Michael Brestovansky

1 week ago | alohastatedaily.com | Michael Brestovansky

The U.S. Department of Labor announced Thursday that all Job Corps programs nationwide will be terminated by the end of June. This cut — which DOL as a “pause of operations” — will impact more than 100 job centers nationwide, including two in Hawai‘i located in Waimānalo and Makawao. According to a 2025 DOL report, those Hawai‘i centers have served 288 students in the last year.

1 week ago | alohastatedaily.com | Michael Brestovansky

One state agency fined another last week for having an unreported underground storage tank, but where will those funds go? Last Friday, the Hawai‘i Department of Health announced that the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency had failed to report a 6,000-gallon underground diesel fuel storage tank since its installation in 1997. DOH only became aware of the tank in 2023, when HI-EMA finally reported its existence.

1 week ago | alohastatedaily.com | Michael Brestovansky

Kamehameha Schools is still determining what to do with a trio of properties in Hawai‘i Kai. Three adjacent commercial-zoned parcels on Hawai‘i Kai Drive, about eight acres in total, will have their leases with Kamehameha Schools expire in 2028. And although KS has not made any announcement about their plans after that expiration date, residents in the area are worried about the land being used for high rise development.

1 week ago | alohastatedaily.com | Michael Brestovansky

Nearly two months after the retirement and death of Rep. Gene Ward, Gov. Josh Green has named a successor to finish out Ward's term. Green announced Wednesday that Joe Gedeon will represent House District 18 (Portlock, Hawai‘i Kai and Kalama Valley) through Nov. 3, 2026, the end of Ward's final term. As Hawai‘i Representatives are not term-limited, he is free to run for re-election for subsequent terms. Gedeon was selected from three nominees advanced by the Hawai‘i Republican Party.

1 week ago | alohastatedaily.com | Michael Brestovansky

Visitors to Hawai‘i will see their hotel bills grow next year after Gov. Josh Green signed into law a statewide green fee on Tuesday. In what the governor called a landmark moment, Green signed SB 1396, which increases the state’s existing Transient Accommodations Tax by 0.75 percentage points. Green said the tax hike is estimated to generate more than $100 million per year, which will be used to fund various climate change resiliency programs.