AGP Executive Report

Hawaiʻi Homestead Fight: Gov. Josh Green vowed to fight a new federal lawsuit challenging the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands’ blood quantum lease requirement, calling it unconstitutional and promising the state will “fight…with everything we have.” Culture & Arts: Maui Arts & Cultural Center opens “Through the Lens,” a free June 2–July 25 photo exhibit featuring six Hawaiʻi-based artists exploring society, environment, and alternate realities. Parks & Community: Waiʻānapanapa State Park on Maui starts facility improvements—new comfort station and Honokalani Road resurfacing—beginning June 6, with parking closures and updated access guidance. Local Food & Lifestyle: Yick Lung – Hawaii’s Choice spotlights a multi-generation snack maker updating li hing products for younger, health-minded customers while keeping community giving in the mix. Weekend Picks: Big Island event roundups highlight National Donut Day at KTA, Puna Taiko’s summer fair, and “Songs of the Sea” in Waimea. Sports: UH Hilo named Elliott Cribby as the new Vulcans baseball head coach after a national search.

North Shore Youth Violence: After a brutal mobbing on Oʻahu’s North Shore, community members are calling for real action to stop teen violence, pointing to counseling, mentorship, and the pressure families face as social media and attention gaps fuel conflict. Voyaging Anniversary at Iolani Palace: Hōkūleʻa’s 50th anniversary is being marked with a free Kamaʻāina Sunday celebration at Iolani Palace on June 14, featuring hula, live music, hands-on navigation activities, and a panel with members of the 1976 crew. Ancestral Remains Protection Delayed: On Hawaiʻi Island, an iwi kūpuna burial council meeting was cancelled for lack of quorum, leaving a key burial treatment plan stalled for years and raising fears for long-term protection of ancestral remains. Hawaiian Home Lands Lawsuit: A new federal lawsuit challenges the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act’s 50% blood quantum requirement, arguing the century-old system is unconstitutional—another flashpoint in the fight over Native Hawaiian entitlements. Housing & Community Costs: Honolulu’s condo world is under strain as aging buildings rack up deferred maintenance, pushing fees and assessments higher for residents trying to keep properties safe. Culture & Community Events: Oʻahu’s June 5–7 weekend lineup includes free, family-friendly options like block parties, card shows, harbor nights, and more. Food & Hospitality for Dad: Four Seasons Resort Lānaʻi is rolling out Father’s Day dining and a Michelin-star chef collaboration June 19–20. Public Safety & Health Access: A growing national push highlights doulas as affordability gaps widen, while Hawaii’s “just in case” abortion pill policy remains a major flashpoint in the state’s healthcare debate.

Hawaiʻi Teacher Shortage: UH is expanding Hoapili Teacher Pathways statewide, offering tuition-free, after-work and online routes into elementary teacher licensure for “grow our own” educators across all 10 campuses. Reproductive Health Policy: Hawaii is moving to “just in case” abortion pills via telehealth, letting people stockpile mifepristone/misoprostol before pregnancy. Education Rights: Senators Alex Padilla, Brian Schatz and others are pushing back hard on the dissolution of the Office of English Language Acquisition, warning it weakens support for multilingual learners. Community & Culture: Maui Ocean Center educator Sabrina Medina was named a 2026 Science Communication Fellow for a deep-sea mission near Wake Island, bringing ocean science to students and communities. Local Arts & Heritage: A Big Island woodworker is turning family history into heirloom art rooted in Hawaiian culture. Food Security for Keiki: Hawaiʻi’s summer meal programs are gearing up statewide, with SUN Bucks and other federally funded options helping families bridge the school break. Pride & Identity: Hawaiʻi’s Pride Month proclamation and flags at the Capitol keep Aloha for LGBTQ+ communities in the spotlight.

Hawaiʻi Home Lands Lawsuits: A new federal challenge targets the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, arguing the 50% Native Hawaiian blood quantum requirement is unconstitutional, after an applicant was denied a lease. Local Politics: Former Honolulu City Council member Trevor Ozawa announces a run to reclaim East Honolulu District 4, setting up a rematch with chair Tommy Waters. Mental Health Access: Hawaiʻi opens applications for new provisional mental health licenses starting July 1, aiming to expand supervised associate-level care and improve reimbursement. Education Pipeline: UH expands tuition-free Hoapili Teacher Pathways statewide across all 10 campuses to address the elementary teacher shortage. Food & Community: DBEDT hosts the fourth annual Hawaiʻi Made Conference (June 23) focused on turning local food ideas into market-ready products. Summer Meals: Hawaiʻi families can use SUN Bucks ($189 per child) and other summer nutrition programs to cover the school meal gap. Weather Watch: NOAA warns Hawaiʻi’s hurricane season could be busier than normal, with El Niño and warm ocean waters increasing the odds of stronger storms. Culture & Pride: Pride Month flags fly at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol as the governor declares June Pride Month. Local Spotlight: UH Mānoa associate professor Mapuana Antonio earns national APHA awards for Native Hawaiian health and climate justice work.

EV affordability & costs: Used EVs are rising in popularity, but Insurify data says insuring an EV still costs about 42% more than a gas car—though the gap is shrinking for newer models. Local construction & careers: Maui’s Construction Industry of Maui (CIM) awarded three $20,000 scholarships to future builders, including students from Maui Preparatory Academy, Kamehameha Schools Maui, and Maui High. Sustainable housing in Lahaina: Hawaiʻi Off Grid has started Habitat for Humanity’s first mass timber “Bunkhouse” on Maui, designed for faster, more affordable volunteer housing. Marine life inspiration: Madison Bridges is heading to the University of Delaware to study marine biology, building her path through diving and conservation work. Agriculture spotlight: Maui AgFest honored soil microbiologist Dr. Harold Keyser as this year’s Maui Legacy Farmer. Hawaiʻi infrastructure training: Hawaiʻi Community College and UH Maui College launched a certificate program training workers for cesspool conversions, aiming to meet the state’s long-delayed cleanup goals. On-the-ground Hawaiʻi: A Point-in-Time Count shows child and family homelessness in Honolulu up sharply, with families struggling despite working. Community & culture: Honolulu’s Hawaiian Airlines is rolling out chef-curated pre-order Main Cabin dining with Chef Sheldon Simeon starting July 1. Sports & campus: UH women’s basketball added two assistant coaches, while UH leaders and lawmakers clash over funding for student-athlete pay. Environment watch: Rapid Ohia Death response efforts continue as the fungus keeps hitting the Big Island’s ohia forests.

Language & Identity: At TiLeqw-iLhch (Haida Point), the Gathering of the Eagles brought indigenous leaders and educators together to talk about sacred languages, loss, and what it takes to bring them back. Homelessness on Oʻahu: A new Point-in-Time Count snapshot shows children and families rising in homelessness, with working families squeezed by housing costs. North Shore Violence: Two Oʻahu families are speaking out after a brutal North Shore assault left a 15-year-old and a Waimea Valley lifeguard hospitalized; police are urging anyone with info or footage to come forward. Food Security for Students: Pell Grant recipients face much higher food insecurity, and SNAP cuts could worsen it—raising stakes for college persistence. AI Workforce in Hawaiʻi: UH is partnering on a symposium series to prepare Hawaiʻi’s workforce for responsible AI adoption, with a June 25 event at Honolulu Community College. Moana Pasifika Future: A new bid is exploring relocating the Super Rugby franchise to Hawaiʻi, as shareholders move toward liquidators. Culture in Honolulu: The Honolulu Museum of Art is hosting “Divine Disruption,” blending sacred Nepalese art traditions with pop culture. Pride Month: Hawaiʻi’s State Capitol is flying Pride flags as June is declared Pride Month.

Education & Student Debt: A coalition of 26 Democratic-led states, including Hawaiʻi, sued the U.S. Education Department over a new policy that caps federal loan amounts for “professional” degrees starting July 1. Local Learning & Community Life: UH Maui College brings back hands-on “Just for Fun” cooking classes starting June 6, with summer recipes and knife-safety tips. Culture & Arts: A new season of Netflix’s “Untamed” is filming in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, shifting the mystery from Yosemite and leaning into local tensions and island microclimates. Public Health & Housing: A federal report says homelessness dropped in California and nationwide for the first time in years, while activists argue progress came from housing and support funding. Food & Travel: Hawaiian Airlines starts pre-ordered, chef-curated Main Cabin meals on most Hawaiʻi–U.S. routes from July 1, aiming to deepen island flavors onboard. Community & Safety: Waimea Valley reports visitor numbers down 25–30% this spring after Kona-low storm impacts and ongoing traffic restrictions.

Murder Charges in Puna: Hawaii police have charged 36-year-old Jacob Daniel Baker with first- and second-degree murder in the killings of three men found across rural Puna on the Big Island; investigators say they haven’t identified a motive and reported no links among victims beyond two living near each other. Public Access Under Pressure (Maui): Akakū Maui Community Media is bracing for a major $400,000 budget cut in January 2027, warning that a Spectrum Oceanic franchise renewal could drain public and community media funding and shrink local civic space. Niu Festival (Maui): ʻAha Niu: Maui Nui Coconut Celebration Festival returns June 13 at Maui Nui Botanical Gardens with free workshops, panels, and a coconut sprout giveaway focused on food resilience and coconut rhinoceros beetle prevention. Free Film Immersion (Maui): Lahaina Restoration Foundation hosts a free 360-degree immersive screening of “E Hoʻi Ka Nani I Mokuʻula” at Maui Ocean Center on June 12, using animation shaped by oral histories. Workforce Training (Hawaii): A local program is offering free 7–10 week accelerated training for in-demand healthcare and construction roles, with credentials to help participants land jobs faster. Outdoors Expo (Honolulu): The Hawaiʻi Outdoors Expo hits Blaisdell June 6–7 with gear, demos, and activities for biking, camping, hiking, and water sports.

Hawaiʻi Public Safety: A 36-year-old man, Jacob Daniel Baker, has been charged with first- and second-degree murder in the killings of three men in Puna, after a manhunt on Hawaiʻi Island; police say there’s no clear motive yet. Community & Culture: Akakū Maui Community Media is fighting to preserve public access funding as a $400,000 annual cut looms, warning the loss could shrink free speech and local storytelling. Education & Equity: New reporting highlights how Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students remain extremely underrepresented in several Louisiana parishes’ schools, with some districts enrolling just one student. Local Services in Disasters: For Kona-low recovery aid, multilingual help is available via Honolulu’s Office of Economic Revitalization and FEMA language options, plus interpretation support through Pacific Gateway Center. Pride in Hawaiʻi: Pride Month displays are set for the state Capitol and Honolulu buildings, with rainbow flag-raisings and city lighting plans. Science & Place: UH researchers using Keck Observatory measured a sun-like star’s age at 2.3 billion years, adding a new benchmark for brown dwarf evolution. Campus Sports Pay: UH says it’s still moving ahead with student-athlete pay plans despite legislative funding setbacks.

Medicare Fraud Watch (Hawaiʻi): National Medicare Fraud Prevention Week spotlights how scammers rack up at least $60B in losses, and why Hawaiʻi’s Senior Medicare Patrol urges people to actually read Medicare Summary Notices and Explanation of Benefits for suspicious services. Visitor Economy (Hawaiʻi): April brought slightly fewer arrivals to Hawaiʻi, but visitor spending jumped 4.8% to $1.77B as daily spend rose. Energy & Homes (Maui): A $241M Kūihelani Solar Phase 2 push is moving through permitting to power about 18,425 homes annually, aiming for operation by end of 2028. Community Safety (Big Island): Puna residents react as Jacob Baker is arrested in connection with three elderly men’s deaths, with prosecutors still not filing charges. Culture & Learning (Hawaiʻi): Volcano School of Arts and Sciences advances a major campus expansion near Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park to serve more students by 2032. Wildlife Stewardship (Hawaiʻi): NOAA’s “graffiti” on honu shells is revealed as harmless tracking—turned into a citizen science mission to help protect sea turtles.

Hawaiʻi Politics: The Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi is convening in Waikīkī, electing a new chair and setting its platform, with sessions focused on voting access, reproductive rights, and LGBTQ+ issues. Native Hawaiian Conservation: Nēnē are making a comeback on Molokaʻi, with Puʻu O Hōkū Ranch helping lift the island’s population from zero to nearly 60 birds through long-term recovery work. Education & Pathways: UH Mānoa’s Project Hoʻokuʻi documentary premieres June 7, spotlighting how the program supports students—especially in rural and Native Hawaiian communities—through the jump from high school to college and careers. Media & Self-Representation: OHA trustees voted against exploring a deal to acquire KITV and KIKU, though the OHA chair says due diligence could still happen. Community Safety: In Puna, residents are reacting after Jacob Baker was arrested in connection with the deaths of three men, raising renewed concerns about mental health and addiction resources. Local Culture: Honolulu’s Pride Flag will fly and city buildings will light up in rainbow colors for Pride Month. Food & Travel: Hawaiian Airlines rolls out a new main-cabin pre-order dining program with Hawaiʻi chefs and island-inspired options starting July 1.

Aloha & Culture in Education: Orange Coast College’s AANHPI student mentor Katy Le is building a safer campus space by weaving culture into events, helping students who feel invisible speak up and connect. Community & Wellness: Utah’s mother-daughter team blends art, mindfulness, and horses in retreats designed to help people slow down and reconnect. Local Economy Watch: Maui County’s unemployment nudged up to 2.6% in April, still well below the national rate, with island-by-island changes including a rise on Moloka‘i and a dip on Lāna‘i. Big Island Weekend Plans: Ironman 70.3 Hawai‘i returns to West Hawai‘i this Saturday, with motorists urged to expect slowdowns along Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway toward Hāwī. Safety & Travel Notes: Alaska Airlines is reportedly restricting flight attendants from wearing leis and aloha shirts on some international routes from Seattle. Public Safety: A former Renton youth pastor was arrested on suspicion of child molestation and voyeurism tied to church functions.

Local Politics: State Rep. Della Au Belatti is running for Hawaiʻi lieutenant governor, saying Hawaiʻi needs a “thoughtful, critical, independent” partner for Gov. Josh Green as Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke steps aside. Immigration & Community Impact: New U.S. green card guidance is requiring some applicants to return home to finish “adjustment of status,” triggering fear and anxiety among long-time residents in Hawaiʻi. Culture & Language: Linguists are studying how fluent speakers pronounce the ʻokina at the start of words, exploring how English may shape ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi sounds. Community & Aging: Maui honored two kūpuna leaders—Joseph Pontanilla and Sister Roselani Enomoto—during Older Americans Month for decades of service and mentorship. Environment & Place: DLNR is inviting public input on a Kohala forest protection project to safeguard 1,200 acres near Puʻu Ahia and Puʻu ʻUmi, tied to water and native species protection. Arts & Activism: Patagonia faces backlash over a trademark dispute with climate drag performer Pattie Gonia, with supporters calling it an attempt to silence activism. Travel & Hospitality: Hawaiian Airlines rolls out pre-ordered, chef-curated Main Cabin meals with Maui-based Chef Sheldon Simeon starting July 1.

Community & Culture: DLNR is inviting public input on a new Kohala forest protection project covering 1,200 acres near Puʻu o ʻUmi and Puʻu Ahia, aimed at safeguarding native species and Kohala’s water. Local Heritage Access: The petroglyph boardwalk at Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park reopened after months of repairs, with added benches and a shaded structure planned. Health Equity: Maʻi Movement Hawaiʻi and the Hawaiʻi State Commission on the Status of Women launched a statewide 5-year follow-up survey on menstrual poverty, focusing on product access and impacts on well-being. Housing & Community Activism: A pro-housing rally on Beacon Hill put Massachusetts resident David Modica in the spotlight after his viral remarks, as advocates push zoning reforms. Kūpuna & Community Support: Maui County honored Joseph Pontanilla and Roselani Enomoto as the 2026 Outstanding Older American Male and Female. Civic Engagement: Stop AAPI Hate launched Stop AAPI Hate Action to mobilize Asian American and Pacific Islander voters ahead of midterms.

Monk Seal Case in Court: A Washington tourist accused of hurling a coconut-sized rock at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal pleaded not guilty in federal court in Honolulu and was ordered to stay away from Hawaii beaches and marine wildlife while the case plays out. Homelessness Housing Update: Gov. Josh Green marked the opening of Ke Kauhale ʻo Luhia in Waimānalo, adding 20 tiny homes to the state’s kauhale initiative, with rent set low and an auditor review raising questions about oversight. Energy & Cost Shock: Hawaiʻi solar projects face major uncertainty after a signed tax-credit law includes retroactive changes that could force redesigns or cancellations for hundreds of projects. Education Pipeline: UH launched the “Next Step Scholarship” to help community college students transfer to four-year campuses, offering $2,000 for full-time and $1,000 for part-time students. Culture & Community: Kapena released its new single “Not Living for the Likes,” a feel-good message about self-worth beyond social media. Science Spotlight: NOAA’s “Honu Count” continues to use public turtle sightings and shell etchings to help track green sea turtles and protect habitat.

Seabird Education: DLNR is rolling out free virtual field trips to remote Hawaiian seabird sanctuaries Lehua Island and Hōlanikū (Kure Atoll) as part of the Year of Our Coastal Kuleana, using 360° tours plus interviews with biologists and cultural practitioners. School & Youth: Hawaiʻi parents are getting notices about a new statewide cellphone policy—no phone use during school hours for elementary/middle students and during instructional time for high schoolers—starting this fall. Trail Access: The Nā Ala Hele Trail & Access Program Plan is being updated for the first time since 1991, with a virtual meeting and public input accepted through July 31. Community Health & Culture: Aloha Cancer Project announced the inaugural Aloha Tequila & Arts Festival in Waikīkī on June 20, with proceeds supporting cancer patients and families across Hawaiʻi. Environment & Justice: A tourist accused of hurling a coconut-sized rock at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal faces court in Honolulu; his lawyer says he was trying to protect sea turtles and claims the man was later assaulted, threatened, and doxed. Education Funding: A $1 million endowment is helping future teachers through WKU’s Forsythe Scholars Endowment.