Good evening, Hawaii. The Maui Planning Commission voted 8-0 to approve key updates to its Maui’s Special Management Area and Shoreline rules, and our partners at the Honolulu Star-Advertiser report that HART CEO Lori Kahikina assures the public that the first segment of Honolulu’s rail system will open in July. Nationally, President Biden signed an Executive Order that would increase access to child care and improve the work life of caregivers. Read about the important stories you need to know. 

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A strong cold front moving across that state today and Wednesday will bring heavy rainfall, gusty winds and some strong thunderstorms. Heavy rain could lead to some localized flooding through Wednesday evening, with Flood Watches in effect for the entire state except Hawaii Island. The front will stall and weaken near Hawaii Island on Thursday, eventually dissipating toward the end of the week. Lighter winds will develop on Friday and take us into the weekend with just a few isolated showers. 

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Today's Big Stories

1. Maui Planning Commission unanimously approves new SMA and Shoreline rules

The Maui Planning Commission recently approved key updates to Maui’s Special Management Area and Shoreline rules after more than a decade of collaboration between the community and the county. These updates will create more balance and flexibility for homeowners as improvements for coastal resilience are conducted, according to a Maui County news release.

The commission voted 8-0 on March 28 with one member absent, approving significant changes to the rules.

Created in the early 1970s when climate change was not yet a topic of discussion, the SMA and Shoreline rules addressed shoreline building setbacks in sensitive coastal areas.

The Planning Dept. is processing the updated SMA and Shoreline rules in addition to a map that will help landowners determine whether the shoreline setback line applies to their properties. Both will go to the County Clerk’s Office in about 45 days. Thirty days after that, the rules will go into effect.

Once the new rules go into effect, the public can access the shoreline map on the Dept. of Planning website and public outreach will be conducted to inform residents of the changes.

2. Honolulu Star-Advertiser: Rail will open in July, HART CEO confirms

Lori Kahikina, executive director and CEO of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, confirmed that the city’s nearly $10 billion rail line will open for public ridership in July.

Appearing on the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s “Spotlight Hawaii” livestream program Monday, Kahikina said rail’s July opening date — first announced by Mayor Rick Blangiardi at his State of the City address March 14 — also took her by surprise.

In support of the mayor’s declaration, Kahikina said she wrote an email to HART’s more than 150 staff members, which said in part, “We’re not going to make a liar out of him, so let’s get this done.’”

Since then, Kahikina said, strides have taken place including readying rail’s first segment — from East Kapolei to Aloha Stadium — for the city’s Department of Transportation Services to operate and maintain.

3. Counties participate in National Drug Take Back Day on April 22

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration views the drug overdose epidemic as a public health and safety issue, as well as a national security threat. In collaboration with state and local law enforcement agencies, the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 22, with collections points available statewide.

For people unable to take part on April 22, visit the Hawaii Opioid Initiative website for a list of drop box locations statewide.

Visit the Environmental Protection Agency website to learn how to properly dispose of needles used at home.

Click the link above for a list of the collection sites.

4. Honolulu Civil Beat: One Hawaii GOP house leader says her caucus is ‘a cult’

Disillusioned freshman state Rep. Kanani Souza has declined to participate in caucus meetings with her fellow House Republicans since January, and is now describing the GOP caucus in the House as “a cult.”

Officially, Souza is still the minority whip for the six House Republicans, but said in an interview she limits her interactions with the other five almost entirely to mail or text. She said she is now “under investigation” because of a complaint filed against her, but says she has never actually seen the complaint.

“What bothers me is they don’t argue in law and fact. They are arguing based on personal beliefs, based on religious beliefs,” said Souza, who described herself as a moderate conservative.

“It’s just a lot of things where you can’t really say what you want to say because they’re not willing to have an educated discussion,” she said. “It’s non-stop trying to use religion to try to get everybody to be quiet — or me, in particular.”

House Minority Leader Lauren Matsumoto did not respond to a request for comment Friday.

Souza, who is the only lawyer in the caucus, said her conflict with the rest of the Republican caucus began shortly after last year’s election when House GOP members engaged in what Souza believes are “incorrect procedures.”

That included gathering at a Leeward business called Hawaii Truck Parts shortly after the election to assign leadership jobs — which she considered to be an inappropriate venue — and another gathering at an upscale home in Kaneohe for a retreat.

The caucus bill package and committee assignments were to be discussed at the Kaneohe gathering, but Souza said she refused to attend the event, in part because she was unclear who was paying for it. Souza said she believes official business should be done at the State Capitol.

Souza said she was startled by what she sees as unprofessionalism in the way the caucus approaches its business.

5. Biden signs executive order to improve access to child care

President Joe Biden has signed an executive order containing more than 50 directives to increase access to child care and improve the work life of caregivers.

"Thank you to care workers and family caregivers for doing God's work taking care of our children, our parents and those we love so dearly," Biden said from the White House's Rose Garden on Tuesday afternoon. "We're here today to action on an issue that is fundamental to who we are as a nation, who we are as a country." 

The directives would be funded out of existing commitments, Biden said. That likely means their impact would be limited, and they'd carry more of a symbolic weight about what's possible. The Democratic president was far more ambitious in 2021 by calling to provide more than $425 billion to expand child care, improve its affordability and boost wages for caregivers.

The executive order signed Tuesday plans to lower costs for families that are part of the Child Care & Development Block Grant program. And the Department of Health and Human Services would raise pay and benefits for teachers and staff in the Head Start program, which provides funding to states to serve low-income students during their early education years.

Your Notes for tomorrow

• CDC and NIH directors testify to House Appropriations Committee on budget
• 28th Anniversary Remembrance Ceremony of the Oklahoma City bombing, broadcast from the Oklahoma City National Memorial, including 168 seconds of silence and reading the names of the 168 people killed 
• House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing on the factors that led to the collapse of Afghanistan

Here are events happening on the islands this week:

Oahu

• What: Mads Tolling & The Mads Men
• Where: Hawaii Theatre Center | 1130 Bethel St., Honolulu | 808-528-0506
• Details: The Hawaii Symphony Orchestra presents Mads Tolling, internationally renowned violinist and composer and a Grammy Award winner, who has performed Chick Corea, Ramsey Lewis, Leo Kottke and others. He performs with his group The Mads Men, 7:30 p.m. April 19. Tickets.

Maui

• What: Sean Dorsey Dance
• Where: Maui Arts & Cultural Center|One Cameron Way, Kahului | 808-242-7469
• Details: Sean Dorsey Dance’s powerful new work, “The Lost Art Of Dreaming,” features all-out dance, intimate storytelling and intricate costumes in a performance by five queer, trans and gender-non-conforming dancers — Sean Dorsey, Brandon Graham, Hector Jaime, David Le and Nol Simonse, 7:30 p.m. April 20. Tickets.

Hawaii Island

• What: Komakakino Live in Concert
• Where: Kilauea Visitor Center auditorium | Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
• Details: This presentation of Na Leo Manu (Heavenly Voices of Hawaiian Music) concerts features the uplifting Hawaiian falsetto vocals of the Keaukaha-based band, Komakakino, along with hula performances, 7-8 p.m. April 19. Their critically acclaimed debut album, E Nipo Mai, was nominated for the 2017 Na Hoku Hanohano single of the year. The performance is free, but park entrance fees apply.

Kauai

• What: Makai Music & Art Festival
• Where: Princeville Makai Golf Club, makai lawn fronting Ka Haku Rd. | 4080 Lei O Papa Rd., Princeville
• Details: Find handmade jewelry, crafts and art from local vendors and enjoy live entertainment from some of the best musicians on Kauai at this weekly event, 1-5 p.m.

For more on these and other events, see this week's HI Out & About.

Watch Live

• The Big West Men’s Volleyball Tournament begins Thursday, with #5 UC San Diego vs. #4 UC Santa Barbara at 2 p.m. on Spectrum Sports or on the Spectrum News app. 
• At 4:30 p.m., it's #6 CSUN vs. #3 UC Irvine on Spectrum Sports or on the Spectrum News app.