Convention center achieves strongest financial year ever

The Hawai‘i Convention Center achieved its best revenue performance since the center’s opening in 1998, which along with strong net income saved $8.9 million in state subsidy this fiscal year.

Star-Advertiser. 

New law prevented recounts in 2 tight races

Before, recounts had to be automatically conducted in races where the difference was 100 votes or fewer — or the percentage of victory was less than one-quarter of 1%, whichever was “greater,” according to the old law. House Bill 129 changed the word “greater” to “lesser.”

Star-Advertiser. 

Hawai‘i Democrats ready to make their voices heard in Chicago

Of the 31 voting delegates from Hawai‘i, at least six remain “uncommitted” to Harris over the Biden-Harris administration’s continuing support for Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza.

Civil Beat. 

Trump recruits Tulsi Gabbard for debate prep

Former President Donald Trump has begun preparing for his debate with Vice President Kamala Harris and has brought in former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to help sharpen his attacks in a recent practice session at his private club and home, Mar-a-Lago, according to two people with knowledge of Trump’s schedule.

New York Times. 

Japan market sluggish, despite short-lived boosts for Hawai‘i tourism

Japan returned more than a year ago to its position as Hawai‘i’s top source of international tourists, but the market isn’t expected to attain its pre-COVID-19 level of more than 1.5 million visitor arrivals until 2026 or 2027.

Star-Advertiser. 

O‘ahu Headlines

Honolulu Council seeks to revitalize downtown malls

Downtown Honolulu is being readied for an economic revival. That proposed comeback follows plans for new residential and redevelopment projects near and around Fort Street Mall as well as Union Mall.

Star-Advertiser. 

Case against Honolulu attorney exposes inner workings of illicit Marshallese adoption business

Honolulu lawyer Laurie Loomis, who was one of a handful of U.S. attorneys involved in illicit adoptions of Marshall Islands babies is now facing discipline by the Hawai‘i board that polices attorneys.

Civil Beat. 

Hawai‘i clean energy think tank Blue Planet Foundation closes as part of restructuring

The Honolulu-based clean energy nonprofit Blue Planet Foundation is being phased out after some 17 years of pushing for renewable energy reforms in Hawai‘i, according to its founder and chairman, Henk Rogers.

Civil Beat. 

O‘ahu home sales spiked in July to near 2-year-high

Single-family home sales soared 20.1% in July to their highest level in nearly two years, and the median price hit its fourth-highest point ever, according to recent data from the Honolulu Board of Realtors.

Star-Advertiser. 

Hawai‘i Island Headlines

Hawaiʻi County seeks proposals for homelessness and housing solutions

The county has $10.5 million in grants available to fund services and programs to help people who need housing. It’s part of the county’s Housing Fund, which was created two years ago and allocates part of property tax revenue to specifically address homelessness.

Hawaiʻi Public Radio. 

Nonprofit accuses Meadow Gold, Cloverleaf of violating Clean Water Act

An environmental lawyer representing a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization says it intends to sue Meadow Gold Dairies Hawai‘i and its president, Bahman Sadeghi, and Cloverleaf Dairy and its president, Edward Boteilho Jr., for alleged violations of the federal Clean Water Act.

Tribune-Herald.

Water haulers seek more sources

With summer bringing increasingly dry weather the past couple of months, business has picked up for water haulers.

Tribune-Herald. 

Ho‘olako Agricultural Innovation Park plans move forward

The Food Basket began clearing the 24.5-acre parcel, located by Homelani Cemetery off Ponahawai Street, over a year ago for its long-planned Ho‘olako Agricultural Innovation Park and Food System Campus.

Tribune-Herald. 

Maui Headlines

Maui County’s July unemployment up 58% compared with pre-disaster jobless rate

While the vast majority of Maui County residents remain employed, the unemployment rate in July was 4.1%, or 1.5 percentage points higher than the 2.6% rate in July 2023, a month before the Maui wildfire disaster in early August last year. This information comes from a monthly report from the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

Maui Now. 

Maui Rotary clubs and friends sponsor ‘Teardrop of Lahaina’ sculpture

A new sculpture in Lahaina is providing a space for peaceful remembrance. The 16-foot tall “Teardroop of Lahaina Sculpture” was unveiled and lit up at the memorial area above the Lahaina Bypass on Wednesday night, with an illuminated a heart in the middle of the sculpture filled with flowers.

Maui Now. 

Mokulele Airlines grounds portion of its fleet, scrambles to help passengers

On Saturday, Mokulele Airlines said that during routine maintenance procedures, it identified potential discrepancies in the documentation of a recent landing gear servicing on one of its aircraft. As a precautionary step, a portion of its fleet was grounded while additional inspections are done.

Hawaii News Now. KHON2. 

Kaua‘i Headlines

Hanalei turns out to welcome Hōkūleʻa on first stop of Pae ‘Āina Statewide Sail

A fanfare of 100-plus people lined Hanalei Pier to greet legendary voyaging canoe Hōkūleʻa as the traditional Polynesian double-hulled vessel and its crew arrived at about 10:30 a.m. Saturday after a 21-hour sail from Sand Island, Oʻahu.

Kaua‘i Now.