Historic $4 billion global settlement announced in Maui wildfires lawsuit

The 7 defendants in the case — state of Hawai‘i, Maui County, Hawaiian Electric, Kamehameha Schools, West Maui Land Co., Hawaiian Telcom and Spectrum/Charter Communications — agreed to pay the more than $4 billion to provide compensation to about 2,200 affected parties.

Big Island Now. Associated Press. Civil Beat.

Council on Revenues predicts total income in state could grow by 5% this year

The boom in construction jobs and the ongoing Maui wildfire recovery could help drive up the total income earned in Hawaiʻi. That’s the view from the state Council on Revenues, which is forecasting 5% growth in total personal income in Hawaiʻi for both this year and 2025.

Hawaiʻi Public Radio.

Litigation is doused by settlement in an ‘unprecedented’ time

A $4 billion agreement Friday to settle every loss claim over Maui’s wildfire disaster of nearly a year ago is a monumental deal, but much work lies ahead to wrap up Hawaiʻi’s biggest incidence ever of mass tort litigation.

Star-Advertiser. 

How a group with libertarian leanings found influence in blue state Hawaiʻi

The Grassroot Institute, a think tank with libertarian roots, has chalked up some big policy wins this year, which some see as evidence of a shifting political landscape in Democratic-dominated Hawaiʻi.

Civil Beat. 

Professional development can be lucrative for Hawaiʻi teachers — and hard to come by

Teachers can increase their annual pay by completing certain courses, but some say it’s a challenge to find classes that are accessible and affordable.

Civil Beat. 

O‘ahu Headlines

Honolulu Board of Water Supply seeks info about residents’ water access and affordability

Honolulu, and other communities in the U.S., are exploring the issue in collaboration with The Center for Water Security and Cooperation.

Hawaiʻi Public Radio. 

Witness in Miske case keeps getting beaten in prison by crime boss’s allies, lawyer says

A motion filed last week says there’s no place safe in the Federal Detention Center for Jake Smith, but a judge denied releasing him on house arrest until sentencing.

Civil Beat. 

O‘ahu condo owners are debating best way to limit fire safety costs

After a deadly fire at the 36-story Marco Polo building in Honolulu killed four people in 2017, the city created an ordinance requiring all existing high-rise residential buildings to take steps to pass a Building and Life Safety Evaluation within seven years.

Civil Beat. 

State takes action following complaints of aggressive dogs at Sand Island

 The state says it’s now cleared a Sand Island homeless camp that was home to a pack of dangerous dogs. It comes days after a video went viral on social media of a woman appearing to be attacked by a pack of dogs on Thursday.

Hawaii News Now. 

Honolulu faces opposition over sale of public park

The Honolulu City Council passed a resolution earlier this year approving the sale of Pi‘ikoi Mini Park, a decision that has since been criticized by community members who feel the city is offloading its responsibilities to maintain the land by simply selling it off.

Civil Beat. 

Hawai‘i Island Headlines

Big Island tourism down in first half of 2024

According to data from the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, 866,173 people visited the island during the first half of 2024, a decrease of 1.6% from both the first half of 2023 and the first half of 2019, the year prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiʻi school bus shortage prompts state emergency, county takes action

Governor Josh Green on Friday signed an emergency proclamation “to bolster school bus services to help public school children get to and from school,” following the announcement from the Hawai‘i Department of Education the day before that bus routes were being suspended due to a shortage of drivers.

Big Island Video News. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now.

Final draft of 2045 General Plan released

Hawai‘i County released a final draft of its plan for the island’s development over the next 25 years.

Tribune-Herald. 

Hearing on Schweitzers’ innocence in Dana Ireland case resumes Monday

The hearing, originally set for Thursday, was postponed to give Hilo prosecutors additional time to prepare for the subpoena submitted to police last week by Schweitzer’s lawyers. The subpoena is requesting the police to hand over all evidence related to Albert Lauro Jr., recently identified as the “unknown male” in the Ireland murder case.

KHON2. 

Maui Headlines

Maui’s mayor has struggled to lead an island reeling from tragedy, but some say he’s getting better

Thrust into a crisis management role, Bissen initially struggled to communicate the scope of the tragedy, with some calling for his resignation. But he has made up for some of those early stumbles. In describing his evolution as a political leader, observers point to Bissen’s recent proposal to phase out 7,000 short-term vacation rentals to create housing for long-term renters

Civil Beat. 

Maui Strong Fund has paid out $109 million

The Hawai‘i Community Foundation has awarded over $109 million in grants over the past year to support recovery efforts from the devastating Aug. 8 wildfires on Maui.

Star-Advertiser. 

Restoring drinking water is latest step toward Lahaina’s recovery

Restoring safe drinking water to Lahaina is perhaps the most critical recovery milestone met in advance of Thursday’s first anniversary of the disaster.

Star-Advertiser. 

Kaua‘i Headlines

Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative continues to lead state in renewable energy, officials report

For the fifth year in a row, Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative is leading the state in renewable generation at 57.9%. One of their priorities was the reduction in the cost of electricity. From May 2022 through July 2024, KIUC has posted the lowest residential rates in the State of Hawaiʻi.

Kaua‘i Now. 

Community Emergency Response Team tests equipment and trains in Princeville

Community Emergency Response Team trailers are provided in the case of an emergency during any natural disaster and first responders cannot immediately respond to such emergency.

Garden Island.