State Seeks Public Input on Nā Ala Hele Trail Program

The program, part of the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife, manages hundreds of miles of trails and access roads across the state. Nā Ala Hele is updating its program plan, originally created in 1991, and seeks community input.

Big Island Now.

Hawaiʻi Hopes to Restore Broadband Access Grant Canceled by President

Hawaiʻi’s lieutenant governor is scrambling to find money to replace a broadband access grant terminated by President Donald Trump, who called the grant “racist” and a “woke giveaway.”

Hawaii News Now.

In Hawaiʻi, Drowning Is the Leading Cause of Death for Tourists, Children Under 15

Data indicates Hawaiʻi has the nation’s second-highest resident drowning rate, according to the Department of Health, with most fatal drownings among children aged 1 to 15 occurring in swimming pools.

Big Island Video News.

Bill to Guard Against Imitation Hawaiian Tea Could End Up Hurting Industry

Hawaiian māmaki tea is a buregoning cash crop, and lawmakers sought to protect the brand from folks who could do it harm by selling counterfeit products. Teamakers are worried about a bill passed this year that they say could restrict the sale of māmaki mixed with other natural herbs, such as mint and lavender. Officials stand by their work.

Civil Beat.

Movies and TV Shows Left Hawaiʻi. The Workers Followed

Film production has tanked here, despite our picturesque scenery, causing the professionals who make these shows possible to leave. Television shows that stabilized our local job force such as “NCIS Hawaiʻi” or “Rescue HI Surf” have been wrapped up or canceled, and no new productions are on the horizon. Workers say the state isn’t doing enough to stop the bleed.

Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

O‘ahu Headlines

Army Proposes Downsizing Its Training Grounds on Oʻahu

It looks like the U.S. Army wants to return the vast majority of the land it’s currently leasing from the state on Oʻahu. They’re proposing to return parts of the 4,390 acres in the Kawailoa-Poamoho Training Area, state-owned land in the Mākua Military Reservation and parts of the Kahuku Training Area, too.

Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

City Council Approves $40K Liquor Commission Settlement

Litigation involving the Honolulu Liquor Commission and one of its former investigators who claimed discrimination, harassment and a hostile work environment based on his sexual orientation while working for the agency has advanced toward a settlement.

Star-Advertiser.

EMS Director Says ‘Ambulances Are Safe’ After Recent Fire Sparks Concerns

Investigators with the Honolulu Fire Department are looking into what sparked an ambulance fire over the weekend.

Hawaii News Now.

Gondola Development Project Proposed for North Shore

Mt. Kaʻala is the tallest peak on Oʻahu, and the owner of Adventure Group in Canada owns 2,300 acres in Waialua and plans to develop it. “It would significantly impact a sacred and historical space,” said North Shore Neighborhood Board Vice-Chair Racquel Achiu-Hill. “Mount Kaʻala would now be compromised with a proposed gondola, ski lift operation that would lead into a zipline and cafe.”

KHON2.

West Loch Disaster Remembrance Planned

The Obama Hawaiian Africana Museum and the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency will host a remembrance ceremony Wednesday at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl honoring the anniversary of the deadly 1944 West Loch Disaster.

Star-Advertiser.

Waikīkī Restaurant Worries Tariff on Japan Will Affect Wagyu Beef Prices

Jack Sinanaj, the owner of Empire Steak House Hawaii in Waikīkī, is concerned about a 24% tariff on A-5 Wagyu beef from Japan — a small but real way the Trump administration’s tariffs could impact local businesses.

Hawaiʻi Public Radio.

Hawai‘i Island Headlines

Punalu‘u Village Project Thwarted

A controversial commercial development on the famous black-sand beaches of Hawai‘i island has been stalled by foreclosure. Black Sand Beach LLC had plans to develop Punalu‘u Village on 147 acres inland of Punalu‘u Bay in Kaʻu, where endangered hawksbill and green sea turtles nest.

Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiʻi County Not Accepting Permit Applications May 23-25 Due to System Update

The County of Hawaiʻi Department of Public Works will update its Electronic Process Information System for permit applications on May 23 to improve the site’s performance and change the service fees.

Big Island Now.

Maui Headlines

Reef-Friendly Landscaping Summit Launches to Protect Kāʻanapali’s Shoreline

The Pilikahakai Foundation, a nonprofit rooted in Native Hawaiian values and dedicated to preserving Kāʻanapali Beach, hosted its inaugural Reef-Friendly Landscaping Summit over the weekend, aimed at advancing sustainable land care practices that protect West Maui’s coastline.

Maui Now.

Planned Parenthood to Offer Vasectomy Services on Maui

Planned Parenthood expects to start offering vasectomy services at its Honolulu and Kahului Health Centers, with procedures beginning June 12 and 13.

Maui News.

National Award Recognizes Molokaʻi’s Efforts to Improve the Health of Its Land and People

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Culture of Health Prize celebrates communities across the U.S. that highlight locally-led solutions to healthier futures. Molokaʻi was one of nine communities awarded this year.

Hawaiʻi Public Radio.

Kaua‘i Headlines

Petroleum Company on Kaua‘i Cited for Hazardous Waste Violations

The Hawai‘i Department of Health issued a Notice of Violation and Order against IES Downstream, a limited liability company, for violating the state’s hazardous waste management laws at its ‘Ele‘ele storage terminal on Kaua‘i.

Kaua‘i Now.

Surfrider Foundation Kaua‘i Releases Monthly Water Quality Tests for Beaches, Streams

Water quality in several Kaua‘i streams had overwhelming levels of bacteria recorded during the SurfRider Foundation’s monthly testing in May.

Kaua‘i Now.