Hawaiʻi Supreme Court

A major roadblock to the $4 billion global settlement for the Maui wildfires has been cleared. A lawyer representing victims says it could mean that survivors receive their first settlement payments by the end of the year. HPR's Maddie Bender reports.

The Hawaiʻi Supreme Court has ruled that insurance companies can’t bring their own legal actions against those blamed for Maui’s catastrophic 2023 wildfire, the deadliest in the U.S. in more than a century. The move allows a threatened $4 billion settlement to proceed.

The defendants blamed for causing the deadly tragedy agreed to pay a total of $4.037 billion to resolve claims by thousands of affected people. But a key settlement term says insurance companies can’t separately go after the defendants to recoup money paid to policyholders.

In the November election, former South Maui Councilmember Kelly King lost to incumbent Tom Cook by just 97 votes. King and a group of 30 voters filed a lawsuit challenging the results. This week, the Hawai’i Supreme Court upheld the election results and denied King's request for a new election.

The more than $4 billion global settlement for victims of the Maui wildfires was announced in August to great fanfare. But months later, its status hangs in the balance because of a lawsuit filed by insurance companies. HPR’s Maddie Bender reports on the key legal issue that could hinder Maui’s ability to recover.

Hawaiʻi voters will have the chance to weigh in on two constitutional amendment questions in the November election. HPR's Ashley Mizuo breaks down the proposed changes so you can make an informed choice.

Aloha Petroleum may not have its legal fees covered by insurance in two major climate cases after a recent Hawaiʻi Supreme Court decision. HPR's Savannah Harriman-Pote explains.

The Hawaiʻi Supreme Court will consider questions about issues that threaten to thwart a $4 billion settlement in last year's devastating Maui wildfires. A Maui judge last month agreed to ask the state high court questions about how insurance companies can go about recouping money paid to policyholders.

Judge Peter Cahill agreed Friday to ask the state high court questions about how insurance companies can go about recouping money paid to policyholders.

The high court on Wednesday approved the legality of an environmental review to allow limited aquarium fishing in Hawaiʻi island, leading to worries about opening up the industry throughout the West Hawai‘i Regional Fishery Management Area. HPR's Mark Ladao has more.