State surveys flock owners, bird rescuers; Kakaako housing plan fails; Honolulu officials charged with conspiracy in Kealoha case, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Survey Launched For Hawaiʻi Flock Owners, Bird Rescuers. Health officials are inviting Hawaiʻi residents who come in contact with birds to participate in a new survey concerning bird flu.  Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.  Hawaii News Now.

Winter 2024 Hawai‘i Perspectives Report identifies cost of living as top concern. Pacific Resource Partnership has released the Winter 2024 edition of Hawai‘i Perspectives, a comprehensive survey capturing the voices of more than 900 residents across all four counties. Maui Now.

Bill seeks to gather more accurate data on hate crimes in Hawaiʻi. Lawmakers are considering a measure that would redefine a reported hate crime as any reported incident that might be motivated by bias or prejudice. Currently, an incident is only reported as a hate crime if it results in a criminal charge. Hawaii Public Radio.

Here are the culture and arts bills still flourishing at the Hawaiʻi Legislature. Hawaiʻi lawmakers are expected to approve a few culture and arts bills this week before the crossover deadline on Thursday.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Half Of Hawaiʻi Kids Can’t Swim. Little Is Being Done To Help Them. Drowning is the leading cause of death for children in the state, but efforts to address the problem have been mostly left up to community organizations with limited funding and uneven reach.  Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu officials charged in Kealoha retirement payout case. Honolulu’s former managing director, corporation counsel and chair of the Police Commission were charged with misdemeanor conspiracy by the U.S. Department of Justice on Monday for their handling of a $250,000 retirement payment in 2017 to former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha, according to federal court documents. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

Honolulu mayor submits $5.14B budget package. Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration has released a $5.14 billion budget package for fiscal year 2026 that the city claims will address affordable housing, homelessness and public safety services on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Bid to undo Kakaako Makai housing ban fails. Two Senate committees on Friday indefinitely deferred a bill that proposed to partly repeal a ban on residential development in Kakaako, makai of Ala Moana Boulevard, for the benefit of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio.

Pricey Honolulu Police Robot Dog Is Out Of Service. The Honolulu Police Department hasn’t used “Spot” for about three years. Civil Beat.


Hawaii Island

USAID cuts hit research that could help Kona coffee growers. The Synergistic Hawaiʻi Agriculture Council said a $6 million U.S. Agency for International Development grant to develop coffee trees resistant to the fungal disease coffee leaf rust has been halted. Hawaii Public Radio.

Downtown policing discussed; more foot patrols planned. About two dozen people attended a public meeting with East Hawaii Community Policing Section officers last Wednesday at the Mokupapapa Discovery Center in downtown Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Public input sought for Maui’s Long-Range Transportation Plan update. The draft plan is available for public review at mauimpo.org, where comments may also be submitted. Feedback can also be shared via email at getinvolved@mauimpo.org before the public comment period closes on March 29, 2025. Maui Now.

County Department of Parks and Recreation recruiting for pool guard trainees. The County of Maui Department of Parks and Recreation is recruiting pool guard trainees as part of an initiative to provide future water safety professionals with the skills, knowledge and hands-on experience necessary to ensure safe and enjoyable experiences for all swimmers. Maui Now.

‘We’re very sorry’: Disney actress apologizes after posting video touching a turtle on Maui. Actress China Anne McClain, known for her roles in multiple Disney productions is apologizing after she recently posted a video gently touching resting turtles in Hawaii. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Kauai

New mural honors crash victim while raising awareness against impaired driving. It was organized by Keep It Flowing, a Hawaii nonprofit that aims to spread safety and education through art and collaboration. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Police activities league to put on middle school track meet. Kaua‘i Police Activities League, in collaboration with Island School and Iwi Kua, announced the Mayor’s Youth Track Meet event for middle schoolers, providing an opportunity for young athletes to showcase their talents and compete in a fun and supportive environment. Kauai Now.

Legislature mulls budget holes from Trump mandates, parks feel the sting of staff cuts, Honolulu rail audit confirms problems, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii’s wildlife refuges, national parks feel sting of federal cut. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency slashed probationary positions across various divisions under the Department of the Interior, impacting the management and care of Hawaii’s most precious habitats, wildlife refuges for endangered species and national parks from Kauai to Hawaii island. They include the Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service and U.S. Geological Survey, which runs the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory that updates the public on locally generated earthquakes and eruptions. Star-Advertiser.

Trump’s Actions Are Creating A Budget Problem For Hawaiʻi Lawmakers. Halfway through the session, legislative priorities are emerging. But the new uncertainties mean lawmakers may need a special session to fine tune. Civil Beat.

Hoteliers push back on proposed tax hikes. Hospitality industry members from the Hawai‘i Hotel Alliance and the American Hotel &Lodging Association are seeking to draw attention to current and looming challenges facing their industry and are pushing back against proposed transient accommodations tax increases that are still moving forward in several bills at the halfway mark of this year’s state Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

Lights, camera... struggles? A look into Hawaii Film and TV industry and the path ahead. Hawaii has long been a sought-after backdrop for Hollywood, but the reality behind the scenes tells a different story. KITV4.

A ‘Super-Aged’ Population Poses Major Challenges For Hawaiʻi. The Covid-19 pandemic changed the outlook for the state’s oldest seniors from optimistic to more sobering, a recent report says. Civil Beat.

Program aims to bring engineers back to Hawaii amid workforce shortage. The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii has launched Kama‘aina Come Home, a job placement program designed to reconnect former Hawaii residents with engineering opportunities in the islands. Star-Advertiser.

Bill to increase legal amount of cannabis possession voted out. A measure to increase the legal amount of cannabis a person can possess was struck down during a senate floor vote on Friday, Feb. 28.  KHON2.

Bills would continue to give diplomas to military veterans. Two bills remain alive that would continue to award honorary high school diplomas to military members who did not receive theirs because of service in World War II, Korea or Vietnam. Star-Advertiser.

OHA Chair Kai Kahele To Return To Washington For Trump Address. Kahele also has meetings scheduled at the Pentagon where he will discuss military leases in Hawaiʻi, including those covering the Pōhakuloa Training Area. Big Island Video News.

Oahu

Audit Confirms Honolulu Rail Woes: Poor Marketing, Clunky Payment System. Skyline’s usefulness is still below par 14 years after ground was broken and more than a year and a half after its first segment opened, new audit says. Civil Beat.

Proposed Bills Would Leave Few Options For Where Oʻahu Puts Its Next Dump. Westside residents want the island’s trash to stop coming to their community, but potential new restrictions could make it difficult to place a city dump anywhere else. Civil Beat.

Honolulu City Council reviews outside sponsorship of public facilities. Honolulu City Council reviews outside sponsorship of public facilities. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Home Lands looks to factory-built housing for projects. The state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands wants to start up a modular housing factory on Oahu to produce homes more quickly and at less cost for beneficiaries. Star-Advertiser.

Decades-old city-state spat afflicts community in Oahu’s ‘Second City’.  Decrepit  conditions stem from a state action in the late 1980s that resulted in the city refusing to take ownership and responsibility for Villages of Kapolei roads from a state affordable-housing development agency, which was the community’s master developer, initially because road construction bypassed city regulations and subsequently didn’t meet city standards. Star-Advertiser.

Shelter’s focus on health care redirects homeless patients’ lives. The new Aala medical respite shelter on North King Street has taken in and treated some of Oahu’s oldest and most seriously ill homeless patients and gotten several lives pointed in positive directions so that 14 have been reunited with their-once estranged families, mostly on Oahu, and another six have gone back to the mainland in barely nine months since opening. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Mayor Alameda, Cabinet To Meet With Waimea Community On March 6. The Hawaiʻi County mayor will be a part of the Waimea Community Association Town Meeting as his administration nears its first 100 days in office. Big Island Video News.

Hawaiʻi Island wildlife refuge's field staff cut in half under Trump orders. On Thursday, a federal judge in San Francisco partially halted the Trump administration’s firings of probationary federal employees. But the actions may still have broader impacts on the Hakalau Forest.  Hawaii Public Radio.

New UH president visits Big Island campuses; emphasizes embracing AI, infrastructure upgrades, Native Hawaiian needs. Wendy Hensel, the new president of the University of Hawaii system, continued her statewide tour of universities, community colleges and education centers last week at the Hawaii Community College Manono campus. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now.

Sale price drops 50% for 2 Kona restaurants along Aliʻi Drive. About a year ago, the leases and contents of two well-known Big Island restaurants – the Kona Inn Restaurant and Kona Canoe Club – were listed for $3 million, but last week the price dramatically dropped. Big Island Now.

Maui

Mayor Bissen to deliver State of County on March 7. The 2025 State of the County Address presented by Mayor Richard Bissen will be from 5 to 7 p.m. March 7 at Maui Arts and Cultural Center’s Castle Theater. Maui News.

With Lahaina commercial debris cleared, next up is transferring 400,000 tons to Central Maui. Exact traffic plans are still in progress, but Maui County officials asked for patience during what will be a logistically challenging debris transfer. Hawaii Public Radio.

Long-awaited greenway moving forward with potential as Lahaina evacuation route; but project still years away. Despite all the work that already has gone into the project, the 25-mile greenway for walking and biking that traverses nearly the entirety of the west side, from Ukumehame to Līpoa Point north of Honolua Bay first 5.25 miles may still be nine years away from completion. Maui News.

Hawaii congressmembers ask for rent waiver for Maui fire survivors in FEMA housing program. Hawaii’s Congressional Delegation has asked the Federal Management Agency (FEMA) to waive rent collection for survivors of the Maui fires in FEMA’s Direct Housing program. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Kauaʻi 17-year-old named 2025 Boys & Girls Club of Hawai‘i Youth of the Year finalist. Kauaiʻi’s Nainoa Hirokane was honored during the weekend as one of three 2025 Boys & Girls Club of Hawaiʻi Youth of the Year finalists. The 17-year-old represents the Boys & Girls Club Līhu‘e Clubhouse. Kauai Now.

Police activities league to put on middle school track meet. Kaua‘i Police Activities League, in collaboration with Island School and Iwi Kua, announced the Mayor’s Youth Track Meet event for middle schoolers, providing an opportunity for young athletes to showcase their talents and compete in a fun and supportive environment. Kauai Now.

Hotel tax hike still on the table, economists predict 2k+ local layoffs in Trump plan, warn of possible recession; Aloha Stadium price tag rises to $650M, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Lawmakers eye tourism industry to help fund $1.4B reportedly needed for climate resiliency. Three measures still alive at the Legislature would collect funds for climate resilience – two of which would again increase the tax levied on hotels. Hawaii Public Radio.

Trump Job Cuts In Hawaiʻi: Economists Predict 2,200+ Layoffs. The estimate does not include up to 1,200 jobs potentially lost at the University of Hawaiʻi or layoffs expected related to future downsizing of government and grants. Hawaiʻi’s workforce of some 637,700 included 35,500 federal employees as of December, data from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics shows. Civil Beat.

The University of Hawaii launched a new federal policy and resource information website on Monday. The webpage makes it easier for students and faculty to track the impact President Trump’s federal policies have on the 10-campus system.  Hawaii News Now.

Economic report offers sobering forecast for Hawaii amid federal shakeup. The 2025 first-quarter economic forecast by the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization paints a somber outlook of the state economy, warning of the potential for a recession depending on how policy shake-ups by President Donald Trump and his new administration ultimately take shape. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Now.

House advances bill to speed up projects requiring historic preservation review. Under the bill, if the state Department of Land and Natural Resources cannot complete a project review within 60 days, the project would be passed onto a third party chosen by the State Historic Preservation Division. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii hospitals inundated with patients as flu cases soar.  Health  care officials have this urgent message: If you need to see a doctor and it’s not an emergency, consider going to an urgent care or trying to get in with your primary care physician. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Honolulu managing director is reconfirmed. Honolulu’s Managing Director Mike Formby and 11 others will continue in their roles as the city’s top appointed officials. The City Council voted unanimously Wednesday on separate but related resolutions to confirm many of those comprising Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s next executive Cabinet. Star-Advertiser.

The Cost Of A New Aloha Stadium Is Now Up To $650 Million. Utilities and infrastructure are expected to add millions more but stadium developers would be expected to pay for those costs. Civil Beat.

Newest shelter targets homeless trauma, mental health. The first of 24 homeless patients are scheduled to move into the newest joint state-city homeless shelter of its kind focused on treating mental health, memory and brain injuries. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Fire prevention project halted in Waikōloa Village by Trump Administration. A $75,000 fire mitigation project on the Big Island was abruptly halted after the U.S. Department of Energy rescinded its grant funding as part of the Trump Administration’s slashing of federal spending. Big Island Now.

Visitors to the Big Island up 10% in January. According to data released Thursday by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, the more than 158,000 visitors to the Big Island in January was 10% more than those who came to the island in January 2024. Tribune-Herald.

Replacement of Waiaka Bridge could start late this year. Efforts to replace the 93-year-old Waiaka Stream Bridge in South Kohala are still in motion, but construction is not expected to begin until late this year, state officials said.  West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Lahaina land trust granted $5M in county funds to keep shoreline in community hands.  The Maui County Council has granted the organization pre-authorization to use $5 million from the county’s Managed Retreat Revolving Fund. Hawaii Public Radio.

Toxic Maui Wildfire Debris Heading Soon To Permanent Home. It took nearly a year and a half to remove the ash and wreckage from commercial lots and residential properties and move it to the Olowalu landfill. Now that debris is headed to Central Maui. Civil Beat.

FEMA to collect rents from some wildfire survivors. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Maui wildfire survivors participating in the agency’s Direct Housing Program should be getting their first rental bill on March 1 and they will have 30 days to pay it. Maui News.

Software upgrade planned for Maui’s Automated Planning and Permitting System. After the upgrade, MAPPS will offer enhanced security features, as well as a new web address and link, which will be published on the MAPPS website https://www.mauicounty.gov/MAPPSUpgrade0325 on March 10. Maui Now.

Kauai

Housing Agency announces first families moved in to Lima Ola Workforce Housing Development. Four families will be moving into 3-bedroom homes in late February. Lima Ola is a Kaua‘i County master planned community with about 550 new affordable housing units comprised of single-family homes and multi-family rental units. Kauai Now.

53-year-old man dies after reported disorderly incident at Līhu‘e Airport. Officers with Kaua‘i Police Department responded to a request for assistance from airport law enforcement officers, arriving at about 4:30 a.m. Wednesday to help with a man who was reported to be disorderly. Kauai Now. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.  KITV4.

Homeless czar Mizuno steps down, Legislature taps budget to help nonprofits hit by federal cuts, new Hilo power plant approved, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Critic Of High Costs Of Tiny House Villages Quits Top Homelessness Post. The head of Hawaiʻi’s homelessness program, who publicly criticized excessive operating costs of some state-funded tiny home villages, has stepped down as the director of the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions. Former homeless director John Mizuno will become a special advisor in Gov. Josh Green’s administration. Civil Beat. Spectrum News.

Lifeline considered for Hawaii nonprofits. Hawaii lawmakers are considering a contingency plan to help fund nonprofit organization operations facing federal funding cuts. SB 933 would set aside one-time, non-recurring grants within the state budget to support essential services across the nonprofit sector. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.  Hawaii News Now.

State Is Scrambling To Fix SNAP Food Program Following $11M Fine For Errors. Hawaiʻi hopes the federal government will waive half of the penalty if the state invests more than $5 million in new technology. Civil Beat.

Converting fallow land into agroforests could counteract carbon emissions. Hawaiʻi’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2045 has a team of local and Native Hawaiian researchers cultivating new solutions. They mapped unmanaged, fallow agricultural land around the state and found that if all the land was converted into agroforests, it would counteract the carbon emissions of 100 million barrels of oil.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Home subsidy purchase program expands. Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund Equity Pilot Program run by the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corp. has been expanded to city workers in additional job categories. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Launches Its Own Effort To Hire Federal Workers. The mayor’s announcement comes a little more than a week after the governor launched a similar effort on the state level. Like the state of Hawaiʻi, Honolulu says it will streamline hiring for these workers. That includes waiving certain unnamed city hiring requirements for a 12-month period, according to the press release. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

Oʻahu Public Housing Tenants Promised Relocation Help Hit Dead-Ends. Kūhiō Park Terrace residents have been left angry and bewildered as Hawaiʻi Public Housing Authority moves to relocate them so their homes can be torn down. Civil Beat.

Dismantling Haʻikū Stairs Is Urgent Safety Issue, City Says In Court Filing. Providing security to keep hikers away has proved costly and leaving the stairs partially in place is a safety hazard, the city said in a court filing Wednesday. Civil Beat.

Kamehameha Schools Kapalama receives 3 threats. The Honolulu Police Department opened three felony investigations after a series of anonymous threats of violence at the Kameha­meha Schools Kapalama campus prompted school officials to notify parents, faculty and staff. Star-Advertiser.

Groups to provide ‘one-stop shop’ for immigrant-crackdown concerns. In the wake of the federal crackdown on illegal immigrants, the Filipino Community Center (FilCom) will host a citizenship outreach Saturday to provide legal and informational resources to all, regardless of immigration status or ethnic background. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Hawaiian Homes Commission Greenlights New Hilo Power Plant. The Alahao renewable energy project, proposed for a 12-acre plot in Panaʻewa near Railroad Avenue, would burn diesel produced from plant oils. Hawaiʻi Land & Power, the project developer, said it would cost $250 million with funding from Lotus Infrastructure, an investment firm based in Connecticut. Civil Beat.

General Plan meetings are wrapping up. Janice Hata, long-range planner with the county Planning Department, presented last week a variety of potential policies and actions to help diversify the county’s economy, balancing tourism with agricultural development.  Tribune-Herald.

Green receives list of nominees for Big Island judgeship. The state Judicial Selection Committee has sent four nominees to Gov. Josh Green to fill a vacancy left by the retirement of Kona Circuit Judge Robert D.S. Kim in July 2024. Tribune-Herald.

Kona coffee industry hit by funding freeze and USDA layoffs at 'existential moment'. The Kona Coffee Farmers Association held its annual symposium Tuesday on Hawaiʻi Island. The coffee was delicious, per usual, but the day's agenda was a stark reminder of the many hurdles facing local farmers who grow the beans for Kona's beloved brews. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui

Bissen administration explains years-long delay in homeless overnight parking program. More than two years after Maui County Council members unanimously approved a bill to allow homeless people to sleep in their cars in county parking lots, a pilot program has yet to be implemented, even after the J. Walter Cameron Center’s parking lot was initially identified as an appropriate location in the fall of 2022. Maui Now.

Commission supports food product trucks, trailers on farm land. The Maui Planning Commission has recommended expanding agricultural farm activities on the Valley Isle to include mobile food trucks and trailers after hearing testimonies from farmers about how the county Planning Department first allowed the activity but then decided to shut down the operation. Maui News.

Three major gym renovations on Maui leave sports teams with less space. The projects include the $28.5 million overhaul of War Memorial Gym, the $3.7 million upgrade of the Lahaina Civic Center and the $2.6 million repairs to the Lahainaluna gym. Maui Now.

‘Purely vindictive’: Maui man freed from prison thanks to DNA technology called back to court. Three days after Gordon Cordeiro walked out of prison for the first time in 31 years, the Maui County prosecuting attorney’s office filed a motion seeking a bail hearing. Hawaii News Now.

Lahaina fire survivors beg government leaders for more help. Billions of dollars in federal aid have been allotted to Maui for disaster recovery and economic development. But Lahaina fire survivors fear that the Trump Administration may stall the money. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Officials kick off Kōloa Road Bridge, Kīpū Bridge repair projects with blessing. Repairs on Kōloa Road Bridge begin toward the end of next week, with work on Kīpū Bridge to start after their completion. Kauai Now.

Okinawan lifeguards complete inaugural Lifeguard Exchange Program with Kaua‘i Ocean Safety Bureau. Nine lifeguards from Okinawa, Japan, underwent a series of hands-on training sessions from Feb. 17-21 at various key locations around Kaua‘i, each offering unique challenges for ocean rescues, as part of the inaugural Lifeguard Exchange Program. Kauai Now.

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.