Gov. Josh Green Heading to D.C. to Urge Vaccinations
Green will board a coach seat for a red-eye flight to Washington, D.C., on Monday to testify in support of vaccinations after Hawaiʻi’s 90% COVID-era vaccine rate contributed to the lowest COVID mortality rate in the country.
Department of Education Looks to Expand Leadership Team Amid Bus Shortages and Facility Woes
The Hawaiʻi DOE oversees 250 campuses across the state. And just one person oversees the office handling safety, transportation, meals and facilities for all of our public schools. Today, the DOE will present a new solution to the Board of Education. It wants to divvy up these responsibilities, but previous efforts to expand the DOE’s leadership team have been met with pushback.
Housing Affordability Continues to Elude Many in Hawaiʻi
It took more income to afford the median rent for a place to live or to buy a median-priced single-family house in 2024, according to the study published Wednesday by UHERO. Hawaiʻi home prices are three times the national median and the state also has the nation’s highest rate of homeless population, according to the same study.
Senators Back Bill to Boost Reimbursements for Farmer and Rancher Transportation Costs
US Sens. Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaiʻi) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) reintroduced legislation to increase funding for the US Department of Agriculture’s Reimbursement Transportation Cost Payment program. The program reimburses farmers and ranchers in Hawaiʻi, Alaska and other insular areas for transportation costs of supplies like feed, fertilizer and equipment parts.
Honolulu Council Advances Bill to Offset Sewer Fee Hike
The Council voted unanimously Wednesday to pass Bill 43, meant to redirect a portion of the 3% visitor-generated O‘ahu transient accommodations tax, which in part is earmarked for Honolulu’s rail project, to the city’s sewer fund.
Honolulu Approves Last Big Covid Hazard Payments For City Workers
On Wednesday, the Honolulu City Council approved a $41 million deal with the state’s largest union to pay back employees for the hazards they faced in the first two years of the pandemic. That means a flat-rate payment of $15,000 to some and $7,500 to others. This is just the latest agreement. In all, Honolulu employees will receive $117 million in Covid hazard pay.
Honolulu to Pay $2.1 Million to End Wrongful Arrest Lawsuit
The Honolulu City Council has agreed to pay $2.1 million to settle a lawsuit brought by a man who spent nearly three years in jail awaiting trial for drug trafficking charges — despite never having been found in possession of drugs or drug money.
Tariff Uncertainty Is Affecting These Chinatown Small Business Owners
Chu Lan Shubert-Kwock, the founder and president of the Chinatown Business & Community Association, said Chinatown business owners are worried that they won’t have something to sell in the next few months.
Hawaii Kai Roads Reopen After Projectile Devices Defused
Honolulu police have defused projectile devices found in Hawaii Kai that prompted the temporary closure of roads in the area of Kalanianaʻole Highway and Keahole Street for about an hour today. Two possibly live M49A2 mortar bombs were found and turned in by a member of the public. Nobody was hurt, according to HPD.
Kona coffee retails for more than $30 for an 8-ounce bag. The globally prized coffee has been a point of pride for the Big Island, and for the thousands of immigrants from Latin America who for decades have handpicked the beans in the Kona fields. Now the fate of many of those immigrant workers is uncertain, as is the future of the island’s coffee industry.
Budget Bill Contains $2.5M for Puna Alternate Route Study
The 2023 budget previously allocated $1 million in state funds for such a study, but required a $500,000 match by Hawai‘i County. Those state funds unexpectedly lapsed in mid-2024.
A settlement has been reached in the case of a house built on the wrong lot in Hawaiian Paradise Park. A court document filed on May 9 in the Kona Circuit Court civil case specifies that all parties in the case stipulate dismissal of all claims with prejudice, meaning that no one can refile claims in the case.
Decrease in Visitor Tax Rate Sought as Fear of Recession Looms
Maui County Council chair Alice Lee said she hopes to roll back the council’s proposed property tax rate hikes for the visitor industry because there’s sufficient funding for future projects and a likelihood of a recession. The proposed reduction would reduce the estimated real property tax revenues for the visitor industry by $14.5 million.
Lahaina Wildfire Debris Heading to Final Central Maui Site in June
By the end of the year, all 400,000 tons of fire debris are expected to be at the Central Maui Landfill. For now, it’s sitting in Olowalu. Trucks are expected to make four round trips per day, back and forth 200 times during daylight hours. Get the scoop on these plans from the federal, state and county officials.
Prosecutors Say Maui Doctor Took Powerful Drug From Hospital
Just three days after anesthesiologist, Gerhardt Konig, allegedly tried to kill his wife, Arielle, in March by pushing her off an O‘ahu cliff and injecting her with needles, court document say she contacted Honolulu police after finding the defendant’s Nike fanny pack on Maui.
Garden Isle residents and visitors alike now have a simpler, more flexible and cost-effective way to travel around the island. The Kaua‘i Bus has a new account-based ticketing system powered by Masabi’s Justride open platform. It allows passengers who have downloaded The Kaua‘i Bus app or picked up a Holomua card to simply tap and ride.
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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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