community. An undocumented immigrant was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement last week in Lahaina, sending fear through the community and raising concerns that undocumented people will stop asking for government assistance while they’re still trying to recover from last year’s wildfires.  Civil Beat.

Rebuild of homes destroyed in Kula fire runs into costly wastewater upgrades. Kula, as is the rest of the state, is running up against a law passed by the state Legislature in 2017 that mandates all cesspools be eliminated in Hawai’i by 2050. Maui Now.

Maui mayor voices need for county water distribution after wildfires. Maui water rights advocates are celebrating a move by Mayor Richard Bissen to take control over water distribution in his county. The mayor says the county can do more to restore natural streams while still providing water for housing and agriculture. Hawaii News Now.

Maui lawmaker says millions of gallons of recycled waste water are going unused daily. A Maui Lawmaker says a water shortage is delaying the construction of hundreds of needed residential units in West and South Maui. Hawaii News Now.

Officials sort priorities to devise Lahaina recovery plan. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and its federal, state and local partners have cleared only 64% of commercial lots, with completion not expected until early 2025. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii DOE Continues Its Search For An Elementary School Campus In Lahaina. School leaders said it's not possible to return the school to its original location in Lahaina town because of limited space. Civil Beat. Maui News.

Baldwin Beach Park reopens after pavilion is removed. Baldwin Beach Park was reopened on Friday, after work to remove the park pavilion was completed, according to a Friday announcement by the County of Maui Department of Parks and Recreation.  Maui News.

Kauai

County asks East Kauaʻi residents to attend upcoming ‘community design workshops’. The Planning Department of the County of Kauaʻi will hold several workshops in Kapaʻa and surrounding areas from Oct. 1-3 as part of its East Kaua‘i Community and Circulation Plan. Kauai Now.

DHHL shifts strategy to acquire Kauai rental complex. Courtyards at Waipouli, the 82-unit complex that DHHL wants to buy despite pushback from existing tenants and some agency beneficiaries, would no longer be reserved for beneficiaries with low and very low incomes as previously planned. Star-Advertiser.

Blessing held for Lima Ola housing project. A small group of dignitaries participated in the blessing of the Lima Ola Supportive Housing Project in Eleele on Friday. Garden Island. Kauai Now.

HECO to compensate battery storage customers after partner withdraws, Maui abandons rent stabilization plan, Aloha Stadium set to open for 2028 football season, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiian Electric to compensate customers after Swell Energy closure. Hawaiian Electric is stepping in to pay upfront incentives owed to customers with battery storage systems following the closure of Swell Energy Inc., the third-party provider that managed the Home Rewards Battery Program on Oahu, Maui and Hawaii Island. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Bank Proxy War Heats Up. The former chairman and chief executive of Bank of Hawaii is stepping up a bid for Honolulu’s Territorial Savings Bank, seeking to upend a pending merger with Los Angeles-based Hope Bancorp Inc. by convincing shareholders to vote against the deal next month. Civil Beat.

State encourages people to help protect young seabirds as they embark on first flight. Seabird fallout season happens every year from roughly Sept. 15 to Dec. 15. Kauai Now.

Oahu

Board anticipates stadium’s completion for 2028 season. The state will likely miss a self-imposed deadline Monday, but Stadium Authority board members said at Thursday’s monthly meeting they don’t see it affecting the overall timeline that still has a new Aloha Stadium in Halawa built in time for the 2028 football season. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Honolulu Council seeks more public input on city’s next landfill.  Honolulu City Council resolution seeks both transparency and assurance over how the city’s site selection process to find the next municipal solid waste landfill on Oahu will affect the public. Star-Advertiser.

Federal mediator joins talks between Kapi‘olani and nurses. The nurses union and Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women &Children began working with a federal mediator Thursday morning to help resolve their dispute in reaching a new three-year contract. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

In act of solidarity, Waikiki hotel workers march alongside striking Hilton employees. A show of support on Thursday for nearly 2,000 striking hotel workers from the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Workers from other Waikiki hotels, including the Royal Hawaiian and Sheraton, walked in solidarity with the hotel workers on the picket Hawaii News Now.

Officials try to ease concerns over ‘kauhale’ homeless village in Iwilei. Residents in a neighborhood that has had persistent homelessness have been raising concerns about a new kauhale, or tiny village for the homeless. The kauhale in Iwilei will be the state’s 17th. The 58 units will be operated by the Institute for Human Services. Hawaii News Now.

Crew demolishing partially collapsed North Shore home. Demolition began Thursday afternoon on the property at 59-147 Ke Nui Road by Sunset Beach that had started to erode into the ocean. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Volunteers To Help People Clear Up Minor Legal Woes ‘Without Fear Of Arrest’. A free legal clinic in Waianae offers participants a chance to resolve outstanding warrants and clear arrest records without being detained or posting bail. Civil Beat.

Pickleballers to petition to fix lights at Ke’ehi Lagoon courts. When new pickleball courts at Ke’ehi Lagoon Beach Park were announced back in March 2023, players were hoping to enjoy the game all day and into the night, but many players said they’ve been left disappointed for over a year. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

UH-Hilo to get $21M to spruce up facilities. Gov. Josh Green has released $21 million in capital improvement project funds to cover four construction and rehabilitation projects at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

County receives large donation of animal control equipment.  The Hawaii County Council approved a resolution earlier this month accepting a donation of equipment worth $144,595 for the county’s Animal Control and Protection Agency. Tribune-Herald.

More funding in the works to battle ROD. Additional federal funding to combat Rapid ‘Ohi‘a Death has strong support in Congress after a bill by Hawaii lawmakers unanimously passed the House of Representatives this week. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Pushback: Maui rent stabilization stopped before it’s started. Even before a bill’s drafted to rein in Maui’s runaway long-term rental increases, the chair of the Maui County Council’s Housing and Land Use Committee said she’s not considering any legislation that regulates rent. Maui Now.

Maui Mayor Convinces State To Back Off Long-Term Water Plan. State officials have agreed to hold off on considering a long-term license for millions of gallons of Maui water after Maui Mayor Richard Bissen stepped in and asked the state to work with the county on how water should be distributed. Civil Beat.

Property Theft Concerns Rise As Lahaina Neighborhoods Reopen. Police offer to help residents set up a neighborhood watch program, but they haven't rebuilt yet. Civil Beat.

Maui United Way dedicates additional $1M to address food insecurity through new Mā’ona Food Security Grant. Maui United Way announced the launch of its Mā’ona Food Security Grant, a new initiative aimed at addressing the growing food insecurity challenges faced by residents of Maui County.  Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauaʻi homeowners can apply for up to $20K to convert cesspools. The deadline for Kauaʻi residents to apply for up to $20,000 for a cesspool grant is this Friday. It's federal money from the infrastructure bill to help homeowners comply with laws to mandate conversion.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Anahola nonprofit leads fire mitigation efforts on Hawaiian Homelands. Dozens of high school students and volunteers removed over 30 abandoned cars from a parcel of Hawaiian homelands in Anahola Thursday as part of a community effort to reduce the risk of wildfires in the area. Kauai Now.