AGP Executive Report

US Voting Rights Fight: A federal judge temporarily blocks a Trump-backed USPS rule that could make vote-by-mail harder or even impossible in many states, with the administration appealing as election deadlines loom. Hawaiʻi Courts & Elections: The Hawaii Supreme Court ruling on City Council Chair Tommy Waters’ eligibility remains a major local political flashpoint. Local Government & Public Safety: Honolulu voters are still asking why they didn’t get a chance to weigh in on police accountability, while Oʻahu authorities continue searching for a work-furlough escapee. Hawaiʻi Health Spending Watch: New Medicaid billing data show big local swings—Ewa Beach durable medical equipment jumped to $20,777 in 2024, and Kaneohe pathology/lab procedures rose 145.3% to $52,903. Space & Innovation: University of Hawaiʻi researchers are tied to NASA’s Roman Space Telescope mission, from technology to science planning. Hawaiʻi Disaster Recovery & Culture: Maui’s ʻŌiwi Resources Department highlights Hawaiian ancestral knowledge in Lahaina recovery, including the return of buried waterways.

Hurricane Lala Recovery: Hawaii Island recovery is shifting from emergency response to early restoration, with Hawaiian Electric still working through access issues for several hundred customers and the county expanding water service while residents are urged to avoid unnecessary travel into Kaʻū. Agriculture & Food Security: Big Island ranchers and farmers are still tallying storm damage after Lala washed out coffee and knocked out water sources, with early estimates already topping $761,000 and lawmakers warning many immigrant producers may not apply for aid. Public Safety: DAGS installed 162 new AEDs in state buildings statewide, training hundreds of employees to respond to sudden cardiac arrest. State & Local Governance: Honolulu’s “Kokua Line” tackles whether debit-card convenience fees for city services are legal, with the city saying the practice complies with federal and local law. Environment & Wildlife Policy: Letters urge Honolulu to match DLNR’s push to curb feral cats on managed property, arguing city no-kill approaches still leave wildlife at risk. Cultural Life: The Paniolo Preservation Society marks its 25th anniversary with a Waimea BBQ and slack-key celebration. Land & Memory: BLNR approved a right-of-entry permit advancing a Kalaupapa memorial honoring Hansen’s disease patients, including families still searching for unmarked graves.

Hurricane Lala Recovery: Hawaiian Electric says only about 600 Big Island customers remain without power, but restoration is slowed in some areas because crews can’t access equipment yet; the company urges customers to call the trouble line if they haven’t followed up in three days. Public Safety & Infrastructure: Hawai‘i’s expanded “Slow Down, Move Over” law now covers all stopped roadside vehicles (not just emergency vehicles), with potential fines up to $1,000. Local Law Enforcement: Honolulu authorities are searching for a work-furlough escapee, Jonalee Popa, after he failed to return from a pass Friday evening. Housing & Planning: Maui’s Mākena Mauka project moved forward after density was cut by about 27% in response to community pushback, with approvals still needed at the state and county levels. State Politics / Courts: The Hawaii Supreme Court ruled Honolulu City Council Chair Tommy Waters ineligible for another term, keeping the race in the spotlight. Community & Culture: Honolulu unveiled the renovated Pahinui Pavilion at Waimānalo Beach Park for community use.

Hawaiʻi Supreme Court & Elections: The court vacated a lower ruling that had declared Honolulu City Council Chair Tommy Waters ineligible for the District IV seat, but also separately ruled he can’t run for a third consecutive term—clearing the way for Trevor Ozawa and Tara Malia Gregory to face off in November. Land & Culture: BLNR rejected a proposal to resume commercial aquarium fish collection in West Hawaiʻi, citing legal concerns and directing DLNR to consider alternatives tied to public trust duties and Native Hawaiian practices. Local Government Accountability: A wrongful death lawsuit says Honolulu failed to act on years of complaints about an illegal “Silva Dome” event space before a 2024 Waiʻanae rampage killed three women. Community & Heritage: Honolulu reopened the rebuilt Pahinui Pavilion at Waimānalo Beach Park, honoring Gabby “Pops” Pahinui, with remaining electrical and landscaping work expected to finish by year’s end. Military & Readiness: RIMPAC 2026 included the first at-sea test of SPEE3D cold-spray 3D metal printing for mission-critical replacement parts. Native Hawaiian History: Scholars are pushing back against a planned closure of NARA’s San Francisco archives, warning Hawaiʻi-related records would become harder to access.

Hawaiʻi Supreme Court & Elections: The Hawaii Supreme Court ruled Honolulu City Council Chair Tommy Waters is ineligible to run for a third term, ending a chaotic legal fight and sending Trevor Ozawa and Tara Malia Gregory to the Nov. 3 general election. Voting Rights & Federal Power: In a separate nationwide fight, DOJ appealed a temporary block on a USPS mail-voting rule, while multiple states secured court orders saying compliance would be “practically impossible.” Meta & Youth Safety: Nevada AG Aaron Ford announced a landmark $17.1B multistate settlement with Meta over Instagram/Facebook teen harm, with Nevada potentially receiving up to $255.9M over 10 years. Health Care Access: A new analysis warns rural hospital obstetrics closures could mean long drives for pregnant Medicaid patients, as funding and staffing pressures mount. Local Economy & Jobs: Hawaiʻi’s July unemployment held at 2.7% with slight job changes, according to DBEDT. Space & Science: UH researchers are tied to NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, set to launch Aug. 30.

Hurricane Lala recovery: Hawaiʻi Island damage assessments began on Oʻahu, while on the Big Island Hawaiian Electric reported only about 600 customers still without power Thursday evening; Kaʻū Hospital regained power after 11 days on generators, and crews continue restoring service across Kaʻū, Puna, North Kona, Hāmākua and Honokaʻa. Local governance: Hawaiʻi County’s lease for Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach Park ends Saturday; the landowner says the county mischaracterized negotiations, and the county says public park services will stop and facilities revert to the owner. Public safety: Honolulu police warned residents about a scam impersonating HPD to demand “ankle monitor program” payments via Venmo/Zelle. Civic participation: A new Hawaiʻi Dashboard highlights the state’s persistently low voter turnout, including being last in the U.S. for presidential-year participation through 2024. State politics & policy: DAGS Public Works administrator Gordon Wood is set to retire at month’s end. Economy/visitors: July visitor days fell 13.1% to 6.71 million as average trip length dropped to 7.59 days, even as arrivals and spending edged up. Military & travel: The Air Force’s Space-A website is still unknown to some eligible travelers, despite launching months ago.

Hawaiʻi Recovery & Emergency Management: Hawaii Island fuel is being distributed to residents still on portable generators after Hurricane Lala, with two local companies coordinating drop sites in Kurtistown and Pāhala. Tourism Economy: DBEDT reports July 2026 visitor spending rose to $1.99B (+1.7%) with 883,248 visitors (+1.1%), though stays shortened to 7.59 days (-14.1%). Local Governance: Maui County Council approved an 8-1 plan to let the Department of Water Supply buy private Launiupoko and Olowalu water systems, after Vice Chair Yuki Lei Sugimura pushed for a “complete look.” State Services: DOH says the Vital Records Office will move downtown starting Sept. 21, with both locations open during the transition. Federal Legal Battles (Title X): Hawaii AG is among states suing to block Trump administration Title X funding conditions tied to reproductive health policy. National Tech/Consumer Protection: Hawaii is included in the multistate Meta settlement forcing child-safety changes on Instagram and Facebook, with Hawaii expected to receive $76M. Defense & Military: USACE Pacific Ocean Division commander Clete Goetz relinquished command, overseeing districts including Honolulu. Public Safety Reminder: Hawaiʻi’s monthly outdoor siren and Emergency Alert System live-audio test is set for Sept. 1 at 11:45 a.m. Defense Procurement Watch: A watchdog report says Navy submarine maintenance delays have cost billions and thousands of operational days.

Hurricane Lala Aftermath: Hawaiian Electric says power has been restored to another 1,400 customers on Hawaiʻi Island, but about 2,920 still remain out; a second C-17 brought more utility trucks and tools to Hilo as crews push restoration timelines. Emergency Response: Operation TREK808 delivered 143,790 pounds of repair equipment to speed recovery on Hawaiʻi Island, with PACAF, the Hawaii National Guard, and state agencies coordinating with utility partners. Health Access: Flood damage left a Nāʻālehu health center unsafe, but a mobile clinic is now operating to restore medical and behavioral health services for Kaʻū residents. Public Safety: Honolulu officials issued a second fentanyl warning in two weeks after a cluster of overdoses in Waikiki involving five people, ages 22–32, treated with Narcan. Child-Safety Tech: Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez backed industry-wide changes as Meta agreed to a sweeping $17B-plus settlement with states over teen social media harms, with hopes other platforms follow. Local Governance: Kauaʻi mayoral candidate Bernard Carvalho withdrew from a debate, citing late and unclear debate rules. Food Safety: DOH is investigating a sixth cyclosporiasis case on Oʻahu that was not travel-related, with no suspected contaminated food source identified yet. State Watch: A memo from the Insurance Division outlines how Lala damage claims may be covered, including timing and coverage distinctions between state and county governments.

Big Tech & Youth Safety: Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez announced a landmark $17.1B multistate Meta settlement over alleged harms from Instagram and Facebook, with Hawaii set to receive up to $76M and Meta required to roll out sweeping child-safety reforms (including nighttime blocks, daily limits, parental controls, and stronger age verification), ending a trial and pushing broader industry change. Election Integrity Fight: Multiple states, including Hawaii’s neighbors, are suing to block new USPS rules tied to Trump’s mail-voting directives, arguing the Postal Service is overstepping and that the timeline and federal approval requirements could lead to eligible ballots being rejected. Healthcare Private Equity Oversight: States are tightening rules on private equity in healthcare, especially nursing homes, and deal activity is cooling as transactions get longer and more expensive—Hawaii lawmakers are reportedly considering similar proposals. Hurricane Lala Aftermath (Oʻahu): A Hawaii Kai family says Hurricane Lala tore off a major roof section and left them scrambling for shelter, while another worry lingers: power outages affecting access to a loved one in a care home. Public Health: Pennsylvania reported the first measles deaths in 35 years as cases surge nationwide, underscoring ongoing vaccination concerns.

Election Law in the Spotlight: The Hawaii Supreme Court heard arguments on whether Honolulu City Council Chair Tommy Waters can run again for the East Honolulu seat, with a ruling expected by Friday that could keep Trevor Ozawa vs. Tara Malia Gregory, restore Waters, or invalidate the Aug. 8 primary and trigger a new election. Public Safety Tech: HPD is watching Honolulu’s Aug. 5 drone pilot that dispatches unmanned aircraft to 911 calls in two urban districts, as the state weighs whether to adopt similar tools. Accountability & County Governance: A new critique targets weak enforcement of county “giveaways” like subsidies and no-bid contracts, arguing oversight gaps leave little consequence when promises aren’t kept. Disaster Recovery & Scams: After Hurricane Lala, Hawaiʻi County got a federal emergency declaration for FEMA assistance, while state officials warn of “storm chaser” scams and urge residents to verify any offer before paying. Energy Reliability: A Civil Beat analysis says power outages in Hawaiʻi are happening more often and lasting longer, even when major storms are excluded. Land & Environment: DLNR says vandals chopped down at least 10 eucalyptus trees in the Ewa Forest Reserve and installed a bench, violating state rules. Military Land Use: The Navy issued a final environmental impact statement to extend Kauaʻi land leases supporting PMRF and NASA’s Kōkeʻe observatory. Courts & Crime: FBI says a dual U.S.-Canadian sailor arrested in Ucluelet is accused of producing child sexual exploitation images on a Hawaii-based sailboat; he faces 15 to 30 years if convicted.

Pacific Security & Law Enforcement: Kiribati detained a Chinese vessel for illegal shark fin harvesting, part of a wider Pacific crackdown involving multiple island nations and U.S. Coast Guard support. Child Exploitation Case: A Hawaii child-sex-exploitation indictment against Donald Steven Lang led to his arrest in Canada, with FBI Honolulu investigating and DOJ seeking his return to face trial. Road Safety Policy: Hawaii expanded its “Slow Down, Move Over” law to cover stationary vehicles on the roadside, including tow operators and stranded drivers, after a tow operator was killed by an impaired driver. Local Government & Recovery: After Tropical Storm Moke threatened Big Island flood damage in areas still reeling from Hurricane Lala, officials reported the storm weakened and impacts were limited, allowing crews to keep restoring roads, water, and power. Health & Community: Hawaii’s first locally acquired dengue case was confirmed, while statewide suicide-prevention efforts were highlighted by DOH and partners. Education Snapshot: Data showed 197 Hawaiian students enrolled in Wayne County districts in 2024-25, down 2% year over year.

EV & micromobility rules: Honolulu is tightening how e-bikes and mopeds can be used, including a 10 mph cap where sidewalk riding is allowed and keeping mopeds/e-motorcycles out of bike lanes, aiming to make the rules clearer and safer for pedestrians. Hawaiʻi election dispute: A House District 43 Democratic primary is headed to the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court after Rep. Kanani Souza challenged the result, citing a precinct overage in the post-election report that matters because the race was tied. Public health push: Hawaiʻi is marking September as Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month with statewide events and partner efforts focused on gatekeeper training and crisis support. Hurricane recovery & power: Hawaiian Electric says additional crews and equipment are arriving to restore power on Hawaiʻi Island after Hurricane Lala and Tropical Storm Moke, with thousands still without service. Volcano park access: Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park partially reopened after storms, with key roads and overlooks back online while other areas remain closed due to hazards and the next Kīlauea eruption window. Pacific security & environment: Kiribati detained a Chinese vessel for illegal shark fin harvesting, while the U.S. and Pacific territories continue to clash over deep-sea mining plans near the Mariana Trench. Regional geopolitics: A report says China has developed hypersonic glide capabilities that could threaten U.S. aircraft far from the battlefield, putting Guam—and potentially Hawaiʻi—within reach.

Hawaiʻi Courts & Elections: The U.S. Supreme Court lifted a block on Trump’s mail-in ballot restrictions, though another injunction remains—keeping the midterm fight over voting rules active for states and courts. Public Safety & Law Enforcement: Honolulu police are investigating the death of a Southwest Airlines flight attendant found after a fall at a Waikīkī hotel. State Economy: Hawaiʻi’s July unemployment rate held at 2.7% (seasonally adjusted), with job shifts including gains in leisure & hospitality and losses in construction and trade/transport/utilities. Disaster Response: South Carolina’s Palmetto Incident Support Team deployed to help Hawaiʻi prepare for Tropical Storm Lala’s approach, as the state continues emergency planning. Research & Resilience: UH reported $647.3M in FY 2026 extramural funding, and a parametric coral reef insurance policy tied to Hurricane Lala is set to fund reef repair assessments. Local Government Ops: Hawaiʻi Island lane closures were posted for the week of Aug. 24, with work tied to striping, utility pole work, and post-storm tree trimming.

Airport Operations: HDOT says the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport Terminal 2 baggage-screening outage is resolved, ending the earlier call for Hawaii Island travelers to arrive 2.5 hours early. Local Governance: Honolulu’s Liquor Commission voted to appoint Jason K. White, a former FBI executive, as its next administrator. Hawaiʻi Policy & Society: A new survey finds many faculty say they value viewpoint diversity but don’t regularly engage with people who disagree. Natural Hazards: Hurricane Lala’s aftermath remains a live issue as Tropical Storm Moke brings more rain to already battered areas. Federal Immigration: Sen. Mazie Hirono and other senators urge USCIS to reconsider proposed naturalization fee hikes and the end of reduced-fee options and waivers. Pacific Security: U.S. and Philippine forces visited a Chinese-linked steel plant tied to Balikatan planning, rejecting Beijing’s claims the visit signals other U.S. plans. Environment & Economy: A proposal to auction deep-sea mining leases near the Marianas draws pushback from Pacific U.S. territories. Community & Culture: Nisei Week’s Grand Parade returned to Little Tokyo with floats, dancers, and community groups.

Tropical Storm Moke Response: Hawaii is bracing again after Hurricane Lala, with emergency officials and the National Guard positioning assets statewide as Moke tracks south of the islands, bringing heavy rain, flooding and mudslide risk—especially on the Big Island—plus high winds and dangerous surf. Airport Disruption: Big Island travelers are being told to arrive early at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport because baggage-screening equipment outages at Terminal 2 are slowing checked-bag processing. Disaster Recovery Accountability: In East Maui, residents say the Lower Nāhiku bridge was washed out in Lala and they can’t get clear answers on who owns it or who must rebuild it, leaving people cut off. Infrastructure Hardening Debate: Lawmakers are pushing for more proactive disaster funding and “hardened” infrastructure, arguing Hawaii can’t keep rebuilding the same way after each storm. Community Safety Net: After Lala, grassroots networks and nonprofits are coordinating meals, supplies and help—while officials warn the broader social safety net is under strain. Election Rules: Hawaii lawmakers are again debating how to handle election tie-breakers, with critics questioning the “decided by lot” approach. Regional Defense Watch: Taiwan’s first F-16V Block 70 fighters are reportedly en route via Hawaii, with analysts saying the move won’t shift the cross-straits balance as much as broader system-level factors.

Tropical Storm Moke Response: Gov. Josh Green says Hawaiʻi is bracing for Moke after Hurricane Lala, with 5–10 inches of rain most likely on the Big Island and a flood watch in effect; the storm is expected to pass a couple hundred miles south, but gusty winds and heavy rain remain concerns for Kaʻū, lower Puna, Hāmākua Coast and Kohala. Emergency Declarations & Shelter: Green has requested a presidential emergency declaration for Hawaiʻi County, Maui County and Honolulu to unlock federal help, and the state has authorized 100 hotel rooms for Big Island residents via DHS. State Media Coordination: Hawaiʻi activated a Joint Information Center for Moke, setting a single media contact line and email and operating daily through the weekend. Local Recovery Health Care: The Hawaiʻi Island Community Health Center is working to restore care in Kaʻū after its Kaʻū Health and Dental Center was flooded and remains unsafe without power or reliable connectivity. Civil Rights & Military Naming Fight: NAACP leaders criticized reported plans to rename a new Navy aircraft carrier honoring Doris Miller with President Trump’s name, calling it a “slap in the face” amid ongoing service conditions.