Lawsuits Seek to Protect Hawaiian Seabirds From Too-Bright Streetlights

Yet another lawsuit has been filed in the quest to bolster protections for Hawaiʻi’s endangered and threatened seabirds. Environmental law firm Earthjustice filed its second lawsuit against Maui County targeting streetlights that it claims are too bright, confusing birds that use the moon and stars to navigate. They circle until they fall to the ground from exhaustion or hit buildings, ultimately dying at the hands of predators, cars or by starvation or dehydration. Earthjustice has also sued Kauaʻi County, power companies and resorts.

Civil Beat.

More Biosecurity Measures Could Come in Upcoming Legislative Session

During this year’s session, lawmakers passed a law allocating $20 million in state funding for biosecurity efforts in Hawaiʻi. Gov. Josh Green later cut that funding in half in a line-item veto, but advocates for the measure still celebrated the state’s support for managing invasive species. The spread of some of the most problematic species in Hawaiʻi, including the coconut rhinoceros beetle, little fire ant and coqui frog, over the last few years, likely motivated state lawmakers to support biosecurity measures.

Hawaiʻi Public Radio.

Governor Calls Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Health Secretary Nomination ‘Unsafe for Children’

Gov. Josh Green, a physician, says he’ll testify against Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as health and human services secretary if the U.S. Senate asks him.

Hawaii News Now.

Trump Vows to Axe the Federal Education Department. Here’s What Hawaiʻi Education Leaders Are Saying

President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to get rid of the federal Department of Education. He has nominated retired wrestling industry professional and businesswoman Linda McMahon to lead the effort to dismantle the DOE. Public school Superintendent Keith Hayashi told HPR that 11% of Hawaiʻi’s DOE budget is made up of federal funds — about $42 billion a year. Hawaiʻi is also the only state that has a centralized DOE.

Hawaiʻi Public Radio.

Hawaiʻi Kindergarten Readiness Is Low, Even as Investments Remain High

Less than one in three Hawaiʻi keiki are ready for kindergarten when they start school. It’s the second year in a row that this has happened, according to newly released data from the state education department. That’s despite a surge in spending to better prepare Hawaii’s youngest students. The state continues to build more preschool classrooms for 3- and 4-year-olds, but researchers and educators say low-income families need more support to prepare their children for school.

Civil Beat.

O‘ahu Headlines

State Archive Plans to Digitize Pearl Harbor Memorial Records

The Hawaiʻi State Archive is cataloging documents and records from the Pacific War Memorial Commission, chronicling how the state raised money to commemorate the Dec. 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor attack by Japan.

Star-Advertiser.

‘No Public Value,’ City Looks to Remove Payphones

Pay phones are more prevalent than you might think and they all seem to have one thing in common. They don’t work. Now, the focus is on getting rid of them.

KHON2.

What Does Miske’s Death Mean for Accused Co-conspirators, Victims?

The death of one of Hawaiʻi’s most notorious criminals in federal prison leaves the cases of his accused co-conspirators in limbo and his victims without closure, according to legal experts. The tens of millions in assets seized are also likely to remain with the government.

KHON2.

Miske Felt Hopeful About Appeal Before His Death in Jail, Lawyer Says

Officials have not released information about the circumstances surrounding Sunday’s death of the convicted organized crime leader at the Federal Detention Center In Honolulu.

Civil Beat.

Hawai‘i Island Headlines

Alameda, Others Sworn in During Inauguration in West Hawaiʻi

Hundreds were in attendance Monday, including Gov. Josh Green and Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, as Mayor Kimo Alameda, Prosecutor Kelden Waltjen and the nine County Council members were inaugurated at the Kaleiopapa Convention Center on the grounds of the Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa in Keauhou.

Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now. KHON2.

Roth Touts Savings Following Arbitration With HGEA

Hawaiʻi County has reached a “significant arbitration outcome” with a government workers’ union over COVID-19 hazard pay, outgoing Mayor Mitch Roth announced Monday.

Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now.

Special Feral Pig Hunt Announced on Hawaiʻi Island

Feral pig hunting, with dogs, will be allowed on certain dates within the Puʻu Mali Restoration Area and the Kaʻohe Restoration Area. During the general game bird hunting season – which runs to January 25, 2025 – pig hunting is only allowed on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays (excluding state and/or federal holidays). After bird season, the hunts will take place every day through February 28, 2025.

Big Island Video News.

Maui Headlines

Maui County Council Members Are Deciding How a Long-Awaited Housing Project Will Move Forward in South Maui

The 670-acre Honuaʻula subdivision is proposed for an undeveloped parcel just mauka of Wailea and south of Maui Meadows in Kīhei. When it was first approved in 2008, developers promised 1,400 homes with 700 affordable units. The project was scaled back considerably since it was first approved nearly 20 years ago, and some are outraged. Monday’s Housing and Land Use Committee meeting ended with no decision.

Hawaii News Now.

County Hui Tackles Broadband Issues

The Maui Broadband Hui counted 150 locations that they saw were underserved and unserved, which later triggered 7,585 residents to be checked by major service providers such as Hawaiian Tel and/or Spectrum.

Maui News.

14 Months After Maui Wildfires, Visitor Arrivals Were Up From Year Before Levels, but Down From Pre-pandemic October 2019

According to preliminary statistics from the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, there were 774,617 visitors to the Hawaiian Islands in October 2024, growth of 5.4% from the same month last year.

Maui News.

Kaua‘i Headlines

Kauaʻi County Inauguration Swears in Many Familiar Faces, and a Newcomer to the Council

As the calendar year comes to an end, the latest iteration of Kauaʻi County government formally began Monday with the inauguration of its county council and prosecuting attorney at the Kauaʻi War Memorial Convention Hall in Līhuʻe.

Kauaʻi Now.

Kauaʻi Legislators Host Town Meeting

The Kauaʻi House Delegation to the State Legislature will host a community town hall meeting on Tuesday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Kauai Philippine Cultural Center, located adjacent to the YMCA of Kauai and the Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School.

Garden Island.