Legislature advances sports betting bill, 131 Maui fire survivors laid off in federal funding cuts, trial set for attorneys in $11M affordable housing credits scam, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Sports betting is back in the ring at the Hawaiʻi Legislature. House lawmakers advanced a measure that would legalize the industry. House Bill 1308 would allow four different sports betting companies to be licensed to operate in the state. Hawaii Public Radio.

Housing, clean energy bills pass key committee. The critical state Senate Ways and Means Committee has moved out four bills on the eve of next week’s deadline to keep bills alive, including one that would provide more state funding to improve and upgrade low-income housing projects. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi is considering how to rein in the use of heavy pesticides. State lawmakers are considering how to rein in the use of heavy pesticides in Hawaiʻi following concerns about their impacts on people and non-target species. Hawaii Public Radio.

Bill ending religious exemptions to school vaccines makes headway. House Bill 1118, which is part of the governor’s package, passed its third reading in the House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs on Friday, and is poised to cross over to the Senate in March. Star-Advertiser.

Millions on the line as groups battle childhood homelessness in Hawaii. Hawaii's first-ever Childhood Homelessness Symposium brought together local leaders and advocates Tuesday to address a growing crisis, children experiencing homelessness at an alarming rate. KITV4.

Failure to launch: A critical program to help kupuna still hasn’t started. Seven months after the Silver Alert was signed into law, the program still hasn’t launched. Meanwhile, at-risk kupuna, who suffer from dementia and other disabilities, continue to disappear. KHON2.

Hawaiʻi Cost Of Living Is Creating A Mental Health Crisis For Workers. Residents experiencing food insecurity are more likely to experience depression and have suicidal thoughts, according to new research. Civil Beat.

$275,000 For Heart Attack Caused By False Missile Alert. A lawsuit over the 2018 mistaken emergency alert has finally been settled. Civil Beat.

This Plant Can Power Grids, Planes, Poultry And Cattle. Hawaiʻi Isn’t Sold. Business coalition asks for state tax credits to launch eco-friendly aviation fuel refining, but time is running out. The Hawaiʻi Renewable Fuels Coalition sees the camelina plant, a brassica and close relative of canola, as a multi-win crop. Civil Beat.

Decline of student newspapers at public high schools impacts local journalism. Hawai‘i’s high school newspapers are dwindling. A Hawaiʻi Public Radio survey of 44 public high schools found that fewer than half still have a student newspaper journalism program.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Major Fireworks Seizure At Honolulu Port Points To Federal Failure. An Oʻahu fireworks company got a federal license to import tons of fireworks even though it didn’t have a state license to possess them once they got here. Civil Beat.

Honolulu mayor seeks public feedback at town hall meetings across Oahu. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi will hold a series of town hall meetings across Oahu to get input on community issues and concerns. Blangiardi, as well as directors and deputy directors from more than 25 city departments, will attend all meetings. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu City Council considers sponsorships for public facilities. A Honolulu City Council measure to allow private sponsorship of city parks and other public facilities to garner more revenues for the city is scheduled for further review today. Star-Advertiser.

State to host job fair aimed at departing federal workers. The hiring event is being hosted by the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations in downtown Honolulu for attendees to explore available jobs and interview for positions at DLIR and other state agencies. Star-Advertiser.

‘Lots of red flags’: Drug rehab recruiters from California fuel concerns over ‘body brokers’ in Hawaii. Hawaii health providers and state officials are warning the community that so-called “body brokers” may be targeting homeless drug addicts. The alarm about possible “body brokers” was raised Friday night after two women showed up at Kauhale Health homeless treatment and housing facility on N. King Street, passing out business cards and an offer that seemed too good to be true. Hawaii News Now.

HDOT issues call to action as Oahu traffic fatalities rise. So far in 2025, Oahu has seen 11 traffic fatalities compared to five at the same time last year, according to the Honolulu Police Department. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Trial set in housing credits scam. A federal trial has been scheduled for two Hilo attorneys accused of receiving Hawaii County affordable housing credits and land conveyances worth at least $10.98 million, with no intention of developing affordable housing. Tribune-Herald.

Kilauea Eruption Resumes: Episode 11 Lava Fountains Reach 600 Feet High. Scientists also noted a glow from the September 2023 vents on the east side of Halemaʻumaʻu on Tuesday night. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. KHON2.  KITV4.

Traffic Advisory Issued For Maunakea Summit, Increased Congestion At Sunset. Officials warn visitors that traffic on the Maunakea Access Road and the summit area has been significantly heavier than usual during sunset hours, particularly on weekends and holidays.  Big Island Video News.

Police to hold public meeting on temporary morgue. The Hawaii Police Department invites the public to attend a community meeting to discuss a temporary morgue facility in Hilo from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, March 3, at the Aupuni Center Conference Room, 101 Pauahi Street in Hilo. West Hawaii Today. Big Island Video News.

High surf complicates business for this Kona-based tour company. Manu Powers, who runs Sea Quest Hawaii with her husband, says unusual surf activity and problems fnding qualified workers pose challenges for for their boat and snorkel tour company based in Kona. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui

131 Maui fire survivors laid off after federal funding cut. A total of 131 Maui residents displaced by the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires and working on recovery efforts were laid off Monday after the Trump administration cut federal funding for their positions. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now.

County wants to buy land to improve emergency evacuation routes in Lahaina. Maui County is moving quickly to buy a half-acre site in Lahaina that it hopes to use as part of a larger effort to revamp emergency evacuation routes, which proved deadly inadequate in 2023 when dozens of residents were trapped while trying to flee the fast-moving wildfire. Maui Now.

Community meeting on Imi Kala Street Extension proposal to be held March 5 in Wailuku. The County of Maui Department of Public Works (DPW) is holding a community meeting Wednesday, March 5, 2025, from 5 to 7 p.m. in Wailuku to discuss the proposed Imi Kala Street Extension project that would provide another connection between Waiehu and Wailuku. Maui Now.

Multi-agency, full-scale CST training exercise slated this Thursday morning in Kīhei. The 93rd Civil Support Team (CST) full-scale training at Bayer Facility, 2111 Piʻilani Highway, will involve critical collaborations among MEMA, Maui Fire Department, Maui Police Department, Emergency Medical Services and the Hawaiʻi National Guard’s 93rd Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Response Team. Maui Now.

Kauai

Input needed for Kauaʻi’s long-range transportation plan. Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation is updating the Regional Long-Range Land Transportation Plan for Kauaʻi after more than 10 years of changes in population, development and travel needs.  Kauai Now.

County looks to ‘grow our own’.  A group of 40 10th-grade students toured the County of Kauai facilities as a field trip to acquaint students with the variety of jobs and career opportunities available there. Garden Island.

House advances ban on non-medical vaccine exemptions, ICE admits error in detaining Oahu farmer, Maui Council mulls plan to let homeless sleep in cars, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Testifiers sound off on Hawaiʻi measure to ban non-medical vaccine exemptions in schools. The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs narrowly voted in favor of House Bill 1118 on Friday. The 5-3 vote included two votes with reservations, but it’s now set up to cross over to the Senate. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiʻi could create a loan program for condo building repairs. Over 30,000 units in the state are having issues with commercial lenders because they are unable to have full insurance coverage on their buildings. Hawaii Public Radio.

Proposed tax on foreign ships could increase costs in Hawaii. As many Hawaii businesses are already weighing the potential impacts tariffs proposed by Trump could have on them, some are now bracing for even more potential economic consequences if foreign ships visiting the islands have to pay extra for pulling into our harbors — potentially passing those costs on to the consumer, or prompting the ships to avoid Hawaii altogether. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii to launch digitized Agriculture Declaration Form. The initiative, authorized under Act 196 during the previous legislative session, is a step toward modernizing the state’s biosecurity efforts by improving form completion rates and enhancing protections against invasive species. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Big Island Video News. Hawaii News Now.  KITV4.

Oahu

ICE ‘deeply regrets’ error after Hawaii farmer detained, letter says. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement admits it made a mistake after detaining a Laie farmer who faces deportation. Hanjun Shen, 60, who’s from China and owns JM Farm in Laie, Hawaii, was detained by ICE last month and is currently being held in the Federal Detention Center in Honolulu. Hawaii News Now.

Head of Homeland Security Investigations in Honolulu retired ahead of immigration policy shift.  John Tobon, 51, was an assistant director, in charge of Homeland Security Investigations’ Honolulu office until he retired on Jan. 31. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu seeks new exec for troubled Liquor Commission. The Honolulu Liquor Commission is looking to hire a new senior-level executive after it announced a key employee plans to leave the troubled agency after nearly 25 years on the job. Star-Advertiser.

UH researchers conduct dye tracer study at Red Hill. Researchers from the University of Hawaii at Manoa are conducting a dye tracer study to gain insight into the groundwater flow near Red Hill. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Five staff members at Hakalau Forest Refuge on Big Island fired by Trump Administration. Five staff members at the Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge were among the more than 400 employees with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service who were fired earlier this month as part of the drastic downsizing of the federal government by the Trump Administration. Big Island Now.

Proposals Wanted For Kukuiola Emergency Shelter In Kona. The County of Hawaiʻi has issued a Request for Proposals to developers for the construction of the first phase of the Kukuiola Emergency Shelter and Assessment Center. Big Island Video News.

Plans to revitalize prime real estate on Big Island moving forward. Another derelict building on Banyan Drive in Hilo shuts down for good. This as lawmakers move one step closer to creating a master plan to revitalize the surrounding area.The old country club on Hilo’s Banyan Drive is officially closed. KHON2.

University of Hawaiʻi team discovers ancient Hawaiian calendar system at a Hawaiʻi Island heiau. New research has uncovered evidence that an ancient Hawaiian heiau (place of worship, shrine) served as a sophisticated seasonal calendar, demonstrating the advanced scientific knowledge of Native Hawaiian culture.  Big Island Now.

Maui

Council panel to receive update on pilot project for overnight sleeping in cars. The Maui County Council’s Water Authority, Social Services and Parks Committee will receive an update Tuesday morning on the status of a Maui County pilot project to allow people to sleep in their cars in county-owned public parking lots. Maui Now.

Maui leaders, nonprofits push for better medical care for homeless. Homeless advocates say a recent death near Maui Memorial Medical Center raises major concerns about what is being done to help homeless who are on the verge of dying. Hawaii News Now.

Federal funding cuts affect Lahaina fire survivors working at the Maui Humane Society. On Friday, according to MHS, notification arrived by email that funding for the three from the National Dislocated Workers Grant program would be cut, effective immediately. The society had less than 24 hours’ notice. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio.

Few Property Sales, High Prices in Lahaina As Victims Try To Recoup Losses. Sales have increased in recent months, but real estate agents say sellers of burned-down homes have no other choice. Civil Beat.

Kauai

U.S. Department of Agriculture Safety inspector charged in child pornography case. A 39-year-old consumer safety inspector for the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Kauai faces federal charges after he allegedly groomed two minor boys in Fargo, N.D., and Philadelphia into making child pornography. Star-Advertiser.

Legislature questions HECO plan to collect extra $1B from customers, Sunshine bills teetering, state population increases, rail tax extension in trouble, DNA frees Maui man after 30 years, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Lawmakers Question HECO Plan To Collect $1 Billion From Customers. Hawaiian Electric Co.’s biggest request to lawmakers this session was a $1 billion fund to cover future wildfire liability, paid for by a small fee on its customers. The utility was looking to shore up its battered credit rating, but instead, it has found a political headache. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi toys with repealing tax credits for solar, wind, renewable fuel. House Bill 1369 was heard by the House Finance Committee on Wednesday and proposed repealing credits for solar, wind, and renewable fuel. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii population increases in new estimate. Census estimates suggest that Hawaii’s population edged up 0.3%, or by 4,759 people, in 2024 and bumped up the total population count to 1,446,146 from 1,441,387 in 2023. Carl Bonham, director of the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization, said at a briefing on the local economy made to the state House Finance Committee in January that he was somewhat skeptical about the Census Bureau methodology for estimating immigration in Hawaii, which represents one part of population change. Star-Advertiser.

Dead Or Alive? With A Week To Go, Some Sunshine Bills Are Teetering. By the end of this week bills need to have passed out of all the committees to which they’d been assigned, including the money committees, or they are dead for the year. In January, lawmakers introduced about 3,100 bills. As of Friday, 780 remained on the House’s list and 835 in the Senate. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers could make it easier for foreign doctors to practice in Hawaiʻi . In an attempt to address the state’s medical staffing shortages, lawmakers are considering a measure that would allow graduates from certain foreign medical schools to seek licensure in Hawaiʻi. Hawaii Public Radio.

A bill introduced in the state House of Representatives that would require nurse staffing standards for Hawaii hospitals statewide has been shelved, but debate is expected to continue. Star-Advertiser.

Sports betting bills still alive. At least two bills that would legalize some form of sports wagering in Hawaii remain alive this legislative session. House Bill 1308 and Senate Bill 1569 are companion measures, although both have been amended in committee hearings. Tribune-Herald.

Half Of Hawaiʻi Inmates Leave Prison Without The IDs They Need To Start Over. More than seven years after Hawaiʻi passed a law meant to address the problem, the number of people leaving prison and jail without key documents has barely budged. Civil Beat.

Hawaii fireworks injuries have risen over past decade. The number of fireworks-­related injuries in Hawaii has steadily risen over the past decade and a half, reaching a 15-year high over the latest New Year’s holiday, according to updated statistics from the state Department of Health. Star-Advertiser.

Trump policies threaten University of Hawaii ethnic studies programs. President Donald Trump’s order banning diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility programs has University of Hawaii students and faculty worrying about the future of academic programs that focus on Hawaiian, Filipino, Korean and other ethnic cultures. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Threat Of Federal Budget Cuts May Sink Rail Tax Extension. The city rail authority is supporting a bill at the Legislature to extend the controversial Oʻahu excise tax surcharge for rail, but some board members worry the threat of federal budget cuts may cause the surcharge measure to die next week. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

Hawai‘i Convention Center seeking $55M to fast-track projects. If the $12 million expenditure ceiling request, along with HTA’s CIP request of $52 million, are appropriated, HTA anticipates spending more than $55.4 million on convention center repair and maintenance projects in fiscal year 2026 and more than $16.7 million in fiscal year 2027. Star-Advertiser.

Wahiawā Charter School Accepts Permanent Closure. The Hawaiʻi State Public Charter School Commission voted to close the school in January, and Kamalani Academy leaders will not challenge the decision. Civil Beat.

University of Hawaii Cancer Center and Queen’s to collaborate on oncology clinic. The University of Hawaii Cancer Center and The Queen’s Health Systems are teaming up to provide cutting-edge, comprehensive cancer care to residents under one roof. Star-Advertiser.

2 more arrests in New Year’s fireworks blast bring total to 12. The owners of the Aliamanu home at 4144 Keaka Drive, where a stockpile of illegal aerials accidentally detonated at a New Year’s party killing six people Opens in a new tab, were arrested today on suspicion of fireworks offenses. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Hawaii DOT apologies for ‘incorrect’ H-1 lane closures that snarled traffic on Saturday. A slow-moving mass of vehicles stretched from Aloha Stadium all the way back to Kapolei by 11 a.m. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Apparent settlement reached in Honokohau Harbor sewage lawsuit.  A letter to U.S. District Chief Magistrate Judge Kenneth Mansfield from Elena Bryant, an Earthjustice attorney representing Hui Malama Honokohau, requested putting on hold “existing discovery and other deadlines while the parties finalize the settlement, including securing approval from the County Council.” Tribune-Herald.

Mayor kicks off first of 14 community meetings. Dozens of Big Island residents met with Mayor Kimo Alameda and other Hawaii County officials Wednesday at the first of 14 planned community meetings around the island. Tribune-Herald.

Housing center for youth opens in downtown Hilo. The Youth Outreach and Supportive Housing Center in Hilo will offer 22 units of housing for young people between the ages of 15 and 24, as well as a youth center to connect at-risk youth with access to essential services.  Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now.

Two hotels will be built at Waikoloa Plaza. The plaza fills out a portion of an estimated $700 million master-planned project that sits on 47 acres purchased by developer Meridian Pacific for $24 million in 2018. West Hawaii Today.

‘DOGE is a dictatorship’: Hundreds turn out in Puna to express their concerns about Trump administration, Musk. A crowd of perhaps 300 showed up Saturday at a town hall hosted by U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii) at the Pahoa High and Intermediate School cafeteria. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Hawaii man freed by DNA evidence after 30 years in prison visits mother’s grave and ponders ubiquitous cellphones. One of the first places Gordon Cordeiro visited when a judge ordered him released after spending 30 years in prison for a killing he always maintained he had nothing to do with was his mother’s Hawaii gravesite. Associated Press. Maui Now.

College no longer first option for Maui County public high school graduates. There is a developing trend among Maui County public high school graduates over the past five years — foregoing college for more immediate careers, or skipping college because they see tuition and other associated costs as prohibitive. Maui Now.

Restoring Lahaina power is critical to rebuilding.  A year and a half since the devastating Maui wildfires destroyed Lahaina town, Jeremy DelosReyes is still in a dark place. Star-Advertiser.

'I don't know how you guys expect us to pay rent': Lahaina family struggles with FEMA requirement. Lahaina resident Beatrice Hoopai narrowly escaped the 2023 wildfire with her family. Now, she’s fighting to keep a roof over their head. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hauling of modular homes to continue for wildfire survivors, Feb. 26-28. Motorists are advised of potential traffic delays as modular homes for wildfire survivors are transported from Kahului to the state’s Ka Laʻi Ola housing site in Lahaina. Maui Now.

Kauai

Program begins releasing mosquitoes on Kauai to protect endangered honeycreepers. Conservationists on Kauai have begun releasing hundreds of thousands of male mosquitoes incapable of reproducing in an effort to combat avian malaria, a disease threatening native honeycreepers with extinction. Star-Advertiser.

Public opposes state lawmaker pay hikes, Honolulu police union approves Covid hazard pay, Trump targets agency administering $1.6B for Maui recovery, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Proposed pay hikes for state leaders spark outrage. State legislators meet once a year for 60 business days from mid-January to late April or early May. Right now, each lawmaker makes $74,160 a year. The commission is proposing a 40% raise in 2027, the first year they are allowed an increase, to $103,824. Hawaii News Now.

Cochran absent from House Floor 80% so far this session; lawmaker cites ‘illness in the family’. Democratic West Maui Rep. Elle Cochran has the second-highest rate of full-day absences so far this year at 80%, second-only to Republican Rep. Gene Ward, who has been absent every day through the 20th day of this year’s lawmaking session. Maui Now.

Hawaiʻi homeowners could be paid to carve out workforce housing. The state Legislature is considering a new approach that would allow homeowners to sell a deed restriction on their property to a county, provided they only allow occupants who work at least 30 hours in that county.⁠ Hawaii Public Radio.

This program for homeless people to get back to the continent needs permanent funding. With funding set to run out at the end of 2026, Hawaiʻi lawmakers are considering a bill that would make the project permanent. House Bill 212 passed its first hurdle this session and is still advancing. Hawaii Public Radio.

The state subsidized preschool program is accepting applications. Families with 3- or 4-year-olds born between Aug. 1, 2020, and July 31, 2022, can apply. Families of eligible children will receive a subsidy linked to their needs and the type of preschool they choose. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii’s lax animal cruelty laws could be overhauled. The Hawaiian Humane Society said Hawaii has some of the weakest animal cruelty penalties in the nation, but a new proposal could change that. KHON2.

Oahu

DEA shifts focus of arrests to include immigration violations in Honolulu. The DEA’s Los Angeles field office, which includes Hawaii, has been collaborating with Homeland Security Investigations on raids in multiple states in search of people illegally in the country with past drug violations. Hawaii News Now.

Police union approves COVID hazard pay settlement. Members of the Honolulu police officers union overwhelmingly voted to accept a COVID-19 hazard pay settlement with the city worth more than $30 million with initial payouts of $20,000 or more by June 30. Star-Advertiser.

Owners of 3 shuttered businesses sue HART for more than $2 million. A new civil complaint alleges actions taken by the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation forced a trio of seafood- related businesses out of business in Chinatown. Star-Advertiser.

Could A Pre-Fab Factory Get More Native Hawaiians Into Homes? DHHL wants to transform an airport hanger into a manufacturing center to lower costs and address a waitlist so long that people have died waiting for homestead land. Civil Beat.

Naming rights plan for Blaisdell Center under Council review. A plan for the city-owned Neal S. Blaisdell Center to become a greater source of nontax-based revenue for the city and county is underway. Star-Advertiser.

‘Renovation Aloha’ Home Flippers Hit With Flurry Of Building Violations. Tristyn and Kamohai Kalama continue to renovate Oʻahu homes without proper permits even as their show seeks taxpayer subsidies.  Civil Beat.

A Rare Conviction For Selling Illegal Fireworks Ends With Supervised Release. A Kapolei man avoided jail time but was given a $5,000 fine on Wednesday for the distribution of illegal fireworks, representing a rare win in the state’s crackdown on unlicensed pyrotechnics. Civil Beat.

‘Top 5’ Ala Wai Pedestrian Bridge designs proposed. Potential designs for the city’s nearly $63.4 million Ala Wai Pedestrian Bridge project were posted to the city Department of Transportation Services’ website this week. Star-Advertiser. Spectrum News.

Hawaii Island

Public invited to complete HPD satisfaction survey. Hawaii Police Department Chief Benjamin Moszkowicz invites members of the public to take the department’s community satisfaction survey now through 4 p.m. on Feb. 28. Tribune-Herald.

Sen. Lorraine Inouye secures more state funding for Hilo airport improvements. On Wednesday, Inouye announced that Gov. Josh Green released $593,500 in funding to finance the replacement of cesspools with individual wastewater systems at the airport.  Big Island Now.

Maui

Trump Targets Federal Agency Managing $1.6B In Maui Recovery Funds. Maui County’s Office of Recovery said it had met with HUD officials Thursday to discuss the potential impact of staffing cuts. Civil Beat.

Gas grill explosion at a Kaanapali Beach condo leaves 7 people injured; preliminary investigation points to petroleum gas. The Maui Police Department responded to 2481 Kāʻanapali Parkway after Central Dispatch received multiple reports of an explosion at the location at approximately 6:15 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2. KITV4.

County of Maui to install security cameras in Lahaina fire zones amid rising thefts. Frustrated by ongoing thefts, residents and property owners have called for stronger protections.  Maui Now.

Kauai

VA representatives will aid Kauaʻi veterans in applying for expanded benefits next month. Veteran Affairs representatives will be hosting an enrollment event in Kauaʻi next month to help veterans suffering from toxic exposure-related conditions apply for the largest expansion of benefits in decades.  Kauai Now.

University of Hawaii removes 'diversity' term from programs, Legislature mulls park fees, rental regulation, surfing programs, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

University of Hawaii removes ‘diversity’ from key office in effort to safeguard federal funding. The Office of Student Equity, Excellence, and Diversity had a mission to “promote diversity in higher education.” Now it’s called the SEED office with a new mission statement: “cultivating the SEEDs of students success for a brighter future.” Hawaii News Now. Spectrum News.

Attorney General Anne E. Lopez at forefront of fight against Trump orders. Lopez acknowledged Trump’s pattern of ignoring the rule of law and his practice of flooding the public conversation around his administration with controversy and outlandish statements and actions. Trump’s reality television tactics will be countered through the courts, said Lopez. Star-Advertiser.

Nonresidents could pay more fees to visit state parks and trails. The state Senate is considering a bill that would have the Board of Land and Natural Resources adopt rules to impose more fees on nonresidents visiting state parks and trails. Hawaii Public Radio.

Multiple agencies back DLE director nominee Mike Lambert. Honolulu Police Major Mike Lambert faced senators in a confirmation hearing on Wednesday, Feb. 19 after being nominated by Governor Josh Green to succeed outgoing director Jordan Lowe. KHON2.

Proposed leadership, rule changes to Water Commission seek to curb political conflicts. Changes could be coming to the state Commission on Water Resource Management, including some meant to address political conflicts of interest in managing and protecting Hawaiʻi’s water. Hawaii Public Radio.

Bill to ban algorithmic price-setting in Hawaiʻi’s rental market moves ahead in Senate. A bill aimed at protecting Hawaiʻi renters from algorithmic price-setting has cleared the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee, which has recommended passage on second reading and referral to the Judiciary and Ways and Means committees. Big Island Now.

Swell legislation: Bills would provide funding for high school surf teams. House Bill 133 and its companion, Senate Bill 178, would provide as-yet unspecified funding to the state Department of Education to create high school surf teams and leagues across the islands. Star-Advertiser.

Educators, organizers push for free meals for all Hawai'i public school students. The push for free meals for all students at Hawai'i public schools will be the topic of conversation at a public meeting with teachers, advocates and education officials next month.  KITV4.

‘What’s more Hawaiian than poi?’: Bills aim to protect local fish, poi. Right now, poi sold in stores is all made in Hawaii and a bill wants to keep it that way, by requiring all things labeled “poi” to be made from taro grown locally. KHON2.

Oahu

These 5 Bridges Across The Ala Wai Got Top Public Votes. After combing through hundreds of scorecards from two public input sessions, the results are in: Honolulu residents remain divided over the best design for a pedestrian bridge spanning the Ala Wai Canal but care deeply about the aesthetics of their city. Civil Beat.

To Rescue The Cliffs Below Diamond Head, This Group Went Rogue. The Honolulu community group says it’s providing a critical public service neglected by the city, but Kuilei Cliffs also brushes off city instructions that it says are unreasonable. Civil Beat.

A Rare Conviction For Selling Illegal Fireworks Ends With Supervised Release. The case is one of only two felony convictions as a result of the Department of Law Enforcement’s Illegal Fireworks Task Force. Civil Beat.

Latest phase of Kailua roundabout project frustrating park users. A project aimed at easing traffic has been causing gridlock in Kailua. And efforts to reduce the construction gridlock has led to another set of frustrations, this time for users of Kailua Beach Park. Hawaii News Now.

4-year-old state hospital building rife with defects. Hawaii taxpayers may be coughing up $35 million or more to fix a state hospital building that a private contractor designed and built for $160 million four years ago. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Hawaii News Now.

HFD battalion chief accused of sex assault. A 25-year veteran of the Honolulu Fire Department was arrested Tuesday afternoon in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a 33-year-old woman at the department’s main station on Valentine’s Day. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

Hawaii Island

Trump order halts wildfire prevention work around Waikōloa's high-risk power lines. Hawaiian Electric's Wildfire Safety Strategy, submitted to the Public Utilities Commission in January, identified the power circuit above Waikōloa as having the highest wildfire risk on Big Island, and the fourth highest risk in the state overall. Hawaii Public Radio.

Bill eyeing geothermal on Hawaiian home lands draws opposition. A state proposal to locate possible geothermal well sites on Hawaiian home lands has Big Island residents pushing back. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

New species of bee discovered on Molokaʻi. The newly identified bee species, named Hylaeus paumako — paumākō meaning “mourning” or “grief” in Hawaiian — was distinguished by its all-black face, a unique characteristic not seen in any other known male bee species on Moloka‘i. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now.

Local Food Coalition backs bills to boost Hawai‘i farm grants, infrastructure. The announcement comes in anticipation of the Hawai‘i Farm Bureau’s annual “Ag Day at the Capitol” on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the fourth floor of the Hawai‘i State Capitol. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kaua’i County Council Chair: ‘We’re in crisis mode’ with lone landfill approaching capacity. About 90,000 tons of waste enter the Kekaha Landfill on the West Side of Kaua‘i each year. But current permits do not allow the landfill to operate beyond November 2027.  Kauai Now.

Life-saving efforts honored. A fast-acting samaritan along with several first responders were honored for their collaborative life-saving efforts that saved a woman’s life last December. Garden Island.

Legislature mulls doubling HI-5 deposit fee, helping condo owners pay insurance, Green orders expedited hiring of displaced federal workers, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Bottle bill would boost deposits for beverage container recycling. State lawmakers are considering a bill that proposes doubling the deposit fee on beverage containers to 10 cents from 5 cents under a 20-year-old program that has accrued a record $67 million special-fund balance. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii governor orders expedited hiring for displaced federal workers. Gov. Josh Green on Tuesday signed an executive order intended to place qualified applicants discharged from federal employment into state jobs quickly. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Maui Now.

Green attending National Governors Association 2025 Winter Meeting in nation’s capital. Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green is in Washington this week for the National Governors Association 2025 Winter Meeting. Kauai Now.

Voter registration could move to an opt-out system when getting state licenses. People in the state could be automatically registered to vote when getting their driver's license or identification card. Lawmakers are considering a measure to instead have people opt out of being registered to vote versus having to opt in. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawai‘i Condo Owners Could Benefit From State Plan To Prop Up Insurance Market. Lawmakers are moving forward with bills that would rescue owners facing rising rates. Civil Beat.

Consumers Sacrifice To Pay Hawaiʻi’s Record Electric Bills. Between August 2023 and August 2024, 33% of state residents cut back on basic necessities so they could pay their electricity bill, according to a Lending Tree report. That put Hawaiʻi at 29 out of the 50 states.  Civil Beat.

UH students are on hook for COVID pay to employees. A specific group of UH employees would receive a one-time collective payment of $42.5 million coming out of a special fund that UH students pay into as part of their tuition. Star-Advertiser.

Measures seek to bolster farmers and boost penalties for agricultural crimes. Among a plethora of agriculture-related bills introduced this legislative session, two moving forward include one that would increase penalties for agricultural theft and another which would allow farmers and ranchers to use deadly force against intruders under certain circumstances. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu

Helmets for teens, other rules now law after mayor signs e-bike safety bill.  bill aimed at making roads safer for e-bike riders was signed into law on Tuesday. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Oahu grand jury indicts CEO for campaign contributions. Court documents allege Timothy Lee, the CEO of JL Capital, used the names of his employees to give $13,000 to the 2020 mayoral campaigns of Keith Amemiya and Kymberly Pine. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

HFD battalion chief arrested on suspicion of sexual assault. A Honolulu Fire Department battalion chief was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault. The 49-year-old was arrested Tuesday afternoon for an incident that police said occurred on Feb. 14. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Environmental activist allegedly stole more than $81K from nonprofit. From Feb. 3, 2021, through Feb. 16, 2022, Moanaoio Bjur, a former member of the Hawaii Environmental Advisory Council, allegedly issued herself 24 payroll payments through QuickBooks and made three unauthorized withdrawals from a PayPal account totaling just north of $81,000. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.  KITV4.

Leaks And Mold At The 4-Year-Old State Hospital Will Cost Millions To Fix. State officials say it will take $8.16 million, including $2 million in legal costs, to repair water leaks and get rid of mold that employees say is a health hazard. Civil Beat. KHON2.

Amid workforce crisis, corrections department opts to leave some jail posts unmanned before approving overtime. In the midst of a chronic staffing crisis at Oahu’s largest jail, HNN Investigates has learned the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR) is opting to leave some posts unmanned before approving overtime to cover additional labor gaps. Hawaii News Now.

Lawsuit filed over 2020 COVID mask incident. An openly transgender person transitioning from female to male is suing the city and the Honolulu Police Department after he was allegedly assaulted by officers during a confrontation over COVID-19 restrictions in 2020. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Council members put the brakes on HPD resolution. Routine agreements between federal agencies and the Hawaii Police Department were postponed Tuesday over concerns about overreach in illegal immigration enforcement. Tribune-Herald.

Resilience Hub Network Expands Across Hawaiʻi Island. Vibrant Hawai‘i recently announced the addition of 20 new Resilience Hub partners from every district of Hawai‘i Island.  Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

Batch Of Mauna Loa Milk Chocolate Covered Macadamias Recalled. The Keaʻau-based Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Company LLC recently issued a voluntarily recall for a batch of its Mauna Loa Milk Chocolate Covered Macadamias snack (1oz) pouches, due to the presence of undeclared almonds which are an allergen.  Big Island Video News.

Maui

County Department of Housing to conduct Fair Market Rent Survey in Maui County. The purpose of the Fair Market Rent Survey, which started in January, is to collect accurate and up-to-date information about current rental housing costs across the County. Maui Now.

More than 1,000 acres of West Maui land returned to productive use by local ranch. Maui family-owned Ka Ike Ranch will operate over 1,000 acres of land in West Maui, in a long-term lease from Maui Land & Pineapple Company.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

‘This is what makes Kaua‘i so special’: Good Samaritan, first responders honored for lifesaving efforts. Megan Gayagas, Ashley Rapozo, members of the Līhu‘e Fire Station and several personnel from American Medical Response saved the life of Melissa Gregory on Dec. 20, 2024, after she collapsed in the checkout line at Longs Drugs in Līhu‘e. Kauai Now.

State Capitol may be closed for $100M renovation, hundreds across the islands protest Trump' policies, Four Seasons Resort Hualalai named best hotel in the U.S., more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

The Hawaiʻi State Capitol Could Be Closed For Years To Fix Aging Systems. A major upgrade of the Hawaiʻi State Capitol to refurbish core functions of the historic structure could cost as much as $100 million and keep the building closed for a prolonged period of time. Civil Beat.

Hawaii hotels’ performance lost ground during 2024. Hawaii hotels statewide reported an occupancy of 73.3% in 2024, down 1.1 percentage points from 2023 and 7.5 percentage points from 2019, according to a Hawaii Hotel Performance Report released by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Star-Advertiser.

Being A Mom In Hawaiʻi Isn’t Easy. This Report Shows Why. Hawaiʻi has the highest child care costs in the nation. And in what could be viewed as a related problem, women in the Aloha State are the most sleep-deprived in the nation, according to an analysis by the United Health Foundation for its annual Health of Women and Children report. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Bodycam video in lawsuit shows alleged assault by police officers during pandemic. Dramatic police body camera video shows an alleged assault by Honolulu police officers during a confrontation over the mask mandate. The video is part of a lawsuit against the city over an incident that occurred outside 7-Eleven in Wahiawa in September 2020. Hawaii News Now.

Public advised to avoid part of Ala Wai Canal after sewage spill. The public is advised to stay out of the water from Waikiki-Kapahulu Public Library to Liliuokalani Avenue. Hawaii News Now.

Surfer breaks back bailing from wave on Oahu’s North Shore. Lucas Recovery is expected to take at least three months but surgery may be necessary and spinal stability will still be compromised. Hawaii News Now.

Ravenous Beetles Go Urban, Preying On Honolulu’s Iconic Coconut Palms. Urban Honolulu has been hit by tree-killing coconut rhinoceros beetles, renewing concerns about what would remain of the tropical cityscape if the ravenous pests chew their way through the coastline. Civil Beat.

Sea Anemones Invade Kāne‘ohe Bay, Likely From Home Aquariums. A new invasive species threatens Kāneʻohe Bay’s fragile coral ecosystem, sending state officials scrambling for a solution. Civil Beat.

Hawaii protesters rally against Trump, Musk on Presidents Day. Hundreds of protesters Monday lined South Beretania Street fronting the state Capitol as part of a nationwide Presidents Day effort to oppose the Trump administration’s policies in the first weeks since taking power. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

The Four Seasons Resort Hualalai recently took the No. 1 spot in the Best Hotels in the USA ranking for U.S. News &World Report’s 15th annual ranking of best hotels. Another Hawaii island hotel, the Kona Village, a Rosewood Resort, took third place in the Best Hotels in the USA category. Five more Hawaii hotels were ranked among the top 50 of the Best Hotels in the USA. Star-Advertiser.

Mauna Lani loan request OK’d. DHL Mahi Opco, LLC — owners of the Mauna Lani Resort — intends to take out a mortgage from Goldman Sachs for about 750 acres of land that includes both the resort property and 230 acres of state-leased land that contains the Puako petroglyph fields and is largely used as an archaeological park. Tribune-Herald.

Bids for Nānue Bridge rehabilitation project tens of millions higher than state’s revised cost estimate. The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation is reviewing three bids it received for a project to rehabilitate the more than 70-year-old Nānue Bridge outside of Hilo, and all are tens of millions more than the state’s latest revised cost estimate. Big Island Now.

Presidents Day protests draw anti-Trump crowds in Hilo. More than 100 people lined the mauka sidewalk on Hilo’s Kamehameha Avenue near the statue of King Kamehameha I. Another 50 or so voiced their displeasure with the administration of President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s newly created Department of Government Efficiency by waving signs on Kanoelehua Avenue near the Ross Dress for Less store. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Council’s $300,000 vacation rental phase-out study strays off course. A Maui County Council plan to contract its own study of the economic impacts of Mayor Richard Bissen’s proposed phase-out of Maui County vacation rentals has fallen to the wayside, and Council legislative analysts will conduct research in-house instead. Maui Now.

Maui County: Lahaina wildfire debris will begin being moved from Olowalu to Central Maui in June. After a slow start to create a permanent site for the 2023 Lahaina wildfire debris, Maui County said the process is now moving quickly with semi-trucks scheduled to begin in June to transport the approximately 400,000 tons of debris and ash from Olowalu to Central Maui. Maui Now.

South Maui to receive $3.2 million to help control deer. Gov. Josh Green has released $3.2 million in capital improvements to design and construct more fencing along the slopes of South Maui to control the overpopulation of axis deer. Maui News.

Presidents’ Day protests against Trump break out across Hawaii. Dozens along Wailuku's High Street protested President Donald Trump on Presidents' Day. KITV4.

Kauai

Sex Harassment Claim Against Judge Could Cost Taxpayers $90K. Leanne Rosa had worked for Kauaʻi Judge Randal Valenciano for about 18 years when, she says, he began conducting himself in a “sexually suggestive” way, subjecting her to “sexualized hugs” and “unwanted and unwelcome touching” in the courthouse. Civil Beat.

This Luxury Kauaʻi Hotel Is Housing Foreign Workers In Container Homes. The 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay also bought a multimillion-dollar home in a working class neighborhood to house upper management. Civil Beat.

‘UnPresidents Day’: expressing displeasure with Musk, Trump. A biologist, and two biotechs from the Wildlife Refuges were fired on Friday afternoon. The trio was among more than 400 people who held signs on Monday expressing their displeasure with President Trump’s recent executive orders and actions. Garden Island.

Jones Act bill reintroduced in Congress, state reels from federal workforce cuts, Honolulu council postpones emergency services director confirmation, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Bill To Reform Jones Act Reintroduced In Congress. U.S. Rep. Ed Case says the federal law drives up costs for imported goods to places like Hawaiʻi. Three legislative proposals introduced Friday in Congress seek to amend a century-old federal law that the introducers say “creates crippling monopolies on shipping lifelines” for remote jurisdictions such as Hawaiʻi and Alaska. Civil Beat.

Cuts to Hawaii’s federal workforce loom. Hawaii was home to about 35,500 federal civilian workers last year, according to the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Eugene Tian, DBEDT’s chief economist, said this group represents 5.6% of Hawaii’s workforce. Star-Advertiser.

Senate bill advances to strip county council approval of state-funded housing projects. A bill to exempt state-financed housing developments from county council approval has passed second reading on the Hawaiʻi Senate floor and advanced to the Ways and Means Committee. Maui Now.

Should Hawai‘i Families Be Allowed To Opt Out Of School Vaccines? Roughly 1 in 5 students in Hawaiʻi were missing required vaccines last year. Doctors say that’s a growing health threat, but efforts to toughen state law are drawing intense criticism from parents opposed to vaccines. Civil Beat.

Bullying of teachers persists; DOE lacks resolution. Lawmakers for the third time have introduced a bill aimed at strengthening workplace safety for educational workers following concerns from advocates about the state Department of Education’s handling of harassment issues. Star-Advertiser.

The price of hunger: Navigating the cost burden of free meals for Hawaiʻi students. Several bills this legislative session opt for either universal free breakfast and lunch, or for free meals for students who are currently eligible for reduced-pricing. To date, no one has publicly gone on record to oppose supplying free lunches to students in Hawaiʻi.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Marijuana legalization bill alive in Senate. Two Senate committees voted Thursday to recommend passage of a bill to legalize adult personal use of cannabis Hawaiʻi and establish taxes on its retail sale and medical use. Maui Now.

Counties are closer to getting back authority over tobacco regulations. County councils were the lead authorities to pass tobacco regulations until 2018 when the state Legislature passed Act 206, a tobacco law that preempts and nullifies county-level regulations and gives state lawmakers that authority. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiʻi Airports System successfully issues $849M of bonds, largest in its history. The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation announced that the state’s Airports System has successfully raised $849 million in bond financing to fund approximately $600 million of essential projects to upgrade and expand airport infrastructure, including runway repairs, terminal renovations, security enhancements and the construction of new facilities.  Maui Now.

Hirono, colleagues introduce bipartisan bill to promote wildfire mitigation through grazing. US Sen. Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) on Friday announced her support for the bipartisan Wildfire Resilience Through Grazing Research Act, introduced alongside Sens. Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jerry Moran (R-KS) and James Lankford (R-OK). The bill aims to promote research on using grazing as a strategy to mitigate wildfires, reduce fuel loads and support post-fire recovery efforts. Maui News.

Bill targets owners of properties hosting illegal massage parlors. A bill at the state Legislature would identify trafficked sex workers as victims while simultaneously going after landlords and property owners who allow massage parlors that pose as legitimate businesses but are actually illegal houses of prostitution.  Star-Advertiser.

Bill would subsidize fencing to control ungulates. A proposal to help subsidize the installation of animal control fences is the only survivor of four bills in the state Legislature aimed at controlling pigs, goats and sheep. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu

City Council committee postpones reappointment of emergency services director. Dr. Jim Ireland has led the city’s Department of Emergency Services for the past four years. A City Council committee got an earful from detractors who say he doesn’t deserve another four, because the department is in worse shape than it was when he began. Hawaii News Now.

 State senators killed a bill on Thursday that would have permitted casinos on Oahu. Senate Bill 893 would have granted 20-year licenses for casinos at the new Aloha Stadium Entertainment District and at the Hawaii Convention Center. Hawaii News Now.

Long-time Makaha surfing competition highlights growing impact of coastal erosion. Rocks and berms that support nearby Farrington Highway were covered with sand last year. This year, winter swells pushed the sand elsewhere down the beach. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Hawai‘i County launches task force to address nearly 700 vacancies. There are fewer hours at transfer stations and public pools; slower response to maintenance of roads, tree trimming, parks and fields; clerk shortages that sometimes result in no one answering phones when the public calls the county for help. Big Island Now.

Police discipline reported: HPD terminations, suspensions documented for lawmakers. One Hawaii Police Department officer was fired in 2024, one terminated in 2023 is in binding arbitration hoping to regain his badge, while a third discharged in 2023 has returned to the force as a result of his grievance. Tribune-Herald.

New Hawaiʻi County Parks and Recreation director highlights projects to finish, projects to begin. Hawaiʻi County’s new Parks and Recreation Director Clayton Honma, who is returning to a position he knows well, plans to focus this time around on “safe, recreational facilities and programs for everyone – visitors and residents.” Big Island Now.

Funding is sought again for Puna alternate traffic route study. State officials are still seeking to restore funds for a study of alternate traffic routes into Puna, even as Hawaii County officials try to figure out what went wrong. Tribune-Herald.

Highly venomous sea snake found ashore in Hilo. A highly venomous yellow-bellied sea snake was found washed up on the shore at Honoli‘i Beach in Hilo last week, according to the state Department of Agriculture. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Maui fire survivors soon have to pay rent for FEMA housing. Some still don't know how much. There are more than 1,100 Maui fire survivor households in FEMA’s direct lease housing, a program in that FEMA pays property owners to house survivors. That program ends Feb. 28. Hawaii Public Radio.

These Are The Stories Lahaina Wildfire Survivors Never Got To Tell. Court documents filed in a wildfire compensation lawsuit give an unprecedented look at the struggles fire survivors continue to face. Written statements filed with the courts by more than three dozen people offer rare insights into the night of the fire, and the lingering effects of disaster. Civil Beat.

County releases report on strategies to reduce and prevent homelessness. The County of Maui Department of Human Concerns on Friday released “Recommendations to Address Homelessness in Maui County,” a report offering strategic solutions to reduce and prevent homelessness across the county. Maui Now.

Catholic Charities Hawai‘i’s new Maui Support Center for first responders receives blessing. From first responders to educators, therapists, disaster case managers and more, Catholic Charities Hawai’i’s Maui Support Center hopes to be a vital resource for public servants.  Maui News.

Kauai

Momentous milestone reached in fight against often-deadly avian malaria on Kauaʻi. It seems counterproductive, at the least, to release hundreds of thousands of 6-legged, flying harpoons into a place where a portion of their population is spreading a plague that has several species of native Hawaiian honeycreepers — some endemic only to Kaua‘i — fighting for their very existence. Kauai Now.

Kauai launches new ‘PulsePoint Respond App’. Officials in Kauai have launched their latest tool this week that now connects everyday heroes to those in need before the arrival of emergency responders. Garden Island.

Defense Department beefs up Pacific forces, Honolulu defense contractor gets 87 months in prison for Covid relief fraud, Trump blocks $62M EPA solar grant, state could ban octopus farming, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Pacific commander urges faster arming of forces. Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo- Pacific Command, delivered a keynote address Thursday at the Hawaii Military Affairs Council’s biannual State of the Indo-Pacific event at the ‘Alohilani Resort in Waikiki. The Department of Defense has been pouring money into Hawaii to build up its forces in the Pacific and to train a high-tech workforce in the island to support it.  Star-Advertiser.

Trump blocks pipeline of EPA funds to Hawaiʻi environmental justice efforts. The Hawaiʻi Green Infrastructure Authority has been locked out of $62 million awarded through the EPA's Solar For All program, which is designed to help low-income households finance rooftop solar. Hawaii Public Radio.

Gabbard’s intelligence role will be tested immediately. Gabbard’s meteoric rise from local politics in Hawaii to a Cabinet-level position in the second Trump administration was on the minds of island politicians of all stripes, although many Democrats — her former party — either declined to comment for this story or would offer comments only if their names were not used. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi Lawmakers Want To Make It Harder For Kids To Skip Vaccines. Roughly 1 in 5 students in Hawaiʻi were missing required vaccines last year. Doctors say that’s a growing health threat, but efforts to toughen state law are drawing intense criticism from parents opposed to vaccines. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi could ban octopus farming before the practice crawls its way here. House Bill 365 and Senate Bill 1159 made it out of their first committee hearings this week. They argue that raising the animals for consumption could lead to environmental and ecological threats. Hawaii Public Radio.

Midwifery bill tries to balance safety with reproductive autonomy, Hawaiian practices. The state Legislature is running against a time limit on its controversial 2019 law to regulate midwifery that will sunset in June. Hawaii Public Radio.

U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda demands answers after HNN investigation exposes one-sided kidney trade. For every 46 kidneys that have gone to the mainland in recent years, Hawaii has gotten just one in return.  Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Covid Relief Fraud Gets Hawaiʻi Defense Contractor 87 Months In Prison. Martin Kao, convicted of stealing pandemic-era relief funds, was also ordered to pay $13 million in restitution and serve 12,800 hours of community service. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.

Toxic Work Environment Concerns Derail Honolulu EMS Director Reappointment. Former employees testified that Emergency Services Director Jim Ireland practices favoritism and retaliation, which contributes to staff and ambulance shortages. Civil Beat.

City parks ‘follow-up’ audit completed. The  audit found improvements had been made within DPR — which has a current operating budget of nearly $120.6 million — but noted data related to spending on individual city park sites on Oahu was lacking. Star-Advertiser.

Ban on wheelies under Council consideration. Riders of electric bicycles, mopeds and motorcycles will no longer be able to perform stunts on any public street or roadway if a measure targeting such behavior is able to steer its way through the Honolulu City Council. Star-Advertiser.

Windward Community College Expands Hawaiian Studies To Arizona Prison. The college launched a Hawaiian studies program at Halawa Correctional Facility in 2022, but found many students dropped out because they were sent to an Arizona prison. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Work on 2 Hamakua bridges should start this year. Last year, the DOT was awarded $74 million from the federal government to rehabilitate both the Nanue bridge and the Hakalau Stream Bridge, located further south down the Hamakua Coast. The state will provide the remainder of the funding. Tribune-Herald.

Grandmother sentenced to probation in child starvation case. A 67-year-old Hilo woman was sentenced Thursday to 10 years of probation for her role in starving her developmentally disabled 9-year-old granddaughter to death in 2016. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now.  KHON2.

Maui

Those who lost loved ones in the Lahaina fire could receive some funds next month. Those who lost loved ones or were severely injured in the Lahaina wildfires could begin to receive compensation in the next month with larger payouts by the end of the summer through the One ʻOhana Fund settlement. Hawaii Public Radio.

Projects could curb flooding in South Maui, but the fixes won’t happen overnight. South Kihei Road is expected to be fixed as a shoreline thoroughfare through South Maui by the end of this month, Maui County Council member Tom Cook told more than 110 people at the Malcolm Center Wednesday night. Maui News.

Kauai

Deadline today to apply for funding aimed at helping vulnerable Kaua‘i youth, adults. Prosecuting Attorney Rebecca Like reminded the public that the deadline is fast approaching for the Life’s Choices Adult and Adolescent Mental Health and Substance Abuse Community Program Grants. Applications are due by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, February 14. Kauai Now.

Zenon Wong gets his own day. Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami proclaimed Wednesday as Zenon Kapalehua Wong Day at the Kauai Museum where Wong volunteers. Garden Island