Manager Alleges Potential Fraud in Homeless Village Construction

A contractor working for the state says Hawaiʻi violated building codes and mismanaged taxpayer dollars while building tiny homes for homeless people. In a letter to the governor and top state officials, a construction manager on the project pointed the finger at nonprofit HomeAid Hawaiʻi, which the state hired to manage its sprawling Kauhale Initiative. HomeAid Hawaiʻi is denying these allegations.

Civil Beat.

Advocates Explain Rights Regarding ICE Agents

Advocates and educators gathered virtually Tuesday evening to share critical guidance with Hawaiʻi families and public school staff on how to respond if U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents show up at school.

Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Criminals Mailing Illegal Fireworks to Hawaiʻi Mostly Get Away With It

U.S. postal service officials have seized illegal fireworks more than 130 times in the past six years. They pull hundreds of pounds of fireworks headed for Hawaiʻi addresses each year, yet just six arrests have been made, and prosecutions almost never occur.

Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi High School Surfing Still a Tough Wave to Catch

Lawmakers passed House Bill 133, which has the backing of Gov. Josh Green and would appropriate $685,870 in each of the next two fiscal years to help cover expenses for public high schools in regional athletic leagues that include surfing as an interscholastic sport, which is something that currently exists only on Maui.

Star-Advertiser.

Bomb Threat Delays Hawaiian Airlines Flight to Honolulu

A Hawaiian Airlines flight from San Diego bound for Honolulu Tuesday morning was stopped shortly before takeoff after a passenger allegedly threatened to bomb the aircraft.

Star-Advertiser. Associated Press. Hawaii News Now.

O‘ahu Headlines

HGEA Finalizes $41 Million Hazard Pay Settlement

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blan­giardi’s administration has finalized a multimillion-dollar settlement with the Hawaii Government Employees Association involving dangerous COVID-19-era work.

Star-Advertiser.

Army Official Discusses Proposed Return of State Land on Oʻahu

A week after a brutal seven-hour public hearing before the state Land Board over the military’s land lease at Pōhakuloa on the Big Island, the U.S. Army released a report signaling it was considering drastically pulling back on its footprint on Oʻahu.

Hawaiʻi Public Radio.

Judge Rules Miske’s Mother Can’t Represent Granddaughter’s Interests

Convicted organized crime leader Michael Miske died in prison while awaiting sentencing, and the feds are looking to seize his property, which they said it was derived from his racketeering activities. Miske’s mother tried to seek guardianship of Miske’s granddaughter, whose father was Miske’s late son. A judge just denied his mother’s motion.

Civil Beat.

Waikīkī Will Step Up Safety Efforts This Summer

There will be new enhanced patrols starting up and a plan to tap into hundreds of private cameras overlooking public areas.

KITV4.

Fire Prevention Pilot Program in Oʻahu Neighborhood Park Turns to Lamb-Scaping

The 3.5-acre Laukahi Slopes Mini Park in the middle of a Waiʻalae Iki neighborhood on Oʻahu is hilly and overgrown with trees, bushes and grass — a fire risk.

Hawaiʻi Public Radio.

Hawai‘i Island Headlines

Thousands on the Big Island Could Face Cuts in SNAP Benefits

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program helps 21,472 Hawai‘i Island households by providing an average of $365 in monthly federal support for food, according to state DHS statistics from mid-May.

Tribune-Herald.

Hokule‘a, Hikianalia Head to Hilo

The Hokule‘a and Hikianalia voyaging canoes are expected to arrive in Hilo this afternoon, and celebrations honoring their trans-Pacific journey will be happening this weekend.

Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.

Maui Headlines

Federal Lawsuit Details Graphic Sexual Harassment Allegations Against Pāʻia Inn Owner

A federal lawsuit alleges that Pāʻia Inn owner Michael Baskin used drugs to try to engage in sexual acts with female employees, some teenagers, while in his hotel room, and the young women were “unable to consent” because “they were under the influence of drugs and alcohol.”

Maui Now.

Maui Woman Breaks Silence on Her Disappearance

Hannah Kobayashi, a Maui woman who disappeared from Los Angeles International Airport in November, kicking off an international search before resurfacing in Mexico a month later, spoke out on social media this week about her “loss, pain and suffering.”

Star-Advertiser.

Maui’s Unemployment Remains at 3.0% in April

Maui County’s labor market grew slightly in April, continuing momentum from a milestone in March that marked the highest number of employed residents since the August 2023 wildfires. About 79,600 people were employed in Maui County in April, according to a report from the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

Maui Now.

Kaua‘i Headlines

Graduation Time: Public High School Graduations This Friday

Friday marks a milestone for nearly 700 seniors in the three public high schools on Kaua‘i as the students and their support group of family and friends celebrate graduation.

Garden Island.

Full Closure Scheduled on Temporary Kapa‘a Bypass Road Later This Month

A full closure of the Temporary Kapa‘a Bypass Road (Route 5600) is scheduled for later this month to install new striping and paving markers on the newly paved road, according to Hawai‘i Department of Transportation.

Kaua‘i Now.