Hawaiʻi Supreme Court

A group of residents sued the state over Gov. Josh Green's emergency proclamations on affordable housing. The first was issued over two years ago, and it continues to be renewed.

The order from Friday stems from the state Board of Land and Natural Resources renewing four revocable permits in 2020 that allowed developer Alexander & Baldwin and its subsidiary, East Maui Irrigation, to divert the water for a year.

HPR's government reporter Ashley Mizuo spoke with Chief Justice Recktenwald about these judicial wins and his retirement.

Maui Brewing Co. CEO Garrett Marrero discusses the state of small business in Hawaiʻi;

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.