City Council to review $5M toward potential hazard pay

• By Ian Bauer
• Sept. 24, 2024

A city-initiated resolution that urges the Honolulu City Council to reprogram about $5 million in federal COVID- 19 pandemic funds for “revenue replacement” is under review this week. Read more

HART forecasts nearly 27% budget increase

• By Ian Bauer
• Sept. 21, 2024

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation must submit its annual operating and capital budgets to the city administration for fiscal year 2026 by Dec. 1. Read more

City details ‘restricted’ properties for Oahu’s next landfill

• By Ian Bauer
• Sept. 20, 2024

In a now-required quarterly update on its ongoing search to locate its next municipal solid-waste landfill by year’s end, the city Department of Environmental Services offered a list of potential future dump sites. Read more

City nixes federal lands for next site to replace Waimanalo landfill

• By Ian Bauer
• Sept. 18, 2024

The Honolulu Planning Commission is expected today to receive the city’s latest update regarding its ongoing search to find an alternate site for Oahu’s next municipal landfill before the end of this year. Read more

City, state unveil medical respite to provide care for the homeless

• By Ian Bauer
• Sept. 17, 2024

In a joint effort to deal with homelessness on Oahu, Mayor Rick Blangiardi and Gov. Josh Green on Monday formally unveiled the Aala Respite at the edge of downtown Honolulu. Read more

E-bike manufacturer gauges Oahu’s proposed rules

• By Ian Bauer
• Sept. 14, 2024

More regulation on the use of electric bicycles on Oahu’s public roadways, sidewalks and open spaces is now being gauged by those in the e-bike industry. Read more

BWS’ $1.2B Red Hill claim still under review

• By Ian Bauer
• Sept. 13, 2024

It’s been nearly a year since the Honolulu Board of Water Supply filed a $1.2 billion claim against the Navy to recover costs for its response to massive jet fuel leaks at the Navy’s Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility in 2021. Read more

Honolulu City Council backs HPD reimbursement plan

• By Ian Bauer
• Sept. 12, 2024

In spite of the city’s objections, a plan to reimburse Honolulu Police Department officers for the cost of purchasing uniforms, extra firearms and other on-the-job policing equipment was recently advanced by the City Council. Read more

Council OKs $3M flood study of Wailupe Stream

• By Ian Bauer
• Sept. 11, 2024

A $3 million intergovernmental study is planned to design measures to prevent potential Wailupe Stream Watershed flooding. Read more

West Oahu refinery seeks to develop plant-based biofuels

• By Ian Bauer
• Sept. 10, 2024

An over 50-year-old petroleum refinery in James Campbell Industrial Park plans to develop and commission what it deems will be the largest renewable fuel production facility in Hawaii. Read more

Chinatown security camera project at halfway point, city says

• By Ian Bauer
• Sept. 9, 2024

Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s office said last week that the city’s effort to install new security camera system upgrades in Chinatown has reached its halfway point. Read more

No contested Honolulu city races on general election ballot

• By Ian Bauer
• Sept. 7, 2024

The Nov. 5 ballot will contain four proposed city charter amendments, including one related to city employee salaries, as well as two state-level constitutional amendments. Read more

HART OKs 22% raise for CEO Kahikina

• By Ian Bauer
• Sept. 7, 2024

The board of directors for the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation on Friday approved a new contract with a 22% raise for Executive Director and CEO Lori Kahikina. Read more

HART board OKs new contract for CEO Lori Kahikina with 22% raise

• By Ian Bauer
• Sept. 6, 2024

Kahikina get a new three-year, $336,000 annual contract, up from her $275,000 salary under the current contract which expires Dec. 31. Read more

Honolulu Council wheels out e-bike measures

• By Ian Bauer
• Sept. 6, 2024

Two pieces of legislation meant to provide clearer safety standards and more regulation on the use of fast-moving electric bicycles on Oahu’s public roadways and sidewalks and in parks, rolled out of Honolulu Hale this week. Read more

Council OKs resolution for more water testing

• By Ian Bauer
• Sept. 5, 2024

The Honolulu City Council adopted a resolution Wednesday urging the Navy and Department of Defense to immediately implement weekly testing of monitoring wells related to past fuel spills at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility. Read more

Council calls for more Red Hill water testing

• By Ian Bauer
• Sept. 4, 2024

Due to the massive 2021 fuel spills linked to the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, which sickened families, fears over further contamination of Oahu’s groundwater supply have prompted the Honolulu City Council to take greater action on the matter. Read more

City rolls out CORE bus to curb Honolulu homelessness

• By Ian Bauer
• Sept. 4, 2024

The bus will be able to transport up to 29 people, either on medical stretchers or in regular bus seats, to shelters or respite centers, city officials said. Read more

New Honolulu law aims to spur affordable rental construction

• By Ian Bauer
• Sept. 3, 2024

The new law increases post-construction grant amounts for privately financed rental housing projects, deemed a key incentive for developers trying to make projects financially feasible. Read more

Board to review CEO’s contract on Friday, HART says

• By Ian Bauer
• Sept. 2, 2024

The next employment agreement for Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation’s executive director and CEO, Lori Kahikina, is set for possible approval later this week. Read more

Honolulu Council seeks more regulations for electric bicycles

• By Ian Bauer
• Aug. 31, 2024

A new measure to impose more regulations on the use of fast-moving electric bicycles on Oahu’s public roads, parks and sidewalks is being advanced by the Honolulu City Council. Read more