Hawaiʻi Senate Committees Slashes DHHL’s $600M Request to $50M

Two Senate committees moved a proposed bill forward Tuesday, but took a big cut to the Department of Hawaiian Homelands’s $600 million request. The final funding amount will be negotiated between the state House and Senate.

Hawaii News Now.

Native Hawaiian Services at Risk Due to Federal Funding Cuts

From Hawaiian immersion programs to affordable housing and food banks across the islands, critical programs are in jeopardy of being eliminated.

KITV4.

High Court Rules Against Insurers. Now It’s Time to Divvy Up $4B

Among the questions: how much will Maui wildfire victims and their lawyers get from the huge settlement, and how will Hawaiʻi’s insurance market react?

Civil Beat.

Family Caregivers Could Get Up to $5,000 in Tax Credits for Out-Of-Pocket Costs

The Senate Health and Human Services Committee passed a bill that would allow caregivers to claim a tax credit for out-of-pocket costs for supplies.

Hawaiʻi Public Radio.

Proposed AI Facility at UH Approved by Panels

A joint hearing of the Senate Higher Education and Labor and Technology committees passed the latest version of House Bill 546 to establish an “aloha intelligence institute” at UH that would “develop, support and advance artificial intelligence initiatives statewide,” according to the bill.

Star-Advertiser.

O‘ahu Headlines

Blangiardi Outlines Plans for Safer Oʻahu in State of the City Speech

A North Shore first responders hub, a Windward ocean safety facility and a Waipahu base for the city’s homelessness response team are part of a raft of public safety investments that Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi is planning for the coming year.

Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Measure to Ban Landfills Over Aquifers Is Now Fielding Concerns About Recycled Ash

In December, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration announced plans to site Oʻahu’s new landfill in Wahiawā, prompting several measures to be introduced at the Legislature this year to clarify where landfills and waste facilities can, and can’t, be placed.

Hawaiʻi Public Radio.

To Sell More Housing in West Oʻahu, This Developer Plans to Raise Prices

The affordable units in an ʻEwa Beach development just aren’t selling. But the market-rate units? That’s a different story. It’s easy to see why. While a market-rate three-bedroom might cost $750,000, an affordable unit — which comes with deed restrictions — goes for $685,000. The developer’s solution? Raise the market-rate unit prices and make the rest look affordable by comparison.

Civil Beat.

Hawai‘i Island Headlines

Big Island Committee Punts Approval of Police MOUs With Feds to Full Council

It’ll soon be up to the Hawaiʻi County Council to decide whether to allow the mayor to sign agreements between the island’s police department and federal law enforcement agencies. Police Chief Benjamin Moszkowicz said his agency doesn’t want to have anything to do with immigration and shared more about police involvement with two recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations

Civil Beat.

New Preschool for 80 Children to Be Built Near ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center

The preschool will offer a variety of benefits, including affordable child care for UH Hilo students, workforce development for new teachers and meeting the demand for more early childhood education taught in the Hawaiian language.

Tribune-Herald.

Hawai‘i Community College Butchery Course Graduates Inaugural Class

A new butchery course at Hawai‘i Community College graduated its inaugural class of six at the Kō Center in Honoka‘a.

Big Island Now.

Maui Headlines

Maui Police Chief’s Lawyer Asks Commission Not to Investigate Allegations

Maui County denied the request, saying a fair probe is needed for public trust. Maui Police Chief Pelletier has been accused in a civil lawsuit of being involved in the conspiracy of a gang rape orchestrated by rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs in California in 2018. At the time, Pelletier was working for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

Maui Now.

Maui Teacher Says She Was Fired for Speaking Out Against Anti-trans Policy

Vashti Daise, a teacher on Maui, said she was fired for not accepting a new school policy that she said discriminates against transgender students. She has been a teacher for 35 years.

Hawaii News Now.

Maui Waena Intermediate School’s Principal McCandless Named Principal of the Year

Maui Waena Intermediate School Principal Jacquelyn McCandless has been named a winner of the state’s 2025 National Distinguished Principals of the Year by the Hawai’i Association of Secondary School Administrators.

Maui News. Maui Now.

Kaua‘i Headlines

KIUC Looking At Two New Renewable Energy Projects

On Tuesday, the Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative announced that it is proposing two new renewable energy projects that will bring Kaua‘i close to 80 percent renewable energy by 2028.

Garden Island.

Hands-on Ocean Safety Training

The first paid lifeguard internship program hit the waters on Tuesday at the South end of Lydgate Beach Park.

Garden Island.