Report: Hawai‘i’s Population Has Been Rebounding Thanks to Locals Returning Home
The state’s yearslong population decline turned a corner in 2023, boosted by a net gain in Hawaiʻi-born residents returning home, a University of Hawaiʻi economist reported on Wednesday. The report based on census data shows more people moved to Hawaiʻi from the U.S. mainland than moved away from the islands in 2023. It’s a marked reversal of a trend that began in 2018.
Registration Tax Could Increase for Hawaiʻi Vehicles Over 4,000 Pounds
State lawmakers are considering increasing the tax on registering large vehicles from 2 cents a pound to 3 cents to fund the Safe Routes to School Program.
Most Bills Aimed At Child Welfare Protections Moving Forward in the Legislature
Recent high-profile cases involving child abuse and neglect have prompted calls for stiffer penalties and more preventive measures that state lawmakers are tackling in the state legislature’s final month.
Hawaiʻi Public Libraries Brace for Possible Federal Funding Cuts
The Trump administration has taken aim at the Institute of Museum and Library Services, which could affect federal funding that goes to the Hawaiʻi State Public Library System.
Hawaiʻi Businesses Brace for Fallout From Trump’s New Tariffs
Mom-and-pop businesses across Hawaiʻi could close their doors and consumers will soon face higher prices for everyday items after President Donald Trump announced an across-the-board minimum 10% tariff on most imports, which went into effect Wednesday night, local business and government officials say.
“Internet for All”: Inside the Rapid Expansion of Hawai‘i’s Broadband Infrastructure
Thanks to $400 million in federal money and public-private partnerships, Connect Kākou is opening access to telehealth, remote work and online learning.
City’s ‘Monster Homes’ Enforcement Improve, Audit States
The Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting has improved the way it reviews, permits, inspects and thwarts large detached dwellings from being illegally built on O‘ahu, a city audit found.
The second segment of Rail is less than six months away from opening to the public if all goes according to plan. Service will extend to Middle Street and open up access to a couple of important job centers.
School Sex Abuse Case From the ’70s Could Cost State $330K
In the 1970s, a security officer at Highlands Intermediate School groomed and sexually abused male students. Administrators found out after a couple of years, but he wasn’t fired for another year. Two former students have sued the Department of Education and the state has agreed to settle the lawsuit for $330,000.
Divided Big Island Council Signs Off 5-4 on Police MOUs With Feds
The Hawaiʻi County Council just OK’d a controversial measure to allow the mayor to sign agreements between the island’s cops and federal law enforcement agencies. This comes amid concern about immigration enforcement operations in Hawaiʻi and across the nation, so the council added language stipulating that the agreements do not authorize local officers to enforce immigration laws.
Bill to Clear Hawai‘i Island Marijuana Arrests Is Sent to Governor’s Office
If signed into law, House Bill 132 would make it easier for the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center under the Attorney General’s Office to continue a pilot program that clears the arrest records of small possessions of marijuana on Hawai‘i Island.
Kona Apartment Building to Serve Residents Experiencing Homelessness
HOPE Services Hawai‘i has officially acquired the Kani Leʻa apartment building, expanding its efforts to provide permanent, affordable housing in West Hawai‘i.
Surfing Could Become a Statewide Sanctioned Sport in Hawaiʻi High Schools Under Proposed Bill
On Maui, state-sanctioned high school surfing meets have been happening since 2014. But that has not been the case elsewhere in Hawaiʻi, a place known worldwide for its great breaks and surfing champions.
New Tree Hub at Kahului Airport Helps Wildfire Survivors Replant Lost Landscapes
One of 24 spaces like it on the island, the hub provides free trees to residents rebuilding their homes in Kula and Lahaina, allowing them to replant the species that once shaded their yards before the 2023 fires.
Lana‘i Celebrates Grand Opening of Skatepark and Blessing of Youth Center
Maui County dignitaries joined local skaters and hundreds of people from the community for the blessing and grand opening of the Lāna‘i Skatepark and Youth Center on Saturday in Lāna‘i City.
Community Input Sought on Kaua‘i’s Updated Mitigation and Resilience Plan
The County of Kaua‘i is updating its Multi-hazard Mitigation and Resilience Plan to address impacts of natural hazards affecting the Garden Isle as well as the county’s capability to mitigate those risks.
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
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.
View all posts by kh6jrm@gmail.com
