AGP Executive Report

Hurricane Prep: Maui County is urging residents and visitors to get “Two Weeks Ready” for a forecasted above-normal hurricane season, with emergency alerts and go-bag tips available through MEMA. Energy Help: Maui residents can apply in June for the Hawaii Home Energy Assistance Program for a one-time credit from Hawaiian Electric. Ocean Education: Maui Ocean Center marks World Ocean Day on June 8 with hands-on conservation activities and discounted kamaʻāina admission. Public Safety on Roads: After another fatal crash on the Daniel K. Inouye Highway, HPD is stepping up selective enforcement and DOT plans a traffic emergency zone with added safety mitigations. Health Permit Update: Grace’s Inn in Honolulu is allowed to reopen under a conditional yellow placard after a raw-sewage issue was fixed, though other violations remain. Native Hawaiian Lands Lawsuit: A federal lawsuit challenges the Hawaiian Home Lands blood-quantum requirement, arguing the century-old system is unconstitutional. Volleyball: UH named Joshua Walker as head coach of the Rainbow Wahine women’s volleyball program. Local Crime: Kauai police seek a Hanapepe man wanted as a person of interest after a reported gunshot wound. Volcano Watch: Kīlauea’s ongoing summit eruption set a new record with its 48th eruptive episode.

Medicaid Crackdown: Hawaii is setting up a Medicaid fraud task force after federal officials cut funding, citing the state’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit for failing to secure convictions or even indictments from 2022 to 2025. Statehouse Transparency: A judge ruled Hawaii House committee closed-door meetings before the 2025 session were unconstitutional, reinforcing open-meeting rules. Local Government & Housing: Hawaii County moved forward with eminent domain to acquire land for a Puna road expansion despite owner resistance, while Honolulu’s zero-interest rehab loan program says eligibility is based on income—not an asset cap. Public Safety: After a fatal crash on the Daniel K. Inouye Highway, HPD is stepping up selective enforcement for speeding, impaired and distracted driving, and seat belts. Community & Culture: Waikiki Aquarium kicks off World Ocean Month events, and a new mural at Captain Cook Post Office celebrates the legend of Kua. Sports & Education: UH’s new free over-the-air TV deal with Hawaii News Now starts July 1, and a NIL funding compromise for student athletes failed at the end of the legislative session. Ethics Watchdog: Honolulu Ethics Commission selected Sandy Ma as its next executive director. Courts & Rights: A lawsuit challenges Hawaiian Home Lands’ 50% blood-quantum eligibility, with Gov. Green and the AG vowing to fight it. Police Update: More arrests followed the viral Waialee Beach assault investigation, with additional suspects turning themselves in.

Public Safety: A 36-year-old Pahoa man was arrested after a DUI crash killed a 30-year-old motorcyclist on Kahakai Blvd, with police citing speed, alcohol/drugs and inattention; the highway was also briefly closed in South Hilo after a separate collision. Local Policing: Honolulu City Council set aside $1.8M in HPD budget cuts, while incoming Police Chief David Lazar outlined training, recruitment and community outreach plans. Health Policy: Gov. Josh Green created an independent Hawaiʻi Medicaid Fraud Strike Force after a federal decision affecting the state’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit; separately, the Trump administration halted about $3M in federal funding for the unit. State Law: Hawaiʻi expanded its Family Leave Law to cover qualifying military exigencies, effective July 1. Community & Culture: The Philippine Coast Guard and Navy sent contingents to RIMPAC in Honolulu, while Hawaiʻi’s Kilauea kept erupting with a record-setting 48th episode. Weather/Utilities: Hawaiʻi County crews responded to a water main break in Pepe‘ekeo, shutting off nearby service before planned restoration later today.

Hawaiian Homes Lawsuit: A new legal challenge targets Hawaii homestead leases, arguing eligibility rules limited to people with 50% Hawaiian blood are unlawful; Gov. Green’s office says the program is being defended. Honolulu Budget Fight: The Honolulu City Council passed a $4 billion operating budget, but Mayor Rick Blangiardi vowed to veto cuts to the Office of Economic Revitalization after a 6-3 vote. Affordable Housing Credits: Hawaii County Auditor Clare McAdam says most recommendations from a 2023 audit of the affordable housing credit program are now implemented, with one still in progress. Courts & Open Meetings: A judge ruled closed-door House committee meetings held before the 2025 session violated the Hawaii Constitution. Public Safety & Community: Police investigated theft and vandalism at Waimanalo Elementary; on the North Shore, calls to stop teen violence followed a brutal mobbing. Health & Care Access: Hawaiʻi was selected for a federal Medicaid behavioral health demonstration program aimed at expanding mental health and substance-use treatment. Weather/Surf: High surf advisories and south-shore swell kept ocean conditions rough, with updates on closures and reopening.

National Intelligence Shake-Up: President Trump tapped Bill Pulte, a federal housing regulator, as acting director of national intelligence, replacing former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. Hawaiian Homes Lawsuit: Gov. Josh Green says the state will “vigorously defend” the Hawaiian Homes program after a federal challenge to eligibility rules. Housing Permitting Push: Hawaii lawmakers passed measures aimed at speeding permitting for housing, including staffing incentives and streamlined reviews. Tropical Weather Watch: Tropical Storm Amanda formed in the eastern Pacific and is not expected to threaten land, but forecasters are monitoring other systems. Oahu Traffic Fatality: A 76-year-old woman died after a Mililani crash involving a vehicle crossing a median and hitting a tree; speed, drugs or alcohol are still unknown. Local Public Safety: Police arrested suspects in a North Shore beach assault that included kidnapping charges, and a second suspect was also arrested in a Wahiawa stabbing case. Community & Culture: A Kilauea eruption caught a whirlwind on camera, and a Big Island woodworker is turning family history into heirloom art.

Local Governance: Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi says he’ll veto the City Council’s FY2027 budget if it cuts and staffs down the Office of Economic Revitalization, citing an audit that found gaps in OER’s performance but arguing the office still matters for Oahu’s economic development. Public Safety: HPD arrested three juveniles in connection with a masked North Shore assault at Waialee Beach that left a 23-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy with broken bones and concussions; kidnapping charges were added. Housing & Land: Hawaii County advanced a bill to double the share of property taxes going to the PONC maintenance fund, boosting it from 0.25% to 0.5% and removing a $3 million accrual cap. Infrastructure: Moanalua Freeway repaving is delayed, with nightly lane closures starting Sunday (9 p.m.-4:30 a.m.) and work shifting lane-by-lane toward the H-3 overpass. Health & Food: State energy officials revised a flawed LNG alternative-fuels analysis after a spreadsheet error inflated benefits, and DOH issued alerts about possible Salmonella contamination tied to Motor City Pizza bread. Community: The Mamoru and Aiko Takitani Foundation awarded $232,000 in scholarships to 12 Hawaii Island students.

National Intelligence Shake-Up: President Trump tapped Bill Pulte, head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, as acting director of national intelligence, replacing former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and raising questions about his intelligence experience as the U.S. stays focused on Iran. Hawaiʻi Food Safety: The state Department of Health shut down Grace’s Inn LSY in Honolulu after a sewage backup and plumbing issues, issuing a red placard and requiring repairs before reopening. Local Rescue: Honolulu firefighters airlifted two lost hikers from the Koolau Summit Trail in Moanalua; both were uninjured and declined care after a long search. Hurricane Watch: NOAA is forecasting a 70% chance of an above-normal hurricane season for Hawaiʻi as El Niño conditions intensify. Water/Wastewater Training: Hawaiʻi Community College and UH Maui College launched a certificate program to train workers for cesspool conversion and onsite wastewater treatment, aiming to speed up upgrades statewide. Science from Hawaiʻi Telescopes: Astronomers using telescopes in Chile and Hawaii found strong signs that some exoplanets have magnetic fields, based on wind patterns on hot Jupiters.

Volcano Watch: Kīlauea hit a new milestone Monday, logging 48 lava-fountaining episodes in a single eruption—its highest count yet—while officials warn ash and volcanic fragments can still affect nearby communities. Local Courts & Public Safety: A mental fitness exam was ordered for a man accused in Hawaii’s triple homicide on the Big Island, with the judge citing concerns about danger and penal responsibility. Health Policy Clash: University of Hawaiʻi leaders and lawmakers traded accusations over a bill that would have funded student-athlete NIL payments, with UH saying opponents misrepresented the university’s position. Aviation/ID Headache: TSA charged a passenger $45 per checkpoint after rejecting a temporary paper driver’s license, pointing travelers to permanent plastic IDs or other TSA-acceptable documents. Crime & Justice: A man pleaded guilty in federal court for illegally shipping assault rifle parts from Hawaiʻi to Japan without required export licenses. Diplomacy in the Islands: U.S. and Chinese military officials met in Hawaiʻi to discuss maritime safety and reduce the risk of unsafe encounters. Community & Weather: Flood and high surf advisories were issued for parts of Hawaiʻi as heavy rain moved through East Hawaiʻi.

Hurricane readiness: Gov. Josh Green and Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency leaders joined the National Weather Service to kick off the 2026 Hurricane Weather Outlook and urge residents to prepare early, with a May Hurricane Awareness and Preparedness Month proclamation. Volcano update: USGS says Kīlauea’s 48th eruptive episode is underway, with lava fountaining at Halemaʻumaʻu and an ashfall advisory issued for nearby areas. Local public safety: Honolulu police are investigating a late-night hit-and-run near Waianae Mall that seriously injured a pedestrian in a marked crosswalk; drugs or alcohol are unknown. Health care upgrade: Straub Benioff Medical Center opened a renovated Emergency Department with more private treatment rooms and expanded triage space. Community & culture: Honolulu Museum of Art is hosting “Divine Disruption,” blending Nepalese religious art traditions with pop culture themes through January 2027. Education & youth: Hawaiʻi libraries launched a free 2026 Summer Reading Challenge starting June 1, with prizes including airline tickets.

Hurricane Season Watch: The Atlantic hurricane season officially kicks off June 1, with Colorado State University flagging Florida as the highest risk for a named storm to pass within 50 miles—officials still stress “it only takes one,” even if forecasts call for a below-normal year. North Shore Recovery: Kona-low storm impacts are still hitting Oahu’s North Shore, with Waimea Valley visitor traffic down about 25% to 30% as road restrictions and contraflow keep access tight. Kīlauea Update: USGS reports Kīlauea’s ongoing precursory activity and lava overflows tied to the south vent, with lava fountain timing forecast around June 1. Local Infrastructure: HART received a $125 million federal reimbursement tied to Skyline Segment 2, while HDOT plans overnight repaving delays on the H-201 Moanalua Freeway. Public Safety & Community: Hawaii County will review 13 applicants for the next fire chief, and Honolulu’s Smith’s Union Bar—long tied to USS Arizona sailors—closed after decades. Energy Debate: A letter challenges LNG claims as “clean,” arguing methane and full life-cycle emissions undercut the pitch. Business & Culture: Lawmakers boosted grants-in-aid to $40 million for Hawaii nonprofits, and a ceramic float friendship spanning 46 years recently came full circle between Oahu and Japan.

Honolulu Public Safety: A 22-year-old motorcyclist was seriously hurt in a late-night crash at Church Lane and South King Street; EMS treated him at the scene and rushed him to the hospital in serious condition, with the investigation ongoing. Big Island Justice: Jacob Baker, 36, of Pahoa, has been charged with first- and second-degree murder in the deaths of three elderly men in Puna; police say he was arrested after a manhunt and is being held without bail. Volcano Watch: USGS issued a VOLCANO WATCH for Kīlauea, warning of possible episodic fountaining in the summit caldera anytime now through June 1, with aviation alert raised. Local Economy & Jobs: Hawaii leaders met to discuss public-private partnerships to reshape how the state tackles major challenges, while a local program is offering free, fast-track job training for in-demand healthcare and construction roles. Maui Community: ʻAha Niu: Maui Nui Coconut Celebration Festival returns June 13 with workshops, panels, and a free coconut sprout giveaway focused on protecting niu amid CRB concerns.

Big Island Public Safety: Jacob Daniel Baker, 36, was arrested “without incident” after a dayslong manhunt for the killings of three men in Puna; HPD says a citizen tip helped locate him hiding in a small cave, and prosecutors have not yet filed charges. Kailua Crime: Raul Munoz was charged with first-degree robbery after an alleged knifepoint hold-up at a Kailua Texaco gas station; bail set at $50,000. Honolulu Fire & Rescue: HFD put out a Mapunapuna AC-unit fire deemed incendiary, with about $36,000 in damage, and in Kaimuki rescued four animals though two cats died. Shark Warnings: A man was seriously injured in a shark bite at Cromwells Beach; Ocean Safety also posted warnings after two aggressive 8-foot sharks were seen at Ala Moana Bowls. Disaster Help (Maui): FEMA and SBA extended and updated in-person recovery center schedules for March storm victims, with a June 14 application deadline. Local Culture: A free concert at Capital Modern Museum celebrates Filipino indigenous music and storytelling as an AANHPI Heritage Month finale.

Public Safety & Weather: A high surf advisory is up for south-facing shores across the islands, with waves of 8 to 12 feet through Sunday evening—swimming is strongly discouraged. Harbor Recovery: Lahaina Small Boat Harbor dredging is set to start Monday, with the work also targeting the main harbor basin for the first time since 1966 to restore safe access for vessels. Community & Infrastructure: Pearl City’s Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery is seeing new sinkholes after recent storms, raising concerns about aging underground water and neglected cemetery upkeep. Local Crime: A Kailua man pleaded guilty to fentanyl trafficking, admitting to distributing more than 400 grams; sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 30. Maui Workforce: Maui Health and UH community colleges are launching new Maui-based training programs in respiratory therapy and radiologic technology, with an application deadline Sunday. Oahu Updates: Crews begin vegetation clearing and tree trimming along the Pūpūkea Bike Path starting Monday, with daytime closures expected.

Military Families: The 2026 Heroes at Home Military Spouse Awards spotlight six finalists and a winner, honoring spouses for community leadership, education, and mental health support. Big Island Crime: Jacob Daniel Baker, 36, was arrested after a nearly three-day manhunt tied to the deaths of three elderly men in Puna, leaving residents on edge. Volcano Watch: Kīlauea’s summit eruption pause continues, with USGS saying lava fountaining could resume between May 29 and May 31. Oahu Safety: Honolulu rescuers performed CPR after a woman was swept into the ocean at Makapuu Beach; she was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Local Tech & Housing: Honolulu’s planning office is using a “TurboTax-like” AI tool to help applicants reduce permitting mistakes and speed reviews. Maui Harbor Work: Dredging at Lahaina Small Boat Harbor is set to begin Monday, June 1, with parking impacts near the school lot. Community & Elections: Hawaii expands free ballot tracking notifications to help voters monitor mail ballots and deadlines. Agriculture Threat: UH Mānoa’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience is surveying residents to strengthen invasive fruit fly management.

Public Safety: Hawaii Island police arrested Jacob Baker, 36, in the Puna triple-homicide manhunt, taking him into custody after tips led officers to a small cave near Kalapana; authorities called him “armed and extremely dangerous” and linked him to the deaths of three elderly men found across the area over two days. Courts & Community Impact: As questions linger about what could have stopped the killings, reporting notes two women sought temporary restraining orders against Baker days before the first body was found—only to be denied—raising concerns about the restraining-order process. Local Sports: Kohala High School standout Layden Kauka was named to the HHSAA Hall of Honor Class of 2026, earning a scholarship and set to be celebrated in Honolulu. West Oʻahu Growth: Amazon’s proposed $600 million Kapolei fulfillment center drew skepticism from residents at a neighborhood board meeting, with the project needing zoning changes due to height limits. Hawaiian Business & Travel: Hawaiian Airlines will shift Main Cabin meals to a pre-order menu starting July 1, partnering with Maui chef Sheldon Simeon.

Public Safety: Hawaii Island police say Jacob Baker is linked to three Puna homicides in under 48 hours and warn residents not to approach him as “armed and extremely dangerous.” Wildlife Protection: A Washington tourist pleaded not guilty in federal court after allegedly throwing a coconut-sized rock at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal; the court ordered him to stay away from beaches and marine wildlife. Healthcare Policy: Rep. Jill Tokuda backed a Rural Hospital Revitalization Act that would provide up to 10 years of interest-free USDA loans to build, repair, and modernize rural hospitals. Housing & Community: Gov. Josh Green and HomeAid Hawaii opened the state’s 26th Kauhale in Waimanalo, a 20-home intergenerational village for families and kupuna experiencing homelessness. Internet Safety: Hawaii AG Anne Lopez joined a bipartisan coalition opposing a federal kids online safety bill, arguing it could weaken state enforcement while shielding big tech. Local Culture: Maui poet Noʻu Revilla is set to read June 4 at Hui No’eau, sharing work shaped by Lahaina’s 2023 fires and water history.