AGP Executive Report

Hurricane Lala Aftermath: Hurricane Lala has pulled away from Hawaii, but the damage story is still unfolding after widespread power outages and flooding across the islands, with preliminary estimates putting losses in the billions. Local Land & Housing: The state Board of Land and Natural Resources approved transferring more than 300 acres in Hilo to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, a move aimed at expanding homestead opportunities for Native Hawaiians. Utility Costs Under Pressure: Hawaiian Electric’s second-quarter results look better on paper, but reporting highlights a tougher reality as wildfire recovery and grid spending collide with rising operating costs. Climate Accountability in Action: Young Hawaiians are now meeting regularly with the state Department of Transportation under a settlement from the Navahine v. Hawai‘i DOT case, shaping transit and bike-lane priorities as the state works toward decarbonizing transportation by 2045. Wildlife Recovery: Hawaii’s native aeʻo stilt has rebounded from about 200 birds in the 1940s to more than 1,500, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reclassified it from endangered to threatened. Affordability Crunch: A new map shows Hawaii has the biggest homebuying income gap in the U.S., underscoring how far typical household earnings fall from what’s needed to comfortably buy a median-priced home.

Hurricane Lala Aftermath: Even after skirting Hawaii’s Big Island without landfall, Lala left widespread damage and outages, with Gov. Josh Green saying at least 100 homes were damaged and more than 200,000 customers lost power; officials warn conditions aren’t over yet as rain, surf, and hazards continue. Local Response & Recovery: Honolulu rolled out an online form for Oahu residents to self-report home damage from Lala, stressing it’s voluntary and not a substitute for insurance or emergency help. Connectivity During Storms: T-Mobile activated satellite backup access via T-Satellite with Starlink and mobilized network crews and power banks statewide to keep people and first responders connected. Community Resilience: Hawaii Farmers Union opened applications (through Oct. 15) for a free mentorship program for aspiring farmers on Maui, Molokaʻi, and Lānaʻi, aiming to train the next wave of local agricultural businesses. Student Innovation: A 10th-grade Hawaii student’s coconut-husk filter project earned major recognition after showing fungi may help break down microplastics and sunscreen compounds in seawater. Policy Watch: Hawaii officials defended a hemp crackdown amid an industry lawsuit, as the state faces pressure over how it regulates the growing sector.

Hurricane Lala: The storm skirted Hawaii’s Big Island without landfall, but still brought hurricane-force winds, near-1 meter rainfall, flooding, mudslide threats, and widespread outages—more than 130,000 households reported without power at one point; Gov. Josh Green said at least one death occurred in the South Point area and that search-and-rescue efforts were underway after flash flooding near Na’alehu and Wai’ohinu. Nonprofit Funding Watch (Lahaina & O‘ahu): New IRS Form 990-based rankings show Lahaina’s Piko reported government grants as 54.6% of 2024 revenue, while Kahaluu’s Kahuli Leo Lea led at 71.3% and Waianae’s Kealahou West Oahu topped at 84.2%—a snapshot of how much local nonprofits rely on government dollars. Hemp Crackdown Fight: Hawaii officials defended a crackdown on hemp products in a lawsuit challenging the state’s move to restrict THC sales that had operated under a federal loophole. Local Science & Jobs: NASA NIAC funding backs UH Mānoa “aerobots” concept work aimed at exploring Titan’s caves, using small flying vehicles. Elections & Governance: Two GOP Hawaii legislative races were decided by tie-breaker draws after primary results ended in ties, underscoring how close the contests were.

Hurricane Lala Update: Hurricane Lala skirted Hawaii’s Big Island without a direct hit, but hurricane-force winds and heavy rain kept flooding and mudslide risk high into Sunday, with the National Weather Service warning conditions could worsen overnight and powerful surf batter coasts. Emergency Response: State agencies deployed resources statewide as power outages spread; Gov. Josh Green said sheltering in place is safest if you can, while officials warned off-grid residents in mountainous areas to move to safer shelter. Big Island Impacts: Reports cited tens of thousands without power and major travel disruptions, including airport closures and port shutdowns as the storm’s eye passed near the island’s southern tip. Local Voices: Readers also weighed in on the week’s news, including concerns about vandalism and community plans. Environment & Energy: A new study highlights how solar farms can quickly help native plants and pollinators rebound—an unexpected twist as Hawaii weighs future land and energy decisions. Politics: The DNC set the 2028 primary calendar, with South Carolina first.

Tropical Storm Lala: Hawaii’s Big Island is facing a rare hurricane threat as Lala strengthens, with a hurricane warning issued and forecasts of up to 25 inches of rain that could trigger mudslides, flooding, dangerous surf, and wildfire risk from strong winds. Emergency prep: Gov. Josh Green signed an emergency proclamation and state agencies mobilized resources, while shelters opened and events were canceled across the islands. Maui water fight: The state Board of Land and Natural Resources rejected a long-term East Maui water license path for Mahi Pono and moved toward a contested case hearing, keeping pressure on how stream diversions are managed. Local scams: Aiea tied for second among Hawaii cities for BBB Scam Tracker reports in July, with five reports and reported losses totaling $8,150.35. Health data: Aiea Medicaid spending for prosthetic procedures jumped 66.3% in 2024, according to federal provider spending data. Land for homesteads: BLNR approved transferring 334 acres to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, bringing the state closer to its long-running land conveyance goals. Court access: Hawaii’s judiciary is also seeking more interpreters, offering $28 an hour as language needs grow.

Tropical Storm Lala / Big Island Hurricane Risk: Hawaii’s Big Island is facing a rare hurricane threat as Tropical Storm Lala is expected to strengthen before reaching land this weekend, with a hurricane warning issued and Maui County under a tropical storm warning. Forecasters warn of 8–12 inches of rain (with some Big Island spots up to 25 inches), life-threatening flooding, mudslides, dangerous surf, and wildfire risk from strong winds. Local Preparedness: State agencies have mobilized ahead of Lala, Gov. Josh Green signed an emergency proclamation, shelters were readied, and events were canceled. Honolulu also urged beachgoers to stay out of the water as ocean conditions could change quickly. Water Policy Fight (Maui): The state Land Board heard hours of testimony on whether Maui should control the East Maui Irrigation system, with DLNR recommending a 30-year water license approach tied to Mahi Pono while reserving water for the county. Land Transfer (Hilo): BLNR approved transferring more than 300 acres in Waiākea, Hilo, to the Department of Hawaiian Homelands, a step toward Act 14 satisfaction and more homesteading and revenue opportunities. Court Access (Interpreters): Guam’s Superior Court is expanding its interpreter registry, seeking more bilingual residents for less-requested languages and paying $28 an hour for trained interpreters. Business / Utilities: Hawaiian Electric’s Q2 2026 earnings call highlighted net income growth, wildfire settlement accounting changes, and a proposed multi-year rate increase tied to recovery and mitigation spending.

Hurricane Watch for Hawaiʻi: Tropical Storm Lala is expected to strengthen into a hurricane as it nears the Big Island, with a hurricane warning in effect and forecasts warning of life-threatening flooding and mudslides. Local Courts: The Hawaii Supreme Court will expedite Honolulu City Council Chair Tommy Waters’ appeal after judges recused themselves in a case over whether he’s eligible to seek a third consecutive term. Broadband Buildout: Hawaiian Telcom finalized a $34 million BEAD contract (with a $5 million match) to connect 5,800 homes, as Hawaii pushes toward wider high-speed access. Business & Housing Costs: A new SmartAsset living-wage ranking puts Hawaii among the most expensive states for single people, while a separate report highlights how force-placed insurance can hit homeowners hard—Newrez faces a $15.5 million settlement over charges tied to coverage borrowers already had. Scam Alerts: Waipahu ranked among the top Hawaii cities for scam reports in July, with the BBB tracking multiple advance-fee loan and travel-related schemes.

Tropical Storm Lala: Hawaiʻi is bracing as Lala strengthens toward near-hurricane strength, with a state of emergency declared by Gov. Josh Green and hurricane watch/tropical storm warnings for Hawaiʻi Island. Local Preparedness: The Honolulu Zoo is stocking food and topping off backup generators for nearly 1,000 animals, while Hawaiʻi County and Maui agriculture officials urge ranchers and farmers to secure livestock, fuel, equipment, and documentation ahead of heavy rain and flooding. Big Island Updates: Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park closures begin Aug. 14, and residents are being directed to use provided sand piles and empty jute bags for sandbagging. Public Health & Biosecurity: DOH and DAB are reminding backyard poultry owners to tighten biosecurity as migratory birds return, and the state also reported an opossum captured near Hilo Harbor that was euthanized for rabies testing. Native Hawaiian Stewardship: Sea Life Park has moved under Native Hawaiian leadership via the Hawaiian Council, marking a major shift in how the Oʻahu venue tells its stories. State Leadership: OHA launched a nationwide search for its next CEO/administrator. Sports: UH athletics is entering a new era under the Mountain West banner, with football coach Timmy Chang setting the tone for fall 2026.

Federal Privacy Fight: Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition suing the Trump administration to block demands for a database of sensitive personal information from millions of CDL drivers, arguing the government is bypassing privacy laws and threatening to cut over $10 million in federal funding. Hawaii Weather Watch: Tropical Storm Lala is strengthening toward the Big Island, with a hurricane watch issued for parts of the South district and warnings focused on life-threatening rainfall and damaging winds. Local Science & Defense: The U.S. Space Force’s Maui High Performance Computing Center unveiled the Makau supercomputer for Space Force research, touting AI-enabled analysis for defense testing and evaluation. Reef Restoration: A Maui Nui Marine Resource Council-led effort is restoring damaged Honolua Bay coral after a 2023 yacht grounding, with community-wide monitoring and nursery-grown fragments returning to the water. Local Governance: Honolulu City Council advanced a vehicle weight tax cut that would lower rates for passenger vehicles and certain trucks starting July 1, 2027. UH Athletics Funding: UH launched the Shoji Society donor program honoring volleyball coach Dave Shoji, with charter members committing $1 million-plus and a stated goal of long-term support for athletics.

Honolulu Leadership: The City Council confirmed Krishna Jayaram as Honolulu’s new Managing Director, effective immediately, with Mayor Rick Blangiardi saying Jayaram will oversee day-to-day operations and help drive priorities including housing, public safety, and economic development. Maui Public Safety: Maui Police addressed a federal bribery case involving Lt. Michael Vaituulala, accused of taking bribes to protect drug traffickers, illegal cockfighters, and fireworks distributors; prosecutors say he poses flight risk and could obstruct justice. Crypto Consumer Protection: Hawaii’s new law banning cash deposits at crypto kiosks takes effect Oct. 1, after FBI reports of $3.85 million in adjusted losses from kiosk fraud in 2025; residents can still convert crypto to cash, but can’t deposit cash to buy digital assets. Local Economy & Costs: U.S. inflation cooled to 3.4% in July, but Hawaii shoppers still feel food-price pressure, with beef and grocery staples rising. STEM & Defense Tech: A U.S. Space Force ribbon-cutting unveiled the Makau supercomputer at Maui’s High Performance Computing Center, aimed at faster data analysis for defense test and evaluation. UH Athletics Philanthropy: UH Mānoa launched the Shoji Society donor program, with $50,000 minimum pledges supporting scholarships, NIL opportunities, and student-athlete development. Business Spotlight: DBEDT will sponsor the Made in Hawaii Festival’s Hawaii Made Pavilion Aug. 20-23, featuring 28 local businesses.

Climate & Energy: Hawaii can’t “kick the oil habit” as it sues major oil companies over alleged climate deception, even as the state remains heavily dependent on fossil fuels and struggles to hit its 2045 net-zero mandate. Local Governance: Honolulu voters face 20 proposed City Charter amendments, including changes tied to special funds; readers are being pointed to the Honolulu Charter Commission site for plain-language summaries and testimony, since a single cost breakdown isn’t easy to find. Public Safety & Courts: Maui police commanders face federal bribery allegations, with a judge denying release for a commander and another lieutenant denied bail in the same case. Labor & Human Rights: Two brothers from Kihei pleaded not guilty to state labor trafficking charges tied to alleged exploitation of a man from Guatemala, with a bail hearing set next. Native Hawaiian Stewardship: Hawaiian Council bought Sea Life Park Hawai‘i, moving the landmark attraction under Native Hawaiian stewardship while promising uninterrupted operations. Business & Procurement: NAVFAC Hawaii held its 4th annual Government Procurement Industry Forum to connect Navy contracting opportunities with small businesses. Health Policy: SBA finalized a new 8(a) social disadvantage test, changing how individually owned firms qualify. Science & Space: Astronomers reported a “black hole star” that may help explain the early-universe “little red dots” seen by JWST.

Labor Trafficking Case: Maui police and the state AG’s Special Investigation and Prosecution Division arrested and indicted two brothers in a Kihei case involving alleged labor trafficking of a Guatemalan man, with charges including first-degree labor trafficking and extortion that could bring decades in prison. Local Tech & Civil Liberties: Honolulu-area groups protested Palantir’s downtown presence, warning that the data-software giant’s work with U.S. agencies could enable mass surveillance tied to immigration enforcement. Economic Development Shake-Up: Honolulu’s Office of Economic Revitalization is shutting down this Friday after City Council funding cuts, raising concerns about support for local businesses and job growth. Community & Recovery: Lahaina’s Paʻūpili 3rd Saturdays returns Aug. 15 with healing-focused activities, cultural partners, and free community resources. Workforce & Education: UH Community Colleges earned a national WalletHub ranking of No. 11, with fall 2026 applications open. Public Safety/Health: State officials issued notices tied to DOH enforcement actions against an Island Smoke and Vape location for refusing lawful inspection. Business/Travel: Spotlight Now highlighted Hawaiʻi’s push for sports and film tourism as tourism funding softens.

Scam Watch: Kapolei tied for second among Hawaii cities with 5 BBB Scam Tracker reports in July, up from 4 in June; the most common scam type was counterfeit products, with $565.31 in total reported losses. Healthcare Workforce: Hawaii Medical College and ALU LIKE are launching a supported cohort for the 10-week Advanced Nurse Aide program, cutting participant costs to just over $400 and aiming to feed demand across hospitals and long-term care. Public Health: A CDC-linked update says a summer COVID uptick is underway, with Hawaii showing moderate levels in wastewater data. Local Nonprofits’ Finances: New IRS-based rankings highlight government-grant-heavy nonprofit funding in Oʻahu communities, including Housing Providers of Hawaiʻi leading Urban Honolulu by grant revenue and Kahuli Leo Lea topping Kahaluu. Tech & Research Access: A UH Mānoa PhD student is using a rent-to-own dedicated GPU setup (B3IQ) to get around campus compute limits while keeping privacy and costs predictable. Travel: Delta will add Seattle–Tokyo Narita nonstop service starting late March 2027, expanding options for Hawaiʻi travelers connecting through Seattle.

Hawaiʻi Disaster Response: The state Department of Health rolled out Project Hoʻoulu, a face-to-face resiliency effort sending trained crisis counselors into communities hit by the Kona Low floods on Maui, Molokaʻi, Oʻahu and Lānaʻi. Homelessness & Veterans: Oʻahu’s Built for Zero initiative is credited with reducing veteran homelessness and is now expanding to other vulnerable groups, using coordinated outreach to move people into stable housing. Local Water Infrastructure: Maui County is moving to buy private West Maui water systems for $6 million, a move backed by residents who say outages threaten farms, but questioned over possible infrastructure costs. State Politics: Automatic recounts are set for two tight Hawaii Republican primary races after results came down to single-digit margins. Agriculture & Education: CTAHR is partnering with Nani Mau Gardens in Hilo to expand tropical agriculture education and research through an outdoor classroom. Health Guidance: New pediatric atopic dermatitis guidelines from the American Academy of Dermatology focus on prevention and treatment updates for children. Business/Travel: American Airlines is changing elite upgrade rules on some routes, limiting upgrades to premium economy instead of Flagship business on select flights. Democrats Unite Post-Primary: Hawaiʻi Democratic leaders held a post-election breakfast to regroup after a bruising primary, with warnings that voters are angry about cost of living and government functioning.

Honolulu Charter & Taxes: The Honolulu Charter Commission is pushing 20 proposals to the November ballot, with six tied to “special funds” that divert property-tax earmarks outside the usual budgeting process—now including a proposed Food Security Fund. Air Travel Costs: American Airlines is ending complimentary economy-to-business upgrades on some long routes starting Aug. 25, with upgrades shifting to Premium Economy eligibility. Housing Pressure: New data shows Hawaii has the highest share of million-dollar owner-occupied homes (about 40%), underscoring how fast appreciation has reshaped the local market. Maui Wildfire Recovery: Three years after Lahaina, survivors still face major hurdles, including affordable housing shortages and lingering health impacts. Public Health: A drug-resistant fungus, Candida auris, is spreading—Indiana reported dozens of confirmed cases, adding pressure on hospital infection control. Defense Tech: The U.S. Navy tested AI-powered sonar for submarine hunting during RIMPAC near Hawaii, using rapid model updates to boost anti-submarine warfare.

Hawaii Politics: Incumbent U.S. Rep. Ed Case fended off a left-leaning challenge from state Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole in Hawaii’s 1st Congressional District Democratic primary, setting up a November matchup with GOP nominee Adriel Lam. Maui County Watch: Maui mayoral primary results put Yuki Lei Sugimura on track for the general election while voters weighed wildfire recovery and a fresh federal public corruption case involving a Maui Police Department lieutenant. Statehouse Appointments: Gov. Josh Green appointed Danielle Bass to represent Senate District 18, filling the vacancy left by Michelle Kidani’s retirement. Local Environment & Science: USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory researchers say Kīlauea’s summit eruption is showing repeating cycles in lava-fountaining heights, and they’re comparing those changes with magma chemistry. Business & Travel: Hawaii-linked travel chatter includes airline upgrade shakeups and broader shifts in how airlines compete, while a separate report highlights Starlink-equipped flights improving passenger satisfaction. Immigration Policy: A proposed DHS rule would eliminate the 60-day grace period for terminated H-1B and other visa holders, drawing sharp criticism from Ajay Bhutoria. National Legal: Meta is set for another major U.S. trial over alleged harms to children, with jury selection beginning in Oakland.