AGP Executive Report

Food Safety: Hawai‘i DOH is warning families about a Nara Organics powdered infant formula recall due to potential Clostridium botulinum contamination; the products were sold nationwide and at Target in Hawai‘i, and parents are urged to stop using recalled lots and watch for infant botulism symptoms. Local Government & Costs: Honolulu’s sewer rates change July 1, with the base rate dropping but the water-use (volumetric) rate rising—city officials say the structure rewards conservation and point residents to the CARES assistance program. Consumer Privacy: Hawai‘i’s Office of Consumer Protection is joining a coalition of attorneys general opposing the federal SECURE Data Act, saying it would cap and preempt stronger state privacy protections. Public Safety: O‘ahu officials are urging safer driving after multiple weekend crashes, including a serious Pearl City collision involving a motorcycle and a multi-car H-1 crash. Community & Culture: Ward Centre’s remaining shops are preparing to close, including Taj Clubhouse after 50 years. Legal Update: Hawai‘i AG prosecutors have filed additional felony charges against former Honolulu attorney Robert Chapman in a second estate fraud case. Weather: A powerful south swell keeps a High Surf Warning in effect, with extra risk near shorelines and harbor entrances.

High Surf & Ocean Safety: Honolulu lifeguards handled 276 rescues and 7,556 preventative actions during a High Surf Warning, including help for a capsized 22-foot vessel off Kawaikui Beach Park. Hawaii Economy: DBEDT projects Hawaii’s growth to slow to 1.6% in 2026 after 2.5% growth in 2025, with labor and unemployment staying relatively steady. Privacy Policy Fight: Hawaiʻi’s Office of Consumer Protection is opposing the federal SECURE Data Act, saying it could weaken and preempt stronger state privacy protections. Weather Watch: NOAA says a new El Niño has formed and may strengthen later in 2026, raising odds of hotter, drier conditions in parts of the U.S. Local Connections: Hawaiian Airlines brothers Kaʻimi and Kekumu “Kumu” share a flight-crew journey across the islands and beyond. National Tragedy: A skydiving plane crash in Missouri killed 12, prompting renewed scrutiny of skydiving safety oversight. Science: Researchers captured the first deep-sea footage of the elusive goblin shark in the Central Pacific.

Healthcare in Maui: Oprah Winfrey blessed a new CT scanner at Maui Memorial Medical Center, a move Maui Health says will speed up and improve imaging for earlier, more accurate diagnoses. Volcano Update: Kīlauea’s Halemaʻumaʻu Episode 49 ended after about 7.5 hours of lava fountaining; the alert level dropped from WATCH to ADVISORY and aviation color from ORANGE to YELLOW, though ash hazards remain near the vents. Public Safety: A Missouri skydiving plane crash killed 12; investigators are looking at what went wrong, with past probes pointing to maintenance gaps and weak oversight. Local Weather: High surf warnings continue for south shores Monday into early Tuesday, with 10–15 ft waves and possible minor coastal flooding. Science & Hawaii Links: Chinese researchers say they’ve modeled the origins of global seamounts, including the hotspot debate that often ties to places like the Hawaiian Islands. Community/Online: A Hawaii TikTok driveway-park dispute went viral, reigniting arguments over property rights and neighbor behavior. Business/Travel: Mauna Kea Beach Hotel marks 60 years with a major $240 million renovation.

Volcano Watch: Kīlauea’s alert level rose from ADVISORY to WATCH and the aviation code from YELLOW to ORANGE after low dome fountains fed a short lava flow at Halemaʻumaʻu, with lava-fountaining episode 49 forecast for June 14–16. Local Tourism & Business: Mauna Kea Beach Hotel marked 60 years on the Big Island and celebrated completion of a $240 million renovation across its 252 rooms, blending mid-century character with updated amenities. Local Weather: South shores face dangerous, life-threatening waves with a high surf advisory, plus king tide-related minor coastal flooding risk. Maui Film: A new Wailuku Film Festival (June 17–21) shifts the spotlight to local and student filmmakers as “Celestial Cinema” wraps up. Renewables Policy: Gov. Josh Green’s executive order to preserve 2026 solar tax credits offers a temporary fix, but advocates warn it doesn’t fully close the gap to Hawaii’s climate goals. Hawaiʻi Community: The Hawaiʻi Hotel & Restaurant Show returns this week at Neal Blaisdell, bringing hospitality and food leaders together.

SBA Rules Overhaul: The U.S. Small Business Administration proposed changes to its 8(a) program that would end race-based “social disadvantage” presumptions for individually owned firms, while keeping eligibility standards intact for tribally owned businesses, Alaska Native corporations, Native Hawaiian organizations and other Native entities. Local Public Safety: Honolulu police reported multiple injuries after a crash on the H-1 Freeway eastbound in Pearl City; one lane has reopened after earlier full closures. Ocean Hazards: A high surf advisory is in effect for south-facing shores through early Tuesday, with waves forecast up to 10–14 feet and warnings for popular Oahu beaches. Weather Watch: Forecasters say a potentially strongest El Niño pattern is likely, raising the odds of more tropical activity near Hawaii during hurricane season. Community & Culture: Friends of the Library of Hawaii kicks off its 77th annual booksale at Ward Centre this weekend, with proceeds supporting public library literacy programs. Energy Policy: Gov. Josh Green signed an executive order preserving Hawaii’s 2026 renewable energy tax credit. Sports (UH): UH pitching coach Keith Zuniga is leaving for USC.

Solar Policy: Gov. Josh Green signed an executive order preserving Hawaii’s 2026 rooftop solar tax credit after Act 24 changed credits for several industries, aiming to protect recent investment decisions while setting up 2027 legislative updates. Ocean Safety: Hawaii’s surf forecast warns of growing, potentially life-threatening waves on south-facing shores, with trade winds shifting and showers favoring windward and mauka areas as the weekend turns. Local Courts: A federal lawsuit says an 83-year-old Honolulu woman was hit with nearly $600,000 in fines after a website error let her listing appear as short-term rentals, despite a 30-day minimum rule. Public Safety on Roads: Hawaii Police increased enforcement on the Daniel K. Inouye Highway after recent fatalities, citing speeding and other violations during stepped-up operations. Sports & Community: Kahana Canoe Club marks 50 years ahead of its Nāleiʻehā Regatta Saturday in Lahaina, celebrating decades of hoe waʻa tradition and community ties. Business & Advocacy: More than 200 Hawai‘i residents and businesses joined the 10th annual Hawai‘i on the Hill in Washington, D.C., hosted by Sen. Mazie Hirono and the Chamber of Commerce Hawai‘i. Health & Rights: A lawsuit by a former University of Hawai‘i football recruiting director alleges discrimination tied to her narcolepsy diagnosis.

Workforce Housing Push: Hawaii’s first workforce housing project for teachers is moving ahead in Mililani, with a 95-unit rental complex (Kumelewai Hale) clearing its final environmental assessment; permits are next, with construction targeted for 2027 and move-ins in 2030. Local Agriculture Under Pressure: Oahu North Shore farmers say they’re still recovering from March flooding that wiped out crops and equipment, and they’re worried proposed cuts to the City’s Office of Economic Revitalization could slow aid and rebuilding. Invasive Species Response: Kauaʻi and Oʻahu are both seeing new containment efforts—DLNR and partners are using a beetle repellent tool to help slow Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death on Kauaʻi, while Kāneʻohe Bay continues a coordinated response to an invasive sea anemone. Animal Cruelty Case: A Kapaʻa Quarry distillery cat mascot, Whiskey, was shot and critically injured, alongside another cat, Ginny, prompting calls for accountability. Legal Fight for Animals: The Hawaii Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case seeking legal rights for Honolulu Zoo elephants Mari and Vaigai. Energy Policy: Gov. Josh Green issued an executive order to preserve Hawaiʻi’s 2026 renewable energy solar tax credit after Act 24 changes raised concerns for installers and customers. Community & Culture: HIEMA announced a leadership transition effective July 1, and OHA reiterated support for protecting Papahānaumokuākea as a puʻuhonua.

Hawaiian Airlines & Disney “Moana” Partnership: Hawaiian Airlines unveiled the first of three “Moana” aircraft liveries—on an A321neo—ahead of the July 10 film debut, with two more designs coming on an A330 and a Boeing 717, all carrying the message “Voyage beyond the reef.” Conservation on Oʻahu: Hawaiʻi Marine Animal Response and partners say the Waikīkī monk seal pup at Kaimana Beach is gaining weight and will be relocated to a more remote shoreline once weaning begins to reduce crowd risks. Volcano History: USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory marks the 100-year anniversary of the 1926 Mauna Loa eruption that destroyed Hoʻōpūloa village and is noted for early aerial lava-flow photography. Deep-Sea Discovery: Researchers report the first-ever footage of a goblin shark alive in its natural habitat, including a sighting in the Tonga Trench and another near Hawaii. Weather Watch: NOAA confirms El Niño has formed and could strengthen to historic levels, raising the odds of extreme heat and other disruptive impacts.

Wildfire & Power Prep: Hawaiian Electric is urging customers to prepare for wildfire conditions and says it’s hardening poles, adding covered conductors, and expanding fire detection across Oʻahu, Maui, and Hawaiʻi island. Ocean Safety: A warning-level south swell is expected to build late Friday into Saturday, peaking Sunday and lining up with high tides that could bring coastal flooding on the south shore. Scam Alert: Hawaiʻi Judiciary and HPD warn of a new text scam claiming unpaid traffic citations will lead to license and registration suspension—courts say they don’t text unless you opt in. Local Community & Culture: Honolulu youth soccer players are drawing inspiration from the World Cup as the sport grows locally. Airline Spotlight: Hawaiian Airlines unveiled the first of three live-action “Moana” aircraft liveries, with more designs arriving in July. Maui Recovery Planning: County officials are developing a Lahaina Royal Complex master plan, identifying key parcels tied to Mokuhinia Pond and Mokuʻula Island. Sports & Education: Five donors committed $5M to UH athletics NIL opportunities to help retain local talent and expand equitable support.

El Niño Watch: NOAA has confirmed El Niño is underway, with a 63% chance it will become one of the strongest on record—meteorologists warn it could rapidly intensify and turbocharge extreme heat, flooding, droughts and wildfires worldwide. Local Community & Culture: Hawaiʻi’s trans and māhū communities are speaking out amid rising national hostility, sharing what safety and gender-affirming care look like in the Islands. Cost of Living Pressure: Inflation hit 4.2% in May, the highest in three years, driven largely by higher energy prices tied to the Iran war—raising new questions about when rates could fall. Health Access on Hawaiʻi Island: Tropic Care returns June 19–28 with no-cost medical, dental and optometry services at multiple sites, first-come first-served. Travel Tech: Southwest is partnering with Starlink for faster in-flight Wi‑Fi by June. Money Watch: A new WalletHub analysis puts Pearl City, Hawaiʻi among the highest U.S. cities for credit card debt per household.

Local Crime: Honolulu police are investigating an apparent assault in Kalihi that left a man in his 60s critically injured after medics responded to a Nalanui Street apartment before 4:30 p.m. Public Safety: A visitor’s trip to Manoa Falls ended with a fractured ankle and wrist, with officials reminding hikers that “everything’s easy until it’s not,” especially when trails are muddy. Community & Culture: Cirque du Soleil’s ʻAuana released “Kele ka Moana,” a new single written entirely in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, ahead of the full soundtrack. Sports & Education: UH announced a $5 million NIL commitment to boost student-athlete compensation and keep local talent in Hawaiʻi. Environment: The Honolulu Zoo and DLNR released more than 100 critically endangered Kahuli land snails into a protected Koolau habitat. Transit Planning: The public can weigh in on designs for Skyline’s Kuloloia (Downtown) Station at a workshop Wednesday evening.

Hawaiʻi Public Safety: A Hawaii Island man, 32-year-old Steven Campos of Hilo, was charged after police found 12 children left unsupervised at a Kona hotel, along with a loaded firearm and about a pound of cocaine in the room. Wildlife & Courts: A judge set a timeline for a federal case involving a tourist accused of throwing a rock at an endangered monk seal in Lahaina. Earth & Volcanology: The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said a 4.7 quake on Hawaiʻi Island was similar in origin to other recent island-chain quakes but unrelated to the May 22 6.0 event; aftershocks are possible. Local Development: A spokesman for the Flint Hills Digital Campus says a Chapter 11 filing tied to a separate Hawaii housing project won’t affect the data center’s feasibility, while lawmakers point to SB 98 as guardrails. Homelessness Response: Honolulu opened a new Kokua Command Center to coordinate the city’s homelessness efforts. Tourism & Business: Hilton Hawaiian Village completed renovations to its Rainbow Tower, refreshing guestrooms with locally inspired design. Military & Ocean Science: The Ocean Exploration Trust begins a two-week seabed mapping expedition around the Marianas, with coverage also including Wake Island and Hawaiʻi.

Public Safety Tech: Hawaii law enforcement unveiled the state’s first National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN), named for fallen Maui Police Officer Suzanne O, to link shell casings across counties and help track guns moving between islands. Waikiki Incident: A chemical mixing blast at the Wayfinder Hotel’s pool pump room injured a worker; the area was evacuated and hazmat crews responded. Kona Child Neglect Case: Police arrested four parents after 12 children were allegedly left unsupervised at a Kona hotel; one father faces drug and gun charges after cocaine and a loaded firearm were found. OHA & Media: OHA trustees will revisit a potential purchase of KITV and KIKU, with due-diligence spending back on the agenda. Education Access: Hawaiʻi Community College’s Kō Education Center launches “First Year Here at Kō” for North Hawaiʻi students starting this fall. Aquaculture Push: UH is joining a $13.5M NOAA aquaculture consortium to strengthen America’s seafood supply. Community Safety: Maui officials urge people who work with children to take free mandated reporter training during summer. Sports Spotlight: Honokaa’s Josyah Napoleon-Umeda was named 2026 MaxPreps Hawaii Player of the Year.

Local Emergency Response: Honolulu firefighters battled a three-alarm fire at Waipahu Towers, rescuing six people—including two infants—after smoke filled upper floors; the fire was fully out by about 12:18 a.m. State Leadership: Gov. Josh Green announced DLNR chair Dawn Chang will retire July 1, naming Ryan Kanakaʻole as chair/director and David Day as first deputy. Business & Growth: Two Maui companies—Island Essence and Vaui Social Liquids—were picked for Mana Up’s Cohort 11 accelerator, joining a six-month push for brand and market expansion. NOAA & Ocean Science: NOAA launched CIFARM, a new aquaculture research and markets initiative hosted by the University of New Hampshire, with Hawaii Sea Grant among partners. Community & Culture: Honolulu’s Kokua Command Center is highlighted as the city’s new homelessness response hub, aiming to coordinate services. Arts & Heritage: Celebration 2026 in photos shows Sealaska Heritage Institute’s dance festival drawing about 1,800 dancers, including Hawaii’s Hālau Kamehameha Kapālama. Skywatching: Astronomers using Hawaii’s Gemini North captured a detailed new image of the Crystal Ball Nebula (NGC 1514).

Homeless Response: Honolulu unveiled its new Kokua Command Center at 222 N. School St., a hub meant to coordinate city services and connect people to shelter, health care, and housing resources “almost in real time.” Mililani Case: Juveniles were charged in a Mililani robbery tied to a deadly shooting; prosecutors say the shooting was self-defense and murder charges were declined, with a 14-year-old facing first-degree robbery counts and others facing theft. Waialee Beach Assault: A 19-year-old was charged with attempted assault in the first degree after an attack that left a 23-year-old and a 15-year-old with broken bones and concussions; bail set at $35,000. Puna Crash: A judge reduced bail for a Puna man charged in a fatal motorcycle crash, lowering it to $350,000. Sports: Rainbow Wahine volleyball named Joshua Walker as head coach, bringing him back to Hawai‘i after coaching at Baylor. Weather: Trade winds ease midweek with periodic showers, plus a stronger south-southwest swell expected Saturday night into early next week.

Fatal Crash in Kona: Police say a Toyota Tacoma veered off Old Kona Airport roadway and hit a pedestrian walking south; the driver, 23-year-old Janne Labin, was charged after an investigation that’s now being reclassified as second-degree negligent homicide, with additional charges possible. Rural Drug Access: A $3.2 million grant aims to help rural hospitals avoid generic drug shortages by pooling purchasing power through the Civica Rural Hospital Program. Maui Wildfire Recovery: A court ruling limits attorney fees in Maui wildfire settlement claims, steering more money to survivors and families. Safe Driving Push: Honolulu’s 5th annual Zumbaathon for Azalia Park drew more than 150 people to support Safe Ride Hawaiʻi, which provides rides to impaired drivers. Education-to-Work Pipeline: The U.S. Department of Education named Hawaii as a semifinalist for its Connecting Talent to Opportunity Challenge. Weather: Breezy trade winds with periodic showers are expected to ease later in the week, with surf choppiness on the east side.