Hawaii Business Magazine

Hawaiʻi Ethics Commission grapples with pay-to-play issues
Hawaiʻi Ethics Commission is trying to figure out how to wrangle two groups of people who are proving particularly challenging: high-level state employees who are politically active and legislators who have outside jobs with companies that have government business. The commission acknowledged that it’s tough to oversee lawmakers’ campaign spending who resist most accountability measures. Civil Beat.

Bills aimed at preventing drownings in Hawaiʻi become law
Gov. Josh Green signed a bill to raise money for water safety programs and efforts by authorizing the sale of special Hawaiʻi license plates honoring legendary Hawaiian surfer Duke Kaha­na­moku. Another bill makes every May 15 Water Safety Day across the state.
Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

Hawaiʻi wants home cooks to play a bigger role in growing the state’s food system
New legislation awaiting the governor’s signature would help businesses operate out of home kitchens. Civil Beat.

Green signs emergency proclamation, pledges National Guard support as kona low nears
The governor has signed an emergency proclamation and pledged an all-of-government response to a kona low system nearing the islands that forecasters warn could bring record rains, flash flooding and thunderstorms. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

Families on the Navy water system say there is new contamination in their tap water
They say samples they sent to labs have come back with traces of forever chemicals known as PFAS. Hawaii Public Radio.

Elevated bacterial detected from sample taken at Kailua wastewater treatment plant
The city says this week’s downpours likely caused elevated bacteria in treated wastewater discharged about 5,000 feet from shore. Hawaii News Now.

What will happen to the next generations of our workforce? Join visionaries Brenton Grimes, Ian Kitajima, and Meg Hall to delve into the transformative impact of AI on the future of our professional landscape. Register today!

County grants lease extension of Kanoelehua Industrial Area property
After years of bureaucratic wrangling, a Hilo lessee of state land has finally secured a 30-year lease extension for property in the Kanoelehua Industrial Area. Tribune-Herald.

County puts up $200K to mitigate invasive insect
Hawaiʻi County will invest in additional biosecurity measures at a West Hawaiʻi waste facility to prevent the spread of a devastating invasive beetle. Tribune-Herald.

Health declines seen in survivors of Maui wildfires, UH study finds
Nearly half of those affected by the Maui wildfires in August suffered a decline in health, according to a study that aims to track the well-being and social conditions of those exposed to the disaster. Star-Advertiser.

Construction to begin at Lahaina housing site
Heavy construction is set to begin at the Kilohana temporary housing site in Lahaina later this week and will last approximately six months, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Project aims to restore landscape, mitigate deer damage and reduce erosion above Kihei
A collaboration aiming to protect against erosion, reduce flood risk, mitigate axis deer damage and improve water quality is being implemented in an 11-acre area mauka of Kihei as part of The Hapapa Watershed Axis Deer Damage Mitigation Project, according to the Maui Soil & Water Conservation District. Maui News.

UH farmer training program holding open house on Kauaʻi
A University of Hawai’i beginner farmer training program is hosting an open house at its Kauaʻi site on June 1 and is encouraging interested participants to register. Kauai Now.