A new Hawai‘i County Council was seated and got to work in December 2024 with a few new faces at the table, including one who represents Kohala.

Opening day of the 2025 session of the Hawai‘i Legislature is next week on Jan. 15.

Waimea Community Association invites residents of the Kohala and Hāmākua communities to come learn about the priorities of their elected local and state government officials directly from them during its next town meeting.

The meeting is from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday in the Jerry Nelson Conference Room of the W.M. Keck Observatory headquarters, located at 65-1120 Māmalahoa Highway, in Waimea.

State Sen. Tim Richards, who represents Senate District 4 (North Hilo, Hāmākua, Kohala, Waimea, Waikoloa, North Kona), and state Rep. David Tarnas, who represents House District 8 (Hāwī, Hala‘ula, Waimea, Makahalau, Waiki‘i, Waikōloa, Kawaihae, Māhukona), will speak about policy issues and priorities, their committee assignments and how the community can participate in the state legislative process.

Two members of the Hawai’i County Council are presenting as well — Hāmākua Councilwoman Heather Kimball and newly elected Kohala Councilman James Hustace.

Hustace will speak in person. Kimball, chairwoman of the Hawai‘i State Association of Counties, will attend via Zoom from Washington, D.C., where she is participating in briefings with presidential and congressional leadership.

There will be time for questions and answers.

Community members are urged to submit questions prior to the meeting by email at waimeacommunityassociation@gmail.com.

Questions can also be shared in person or on chat by those watching the livestream on Waimea Community Association’s Facebook page and will be be addressed as time permits.

The spotlighted nonprofit organization for January will be Hawai‘i County 4-H Equine Council represented by Kohala educator and horsewoman Fern White.

Also participating in the meeting will be South Kohala police Capt. Roy Valera and Community Policing Officer Justin Cabanting with an update about public safety news and events.

Community members can attend in person or watch the meeting livestream on the Waimea Community Association Facebook page or YouTube channel.

A recording of the meeting also will be available on Facebook and YouTube for later viewing.

2025 Waimea Community Association leadership

Waimea Community Association recently elected new leadership for 2025.

Former vice president Mary Beth Laychak was elected president and former president Nancy Carr Smith was selected as vice president.

Mary Beth Laychak was recently elected president of Waimea Community Association. (Photo Courtesy: Waimea Community Association)

Other officers for the new year include newly elected secretary Makela Bruno and re-elected treasurer Victor Tom.

Board members are Patti Cook, David Greenwell, Lani Olsen-Chong, Riley Smith, Ryan Ushijima and Chris Wong.

Email Waimea Community Association President Mary Beth Laychak at waimeacommunityassociation@gmail.com or click here for additional information about the upcoming town meeting or the association.

A report submitted to the Hawaiʻi Legislature Friday concludes that illegal fireworks are being smuggled into the state by sea and air on a year-round and possibly daily basis.

It’s sustained by a flourishing and well-established black market that local law enforcement has found difficult to disrupt and dismantle.

The report from the state’s Illegal Fireworks Task Force urges the Legislature to consider creating a full-time criminal investigation unit within the Department of Law Enforcement to confront the problem on a permanent basis.

“Only a full-time approach can bring the necessary cultural changes to confront the fireworks problem at-large in Hawaii,” the report states.

The Salt Lake area viewed after midnight from a Honolulu Airport parking structure showed only a small portion of the many aerial fireworks ignited this New Year’s Eve. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2025)

While specific funding, staffing and equipment for the unit are not suggested in the report, it also recommends a new firearms and explosives laboratory — estimated to cost $2 million — within the law enforcement agency. Hawaiʻi has only one forensic lab, housed in the Honolulu Police Department.

Sen. Karl Rhoads, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, welcomed the recommendation for a new criminal unit.

“I think it’s the only really viable idea because, as they point out, there’s a lot of similarities between narcotics and fireworks,” Rhoads said. “And they’ve been using the narcotics investigators to investigate fireworks cases. That’s great in the short term, but it’s not going to work in the long term.”

An ‘Alluring Attraction’ To Make Money Illegally

The task force’s work was ordered by lawmakers in 2023, long before the massive fireworks explosion on New Year’s Eve in a Salt Lake neighborhood on Oʻahu. As of Monday, four people have been reported dead and around two dozen injured from that explosion, while another person was killed in a separate fireworks-related incident on Oʻahu.

Now, leaders including Hawaiʻi’s governor, Honolulu’s mayor and several state senators and representatives are stepping up their demands for action.

In addition to the Department of Law Enforcement, agencies taking part in the task force include the Honolulu Police Department, the Department of the Attorney General, the Department of Public Safety, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and U.S. Customs and Border Control.

Their recommendations are likely to be considered by the Legislature, which convenes Jan. 15.

The Illegal Fireworks Task Force, which will conclude its work in June unless the Legislature extends its mission, was required to submit a final report this month. It previously reported that 227,000 pounds of illegal fireworks have been seized.

The Friday report says that two people have pleaded no contest to felony indictments and 20 others were issued misdemeanor citations. The report says there are ongoing criminal investigations, so public discussion of tactics, techniques and procedures “would frustrate legitimate government interests.”

The report, though only eight pages long, offers several insights into why the illegal enterprise is so popular. It calls the marketplace “an alluring attraction” for those looking to make money illegally.

Street sources, according to the report, say that the return on investment for those who smuggle illegal fireworks into Hawaii is at a rate of 5 to 1. That means that if a typical smuggling organization purchases a shipping container of fireworks for $200,000 at wholesale, that same container has a street value of about $1 million once it arrives in the islands.

‘Kingpins, Conspirators’ Run Illicit Networks

During the 2023 holiday season the task force found that street prices for illegal fireworks were already “astronomically high.” The Department of Law Enforcement said prices had been expected to be higher during the 2024 holiday season because there was “heat” from law enforcement and risk of loss of investment due to bulk seizures.

In short, the task force aims “to price offenders out of the marketplace,” leading to reduced demand.

But it will take long-term, comprehensive investigations to not only seize prohibited explosive material but also to find and prosecute the people running the illicit networks — “kingpins, conspirators, and their associated criminal finances and assets.”

To do that, a new crime unit is necessary because the task force is only part time. While claiming success from its work, the task force concept in the long term “is not sustainable” the report states.

It does not call for increased penalties for possession of contraband. Nor does it accomplish two of its primary purposes: to develop a comprehensive strategic plan to stop illegal fireworks, and to ensure the safety and security of airports, harbors and other facilities from explosive discharges.

The first goal requires more work, the report states, which will begin “in earnest” this year. And, while the task force says it has increased awareness and surveillance at Hawaii’s ports of entry and mail distribution systems, “a sustained full-time effort” is needed.

A number of new laws took effect starting Jan. 1.

At least four of those laws are related to medicine — with two intended to facilitate the licensing of physicians and nurses, which are in short supply in Hawaii.

Act 112, from a bill introduced in 2023 by state Sen. Joy San Buenaventura, a Puna Democrat, makes Hawaii a part of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. That affiliation will make it easier for licensed physicians coming to Hawaii from other states.

The IMLC currently includes 40 states, including Hawaii, plus the District of Columbia and Guam, and three additional states have introduced legislation to join.

“The interstate compact is one of the bills that (Hawaii Medical Service Association), Kaiser, and the military were all hoping would pass, because it will help them recruit more medical providers to Hawaii,” San Buenaventura told the Tribune-Herald while the Legislature was in session last year. “We also know there are doctors here in Hawaii that are retirees who would be more than willing to work part time, but don’t want to go through the effort of having to get re-licensed and re-credentialed.”

The state estimates Hawaii has a shortage of 768 physicians statewide, a 21% deficit. Hawaii Island’s physician shortfall is estimated at 40%.

Act 95, another new law, allows out-of-state licensed registered nurses and practical nurses who hold a multi-state license issued by another state, territory or country to apply for a temporary work permit simultaneously with an application for a license to practice in Hawaii.

The act was one of 22 health care measures signed into law by Gov. Josh Green, a physician, on June 27 last year.

Using federal Health Resources and Service Administration methodology, Hawaii this year is estimated to face a deficit of around 3,311 registered nurses alone, representing a 28% shortfall in the nursing workforce statewide. Big Island hospitals, including Hilo Benioff Medical Center, have turned to travel nurses to close the gap.

Act 91 authorizes minors who are at least 14 years old to consent to medical care and services for sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy and family planning services, including the prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). It requires confidentiality policies and practices for insurers and health care providers.

The law, part of governor’s legislative package introduced by Sen. President Ron Kouchi, closes what’s been described as a critical gap in minor access to medical services related to STIs, including HIV. For decades, Hawaii law has permitted minors aged 14 to 17 to independently consent to medical care for the treatment of STIs but not for prevention.

Act 91 will permit minors 14 to 17 who are at risk for exposure to STIs to consent to medical care for the prevention of STIs. There is now medication that can be taken by an individual at risk for HIV in order to prevent infection.

On Facebook, the state Department of Health said it “encourages minors to involve a parent or guardian in seeking medical care to prevent STIs.”

“However, often minors who could benefit from this medical care do not involve parents or guardians out of fear of disclosing their sexual behavior or sexual orientation,” the post continues. “Act 91 will allow more teens to access medical care to help keep them safe.”

And Act 104 allows licensed pharmacists to administer vaccines to persons 3 years of age or older without a prescription from a doctor, if certain requirements are met.

Also taking effect on New Year’s Day are laws that: establishes kalo, the Hawaiian word for taro, as the state plant; expands the definition of “beer” to include alcoholic seltzers; requires lobbyists’ expenditures statements to include the identity of the legislative or administrative action that was commented on, supported by, or opposed by the person filing the statement; requires state legislators to include the names of lobbyists with whom the legislator has a relationship; requires public meeting notices to inform testifiers how to provide remote oral testimony allowing the testifier, upon request, to be visible to board members and other meeting participants; establishes judicial procedures to prevent and remedy abusive litigation; requires motion picture and other media productions to provide evidence of reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable requirements to qualify for the income tax credit; and expands the transient accommodations tax law to include certain shelters and vehicles with sleeping accommodations.

Gov. Josh Green's office said it has helped to arrange a medevac flight to send six burn victims from the New Year’s fireworks blast in Āliamanu to the continental U.S. for further medical treatment.

Hawaiʻi's only burn unit at Straub Benioff Medical Center cannot handle all of the casualties from the fatal fireworks accident.

The Honolulu Department of the Medical Examiner on Friday identified two women killed as Nelie Ibarra, 58, and Jennifer Van, 23. The identity of the third woman has not yet been confirmed.

At a news conference on New Year's Day, Green emphasized the need to stop firework shows on neighborhood streets and proposed holding safe firework displays in the community.

"Love your family. Avoid this. Let us put on firework displays in the community. Let us spend the monies to have something special for our citizens, which is what we've been proposing," he said at the news conference. "I know that this is a deep and important cultural tradition to many people to have some celebration with minor fireworks on New Year's and Fourth of July, but it's taking the lives of young people."

Sen. Glenn Wakai, who represents Āliamanu and sits on the Public Safety Committee, said he thinks Hawaiʻi does not need more laws around illegal fireworks. Instead, he said the state needs better enforcement.

"I'm not a big fan of increasing penalties or making more laws. I'm a big fan of funding DLE (Department of Law Enforcement) properly and giving them the tools and resources to go after all the bad actors in our community," Wakai said.

Wakai said that he doesnʻt want to ban all fireworks. However, he added that non-permitted, non-professional fireworks need to end.

"I just say we need to put the right personnel and fund DLE properly, let them do their job. They've shown us that they can do a good job by taking, what, 200,000 pounds of fireworks off the street. They just need more personnel to be able to investigate as well as prosecute those scoundrels," Wakai said.

Law enforcement responding to the scene on Keaka Drive. (Jan. 1, 2025)Courtesy Angelina Bagaforo

Sen. Karl Rhoads, the chair of the Judiciary Committee, said that it might be more helpful to raise the penalty to a Class B felony for the importation of illegal fireworks.

"There's an awful lot of people who want to buy illegal fireworks and as a result that makes it very difficult. I think there are things that we could do. There's been a number of bills introduced in the last few years... this is a whole new level of tragedy in terms of the consequences. But it's something that many of our constituents have been complaining to us about for years," Rhoads said.

However, he said there have been various roadblocks to dealing with illegal fireworks.

"You need resources to fight. You need personnel and you need money. I have to think that this tragedy will encourage people at all levels of government to take the issue more seriously," Rhoads said.

Rhoads shared that a 2019 law pinned liability on homeowners who allow someone to use their property for illegal fireworks. Act 248 also allows photographs and videos of fireworks to be submitted as evidence in court.

Under pressure to secure its financial standing in the wake of the Maui wildfires, Hawaiian Electric Industries has completed a sale of 90.1% of its shares in American Savings Bank to independent investors.

What You Need To Know

HEI, which is responsible for roughly half of a $4 billion settlement with wildfire survivors, received $405 million in the transaction.

None of the 24 investors, which includes the bank’s executive team and independent directors, owns more than 9.9% of ASG common stock. HEI also retained a 9.9% interest in the bank

The transaction drew a favorable response from state Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole, chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Affairs
HEI is proposing a $1 billion dollar fund, created by a $4 per month additional charge to its customers, to cover claims related to future natural disasters.

HEI, which is responsible for roughly half of a $4 billion settlement with wildfire survivors, received $405 million in the transaction. HEI has already contributed $75 million to the One Ohana Initiative in partial fulfillment of its settlement obligation.

“The sale allows HEI to enhance our focus on the utility as we work to help our state recover from the 2023 Maui wildfires and strengthen the financial and strategic position of our company,” HEI president and CEO Scott Seu said in a statement released on Tuesday.

None of the 24 investors, which includes the bank’s executive team and independent directors, owns more than 9.9% of ASG common stock. HEI also retained a 9.9% interest in the bank.

The transaction drew a favorable response from state Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole, chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

“The sale of ASB is a significant step by HEI to show that the company and their shareholders are taking responsibility for their financial situation in the wake of the Maui wildfires,” Keohokalole said in a statement released on Tuesday. “This, combined with their stock sale in September 2024, demonstrates that HEI is taking the concerns of the Legislature and rate payers seriously.”

The utility previously sought approval to raise rates to help cover the cost of the settlement. The proposal was supported by Gov. Josh Green, who said it would help prevent large rate increases in the future. However, Keohokalole and other legislators resisted giving the utility what they considered a blank check without a clear plan in place for stabilizing its financial condition.

HEI is now proposing a $1 billion dollar fund, created by a $4 per month additional charge to its customers, to cover claims related to future natural disasters.

“Our concern last session was adding to the cost of ratepayers’ electrical bills without assurances that Hawaiian Electric’s stockholders were doing their part to absorb the costs,” Keohokalole said. “Today’s announcement appears to validate those concerns. It is especially encouraging to hear that the sale is structured to keep local jobs and operations of a local bank in local hands.”

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at michael.tsai@charter.com.

HONOLULU (KHON2) — On Jan. 7, the Hawaiʻi State Legislature will hold a joint informational briefing between the House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection and the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment to discuss the proposed Oʻahu landfill and its potential impacts.

The Honolulu Department of Environmental Services and the Honolulu Board of Water Supply will provide presentations to the joint committees.

“Protecting Hawaiʻi’s precious water supply is essential for sustaining life and preserving our environment,” said Rep. Nicole E. Lowen, chair of the House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection. “We aim to fully understand the implications and potential impacts of the proposed location for the new landfill.”

Controversy looms over potential sites for Oahu landfill

Senator Mike Gabbard, chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment, echoed the need to protect the environment.

“Choosing the site of Oʻahu’s next landfill affects everyone island-wide, not only now, but for generations to come,” he said. “It’s important that we gather all the facts from the City and County, the Board of Water Supply and other experts before we make a final decision.”

The meeting can be streamed live starting at 9 a.m. on Jan. 7 on YouTube.

GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARADVERTISER.COM

Gov. Josh Green, flanked by Mayor Rick Blangiardi, Police Chief Arthur “Joe” Logan and Fire Chief Sheldon Hao, spoke at an HPD press conference regarding the deaths and injuries suffered earlier on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025 on Keaka Drive following a massive fireworks explosion.

The call for stricter fireworks laws was immediate in the aftermath of the deadly New Year’s tragedy at 4137 Keaka Drive in Aliamanu.

Starting at the top with Gov. Josh Green and Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi, lawmakers and other leaders are again demanding to get a handle on contraband fireworks that each year create massive, illegal blasts that light up the skies in nearly every neighborhood on Oahu.

“Right now, people are taking terrible risks with other family members and the community,” Green said at a news conference Wednesday, while also expressing condolences to the loved ones of the victims and imploring residents to prioritize safety. “Soon, you’ll probably be taking a risk with your own freedom,” Green warned. “I don’t think anybody should want to go to jail for five years or pay tens of thousands of dollars of fines.”

In addition to the tragedy that killed three women and injured dozens of others in Aliamanu, a 19-year-old man suffered fatal injuries in a separate fireworks-related incident Tuesday night in Kalihi amid dozens of other reported injuries.

As the toll climbed Wednesday, authorities turned their focus to tougher enforcement and stiffer penalties.

State law establishes times during certain holiday periods — New Year’s, Lunar New Year and the Fourth of July — and other restrictions for the legal use of consumer fireworks such as sparklers and fountains but also allows the counties to set their own stricter rules.

Since Jan. 2, 2011, consumer fireworks have been banned on Oahu.

State law also prohibits possession of aerial devices, display fireworks or other pyrotechnic articles without a valid license.

Unauthorized possession or use of fireworks is a Class C felony carrying a penalty of up to five years in prison and fines up to $10,000.

Despite these regulations, fireworks are often set off in residential areas throughout the year, particularly during the holiday season from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day.

According to Honolulu Police Department Chief Joe Logan, a preliminary review of surveillance footage, witness statements and other evidence from the fatal blast suggests that shortly after midnight, a party attendee lit an aerial fireworks “cake” containing multiple smaller fireworks packed in a box in the driveway near the carport of the home.

When lit, the cakes fire a series of fireworks into the air in quick succession, creating a display of colorful explosions. In this case, the cake tipped over, causing an aerial firework to ignite two nearby crates containing additional fireworks, triggering a massive and deadly explosion.

Blangiardi expressed his anger and frustration with the fireworks-related deaths and injuries, saying, “No one should have to endure such pain due to reckless and illegal activity. This incident is a painful reminder of the danger posed by illegal fireworks.

‘They put lives at risk, they drain our first responders, and they disrupt our neighborhoods. But most heartbreakingly, this tragedy was entirely preventable. New Year’s Eve should be a time of joy, not danger. Yet the growing prevalence of illegal fireworks on our island has turned it into a night of risk and devastation. Year after year, this threat persists, and it must stop.”

Blangiardi said he is committed to taking decisive action on illegal fireworks for the sake of public safety.

“We will coordinate with federal and state agencies to strengthen law enforcement, impose tougher penalties, explore new technologies because they exist, and implement a united effort to stop the import of illegal fireworks into our harbors and airports,” he said.

The state’s Illegal Fireworks Task Force established under Green in 2023 has reported seizing large quantities of illegal fireworks, and its efforts include intercepting shipments of illegal fireworks, often from overseas, and disrupting the supply chain.

In its first year, a total of approximately 93.5 tons of illegal fireworks was confiscated, followed by more than 20 tons in 2024.

In early December 2023, the task force said it seized about 16 tons of fireworks from a shipping container, primarily containing aerials. Later that month, it confiscated an additional 17 tons from another container. Just before New Year’s Day a year ago, the task force reported making another significant seizure, confiscating 17.5 tons of illegal fireworks during a routine inspection.

Illegal fireworks, however, continue to filter in to Hawaii.

“Aerial fireworks are a part of our culture,” said state Rep. Gregg Takayama (D, Waiau-Pearl City-Pacific Palisades). “But we have to recognize that they’re also illegal, and that they’re illegal for a reason: They can be dangerous.”

Takayama introduced House Bill 2193 that became Act 208, which strengthened Hawaii’s Fireworks Control Law by increasing the authority of the Illegal Fireworks Task Force. He emphasized the need for continued efforts, particularly targeting large-scale offenders. He also called for increased funding for the task force.

State Sen. Glenn Wakai, who represents the Salt Lake area where deadly explosion occurred, said the carnage was preventable and urged the community to recognize the risks.

“It was more than an accident. An accident would be one of those rockets going off. I mean, these guys had a stash of stuff there,” Wakai said. “So, sure, it was not meant to go off that way. But they had full intention of shooting off way more than they could possibly handle.”

He noted that after decades of legislative action, the issue remains a significant problem and the community needs to recognize the problem and say “enough is enough.” However, Wakai said he isn’t confident about seeing meaningful change.

“Obviously, (the seizure) wasn’t enough, and I don’t really know what it’s going to take for us as a community to wake up in the new year to see that shooting aerial fireworks is not the right way to bring in a new year. It’s the most tragic way to usher in a new year,” he said.

Jordan Lowe, director of the state Department of Law Enforcement, said the seizures by the task force are still under investigation, and fireworks smugglers — and buyers — could face prosecution.

“It’s very frustrating, and when you look at this group of criminals who import illegal fireworks with no regard for the community or the safety of the public just to make a profit … like I said, it’s very frustrating, very discouraging,” he said.

Fireworks have long been a tradition in Hawaii, rooted in Chinese culture and local celebrations.

“It is cultural. We all understand that. But I think we need to start working with the public more in terms of education, because it is dangerous,” Lowe said. “We just saw what happened. And even in the past, regularly, in Hawaii, at least one individual would die as a result of a fireworks mishap. It’s been pretty regular that you might have a house burn down because of a mishap with fireworks, an accident with fireworks.

“We don’t deserve that. The public doesn’t deserve that.”

HONOLULU (KHON2) — The New Year’s Day fireworks explosion has left the community grieving and frustrated, but will the tragedy change Hawaii’s complicated relationship with fireworks?

“I don’t think it’s going to have a major change in the mentality of the people that pop fireworks,” said Michael Kitchens, creator and administrator of the social media site “Stolen Stuff Hawaii” that has more than 54 thousand followers. He said what he gathers from the posted comments is one of apathy.

“There’s apathy because, hey, ‘you know what you’re doing.’ You hurt yourself. I’m not going to donate to that. There’s anger to the people that pop fireworks and hurt others,” said Kitchens.

Kitchens said he senses that most people are ok with legal fireworks during specific hours during the holidays, but not the house-rattling bombs at random times throughout the year.

But the cultural attachment that has kept illegal fireworks thriving in Hawaii, is what others said needs to change.

“When I was growing up, it was a tradition to pop the red firecrackers and hear some sounds. I never thought it was a tradition to go shoot something into the sky and illuminate the entire neighborhood. ‘That is their tradition.’ I just don’t buy that idea,” said State Senator Glenn Wakai, whose district includes Aliamanu where the fatal fireworks explosion occurred.

Wakai expects numerous bills to be introduced in the upcoming legislative session to address the illegal fireworks issue, but said pursuing civil penalties versus criminal might be more effective.

“So maybe that’ll be the consequence. You do that out of your house, we’re going to seize your house,” said Wakai. “I think if there’s consequences for bad behavior, you’re going to see a diminishing of interest in fireworks.”

And there appears to be agreement that laws without enforcement are meaningless and need to change.

“We don’t have enough law enforcement officers to cover the entire island. There’s not enough strict enforcement. And when they get these, these guys get caught, and they go to the judicial system, they just get a slap on the wrist,” said Kitchens.

“There is a disconnect someplace there between the actual, you know, boots on the streets that are enforcing the law and the people are going to carry that case through prosecution,” said Wakai.

Wakai said the New Year’s Day tragedy may have brought immediate attention to the dangers of illegal fireworks, but it will likely take time, community effort and a shift in public perception to see real change.

President-elect Donald Trump described himself as the “law-and-order” candidate during his campaign and promised to do things like expand the death penalty, deploy the National Guard to quell civil unrest and increase liability protections for police.

His pro-police, tough-on-crime stance is likely good news for morale and recruitment efforts, according to officials and experts. But civil rights activists fear that his policies could set back criminal justice reform efforts, and that his promise to deport undocumented immigrants could have a negative impact on public safety.

While many policing policies are decided at the state and county levels, Trump’s decisions could directly affect issues such as the availability of federal grant opportunities for local police departments, according to Jillian Snider, adjunct lecturer at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York. His statements about police and criminal justice issues can also set the tone for the entire nation.

“Right now, police officers across the country are pretty disheartened, and we’ve seen recruitment and retention are suffering,” she said. “So I think having a president in place that vocally expresses his admiration and appreciation for law enforcement will be really good for the job on the whole.”

Law enforcement officials aren’t sure how local police departments will be affected during President-elect Donald Trump’s second term. While he can’t directly impact policies and procedures for local departments, his agenda and rhetoric could set the tone departments around the country. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024)

Trump’s actions during his first term shed light on his attitude toward law enforcement. For example, he rescinded a President Barack Obama-era executive order prohibiting local police departments from acquiring military equipment and deployed soldiers to help local police quell protests.

Recruitment and Retention

In Trump’s “Plan to End Crime and Restore Law and Order” released in February 2023, the president-elect said he would invest in hiring, retention and training for police officers at record levels, though he didn’t specify how much he would invest or how he would impact hiring.

Members of his transition team did not respond to emails seeking comment for this story.

Honolulu police Chief Joe Logan has said recruitment is his top priority as the department suffers an ongoing staffing shortage and is down around 400 officers.

Honolulu police Chief Joe Logan has said his top priority is recruitment as his department deals with an ongoing staffing shortage of around 400 officers. Experts say Trump’s rhetoric and general positive attitude toward police could boost morale and attract more people to the profession, though it’s unclear if that will happen in Hawaii. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2024)

Snider, a retired New York City police officer, said it’s difficult to say if Trump’s administration will be able to help recruitment efforts, though she said his rhetoric and general attitude toward police could boost morale and interest in the profession.

Since 2020, police staffing levels have dropped across the country, a phenomenon many law enforcement officials attribute in part to the Covid-19 pandemic as well as the killing of George Floyd and ensuing Black Lives Matter movement, which increased public scrutiny of police actions.

Last year, staffing levels for departments nationwide were up for the first time since 2020, though only by 0.4%, according to a survey by the Police Executive Research Forum.

The president can’t do much to directly impact recruitment at local levels, but, Snider said she expects Trump’s administration will be supportive of any legislative efforts to increase hiring.

One bipartisan bill introduced in Congress last year, the VICTIM Act, would establish a grant program to help local jurisdictions with their clearance rates for violent crime by providing funds for them to hire more detectives and investigators, she said.

Staffing levels at police departments across the country have been declining since 2020. Trump has promised to increase the hiring of police officers nationwide, though he has not specified how.(David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024)

The bill was referred to the House Judiciary Committee, but Snider said she expects it to be reintroduced next session and it may advance if Trump supports it.

During the campaign, Trump was endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police, one of the most influential law enforcement lobbies in the U.S. He responded by pledging strong support for police and expanded use of force. “We have to get back to power and respect,” he said in September.

The State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers did not endorse a candidate for president.

Federal Grants

Local police departments receive millions of dollars each year in federal grants, and Snider said Trump’s administration is likely to impose more accountability over the process.

In fiscal year 2023, the Honolulu Police Department received around $7.7 million in federal grant money, including an $800,000 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant for a virtual reality training program on de-escalation.

The Honolulu Police Department received around $7.7 million in federal grant money in fiscal year year 2023, including an $800,000 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant for virtual reality de-escalation training. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023)

Last fiscal year, agencies around the state, including county police departments and prosecutors offices, the state Attorney General’s Office, the Domestic Violence Action Center and the University of Hawaiʻi, received $19.8 million in federal justice grants for things like substance abuse treatment for prisoners, school violence programs and mentoring for children of incarcerated parents.

When asked at a December Honolulu Police Commission meeting how he thinks federal grants will be impacted under the new administration, Logan said he wasn’t sure because even though Trump seems to “friendly” toward law enforcement, the president-elect also places a strong emphasis on fiscal responsibility.

Trump has said he plans to create a Department of Government Efficiency headed by Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, founder of the pharmaceutical company, Roivant Sciences, to cut government spending and restructure federal agencies, including the Department of Justice.

“I don’t think we’re going to see reduced funding for law enforcement, but I just think we’re going to see more accountability for the funding that law enforcement is provided with,” Snider said.

Immigrant Worries

The American Civil Liberties Union Hawaii said Trump’s promise to deport millions of undocumented immigrants could push some further underground and prevent them from cooperating with police due to concern about themselves or family members.

Gov. Josh Green has said the state’s National Guard will not be used to help with federal deportations and has promised to do all he can to keep immigrant families in Hawaii together.

But still, the threats from the Trump administration alone can be enough to instill fear in people and drive them underground, said Carrie Ann Shirota, policy director for the ACLU of Hawaii.

“The idea about community policing is to build more trust with communities that often are the most under-resourced and more likely to be policed,” she said. “So these measures at the federal level undermine the very principals of community policing.”

Police Reform

Criminal justice reform advocates have also expressed concern about the potential impact of Trump’s support for policies like the death penalty, longer prison sentences for convicted criminals and stop and frisk, a police practice in which an officer can stop a person and pat them down if they suspect he or she is carrying a weapon.

Hawaiʻi abolished capital punishment in 1957, two years before statehood, but Hawaii residents convicted of federal crimes can still face the death penalty.

Trump has promised to expand certain rights for gun owners, for example passing a nationwide concealed carry reciprocity law that would allow gun owners with concealed carry permits to travel to every state, even those like Hawaiʻi that don’t honor out-of-state permits.

State Sen. Karl Rhoads, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he doesn’t know how much further the Trump administration will be willing to go. A 2022 Supreme Court ruling known as the Bruen decision already opened the door for Hawaii gun owners to be able to carry their weapons in public. More extreme laws that would weaken background checks and make it easier for people to buy guns would be extremely unpopular with a majority of Americans, he said.

“I don’t think he really wants to go any farther because it’s bad politics and it’s bad policy,” he said.

Nearly 10,000 people joined a Black Lives Matter march at the Hawaii State Capitol in 2020. Civil rights advocates worry that another Trump administration will bring more police violence against protesters. (Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2020)

Members of the ACLU of Hawaii are worried Trump might rescind a 2022 executive order issued by President Joe Biden aimed at advancing accountability in policing and boosting public trust in police departments. The order includes mandates to increase use of force and implicit bias training for state and local departments and restricts law enforcement from buying certain types of military equipment, such as armored vehicles, weaponized drones and long-range acoustic devices.

Trump’s support of military gear for police departments as well as his use of soldiers to crack down on protesters during his first term, makes advocates nervous about the potential for police violence in the coming years, Shirota said.

“The use of military weapons and equipment can certainly increase excessive force outcomes and possibly even deadly outcomes,” she said.

Supporters of police and protesters faced off outside Honolulu District Court in July 2021 during a preliminary hearing for three officers charged in connection with the fatal shooting of 16-year-old Iremamber Sykap. Members of the ACLU Hawaii fear Trump’s return to office could mean a weakening of police accountability. (Ronen Zilberman/Civil Beat/2021)

A bill that would have prohibited police from acquiring military gear and using certain types of equipment, such as bean bag projectiles and tear gas, on protesters was introduced in the Hawaii Legislature in 2022. It was referred to the Judiciary Committee, but it didn’t advance.

Meanwhile, Trump’s own felony convictions could also undermine his purported commitment to uphold the rule of law, Rhoads said.

The Senate judiciary chair said he doesn’t know of any plans to reintroduce the military equipment bill in the upcoming session, or any other bills aimed at reducing the potential effects of future Trump policies. Lawmakers may be waiting to see what his first year back in office brings before figuring out what actions to take, he said.

“We don’t know what he’s going to do,” he said. “Some promises he keeps and some of them he doesn’t, and what the net effect is going to be for Hawaii and the country I just don’t know.”

Hawaiian Electric Co. customers would have to pay $4 more per month under a proposal to create a settlement fund meant to bolster the power company’s battered credit rating in an era of catastrophic wildfires.

The proposed $1 billion Hawaii Wildfire Recovery Fund, capitalized with the new fees, would be used to pay property damage claims related to future wildfires, according to a draft bill being circulated to Hawaiʻi lawmakers, who reconvene next month. The proposal would also limit HECOʻs liability from property claims due to wildfires, even those which the companyʻs equipment starts, such as the devastating Lahaina fire in 2023.

Wall Street once viewed privately owned power companies like HECO as rock solid credit risks. But lawsuits from wildfires, such as the one that killed 102 people and destroyed much of Lahaina in 2023, changed the math.

HECOʻs credit rating is now at junk-bond status, in part because it is on the hook to pay out billions to victims of the fire that was started by its equipment. The risk of claims from potential future fires is another factor.

HECO’s proposal is far from a done deal. Lawmakers declined to give the utility a blank check to bail it out last session. And at least one key lawmaker briefed on this year’s measure has voiced concerns about raising bills for customers who already pay three times the national average for electricity.

A fire sparked by a fallen Hawaiian Electric Co. power line killed 102 people and destroyed most of Lahaina in 2023. The risk of such catastrophic fires has driven up borrowing costs for not only HECO, but scores of electric companies in the U.S. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023)

The trade publication Utility Dive reported in October that the credit ratings of nearly 100 utilities have been downgraded since 2020 due to wildfire risk.

Another stated goal — which HECO poses as a public benefit — is to create an efficient alternative to expensive and time-consuming litigation. Jim Kelly, the company’s vice president for government relations and corporate communications, stressed the bill wouldn’t prevent people from pursuing claims in court instead of accessing the fund.

“The fund has been the thing that they have told us was their highest priority to stabilize the company from the beginning,” said Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole, who held hearings on HECO-related bills last session as chair of the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee.

“Absolutely,” HECO’s Kelly said, when asked if the fund was HECO’s top priority. “It’s number one.”

The Cost Of Wildfire Risk

For HECO customers, the equation is simple: wildfire risk — including mitigation measures to reduce it — will invariably be baked into the cost of electricity. The question is how to keep those costs as low as possible.

As HECO sees it, the first step is to rehabilitate its credit rating.

After the Maui fires, corporate rating agencies tanked HECO’s credit rating, meaning the company must pay higher interest rates to borrow money. Such costs can be passed to Hawaii ratepayers, who already pay the nation’s highest electricity rates, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

HECO is in continuing talks with the three main rating agencies — Fitch Ratings, Moody’s and S&P Global — Kelly said. While the agencies aren’t promising anything, they are providing guidance on policies Hawaii and HECO can adopt to shore up the company’s credit rating, Kelly said.

“They’re more than willing to share their insight,” he said

In fact, the key elements of HECO’s policy playbook for 2025 are outlined in a paper titled “Liability reform will be key to support credit quality of utilities in wildfire-prone states,” which Moody’s published in November. The paper focuses on the problem that wildfire risks poses for utilities nationally, particularly in U.S. western states.

Hawaii’s fund would be similar to a $21 billion fund established in California and a $1 billion fund proposed for Utah.

Hawaii Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole says the challenge facing Hawaiian Electric Co. is simple: “Nobody will lend them any money because there’s too much risk.” (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024)

But Moody’s recommends more than merely establishing a fund. It also calls for limiting the utilities’ liability. HECO’s proposed bill would do this by limiting HECO’s liability for damages.

The third element of Moody’s risk reduction outline requires utilities to establish operational measures to prevent wildfires from happening in the first place.

“When a state establishes definitive fire prevention and response guidelines or certification programs, it is strongly credit positive for regulated utilities because it ensures that their actions can be assessed transparently and reduces the risk of hindsight bias following a fire,” Moody’s says.

HECO is seeking to establish this by regulation. It plans to submit a wildfire mitigation plan for review and approval by the Public Utilities Commission in January.

The goal, Kelly said, is to enable HECO to borrow money for capital improvements at reasonable rates. The status quo is a recipe for higher costs, he said.

“If we don’t get a better credit rating, that is going to impact people negatively,” Kelly said.

Keohokalole put it more simply.

“Nobody will lend them any money because there’s too much risk,” he said.

‘Just, Just, Just’ Adds Up

Still, establishing the fund will cost HECO customers. HECO essentially wants to borrow the $1 billion and pay it back with new fees charged directly to customers, a process called securitization. Such securitized loans wouldn’t be burdened by HECO’s junk-bond credit rating; the debt gets paid back as long as people pay their electric bills, allowing HECO to borrow at lower interest rates.

“It’s like having a gold-plated co-signer,” Kelly said.

Kelly noted the public utilities commission would have to approve any new fee charged to customers.

Kelly also noted that the bill calls for ratepayers to be paid back the fees they had paid, possibly through a bill offset, if HECO hadn’t needed to tap into the fund during its first 10 years. However, Kelly said it was not clear how that would work.

Future property damage claims also could be paid quickly, according to a formula, without the need for lawsuits. Kelly noted that a third of the $4.04 billion proposed settlement for the Lahaina fires — more than $1 billion — would likely go to plaintiffs’ lawyers, many of them located outside of Hawaii.

Hawaii Sen. Glenn Wakai, who chairs the Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee, said he supports a bill to help HECO bolster its credit rating in concept, but also says, “HECO better have a clear plan on how they’re going to reduce costs for customers.” (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024)

Key lawmakers say they are willing to entertain the bill.

Keohokalole helped kill a securitization bill during the last session. That was largely because the company had no clear plan on how it intended to spend the money.

“Last year there were just black holes,” he said. “This time is way different.”

The company’s proposed, $4.04 billion settlement is pending approval by the Hawaii Supreme Court, which could happen as soon as February. Keohokalole said he would be reluctant to support the bill if HECO can’t get the settlement finalized. But if the settlement is approved and it’s clear the new fund would be used only for future claims, Keohokalole said he would be comfortable supporting securitization.

“If we’re at the 2-yard line, I might be willing to bail out HECO,” he said.

Sen. Glenn Wakai, who chairs the Senate Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs, also expressed conditional support for the bill, but would prefer a fund that could protect parties in addition to HECO. He also wants residential customers to get something in return.

“If HECO’s going to charge $48 more a year, HECO better have a clear plan on how they’re going to reduce costs for customers as well,” he said.

Wakai said he’s aware that HECO’s proposal breaks down to “just $4” a month per household. But he said such seemingly small price increases are what have created Hawaii’s notoriously high cost of living.

“After a while, ‘just, just, just’ adds up to ‘big, big, big’ for ratepayers,” he said.

LIHUE — In honor of the life and legacy of President Earl Carter, Jr. the thirty-ninth President of the United States, who died on Sunday, Governor Josh Green ordered all U.S. flags along with the Hawaii state flag to be flown at half-staff.

On Sunday, Dec. 29, Governor Green ordered The Hawaii State Capitol, along with the Kauai County Building, all state offices, agencies, and the Hawaii National Guard to lower all flags at half-staff for 30 days to honor President Carter’s legacy.

“Hawaii joins the nation and the world in mourning the passing of President Jimmy Carter, a leader whose life was defined by service, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to justice and peace,” said Governor Green.

“President Carter’s legacy extends far beyond his time in office. His tireless efforts for human rights, global diplomacy, and humanitarian causes exemplify the values of aloha that we hold so dear in Hawaii. Through his work, he reminded us all of the power of humility, kindness, and a deep care for others.

“On behalf of the people of Hawaii, Jaime and I send our aloha and heartfelt condolences to the Carter ‘ohana during this difficult time. May they find comfort in knowing that his life’s work has left an indelible mark on the world and will continue to inspire generations to come,” Governor Green said.

Senate President Ronald Kouchi also released a statement on former President Carter’s death and stated;

“President Carter was a man whose humility, integrity, and dedication to service shaped the course of our nation’s history.

“His leadership was defined by his unwavering commitment to peace, human rights, and the betterment of the world.

“During his presidency and decades following his term, he represented what it means to serve with compassion and purpose. My thoughts are with his family, and I join the nation in honoring his remarkable life,” Senator Kouchi stated on Monday, Dec. 30.

President Carter died ‘peacefully’ at his Georgia home, the Carter Center confirmed. He was 100 years old. Flags are ordered to remain at half-staff until January 28, 2025, following President Biden’s proclamation.

Thirty days is the longest period possible for flags to fly at half-staff, an honor typically reserved for former presidents per the proclamation.

Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc., on Tuesday announced the sale of a 90% stake in its American Savings Bank subsidiary to independent investors, through a series of separate agreements, for $405 million in cash. The transaction values the bank at $450 million.

The sale of the vast majority of HEI’s ownership in American Savings Bank follows more than a year of speculation about whether the holding company would sell the bank to raise money to deal with costs associated with the 2023 Maui wildfires.

Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024)

The announcement comes just weeks before the Hawaii Legislature kicks off its 2025 session in January and bodes well for the company’s legislative agenda, said Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole, who held hearings on HECO-related bills last session as chair of the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee.

The company’s top priority is a measure to help it raise money by borrowing against a new fee levied on customers. Keohokalole said the deal shows the utility is doing everything it can to help itself before going to customers. He said he plans to introduce a bill on HECO’s behalf this session.

“In general, one of the major questions being asked last year when HECO requested securitization authority was, ‘Has the company done everything it needs to do to shore up its position itself?’” Keohokalole said. “So I think this is a significant change.”

Under the deal, each investor will have a non-controlling interest in the bank, the company said in a news release. No investor owns more than 9.9% of the bank’s common stock, including HEI, which has retained a 9.9% stake. The Investors also include all of ASB’s executive team and independent directors.

“The sale allows HEI to enhance our focus on the utility as we work to help our state recover from the 2023 Maui wildfires and strengthen the financial and strategic position of our company,” said Scott Seu, HEI’s president and chief executive. “We intend to use the proceeds to reduce holding company debt, increasing flexibility for how HEI funds the HEI and Hawaiian Electric wildfire settlement contributions and key utility initiatives.”

Tribune-Herald file photo From left, Sen. Joy San Buenaventura, Sen. Lorraine Inouye and Lynne Benioff take a photo together in April after the groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion of the newly named Hilo Benioff Medical Center.

From left, Mayor Mitch Roth, Rep. Mark Nakashima, East Hawaii Regional Board Chair Jerry Gray, Gov. Josh Green, philanthropist Marc Benioff, Hilo Benioff Medical Center CEO Dan Brinkman and Sen. Lorraine Inouye pose for a photo with o'o sticks after the groundbreaking ceremony to kick off a major expansion of the hospital. (Tribune-Herald/file photo)

Tribune-Herald file photo In this file photo, visitors walk through the Sea Mountain Resort in Punalu'u. As part of a proposed development, Black Sand Beach LLC wants to restore the resort and nearby golf course.

A view of an encampment of homeless people in June near the corner of Ponahawai Street and Kamehameha Avenue in Hilo. (Tribune-Herald/file photo)

In this Tribune-Herald file photo from June 7, grass and brush is overgrown around the house that was mistakenly built on the wrong lot in Hawaiian Paradise Park.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held in September for a new affordable rental housing complex in Waikoloa Village. (Courtesy/image)

Tribune-Herald file photo Grant Omura receives a bento from a volunteer as she hands them out of the Salvation Army Hilo Temple Corps' Malama 'Ohana Mobile Kitchen during an opening ceremony on Aug. 30 for the 25-cot shelter in Hilo.

Former County Council member Emily Naeole speaks to a large crowd gathered outside the County Building on March 7 in Hilo. Hundreds of people, many who drove up from Ka'u, showed up for a meeting of the Windward Planning Commission regarding a permit for a proposed development in Punalu'u. (Tribune-Herald/file photo)

Tribune-Herald file photo Kawelle Silva-Kamei holds a sign to protest the proposed development plan for the Punalu‘u area during a Windward Planning Commission Meeting on March 7 in Hilo.

Tribune-Herald file photo Mayoral candidate Kimo Alameda answers a question during a forum hosted by the Big Island Press Club on Sept. 21 at the Hilo Yacht Club.

In this July photo, a temporary camp for homeless people set up by Hawaii County off of Ponahawai Street in Hilo. (Tribune-Herald/file photo)

Kimo Alameda sends his signature "double shaka" during a sign waving event with his Hawaii County mayoral campaign supporters in Hilo. (Tribune-Herald/file photo)

With 2025 nearly here, it’s time to review an eventful 2024. Here are Hawaii Island’s the top 10 local stories of the year, as selected by the editorial staff of the Tribune-Herald.

1. Hilo hospital undergoes $100M expansion

“It’s a new beginning for health care here on the island.”

That observation was made April 10 by billionaire philanthropist Marc Benioff — chairman, CEO and co-founder of the software company Salesforce — during a groundbreaking ceremony for an expansion of Hilo Benioff Medical Center that will include a new 19-bed intensive care unit and 36 additional hospital beds.

Benioff and his wife, Lynne, matched $50 million appropriated in 2023 by the state Legislature and released in March by Gov. Josh Green. The $100 million project is intended to help alleviate the bed shortage at Hawaii Island’s largest hospital, which was built in 1984 and where capacity has been outstripped by East Hawaii’s population growth the past four decades.

In addition, a draft environmental assessment was released in November for a $60 million outpatient clinic to be built by HBMC on about nine acres of land in Keaau.

The Benioffs pledged an additional $25 million for the Puna clinic, with Green pledging to work toward securing an additional $25 million from the Legislature for construction, expected to be completed by 2028. Planners anticipate the facility will serve more than 100 patients daily.

2. Affordable housing remains a hot topic

According to County Council Chair Holeka Goro Inaba, the council will continue to overhaul Chapter 11 of the County Code, which addresses housing.

A study presented in July of the effectiveness of Chapter 11 — which requires that rezoned housing projects include a certain amount of affordable units, and offers some ways to fulfill that requirement — found its provisions act contrary to their intended use, and it’s not feasible for affordable housing to be built in many of the island’s districts.

Affordable housing projects are, however, moving forward.

The 92-unit Hale Na Koa ‘O Hanakahi housing project is slated for completion in 2025, with affordable housing targeted toward Big Island seniors and priority given to veterans and their spouses.

Once completed, all of the housing complex’s units will be available to residents making less than the Area Median Income. According to move-in qualifications posted online, 10 units will be available to those making 80% of the AMI, 31 to those making 60%, 38 to those making 50% and 12 to those making 30%.

Ground was broken in September for Na Hale Makoa, an affordable workforce rental housing development in Waikoloa village.

The project will feature 139 one-, two- and three-bedroom units serving households earning up to 140% of area median income, as well as one resident manager’s unit.

Construction is expected to take a little over a year, and families are anticipated to begin moving into the units during the first quarter of 2026, according to the county.

In addition, land has been acquired or donated with the goal of building affordable housing.

Marc and Lynne Benioff in June donated 158 acres near Waimea to the nonprofit Hawaii Island Community Development Corporation for affordable housing at Ouli in Waimea. The land, adjacent to 282 acres the Benioffs donated in December 2023, brings the total land they’ve given for affordable housing to 440 acres.

And the nonprofit Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement announced in June the acquisition of 43.08 acres of land in Hilo to be designated for affordable housing, specifically for Native Hawaiians and other Hawaii families. The parcel, located in the Kaumana subdivision of Ponahawai, was purchased for an undisclosed sum from an anonymous landowner.

3. Lava recovery continues in lower Puna

Recovery from Kilauea Volcano’s 2018 Lower East Rift Zone eruption continues. Construction began in June on a 3.64-mile section of Highway 137 in lower Puna, between the makai end of Pohoiki Road and the intersection of Highway 132 — also known as “Four Corners.”

The price tag to rehabilitate the previously inundated country road is $17.8 million. The lion’s share, $13.35 million, will be funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, while the county will kick in $4.45 million.

The county remains embroiled in an eminent domain battle with Kapoho Land and Development Co. Ltd. over 0.94 acres of land the county said it needs to reopen Pohoiki Road. Hilo Circuit Judge Peter Kubota on Aug. 15 issued an order putting Hawaii County — which offered KLDC $24,000 — in possession of the land. KLDC, which is the only eminent domain holdout, is challenging the order, arguing the county has violated state laws in its condemnation process.

And the state Department of Land and Natural Resources has awarded a contract to dredge part or all of a newly formed beach so Pohoiki Boat Ramp can be reopened. This past month, DLNR announced it had awarded a $9.2 million contract for the dredging project to Goodfellow Bros., with work expected to begin in February 2025 and wrap in November 2025.

4. Ongoing efforts to regulate STVRs

The County Council in 2024 continued its yearslong struggle to regulate short-term vacation rentals with no long-term resolution in sight.

Bill 121 — under discussion for the better part of a year and amended four times — was shelved in November. After lengthy discussions about five new proposed amendments to Bill 121, Hamakua Councilwoman Heather Kimball, who introduced the bill, asked her colleagues whether the council should continue to tweak the existing bill, or if it should be scrapped and replaced with a new bill that streamlines the now 30-page-long proposal.

Another measure, Bill 123, passed the council and became law on its fifth draft. The bill changed the name of “ohana dwellings” to “accessory dwelling units” and increased the number of units allowed on a residential property to three, with one allowed to be used as a STVR.

While the new ordinance increases density in residential neighborhoods, the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled unanimously in September that state law doesn’t allow STVRs on agriculturally zoned land.

5. Jaggar Museum, HVO site demolished

It’s been six-plus years since earthquakes associated with the 2018 Kilauea eruption damaged both Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and the Thomas A. Jaggar Museum beyond repair.

The historic museum, built in 1927, stood on Uekahuna bluff in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park for nearly a century. It was razed along with two buildings used by HVO, the Okamura Building and geochemistry annex at Uekahuna, in May and June.

The HVO Tower, the last building standing on the bluff, was demolished on July 26. The iconic tower, adjacent to the Jaggar Museum, provided scientists at HVO with a 360-degree vantage point for studying Kilauea and Mauna Loa until the 2018 eruption and summit collapse severely damaged all of the buildings at Uekahuna, on the edge of Kaluapele, Kilauea’s caldera.

HVO’s scientists and technicians have been working in temporary digs in Hilo since.

HVNP’s Visitor Center will be closed to the public in February for two years of renovations. Many functions once carried out at the Jaggar Museum will be performed at the HVNP Visitor Center, once it reopens.

6. Help for the island’s homeless

The annual, federally mandated Point-In-Time count tallied 718 homeless individuals on the Big Island in 2024. That’s 28% fewer than the 1,003 counted in 2023. But the Point-In-Time is a mere snapshot of a day in the life of the unsheltered, and a casual tour of downtown Hilo and Kailua-Kona will confirm homelessness remains an issue.

Two extreme incidents in downtown Hilo in January highlighted the problem. A 41-year-old homeless woman, Ashley Lum, gave birth on a sidewalk at the corner of Mamo and Keawe Streets and reportedly dragged the newborn by the umbilical cord. Fire Department medics cut the cord, sought medical attention for the baby, and transferred it to custody of Child Welfare Services. Lum, who has apparent mental health issues, was arrested for allegedly leaving the infant after the cord was severed, but was released without charges after being booked on suspicion of misdemeanor child abandonment. In the other case, a 34-year-old homeless man, Jimmy Carmichael, died at Mooheau Park Bus Terminal after being beaten. An autopsy turned up no serious skull or brain injuries as a result of the assault, but there was evidence of an “acute cardiac event” prior to his death, police said.

Former Mayor Mitch Roth touted his administration’s efforts toward curbing homelessness, including $10 million in grants to organizations providing services to the homeless.

The county also conducted sweeps of homeless camps, including in January at Mooheau Park and in February at Kona Aquatics Center. In addition, the county also set up at least two “Safe Spaces” homeless camps during the year — both dubbed “Mitchville” on social media. One was on Ponahawai Street next to the Salvation Army in downtown Hilo. After that camp was disbanded by the county, another was set up on Kuawa Street near the county’s Hoolulu Complex to house those who’d been at Ponahawai. It too has since been closed after most occupants found either homes or a longer-term shelter.

And in August, the Salvation Army opened the Hilo Overnight Safe Space, a 25-bed outdoor tent at the Salvation Army’s Ponahawai facility. Homeless individuals seeking shelter are able to check into the Safe Space in the evenings and depart the next day.

Through $1 million in state funding, and an additional $800,000 from the county, the facility should be able to operate for two years, said Sam LeMar, Salvation Army Hawaii County coordinator. He added he hopes to be able to expand the shelter into something potentially more permanent.

LeMar said he believes the shelter could expand to accommodate 75 beds along with 10 parking stalls “so people can sleep in their cars safely.”

7. The county has a new top executive

The Big Island has a new mayor. Kimo Alameda, the former CEO of Bay Clinic who was executive of the county’s Office of Aging under former mayors Harry Kim and the late Billy Kenoi, defeated incumbent Mitch Roth by almost 11% in November’s General Election.

It was the first run for public office for Alameda, 55, who holds a doctorate in counseling psychology and also was the former leader of the Fentanyl Task Force.

The 60-year-old Roth had the larger campaign war chest, by more than $100,000, and had spent upwards of $75,000 more than his challenger.

Alameda, however, had the backing of the two major public workers unions — the white-collar Hawaii Government Employees Association and the blue-collar United Public Workers. They endorsed the challenger in part because Roth wouldn’t authorize COVID-19 hazard pay for public workers during the pandemic, citing fiscal concerns.

8. Punaluu project proposed, opposed

A currently stalled proposal by a foreign-born developer to build a 225-acre resort development on a 147-acre parcel adjacent to Punaluu Black Sands Beach Park has raised hackles in the Ka‘u community.

Neighboring residents to the proposed Punaluu Village project turned out en masse in March before the Windward Planning Commission to protest the plans of developer Xiaoyuan “Eva” Liu and Black Sand Beach LLC to develop the $350 million project. Three groups of Ka‘u residents have been granted standing in a contested case against an application for a special use permit for the project.

In particular, opponents have argued the development of Punaluu Village will have significant negative impacts on the area’s public water, fire suppression and wastewater systems, which they say are in disrepair.

A 2020 report about the condition of Punaluu’s water infrastructure noted several leaks and inoperable equipment — notably, six of the 17 fire hydrants in the area were found to not work.

Some of the opposition to the project stems from fears it will impact fragile ecosystems and endanger wildlife, such as endangered hawksbill sea turtles. The nearby black sand beach is one of the last nesting sites for the turtles in the state, said Maxx Philips, Hawaii director for the Center for Biological Diversity.

However, project consultant Daryn Arai said most of the areas planned to be developed for the project are located away from sensitive areas — and that much of the development would restore the shuttered facilities of the former Sea Mountain Resort that was built in the area in the 1960s and ’70s.

9. DHHL’s huge plan for Keaukaha

More than 1,300 acres of land at King’s Landing in Hilo could be developed for Hawaiian homesteads under a state plan.

In June, a draft environmental assessment was published for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands’ “King’s Landing Kuleana Homestead Settlement Plan” — a proposal to take several DHHL-owned parcels near Keaukaha totalling 1,334 acres and allow them to be developed as homestead land.

Under the proposal, a large tract of land — stretching from south of Nene Street in Keaukaha to Leleiwi and south along the Kapoho Coast Road — could be used as “kuleana homesteads,” an alternative form of land use that would allow DHHL beneficiaries to live on parcels with minimal development.

According to the draft assessment, the land is largely unoccupied, with 24 Native Hawaiian residents known to be living or working on land in the area in compliance with a DHHL right of entry agreement.

Under the plan, about 400 acres of the land — largely around the Kapoho Coast Road — would be set aside for kuleana lots, with another 332 acres dedicated toward community agricultural use. Much of the coastal acreage and other scattered parcels would be free for community use, and the last 240 acres would be kept as conservation land.

Settlement of the area would take place in a phased process, with the first phase involving up to 38 lots between 3.5 and 15 acres in size along either side of the Kapoho Coast Road. Phase 2 would include up to 35 lots between 1 and 3 acres in size mauka of Kapoho Coast Road.

Phases 3 and 4 would establish the conservation, agricultural and community lands.

Because kuleana leases require residence on the land, beneficiaries would be living largely off-grid and building their own homes. Homesteads would still be subject to all relevant county and state health and safety codes, although part of the kuleana model allows for some level of grant support for lessees building their homes.

10. House lot snafu in HPP

In perhaps the year’s strangest Big Island story, a local contractor for an Oahu-based developer mistakenly built a house on a Hawaiian Paradise Park lot owned by a Northern California woman.

Keaau Development Partnership contracted PJ’s Construction to build about a dozen houses on lots the developer owns in the Puna subdivision. PJ’s, however, erroneously built a three-bedroom house on a lot owned by Annaleine “Anne” Reynolds, who bought the one-acre lot in a 2018 tax auction for $22,000.

The home was supposed to be built on an adjacent lot owned by KDP, but no survey was done prior to construction.

KDP sued both Reynolds and PJ’s, seeking to recoup more than $307,000 it paid to PJ’s and its subcontractors, plus another $300,000 in lost profits, interest, attorneys’ fees and damages.

Reynolds declined KDP’s settlement offer of the adjacent lot in a land swap, and KDP rejected her counter offer of a beachfront lot in return for her property.

Now-retired Third Circuit Chief Judge Robert Kim granted Reynolds’ request for PJ’s to pay another contractor to demolish the house, and Kona Circuit Judge Kimberly Tsuchiya has selected a proposal by a Hilo contractor to do so.

Both KDP and PJ’s are appealing the demolition order in the Intermediate Court of Appeals while Reynolds’ attorney has filed a motion stating the ICA doesn’t have jurisdiction since the demolition order isn’t a final judgment on the lawsuit.

Email John Burnett at jburnett at hawaiitribune-herald.com.

The Hawaiʻi State Senate Committee on Ways and Means released its schedule of informational briefings, to be held Jan. 6-28, 2025.

The briefings aim to provide state departments the opportunity to present budget requests to the Committee for the upcoming biennium.

“Info briefings are essential in ensuring that legislators are equipped with knowledge and insights necessary to make informed decisions that impact our communities,” said WAM Chair Senator Donovan M. Dela Cruz (Senate District 17, portion of Mililani, Mililani Mauka, portion of Waipiʻo Acres, Launani Valley, Wahiawā, Whitmore Village). “It is important that we share information with each other, especially as we rely on the expertise of those who are at the forefront of critical issues.”

A full schedule of the informational briefings can be viewed here: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/hearingnotices/HEARING_WAM_2025_SUMMARY_INFO_.HTM

All informational briefings can be viewed live on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@HawaiiSenate.

No public testimony will be accepted at the briefings.

A palpable air of excitement and anticipation settled over Honolulu this past weekend, as it became likely that the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational surfing contest would be a go. Traffic jammed, cameras rolled and an estimated 50,000 people lined the shores surrounding Waimea Bay on Sunday, as monster waves curled and pounded into the bay, reaching the rare heights sufficient to trigger the contest.

The Eddie’s powerful waves, and the death-defying rides taken during the contest, have become the stuff of legend. People from all parts of the world tune in to see the massive waves and to watch an elite few with the skill and courage required to ride them. On Sunday, 28-year-old North Shore resident Landon McNamara won first place, riding waves averaging at least 20 feet tall, with 40-foot wall-of-water faces.

The awe inspired, athletic prowess demonstrated and numbers drawn to watch were all off the charts. Cash raked in? Maybe not so much, at least not so much as for a planned sporting event, like the Honolulu Marathon. But that’s part of the Eddie’s allure, too — wave energy this unpredictable can’t be tamed into a convenient commercial event.

Because of the Eddie’s unpredictability, the in-person audience for these feats of courage, strength and agility is largely made up of locals — locals by the tens of thousands who are willing to start out for the North Shore before 3 a.m., park miles away and walk to Waimea. That’s highly visible evidence of our local pride and enthusiasm.

The Eddie may not bring in the profits of a major sporting event or concert of the same magnitude. However, it certainly benefits Honolulu, as an only-on-Oahu phenomenon that intrigues millions, highlighting this island’s natural wonders and inspired by contest namesake Eddie Aikau, a Hawaiian champion surfer and North Shore lifeguard who lost his life in 1978 when he “would go” to seek help for crew of capsized voyaging canoe Hokule‘a.

Tangible economic benefits arise from the Eddie, of course. There’s the publicity factor, as highlights from the big-wave contest are seen worldwide, with picturesque Waimea Bay as a backdrop. And there’s the uptick in North Shore tourism that accompanies each big-wave season, pumped to a higher magnitude because of the Eddie’s attraction. Shops do more business directly before and after surfing events — and those who visit the North Shore often return again and again, according to Carol Philips, vice chair of the North Shore Chamber of Commerce.

The excitement, entertainment and publicity value, local pride and bump in local commerce are sufficient returns to justify civic resources Honolulu invests in the Eddie — deploying additional lifeguards and jet ski rescue units, ambulances and police, and adding public transit routes direct to the Eddie from park-and-ride locations.

Three years ago, state Sen. Glenn Wakai pushed the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) to form a Surf Advisory Group, exploring new ways to leverage surfing’s popularity with tourists. That idea is worthy of renewed consideration, as Hawaii seeks to maximize the benefits of sports tourism.

Indeed, the HTA currently is considering a two-year contract with the Los Angeles Rams, at a cost of about $3.86 million. It’s tentatively enticing: The agreement would include appearances in Hawaii, including practices, a football camp and a community day on Maui — as well as a designation as the “L.A. Rams Home in the Hawaiian Islands” and a Hawaii-themed game day in Los Angeles, with the use of Rams branding to co-promote Hawaii tourism.

There’s $17 million-plus budgeted for HTA sports and signature events spending over the next two fiscal years, but the proposed L.A. contract would take up more than 20% of it, and currently, details of a Rams commitment are vague. As bargaining continues, it’s imperative that HTA be clear on costs and benefits, agreeing to a contract only if the Rams commit to deliver equivalent value for Hawaii’s spending.

Developers Kobayashi Group and Ahe Group, along with the City and County of Honolulu, have completed the first units in Parkway Village at Kapolei, which will have 401 affordable units, from studios to four-bedroom apartments, when complete.

Parkway Village is being built on land owned by the City and County of Honolulu in a $199 million public-private partnership between the city, the developers, the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corp. and financial partners CREA LLC and Bank of Hawaii, and financed with low-income housing tax credits and Hula Mae bonds. The project broke ground in September 2023 and a blessing for the first completed units was held last week.

The apartment complex is being built for residents earning 30 to 60 percent of the area median income, which equates to between $41,760 and $83,250 for a family of four.

The project will also include two preschools, including Hawaii’s first privately developed public charter preschool, in partnership with Kamehameha Schools and operated by Parents And Children Together. The second preschool for residents will be operated by Keiki O Ka Aina.

"Parkway Village provides quality homes, access to early education, and a focus on sustainability, health, and well-being for families in West Oʻahu," said Alana Kobayashi Pakkala, CEO and managing partner of Kobayashi Group. "Affordable housing and early childhood education play a vital role in building strong communities, and we are honored to contribute in a way that supports the well-being of residents.”

Kahu Kordell Kekoa blesses Parkway Village with developers and elected leaders on Dec. 17, 2024, in Kapolei. From left: Makani Maeva of Ahe Group; BJ Kobayashi of Kobayashi Group; Alana Kobayashi Pakkala of Kobayashi Group; Gov. Josh Green; Mayor Rick Blangiardi; and state Sen. Mike Gabbard.

The North Shore economy is projected to ride high during its winter wave season, which kicked off Sunday with the 2024 Eddie Aikau Invitational Big Wave Contest at Waimea — a massive event that Honolulu police estimated drew about 50,000 attendees.

Tourists and local spectators lined every available vantage spot to see the North Shore’s Landon McNamara, 28, win first place in the event, where participants battled waves that reached up to 25 feet, with 50-foot faces. McNamara, a professional big-wave surfer who comes from a surfing family, also is a Ford model and a musician who just released an album.

Part of the reason for economic boost of “The Eddie,” which mostly comes before or after the event due to the singular focus of bystanders on the bay during the contest, is that it isn’t held often. The lead-up to whether “The Eddie” will go also generates incredible buzz and worldwide news coverage.

Gov. Josh Green has officially released his proposed state budget, laying out would-be plans and priorities for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. The document now goes to the Legislature — which must work with Green to fulfill ambitious objectives, including adding housing, building up the state’s health care workforce and funding climate-related necessities.

The governor’s plan is reasonable — and should be palatable to taxpayers, in that income taxes were reduced by notable proportions last year. Hawaii households are projected to have more money in their pockets over the next two years, while Green hopes that adding more housing will hold rental and purchase costs down. He also promised “a big push on homelessness and health care.”

As he consistently has done, the governor framed his proposals as oriented toward working families and “vulnerable Hawaii residents” — two very large segments of this state’s population. It’s a warranted and urgent orientation, given that the Aloha United Way’s 2024 ALICE report shows nearly half of Hawaii’s residents are struggling: 33% identified as ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) and 11% living under the federal poverty line.

To build support for the budget asks, Green said he’s engaged with Senate Ways and Means Chair Donovan Dela Cruz and House Finance Chair Kyle Yamashita in advance of the legislative session. The goal: setting up a “collaborative process.” Success or failure of the strategy is a test of Green’s persuasive pull, and will reveal itself over the next few months. If this results in a smoother session, with a measured legislative work flow and few end-of-session pile-ups, the approach would be a model for future sessions. Should logjams and intractable disagreements erupt, however, Green will share responsibility with legislators.

A focus on housing is clear, with roughly a third of the spending in each budget year steered toward building affordable housing and infrastructure, and sheltering those most vulnerable to homelessness.

Notably, as early indications show some legislative enthusiasm for funding workforce housing — affordable to households earning above the low-income threshold typically favored for government subsidies — the proposed budget allocates $75 million in each fiscal year for a “Tier II” Rental Housing Revolving Fund, supporting development of housing for those earning 60% to 100% of area median income (AMI). Another $50 million is directed to the Rental Housing Revolving Fund, to support housing for those earning less than 60% of AMI. 

Additionally, $20 million is requested in each fiscal year for the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund, supporting infrastructure investment.

The largest portion of housing funding, nearly $150 million, is requested for projects to transform portions of urban Honolulu: $56 million to redevelop the 70-year-old, 364-unit Mayor Wright public housing into a 2,448-unit, mixed-use complex that includes housing for low- and middle-income families; $30 million for the newly funded, much-debated Aloha Homes Program, which will develop workforce-housing towers built on state lands with 99-year leasehold units; and $62 million for University Village, a transit-oriented development near the rail line and University of Hawaii-West Oahu.

Another $60.8 million is directed to homelessness programs: $50 million each fiscal year to continue expanding kauhale development, along with contracting for services statewide; and $10.8 million each fiscal year for Housing First and the Rapid Re-Housing programs, homelessness outreach and civil legal services. The state has become a more active partner with counties in teaming up to provide kauhale — self-contained “villages” for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness — with 16 active statewide.

Student housing at the UH also gets a nod, with $25 million proposed each fiscal year “to ensure the existing dorm inventory remains active.” Watch for debate on this line item: In January, Green rejected a request for $80 million to renovate a neglected UH dorm that has been vacant since 2018.

Commitment to shore up residents’ access to health care is seen in an additional $15 million proposed in each fiscal year for the Health Care Education Loan Repayment Program (HELP), touted as a cost-efficient strategy to build up and stabilize Hawaii’s health care workforce. So far, the program is pulling its weight: In its first year, HELP provided debt relief to more than 900 primary care and mental health care providers who have committed to practice in areas here with a documented shortage of health professionals.

Much uncertainty remains over Green’s efforts to find revenue for climate resiliency projects and to protect natural resources; over the extent of funding ultimately needed to settle Lahaina fire litigation; and shortfalls that may develop because of changing federal priorities. It’s now up to the 2025 Legislature to demonstrate collaborative leadership and commitment to resolving this array of looming issues.

The Hawaii Ethics Commission plans to create a uniform fine schedule — similar to standardized traffic fines — and voted unanimously Wednesday to have a bill introduced in the next legislative session that would speed up the issuance of fines, which now takes up to six months.

Accused violators will still have the right to argue why they shouldn’t have to pay a penalty and later challenge any fines, said Ethics Commission Executive Director Robert Harris. But anyone accused of committing offenses would know the size of the fines they face and would have the option of paying them “faster and more efficiently.”

“They can have the matter resolved pretty quickly,” he said.

The commission ensures compliance with state ethics and lobbying laws. According to the commission’s website, the State Ethics Code requires approximately 1,900 state officials to file annual financial disclosures and that any state official who receives certain gifts report those gifts to the commission.

Harris said not every alleged ethics offense would be found on the proposed fine schedule if there are multiple and complicated allegations with “more factors to consider.”

Others, such as a simple, single offense, would.

“The intent is to make sure there’s consistency between cases,” Harris said. “Some are pretty objectively the same, such as failing to file on time. The facts are pretty clear, so that’s pretty cut and dry.”

More serious cases include violating rules against campaign contributions by lobbyists during the legislative session, and elected officials and state employees making social media posts for campaign purposes or in favor of a business on state time or while using state resources such as state social media accounts, Harris said.

In 2023, the Ethics Commission took in 329 ethics complaints from sources or anonymous sources, launched 17 formal investigations, issued three formal charges, and assessed $9,500 in penalties, according to its annual report. The panel also closed 360 cases due to lack of jurisdiction, successful settlements or enforcement, and other factors.

The commission can make the fine schedule on its own but needs legislative approval to streamline and simplify the enforcement process, Harris said.

The commission currently has to approve a charge, give alleged violators time to respond, and perhaps schedule a hearing. Anyone issued a fine may request a contested case hearing to challenge their penalties.

Accused violators would still be able to go through the current process.

Bills the commission voted to approve Wednesday would ask Senate President Ron Kouchi and House Speaker Nadine Naka­mura to introduce bills in their individual chambers that would streamline the process for those who want to resolve their cases quickly.

The maximum fine for an Ethics Commission violation is $5,000.

The Ethics Commission previously voted to have a separate bill introduced next session that would make it a violation for a lobbyist to request that a contract bid be issued in such a way that most likely would be written only for their client.

Similar rules already are in place for the Legislature.

A new bill also would apply to lobbying of the state’s executive branch and would include requests for contracts to directors or deputy directors of state agencies, members of the governor’s cabinet, University of Hawaii regents, and boards and commissions.

Lobbyists would be required to disclose any attempts to request contract proposals to members of the executive branch that would be “on file in a public database,” Harris said.

It would not apply to members of the public or community groups that want specific projects, as long they don’t represent a client who would benefit, Harris said.

(BIVN) – The new Kaumana Housing Unit at the Hawaiʻi Community Correctional Center in Hilo was dedicated this week.

More than 50 people attended the blessing ceremony on Thursday, December 19th. The new building is located on the corner of Komohana Street and Waiānuenue Avenue in Hilo, where the old jail once stood.

From a news release by the Hawaiʻi Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation:

Plans for the 48-bed medium-security housing unit began in 2017. Construction started in January 2022. The project cost is $19.8 million.DAGS awarded the project to contractor Nan, Inc.The 10,550 square-foot building was designed with a rehabilitative environment that includes maximum use of daylight, viewing garden, an indoor/outdoor recreation yard and modern security systems.The facility aims to house inmates at the Kaumana Housing Unit in the coming months.

DCR Director Tommy Johnson thanked Governor Josh Green, M.D. and legislators for their support as well as DAGS and contractors. “This project was critically needed to address severe overcrowding that has plagued HCCC for decades,” Director Johnson said during the ceremony.

In addition to the new unit, HCCC recently completed renovations to its administration building to include an intake area, visitation room, records room and administrative offices.

HCCC Warden Cramer Mahoe echoed Johnson’s sentiment concerning the new housing unit. “This is a long time coming,” Mahoe said as he addressed attendees. “We are grateful for having such a building like this to help with easing some of the overcrowding.”

The total population is 304 inmates, as of Dec. 19, 2024. Currently, HCCC is approximately 135 percent over capacity.

In addition to alleviating overcrowding, Mahoe said the new housing unit also has space for programs and training.

Sen. Lorraine Inouye, one of the event guest speakers, said, “This is one of the best Christmas presents. We can say that we finally got something that has been done to make sure that we address the needs for the (corrections) system.”

Like Inouye, Prosecutor (Kelden) Waltjen said the new Kaumana Housing Unit is “a large step in the right direction,” but more resources and services are still needed on the island such as a correctional facility in West Hawaiʻi.

“It’s important to prioritize investments into our correctional facilities, rehabilitation and services here on our island,” Waltjen said at the ceremony.

Editor’s note: The above video contains footage of a deadly plane crash as taken by a driver near the Honolulu International Airport.

HONOLULU (KHON) – Two people aboard a training flight with Kamaka Air have died after their aircraft crashed into an abandoned building near the Honolulu International Airport on Tuesday afternoon, the Department of Transportation has confirmed.

The Hawaii DOT, as well as the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board, are investigating the crash.

Witnesses said they saw the plane going down just before it crashed at around 3:17 p.m.

“I saw this plane coming from the south end and going around and losing altitude. Coming down it looked like it was like over the United Cargo and going on towards the main terminal but it kept losing altitude, kept losing altitude and losing altitude until there was a big crash. And that’s when everything was just black,” one witness, who identified herself as Sister Alicia, told Nexstar’s KHON.

Hawaii State Sen. Lynn DeCoite also witnessed the crash while waiting for her husband to arrive at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, aka the Honolulu International Airport.

“I’m assuming it had taken off and it was coming back around,” Sen. DeCoite told KHON. “So when it came back around, it literally passed the yellow building that is there. And it, you could just, because I heard the sound of the engine revving as it needed to climb and it just took a nosedive. It clipped the top of the building. So, at that point, we couldn’t see the top of the building because it was still behind Delta Cargo.”

In video provided to KHON, thick black smoke was seen billowing out near a building in the industrial area as federal fire trucks were seen heading to the scene from the airport.

Honolulu Fire Department Chief Sheldon Hao said most of the wreckage ended up on the ground, in a parking lot.

Ed Sniffen of the Hawaii Department of Transportation said early reports showed that the pilot made adjustments during the ordeal, perhaps intent on placing the plane down in a safe place, and avoiding the nearby Skyline track as well as fuel storage tanks.

Flight recordings also indicated Kamaka Air 689 was in contact with the air traffic control tower when the plane reportedly lost “control.”

“You’re turning right, right?” an air traffic controller could be heard asking the crew.

“We are, we have, uh, we’re out of control here,” came the response.

“OK, if you can land, if you can level it off, that’s fine. Any runway, any place you can do,” the controller said.

Kamaka Air CEO Dave Hinderland read a statement asking for privacy for the grieving families of the two pilots and vowing to assist the Hawaii DOT, FAA and NTSB in the crash investigation.

“We will also share appropriate information with the media as it is confirmed over the coming hours and days,” Hinderland said, in part.

Kamaka Air specializes in cargo flights throughout the Hawai’ian islands. The company also provides chartered luxury flights, per its website.

State agencies have called for a voluntary pause on the interisland movement of birds in Hawaii for 90 days following the discovery of the H5N1 bird flu in the state.

The voluntary pause went into effect Friday, according to a news release from the state Department of Agriculture.

State Sen. Lynn DeCoite (D, Lanai-Molokai-Hana) suggested the pause as a measure to stem the spread of H5N1, also known as highly pathogenic avian influenza.

DeCoite told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser she actually sought a mandatory, rather than voluntary, pause.

“I thought we should be more proactive while putting out public service announcements,” said DeCoite. “I’m basically saying let’s suspend it until they can figure out what’s going on.”

Prior to November, HPAI had not yet been detected in Hawaii, which was the last U.S. state to confirm the virus in wild birds.

On Nov. 15 the state Health Department said HPAI had been confirmed in an outbreak among a backyard flock of birds, later identified as rescued ducks and geese from Susie’s Duck Sanctuary in Wahiawa.

It was the first confirmed detection of the virus announced in Hawaii, days after the department said H5 had been detected in wastewater serving the area.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also confirmed HPAI in a wild duck at the James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge on Oahu’s North Shore. The duck, which exhibited no symptoms, was swabbed Nov. 1, with the national lab confirming HPAI in the sample Nov. 25.

More recently, health officials reported the detection of H5 avian influenza in a sample collected Dec. 2 from the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plan on Hawaii island.

Based on the type of strain found in Hawaii’s detections, officials believe the virus was likely introduced by migrating birds from northern regions around Alaska.

DeCoite said she was concerned for many constituents on Molokai, including farmers and small business owners who just started participating in egg-laying programs.

She wants more prevention measures in place to protect poultry farms on other isles as well as Hawaii’s endangered native birds, with more urgency on the part of the state Department of Agriculture.

At DeCoite’s request the agencies are also collecting data to “assess the feasibility and necessity of a formal quarantine while carefully considering the potential economic impacts of premature restrictions on local products.”

State Sen. Tim Richards expressed his support for the precautionary measure as both a senator and a veterinarian.

“In light of the ongoing avian flu threat, I fully support a voluntary 90-day stop movement of birds as a precautionary measure,” said Richards in the news release. “Similar actions have been successfully implemented before, such as the voluntary halt in Hawaii’s beef cattle industry approximately 15 years ago, which effectively mitigated risks to trichomoniasis and protected livelihoods until legislation could be brought forward. By taking proactive steps now, we can prevent greater harm to our poultry industry and ensure the health of our flocks and communities.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said avian influenza spreads through direct, bird-to-bird contact but can also spread via contact with contaminated surfaces and materials such as manure, egg flats, crates, farming equipment — and people’s shoes, clothing or hands.

Avian influenza can also be detected in wild bird populations, including birds that do not appear to be sick.

Officials are urging poultry farmers and other bird owners to increase their biosecurity measures to reduce the likelihood of infections.

HDOA said it is working with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and state Department of Health on a coordinated response.

DOH says the public health risk to humans remains low as there has been no evidence of person-to-­person spread. To date, 61 U.S. cases have been reported in humans, mostly among dairy workers.

On the mainland, meanwhile, millions of commercial and backyard flocks of birds, and thousands of wild birds, have been affected by HPAI since 2022. In March, HPAI also broke out among U.S. dairy cows, and more than 800 dairy herds in the U.S. have since been infected in 16 states.

In response to the detection of the avian flu virus in Hawaiʻi, state agencies are asking the public to hold off on moving poultry and other bird species between islands for the next three months to prevent the spread.

The state Department of Agriculture made the request in a news release on Friday. It said the ask for a voluntary pause was a suggestion from Moloka‘i Sen. Lynn DeCoite, who is also a farmer.

The virus was first detected in Hawaiʻi last month and had not been detected in the islands prior. It is highly pathogenic and can spread between birds through contact or if birds come into contact with contaminated material.

The public can report animal illnesses to the agriculture department by calling 808-483-7100.

Though human cases are rare, residents can call the state Department of Health at 808-586-4586 if they develop symptoms after being exposed to sick birds.

In response to the detection of avian flu in Hawaii's wastewater and wild birds, state agencies are recommending a voluntary 90-day pause on the interisland movement of poultry and other bird species. This measure is suggested by Moloka‘i State Senator and farmer Lynn DeCoite as a way to prevent the spread of the virus.

Before November, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) had not been found in Hawaii. Although this strain has been present in the continental U.S., Europe, and Asia, Hawaii was the last U.S. state to confirm infections among birds. The HPAI strain likely arrived via migrating birds from northern regions near Alaska. Transmission occurs through direct contact between birds or through contact with contaminated materials.

The state's response involves several agencies working together:

While human transmission risk is low, residents are advised to stay alert. Sick pets should be reported to veterinarians. Unusual illnesses in poultry, livestock, or wild birds should be reported to HDOA at 808-483-7100 during business hours or 808-837-8092 after hours.

Residents who develop symptoms after exposure to sick birds should contact the DOH disease reporting line at 808-586-4586 for guidance.

State experts recognize the difficulty of controlling wild bird movements but believe that limiting domestic bird movement will reduce transmission risks. At Senator DeCoite’s request, data collection is underway to evaluate the need for a formal quarantine while considering economic impacts on local products.

State Senator and veterinarian Dr. Tim Richards expressed his support for this precautionary measure, stating:

In response to the detection of the avian flu virus in Hawai‘i’s wastewater and wild birds, state agencies are urging the public to voluntarily pause the interisland movement of poultry and other bird species for 90 days, effective immediately. This recommendation follows the suggestion of Moloka‘i State Senator and farmer Lynn DeCoite and is a proactive measure aimed at mitigating the spread of the virus.

Prior to November of this year, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) had not been detected in Hawai‘i. Although this strain has been circulating in the continental US, Europe, and Asia, Hawai‘i was the last US state to confirm infections among birds. The HPAI strain in Hawai‘i was likely introduced by migrating birds from northern regions around Alaska. Spread occurs through bird-to-bird contact or when birds come into contact with contaminated materials, equipment, or clothing from infected birds.

The coordinated response involves multiple agencies:

• The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), which oversees the management of wild birds on state lands.

• The Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture (HDOA), responsible for domestic birds.

• The Department of Health (DOH), which monitors human health concerns related to the virus.

While the potential for transmission to humans is low, residents are encouraged to remain vigilant. Sick pets should be reported to their veterinarian. The public is also urged to report multiple or unusual illnesses in poultry, livestock, or other wild birds or animals to HDOA at 808-483-7100 (business hours) or 808-837-8092 (non-business hours, including holidays). Any residents who develop symptoms of avian influenza after exposure to sick birds or other wildlife should contact the DOH disease reporting line at 808-586-4586 for further guidance.

State experts acknowledge the challenges of controlling wild bird movements and agree that limiting the interisland movement of domestic birds during this voluntary period will significantly reduce transmission risks. At Sen. DeCoite’s request, the agencies are also collecting data to assess the feasibility and necessity of a formal quarantine while carefully considering the potential economic impacts of premature restrictions on local products.

State Senator and veterinarian Dr. Tim Richards expressed his support for the precautionary measure, stating: “As both a senator and a veterinarian, I understand the critical balance between protecting our agricultural industries and safeguarding animal health. In light of the ongoing avian flu threat, I fully support a voluntary 90-day stop movement of birds as a precautionary measure. Similar actions have been successfully implemented before, such as the voluntary halt in Hawai‘i’s beef cattle industry approximately 15 years ago, which effectively mitigated risks to trichomoniasis and protected livelihoods until legislation could be brought forward. By taking proactive steps now, we can prevent greater harm to our poultry industry and ensure the health of our flocks and communities.”

Gov. Josh Green, M.D., and DOH Director Kenneth Fink addressed the topic on the Governor’s weekly whiteboard update this morning, which can be viewed here.

On Wednesday, McKinley High School broke ground on a $24 million athletic complex.

What You Need To Know

- The concrete and masonry block athletic facility will provide student-athletes with improved training facilities
- While attending games, Tiger fans will enjoy over 2,400 bleacher seats, modern restrooms, a convenient ticket booth and a rooftop press box
- Concrete bleachers extend the length of the building, with a tunnel at the center of the football field that will create a processional entry to the football field for players and the marching band
- Under the bleachers, the building will include a boy’s PE locker room, a weight training room, and locker rooms for male and female athletes

The project is designed by G70, constructed by Nan, Inc. and estimated to be completed by Sept. 2026, according to a news release.

Hawaii State Department of Education administrators, legislators and supporters of Hawaii high school athletics attended the groundbreaking. Principal Ron Okamura thanked supporters including former state Reps. Scott Saiki and Scott Nishimoto, and Sen. Sharon Moriwaki, who represents the area, for working to improve McKinley High’s athletic facilities. Kumu Kuaʻanaʻai Lewis, a McKinley High teacher and Hawaiiana educator, blessed the project with an oli.

“We hope this facility will inspire student-athletes to go for gold and bring Tiger Pride to their classmates and their ‘ohana,” Superintendent Keith Hayashi said in a statement. “This stadium’s reach goes beyond McKinley. It will be a center of activity for the surrounding neighborhood to be a part of and enjoy.”

A rendering of McKinley High's new athletic complex. (Rendering courtesy of HiDOE)

The concrete and masonry block athletic facility will provide student-athletes with improved training facilities. While attending games, Tiger fans will enjoy over 2,400 bleacher seats, modern restrooms, a convenient ticket booth, and a rooftop press box.

Concrete bleachers extend the length of the building, with a tunnel at the center of the football field that will create a processional entry to the football field for players and the marching band.

Under the bleachers, the building will include a boy’s PE locker room, a weight training room, and locker rooms for male and female athletes. Also, the building will include coaches’ offices, storage, and an equipment room that will contain wiring to increase internet capacity for this and future campus buildings.

“The McKinley community has been waiting a long time for this facility. It is uplifting to witness everyone’s hard work come to fruition today,” Okamura said. “We are looking forward to seeing how this new complex will enhance not only the sports program but also energize school spirit as well.”

Hawaiʻi State Senate Committee on Ways and Means Chair Donovan M. Dela Cruz (Senate District 17 – portions of Mililani, Mililani Mauka, portion of Waipiʻo Acres, Launani Valley, Wahiawā, Whitmore Village) applauded the release of the 2024 Hawaiʻi Quality of Life and Well-Being Dashboard.

On Tuesday, the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and the Office of Wellness and Resilience under the Office of the Governor launched the dashboard, which features in-depth findings on social, economic, and health issues affecting the state’s residents.

The Office of Wellness and Resilience was made possible through legislation (Act 291) that the senator championed in 2022.

“The state has taken meaningful strides to make Hawaiʻi a trauma-informed state, and I am proud to have continued these efforts by advocating for legislation (Act 106, SLH 2024) that resulted in the largest statewide survey on health in Hawaiʻi ever, as well as the largest dataset using CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Worker Well-Being Questionnaire (NIOSH WellBQ),” said Senator Dela Cruz. “The data in this dashboard shows that we must continue to increase the economic opportunities for our residents so they can remain in Hawaiʻi. Diversifying our economy in the areas of creative industries, agriculture, and technology must be paired with investments in workforce development so our residents can fill the good-paying jobs here in Hawaiʻi.”

Key findings from the report that populates the dashboard identify main economic stressors, health disparities, community strength and workplace support, within Hawaiʻi’s communities. It also provides recommendations for actions advancing health equity, economic stability, disaster preparedness and workplace innovation.

The dashboard’s launch will allow people to access data as a resource for crafting strategies and improving lives. For more details on the interactive dashboard, visit health-study.com.

A new dashboard launched by the University of Hawaii at Manoa offers insights into the pressing social, economic and health issues affecting state residents.

The dashboard Opens in a new tab, which went live Tuesday, offers data from a survey of more than 8,000 adult residents conducted earlier this year. It offers snapshots of how residents from a broad range of demographics felt about their neighborhood, workplace, housing, mental and physical health and other factors affecting quality of life.

It also delves into how prepared residents are for natural disasters, and their significant sources of stress, which appear to stem mostly from the high cost of housing and living.

“The 2024 Hawaii Quality of Life and Well-Being Dashboard is more than a collection of statistics — it’s a call to action,” said lead researcher Jack Barile in a news release. “By making this information publicly available, we hope to inspire collaborative efforts to tackle the challenges facing our state.”

While the dashboard shows many residents are feeling economic strain and stress, he noted, it also shows Hawaii’s communities are strong and resilient.

Barile, also a professor of psychology and director of UH Manoa’s Social Science Research Institute, said results also highlight the unique needs and strengths of different communities, such as those with lower incomes and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander residents.

The survey results can guide policymakers, community leaders and employers toward targeted actions that can improve well-being across the state, he said.

Among the dashboard’s key findings:

>> Economic stress. Most significant stressors for residents include the economy (73%), personal finances (73%) and housing costs (64%), particularly for households with incomes below $50,000.

>> Moving from Hawaii. Among those surveyed, 40% considered moving out of the state in the past year due to high living costs. The rate is even higher, at 47%, among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities.

>> Health disparities. Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander residents experience notably higher levels of stress and unhealthy days compared with white and Asian residents. Residents also cited challenges to accessing affordable health care, with 19% reporting medical debt over $500.

>> Community strength. Despite hardships, 67% of residents said they feel safe in their neighborhoods, with a similar percentage reporting that neighbors are willing to help each other.

>> Positive workplaces. 83% of employees felt respected by their employers, while 78% felt their contributions are valued. Employees looking to change jobs cited flexible work schedules, paid family leave and telework options as priorities.

>> Disaster preparedness. Only 12% of respondents said they were well or very well prepared if there was a disaster in their community.

In February, Hawaii became a trauma-informed state upon Gov. Josh Green’s signing of an executive order directing all state departments to collaborate with the Office of Wellness and Resilience to integrate principles of safety, transparency and peer support into workplaces and services.

The UH College of Social Sciences launched the dashboard in partnership with the governor’s Office of Wellness and Resilience, which is funding the project.

The surveys, to be conducted regularly, are the first step toward helping Hawaii become a trauma-­informed state.

The hope is that the data informs policy initiatives that address Hawaii’s unique challenges, said Barile, such as addressing barriers to affordable housing, as well as improving access to health care with a focus on NHPI communities, and the need for better disaster preparedness.

“The data in this report shows that we must continue to increase the economic opportunities for our residents, so they can remain in Hawaii,” said state Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz in a statement. “Diversifying our economy in the areas of creative industries, agriculture, and technology must be paired with investments in workforce development so our residents can fill the good-paying jobs here in the state.”

Significant sources of stress

>> Overall: The economy (73%), money (73%), housing costs (64%).

>> Medical debt: Over 81% owe $500 or less.

>> Access to health care: 12% said there was a time they needed to see a doctor but could not afford it; 20% said they delayed medical care due to the cost.

>> Economic stability: 44% are worried about not having enough income to pay normal monthly bills; in the previous seven days, 10% reported sometimes not having enough to eat.

>> Moving: When asked whether they had plans to move out of state, 40% responded yes. Of those who said yes, 65% said cost of living is lower elsewhere, 41% cited economic concerns, as reasons.

Source: Hawaii Quality of Life and Well-Being Dashboard. Find the dashboard at health-study.com Opens in a new tab.

Management of Mauna ʻAla, the burial place for many of Hawaiʻi’s monarchs, is at a crossroads.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources picked a new curator for the burial grounds in Nuʻuanu without consulting with key Native Hawaiian organizations or the family that has cared for the remains for the last 200 hundred years.

That set off a fierce debate that will spill out into the Legislature next year. Lawmakers will propose that the state lands department step aside and transfer management of the grounds to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Meanwhile, descendants of the customary caretakers — who say the lands department broke with decades of tradition in picking the new curator — are trying to build support to hand over management to a private nonprofit.

Burials in Hawaiian culture — and those of royal lineages in particular — are considered highly sacred. The debate over which entity gets to manage Mauna ʻAla is intertwined with who should be responsible for caring for those remains.

Amid the debate, one thing has become clear: keeping Mauna ʻAla under the state lands department is unpopular to many involved.

“I don’t think it being housed in DLNR is a good fit,” Sen. Tim Richards, who chairs the Senate Hawaiian Affairs Committee, said.

Proposals to transfer management authority come with many unanswered questions, including who pays for the upkeep and what would happen to the current curator, Doni Chong.

Kai Kahele, newly elected to chair the board of trustees of OHA, said his agency, established to represent the interests of Hawaiians, is the right pick to oversee the burial grounds.

“We have the talent here to do it, we just have to work with the administration to bring that to fruition,” Kahele said.

Sen. Lorraine Inouye, who chairs the Senate Water and Land Committee, said she plans to introduce a bill transferring management of the grounds to OHA.

Inouye is worried that keeping Mauna ʻAla under the land department, whose director is a political appointee of the governor, means that policies could change with each new administration every four years.

“If we leave it with OHA, that would be continuous,” Inouye said.

While Inouye supports transferring management authority, she’s not sure that lawmakers would approve of giving OHA additional funds for Mauna ʻAla.

Inouye thinks the office, which oversees vast trust resources worth $600 million, should be able to cover the costs for Mauna ʻAla itself.

OHA has some experience managing historical sites. In 2012, the office acquired the land in Wahiawā that houses the Kūkaniloko birthing stones, the birthplace for many of Oʻahu’s high-ranking chiefs.

But Inouye also acknowledged that OHA comes with some baggage. The office and its trustees have previously been criticized for mismanaging the office’s finances. An audit two years ago found possible instances of waste, fraud and abuse in OHA contracts within the last decade, which prompted the office’s leadership to tighten its internal controls.

In addition to the state, the Aliʻi Trusts, whose namesakes are buried at Mauna ʻAla, have also contributed to improvements at the site under an agreement with DLNR from 2013.

Three of the largest trusts — Lunalilo Home, Liliʻuokalani Trust and The Queen’s Health System — either declined to comment or didn’t respond to requests for comment on the future of Mauna ʻAla.

In a written statement, Kamehameha Schools said that the care and guardianship of Mauna ʻAla “demands the highest standards from all who are entrusted with this sacred responsibility.”

“We trust that OHA and DLNR will continue to work together, alongside the community, to malama this special place.”

After Chong was appointed earlier this year, DLNR Director Dawn Chang said that she met with the Aliʻi trusts, royal societies, Hawaiian civic clubs and members of the family that have traditionally cared for the burials, but there was no consensus among them regarding the proposed transfer of Mauna ʻAla to OHA.

There was also a proposal at one point to create a new position to deal with the cultural aspects of Mauna ʻAla. Chang said there also wasn’t consensus from those groups on what exactly that position would entail.

At recent land board meetings, testifiers and board members have raised concerns that the land department planned to turn parts of Mauna ʻAla, including the curator’s house, into a sort of museum.

While the department is undertaking a $325,000 renovation project of the curator’s house, Chang said the goal isn’t to turn it into a commercial enterprise. After the renovations are complete, Chong and future curators would still live on site.

Chang said she believes Chong has been doing a good job. She said that Chong has been getting assistance from Kahu Kordell Kekoa on cultural protocols and recently hosted a graduating class of Honolulu firefighters.

“I have not received any concerns or complaints,” Chang said. “If anything, we’ve been receiving positive comments about her work there.”

Prior to Chong, a family that traced its lineage to chief Hoʻolulu had served as caretakers of Mauna ʻAla for decades. Hoʻolulu, along with his brother, hid the remains of Kamehameha I.

In Hawaiian tradition, iwi, or bones, contain a person’s mana, or spiritual power. In ancient times, high-ranking chiefs would often have their remains hidden from people who sought to steal that power.

Hoʻolulu and his descendants were entrusted with protecting the remains of Hawaiʻi’s aliʻi into the afterlife.

Mauna ʻAla was established in 1864 to house the remains of Kamehameha’s descendants and their close advisers. It later became the resting place for relatives of David Kalākaua and other royal lineages.

Now, the descendants hope to see a nonprofit established that could manage Mauna ʻAla in partnership with the Aliʻi trusts — removing the site from state government management entirely.

“The OHA solution is just too political,” Mary ‘Amaikalani Beckley Lawrence Gallagher, one of the Hoʻolulu descendants, said.

James Maioho, who comes from a branch of that family, is trying to get support from the Alii trusts and other royal societies to eventually transfer management to a nonprofit run by the family.

“You’re giving that 3.3 acres back to Kanaka control, back as sovereign land,” Maioho said.

Gallagher said that family members have already been discussing who could be the next caretaker and who should be trained to succeed them should the family take over management of Mauna ʻAla.

She said the family has weathered through numerous regime changes over the years as management passed from the Hawaiian Kingdom, to the territory and now to the state.

“We’ll keep our chins up,” Gallagher said, “and keep ourselves out of the monkey business.”

Civil Beat’s coverage of Native Hawaiian issues and initiatives is supported by a grant from the Abigail Kawananakoa Foundation.

Unlike the state House, leadership at the state Senate will remain relatively familiar for the upcoming legislative session, with some tweaks to Senate committees and chairs.

Three of the Senate’s 17 committees have been refocused:

>> The former Energy, Economic Development and Tourism Committee now becomes the Economic Development and Tourism Committee with Sen. Lynn DeCoite as its chair.

>> Responsibility for energy now falls under a new Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee chaired by Sen. Glenn Wakai.

Wakai previously chaired the Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs Committee.

>> It now becomes the Public Safety and Military Affairs Committee chaired by Sen. Brandon Elefante.

The new chair of the Hawaiian Affairs Committee will be Sen. Tim Richards III, after former Chair Maile Shimabukuro left the Senate at the end of the last legislative session.

Otherwise, leadership of the Senate continues under Senate President Ron Kouchi.

Continuing in their Senate leadership roles are Michelle Kidani (vice president), Dru Mamo Kanuha (majority leader), Wakai (majority floor leader), DeCoite (assistant majority floor leader), Les Ihara (majority policy leader) and Lorraine Inouye (majority whip).

Sens. Henry J.C. Aquino, Troy Hashimoto, Jarrett Keohokalole, Chris Lee and Richards all will serve as assistant majority whips.

In the three-member, minority Republican Senate caucus, the election of Sen. Samantha DeCorte enabled a tie-breaking vote that settled a leadership standoff over the past two legislative sessions between Sens. Kurt Fevella and Brenton Awa.

Awa now becomes minority leader, DeCorte is the new minority floor leader and Fevella will serve as assistant minority floor leader.

The changes in the Senate were far less dramatic compared with the House because of several factors.

Only 13 of the 25 Senate seats were up for election this year.

But all 51 House seats were up, resulting in new faces and a leadership change when Speaker Scott Saiki lost his primary election.

New House Speaker Nadine Nakamura then reshuffled House leadership.

Other factors in the House included resignations, retirements, other election losses, the death of Rep. Mark Nakashima and several other chairs moving up into House leadership, which prevents them from chairing committees, although some will serve as vice chairs.

Nakamura also renamed several of the 18 House committees, and 12 of them will have new chairs.

Six newly elected House freshmen also will serve as vice chairs.

Boaters are in deep water at last after a months-long dredging project at Wailoa Small Boat Harbor in Hilo wrapped up last week.

The harbor, one of East Hawaii’s last functioning boat launches after the Pohoiki Boat Ramp in Puna was cut off during the 2018 Kilauea eruption, has not been dredged for more than seven years and sediment had accumulated at the harbor mouth.

Boats repeatedly went aground attempting to pass the mouth of the Wailoa River, and boaters quickly learned the harbor only was usable at the highest tides.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation began a project to dredge the river in July, using $3.2 million in capital improvement funds. That work ended on Nov. 27, the DLNR announced Tuesday, although construction equipment including a barge will remain on site until Saturday.

The total cost of the project swelled to $4.8 million, according to a DLNR news release, but the cost overrun was covered through DOBOR’s Boating Special Fund, which is replenished from statewide harbor and boating facility use fees.

“We appreciate the public’s patience, understanding and advocacy as DOBOR navigated the permitting and funding hurdles to get this project completed before the end of the year,” DOBOR Administrator Meghan Statts said in a statement. ”We also appreciate the Legislature for recognizing the importance of this project and providing funding.”

“It’s definitely better, it’s deeper,” said boater Antoine Debarge on Tuesday, mooring his boat directly across the river mouth from Suisan Fish Market. “This was completely dry land here a few months ago.”

Hilo Sen. Lorraine Inouye, who advocated for the initial $3.2 million allocation, said she was happy East Hawaii boaters can finally safely access the ocean again from the harbor, but lamented that the problem persisted for years.

“When I became District 1 senator in 2022, that was already a problem, and we embarked on making sure it got fixed,” Inouye said. “I’m happy we were able to do this, but the boaters had to deal with it for so long.”

Inouye said she will continue to monitor conditions at the the harbor and will listen to boaters’ concerns to identify other potential issues that need to be addressed. She added she is working on a project to determine the accumulation rates of sediment at the harbor so future dredging operations are more timely.

Inouye went on to say that she will try to make additional funds available for additional maintenance projects at the harbor during the 2025 legislative session, which begins in January.

Hawaiʻi officials are looking to New Zealand to help shore up its own biosecurity efforts.

A group of key state lawmakers and staff, including those from the state Department of Agriculture, visited New Zealand in September to learn more about how the island nation prevents and manages invasive species.

At a recent Hawaiʻi Board of Agriculture meeting, Jonathan Ho, the manager for the department’s Plant Quarantine Branch, noted some of the ways New Zealand prevents pests from entering and becoming established.

“To compare to New Zealand, I think per capita they spend about 10 times what we do,” he said. “They focus very heavily on pre-entry, so trying to force as much of the inspections, the treatments, compliance agreements — all of that stuff outside the border prior to entry."

State Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz was one of the lawmakers who made the September trip, and in a newsletter, he noted that New Zealand has what is “widely considered to be the best biosecurity system in the world.”

His newsletter said that New Zealand has a three-tiered biosecurity system that starts with cleanliness requirements for the goods — and the ships carrying the goods — before they enter the country.

Detector dogs, physical inspections and disposal techniques also filter out pests and unwanted species at the border before they can spread. After that, the country has rigorous surveillance and response mechanisms in place.

Ho said that additional funding would help invasive species management, but that Hawaiʻi’s dependence on imports, one of the primary ways invasive species end up in the islands, coupled with its lack of resources and inadequate regulations makes pest introduction always a possibility.

“We import 90% of our goods, and I don't see that changing any time soon. And as long as there is imported goods, there is going to be risks,” Ho said.

The state agriculture department only has 89 inspectors to check goods imported into Hawaiʻi, and they only check about 10% to 15% of the goods, Ho said.

Pre-border requirements on goods and vessels to ensure that pests don’t even make it to Hawaiʻi would be helpful, but Ho said it’s more difficult for a state to make those rules than it is for a country like New Zealand.

Requests for more biosecurity funding and policy changes are likely to come in the upcoming state legislative session.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism says an estimated 85% to 90% percent of the state’s food is grown, processed and imported from the U.S. mainland, which is then delivered to school kitchens.

It’s a costly, less fresh and far less sustinable food model for the Hawaiʻi Department of Education, which serves 100,000-plus students a day — or about 18 million meals per school year — through its meals program.

What if there was a way to change that?

The Hawaiʻi Agricultural Foundation recently hosted its “Eat, Think, Drink 27: Regional Kitchens — Transforming Ag Through Strategic Investments” event on O‘ahu to discuss that issue and more.

State House Committee on Agriculture and Food Systems Chairwoman Rep. Kirstin Kahaloa of Kona, state Senate Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz of Oʻahu and state Senate Committee on Education Chairwoman Sen. Michelle Kidani of Oʻahu attended.

Kahaloa and Dela Cruz were also part of a panel of state and industry leaders in local food production to talk about the significance of the role of regional kitchens in sustainably feeding Hawaiʻi and its students.

Keynote speaker Dela Cruz presented about the state’s Nourishing Hawaiʻi’s Future initiative, aimed at increasing local food production and creating locally sourced meals for students through regional kitchens.

State Superintendent of Schools Keith Hayashi also was part of the discussion.

“The answer to both reducing our dependence on imported food and feeding our students locally is the concept of a regional kitchen,” said Dela Cruz. “Building a future based on resources already in place and using them to create a tangible system of local agriculture, regional kitchens and [Hawai‘i] Department of Education schools is a feasible solution that will create food security and contribute to economic development.”

Regional kitchens are facilities used to produce meals or individual ingredients before they are sent to different locations to serve to consumers.

This model has been successfully adopted through school districts in Washington state and California and already similarly implemented in the centralized kitchen of Zippy’s Restaurants in Waipiʻo, Oʻahu.

Strategic investments in regional kitchens have shown to help local farmers scale production by increasing market access and leveraging the power of public procurement.

Regional kitchens use local farm products to prepare meals at public schools, said Kahaloa.

“This model moves locally grown and raised products from our farms, to processing facilities, to the regional kitchens and lastly to our public schools that incorporate these ʻono grinds on our keiki’s plates,” said the Big Island lawmaker. “Students will be nourished when they can eat food grown from their communities.”

Hayashi said his department continues to work toward the state’s goal of incorporating at least 30% locally sourced foods in school meals by 2030 and 50% by 2050.

A highlight of the event included a menu created by four state Department of Education alumni, who are now chefs, and current students using locally sourced ingredients.

Hayashi said the state Department of Education is grateful for the opportunities the event provided Hawaiʻi students to learn from alumni and professionals in the food and agriculture industry.

“Including [Hawaiʻi Department of Education] in the process provides nutritious school meals for our keiki while securing local food production,” said Kidani. “It was wonderful to see alumni now as skilled chefs contributing their creations and showcasing locally grown ingredients alongside our current culinary students. Working with alumni to serve healthy, local meals will fuel our students’ success in the classroom and have a lasting impact.”

Cranston Pia came across intruders on the land on Oahu’s Leeward Coast where he raised his cattle. Their dogs, trained to hunt pigs, were attacking Pia’s calf in a pen.

Ranchers like Pia know that hunters might kill their cattle to steal meat or sometimes lose control of their dogs. Pia grabbed his rifle and fired a single shot. A 17-year-old boy emerged from the bushes with a pistol and claimed the dogs were his, touching off an argument.

Such a stand-off is nightmarish but common in Hawaii’s agricultural community. Farmers and ranchers are in constant battle with trespassers, would-be cattle rustlers, vandals and thieves who largely escape punishment with law enforcement often miles away. If offenders are caught, prosecutions are rare and the penalties are feeble.

The confrontation at Ohikilolo Ranch on Feb. 17 ended with another gunshot — a fatal shot to Pia’s temple. Honolulu’s prosecuting attorney called it an “execution-style killing,” and charged 17-year-old Chantston Pila Kokawa.

Pia’s death has brought the low-simmering issue of agricultural crime to a boil.

After years of inaction and neglect, a handful of lawmakers and state officials now say they want to address it this legislative session. Potential responses include an agriculture-specific stand-your-ground law, allowing ranchers and farmers to defend themselves with lethal force.

By one estimate, agricultural theft and vandalism cost farmers and ranchers more than $14 million, both for the cost of crime and preventing it.

But that may be a serious undercount. In a 2019 U.S. Department of Agriculture survey, Hawaii farmers and ranchers reported almost 15,000 cases of trespass — yet just 970 cases of vandalism, theft and trespass were reported to the police. Only 8% of those reports led to an arrest.

Hawaii’s agriculture industry, worth about $670 million, with about 12,000 producers, faces a host of challenges, including the oldest workforce in the nation and challenging economic conditions.

And now farmers and ranchers say crime is on the rise, with reports of pilfered produce, rustled livestock, broken gates or fences and stolen vehicles among them. Trespassing is not as well publicized.

“You can’t talk to one rancher that hasn’t been in the same situation as Cranston,” Big Island rancher Lani Cran Petrie said. “They just didn’t get shot.”

Petrie has regularly faced off with trespassers on her land, and just over a year before Pia’s killing, she faced a remarkable scenario: She had the police with her when she caught trespassing hunters.

The officers, flanking Petrie and husband Bill, responded to the rancher’s call in the early evening with AR-15s and kevlar vests. As the sun set, they surrounded two hunters — armed with a crossbow and rifle — deep in the ranch’s brushy thicket.

This time, with the cops present, Petrie thought it was an open-and-shut case. The hunters – poachers as Petrie calls them – were caught in the act.

But one year later, the day before Pia’s killing, just one of the hunters was charged with a suspended sentence for five hours of community service. Petrie says it’s scant punishment for someone she alleges is a repeat offender. She is “sure we’re going to catch him again.”

Before Pia’s death, ranchers would typically confront trespassers. In Petrie’s case on the Big Island, she says she had encountered one of the hunters before and let them off with a warning.

“Now our farmers and ranchers are thinking twice about confrontations,” Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council director Nicole Galase said.

Part of the problem, according to both ranchers and law enforcement, is that the laws and enforcement are weak and the logistics of fighting crime in farther-flung agricultural areas are difficult.

Trespassing on agricultural land is also classified as a petty misdemeanor that comes with a maximum of 30 days in prison and a $1,000 fine, for example, which officials told lawmakers had never been imposed fully in a hearing following Piaʻs death.

That, according to Petrie, means many poachers will treat the fine like a payment to hunt.

“You’re playing with fire. The only thing you can get these guys on is trespass. But it’s like a spark around gasoline. It escalates. Fast,” Petrie said. “Cattle are spooked – boom – they’re through a fence. Somebody says ‘F you,’ then suddenly everybody’s looking for their weapon.”

Within two weeks of Pia’s killing, ranchers and farmers arrived at the State Capitol building in droves, cramming into a conference room alongside industry advocates, to share stories with lawmakers and officials about the realities of crime in the state’s agriculture.

Farmer-friendly lawmakers grilled officials over why they were not paying enough attention to the issue. Pia’s death was at the top of their minds.

“Hunting and trespassing in that area have just become normal,”  Dustin Griffith, rancher and friend of Pia, told lawmakers on Feb. 29. “We call to get help, the police come out and say ‘Ah, it’s just trespassers, ah it’s just hunters.’ I guarantee it’s a big deal to me and I guarantee it’s a big deal to the Pia family.”

Attorney General Anne Lopez told lawmakers that “we clearly have work to do” and that the new Department of Law Enforcement, formed in January, would play an integral role in that work.

“Certainly the judges play a huge role in what actually happens … but that doesn’t mean that we can’t, as a group, reassess how assertive or maybe aggressive we are,” Lopez said.

Since Pia’s death, senators Tim Richards of Big Island and Lynn DeCoite of Molokai have maintained pressure on those agencies to muscle up, which the Department of Law Enforcement has since said it is serious about.

The department has responded positively to the call, despite not having funding for agricultural crime, because the current situation is what department deputy director Jared Redulla has called a “recipe for disaster.”

Agricultural crime is more than just ranchers taking issue with trespassers. Farmers are subject to trespassers, vandals and thieves, who often case farms for expensive equipment and prize specialty crops.

Less than two weeks ago, Big Island fruit farmer Ken Love once again found his trees stripped of valuable malama avocados, jackfruit and mamey sapote, despite the 6,000-volt fence surrounding them.

The fence is tall enough for typical Big Island pests – feral goats or hogs – which means he now needs “a fence for two-legged pigs rather than four,” Love says.

Fruit thieves arrive with the harvest of Hawaii’s seasonal fruits statewide, particularly for high-value crops like lychee or mangosteen — often found later in the state’s farmers markets. One thief was caught twice in June 2022, once with 150 pounds of lychee worth $1,200 and again with about $260 worth of mangosteen. He was sentenced to four years probation this year.

But tracing stolen fruit once it makes it into the market is difficult, given they will likely be sold on as part of larger bunches. Love routinely reports thefts so that the police have agricultural crime on their minds.

Has any one of those reports resulted in anything?

“No. Never,” said Love, president of Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers. “There are people who have caught thieves and nothing happened.”

Piecemeal state and county initiatives have focused on the farmers markets, through the vendors who knowingly or unknowingly buy the purloined fruit.

But with deep skepticism about law enforcement’s interest in ag crime, Hawaii farmers and ranchers are spending on their own security, up from $7.4 million in 2004 to $11.2 million in 2019, according to surveys.

While the cost of security takes up much of the cost of agricultural crime, most farmers and ranchers think those numbers are very low and do not paint a full picture, partly due to a lack of reporting. In 2004, 17% of farms and ranches reported thefts or vandalism on their land — reported or not to police. That fell to 14% in 2019.

“Those numbers are grossly underrepresented,” Hawaii Farm Bureau director Brian Miyamoto said.

The lack of reporting and enforcement sparked disagreement between the authorities and farmers, with law enforcement claiming theft is either a non-issue or their hands are tied because there’s no tangible data, while farmers and ranchers say they don’t report it because nothing will come of it.

Authorities have toyed with tracing produce with invisible ink, detectable with ultraviolet light, akin to how ranchers brand cattle. On the Big Island, the county hired a specialized agricultural inspector to monitor the supply chain between farms and the farmers markets as part of a state pilot study into the issue.

But the initiatives tend to be pilot projects with temporary funding, and fade quickly, fueling farmers and ranchers’ frustrations.

Richards, the senator and a generational rancher from Kohala on the Big Island, has faced trespassers, poachers, had horses stolen, and, less than two months ago, had one of his cowboys catch three armed hunters within a few hundred yards from his home, where his children were feeding the family’s horses.

That poses a safety risk, as an errant bullet or arrow shot towards the house could have devastating consequences — as it did with Cranston Pia.

Richards wants to figure out more appropriate trespass statutes for agriculture, laws that do not require fencing and “No Trespassing” signs, which are required to explicitly state that land is private.

While Love’s fruit farm has a 6,000-volt fence to deter thieves, it doesn’t have placards to keep them out. “Everybody stole my no-trespassing signs. Four in the last year,” fruit grower Love said. “It’s sad but it’s funny.”

Legislation has nevertheless been introduced for at least eight years, aimed at resolving longstanding issues between trespassers, poachers, hunters and ranchers.

Fellow senator DeCoite pointed to each of them as a failed opportunity, saying they died because most of the Legislature’s city-dwelling lawmakers did not take it seriously.

A 2016 bill would have made it easier to prosecute trespassing on agricultural land by removing a requirement for fencing or trespass warning signs. It failed in the Legislature after opposition from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, which feared it would impinge on Native Hawaiian gathering rights.

Those rights are enshrined in the State of Hawaii’s constitution, allowing Native Hawaiians to gather certain goods on private lands.

“Most of you believe that’s a crock of bull,” DeCoite said last month. “As a Native Hawaiian, I don’t have a problem with anyone gathering. Just ask first.”

A 2018 pilot program report on the Big Island found that — in addition to providing better education for producers and law enforcement — a longstanding system for certifying ownership and movement forms of agriculture products was particularly effective in clamping down on the crimes, but only if there was enough enforcement of them.

Love, the farmer on the Big Island, said the forms are still being used, though they are not very effective, despite authorities banking on them to help stem the flow of stolen produce.

Now with the 2025 legislative session looming, Richards is mulling the creation of an agricultural crime commission, and is working with the Attorney General’s Office on a comprehensive bill to centralize and demystify laws that apply to agricultural theft, vandalism and trespass.

The most controversial of Richards’ ideas may include a stand-your-ground law, which would allow the use of force in self defense when threatened with death. “Allow agriculture to protect itself,” he said. Stand-your-ground laws exist in about 28 states.

Richards said he understands he will face significant pushback and does not want vigilantism to ensue.

But Pia’s death lays the issue bare, which Richards believes his fellow lawmakers and the authorities need to take seriously.

“You’re forcing it by not enforcing the current law,” Richards said. “What is agriculture supposed to do?”

“Hawaii Grown” is funded in part by grants from the Stupski Foundation, Ulupono Fund at the Hawaii Community Foundation and the Frost Family Foundation.

At the 2024 Annual Recognition Dinner & Auction on Nov. 17, Jennifer Zelko-Schlueter was awarded the “Peacemaker Award” by Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center, and Judge M. Kanani Laubach was awarded the “Meritorious Service Award” by the Hawaii County Bar Association.

“What a great evening celebrating two very deserving wahine,” Ku‘kahi Executive Director Julie Mitchell said in a press release. “Mahalo to all who contributed of their time, talents and treasures to make this fundraiser the most successful ever!”

The event raised $50,000 for the center.

“We truly appreciate our honorees, sponsors, ticket buyers, auction bidders, guests, cash and in-kind event donors, auction donors, emcee, introducers, musician, sound operator, special event committee, event volunteers, board and staff,” Mitchell said.

The annual dinner and auction provides a significant portion of the funds that Ku‘ikahi needs to provide free and low-cost dispute prevention and resolution services in East Hawaii and beyond.

To make a year-end charitable gift to support this local non-profit community mediation center, please visit: https://hawaiimediation.org/donate/.

Boaters are in deep water at last after a months-long dredging project at Wailoa Small Boat Harbor in Hilo wrapped up last week.

The harbor, one of East Hawaii’s last functioning boat launches after the Pohoiki Boat Ramp in Puna was cut off during the 2018 Kilauea eruption, has not been dredged for more than seven years and sediment had accumulated at the harbor mouth.

Boats repeatedly went aground attempting to pass the mouth of the Wailoa River, and boaters quickly learned the harbor only was usable at the highest tides.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation began a project to dredge the river in July, using $3.2 million in capital improvement funds. That work ended on Nov. 27, the DLNR announced Tuesday, although construction equipment including a barge will remain on site until Saturday.

The total cost of the project swelled to $4.8 million, according to a DLNR news release, but the cost overrun was covered through DOBOR’s Boating Special Fund, which is replenished from statewide harbor and boating facility use fees.

“We appreciate the public’s patience, understanding and advocacy as DOBOR navigated the permitting and funding hurdles to get this project completed before the end of the year,” DOBOR Administrator Meghan Statts said in a statement. ”We also appreciate the Legislature for recognizing the importance of this project and providing funding.”

“It’s definitely better, it’s deeper,” said boater Antoine Debarge on Tuesday, mooring his boat directly across the river mouth from Suisan Fish Market. “This was completely dry land here a few months ago.”

Hilo Sen. Lorraine Inouye, who advocated for the initial $3.2 million allocation, said she was happy East Hawaii boaters can finally safely access the ocean again from the harbor, but lamented that the problem persisted for years.

“When I became District 1 senator in 2022, that was already a problem, and we embarked on making sure it got fixed,” Inouye said. “I’m happy we were able to do this, but the boaters had to deal with it for so long.”

Inouye said she will continue to monitor conditions at the the harbor and will listen to boaters’ concerns to identify other potential issues that need to be addressed. She added she is working on a project to determine the accumulation rates of sediment at the harbor so future dredging operations are more timely.

Inouye went on to say that she will try to make additional funds available for additional maintenance projects at the harbor during the 2025 legislative session, which begins in January.

Email Michael Brestovansky at mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-herald.com.

If you live in Waikōloa or the surrounding area and noticed a helicopter flying low overhead today, you might have wondered why.

Hawai‘i state Sen. Tim Richards, who represents the Big Island’s Senate District 4 (North Hilo, Hāmākua, Kohala, Waimea, Waikōloa, North Kona), explained in a Facebook post that the Spatial Data Analysis and Visualization Labs at University of Hawai‘i at Hilo is conducting a low-altitude helicopter flight over Waikōloa until noon today.

The flight, which started at 10 a.m., is part of an effort to collect aerial imagery of palm trees in the Waikōloa area to identify potential damage caused by the invasive coconut rhinoceros beetle.

It’s in partnership with the Big Island Invasive Species Committee.

The data gathered will help the committee improve its palm surveys and target trees that might need further inspection.

What this means for Waikōloa area residents:

• The helicopter is flying low to capture detailed imagery.

• If a tree on your property needs further inspection, the Big Island Invasive Species Committee will contact you.

• Trees found to have coconut rhinoceros beetle damage could qualify for free treatment by the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Response Hawai‘i team and Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture.

“Thank you for your cooperation in protecting Hawai‘i’s palms!” said Richards in his post.

For more information or to get on the list for a free property survey, call/text the Big Island Invasive Species Committee at 808-731-9232 or email to biisc@hawaii.edu.

Question: Are the Christmas ship-by dates in the Postal Service mailer correct? I thought Hawaii was earlier.

Answer: You are referring to the fold-out card titled “Delivering infinite moments of joy all season long,” which was produced at U.S. Postal Serv­ice headquarters with mainland customers in mind but also mailed to Hawaii customers.

“In this case, the Priority Express Mail suggested mailing date is actually the same for mainland and Hawaii customers—Dec. 20. But our suggested mailing date for First-Class and Priority Mail for our Hawaii customers, which are the services that most local folks use, is Dec. 18 rather than the Dec. 19 date suggested in the mail piece,” Duke Gonzales, a postal service spokesperson, said Monday in an email.

The mail-by dates aren’t hard deadlines for shipping to the mainland, “just suggested dates to give Christmas mail and packages the best chances of reaching their destinations before Dec. 25,” he said.

Gonzales issued a news release Monday with other information about holiday shipping:

>> Self-service ship and mail centers: Customers can use these kiosks to ship packages, buy stamps and handle other tasks without seeing a mail clerk. They generally are open 24/7 at all locations except for Mili­lani and Waipahu. Kiosks are available at the Kapahulu Safeway and at these 16 Hawaii post offices: Aina Haina, Downtown, Hawaii Kai, Hilo Main, Honolulu Main/Airport, Kailua, Kailua-Kona, Kaneohe, Kihei, Lahaina, Makiki, Mililani, Waialae- Kahala, Waikiki, Wailuku and Waipahu.

>> Priority Mail flat-rate shipping: The box itself is free, while shipping up to 70 pounds to a domestic location costs $19.30 in a medium box and $22.80 in a large box. The large box holds 50% more (with the same 70-pound weight limit).

>> Overseas military: Up to 70 pounds can be shipped in the military large flat-rate box to most APO and FPO locations for $26.

>> Online service: Use usps.com, where you can create an online account to order free boxes, buy stamps, pay for and print shipping labels (Click-N-Ship) and participate in Operation Santa, the annual program that has donors fulfill children’s Christmas wishes. With Click-N-Ship you can have the post office come pick up your outgoing packages at no extra charge, or drop off the prepaid packages at a post office counter without standing in line.

>> Peak days: “We expect customer traffic at our post offices to accelerate beginning the week of Dec. 9, and that the week of Dec. 16 will be our busiest week of the season,” the news release said.

Q: How long is the new Leeward bike path?

A: The 3.5-mile Leeward Bikeway follows the previous Oahu Railway and Land Co. path and “extends the Pearl Harbor Historic Trail, connecting through the West Loch Community Shoreline Path, to create an 11-mile path that wraps around Pearl Harbor and into Ewa Beach, culminating at the Hawaiian Railway Society’s train yard,” according to the Hawaii Bicycling League.

Q: Regarding bird flu, can that spread to feral cats?

A: Yes, and to pet cats, too, and to many other mammals, wild, stray (feral) or domesticated. “Although bird flu viruses mainly infect and spread among wild migratory water birds and domestic poultry, some bird flu viruses can infect and spread to other animals as well. Bird flu viruses have in the past been known to sometimes infect mammals that eat (presumably infected) birds or poultry,” according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In North America, H5N1 bird flu viruses have been detected in cats, dogs, goat kids (juvenile goats) and dairy cows, the agency says.

It’s rare for people to catch bird flu from an infected animal, but it is possible, “especially if there is prolonged and unprotected exposure to the animal,” the CDC says.

Read more at 808ne.ws/3ZhX9X1 Opens in a new tab (on the CDC website) and 808ne.ws/4fS9k3u Opens in a new tab (on the state Department of Health website).

As the calendar year comes to an end, the latest iteration of Kaua‘i County government formally began Monday with the inauguration of its county council and prosecuting attorney at the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall in Līhu‘e.

Longtime Kaua‘i County councilmember Mel Rapozo was confirmed as chair, and KipuKai Kuali‘i was named as vice chair, in a public hearing prior to the 1 p.m. ceremony.

Rapozo promised “to tackle critical issues facing our community with boldness and with resolve.”

He identified wastewater and clean water initiatives, homelessness, housing and the county’s ongoing search for a new landfill site as top priorities.

“We will work aggressively — and I mean aggressively — to address the needs and challenges that matter most to our residents,” Rapozo said.

Rapozo and Kuali‘i will lead a council filled with familiar faces, including Addison Bulosan, Bernard Carvalho, Felicia Cowden and Arryl Kaneshiro, who won reelection to the council in November after terming out in 2022.

Fern Holland, who defeated incumbent Ross Kagawa by 108 votes in the November general election, is the sole newcomer to the Kaua‘i County Council. She received applause and cheers on Monday when Rapozo, speaking from the convention hall stage, welcomed her aboard.

Kaua‘i County’s prosecuting attorney, Rebecca Like, successfully maintained her position after winning an uncontested primary election in August.

Like claimed her office must not only prosecute crimes, but work to prevent them. She vowed “to address the root causes of crime” through continued collaboration with local law enforcement, agencies and community organizations.

“Justice is not a privilege for the few, but a right for all,” Like said. “It is the duty of those who hold the scales to ensure fairness, protect the innocent and hold the guilty accountable, regardless of their power or position.”

Oaths of office were administered by Judge Randal Valenciano. Jade K. Fountain-Tanigawa and Lyndon M. Yoshioka, who was absent due to illness, were appointed county clerk and deputy county clerk.

Pastor Matt Higa of the New Hope Kaua‘i church led the inauguration’s invocation and closing word of prayer, in which he called for unity and respect.

“You and I, all of us, we will never see eye to eye on every political issue,” Higa said. “But we must see heart to heart.”

Jan TenBruggencate, vice chair of the Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative and member of the Kaua‘i County Charter Review Commission, served as master of ceremonies. Members of the Waimea High School JROTC served as color guard.

Kumu Troy Lazaro and Sabra Kauka were present as pū kāne (conch shell blower) and mea ‘oli (chanter). Nalani K. Ka‘auwai Brun performed the U.S. national anthem and the state anthem, “Hawai‘i Pono‘ī.”

Officials in attendance Monday also included Kaua‘i Mayor Derek Kawakami, Maui County councilmembers Keani Rawlins-Fernandez and Gabe Johnson, State Senate President Ron Kouchi and state House representatives Dee Morikawa and Luke Evslin.

Others present included former county and state government officials, Capt. Brett Stevenson of the Pacific Missile Range Facility, William Arakaki of the Hawai‘i State Board of Education and representatives of Gov. Josh Green, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz and U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda.

Beginning January 1, Hawaii’s network of medical cannabis caregivers will be outlawed under “sunset” provisions included in the state’s medical cannabis law, HawaiiNewsNow reports. House Public Safety Chair Rep. Della Belatti (D) indicated that the sunset provision is a mistake that lawmakers will try to address, but for now the state’s registered caregivers will be forced to stop serving patients by the start of the new year.

Registered caregivers are allowed to raise up to 10 medical cannabis plants for patients who cannot cultivate the plants. The system is an alternative to dispensaries, which some say are too expensive or inconvenient.

Belatti told HawaiiNewsNow that the impending shut down of the caregiver program is “a failure” that lawmakers did not address which has led to a “crisis.”

State Sen. Joy San Buenaventura (D), who chairs the chamber’s Health and Human Services committee, said the deadline would impact thousands of the state’s medical cannabis patients.

“Especially for Oahu patients who live in condos where they are dependent upon caregivers to grow their medical cannabis for them,” she told HawaiiNewsNow, “they won’t be able to have that access and that’s huge.”