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Top Headlines

Governor signs bills aimed at protecting Hawaiʻi’s environment

Gov. Josh Green on Monday signed a host of bills aimed at protecting Hawaiʻi’s environment, including ones to better manage tourism and to study coastal erosion on Oʻahu’s North Shore that could serve as a template for the rest of the islands.

Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now.

Number of Hawaiʻi patients using aid-in-dying prescriptions up by over 50%

A new DOH report shows 91 patients used the medications last year.

Hawaii News Now.

Port security gets extra attention at RIMPAC

At this year’s iteration of the biennial Exercise Rim of the Pacific — the world’s largest naval exercise — port security is playing a prominent role as international conflict and competition put strains on global supply chains.

Star-Advertiser. Hawaiʻi Public Radio.

OHA candidates offer ideas for more effective help for Native Hawaiians

Most of the challengers want to see funds reallocated to housing and education initiatives.

Civil Beat.

O‘ahu Headlines

ACLU drops homelessness lawsuit against Honolulu

The action comes less than two weeks after a consequential U.S. Supreme Court ruling that gave local governments more leeway to ban sleeping outside.

Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. 

New law seeks middle ground and quick solutions in erosion conflict

After years of fighting between beachfront homeowners on Oʻahu’s North Shore and the state over worsening erosion, a measure signed into law Monday has offered a temporary truce — and a potential pathway to a solution.

Hawaii News Now.

Police union fears HPD can’t recruit its way out of its staffing crisis

Instead, the union calls for a focus on retaining current officers. HPD has started offering a $25,000 signing bonus but says it is also taking steps to keep employees on board.

Civil Beat.

DLNR: Boat anchor suspected as cause of recent coral damage in Kewalo Basin

Though the damage at Kewalo is on a relatively smaller scale compared to some larger-scale impacts over the decades, it could still take years for the coral in this area to fully recover.

Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Hawai‘i Island Headlines

No action on Big Isle short-term vacation rentals

A trio of bills — and several amendments for each one — that codify new standards for short-term rentals were the subject of an hours-long County Council committee hearing that ultimately ended with the matter being punted to a future meeting with the promise of further amendments to come.

Tribune-Herald.

NASA’s asteroid hunting telescope on Maunakea to continue under UH management

The Infrared Telescope Facility plays a key part of NASA’s planetary defense system, and the space agency’s contract with the University of Hawaiʻi is valued at $85.5 million.

Big Island Now.

Maui Headlines

Maui planning commission vacancies restrict time spent on major rental housing proposal

The Maui Planning Commission can only meet for an hour Tuesday to discuss what is arguably the most pressing policy debate moving through county government — Mayor Richard Bissen’s proposed phase-out of approximately 7,000 transient vacation rentals — because it won’t have enough members to keep the 9 a.m. meeting running past 10 a.m.

Civil Beat. Maui Now.

Maui County looking for fire lawsuit settlement options

Thousands of people affected by the deadly Maui wildfires last August could soon be offered a settlement from Maui County.

KHON2.

Kaua‘i Headlines

Travel-related dengue virus case reported on Kaua‘i

This year there have been eight travel-related dengue cases identified in the state (one on Kauaʻi, two on Maui and five on Oʻahu).

Kauai Now.