AGP Executive Report

DLNR Leadership Transition: Gov. Josh Green announced Dawn Chang will retire as chairperson and director of the Department of Land and Natural Resources on July 1, with Ryan Kanakaʻole stepping in and David Day named first deputy—an important shift for Hawaiʻi’s land, water, and cultural stewardship. Lahaina Recovery & Cultural Restoration: Maui County secured $2 million to restore Mokuʻula and Loko o Mokuhinia, once seen as the spiritual and political center of the Hawaiian Kingdom, tying recovery to Native Hawaiian knowledge. Volcano Watch: Kīlauea hit a new record for eruptive episodes in its current cycle, offering fresh clues for geologists studying how the volcano behaves. Community & Culture on Stage: Kumu Kahua Theatre’s “Memory Beads” brings family stories, Alzheimer’s awareness, and immigration history to the spotlight. Education & Local Leadership: Hawaiʻi Community College chancellor Susan Kazama announced her retirement after 40 years with UH, marking the end of an era for the statewide campus network. Ocean Lifestyle: The annual POP Fishing, Marine and Seafood Expo returns to Pier 38 with family activities, demos, and local ocean culture. Food Innovation: The 4th annual Hawaiʻi Made Conference focuses on turning local food ideas into market-ready products. Legal/Immigration Impact: A federal judge struck down Trump’s proposed $100,000 H-1B fee as an unlawful tax, a win for employers relying on skilled foreign workers. Arts & Craft: “Handwork 2026” spotlights handmade American artforms with a year-long initiative and new PBS programming.

Immigration & Work Visas: A federal judge in Massachusetts struck down Trump’s proposed $100,000 H-1B visa fee, calling it an unlawful tax and setting up an appeal—big news for Hawaii’s tech, healthcare, and education hiring pipelines. Local Education: UH is expanding the Hoapili Teacher Pathways program to all 10 campuses, aiming to “grow our own” teachers with tuition-free, online routes for working adults. Teacher Pipeline: The U.S. Dept. of Education named Hawaii as a semifinalist for the Connecting Talent to Opportunity Challenge, pushing statewide talent marketplaces that link learners to jobs. World Oceans Day (Hawaii): Sea Life Park and Kauaʻi volunteers joined 808 Cleanups for beach cleanups, removing over 100 pounds of trash and spotlighting marine conservation. Lahaina Recovery: Atlantis Submarines Maui is restarting full tours and returning to Lahaina Harbor after wildfire losses, with normal operations expected later this year. Community Safety: A Zumbaathon for Azalia Park continues Safe Ride Hawaiʻi’s mission—rides for impaired drivers to prevent tragedies. Culture & Lifestyle: Gallery 14’s Coastal Currents summer show runs June 4–Sept. 4, featuring sea-inspired art and coastal wildlife themes.

Leadership Change: Hawaiʻi Community College Chancellor Susan Kazama announced her retirement, stepping down July 31 after about 40 years with the UH system. Community & Pride: The Hawaii Filipino Lawyers Association kicks off NFALA-ganza! (June 19–21) with a focus on LGBTQIA+ law students, scholarships, and safer community spaces. Local Parks & Access: DLNR clarified Makena State Park upgrade plans after online rumors—restrooms, showers, and more formal parking edges, with no changes to beach access or resident free parking. Culture & Business for Wāhine: “The Way She Should Go” brings a Wailea networking day for wahine entrepreneurs on June 27. Ocean Awareness: NatGeo’s David Attenborough documentary “Ocean” spotlights the scale of marine life and the pressures from climate change and industry, including footage from Hawaiʻi’s Midway Atoll. Regional Safety: A 7.8 quake hit near General Santos in the Philippines, triggering tsunami warnings for parts of the region (no threat to Hawaiʻi reported).

Hawaiʻi Marine Life Education: Hawaiʻi Marine Animal Response launched its Hawaiʻi Marine Stewards Program to train hospitality and tourism workers to help visitors safely share space with monk seals, sea turtles, and seabirds. Endangered Whales Update: A new study finds Hawaiʻi’s endangered insular false killer whales are losing major body weight, with climate-linked nutritional stress suspected. Local Government Power Struggle: The Honolulu Charter Commission is still debating whether the mayor should be able to hire the police chief, with a proposal headed back for more discussion. Food Safety Watch: Hilo’s growing bake-stand scene is drawing state Department of Health scrutiny, with many stands cited for food code violations. Native Hawaiian Education Funding: UH expanded its tuition-free Hoapili Teacher Pathways statewide, and Congress moved to extend $46M in federal support for the Native Hawaiian Education Program. Community & Culture: Rep. Jill Tokuda introduced a resolution marking 120 years since the first Filipino immigrants arrived in Hawaiʻi, honoring the Sakadas’ legacy. National Court Spotlight (Hawaiʻi ties): The U.S. Supreme Court is set to rule on major “culture wars” cases, including a Hawaii gun-carrying law and transgender athletes bans.

Marine Conservation & Tourism: Hawaiʻi Marine Animal Response launched its Hawaiʻi Marine Stewards Program to train hotel and tour staff to help visitors safely share space with monk seals, turtles, and seabirds. Climate & Wildlife Health: A new study warns Hawaiʻi’s endangered false killer whales are losing major body weight, linking nutritional stress to rising sea temperatures. Local Food & Community: DOH cleared Ohana Sub & Deli, Inc. to reopen after critical food safety violations were fixed. Education Access: UH expanded its tuition-free Hoapili Teacher Pathways statewide, aiming to boost the elementary teacher pipeline. Native Hawaiian & Community Events: Registration is open for Hoaʻāina Stewardship Day at Kahaluu Bay (June 13), plus Rep. Jill Tokuda introduced a resolution honoring 120 years since the first Filipino immigrants arrived in Hawaiʻi. Culture & Fundraising: Lotus of Love Cancer Care hosted “Hope in Motion,” a Hawaiian-themed dance fundraiser supporting cancer survivors and caregivers. Food Innovation: DBEDT will host the fourth Hawaiʻi Made Conference (June 23) focused on food product innovation. Sports & Culture: Aloha-themed lei “good energy” helped Hempfield win a PIAA boys volleyball state quarterfinal. Health Awareness: The inaugural Hoola 5K in Kalama Valley raised money for statewide primary care.

Food Safety & Community: Hawaiʻi DOH issued a green placard for Ohana Sub & Deli, Inc. in Wahiawā after a follow-up inspection confirmed repairs to a nonfunctional handwashing sink and restored hot water for proper cleaning and sanitizing. Native Hawaiian Education: After the Schatz–McMahon agreement, the U.S. Education Department has officially started the process to extend $46 million in federal funding for the Native Hawaiian Education Program for another year, keeping early childhood sites funded. Workforce & Infrastructure: UH and Hawaiʻi Community College opened applications for a new Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Specialist Certificate on Maui and Hawaiʻi Island, aimed at boosting cesspool conversion capacity. Culture & Calendar: Nā Kamehameha Commemorative Pāʻū Parade and Hōʻolauleʻa returns June 20 in Kahului with a statewide theme of “E Kū, E Ho‘ololi,” featuring the parade and a free Hōʻolauleʻa at Queen Kaʻahumanu Center. Local Science & Pride: UH Mānoa researchers were named 2026 ARCS Scholars for STEM work spanning green energy algae research and coffee pest protection. Space Spotlight: Tianwen-2 is expected to begin an encounter with Kamoʻoalewa, the first Hawaiian-named asteroid discovered using a UH telescope on Haleakalā. Safety Alert: Hawaiʻi Island police renewed the search for 16-year-old Naiomi Michael, last seen in the Hawaiian Paradise Park and Kea‘au areas.

Native Hawaiian Education: The U.S. Education Department has officially started the process to extend the Native Hawaiian Education Program’s $46 million in federal funding for another year, keeping early childhood sites funded and supporting home visiting, workforce development, and Hawaiian language immersion. Food Safety: Hawaiʻi DOH cleared Ohana Sub & Deli, Inc. to reopen after a follow-up inspection confirmed critical violations—like a nonfunctional handwashing sink and insufficient hot water—were fixed. Water & Jobs: Applications opened for a new Maui and Hawaiʻi Island wastewater workforce certificate through Hawaiʻi Community College and UH Maui College, training specialists for cesspool conversion and sustainable wastewater installation. Ocean & Science: E/V Nautilus returns to the Mariana waters with new mapping missions, including local participants from Guam and CNMI. Culture & Community: Ward Village’s gift to Honolulu Community College will fund construction and trades tool kits for students. Politics & Identity: Hawaii Republicans rallied behind the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act amid a federal lawsuit challenging homestead lease eligibility. STEM Honors: UH Mānoa researchers won ARCS Scholars awards for algae biofuel and coffee pest research. Space: China’s Tianwen-2 is set to encounter Kamoʻoalewa, an asteroid first discovered from Haleakalā.

Endangered Wildlife: A new study finds Hawaiian false killer whales are losing body condition as their tiny population keeps shrinking, giving scientists a clearer way to track stress and recovery. Ocean & Community: Maui Ocean Center is hosting World Ocean Day on June 8 with live music, marine naturalist talks, conservation exhibits, and hands-on activities like coral feeding demos and a shark-tooth dig. Native Hawaiian Land Rights: A federal lawsuit challenges Hawaiian homestead leases that require at least 50% Hawaiian blood quantum, arguing the century-old system is unconstitutional as the state vows to fight back. Lahaina Recovery: Residents are invited to weigh in on a master plan for the Lahaina Royal Complex, including sacred sites like Mokuʻula and Loko o Mokuhinia, with a goal of a final plan in 2027. Faith & Arts: Rev. Dr. Justin Sabia-Tanis was named the inaugural Wilson Yates Chair in Theology and the Arts, with a formal installation set for Sept. 24, 2026. Local Governance: Honolulu’s Ethics Commission selected attorney Sandy Ma as its next executive director, aiming to strengthen public trust and ethics enforcement. Culture & Place: A mural honoring the legend of Kua was unveiled at the Captain Cook Post Office, linking moʻolelo with environmental stewardship.

Honolulu & Oʻahu Access: Loko Waimaluhia at Hōʻomaluhia Botanical Garden is partially reopening this weekend, with a reinforced shoreline pathway and a return of the family fishing program starting July 1. Maui Healing & Heritage: The County of Maui is pushing a community survey for the Lahaina Royal Complex Master Plan, aiming to restore sacred sites and improve public access after the 2023 fires. Education Close to Home: Hawaiʻi CC’s Kō Education Center launches “First Year Here at Kō,” letting North Hawaiʻi students complete their first year locally with advising, tutoring, and small classes. Workforce for the Future: UH and Hawaiʻi CC/UH Maui College roll out an Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Specialist Certificate to train people for cesspool conversion and sustainable wastewater installation. Native Hawaiian Education Funding: Sen. Brian Schatz secured a $46M extension of the National Hawaiian Education Program, keeping early childhood and Hawaiian language immersion supports funded for another year. Culture & Community: Honouliuli National Historic Site on Oʻahu will offer its first public tours starting July 18, with limited free guided access to the WWII-era POW camp remnants. Local Food & Lifestyle: L&L Hawaiian Barbecue opens its 10th Texas location, bringing more island-style comfort food beyond Hawaiʻi. Legal & Civic Life: A Maui woman faces federal charges for allegedly voting in a U.S. election without legal status.

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.