Stories by Jessica Else

Nene downlisted to threatened

HONOLULU — Hawaii’s goose, the nene, has been down listed from endangered to threatened because recovery efforts of the species have been so successful.

Lessons on leftovers

KAPAA — Kauai’s school-aged keiki don’t eat their brown rice. That is, unless it comes with shoyu or some other kind of sauce or spice, according to Joell Edwards, farm-to-school program manager with Malama Kauai and food access coordinator for the County of Kauai.

Mixed results in sonar study

Scientists studying sonar’s effect on marine mammals near the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands have released another report in an ongoing study for the Navy’s U.S. Pacific Fleet, and it’s showing the same kind of mixed results they’ve been documenting since 2011.

Talk Story with Rich O’Reilly

Between a tiny house prototype and a large breadfruit tree in Puhi is a building where Kauai’s tinkerers and techies, hobbyists and laymen come to make things.

Facelift for Kekaha School

KEKAHA — Kekaha School is getting a facelift thanks to state Rep. Dee Morikawa and a team of other legislators working to make it a priority.

‘Girls should be in school’

Eleven Waimea Canyon Middle School students gathered at their school’s parking lot on Saturday and went to work washing cars for a good cause.

Land use meeting Dec. 12

KOLOA — Learn how land designation has recently changed on Kauai’s South Shore at the Koloa Neighborhood Center on Dec. 12, in a meeting that will bring Kauai’s planning director front and center to answer questions.

Pier 1 Imports closing

LIHUE — Kauai is going to be minus one more home décor store as Pier 1 Imports prepares to close its doors.

Comment now on aquarium fishing impacts

A new evaluation of the aquarium industry’s environmental impact is out for public comment, part of an effort to bring aquarium trade into compliance with the Hawaii Environmental Policy Act.

More time for water weigh-in

The public has an extra 30 days to comment on Kauai Island Utility Cooperative’s application for a long-term water lease for the Waiahi hydropower plants, thanks to some technical difficulties.

Welcome back, moli

As kumu Kehaulani Kekua chanted and the crowd responded Friday, an albatross flew overhead. And then another. Then another.

Wisdom returns to Midway

Wisdom, the world’s oldest known banded, wild bird, has returned to Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Battle of Midway National Memorial.

Hunting for holiday deals

People were snagging Black Friday deals on Wednesday morning over at Kukui Grove Center, where retailer DejaVu was setting up its traditional Black Friday tent.

They’ve got (school) spirit

HANALEI — Hanalei School has noodles and packaged lunches, canned goods and cereal, oatmeal and other nonperishable items on campus, awaiting Kauai Independent Food Bank.

Not just fiddling around

KOKE’E — The floors of Koke’e Lodge were shaking over the weekend as a crowd gathered in the mountains for the third annual Kauai Old Time Gathering, an event that boasted string bands from all over the country.

Remembering Ryder, Tyler and Max

ANAHOLA — Kala’e Rapozo has spent a total five hours on the side of the road since Saturday afternoon, returning time and time again to a memorial that’s been growing along Kuhio Highway in front of the Whalers General Store.

Seal study goes international

Understanding fertility is paramount to understanding the real status of the endangered Hawaiian monk seals, researchers say. And new research out of Scotland could help inform ongoing projects in Hawaii.