Emergency declared over Hawaiʻi condo association insurance rates

Gov. Josh Green used emergency power Wednesday to help a pair of state government insurance carriers sell policies to Hawaiʻi condominium projects in an effort to relieve many condo owners from skyrocketing industry rates.

Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Kamehameha Schools pledges $872.5 million to a Maui fire settlement

Kamehameha Schools announced it would contribute to a proposed settlement fund for Maui wildfire claims, answering more of the question about how much various defendants will pay under the $4.037 billion tentative agreement.

Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Flags ordered to half-staff in memory of lives lost in deadly Maui wildfires 1 year ago

The state of Hawaiʻi will mark the one-year anniversary of the Lahaina wildfires on Maui with flags at half-staff to honor lives lost.

Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi food safety site still not up to par after 8 months

Restaurant inspection reports have not been viewable through the Food and Safety Branch website since January, but restaurateurs said they are still being conducted.

KHON2.

UH partners with lawmakers pushing for environmental legislation

The University of Hawaiʻi has agreed to act as a resource for the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators, which has 1,200 members across all 50 states and U.S. territories.

Hawaiʻi Public Radio.

O‘ahu Headlines

Latest hazard pay decision for public workers likely will cost Honolulu $30 million or more

A new arbitration decision awarding hazard pay to unionized government workers will likely require Honolulu to pay an extra $30 million to $40 million to about 2,500 city employees for their work during the pandemic.

Civil Beat.

Waikīkī hotel workers take strike vote today

About 5,000 Unite Here Local 5 hotel workers are expected to take a strike vote today.

Star-Advertiser. 

Honolulu City Council votes on restricting Waikīkī events

A bill would limit street festivals, to only 6 per year, including legacy events – which have been held every year for the past 15 years.

KITV4.

Dozens of CRB larvae discovered in garden soil sold at Oʻahu store

A Pearl Harbor man said he discovered 50 invasive coconut rhinoceros beetle larvae inside a bag of Miracle Grow garden soil when he opened it on Sunday.

Hawaii News Now.

Kailua residents frustrated over Kalapawai roundabout construction

Kailua residents working and living near the Kalapawai roundabout have a lot to say about the construction that’s been ongoing for the past two years.

KHON2. 

Hawai‘i Island Headlines

Council votes to offer tax relief to those who rent out part of their home for at least six months

A bill passed by the council on first reading Wednesday, allows residential properties that are rented out for six months or more to be eligible for the county’s “homeowner” tax classification, and therefore receive that classification’s tax benefits.

Tribune-Herald.

Researchers to look at how residential sewage systems impact Kahalu‘u Bay waters

From Aug. 9-12, researchers from University of Hawai‘i at Hilo will be dropping a small amount of the dye, fluorescein, into sewage disposal systems of residences upstream to see where sewage water travels and if it’s entering the bay.

Big Island Now. Big Island Video News.

Hawaiʻi County seeks to delay release of records in Dana Ireland case

Hilo Judge Peter Kubota questioned why police need to protect records pertaining to a suspect who is now dead.

Civil Beat. KHON2. KITV4.

Retired HPD assistant chief allowed deferred plea

Mitchell Kanehailua, 58, pleaded no contest on May 21 to violating a protective order and attempted third-degree assault, both misdemeanors.

Tribune-Herald.

Maui Headlines

One year later, no cause or origin for Lahaina fire available

The Maui Department of Fire and Public Safety does not have a timetable for releasing its formal report on the origin and cause for Aug. 8 wildfires in Upcountry Maui and Lahaina, but said when the final report is ready a news conference will be called and the findings will be made public.

Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

Their senior center burned and their friends died. But these kupuna are moving forward

More than two-thirds of Maui’s fire victims were over the age of 60. Kupuna are also facing additional challenges in the aftermath of the disaster.

Civil Beat.

Marine scientists work to understand long-term effects of contaminants from the fires

Scientists have been concerned about the marine environment due to the nearly 100 burned vessels and the potential hazardous runoff from the devastated neighborhoods.

Hawaiʻi Public Radio.

Kaua‘i Headlines

Domestic passenger count heats up in July at Lihu‘e Airport

The domestic passenger count climbed to its highest monthly total of the year in July, as Lihu‘e Airport welcomed more than 87,000 people to the island of Kaua‘i.

Garden Island.

Internal network upgrades made by Kaua‘i Police Department

The County of Kaua‘i’s Information Technology Division said it was performing a network upgrade on Tuesday in order to improve the county systems and its services.

Garden Island.

Kaua‘i County reminds public to report sightings of invasive rose-ringed parakeets

More than 170 responses have been received to a Kaua‘i County survey reporting sightings of the invasive rose-ringed parakeets since the beginning of the year.

Kauai Now.