Stories by Wyatt Haupt Jr.

Trust looking to give Lahaina land new life

One of the largest owners of undeveloped land in Lahaina, Kamehameha Schools, intends to dramatically improve stewardship of its property in the wake of the Aug. 8 wildfire disaster, which the trust has been accused in litigation of partly facilitating.

TSA aims to bolster its staff on Kaua‘i

LIHU‘E — The Transportation Security Administration is looking for a few good people to help bolster its ranks at Lihu‘e Airport, where thousands of tourists arrive every week for the start of their Kaua‘i experience.

RIMPAC exercises continue on USS Carl Vinson

As the biennial exercise Rim of the Pacific continues off the coast of Hawaii, the U.S. Navy’s Carrier Strike Group 1 has been practicing flight operations from its flagship the USS Carl Vinson.

Brush fire burned about 1,600 acres in Koke‘e

KOKE‘E — A mop-up was underway on Monday at the site of a brush fire, which scorched approximately 1,600 acres before it was extinguished by air and ground attacks from personnel with local, state and federal agencies.

Red Hill community group told it won’t be disbanded

HONOLULU — The Red Hill Community Representation Initiative received an email Friday from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency confirming that the organization will not be disbanded, despite being notified in June about its potential dissolution in response to Navy complaints.

Lane closures scheduled on Kaua‘i

LIHU‘E — A lot of road-related work is scheduled for the upcoming week on the island of Kaua‘i, the Hawai‘i department of Transportation said in an update on Friday.

Waikiki nonprofit eyes affordable housing

HONOLULU — The Waikiki Community Center is planning for the first major redevelopment of its site, which could include senior affordable housing to support its goal of providing holistic services.

Road repairs to begin in Kaka‘ako

HONOLULU — With legal ownership issues resolved, Kaka‘ako streets in one of Honolulu’s major residential and commercial hubs are about to undergo long-awaited repairs and refurbishment to fix potholes, bumps and overall disrepair.

Man gets life sentence for fatal stabbing and arson

HONOLULU — Scott David DeAngelo, who in 2022 escaped by jumping from a burning fourth-floor Pearl City apartment that he set on fire after fatally stabbing his roommate in the neck, has now escaped a possible sentence of life without parole.

Vendor disqualification delays Maui fire report

The lone vendor selected to perform an after-action report of the Maui Emergency Management Agency’s response to the fatal Aug. 8, 2023, wildfire that killed 102 people and destroyed the heart of historic Lahaina town is non-compliant with state policies and unable to perform the work.