He is a fourth-generation kamaaina born on Oahu who earned a journalism degree from the University of Hawaii. Gomes has been a reporter for local newspapers since the mid-1990s. He regularly enjoys surfing, bodysurfing and skateboarding.
Gov. Josh Green reluctantly filled a vacant state Senate seat Tuesday by appointing someone running for a state House seat to represent parts of West Oahu in the Senate until the Nov. 5 general election. Read more
An initial piece of a 16-unit modular housing project in Lahaina being built for survivors of the Aug. 8 Maui wildfires recently welcomed its first residents. Read more
The Maui County Planning Commission has thrown its support behind a proposal from Maui Mayor Richard Bissen to phase out legal use of roughly 7,000 short-term vacation rentals mostly on the Valley Isle. Read more
The trust is pursuing what it calls a community-driven holistic approach to better manage a contiguous, roughly 1,160-acre parcel stretching from the mountains almost to the sea. Read more
Green’s reductions amounted to $9.1 million less for programs or projects, and about $675,000 less for staffing. Read more
Plaintiffs in the litigation allege that the Lahaina fire was started by Hawaiian Electric power lines that blew down in gale-force winds and that the fast-moving inferno was fueled by dry vegetation on land owned by the state, county and private entities. Read more
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Gov. Josh Green is insisting more go to families affected by the fire that destroyed most of Lahaina. Read more
A temporary site in West Maui storing ash and debris from the Aug. 8 wildfire that laid waste to Lahaina may be temporary for longer after a federal court ruling Monday. Read more
Small-scale wind turbines that don’t resemble the rotating fans seen on typical wind farms could start popping up around the state under an ambitious plan by a startup company. Read more
State Rep. Mark Nakashima, a former Hawaii public school teacher who served 17 years in the state Legislature representing parts of eastern Hawaii island, died Thursday. Read more
Gov. Josh Green signed one bill Wednesday that became the last of 253 enacted into law this year, and described this year’s work with Hawaii lawmakers as collegial. Read more
Gov. Josh Green is refusing to appoint an interim member of the state Senate by a deadline set by Hawaii law to fill a seat vacated in May by then-Sen. Maile Shimabukuro representing parts of West Oahu. Read more
Six bills in recent danger of being vetoed by Gov. Josh Green have become law after final review and feedback from stakeholders. Read more
State officials have new tools to protect children and seniors in Hawaii from harm under several bills signed into law. Read more
Hawaii-branded coffee products sold locally to consumers will be subject to new labeling requirements Monday under a state law enacted last year. Read more
Future Hawaii electric bills won’t display the cost to ratepayers for more than $1 billion in planned grid resiliency and wildfire mitigation projects, but a bit of this anticipated expense is beginning to emerge. Read more
It could take 10 years to fully upgrade downtown Honolulu’s underground electric cable network under a plan being accelerated after two disruptive outages over the past two weeks. Read more
Seven Native Hawaiian leaders in areas including culture and law convened an inaugural meeting Monday of a legislative group aiming to protect Hawaiian intellectual property from insulting and harmful use. Read more
Gov. Josh Green has reversed a major state energy policy position of his predecessor in a move that many environmentalists don’t consider to be very “green.” Read more
Putting more power lines underground is an expensive part of a plan by the state’s largest electrical utility to reduce wildfire risk, and that price could come down under an ongoing national effort with a Hawaii connection. Read more
