September 2, 2026 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

Hawaii Daily News Read

Wednesday, September 2, 2026

September 2, 2026 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 10:57 AM :: 242 Views

Beyond the Courthouse Door: Who Takes Responsibility After Pretrial Release?

City Expands 'MH3' Involuntary Mental Health Commitment Program

Skyline Finally Cracks 13K Ridership--but only during back-to-school week

How to Hide $560M: 15-Year-Old PUC Docket Re-Opens and Re-Closes in an Instant

IM: … A 2010 docket that is re-opened and re-closed in the same order issued in 2026, with a stipulation between the only two parties arriving seven weeks later and a requested decision date three weeks after that, is not a proceeding designed for outside input.

In July 2010 Hawaiian Electric Company filed Transmittal No. 10-04, asking to amend Tariff Rule 14. The problem was aging infrastructure hidden underground: starting in the 1950s HECO buried secondary service cable directly in the dirt on customers' property, a practice that continued until the 1980s, when the company switched to running conductors inside ducts. By 2010 those direct buried cables were "approaching or exceeding their fifty-year service lives," and HECO reported roughly 300 direct buried cable faults per year in residential areas.

The tariff was silent on who paid to replace them. In practice the customer did — about $8,000 for trenching and a service duct. Customers frequently balked, and the temporary overhead jumper installed to restore service stayed up indefinitely. Both HECO and the Division of Consumer Advocacy framed that as a safety problem: a fallen or non-standard jumper can expose the public to an energized line.

The Commission approved the fix on March 14, 2011. New Rule 14.B.4 lets HECO furnish the replacement conductors, ducts, pullboxes, trenching, and backfill itself, with the costs going into rate base once the connection is installed and used and useful — subject to a hard limit: "The Company may not expend more than $4 million in any calendar year for direct buried service cable replacements pursuant to this rule without prior PUC approval."

Two numbers from the 2011 order are worth keeping in view. The Commission acknowledged the parties' estimate that the total potential rate base impact "may approach $560,000,000" — 70,000 affected residential customers times $8,000 each. And HECO's own estimate of the residential rate impact of spending $4 million a year, for a customer using 600 kWh/month, was about $0.05/month in 2011, $0.47/month by 2015, and $0.84/month by 2020. Those were HECO's projections in its transmittal, not Commission findings.

The 2011 order closed the docket but kept HECO on the hook for an annual status report every February….

Read … 15-Year-Old PUC Docket Re-Opens and Re-Closes in an Instant | Ililani Media

Hawaii Business Environment: Dead Last and Getting Worse

HB: … Hawai‘i has just been named the worst state in America to do business in CNBC's 2026 "America's Top States for Business" rankings. Hawaii Business Magazine's BOSS Survey backs up what the CNBC ranking suggests: a majority – 57% – told researchers that Hawai‘i is now a worse place to run a business than it was five years ago….

And when we asked what’s actually driving the anxiety, the answer was consistent: cost of living, named by 54% of business leaders and 58% of the general public as the single biggest issue facing the state, with the cost of housing close behind….

HNN: Spotlight Now: Hotel industry leader warns of 'scary' tourist drop, potential closures

Read … Dead Last. Now What? - Hawaii Business Magazine

Law infringes on advocacy groups’ rights

SA: … Act 11, signed by the governor on May 14, has been billed as a way to get money out of politics. In reality, it limits the First Amendment rights of individuals and groups….

It does so by stripping so-called “artificial persons” of the ability to engage in what it calls “election activity” and “ballot-issue activity.”

Crucially, “artificial persons” applies to advocacy and educational organizations such as Grassroot, unions, charitable nonprofits, trade associations and other independent organizations.

Under Act 11, simply educating community members about a ballot measure could result in severe penalties for those groups, including involuntary dissolution.

That potential penalty is not a mere fine or other minor consequence. It means the state can permanently shut down an organization simply for speaking out on a public issue. Any advocacy group that engages in voter education could be at risk….

Read … Column: Law infringes on advocacy groups’ rights | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Incompetence: City admits two ineligible voters cast ballots in tied Makakilo primary race

HNN: … The city is admitting that two voters who were ineligible to vote in the Makakilo District were given ballots and voted on Election Day, but it remains unknown whether that affected the outcome of a tied primary race now being challenged at the Hawaii Supreme Court.

The election error happened at Kapolei Hale, where two walk-in voters from Ewa Beach were given ballots for Makakilo, according to a filing in the challenge from the city Corporation Counsel. Incumbent Kanani Souza and challenger Sheila Medeiros were competing in a winner-take-all primary that ended in a tie.

“I mean, it’s such an unusual set of circumstances and to have a perfect tie and then two voters who shouldn’t have participated, it’s just bizarre,” said HNN political analyst Colin Moore….

In a response to the challenge filed late Monday afternoon, the City Elections Division said the two extra ballots “resulted from two registered voters in 40-03 being mistakenly issued ballots for Precinct 43-03 at the Kapolei Hale voter center on August 8, 2026.”…

(NOTE: Pct 4303 is NOT in SD20, which also produced a tie vote. MAP)

Records show that in the Ewa Beach precinct behind Campbell High School, 75% of walk-in voters voted Republican, meaning it is likely at least one of the two voters cast a ballot in the Souza-Medeiros race in the Republican primary….

It is likely city elections officials know who the two voters were but cannot ask how they voted. According to the filing, “the (City) has no information as to whether one or both voted in the Republican primary, or even if votes were cast, whether they were cast for (Souza) or Medeiros or both.”…

The Hawaii Supreme Court is scheduled to hear evidence and arguments Wednesday….

Read … City admits ineligible voters cast ballots in tied Makakilo primary race | Election 2026 | Hawaii News Now

Honolulu's Checkbook: Who's Getting Paid And How Much

CB: … The expenses include more than $3,000 from the Climate Change and Resiliency Fund spent at the arcade and sports bar Dave and Buster’s….$2.3 million to DRC Consulting, the company that the city keeps on retainer for debris management in the event of disasters such as this spring’s back-to-back Kona lows….

DRC Consulting: BREG Expired 2013, LinkedIn

Read … Honolulu's Checkbook: Who's Getting Paid And How Much - Honolulu Civil Beat

Latest Round of Hawaii Capitol pool ‘repairs’: $10.5M spent, $55-65M next

KHON: … More than $10.5 million has already been spent on the first two phases of the Capitol improvement project, but the bulk of the work and the money is still to come. Phase Three is now estimated between $55 and $65 million.

“My first session, it was already boarded up. And we were told that, I believe, before this session started, this year in 2026, it would have been ready and up and running and ready for the public. But that obviously did not happen,” said Rep. Diamond Garcia.

Rep. Garcia was elected in 2022, and the pools have been drained for his entire time in office. The next phase of work includes the installation of glass art that will turn the empty basins into walkable public space….

Bid proposals for the final phase of the project will be evaluated on Thursday, Sept. 3. Click here for more information….

Read … Hawaii Capitol pools: $10.5M spent, $55-65M next

New AI tool could slash Honolulu building permit times

KHON: … The Honolulu Planning Department said an AI plan-checking system will be mandatory for some projects starting on Tuesday, Sep. 1, potentially allowing a building permit to be received within weeks or even days of applying.

All applications for eligible residential projects now must complete the CivCheck process during the initial review.

Humans will still be checking and approving everything after that, but the city expects the process to speed up quite a bit….

Read … New AI tool could slash Honolulu building permit times

Island hotels push pack on bill to increase sewer rates

HTH: … Representatives from the hospitality industry are pushing back on a Hawaii County Council bill that would increase sewage treatment costs for hotels, on top of planned across-the-board rate hikes for all customers in coming years aimed at providing more funding for wastewater operations and maintenance.

Bill 183, discussed Tuesday by the council’s Committee on Environmental and Natural Resource Management, would create a new customer class for hotels which would be billed at a higher monthly rate than other commercial and residential ratepayers….

Read … Island hotels push pack on bill to increase sewer rates - Hawaii Tribune-Herald

Indigenous Groups Are Exempt From Medicaid Work Rules, But Native Hawaiians Aren’t

CB: … Native Hawaiians will have to comply with the new work requirements in President Donald Trump’s signature One Big Beautiful Bill Act….

In 43 states and the District of Columbia, President Donald Trump’s signature One Big Beautiful Bill Act will require most adults to work, go to school or enter a training program, or volunteer for at least 80 hours a month. Native Americans and Alaska Natives are exempt from the mandates, which take effect in January.

Of the nearly 700,000 Native Hawaiians in the U.S., (only) 47% (still) live in Hawai‘i (after being driven out by the high cost of housing). Within the contiguous United States, California, Washington, Nevada, Texas and Oregon have the largest populations of Native Hawaiians….

Read … Indigenous Groups Are Exempt From Medicaid Work Rules, But Native Hawaiians Aren’t - Honolulu Civil Beat

PETA calls on new Sea Life Park Hawaii owner ‘Hawaiian Council’ to release its dolphins

HNN: … The new owner of Sea Life Park is facing pressure from animal rights advocates, who argue the facility’s star attractions deserve better.

After the Hawaiian Council bought the park last month, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) wrote to the organization demanding it move its dolphins to seaside sanctuaries....

“They swim in circles, they do meaningless tricks for tourists and it’s cruel. It’s like living in prison,” Baker added.

There are no seaside sanctuaries in Hawaii, according to Baker, but there is one in Iceland and another opening in Italy in a few weeks….

Read … PETA calls on new Sea Life Park Hawaii owner to release its dolphins | Hawaii News Now

Oahu youth-led climate hysteria projects can score up to $5,000 from new city slush fund

HNN: … Oʻahu youth ages 15 to 24 can apply for up to $5,000 in grants through Honolulu's new Youth Climate Action Fund to back student-led environmental projects….

Read … Oahu youth-led climate projects can score up to $5,000 from new city fund

Waialua residents sue city, Dole over March flooding – lots of ‘studies’, no dredging work

SA: … Dole Food Co., Sustainable Hawai‘i LLC and the city are defendants in the lawsuit, which alleges the city failed for decades to properly maintain the portion of Kaukonahua Stream adjacent to Haona Street, near Farrington Highway, in Waialua….

The lawsuit cites flood-control studies dating to at least 1980. In 2008, the Honolulu City Council appropriated about $100,000 for drainage plans, according to the complaint. A city memorandum, the lawsuit asserts, expressly warned: “If (the) project is not implemented, silt build-up will cause flooding.”

By 2013, the city spent about $350,000 on a design project to dredge Kiikii Stream, bringing the total spent on plans and designs to more than $450,000, the plaintiffs allege. None of the contemplated work was completed, according to the suit….

SA: Editorial: Righting wrongs at Wahiawa Reservoir | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Read … Waialua residents sue city, Dole over March flooding | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

No Relief For Maui Wildfire Survivors Losing Thousands To Contractors

CB: … Homeowners rebuilding in Lahaina have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars to unlicensed or unreliable contractors. Government officials have so far failed to hold anyone accountable….

Read … No Relief For Maui Wildfire Survivors Losing Thousands To Contractors - Honolulu Civil Beat

BBB Scam Tracker Warns About Kauai Guru

TGI: … BBB received two complaints and one BBB Scam Tracker report about HMI Wellness within the past 12 months. The reports from customers allege incomplete programs, missing credentials, and poor communication. Consumers tell BBB they paid approximately $4,000 to $5,900 for HMI Wellness programs that did not provide everything promised.

Reports about the business involve consumers from Hawaii, Florida, and California. One consumer reported losing $5,900 after finding HMI Wellness through social media. …

BBB: HMI Wellness Profile

Background: $40M Libel: Princeville Q-Anon Cult Leader Loses in Federal Court (again)

Read … BBB issues warning about Hawaii wellness certification provider

Hawaiʻi brain drain: How discrimination kept talent in the Islands, and why it doesn’t anymore

ASD: … After World War II, Japanese Americans in the Islands faced discrimination. Nisei veterans had served with distinction, yet they were not fully accepted in business or politics.

This discrimination was wrong, yet it bore fruit. Japanese Americans veterans built parallel businesses like Central Pacific Bank, so they would not be at the mercy of racist lenders. And the Democratic Revolution of 1954 is in part the story of how they organized to take political power. Grievance over their treatment drove them. So did fervent belief in the American civic religion….

BACKGROUND: Forgotten Honouliuli: Jack Burns, Police Spy

Read … Hawaiʻi brain drain: How discrimination kept talent in the Islands, and why it doesn’t…

QUICK HITS: