HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz announced that Hawaii will receive nearly $9.8 million dollars in new federal funding from FEMA to support ongoing recovery efforts on Maui.

The funding will help Lahaina rebuild the Waiola Church, Hale Aloha Museum, the Old Lahaina Courthouse Building, and the Master’s Reading Room.

“Waiola Church is an important part of Lahaina’s history, heritage, and community,” said Schatz.

“This new funding will help us restore some of Lahaina’s historic buildings and help bring this community back.”

In December, Schatz secured an estimated $1.6 billion dollars in funding for a survivor housing project.

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The U.S. Marines conducted a live-fire training exercise with the Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS) at the Pohakuloa Training Area in Hawaii on January 25, 2025. This exercise, marking the first time the MADIS was fired on a Hawaiian island since its fielding in December 2024, served to commemorate the system’s addition to the Marine Corps’ arsenal and its rigorous months of operational testing and evaluation. The training was held at the Pohakuloa Training Area, a prime location for live-fire exercises.
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A U.S. Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS) Mk1 engages a small unmanned aircraft system during a live-fire training exercise at Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawaii, on January 25, 2025. (Picture source: U.S. DoD)

The MADIS (Marine Air Defense Integrated System), a ground-based air defense system designed to counter unmanned aerial systems (UAS), was tested by Marines of the 3d Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion’s (LAAB) Ground-Based Air Defense Battery. The live-fire event offered Marines an opportunity to demonstrate and refine their capability to detect, track, identify, and engage a variety of aerial threats, specifically targeting UAS in a highly contested and dynamic environment. The MADIS is capable of deploying a mix of weapons systems including missiles, air-to-air launchers, chain guns, machine guns, and simulated munitions, all integrated into a single, highly flexible platform.

The MADIS is a cutting-edge, mobile, short-range air defense system designed to address the evolving threat of drones and other low-altitude aerial platforms. Built to provide rapid-response capabilities, it enables ground forces to operate with greater autonomy and enhanced combat effectiveness, especially in scenarios where threats come from small, agile, and difficult-to-detect unmanned aerial systems (UAS).

The MADIS will consist of two distinct variants: the MADIS Mk1 and the MADIS Mk2. Each variant is designed to complement the other, providing a layered and adaptable air defense solution that meets the unique needs of the Marine Corps’ Ground-Based Air Defense (GBAD) units. The MADIS Mk1 includes a turret-launched Stinger missile, multi-functional electronic warfare (EW) capabilities, a direct fire weapon, an Electro Optical Infra-Red (EO/IR) optic, and a shoulder-fired Stinger missile for dismounted operations. This variant is designed to deliver a robust air defense solution capable of engaging targets both from a mounted position and through individual soldier operations. The turret-launched Stinger missile provides longer-range engagement against hostile aerial threats, while the shoulder-fired Stinger allows for flexibility in dismounted operations, empowering Marines with a portable anti-air defense capability.

On the other hand, the MADIS Mk2 (C-UAS variant) is optimized for counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) operations, incorporating a multi-function EW capability and a 360-degree radar system for full situational awareness. The Mk2 also includes a direct fire weapon, EO/IR optics, and a supporting command and control (C2) communications suite, which facilitates seamless coordination and command across dispersed units. This variant enhances the Marines’ ability to track and neutralize UAS threats in complex environments, offering real-time intelligence and enabling integrated responses across the battlefield. The Mk1 and Mk2 form a complementary pair, and together, they represent the core of the LAAD Battalions’ GBAD capability.

The MADIS system provides a highly mobile and flexible air defense solution. Its ability to detect, track, and engage a wide range of aerial threats—especially small and low-flying UAS—gives ground forces a significant edge in modern warfare. The system’s combination of radar, EW, and direct fire capabilities allows for layered defense, addressing both kinetic and non-kinetic threats. Whether in a mounted or dismounted configuration, the MADIS allows Marine units to react quickly and effectively to emerging threats in a variety of operational scenarios.

The integration of the MADIS into Marine Corps operations is part of the broader effort to modernize and enhance air defense capabilities across the force. The system not only increases the tactical flexibility of the 3d MLR but also ensures that these Marines are equipped with the most advanced tools available to counter the growing threat posed by UAS and other low-altitude threats.

The fielding of the MADIS provides the 3d Marine Littoral Regiment with a critical enhancement to its air and missile defense capabilities. As a highly mobile and effective air defense system, it significantly extends the range in which the regiment can sense, engage, and neutralize aerial threats, particularly in the region’s vast and often remote operational theaters. This system empowers the 3d MLR to operate more independently, reducing reliance on broader joint-force support and increasing its self-sufficiency in air defense operations.

The 3d MLR, stationed on Oahu, Hawaii, and focused on amphibious and littoral warfare, is an essential unit in the Marine Corps’ strategic posture in the Indo-Pacific region. The regiment plays a crucial role in regional security, conducting operations that ensure the protection of U.S. interests and strengthen alliances with partner nations across the Pacific. The MADIS, as part of the 3d MLR’s operational toolkit, reinforces the Marine Corps’ readiness to respond to growing challenges posed by near-peer adversaries and non-state actors deploying advanced aerial systems.

In addition to its operational capabilities, the live-fire event allowed commanders and subject matter experts to engage with attendees, discussing the process of fielding the MADIS and its operational value. Training with the MADIS reflects the Marine Corps’ continued commitment to a threat-informed, concept-based approach to modernization, adapting its forces to meet emerging threats and ensure its relevance in future conflict scenarios.

As the U.S. Marine Corps continues to adapt to the changing landscape of warfare, the integration of advanced systems like the MADIS ensures that forces in the Indo-Pacific—and beyond—remain capable of meeting evolving air threats. The success of this training event underlines the operational flexibility and value of the MADIS, marking it as a cornerstone of the Marine Corps’ future force design and operational readiness in an increasingly complex and contested global security environment.

The MADIS’s integration into Marine Corps operations signals a new era of air defense capabilities, and the training at Pohakuloa serves as a testament to the dedication and innovation that continues to drive the U.S. Marine Corps’ modernization efforts. With the ongoing development of new tactics, techniques, and procedures for its use, the MADIS is poised to play an essential role in safeguarding the U.S. and its allies in the Indo-Pacific and other strategic regions.

Lawmakers have introduced at least three bills in the current session of the Legislature relating to human trafficking and sex trafficking.

Two bills, House Bill 155 and Senate Bill 1261, are similar and would add some teeth to sex trafficking enforcement.

Either measure, if passed in its original form, would make sex trafficking a Class A felony with a term of imprisonment of up to 20 years without the possibility of a suspended sentence, probation or parole.

The legislation also specifies fines between $200,000 and $500,000 for those convicted of sex trafficking. It also provides that a person who reports being a victim of sex trafficking shall not be subject to criminal liability involving sex trafficking or prostitution.

The bills would require the state Department of Human Services to implement services and programs for survivors and training for law enforcement. They also appropriate funding and would require an annual report to the Legislature.

Both bills have passed their first floor reading in their respective chambers.

HB 155, which was introduced by Rep. David Alcos III, an Oahu Republican and assistant minority leader, hasn’t had any committee hearings yet, but would have to pass three hearings to return for a second floor vote. Its been referred to a joint session of the committees on Human Services and Homelessness, and Education.

Alcos’ bill has four co-sponsors, three of them Oahu Republicans: Minority Leader Lauren Matsumoto, Minority Caucus Leader Gene Ward and Minority Floor Leader Diamond Garcia. Also signing on is Rep. Darius Kila, an Oahu Democrat.

SB 1261, introduced by Mike Gabbard, an Oahu Democrat, hasn’t yet received a committee referral.

The third piece of legislation, HB 609, introduced by Rep. Kanani Souza, an Oahu Republican, would require the posting of informational placards about sex trafficking and resources available to victims in public buildings and at other specified locations.

It also would require the state Department of Education to train teachers, school administrators and other school personnel on the dynamics of sex trafficking and strategies for prevention and response. In addition, it would require and appropriates money for the attorney general to develop and implement public education and outreach events on the dynamics of sex trafficking and the importance of community involvement in prevention and response efforts.

Souza’s legislation has four co-sponsors, all Oahu Democrats: Majority Whips Tyson Miyake and Amy Perruso, plus Reps. Elle Cochran and Kim Coco Iwamoto.

HB 609 has received the same referral as HB 155, and also hasn’t yet been scheduled for a committee hearing.

This month marks the 15th anniversary of Human Trafficking Awareness Month, and Gov. Josh Green held a proclamation signing Friday in Honolulu with law enforcement officials. The proclamation, which highlighted awareness rather than prescribing any specific action, noted that state Department of Health statistics between January 2024 and June 2024 include 34 reports of human trafficking, 10 of which were confirmed cases. The types of exploitation included 25 reports of sex trafficking and four reports of labor trafficking.

According to the DOH, 19 reports were made from Oahu, four from Hawaii Island, three from Maui and one from Kauai.

“We affirm our commitment to combat this crime and it is horrific, because the heartbreaking truth is that Native Hawaiian keiki are disproportionately affected by human trafficking,” Green said. “And we’ve heard the stories in the neighbor islands, very young girls getting taken. People go missing. And it’s hard. It’s a hard crime to prosecute.

While signing the proclamation, Green described human traffickers as “vermin.”

“It’s devastating to think that this beautiful home, this paradise, is a place where our most vulnerable children can be taken,” he said. “So, every child, from our perspective, deserves to live in a space of safety.”

Despite the DOH’s report numbers, Hawaii Police Department Chief Benjamin Moszkowicz said the department doesn’t have any active human trafficking investigations.

“Human trafficking is very much an invisible crime,” Moszkowicz said. “While we urge anyone who is being exploited to contact police for assistance, we also realize it may not be that simple for victims to do so. That is why we continue to work with our federal and state partners to identify possible victims and get them assistance, regardless of the possibility of prosecution.”

John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.