UHERO: 'Housing affordability continues to deteriorate'
Red Flag Warning Ends with No Safety Shutoffs
Exodus Depresses Hawaii Economy
SA: … “Housing affordability continues to deteriorate,” UHERO said in its summary. “The median price of a single-family home is up 9% statewide and 15% on Maui this year, and mortgage rates hover near 7%. Rising homeowner insurance premiums, driven in part by climate risks, are another headwind to housing affordability and housing market recovery. These challenges are compounded by slow progress in addressing Maui’s post-fire housing needs.”
The overall outlook for economic growth for Hawaii remains mixed, overall, even without the impact of Trump policies.
Tourism should grow by 3% in 2025 — especially from mainland visitors — and local residents will benefit from historic tax cuts passed by the Legislature in 2023 and signed by Gov. Josh Green, UHERO said.
But inflation is expected to continue growing while “home affordability woes continue,” UHERO said.
The weakness of the yen will continue to suppress Japanese travelers, and Bonham and UHERO remain pessimistic about a resurgence of visitors from Japan despite signs of optimism including a record number of runners in the Honolulu Marathon and its sister races and Daniel K. Inouye International Airport’s new inclusion in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Global Entry program that cuts hours off of the time Japanese tourists have to spend in the airport.
Hawaii job growth grew by just over 0.5% this year overall and was not experienced equally among different islands.
Growth in the Oahu and Hawaii island labor markets outpaced Kauai and Maui, which continues to struggle. Maui still has only half the number of jobs compared with before the fires, UHERO said.
Hopes for long-term job growth “will be limited by an aging population and a slow-growing labor force,” UHERO said….
read … Trump policies create uncertainty for Hawaii economy
Tariffs Will Drive Cost of Living Higher
SA: … Tariffs on just specific products or materials would also affect a wide swath of Hawaii’s economy, including construction and “anybody who is selling just about anything,” Bonham said.
“The tariffs are the most likely to create risks of higher costs,” Bonham said.
Retailers could be affected by tariffs on electronics, appliances and housing and office furnishings.
Hawaii’s red-hot construction industry could be slowed by the higher cost to import building materials such as lumber and steel, Bonham said.
Most economists agree that the cost of tariffs on imported goods and materials would be passed on to consumers, adding to the already high cost of living in Hawaii.
They also think tariffs would enable U.S. manufacturers to raise costs, which also would be passed on to consumers.
It’s also unclear how Trump’s promise to crack down on illegal immigration would affect Hawaii employers who hire illegal immigrants, along with the potential impact on foreigners in the future who may not travel to Hawaii to work, Bonham said.
Other Trump pledges to cut federal employment could negatively affect local economies around Hawaii military bases, such as Kaneohe (Marine Corps Base Hawaii) and Wahiawa (Schofield Barracks and Wheeler Army Air Field), Bonham said…
read … Trump policies create uncertainty for Hawaii economy
Another Boondoggle: Mile-Long Pedestrian Bridge in Wahiawa
KHON: … the Wahiawa Pedestrian Bridge is currently in the pre-design phase that includes determining the conditions in the area where the bridge will be built.
The bridge would be about a mile long, 12-feet wide and would connect Whitmore Village and Wahiawa….
(QUESTION: How much is this going to cost? It cost $20M to put a bridge across Ala Moana Blvd.)
“In a way its a good idea. But we have a lot of homeless living at the banks of the river,” said Danielle Teuteu, who lives in Wahiawa….
“There was a concern that (the bridge) will be in an area where safety would be a concern, which is why the final location of the outlet for the bridge is next to the police station and police have committed to do some patrols through the area to ensure we keep everybody safe,” said Sniffen….
Longest Purpose-Built Pedestrian Bridges on Earth
read … Pedestrian bridges aim to transform communities, but concerns persist | KHON2
Can a US missile defense system shield Guam from Chinese threat?
R: … An SM-3 interceptor erupted into the night sky over Guam late on Tuesday, its engine briefly illuminating the northeast corner of the island as it accelerated toward its target: a ballistic missile. U.S. Missile Defense Agency and military personnel monitored the radars and telescopic cameras tracking both projectiles; this was not an attack, but a complex test.
Within minutes, the ballistic missile — air-launched from a U.S. Air Force C-17 -—was pulverized by the kinetic energy of the SM-3….
read …Can a US missile defense system shield Guam from Chinese threat?
The Long Crusade To Build A West Maui Hospital Hits Another Snag
CB: … “We need this facility here more than ever after Lahaina being gone,” state Rep. Elle Cochran said, referring to the devastating 2023 fire that burned much of the town. “We don’t even have a clinic.” …
Proponents and possible developers are still pursuing the proposed hospital in Kā’anapali, but they say the county has backpedaled on a key component — a commitment to be the guarantor of state-issued bonds to kickstart construction.
“I just think they’re just throwing out every excuse in the book to just not want to support it,” Cochran said of Maui Mayor Richard Bissen’s administration….
To begin the first phase of construction, proponents hoped the county would be the guarantor for $20 million in special purpose revenue bonds authorized last year by the Legislature and Gov. Josh Green.
Hoyle said the bonds would be sold in a public market so private investors would put up the money as long as Maui County is a guarantor. He said state officials, then-county finance director Scott Teruya and the Maui bond counsel had told him and other stakeholders this was possible last year.
But Teruya was fired earlier this year, (COVID Fraud???) and Hoyle said the new finance director, along with the new bond counsel, are now saying this isn’t possible….
read … The Long Crusade To Build A West Maui Hospital Hits Another Snag
Police officer arrested for felony crime at downtown apartment complex
HNN: … A Honolulu police officer assigned to the Traffic Division was arrested Thursday afternoon for allegedly breaking into her tenant’s apartment.
Officer Kelsie Messmer, a seven-year veteran of the force, was off duty when the arrest happened at Harbor Square in downtown Honolulu.
Messmer was taken to the main station and booked for unauthorized entry into a dwelling, a felony….
Messmer is part of a separate investigation into questionable drunk driving arrests.
An HNN Investigates series featured drivers accused of being drunk, even though breathalyzer results read 0.00, meaning there was no alcohol in their system.
Messmer is on body camera videos from one of those arrests in January….
read … Police officer arrested for felony crime at downtown apartment complex
Former basketball coach pleads guilty to child sex crimes against 10 victims
HNN: … The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Dwayne Yuen, 51, pleaded guilty Thursday to committing sex crimes against three minor victims as follows:
- Sex trafficking one victim in 2005 and 2006.
- Coercing and enticing another victim to engage in sexual activity in 2006.
- Producing, receiving, and possessing child pornography of a third victim in and around 2020 to 2023.
He also pleaded guilty to harassing seven victims through anonymous and obscene communications in and around 2021 to 2023….
HNN: 'Time's up': Hawaii MMA star reacts to former basketball coach's guilty plea in sex crime case
KITV: Former Punahou girls basketball coach pleads guilty for child sex crimes | News | kitv.com
read … Former basketball coach pleads guilty to child sex crimes against 10 victims
Crackpot Comment on Hawaiian being ‘dead language’ at council hearing draws widespread rebuke
HNN: … At Wednesday’s City Council hearing, Kapua Keli’ikoa-Kamai of Waiʻanae testified in Hawaiian and then translated in English.
Then Kai Lorinc was next to testify. There were some audio challenges when she made the shocking comment which drew a strong reaction from people in the hearing.
“I’m not sure what language it was. I’m assuming it was Hawaiian, and that is a dead language, so it would not work on a translator,” said Lorinc.
Her comment was rebuked by several council members.
“It is not a dead language. It’s very much alive,” said Esther Kiaʻāina, Honolulu City Council vice chair….
Lorinc is a realtor from Florida who has lived in Hawaiʻi for 10 years and works for Hawaii Republican Action (HIRA)….
“It’s not an alive language. It’s a dead language,” Lorinc told Hawaii News Now Thursday. “They are trying to revive it.”….
HNN: Hawaiʻi GOP leaders denounce Hawaiian is ‘dead language’ remark
KITV: Honolulu City Council testifier faces backlash for calling ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi a ‘dead language’ | News | kitv.com
KITV: Honolulu City Council testifier stirs controversy with comment that 'Ōlelo Hawaiʻi is dead' | News | kitv.com
KHON: Ke One O Kākuhihewa slams ‘dead language’ comment about Ōlelo Hawaiʻi | KHON2
read … Comment on Hawaiian being ‘dead language’ at council hearing draws widespread rebuke
Honolulu Restaurant Tip Theft Case Hardly The Only One In Town
CB: … Between October 2023 and this week, Trotter said his district office – which covers Hawaiʻi, American Samoa, Guam and Saipan – conducted 21 investigations that uncovered tip violations. The cases have led to more than $212,000 in tips and $204,000 in damages being paid so far to 312 restaurant workers.
The department also has a search tool for people to check if they are owed money from wage related employer violations….
read … Honolulu Restaurant Tip Theft Case Hardly The Only One In Town
Court ruling could halt boat operations at Kāʻanapali Beach in 2025
KHON: … Boat operators in Kāʻanapali, Maui, might not be allowed to launch or operate from the world-famous beach starting next year.
It’s all due to a court ruling and a lawsuit dating back to 2017.
Nearly 30 boat operators at Kāʻanapali Beach told KHON2 that they’re worried they won’t be in business within a few months….
read … Court ruling could halt boat operations at Kāʻanapali Beach in 2025 | KHON2
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