State Tourism Officials Grilled by Lawmakers

Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority officials were in the hot seat all day yesterday as lawmakers grilled them on questions about financial management and controversies, including a marketing contract with the Los Angeles Rams that left Hawaiʻi picking up the tab for a 400-person lūʻau with an open bar.

Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiʻi Tourism Is ‘Significantly Down’ and Experts Are Worried

Summertime is peak tourism season for Hawaiʻi from June through August. But the month of June is already showing decreasing daily passenger counts compared with 2024, mirroring what many in the Hawaiʻi tourism industry believe will be a slow summer with fewer travelers and bookings.

SFGATE.

Violence at State Hospital Triggers Workplace Safety Complaint

Employees at Hawaiʻi State Hospital are alleging unsafe working conditions there after a recent series of violent incidents, and their complaint has prompted an inquiry by the Hawaiʻi Occupational Health and Safety Division. One employee says more than three dozen assaults were recorded in each of the first three months of this year.

Civil Beat.

Governor Eyes Veto of E-Bike Safety Bill Over Constitutional Concerns

Earlier this month, Gov. Josh Green announced his intent to veto 19 bills passed during the 2024 legislative session, including House Bill 958, which aims to regulate the use of electric bicycles and other high-speed electric mobility devices.

KHON2.

U.S. Army Purple Heart Veteran Forced to Self-Deport From Hawaiʻi

After 48 years in the United States, decorated Army veteran Sae Joon Park left his life and family in Hawaiʻi on Monday, not knowing when he’ll see them again. He self deported to South Korea under the watchful eyes of ICE agents. Park tearfully hugged his son, daughter, parents, aunts and friends at the Honolulu airport.

Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

O‘ahu Headlines

Here’s What the Honolulu City Council Leadership Shakeup Could Mean for Policies Going Forward

The City Council underwent significant changes in leadership last week, leading to some optimism and uncertainty about the direction the council will go. Perhaps the most notable of those changes was to the council’s budget committee. Councilmember Val Okimoto is now chair, replacing Councilmember Tyler Dos Santos-Tam and removing him, Weyer and Cordero entirely from the committee.

Hawaiʻi Public Radio.

HECO: Oʻahu Customers to See Lower Electric Bills Under New Fuel Contract

Hawaiian Electric says customers on Oʻahu can expect slightly lower electric bills following a contract amendment with fuel supplier Par Hawaii. The agreement, approved by the state Public Utilities Commission, is expected to save the average household nearly $3 per month.

KHON2.

Mayor Expected to File Revised $5B City Budget Today

Today, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi is expected to file a revised version of the city’s more than $5-billion budget package for fiscal year 2026 with the Office of the City Clerk.

Star-Advertiser.

Oʻahu Property Tax Bills, Due Out in July, Criticized Over Accuracy

Dan Madden has a problem with city property tax assessments, and he believes many other Oʻahu homeowners do as well. Madden, a Honolulu real estate agent, contends that around 60,000 homeowners will receive city property tax bills in July that are significantly higher than they should be based on fair market value.

Star-Advertiser.

Study Proposes More Walkways and Bike Paths on Oʻahu

A recent study has identified gaps in Oʻahu’s bike and pedestrian network to create more transportation options for residents. It proposes new walkways and bike paths around Oʻahu to connect residents to workplaces, schools, and other services.

Hawaiʻi Public Radio.

Hawai‘i Island Headlines

Hilo Airport Runway Closes for Night Work

The main runway at the Hilo International Airport will close overnight for maintenance and reports. The runway will be closed from 10 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Monday through Wednesday. During the closure, the alternate runway will be used for aircraft operations.

Hawaii News Now. Big Island Now. Big Island Video News.

Firefighters Battle Blaze Near Honokōhau Harbor on Big Island

Big Island firefighters are battling a large fire in North Kona near Honokōhau Harbor. Witnesses said the fire broke out at a scrap metal facility in the area. The Hawaiʻi Fire Department is urging the public to avoid the scene due to heavy smoke.

KHON2. KITV4. Big Island Now.

Maui Headlines

Maui Short-Term Rental Bill Sparks Debate Over Free Speech and ‘Threatening Language’

Should Maui phase out about half of its short-term rentals? It’s a debate that has sparked strong feelings over the past year. “My office has received reports of threatening language on social media, and the committee as a whole has witnessed in public testimony the vulgarity and aggression that I speak of,” said Maui County Councilmember Tasha Kama.

Hawai‘i Public Radio.

Maui Water Wars: A&B Drops Out of Battle for Long-Term Water Control

Alexander & Baldwin, one of Hawai‘i’s largest commercial real estate holders, has controlled a 75-mile-long network of aging irrigation ditches delivering water from East Maui to Central Maui for 150 years. But not anymore. A&B just granted full ownership of the East Maui Irrigation Co. to a farming company owned by a Canadian pension fund.

Civil Beat.

Trucks Hauling 400,000 Tons of Lahaina Fire Debris to Central Maui

Monday marks one week since crews began hauling wildfire debris from West Maui to Central Maui. From sunup to sundown, up to 50 trucks marked “Lahaina Wildfire” are making multiple round trips from the temporary disposal site in Olowalu to the permanent disposal site in Central Maui, seven days a week for the next five months.

Hawaii News Now.

Kaua‘i Headlines

Trial Begins Over Proposed Kauaʻi Hotel Project on Controversial Site

A trial that began this week on Kauaʻi is stirring up over a century’s worth of concerns. It’s centered around a plot of land many believe should remain untouched. At the heart of the case is a proposed luxury hotel development on the Makai Golf Course in Princeville.

KITV4.

Maeda-Kobayashi Is New Kauaʻi Area Complex Superintendent

The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education appointed Leila Maeda-Kobayashi as the Kauaʻi Complex Area superintendent, according to a press release from the HiDOE.

Garden Island.