AGP Executive Report

BLNR & Ocean Economy: The Hawaiʻi Board of Land and Natural Resources rejected a proposal to restart commercial aquarium fish collection in West Hawaiʻi, citing legal concerns and directing the agency to consider alternatives tied to public trust duties and Native Hawaiian practices. Hawaiʻi Island Recovery & Utilities: Hawaiian Electric says power restoration is nearly complete on Hawaiʻi Island after Hurricane Lala, with fewer than 400 customers still without service as crews move neighborhood-by-neighborhood and tackle remaining transmission and pole repairs. Hurricane Lala & Local Business: A Pahala family launched a GoFundMe after flooding devastated their home and damaged their coffee farm and supply business, with hundreds of coffee trees lost and orders still being worked through. Reef Restoration & Insurance: For the first time, Nature Conservancy coral repair tapped its hurricane insurance policy after Lala triggered coverage, with a statewide coalition set to assess and guide rapid reef rescue and reattachment. Tourism & Spending: New state data shows July visitor numbers and total spending rose, but Waikīkī business is still struggling as travelers take shorter trips and spend more per day. Governance & Elections: The Hawaiʻi Supreme Court vacated a lower-court ruling that had declared former Honolulu Council Chair Tommy Waters ineligible for the 2026 District IV seat. Immigration & Workforce: The Trump administration cleared a proposal aimed at ending the H-1B 60-day grace period, though the current protection remains in force while the rule process continues. Land Use & Community: Hawaii County’s lease termination for Punaluu Black Sand Beach Park is now headed into a dispute, with the leaseholder’s attorney saying the county’s account of events is wrong and pointing to additional negotiation time.

Meta Settlement: Nevada AG Aaron Ford announced a landmark $17.1B multistate settlement with Meta over Instagram/Facebook teen addiction claims, with required safety changes and guaranteed Nevada payments over 10 years. Election Law Fight: Ford also co-led a 25-state lawsuit challenging a USPS rule that would let the agency regulate mail voting, arguing it could block states’ election administration. Hawaiʻi Jobs: Hawaiʻi’s July unemployment rate held at 2.7% as nonfarm jobs rose slightly (+1,200), with losses in construction, trade/transport/utilities and financial activities. Tourism & Travel Tech: Google expanded AI Mode travel planning to track cheaper flights and help book hotels, while Southwest is moving toward its own airport lounges by 2027. Health Watch: CDC says COVID-19 activity is increasing in 48 states (still “very low” overall), with Hawaii listed at moderate levels. Local Consumer Safety: BBB Scam Tracker reports Kaneohe tied for sixth in Hawaii for scam reports in July, with investment scams most common.

Tourism & Spending: Hawaii lost 1 million visitor days in July as travelers shortened trips—visitor days fell 13.1% to 6.71 million while arrivals rose 1.1% to 883,248 and spending edged up 1.7% to $1.99 billion, a sign of higher costs and uncertainty pushing shorter stays. Local Governance & Access: Hawaii County’s loss of the Punalu‘u Black Sand Beach Park lease is sparking a dispute, with the leaseholder’s attorney saying the county mischaracterized events and proposing a conservation easement to protect public access. Disaster Response & Power: After Hurricane Lala, Hawaiian Electric reported only about 600 Big Island customers still without power as crews continue restoration; Ka‘ū Hospital power returned and recovery work is ongoing. Public Safety: Honolulu police warned residents about a scam impersonating HPD and demanding payments for a fake “ankle monitor program” via Venmo/Zelle. Consumer/Tech: The CFTC cautioned that crypto ATM kiosk payment requests are “probably a scam,” citing major losses and a surge in kiosk-related fraud. Business/Travel Products: Scientific Games launched a new multi-state “Game Show Experience” linked lottery game, bringing TV-brand scratch and digital play to participating states.

Hawaiian Electric Resilience Funding: Hawaiʻi secured $18.5 million in federal FEMA/BRIC money to support $25 million of grid resilience and hazard mitigation projects across Maui, Hawaiʻi Island and Oʻahu, targeting wildfire, flooding and hurricane risks with five projects due 2027–2029. Tourism Pulse: DBEDT reported July 2026 visitor spending rose to $1.99 billion (+1.7%) and arrivals hit 883,248 (+1.1%), with higher daily spend ($296, +17.1%) but shorter stays (7.59 days). DOH Vital Records Move: The DOH Vital Records Office is relocating downtown Honolulu, with the transition starting Sept. 21 and completion by Oct. 1; in-person services move to City Financial Tower and hours expand to 7:45 a.m.–4 p.m. weekdays. Hawaiʻi Island Recovery Support: Island Energy Services and Big Island Energy are distributing 4,000 gallons of donated fuel for generator-dependent residents, starting at Kurtistown and then Pāhala. Local Business & Community: Two Maui oceanfront homes at Mākena Road are listed together as a rare $45 million compound. Tech & Travel: Google expanded AI Mode travel planning, adding flight price tracking and hotel booking options with Google Pay. Meta Child-Safety Settlement Wave: A major multistate Meta settlement (up to $17.1B) is driving sweeping Instagram/Facebook child-safety requirements nationwide.

Meta Child-Safety Settlement: Meta reached a landmark deal with nearly all U.S. states to pay up to $17.1B and impose sweeping limits on how teens use Facebook and Instagram, with Hawaii set to receive up to $80.7M and new safety requirements aimed at addictive features and harmful content. Hawaiian Electric Recovery: HECO restored a key transmission line between Pahala and Kilauea, bringing power back to about 1,300 customers; roughly 1,600 still remained without power as crews push recovery after Hurricane Lala. Local Governance & Accountability: A Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement official’s overseas tech-scouting trips tied to major contracts are raising questions about procurement and conflicts, while a separate report says an Agribusiness Development Corp. executive resigned amid board turmoil. Disaster Impact on Vulnerable Residents: A senior housing building in Honolulu remains without elevator service after Lala flooding, leaving low-income residents with mobility challenges. Tech & Finance: 39 state bankers associations formed the BankChain Alliance to build a bank-owned blockchain network for tokenized deposits and smart payments, targeting a 2027 launch. Public Safety: Hawaii officials issued another fentanyl warning after a cluster of overdoses on Oahu, urging young adults to avoid experimenting.

Meta Child-Safety Settlement: Hawaii is set to receive up to $76M from Meta’s $17.1B multistate deal, which would require sweeping protections for under-18 users on Instagram and Facebook (including nighttime blocks and tighter parental controls). Local Business & Consumer Protection: Hawaiʻi regulators warned residents about misleading door-to-door solar sales, saying the state doesn’t offer free solar systems and doesn’t do cold-calling outreach. Healthcare Deal Climate: As states tighten oversight of private equity in nursing homes, PE-involved healthcare deals are declining, with Hawaii among states considering new rules. Banking & Borrowers: A report says banks ended aid to minority borrowers before a formal ban, after federal guidance shifted on special purpose credit programs. Tech & Work: Reuters reports Meta’s Project OT aimed to replace large parts of its workforce with AI, but internal resistance and limits derailed the plan. Hawaiʻi Economy & Lifestyle: A Kauaʻi coastal home, Wahi Lani, is pending sale for $12.17M after 41 days of marketing. Community & Events: The 2026 Hale ‘Aina Celebration returns Sept. 5 at The Kāhala, featuring themed experiences and Hale ‘Aina dining awards. Weather: Honolulu can expect breezy trade winds and mostly sunny, drier conditions, with a Small Craft Advisory still in effect for nearby waters.

Meta AI Restructuring: Reuters reports Mark Zuckerberg’s “Project OT” would replace much of Meta’s human work with AI, cutting teams in two waves and potentially expanding layoffs. Local Governance & Elections: The Hawaii Supreme Court heard arguments over Tommy Waters’ eligibility for an East Honolulu City Council seat, with a decision expected by Friday that could reshape the Nov. 3 matchup. Energy Reliability: A Civil Beat analysis says Hawaiʻi power outages are happening more often and lasting longer, even without major storms or other big outliers. Hurricane Lala Recovery: Hawaiian Electric says it restored power to more than 1,700 Hawaiʻi Island customers, but about 4,330 still remain without electricity as crews tackle hardest-hit areas. Business & Security: A Kokua Line Q&A warns Global Entry passport updates must be done by logging into your account directly, not by clicking links in unsolicited emails. Agriculture: Kaʻū ranchers welcome rain from Hurricane Lala but warn weather whiplash could quickly return. Defense & Land Use: The Navy issued a final environmental review to extend Kauaʻi state land leases supporting the Pacific Missile Range Facility and NASA’s Kokee observatory.

Pacific Enforcement: Kiribati detained a Chinese vessel for illegal shark fin harvesting in waters south of Hawaii, escorting it to Christmas Island for investigation, as a wider Pacific crackdown involved multiple island nations and U.S. Coast Guard support. Hawaii Logistics: Hawaii Car Transport launched scheduled air cargo vehicle shipping between Los Angeles and Honolulu, cutting transit to about 4–5 days for pickup versus weeks by sea. Healthcare Deals: New state oversight laws are slowing private equity’s healthcare acquisitions, with PitchBook reporting fewer deals and lower deal value in early 2026. Local Business Marketing: Sage Marketing Solutions released a “Law Firm Growth Blueprint” for criminal defense attorneys, focusing on the full client-acquisition funnel from online visibility to intake tracking. Maui Finance Leadership: Edward Jones named Carey Reddick to lead its Kahului branch, returning him to Maui after 16+ years across finance, mortgage lending, and real estate. Retirement Math: A new analysis finds Social Security benefits stretch differently by state—California and Hawaii cover less of retiree costs than many lower-cost places. Agriculture Recovery: USDA will offer technical and financial help to Hawaii farmers and ranchers recovering from Hurricane Lala, including livestock loss support.

Hawaiian Electric Recovery: Reinforcements arrived on Hawaiʻi Island to speed Hurricane Lala restoration, but Tropical Storm Moke slowed repairs; about 6,390 customers were still without power Monday. Local Utilities & Housing: Waiakea Villas in Hilo has been without electricity for over 10 days due to a transformer issue, leaving residents unable to store food or cool homes. Banking & Markets: American Savings Bank filed for an IPO, seeking to list on the NYSE under ticker ASBH, with share count and pricing still to be set. Tourism & Travel: American Airlines will open its premium Flagship dining lounges to more business-class travelers on Hawaii and other routes starting Sept. 15. Public Policy & Consumer Relief: DLNR says refunds for storm-closed Hawaiʻi State Parks (including Diamond Head on Aug. 19) are automatic, minus nonrefundable service charges, with processing taking 4–6 weeks. Pacific Trade & Environment: Kiribati detained a Chinese vessel for illegal shark fin harvesting, part of a wider Pacific crackdown. Education & Workforce: UH Manoa welcomed about 20,000 students Monday, with $50 million in scholarships aimed at keeping college affordable. Local Business Impact: Punaluʻu Bake Shop in Kaʻū remains shut after Hurricane Lala caused catastrophic damage, with no reopening date yet.

Hurricane Lala Relief: Gov. Josh Green authorized the state Department of Taxation to waive penalties and interest for eligible taxpayers who can’t meet state income tax, general excise tax, and transient accommodations tax deadlines tied to Lala. The relief window runs Aug. 20 to Oct. 20, with affected filers asked to submit Form L-115A (Tax Relief Request for State Declared Disasters – Hurricane Lala) by Oct. 20. Local Recovery & Community Support: The Salvation Army Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division says it served more than 3,600 meals and snacks and delivered over 700 meals to people impacted by Lala, using local partners to reach areas facing power and access challenges. Research & Jobs: UH reported $647.3 million in FY 2026 extramural funding—its second-highest record—highlighting continued investment in research despite federal funding upheaval. Business & Travel: Alaska Airlines announced new nonstop Seattle routes to Athens and Paris starting in 2027, a move that could improve Europe access for Hawaii-based travelers and incentive groups. State Economy: Hawaii’s July unemployment rate held at 2.7%, near a two-year high, according to the latest report.

Hawaiʻi Economy: The state’s unemployment rate jumped to 2.7% in July, the highest since late 2024, signaling a cooling labor market as employment stays flat and job counts slip. University Research: UH secured $647.3 million in extramural funding for FY2026, its second-highest total on record, despite federal science funding shifts. Hurricane Recovery & Utilities: Big Island crews are still working through major outages after Hurricane Lala, with about 6,460 customers without power as Tropical Storm Moke threatens more rain and wind. Water Disruptions: Hawaiʻi County water service remains uneven in South and West Hawaiʻi, with generator-dependent systems and boil-water guidance for parts of Nāʻālehu. Local Resilience & Preparedness: Health officials urged storm readiness focused on injury prevention, mold and carbon monoxide risks, and keeping medications accessible. Community & Culture: The Hawaiʻi Island Seed Bank highlights long-term restoration planning by preserving native seeds as a “safety deposit box” for future recovery. Policy & Environment: A push continues to stop commercial aquarium collection of native reef fish, arguing reefs should stay intact for Hawaii’s food, culture and economy.

Storm Recovery & Public Health: Hawaii state health officials are urging residents to plan for storm-related risks as Tropical Storm Moke follows Hurricane Lala, warning about injuries, contaminated floodwater illnesses, mold-related respiratory problems, carbon monoxide from generators, and disruptions to chronic care and mental health. Big Island Weather Impact: Moke is forecast to pass south of Hawaii Island with heavy rain (5–10 inches, up to 15) and gusty winds, with a Flood Watch through Monday and flash-flood/mudslide concerns on already saturated areas. Community Preparedness: A Volcano resident says lessons from Lala carried over—charged generators, canned food, and filling water bottles—while neighbors are sharing resources as Moke approaches. Infrastructure Accountability: East Maui residents in Nāhiku say the Lower Nāhiku bridge “lifeline” was washed out in Lala and nobody seems to know who owns or must rebuild it, leaving residents cut off and demanding answers. Local Business/Travel: Norwegian Cruise Line says the Norwegian Spirit will spend summer 2028 sailing South Pacific itineraries that include Hawaii, with departures from Honolulu. Education Funding: A Hawaii nonprofit-backed push highlights the federal Education Freedom Tax Credit as a way to expand scholarships for families seeking private-school options. Housing & Development: Penticton council rejected a rezoning that would have allowed up to 28 units in a six-storey building, signaling a possible path forward only if density is reduced.

Disaster Response & Federal Aid: Gov. Josh Green has formally requested a presidential emergency declaration for Hawaiʻi after Hurricane Lala, seeking specialized federal resources to protect public health and keep essential services running as Tropical Storm Moke approaches. Power & Grid Accountability: Hawaiian Electric says it’s restoring power on Hawaiʻi Island ahead of Moke, with about 8,800 customers still without electricity as crews work through storm-damaged areas and update estimated restoration timelines. Storm Watch: Moke is weakening slightly but still threatens heavy rain and gusty winds; a flood watch remains in effect for the Big Island through Monday, with saturated ground from Lala raising the risk of flash flooding and mudslides. Community Recovery: In Kaʻū and Pahala, residents describe long outages, shortages, and reliance on neighbors and nonprofits as cleanup continues and fear grows about what happens if another storm hits before services fully return. Energy Policy: A debate continues over whether Hawaiʻi should invest in LNG infrastructure for Oʻahu power plants, with analysts saying LNG’s rate impact may be modest and urging decision-makers to weigh more than price. Local Business & Safety: A lawsuit was filed over a Kauaʻi “doors-off” helicopter tour crash, alleging passengers were unable to escape after the aircraft went into the ocean. Solar Market Signal: Even after the federal rooftop solar tax credit ended, Hawaiʻi added thousands of new rooftop solar systems in early 2026, suggesting demand is holding up.

Consumer Protection: Hawaii’s DCCA says about 913 local Mercedes-Benz diesel owners (2009–2016) and some Freightliner Sprinter vans may qualify for an emissions-fraud settlement—free repairs, an extended emissions warranty, and a $2,000 incentive, with repairs needing to be scheduled by Aug. 31. Storm & Risk Management: Tropical Storm Moke is expected to peak soon and pass a couple hundred miles south of the Big Island, but heavy rain (5–10 inches, up to 15) and gusty winds are still driving a Flood Watch and Wind Advisory, with residents urged to prepare for outages and hazardous travel. Power & Recovery: Nearly a week after Hurricane Lala, Hawaiian Electric reports about 11,290 customers still without power on Hawai‘i Island, with the biggest gaps in Puna and Kaʻū, and customers frustrated by limited, area-specific updates. Healthcare Continuity: Hawaii Island Community Health Center is working to restore care in Nā‘ālehu/Kaʻū via a mobile clinic after its Kaʻū Health and Dental Center was inundated and remains unsafe without remediation. Insurance Innovation: A coral reef insurance payout tied to Hurricane Lala is funding reef assessment and repair—positioning reefs as storm-protection infrastructure for Hawaii’s coastal economy. Aviation Labor: Alaska Airlines flight attendants filed a grievance over staffing on long-haul 787 routes from Seattle, including Alaska-branded service tied to former Hawaiian Airlines crews.

Hurricane recovery meets the next test: Hawaii Island residents are still dealing with Hurricane Lala cleanup and power restoration, but now Tropical Storm Moke is expected to pass south this weekend, bringing a Flood Watch and heavy rain (up to 15 inches in spots) plus gusty winds that could worsen outages and flooding risk. Local resilience & utilities: Hawaiian Electric says it expects nearly all Big Island customers back on by Friday, with crews supported by Southern California Edison, while Verizon is staging backup power, mobile/satellite gear, and emergency messaging for another storm cycle. Insurance & claims: The Nature Conservancy’s coral reef insurance paid out for the first time after Lala, triggering a $200,000 payout under a pre-set tropical cyclone parameter; public adjusters are also urging residents to document damage and file claims quickly. Dam safety: HIEMA is warning people near or downstream of Wahiawa Dam to know evacuation routes as reservoir levels are managed and a rehabilitation “Aquadam bladder” is installed to boost spillway capacity. Business/community: Oʻahu’s Good Boy Food for Dogs is expanding from a home-kitchen experiment into a Wahiawa commercial operation, and Kona-area hubs are coordinating supplies as repairs continue.

Tropical Storm Moke Watch: Hawaiʻi County is bracing for another round of heavy rain and possible flash flooding as Tropical Depression Two-C strengthens into Tropical Storm Moke, with forecasts calling for 5–10 inches (locally up to 15) on the Big Island and warnings that saturated ground from Hurricane Lala raises mudslide risk. Disaster Readiness & Recovery: U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda urged Hawaiʻi to rethink disaster preparation after touring Lala damage, including major impacts at Naalehu Elementary where flooding and debris overwhelmed campus facilities. Business Continuity: Verizon says it’s staging backup power, monitoring 24/7, and using satellite messaging options while offering customer relief through Aug. 31 as another storm nears. Local Food Supply: The Kohala Food Hub paused its usual deliveries after Lala but is still supporting communities with ice pickups, hot meal distribution, and pay-what-you-can produce while power disruptions linger. Payments Update for Shoppers: Walmart’s long-awaited Apple Pay rollout is set to begin next week, with Hawaiʻi included in a Sept. 10 launch window. Recognition in Hawaiʻi Finance: Pacific Business News honored Hawaiʻi Community Lending COO Chanel Josiah as part of its 40 Under 40 Class of 2026.