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.

Budget committee advanced Bill 47 to cut Honolulu's vehicle‑weight fee; city staff warn the change could cost $20–30M and require costly registration‑system upgrades.

Hawaiʻi Island police say a valid medical cannabis card will no longer automatically block a county firearm permit; federal paperwork still poses obstacles.

Incumbent Rep. Jill Tokuda centers her 2026 campaign on affordability — proposing Social Security fixes, a temporary gas-tax pause and housing rules to rein in big buyers.

State Rep. Mark Hashem won a national award after leading efforts to secure state funding for a new Oʻahu Children’s Justice Center that aims to expand services and open in 2028.

New laws create a Cesspool Conversion Revolving Loan Fund and authorize DLNR co‑management agreements, pairing modest startup funding with new financing tools for homeowners.

A sharp split at OHA erupted after four trustees filed court documents backing ousted CEO Stacy Ferreira, prompting a 5–1 vote to order withdrawal.

Gov. Josh Green signed laws banning most disposable e-cigarettes and creating a state registry of FDA-authorized vaping products.