AGP Executive Report

Maui Community & Environment: Shoppers at Home Depot in Kahului say bird-deterrent netting is trapping and killing birds, with animal advocates calling the setup ineffective and urging changes. Sports & Community: Special Olympics Hawaii summer games return this weekend at UH Mānoa, with track, swimming, powerlifting, and more plus thousands of volunteers. Arts & Entertainment Calendar: Oʻahu’s free weekend lineup (June 5–7) includes First Friday at Capitol Modern, Honolulu Harbor Nights, and a Festa Italiana street festival. Local Sports Spotlight: The Sheraton Hawaiʻi Bowl is set for Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) in Mānoa, with ESPN carrying the game. Civic & Culture: Honolulu’s incoming police chief David Lazar outlined his transition timeline and leadership training ahead of his early-July swearing-in. Arts & Craft: Big Island woodworker Ilinahe Beatty is turning raw wood into heirlooms rooted in Hawaiian culture.

Local Arts & Culture: A new, larger-than-life mural honoring Hawaiian surf legend Duke Kahanamoku is unveiled in California, aiming to spark conversations about his Olympic gold and lifesaving legacy. Community Recognition: Maui County honored Joseph Pontanilla and Roselani Enomoto as 2026 Outstanding Older American Male and Female, spotlighting decades of service and leadership. Film & Streaming: Disney’s live-action Moana remake runs 120 minutes—13 minutes longer than the animated original—continuing the push for more Pasifika storytelling on screen. Sports & Spotlight: Hawaii men’s volleyball coverage highlights how the program’s culture and boosters’ behind-the-scenes support help fuel championship-level performance. Local Life & Safety: A Honolulu couple says an electric reclining couch likely caused a fire that killed their pets, urging buyers to follow manufacturer guidance. Pride & Media: A Pride-themed feature spotlights drag performer Ivanna D. Jackson and what Pride means to them.

Local Arts & Community: Honolulu’s free Twilight Summer Concert Series returns June 4–July 31 at Foster, Ho‘omaluhia, and Wahiawā botanical gardens, with hour-long sets for all ages. Arts & Culture: A new Honolulu Museum of Art exhibit blends religion and pop culture. Music & Pride: A Honolulu writer reflects on queer childhood Disney dreams after Peabo Bryson’s death. Sports & Local Talent: Hawaii Hall of Honor welcomed Campbell High track standout Ashlyn Jacobsen. Volcano & Public Safety: Kīlauea pauses after nine hours of lava fountains; Hawaii Volcanoes National Park reports ash impacts. Earthquake Watch: A magnitude-5.2 quake struck off Kona with no tsunami threat. Arts/Entertainment Business: Liquidators’ report shows $8.2M in creditor claims tied to Moana Pasifika. Film/TV Buzz: Sydney Sweeney pushed back on Euphoria nudity criticism. Public Notice: DCCA opened applications for new mental health provisional licenses effective July 1, 2026.

Music & Community: Brook man Jerry Medeiros celebrated his album release party, “Melodies and Rhythms,” with a Hawai‘i-rooted mix of easy listening, jazz, and heartfelt covers, plus stories about recording after years of backing other artists. Politics & Power: President Trump tapped Bill Pulte—head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency—to serve as acting director of national intelligence, replacing Tulsi Gabbard, a move critics say raises questions about intelligence experience. Local Justice: In Puna, Jacob Baker made his first court appearance after being denied bail and ordered to undergo a mental fitness exam in connection with a triple homicide case. Arts & Culture: Maui AgFest honored soil microbiologist Dr. Harold Keyser as this year’s Maui Legacy Farmer, spotlighting science-based innovation in local agriculture. Environment & Science: Hawai‘i Attorney General William Tong led a coalition opposing removal of climate science guidance from a federal judicial manual, arguing peer-reviewed resources are still urgently needed. Cause-Driven Fun: A “Longest Day • Longest Ride” Alzheimer’s charity event and Locals Luau is set for June 20 at Sebastian Inlet, with surf contests, music, and family activities.

Hawaiʻi Arts & Culture: Honolulu Museum of Art is hosting “Divine Disruption,” a new exhibit blending Nepalese thangka traditions with pop culture, running through January 2027. Local Public Safety: On Hawaiʻi Island, prosecutors say the killings of three elderly men were “especially heinous,” and a judge ordered a mental fitness exam for accused triple-murder suspect Jacob Daniel Baker. Volcano Watch: Kīlauea erupted again on June 1, prompting a rare ashfall advisory for eastern Big Island areas as lava fountaining reached record-setting levels in the ongoing eruption series. Community & Preparedness: Maui County leaders are urging residents and visitors to get ready for hurricane season after NOAA forecasts above-normal activity in the Central Pacific. Sports & Talent: Kamehameha Kapalama alum Colby McClinton is turning pro, with plans to play in the Mexico Pro League next year. Arts Beyond Hawaiʻi (for readers’ pop-culture radar): Paramount+ is set to stream Baz Luhrmann’s “EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert” starting June 3.

Hawai‘i Community & Recovery: Residents are invited to the County of Maui’s Lahaina Community Meeting on June 3 at Lahaina Intermediate School (5:30 p.m.), with updates on Lahaina Royal Complex restoration, DOT projects, the Lahaina watermain, and Hoʻokumu Hou programs, plus Q&A with agencies and a livestream on the County’s Facebook and Akakū: Maui Community Media (Channel 53). Local Arts & Culture: Hawaiian actor Jason Momoa says 2026 is his biggest career year, with major releases including “A Minecraft Movie,” “Supergirl,” “Street Fighter,” and the final “Dune” trilogy installment. Music & Storytelling: Indie singer-songwriter Kevin Morby’s road-life philosophy and survival-as-art themes are spotlighted in a feature on his career and writing. Hawai‘i Arts Spotlight: A profile on Kevin Morby’s roadside poetry frames how place and performance shape his work. Community Spotlight (Hilo): Big Island Climbing in Hilo marks five years, bringing unroped bouldering to thousands of locals and visitors and building a youth- and family-friendly climbing community. Honolulu Arts & Heritage: Smith’s Union Bar, Honolulu’s longtime dive bar tied to USS Arizona sailors, has its final day of service as it closes after decades. Arts Across the Pacific: A UH art float project from 1980 returns to its creator after drifting nearly 5,000 miles and sparking a 46-year pen-pal friendship.

Local Arts & Media: Akakū Maui Community Media is bracing for a major hit: a $400,000 budget cut in January 2027 could shrink its staff and threaten Maui County public-access funding, with leaders warning it could silence community conversation. Streaming & Pop Culture: Netflix’s June 1–7 lineup leans into big-name entertainment, including Jennifer Lopez and Brett Goldstein’s rom-com “Office Romance” (June 5) and the docuseries “Michael Jackson: The Verdict” (June 3), plus “Avatar: The Last Airbender” Season 2 arriving June 25. Film in Hawaii Spotlight: Martin Scorsese’s Hawaiian mob movie starring Dwayne Johnson is reportedly undergoing “major rewrites,” with Nick Bilton expected to deliver a major revision soon. Community & Learning: Three Maui-area students earned Friends of Haleakalā National Park memorial scholarships (2026–27), supporting conservation and ecology research tied to native plants. Sports & Local Pride: A Honolulu-born Razorbacks player, Nolan Souza, delivered a career-high 5 RBI in Arkansas baseball’s 10-9 elimination win. Public Safety: Hawaii Police charged Jacob Daniel Baker with murder in the killings of three men in Puna, after a manhunt on the Big Island.

Local Arts & Culture: The Honolulu City Council advanced a plan to let the city acquire and restore the long-derelict Queen Theater in Kaimuki, potentially using eminent domain and earmarking up to $4 million for land purchase—though the mayor’s office opposes the takeover over cost and the building’s condition. Community & Outdoors: Hawaiʻi Outdoors Expo returns June 6–7 at Neal S. Blaisdell, with gear, demos, live entertainment, and a dog show plus UCE Wrestling exhibitions. Education & Conservation: Three Maui-rooted students won Friends of Haleakalā National Park memorial scholarships, including a project exploring native-plant extracts as possible “forever-chemical”-free firefighting foam alternatives. Sports & Youth: UH says it couldn’t secure new state funding for student-athlete pay, but has committed NIL deals for 2026–27; meanwhile, Hawaiʻi’s HHSAA Hall of Honor class of 2026 was installed at a banquet with $2,000 scholarships for top student-athletes. Film & TV Buzz: “The White Lotus” Season 4 is filming around Cannes, with cast sightings on set.

Local Arts & Community: Sealaska Heritage Institute’s Celebration 2026 kicks off June 3–6 in Juneau, bringing thousands of Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian dancers and artists, plus a juried art show, youth exhibits, Native art market, food contests, and a downtown parade. Hawaiʻi Arts & Culture: “Divine Disruption” lands in a new Honolulu Museum of Art exhibit, blending religion with pop culture. Family Fun (Oʻahu): “Sunset on the Beach” returns to Waikiki’s Queen’s Beach with free, kid-friendly movies plus games and prizes—starting May 30 with “Zootopia 2,” then “Wicked: For Good” (July 3) and more through September. Hawaiʻi Entertainment & Travel: Hawaiian Airlines ends free main-cabin meals July 1, shifting to a prepaid menu curated by Maui chef Sheldon Simeon (free snacks remain). Hawaiʻi Outdoors: Pūpūkea Bike Path maintenance begins June 1 with daytime closures for vegetation clearing and tree trimming. Volcano Watch: USGS explains the May 22 magnitude-6 quake as a deep Pacific Plate flexure event, not directly volcanic.

Local Arts & Culture: Honolulu Museum of Art opens “Divine Disruption,” a new exhibit by Nepalese artist Tsherin Sherpa blending Buddhist thangka traditions with modern politics and pop-culture influences. Community & Music: Maui nonprofit Keiki Kupuna is bringing live music and dance to kūpuna across Hawaiʻi, with performances rooted in intergenerational connection. Film/TV & Hawaii: Netflix’s June slate includes “Avatar: The Last Airbender” Season 2 and the return of “Hawaii Five-0” (Seasons 1–5) on June 1—good news for local TV fans. Wildlife & Public Behavior: A tourist filmed allegedly throwing a rock at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal in Maui has been barred from beaches as the case moves forward. Arts/Media Industry: OHA trustees voted against exploring a deal to acquire KITV/KIKU, though OHA Chair Kai Kahele says due diligence could still be on the table. Arts & Entertainment Pop Culture: “BIBISAMA” launches a major Baki streetwear collaboration for its 10-year anniversary.

Online Child Safety Push: Georgia AG Chris Carr backs the Senate version of the Kids Online Safety Act, warning the House KIDS Act could weaken states’ power and shield Big Tech. Local Governance & Media: OHA trustees voted against funding due diligence for a possible KITV-KIKU purchase, keeping the agency from pursuing a broadcast-media entry. Volcano & Community Impact: USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory explains the May 22 South Kona magnitude-6 quake, while county officials report major damage to dozens of properties. Hawaiʻi Arts & Culture: A new Waikīkī musical, “A Timeless Princess,” is set to debut this October, and UH’s NCAA volleyball trophy tour celebrates across campuses. Sports & Talent: HHSAA Hall of Honor names Kohala’s Layden Kauka, and UH track field athletes continue NCAA West competition. Mākena State Park Debate: Maui residents worry planned upgrades could erode the park’s wild character and future changes could follow. Entertainment Buzz: Ronda Rousey says pro wrestling “just not doable” anymore, and Paramount+ previews June picks including “Devotion: Obedience or Betrayal” and a UFC event from the White House.

OHA & Media: The Office of Hawaiian Affairs board voted against funding due diligence for a possible purchase of KITV4 and KIKU, with trustees citing financial complexity and other priorities, while chair Kaialiʻi Kahele said the goal was to strengthen Native Hawaiian voices in a shifting media landscape. UH Athletics: Laura Beeman begins a new chapter at UH as associate athletic director for student-athlete success, shifting from coaching to supporting athletes off the court. Campus Celebrations: UH’s NCAA men’s volleyball championship trophy tour rolled across Oʻahu, stopping at multiple campuses and community locations to celebrate the Rainbow Warriors’ title. Arts & Community: A new gallery, The M Gallery, opened at Lahaina Cannery Mall, aiming to bring back local art and creativity after the 2023 wildfire. Visitor Economy: DBEDT reports April 2026 visitor spending rose to $1.77 billion (+4.8%) even as total arrivals dipped slightly (-0.5%), with higher average daily spend driving the increase. Weekend Oʻahu Picks: Honolulu’s May 29–31 lineup includes Harbor Nights, the Kakaʻako Farmers Market, Anuhea live at Blue Note Hawaii, and a Hawaii Record Fair.

Local Arts Calendar: Big Island’s May 29–June 4 picks include Punk Rock Night in Waimea, the Hilo Hawaiian Music Festival, “WHAAM! at Wainaku,” and keiki camps—plus a Freedom Dance for Global Peace on May 29. Community Arts & Music: Koa String Quartet brings Hawaiian music to a Mile High Early Learning fundraising breakfast June 2. Theater & Culture: An original Hawaiʻi musical, “A Timeless Princess,” debuts in Waikīkī this October. Film/TV Buzz: HBO’s “The White Lotus” Season 4 releases first Cannes photos, with Laura Dern and Chris Messina among the cast. Music Releases: A Perfect Circle surprise-releases “Starless” ahead of its European tour, and Bruno Mars continues a major stadium run. Safety & Public Life: Puna residents remain on edge as a manhunt continues for a suspect in a triple homicide on Hawaiʻi Island. Accessibility: A braille board book wins Bronze at the 2026 IBPA PubWest Design Awards.

Waikīkī Musical Spotlight: “A Timeless Princess,” an original Hawaiʻi musical inspired by Princess Kaʻiulani, goes on sale now and premieres Oct. 16 at the Royal Hawaiian Theater, blending a present-day Marine time-slip story with original music and live performance. Local Arts & Community: Honolulu’s Small Space Studios hosts “Super Secret Ultra Mega Rare,” a pop-up art exhibit built around trading-card-sized one-of-a-kind works by 60 local artists through May 31. Music Releases: Kapena drops the new single “Not Living for the Likes” May 29, an island-pop message about breaking free from social media validation. Hawaiʻi Film/TV Casting: A casting call seeks teens of Hawaiian descent (ages 16–25) for a Netflix teen drama series filming July–mid September. Wildlife & Accountability: A Covington, Wash. man accused of throwing a rock at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal pleaded not guilty in federal court and was ordered to stay away from beaches while the case proceeds. Sports Culture: USA Surfing names Hurley as presenting sponsor for the 2026 USA Surfing Championships at Lower Trestles, June 16–20.

Local Arts Fundraiser: Aloha Cancer Project is launching the inaugural Aloha Tequila & Arts Festival on June 20 at International Market Place in Waikīkī, pairing 80+ agave spirits with live music, artisan art, and food—proceeds benefit cancer patients and families across Hawaiʻi. Policy & Kids Online Safety: Hawaiʻi’s Attorney General joins a bipartisan push against the federal KIDS Act, arguing it would weaken state authority to protect children online, while backing the Senate’s KOSA approach. Earthquake Aftermath (Big Island): New damage details from the May 22 South Kona 6.0 quake report 143 damage reports, including 5 homes destroyed, with families facing foundation failures and urgent housing needs. Maui Community Arts & Music: Sing Out Maui former members are invited to a reunion Aug. 16 at the Maui Beach Hotel, celebrating the mid-60s choral group’s legacy. Food & Culture (Oʻahu): The Elephant Shack Thai food truck highlights Thai iced tea, larb gai, pad kee mao, and panang curry at its Ala Moana/Fisherman’s Wharf deck and North Shore spot.

Hawaiʻi Arts & Culture Spotlight: Hawaiʻi marks 40 years as a global leader in captive insurance, with the state now home to 274 active captives and $18B+ in premiums—a milestone celebrated at Bishop Museum that signals how policy and industry partnerships keep shaping the arts-and-economy ecosystem. Community Access & Learning: DLNR is rolling out virtual 360° field trips to remote seabird sanctuaries like Lehua Island and Kure Atoll, bringing hard-to-reach conservation work into classrooms. Local Parks & Play: Waikele’s Darrell T. Young Community Park is getting a field reset, including irrigation fixes and new vehicle-restricting bollards. Online Safety Push: Hawaiʻi is part of a broader attorney general coalition urging Congress to reject the KIDS Act, arguing it would weaken state protections for children online. Arts Calendar (Maui): Wailuku’s First Friday returns June 5 with local music and community vendors.