Gov. Josh Green Signs the Nation’s First Climate Impact Fee Into Law
Everyone who stays in a Hawaiʻi hotel, cruise ship or other lodging beginning Jan. 1 will pay an extra $30 for every $400 in overnight costs — or an additional $300 for every $4,000 spent to stay in the islands — to help Hawaiʻi pay to address climate change and reduce the risk of future wildfires.
Legislation Aims to Crack Down on Cannabis Industry, Improve Oversight
Several bills passed in the 2025 Legislative Session, aimed at improving transparency and oversight in Hawaiʻi’s growing hemp industry and addressing safety and continued access for patients relying on cannabis for medical treatment.
Hawaiʻi Has a New Ghost Gun Law. Will It Make a Difference?
Prosecutors have long lamented how difficult it is to penalize people caught with ghost guns — unserialized, untraceable firearms — so the Legislature passed a bill giving them more power. A couple of weeks ago, police said they arrested a man who fired an unserialized gun in Honolulu. Yet he wasn’t charged under the new ghost gun law.
Three Bills Aim to Protect Hawaiʻi’s Youth, Awaiting Governor’s Signature
Senate Bills 292 and 951, along with House Bill 613, focus on accountability, safety and access to essential services. All three bills passed with strong legislative and outside support. They are seen as vital steps toward addressing youth homelessness, exploitation and gaps in child welfare oversight. The measures are now awaiting Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green’s signature.
Senior Enlisted Man Based in Hawaiʻi Will Advise Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Pentagon announced Tuesday that Fleet Master Chief David Isom, a seasoned combat veteran, has been selected to serve as the senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, or SEAC. He will be the sixth person to take on the position since it was was created in 2005.
Budget Committee Chair Tyler Dos Santos-Tam’s version of the measure, which shaves the city’s decade-long span for increased rates down to about six years, will start Jan. 1, 2026 and run through 2031.
Rail Guideway Construction Hop Over Kalihi Causes Conflicts
Construction of the rail guideway for Honolulu’s Skyline is suddenly on the verge of reaching downtown and Kakaʻako because the contractor opted to complete the last mile of guideway and stations first, deferring work in Kalihi until later.
Grand Opening for Humane Society’s Dog Park Set for Saturday
The official opening of the Schuler Family Foundation and Jones Family Community Dog Park comes nearly two years after the Society’s Kosasa Family Campus at Ho‘opili opened in Leeward O‘ahu.
Mandatory 25% Water Restriction Effective Until Further Notice in Hakalau
A significant reduction in spring flows and operational issues with a backup well have caused Hawai‘i County Department of Water Supply to implement a mandatory 25% water restriction — effective immediately and until further notice — for customers in the Hakalau area of East Hawai‘i.
Groundbreaking Is Thursday for Papa‘aloa Park Covered Playcourt
The playcourt will replace the park’s plantation-era gymnasium that was razed in May 2022 after the building was declared unsalvageable due to extensive termite damage.
Service Printers Hawaii Still Flourishes Despite a Challenging Market
2025 SmallBiz Editor’s Choice Award winner: Mother-and-daughter team Kathy and Jodie Yamashiroya run the family business – Hawai‘i’s only union printing shop.
Maui Council Funds Affordable Housing, New Program to Help Working Poor
The Maui County Council set out to trim the mayor’s $1.5 billion budget proposal this spring, but the county’s spending plans ended up bigger than before to the tune of $46 million. Concerns about federal funding cuts spurred council members to set aside money for affordable housing and a new program benefitting the working poor.
Maui Bicycling League Urges Action on Vision Zero Following Well-Attended Ride of Silence
The Maui Bicycling League hosted its annual Ride of Silence on Saturday, May 24, along the Maui Veterans Highway Bike Path, drawing 37 riders and a powerful show of support from Maui County officials and the Maui Police Department.
First-Ever Beauty Operator Program Begins Next Month at UH Maui College
For the first time ever, the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College is offering Esthetician, Nail Technician, and Lash Extension and Enhancement courses as parts of a new Beauty Operator Program.
Final Workshop for Waimea 400 Housing Project Scheduled This Week
The workshop — scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday in the cafeteria at Waimea Canyon Middle School — will provide residents with updates about the county’s progress for the entire Waimea 400 site.
Central Pacific Bank has moved to a new location in Līhuʻe as part of the bank’s ongoing commitment and transition plan to serve the Garden Isle community.
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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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