Stories by Jessica Else

Hawksbill hatching

A hawksbill turtle hatching has been confirmed on the North Shore’s Wainiha Beach, a rare occurrence that’ll add to the Hawaiian population of the critically endangered species.

Storytelling tonight in Princeville

John Pfender is a Kauai plumber and a poet. Lana Olson is from Long Island and didn’t know she had an accent. Cora Poage spins tales of working low on the totem pole at a Kansas Super 8 Motel.

Spay Pod at Kealia Farm

The Animal Balance Spay Pod has moved and is now sterilizing animals at Kealia Farm with the ability to serve between 30 and 40 cats daily.

More money for kupuna

While the bill package to support kupuna care services that passed through lawmakers on Tuesday is mostly aimed at statewide programs, supporters of the package say it’s going to boost services on Kauai.

Old school produce

Hannah Raposas, Mikey Ladera and the rest of the residents out at Kauai Care Center are gardening again.

Parks set for June reopening

Even though Kuhio Highway is scheduled to reopen May 1, the main attractions on the North Shore will remain closed.

Recovery is a journey

The Haraguchi family is used to wading in muddy water, but 2018 brought a whole new level of flooding to the taro lo’i that border the Hanalei River.

The flood – one year later

A year ago today, dozens of homes collapsed into rising waters on Kauai. Taro fields were wiped out. Businesses were inundated with water. Black Pot Beach Park virtually disappeared under a raging Hanalei River.

Beyond the roadblock

The water is crystal clear and turtles troll the reef at Ke‘e Beach, beyond the Kuhio Highway roadblock on Kauai’s North Shore.

Older farmers, more farms

More people in Hawaii are digging into agriculture, according to a recent census, but market values are declining and farmers are getting older.

Saving seeds

More than eight million ohia tree seeds are now safely tucked away in different research centers as part of an ongoing effort to save the native Hawaiian tree.

KHS seeks $1.2M budget

With a room full of staff and board members behind her, Kauai Humane Society Executive Director Mirah Horowitz asked the Kauai County Council on Tuesday for a $110,000 increase in funding.

Waiting on the water bill discussion

All eyes were on House Bill 1326 at the Legislature on Monday, even though the Senate Committee on Ways and Means deferred it last week, effectively killing the measure.

‘Kava Konversation’ tackles topics

While state legislators gathered Thursday for a hearing on the controversial water bill, HB 1326, water experts gathered at Kauai Community College to chat about water rights in celebration of Earth Month.

Public Health Week wraps

Climate change was on the table at the state Department of Health Kauai District Health Office on Friday as the open house in celebration of the nationwide Public Health Week wrapped up.

Autism awareness

A hodgepodge of colors are mixed and melted together to make the puzzle-piece crayons that Shana Cruz hands out during the month of April.

An emphasis on renewable energy

The world is getting closer to matching Kauai’s renewable energy profile, according to recent statistics, but Kauai is still strides ahead in renewable energy generation.