Honolulu City Council

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi's State of the City address on Thursday largely focused on housing, public safety, and fixing the building permitting system. HPR's Ashley Mizuo has more.

This year's ballot could ask voters about separating ocean safety services from the Honolulu Department of Emergency Services. Lifeguards would have a new department similar to those for police and firefighters. The chief of ocean safety estimated about 10 new administrative positions would be needed. HPR's Mark Ladao has more.

Mayor Rick Blangiardi's proposed budget includes a $3.63 billion operating budget and a $919 million capital improvement program. The largest chunk of the capital improvement budget was taken up by $445 million in wastewater projects. HPR's Ashley Mizuo reports.

The Honolulu City Council this week approved a resolution to establish the strategy against the impacts of climate change.

Small business owners impacted by rail construction will soon be able to receive up to $10,000 a year to make up for drops in revenue. Although the utility relocation in the Dillingham corridor is expected to be completed by early 2026, building the columns and stations may take years. HPR's Ashley Mizuo reports.

Honolulu councilmembers have approved a controversial housing project along Waialae Avenue. Developers plan to construct a building that could be up to 210 feet tall with 182 affordable rental units.

Oʻahu lawmakers want more to be done about invasive species, and they say the city needs to play a bigger role. The Honolulu City Council just approved a measure asking the city administration to do so.

Local leaders want the City and County of Honolulu to be more involved in managing Oʻahu’s invasive species. Coconut rhinoceros beetles, little fire ants, invasive coral, coqui frogs and other species have been recently growing threats to the island.

The islandwide police chase of an armed suspect on Oʻahu on New Year's Day has prompted calls to the City and County of Honolulu to permit more access to first responders' radio communications. Local news outlets and the public lost access to real-time communications two years ago when the city encrypted dispatcher radio transmissions. HPR's Mark Ladao has more.

Sam Moku, who previously served as the mayor's chief of staff, will be tasked with producing concrete initiatives to address homelessness while collaborating with the mayor's administration, service providers, the state homeless coordinator and other stakeholders.