Lack of clarity plagues Mauna Kea transition
Jul. 21—When the state Legislature created a new entity to manage the activities on Hawaii’s tallest mountain, it also created a bit of confusion.
Man allegedly moved meth, money between states
Jul. 14—A man who allegedly told authorities he was recruited by a Mexican-based drug trafficking organization, given fake identification and a trip to Hilo, made his initial appearance in federal court Thursday after Hawaii police found him with more than 11 pounds of methamphetamine.
Hawaii ahead of the pack in installation of EV fast chargers
Hawaii is the first out of the gate to award a contract for federally funded fast chargers to be deployed across the state.
Anti-nepotism law takes effect in Hawaii
A new law took effect Tuesday prohibiting nepotism across state government — particularly for the 60,000 employees in the executive branch — but notably exempts the state Legislature and Judiciary.
White House commission focuses on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders
Jul. 8—It was the fifth in a series of regional economic summits held across the United States this year, starting with the first in Philadelphia, followed by others in Chicago, Seattle and New York.
Dolphin age, pod health revealed with drone photos
Using unoccupied aerial system (UAS), or drone photography, researchers from the University of Hawai’i at Manoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) are now able to determine the age-structure of free-ranging dolphin groups. This work will aid monitoring the health of dolphin populations and inform timely conservation efforts. The findings of the study that developed and applied this new technique were published in Ecology and Evolution.
Governor changes HTA board ahead of special meeting
Jul. 8—The composition of the beleaguered Hawaii Tourism Authority board unceremoniously changed Friday when Gov. Josh Green appointed two new members effective immediately.
Hawaii scores $4M for climate action plans
The state of Hawaii and city of Honolulu have won a combined $4 million from the federal government to help develop plans to battle climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and pollution.
83,000 Hawaii homes dispose of sewage in cesspools. Rising sea levels will make them more of a mess
HONOLULU — The town of Hauula packs hundreds of homes into a narrow strip of land sandwiched between verdant, towering cliffs of the Koolau mountain range and the Pacific. But the stunning views obscure an environmental problem beneath the ground.
Hiroshima peace park and Pearl Harbor memorial will work together to promote peace
TOKYO (AP) — Hiroshima and Pearl Harbor, two symbols of World War II animosity between Japan and the United States, are now promoting peace and friendship through a sister park arrangement.
Hawaii report details health effects of Red Hill leak
A new report released by the state Department of Health provides an assessment of the health effects people may have faced after being exposed to jet fuel, the cleaning product Simple Green, high levels of chlorine and an anti-icing agent in their drinking water after a pipeline burst at the Navy’s Red Hill fuel facility on Nov. 20 2021.
Native Hawaiians weigh in on federal funds, protections
LAS VEGAS — Bipartisan staff of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs were at the first Western Regional Native Hawaiian Convention held in Las Vegas to highlight that Congress has secured hundreds of millions of dollars in dedicated federal funding, the most ever, for Native Hawaiians and to seek input on amending legislation to extend protection to Native Hawaiian art and artists for the first time.
Legal claims balloon alleging harm from Red Hill
Another 1,002 military family members and civilians have filed claims against the government alleging they were harmed when jet fuel from the Navy’s Red Hill storage facility on Oahu contaminated their drinking water in November 2021.
Budget cuts for Hawaii public schools called a ‘travesty’
Jun. 16—Several state education officials on Thursday decried massive budget cuts set for Hawaii’s public schools for the next two years, and expressed worry that even with a supplemental $55 million that Gov. Josh Green has pledged to partly offset the shortfalls, public education of students will suffer.
Hawaii Marines need to be ready for war, officer says
Jun. 16—Col. John Lehane, who took command of the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment at a Thursday morning ceremony at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, has been getting lots of phone calls since taking over the Kaneohe-based unit.
Pilots’ confusion over which engine was failing caused 2021 cargo plane crash off Hawaii, NTSB says
Federal investigators say a cargo plane ditched into the ocean off Hawaii in 2021 because pilots identified the wrong engine that was failing and didn’t have enough power to remain airborne.
Family’s Alaska fishing trip becomes nightmare with 3 dead and search over for 2 more
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — An Alaska fishing adventure became a nightmare for a family of eight when disaster struck one of the two boats they chartered over the Memorial Day weekend, leaving three people dead and two more missing despite a desperate search over hundreds of square miles of ocean.
Man pleads guilty to picking up Yellowstone bison calf that was rejected by herd, euthanized
MAMMOTH, Wyo. (AP) — A man from Hawaii pleaded guilty Wednesday to a charge alleging he picked up a bison calf in Yellowstone National Park, causing the animal’s herd to reject it and leading park officials to kill it rather than allow it to be a hazard to visitors.
Energy storage farm could replace Hawaii coal-fired power plant
HONOLULU (AP) — An energy storage farm could replace Hawaii’s last coal-fired power plant that closed in 2022 after 30 years.
The last of 5 workers in Honolulu permitting bribery scandal pleads guilty
HONOLULU (AP) — An employee in Honolulu’s planning and permitting department is the last to plead guilty after a federal investigation alleged that five city workers took bribes in exchange for favors, including expediting building permits, in a scandal that prompted the department to overhaul its permitting process.
