Hawaiian Electric to compensate customers after Swell Energy closure

Hawaiian Electric is stepping in to pay upfront incentives owed to customers with battery storage systems following the closure of Swell Energy Inc., the third-party provider that managed the Home Rewards Battery Program on Oʻahu, Maui and Hawaiʻi Island.

Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Bank proxy war heats up

The former chairman and chief executive of Bank of Hawaii is stepping up a bid for Honolulu’s Territorial Savings Bank, seeking to upend a pending merger with Los Angeles-based Hope Bancorp Inc. by convincing shareholders to vote against the deal next month.

Civil Beat.

State encourages people to help protect young seabirds

Every fall, fledgling seabirds leave their nests to make their inaugural flight. Seabird fallout season happens every year from roughly Sept. 15 to Dec. 15.

Kauai Now.

O‘ahu Headlines

Board anticipates stadium’s completion for 2028 season

The state will likely miss a self-imposed deadline Monday, but Stadium Authority board members said at Thursday’s monthly meeting they don’t see it affecting the overall timeline that still has a new Aloha Stadium in Halawa built in time for the 2028 football season.

Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Honolulu Council seeks more public input on city’s next landfill

Honolulu City Council resolution seeks both transparency and assurance over how the city’s site selection process to find the next municipal solid waste landfill on Oʻahu will affect the public.

Star-Advertiser.

Federal mediator joins talks between Kapiʻolani and nurses

The nurses union and Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children began working with a federal mediator Thursday morning to help resolve their dispute in reaching a new three-year contract.

Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

In act of solidarity, Waikīkī hotel workers march alongside striking Hilton employees

A show of support on Thursday for nearly 2,000 striking hotel workers from the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Workers from other Waikīkī hotels, including the Royal Hawaiian and Sheraton, walked in solidarity with the hotel workers on the picket.

Hawaii News Now.

Officials try to ease concerns over ‘kauhale’ homeless village in Iwilei

Residents in a neighborhood that has had persistent homelessness have been raising concerns about a new kauhale, or tiny village for the homeless. The kauhale in Iwilei will be the state’s 17th. The 58 units will be operated by the Institute for Human Services.

Hawaii News Now.

Crew demolishing partially collapsed North Shore home

Demolition began Thursday afternoon on the property at 59-147 Ke Nui Road by Sunset Beach that had started to erode into the ocean.

Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Hawai‘i Island Headlines

UH Hilo to get $21M to spruce up facilities

Gov. Josh Green has released $21 million in capital improvement project funds to cover four construction and rehabilitation projects at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo.

Tribune-Herald.

County receives large donation of animal control equipment

The Hawaiʻi County Council approved a resolution earlier this month accepting a donation of equipment worth $144,595 for the county’s Animal Control and Protection Agency.

Tribune-Herald.

More funding in the works to battle ROD

Additional federal funding to combat Rapid ‘Ohi‘a Death has strong support in Congress after a bill by Hawaiʻi lawmakers unanimously passed the House of Representatives this week.

Tribune-Herald.

Maui Headlines

Maui rent stabilization stopped before it’s started

Even before a bill’s drafted to rein in Maui’s runaway long-term rental increases, the chair of the Maui County Council’s Housing and Land Use Committee said she’s not considering any legislation that regulates rent.

Maui Now.

Maui mayor convinces state to back off long-term water plan

State officials have agreed to hold off on considering a long-term license for millions of gallons of Maui water after Maui Mayor Richard Bissen stepped in and asked the state to work with the county on how water should be distributed.

Civil Beat.

Property theft concerns rise as lahaina neighborhoods reopen

Police offer to help residents set up a neighborhood watch program, but they haven’t rebuilt yet.

Civil Beat.

Kaua‘i Headlines

Kauaʻi homeowners can apply for up to $20K to convert cesspools

The deadline for Kauaʻi residents to apply for up to $20,000 for a cesspool grant is this Friday. It’s federal money from the infrastructure bill to help homeowners comply with laws to mandate conversion.

Hawaiʻi Public Radio.

Anahola nonprofit leads fire mitigation efforts on Hawaiian Homelands

Dozens of high school students and volunteers removed over 30 abandoned cars from a parcel of Hawaiian homelands in Anahola Thursday as part of a community effort to reduce the risk of wildfires in the area.

Kauai Now.