Hawaii News
Hawai‘i joins multistate settlement against luxury auto manufacturer
The Hawaiʻi Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Office of Consumer Protection joined a coalition of 50 attorneys general announcing a nearly $150 million settlement with Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC and Mercedes-Benz Group AG.
Gov. Green appoints acting chair of DLNR while Dawn Chang out on medical leave
DLNR’s Deputy Director Ryan Kanaka‘ole will serve as acting chair and director of the state agency, effective immediately.
First monthly emergency siren test in 2026 scheduled
The all-hazard Outdoor Siren Warning System for Public Safety is one part of the Hawai‘i Statewide Alert and Warning System used to notify the public during emergencies.
New research into Cookiecutter shark bridges Hawai‘i knowledge with modern science
The study analyzed a larger dataset than previous research, examining bite patterns recorded across Hawaiʻi’s longline fisheries over many years.
Navy Region Hawaiʻi Commander promoted to Two-Star Flag Officer
Adm. Stephen Koehler, US Pacific Fleet commander, promoted Rear Adm. Brad Collins, Navy Region Hawaiʻi commander, to the rank of Rear Adm. during a ceremony, aboard the Battleship Missouri Memorial, Dec 23, 2025.
LEAP Act would ensure grad students get same borrowing capacity as ‘professional’ students
After the GOP spending bill slashed student loan limits for healthcare professionals, Hawai‘i U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda and colleagues introduced the legislation to level the playing field.
Schatz introduces legislation to protect, expand Social Security
More than 280,000 people in Hawai‘i, or more than 1 in 6 residents, rely on Social Security benefits; the SAFE Social Security Act will increase benefits for seniors in Hawai‘i and throughout the United States.
‘Chief of War’ star, respected Kauaʻi cultural practitioner Kaina Makua to give keynote at Toastmasters conference
The Kauaʻi native portrays Kamehameha I in the Apple TV+ series and is co-founder and executive director of West Kauaʻi nonprofit and social enterprise Kumano I Ke Ala, where he leads initiatives dedicated to restoring ancestral relationships to ʻāina through education, food systems revitalization and Hawaiian language immersion.
University of Hawaiʻi study reveals how ocean’s most abundant bacteria diversify
Understanding SAR11 marine bacteria is vital because they are one of the main drivers of the global ocean’s life-support system; they move and recycle the carbon and nutrients that sustain all other marine life.
Hawai‘i Government Employees Association: Public servants should not have to work in fear
Union demands action by Hawai’i Department of Education after alleged assault on Moanalua High School Assistant Athletic Director Natalie Iwamoto following a preseason basketball game earlier this month at the Honolulu school.
Lawmakers blast White House for making it harder for taxpayers to receive full refunds
U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono, a Hawai‘i Democrat, is joined by 24 of her Senate colleagues in urging President Donald Trump’s Administration to restore staff and resources at Taxpayer Advocate Service, which assists taxpayers with resolving any issues within the Internal Revenue Service.
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa English Dept. chooses ‘analogue’ as 2025 Hawaiʻi Word of the Year
The choice is meant to highlight the enduring value of human-centered thinking, creativity and interpretation in an age of rapidly growing artificial intelligence.
State launches new centralized phone number to improve public access, service
The new number brings multiple state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs divisions onto a unified call center platform, improving call routing, case tracking and consumer support.
Hawaiʻi Legislature accepting applications for 2026 grant-in-aid funds
The deadline to apply is 4:30 p.m. Jan. 23; final determinations about which nonprofit organizations will receive funding will be made as Council on Revenue forecasts in January and March are published.
Recruitment for state conservation officers starts in January
Vacancies for these officer positions are located across the state.
Incentive program aids in keeping children healthy in Hawaiʻi
The Hawaiʻi Child Wellness Incentive Program offers a $50 reward for a well-child examination to encourage preventive care and support the well-being of keiki.
U.S. Senate passes Schatz legislation to expand Veterans Affairs services
The Caring for Veterans and Strengthening National Security Act would require U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to provide U.S. veterans in the Freely Associated States of Palau, Micronesia and the Marshall Islands with telehealth services, mail-order pharmacy benefits, beneficiary travel reimbursements and access to the health care and benefits all American veterans should receive.
Appointments, reappointments to boards, commissions announced by governor
Each of the panel members bring deep experience in water resource management, ethics, agriculture and community development to critical areas of state service.
‘You’re never too old to pursue your dreams’: Big Isle 71-year-old earns college degree
She might be from another island, but Theresa Chang’s lifetime defined by breathtaking resilience, including an incredible journey from addiction to academic success, is one that can and should inspire others; she even just recently accepted her bachelor of arts degree in communication from University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo during the Dec. 20 fall commencement ceremony.
Court decision allows new ‘Green fee’ to take effect as scheduled on Jan. 1, 2026
U.S. District Court Judge Jill Otake earlier this week dismissed a majority of claims challenging the state’s Act 96 and denied a plaintiff motion for a preliminary injunction to stop the act from taking effect.
