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A jury announced not guilty verdicts Friday in a yearslong bribery case against Honolulu's former top prosecutor and five people associated with the engineering and architectural firm Mitsunaga & Associates.
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A case that challenges whether or not short-term rentals are allowed on farmland in Hawaiʻi County has made its way to the state’s highest court.
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Gov. Josh Green has put together a Hawaiʻi Climate Advisory Team to study policies for disaster prevention. HPR's Ashley Mizuo reports on what that means for the state.
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Gov. Josh Green has approved $385 million in emergency appropriations for Maui recovery. It includes the state’s $65 million contribution to the One ʻOhana settlement fund for families of those who were killed during the August fires.
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With the landmark passage of a state law addressing short-term rentals, Maui County has already announced legislation to phase out vacation rentals in apartment-zoned areas. Mayor Richard Bissen said the county is prepared for legal pushback. If passed, the bill would go into effect in July 2025 for West Maui and in 2026 for the rest of the island. HPR’s Catherine Cluett Pactol explains.
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Senate Bill 3202 would allow two accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, to be built on residential properties. Most of the opposition came from lawmakers who represent urban Honolulu.
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It’s the end of the state’s legislative session, and lawmakers have made it clear that invasive species are a top priority. The state Department of Agriculture is receiving substantial support for its invasive species programs and staff.
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State lawmakers appropriated funds for more firefighting equipment and a state fire marshal after the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century ripped through the historic Maui town of Lahaina and exposed shortcomings in the state’s readiness for such flames.
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Measures aiming to improve language access in Hawai‘i passed their final reading in the House and Senate on Wednesday. The bills will head to the governor’s office for final approval.
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The policy, announced by Mayor Richard Bissen and grassroots advocacy group Lahaina Strong, is intended to free up housing for displaced families devastated by the August wildfires. The county will have the authority to enact this policy due to the state Legislature's final approval of Senate Bill 2919.
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The County of Maui filed the complaint saying carriers failed to give proper notification about the widespread cellular service outages during the height of emergency response to the August wildfires.
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Popular measures on energy efficiency and solar permitting died abruptly in their last committees, leading some energy stakeholders to label this session a letdown. HPR's Savannah Harriman-Pote reports.