Council panel sees firearm bill as too restrictive
Hawai‘i County’s first shot at drafting an open or concealed carry gun law was deemed too restrictive Tuesday by a majority of County Council members after dozens of testifiers weighed in, the vast majority opposing the measure on constitutional grounds. West Hawaii Today.

Latest campaign finance report shows Duke Aiona is struggling to raise cash
Democrat Lt. Gov. Josh Green raised more money since mid-August for his campaign for governor than the Republican nominee has raised all year. Civil Beat.

OHA report casts critical eye on Hawaiian nonprofit’s management of public funds
The OHA report found that 37 out of 50 grants its auditors randomly selected didn’t fully comply with OHA’s documentation requirements. One former Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee said the report raises questions about favoritism. Hawaii News Now.

Covid-19 wastewater report shows drop in cases
The Hawai‘i Department of Health’s inaugural wastewater surveillance report for Covid-19 compares the concentration levels of coronavirus in wastewater with clinical Covid cases.  Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Tribune-Herald. KHON2. KITV4.

Head of drug task force pushes for Narcan in all Hawai‘i classrooms
Hawaii Keiki Nurses are the only ones who carry Narcan and mostly work at campuses on O‘ahu. There are 54 of the professionals statewide; meanwhile, Hawai‘i has 295 public schools. Hawaii News Now.

Intrusive drones posing a threat, Honolulu Fire Department says
These unmanned aerial onlookers have been found to tail Honolulu Fire Department helicopters, distracting HFD pilots with erratic motion, risking collision and delaying help for those in need. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

Why tour groups are barred from stopping at some Honolulu beaches but not others
The City Council is considering halting commercial activity at Kokololio Beach. Residents and tour companies say beach-by-beach bans push the problem down the road and don’t solve the overall problem. Civil Beat.

Sunset Beach property owner is cited for dumping concrete on the public beach
A Sunset Beach homeowner appears to have dropped large amounts of concrete onto the world-famous beach fronting his property, sparking outrage on social media and eliciting calls for better enforcement of Hawai‘i’s coastal protection laws. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Internal memo reveals list of experts concerned about Honolulu rail track layout
Multiple experts across the different groups responsible for Honolulu’s transit tracks have strong misgivings about their unusual crossing design, echoing the concerns that a former project consultant raised this summer. Civil Beat.

City leaders introduce ‘anti-bullying bill’ to create safe spaces for O‘ahu youth
Council member Augie Tulba first introduced Bill 52 Tuesday to prohibit bullying on city property and in city programs, such as Summer Fun. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

City takes ownership of Leahi Avenue after community urging
The city has officially taken ownership of Leahi Avenue from a private owner after there was community pushback due to parking fees and food truck activity. Star-Advertiser.

Candidates face big funding disparities in some Honolulu Council races
Campaign finance reports reveal which donors are fueling campaigns and where candidates are focusing their efforts before voting begins later this month.  Civil Beat.

Hawai‘i REALTORS^®, a leading statewide professional trade organization for the real estate industry, has named Jack Legal the 2022 Hawai‘i REALTOR^® of the Year. Each year since 1967 the award has recognized an outstanding REALTOR^® in Hawai‘i for work in the interest of fellow REALTORS^®, the profession and the community… read more.

Solid waste facilities to be closed during Ironman
The return of the Ironman World Championship to the Big Island this week is necessitating the closure of the county’s solid waste facilities because of road closures associated with the triathlon. Big Island Now.

Animal Control Services criticized
Dozens of people turned out Tuesday to voice their frustrations with Hawaii County’s Animal Control Services, only for a planned discussion about those operations to be postponed. Tribune-Herald.

$2M sought for Waikoloa park expansion
Bill 219, introduced by Kohala Councilman Tim Richards, would allocate $2 million for the project that includes improvements to existing infrastructure as well as adding pickleball and tennis courts to the capital budget. West Hawaii Today.

Maui voters to decide if planning commission should be more representative
If approved, the amendment to the County Charter would require the commission to have one member from each residency area on the island as represented on the County Council. Currently the charter does not require regional representation on the commission. Civil Beat.

Charging stations planned for county amid EV push
Maui County is set to receive four electric vehicle charging stations in the next five years as the state pushes to meet a zero emissions clean energy economy by 2045. Maui News.

Final EA published for water tank in Waikapū to serve DHHL Puʻunani Homestead
The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has published a final Environmental Assessment with a Finding of No Significant Impact for a 500,000-gallon concrete water storage tank and related improvements in Waikapū, Maui. Maui Now.

Director of Maui County’s new Department of Agriculture sworn in
Rogerene “Kali” Arce was sworn in today as the director of Maui County’s newly established Department of Agriculture. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.