In-Person Commencement Ceremonies

Lawmakers rain on Gov. David Ige’s plan for $1 billion ‘rainy day’ fund
Hawai‘i lawmakers this week zeroed out the proposed $1 billion emergency savings account appropriation in a Senate bill introduced on behalf of Ige, and deferred an identical House companion bill. Star-Advertiser.

Restorative justice group calls for sweeping reform of women’s prison system
A group of prominent women is pushing for a complete overhaul of Hawai‘i’s women’s prison system through a slew of bills under consideration by the Legislature. Civil Beat.

Bills would limit rental application fees
Only one member of a household may be charged a $25 fee under measures moving through the Legislature. The bills would regulate the price and quantity of application screening fees, which are collected to cover the costs of screening a potential tenant. It would also will require any unused portion of that fee to be returned to the applicant. Civil Beat.

Measure that would settle OHA’s share of public land trust revenue heads to final Senate vote
Hawaiʻi lawmakers are considering a bill to settle unresolved issues over exactly how much public land trust revenue the state must direct toward the betterment of Native Hawaiians. Hawaii Public Radio.

Constitutional changes and legal challenges loom as redistricting commission wraps up work
State lawmakers want to change the way the commission counts military personnel and college students. Last year, the commission struggled for months to get an accurate figure on how many people counted in Hawai‘i’s census population need to be removed for reapportionment purposes. Civil Beat.

3 former Hawai‘i defense contractors plead not guilty in illegal campaign scheme
Three former executives of a Hawai‘i-based defense contractor pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges of funneling more than $200,000 in illegal donations to aid the reelection campaign of Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine. Former Navatek CEO Martin Kao and two others were indicted earlier this month on charges of using company credit cards, a shell company and individual shell donors to make illegal contributions. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Former OHA trustee Oswald ‘Oz’ Stender remembered for his dedication to the Native Hawaiian community, dies at 90
Oswald “Oz” Stender, who rose above the turmoil of the Bishop Estate’s “Broken Trust” scandal and went on to serve 14 years as an Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee, died Wednesday. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Lawmakers want the state to take over Lake Wilson, but it would come at a steep price
Some state lawmakers want the state to take over Wahiawā’s Lake Wilson and the surrounding irrigation system. But the deal comes at a steep price ― $20 million ― and the state Department of Land and Natural Resources doesn’t want it. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu settles four law enforcement lawsuits
The Honolulu City Council on Wednesday approved legal payouts totaling millions of dollars to settle lawsuits filed against the Honolulu Police Department and Prosecuting Attorney’s office. The largest award was $5.25 million to settle a case involving a driver who was being chased by an HPD officer when he crashed into pedestrians near the Ala Moana shopping center in 2019. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

Kenneth Silva appointed to Honolulu Police Commission
Silva, who served as fire chief from February 2006 until December 2012, will fill the lone vacancy on the seven-member police commission following his nomination for the position late last month by Mayor Rick Blangiardi. Civil Beat.

City: Efforts to tackle crime in Chinatown are working, but there’s more work to do
The city administration says efforts such as cracking down on criminal activity has improved Chinatown during the past year. Officials also said the increased police presence and the use of the Weed and Seed program is improving conditions in the area. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

Patients and physicians in Hawaiʻi now have another pharmacy option for specialty medications. Accredo, a full-service specialty pharmacy, has been serving patients from their Honolulu location since 2019… read more.

County’s Honuʻapo Lands in Kaʻū to Reopen
Because the area is cooling and new safety measures put in place, Hawaiʻi County will reopen some of its public lands in Kaʻū that have been closed since October. Big Island Now.

Maui is getting ready to move part of a major highway due to climate change
The Honoapiilani Highway is the main artery in and out of West Maui and keeping it open is considered crucial for public safety, commerce, tourism and other transportation needs. Civil Beat.

Temporary closure of Lahainaluna boy’s dorm comes amid investigation into misconduct allegations
A temporary closure of the boys’ dormitory at Lahainaluna High School went into effect on Tuesday, Feb. 22, and will continue for nearly a month through March 20, 2022, the state Department of Education has confirmed. Maui Now.