Briefs for Nov. 4: New Hawaiian Airlines premium lounge, climate workshops, more
Hawaiian Airlines building new premium lounge at Honolulu airport
Hawaiian Airlines recently began a construction project for its new premium lounge at the Honolulu airport, marking the milestone with a traditional Hawaiian blessing. The nearly 13,000-square-foot space is conveniently located at the entrance of Daniel K. Inouye International Airport Mauka Concourse.
Through its Kahuʻewai Hawaiʻi Investment Plan, the company is committing more than $600 million to improve travel to, from and within the islands by modernizing airport spaces, upgrading technology and retrofitting Hawaiian Airlines aircraft interiors.
The new premium lounge is estimated to open during the first half of 2028, able to welcome about 200 guests and offer an elevated standard of preflight comfort — including locally inspired food and beverages, signaure local coffee, full-service bar featuring handcrafted cocktails, private workspaces and comfortable gathering areas and more — while expanding the company’s existing portfolio throughout the state.
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Climate commission workshops to boost soil health, agricultural resilience
Hawaiʻi State Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission announces CASH4ʻĀina! (Conservation Agriculture and Soil Health for ʻĀina) workshops coming soon to an island near you, featuring field instruction about location-specific conservation strategies.
The series is designed for farmers, ranchers and land managers seeking practical training in soil health conservation and regeneration, water retention techniques and climate-smart land management. It will include a total of 10 to 12 hands-on workshops through June 2027 on Maui, Molokaʻi, Oʻahu, Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi Island and Lānaʻi.
The series kicked off Oct. 26 on Maui and now moves to Kīlauea, Kauaʻi, on Nov. 14, with 2027 dates to be announced in January. Registration is free, but space and complimentary soil testing vouchers are limited per site. Click here for additional information, full event details and to register for an upcoming workshop.
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State reaffirms commitment to preserving survivor benefits for foster youth
Hawai‘i Department of Human Services continues the state’s commitment to protecting Social Security survivor and disability benefits for children in foster care — proudly reaffirming a policy shift made in 2023 to ensure these funds belong to the youth they were intended to support.
The announcement comes as the federal Administration for Children and Families highlights national momentum to end what has been called the “orphan tax,” and as states throughout the country reform longstanding policies to ensure foster youth retain the financial support owed to them.
Human Services maintains dedicated trust accounts for foster youths’ survivor and disability benefits — and strengthened internal procedures to ensure transparency, accountability and timely access to funds as youth prepare for adulthood. Policy also complements Hawai‘i’s work to implement Fostering the Future Accounts, a national federal initiative supporting long‑term financial security for foster youth.
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Hilo Pre-Apprenticeship Construction Training Program marks 1st graduating cohort
Hilo Pre-Apprenticeship Construction Training Program, delivered in partnership with Keaukaha One Youth Development, recently marked its first graduating cohort. The 6-week program from Sept. 14 through Oct. 23 marked an important milestone in expanding construction workforce development opportunities on Hawaiʻi Island.
This graduating class also is the 11th Building Industry Association Hawaiʻi Pre-Apprenticeship Construction Training cohort since the program restarted in September 2024. Through a combination of classroom instruction, hands-on learning, safety education, career development and real-world construction experience, the training program helps prepare participants to explore career pathways and take the next steps toward employment and apprenticeship in the construction industry.
Successful completion of the first Hilo cohort marks an important step in bringing these training opportunities to more communities throughout the state and building a stronger, better-prepared construction workforce for the future.
