U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth Arrives in Hawaii.

This is the first leg on Hegseth’s trip, which will take him to Japan next, then Malaysia, Vietnam, and South Korea.

Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiʻi Is Making a Big Push to Increase College Enrollment. Will It Work?

A new program offers Hawaiʻi seniors guaranteed admissions to nine University of Hawaiʻi campuses, but advocates say more needs to be done if UH really wants to reach more disadvantaged students.

Civil Beat.

AARP Report Shows Strain on Hawaii Caregivers

Nearly 1 in 4 adults in Hawaii — about 260,000 people — serve as family caregivers each year, a role that is largely unpaid and often unsupported, according to newly released data from AARP.

Star-Advertiser.

Not Enough After-School Child Care to Meet Demand, Hawaiʻi Report Finds

Hawaiʻi families love after-school care programs and need more of them. Those are the bottom lines from a new report titled “America After 3PM.”

Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiʻi Joins Multistate Lawsuit Over Federal Suspension of Snap Benefits

Attorney General Anne Lopez announced Tuesday that Hawaiʻi has joined 24 other states in filing a lawsuit against the US Department of Agriculture over the looming suspension of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), otherwise known as food stamps.

KHON2. Maui Now.

O‘ahu Headlines

Rail Authority Board Elects New Leadership

One month after the resignation of former rail board chair Colleen Hanabusa, a new leader is in charge.

Hawaii News Now.

HART Oks $500K Toward Crash Settlement

A fiery car crash that killed three people in Ewa Beach in 2017 has resulted in a $1.17-million settlement agreement, following lawsuits claiming the single-­vehicle collision was caused by a wrongly placed concrete pillar built for the city’s over-$10 billion elevated guideway and rail project.

Star-Advertiser.

$10K/Day Fines: Navigating Oʻahu’s Short Term Rental Landscape

In Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, short term vacation rentals (STR) have become one of the most debated topics on Oʻahu.

KHON2.

Freezing Funds and Meals, Hawai‘i Senior Braces for Loss of Food Assistance

Martha Randolph, a senior from Pacific Heights, relies on the monthly funds to buy food.

Hawaii News Now.

Hawai‘i Island Headlines

Concerns Raised Over Ainako Housing Project

Dozens of community members gathered last week at the Aupuni Center Conference Room in Hilo to share their thoughts about a proposed affordable housing project planned for nearly 61 acres of county-owned land near Hilo Benioff Medical Center.

Tribune-Herald.

Police: Speeding, Reckless Driving on the Rise

The Hawaii Police Department is urging motorists to drive responsibly following a recent increase in reports and incidents involving reckless and dangerous driving.

Tribune-Herald.

Food Lines Form in Hawaiʻi as Snap Benefits Near Expiration

The Food Basket held an ‘Ohana Food Drop in Hilo last Friday, while Vibrant Hawaiʻi’s islandwide “Aloha In Action” effort is activating 12 community food distribution sites across the Big Island.

Big Island Video News.

Maui Headlines

Maui Council Sets Nov. 3 Special Meeting to Establish Process for Filling Kahului Vacancy

The Maui County Council will hold a special meeting at 9 a.m. Nov. 3 — and take public testimony — to establish a process to fill the Kahului residency seat vacancy left Sunday by the death of Council Member Natalie “Tasha” Kama.

Maui Now.

Upcountry Water Shortage Downgraded to Stage 2; Once Weekly Irrigation Allowed on Set Days.

Following recent rainfall that improved surface water flows and replenished reservoirs, the County of Maui Department of Water Supply is suspending the Stage 3 Upcountry water shortage alert and downgrading it to Stage 2, effective immediately and until further notice.

Maui Now.

Lā Kūʻokoʻa Celebration and Walk to Honor HawaiʻI’s Independence.

A community celebration of Lā Kūʻokoʻa (Hawaiʻi’s Independence Day) will be held Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Queen Kaʻahumanu Center.

Maui Now.

Kaua‘i Headlines

Mainlanders Are Filling Up Kauaʻi’s Low-Income Housing Waitlist

On Kauaʻi, a long waitlist for low-income housing is bogged down by nonresidents, some from states thousands of miles away.

Civil Beat.

Kaua‘i Police Seek Help in Identifying Remains Found in April

Police said a DNA profile is now available to compare with missing persons reports or family reference samples.

Kaua‘i Now. Star-Advertiser.

Dry Season Wraps Up in Hawai‘i, Leaving Kaua‘i Wetter Than Usual

According to the National Weather Service in Honolulu, the rainfall during the dry season, which runs from May through September, was slightly above average on the Garden Isle, while less rain was seen on the Big Island, O‘ahu and Maui County.

Kaua‘i Now.