Stories by Jessica Else

New species, reasons for reduction

In the midst of the global climate change conversation and concerns about rising sea levels, new species are being discovered in what’s known as the “Twilight Zone” in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

Missile success

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency successfully intercepted an intermediate-range ballistic missile in a live-fire test Monday night from the Aegis Ashore Missile Defense Test Complex at the Pacific Missile Range Facility.

Perfect score

Leila Nelson turned heads when she scored a 1540 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test the first time she took it, but 60 points shy of perfect wasn’t going to cut it for the Kapaa High School senior.

All tied up

Hawaii had fewer confirmed large whale entanglements than much of the rest of United States waters, according to the recently released National Report on Large Whale Entanglements in 2017.

Albatross arrivals

The world’s oldest known banded wild bird is sitting on a brand new egg in Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument.

Bacteria and birds

A yellowish-green, masked bird flits through the ohia trees of Kauai’s Alakai Swamp, tagging lehua blossoms and searching for bugs.

Boogie weekend is here

Grab your bodyboard and head out to Kekaha Beach Park this weekend to compete not only against Kauai athletes, but bodyboarders from around the state, for cash and prizes.

Navy training targets Kauai

The Navy is looking at how proposed special operations training in Hawaii would affect the state, and a public-comment period on their draft environmental assessment has been extended through Jan. 7.

FHFA increases conforming loan limit

Hawaii homebuyers will have more access to money for mortgages in 2019 now that the Federal Housing Finance Agency has increased the maximum conforming loan limits by 6.9 percent.

Anini Beach is in vogue

Pulled pork sandwiches and lifeguards are the latest talk around the food truck at Anini Beach, with residents saying the beach is getting more popular and wondering if it’s a result of road closures further up the North Shore.

Judge sides with cat group

An emailed decision from Fifth Circuit Court Judge Kathleen Watanabe says secret meetings held in 2014 and 2015 by the Kauai County-sponsored Feral Cat Task Force should have been open to the public.

Community and champagne

Champagne and lighted evergreens, ivory keys and swing music will take over the Princeville Resort ballroom on Saturday, Dec. 8, for the annual Black and White Ball.

Rapid Ohia Death spreading

Rapid Ohia Death has been confirmed at two more locations on Kauai since the May discovery of the disease in the island’s native trees.

Coqui have arrived

Since September, six coqui frogs have been captured in Kapahi, rousing the attention of invasive species groups dedicated to keeping them off of Kauai.

Lunch is served, finally

Alohilani Rogers has freed up some time in her packed morning schedule now that she doesn’t have to make lunch for her son at Kawaikini Public Charter School.