Maui lawmakers want ethics complaints to survive resignations and remain actionable for six years, with retroactive language now headed to the full Council.

Maui County is preparing $40 million in grants for wildfire recovery, workforce training and essential public services. Applications open soon, with a Sept. 24 deadline.

An environmental organizer is taking on a 16-year incumbent in a primary that could decide East Oʻahu’s next state representative.

A labor‑backed challenger, Christy MacPherson, is taking on veteran Sen. Donna Mercado Kim in Honolulu’s District 14 primary. The contest turns on education oversight, wages and housing.

Five newcomers are running for Chair Alice Lee’s Wailuku seat. The Aug. 8 primary could flip the council’s 5‑4 balance and decide housing and rental policy.

The Pentagon awarded Oracle an up‑to‑10‑year enterprise software agreement worth nearly $7 billion to centralize on‑premises licensing across DoD, the Coast Guard and intelligence agencies.

Sen. Mazie Hirono joined a Senate push to codify federal language-access rules after White House and DOJ moves scaled back multilingual services. The bill would require agencies to publish language plans, protect interpreters and set AI standards.

A new Office of Marine Affairs and coordinator — signed into law July 6 — will centralize Hawai‘i’s ocean policy and push for blue-economy jobs.

The Honolulu Charter Commission voted 8‑5 to keep an empty‑homes tax off the November ballot, leaving the measure’s fate with the City Council and a tight calendar.

DHS will narrow the Maui Relief Program to households with minor children starting Aug. 1 as state-added funds run low. MEO, Maui Recovers and 2-1-1 are listed as next steps.

The Hawaiʻi Supreme Court set aside a 1990 conviction, ordered a new trial and used the opinion to excoriate recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings.

CMS has begun rulemaking to raise Medicare outpatient reimbursements for Hawai‘i hospitals, a change senators estimate will bring roughly $17 million a year to the state.

Kaua‘i’s elections office is deploying ballot drop boxes islandwide and mail ballots are due to arrive ahead of the Aug. 8 primary. Drop boxes will be open 24/7 through Election Day at 7 p.m.