Gov. Josh Green Plans New Push on Tourism Fee, Housing

Gov. Josh Green plans to ask the upcoming Legislature for the power to divert $60 million in each of the next two fiscal years from interest earned on the state’s “rainy day fund” to help Hawaiʻi fight back against climate change and reduce the risk of future wildfires.

Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi Senate Tweaks Committees, Chairs Ahead of 2025 Session

Unlike the state House, leadership at the state Senate will remain relatively familiar for the upcoming legislative session, with some tweaks to Senate committees and chairs.

Star-Advertiser.

PUC to Hold Public Meeting with Assistance Providers on Power Shut-Offs

Hawaiian Electric has recorded over 10,000 customer disconnections related to missed payments as of August 2024, more than twice the number of disconnections that occurred in all of 2019.

Hawaiʻi Public Radio.

Who Should Be Trusted to Manage Remains of Hawaiian Royals?

Proposals are floating for either the Office of Hawaiian Affairs or a private entity to take over at the Royal Mausoleum.

Civil Beat.

O‘ahu Headlines

Blangiardi Administration Skeptical of Bill to Ban Single-Use Plastic Bottles

As Honolulu lawmakers consider a ban on the sale of single-use plastic bottles at city-owned properties as a way to curb waste, Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration has expressed skepticism over desired restrictions it believes are largely unnecessary.

Star-Advertiser.

Mayor Expected to Announce New Oʻahu Landfill Site Tuesday

A state-imposed deadline of Dec. 31 to replace the controversial, 35-year-old Waimānalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill in Kapolei, which is set to close by 2028 with an alternate location  looms over Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration.

Star-Advertiser. Hawaiʻi Public Radio. Hawaii News Now.

Low-Income Rentals Proposed for Kalaeloa

Ikaika ‘Ohana proposes to develop the 260-unit project for low-income households next to a former Navy townhome community called Orion Park if exemptions from state zoning regulations for the area can be obtained.

Star-Advertiser.

West Oʻahu Has a Domestic Violence Crisis. The Cost of Living Makes It Worse

Domestic violence incidents were 40% higher in 2023 than they were pre-pandemic. Police officers in District 8, which stretches from Ewa Beach to Ka’ena Point, responded to more than twice as many incidents of household abuse in 2023 as their counterparts in other districts.

Civil Beat.

UH Plans to Improve Mānoa’s Popular McCarthy Mall

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa will begin work as early as January that it says will transform the “heart” of the campus by making its already popular, tree-lined McCarthy Mall even more accessible while creating a five-story building designed to help students from different disciplines mingle and mix.

Star-Advertiser.

Housing Market on Oʻahu Drops Off

Even though single-family home and condominium sales showed modest year-over-year gains in November, seasonal trends resulted in a decline from the previous month.

Star-Advertiser.

Over 35,000 Participants Hit the Pavement for 2024 Honolulu Marathon

Over 35,000 participants hit the pavement for the 52nd Honolulu Marathon this weekend, making it a record breaking year with the highest ever participation numbers. Organizers said registration was up 25% from a year ago.

Hawaii News Now.

Hawai‘i Island Headlines

General Plan Meeting Strays Off-Topic with Climate Change Talk

Hawaiʻi County planning officials last week addressed some misconceptions about draft revisions to the county’s General Plan.

Tribune-Herald.

Troubled Hilo Residential Development in Foreclosure

An order filed Tuesday by Hilo Circuit Judge Henry Nakamoto appoints Aaron Lee of RE/MAX Properties in Hilo as the exclusive agent for the sale of the 158-acre property known as Puainako Heights.

Tribune-Herald.

Breathing Life Back into Kona Bay Hotel Once Known as Uncle Billy’s

On Tuesday, the hotel site will be blessed for the start of a renovation to turn it into a Hampton Inn by Hilton.

Big Island Now.

Locally Grown Christmas Tree Project Comes to a Close

Locally grown Christmas trees will likely be available for many holidays to come, even as one project to grow the trees winds down.

Tribune-Herald.

Maui Headlines

FEMA Seeks Vacant Lots for Temporary Housing for Maui Fire Survivors

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is reaching out to property owners in West Maui, seeking vacant lots to place temporary housing units for wildfire survivors.

Star-Advertiser.

Affordable Housing Project Could Help Keep Teachers in Lahaina

The state introduced plans to provide affordable housing to West Maui teachers in 2022, but limited funding and the wildfires halted progress.

Civil Beat.

Maui Strong Fund Awards Over $2 Million to Support Mental Health

The Hawai’i Community Foundation has awarded more than $2 million to 24 nonprofits that provide mental health support to individuals and families affected by the Maui wildfires.

Maui News.

Kaua‘i Headlines

Meadow Gold Dairies Slated to Lay Off Kaua‘i-Based Employees in January

Positions that are being laid off include commercial drivers, branch managers, transportation supervisor, milk receiver, merchandisers, warehouse associate and customer service representative.

Kauai Now.

‘Forest Garden’ to Spring Up at a Wailua Park Because of Strong Public Support

The māla lā‘au will occupy more than half an acre at the rear of the nearly 17-acre Wailua Homesteads Park, a popular recreational site home to athletic fields, basketball and tennis courts, playground equipment and a dog park.

Kauai Now.