Hawaiʻi Senate Ways and Means Committee details visit to Kauaʻi Kauai Now August 16, 2025 Original Article Members of the Hawai‘i Senate Ways and Means Committee — including Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau lawmaker Senate President Ronald Kouchi — spent 2 days this week on the Garden Isle for a whirlwind tour for discussions and meetings with officials with various government agencies and community leaders. Senators during their visit Aug. 12-13 heard from and were updated about activities and work surrounding several issues, including: Development of Hawai‘i’s latest food and product innovations. Health care systems. Education and workforce development pathways. Biosecurity efforts. Language access. Their trip also visited various sites, receiving the latest information about critical projects and initiatives happening on the island. “Our site visits to Kaua‘i provided the committee with a deeper understanding of the innovations taking place across [the] state to address some of Hawai‘i’s most pressing challenges,” Ways and Means Committee Chairman O’ahu state Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz in a release detailing the visit. “From tackling homelessness by creating a continuum of housing to advancing education, workforce readiness and economic opportunity, we’ve seen firsthand how local partnerships are turning ideas into impact.” Initiatives such as the Food and Product Innovation Network demonstrate how investments in education and entrepreneurship can strengthen Hawai‘i’s economy and support homegrown industries. Cultural preservation efforts at Ke Kula Ni‘ihau O Kekaha Learning Center underscore at the same time the importance of protecting the voices and values that make island communities unique. “These insights will be critical as we continue to shape policies and allocate resources that build a more resilient and equitable future for all of Hawai‘i,” said Dela Cruz. Kouchi said it’s always meaningful when Hawai‘i Senate comes to Kaua‘i to see the incredible work local communities, educators and organizations are doing every day to tackle statewide challenges. “From efforts to increase affordable housing and address homelessness, to supporting workforce development and preserving ʻŌlelo Ni‘ihau, these initiatives reflect the deep commitment of our people to building a stronger Hawai‘i,” the Senate president said. “I’m grateful to the Senate Ways and Means Committee for taking the time to engage directly with the people and projects that are making a real difference on the ground.” The Senate Ways and Means Committee conducts neighbor island site visits every 2 years. It uses information members receive from community stakeholders and government officials to guide collective decision-making for legislation and budget appropriations that bolster regional and statewide planning and implementation efforts. The committee’s Kaua‘i visit highlighted the important work and progress by various state and public organizations, allowing members to see the real-life impacts of the policy decisions they craft and deliver to the public. “As the state moves forward and prepares for the upcoming legislative session, the committee will continue to look at ways to support the crucial efforts of these organizations toward economic diversification, protection of the land and natural resources and education of our keiki and future workforce,” says the committee’s post-trip report.

City, state respond to deadly explosion in Salt Lake Star Advertiser Victoria Budiono January 2, 2025 Original Article 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.”

Hawaii’s governor signs legislation to bolster judiciary Hawaii News Now HNN Staff June 26, 2025 Original Article HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Hawaii’s governor signed new legislation in support of the state judiciary into law Thursday. The governor’s office said that the bills fund the judiciary for the next two years and ensure it has the resources to fulfill its mission. House Bill 400 , Act 227, appropriates $214 million for fiscal year 2026 and $212 million for fiscal year 2027. The funding includes a new district court judge and support staff in Kona, and funds the permanent establishment of three specialty courts on Oahu: Women’s Court, Driving While Impaired Court, and Truancy Court and Early Education Intervention Court." “By expanding key programs like the Adult Client Services Branch, Community Outreach Court, and Women’s Court, we are building a more effective justice system that helps keep our communities in Hawaii safer and stronger,” said Senate Judiciary Committee chair Karl Rhoads. House Bill 727 , Act 228, builds off the Mohala Wahine pilot program from 2022 and expands access to trauma-informed, evidence-based practices. The Women’s Court recently celebrated its first six graduates at a special ceremony at the Hawaii Supreme Court. The court aims to help individuals who have been touched by the criminal justice system turn their lives around with drug abuse treatment, counseling, and help to find stable housing and employment. Act 228 also establishes a two-year Women’s Court pilot program in the Third Circuit Court in Kona. “Many of these women are mothers and caregivers, and with personalized, supportive care focused on healing rather than punishment, we can help them rehabilitate,” said Rep. Mahina Poepoe. “Expanding this program to Hawaii Island will strengthen families and communities across our state.” “We have a long-term goal of incarcerating far fewer people and helping many more people get access to health care and some form of healing as they come through their challenges,” Green said. In support of the judiciary, Green also signed: HB 280 , Act 229, relates to the community outreach court. HB 398 , Act 230, relates to compensation for court-appointed representation. HB 399 , Act 231, and HB 401 , Act 232, relate to district court judges. Senate Bill 304 , Act 233, relates to the judiciary.

Legislators consider new laws to restrict where landfills can be placed Hawaiʻi Public Radio Ashley Mizuo January 9, 2025 Original Article The new Oʻahu landfill will replace Waimanalo Gulch on the leeward coast.City and County of Honolulu Legislators are considering changing laws restricting where counties can place landfills. This comes after Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s controversial announcement to place the island’s next landfill in Wahiawā . “Anger, frustration, disbelief, fear, anxiety and then circling back to anger,” is what Rep. Amy Perruso said she hears from people in her districts. She represents the areas that would be most impacted by the city’s decision. At the heart of the outrage is that the new landfill would be placed over a drinking water aquifer. Board of Water Supply Chief Engineer Ernie Lau told lawmakers that he disagrees with the Wahiawā location because of the potential threats to Oʻahu's drinking water. He said that it will impact future generations. “It's the generations that haven't even been born they're going to depend on these freshwater resources,” he said. “Right now this area in Central Oʻahu and going toward the North Shore — it's the freshwater resources that have not been fully developed yet that may be needed for the communities 100, 200 years from now.” Lau compared the situation to the Red Hill incident in 2021 where jet fuel leaked into the water system poisoning thousands of residents. “ We are at the crossroads that Red Hill was in its decision-making to place 250 million gallons of fuel storage underground fuel tanks, single-walled right over a drinking water aquifer,” he said. “ That decision was 80 plus years ago ... the question I have is, are we going to 80 years from now or 100 years from now find out that wasn’t a good decision?” Local News Wahiawā location selected for Oʻahu's next landfill site Listen • 2:07 One of the main reasons the city felt that it had no choice, but to select a landfill location over an aquifer, is because of a law known as Act 73 . The law says landfills cannot be located in conservation-zoned land or within half a mile of any residence, school or hospital. Landfills also cannot be located in a tsunami zone. Ultimately, the city chose Wahiawā because other locations under consideration were over what's called a well-capture zone, which is even more crucial to Oʻahu's water supply. A capture zone is where freshwater water naturally flows to and collects. Then, wells pump water from capture zones and deliver it where it needs to go. That is what makes it more risky to put a landfill near a capture zone. Adding to the uncertainty is that it's difficult to know what exactly is going on under the surface regarding water flow without drilling a well, which is expensive. However, Rep. Sean Quinlan said that he's working on a measure that would ban landfills from being built over aquifers. In that bill, he is considering adjusting the restrictions in Act 73 to give the city more options. “I think we are looking at all elements of Act 73,” Quinlan said. “One potential solution would be to amend it down to a quarter-mile buffer zone, which would open up certain sites. Another potential solution would be to weaken the language around certain conservation land which would also open up other sites.” Perruso, who is vice chair of the House Energy and Environmental Protection Committee, said it's crucial to make it illegal to put a landfill over an aquifer. But she's not sure that decreasing the buffer zone in Act 73 is the answer. “One is a measure that would make citing a landfill over an aquifer illegal. I think that's an important first step because we can't rely on Ernie Lau to be forever holding that position,” she said. “I do think that it's extraordinarily dangerous to engage in the practices of citing these kinds of facilities over our aquifer. I think we should have learned that lesson already from Red Hill.” The Conversation Oʻahu residents invited to learn more about proposal to raise wastewater fees Listen • 10:09 Perruso wants to give the city tools to encourage people to produce less trash. “ The Environmental Caucus will likely be introducing a measure on extended producer responsibility,” she said. “We really have to do more in the area of reducing, recycling, and reusing, and we know that we can because other jurisdictions are doing it, and our counties are just not making those investments.” Sen. Mike Gabbard, who chairs the Agriculture and Environment Committee, explained that he's open to conversation about reducing the buffer zone, but that the city should be instead considering federal lands that are not over aquifers. “I'm not convinced the military cannot spare 150 acres of land that's not over an aquifer to help us out and I want to pursue that,” he said. “The city and county seems to think it's a no-go and it's a done deal. It's not going to happen, but I want to go and pursue that.” The city was considering putting the landfill on Waipiʻo Soccer Complex, which is on land owned by the Navy. However, the Navy rejected its request in April 2024. City Environmental Services Director Roger Babcock explained that although the city did do another study on areas where a landfill could be located if the Act 73 restrictions were loosened, it still intends to pursue the Wahiawā location it selected. “ We're sticking with that plan A is that this is the best option of not a lot of good options,” he said. “ Then if that doesn't pan out for whatever reason or a law is passed that makes it not possible, which I think that legislation is going to be introduced, then we would move to plan B which is to ask the legislature to modify Act 73 so that some other sites that would be outside the no pass zone would become available.” The legislative session starts next Wednesday.

Extended reality redefines Hawaii tourism Star Advertiser Talia Sibilla July 28, 2025 Original Article An extended reality (XR) bus tour kicked off this week allowing participants to see an erupting volcano and Hawaii’s coral reefs up close and personal with XR headsets — all while staying in Waikiki. XploreRide’s bus tour has become the first of its kind in Hawaii and opens the door for other business in Hawaii’s visitor industry to tap into the expanding global virtual tourism industry. The “Virtual Tourism – Global Strategic Business Report” Opens in a new tab released earlier this year values the virtual tourism industry at $8.8 billion in 2024, and says it’s expected to reach $31.6 billion by 2030 — due to a compound annual growth rate of nearly 24%. XR is an umbrella term for all immersive technologies including VR (virtual reality). Its advantage to destinations like Hawaii is that technology can minimize visitor impacts by helping to reduce everything from air travel’s carbon footprint to rental cars on the road as well as people at popular natural and cultural sites. However, an emerging concern as this technology ramps up is whether all usage is appropriate, especially for a destination like Hawaii, where nature and culture are key and authenticity is important. XploreRide, a collaboration led by HIS, in partnership with NAKED and SYNESTHESIAS, an IT venture from the University of Tokyo, officially launched on Tuesday. Cultural Advisor Kumu Blaine Kamalani Kia who designed the the XploreRide experience with his son Kikau Kia, 19, led a ribbon-cutting ceremony and blessed the tour bus with ti leaves before passengers boarded. Kia said that the pair provided their own recordings of chants in Hawaiian that are used throughout the tour and brainstormed visual ideas. “When you’re in the bus, the idea is to raise that consciousness and to awaken your senses,” the elder Kia said at the ceremony. A virtual glowing stingray “Hawaiian guardian spirit” narrates the 45-minute journey along a 6.4-mile loop down Kalakaua Avenue and around Diamond Head. Animated whales and dolphins swim outside the windows, while colorful fish fill the bus as it travels. At other points, the natural world disappears entirely as passengers are transported to an XR underwater scene, above the clouds in a rainbow filled sky, or to the site of an erupting volcano as lava rains down. As the bus passes landmarks like Waikiki Beach, “mana stones” appear in front of passengers, which they can collect using hand-tracking technology in their XR headsets. Each stone triggers a visual text box with information relevant to the location. “All of these elements are meant to educate everyone about the Hawaiian culture, but also to give you an entertainment value as well,” Kia said. Jerry Gibson, president of Hawaii Hotel Alliance, knows that may visitors enjoy taking tours of Honolulu landmarks. “You see trolleys driving everywhere,” he told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser during a phone interview. “They always seem pretty busy so obviously people are using them and enjoy them” Gibson, who hadn’t taken an XploreRide tour, said that he would prefer a tour without the virtual component, though he called himself “intrigued” by the new technology. “I would really be interested in seeing the natural scenery, not something that is fantasy,” he said. “One of the reasons that I live here is the natural beauty of the island, so I don’t know that I would want it distorted.” But Gibson said that he liked the sound of a tour that teaches Hawaiian history. “I like the factual piece and perhaps being brought through by a narrator,” he said. “I’d be really interested in the cultural pieces and I would be interested in hearing about different places in Hawaii as you drive by.” Kia said that the project has room to evolve. “There’s so much more that can be done it’s just a matter of getting it off of the ground. Everything we threw at HIS (Hawaii), that was all on the table, maybe only a third got onto the scenes. We still have a lot of things we can add.” Range of Applications The range of XR, which includes VR, in the global visitor industry spans everything from marketing and pre-travel engagement to experiences like XploreRide Hawaii, which allow visitors to explore destinations through technology. The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority introduced a virtual reality tour experience in 2016 offering 360- degree, live-action footage of the state. Leslie Dance, former HTA vice president of marketing and product development, touted the VR experience in 2016 and said it was “a new platform for showcasing Hawaii’s culture and natural environment, the two pillars of our global appeal.” HTA’s VR Hawaii experience, called “Let Hawaii Happen,” still is available on various public VR platforms for download, like STEAM (store.steampowered.com). Paul Brewbaker, principal of TZ Economics, remembers when VR had a surge in popularity around 2012, after the release of the Oculus Rift — a now-discontinued line of virtual reality headsets — and says it could become popular again. “For about five minutes VR was everybody’s thing and now it’s AI, but it’ll come back,” he said. “Tourism in the metaverse has fewer environmental, social, and cultural negative externalities then tourism in the real world.” Although he had not been on an XploreRide tour, Brewbaker said “there’s a marketing opportunity for virtual reality bus tours,” as a way to explore the island. Brewbaker said that he could see a VR Hawaii experience, like HTA’s “Let Hawaii Happen,” become a popular experience for people interested in visiting Hawaii without actually getting on a plane. “In the next 30 years there’s a potential to have an explosion of possibility here, capitalizing on Hawaii’s destination branding which is already secured,” he said. “There’s never been a time in my life where I haven’t seen the possibilities that technology could bring to doing everything better, faster, safer, cheaper, healthier.” Responsible tourism Brewbaker opined that “the dark side of tourism” comes in three broad forms, “congestion, natural resource and environmental degradation and cultural inauthenticity,” and said that extended reality technology could provide an opportunity to manage the harmful impacts of tourism. Yuki Toshida, manager of HIS Westbound and XploreRide, said the company signed a memorandum of understanding with Hawaii Tourism Japan in September 2022 to support Malama Hawaii, an initiative that promotes regenerative and responsible tourism, and that “XploreRide tours take place on a 100% electric, zero-emission bus. Sen. Sharon Y. Moriwaki (D, Waikiki-Ala Moana-Kakaako),who took the first XploreRide tour during Tuesday’s grand opening event, said, “I think it’s great for visitors because not only can you see big whales and things you might not actually see if you came here to visit, but it was also very educational and tells you about how we’re trying to protect our environment.” James Kunane Tokioka, director of Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, said that he appreciates the effort to promote more sustainable tourism through the use of VR. “Any time you have companies that are trying to be sustainable in their model and try to do things differently than we have in the past, I think that’s great,” Tokioka said. “That’s something we would definitely support.” Tokioka hadn’t taken the tour yet but said that XploreRide looked like a good activity for parents with kids who might also want to learn about Hawaii. “This particular tour looked like a lot of fun,” he said. “I think it’s going to attract the younger generation.” Noah Marian, a 13 year-old member of the content creator family “Life with five kids,” told the Star-Advertiser that he has a personal VR headset on Maui, so he knew what to expect at the XploreRide grand opening. “I have a VR headset, it’s a little different because I play skydiving games and things like that,” he said. “I feel like this one was cool because I could see outside, and I could see all of the fish around me.” His brother, 11-year-old Mikah Marian said that he would recommend it to other kids. “If you want to come here and learn about the culture of Hawaii and do it in a fun way for kids, it would be really good,” he said.

Ala Wai cleanup underway in preparation for heavy rain forecast to start Thursday Spectrum Spectrum News Staff January 28, 2025 Original Article On Tuesday, the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation worked with the state Department of Transportation and the City and County of Honolulu to clean up the mud and debris that had collected in the Ala Wai Canal following heavy rains over the weekend. In addition, the agencies are preparing for another episode of heavy rains that the National Weather Service is predicting for the rest of the week with flash flooding, high south to southwest winds and strong to severe thunderstorms preceding a cold front. In an effort to reduce the amount of rubbish that flows into the canal following heavy rains, a DOBOR contractor worked to clear a “trash trap” located permanently at the outflow of the canal just beyond the Ala Moana Boulevard bridge at the entrance to Waikiki. The trap is used to keep trash from flowing into the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor and out into the ocean, but DOBOR Administrator Meghan Statts said the trap booms only catch about 20% of the debris. On Wednesday, a temporary second trash trap was installed to divert any rubbish flowing down the canal into the permanent trap located on the opposite side of the Ala Moana Bridge. Statts said, “We are trying to mitigate some of the debris coming down the canal with the big storm that’s predicted to hit us shortly.” The trap will augment the work being done upstream by HDOT. DOT officials were on-site Tuesday afternoon discussing mitigation measures that could be placed in the canal before the predicted rains begin. Additional measures were expected to be put in place by Wednesday morning. State and county officials encourage people who live along the Ala Wai Canal, as well as along streams that flow into the canal, to secure items that could end up in the canal since weekend rains had carried large coolers and a variety of debris into the trash trap. HDOT, DLNR, the University of Hawaii’s College of Engineering and area legislator Senator Sharon Moriwaki are discussing a long-term solution to the chronic problem of reducing trash buildup in the Ala Wai Canal, something that Statts said has been discussed for over 30 years. Statts says “over the years, tons of debris have flowed out into the Pacific unchecked over the years.” This becomes a problem for boaters and recreational users of the Ala Wai Canal, the small boat harbor and the ocean. When the Ala Wai Canal was built as a flood control measure, Statts says people probably thought little about the consequences of storm debris. “I think people need to remember that if you have trash, any kind of ‘ōpala, throw it away properly. Don’t drop it into streams or the canal because much of this stuff ends up in the ocean.” Editor’s note: The article has been updated with information on the second trash trap and the chronic problem of trash buildup. (January 30, 2025)

New office to coordinate state's broadband expansion efforts Spectrum News Michael Tsai June 11, 2025 Original Article With the signing of House Bill 934 this week, the state’s efforts to achieve universal broadband access will be officially coordinated via a centralized State Broadband Office. What You Need To Know Act 201, formally establishes the State Broadband Office within the Department of Accounting and General Services In addition to coordinating broadband deployment across public and private sectors, the office will be responsible for administering grant programs in support of broadband infrastructure and innovation, overseeing strategic broadband investments and ensuring high-speed internet access is extended to underserved communities statewide Act 201 also provides funding for six digital navigators, who will support digital literacy programs in libraries and other venues across the state The state has opened a request for proposals for the Hawaii Community Digital Navigators Project to hire, train and manage community digital navigators who will be located in 51 public library branches Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, serving as acting governor while Gov. Josh Green is in Washington, D.C., to meet with federal officials and attend the annual Hawaii on the Hill event, signed the measure into law on Monday. “With the signing of House Bill 934, Hawaii is taking a necessary step toward a future where every resident, regardless of geography, age or income, can connect to and use affordable, reliable broadband internet to access education, healthcare and economic opportunity,” said Luke, who leads the state’s Connect Kakou high-speed internet initiative. “This law not only lays the groundwork for much-needed services — it also helps ensure keiki through kupuna acquire the skills and support they need to use the internet to improve their daily lives.” The measure, now Act 201, formally establishes the State Broadband Office within the Department of Accounting and General Services. In addition to coordinating broadband deployment across public and private sectors, the office will be responsible for administering grant programs in support of broadband infrastructure and innovation, overseeing strategic broadband investments and ensuring high-speed internet access is extended to underserved communities statewide. “Access to high-speed internet is vital for every aspect of our lives,” said state Rep. Greggor Ilagan, who co-introduced the bill. “There are residents in rural areas who are counting on us to deliver important broadband upgrades and programs. The State Broadband Office gives us the focus and framework to turn vision into action.” Act 201 also provides funding for six digital navigators, who will support digital literacy programs in libraries and other venues across the state. The new positions build on a 2023 pilot program in which community-based professionals, stationed at public libraries, assisted residents with digital skills, internet connectivity, accessing devices, and online services like telehealth and job applications. “I’ve seen firsthand the barriers a rural island community faces when it comes to building computer skills that many take for granted,” said state Sen. Lynn DeCoite. “By connecting people to digital navigators, we’re empowering our residents in countless ways.” State librarian Stacey Aldrich said the 2023 pilot program demonstrated the high demand for digital literacy support. “Digital navigators are trusted guides who will help ensure no one is left behind in the digital age and we are so excited to grow this program,” she said. The state has opened a request for proposals for the Hawaii Community Digital Navigators Project to hire, train and manage community digital navigators who will be located in 51 public library branches. Interested applicants can access the full RFP by visiting connectkakou.org . The deadline to submit a proposal is June 30 at 2 p.m.

Kulāia Festival Kicks Off Canoe Races The Molokai Dispatch Léo Azambuja October 2, 2025 Original Article A large street celebration rocked Kaunakakai last Friday, welcoming the most important Hawaiian outrigger canoe races in Hawaii and honoring one of Molokai’s most beloved watermen. “Aloha mai kākou. Welcome to Kulāia, our 8th Annual Molokai Canoe Festivals Hoʻolauleʻa,” event organizer Lori-Lei Rawlins-Crivello said at the beginning of the festival. “Although we had missed a few years due to COVID, last year we came back very excited.” Hundreds of people attended the event taking the entire block of Ala Malama Avenue in front of the Molokai Public Library from 5 to 10 p.m. The event, she said, was all about perpetuating the culture and legacy of Molokai. As the Na Wahine O Ke Kai — the women’s canoe race across the Kaiwi Channel to Oahu — was scheduled to Sunday, Rawlins-Crivello said everyone was happy that there were two women crews representing Molokai. Live music and hula performances kept the large crowd entertained. The entire block was closed to traffic to accommodate nearly 40 vendors, including food stands, cultural booths and merchandise sellers. Rawlins-Crivello presented Mervin Dudoit Sr., “lovingly known as Uncle Merv,” with the 2025 Hoʻoilina Award, an honor that had been given in past years to Melvin Paoa Jr., Mac Poepoe, Dr. Noa Aluli, Eliza Kauila Poʻaha Reyes, Shirley Rawlins, Raquel Moana Dudoit and the island of Molokai itself. “Born and raised here, he has long embodied the spirit of a waterman. Whether paddling, fishing or caring for our ocean, Uncle Merv has lived in rhythm with the sea, and most importantly, he share that ‘ike with generations to come. His wisdom has touched not only his own ‘ohana but thousands of keiki across Molokai, Hawaii and beyond,” Rawlins-Crivello said. Uncle Merv was also a paddler, a coach and founder of the Mana‘e Canoe Club. He was a crewmember in the Molokai Canoe Club team that took second place overall in the Molokai Hoe race in 1967. State Sen. Lynn DeCoite presented a certificate from the Senate to Uncle Merv. “On behalf of the senate and the state Legislature, we honor Uncle Merv,” DeCoite said. “We love you, uncle, we recognize all your hard work.” She added that as the chair of the Senate’s Committee on Economic Development, Tourism and Technology, it is her honor to continue sponsoring the event, “so we never forget who we are and where we came from.” Kulāia was inspired by the annual lā kulāia, dating back to the 1860s. Those were festivities honoring the Hawaiian Kingdom and king. Outrigger canoe races were part of those festivities. After the overthrow of the monarchy in 1893, the kulāia festivities shifted focus to just the outrigger canoe races. In an effort to revive the spirit of the festivals, a group of residents formed the Molokai Canoe Festivals committee a few years ago, and has since organized the event aimed at embracing this tradition and passing it on to future generations.

Construction Begins on Farrington Highway Widening Project Hawaii Department of Transportation May 9, 2025 Original Article HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT) today hosted a blessing and groundbreaking to mark the start of construction of the Farrington Highway Widening Project, an approximately three-mile stretch from the Kapolei Golf Course Road near the University of Hawai‘i – West O‘ahu to Old Fort Weaver Road. The widening project will expand the current two-lane road to include a new two-way turn lane, as well as bike lanes and pedestrian sidewalks on both sides from Kapolei to ‘Ewa. The scope of the project will include reconstruction of the Kaloi Stream Bridge and Honouliuli Stream Bridge, as well as construction of drainage structures and culverts; asphalt and concrete pavements; concrete curbs, gutters and sidewalks; gas, water and sewar lines; street lighting, traffic signals and landscaping. The work also will include relocation of water mains, relocation of overhead and underground electrical and telecommunications infrastructure, demolition and removal of structures, clearing, grading and pavement markings and signage. The project is designed to meet future capacity needs, while also balancing multimodal travel for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit users. The widening will support the development of affordable housing and commercial uses in the area, while also providing connections to four of the city’s Skyline stations, including the Kualakaʻi – East Kapolei, Keoneʻae – UHWO, Honouliuli – Hoʻopili, and Hoʻaeʻae, West Loch stations. The $138 million project, which was awarded to contractor Nan, Inc., is anticipated to take two years, with an estimated completion in Spring 2027. The City and County of Honolulu is committing $15 million towards construction. For more information on the Farrington Highway Widening, please see https://hidot.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Farrington-Highway-Widening-TOD-April.pdf A picture of the groundbreaking may be downloaded at https://hidot.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/farrington-widening-groundbreaking-scaled.jpg Please credit “Hawaii Department of Transportation” or “HDOT” if you use it. Pictured left to right is Ed Shukri, vice president of Nan Inc.; Representative Darius Kila, chair, House Transportation Committee; Ed Sniffen, director, Hawaii Department of Transportation; Senator Henry Aquino, former House Transportation Committee chair, representing Pearl City, Waipahu, West Loch Estates, Hono‘uli‘uli, Ho‘opili; and Brandi Lasconia an inspector with QRSE, HDOT’s construction management consultant.

Hikers who trespass might pay for search, rescue costs Star Advertiser By Talia Sibilla and Dan Nakaso January 22, 2025 Original Article Two Senate bills seek to recover the hefty cost to search for and rescue trespassing hikers who venture onto illegal or closed trails across the state. Senate Bills 130 and 508 do not specify a dollar amount that hikers would have to reimburse any agency that rescues them. Both bills say trespassing hikers who ignore a warning notice or sign of closure would have to pay all or a portion, but not less than half, of all search and rescue expenses, which typically involve county firefighters, helicopters, pilots, ambulances and medical crews. SB 508 specifies that trespassing hikers would be fined if they act with “intentional disregard.” It also proposes that the penalty for criminal trespass rise to a misdemeanor from a petty misdemeanor. The Honolulu Fire Department conducts most search and rescue hiking operations on Oahu and has consistently disagreed with every previous bill that resembles the efforts of SBs 130 and 508. Requiring “payment for certain rescues may cause lost or injured hikers to hesitate or not request assistance from first responder agencies,” Louise Kim McCoy, HFD spokesperson, wrote in an email to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. “Such a delay in requesting assistance may exacerbate the situation, further endangering the lives of persons involved and their potential rescuers.” HFD helps anyone who calls for rescue and worries that charging them would push them to “make an attempt to self-rescue, further endangering themselves and potentially making a rescue more complex,” McCoy said. Twelve senators introduced SB 130, and most referred questions to state Sen. Lynn DeCoite (D, East and Upcountry Maui-Molokai-Lanai). She did not respond to repeated requests for comment. SB 508 offers illegal hikers a way to avoid paying for the cost of their search and rescue by purchasing a proposed “hike safe card” before going on a hike. The hike safe card would protect hikers even if they were rescued from an illegal site, unless the search and rescue response was caused by behavior that “any reasonable person would consider to be reckless.” Under SB 508, hike safe cards would “cost no less than $25 for an individual and no less then $35 for a family.” The cards would be valid for one year. Proceeds from the sale of the cards would go into a new statewide search and rescue special fund, which would be created by another bill, SB 1177. SB 1177 also would create a new position — Office of the State Search and Rescue Coordinator — to serve as a centralized authority statewide for search and rescue operations. It would be part of the new state Fire Marshal’s Office. The bill also seeks to address a “lack of funding, tools, and technology for state-wide searches.” In 2024 the Diamond Head Summit Trail near Waikiki represented the top site for HFD hiker rescues, followed by Lulumahu Falls, Koko Crater Stairs and Lanikai Pillbox. They’re all legal and popular hikes, especially among tourists. But HFD also regularly rescues hikers from illegal trails including the Stairway to Heaven, which leads to the top of the Koolau Mountain Range above the H-3 freeway in Kaneohe, and Sacred Falls State Park in Hauula, which has been closed since the fatal Mother’s Day 1999 rockslide that killed eight people and injured dozens more. Data collected by HFD between 2022 and 2024 showed 510 rescues from “legal trails” based on a list of trails pulled from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of State Parks “Na Ala Hele” trail website. By comparison, there were 282 rescues for hikers on illegal or unlisted trails. But McCoy said that the data may not be a true representation because “there isn’t a complete list of all trails (let alone legal or not) on the island. There are also trails that aren’t technically illegal, but may not have made any state or city lists as ‘legal.’”

Hawaii elections commission calls for end to mail-in voting Hawaii News Now Daryl Huff November 4, 2025 Original Article HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The state elections commission has voted to ask the legislature to ban mail-in and early voting and return to traditional in-person voting on Election Day. The bipartisan commission, which is half Democrat and half Republican, voted 5-3 over several contentious meetings to recommend voting only on Election Day in person with ID required on paper ballots that would be hand counted in precincts. Under the proposal, only military families and people with special needs would be allowed to vote absentee. Republican concerns over verification Republican commissioners said they have found discrepancies in mail-in voting and claim the movement of absentee ballots and envelopes from homes to post offices to counties for verification and to the state for counting has not been securely controlled or tracked. “No one who is outside the system can verify the results,” said Lindsey Kamm. Dylan Andrion said the commission is “going back to what works.” There was also concern that the emphasis on mail-in balloting made it more difficult for people to vote in person at limited sites. Commissioner Kahiolani Papalimu, from the Big Island, said, “being an incredibly rural island, I’d much prefer voting in our precincts, which is accessible to everyone in their area.” Democrats dispute claims Democrat commissioners and elections officials said the Republican claims are false and that there is no evidence of fraud or miscounting. “It’s just ludicrous. There’s no basis for connecting this supposed unverifiable statement, which is false, to the need to go back to in person voting,” said Jeffrey Osterkamp. Clare McAdam noted that in the 2024 election, 92.5% of voters voted by mail. “It’s 92.5% of the state wants to vote by mail, and I think that’s very important that we bear in mind all the time when we consider this,” McAdam said. Senate Judiciary chair Karl Rhoads, who would have jurisdiction over changing election law, said he believes the chances the legislature will approve the changes are zero. “I don’t even know the last time that Hawaii had one-day voting,” Rhoads said. Rhoads said he believes Republican commissioners are trying to undermine election confidence following President Trump’s lead. “I think they’re doing what they think he’s asking him to do. I think it’s from the top. The irony, of course, is that Trump himself uses mail-in voting,” Rhoads said. In addition to seeking to ban mail-in voting, Republican commissioners have repeatedly tried and failed to fire elections administrator Scott Nago and may try again Wednesday.

Kokua Line: Is Postal Service Christmas mailer correct? Star Advertiser Christine Donnelly December 3, 2024 Original Article 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).