Water Quality & Public Health: Elevated fecal bacteria levels are driving beach closures and swimming advisories across the U.S., with warnings tied to stormwater runoff, sewage issues, and other contamination sources. Marine Protection vs. Fishing Policy: A federal move to restore commercial fishing in parts of protected waters drew mixed reactions, including disappointment from a University of Hawaiʻi researcher who stressed Papahānaumokuākea’s cultural importance. Renewable Energy Community Oversight: Ormat’s Puna Geothermal Venture will hold a community meeting in Pāhoa to discuss plant operations, safety updates, and progress on its Repower Project, with an open Q&A for residents. Local Climate Resilience & Cleanup: Hawaii Pacific University’s marine debris work highlights how community programs have removed large amounts of derelict fishing gear, but funding cuts threaten staffing and continuity. Honolulu Transit Costs: A new rail “minority report” lays out pricey ideas for extending the Skyline line, while critics call the proposals unrealistic—setting up another round of debate over public funding. Big Island Politics & Access: Civil Beat candidate Q&As for Hawaiʻi County Council District 6 spotlight competing priorities, including Puna access and affordability concerns. Research Funding for the Islands: UH researchers won a $12M NIH award to build a Pacific Center for AI and data science in medicine, aiming to accelerate biomedical discoveries for Hawaiʻi and the Pacific.