October 24, 2026 News Read

By Andrew Walden @ 11:01 AM :: 333 Views

Stealing Orphans’ Social Security Survivor Benefits? Hawaii DHS tries to Cover its Tracks

Its Election Time, so OHA and DHHL Sign Pretend Plan to Develop Kakaʻako 'Ma Kai'

Will 2027 be the year for fiscal notes to accompany bills in Hawaii?

Legislature Seeking Staffers for 2027 Session

What Hawai‘i is best at

ASD: … Politicians tout their absolute dedication to reducing the cost of living in Hawaii. Election Day 2026 is minutes away with ballots in hands of registered voters. Virtually all messaging intended to win your support has the reducing the high cost of living as a central theme. Ironically, the very same politicians who have held several seats of legislative or executive office lorded over a political system that created and perpetuated the devastatingly high cost to live here. And those who are seeking to reject the status quo and effect actual change are immediately categorized as "not supporting working men and women" or "anti-local values" or a myriad of other unsubstantiated allegations.

At least we can lay claim that "We're Number One!" at something…

There's a reason that outmigration is taking place in Hawai‘i and has been underway for several years. Despite the pleas from elected officials for locals to stay (despite a lack of actual and substantive cost of living reductions) individuals and families are fleeing. Escaping. Leaving their home in search of relief. It's a statement that all the generational promises to make Hawai‘i a less expensive place live has been and continues to be an abject failure.

And no, this has nothing to do with Trump tariffs or the war with Iran. This has been a part of our history and continues to be our destiny….

According to The World Population Review of 2026, Hawai‘i has the Highest Cost of Living Index in the nation at 185.0. This national average index is 100.0. Therefore, Hawai‘i's Cost of Living Index is 85% higher than the national average. In comparison, Oklahoma has the Lowest Cost of Living Index in the nation at 86.0. Oklahoma's Cost of Living Index is 14% less than the national average….

read … Hamada: What Hawai‘i is best at

HART Burns Another $652M While Pushing for Big $4.8B GE Tax Hike

SA: … The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation is advancing its proposed $651.8 million budget for fiscal year 2028, while a report recommending feasibility studies for billions of dollars in potential east-west Skyline extensions has been deferred until November.

Although it was on its agenda, the HART board of directors Friday canceled its full meeting because there was not a quorum of members, and did not discuss an Oct. 2 report that calls for studying potential rail extensions west into Kapolei and east toward Ala Moana Center.

Board Chair Kika Bukoski announced that discussion of the report, prepared by the board’s five-member Permitted Interaction Group, or PIG, would be deferred to the panel’s next full meeting, scheduled for Nov. 20….

Oct 23, 2026: New Plan Aims To Extend Honolulu Rail Line—and raise GE tax $4.8 Billion

Read … HART advances $652M budget as Skyline extension plan awaits review | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

DCCA Business Filings Now Delayed Six Weeks And Counting After Botched Tech Upgrade

HNN: … Hawaii businesses face six-to-eight-week DCCA delays amid Salesforce backlog after CNBC ranked state worst for business….

read … Kukakuka with Naka: Hawaii business filings delayed six weeks into DCCA Salesforce backlog

Navy pumping can’t fully contain Red Hill fuel leak, study finds

SA: … The groundwater near where the Red Hill Bulk Storage facility spilled thousands of gallons of jet fuel into both the environment and drinking water moves in both the mauka and makai directions — and the pumping that the Navy has been doing out of Red Hill does not appear to fully contain contamination.

That’s according to new dye tracer study results shared at the second biannual meeting for the Fuel Tank Advisory Committee, which was created by the Legislature in 2016 to study issues related to leaks of underground fuel-storage tanks at military facilities following a spill of 27,000 gallons of jet fuel from the Red Hill facility in 2014. In 2021, the same facility contaminated with around 19,000 gallons of jet fuel the drinking water for 93,000 Oahu residents served by the Navy water line.

The Navy is currently studying the site to attempt to quantify how many fuel releases and how much fuel has spilled into the environment over the past 80 years, Navy Closure Task Force — Red Hill Cmdr. Ben Dunn said in the meeting in Pearl City Thursday. He expects the study results to be ready by next year. A 2022 letter from the Navy to former U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard reported 85,000 gallons of fuel released into the environment since at least 1948…

Fake Solution: Permitting Delays Kalaeloa Desalination Boondoggle

read … Navy pumping can’t fully contain Red Hill fuel leak, study finds | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Mental Case vandalizes historic Kalapana church, will be back on streets soon

HNN: … The Star of the Sea Painted Church in Kalapana is approaching its centennial year. For decades, it’s welcomed worshippers and visitors. But earlier this week, an unwanted vandal stopped by instead.

His first alleged visit was sometime Sunday into Monday when the church caretaker said multiple jalousies and stained glass windows were shattered.

“This window was broken,” said Roseanna Kanoa, caretaker of 25 years, pointing out a window in the front of the building. “Now we have put plastic there so that the rain don’t go in. There’s a big hole there.”

The suspect returned Wednesday morning — this time making his way inside, breaking religious statues, and wrecking priceless works of art.

“He was really on a rampage,” one video showcasing the damage said.

When asked how it felt to see the aftermath, Kanoa said, “I cried... I cried. I cried on Monday when I seen the windows... I cried so loud because everything was all broken.” …

BIN: Pāhoa man arrested for desecrating historic Star of the Sea Painted Church : Big Island Now Kanoa said Wilson has been in jail for different things over the years and suffers from mental health issues. But her concern is that he will be released again and potentially cause more damage to the church. The fact that Wilson could potentially be released next week feels like a slap in the face, Kanoa said.

read … Vandal hits historic Kalapana church, leaving longtime caretaker in tears

Federal fruit fly quarantine hits Hawaii economy with $800M annual loss

PBN: … Mahi Pono has waited two years for USDA approval to sell fruit from its 3,000 acres of Tahitian limes to the Mainland….

read … Hawaii's $800M agricultural quarantine blocks mainland exports - Pacific Business News

Another Reelect-Me Scheme: $30M in bond funding to ‘protect’ ‘critical’ Molokaʻi lands, ‘water assets’?

MN: … At its regular meeting Friday, Council heard Bills 150 and 151, which would amend the Fiscal Year 2027 budget to provide funding for ‘potential land acquisitions’ on Molokaʻi. In May 2025, the Council adopted Resolution 25-105, introduced by Rawlins-Fernandez….

(TRANSLATION: Bisen thinks this will get him more votes. It will evaporate after Election Day.)

read … Mayor Bissen proposes $30M in bond funding to protect critical Molokaʻi lands, water assets : Maui Now

ELECTION NEWS:

QUICK HITS:

Comments