Hawai'i State News

In the House, residents will see a shakeup for Districts 1 and 2.

Several hundred people paddled surfboards and canoes, and hundreds more watched from shore at Hanaka‘ō‘ō Beach Park on Thursday morning in a Lahaina Paddle Out event to commemorate lives lost and changed forever by the Lahaina wildfire disaster a year ago.

Ceremonies and events were hosted Thursday throughout Hawai‘i — including in Hilo — to commemorate the 1-year anniversary of the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires that ravaged parts of Maui, especially the blaze that decimated historic Lahaina.

As state, county and federal leaders gathered to reflect on the one year mark since the devastating Maui wildfires, Gov. Josh Green, M.D. announced he signed papers to “purposefully transition” Mokuʻula from the state to Maui County for its cultural restoration.

Within days of the worst natural disaster in state history, University of Hawaiʻi researchers began providing assistance and support on multiple fronts, including providing direct support and assessing the environmental impact and the long-term health outcomes of residents. They have also studied how to improve disaster preparedness and wildfire mitigation efforts and worked to determine the short- and long-term economic impacts.

The fire scorched Front Street, reducing buildings, and vehicles to twisted metal and ash. Over the several days following the disaster.

The US Department of Interior has approved $375,000 in funding to the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture for efforts to prevent the introduction of the brown tree snake (BTS), which is the top invasive species threat to Hawai‘i. The funds awarded to Hawai‘i are part of more than $3.66 million approved by the USDOI to fight BTS.

While progress has been made toward recovery and rebuilding, the process was never going to be quick — or easy. It was always going to be a years-long effort. And while headlines might have moved on, life for survivors has not. They still need help.

The 7 defendants in the case — state of Hawai‘i, Maui County, Hawaiian Electric, Kamehameha Schools, West Maui Land Co., Hawaiian Telcom and Spectrum/Charter Communications — agreed to pay the more than $4 billion to provide compensation to about 2,200 affected parties seeking compensation arising from the Aug. 8, 2023, windstorms and destructive and deadly blazes.

Officials on Friday identified public transportation routes that can temporarily accommodate students and be adjusted in the short-term to prioritize student access in the affected Hilo-Waiākea and Ka‘ū-Kea‘au-Pāhoa Complex Areas.

The suspended routes in East Hawai‘i are for all grades in the Hilo-Waiākea and Ka‘ū-Kea‘au-Pāhoa Complex Areas.

Retesting shows enterococci levels no longer exceed the acceptable threshold

State reports water sample retesting results of Big Island waterway show enterococci levels no longer exceed the acceptable threshold level.

The Ponahawai site has since been restored to its original condition and is once again serving as an extension of the Wailoa Soccer Fields.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources’ jurisdiction encompasses nearly 1.3 million acres of state lands, beaches and coastal waters as well as 750 miles of coastline.

Hawai‘i Island welcomed 156,999 visitors last month which is 1.1% less than the 158,739 during June in 2023 and 4% less than the 163,564 in 2019 in June 2019. Spending by visitors on Hawai‘i Island totaled $283.3 million in June this year, 7.5% more than the $263.4 million in June last year and a huge 37.6% increase from the $205.8 million visitors spent in June 5 years ago.

We are thankful for the cooperation and teamwork among the various County agencies and nonprofit service providers who remain committed to making this effort a success,” said Mayor Mitch Roth.

The grants are to preserve and protect land through acquisition that has natural, environmental, recreational, scenic, cultural, agricultural production or historic value.

The 12 athletes match the highest total for the University of Hawaiʻi in any Olympics, as the university also sent 12 athletes to the games in 2000.

The all-hazard Outdoor Siren Warning System for Public Safety is one part of the system used to notify the public during emergencies.