AGP Executive Report

Kona Ironman: France’s Vincent Luis won the men’s world title in his debut—and final—Ironman, while American Taylor Knibb claimed the women’s crown after a dramatic late-race turn. Public Schools: Hawaiʻi students improved in math and attendance in 2025–26, but language arts proficiency slipped slightly, according to the state’s annual report. Hawaiian Music: The Steel Guitar Hall of Fame plans to establish its permanent home in Honolulu, honoring an instrument invented in Hawaiʻi. Youth Housing: Hawaiʻi-born transgender young adult Koda Daily’s account highlights the ongoing risk of homelessness for LGBTQ youth facing family rejection. Kauaʻi Traditions: Hanapepe’s Hawaiian salt makers are asking the community to help restore harvest beds altered by storm surge. Maunakea: The stewardship authority deferred a position on proposed changes that could allow decommissioned summit sites to host future observatories. Deep-Sea Exploration: Ten local scientists, students and educators are aboard an expedition surveying unexplored habitats around the Hawaiian Islands.

Maunakea: The stewardship board took no position on UH’s proposed summit-plan changes, including allowing former observatory sites to host new facilities. The decision now rests with the UH Board of Regents, as the mountain’s cultural significance remains central to the debate. Ocean Exploration: Ten Hawaiʻi scientists, students and educators have joined a 20-day expedition mapping little-known deep-sea habitats around the islands and Papahānaumokuākea; the public can follow live dives online. Living Traditions: Kauaʻi’s Hawaiian salt makers are seeking volunteers to help restore their Hanapēpē harvest area, where storm surge reshaped salt beds and dunes. Stories of Belonging: A new memoir by David S. Salazar Jr. recalls growing up Ilocano in Naʻalehu, exploring language, family trauma and the search for a place between cultures. Youth Well-Being: LGBTQ young adults face more than twice the homelessness risk of their peers, national research finds. Koda Daily, who left his Hawaiʻi family home at 16, describes years without stable housing; advocates say prevention needs affirming services, mental-health care and direct support. Arts & Education: Punahou students earned NPR podcast honors for a project on Hawaiian scholar Mary Kawena Pukui. Hawaiʻi students in grades 7–12 can also enter the state Scholastic Art Awards through Dec. 12.

Hawaiian Heritage: Punahou students’ podcast on scholar Mary Kawena Pukui earned an NPR honorable mention, joining a Kauaʻi High School entry. Arts & Youth: Hawaiʻi students in grades 7–12 can enter the Scholastic Art Awards through Dec. 12; winning works will be shown at Capitol Modern. ʻĀina & Food: Kailua’s Hoʻokuaʻāina received $100,000 to advance Indigenous food justice through kalo farming, youth training and community programs. Maui Community: Seventeen students received $11,000 in scholarships recognizing education, service and cultural practice. Conservation: A new Pacific-wide framework, shaped with input from cultural practitioners and communities, will help guide decisions on moving endangered species to safer habitats. Maui Windsurfing: The Aloha Classic returns to Hoʻo­kipa Oct. 19–30, with five youth divisions. Hawaiʻi History: Former congresswoman Patricia Saiki, who helped secure redress for Japanese Americans incarcerated during World War II and pressed to end military testing on Kahoʻolawe, has died at 96.

Kauaʻi Recovery: After Hurricane Lowell, residents have been clearing roads, repairing homes and helping neighbors recover, with many rural households facing weeks without power. Maunakea Stewardship: The oversight board declined to take a position on a proposed change that could allow former observatory sites to host new facilities; the University of Hawaiʻi regents will decide. Schools: Hawaiʻi public schools reported gains in attendance, math proficiency and graduation, while the state seeks additional funding for services and storm-damage repairs. Food and Community: Farmers, fishers and ranchers will gather in Waimānalo Oct. 16–18 for the Hawaiʻi Farmers Union convention, themed “Mahiʻai Makahiki,” celebrating harvest, resilience and local food systems. Native Hawaiian Research: New genomic research explores Polynesian history and health, with researchers emphasizing community partnership and control over how data is used.

Native Hawaiian Culture: The Office of Hawaiian Affairs approved $5.2 million over three years to create a nonprofit for a planned cultural center at Kakaʻako Makai. OHA is discussing a possible home at the city-owned Look Lab site. Maui Arts: The Wailuku Film Festival will return in June 2027 with expanded categories celebrating Hawaiʻi, Indigenous and Pacific stories; submissions are now open after the inaugural festival drew more than 5,300 attendees. Food & ʻĀina: Maui farmers, ranchers and fishers can apply for travel scholarships to the Hawaiʻi Farmers Union convention on Oʻahu, Oct. 16–18. The public day on Oct. 17 celebrates Mahiʻai Makahiki and is open to everyone. Island Events: Halloween festivities are scheduled across Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi and Hawaiʻi Island throughout October, from haunted attractions to family-friendly trick-or-treating. Kona Race Week: With the Ironman World Championship set for Oct. 10, the FBI is enforcing drone restrictions over Kailua-Kona; violations can bring steep fines, prison time and drone seizure.

Island Events: Big Island’s Oct. 9–15 calendar includes Hilo’s two-night Metal Bash, Waimea Fall Festival and the opening of Little Shop of Horrors. Kona’s Big Race: The Ironman World Championship returns Saturday, with Canadian Paula Findlay making her first full-distance championship start after winning her debut Ironman in Lake Placid. Cultural Heritage: Hurricane Lowell destroyed protective dunes at Hanapēpē’s ancient salt ponds, threatening a paʻakai-making tradition kept by more than 20 Kauaʻi families. Crews have begun rebuilding the berm as they assess the damage. Community Life: Hilo could get a bowling alley and entertainment complex again after county planners advanced a proposal for a site on Komohana Street. Maui Traditions: Winners at the 99th Maui County Fair reflect local talent in student art, horticulture, livestock, fiber arts and orchids.

Education: Naʻalehu Elementary is set to reopen Monday after nearly two months of repairs for Hurricane Lala damage. The University of Hawaiʻi has also launched one undergraduate application for all 10 campuses, starting with fall 2027 applicants. Native Landscapes: UH Mānoa student Gabrielle Kics is studying native forest restoration in Mākaha Valley, building on research and fieldwork in Hawaiʻi and Indonesia. Hawaiian Arts: Cirque du Soleil’s ʻAuana will hold open casting for hula dancers, while the Royal Hawaiian Band’s story highlights a musical legacy carried across generations. Community: A new fund from Priscilla Chan has provided $330,000 in flexible grants to all 23 Kauaʻi public and charter schools.

Native Hawaiian Stewardship: Oʻahu voters will decide whether to create an Office of ʻŌiwi Resources and Cultural Stewardship, giving Native Hawaiians a formal voice in city planning and cultural protection. Climate & Ocean: The Supreme Court may take up oil companies’ bid to block climate lawsuits, including Honolulu’s; meanwhile, a 13-year-old Oʻahu resident has raised nearly $4,000 for coral research through beach cleanups. Hula & Arts: Cirque du Soleil’s ʻAuana will hold open auditions for hula dancers Oct. 24, seeking performers with a strong connection to the tradition. Education: A new $330,000 grant gives all 23 Kauaʻi public and charter schools flexibility to meet local needs. UH’s proposed tuition plan would hold undergraduate rates steady for two years, then raise them by 2% to 5%. Community Recovery: Nāʻālehu Elementary is set to reopen after hurricane repairs, while the state plans 12 temporary homes for residents displaced by Hurricane Lala.

Hurricane recovery in Hawaiʻi: Naalehu Elementary is set to reopen for in-person classes after Hurricane Lala repairs, with about 400 students returning from a temporary Kau District Gym site once flooding, roof damage, and mold remediation were finished. Community & culture: A local teen, Azi Moses-Khoii, raised nearly $4,000 for coral research at UH Mānoa’s Coral Resilience Lab by collecting 310 pounds of marine debris from Oʻahu beaches. Disaster housing update: Hawaiʻi DHS will hold an Oct. 8 community meeting at Nāʻālehu Public Library to discuss interim disaster housing plans—12 two-bedroom homes next to the library, later intended as workforce housing for educators and clinicians. Representation in design: UH Mānoa graduates its first Black woman Doctor of Architecture, Danielle McCleave, whose thesis focused on culturally aware wellness in architectural design. Health research: UH Cancer Center wins a $3M NCI grant to study why early-stage breast cancer becomes invasive, with a focus on Hawaiʻi’s Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander communities. Pedestrian safety: HPD marks National Pedestrian Safety Month with enforcement and outreach across Oʻahu. Science & stewardship: A new Pacific-wide framework guides when conservation teams should move endangered species outside their historical range, with UH Mānoa playing a key role in community input. Arts & identity: A story on planning an authentic Hawaiian lūʻau for meetings pushes back on “tacky” tourist shortcuts and misused language.

Education Access: UH launched ApplyHawaiʻi, a single undergraduate application for all 10 campuses starting fall 2027, aiming to cut barriers for first-time freshmen, transfers, and eligible high school students. Biosecurity & Jobs: Hawaiʻi’s new Biosecurity Academy will train frontline inspectors with Leeward CC, boosting the fight against invasive pests at airports and harbors. Culture & Community: The Polynesian Cultural Center broke ground on the Hawaiʻi Kauhale Project, a 4.5+ acre expansion meant to bring traditional agriculture and mālama ʻāina to life by 2028. Local Governance & LGBTQ+ Rights: Honolulu’s Liquor Commission is seeking approval for updated public-records and body-camera retention rules amid a federal civil rights fight involving an LGBTQ+ nightclub. Health & Climate: A UN summit briefing warns extreme heat raises preterm birth risk and gestational diabetes risk, with calls for more training for pregnancy care. Arts for Keiki: Bishop Museum’s Aloha Bricks ’26 invites schools into a LEGO exhibition built with local makers to strengthen arts education. Sports & Pride: North Hawaii Hospice held its Floating Lantern Ceremony at Fairmont Orchid, blending remembrance with hula, chanting, and taiko.

Biosecurity & Jobs: Hawaiʻi’s new Biosecurity Academy is training the next frontline inspectors, partnering with Leeward Community College to boost screening at airports and harbors in the invasive-pest fight. Culture & Community: The Polynesian Cultural Center broke ground on the Hawaiʻi Kauhale Project, a more than 4.5-acre expansion meant to bring traditional agriculture and mālama ʻāina to life, with completion targeted for 2028. Native Hawaiian Affairs: OHA trustees named three finalists—Todd Apo, Kaulana Park, and Summer Sylva—for the administrator/CEO role, as the search unfolds amid leadership turmoil and a lawsuit over her removal. Civic Life & Health: North Hawaiʻi Hospice held its annual Floating Lantern Ceremony at Fairmont Orchid, blending remembrance with hula, chanting, and music. Education & Equity: New data shows UH Hilo’s six-year bachelor completion rate at 48.4% for the 2018 cohort, with UH Manoa at 64.3% and UH West Oʻahu at 49.5%. Local Travel & Hospitality: Hilton opened Hale Hōkūala Kauaʻi, Curio Collection by Hilton, adding a new Kauaʻi resort option with major event space and cultural programming. Politics (Hawaiʻi): Hirono led a bipartisan resolution recognizing Filipino American History Month. Food Safety: Nature’s Own Hawaiian Bread was recalled in multiple states due to undeclared milk.

Climate & Courts: The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a major climate case tied to Boulder, Colorado, where local prosecutors and activists seek billions from energy companies—raising fears of a de facto national carbon tax. Energy Resilience: HDOT, Sustainability Partners, and Hensel Phelps have started building Oʻahu and Kauaʻi microgrids with solar canopies, battery storage, and EV charging to keep key facilities running during outages. Local Governance & Accountability: Honolulu prosecutors subpoena the American Petroleum Institute for decades of climate-related communications, part of the broader push to hold oil companies responsible for extreme weather impacts. Culture & Pride: Honolulu Pride Month kicked off in Waikīkī with a sunrise chant and Kapaemahu healer honoring, with Pride events running Oct. 14–18 and a parade on Oct. 17. Native Hawaiian Sports & Tradition: Molokai Hoe returns with a 41-mile crossing that keeps Hawaiian protocol at its core, while the Molokai-to-Oʻahu women’s legacy continues. Tourism & Safety: A tourist sparked backlash after entering a storm-closed Waiʻānapanapa State Park area, despite warnings. Arts & Community: The Polynesian Cultural Center broke ground on a Hawaiʻi Village expansion in Laie, aiming to deepen visitor understanding of Hawaiian life by 2028.

Arts & Heritage: CHamoru master Francisco “Frank” Rabon (Guam) was named a 2026 National Heritage Fellow by the NEA, joining a rare circle of folk and traditional arts legends nationwide. Culture & Community: The Polynesian Cultural Center broke ground on its Hawaiʻi Village expansion in Laʻie, the Hawaiʻi Kauhale Project, a 4.5+ acre build meant to deepen visitors’ understanding of traditional Hawaiian life and land stewardship. Local Education & Youth: Imua Family Services launched “100 Voices,” Maui’s first community-based youth choir for ages 11–18 with no auditions, aiming for accessible, high-energy participation. Health & Support: Little Tokyo Service Center’s “Ebb and Flow” conference returns with mental health workshops tailored to AANHPI communities, including substance use and caregiving support. Tourism & Safety: A tourist’s defiant stunt at storm-closed Waiʻānapanapa State Park sparked backlash after officials warned of deadly hazards like dangerous surf and flash flooding. Sports & Lifestyle: UH West Oʻahu marks 50 years since starting in portable classrooms, now serving nearly 2,900 students as an Indigenous-serving anchor in Kapolei. Music: Josh Tatofi released “PANIOLO COUNTRY,” celebrating Hawaiian cowboy heritage, with Blue Note Hawaii performances set for Oct. 16–17.

Hawaiʻi Education & Safety: Parents of a 12-year-old Nanakuli student with an individualized education program are demanding answers after she left campus unattended and was later found walking along Nanakuli Avenue. Community Care in Lahaina: A respiratory healing wellness workshop brought lung-focused support to Lahaina through traditional Chinese medicine, including acupuncture and breathwork. Maui Mental Health Response: The Maui Police Department’s Crisis Intervention Team graduated 22 new members, expanding training meant to de-escalate crises and connect people to care. Culture & Learning: The Ocean Exploration Trust launched its final 2026 deep-sea Hawaiian expedition, using mapping and ROVs around Papahānaumokuakea with public live feeds. Native Voices: Days of Piikani gathered Blackfeet elders and community members to share treaty history and traditional practices across generations. Local Arts & Pride: Pearl City crowned a new Ms. Plaza, celebrating seniors with interviews, poise, and community spirit. STEM for Climate Literacy (Beyond Hawaiʻi): Colorado’s “ozone garden” program shows how hands-on projects are spreading as states adopt climate literacy seals. Ukulele Spotlight: Jake Shimabukuro returns for a major UConn performance, continuing his solo-tour pivot. Hawaiʻi Politics & Elections: Act 11 campaign restrictions are drawing legal fire as Hawaiʻi heads toward its November election.

Community Care in Action: Maui Police Department’s Crisis Intervention Team graduated 22 new members, expanding a 40-hour training effort to help officers and civilians de-escalate mental health and emotional crisis calls across partner agencies. Health & Community: The 14th annual Hawaii Walk & Roll to Cure ALS returned to Kapiolani Park, bringing families, performances, and a resource fair as organizers aimed for $130,000 to support care, policy, and research. Housing for Youth: Makiki’s Hale Koko is taking shape as a transitional home for former foster youth and young adults, with 12 beds planned and support from RYSE and a grant tied to Rep. Kim Coco Iwamoto’s donated building. Culture & Performance: Prague-born “Miracle Man” Tomáš Kubínek brings strong-man stunts and mass hypnosis to Kahului on Oct. 11 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, with tickets starting at $35. Local Travel Watch: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park says the Holei Sea Arch on the Big Island collapsed, urging visitors to avoid the unstable area. Lifestyle Spotlight: A new guide highlights common luau etiquette mistakes mainland visitors make in the first 10 minutes—plus how to do it right.

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park: The Holei Sea Arch on the Big Island—about 90 feet tall—collapsed into the Pacific, and the NPS is warning visitors to stay away due to unstable cliffs and falling hazards. Community & Culture: In Kailua, students’ design work helped turn a crosswalk mural into a memorial for “Mama Jen” after a deadly 2023 crash near Kaʻelepulu Elementary. Tourism & Respect: A tourist was filmed entering Waianapanapa State Park while it was closed during Hurricane Nolo, sparking renewed calls in Hana for visitors to respect cultural sites and follow closures. Local Resilience: Volunteers on Kauaʻi are rebuilding Prince Kūhiō Park at Hoʻai Bay after storm surge from Hurricane Lowell knocked down historic rock walls and cultural markers. New Stay in Waikīkī: Hilton opened Hale Hōkūala Kauaʻi (Curio Collection by Hilton), debuting the brand in Hawaiʻi with cultural programming and oceanfront views. Arts & Learning: Hawaiʻi State Archives is marking Archives Month with free Waikīkī-focused exhibits highlighting the past, present, and future of the community. Service & Care: Assistance Dogs of Hawaiʻi profiles how trained dogs support independence for island residents, from schools and courts to hospitals and trauma survivors. Food & Fun: A Kauaʻi Chocolate and Coffee Festival is set for Oct. 18, with free admission and a focus on supporting local recovery. Sports: A Foothills triathlete is headed to the Ironman World Championship in Kona after a breakout win in Canada.