Hawai‘i Covid cases see upward trend 5 weeks in a row
The steady increase in 7-day average daily case counts is causing some Hawai‘i residents to continue wearing their masks despite the lifted mandate. KHON2.

Hawai‘i Tourism Authority plan focuses on marketing, not management
The state agency is seeking proposals for a $35 million tourism marketing and management contract. But many of the performance measures focus on marketing, such as number of press releases issued, trade shows attended and total Facebook impressions. Civil Beat.

Pandemic continues to hurt Hawai‘i public school students’ grades, attendance
Pandemic gaps in academic grades worsened slightly in multiple areas during the second quarter of the school year, while problems with learning and attendance persisted, according to new state Department of Education data. Star-Advertiser.

Senate accused of ‘punitive’ funding plan for University of Hawai‘i
The state Senate’s budget proposal to give UH a $275 million funding increase comes with strings attached, including a $100,000 pay cut for the UH West O‘ahu chancellor and eliminating the positions of communications director and director of the Office of Equal Employment. Star-Advertiser.

Conservative group targets Kahele over possible ethics violations
The Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust filed the complaint over potential conflicts of interest related to U.S. Rep Kai Kahele’s employment with Hawaiian Airlines and his alleged abuse of House proxy voting rules. The foundation’s request for an investigation comes after Civil Beat’s reporting on Kahele’s proxy voting. Civil Beat.

Why Howard Hughes has a love-hate relationship with the rail
The city has spent several years and millions of dollars fighting the developer in court over land for rail. Now, the transit system might not reach the Hughes Kaka‘ako properties. Civil Beat.

DOH reviews Navy water samples as part of long-term monitoring program
In the wake of the Navy’s tainted water crisis, the state Department of Health is now reviewing water samples from the first month of a long-term monitoring program at Pearl Harbor. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu tops national list for solar energy generation
For a third consecutive year, Honolulu tops a national survey for solar energy production per person. That’s according to the eighth annual Shining Cities report, released Tuesday from the advocacy group Environment America. Hawai‘i Public Radio.

Two HPD officers arrested on abuse allegations in recent days
Domestic violence-related complaints have historically made up a notable portion of the criminal allegations against officers investigated by the department, according to an HPD report detailing trends in complaints from 2016 to 2020. Civil Beat.

City expands free Covid testing for O‘ahu residents amid continued demand
The city’s free Covid-19 testing program for all O‘ahu residents at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport is reopening on Wednesdays. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Attorneys Arthur G. Smith and Urban E. Wild founded the firm on April 1, 1922 as Smith & Wild. Over the past 100 years, the firm has been involved in some of the most notable cases and transactions in the State of Hawai‘i… read more.

Fire chief ‘generally agrees’ with critiques of audit
After a less than glowing county audit of the Hawai‘i Fire Department last month, Fire Chief Kazuo Todd hopes to turn the department around over the next several years. Tribune-Herald.

Looming demolition of treasured Papa‘aloa gym puts rural Big Island community on edge
The county will need roughly upwards of $20 million to replace the aging facility. The price is high because officials say a new facility would likely double as a disaster-relief site. Hawaii News Now.

Federal case against Big Island doctor goes to jury
A jury is deliberating the fate of Hawai‘i island doctor and brother of jailed former Deputy Prosecutor Katherine Kealoha. Rudolph B. Puana is accused of writing opioid prescriptions for pills that were sold or traded for cocaine. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Community input sought on resiliency hubs, Lānaʻi Skate Park preliminary designs
The Maui County Office of Climate Change, Resiliency and Sustainability will hold four community talk story sessions to discuss the formation of resiliency hubs aimed at responding to disasters in Maui County. Maui News.
The park designs come from community input in an online survey in October 2021. Community input will be taken through May 13, 2022. Maui Now.

Some gun enthusiasts fear new homes could threaten Maui’s only shooting range
Ukumehame Firing Range is the only legal public shooting range on the Valley Isle. A real estate company from the mainland wants to build 48 single-family homes nearby. Hawaii News Now.

Former Maui police officer enters guilty plea to attempted child enticement
A former Maui police officer pleaded guilty in federal court today to trying to lure a 13-year-old girl into a sexual relationship with promises of money and shopping trips. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Coffee With A Cop community outreach returns
The Kapa‘a event that featured a steady stream of people taking the time to talk and get to know officers outside their work was also the first event since being shut down by the pandemic more than two years ago. Garden Island.

Hurricane hardening happening at Kapa‘a Middle School
Workers are strengthening roofs, replacing windows and installing hurricane screens in two school buildings, according to a state Department of Accounting and General Services spokesperson. Garden Island.