Hawai'i State News

These most recent responses bring the total number of humpback whale entanglement cases since mid-December to eight.

The yearlong campaign celebrates where we live, learn and play. It’s aimed at increasing awareness of community — and urban — forests while strengthening connections between people and these forests.

“Across the aisle, these shared values reflect our 51 members’ dedication to serving the public,” said House Speaker Nadine Nakamura of Kaua‘i, the first woman speaker of the House in Hawai‘i history and first Asian-American woman state speaker of the House in United States. “They remind us of the meaningful work happening here at the Legislature and our daily responsibility to do our best for the people of Hawaiʻi.”

“The [Office of Hawaiian Affairs] package contains four bills that will help address pressing issues facing Hawai‘i as well as advance [the Office of Hawaiian Affairs’] mission to improve the conditions of Native Hawaiians,” said Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees Chairman Kai Kahele of Hawai‘i Island.

Inducted were newly elected in 2024 Board of Trustees Chairman and Hawai‘i Island Trustee Kaialiʻi “Kai” Kahele and Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau Trustee Dan Ahuna, At-Large Trustee Keliʻi Akina  and Moloka‘i and Lānaʻi Trustee Luana Alapa, all re-elected last year.

Mu‘umu‘u originated 200 years ago as white cotton undergarments worn beneath holokū, loose-fitting gowns introduced by Christian missionaries in the 1820s.

Opening day of the 2025 Hawai‘i State Legislature kicks off on Wednesday. Several Big Island lawmakers hold positions of leadership, chairing a variety of committees along with Sen. Dru Mamo Kanuha who is the Senate Majority Leader.

Curtis Mamone Jr. faces two charges of felony abuse; one charge of third-degree promoting a dangerous drug, specifically methamphetamine; and one charge of second-degree escape after the Jan. 6 domestic incident.

“We are already seeing increased cases of pertussis and are at risk for a measles outbreak,” said State Health Director Dr. Kenneth Fink. “Immunizations are necessary to protect infants, children and adults from potentially serious and contagious diseases.”

Bernhard Langer, Fred Couples, Vijay Singh, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen will join 37 other golfers on the 18-hole Jack Nicklaus-designed course at Four Seasons Resort Hualālai in Ka‘ūpūlehu to open the 2025 PGA TOUR Champions season.

An agriculture inspector from the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture Plant Quarantine Branch in Kona retrieved the animal early Sunday morning and arranged for it to be transported to Honolulu. This was the second opossum in as many months to be captured in the islands.

8-show residency scheduled to begin later this month at House of Blues at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas indefinitely postponed as iconic 77-year-old musician recovers.

Clare E. Connors submitted her resignation to President Joseph R. Biden Jr., and Attorney General Merrick Garland, which will become effective at 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 19, 2025.

The declaration of emergency is in effect from Jan. 6 through March 6.

Panel discussions will be aimed at collaboration to develop a process to build up and support the next generation of teachers. This year’s summit will also feature national board certified teacher Carla Warren, senior partner with the National Center for Grow Your Own, who will share information about nationwide trends in teacher cultivation and lessons for Hawaiʻi.

Before we get too far into 2025 and the headlines start rolling in about the people, research and work at the 10 campuses of the statewide University of Hawai‘i system, let’s review the top headlines from last year. University of Hawai‘i News posted nearly 1,500 stories in a very eventful 2024.

U.S. Reps. Ed Case and Jill Tokuda as well as U.S. Sens. Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz were sworn in Friday and will again represent Hawaiʻi for the next two years in the 119th Congress.

Staff from several state and federal agencies, with assistance from others, are working to tow the whale remains offhsore, as requested by Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners.

Phase 1 seed funding totaling $400,000 from the Hawaiʻi Film and Creative Industries Development Fund will be used to support local filmmakers, media makers and content creators with the goal of growing Hawai‘i-made media content to be licensed and distributed worldwide.

American Savings Bank will continue its full range of banking and financial services under the existing brand and name after the sale of 90.1% of common stock from Hawaiian Electric Industries to individual investors.