July 18, 2025 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

Hawaii Daily News Read

Friday, July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 5:17 PM :: 174 Views

Two Indicted for Fraudulent FEMA Claims for Lahaina Fire

Transportation barriers impacting Hawaiʻi rural health care

Trump Admin Takes Back $30M that Hawaii Never Got Around to Spending

CB: … Hawaiʻi can no longer use millions of dollars in federal grant money awarded in 2023 to increase food security in an island state that spends billions annually to import more than 85% of its food.

The Trump administration’s effort to curb government spending led federal regulators to slash a $400 million effort to ~~uplift food systems~~ (create positions). A $30 million slice of that funding had been earmarked for Hawaiʻi, Alaska, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands….

In a press release announcing the grant program cancellation, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins said the Biden administration had created “massive programs without any long-term way to finance them,” stating that the Regional Food Business Centers program had so far consumed itself with forming partnerships and planning while disbursing few funds to farmers.

Over two years, the non-mainland segment of the project that includes Hawaiʻi only spent $5 million of its $30 million award and issued no Business Builder grants — infusions of $15,000 to $100,000 aimed at helping food producers and distributors increase their scale and profitability. …

(TRANSLATION: Zero spent for program grants.)

People in Hawaiʻi working on the project also had anticipated the grant cancelations. The Trump administration froze funds for the $400 million program on Jan. 20, which rendered it inert. ...

Read … USDA Cancels $30 Million Grant Intended To Boost Hawaiʻi Food Production - Honolulu Civil Beat

Maui: Usual Grifters Grabbing for Control of Water

O: … Jonathan Likeke Scheuer, chair of ‘Aha Wai O Maui Hikina and a water resource expert, said the EMWA hopes to eventually acquire a long-term lease for EMI. According to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, a long-term lease is expected be auctioned by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources after holding a quasi-judicial contested-case hearing.

The goal is for EMWA to be “a utility for non-potable water,” he said, adding that while the creation of a government-established community water authority might be new to Maui, it’s not unheard of in other areas of the world, where water is viewed as a public resource.

“The single largest water system on the island of Maui should be controlled by ~~the people of Maui~~ (us)” ….

Read … East Maui Residents Hope to See Control of Their Region's Water Return to Public Hands - Overstory

Kauai Council Begins Process of Destroying Oceanfront Properties

HPR: … Kauaʻi is considering additional restrictions that would curb a private landowner’s ability to build further onto public beaches.

The Kauaʻi County Council is moving along Bill 2969 primarily to address a county-level exemption for beachfront properties that has allowed owners to make repairs to their homes without adhering to setback rules, which seek to keep them a certain distance from the shoreline.

The proposed restrictions would keep beaches publicly accessible and keep homes away from areas where they could be subjected to floods and tsunamis.

The bill, co-authored by Council Chair Mel Rapozo and Councilmember Bernard Carvalho, notes that “proper siting of structures and regulation of improvements to structures along Kauaʻi's shoreline areas are critical to protecting life and property, mitigating coastal hazards, and preserving coastal resources, which are culturally important to the people of Hawai'i.”

The issue is especially prevalent on Kauaʻi's north shore, where many of the properties are high-end vacation rentals.

Older homes requiring repairs can take advantage of the county exemption to what’s known as a “shoreline setback determination.” The exemption allows owners to completely tear down their homes and rebuild them further onto public beaches.

In one example, about 10,000 square feet of public beach was given to a landowner after they applied for a county exemption….

Read … Kauaʻi council seeks to shore up restrictions on beachfront home improvements | Hawai'i Public Radio

SB15 signed into law to ease affordable housing crisis

CB: … the reviews performed by the State Historic Preservation Division have been taking too long.

Kefalas said in written testimony on SB 15 that the institute analyzed the division’s data from 2021 to 2024 and that the average review time was 94 days. In one case it took 171 days.

And the agency was only able to review half the applications it received in that period. Kefalas said that’s because all the counties have been sending the preservation division any project involving a building or site that is at least 50 years old.

“If we don’t have the information right now that it’s historic or culturally significant, I don’t think that a SHPD review is going to necessarily find that out,” Kefalas said. “I think you really are going to have to put a shovel into the dirt before you actually know for sure.”…

Read … Newly Signed Bill Imperils Historic Places and Burial Sites, Critics Say - Honolulu Civil Beat

'A huge win,' Larger police presence heading to West Oahu

KHON: … For years, West Oahu residents have been asking for more police officers. This week, Interim Chief Rade Vanic told the police commission more will be coming — permanently.

On Wednesday, July 17, Interim Chief Vanic laid out his plans, including adding more officers in District 8, which stretches from ‘Ewa Beach to Māuka.

“District 8 has one of the highest calls for service. So what I asked our support services bureau to do is start working with our District 8 major to add two more beats out there,” he said.

Interim Chief Vanic added that the Honolulu Police Department will send about 12 more officers to support patrol….

Read … 'A huge win,' Larger police presence heading to West Oahu

Filipino teachers arrive in time for school

TGI: … For the third year, members of the Department of Education, the Kauai Filipino Chamber of Commerce, the Kauai Philippine Cultural Center, and the Kauai Filipino Community Council welcomed about 20 new teachers from the Philippines on Tuesday.

The teachers arrived on Kauai to work in different schools around the island through the J-1 visa that is also known as the Exchange Visitor Visa. The J-1 visa allows foreign nationals to come to the United States temporarily to participate in work- and study-based exchange visitor programs….

Read … Filipino teachers arrive in time for school - The Garden Island

15 Years Later, Kauai Foreclosure Case Still Bumbles thru Courts

MP: … A foreclosure fight in Hawaii just put mortgage servicers on notice: skip steps or botch communication, and you might lose in court—even years later.

That’s the takeaway from a July 16 decision by the Intermediate Court of Appeals of Hawaii, which ruled that Deutsche Bank National Trust Company’s 2010 foreclosure on a Kaua‘i property could be legally challenged by the homeowner. The case is now headed back to the lower court, after a years-long battle over servicing conduct, foreclosure procedures, and borrower rights.

It all started when Deutsche Bank, as trustee for GSAMP Trust 2006-FM3, foreclosed nonjudicially on a property held in trust by Eileen Marie Winters and her husband, Dale Scott Winters. The bank bought the property at auction and, in 2011, sued the Winterses for ejectment. That lawsuit triggered a long court battle that escalated once Eileen, acting as trustee of her revocable living trust, filed counterclaims. …

Read … Hawaii judges send Deutsche Bank foreclosure case back to court | Mortgage Professional

Independent audit into kauhale deals needed

SA: … The kauhale initiative was meant to be a compassionate solution to homelessness, but recent reports raise serious concerns. Over $37 million in no-bid contracts since 2023 and utility costs exceeding $1,000 per tiny home demand stronger oversight.

House Bill 431, now Act 309, should be seen not as punishment, but as a tool to restore public confidence. Tying future funding to audits and public reporting is a step forward, but will it be enough? …

Read … Letter: Independent audit into kauhale deals needed | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Amala Place Sweep Pushes 23 Bums into Shelter

MN: … Of the people who were living along Amala Place, 14 households totaling 23 people got into shelter over the last week, including 21 to Ka Hale A Ke Ola and one each to Aloha House and Mana Recovery, county spokesperson Laksmi Abraham said Thursday afternoon. No arrests were made.

It is unclear ~~where~~ the other 23 people went (to smoke meth).

Abraham said 10 truckloads of trash — about 13 tons — were removed from the area. But this time, two truckloads of personal belongings were put into storage. Sixteen cars were removed and also put into storage….

HNN: Emotions run high as officials clear massive Maui homeless encampment

Read … Last people leave homeless community along Amala Place as county clears out vehicles, belongings : Maui Now

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