Christmas, New Year’s closures
LIHUE — The holiday season is upon us and in observance of the Christmas and New Year’s Day holiday many establishments and offices will be closed.
Holiday recycling encouraged
LIHUE — Garden Island residents and visitors are being advised to be mindful of the added waste that will be generated this holiday season.
County council celebrates waterman Nick Beck
LIHUE — Nick Beck received the Kauai County Council’s commendation during the Wednesday council meeting for his induction into the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation Waterman Hall of Fame.
State calls for pause on interisland movement of birds due to avian flu
State agencies have called for a voluntary pause on the interisland movement of birds in Hawaii for 90 days following the discovery of the H5N1 bird flu in the state.
Gov. Green’s budget keeps ‘rainy day fund’ at $1.5 billion
Green previously told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that the state needs $100 million to $200 million annually to adapt to climate change and better protect the islands from another fire like the fatal one in 2023 that decimated Lahaina, which continues to recover.
OHA Chair Kahele uses relationships to aid Native Hawaiians
Kai Kahele — a former state senator, U.S. representative and unsuccessful candidate for governor in 2022 — was elected chair of the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs barely an hour after he was sworn in for his freshman term as an OHA trustee.
West side first responders busy Monday
LIHUE — Emergencies on the West Side engaged first responders continuously throughout the afternoon on Monday.
Fire burns 3 acres on North Shore
KALIHIWAI — An accidental fire scorched three acres on Kauai’s North Shore Wednesday.
Gov. Josh Green’s state budget accounts for tax cuts, fire settlement
A major unknown is if the Hawaii Supreme Court rules in favor of lawyers representing insurance companies opposed to terms of the Maui settlement.
2 killed in plane crash near Honolulu airport
State Department of Transportation officials said the pilot did all he could to avoid hurting anyone on the ground.
The Navy to hold public meetings on draft EIS for Pacific training
The Navy’s draft environmental impact statement on continued training in the Pacific proposes more frequent use of nearshore areas such as Kaneohe Bay and Marine Corps Training Area Bellows, along with new activities that include training in ocean mine warfare.
Kona man among Vietnam War ‘Dustoff’ crew awarded congressional medal
This gold medal recognizes the pilots, crew chiefs and medics who “served honorably during the Vietnam War aboard helicopter air ambulances.”
Moloaa man dies following traffic collision
MOLOAA — A man succumbs from his injuries following a traffic collision that occurred on Kauai’s North Shore on Dec. 17.
Coast Guard extracts injured man from Midway Atoll
On Thursday the Coast Guard completed the medical evacuation of a 52-year-old man from Midway Atoll.
Hawaii Wildlife Fund sees uptick in marine debris
A June study found a correlation between the drifting movements of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and the amounts of debris to wash ashore in Hawaii.
UH partnership will target disparities in cancer outcomes
Ka ‘Umeke Lama, which translates into Bowl of Enlightenment, was created to address the challenges that Hawaii and the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands face in providing comprehensive care.
Queen’s plans new hospital in Kailua-Kona with helipad, housing
The Queen’s Health Systems plans to build an 80-bed hospital next to the Kailua-Kona Costco on Hawaii island that would include a helipad to cut travel time to its trauma center on Oahu and, critically, construct adjacent, below-market-rate housing to recruit and retain some of the estimated 300 hospital staff, nurses and doctors.
Congressional delegation continues to support Maui survivors
A bipartisan bill sits on President Joe Biden’s desk that would exempt survivors of disasters, including the 2023 Maui wildfires, from having to pay federal income tax on settlement money.
Trump policies create uncertainty for Hawaii economy
Incoming President Donald Trump and his potential policies — especially campaign threats of tariffs on imported foreign goods — create an unknown for Hawaii’s economic forecast, which the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization otherwise expects to show modest growth through 2027.
Hawaii secures over $6M to bridge digital divide
Hawaii on Thursday received more than $6 million from the federal government to implement its Digital Equity Plan, part of a nationwide effort to address barriers to internet access and use. The funding is provided through the $1.44 billion State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program, created under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.