Stories by Jessica Else

RH38 back in the wild

LIHUE — Hawaiian monk seal RH38 is back in the wild and appears to be healthy after her second stint at Ke Kai Ola monk seal hospital in Kailua-Kona.

Hirono asks to ban chlorpyrifos

LIHUE — In the midst of lawsuits aiming to get a chlorpyrifos ban out of the Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 15 U.S. senators have signed a letter asking for the same thing.

Kealia subdivision EIS approved

KEALIA — A proposed subdivision is one step closer to fruition in Kealia, after the Land Use Commission accepted the project’s Final Environmental Impact Statement Thursday.

Capt. Vincent Johnson leaves as commander of PMRF

KEKAHA — Sitting on the shady Shenanigan’s patio days before the change of command at Pacific Missile Range Facility, Capt. Vincent Johnson said he’s not ready to say goodbye to the island he’s grown to love.

‘We’re all connected’

PUHI — Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School is celebrating its 20th anniversary as it opens its doors for the first week back to school with lessons in history and sustainability.

UFO still beached

ALIOMANU — Nobody yet knows for sure what’s been rolling around on the outer reef of Kauai’s east side Aliomanu beach.

ROD continues spreading

HONOLULU — Rapid Ohia Death has been found on Oahu. The fungus, which attacks native ohia trees, was discovered on Hawaii Island in 2014 and spread to Kauai in late 2017. The first confirmed case was found on Maui in early 2019.

Navy Commander visits Kauai

KEKAHA — Rear Adm. Robert Chadwick, commander, Navy Region Hawaii, visited the sailors at Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands, Kauai, for the first time, July 26.

Luggage alert stops screenings

LIHUE — The Transportation Security Administration halted screenings at Lihue Airport for about half an hour on Monday morning, triggered by a bag going through the checked luggage screenings.

Hurricane passing by

LIHUE — Hurricane Flossie has been downgraded to a tropical depression and should be dropping rain on Kauai through Wednesday.

Nene population on the rise

Nene numbers are on the rise, and while that’s good news for the endangered state bird, it also presents challenges — especially on Kauai, where the Hawaiian geese tend to stick around populated areas.

‘UFO’ making waves at Papaa

A “UFO” reported in the Aliomanu beach area had been rolling around in the surf there since May, though Wednesday and Thursday’s King Tides pushed the “unidentified floating object” closer to shore.

King Tides, black moon

Another set of the year’s highest tides reached the archipelago Wednesday and Thursday, combined with swells from incoming Tropical Storm Erick and the beginning of a “black moon.”

Storms weakening

Both storms taking aim at Hawaii are losing speed and strength, but rain and storm swells are still expected.

Storm aiming south

LIHUE — Kauai has a slim chance of seeing any impacts from Hurricane Erick, according to experts with the National Weather Service, but that’s not the only storm entering the Central Pacific.

Prepping for climate change effects

HONOLULU — As Hawaii monitors the first two hurricanes moving toward the state this season, a new guide to disaster recovery in the face of climate change has been released.