Stories by Jackson Healy

Hawaiian kahuli motor into new home

HONOLULU — Thousands of rare and endangered Hawaiian kahuli (land snails) had a major upgrade to their digs last week, as the state’s Snail Extinction Prevention Program officials relocated the mollusks from a small trailer in Kailua, O‘ahu, to a lab in Pearl City, O‘ahu.

Kaua‘i to get dedicated kupuna watchdog

After nearly 50 years, Hawai‘i’s long-term care ombudsman program will finally deploy full-time staff to the neighbor islands — a move that officials hope will aid significantly in the state’s attempts to combat elder abuse.

An effort to protect native forest birds studied on Kauai

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) released Friday a draft environmental assessment for the use of biological control measures on Kaua‘i in an effort to protect the island’s endangered native forest birds from extinction.

Rapozo rebukes state politicians over water management agencies

LIHU‘E — What started as a County Council meeting on how agencies regulate Kaua‘i’s water ended in an admonishment of state politicians by council chair Mel Rapozo, as he accused Gov. Josh Green and the Hawai‘i Legislature of failing to provide sufficient funds for state and county water management groups.

Kaua‘i County identifies new potential landfill site

Kaua‘i County is moving to build a second landfill site in Kekaha, Department of Public Works Solid Waste Division officials said, as the division’s head suggested the island’s existing site will likely shut down years before another could open.

‘Managed retreat’ may be beach erosion option

KAPA‘A — The County of Kaua‘i Planning Department met with community members on Wednesday evening to discuss the island’s future as it grapples with a series of existential threats due to increasingly severe climate change impacts.

Reef Camp teaches Kaua‘i’s keiki aloha ‘aina

ANINI BEACH — Aquatic environmental nonprofit Reef Guardians is undertaking its fifth annual Reef Camp at Anini Beach, an educational summer program for keiki ages 8 through 13 focused on Kaua‘i’s diverse aquatic ecosystem.

Hawai‘i wins best license plate award in landslide

The Automobile License Plate Collectors Association this week bestowed the state of Hawai‘i with the 2022 Best Plate Award, recognizing the Polynesian Voyaging Society’s depiction of its iconic voyaging canoe Hokule‘a at O‘ahu’s Kualoa Bay, the site of its inaugural launch in 1975.

NOAA plans massive marine sanctuary in Pacific Ocean

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is set to draft a management plan designating 770,000 square miles of the Pacific Ocean as a National Marine Sanctuary which, if approved, would be the largest protected ocean area on Earth.

Kaua‘i Pride Parade and Festival about ‘love and support’

LIHU‘E — From top to bottom, Kaua‘i knows how to slay. Community members of all ages and backgrounds lined Rice Street on Saturday morning for Kaua‘i’s fifth annual Pride Parade and Festival, a celebration of LGBTQ+ Pride Month and the island’s queer community.