FCC activates disaster communications rules for Hawaii storm areas
The FCC activated disaster-response requirements as Hurricane Lowell’s impacts continue on Kauai and Oahu, where providers reported five cell-site outages.
Hawaii
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Tropical Storm Lowell Turns West as Hawaii Forecast Remains Uncertain
Lowell is forecast to strengthen while moving west, but Hawaii has no coastal watches or warnings and forecasters say the longer-range track remains uncertain.
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Hawaii secures $18.5 million in FEMA support for five grid-resilience projects
Federal FEMA support will help fund five planned grid-resilience projects on Maui, Hawaiʻi Island and Oʻahu, including critical customer hubs and grid-control upgrades scheduled for completion from 2027 through 2029.
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Tropical Storm Lala threatens Hawaii Island with hurricane-force winds and flooding
Tropical Storm Lala was forecast to strengthen before approaching Hawaii Island on Saturday, bringing risks of hurricane-force winds, heavy rain, flooding, mudslides and dangerous surf.
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Hurricane warning remains for Hawaiʻi Island as Tropical Storm Lala approaches
A hurricane warning remains in effect for Hawaiʻi Island from Friday evening through early Sunday, with the greatest threats varying by area: damaging winds, major flooding rain, storm surge and dangerous surf.
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Honolulu Police Plan August Launch of Citywide Drone Program
Honolulu Police Chief David Lazar says HPD plans to begin using drones across the city in August 2026 to help catch, investigate and respond to crime.
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Honolulu Voter Centers Open Until 7 p.m. for Hawaii Primary
Honolulu voters can use two full-time service centers, register the same day and submit ballots as Hawaii’s primary election takes place Saturday.
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Kailua Hawaiian homelands housing project taken off the table
A proposed Hawaiian homelands housing project at Kalaheo Hillside in Kailua is no longer under consideration, the Honolulu City Council said.
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Hawaii primary set for Aug. 8 with statewide races and Senate vacancy contest
Hawaii’s Office of Elections has formally proclaimed the Aug. 8, 2026, mail primary, including statewide offices, legislative races, Office of Hawaiian Affairs seats and a vacancy contest in Senate District 19.
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Maui Relief Program shifts eligibility to households with minor children Aug. 1
The Hawaii Department of Human Services says Maui Relief Program support will focus on eligible households with children under 18 beginning Aug. 1, affecting residents across Maui County, including Kaunakakai and Molokai.
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University of Hawaiʻi research targets safer drinking water after fuel contamination
A new NSF-supported University of Hawaiʻi project will study how chlorine reacts with fuel in drinking-water supplies, with the goal of improving treatment decisions after contamination.
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Hawaii forecasts slower 2026 growth, modest job gains and 3.8% Honolulu inflation
Hawaii’s economic forecast calls for continued growth in 2026, but at a slower pace, with modest employment gains and elevated Honolulu inflation gradually easing through 2029.
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Hawaii utility seeks renewable power and storage while keeping firm-generation options open
Hawaiian Electric has proposed a three-island procurement for renewable energy, storage and firm capacity while seeking a separate Oahu process for up to 500 megawatts of fuel-flexible generation. The PUC has not approved projects, fuels or customer costs.
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Hawaii keeps limited emergency housing and homelessness procurement flexibility through September
Two July 10 emergency proclamations remain active through Sept. 8, allowing limited procurement and development flexibility for qualifying housing projects and homelessness services while documentation and oversight obligations remain.
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Maui wildfire survivors face narrower state aid and higher FEMA housing costs
A Hawaii relief program now limits new applications to eligible households with minor dependent children, while FEMA is raising rents for some of the roughly 600 survivors still in temporary housing.
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Hawaii primary voters face key ballot deadlines before Aug. 8
Hawaii’s Aug. 8 primary includes statewide, legislative, OHA and county races. Here’s how the mail ballot, party selection and voting deadlines work.
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Hawaii takes action against Hawaiian Electric over withdrawn pollution commitments
Hawaii’s governor’s office says the state has acted after Hawaiian Electric walked back pollution-control commitments connected to the Department of Health’s regional-haze program. The announcement does not specify the legal mechanism, remedy or potential financial exposure.
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Honolulu schedules Kahaluʻu Neighborhood Board meeting for Aug. 12
The City and County of Honolulu’s official calendar lists a regular Kahaluʻu Neighborhood Board meeting for 6 p.m. Aug. 12. Meeting materials are slated to be available 48 hours beforehand.
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Hawaiʻi public schools begin 2026-27 year under new statewide cellphone policy
Hawaiʻi public-school students returned Aug. 3 as a statewide cellphone-use policy adopted by the Board of Education moves into campus-level implementation.
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Hawaiʻi Mānoa begins full Mountain West membership across athletics
The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa became a full Mountain West Conference member on July 1, 2026, ending the split-conference arrangement that placed football in the Mountain West and most other sports in the Big West.
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East Honolulu schools open under Hawaiʻi’s new statewide cellphone rules
Hawaiʻi public schools serving East Honolulu began the 2026-27 year Aug. 3 under a newly adopted statewide cellphone-use policy, alongside department reminders on attendance, buses and meals.
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Hawaii wildfire emergency relief period reaches scheduled Aug. 3 end date
Hawaii’s cited wildfire emergency relief period was scheduled to continue through Aug. 3, 2026, unless the state terminated or superseded it. Available records do not establish whether the state took either action later that day.