Ocean Safety chief placed on administrative leave, city says
John Titchen, Honolulu’s Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Services Division chief since 2018, has been placed on administrative leave effective Tuesday, the city confirmed. Read more
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Nearly 3.6% pay hike adopted for Honolulu mayor, City Council
The Honolulu Salary Commission Tuesday adopted a nearly 3.6% pay boost for the mayor, managing director, the nine-member City Council and other appointed, high-level city officials for the city’s fiscal year 2025 salary schedule, which begins July 1. Read more
City touts ‘sustainable’ projects near Skyline
On Earth Day, Honolulu officials rode the city’s driverless, all-electric Skyline trains to not only tout the benefits of mass transit but laud current and future sustainable projects along the West Oahu line. Read more
Head of HART under fire after top executive resigns
The executive management team of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation has faced challenges this month. Read more
Honolulu City Council considers salary charter amendments
Seven resolutions that urge voter-approved charter amendments to overhaul how Honolulu pays its employees were under City Council review this week. Read more
Ocean Safety sector draws support, criticism
Those for and against contending city resolutions to transform Honolulu’s 277-member Ocean Safety Division into a full-fledged city department voiced their concerns during the City Council’s meeting Wednesday. Read more
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Navy nixes possible city landfill site
The Navy will not allow the City and County of Honolulu to locate a new landfill on Waipio Peninsula near Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, the city announced Tuesday. Read more
Chief lifeguard ‘stoked’ over potential new department
As chief of Honolulu’s 277-member Ocean Safety Division, John Titchen says his agency’s possible transformation into a full-fledged city department is a long time coming. Read more
More Ocean Safety sector resolutions introduced
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s previously stated plan to create a new and independent city Department of Ocean Safety through executive action is taking shape. Read more
Haiku Stairs’ demolition to begin late April, city says
The city says demolition of the more than 3,900 steps leading to the top of the Koolau Range, above Haiku Valley and the H-3 freeway, will begin at the end of April. Read more
Honolulu City Council requested to condemn properties for rail
The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation would like to acquire by eminent domain five private properties along the rail corridor as construction of the nearly $10-billion Skyline proceeds toward Kakaako. Read more
Honolulu City Council members say they‘ll reject 3% pay hike
The proposed pay hikes come less than a year after the CIty Council received a controversial 64% salary increase and the Honolulu mayor’s pay jumped nearly 12.6%. Read more
Honolulu Ocean Safety Task Force should be its own department, members say
After sifting through that data, the task force emerged with its final recommendation. Read more
Honolulu permitting department touts new tech in backlog fight
The Department of Planning’ and Permitting’s new high-tech plan to track, in real time, the status and whereabouts of someone’s building permit application. Read more
City still seeks more time to find Oahu landfill alternative
Waimanalo Gulch Landfill, which opened in 1989, was originally slated to close eight years later, by 1997. The city now says the 200-acre dump is scheduled to close by 2028. Read more
Rift emerges on Honolulu Ocean Safety department plan
That divide centered on Council member Andria Tupola’s Resolution 50 which urges, via a voter-approved charter amendment, that Honolulu’s lifeguard and ambulance services be broken up to create that new department. Read more
‘Resident-preference’ housing measure advances
As proposed, Bill 19 seeks to ensure that any housing created by the city, or with city funds, be first offered to those who live and work on Oahu. Read more
Honolulu Council Chair Tommy Waters to reject 3% raise
The Council chair’s post — which in 2023 saw a 60% pay bump, to $123,292 annually, up from $76,968 — is currently proposed to have its pay boosted to $126,712. Read more
DPP launches more tech to speed permit process
To solve the months-long delay to obtain a building permit, the city Department of Planning and Permitting announced new technological initiatives it hopes will improve the speed at which the city issues them to the public. Read more
Honolulu City Council delays gift ban bill for workers
A proposal to prohibit city and county employees from accepting gifts related to their official duties was returned to a lower committee of the Honolulu City Council. Read more
Proposed Council raises draw public concern
The Honolulu Salary Commission’s recommendation last week for a 3% or greater pay boost for the mayor, managing director, all nine members of the City Council and other appointed, high-level city officials drew a measure of public criticism Monday. Read more
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