Buy This Month’s Issue ❯❯

Top Headlines

Statewide drop in vacation rental occupancy

Vacation rental occupancy in June was lower compared with the same month in 2023; however, supply, average daily rate and demand were higher, according to the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

Star-Advertiser. 

Hawaiʻi’s hometown heroes at the Paris Olympics

Exciting news from the 2024 Paris Olympics! A recent study by LiveSportsOnTV.com has revealed that Hawaiʻi boasts the second highest proportion of Olympians in the United States when considering the number of athletes relative to the population size. This remarkable achievement highlights the talent coming from our islands.

KHON2.

Hawaiʻi politicians turn to social media app TikTok to reach next generation of leaders

Politicians have long used social media to reach voters and raise their profiles. Now young legislators are turning to TikTok, the platform best known for viral dance videos. Millennial lawmakers see it as a more constructive way to engage with voters and encourage new voices to emerge.

Civil Beat.

This day has particular significance in Hawaiʻi

National Aunt and Uncle Day is celebrated on July 26 each year. It’s a special day to honor and appreciate the aunts and uncles in our lives.
These members of our ohana, hānai and community often play important roles and offer support, love and guidance.

KHON2.

O‘ahu Headlines

Honolulu’s Department of Planning and Permitting reduces permitting backlog

In a presentation to the City Council on Thursday, the department reported a reduction in its backlog from 12,000 permits in December to 9,800 this month.

KHON2. 

Changes are coming to Honolulu’s bus routes, and not everyone is happy

Several routes will be tweaked or scrapped as the city grapples with the extension of the rail line and fewer workers downtown in need of its services. See which bus lines are affected and learn how the city decides where compromises should be made.

Civil Beat. 

Actions on homeless are complaint-driven, city says

As states and municipalities across the country push forward with sweeps of encampments in the month after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling granted officials new authority to police homelessness, the city says enforcement actions conducted on Oʻahu should not be deemed to be the same thing.

Star-Advertiser. 

Community pushes back on military land lease renewals on Oʻahu

For 60 years, the U.S. Army has leased land on Oʻahu for military training for $1 a year. However, the leases at Mākua Valley, Kahuku and Poamoho are set to expire in 2029.

Hawaiʻi Public Radio. 

Plan for new Aloha Stadium development heading for early approval

The state could accept a proposal for the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District in Halawa as soon as mid-September, but demolition of the original Aloha Stadium won’t start until a contract is finalized nine months later.

Star-Advertiser.

Bids open for Falls of Clyde’s removal

The state Department of Transportation on Thursday issued a request for propo­sals and is seeking bids from local, national and international outfits with the expertise and experience required to permanently remove the vessel.

Star-Advertiser. 

Hawai‘i Island Headlines

$62M expansion of Hilo Harbor entrance still in the works

The state Department of Transportation last year received $15 million to acquire several privately owned parcels on Kalanianaole Street for the project.

Tribune-Herald.

Jaggar Museum nearly removed from Kīlauea Caldera edge

Jaggar Museum was the first park museum in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, sharing volcano science and Hawaiian culture with millions of visitors over many decades. Both Jaggar Museum and Hawaiian Volcano Observatory were constructed at the edge of Kīlauea caldera, and irreparably damaged in the 2018 summit collapse of Kīlauea volcano.

Big Island Now.

Maui Headlines

Growing number of Maui County residents are ‘barely surviving’

Nearly half of Maui residents say their financial situation has worsened since the Lahaina fire and 1 in 5 are “seriously considering” leaving the state, according to a new report that paints a troubling picture of the challenges facing fire survivors — and the county as a whole.

Civil Beat. 

Fire crews continue work at Waiehu brush fire; containment remains at 80%

Heavy equipment was deployed to help contain a brush fire that burned about 25 acres in Waiehu mauka of Kahekili Highway near Maka‘ala Drive, fire officials said in an update Thursday afternoon.

Maui Now. KITV4. 

Prominent Hawai‘i economist apologizes for obscene gesture during short-term rentals hearing

An influential Hawai‘i economist is apologizing for an obscene gesture he made during an emotional hearing about vacation rentals. Paul Brewbaker says he sorry he made the gesture and the man he aimed the gesture toward says he was not offended. Brewbaker was a longtime Bank of Hawai‘i chief economist, chair of the state Council on Revenues and as an independent consultant he’s taken controversial positions.

Hawaii News Now.

Kaua‘i Headlines

Kaua‘i wildfire shows how other Hawaii power safety shutoffs might work

On July 15, a brushfire near Kaumakani and Hanapēpē on Kaua‘i’s West Side grew so intense that Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative had to cut off the power to these communities and other nearby West Side towns. The fire jumped the highway, prompting the shutdown. This situation serves as a learning experience for both the utilities and the local communities as they work on improving emergency response plans.

Civil Beat.