Hawaii

Several Hawaii projects included in latest water infrastructure bill

Published

2 years ago

July 6, 2024

Several Hawaii projects included in latest water infrastructure bill

WASHINGTON — The proposed federal Water Resources Development Act of 2024 is headed for a final vote in the U.S. House of Representatives with some key Hawaii projects secured by Reps. Ed Case and Jill Tokuda, both D-Hawaii, included in its numerous provisions.

What You Need To Know

The biennial bill, which cleared the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in a 61-2 vote last month, authorizes projects to improve the country’s ports and harbors, inland waterways, flood and storm protection and other water resource infrastructure

Projects are performed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal organizations and non-government organizations

U.S. Reps. Ed Case and Jill Tokuda requested that Maui Environmental Infrastructure funding be increased to $50 million from $20 million to assist with wildfire recovery

Further Hawaii-related provisions include an assessment of the Waialua Watershed to inform efforts to prevent future flooding and climate change impacts

The biennial bill, which cleared the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on a 61-2 vote last month, authorizes projects to improve the country’s ports and harbors, inland waterways, flood and storm protection and other water resource infrastructure.

Projects are performed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal organizations and non-government organizations.

“As Hawaii has seen in increasing frequency, extreme weather events are leaving a trail of destruction and loss behind,” Tokuda said. “From hurricanes to flooding to wildfires, we need to do all we can to protect our local communities from the impacts of sea level rise and natural disasters. I am proud this bill includes projects in four counties to help protect our communities from future disastrous events.”

“In addition, Hawai’s harbors serve as a critical lifeline for residents and businesses,” she continued. “This year’s WRDA includes efforts to maintain the infrastructures that keep products flowing in and out of our state and keep Hawaii moving forward.”

Some of the Hawaii initiatives included in the 2024 WRDA include:

Increased funding for the Maui Environmental Infrastructure authorization: Both Case and Tokuda requested that funding be increased to $50 million from $20 million to assist with wildfire recovery.

Lahaina watershed study: Case and Tokuda also advocated for a study of the Lahaina Watershed that would include the coral reef habitat north of Lahaina. The study would examine the overall impacts of the wildfire with the goal of better protecting the community from flooding and preventing environmental damage from runoff.

Ala Wai Canal flood risk management project: Case is seeking to expedite the 25-year-old project, which focuses on protecting the homes, businesses and communities of Makiki, Manoa, Palolo and Waikiki.

“We all are facing the real-life evidence every day of the effects of climate change including disastrous flooding, and we must continue our efforts to prevent a catastrophic storm that would impact the watershed and the adjacent canal,” Case said.

Honolulu Harbor expansion and upgrade: Case proposes to update a previous authorization for a study on expanding and upgrading Honolulu Harbor to reflect “expanded complexity, scope and funding needs, including elements of coastal storm risk management.”

“As the main port of the State of Hawaii, Honolulu Harbor receives and distributes all overseas cargo shipments constituting over 80% of all imports into the state, supports fishing operations and cruise ships and handles federal maritime activity including the U.S. Coast Guard’s 14th District,” said Case, who previously secured $1.5 million in funding for the project via his work on the House Appropriations Committee.

Joining USACE studies of the Pacific Region: Under this provision, Hawaii would be allowed to partner with the Army Corps of Engineers on studies involving cultural resources preservation and environmental restoration. The agency already works with Guam, American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas on similar studies of coastal storm risk management and flood risk.

Expanding eligibility for federal assistance for coastal communities dependent on key ports: This amendment would allow for expanded eligibility for coastal communities whose longevity is tied to harbor access. It allows for greater consideration of cultural, social and ecosystem benefits to the local communities in cost-benefit analyses.

Further Hawaii-related provisions include an assessment of the Waialua Watershed to inform efforts to prevent future flooding and climate change impacts; modifications to repair Laupahoehoe Harbor to allow for the repair of the harbor’s breakwater structure; a comprehensive new start Feasibility Study to evaluate sources of flooding and propose solutions to reduce flood damages in the Hanapepe River watershed.

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at michael.tsai@charter.com.

Source link

Click to comment

Hawaii

Hawaii Pacific basketball teams split with Menlo | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Published

4 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Source link

Hawaii

Hawaii County accepting applications for Summer Fun employees

Published

16 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Hawaii County accepting applications for Summer Fun employees

HAWAII ISLAND (HawaiiNewsNow) – The County of Hawaii Department of Parks and Recreation is now accepting applications for temporary positions in its 2026 Summer Fun program.

The two positions available are Activity Aide I ($17.50 per hour) and Activity Aide II ($19 per hour).

To be considered for employment, applicants must possess a valid first-aid certification, attend mandatory training June 2–5, and be available to work June 8–July 17.

Applications are available online on the Parks and Recreation website, and must be submitted to the Recreation Division Office at 799 Pi‘ilani St., Hilo, HI 96720, postmarked by Saturday, Feb. 28.

For more information, call the Recreation Division Office at (808) 961-8740.

Source link

Hawaii

Hawaii’s jobless rate remains second lowest in U.S. – Hawaii Tribune-Herald

Published

1 day ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Hawaii’s jobless rate remains second lowest in U.S. – Hawaii Tribune-Herald

Hawaii’s labor market
continues to rank among the best
in the country.

The state’s seasonally adjusted rate plunged three-tenths of a point to 2.2% in November from September and now has fallen by a half-percentage point over the last three reporting periods, according to data released Tuesday from the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

There was no unemployment data for October due to the federal government shutdown.

The 2.2% rate maintained Hawaii’s ranking as the second lowest in the country, according to state data released Wednesday — a day later — by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Only South Dakota was lower in November at 2.1%.

The last time Hawaii’s rate dropped below 2.2% was in March 2020 when it hit 2.1% just before the pandemic started.

Hawaii’s low number caught Eugene Tian, DBEDT’s former state chief economist, by surprise.

“I was surprised to see the unemployment rate dropped to 2.2% in November,” said Tian, who retired at the end of May. “It is close to the historical low of 2.0% Hawaii experienced during the last four months of 2017. Hawaii ranks as one of the best labor markets in the nation.”

Hawaii’s rate has dropped from 2.7% in August to 2.5% in September to 2.2% in November.

Nationally, the U.S. unemployment rate was 4.6% in November, up by two-tenths of a point from September.

Tian said Hawaii’s unemployment rate fell sharply mainly due to a large increase in the number of people employed. Between September and November, the state’s labor force jumped by 1,000, or 0.15%, but the number of people employed increased by 2,800, or 0.42%.

“The faster increase in employment, with a slower increase in the labor force, made the unemployment rate low,” Tian said. “The increase in employment was due to the increase in payroll jobs (1,700 between September and November) and self-employment at 1,100.”

The state’s labor force, which is compiled from a telephone survey of households, edged up in November to 688,000 from 687,000 in September. The labor force includes those who are employed, those who are unemployed but actively seeking work and those who are self-employed. The number of people employed rose to 672,650 from 669,850 while those unemployed fell to 15,350 from 17,200.

In a separate survey, an increase in nonfarm payroll jobs in November from September was mainly driven by a 1,000 increase in construction jobs and a 1,000 gain in professional and business services.

Nonfarm payroll jobs are calculated from a mail survey of employers and are considered a better indicator of job growth due to a larger sample size than the labor force data, which is compiled from a telephone survey of households. In the payroll count, one person might be counted multiple times if that person has multiple jobs.

Tian said construction jobs continued their ascent in 2025 with the November number at a historical high of 42,000, while the values of completed construction, as measured by the contracting tax base, decreased every month between May and September 2025 (the latest data available is September), and the value of private building permits issued decreased every month between August and November 2025 (latest data available is November).

Tian said Hawaii’s unemployment numbers could rise in March when the Bureau of Labor Statistics benchmarks data of the previous year based on complete survey data. He noted that monthly data is based on sample data.

“Due to sampling errors for the monthly data, it is possible that the labor statistics may overstate the current conditions and the corrections will be released in March this year,” he said. “The lagging effect of new hires and activities may also contribute to the distortion of the labor statistics. I expect the unemployment rates will be adjusted toward higher levels when the numbers are benchmarked in March.”

Tian said if more people join the labor force, the state’s unemployment rate will rise when the number of employed people stabilizes.

“In the last few months, the labor force participation rate was stable at 60.4% (August-November),” he said. “Hawaii’s current labor force participation rate is lower than the U.S. at 62.5% (November 2025) and lower than the Hawaii monthly average of 61.1% in 2019. If labor force participation goes higher, the unemployment rate is likely to rise.”

While the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell, all of the state’s four major counties saw increases. State and national labor force data are adjusted for seasonal factors, but the county jobs data are not seasonally adjusted and thus do not take into account variations such as the winter holiday and summer vacation seasons.

Honolulu County’s rate rose to 2.3% from 2.2%. Hawaii County’s rate increased to 2.7% from 2.5%. Kauai County’s rate rose to 2.3% from 2.2%. And Maui County’s rate increased to 2.6% from 2.5%. Within Maui County, Maui island’s rate rose to 2.6% from 2.3%, Molokai’s rate fell to 4.0% from 5.9% and Lanai’s rate dropped to 1.1% from 2.2%.

Source link