Allegations that a longtime Oʻahu doctor secretly used his own sperm have resurfaced, exposing a gap in Hawaiʻi law and prompting calls for new remedies.

Hawaii completed a $1.94 billion bond sale and won rating upgrades that should lower borrowing costs for schools and highway projects.

New federal and local data show Honolulu’s immigration court backlog has jumped, leaving many detained people waiting about 19 months for a first hearing.

Keith Regan, a longtime Maui administrator, has been named acting lieutenant governor as the office faces a bribery probe. The state comptroller says he won't run in August.

The Hawaii Legislature approved SB3001 on May 6, 2026, ordering conversational AI platforms to label themselves, add child safeguards and route crisis users to hotlines.

Kelly King filed to challenge Tom Cook again for the South Maui Council seat, pitching transparency and housing solutions after a 97‑vote loss in 2024.

Committees added $50M to Hawaii’s rainy‑day fund in a budget tweak, lifting reserves toward $1.67B as lawmakers weigh tax and spending fixes.

DHHL will hold a series of beneficiary meetings statewide this summer to discuss plans to study geothermal resources that officials say could cut power bills. The proposal has drawn both support and strong opposition from beneficiaries.

President Lai returned after a surprise Eswatini trip Taipei says Beijing tried to block; the visit showed Taiwan pushing back as the U.S. voiced support.

An arbitrator ordered two fired Honolulu paramedics back to work after a secret surveillance probe, but the city has delayed the ordered backpay. The case spotlights missteps inside EMS.

West Maui Rep. Elle Cochran missed 11 of 55 House floor days this session while collecting per diem, reviving questions about West Maui’s representation at the Capitol.

Donne Dawson is retiring after 25 years leading the Hawaii Film Office, leaving the state to recruit her replacement while services continue. DBEDT praised her record.

Lawmakers and designers are pushing to replace the century‑old Kalihi jail with a rehabilitative facility that favors green space, natural light and treatment over towers and razor wire. The move has put cost, capacity and a possible public‑private financing model at the center of the debate.