Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Justice Apologizes For ‘Misinterpreting’ Case

The opinion, issued a week ago Tuesday by Sabrina McKenna one day before she took over as acting chief justice, dealt with the case of three former Honolulu officials who faced felony charges related to a $250,000 retirement payout quietly granted to disgraced police Chief Louis Kealoha.

Civil Beat.

Hawaii Library Association Promotes ‘Freedom to Read’

The Hawaii Library Association, in partnership with the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii, is marking Banned Books Week 2025 with a campaign celebrating the “Freedom to Read” and highlighting why access to diverse stories remains essential for Hawaiʻi’s communities.

Star-Advertiser.

Cuts to U.S. Geological Survey Division to Affect Hawaiʻi Research

Though few may have heard of it, the U.S. Geological Survey Ecosystems Mission Area has for decades worked on conservation science behind the scenes.

Star-Advertiser.

Oʻahu Democrats Looking for Candidates to Fill Senate Seat

The Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi Oʻahu County Committee is looking for candidates in the Pearl City-Waipahu area to fill the soon-to-be vacant state senate District 19 seat.

Hawaiʻi Public Radio.

O‘ahu Headlines

Home Sales on Oʻahu Surged in September

Sales of previously owned residences on the island surged 27.2% for single-family homes — to 276 last month from 217 a year earlier — while condominium transactions jumped 11.5% to 408 from 366 in the same period, according to data released Monday by the Honolulu Board of Realtors.

Star-Advertiser.

Pearl Harbor Bicycle Path Segment Completed, City Says

The city Department of Transportation Services announced that a $2.5 million project involving the first renovated segment of the more than 10-mile Pearl Harbor Historic Trail bike path recently ended near Kamehameha Highway in Aiea.

Star-Advertiser.

New Food Hub Initiative at Skyline Stations

The City and County of Honolulu is continuing to look for ways to improve Skyline, with their new initiative, Food Hubs at Skyline Stations.

KHON2.

Police Crack Down on Illegal Use of E-Bike, E-Dirt Bikes

Honolulu Police Department officers worked in Ewa and Kapolei to address the illegal use of electric bikes and electric dirt bikes.

Hawaii News Now.

Oʻahu Patients Hobble Up Stairs To Doctor’s Office

Patients have been without an elevator at Liliha Medical Building for months.

Civil Beat.

Beloved Hawaiʻi Business Survives Costly Embezzlement

Dave Leong, owner of Hawaiʻi’s beloved Dave’s Ice Cream, is sharing his story of financial devastation after he said his trusted bookkeeper embezzled from his accounts and saddled him with massive tax problems.

Hawaii News Now.

Hawai‘i Island Headlines

HTA Hears Feedback for Tourism Plan During Hilo Meeting

About 20 community members joined Hawaii Tourism Authority officials on Thursday night in Hilo for a two-hour meeting to brainstorm about areas for improvement across multiple sectors of Hawaiʻi Island tourism as part of the development of the island’s Destination Management Action Plan.

Tribune-Herald.

Can This West Hawaiʻi Coral Reef Be Saved From Sewage Runoff?

Cesspools in the Kohala Coast community of Puakō have been leaking into the ocean for years. So residents came up with a plan.

Civil Beat.

DOH Confirms Community-Acquired Mumps Case on Hawaiʻi Island

Health officials said this case is community-acquired, and not travel-related, suggesting that mumps may currently be circulating on the island.  The individual attended an event at Harold H. Higashihara Park in Kailua-Kona from 4:30 and 6 p.m. on Sept. 25.

Star-Advertiser. Big Island Now. Hawaii News Now.

TV Star and Comedian Sells Macadamia Nut Farm on Hawaiʻi Island for $2.6M

The sale for television star and comedian Roseanne Barr’s macadamia nut farm in Honokaa just closed for a $2.6 million.

Hawaii News Now.

Maui Headlines

Dark Money Group Blankets Maui In Ads To Influence Vacation Rental Bill

For months, a Washington, D.C.-based group called Progress Action has been spending thousands of dollars to inundate Maui residents with radio and online advertisements warning that Mayor Richard Bissen’s plan to phase out about half the island’s short-term rentals would be “a failure and a mistake.”

Civil Beat.

Maui Council Looks at Ways to Conserve Water Including Temporary Pool Ban

Severe drought is forcing Maui County officials to make tough choices about water usage.

KHON2.

Lahaina Businesses Took a ‘Backseat’ in Fire Recovery

Now the focus is turning to rebuilding Front Street. Last week, Maui County released design options that include keeping the once-bustling Front Street as a two-lane road and purchasing makai properties to develop a more connected waterfront. The designs are open for public comment through Friday.

Maui Now.

Kaua‘i Headlines

Kaua‘i Bus Launches Open Payments With Masabi

Riders now have a contactless option to pay for trips by tapping a credit or debit card or mobile wallet such as Apple Pay or Google Pay on any Kauaʻi Bus.

Kauai Now.

Department of Energy Cuts Funding for Kauaʻi’s Grid, Electric Vehicles

The Hawaiʻi State Energy Office oversees the awards, including two grants that total $18 million for technology to keep Kauaʻi’s electric grid stable as it brings online more intermittent energy resources like solar.

Hawaiʻi Public Radio.