News briefing following this week’s meeting of the Governor’s Leadership Team on Homelessness

The Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of State Parks will close portions of Wahiawa Freshwater State Recreation Area on weekdays for hazardous tree removal over the next two weeks, starting on Monday, August 3, 2015 and finishing by Friday, August 14, or sooner if possible

The Hawai‘i Congressional Delegation announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded $14,252,365 in various grants to support the development of affordable workforce housing for low and moderate-income persons, address homelessness, and provide housing assistance and supportive services for low-income individuals living with HIV/AIDS and their families.

Upon an agreement by the Mayor and the County Council, the Department of Planning has levied fines totaling half a million dollars against Michael Baskin, the owner and operator of three vacation rentals in Paia. This is the largest fine in the history of the department, resulting from numerous violations of the Short Term Rental Home, SMA, zoning, and building codes laws. All told, the county issued 30 Notices of Violation

Hawaii Governor David Ige and Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) for Clean and Efficient Energy Development and Deployment during the “Hawaii-Okinawa Energy Innovation Forum,” a historic event held on July 10, 2015, in the Chamber of the State House of Representatives, Hawaii State Capitol

The expansive six year transportation bill passed today by the Senate includes two provisions introduced by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i). The first provision supports investment in transit-oriented development and the second promotes safer streets and communities

News Conference announcing Governor’s Leadership Team on

Gov. David Ige today announced the formation of the Governor’s Leadership Team on Homelessness, which will be tasked with finding short-term and long-term solutions as the state, city and federal governments work together to address homelessness in Hawai

The Department of Water Supply is continuing its project to replace waterlines on Kaohu Street. On Wednesday, July 22, 2015, the Department will be replacing service lines on Kaohu Street from 6:00 p.m. to approximately 10:00 p.m. Water will be shut off for residents/businesses at the following addresses from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m

The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) is seeking new projects for the Hawai‘i Forest Legacy Program that will protect important working forest lands from the threat of conversion to non-forest uses. The Forest Legacy Program, administrated through DLNR’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife, is accepting applications for conservation acquisition assistance through the program.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) will close the popular Manoa Falls hiking trail during the morning on two days next week. On Monday July 20 and Tuesday July 21, the trail will be closed from sunrise until noon each day, while work to remove a hazardous tree takes place within the forest. The trail will reopen at noon each day

The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) is seeking applications to plan, develop, implement and evaluate eligible Safe Routes to School (SRTS) infrastructure and non-infrastructure projects.

Maui County property tax bills will be going out later this month and to help taxpayers understand the process, the Real Property Assessment Division is featuring a new video on their webpage. The video is on the role of county appraisers and how they affect (and don't affect) property tax bills.

The state Department of Commerce and Commerce Affairs’ (DCCA) Real Estate Commission (REC) is working with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide information about the Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA) new approval process for condominium projects.

This morning, Senator Mazie K. Hirono spoke about the importance of finding renewable energy solutions for island states and communities like Hawaii at a Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing on Islanded Energy Systems in Alaska, Hawaii, and the U.S. Territories. Senator Hirono heard from stakeholders from Hawaii, Guam, Alaska, and the U.S. Virgin Islands on the unique challenges of meeting the energy needs of island communities