A federal appeals court temporarily blocked Hawaii from enforcing a climate change tax on cruise ship passengers, putting a pause on the state initiative to mitigate tourism's environmental impact.

Counties across Hawaiʻi have hired more workers, but double‑digit vacancy rates persist in police, fire and public‑works roles. Pay gaps between islands are a major hurdle.

Preston Chong has been appointed as the new Deputy Director of Kaua‘i’s Department of Parks and Recreation, bringing financial expertise and departmental knowledge to the role.

Sen. Mazie Hirono and 24 Senate colleagues urged Treasury to lift an IRS hiring freeze and rebuild the Taxpayer Advocate Service to speed refunds and cut wait times.

Gov. Josh Green has named DLNR Deputy Ryan Kanakaʻole acting chair while Dawn Chang recovers. The department says operations and scheduled land‑board hearings will continue.

DLNR opens applications Jan. 3 for 53 full-time conservation officers across Hawai‘i; candidates must meet swim and hike tests and clear background checks.

A federal judge upheld Hawaiʻi's right to tax cruise ship passengers, dismissing a challenge by the cruise industry. The tax aims to combat climate change and could set a precedent in the travel industry.

Gov. Josh Green appointed experienced individuals to key Hawaii state boards, including Moses Haia III for water resource management and Jason Moniz to agriculture and biosecurity roles.

A Civil Beat dataset shows about 45,000 delinquent state tax accounts, from $5 to more than $20 million, including some familiar public names. The list raises questions about collection, confidentiality and a 15‑year limit on old debts.

Hawaii's consumer protection office says PayPal will pay $6M to resolve claims it misled Venmo users about privacy, purchase protection and access to funds.

Governor Josh Green of Honolulu presents Hawai‘i's Supplemental Budget for FY 2027, prioritizing housing, healthcare, education, and climate resilience, with a total of $10.58 billion in general funds and $903 million in G.O. Bonds.

Hawaiʻi County’s police commission trimmed the chief search to 11 finalists and set in‑person, public interviews for Jan. 29–30 in Kailua‑Kona as it seeks new leadership for the island’s police department.

State regulators warn Hawaiʻi that AI‑powered scams — from deepfakes to fake trading bots — are surging this holiday season. DCCA points to nationwide data and lists 12 threats residents should watch for.