Statewide concealed carry licenses climb in Hawaii. The Hawaii Department of the Attorney General has released new 2025 statewide statistics on concealed carry firearm licenses. According to the report, 3,764 people in Hawaii held a valid license to carry a concealed handgun as of Dec. 31, 2025. Off icials said that marks a 70.5% increase from the 2,207 license holders reported at the end of 2024. Hawaii News Now.Two defense contractors arrested for bribery and major fraud conspiracy scheme involving Hawaiʻi-Pacific Innovation Campus. The Justice Department announced criminal charges against Leonard Pick, 62, of Palm Beach Shores, Florida, and Brian Kent, 59, of Tampa, Florida, for allegedly orchestrating a bribery and major fraud conspiracy that corrupted the competitive procurement process for a Department of War technology innovation lab in the Pacific. These indictments result from ongoing federal investigations into fraud and collusion in the defense contracting industry in Hawaiʻi.  Maui Now.Jarrett Keohokalole files for Congress, launches campaign focused on affordability. Hawaii State Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole has officially filed to run for Hawaii’s First Congressional District, launching a campaign centered on affordability, health care and what he calls the need for new leadership. Keohokalole filed his candidacy on Wednesday, setting up a challenge to longtime U.S. Rep. Ed Case. KITV4.OahuPolice commission taps retired deputy chief from San Francisco to lead HPD. For the first time in the 94-year history of the Honolulu Police Department, an officer who never worked in Hawaii will lead the largest law enforcement organization in the state. Honolulu police commissioners voted 5-2 to appoint David Lazar, 55, as the 13th chief of HPD.  Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio.  Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.Oahu homeless count shows slight uptick, but some improvements. The 2026 Oahu Point-in-Time Count Community Report conducted on Jan. 26 identified 4,539 people experiencing homelessness on the night of Jan. 25 — a roughly 1% increase from the 4,487 counted in 2024. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.Raised crosswalks in Kailua to be removed, prompting lane closures. State officials say lane closures are scheduled next week for the removal of two raised crosswalks that were installed on Kailua Road about four years ago. Star-Advertiser.Marine institute shores up Moku o Loʻe against climate change. The Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology has released its Mālama ʻĀina Plan, which guides how the islet will adapt to climate change. Hawaii Public Radio.Vigilante Curb Painting Has ʻAiea Resident Seeing Red. Red paint on public curbs is reserved for Honolulu bus stops, but at The Pearl One condominiums, the enamel has been more widely applied. Civil Beat.Hawaii IslandGeneral plan bill advances in County Council. The Hawaii County Council voted 6-3 on Wednesday in favor of passing a long-term public planning document that has garnered significant public outcry, at times described by council members as “personal attacks,” “vilifying comments,” “conspiracy theories” and “AI psychosis.” Tribune-Herald.Council holds public meeting on proposed property rates. The Hawaii County Council held a public hearing Tuesday seeking feedback on plans to raise property tax rates for nonresidents and owners of second homes in a push to make up for an estimated $15 million budget shortfall. At the same time, many island residents would see a reduction in their property taxes. Tribune-Herald.Permits granted to carry concealed guns up 54%. According to a report released Wednesday by the state Department of Attorney General, the total number of active concealed-carry licenses in Hawaii County as of Dec. 31, 2025, was 656. That’s 231 more licenses than reported as of Dec. 31, 2024, or a 54% increase. Tribune-Herald.Mauna Loa Observatory Road Restored, 3 Years After Lava Flow. Access to NOAA’s Mauna Loa Atmospheric Baseline Observatory, or MLO, has been restored following the late-2022 eruption of Mauna Loa volcano. Big Island Video News.MauiMaui County committee defers overnight parking ban, discusses water fee overhaul. The Maui County Council’s Water and Infrastructure Committee deferred action Monday on a proposed overnight parking ban on three industrial area streets in Kahului after hearing community concerns about its impact on homeless people living out of their cars and the need for safer alternatives. Maui Now.Maui Council committee advances $4M budget amendment for Hālau of ʻŌiwi Arts. A Maui County Council committee recommended first reading approval Tuesday of a $4 million bond funding request for the Hālau of ʻŌiwi Arts project in Wailuku, even as council members raised pointed questions about why items originally represented as part of the project had been dropped before construction began. Maui Now.Schatz visits site of future Hālau of ‘Ōiwi Art in Wailuku. U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz recently visited the construction site of the future Hālau of ‘Ōiwi Art in Wailuku to view ongoing work on the cultural center, which will serve as a hub for hula and Native Hawaiian arts as well as a disaster resilience facility. Maui News.KauaiKauai Fire Department blesses three brush trucks and high water rescue vehicle. The Kauai Fire Department (KFD) held a blessing on Wednesday to welcome three new brush trucks and a new high water rescue vehicle in front of the Historic County Building in Lihue.  Garden Island.Maui's marshy wetlands can play a role in Hawaiʻi's climate solution. Wetlands can store up to five times as much carbon as forests. They’re rich in native biodiversity, and can help protect coral reefs from runoff and absorb floodwater during storms.  Hawaii Public Radio. ...read more read less