USDA grants to Hawaii farms on hold, Air Force Research Laboratory awards $176M for Haleakala supercomputing site, renewed support for good government bills, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

USDA program to send millions of dollars to Hawaiʻi farmers is on pause, under DOGE review. A federally funded initiative that’s set to send millions of dollars to Hawaiʻi food producers was scheduled to launch this month, but now it’s on hold — and possibly on the chopping block — while the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency reviews it. Hawaii Public Radio.

Latest USDA Cuts Will Harm Hawaiʻi’s Food Security, From Farmers To Kids. Hawaiʻi’s food security is already weak. Nearly one-third of children in the state live in a food insecure home and the demand for food banks is on the rise. Civil Beat.

Hawaii veterans, VA staff speak out on federal cuts. The VA has confirmed that in Hawaii it has laid off a “small number” of probationary employees working for the VA Pacific Island Health Care System, but would not discuss what roles they were in. Star-Advertiser.

‘Clean government’ bills have renewed support. A series of bills aimed at further cleaning up government ethics, lobbying practices and campaign contributions — while making it easier for new candidates to campaign for office — are suddenly enjoying renewed energy in the Legislature after a lull in 2024. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants weigh new deal. Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants have reached a tentative agreement on a contract extension, which is expected to improve negotiations for a joint collective bargaining agreement, a key step in the post-merger integration of flight attendants from Hawaiian and Alaska. Star-Advertiser.

Chief Justice seeks public comment on judicial nominees for the First Circuit. Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald announced today that he is seeking public comment on judicial nominees for one vacancy in the District Court of the First Circuit (Island of Oʻahu) and two vacancies in the District Family Court of the First Circuit. Maui Now.

Oahu

Wahiawā's Kamalani Academy to close in June after Charter School Commission decision. The Hawaii State Public Charter School Commission noted that Kamalani failed to meet three of four requirements outlined in the contract: material and substantial violations of charter contract terms, failure to meet generally accepted standards of fiscal management, and failure to meet or make sufficient progress toward performance expectations. Hawaii Public Radio.

Barnwell sells water drilling subsidiary for $1,050,000. Honolulu-based Barnwell Industries Inc., which specializes in oil and natural gas operations, said today it has sold subsidiary Water Resources International Inc. for $1,050,000. The subsidiary is a deep drilling and well pumping specialist in the exploration and development of groundwater resources for government, commercial and private clients. Star-Advertiser.

New affordable rentals coming to Central O‘ahu. Koa Vista is a new two-phase affordable rental development located within Koa Ridge that will ultimately include a total of 192 senior and family rental apartments in two mid-rise buildings. Aloha State Daily.

Hawaii Island

UPW, county reach hazard pay settlement. United Public Workers has reached a settlement agreement with Hawaii County over temporary hazard pay for frontline workers who endured heightened risks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tribune-Herald. Hawaii News Now.

Hawai‘i Fire Department welcomes 4 new ambulances to service. Funded by the state with $1.2 million, the ambulances will be assigned to the Central (Hilo), Keauhou, Waikōloa, and Ocean View stations. They replace existing emergency vehicles that have reached the end of their life. Big Island Now. KHON2.

Documents detail cop shooting: Alleged accomplice in Hilo parking lot incident makes initial court appearance. Court documents paint a harrowing picture of an incident Friday in Hilo in which both a police officer and a suspect were wounded by gunfire. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. KHON2.

UH Hilo has new plan to help boost enrollment. The five-pronged Strategic Enrollment Management Plan includes infrastructure improvements, streamlining the admissions and transfer processes, and adjusting recruitment strategies.  Tribune-Herald.

Maui

KBR awarded $176M contract to Air Force Maui Supercomputing Site at Haleakalā. KBR announced today it has been awarded a $176M cost plus fixed-fee, indefinite delivery indefinite quantity contract by the Air Force Research Laboratory to provide operations and equipment maintenance support to the Air Force Maui Optical and Supercomputing Site (AMOS), on Maui. Maui Now.

Maui police chief fires back against ‘false and baseless’ allegations in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs lawsuit. Maui Police Chief John Pelletier submitted a packet of information to the police commission Monday in an effort to stay on the job and clear his name after a civil lawsuit linked him to a Sean “Diddy” Combs sex assault case. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

UHERO: Persistent income, employment, housing challenges 1.5 years after the Maui wildfires. Nearly a year and a half after the devastating August 2023 wildfires, new survey results from the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization (UHERO) highlight persistent housing unaffordability, elevated poverty and unemployment rates, and ongoing economic hardship among fire-impacted households on Maui. Maui Now.

Kauai

Farm expansion grants grow. The Office of Economic Development has offered funding with the intent to advance Kauai’s agricultural industry through targeted investments in the expansion of farming and production across the island. Of the 18 proposals received by the OED, a dozen projects were selected to share in $637,429 in grants funding. Garden Island.

Hawaiʻi’s Imperiled Milk Industry Has A Rare Chance To Grow. Hawaiʻi is down to just one commercial dairy, mostly relying on imported milk. A new proposal looks at a West Kauaʻi site. Civil Beat.

Legislature unlikely to hold public hearings on big pay hikes, first $1.5M payment made to Maui victim's estate, suspect dead in Big Island police shooting, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

 Lawmakers Likely To Let Big Pay Raises Take Effect Without Public Hearings. There is still time for the Legislature to hold public hearings on proposed raises for lawmakers, judges, the governor and other state officials, but there is a good chance any further objections from the public will be smothered. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi jurors could get a pay bump to $50 a day for their service. Lawmakers advanced a bill that would pay jurors $50 each day they spend in court. They currently receive $30. Hawaii Public Radio.

Housing Authority Wants To Dump Evicted Tenants’ Things More Quickly. Under a bill that’s part of Gov. Josh Green’s legislative package, the housing authority could get rid of tenants’ stuff after 14 days. Currently, it must hold onto them 30 days. Civil Beat.

State House lawmakers defer hate crime bill. The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs deferred a bill Tuesday that would broaden the current definition of a reported hate crime and push more resources to recording hate crime data and training law enforcement officers. Star-Advertiser.

Senate committee advances a bill artists say would threaten arts funding. House Bill 1378 would shift some of the funding from the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, which is used to pay its employees and the state art museum, from special funds to general funds. Hawaii Public Radio.

How Trump’s Economic Policies Are Roiling Hawaiʻi’s Economy. Economists struggle to predict the fallout, while tourism, construction and retail businesses seek their own paths through upheaval. Civil Beat.

University of Hawaii faculty preparing for the worst as funding cuts loom. The University of Hawaii officials got some positive news Friday when U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon announced that UH had been dropped from a list of universities being investigated for possible violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian immersion schools are standing firm in uncertain times. The state Department of Education’s Ka Papahana Kaiapuni Hawaiian immersion school program has played a key role in helping restore a critical mass of Hawaiian speakers in Hawaii and expanding the use of Hawaiian among residents and visitors. Star-Advertiser.

Health officials recommend vaccines amidst rise in measles cases. Measles cases this year have so far been reported in at least 15 states, including Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Alaska, California, and Florida — but not in Hawaii.  Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii jobless rate holds at 3% for seventh straight month. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in January held at 3.0% for the seventh straight month after six consecutive months at 2.9%, according to data released Friday by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Star-Advertiser. Maui News.

Oahu

Honolulu Mayor to give State of the City Address.  Bold plans in the city’s agenda will be shared during Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s State of the City Address on March 18. KHON2.

Hawaiʻi Senators Want More Accountability For Aloha Stadium Spending. But they are declining to advance provisions that would have defunded the stadium and given the money to the University of Hawaiʻi instead. Civil Beat.

Amid Concerns About Campus Violence, Police To Come To Oʻahu Schools. Students were more likely to be arrested on a campus with a school resource officer, according to Department of Education data. Civil Beat.

Some places in Hawaiʻi falling into sea faster than others. That discovery, published recently in a study by researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, also highlights that as sea level rises, the infrastructure, businesses and communities in these low-lying areas are at risk of flooding sooner than scientists anticipated — particularly in certain urban areas of Oʻahu. Kauai Now.

Hawaii Sports Media Legend Cindy Luis, dies at 70.  Luis was a trailblazer for women in media here in Hawaii throughout her career. As she became the first woman sports editor of a daily newspaper in Hawaii. KHON2. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Big Island manhunt ends; suspect dead. The manhunt for Christopher Lucrisia, a 39-year-old fugitive accused of shooting a Hawaii Police Department officer midday Friday, ended Sunday afternoon when police reported him dead after a shooting involving an officer. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Video News. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.  KITV4.

Astronomy could be in jeopardy amidst federal cutbacks. While it is still too early to predict how cuts to the National Science Foundation will impact the observatories’ operations, the situation could eliminate the U.S. as a competitive player in global astronomy. Tribune-Herald.

Hilo Bay watershed management plan is sought. The Hawaii County Department of Research and Development announced Wednesday that it is requesting proposals from contractors to develop a “Hilo Bay Resilience and Watershed Management Plan.” Tribune-Herald.

Lava buyouts program is winding down. A Hawaii County program offering to purchase Puna residents’ lava-damaged properties should finally wrap up this year. The Voluntary Housing Buyout Program launched in 2021 to offer residents whose properties were damaged, destroyed or isolated by the 2018 Kilauea eruption. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

First $1.5M payment has been made to the estate of a Maui wildfire victim as part of state’s $175M One ʻOhana Fund. Gov. Josh Green, M.D., announced the initial disbursements from the $175 million One ‘Ohana Fund, a key initiative of the Maui Wildfires Compensation Program. This fund was created to provide direct financial relief to the families of those who lost loved ones and to individuals who suffered serious physical injuries in the Aug. 8, 2023, Maui wildfire. Maui Now.

$1.6B in federal recovery funding coming to Maui will focus on housing. If all goes as planned, $1.6 billion in recovery funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will help the Lahaina community get back on its feet. It’s known as Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funding, and it comes with strict requirements. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Revitalization plan in works for milk production on Kauai. One of the biggest local growers of fruits and vegetables, Aloun Farms, is seeking legislative backing to establish a dairy farm on Kauai described as a project to “revitalize” Hawaii’s dairy industry. Star-Advertiser.

Salary Commission approves big pay hikes for state officials, whale entanglements skyrocket, Maui and Kauai face record-low stream levels, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Salary Commission finalizes double-digit raises for state officials. The Commission on Salaries on Thursday unanimously approved a series of pay raises for state officials totaling 27% for Hawaii’s governor until mid-2030, in addition to 44% overall pay increases for state legislators over five years. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.

Fears, frustration among University of Hawaii community over federal funding, DEI cuts. University of Hawaii president Wendy Hensel hosted a town hall Thursday, getting feedback from the school community on fears of DEI references being scrubbed from materials, a crackdown on alleged antisemitism, canceled grants, and layoffs of researchers and federal employees. The university operates on a budget of $1.3 billion, with $636 million coming from the state, $410 million from tuition, and $370 million from federal funding. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Repeal of impact fees threatens new school growth across Hawaii. The state Department of Education is warning that repealing school impact fees — a move now under consideration by lawmakers — could eliminate a critical funding source used to build new schools in growing residential communities across Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

HIDOE shares proposed methodology and timeline for school consolidation study. The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education announced that it has initiated a discussion on its approach to review public school campuses for potential consolidation in light of a steady decrease in overall enrollment over the past decade. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiʻi could set a standard for affordable housing developers to support displaced tenants. Two bills still alive this legislative session await a joint hearing from the Senate Housing and Ways Committee after crossing over from the House. Hawaii Public Radio.

Sports betting bill advances. The Hawaii Senate committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and on Economic Development and Tourism recommended on Thursday the passage of House Bill 1308, which would establish regulations for betting on sports and specify that “legal sports wagering and fantasy sports contests” would not be considered gambling. Tribune-Herald.

Lawmakers want more biosecurity measures. Ag officials want to see the money. As measures to manage pests continue to move through this legislative session, state officials are urging lawmakers to provide the necessary resources to carry out the directives. Hawaii Public Radio.

Whale entanglements in Hawaii skyrocket this season. So far this season alone, there have been 16 reported whale entanglements. That is compared to six last season and double the average of eight over the past 23 seasons. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Oʻahu Social Worker Accused In Daughter’s Death Continued To Work With Kids. Until six days ago Sina Pili was still working as a behavioral health specialist at Kahuku High and Intermediate School, where she tended to students with learning disabilities, special needs and behavior issues. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

Illegal Fireworks Seller Avoids Jail Time, Fined $5,000. This concludes the second of two cases brought by a state fireworks task force – both for low-level offenders. Civil Beat.

East-West Center’s federal funding in jeopardy. The East-West Center, which has suspended “nonessential expenditures” since being cut off from federal funding by the U.S. Department of State at the start of Donald Trump’s administration, received $5 million in previously appropriated money Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Ewa Beach affordable rental project under review. A public-private partnership to convert an empty, city-owned parcel in Ewa Beach into 127 units of affordable rental housing is underway. At a special Honolulu City Council Budget Committee meeting Thursday, Stanford Carr Development LLC unveiled plans to build Kaleimao Village at 91-1666 Renton Road. Star-Advertiser.

Waimanalo homeless sweeps starts Friday morning. Some members in the tight-knit community have been against sweeps in Waimanalo, where huge encampments have popped up over the years. KITV4.

Hawaii Island

Budget bill includes funding for Puna alternate route studies. The latest version of the state’s budget bill, House Bill 300, includes funds for two Puna alternate route studies. The first would allocate $1.5 million in general obligation bonds to develop a Puna Makai Alternate Route Study. Tribune-Herald.

Next 2 phases of roadwork near Holualoa to begin in May. Department of Public Works spokeswoman Sherise Kana‘e-Kane said the next two stretches of approximately three miles each that will be simultaneously upgraded are north and south of the nearly completed first phase, which spanned Route 180 between Kamalani Street and Kalamauka Road. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui streams flowing at record-low levels. Some streams are already completely dry and that’s affecting water availability for drinking water supplies, for traditional and customary practices, and for agriculture.  Maui News. Maui Now.

Highly invasive bird spotted near Kāʻanapali; poses serious threat to Maui agriculture. Agriculture and wildlife officials are raising concerns after a red-vented bulbul was spotted near Kāʻanapali, Maui. To better determine the bird’s presence on Maui and develop an effective response strategy, MISC officials are asking the public to report any red-vented bulbul sightings immediately. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kaua‘i streams flowing at record low levels. The water level in Kawaikōī Stream in West Kaua‘i, which drains a portion of the Garden Isle’s vast Alaka‘i Plateau, probably looks fine to the untrained eye. But stream flow data gathered by the Hawai’i Commission on Water Resource Management tell a far — and alarmingly — different story. Kauai Now.

Super American Circus is back. The Super American Circus has returned to Kauai for an engaging three-day circus event, marking the final leg of its Hawaiian tour.  Garden Island.

Federal uncertainty lowers state's economic forecast, Honolulu may sell naming rights for rail transit stations, Green describes conversation with Trump, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii’s tax revenue collection outlook is gloomy. The state Council on Revenues on Wednesday unanimously decided to drop its general fund tax revenue growth forecast to 5% from a prior 6.4% in the current fiscal year ending June 30 and expects such revenue to contract 2.25% in the fiscal year beginning July 1. A 2.25% revenue decline would shave $226 million from what is expected to be $10 billion in general fund tax revenue this fiscal year, influencing a $21 billion state budget bill that the House of Representatives sent Wednesday to the Senate.  Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Big Island Now.  Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii governor says President Trump told him of criticism: ‘Have at it as long as you’re leaving me out of it’.  Gov. Josh Green said of his conversation with Trump, “He said, and it was quite interesting, as long as I’m not being rude to him, I should do whatever I think is best regarding his secretaries. To which I said, well, you know, there are some fundamental differences of opinion that I have on health matters, at least, with the secretary of health, and he laughed and he said, have at it as long as you’re leaving me out of it. I’m basically summarizing.” Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiʻi School Libraries Are Shrinking When Students May Need Them Most. The number of school librarians in Hawaiʻi has declined dramatically over the past 20 years, despite an increased need to help students navigate misinformation and digital learning. Civil Beat.

Smaller vehicles could solve Hawaii’s school bus shortage. House Bill 862, which crossed over to the Senate and remains alive, would allow motor coaches, small buses and vans to take children to and from school. The legislation was prompted by the abrupt cancellation of bus routes just before the start of the past two schools years, sending thousands of children and their families scrambling. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Foodbank expecting cuts from federal funding as need continues to grow. The Hawaii Foodbank is hoping for the best but preparing for the worst if it takes a hit from federal budget cuts possibly affecting thousands of residents. KHON2.

Lawmakers consider program to help low-income seniors navigate health insurance. Kūpuna with lower incomes may not realize that they can qualify for both Medicaid and Medicare, because it can be difficult to navigate through the application process. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii extends bird transport pause to June over avian flu. The Hawaii Department of Agriculture today said it is extending a voluntary pause on the interisland transport of poultry and other bird species to help prevent the spread of H5N1, or highly pathogenic avian influenza. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Now.

Oahu

$76M COVID-19 hazard pay settlement finalized with 2 city unions. At a special meeting Wednesday, the City Council unanimously voted to authorize and resolve temporary hazard pay, or THP, claims for affected employees and members of the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers and United Public Workers of Hawaii, who performed essential government functions during the pandemic. Star-Advertiser.

City considers selling rail station naming rights to offset costs. Currently, laws against outdoor advertising limit how much advertising the rail and bus systems can sell. However, officials note, transportation systems around the world often sell advertising. Hawaii News Now.

New Honolulu Director of Homeless Solutions shares ideas to help residents get off the streets. The City and County of Honolulu has hired Roy Miyahira as the new director of homeless solutions. KITV4.

Danger on the road as speed cameras capture alarming number of speeders. It’s full speed ahead for the speed camera program now in the second week of its warning period. Transportation officials said the numbers are staggering, some 80,000 warnings a month. Hawaii News Now.

Community effort to eradicate little fire ants in Lanikai could be a model for others. The University of Hawaiʻi this week announced that a recent survey of the area turned up just one ant — only a year after dozens of houses in the Lanikai loop and beach areas were found to be harboring the invasive pest. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Immigration enforcement hits Kona with parents and young children recently deported. Immigration Customs Enforcement agents have been on the Big Island recently conducting what the federal agency says is an operation to locate undocumented children who are in the United States without their parents. Big Island Now.

Life of influential Hawaiʻi politician Heléne Hale showcased in new children's book. Longtime educator and author Barbara Hilyer has a new children's book out that examines the life of Heléne Hale, a fixture in Hawaiʻi politics for half a century.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui

Maui Mayor Richard Bissen highlights fire recovery efforts, lays out priorities in State of the County. In his third State of the County address, Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen described the county as “determined.” Maui News.

While drawing praise, Mayor Bissen’s speech also raises questions about funding, open positions. Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen’s State of the County address Friday received praise for delivering a positive message and remembering those who died in the 2023 Lahaina wildfire as well as those who risked their lives to help others, but the mayor’s remarks also raised questions among some Maui County Council members. Maui News.

Maui Council Acts To Fill Vacancies Paralyzing County Boards. Empty seats have hamstrung the volunteer boards that handle everything from homelessness and government ethics to planning and police accountability. Civil Beat.

Maui Police Commission to meet March 19 to discuss whether to put Chief Pelletier on leave due to Diddy lawsuit allegations. The Maui Police Commission faces a major decision of whether to place Maui Police Chief John Pelletier on leave based on allegations in a lawsuit that he was involved in the conspiracy of a gang rape orchestrated by rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs in California in 2018. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now.

Maui Planning Commission holds off decision-making on Honuaʻula; public testimony nearly 9-1 opposed. Maui Planning Commission members heard nearly six hours of public testimony Tuesday in Kīhei, with 58 of 66 testifiers opposed to developer requests for land-use amendments for the Honuaʻula master-planned community, a hotly debated 670-acre development south of Maui Meadows and mauka of Piʻilani Highway in South Maui. Maui Now.

Kauai

Some Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Complex courts to be closed for resurfacing. Kaua‘i County Department of Parks and Recreation is notifying the public that the dual-use tennis and pickleball courts as well as basketball court at Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Complex in Kapa‘a will be closed from March 17 through September, weather permitting, for resurfacing work. Kauai Now.

Waimea Canyon Middle School shines at leadership summit. Waimea Canyon Middle School leadership students made an impact through their participation in the State Middle-Level Student Leadership Summit, which was recently held at the Hilton Hawaiian Village on Oahu. Garden Island.

Governorʻs water board candidate withdraws, school food programs in jeopardy, Honolulu police seek $400M budget, HECO sells Hamakua power plant, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Governor’s Pick Withdraws From Consideration For Hawai‘i Water Rights Board. The move by Hinano Rodrigues follows months of criticism from Hawaiʻi’s conservation community plus a lawsuit over how the governor handled the process to select him for the Commission on Water Resource Management’s seat for a loea, or expert, in traditional stream rights and practices. Civil Beat.

Hawaii students face fallout from cuts to school food, education. President Donald Trump’s administration has abruptly canceled two federal programs that directly support local food purchases and school nutrition efforts in a budget-cutting move that is expected to hit Hawaii’s schools and families hard. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi residents have a new website to calculate state tax cut savings. The state has launched a new online resource to help residents calculate their estimated tax savings through 2031 and learn about the state’s income tax cut. Act 46 incrementally increased the standard deduction and adjusted tax brackets for tax years 2024 through 2031, eliminating the state’s lowest brackets and lowering the rates for all brackets. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiʻi Tour Companies Losing Money To Chinese Social Media Scams. The scam involves tourists who buy what they think are discounted tickets to Hawaiʻi attractions, sold by scammers. In the end, the tourists take the tours but the companies don’t get paid. Civil Beat.

Disney didn’t copy ‘Moana’ from a man’s story of a surfer boy, a jury says. A  Los Angeles federal jury deliberated for only about 2 ½ hours before deciding that the creators of “Moana” never had access to writer and animator Buck Woodall’s outlines and script for “Bucky the Surfer Boy.”  Associated Press.

Oahu

HPD seeks nearly $400M budget. During the City Council’s Budget Committee hearing Tuesday, HPD Police Chief Arthur “Joe” Logan laid out budgetary changes his 2,100-person police force expects to face in the 2026 fiscal year, which begins July 1. The 6.5% jump — to a proposed budget of $390.46 million — is due in part to $11.86 million in IT upgrades for things like computers and similar hardware. Star-Advertiser.

Who’s going to pay for Oʻahu’s higher budget? City Council hopes it’s not residents. The Honolulu City Council is urging Mayor Rick Blangiardi's administration to find ways to generate funds without forcing residents to shoulder most of that burden. Hawaii Public Radio.

Honolulu’s new Ocean Safety Department plans to bring major upgrades to lifeguard services. Big changes are coming to Oahu’s beaches, which were unveiled at City Budget hearings on March 11. Honolulu’s brand new Ocean Safety Department shared their plans for faster response times and better resources for lifeguards across the island. KHON2.

UH Manoa students and faculty push for support facing Trump’s executive orders. The UH community is calling for more tangible support and an action plan in light of statements released by UH President Wendy Hensel regarding these presidential orders that will impact the UH system. KITV4.

Seen These Oʻahu Donation Sites? Gifts Don’t Go Where You Think. GreenDrop is not a charity. It’s actually an arm of a for-profit, publicly traded, multinational thrift store operator with $1.5 billion in net sales and a chief executive officer who made $10.1 million in 2023, the most recent year available. Civil Beat.

New online publication is part of Hawaiʻi's changing journalism landscape. There's a new addition to the media landscape in Hawaiʻi: Aloha State Daily. The news outlet is exclusively online and aims to cover a range of topics from politics and arts to sports and the economy. Hawaii Public Radio.

Lawsuit alleges state social worker dismissed abuse reports prior to 10-year-old’s death. The new civil lawsuit alleges that a state social worker dismissed reported warnings of abuse before the death of 10-year-old Geanna Bradley in 2024. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.
 
Hawaii Island

Trump cuts target Mauna Loa Observatory. The Trump administration is considering canceling the lease of the support office for a renowned Hawaii climate research station, sources said, raising fears for the future of key work tracking the impact of carbon emissions on global warming. Reuters.

Hamakua Energy Plant sold. The parent company of Hawaiian Electric Co., Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc., has sold the 60-megawatt Hamakua Energy Plant to a subsidiary of Harbert Management Corp. Tribune-Herald.

Fence plan for Hilo Municipal Golf Course miffs some neighbors. Hawaii County is in the process of erecting a 6-foot-tall continuous chain-link fence along the boundary of Hilo Municipal Golf Course to prevent access by those seeking to play without paying or to use the course for unauthorized purposes. Tribune-Herald.

Hilo Singing Bridge Needs Emergency Repairs, Traffic Altered. Emergency repairs are needed on the Wailuku Bridge, also known as the Singing Bridge, on Highway 19 in Hilo. Big Island Video News.

Maui

MPD chief denies allegations he was enforcer for ‘Diddy’.  Maui’s police chief denies allegations made by an alleged sexual assault victim of Sean “Diddy” Combs that he worked as an enforcer and facilitator for the rap mogul’s sex parties while working as a captain for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department in 2018. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.  KITV4.

$100M proposed for Central Maui School in House draft of State Budget. State Rep. Justin H. Woodson (District 9, Kahului, Puʻunēnē, portion of Wailuku) announced that the House draft of the State Budget (HB300 HD1) includes a proposed $100 million appropriation to cover the remaining funds needed for the construction of Central Maui Elementary and Middle School.  Maui Now.

Maui Planning Commission begins Kīhei public hearing for Honuaʻula project. There was standing-room-only this morning at the Malcom Center in Kīhei as the Maui Planning Commission began a much-anticipated public hearing on the hotly contested Honuaʻula master-planned community. Maui Now.

Kauai

Garden Isle sees little rain in the month of February. Rainfall totals for the month of February were below average at most of the gages on Kauaʻi. Kauai Now.

130k Hawaii veterans face VA cuts, state may raise capital gains tax, UH Manoa one of 60 campuses warned about antisemitism, Maui police chief named in Sean “Diddy” Combs rape lawsuit, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Scale of cuts to the VA in the Pacific unclear. With significant proposed cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs by the administration of President Donald Trump, it’s not yet clear what that will mean for veterans in Hawaii and across the Pacific. Hawaii is home to an estimated 100,000 veterans on Oahu and 30,000 veterans on the neighbor islands. Star-Advertiser.

Tulsi Gabbard stops in Hawaii ahead of trip to Asia. Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, is heading to Asia on a trip that will include an appearance at a security conference in India next week. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi could raise its capital gains tax to 9%. Lawmakers are considering increasing the capital gains tax from about 7% to 9%. Capital gains are the profits earned on investments or through the sale of a property. Hawaii Public Radio.

Double-digit raises considered for state officials. The Commission on Salaries on Thursday will consider finalizing recommendations that would give the governor a series of pay raises totaling 27% until mid-2030, in addition to 44% overall pay increases for state legislators over the next five years. Star-Advertiser.

Why Does UH’s New President Need A $250,000 Adviser? Before University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel took office, she already had plans to bring on a new senior adviser from her last job in New York. That adviser, Kim Siegenthaler, started work last week, earning $250,000 a year. In January, the university’s Board of Regents had created the new position just for her, opting to forgo formal recruitment. Civil Beat.

Resolution for potential state highway patrol and speed cameras passes. A senate committee on March 10 passed a resolution aimed at making roads safer. It would ask the Hawaii Department of Transportation and Department of Law Enforcement to look at the possibility of a highway patrol and speed cameras along major freeways and highways. KHON2.

Hawaiʻi Lawmakers Are Pushing For Car-Free Fun Zones — But Not On Oʻahu. To reduce carbon emissions, encourage sustainable transportation and promote community health, counties could be required to pilot a “Summer Streets” program, closing select roads to traffic and repurposing them for pedestrians and bicyclists.  Civil Beat.

UHERO study: reveals ‘debilitating impact’ of construction defect litigation on housing access in Hawaiʻi. The Hawaiʻi HomeOwnership Center (HHOC) collaborated with key stakeholders to release a new, independently-commissioned report Monday examining the effects of construction defect litigation on Hawaiʻi’s housing market—first-time homebuyers, current homeowners, builders, and the overall housing industry. Maui Now.

Hawaiʻi Farmers Want Protections For Poi. The Legislature is now weighing how best to safeguard local farmers and the culturally important starch they produce by adding poi to an expanding list of foods and crops the state has stepped in to help in recent years, māmaki tea and Kona coffee among them.  Civil Beat.

Hawaii a good spot to see total lunar eclipse. A total lunar eclipse that will take place Thursday will be perfectly timed for Hawaii viewing. According to NASA data, a partial eclipse will begin at about 6:30 p.m. HST. It will reach totality at 8:26 p.m. and will last until 9:32 p.m. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu

UH-Manoa among 60 colleges warned of antisemitism penalties by Trump officials. In January 2024 a group of Jewish students at UH filed a Title VI complaint with U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, claiming that words and acts of antisemitism had made the university’s Manoa campus an “unsafe and hostile environment” for them. New York Times. KITV4.

City’s proposed $5.14B budget under Honolulu Council review. The city’s new plan — which proposes a $3.93 billion operating budget and a $1.21 billion capital improvement program that, if adopted, begins July 1 — will cover its costs without raising real property taxes, according to officials. Star-Advertiser.

Pilot program in Kalihi helps residents cross the street safely. The city’s Department of Transportation Services recently installed a solar-powered rapid-flashing beacon on North School Street at Ahonui Street in Kalihi as part of a pilot improvement project to help pedestrians safely cross the street. Spectrum News.

Work begins to improve street lighting at McCully and Kapiolani Boulevard. Work to improve street lighting and enhance pedestrian safety begins Monday, March 10, on the mauka/ewa corner of McCully Street and Kapiolani Boulevard next to the McCully Shopping Center.  Spectrum News.

Waianae veterans garden plants seeds to reduce homelessness. On any given night there are more than 100 people finding shelter with U.S. VETS Waianae and roughly 10% of those people are veterans. KITV4.

Hawaii Island

2 unions finalize COVID hazard pay agreements with Hawaiʻi County. The County of Hawaiʻi has reached an agreement for COVID-19 hazard pay with the Hawaiʻi Government Employees Association and Hawaiʻi Fire Fighters Association. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiʻi County Seeks Input On Homelessness, Housing Strategies. The County of Hawaiʻi is updating its Strategic Roadmap for Homelessness and Housing, and inviting residents to participate. Big Island Video News.

State Rep. Sue Lee Loy trying to finish what Nakashima started: bill to revitalize Hilo’s Waiākea Peninsula. The late Big Island state Rep. Mark Nakashima spent 15 years trying to pass legislation to revitalize the Waiākea Peninsula that features the once-thriving Banyan Drive in downtown Hilo. Big Island Now.

Crews survey Kona airport after finding 3 coconut rhinoceros beetles. It's the first time they have been detected on Hawaiʻi Island in about five months.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui

Maui Police Chief Pelletier named as co-conspirator in Diddy rape case lawsuit; mayor calls for leave, investigation. Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen is asking the Police Commission to place Maui Police Department Chief John Pelletier on leave after the chief was named in a lawsuit alleging he posed as a sheriff to a woman who reported being raped by Sean “Diddy” Combs and took two people at gunpoint from Las Vegas to the California home where they witnessed the rape of the woman in 2018. Maui Now. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.  KITV4.

Council takes action on Maui County Fair, public tax notices, traffic safety and more. A bill to appropriate $1.5 million to the nonprofit Festivals of Aloha for the 2025 Maui County Fair gained final approval Friday from the Maui County Council and advances to the desk of Mayor Richard Bissen. Maui Now.

Lahaina fire survivors await electrical infrastructure as HECO hits delays. As more homes are rebuilt in Lahaina, a new challenge is leaving residents powerless.That is because Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) is facing its own challenge. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Volunteers clean site more than 60 years after a missile’s crash landing. About 800 feet above sea level, two dozen volunteers embarked on a nearly 24-mile trek about to the top of Niu Valley Ridge by all-terrain vehicle to clear debris left behind from an inert testing missile that crashed more than 60 years ago. Kauai Now.

Kauai’s Corey Nakamura honored. Corey Nakamura, the Elsie Wilcox Elementary School principal, was honored on Saturday as one of the Department of Education’s Top 15 principals by the Island Insurance Foundation in Honolulu. Garden Island.

Hawaiian Independence Day could become 14th state holiday, federal raids on Kona coffee farms raise concerns, longtime UH sports announcer Bobby Curran dies at 69, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Senators push bipartisan holiday bill. The list of annual state holidays in Hawaii could grow by one under legislation that easily passed a milestone last week. State senators voted 25-0 to approve and send to the House of Representatives a bill that would make Nov. 28 La Ku‘oko‘a, or Hawaiian Independence Day, as Hawaii’s 14th official state holiday. Star-Advertiser.

Hōkūleʻa events celebrate 50 years of preserving Polynesian wayfinding. Hōkūleʻa reached a milestone birthday this Saturday, celebrating 50 years. To honor Hawaiʻi’s "Star of Gladness," festivities across Oʻahu this week will reflect on the double-hulled canoe's beginnings and profound impact as a precious link to the past through the seafaring people who came first to the islands. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now.

Trump tariffs expected to weaken isle tourism. Economist Paul Brewbaker, principal of TZ Economics, is concerned that tariff-related trade wars could hurt Hawaii’s bread-and-butter U.S. consumers, who ultimately will pay more for goods and serv­ices, causing them to pull back on luxury and long-haul travel. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi’s Smallest Elementary Schools Could Face Closure. The Hawaiʻi Board of Education is looking for ways to reduce costs as enrollment continues to decline statewide.  Civil Beat.

Plan to raise hotel room tax for climate change among surviving bills. A bill that would generate new revenue for the state to address climate change and reduce the risk of future wildfires by increasing the state hotel room tax remains alive at the midpoint of the 2025 Hawaii legislative session. Perennial efforts to allow different forms of gambling, such as a lottery, and legalize adult recreational marijuana use, however, once again appear dead, among hundreds of other bills that have stalled. Star-Advertiser.

Still no clear answer for combating Hawaiʻi physician shortage.  A bill requiring local medical school graduates to work as physicians in Hawaiʻi for two years after graduation has died in the Legislature. Hawaii Public Radio.

Parents seek flexibility in preschool subsidies. Bills advancing through the state Legislature aim to support families with preschool-age children, but many parents are calling for greater flexibility in qualifying for child care subsidies. Their concerns center around strict requirements, including income limits and age eligibility, which some argue do not reflect the harsh financial realities facing struggling families. Star-Advertiser.

Trump's funding cuts create challenges for University of Hawaiʻi research. The University of Hawaiʻi's research enterprise is a $605 million operation, but UH is now facing significant challenges. So far, 30 stop work orders have halted more than $30 million in contracts.  Hawaii Public Radio.

‘Damning’ Report: Hawaiʻi Falls Short Helping Inmates Reenter Society. The study says the lack of effective reentry programs is one reason so many inmates get in trouble again soon after release. Civil Beat.

Wildfire mitigation: Bringing out the sheep, goats to keep vegetation in check. U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, joined other senators in introducing the measure in February to promote research on grazing and how it can support fuels reduction, wildfire mitigation and post-fire recovery. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

City Council discusses helping with cesspool conversion. The City Council is advancing a measure to use the climate resiliency fund, supported by 0.5% of the city’s estimated annual real property tax revenue,  to convert outdated cesspools on Oahu, possibly to more updated sewer systems. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers hope military property could solve landfill deadlock. The city has said if lawmakers rule out the Wahiawa site, there is no choice left but to expand Waimanalo Gulch, which some westside lawmakers suspect was the plan all along. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu developer mulls design, funding options for Aloha Stadium. A replacement for Aloha Stadium may be built on parts of the existing condemned facility in Halawa as a way to reduce costs and help meet a 2028 opening timetable. The strategy is being considered by the project’s tentative developer to produce a “basic” 25,000-seat sports and entertainment complex estimated to cost $450 million. Star-Advertiser.

Bobby Curran, long-time voice of Rainbow sports, dies at 69. Curran, who grew up in Long Island, N.Y., was the play-by-play announcer for more than 400 broadcasts in 32 football seasons. He also was host of the popular sports talk show, “The Bobby Curran Show.” Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.  KITV4.

Hawaii Island

Alarm Sounded Over Big Island Police Pacts With Federal Immigration Agency. The memorandums of understanding have existed for years but in the new Trump era they are red flags for immigrants and their advocates, especially after Kona raids last week. Civil Beat.

Island posts extremely low rainfall totals for February. Hilo International Airport, for example, received just 0.75 inches of rain for the entire month. That’s 7% of its usual 10.22 inches of rain for February.  Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now.

Waimea residents blast rezoning request; decision postponed. For years, developer Ka‘upulehu Land LLC has requested a zoning change for a parcel of land on Mamalahoa Highway in Waimea, about one mile east of its intersection with Kawaihae Road. Tribune-Herald.

Hospital expansion on schedule for ’26. Almost one year into construction at the Hilo Benioff Medical Center, everything is “on track” with the expansion of the main hospital and the East Hawai’i Clinic facilities across the street. Tribune-Herald.

How to save the animals? Big Island alliance trains responders to be prepared for the next big natural disaster. The loss of many beloved animals, big and small, in the traumatic 2018 Kilauea eruption planted in many residents an urge for knowledge about how to rescue pets and livestock during disasters. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Mayor Bissen delivers 2025 State of the County Address, focuses on housing, recovery. Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen delivered his third State of the County Address at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s Castle Theater on Friday, expressing renewed hope for residents and progress made in the year and half after the 2023 Maui wildfires. Maui Now. KITV4.

Flip-flopping tariffs create confusion, price uncertainty for builders in Lahaina. For local contractors and suppliers, the flip-flopping tariff policy and escalating feud between the United States and two of its biggest trading partners have created uncertainty and potential price spikes at a time when Maui is rebuilding from the 2023 wildfires. Maui Now.

Maui residents out of jobs funded by National Dislocated Workers Grant program. Federal funding cuts have hit close to home for Maui residents — a grant program that supported wildfire recovery efforts has been terminated. More than 130 Maui residents received notices on Feb. 24 that their jobs ended, effective immediately. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Kauai County reaches COVID hazard pay settlement with police union. The union representing Kauai Police Department officers reached a settlement agreement with the county over COVID-19 hazard pay with initial payouts of approximately $20,000 coming in the next four to five months if the Kauai County Council votes to accept it. Star-Advertiser.

‘Ready, set, go!’: New playgrounds open at Pacific Missile Range Facility Child Development Center. A ribbon-cutting ceremony March 4 officially opened two new playgrounds at the Barking Sands facility in Kekaha following 4 months of demolition and construction. Kauai Now. Garden Island.

Kapolei grandmother sues Child Welfare Services in toddler death, Legislature hits halfway mark, endangered wildlife in jeopardy from federal cuts, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Federal Cuts May Clip Wings Of Hawaiʻi’s Endangered Birds. Workers who had hoped to spend their careers supporting these at-risk local species have been let go. Now, who might take over remains up in the air. Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi congressional delegation introduces legislation to protect native species. The Hawai‘i Native Species Conservation and Recovery Act would fund conservation and recovery projects addressing invasive species, the ecological consequences of climate change, native species’ habitats, and population recovery. Big Island Now.

Insurance, fireworks and federal cuts are key topics as legislators reach the halfway point. The legislative session is at its halfway point — Thursday was the key deadline, called "crossover," for bills to pass out of their originating chamber to survive. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiʻi Senate moves bill to protect access to contraceptives. The Hawai‘i State Senate passed Senate Bill 350, which proposes an amendment to the state’s Constitution that protects individuals’ rights to access contraceptives and make decisions about their reproductive health. Maui Now.

Litigation spikes over Hawaii home construction. The University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization report said at least 17,555 new Hawaii homes over the past 25 years, or 702 homes annually on average, have been subject to construction defect litigation. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

‘Utter failure’: Grandmother of murdered toddler sues state over handling of child abuse reports.  The grandmother of a Kapolei 3-year-old who died from alleged abuse and neglect is suing the state, claiming it failed to act on reports to child welfare services. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

Oahu home prices hit record high of $1,185,000. Oahu single-family home prices in February hit a rec­ord high for the first time in nearly three years while condominium activity softened as the housing market diverged. Star-Advertiser.

Co-conspirator of late crime boss Mike Miske sentenced. Harry Kauhi will spend nearly nine years in prison for his role in the Miske criminal enterprise. Kauhi was sentenced Tuesday after accepting a plea deal in 2022, and testified against Mike Miske at trial. Hawaii News Now.

Builder is sought for Iwilei Center redevelopment project. An experienced builder who can convert Iwilei Center’s aging warehouse space into a new mixed-use, transit-­oriented development on the edge of downtown Honolulu is now being sought, city officials say. Star-Advertiser. Spectrum News.

Campbell High breaks ground on athletics facility expansion. This marks the second phase of renovations after the installation of artificial track and turf on the football field two years ago. This next wave includes new boys and girls locker rooms, a press box, and bleachers for the stadium along with new lights. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Symphony Orchestra back at Blaisdell Center Concert Hall after nearly three years. The Hawaii Symphony Orchestra takes the stage for the first time in nearly three years. The concert hall completed the first phase in its $10 million renovation project. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

County to move ahead with Puna route study. Contract being finalized, but state funding remains lapsed. County Public Works Director Hugh Ono on Thursday reassured a Hawaii County Council committee that a study of possible new traffic routes in and out of Puna can still happen using county funds, despite surprise news last month that state funds allocated in 2023 for that purpose had expired in 2024 without anyone noticing. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiʻi County calls for public feedback on hazard mitigation plan. Hawaiʻi County is updating its hazard mitigation plan for the first time since 2020, and the county is taking public feedback on the plan now. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now.

Public input sought for affordable housing effort. The Hawaii County Office of Housing and Community Development is seeking community input on Hawaii Island’s housing needs for the Affordable Housing Production Program. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui County Faces Huge Funding Gap For Wildfire Recovery, Draft Plan Shows. The county is hosting public meetings on the plan starting Saturday. Billions of dollars from other funding sources must be identified to achieve long-term goals.  Civil Beat.

Affordable housing project moves forward with $15.5M in financing secured. The team that’s building Hale O Pi’ikea III, the final phase of a three-phase affordable housing development in southwest Maui, has reportedly closed $15.5 million in federal and state financing for the project. Maui News. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauaʻi Mayor Derek Kawakami on navigating 'a sea of uncertainty'. Illegal vacation rentals, federal funding uncertainties, budget plans and more were the topics of a live discussion with Kauaʻi County Mayor Derek Kawakami as he prepares to deliver his state of the county address next week on March 13. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauaʻi volunteers break record collecting over 160,000 pounds of marine debris. Surfrider Foundation Kauaʻi announced Wednesday that its volunteers collected more than 162,902 pounds of marine debris and trash in 2024 from the beaches and coastlines of Kauaʻi, beating the previously held record of 120,000 pounds in 2017. Hawaii Public Radio.

4 homes blessed at Waimea Huakai. The crowd for four new homes being dedicated on Thursday was large, with more than 100 individuals, including Kauai Habitat for Humanity staff, building volunteers, and a visiting Collegiate Challenge group for the passing of four keys at the Waimea Huakai subdivision. Garden Island.

House seeks to sock away $200M for hard times, state growth projections reduced, Honolulu mayor proposes $5B budget, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiʻi House Wants To Set Aside $200 Million As A Hedge Against Hard Times.  House lawmakers want to bank $200 million in state funds as a cash cushion to help cope with any federal budget cuts or other fiscal problems that may be crop up in the years ahead. The House Finance Committee, in passing a budget Wednesday, made public some highlights from its proposed spending plan for the next two years, which would authorize slightly more than $20.48 billion next fiscal year and $20.22 billion the following year. Civil Beat.

DBEDT reduces Hawaii’s economic growth rate to 1.7% for 2025. The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism on Wednesday lowered its economic growth projections for this year on the expectation that tourism growth will slow, consumer inflation will rise, and policy uncertainty will increase at the national and international levels. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi food banks report canceled shipments and frozen funds amid federal cuts. Six shipping containers worth of food for the Hawaiʻi Foodbank, which serves Oʻahu and Kauaʻi, were scheduled to be shipped to the state during the first half of the year. But those shipments have been canceled. Hawaii Public Radio.

Trump’s recent executive order declared English as the official language of the country for the first time, but the Hawaiʻi State Judiciary says the order does not impact the state.  Hawaiʻi is the only state that has two official languages: ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi and English.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Honolulu Mayor’s $5B Budget Boosts Homeless Funding And Addresses Federal Cuts. The city is bracing for federal cuts, but the mayor said there are no plans to increase property taxes. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.  Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Honolulu Will Allow Some Developers To OK Their Own Projects. The council acted in November 2023 to reduce a backlog of permit applications, but the program hasn’t launched yet. Civil Beat.

‘Calculation error’ discovered in Skyline audit. In a report issued Feb. 27 involving the audit of the city Department of Transportation Services’ Skyline operations, the city auditor found the audit mistakenly cited a 77% decrease in rail ridership from July 2023 to December 2023. The correct percentage decrease in ridership on the city’s rail line was later determined to be almost 44%. Star-Advertiser.

Hidden Links Exposed: Hawaiʻi Fireworks Bust Tied To Mainland Suppliers. One mysterious address on shipping documents in a seizure at Honolulu Harbor is the first in a chain of clues that lead across the country and through the decades — a mysterious web of connections between the legal and illegal fireworks trade. Civil Beat.

Controversial youth transitional living facility moves forward in Makaha. A nonprofit is moving forward with a plan to help homeless youth get off the streets in Leeward Oahu, but some neighbors are asking the governor to cancel the project. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

County, HGEA reach COVID compensation agreement. The arbitrated agreement will pay certain Hawaii Government Employees Association members who were county employees 15% of their hourly pay over a two-year period based on when the pandemic began and when cases began to flatten. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Island police kill murder suspect, 28, in shootout. Hawaii Island police said officers killed a 28-year-old murder suspect in a Tuesday evening shootout in Volcano, ending a day-long manhunt after the early-morning shooting death of a 25-year-old woman in Puna. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald.  KITV4.

Immigration enforcement operation raising concerns among Latino population. A federal immigration enforcement operation was conducted at a Kona coffee farm Wednesday afternoon, increasing concerns among the island’s Latino community. Hawaii News Now.

Waimea nonprofit eyes lunar landings. The arrivals of two lunar landers on the moon this week bodes well for a Big Island company’s plan to set up a permanent observatory on the moon. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui County’s economic recovery trails rest of the state; construction builds momentum. Maui County’s economic recovery remains slower than other islands, particularly in tourism and employment, suggesting lingering effects from the August 2023 wildfires disaster that disrupted tourism and local businesses, according to the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism the 2025 Statistical and Economic Report, published in this first quarter. Maui Now.

Maui losing 10 stores, 80 jobs after company overseeing iconic surfing brands files for bankruptcy. The Honolua Surf Company store in The Shops at Wailea is one of 10 surf stores on Maui — four Honolua Surf Company, two Quiksilver, two Volcom and two Billabong — that are liquidating their stock and closing their doors for good after their operator, Liberated Brands LLC, filed for bankruptcy a month ago in the U.S. District of Delaware. Maui Now. KITV4.

Maui residents divided on proposal for street extension connecting two communities. Maui County officials are asking for public feedback about a proposal for a new road connecting the Wailuku and Waiehu communities. Hawaii News Now.

Maui County DWS to host community meetings on water pipe inventory project. The Maui County Department of Water Supply is inviting the public to an informational meeting about an ongoing water service line inventory to comply with the latest U.S. Environmental Protection Agency lead and copper ruling, which is established to monitor the lead and copper levels at customers’ water pipes at homes, schools and businesses. Maui News.

Kauai

Hawaiʻi pays 64% above national average for electricity. While Hawaiʻi’s average monthly usage is lower than the U.S. average, its average rate per kWh is significantly higher, at 39.62 cents per kWh, which is well over double the national average of $137 per month. Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative said 60% of its electricity comes from renewables and rates on Kauaʻi range between 33 and 39 cents, but the need for energy storage capacity becomes apparent when the sun doesn’t shine and the wind stops blowing. Kauai Now.