Hawai‘i Supreme Court to decide fate of $4 billion wildfire settlement

A decision about whether insurers can pursue their own lawsuits could come by year’s end. The state of Hawai‘i, Maui County, Hawaiian Electric Co., Hawaiian Telcom, Kamehameha Schools and other defendants have agreed to pay $4.04 billion to settle the claims of hundreds of individual fire victims.

Civil Beat. KHON2. KITV4.

Vacation rentals not OK in Hawai‘i’s agricultural land district

The Hawai‘i Supreme Court decision Tuesday unanimously ruled against 17 owners of ag land on Hawai‘i island who objected to a 2019 Hawai‘i County ordinance that aimed to regulate short-term vacation rental use of dwellings built after the creation of the state’s land-use law in 1976.

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

Hawaiian Electric Industries has added to its take from selling newly issued shares of stock

The company said today that an option for stock sale underwriters to buy up to $75 million in new shares has been fully exercised.

Star-Advertiser. 

Transportation experts say more steps are ahead to curb rising pedestrian deaths

So far this year, there have been 71 traffic fatalities in Hawai‘i, according to the state Department of Transportation. Out of those, 26 were pedestrians.

Hawaii News Now. 

O‘ahu Headlines

Honolulu empty homes tax proposal advances

A plan to increases taxes on homes that sit empty on O‘ahu moved forward Wednesday when a Honolulu City Council committee agreed to send it on to the council budget committee. Bill 46 passed out of the Housing, Sustainability and Health Committee on a 3-2 vote.

Civil Beat.

Honolulu City Council advances lawsuit for 2021 police-involved shooting

The Honolulu City Council’s Executive Matters & Legal Affairs Committee voted Wednesday to advance the request to settle the lawsuit against the city filed by the widow of Lindani Myeni.

KITV4. 

‘Ewa community developer Haseko facing $27M judgement again after appeal

About 1,800 homeowners at Ocean Pointe and Hoakalei Resort are entitled to $27 million in damages under a 2013 class-action lawsuit against the developer of the ‘Ewa community, according to an appellate court.

Star-Advertiser. 

O‘ahu’s west side violence a ‘public health crisis’

Wai‘anae health care officials are launching a “comprehensive public health response” focused on addressing the deteriorating mental health of a community plagued by the high cost of living and deadly gun violence.

Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. KHON2.

Pupukea home that erodes into ocean spurs legal action

The state Department of the Attorney General took legal action Wednesday against a North Shore property owner after part of a beachfront home collapsed onto state land and into the ocean.

Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. 

Expansion completed at Women’s Community Correctional Center

A multi-million dollar expansion project at the Women’s Community Correctional Center, Hawai‘i’s only women’s prison, has officially been completed.

KHON2. 

DLNR to deploy drones to eradicate coqui frogs at Kuli‘ou‘ou

A new colony of invasive coqui frogs has been discovered in Kuli‘ou‘ou in East Honolulu — just about 200 meters below the summit of the Kuli‘ou‘ou Ridge Trail, according to Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Star-Advertiser. Maui Now. 

Hawai‘i Island Headlines

New affordable housing project slated for Waikōloa Village

Nā Hale Makoa will feature 139 one-, two- and three-bedroom units serving households earning up to 140% of area median income, as well as one resident manager’s unit.

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

5,000 tires tossed on Hawai‘i Island

Hawai‘i County officials say the recent “Toss Your Tires” recycling event held on September 21 was a success.

Big Island Video News. 

UH Hilo lab develops AI to analyze forest bird soundscapes

Biology Professor Patrick Hart and his team have been recording forest soundscapes for months at a time and uploading the files to a computer. He said they’ve developed ways to teach a computer, using AI, how to detect every bird’s song.

Hawai‘i Public Radio. 

Maui Headlines

Maui Fire Department receives ATF report; public release set for next week

The County of Maui Department of Fire and Public Safety received the Lahaina Fire Summary of Findings and Conclusions report from the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024.

Maui Now. KHON2. 

Wildfire debris removed from all Lahaina homes and 64% of commercial properties

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in partnership with other organizations, have completed debris removal for all homes and for 64% of commercial properties affected by the Lahaina wildfires.

KITV4. 

Council resolution urges prioritized recycled wastewater use for new housing

A lack of fresh water resources has long held back housing development on Maui. And now that there’s a post-disaster housing shortage, the Maui County Council will consider Friday a resolution calling for increased production and expansion of recycled wastewater use to make more potable water available for human consumption.

Maui Now. 

Kaua‘i Headlines

Home sales surge in August on Kaua‘i

Single-family home sales on Kaua‘i soared 115.79 percent to 41 in August from 19 in August 2023, according to monthly data pooled from multiple sources by Hawai‘i Realtors in Honolulu.

Garden Island. 

Queen’s Bath on Kaua‘i closed for winter due to hazardous ocean conditions

The access gate to Queen’s Bath in Princeville is closed through winter, effective immediately.

Kaua‘i Now.