AGP Executive Report

Memorial Day travel crunch: AAA says 45 million Americans are expected to hit the road for the holiday, and gas prices are at a four-year high—$4.56 nationally and $4.76 in Ohio—so expect pricey fill-ups and heavier traffic. Maui land fight: A Maui Council committee advanced the Kaʻehu Bay shoreline purchase over Native Hawaiian family objections, voting 6-3 to recommend full approval. Tourism leadership: The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority has launched a search for a new president and CEO, signaling a fresh direction for the state’s visitor push. Animal welfare: The Hawaiian Humane Society is waiving dog adoption fees May 22-24 after an intake surge pushed shelters to critical capacity. Local culture spotlight: A surf icon—Mickey Munoz—was honored with a life-sized bronze statue unveiled at Watermen’s Plaza. Safety reminder: A new water-quality report flags more chronic coastal pollution in Hawaiʻi, with some sites exceeding recreational health standards.

Tourism Leadership: The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority has opened applications to find a new president and CEO, as Mufi Hannemann’s retirement plans move forward—an important moment for how the state markets and manages visitors. Memorial Day Travel Pressure: AAA says Memorial Day gas prices are at a four-year high, with the national average near $4.56, and Arizona leading at about $4.81—cost is the big travel decision-maker this summer. Hurricane Watch (Pacific): NOAA is forecasting an active Pacific hurricane season as El Niño returns, with Hawai‘i in the central Pacific mix—so planners are being told to review preparedness now. Shark Safety Law: Lulu’s Law cleared the House and heads to the president’s desk, expanding wireless emergency alerts for shark attacks. Local Notes: Honolulu firefighters contained a 3-acre brushfire near “Tracks” in Nanakuli; and O‘ahu marked its 15th traffic fatality of 2026 after a wrong-way crash. Science & Culture: Maunakea’s Gemini North captured a “Crystal Ball Nebula” image showing a star’s final 1,500-year-old light.

Planned Parenthood “Just in Case” Pills: A Planned Parenthood affiliate launched an advance-provision program letting people get abortion medication (mifepristone and misoprostol) ahead of time for future use, with Hawaii cited as a supportive policy environment. Travel Disruption Watch: Jet fuel costs are spiking amid the Iran conflict, pushing airlines to cut flights and raise fares—so Memorial Day plans may come with fewer options and higher prices. Hawai‘i Safety Alert: Honolulu EMS says children’s near-drownings are up sharply this year (12 cases so far, mostly pools), urging families to treat water time like a seconds-long emergency. Tourism Spotlight: Dr. Beach named Kaua‘i’s Po‘ipū Beach No. 1 for 2026, praising its “double beach” setup and strong environmental management. Local Economy: Hawaii Tourism Authority is taking applications for a new president and CEO. Big Island Weekend: Memorial Day kicks off with Pāhoa events, including a graduation concert, juggling rings, Tropicaliente 4, and a free community climbing day.

Shriners Bingo Fallout: Final sentencing landed in Guam’s Hafa Adai Bingo fraud case, with Jose and Christine Chan ordered to repay $10.75M to the Aloha Shriners after prosecutors said $10.75M in bingo proceeds was diverted and laundered for personal gain. Tourism Leadership: The Hawaii Tourism Authority opened applications to find its next president and CEO, aiming for a leader who can balance marketing with cultural and environmental priorities. Waikiki Safety: A Waikiki crash involving an HPD officer smashed into a McDonald’s entrance, caught on surveillance video. Beach Watch: “Dr. Beach” named Kauai’s Poipu Beach the top U.S. beach for 2026, with Hawaii and Florida dominating the rankings. Keiki Water Warning: Honolulu EMS says non-fatal pediatric drowning calls are up, urging parents to stay within arm’s reach. Monk Seal Reminder: Officials say a Hawaiian monk seal and pup are still near Kaimana Beach—keep at least 150 feet away. Electric Upgrade: Hawaiian Airlines is electrifying more Honolulu ground equipment, replacing 116 diesel/propane vehicles.

Hawaiian Airlines Goes Electric: Hawaiian Airlines says it’s replacing 116 diesel/propane ground vehicles at its Honolulu hub with electric baggage tractors, belt loaders and pushback equipment—boosting electrified ground support to 73%—as part of its push to cut emissions and improve ramp workers’ conditions. Memorial Day Travel Reality Check: AAA expects record Memorial Day travel despite higher fuel costs, with the national gas average at $4.55 and California still the most expensive at about $6.14. Air Quality Warning (Mainland): Millions in parts of California and North Carolina were told to “remain indoors” due to wildfire smoke and pollution levels that can hit respiratory and heart health hardest. Mauna Kea Access Fees Talk: Hawaiʻi’s DHHL is considering proposals that could charge for Mauna Kea access road use, with two Native Hawaiian groups pitching different plans for cultural education and restoration funding. Health Watch: Hawaiʻi DOH is monitoring a Bundibugyo virus outbreak (Ebola strain) in the DRC and Uganda, saying the risk to Hawaiʻi is currently very low.

Gas Prices & Memorial Day Rush: AAA says Memorial Day travel is set for record levels even as gas hits the highest point in four years, with the U.S. average around $4.47 and Hawaii listed among the priciest states. Road Safety: A Haiku woman died after a Kihei crash on Honoapiilani Hwy, and on Hawaiʻi Island a 58-year-old motorcyclist died after colliding with a Tesla in Hawaiian Paradise Park—speed and reckless driving suspected. Health Watch: Hawaiʻi DOH is monitoring an Ebola-related outbreak (Bundigbugyo virus) in the DRC and Uganda; officials say the risk to Hawaiʻi is very low. Legal & Public Safety: A Hanapepe man was convicted in federal court on child exploitation charges. Tourism Culture: Expedia marked 30 years with a new trails fund, while surfers on the mainland crowned San Clemente at Lower Trestles—Hawaiʻi teams included. Viral Travel Caution: Tourists chasing a viral beach in BC are reportedly damaging remote logging roads.

Kīlauea & travel mood: Hawaii’s latest headlines are mostly off-island celebrity chatter and mainland travel talk, but the big local thread is still air quality fights—the Trump EPA has partially rejected Hawai‘i’s Regional Haze plan, threatening visibility gains around Hawai‘i Volcanoes and Haleakalā and leaving older oil-plant closures in limbo. Local governance: Hawaii County moved to protect Honolulu Landing, buying 364 acres in Puna for $3.7M after years of advocacy. Homelessness: Hawaii County’s Point-in-Time count shows a slight dip, with fewer people unsheltered. Tourism & safety: A Navy pipeline rupture leaked untreated sewage into Pearl Harbor, and the state is also tightening rules on license plate covers starting Jan. 1. Sports: UH’s Magdaleno keeps rolling—third straight Big West Pitcher of the Week.

Navy Spill in Pearl Harbor: A broken Navy wastewater pipeline ruptured near the piers at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, leaking about 2,250 gallons of untreated sewage; the leak was found around 7 a.m. and stopped about five hours later, with the Navy saying the sewage isn’t recoverable but will naturally break down, and the state Department of Health was notified. Wildlife Update: A dead Hawaiian monk seal washed ashore off Nanakuli on May 6 has been identified as Ka‘ale (RH32), with NOAA saying a post-mortem will take weeks and noting he previously survived a hook injury in 2018. Air Quality Clash: The Trump EPA rejected Hawai‘i’s plan to cut haze from aging oil-burning power plants, arguing the state’s Regional Haze plan can’t move forward. Travel & Airport Moves: Hawaiian Airlines marked progress toward electrifying Honolulu airport ground equipment, and AAA says Memorial Day gas prices are the highest since 2022. Local Life: Honolulu EMS promoted 10 staff during National EMS Week, and Kūhiō Avenue road rehab is set to start June 8.

Coastal Flood Update: Hawai‘i’s coastal flood statement is extended through Monday night, with isolated minor flooding most likely around late-afternoon peak high tides—expect saltwater on normally dry beaches and possible minor erosion. Budget Flight Shock: Spirit Airlines’ collapse is already hitting travelers planning for summer, with a bankruptcy-court apology to customers who may now be “priced entirely out,” while rising fuel costs tied to the Iran war keep fares and fees elevated. Wildlife Watch: A Maui man accused of throwing a rock at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal says he was trying to protect turtles, but the case is still drawing intense public backlash. Whale Science: Tourists’ social-media sightings are helping researchers study why humpbacks sometimes gape their mouths wide open, with possible roles in communication, stretching, or play. Local Health Push: Hawai‘i County is weighing property tax hikes to close a $15M budget gap, while Kona gets a $50M outpatient care center plan to ease “healthcare desert” access.

Kīlauea Watch: USGS says Kīlauea could erupt again between May 22–25 after episode 47’s 9 hours of lava fountaining, with millions of cubic yards of new lava filling much of Halemaʻumaʻu. Flood & Travel Pressure: A flood advisory is in effect for parts of East Hawaiʻi through mid-afternoon Sunday as heavy rain targets Pāhoa and nearby areas. Rent Backlash After Kona Low: Flood victims in Manoa say a landlord is raising rent while repairs are still incomplete—tenants call it “distasteful.” Monk Seal Case: A Seattle-area man accused of throwing a rock at endangered monk seal Lani is defending himself, claiming he meant to scare the seal away to protect turtles. Safety Alerts: Two separate water emergencies sent an elderly diver and an elderly surfer to the hospital; Honolulu also reported a serious Kalihi hit-and-run. Local Flow: UH Mānoa graduation ceremonies start May 18, with congestion expected around campus.

FBI “VIP snorkel” backlash: New reporting says FBI Director Kash Patel’s Hawaii trip included a military-coordinated “VIP snorkel” near the USS Arizona memorial—an outing officials say is tightly restricted—adding fresh scrutiny to claims he mixed official business with leisure. Tourism & travel pressure: LAX security lines surged at the start of summer, with peak TSA waits hitting about 45 minutes, a reminder that travel demand is straining staffing. Local business buzz: Sonic opened its first Oahu carhop in Kapolei, rolling out drive-thru and patio service after a morning blessing. Marine protection spotlight: A viral monk seal rock-throwing incident is still driving calls for stronger visitor education and enforcement. Island economy watch: UHERO economists warn Hawaii’s outlook is darkening as higher oil prices raise costs and slow key visitor markets. Roads & weather: HIDOT posted a week of lane closures, while recent heavy-shower risk eased enough for a statewide flood watch to be canceled.

Pearl Harbor Fallout: FBI Director Kash Patel’s Hawaii trip is under fresh fire after new reports say he joined a military-coordinated “VIP snorkel” near the USS Arizona memorial, where rules bar visitors from entering the water—raising fresh questions about ethics and respect for the site. Traffic & Safety: Honolulu police are searching for a motorcyclist accused of hitting a pedestrian in a Kalihi crosswalk and fleeing; the woman is in serious condition. Road Tragedy: On Hawai‘i Island, a head-on crash on Daniel K. Inouye Highway killed two and left four others injured, marking another deadly stretch of the route. Weather Watch: A state flood watch was canceled after heavy rain eased, but O‘ahu still saw lightning, flooding, and power cuts. Tourism Buzz: Sonic opened its first O‘ahu carhop in Kapolei, and the weekend also brought Kilauea alert updates and ongoing volcanic monitoring across the Pacific.

Road Safety: A head-on crash on Hawai‘i Island’s Daniel K. Inouye Highway killed two people Friday afternoon, the fifth and sixth traffic deaths on the island in 10 days and the second double-fatality on a 13-mile stretch; police say a wet-curve loss of control sent a Tacoma into an oncoming Dodge towing a mini excavator, with two passengers unbelted and pronounced dead at 4:20 p.m. Storm Impact: O‘ahu was hit by severe thunderstorms with heavy rain, lightning, road flooding, flight delays, and widespread Hawaiian Electric outages affecting tens of thousands of customers. Pearl Harbor Ethics: FBI Director Kash Patel is under fresh scrutiny after reports of a “VIP snorkel” near the USS Arizona memorial during an official Hawaii visit. Local Life: Falls on Fire got the green light to continue in Papaikou after a Hawaii County panel approved a special use permit with conditions. Traffic Update: Honolulu will reopen contraflow on the North Kalaheo Avenue Bridge starting Monday, with set hours and weekday detours.

Storm Aftermath: Severe weather battered Oʻahu again Friday, triggering flooding, road closures, flight delays, and widespread outages—Hawaiian Electric reported more than 36,000 customers without power across nearly 100 outages, with crews restoring service as a flash flood warning ran and then shifted to a flood advisory. Traffic Update: The North Kālaheo Avenue Bridge will reopen with daytime contraflow starting Monday, running two-way for set morning hours before narrowing later in the day through July 31. Market Pressure: UHERO’s 2026 Housing Factbook flags a condo squeeze where prices may be slipping, but the cost to hold a unit keeps climbing—driven by HOA fees, insurance repricing, and looming federal flood-map changes. Ocean Safety: Two Hilo beach parks closed for the day after a shark sighting. Tourism Watch: A new controversy swirls around FBI Director Kash Patel after reports he joined a “VIP snorkel” near the USS Arizona Memorial during an official Hawaii visit. Legal/Local Governance: The state is accepting applications for a Supreme Court associate justice vacancy.

Short-Term Rental Compliance: JP-Homes.com just launched a “Regulatory Lighthouse” registry meant to help travelers verify resort-zoned stays as Hawaii’s 2026 zoning enforcement ramps up. Pearl Harbor Outrage: New emails say FBI Director Kash Patel took a “VIP snorkel” near the USS Arizona memorial—sparking fury over access to a sacred WWII grave and renewed questions about transparency. Kīlauea Update: Episode 47 at Halemaʻumaʻu ended early May 15 after about 9 hours of lava fountaining and a plume topping roughly 20,000 feet. Maui Monk Seal Case: A Washington man accused of throwing a rock at endangered monk seal “Lani” faces federal charges; his attorney says he didn’t intend harm. Gas Watch: AAA says national gas prices dipped then ticked back up, with Memorial Day expected to bring the highest prices in four years. Aloha Tower Lights: Colored commemorative lighting is targeted to resume by September, tied to the tower’s centennial after major renovations.

Monk Seal Case: A Washington tourist, Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk (38), was arrested and charged federally after a video showed him hurling a coconut-sized rock at the endangered monk seal “Lani” off Lahaina—he allegedly bragged he was “rich enough to pay the fines.” Volcano Watch: On Hawaiʻi Island, Kīlauea’s Episode 47 is underway with lava fountaining from the north vent and intermittent activity at the south vent; USGS says it’s confined to Halemaʻumaʻu, with gas and ash drifting southwest. Weather: An upper low is expected to bring pockets of heavy rain and isolated thunderstorms Friday into the weekend, especially windward and mauka. Pearl Harbor Scrutiny: New reporting says FBI Director Kash Patel took a “VIP snorkel” around the USS Arizona during a Hawaii trip—an outing the FBI didn’t disclose. Tourism & Travel: IHG says its Americas pipeline grew in Q1, while TheBus adds extra service for UH Mānoa graduation. Ocean Safety: A 30-year-old Oklahoma man died after being pulled from Moloa’a Beach on Kauaʻi.