AGP Executive Report

Hurricane Recovery & Tourism: Hurricane Lowell battered Kauaʻi, knocking out power for thousands and damaging oceanfront resorts and infrastructure, prompting Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority guidance for visitors to adjust plans while recovery continues. Storm Watch & Infrastructure Risk: Tropical Storm Nolo is strengthening in the Central Pacific, with a Hurricane Watch for the Big Island and major rain, flooding, and mudslide risk expected through the weekend—raising stakes for local utilities and public works. Agriculture & Land Use: Maui County released a draft environmental assessment for the Upcountry Maui Agricultural Park, proposing 28 improved farm sites with irrigation, roads, and electrical service to support diversified local farming. Consumer Protection & Finance: Hawaiʻi Office of Consumer Protection announced a settlement with subprime auto lender Credit Acceptance Corporation, offering cash and debt relief (up to $115,000 for eligible consumers) and requiring stronger loan-risk disclosures and limits on “packing” add-on products. Politics & Business Climate: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce sued Hawaii over the state’s political spending ban set to begin July 2027, arguing it violates the First Amendment and could silence businesses and nonprofits. Energy & Sustainability: The Hawaiʻi Green Business Program honored 51 local businesses and events for energy and water efficiency, waste reduction, and pollution prevention. Hospitality Industry: AHICE Aloha is set for Sept. 29 in Honolulu, bringing hotel leaders and industry panels focused on accommodation trends and networking.

Tropical Storm Nolo: Hawaii leaders are urging residents to prepare as Nolo strengthens toward hurricane conditions, with a hurricane watch for Hawaii County and flood risk across the islands; Gov. Josh Green ordered closures of state and county offices, public schools, and UH campuses on Hawaii Island Thursday–Friday, expanding to Maui County Friday, while the state seeks a federal emergency declaration. Disaster recovery math: Green says four 2026 disasters (Kona lows, May Big Island quake, Hurricanes Lala and Lowell) have produced about $1B in combined damage and planned resilience needs, including $319M in mitigation projects. Infrastructure and planning: Hawaii County is moving ahead with a draft environmental assessment to restore Isaac Kepo‘okalani Hale Beach Park in lower Puna after the 2018 Kilauea lava impacts. Food resilience push: An editorial argues storms keep erasing progress on Hawaii’s food system and calls for faster implementation of resilience plans. Consumer protection: Hawaii announced a settlement with Credit Acceptance Corp. over alleged predatory auto lending, offering debt forgiveness and requiring risk disclosures. Travel ID help: TSA says if a Hawaii REAL ID won’t scan at the TSA checker, officers will manually verify and passengers won’t be charged the ConfirmID fee.

Tourism & Workforce: Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority’s Visitor Industry Conference brings hospitality, community, and government leaders to Oʻahu (Sept. 24–25) to tackle destination management, resident sentiment, crisis planning, and workforce needs. Energy & Grid Resilience: Waena battery storage hits key milestones, aiming to strengthen Maui’s grid and support more renewables. Defense & Infrastructure: The Army conditionally selected three developers for commercial power projects at six installations under Enhanced Use Leases, signaling more battery storage, natural gas, and fuel-cell options on military land. Tech & Consumer Electronics: Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Summit in Maui unveiled new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and Extreme Gen 6 chips, plus Snapdragon Sound Elite Gen 2 for AI-enabled, phone-free wireless audio. Local Business Growth: Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaiʻi elevates COO Tom Wylie to President and opens an East Coast distribution center to support expansion. Healthcare Leadership: Healthcare Association of Hawaiʻi CEO Hilton Raethel will retire in January, starting a successor search. Shipping & Logistics: USPS released 2026 holiday “send by” recommendations, including Dec. 16–19 for Hawaiʻi and U.S. territories depending on service.

Climate & Finance: A new push argues global markets still undervalue physical climate risk, even as extreme-weather records keep falling and El Niño forecasts raise the stakes. Tech & Consumer Industry: Qualcomm used its Maui Snapdragon Summit to pitch “agentic AI” and unveiled new Snapdragon 8 Elite chips, signaling tougher competition for mobile processors. Energy & Policy: A hearing in Virginia spotlights NextEra’s merger scrutiny, while a separate national debate weighs a potential U.S. diesel export ban and its ripple effects on prices and supply chains. Food Security & Local Governance: Honolulu voters will decide on a charter amendment creating a dedicated Food Security Fund, and Maui County is moving ahead with food and nutrition security planning. Agriculture & Biosecurity: Molokai’s coconut rhinoceros beetle shipping protections are expiring, raising fears of new infestations. Culture & Environment: Merrie Monarch Festival calls for a three-year pause on wild harvesting of key native plants to protect forest health. Public Safety: Hawaii Fire officials say a Waikiki nightclub fire was caused by a lithium-ion battery, and a Kokua Line guide explains safer home storage for spare lithium-ion chargers. Health Infrastructure: Kula Hospital is set to reopen after storm damage, with state and Kaiser funding for repairs and upgrades. Maritime/Mining: A federal judge kept an American Samoa deep-sea mining lease-sale challenge on track, leaving a possible court block before the sale. Business Leadership: Hawaiʻi Community Foundation named Reid Gushiken as senior VP and CFO, and Zonta Club of Hilo opened applications for its 2027 Women in Business Leadership Award.

Food & Permitting: A Guam food truck roundtable flagged rising costs and a patchwork permitting system that leaves mobile vendors bouncing between locations and regulators. Health Insurance Oversight: Oregon’s DFR warned consumers to scrutinize “self-funded” limited-partner plans that may dodge ACA rules and leave people with big uncovered bills. Hawaiʻi Sports & Weather: OHCRA canceled Na Wahine O Ke Kai and Molokai Canoe Festival Kulaia Hoolaulea due to developing tropical conditions and safety concerns for paddlers, escort crews, and the community. Consumer/Antitrust: Eight major pork producers agreed to a $117M class-action settlement over alleged price-fixing; Hawaii is among the 24 states eligible for claims by Oct. 29, 2026. Defense/Local Industry: ProPublica coverage tied Hawaii defense contractor Navatek to allegations of pay-to-play involving Sen. Susan Collins, though Collins’ office denies wrongdoing and the FBI previously found no link. Logistics: USPS set 2026 holiday shipping cutoffs for Hawaii and other territories. Energy/Construction: Hawaiian Electric completed six Tesla Megapacks at its Waena battery project in Central Maui, a step toward the state’s 100% renewables goal.

Energy & Grid Resilience: Hawaiian Electric’s Waena Battery Energy Storage System hit a key milestone as the first six Tesla Megapacks arrived and were installed in Central Maui, part of a 40 MW/160 MWh project meant to store renewable power and stabilize the grid. Local Infrastructure & Construction: Gulick Avenue in Kalihi is closed for a year for H-1 overpass demolition and reconstruction, with a temporary pedestrian bridge in place—raising worries for nearby businesses. Housing Finance: Honolulu voters will decide on a constitutional change to allow “RISE” bond financing for infrastructure tied to Skyline rail-area housing, with supporters citing construction needs and opponents limited to a small set of testimony. Public Services: The state’s Makai Garage Lot A automated parking system starts Wednesday, accepting bills (not coins) plus cards, with a 15-minute grace period. Food Security: SNAP recipients nationwide begin collecting October benefits next week, with states setting staggered payment schedules. Environment & Agriculture: A new UH study finds invasive deer and goats are degrading Hawaii ranchlands, with axis deer driving forage losses at most surveyed sites. Wildlife Biosecurity: A live opossum was captured at a Honolulu Harbor freight facility and euthanized for rabies testing, underscoring ongoing quarantine risks tied to shipping.

Reef Recovery: After Hurricane Lala, The Nature Conservancy says Hawaiʻi’s reefs are seeing massive coral colonies broken off and pulverized into rubble, with teams reattaching surviving fragments using cement—made possible by Hawaiʻi’s reef insurance payouts. Consumer Finance Crackdown: Georgia AG Carr joined a 41-state settlement with Credit Acceptance Corporation, securing $694M in cash and debt relief and requiring stronger loan-risk disclosures and protections against dealer “packing” add-ons. Aviation & Travel: American Airlines was picked as the primary carrier for Phoenix’s new West Terminal; meanwhile, loyalty programs keep shifting toward credit-card-driven earning, and an AI-run hotel could begin operating before year-end. Data Center Backlash: A Bloomberg report says 45 data center projects worth $68B were blocked or delayed by local opposition, with Hawaii the only state reported without opposition groups. Hawaiʻi Community & Agriculture: DCCA opened registration for the 2026–2027 Hawaiʻi LifeSmarts competition; and Maui residents turned in nearly 40 firearms and 58 pounds of illegal fireworks at a buyback event.

Housing & Infrastructure Finance: Hawaii voters will decide Nov. 3 whether to amend the state constitution to let counties issue “RISE Bonds” that repay infrastructure spending with future property-tax growth tied to new housing. Energy Costs: The Public Utilities Commission is set to hold hearings that could raise Hawaiian Electric monthly rates—up about $11 on Oahu/Molokai/Lanai, $14 on Maui, and $15 on Hawaii island. Local Housing Development Delays: A Waikoloa project proposing about 400 apartments and 300 single-family homes was pushed back after a council committee postponed votes, with opponents citing water, evacuation, and school capacity concerns. Condo/HOA Fee Shock: Waikīkī’s Hawaiian Prince cooperative faces major special assessments and a steep maintenance-fee jump, highlighting how residents can get hit with big costs without clear training or documentation. Disaster Recovery & Resilience: Honolulu’s tree canopy cleanup after Hurricanes Lala and Lowell is ongoing, and replacements could take decades to regrow. Food Systems: Maui County codified its Food and Nutrition Security Plan into the county code via Bill 98, aiming to strengthen local agriculture and access to culturally relevant food. Weather Watch: A First Alert flags possible heavy rain and isolated thunderstorms later this week as Tropical Depression 15-E may redevelop.

Future of Work: Hawaii business and community leaders are gearing up for workforce shifts driven by AI at the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii/Workforce Development Council’s Future of Work 2027 conference (Sept. 23), with Hawaiian Electric as presenter. Energy Assistance: Sen. Peter Welch and a bipartisan group urged HHS to release LIHEAP funds fast and at full levels to help low-income households pay winter energy bills. Interisland Transportation: Maui County is moving toward a county-run ferry plan to restore service between Maui and Moloka‘i and expand options for Lāna‘i, with cheaper fares and routes tied to rebuilding progress. Invasive Species: UH Mānoa hosts the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Science and Management Symposium (Sept. 22-24) as CRB continues spreading beyond O‘ahu. Water Safety: Honolulu City Council is pressing regulators to expand Red Hill groundwater testing after concerns about contamination of O‘ahu’s drinking-water aquifer. Local Business Development: A new 20,000-square-foot retail hub in Mōʻiliʻili (Waiānuenue ma Kapaʻakea) is set to bring major brands like Paris Baguette and Wingstop alongside local eateries. Disaster Costs: Hawaii Emergency Management Agency estimates more than $212M in storm damage to public infrastructure, with additional school repair needs estimated at $174.5M.

Red Hill Water Watch: Honolulu City Council is urging state and federal regulators to require the Navy to expand groundwater testing around the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, citing ongoing PFAS and petroleum contamination concerns and pushing back against plans to reduce testing. Storm Cost Crunch: Hawaii Emergency Management Agency preliminary figures put storm damage to public infrastructure at $212M, with the Department of Education adding another $174.5M for school repairs—costs that could rise as assessments and federal reviews continue. Food Resilience Rethink: A new call argues Hawaii can’t rely on “grow more locally” alone; the state needs integrated planning so food systems keep working during disasters and supply disruptions. Vacation Rental Rules Again Delayed: Hawaii County’s Bill 147, aimed at simplifying short-term rental regulations, was deferred again and now heads back to a hearing set for Oct. 6. Tourism Capacity Pressure: Canada-to-Hawaii flight capacity is shrinking as WestJet cuts about a third of services, reducing scheduled flights and seats for September travel. Waikiki Fire Safety: Honolulu Fire Department says a two-alarm Waikiki commercial building fire was accidental, sparked by a lithium-ion battery-powered light charging, causing about $1.91M in damage. Hurricane Hunters in Action: The U.S. Air Force’s WC-130J “Hurricane Hunters” flew into Tropical Storm Lala, collecting data that improves forecast accuracy. Local Business Education: Registration opened for Hawaiʻi LifeSmarts, a free student competition covering personal finance, consumer rights, health, safety, environment and tech. Water Resilience Op-Ed: A column urges immediate action on water conservation and wastewater stewardship after recent storms highlighted Hawaii’s vulnerability.

Waikīkī Fire Ruling: Honolulu Fire Department says a nearly $2M commercial building blaze at 310 Lewers St. was accidental, sparked when a lithium-ion battery-powered light overheated and ignited nearby materials. Disaster Relief: Hawai‘i Realtors Charitable Foundation is distributing $200,000 in Hurricane/Tropical Storm Lala and Hurricane Lowell relief, offering grants up to $1,000 for affected homeowners and renters (apply by Nov. 4). Hurricane Recon Data: The U.S. “Hurricane Hunters” WC-130Js flew repeated missions into Tropical Storm Lala, using dropsondes to improve National Hurricane Center forecasts. State Parking Automation: DAGS will automate payments at Makai Garage Lot A starting Sept. 23, affecting 77 stalls and hundreds of drivers near the Capitol District. Local Policy Watch: Hawai‘i County Council advanced Bill 184 on first reading, moving toward requiring native, lei-making plants in county landscaping (with flexibility for safety/engineering needs). Hawai‘i Economy: DBEDT forecasts slower growth for 2026-2029, citing inflation and fewer private building permits, while construction and healthcare remain bright spots. Cybersecurity Alert: FBI Honolulu warns of North Korean “WaterPlum/Contagious Interview” scams targeting IT workers worldwide via fake job offers.

Vacation Rental Rules: Hawaii County again deferred Bill 147, a “housekeeping” measure meant to simplify and clarify short-term rental rules, including language, zoning districts, management standards, and enforcement fines. Emergency Management: Maui County selected Francis Kau as deputy administrator of the County Maui Emergency Management Agency, boosting day-to-day disaster preparedness and recovery coordination. Energy/Utilities: Hawaiian Electric begins critical grid hardening along East Kamehameha V Highway Oct. 3–8, a major reliability step for O‘ahu. Water Safety: The County Department of Water Supply canceled a precautionary boil water notice for the Wai’ōhinu-Nā‘ālehu Water System after follow-up testing showed no coliform or other contaminants. Cybersecurity: FBI Honolulu warned about North Korean hackers using a fake “Contagious Interview” recruiter scheme that has infected 30,000+ devices worldwide. Coral/Coastal Resilience: The Nature Conservancy reported a second reef insurance payout ($300,000 after Hurricane Lowell), helping fund faster restoration work. Local Industry & Culture: Pacific Fashion Week debuted at Kaimana Beach Hotel, spotlighting Pacific-rooted designers and students. Legal/Justice: Hawaii Supreme Court is weighing how wrongful-conviction exonerees can pursue state compensation while also seeking federal damages. Scam Alert: DBEDT/HGIA warned residents about fraudulent mailers impersonating the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority to push fake home warranty and mortgage protection scams.

Water Safety Update: Hawaiʻi County canceled a precautionary boil water notice for the Wai’ōhinu–Nā‘ālehu Water System after follow-up testing found no coliform or other contaminants, though residents are urged to flush plumbing before reuse. Energy & Resilience: Hawaiian Electric will start critical grid hardening on Molokaʻi, replacing 8 miles of copper lines with aluminum conductors along East Kamehameha V Highway (Onioni Drive to ʻUalapuʻe) Oct. 3–8, with planned outages during work. Infrastructure Delivery: NAVFAC Pacific highlighted faster project delivery at the SAME Pacific Industry Forum, pushing integrated, earlier decision-making to speed infrastructure across the Pacific. Grid/Storm Response: The Coast Guard restored navigation aids and reopened harbors after Hurricane Lowell, including Port Allen on Kauai and Kaumalapau Harbor on Lānaʻi. Consumer Protection: DBEDT/HGIA warned of fraudulent mailers using the HGIA name to lure homeowners into fake home-warranty and mortgage-protection scams. Insurance Oversight: Hawaiʻi’s Insurance Commissioner issued a residential hurricane coverage data call worksheet for insurers writing in the state. Local Business Impact: After Hurricane Lowell, Kauaʻi small businesses say tourist cancellations are hitting demand hard, risking more layoffs. Scam Alert: State officials also warned about fraudulent letters imitating state agencies.

Healthcare & Cost Relief: Trump says federal Obamacare “user fee” overcharges will be refunded with $500 payments to nearly 1 million people in states including Hawaii, after Biden-era exchange fees allegedly exceeded what was needed. Tourism Economy: Hawaii’s visitor numbers are down while per-person spending is up, but industry voices warn “high-value” travel won’t fix the sector’s local strain. Local Business After Storms: Kaua‘i recovery remains fragile after Hurricane Lowell, with officials urging visitors to spend locally while small food businesses report layoffs and weaker demand. Military & Community Impact: Maui residents are still waiting on the final environmental and cultural review tied to proposed additional Haleakalā telescopes, after years of pushback over mitigation and sacred-site concerns. Government Data & Tech: Honolulu voters will weigh a charter change to make the city’s chief data officer permanent and create an Office of Innovation and Technology. Labor Rules in Hospitality: A Hawaii resort case highlights risk that spa and wellness workers labeled “independent contractors” may actually be employees under wage-and-hour law. Consumer Protection: Hawaii warns of fraudulent mailers using the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority name to lure homeowners into fake home-warranty and mortgage “protection” scams. Finance & Industry: American Savings Bank begins NYSE trading after an IPO, with HEI reducing its stake and public investors taking about 12% of the company. Logistics & Freight: Estes plans nearly $56M in cross-border/offshore freight expansion, including service coverage for Hawaii. Energy Costs: Gas prices remain high, with Hawaii among the priciest states nationwide.

Local Design & Retail: Honolulu kicked off a four-day celebration of Pacific designers, artists, and industry leaders at Kaimana Beach Hotel, with runway events, talks, and shopping through Sunday. Coastal Resilience: Hawaii DOT is testing a hybrid reef “living breakwater” at Kalaeloa to protect coastal highways from erosion and rising seas, using engineered porous concrete plus living coral to cut wave energy and boost marine habitat. Consumer Protection / Finance: A multistate settlement reached with Credit Acceptance Corporation over predatory subprime auto lending totals about $694 million, with cash and debt relief and limits on harmful practices. Health Care Costs: Trump announced $500 ACA “Obamacare” refunds for nearly 1 million people in 30 states using the federal exchange, including Hawaii, tied to alleged federal user-fee overcharges. Local Business Circular Economy: In Wahiawa, Bizia Surf & Coffee Bar turns invasive albizia into building materials and surf products, aiming to create a local economy around a costly environmental problem. Scams Watch: Kapolei ranked among Hawaii’s top scam-report cities in August, with phishing the most common reported method. Aviation & Infrastructure: Southwest plans its first airport lounges, including Honolulu, starting late 2027. Education & Workforce: Maui College Fair at Queen Kaʻahumanu Center brings 60+ colleges to help students plan after high school.

Hurricane Lowell Recovery: KIUC and contractors restored power to more than 91% of Kaua‘i customers, but about 3,100 remain out—especially in Wainiha/Ha‘ena where transmission repairs may need helicopter support and the earliest restoration estimate runs to the end of next week. Housing & Community Impact: North Shore residents facing flood damage and mold are still searching for temporary housing, with some vacation rental owners being urged to open homes for displaced families. Public Safety & Infrastructure: Facilities Advisors released flash-flood guidance for timeshare HOA boards, urging drainage risk and critical systems to be treated as reserve-planning priorities. Food Industry Alert: Hawai‘i DOH issued a recall of Danone’s So Delicious Dairy Free Salted Caramel Cluster pints due to possible foreign objects (stones/hard items). Tech & Ethics: Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff tied AI accountability to the Hawaiian concept of kuleana, arguing AI firms should be held responsible for harms. Local Governance & Services: UHERO reports Hawaii’s housing voucher program reaches only about 20% of those who need it, despite rising funding. Invasive Species: Palolo Valley residents and state crews are coordinating coqui frog response efforts, building volunteer hunts and barriers to contain the spread.