Honolulu City Council approves seizure of Queen Theater

• By Ian Bauer
• Today
• Last updated 9:30 a.m.
• 51

Resolution 176 would have the city seize the theater, shuttered since 1985, along with the rest of the 10,396-square-foot commercial parcel.The property is valued at $3.173 million. Read more

Honolulu City Council postpones empty-homes tax bill

• By Ian Bauer
• Dec. 12, 2024
• Last updated 11:08 a.m.
• 104

The measure’s stated aim is to ensure residential properties are used as actual homes instead of investments — particularly by those who may live outside the state. Read more

Site near Wahiawa is picked for landfill

• By Ian Bauer
• Dec. 11, 2024
• 61

Honolulu officials announced Tuesday that they have selected an area northwest of Wahiawa as the proposed location for Oahu’s next solid waste landfill. Read more

City picks area northwest of Wahiawa for Oahu’s next landfill

• By Ian Bauer
• Dec. 10, 2024
• 58

The Honolulu Board of Water Supply must evaluate the proposed landfill site and, based on its proximity to potable water sources, may approve or reject the plan. Read more

City and state collaborate to improve Kailua Beach Park

• By Ian Bauer
• Dec. 10, 2024
• 17

Between Ocean Safety Lifeguard Tower 8-B and Kaele­pulu Stream, there lies a sea of dunes. Read more

City to update search for new Oahu landfill

• By Ian Bauer
• Dec. 9, 2024
• 7

A state-imposed deadline of Dec. 31 looms over Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration. Read more

Blangiardi administration skeptical of bill to ban single-use plastic bottles

• By Ian Bauer
• Dec. 7, 2024
• 48

The City Council is scheduled to review the measure for the second of three readings Wednesday. Read more

City seeks candidates for Honolulu Ocean Safety Commission

• By Ian Bauer
• Dec. 6, 2024
• 5

The commission will make recommendations on the department’s annual budget, review its operations and recommend improvements, and appoint or remove a new ocean safety chief. Read more

Empty homes tax bill up for final reading Dec. 11

• By Ian Bauer
• Dec. 5, 2024
• 101

The Honolulu City Council is scheduled to hold its final reading Wednesday on a proposed empty-homes tax. Read more

Honolulu certifies election results

• By Ian Bauer
• Dec. 5, 2024
• 2

The final results of Honolulu’s Nov. 5 general election involving the passage of four city charter amendments have been officially certified. Read more

Honolulu Council wants study uniting paramedics with Fire Department

• By Ian Bauer
• Dec. 2, 2024
• 19

The apparent inability of the city’s ambulance service to respond to daily emergencies on a timely basis is of concern to many current and former first responders. Read more

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi appoints new housing director

• By Ian Bauer
• Dec. 2, 2024
• 2

Kevin Auger, a real estate professional with nearly four decades of experience in housing development and commercial real estate investment banking, has served as deputy director of the Office of Housing since July 2023. Read more

City postpones identifying next landfill site

• By Ian Bauer
• Nov. 29, 2024
• 20

Although they said it would be named in November, Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration now says the future site for Oahu’s next municipal landfill will be made public in December. Read more

At least $100K in transit fare revenue lost from cyberattack

• By Ian Bauer
• Nov. 27, 2024
• 31

UHERO offers ‘uncertainties’ over Council’s proposed empty-homes tax

• By Ian Bauer
• Nov. 26, 2024
• 120

Introduced in August by Council members Tommy Waters and Radiant Cordero, the measure could see full Council adoption by December. Read more

Honolulu city officials trim building permit review times

• By Ian Bauer
• Nov. 23, 2024
• 19

Honolulu’s permitting department said its residential code review as recently as May took six months or longer to complete. As of Nov. 1, that review time fell to an average of nine days, officials said. Read more

Honolulu City Council’s empty-homes tax measure advances

• By Ian Bauer
• Nov. 22, 2024
• 193

A home valued at $1 million could receive a $30,000 tax bill each year it remains empty. Read more

More police cameras sought for West Oahu

• By Ian Bauer
• Nov. 21, 2024
• 9

The Honolulu Police Department plans to install overt video surveillance cameras at fixed locations in West Oahu, an area that’s experienced increased, often violent crimes in recent months. Read more

Honolulu Council urges state to stem street gang violence

• By Ian Bauer
• Nov. 20, 2024
• 37

A Honolulu City Council resolution requests the state Legislature to do more to curb violent, gun-related crime linked to criminal street gangs. Read more

City hosts workshops over Ala Wai bridge

• By Ian Bauer
• Nov. 18, 2024
• 112

The Honolulu Department of Transportation Services will host two public workshop meetings this week regarding the planned design and construction of the $63.3 million Ala Wai Pedestrian Bridge. Read more

Honolulu lawmakers mull ban on sale of plastic bottles on city properties

• By Ian Bauer
• Nov. 17, 2024
• 11

Bill 59 states no single-use plastic bottles one liter in size or less may be “purchased, sold, or offered for sale for use at any city facility, city-authorized concession, city-sponsored or city-permitted event, or city program.” Read more