Five years after the fuel spill at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, the U.S. Navy has received conditional approval to reopen the nearby ʻAiea Hālawa Shaft.

The final environmental and cultural review is expected by the end of the year.

Jim Maus and Ed Hanel Jr. teamed up to investigate Glenn “Fat Leonard” Francis. They helped bring him down, but were never officially thanked.

Leonard Francis was alleged to have bribed hundreds of U.S. Navy officers, including many in Hawaiʻi. But few paid a price, one reason he hopes to be freed.

This is a story about hard places, some of them more difficult to visit than others.

Last month, the National Park Service started guided tours to Honouliuli, a former World War II internment camp.

The Navy passed on an opportunity to divert filtered water from Red Hill to a useful purpose. 

The deals amount to roughly $27,000 per plaintiff. Some victims of the water contamination say that doesn’t go far enough.

With few exceptions, snorkeling and diving are off-limits around the USS Arizona. A Navy spokesperson confirmed the outing but said the service wasn’t able to track down who initiated it.

A bill being considered by the Legislature would allow the state DOT to act as a military contractor to expedite federal projects for improvements to airports and roads.