Hawaiʻi’s Wildlife Refuges, National Parks Feel Sting of Federal Cut

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency slashed probationary positions across various divisions under the Department of the Interior, impacting the management and care of Hawaiʻi’s most precious habitats, wildlife refuges for endangered species and national parks from Kauaʻi to Hawaiʻi island.

Star-Advertiser.

Trump’s Actions Are Creating a Budget Problem for Hawaiʻi Lawmakers

Many Hawaiʻi Democrats say they want to use state funds to try to backfill money stripped from programs targeted by the new federal administration, especially if funding is cut from lifelines for the poor such as Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. But no one can even guess yet how much money it might take to do that.

Civil Beat.

Hoteliers Push Back on Proposed Tax Hikes

Hospitality industry members from the Hawai‘i Hotel Alliance and the American Hotel &Lodging Association are seeking to draw attention to current and looming challenges facing their industry and are pushing back against proposed transient accommodations tax increases that are still moving forward in several bills at the halfway mark of this year’s state Legislature.

Star-Advertiser.

A ‘Super-Aged’ Population Poses Major Challenges for Hawaiʻi

Hawaiʻi faces a reckoning as its population of kūpuna age 75 and older surges, consuming more resources than they bring in. The challenge, outlined in a recent report, is on the state’s doorstep: how to meet the needs of a group described as the super-aged.

Civil Beat.

Program Aims to Bring Engineers Back to Hawaiʻi Amid Workforce Shortage

The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii has launched Kama‘aina Come Home, a job placement program designed to reconnect former Hawaiʻi residents with engineering opportunities in the islands.

Star-Advertiser.

O‘ahu Headlines

Audit Confirms Honolulu Rail Woes: Poor Marketing, Clunky Payment System

Skyline’s usefulness is still below par 14 years after ground was broken and more than a year and a half after its first segment opened, new audit says.

Civil Beat.

Proposed Bills Would Leave Few Options for Where Oʻahu Puts Its Next Dump

Westside residents want the island’s trash to stop coming to their community, but potential new restrictions could make it difficult to place a city dump anywhere else.

Civil Beat.

Honolulu City Council Reviews Outside Sponsorship of Public Facilities

Legislation to allow private sponsorship of city parks and other public facilities in order to garner more revenue for the city was successfully advanced by the Honolulu City Council last week.

Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Home Lands Looks to Factory-Built Housing for Projects

The state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands wants to start up a modular housing factory on Oʻahu to produce homes more quickly and at less cost for beneficiaries.

Star-Advertiser.

Decades-Old City-State Spat Afflicts Community in Oʻahu’s ‘Second City’

Decrepit conditions stem from a state action in the late 1980s that resulted in the city refusing to take ownership and responsibility for Villages of Kapolei roads from a state affordable-housing development agency, which was the community’s master developer, initially because road construction bypassed city regulations and subsequently didn’t meet city standards.

Star-Advertiser.

Shelter’s Focus On Health Care Redirects Homeless Patients’ Lives

The new Aala medical respite shelter on North King Street has taken in and treated some of Oʻahu’s oldest and most seriously ill homeless patients and gotten several lives pointed in positive directions so that 14 have been reunited with their-once estranged families, mostly on Oʻahu, and another six have gone back to the mainland in barely nine months since opening.

Star-Advertiser.

Hawai‘i Island Headlines

Hawaiʻi Island Wildlife Refuge’s Field Staff Cut In Half Under Trump Orders

On Thursday, a federal judge in San Francisco partially halted the Trump administration’s firings of probationary federal employees. But the actions may still have broader impacts on the Hakalau Forest.

Hawaiʻi Public Radio.

Mayor Alameda, Cabinet to Meet With Waimea Community on March 6

The Hawaiʻi County mayor will be a part of the Waimea Community Association Town Meeting as his administration nears its first 100 days in office.

Big Island Video News.

New UH President Visits Big Island Campuses

Wendy Hensel, the new president of the University of Hawaii system, continued her statewide tour of universities, community colleges and education centers last week at the Hawaii Community College Manono campus emphasizing embracing AI, infrastructure upgrades, Native Hawaiian needs.

Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now. 

Sale Price Drops 50% for 2 Kona Restaurants Along Aliʻi Drive

About a year ago, the leases and contents of two well-known Big Island restaurants – the Kona Inn Restaurant and Kona Canoe Club – were listed for $3 million, but last week the price dramatically dropped.

Big Island Now.

Maui Headlines

Lahaina Commercial Debris Cleared, Next Up Is Transferring 400,000 Tons to Central Maui

Exact traffic plans are still in progress, but Maui County officials asked for patience during what will be a logistically challenging debris transfer.

Hawaiʻi Public Radio.

Long-Awaited Greenway Moving Forward With Potential as Lahaina Evacuation Route; But Project Still Years Away

Despite all the work that already has gone into the project, the 25-mile greenway for walking and biking that traverses nearly the entirety of the west side, from Ukumehame to Līpoa Point north of Honolua Bay first 5.25 miles may still be nine years away from completion.

Maui Now.

Hawaiʻi Congressmembers Ask for Rent Waiver for Maui Fire Survivors in FEMA Housing Program

Hawaiʻi’s Congressional Delegation has asked the Federal Management Agency (FEMA) to waive rent collection for survivors of the Maui fires in FEMA’s Direct Housing program.

Hawaii News Now.

Kaua‘i Headlines

Kauaʻi 17-Year-Old Named 2025 Boys & Girls Club of Hawai‘i Youth of the Year Finalist

Kauaʻi’s Nainoa Hirokane was honored during the weekend as one of three 2025 Boys & Girls Club of Hawaiʻi Youth of the Year finalists. The 17-year-old represents the Boys & Girls Club Līhu‘e Clubhouse.

Kauai Now News.Source. Source.

Police Activities League to Put On Middle School Track Meet

Kaua‘i Police Activities League, in collaboration with Island School and Iwi Kua, announced the Mayor’s Youth Track Meet event for middle schoolers, providing an opportunity for young athletes to showcase their talents and compete in a fun and supportive environment.

Kauai Now.