Governor, Japanese Official Sign Pact to Ease Entry for Visitors
Gov. Green and Japan’s Consul General in Honolulu, Yoshinori Kodama, signed an action plan to attract more Japanese visitors to Hawaiʻi. The plan boosts economic benefits and cultural exchanges by expanding VIP entry to include school groups and promoting programs like mobile passport control and global entry to make travel easier.
A proposal to increase salaries for Hawaiʻi’s state executives, judges and legislators is facing pushback, with some questioning whether elected officials deserve a pay hike while ongoing state issues remain unresolved. The Governor, Lieutenant Governor, judges, legislators and more could see raises as high as 61%.
Heated Debate Surrounds Hawaiʻi Measure to Ban Non-medical Vaccine Exemptions in Schools
A bill that would repeal non-medical vaccine exemptions for Hawaiʻi students received about 1,300 pages of written testimony. The controversial House Bill 1118 passed through the House Committee on Health on Friday with the two Republican members voting “no.”
Citizens Videoing Police Bills Move In Legislature
Companion bills that acknowledge the right of private citizens to video law enforcement activities without interfering and to sue if those rights are violated are making their way through committees in the Legislature.
Hawaiʻi Lawmakers Seek Tougher Fireworks Enforcement, but No Statewide Ban
State senators rejected a statewide ban on all fireworks on Monday, and instead are working to significantly strengthen law enforcement’s ability to investigate and prosecute fireworks cases. Within the last week, measures to increase fireworks penalties, boost funding for investigations and allow for random inspections of containers at Hawaiʻi’s ports all cleared initial hurdles in the Senate.
CEO Indicted for Alleged Illegal Campaign Donations
An O‘ahu grand jury Friday indicted JL Capital CEO Timothy Lee, 48, on nine counts of false-name contribution for allegedly making $13,000 in campaign contributions in another person’s name in 2020 to the mayoral campaigns of Keith Amemiya and Kymberly Pine.
City Council’s Budget Panel to Review Sponsorship Bill
Reestablishing the city’s ability to obtain private sponsorships for publicly owned facilities in order to secure non-property tax revenue is the focus of new legislation now under Honolulu City Council review.
Lāʻie Farmer’s Arrest Stirs Controversy Amid Crackdown on Undocumented Immigrants
Last Thursday, farmers held a rally to support 60-year-old Hanjun Shen of China. He’s the owner of JM Farm in Lāʻie. He had been in Hawai‘i since 2009 and was detained by federal agents last month even though he has no criminal record.
Self-Storage Warehouse Plan Replaces Proposed Hilo Water Bottling Plant
A draft environmental assessment has been published for the proposed Talon 1 Properties Self-storage Warehouse between the Hoʻolulu Complex and the Wailoa River State Recreation Area.
Kailua-Kona Condo Complex Settles Federal Disability Lawsuit for $162,500
A Kona condominium association and its managing agent will pay $162,500 to settle a federal lawsuit that alleged the condo association and the managers of the complex discriminated against an individual with paraplegia.
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Lahaina Disaster Still a ‘Relentless Presence’ in Fire Survivors’ Lives
Dozens of survivors who planned to share their struggles during a wildfire compensation trial scheduled to start last month never got the chance because the trial was averted before anyone took the stand. But written statements filed with the courts by survivors offer rare insights into the night of the fire, and the lingering effects of disaster.
On Friday, youth from several local schools and supporters of a tobacco-free Hawaiʻi gathered in a room where Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen signed a bill that brings the county one step closer to a potential tobacco ban.
Open House on Lahaina Ash and Fire Debris Transfer to Central Maui
The public is invited to learn more about the transfer of Lahaina’s ash and fire debris from the temporary storage site in Olowalu to the Permanent Disposal Site in Central Maui during an open house Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025, at the County of Maui’s Lahaina Resource Center.
In a joint announcement on Monday, Hawaiian Telcom and Hale Līhuʻe announced that Hawaiian Telcom will be the exclusive technology partner for the new community center that will celebrate its grand opening on Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m.
Three Kauaʻi Towns Named in Top 8 “Most Neighborly” in Hawaiʻi
Hanalei, Hanapepe and Kōloa were all featured in a list of the “Top 8 Most Neighborly Towns in Hawaiʻi,” which was put together by WorldAtlas to give readers a glimpse into close-knit towns that embrace the Aloha spirit.
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kh6jrm@gmail.com
I am the retired news director of Pacific Radio Group stations on the Island of Hawaii. I am a retired Lt. Col., USAF Reserve. I am a FCC-licensed Amateur Radio Operator, holding the Amateur Extra Class License. I am a substitute teacher for the state of Hawaii Department of Education.
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