OHA Leadership Shakeup Puts Kai Kahele In Charge, With an Eye on Development

Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs elected former U.S. Congressman Kai Kahele as board chairman in a move aimed at putting the agency in a better position to win approval from the Legislature for a high-profile development in Honolulu.

Civil Beat. Big Island Video News.

State Economy to Inch Up 1.6% With 2% Growth Forecast In 2025

Hawaiʻi’s economy performed slightly better than expected in 2024 and — with a red hot construction industry, in particular — should show even more gains for 2% growth in 2025, according to the latest economic data from the state Department of Economic Business and Development.

Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Hawaiʻi Farmers Face Risk of Crime Daily. Is a Murder Enough to Spur Reform?

After years of inaction and neglect, a handful of lawmakers and state officials now say they want to address it this legislative session. Potential responses include an agriculture-specific stand-your-ground law, allowing ranchers and farmers to defend themselves with lethal force.

Civil Beat.

Feds Want More Attention on Hawaiʻi’s Beetle Battle

The United States Department of Agriculture has been working to contain the spread of CRB on Oʻahu since 2014, but it has been a losing battle. The beetles have overtaken Oʻahu and have also been found on Kauaʻi and the Big Island since 2022.

KHON2.

Hawaiʻi Spends More on Takeout Than Any Other State

Hawaii residents top a list of the 10 U.S. states that spend the most on takeout, per resident.

Civil Beat.

O‘ahu Headlines

New Potential Landfill Sites Identified, Require Changes to State Law

The city said it has identified six new landfill locations, but they are only feasible if the state Legislature makes changes to a current law restricting landfills.

Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu Certifies Election Results

The final results of Honolulu’s Nov. 5 general election involving the passage of four city charter amendments have been officially certified.

Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Police Shooting ‘justified,’ Prosecutor Steve Alm Says

An attempted murder suspect shot 23 times and killed by Honolulu police officers following a New Year’s Day-long pursuit and shootouts was under the influence of alcohol and cocaine and officers were justified to use deadly force, Prosecuting Attorney Steve Alm announced Wednesday.

Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. KITV4.

Empty Homes Tax Bill Up for Final Reading Dec. 11

The Honolulu City Council is scheduled to hold its final reading Wednesday on a proposed empty-homes tax.

Star-Advertiser.

Pearl Harbor Ducks Also Tested Positive for H5N1

The Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture today confirmed that another backyard flock of birds infected with avian influenza was discovered in the Pearl Harbor area.

Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Hawai‘i Island Headlines

Public Invited to Provide Feedback About Kahalu‘u Bay Ecosystem Restoration Study

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in partnership with the Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation and the Kohala Center’s Kahalu‘u Bay Education Center, will hold a public meeting on Thursday, Dec. 12, to discuss an ongoing study that will investigate methods to restore the bay’s marine environment.

Tribune-Herald.

New Island Naturals Project ‘Moving Slowly’

Grocery chain owner and former state Sen. Russell Ruderman announced plans in 2021 to build a new retail center at the intersection of Kekuanaoa and Mililani streets in Hilo that would house the franchise’s new flagship location.

Tribune-Herald.

Maui Headlines

House Passes Rep. Tokuda’s Lahaina National Heritage Area Study Act

Wednesday, he full House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Lahaina National Heritage Area Study Act – introduced by US Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02) – marking another significant step forward in her efforts to support the community in recognizing Lahaina’s historic and cultural importance.

Maui Now.

Hawaiian Crow That Went Extinct in the Wild Decades Ago Released on Maui

The birds, described as intelligent and charismatic, are the last survivor of all the Hawaiian crow species.

Associated Press. Maui News. Maui Now.

New Deadlines Announced for Maui Wildfire Survivor Housing Assistance

Maui residents displaced by the August 2023 wildfires have until Dec. 15 to submit new applications for the Hawaiʻi Interim Housing Program. Households with existing applications have until Jan. 15 to complete them.

Maui Now.

Kaua‘i Headlines

Kawakami Appoints Emily Ishida as New Executive on Aging for Kaua‘i County

Ishida has been a program specialist at the Agency on Elderly Affairs since 2017, overseeing its information and referral program and working with 6 team members and case management consumers.

Kauai Now.

Kaua‘i County Office of Economic Development Awards 2024-25 Innovation Grants

Kaua‘i County’s Office of Economic Development for the fifth year is awarding funds to new programs and projects that identify and solve local problems with advanced innovation while supporting economic development of the island.

Kauai Now.