$35K Bribe: AG Runs Down Clock with Another Useless Biweekly Update on 'Investigation'

Election 2026: 263 Candidates Pull Papers to Run

Otake Camp Evacuation Ordered Again

Jones Act waiver is ‘tacit admission’ law needs to be reformed

Property tax changes would help Kauai farmers and ranchers

Mass Transit Killed by COVID:  Ridership stuck at 81% of 2019

Campaign Spending Commission trying to find an investigator to look into Lt. Gov. Luke’s 2022 accounting

HNN: … The head of the Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission confirmed to HNN Investigates that the commission is looking into Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke’s 2022 campaign accounting for possible violations.

Luke admitted to clerical errors amounting to $10,000 in unreported donations during her run, but said the mistakes have since been corrected.

Executive director Kristin Izumi-Nitao said the agency is aware of the upcoming primary election and the urgency of their case.

“We’re investigating and that we realize that the primary election is August 8. So we’re working backwards with that. We are trying our best to get this investigation done so that everybody knows where they stand as they enter into the primary election,” Izumi-Nitao said….

The commission said there is no timeline for completion. The commission has to contract out the case.

“We are working with another agency to use their investigator with the particular tool sets that we would need to be able to process this investigation, to look thoroughly into it,” Izumi-Nitao said. She would not say which agency the investigator is from.

“We are also, of course, looking to hire an investigator as well, a permanent one,” Izumi-Nitao said.

The legislature approved the position, but the commission cannot fill it until it moves through the human resources department….

SA: State investigators conduct 18 interviews in campaign contribution probe | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

read … Campaign Spending Commission investigating Lt. Gov. Luke’s 2022 accounting | Hawaii News Now Investigates

Storm prep pays off in Waialua on Oahu's North Shore

KITV: … Just a few weeks ago, the drains in Waialua were completely clogged, but since the community came and cleared them out, water is now flowing through them.

(TRANSLATION: For the first time in decades, the roadside trenches and streambeds around Waialua were cleared of debris, dirt and trees.  Sand plugs were cleared out.  As a result, there was no flooding this time.) 

"Look at how much it's raining right now and and what my community did," Escorzon said. "This is the result that we're living safe right now in this storm."

"They opened up the drains for us. They put everybody in safety, like they were the ones that was looking out for us," Kailikea added. "And if it wasn't for them, we'd be in a whole lot of trouble right now too. The community, we got some super heroes over here." …

read … Storm prep pays off in Waialua on Oahu's North Shore | News | kitv.com

Tax Hike News: Green Claims Hawaii Tourism Revenue off $300M Following Kona Low Storms

HNN: … Governor Josh Green said the last two kona low storms reduced the state’s tourism revenue by at least $300 million.  Typically, the visitor industry brings in about 30 percent of the state’s $10 billion in annual revenue.

That’s why officials say they pushed through with Tourism Day at the State Capitol on Friday, despite the Governor’s directive to close state departments and release non-essential employees.

Governor Green said it was safe enough to hold the event, which had been rescheduled from the last time the state declared a weather emergency for the first kona low.…

(CLUE:  Just another excuse for tax hikes.)

TTW: Hawaii Tourism Revenue Plummets $300M Following Devastating March 2026 Kona Low Storms - Travel And Tour World

read … State’s tourism revenue sees $300M loss from kona low storms

LEGISLATIVE AGENDA:

1. Big Q: Do you think vote-by-mail is secure? | Honolulu Star-Advertiser  -- 28% ‘NO’

2. Hawaiʻi State Legislature remains open Friday — a key deadline for bills : Big Island Now

3. Why Is Rent So High? We Figured Out Why Today | inversecondemnation.com

4. 2026-04-15 Ethics Comm Agenda

5. Office of Information Practices | News from OIP: OIP Launching New Website to Enhance Access and Accessibility

6. PUC launches HECO`s New Generation and Transmission Planning Process | Ililani Media

7. Kauaʻi County Council approves Santos for environmental seat on Planning Commission : Kauai Now

8. Council committee reviews budgets for Departments of Water Supply, Management : Maui Now

FLOOD NEWS:

1. The Waimānalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill is closed due to weather | Department of Environmental Services

2. Temporary debris site at Central Oʻahu Regional Park cleared; restoration to begin | Department of Environmental Services

3. 2604024_SEVENTH-PROCLAMATION-RELATING-TO-MARCH-AND-APRIL-2026-WEATHER-EVENTS-Scanned.pdf

4. Honolulu clears waterways, stages emergency crews for storm

5. IRS issues tax relief for Hawaiʻi individuals, businesses affected by flooding, mudslides : Big Island Now

6. Heavy rain slams Oahu; road closures reported, evacuation bus service activated | Hawaii News Now First Alert Weather Day

7. Rain again tests Oahu streams and drainage systems | Hawaii News Now First Alert Weather

8. State’s tourism revenue sees $300M loss from kona low storms

9. Weekend Island Weather - Rain threat shifts east tonight, putting Maui County and the Big Island at risk of flooding | 8-Day Forecast | kitv.com

10. Waianae residents battle flooding and damage from storm

11. Waiahole businesses brace for Waikane Stream flooding

12. Multiple closures along Kokee Contour Rd. on Kauai due to heavy rains | Hawaii News Now First Alert Weather Day

13. Flood warning, Otake Camp evacuation canceled on Oahu as storm moves east | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

14. Storm closes Kamehameha Highway at Waimea, triggers evacuations | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

15. 150ft Tree Obliterates 81-Year-Old Man’s Home in Hawaii - Surfer

16. CORP repair to begin soon | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

17. Hundreds of Hawaii National Guard troops activated ahead of storm

QUICK HITS:

1. From Moanalua to Mission Control: Meet the Hawaii scientist keeping NASA’s Artemis II on track | Hawaii News Now

2. UHERO's Nori Tarui appointed to Collaborative Research Group on Environmental Economics and Policy - UHERO

3. Hilo bridge replacement project clears another hurdle | Honolulu Star-Advertiser