Hawaiʻi Traffic Deaths Up 51% From Same Time Last Year

From January 1, 2025 to May 2, 2025 there have been 50 deaths on Hawaiʻi roads; compared to 33 the same time in 2024.

KHON2. KITV4.

Hawaiʻi Residents Could Face Electric Rate Hike in 2026

Utility regulators have given Hawaiian Electric Co. the green light to pursue its first major rate increase in more than five years. The result could mean higher electric bills for residents and businesses by the end of 2026.

Civil Beat. 

Potential Medicaid Cuts Would Be ‘Devastating’ for Hawaiʻi

In Hawaiʻi, Medicaid is administered as Med-QUEST, and provides health care coverage for more than 400,000 residents. It provides health care for 1 in 3 keiki and covers 1 in 3 births in the state.

Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi Legislature Adjourns — for Now

Before ending the regular session for the year, lawmakers stashed away money to shield Hawaiʻi from federal budget cuts. The Legislature adjourned its 2025 session on Friday with a promise to return in the months ahead to aid programs facing federal funding cuts from the Trump administration. To accomplish that, lawmakers have set aside a $200 million fund that can be tapped for resources should federal dollars run dry.

Civil Beat.

Hawai‘i Mourns Passing of Prince David Kawānanakoa

Hawai’i Gov. Josh Green has ordered that flags be flown at half-staff until sunset May 9 in honor of Prince David Klaren La’amea Kaumuali’i Kawānanakoa.

Maui News.

O‘ahu Headlines

State Seeks Access to Surveillance Feeds From Waikīkī Businesses

The state is pitching a plan to Waikīkī hotels and businesses that would allow real-time access to the footage from their private security cameras to help monitor crime and maintain public safety. The Safety Via Technology initiative, referred to as SVT, and partnerships with private businesses is used in cities such as San Francisco and Miami and is being explored in other tourist hubs.

Star-Advertiser.

Will A Ban On Wheelies Stop The ‘Absolute Mayhem’ On Oʻahu Roads?

Bike stunts are good fun for some, but the number of e-bike accidents that EMS responded to on Oʻahu nearly tripled from 2022 to 2024.

Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi State Lawmakers Advance Illegal Fireworks Measures

With the horrific and disturbing aftermath of this year’s New Year’s explosion in Salt Lake still fresh on their minds, state lawmakers in both the House and Senate approved four key measures in the effort to prevent a similar tragedy from happening.

Hawaii News Now. 

Investigation Underway After Newly Renovated Playground Destroyed by Arson

Officers responded to a fire at Wahiawa District Park at around 11 p.m. Thursday and found the playground structure fully engulfed in flames.

Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Ancient Auwai Are the Kuleana of a Nuʻuanu Neighborhood

There were 14 original auwai in Nuʻuanu that fueled the entire wetland of kalo by directing the flow of water from the elevated Nuʻuanu Stream to pass through downstream loi kalo before returning to the central ditch and, eventually, back to the stream.

Star-Advertiser.

Hawai‘i Island Headlines

Board Seeks Comment on Proposed Island Name Change

The Hawai‘i Board on Geographic Names is scheduled to vote in its upcoming June meeting on its proposal, first floated in March 2024, to change the official name of the largest island in the Hawaiian Archipelago from the “Island of Hawai‘i” to simply “Hawai‘i.”

Tribune-Herald.

Survey to Assess Emergency Preparedness Level of East Hawaiʻi County Households Next Week

The Hawaiʻi Department of Health Hawaiʻi District Health Office will conduct a Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response survey to assess the emergency preparedness level of east Hawaiʻi County households in the North and South Hilo, Puna and Kaʻū districts from next week. Survey teams will go door-to-door to 30 randomly selected census blocks.

Big Island Now.

Maui Headlines

Eight Judges Confirmed Across Hawaiʻi Including Toma on Maui

Sonya H. Toma was confirmed as District Family Court Judge, Second Circuit.

Maui Now.

Utility Work to Impact Traffic on Honoapiʻilani Between Lahainaluna and Hinau

Hawaiian Electric crews and contractors will be upgrading utility poles using bucket trucks on Honoapi‘ilani Highway between mile markers 21 and 22 between Lahainaluna Rd. and Hinau St. in the West Maui area from Monday, May 5 to Friday, May 9, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Maui Now. 

Kaua‘i Headlines

Kauaʻi Sanctuary Is Hugely Popular With Native and Transpacific Water Birds

West Kauaʻi’s Mana Plain is attracting larger numbers of native waterbirds and migratory shore birds than DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife biologist Jason Vercelli has ever seen in his 18 years of work in the wetlands.

Garden Island.

Kauaʻi Communities Encouraged to Share Feedback on Climate Adaptation Plan

The county of Kauaʻi is seeking public input after completing a draft of the Climate Adaptation and Action Plan, which includes 79 bold actions to help Kauaʻi prepare for climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Kauai Now.