City and County of Honolulu

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi has signed a resolution creating a new Ocean Safety Department. In his March state of the city address, Blangiardi said he wanted to separate ocean safety services from ambulance services. Both were housed in the Honolulu Emergency Services Department.

To help deter thieves from breaking into cars in scenic areas in East Oʻahu, the Honolulu City Council is considering a resolution to allow surveillance cameras.

The pounding rains due to last week's Kona low system put eyes on the Wahiawā dam, but was there any concern for the Ala Wai Canal? The Conversation checked on the Ala Wai Flood Risk Management project.

The state passed a new law to expand the counties' ability to control short-term rentals. The City and County of Honolulu is contemplating how to use the law to increase enforcement on Oʻahu. As HPR's Ashley Mizuo reports, it's difficult to know how county and state revenue would be impacted if more short-term rentals are phased out.

According to this year's Point in Time Count, the amount of people experiencing homelessness increased by about 12%. For those unsheltered, the increase was higher at 17%. Throughout one day in January, volunteers surveyed Oʻahu's homeless population. HPR's Ashley Mizuo reports on the latest data.

The Friends of Haʻikū Stairs argued in court last week that the removal would cause irreparable damage. A judge has denied the group's request, moving the demolition forward. The city said that workers are not expected to fly any of the stair modules off the mountain for at least a few days because of current weather conditions.

The federal lawsuit filed in March alleged that making applicants wait so long was the city's way of keeping the permitting process as restrictive as it was before a 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision that upended gun laws nationwide.

Oʻahu residents have one year to get their Real ID driver’s license, or state identification cards, to travel by air. Real ID driver’s licenses in Hawaiʻi have a gold circle with a star outline.

Honolulu has a goal of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 45% compared to 2015 levels. The deadline is next year. HPR's Savannah Harriman-Pote reports that the city is likely to miss the mark — by a lot. Building efficiency and transportation are the largest target areas for cutting carbon emissions.

Lei makers in several categories are awarded 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes. The winning lei makers are awarded more than $5,000 in prize money.