Hawai‘i rainbow license plate will soon be retired
The rainbow plate was first issued in 1991. The City and County of Honolulu manages the contract for license plate design, and there’s no timeline yet on when the new plates will be issued. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Group looks to speed up $2B-plus effort to cut Hawai‘i’s cesspools
The Cesspool Conversion Working Group, formed in 2018, recommends that a 2050 deadline to eliminate all homeowner cesspools in the state be advanced to 2030 and 2035 for 26,188 cesspools that pose higher pollution risks. Star-Advertiser.

State capitol reopens with public parking options
New pay stations will collect fees starting at $2 an hour. The Capitol’s parking lot, located in its vast, dark and dank basement, is notorious for being unaccommodating to the public.  Civil Beat.

Nomination for state Office of Wellness and Resilience to focus on ‘trauma-informed care’
Tia Roberts Hartsock, with more than 20 years of mental health and criminal justice experience and currently a project director at the state Department of Health’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division, said trauma-informed care is a prevailing thread to tackle these issues. Hawai‘i Public Radio.

$8.5 million in grants announced for Hawaiian Home Lands projects
The 23 grants, which will go to 14 organizations, are part of the department’s Native Hawaiian Development Program Plan. The program’s goal is to improve the well being of Native Hawaiians through education, economic, political, social, cultural and other services. Hawai‘i Public Radio.

Local agriculture officials award $2.7M to 579 small farmers and gardeners
The state agriculture department reported 347 awarded grants on Oʻahu, 67 in Maui County, 32 on Kauaʻi, and 133 on Hawaiʻi Island. The grants can be used to buy tools, equipment, seeds,  canning equipment and livestock. Hawai‘i Public Radio.

Diversified ‘ulu zone can boost profits, report finds
Growing ‘ulu, also known as breadfruit, in a diversified plot can be more profitable than monocrops, according to a report by the Hawai‘i ‘Ulu Cooperative and Propagate, an agronomy software company.  Star-Advertiser.

Report on toxic Red Hill spill delayed
The military says it’s pushed the deadline to the end of this week for an officer to complete his investigation into what caused an estimated 1,300 gallons of toxic fire suppressant to spill from a pipe at Red Hill on Nov. 29. The military won’t say when that report might be released to the public. Star-Advertiser.

Oʻahu rooftop battery initiative reaches new tier after positive response
Early adopters received a one-time payment of $850 per kilowatt of installed battery capacity, along with monthly bill credits for the amount of energy exporting. Hawai‘i Public Radio.

Eternal flame for Hawai‘i’s veterans and fallen snuffed out
The state Department of Accounting and General Services, which is responsible for maintaining the memorial, said the propane-­fueled burner is in need of repairs. Star-Advertiser.

Corrections officer suspected after major illegal aerial fireworks bust at O‘ahu jail
An investigation is underway after nearly 100 pounds of illegal aerial fireworks were confiscated from the mailroom at the O‘ahu Community Correctional Center. Hawaii News Now.

The goal was to create imagery that reflects the lived experiences of renters. I didn’t want to villainize or victimize anyone – it’s a fine line to walk when developing imagery for a story like this….. read more.

West Hawai‘i golf subsidy program returns
The Village Course at Waikoloa in South Kohala and Makalei Golf Course in North Kona will each offer reduced rates for residents of Hawai‘i County for six months. West Hawaii Today. KHON2.

Five more officials appointed to Bissen’s administration
The appointments include Josiah Nishita as deputy director of the Department of Management, Sonya Toma as first deputy of the Department of Corporation Counsel, Shelly Miyashiro as first deputy in the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, Maria Zielinski as budget director, and Luana Mahi as economic development director. Maui News.

Kaua‘i jobless rate drops to 4.4 percent
The food services and drinking places sector paced the job growth, as its employment rolls climbed to 4,400 in November 2022 from 3,700 in November 2021. That marked an increase of 18.9 percent. Garden Island.