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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
Lonohana Estate Chocolate Is Committed to Ethical Farming and Manufacturing
2025 SmallBiz Editor’s Choice Award winner: Co-founders Lawrence Boone and Seneca Klassen grow cacao trees on O‘ahu’s North Shore for their chocolate bars.
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.
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.
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.
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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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