Massive military construction dollars may flow into Hawaii - Honolulu news - NewsLocker (2024)

Hawaii may be in line to see more spending on military construction in the next fiscal year than any other state after the U.S. House Appropriations committee recently passed its version of a military construction spending bill with $1.55 billion slated for Hawaii projects.

Vital Statistics: June 14-20, 2024

Marriage licenses and birth certificates

Popular North Shore surfer, lifeguard dies after attack by shark

A popular Pipeline big-wave surfer died Sunday on the North Shore after he was bitten by a shark while surfing during a break from his city life-guarding shift.

Oahu ramps up enforcement of new vacation rental ordinance

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration is evaluating the authority provided to the counties under a new state law that allows counties to phase out short-term rentals as well as regulate their “time, place and manner.”

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Ng comes full circle with ‘Happily Eva Afta’ at MVT

The late Lisa Matsumoto wrote and produced her first pidgin fairy tale musical, “Once Upon One Time,” as a theater-class project at the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 1989.

Hawaii’s vacation rentals total nearly 6% of housing supply

Despite vacation rental crackdowns and looming legislative reforms, vacation rental supply statewide still accounts for a significant portion of Hawaii’s housing stock.

Hawaii firm aims to cut cost of laying power lines underground

Putting more power lines underground is an expensive part of a plan by the state’s largest electrical utility to reduce wildfire risk, and that price could come down under an ongoing national effort with a Hawaii connection.

Hawaii Army units help prepare Philippines in ongoing dispute

Hawaii-based Army units are continuing to playa central role in U.S.-
Philippine relations as tensions mount between China and the Philippines.

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Governor reignites debate over liquefied natural gas power

Gov. Josh Green has reversed a major state energy policy position of his predecessor in a move that many environmentalists don’t consider to be very “green.”

Plan to ban 7,000 Maui short-term rentals targets resort condos

Note: First of two parts

Max’s of Manila Restaurant workers compensated for unpaid overtime

Over 20 workers from the two Max’s of Manila Restaurant locations in Hawaii will receive more than $307,000 in back wages and damages after a U.S. Department of Labor investigation found that kitchen staff were not paid required overtime rates.

Kokua Line: Will HECO cover revenue losses from power outage?

Question: Regarding the prolonged Chinatown power outage, will Hawaiian Electric seriously consider claims for lost business revenue, or only for damaged equipment or inventory (spoiled food, lei, etc.)?

Hawaii island land fight goes before state Supreme Court

A legal battle over a Hilo property, a century-old land deed and the separation between church and state will go before the Hawaii Supreme Court this week.

David Shapiro: Kaneshiro and Mitsunaga maybe not yet in the clear

Ghosts of O.J. Simpson are appearing following the failed federal bribery prosecution of former Honolulu Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro, businessman Dennis Mitsunaga and others.

Community support revitalizes Chinatown after blackouts

Days after power outages cost Chinatown small business owners thousands of dollars in lost inventory and sales, multiple events on Saturday aimed to draw customers back to the area and help shops and restaurants begin the road to recovery.

Benioffs donate another 158 acres to Hawaii island nonprofit

Philanthropists Marc and Lynne Benioff have donated more land to help increase the supply of affordable housing on Hawaii island.

1 contender remains to develop new stadium

The loss of one of the two master-developer candidates is not expected to further delay construction of the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District, state and University of Hawaiiofficials insisted.

Taylor Wily, who played Kamekona in ‘Hawaii Five-0,’ dies at age 56

Taylor Wily — television and film actor beloved for his work on producer Peter Lenkov’s reboot of “Hawaii Five-0,” but also known as a former sumotori and mixed martial arts fighter — died Wednesday. He was 56.

Honolulu mayor signs $4.7B budget package for fiscal 2025

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi on Friday signed a $4.7 billion package of budget bills meant to bolster public safety, create affordable housing and improve city parks on Oahu through fiscal year 2025, which starts July 1.

Hawaii leaders applaud Biden’s disaster declaration for Kauai

LIHUE >> A federal disaster declaration from President Joe Biden was hailed by local and federal lawmakers, who said the decision would bring much-needed relief to communities on Kauai affected by severe weather and flooding in April.

Hawaii island’s only zoo to begin charging admission in 2025

Hawaii County plans to begin charging for admission to the Pana‘ewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens next year.

HART board meeting delayed amid leadership tension

The discussion over Lori Kahikina’s position as the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation’s top executive was delayed another week after technical difficulties halted two HART board meetings Friday morning.

Gov. Green lines up 17 bills passed by Hawaii Legislature to veto

Gov. Josh Green may veto 17 bills the Legislature passed this year, including one that would deposit $300 million into the state’s “rainy day” budget reserve fund.

Ex-OCCC officer admits shooting mom

A former Corrections Division training officer took the stand Friday at his murder and kidnapping trial and admitted to shooting his 66-year-old mother in the thigh in June 2016, but says he cannot recall firing two shots to her head that would have killed her instantly or within minutes, as a deputy medical examiner testified.

Woman describes captivity in alleged kidnapping

A 56-year-old Waianae woman testified Thursday to the harrowing details of being held captive in June 2016 for three days in the house of a Maili man she had just met.

State settles climate action lawsuit with Hawaii youth

The state of Hawaii has settled a nearly two-year lawsuit filed by over a dozen youth plaintiffs who alleged that the Department of Transportation violated their constitutional rights “to live healthful lives inHawaii now and into the future.”

Rearview Mirror: Prolific luminaries populate Hawaii’s rich musical pool

My column is usually about one topic, but every now and then, I like to fill it with several short subjects. Today they all revolve around music in one way or another. We’ll start with Frank Sinatra and John F. Kennedy, then spend $2 to go to a KPOI “Million Dollar Party.”

Power restored in downtown Honolulu after 3 disruptive days

All electrical power was restored to the downtown Honolulu-Chinatown area Thursday afternoon after an outage that began Monday night shut down businesses and traffic signals, and affected countless thousands of residents and workers.

Kokua Line: What data did bus hackers get?

Question: Regarding the cyberattack on Oahu Transit Serv­ices, what personal information about bus passengers was exposed, and how many are affected?

Hawaii Senate to hold special session for judicial appointments

The state Senate will hold a special session next week to review four judicial appointments — Rebecca A. Copeland, Brian A. Costa, Dyan M. Medeiros and Steven R. Nichols — to the Circuit Court of the 1st Circuit in Oahu.