4 charged in alleged $1.5M fraud scheme

HONOLULU — The state Department of the Attorney General has charged the alleged ringleader and three members of what authorities say is a criminal organization involved in a $1.5 million check fraud scheme.

Maui judge declines to appeal own wildfire ruling

Insurance companies with claims against Hawaiian Electric tied to hundreds of Maui wildfire lawsuits largely prevailed Friday in court on an issue that could affect when and how they share damage payments with fire victims.

Suspended sheriff’s deputy allegedly pressured before death

HONOLULU — A 32-year-old sheriff’s deputy found dead in his apartment Monday was allegedly being pressured about his role in an incident that led to him and four other deputies having their police powers restricted in June, according to an email sent Tuesday to the entire Department of Law Enforcement written by another of the suspended deputies.

‘Hobbit House’ smothered in mud

A well-known house in Kau that was once a bed-and-breakfast sustained major flood damage as Tropical Storm Hone passed to the south of the Big Island over the weekend.

Ewa Beach resort developer offers hotel site for sale

HONOLULU — The master developer of Ocean Pointe and Hoakalei Resort has listed for sale a lagoon-front piece of land for development of an initial hotel or timeshare complex at the 1,100-acre project in Ewa Beach.

Green blasts State Farm for refusing to settle Maui claims

HONOLULU — In addition to addressing sea-level rise and climate change, Gov. Josh Green now wants income from a proposed visitor impact fee to help the state provide its own insurance to victims of future disasters following the Aug. 8, 2023, Maui wildfires.

Stadium Authority expects to award contract soon

HONOLULU — The state and Aloha Ha­lawa District Partners still have some boxes to check off before a contract is signed to move forward on developing the new Aloha Stadium Entertainment District, including construction of the stadium itself.

Labor Day holiday closures

LIHUE — In observance of the Labor Day holiday, offices that serve the County of Kauai will be closed on Monday, Sept. 2.

Most surf sites test clean in August

LIHUE — A monthly analysis of streams, rivers and surf spots around the island found high concentrations of enterococcus bacterium — a federally recognized indicator of fecal presence in water — at a number of locations.

United flight attendants green light strike

HONOLULU —Genelle Jucutan-Puga, a United Airlines flight attendant from Oahu, sounded serious as she yelled, “What do we want? Contract! If we don’t get it — shut it down.”

Court clears path for aquarium fish collection permits

HONOLULU — The Hawaii Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled 4-1 that the pet industry’s environmental review of commercial aquarium fish collection in West Hawaii is legally adequate, permitting the state Board of Land and Natural Resources to consider reopening nearly the entire West Hawaii coastline to this practice — which has historically removed hundreds of thousands of native fish from the state’s reefs each year.