It truly is shameful: The state Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) has been judged to have “acted in bad faith” in alleging that stream protections for East Maui caused a shortage of water needed to fight the devastating Lahaina fire of Aug. 8. Read more
Of course, Gov. Josh Green should sign into law the latest raft of bills that are being described as “good government” legislation. Read more
For some in Hawaii, the legalization of recreational marijuana is viewed as an inevitability. Read more
A report making a meticulous dissection of the timeline for the Lahaina fire disaster of Aug. 8 has been released by Hawaii’s attorney general, documenting the events of that tragic day and night. Read more
The idea behind Senate Bill 2922, to create a “securitization” process for public utilities to recover costs related to enacting wildfire plans and protections, is as emotionally fraught as it is procedurally complex. Read more
A bill to empower counties to regulate short-term rentals (STRs) as their home-island residents see fit, and to eliminate outdated state law that blocks such county efforts, is now close to the legislative finish line, having been assigned Senate and House committee conferees. Read more
Hawaii seems to have hit a low point for what traditionally it’s given high marks: aloha. Read more
Drought conditions are again impacting Hawaii, with less-than-normal rainfall affecting parts of every island in the state. Read more
The danger of water contamination with perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances — called PFAS for short and “forever chemicals” informally, because of their persistence in the environment — has been well known for years nationally. Read more
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It’s a process that will take years, involving an intricate interplay of federal, state and county officials, threaded through with the ideas of residents who are reimagining what returning home to Lahaina could be like. Read more
A Honolulu City Council bill to establish a preference for Oahu residents among those who apply for city-supported housing is in play, awaiting a rescheduled second reading. Read more
House Bill 2328, introduced by state House Speaker Scott Saiki and championed by former Gov. Neil Abercrombie, contains elements of an ingenious idea — to purchase and “adapt” deteriorating properties on the borderline between Chinatown and Downtown, developing affordable housing. Read more
Oahu is embraced by 227 miles of coastline, studded with hundreds of famous surf breaks, swim spots and sightseeing destinations frequented by locals and tourists. Read more
Technology, one hopes, is now coming to the rescue of the city Department of Planning and Permitting, but it cannot succeed without the human component — one that’s trained up to the task. Read more
The state has chosen two finalists for its long-term, public-private partnership to build, operate and maintain the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District (NASED). Read more
The Hawaii Tourism Authority has weathered a few stormy years confronting state lawmakers who, frustrated by its managerial lapses, stood on the brink of largely dismantling the agency. Read more
Now would be a good time to stake out, for the public, the motto and mission of the new Navy Closure Task Force-Red Hill. Read more
They are known collectively as The Greatest Generation, and nearly all have now moved into the history books. Read more
House Bill 1763 is well-intentioned: It aims to give priority to public, state- and county-run affordable housing projects for the low-cost loans, grants and other awards from the state’s Rental Housing Revolving Fund (RHRF). Read more
The state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) is pushing forward with plans to include at least 500 and potentially more than 1,100 rent-to-own homes within its vision to create about 6,000 homesteads in coming years. Read more
Ever the optimist, Gov. Josh Green on Wednesday announced a rosy outlook for a “strong” state budget as costs for the Aug. 8 Lahaina wildfire recovery became clearer — and even dispelled the threat of a ban on short-term rentals (STRs) in West Maui. Read more
