Aquarium fishing crackdown: Honolulu City Council urged the state DLNR to ban aquarium fishing and lawmakers to ban the trade statewide, citing a long-running loophole that let commercial licenses dodge earlier recreational bans; BLNR is expected to decide after its fishery rule review, with a key Aug. 28 meeting on the agenda. Hawai‘i Senate seat special election: Sen. Michelle Kidani’s resignation triggered a special election folded into the Nov. 3 general election, with multiple parties and a nonpartisan option potentially on the ballot. Wildfire impacts on Saddle Road: Daniel K. Inouye Highway (Saddle Road) stayed closed through Aug. 13 as crews battled a South Kohala wildland fire that had burned about 230 acres and was 60% contained. Storm prep for Potential Tropical Cyclone One-C: Hawai‘i County Civil Defense says One-C (forecast to become Tropical Storm Hernan/Lala) could bring heavy rain, flooding, and damaging surf late this week into the weekend; residents are urged to review emergency plans and monitor alerts. Water pollution cleanup in Ka‘ū: Hawai‘i County set an Aug. 20 public meeting on closing large-capacity cesspools in Pāhala and Nāʻālehu, tied to EPA consent requirements and Act 125 upgrades. Ocean protection infrastructure: Honolulu marked progress on the Sand Island Wastewater Treatment Plant’s secondary treatment phase, aimed at keeping beaches and ocean waters cleaner. Climate pressure in the grocery aisle: Hawaii shoppers face rising food costs as July inflation cools nationally, but grocery staples and beef remain higher—linked to drought and cattle shortages. Ocean life & research: A UH-led effort highlighted new educational and conservation work, including humpback whale 3D spatial audio recording and ongoing interest in marine wildlife protection.