January 13, 2026 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

Hawaii Daily News Read

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

January 13, 2026 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 1:24 PM :: 255 Views

Green Appoints DHS Administrator to Represent Waipahu

Top DoD Officials Evaluate Oahu Military Housing

35 Choices: Hawaii School Fair to Bring Families and Schools Together

600 Jostle for Green Fee Slush Fund—‘Relationships’ determine whose snouts get in trough

HPR: … We've actually completed ~~our work in terms of the evaluation,~~ looking at 600-plus projects and coming up with our initial ~~sort of~~ recommendation~~, our portfolio~~ for year one, and that's currently before the governor. We should be making that public within a couple of weeks. But really, ~~evaluating it across a range of dimensions in a rubric,~~ we were looking at ~~results, readiness, relevance~~, relationships, ~~and region~~ for the projects….

(Do you like they way he conveys a sense of false sophistication by throwing in the words ‘portfolio’ and ‘rubric’? Typical window dressing for green corruption.)

read … How Hawaiʻi might spend funds from new climate tax on hotel stays | Hawai'i Public Radio

Hawaii Loses Golf and Basketball—switch to Rugby and Cricket?

HNN: … With confidence fading that Hawaii can save major sporting events like the Sony Open or the Maui Invitational basketball tournament, state leaders are pivoting to lower-profile sporting events that could still attract visitors.

The strategy shift comes as Sony Open week begins at Waialae Country Club, with uncertainty hanging over whether this may be the tournament’s final year in Hawaii….

“We have to pay more and more to attract these events and Las Vegas poached our basketball tournament. And really, are we going to win in us versus the U.S. mainland?” said state Sen. Glenn Wakai.

Experts say the (fake man-made) ‘drought’ that doomed this year’s Sentry golf tournament in Kapalua may dry up the PGA’s interest in Hawaii tournaments, which compete with football playoffs and cost significant money to produce….

“I’m a big fan of taking it to Asia, to bring Asian rugby tournaments here, to bring even cricket here,” Wakai said….

Youth volleyball and professional soccer are emerging as focus areas.

Tokioka told senators he is negotiating with the Seattle Reign to bring their preseason to Hawaii while the World Cup takes over stadiums in the Northwest.

“They’re putting in a proposal for a million dollars, and I told them that may be a little too rich for what we can do. So they’re working out a proposal,” Tokioka said.

Questions over decision-making authority

Senators questioned who is making and managing sports marketing policy, whether it’s Tokioka, the governor, or experts at the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

“They think they’re just window dressing now, because they’re not clear. Nothing is brought before them for their advice,” said state Sen. Donna Kim….

read … State pivots sports tourism tactics with major events in jeopardy

Thousands of Hawai’i Criminals Could get Records Cleared to Hide Their True Nature from You

CB: … The Attorney General’s Office just expunged the records of more than 1,300 Big Island ~~residents~~ (criminals) through a pilot program. Some policymakers want to see the work expand….

In Hawaiʻi, about one-third of the population has at least one arrest that is eligible for expungement, according to the AG’s Office. Arrests and charges will often still show up on a background check, even if the person charged was found not guilty, pleaded no contest or the charge was dismissed.

Tarnas said he wants to see a permanent state-initiated expungement process that would help more people get clean records. (The usual) thirteen other states have such procedures in place….

BACKGROUND: Miske Hitman Criminal Record Secretly Expunged

read … A Third Of Hawai’i Could Get Criminal Records Cleared. Few Do - Honolulu Civil Beat

FEMA housing assistance for Maui wildfire survivors extended 18 days while yearlong extension under review

MN: … The Federal Emergency Management Agency has extended its temporary housing and financial assistance to Maui wildfire survivors to Feb. 28, which is 18 more days than the previous deadline.

But FEMA said it still is reviewing the State of Hawai‘i’s request, which was submitted months ago on May 30, for a yearlong extension to Feb. 10, 2027….

Joe Campos, deputy director of the state Department of Human Services, said the extension is “crucial” as Maui continues to recover from the disaster that killed at least 102 people.

Campos said Dec. 29 that FEMA funding provided housing for 6,775 individuals immediately after the Aug. 8, 2023 wildfires in Lahaina and Kula. Since then, about 5,300 have found their own housing.

The original number of households in the FEMA Direct Housing program was between “3,300 to 4,000,” according to Campos, and is now down to 754 households for a total of about 1,475 individuals….

If FEMA does not grant the state’s extension request, all FEMA housing assistance for fire survivors would cease at the end of February. This means all FEMA Direct Housing units must be vacated without exception, including: direct lease units, the Kilohana temporary group housing site in Lahaina where 150 households are currently living in Lahaina, private site units and secondary site units.

“The state remains hopeful that FEMA will continue to support the state and county in our collective efforts to ensure the recovery, self-sufficiency, and basic housing needs of the survivors of the Maui Wildfires,” Speer said Monday….

FEMA: FAQ: Preparing for the Potential Conclusion of FEMA Assistance on February 28, 2026 | FEMA.gov

read ... FEMA housing assistance for Maui wildfire survivors extended 18 days while yearlong extension under review : Maui Now

Hawaiʻi Lawmakers Threaten To Withdraw Funding For Invasive Species

CB: … State agriculture officials received an earful from senators during a Ways and Means Committee meeting on Friday and will have to defend their budget requests with the House Finance Committee Tuesday, as lawmakers continue to (pretend to) look for places to trim the state budget to preserve state income tax cuts. …

The senators voiced frustrations with the state Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity that echo concerns they raised last year, when the state enacted legislation to completely reorganize the department and add over $26 million for more staff and biosecurity programs. But their grievances remain over staff vacancies. …

Lawmakers chastised the agency’s lack of progress in implementing a long list of mandates to curb the impacts of invasive species such as little fire ants, coqui frogs and coconut rhinoceros beetles. At the heart of the problem is the agency’s list of 116 vacancies, which Senate Ways and Means Chair Donovan Dela Cruz said they need to resolve quickly.

“If not, we’re in tough times. We’re going to take the money,” Dela Cruz said (smirking, but without laughing). “If you guys aren’t ready and you aren’t going to be able to spend it, we’re going to have to look at where we’re going to save money for the tax breaks.” (He then began giggling uncontrollably as worried staff looked on) …

read … Hawaiʻi Lawmakers Threaten To Withdraw Funding For Invasive Species - Honolulu Civil Beat

Hawaiʻi Road Deaths Hit 18-Year Peak Last Year. Most Other States Dropped

CB: … A spike in pedestrian and motorcycle fatalities on Oʻahu pushed the state’s final road toll for 2025 to 129, more than a 20% increase over 2024 deaths and the highest since 2007. …

Oʻahu alone made up more than half of the traffic deaths, increasing from 51 in 2024 to 82 in 2025, with motorcycle and motor scooter fatalities alone accounting for about a third of the fatalities.

Twelve victims were identified as homeless, five of them on Oʻahu where homeless deaths have increased year-over-year since 2014.

The state’s 2025 road fatalities included:

40 motor vehicle occupants
39 motorcycle/motor scooter riders (31 motorcyclists including passengers, 8 motor scooter operators)
38 pedestrians
7 bicyclists (including 3 e-bikes)
5 other non-occupant fatalities

read … Hawaiʻi Road Deaths Hit 18-Year Peak Last Year. Most Other States Dropped - Honolulu Civil Beat

Council member proposes task force to explore landfill-free future on Oahu

HNN: … Council member Andria Tupola filed Monday Resolution 26-7, proposing a task force that would review Oahu’s long-term solid waste management strategy, and assess alternative waste reduction, recycling, diversion, and conversion strategies….

If adopted, the task force would include representatives from the Mayor’s Office; the Department of Environmental Services; labor, recycling and energy sectors; state leadership; and other subject-matter experts.

The task force would report back to the City Council with findings and recommendations in a year….

read … Council member proposes task force to explore landfill-free future on Oahu

City reschedules Waimanalo Gulch landfill public hearing

SA: … Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s plan to expand the city’s Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill in Kapolei and extend its useful life following stalled attempts to find a suitable location for a new dump will also involve community comment, city officials say.

But a prior public hearing scheduled for today at 10 a.m. at Kalanianaole Beach Park’s multipurpose room at 89-269 Farrington Highway in Waianae has been canceled.

The rescheduled meeting will now be held on Friday, Feb. 27, at the same time and location, the city said ….

read … City reschedules Waimanalo Gulch landfill public hearing | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Hawaii state prison gets $48M medical facility upgrade

PBN: … The Hawaii Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation will begin accepting bids for a new medical facility at the Halawa Correctional Facility in Honolulu by this spring, with construction slated for completion in 2029….

read … Hawaii state prison gets $48M medical facility upgrade - Pacific Business News

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