A new statewide training program will certify Hawai‘i contractors for heat pump installs and rebate‑funded home retrofits starting January 2026. The TREC initiative pairs hands‑on instruction with national credentials.

More than 150 Royal Kona Resort workers staged a one‑day strike Friday over pay, staffing and job‑security language after nearly a year without a contract.

Honolulu police, the mayor and volunteers handed out nearly 2,000 gifts at Nānāikapono Church during Operation Blue Light Christmas. The drive collected 2,027 presents for keiki and families.

The Helmsley Charitable Trust awarded more than $2.2M to UH to launch the Hoʻōla Early Phase Clinical Research Center and upgrade JABSOM training across the islands.

HPD officers staffed a booth at Family Programs Hawaiʻi’s holiday party and shared a video of the visit. Sources show differing attendance figures for the keiki event.

Hawaii Pacific Health and Kamehameha Schools renewed a statewide partnership at Kapālama, adding data‑sharing and research to tackle Native Hawaiian health disparities.

The Kaua‘i Fire Department advises on lithium-ion battery safety, including proper use, charging, and disposal to prevent fires and toxic gas release.

Multiple overnight outages knocked out power to roughly 1,560 Central Oʻahu customers and smaller windward outages were blamed on lightning. Hawaiian Electric crews worked through the night to restore service.

Waipahu's Walmart hosted a community holiday event with police and civil servants fostering public camaraderie, highlighted by an officer gifting a PS5 to a local student.

The state Commission on Water Resource Management fined Maui Land & Pineapple $140,000 for repeated instream‑flow violations in Honokōhau and tied the money to community‑vetted repairs. The decision comes amid drought and ongoing lawsuits over West Maui water.

Lt. Pernell Hanoa of Hawaiʻi Police has been promoted to captain, effective Dec. 16, to lead Kaʻū District after various roles over 20 years in the force.

State leaders in Hawai‘i announce airport travel enhancements, including the fully digital Akamai Arrival form, new wayfinding apps, live parking info, and future security checkpoint renovations to streamline holiday travel.

Limited New Year’s fireworks are allowed in Maui; firecrackers need a $25 permit and aerial devices are banned. Here’s where to buy permits and what to expect.