Disaster Recovery & Grid Resilience: Hurricane Lala skirted Hawaii’s Big Island without landfall but still knocked out power statewide, with about 178,400 HECO customers without electricity as of Sunday evening and rural areas facing outages that could last weeks as crews hike into isolated spots after damage inspections. Local Governance & Infrastructure: Honolulu marked completion of a five-year upgrade at the Sand Island Wastewater Treatment Plant, finishing Phase 1 secondary treatment work designed to boost capacity for keeping beaches and the ocean clean. Energy Transition: Hawaiian Electric reported 3,429 new rooftop solar systems added statewide in the first half of 2026, plus 55 megawatts of battery storage, with Oahu reaching about 50% solar penetration for single-family homes. Healthcare Business Model Debate: A new One Health Hawai‘i partnership proposal from Hawaii Pacific and HMSA is reigniting discussion on whether vertically integrated care can solve Hawaii’s healthcare delivery and cost challenges—especially for independent providers. Invasive Species Enforcement: Hawaii County advocates say the state’s coconut rhinoceros beetle rule is under-enforced, pushing for stronger implementation of training and compliance requirements. Nonprofit & Local Economy: The Hawaiian Council finalized acquisition of Sea Life Park, expanding Native Hawaiian stewardship with an eye toward local jobs and reinvestment. Politics & Money in Elections: A review of 2026 primary results finds candidates backed by PACs and super PACs largely won, underscoring how campaign spending shapes Hawaii’s political landscape. Community Events: Maui Huliau Foundation’s Huliau Food & Film Festival returns Aug. 29 with farm-to-table dining, hula, live music and student films.