October 25, 2025 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

Hawaii Daily News Read

Saturday, October 25, 2025

October 25, 2025 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 5:10 PM :: 262 Views

Speed, Lack of Enforcement Behind Traffic Deaths

Statewide Traffic Deaths Top Last Year's Total

Bottomless Pit of Tax Dollars: Honolulu rail authority votes to burn first $53M of $ Billions on major system expansion

HNN: … The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) is building momentum to extend the rail line beyond Ala Moana to the University of Hawaii and further west, with the next step potentially asking taxpayers for more money.

After doubling ridership by adding five miles to the system, city and state officials are trying to seize on that success to win over lawmakers to pay for more than the $10 billion already committed to the project.

The HART board approved giving mainland contractor Tutor Perini $53 million to design a segment from Kakaako to Ala Moana Center, even though that extension is beyond the current federally approved plan.

Tutor Perini is being paid $1.6 billion to build the third rail segment from Kalihi to Kakaako….

Actually building the project to Ala Moana is estimated at another $1.6 billion. No one knows what it might cost to get to the University of Hawaii, Waikiki or West Kapolei, but HART is ready to start planning with city council approval.….

PBN: HART approves $53M for Honolulu rail extension design - Pacific Business News

CB: HART Approves $53 Million In Design Work To Continue Rail To Ala Moana - Honolulu Civil Beat

read … Honolulu rail authority eyes major system expansion

Skyline’s future funding may be delayed due to government shutdown

SA: … Skyline Segment 2’s Oct. 16 opening for public revenue service — past Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport — was supposed to trigger $125 million in federal funds toward its ongoing rail construction.

HART derives almost 10% of its funding sources from the U.S. government.

But since the federal government’s Oct. 1 shutdown, President Donald Trump has acted to suspend federal funds to mass transit projects across the United States….

The ongoing federal funding uncertainty also may impact Segment 3 — the last leg of a 18.9-mile, 19-station route running from East Kapolei to Kakaako.

Segment 3’s estimated $1.4 billion price tag will add six new stations and about 3 miles of elevated guideway to the Civic Center Station in about five years.

To date, HART has received more than $1.1 billion in federal funding as part of its Amended Full Funding Grant Agreement, or FFGA, signed in February 2024.

Initially, the FFGA provided $1.55 billion to construct the city’s rail project….

At the committee meeting, HART Executive Director and CEO Lori Kahikina said after it obtains $125 million for completing Segment 2, the agency is expected to receive two more tranches of funding toward rail.

That includes another $125 million to finish its Dillingham Boulevard utility relocation work in late 2026. The final round of $119 million is expected in 2027, which is not tied to project milestones, she noted….

read … Skyline’s future funding may be delayed due to government shutdown | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Recovering Hawaii's missing children

KITV: … The “Shine the Light” operation was launched in 2020 with one goal: to find and recover missing children across Hawai‘i….

“We wanted an operation where we were going to look for, rescue, and retrieve missing children who are at risk of being exploited,” said Arias.

Since its inception, five operations have been conducted, resulting in 42 recoveries statewide.

The most recent effort in October resulted in the recovery of 10 children and teens between the ages of 13 and 18….

Amanda Leonard, coordinator for the Missing Child Center–Hawai‘i, said, “It’s a very targeted approach and we also make sure that we have post-recovery services. These children receive emergency medical care and support.”…

Here in Hawai‘i, 146 cases have been resolved, but 19 remain active.

“What I can tell you is that we know who we’re looking for. These are children already identified as being at high risk of abuse, exploitation, or trafficking,” said Leonard.

While time is critical, one of the biggest misconceptions is that families must wait 24 hours to report a missing child.

Leonard said, “Federal law prohibits police from maintaining any waiting period before accepting a missing child report. We want families to know they don’t have to wait 24 hours. The sooner they make the report, the sooner police can respond — and the sooner we can all get involved to locate and protect that child.” …

If you suspect child trafficking or know of a missing child, contact your local police department or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678)….

read … Recovering Hawaii's missing children | News | kitv.com

Suspect in deadly Hawaii Island crash was cited just 3 days prior

HNN: … Court records revealed a long history of traffic infractions for a man police say was responsible for a deadly crash on Hawaii Island Thursday.

His most recent citation came just three days before the deadly incident, and was for driving without a license.

The crash killed one woman and injured six others, including a 3-week-old infant, and the suspect himself….

SA: Hawaii traffic deaths reach 106, topping last year’s total | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

read … Suspect in deadly Hawaii Island crash was cited just 3 days prior

Maui Ethics Board Is Reconsidering New Confidentiality Rule

CB: … The Maui Board of Ethics will not enforce a new rule that forces citizens to keep details about their pending ethics complaints confidential after considering public input this week, county officials confirmed Friday.

The reversal came after the board unanimously approved 44 new rule changes Wednesday, including a provision that some members of the public called a “gag order,” as Civil Beat reported.

That provision bound the complainant to a confidentiality requirement forbidding that person or citizens group from disclosing the pending complaint’s existence or sharing details of it publicly. If the ethics board or staff found that confidentiality was violated, they could use that as grounds to dismiss the complaint without further investigation….

read … Maui Ethics Board Is Reconsidering New Confidentiality Rule - Honolulu Civil Beat

Eight Hours: State land board hears testimony on aquarium fishing proposal

HNN: … Friday’s vote moves the board closer to starting the rulemaking process. The next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 14….

read … State land board hears testimony on aquarium fishing proposal

State disaster response: Federal grant cuts, FEMA delays and shutdown disruptions

FR: … “Every day we remain in this grant purgatory reduces the time available to responsibly and effectively spend these critical funds,” said Kiele Amundson, communications director at the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency….

read … States warn disaster response at risk amid federal grant cuts, FEMA delays and shutdown disruptions

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