Polihale Beach closed due to power outage
LIHU‘E — The Department of Land and Natural Resources has closed access to Polihale State Park because of a recent power outage.
U.S. District Court tosses Kaua‘i group’s COVID-19 proclamation lawsuit
HONOLULU — A federal judge dismissed a Kaua‘i nonprofit’s constitutional challenge to former Gov. David Ige’s COVID-19 emergency proclamations on Monday.
SpaceX Starship explodes after launch, will not land near Kaua‘i
LIHU‘E — The largest rocket ever built will not splash down off the coast of Kaua‘i as planned after it exploded over the Gulf of Mexico four minutes into its innagural flight.
Kaua‘i County Council shifts tax break plan
After a Wednesday, April 19 county council committee meeting, a plan for broad Kaua‘i property tax breaks appears to have been shelved in favor of a more targeted proposal.
Hilario found guilty on all counts in Anahola murder trial
LIHU‘E — At the Fifth Circuit Court in Lihu‘e on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, Vicente Hilario was convicted of the same five charges he was convicted of in a 2013 trial — murder in the first degree, murder in the second degree, retaliating against a witness, intimidating a witness and bribery of a witness — for which he could face a sentence of life in prison without parole.
‘Undercover sting operations’ mop up illegal vacation rentals on Kaua‘i
Data-sharing agreements with tech companies and undercover “sting operations” have cut the number of illegal vacation rentals operating on Kaua‘i to the lowest rate in a decade, officials report.
Kaua‘i road closures: April 17 to 22
WAINIHA — The state Department of Transportation announced a possible right lane closure of Kuhio Highway (Route 560) in either direction for grass cutting between mile marker 7 to 9, in the vicinity of Wainiha Bay Beach Park and Ha‘ena Beach Park, April 17 through April 21, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Vicente Hilario murder trial wraps up on Kaua‘i
LIHU‘E — The question of Vicente Hilario’s guilt or innocence now rests in the hands of the jury.
Kaua‘i men arrested in $34,000 cocaine bust
LIHU‘E — Two Kaua‘i men could be facing heavy prison time after federal agents discovered 2 kilos of cocaine in a suitcase at Lihu‘e Airport last week.
Kaua‘i council chair plans to fund tax breaks with reserves
Each year, Kaua‘i puts tens of millions of dollars into its reserve fund to be used for unanticipated costs during emergencies.
Charges dropped in Anahola assault
LIHU‘E — Prosecutors dropped assault charges against two Kaua‘i men last month after they were unable to locate the alleged victim.
Elon Musk Starship may land near Kaua‘i this month
LIHU‘E — The most powerful rocket ever built could splash down off the coast of Kaua‘i within the next two weeks, according to Elon Musk’s Twitter account.
Kaua‘i police warn of Craigslist apartment rental scams
The already herculean task of finding an affordable apartment on Kaua‘i has been made more difficult by a recent rash of fake listings aimed at scamming tenants.
Kaua‘i road closures: April 10 to 15
WAINIHA — The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation announced a possible right lane closure of Kuhio Highway (Route 560) in either direction for grass cutting between mile marker 5 to 7, in the vicinity of Lumahai Beach Park and Wainiha Powerhouse Road, April 10 through April 14, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m..
Final Mahelona Hospital Master Plan to be unveiled next week
KAPA‘A — Officials will unveil the final master plan for the redevelopment of the state’s oldest operating hospital and surrounding lands at a community meeting next week.
Luxury home sales tax to fund affordable housing killed
LIHU‘E — A bill to tax the sale of multimillion-dollar properties and use the proceeds to fund affordable housing became one of the most popular proposals in the state Legislature this session, garnering dozens of pages of supportive testimony.
Hilario presses detective on witness statements in Anahola murder trial
As the Vicente Hilario murder trial enters its sixth week, the focus remains on the credibility of key witness David Manaku.
Kaua‘i man sentenced to probation for government theft
LIHU‘E — The former federal government employee who illegally spent $35,000 in public money, expressed remorse before his sentencing in federal court on Tuesday.
Kaua‘i Police Department budget hearing highlights vacancy problem
LIHU‘E — Amid national trends and a series of retirements, the Kaua‘i Police Department has struggled recently to fill a number of vacant positions.
New Kaua‘i Representative Luke Evslin adapts to state politics
It’s been a whirlwind month for the newest member of the state House of Representatives, Luke Evslin, who has been learning the ropes of state politics since his mid-session appointment to the Legislature.