Hawaiʻi Is a Great Place to Grow Old — But Only for Some

Hawaiʻi is aging quickly. And while we’ve been recognized as one of the nation’s healthiest places for seniors, there are significant health disparities and housing struggles in our islands. Take a look at the numbers in today’s Data Dive.

Civil Beat.

State Funding During Shutdown Less Than Expected

Hawaiʻi stepped in to provide a financial and food assistance lifeline during the record-long federal government shutdown and now expects to end up paying far less in state funds than expected.

Star-Advertiser.

Ethics Panel Fines State Senator Brenton Awa

An ethics panel has reprimanded and fined state Sen. Brenton Awa for using state resources to encourage voters to elect his former office manager to the Legislature.

Star-Advertiser.

Why Hawaiʻi Tenants Can Be Left Out to Dry by the State

A decades-old law renders the Hawaiʻi Office of Consumer Protection powerless on tenant issues, kicking the responsibility to the Hawaiʻi Residential Landlord-Tenant Center. One small problem: The Center doesn’t provide legal advice, meaning tenants have to hire their own lawyer or represent themselves in court. Some policymakers say it’s time to do more to protect low-income renters.

Civil Beat.

Could Hawaiʻi’s Japanese Visitor Market Be Making a Comeback?

Visitors from Japan were up 16% in October — the second month in a row of solid growth — and visitor spending from Japan was up as well.

Hawaiʻi Public Radio.

O‘ahu Headlines

Honolulu City Council OKs ‘Constitutional Rights’ Measure

The Honolulu City Council is urging Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration to affirm the constitutional rights of all Oʻahu residents regardless of citizenship or immigration status.

Star-Advertiser.

Council Member Accuses Mayor’s Administration of Coercion Over Housing Vote

Honolulu City Council member Val Okimoto says a senior member of Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration threatened to withhold funding from her Central Oʻahu district. The trade, she said: A vote in favor of the mayor’s choice for housing director.

Civil Beat.

Who Will Lead Ocean Safety for the Next 5 Years?

A packed room filled with current and former lifeguards, community members and city leaders, are leaning in on the Ocean Safety Commission’s most important task in front of them – selecting a chief who will lead the brand new department for the next five years.

KHON2.

Police Shut Down Gambling Operation in ʻEwa Beach

The gambling bust took place at a business located near Old Fort Weaver Road at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 3. Honolulu Police Department officers from the Narcotics Vice Division executed a search warrant in which 18 gambling machines worth an estimated value of $155,000, along with $5,037 in cash were seized.

KITV4.

Erosion Fears Prompt Removal of 12 Ironwood Trees at Kailua Beach

Ironwood trees have been part of the Kailua Bay shoreline for years. But more and more of them are becoming casualties as the ocean eats away at the sand that’s beneath them.

Hawaii News Now.

Hawai‘i Island Headlines

Bond Revoked for Hilo Attorney Sulla

U.S. District Chief Magistrate Judge Kenneth Mansfield on Thursday found probable cause that Paul Sulla engaged in the unauthorized practice of law while free on bond, after being ordered to cease practice by the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court on July 29.

Tribune-Herald.

$1.9 Million Awarded for Puapuaʻa Iki Habitat Restoration

The project will restore 11.5 acres of coastal land and provide shoreline stabilization while protecting historic infrastructure on the site.

Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

Maui Headlines

Maui Emergency Management Agency Wraps Up Work On Monthslong Wildfire Risk Reduction Project

A wildfire risk-reduction project on county-owned land in West Maui led to the removal of 123 vehicles, more than 1,200 tires, 10 drums of oil, at least two pieces of heavy equipment and other debris.

Maui News. Maui Now.

Bookkeeper’s ‘Miracle’ House Listed in the National Register of Historic Places

The Pioneer Mill Company/Lahaina Ice Company (PMCo/LICo) Bookkeeper’s House in Lahaina, more recently dubbed the “Miracle House” after the August 2023 wildfires on Maui, has been added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Maui Now. KHON2.

Lahaina Fire-Ravaged Neighborhood to Get New Sewer System

The Environmental Protection Agency says it is almost finished with designing the system to replace the cesspools or septic systems now used by 231 single-family properties.

Hawaii News Now.

Kaua‘i Headlines

Līhuʻe and Kapaʻa DMV Offices to Close for Staff Training Next Week

The Kaua‘i Division of Motor Vehicles will close its main Līhu‘e office and the recently opened Kapa‘a satellite location next week to allow for staff training, county officials announced. Both offices are scheduled to close on Wednesday, Dec. 10, and resume normal operations on Dec. 11.

Kauaʻi Now.

Kauaʻi RSVP Volunteers Recognized, Celebrated During Annual Luncheon

The Thursday gathering of more than 250 people at the Koloa Landing Resort came down to honoring and recognizing the volunteer time put forth by members of Kauaʻi Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), an Americorps Seniors affiliate, and other community volunteers.

Garden Island.