Tropical Storm Lala Readiness: Hawaii declared a state of emergency as the storm strengthens toward the Big Island, with forecasts warning of hurricane-level conditions, heavy rain, flooding, and landslide risk; Oʻahu officials are also ramping up for winds, surf, and wildfire danger. Public Safety & Infrastructure: Verizon says it prepped Hawaiʻi connectivity with backup generators, satellite support, and coordination with HIEMA and power partners to keep services running during outages. Water Security: The U.S. Navy awarded a $309M contract to Hensel Phelps to build a permanent Red Hill water treatment facility, targeting 10 million gallons per day and completion by 2029. Local Courts: Honolulu’s Supreme Court set Aug. 25 arguments in the legal fight over City Council Chair Tommy Waters’ seat after judge recusals. STEM Policy: DOJ ruled three race-based NSF STEM programs unconstitutional, pushing changes to how diversity initiatives are funded. Biosecurity: Hawaiʻi captured and euthanized an opossum found in a Hilo freight warehouse container staging area, sending tissue for rabies testing. AI Hardware: Japan’s Institute of Science Tokyo unveiled BBCube, a chip-integration platform aimed at faster, better-cooled AI accelerators. Space & Culture: Research compares how Hawaiʻi’s lunar calendar aligns with other Pacific island traditions, with implications for Polynesian voyaging and language history.