Green Fee Showdown: DOJ Moves to Block Hawai‘i’s Climate Surcharge

There’s a new twist in the fight over Hawai‘i’s new Green Fee. The U.S. Department of Justice is jumping into the lawsuit against the state, and it could become a national test case about who gets to regulate ships.

KHON2.

Hawai‘i Lawmakers Call for Colleague to Step Forward in Bribery Investigation

State Reps. Della Au Belatti, a Democrat, and Kanani Souza, a Republican, are publicly calling for a colleague linked to a federal bribery investigation to step forward and explain their role in the case. The unnamed legislator is connected to the pay-to-play scandal that sent two former lawmakers, Kalani English and Ty Cullen, to prison in 2022.

Hawaii News Now.

Medical Cannabis Dispensary Rules Amended by Health Department

State officials are proposing several changes to the rules regarding medical cannabis dispensaries in Hawaiʻi.

Big Island Video News.

Evaluation Committee for Act 310 Nonprofit Grants to Announce Application Decisions

The state’s Act 310 Nonprofit Grants Program evaluation committee will host an information briefing Thursday (Nov. 20) to announce decisions on grant applications for fiscal year 2026.

Big Island Now.

Hawai‘i DOE Wants $83,000 to Provide Data on Gender Equity in Schools

The Hawaiʻi Department of Education has recently stepped up its oversight of high school sports, but parents say they want more information on how female athletes are treated.

Civil Beat.

O‘ahu Headlines

City Council Advances Bill to Incentivize Income-Based Rental Housing Program

The Honolulu City Council Budget Committee advanced a bill Tuesday to try to make an unused affordable housing program more attractive to landlords.

Hawai‘i Public Radio.

City Council Weighs New Measures to Curb Soaring Traffic Deaths

With traffic deaths nearly doubling compared to last year, Honolulu City Council members said Wednesday they are considering every possible tool, from enforcement to new technology, to get drivers to slow down and pay attention.

Hawaii News Now.

Contractor: City Offered $8M to Settle $320M Claim for Honolulu Rail Delays

Hitachi Rail Honolulu JV, which is still on the job, refiles a suit alleging HART exhibited an ‘inability to learn’ from its mistakes.

Civil Beat.

Fatal Police Shooting: Teen’s Family Could Get $1 Million Settlement

The Honolulu City Council is slated to vote on whether to approve the settlement in the 2021 death of 16-year-old Iremamber Sykap at its next meeting.

Civil Beat. KITV4.

Kahala Residents Push for Removal of Homeless Camps Along Stream

City officials recently replaced a gate to the access point for the Waialae Nui Stream near Malia Street after the one before it was torn out, allowing homeless people to crawl in.

Hawaii News Now.

4 Years After Fuel Leak, Board of Water Supply Continues Red Hill Remediation

Four years ago today, a massive jet fuel leak forever changed the Navy’s operations at its once-top-secret, underground Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility in Halawa Valley.

Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers Want Service Members to Be Able to Seek Damages for Red Hill

Two Pacific lawmakers are pushing the federal government to allow service members to seek compensation for toxic exposures connected to the Red Hill water crisis.

Star-Advertiser.

Hawai‘i Island Headlines

Disposable Foodware Bill Passes First Reading

The Hawai‘i County Council on Wednesday advanced a second draft of Bill 83 on first reading with an 8-1 vote, moving forward a proposal that would significantly expand the county’s restrictions on disposable plastic and polystyrene foodware.

Tribune-Herald.

Funds Eyed for Puapuaʻa Iki Restoration in Kona

The Hawai‘i County Council is set to consider a proposed $1.9 million budget amendment today that would fund the restoration of more than 11 acres of deforested land and cultural sites in Puapua‘a Iki in North Kona.

Tribune-Herald.

Tsunami Evacuation Exercise Friday in Keaukaha

According to a county press release, the exercise starts at 9 a.m. with students from participating schools following prepared evacuation plans as far as the airport gates at Andrews, Baker and Pua avenues.

Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.

Maui Headlines

Hawaiʻi’s New Remote Weather Stations Boost Wildfire Risk Assessment.

The state has installed 16 new weather stations across Maui County since the deadly fires in August 2023 and plans to install more soon on other islands.

Civil Beat.

Community Survey Asks About Brownfield Sites

Maui United Way, in partnership with Hā Sustainability, is inviting residents to participate in a short survey to help prioritize sites for environmental assessment and cleanup through the Maui United Way Environmental Recovery Initiative.

Maui News.

Maui Council Explores Ways to Reduce Alarming Rate of Ocean Drownings

Maui County faces a disproportionately high rate of ocean drowning fatalities, driven largely by the high number of visitors lured by the ocean’s beauty but unprepared for its hidden dangers.

Maui Now.

Kaua‘i Headlines

Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank Awarded $25,000 Grant From Nareit Hawai‘i

Nareit Hawai‘i announced earlier this week that it is awarding a total of $120,000 in grants to five community nonprofits throughout the state.

Kauai Now.

Enter to Win a Toilet From Kaua‘i’s Department of Water

The department will hold a grand prize drawing for three toilets recognized by WaterSense, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency program that identifies water-efficient products that perform as well as or better than conventional models.

Hawaii News Now.