AGP Executive Report

Roadside Reality Check: Hawaii Police say reckless driving on Saddle Road is still costing lives, even after high-visibility enforcement and speed-limit changes. Storm Recovery Costs: Preliminary state figures put this year’s weather damage at $212M for infrastructure, with schools adding another $174.5M in repair needs. Election Anxiety: Hawaii voters are urged to return mail-in ballots quickly after the Supreme Court upheld USPS delivery rules, as concerns linger about intimidation and immigration enforcement. Congressional Race Watch: Outside money and super PACs loom over Hawaiʻi’s 2nd District contest between Rep. Jill Tokuda and Sen. Brenton Awa. Food Priorities: A local food-system push is getting reframed toward resilience—so households can actually access nutritious food when disasters hit. Community & Culture: A Tri-Congressional Gold Medal ceremony will honor Filipino, Chinese American, and Japanese American WWII veterans at the U.S. Army Museum of Hawaiʻi. Local Life: Registration opens for Hawaiʻi LifeSmarts, a free student competition on finance, health, tech, and consumer rights.

Education & Youth Skills: Hawaiʻi LifeSmarts registration is open for the Oct. 12–Dec. 4 online season, with top teams advancing to a Feb. 18, 2027 state championship at the Blaisdell Center. Community & Culture: UH Maui College is launching free “Pilina ‘Ohana’” workshops at its Kauluwehi Biocultural Garden—starting Sept. 26 with kalo and ʻuala planting—plus fall regenerative farming courses. Local Environment & Heritage: Hawaiʻi County Council unanimously advanced Bill 184 on first reading, moving toward requiring native, lei-making plants in county landscaping. Public Safety: Honolulu police are seeking information after a 15-year-old was shot in the Hālawa Housing area; no arrest yet. Arts & Storytelling: The Surfing Heritage and Culture Center reopens in Laguna Beach’s new location with a traditional Hawaiian blessing and a big collection of surf history. Honoring Veterans: A Tri-Congressional Gold Medal ceremony will bring Filipino American, Chinese American, and Japanese American WWII veterans’ medals to a permanent display at the U.S. Army Museum of Hawaiʻi. Sports & Identity: USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino said Noahkai Banks, born in Hawaiʻi, has switched to represent Germany. Tech & Learning: A new MIT report warns AI overuse is linked to “cognitive surrender” among students.

AI & Education: MIT researchers warn generative AI is pushing students toward “cognitive surrender,” with signs of weaker memory, confidence, and class participation as learners lean on chatbots. Local Education Snapshot: Michigan data show Hawaiian enrollment at a handful of schools remains tiny (often 0.1%–0.3%), underscoring how small representation can be in many mainland classrooms. Natural Resources & Culture: Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park ecologist Stacey Kehaulani Torigoe earns the NPS Director’s Award for Natural Resource Management for invasive species and biosecurity leadership. Environment Watch: A green dye tracer study at Pūpūkea Beach Park confirms wastewater from restrooms reaches Sharks Cove tidepools, with follow-up testing for water quality impacts. Community & Recovery: Kauaʻi continues Hurricane Lowell recovery, with residents urged to stay informed and use local resource centers for help. Politics & Rights: The DOJ sues Hawaiʻi over in-state tuition benefits for undocumented immigrants, arguing federal law bars states from offering those advantages. Arts & Pacific Identity: UH Mānoa hosts “Ocean of Peace,” a Micronesian art exhibition debuting in Honolulu after its Maui run. Fashion: Pacific Fashion Week launches at Kaimana Beach Hotel with runway programming spotlighting Pacific designers. Local Governance: A Leeward Oʻahu House rerun ballot instructs “Republican Party Voters Only,” raising enforcement questions since party preference isn’t required for general voting.

Pacific Fashion Week: Honolulu’s inaugural Pacific Fashion Week debuts at Kaimana Beach Hotel, with designers, students, and industry voices leading into “The Indigenous Life” runway featuring Samson Lee Fiji Designs. Micronesian Arts: UH Mānoa hosts the Honolulu opening of “Ocean of Peace,” bringing Micronesian art to the East-West Center Gallery with tours, performances, and refreshments. Language & Community: A young Tongan man’s te reo Māori journey shows how language learning builds real connections—starting with community events and growing into friendships. Scam Watch (Hawaiʻi): DBEDT/HGIA warns residents about fraudulent mailers using the state agency’s name to push fake home-warranty and mortgage-protection calls. AI for Educators (UH): UH Community College faculty can register for a free, five-week AI in Teaching and Learning course starting Oct. 26. Ocean Health: Jason Momoa raises alarm as scientists report a major coral bleaching event, tying reef survival to Hawaiʻi’s culture and coastal protection. Fishing Communities: Western Pacific fishery leaders back efforts to strengthen local fishing communities and expand access to federal seafood programs.

AI & Education: An MIT report says AI use is reshaping campus life—students skip office hours, avoid struggle, and get an “illusion of learning,” putting universities in a bind between staying relevant and protecting thinking. Local Schools & Representation: Michigan data show Hawaiian students are barely represented at Ridge Wood Elementary (0.2% in 2024-25), a reminder of how small numbers can shape school experience. Teachers & Literacy: A new WalletHub study ranks Ohio in the bottom half for teachers, while another analysis links stronger teachers’ unions with weaker early-literacy outcomes—correlation, not causation, but it’s fueling debate. Haleakalā & Military Expansion: Maui residents are still waiting on federal responses after public pushback over plans for more telescopes atop Haleakalā. Honolulu Governance: Oʻahu voters will weigh a charter change to make a chief data officer permanent and create an Office of Innovation and Technology—aimed at fixing data sharing, privacy, and accuracy. Tourism Pressure: Hawaiʻi’s visitor numbers are down, but spending per person is up; insiders warn “high-value” travel may not solve the bigger sustainability issues. Community & Culture: On Kauaʻi, the Philippine Consulate shifts its outreach mission to the Kauaʻi Philippine Cultural Center after fire damage at the civic center. Health & Care: Hale Makua marks 80 years on Maui and shares details on its planned expansion.

Maternal Mental Health: An Oʻahu mom is speaking out about postpartum psychosis after a traumatic birth and weeks of near-no sleep left her feeling like “your mind is not your own,” adding urgency to a national conversation sparked by a high-profile trial. Housing & Cost of Living: A new UHERO study finds federal Section 8 spending in Hawaiʻi hit $170M in 2024—up 70% since 2003 (inflation-adjusted)—while the number of voucher households rose far less, meaning more money is going to higher rents, not expanding access. Community Safety & Belonging: Big Island rabbis are using “Shaloha” to push back on antisemitism after state data shows Jews were targeted in 75% of religion-based hate crimes in 2025. Local Culture & Food: Sea Monster is bringing a Hawaiian-Japanese poke-and-matcha concept to Mission Valley, with rotating signature sauces. Education & Equity: Hawaiʻi’s preschool expansion has not matched the promise—public seats increased, but private seats shrank, leaving fewer total options than at the start of the decade. Scam Alert: HGIA is warning residents about fraudulent mailers using its name to lure homeowners into fake home-warranty and mortgage-protection calls. Civic Life: Kapolei City Lights is opening vendor and parade-participant applications for its Nov. 28 block party and parade. Arts & Heritage: The Surfing Heritage and Culture Center is set for a grand opening weekend starting Sept. 18.

Local Culture & Heritage: Hōkūleʻa’s 50th-anniversary talks are bringing the story of how the 1976 voyage “reconnected a culture” to Maui audiences, with Dr. Ben Young sharing memories of traditional wayfinding. Community Events: Big Island planners are gearing up for an ‘ulu-and-breadfruit week (Sept. 19–24), plus the 74th Waimea Paniolo Parade (Sept. 19), KONA PRIDE (Sept. 19), and Kaʻū Bon Dance (Sept. 19). Arts & Music: Judy Collins returns to the Maui Arts & Cultural Center for her “Sweet Judy Blue Eyes Farewell Tour,” blending songs and stories from a decades-long career. Environment & Foodways: DLNR has a new Forestry and Wildlife leader, Marigold Zoll, as the state pushes wildfire response and native resource protection. Housing: A UHERO study says Hawaii’s Section 8 voucher funding is growing, but rising rents are swallowing the gains—only about 20% of those who need vouchers get them. Politics & Governance: Hawaiʻi Supreme Court denied Sen. Kurt Fevella’s bid to overturn a West Oʻahu GOP primary tie-breaker, ending hopes for a rematch. Public Safety: State officials are still negotiating fines in an opihi-picking case tied to a protected marine reserve.

Hawaiʻi Politics: The Hawaiʻi Supreme Court rejected Sen. Kurt Fevella’s bid to overturn a GOP state Senate tie, ending hopes for a rematch and keeping the Aug. 8 tiebreak outcome in place. Workers’ Rights & Safety: HEMIC will return $5 million in dividends to qualifying Hawaiʻi policyholders this year, continuing its long-running safety-and-savings approach. Community & Hate Crime Data: New state AG stats show 75% of Hawaiʻi’s religion-based hate crimes in 2025 targeted Jews, despite Jews making up under 1% of the population. Local Food & Culture: Hu Guaiya Minipancakes is going brick-and-mortar at CHamoru Village, bringing Guam-style sweets and malasadas to Oʻahu. Environment & Policy: U.S. Reps. Ed Case and James Moylan announced full House passage of their invasive species bill, citing threats to Hawaiʻi’s native ecosystems. Hawaiʻi Events: Aloha Festivals’ 80th anniversary continues with the free 72nd Annual Waikīkī Hoʻolauleʻa on Sept. 19, packed with food, culture, and live music. ʻĀina & Conservation: DLNR’s Legacy Land Conservation Program is taking applications for FY2027 land acquisition grants to protect ʻāina with cultural, historic, and environmental value.

Local Culture & Community: A new Deaf History Museum opened at UH Mānoa’s Hamilton Library, spotlighting Hawaiʻi’s Deaf community with artifacts and stories. Hawaiʻi Foodways: The Big Island’s Ulu Hoolaulea breadfruit celebration runs Sept. 19–25 in Kailua-Kona, with festivals, workshops, and a breadfruit summit. Maui Healing & Tradition: Paʻūpili Lahaina 3rd Saturdays returns Sept. 19 with ʻawa tasting, lei making, weaving, lomilomi, and community healing after the 2023 wildfire. Historic Preservation: Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum breaks ground on Hangar 79’s transformation, aiming for immersive WWII aviation exhibits. Local Policy Watch: Honolulu City Council approved stricter stray-dog owner laws, raising fines and adding civil notices. Environment & Science: The U.S. Forest Service reversed course to keep the Hilo-based Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry open, protecting ʻōhiʻa death research. Reproductive Health: Medication abortion use in Hawaiʻi has nearly tripled over the past decade, as national restrictions loom. Arts & Learning: “Words Bridging Worlds” launches with a national poetry translation tour led by U.S. Poet Laureate Arthur Sze.

Hawaiʻi Disaster Recovery: Hawaiʻi Army National Guard soldiers are helping recover Nāʻālehu Cemetery after Hurricane Lowell flooding shifted headstones, caskets, and iwi downhill—work includes mapping what was moved and what may still be buried. Community & Culture: Paʻūpili Lahaina 3rd Saturdays returns Sept. 19 with healing, connection, and hands-on Hawaiian activities—ʻawa tasting, lei making, coconut weaving, lomilomi, and live entertainment—partnering with OHA. Coastal Resilience: HDOT is deploying a living “living breakwater” at Kalaeloa—porous concrete structures seeded with coral fragments—to reduce wave energy and protect Oʻahu’s shoreline. Local Food Security: Oʻahu voters will decide in November on a charter amendment to fund a food security program, targeting hunger while supporting local farmers. Education Spotlight: Kapalama Elementary teacher Hiipoi Lee received a surprise $1,000 classroom grant, and UH Hilo’s annual report highlights workforce-focused new programs. Public Safety Data: The Hawaiʻi AG released updated statewide crime stats and an expanded Hawaiʻi Crime Dashboard.

Immigration & Public Benefits: Colorado, New York and other states/cities sued to block a Trump “public charge” rule that could let officials deny green cards to immigrants using food, healthcare, housing and other benefits—Hawaiʻi is named in the challenge. Courts & Voting Access: The U.S. Supreme Court rejected Trump’s bid to restrict mail voting ahead of the midterms, a win for states that already send ballots by mail. Hawaiʻi Education Staffing: Hawaiʻi schools are leaning on more unlicensed teachers as Hawaiian language immersion programs face a severe shortage, with emergency hires rising while licensing pathways expand. Hawaiʻi Teachers & Classrooms: Communities nationwide are confronting school closures and consolidations as birth rates fall and pandemic funding ends—adding pressure to already strained systems. Hurricane Recovery (Kauaʻi): Tourists are being urged to hold off as Kauaʻi continues recovering from Hurricane Lowell, with power restored to about 82% of customers. Hawaiʻi Shoreline Resilience: A “living breakwater” project off Kalaeloa is moving toward real-world testing to reduce wave energy and storm damage. Native Plants Policy: A Hawaiʻi County bill would prioritize native plants in county landscaping across parks, facilities and roadways. Culture & Community: UH Mānoa opened a Deaf History Museum at Hamilton Library, and winners were announced for the 20th Annual Kū Mai Ka Hula Competition.

Deaf History in the Spotlight: UH Mānoa’s Hamilton Library opened a new Deaf History Museum, “I ʻike ʻia, I lohe ʻia,” with artifacts and stories celebrating Hawaiʻi’s Deaf and hard-of-hearing community. Local Culture & Community: Hawaiian Council launched the ʻUlu o Lele vendor portal for Lahaina’s interim marketplace, prioritizing businesses hit by the 2023 wildfires and aiming to bring jobs and a gathering space back. Hawaiʻi Education Connections: A Philippine higher-ed delegation visited UH community colleges (Leeward, Honolulu, Kapiʻolani) to compare student success pathways, workforce alignment, and microcredentials. Immigration Policy Fight: Hawaii joined a growing coalition of states and cities suing to block Trump administration “public charge” rules that could make green cards harder for immigrants using public benefits. Hurricane Lowell Recovery (Kauaʻi): Power has returned to most of Kauaʻi, with schools reopening on a staggered schedule and road/resource-center updates continuing as crews finish repairs. Arts & Storytelling: A Maui student, Emma Roy, is profiled for balancing school with major film editing work on “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.”

Hurricane Recovery: Kauaʻi schools and services are slowly coming back after Hurricane Lowell, with most DOE campuses set to reopen while Kilauea and Hanalei still wait on power restoration and bus routes remain limited. Local Accountability: An Office of the City Auditor says Honolulu’s $386M COVID-19 relief spending delivered limited recovery and shifted money toward city operations, water work, and the Waikiki Vista purchase. Indigenous Stewardship: Sea Life Park’s transformation is underway under Hawaiian Council leadership, with repairs, upgrades, and a Native Hawaiian approach to storytelling and marine education. Community Health on the Streets: Medical students with the Hawaii H.O.M.E. Project are providing basic care and wound checks for people experiencing homelessness, highlighting how access gaps worsen health outcomes. Culture & Identity: Kamehameha Schools, Polynesian Voyaging Society, and Taiwan’s Indigenous Council signed a declaration to strengthen Indigenous education through Austronesian kinship. Transit Planning: State leaders are seeking ideas for transit-oriented development via a taxpayer-funded travel workshop, but details on who goes and where remain unclear. Legal Fight Over Tuition: DOJ sued Hawaii and other states over in-state tuition for undocumented students, continuing a broad 25-state push. Air Cargo Safety: Amazon paused its partnership with 21 Air after a deadly runway overrun, then reshuffled its air network by removing 767 freighters.

Indigenous Education: Kamehameha Schools, the Polynesian Voyaging Society, and Taiwan’s Council of Indigenous Peoples signed the Declaration of Austronesian Kinship and Pacific Unity to strengthen language and cultural education across Hawaiʻi and Taiwan. Local Film & Community Healing: “Aloha Meets Mabuhay” at Kailua Cinemas spotlights Filipino American stories, including a short film about domestic violence survivor “Sira” and a tribute to Grammy-winning musician Larry Ramos. Storm Recovery & Resilience: After Hurricane Lowell, Kauaʻi communities are still dealing with power outages and damage, while farmers and neighbors share food and rebuild. Education & Representation (Out-of-State Data): New Michigan enrollment snapshots show Hawaiian student counts remain tiny in multiple districts, underscoring how rare representation can be even in public schools. Sports & Facilities: Mid-Pacific opened its first on-campus track and field facility after 117 years without one, a major upgrade for student athletics. Culture & Lifestyle: A new Netflix comedy special from Hawaii-linked touring comic Mojo Brookzz (“I Know You Lying”) drops Oct. 6.

Hurricane Lowell recovery (Kauaʻi): Kauaʻi power restoration is expanding as outside crews join KIUC’s work, with about 76% of members back online by Saturday and the north shore still hit hardest; Local Services Restart: Gov. Josh Green says most Kauaʻi state offices, most public schools, Kauaʻi Community College, and courts reopen Monday, with Kīlauea and Hanalei schools staying closed due to power and water; Native Hawaiian Legacy: Palikapu Dedman, founder of the Pele Defense Fund and a longtime defender of Wao Kele O Puna, has died at 80; Culture & Community: UH Mānoa opens a new museum on Hawaiʻi Deaf history, tying it to sign language and the royal bloodline; Education & Skills: Hawaiʻi Community College wins a $920,000 NSF grant to expand drone-based geospatial remote sensing training; Food & Farming: Kauaʻi farmers’ struggles spotlight the need for stronger local food production; Civic Life: Hawaii faces a costly scramble to deliver ballots if mail voting rules change, raising concerns about lines and access; Tourism Watch: An editorial urges managing tourism to benefit locals, not just visitors.

Hurricane Lowell Recovery: Kauaʻi’s state offices, most public schools, Kauaʻi Community College, and courts will reopen Monday, Sept. 14, with Kīlauea and Hanalei Elementary staying closed due to no power or potable water. Local Education & Culture: Mid-Pacific Institute unveiled a new $7.5M track-and-field facility on its Manoa campus and revitalized the culturally significant Wailele Spring as part of the project. Community Spaces: Waipahu Public Library marked its 30th anniversary with family activities, including Filipino martial arts demos, magic, crafts, and face painting—plus a reminder that the library has served the area since 1952. Arts & Heritage: UH Mānoa opens a new Deaf History Museum in the Hamilton Library lobby, tying Deaf community stories to Hawaiian royal lineage. Lifestyle & Food: A Honolulu café is turning into a Fukuoka-style sake pub after dark, bringing kakuuchi drinking culture to Kakaʻako. Health & Awareness: A renewed debate over bra-related breast cancer claims resurfaces, with an author revisiting decades-old research and suppression allegations. Family Fun: The 37th Annual Great Hawaiian Rubber Duckie Race returns Sept. 19 with keiki games, music, and 20,000 ducks splashing into the water.