Hawai'i State News

Voyaging canoes Hōkūleʻa, Hikianalia leave Tahiti and are approaching Cook Islands

Rarotonga, Cook Islands, will be the final destination for the Moananuiākea Voyage, leg 14 crew, which began in Tautira, Tahiti, more than two weeks ago.

Hawaiʻi State Board of Education hosting public meetings on Big Island about potential statewide changes

The purpose of the meetings is to seek community input for expanding early childhood education and upgrading high school graduation criteria. Today, the Board will host a meeting at Kāʻu High and Pahala Elementary.

Applications now accepted for state Legacy Land Conservation Program grants

About $6.7 million is expected to be available for awards through the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources program aimed at protecting and preserving land with natural, environmental, recreational, scenic, cultural, agricultural production or historic value.

University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo has key role in developing AI suite to fuel scientific innnovation

Hilo campus partners with National Science Foundation, NVIDIA in $152M project — and will receive $1.4M in grant funding from that total — to be a top collaborator on cutting-edge, transformative artificial intelligence infrastructure.

State Land Survey Division charts easier route for public to access maps

Agency within Hawaiʻi Department of Accounting and General Services continues its work to digitize about 90,000 maps, some that go back to 1871, so people can find them online for practical needs and to satisfy their curiosity.

University of Hawaiʻi community colleges among the top of their class

The university’s statewide system of 7 community colleges was recently ranked 11th in the nation in a 2025 Wallethub analysis, which evaluated 653 colleges nationwide on 18 metrics, including tuition, graduation and transfer rates and post-graduation earnings.

39th annual Hawaiʻi Kūpuna Hula Festival and craft fair now just a month away

Nearly 300 kūpuna from Hawai‘i Island, Molokaʻi and Japan will perform during the event Sept. 10-11 at OUTRIGGER Kona Resort & Spa in Keauhou on the west side of the Big Island.

Mauna Kea state authority visits Nāʻālehu to collect public input for strategic framework draft

“We need everyone’s help at every step,” said John Komeiji, board chair of the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority “We are searching for answers because we do not have them all.”

New boat lift project at Hilo Harbor gets $525K capital improvment funding boost

“This is more than an equipment upgrade — it’s an investment that enhances our harbor’s operational capabilities and strengthens our disaster preparedness. The new lift will allow us to launch our vessel quickly and safely to protect our shores and support our community.” — Big Island state Sen. Lorraine R. Inouye, who represents Hawai’i Senate District 1,

Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia arrive at Bora Bora

The happiness and celebration of their arrival at small South Pacific island — their final port of call in French Polynesia before heading to the Cook Islands — was almost an inverse of the emotional farewell Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia received as they departed Aug. 7 from Tautira, Tahiti.

Big Island ag producers, landowners can participate in 2025 USDA conservation survey

Local National Agricultural Statistics Service representatives will visit operations and properties on the Big Island this month and in September to determine if they meet eligibility criteria for the survey.

Members of state Senate Ways and Means Committee briefed about new Food and Product Innovation Network

“The Food and Product Innovation Network is a meaningful investment in Hawai‘i’s future — one that bridges education to export pathways by equipping our schools, colleges and entrepreneurs with the skills and infrastructure they need to bring local innovations to the global marketplace,” said Senate Ways and Means Chairman Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz.

Schatz stop on Big Island includes discussion about local priorities, federal policy and its impacts

U.S. senator from Hawai’i speaks with several Hawai’i Island chambers of commerce; nearly 250 residents turn out for community meeting in Waimea

Hawaiian Airlines to suspend 3 routes to boost capacity in high-demand markets

The airline announced it will suspend service between Honolulu and Incheon, South Korea; Fukuoka, Japan; and Boston to redeploy planes on routes to Sydney, Tahiti, Los Angeles and Seattle.

Whooping cough continues to spread as cases are recorded in every county

The Hawaiʻi Department of Health reports a significant surge of 203 pertussis cases statewide.

Kīlauea Volcano Episode 30 remains at a pause, likely to continue next week

On Aug. 6, lava fountains reached up to 165 ft., and erupted lava covered 80% of the crater floor during Kīlaueaʻs episode 30 eruption.

Commercial fishing halted in Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument upon U.S. District Court ruling

The ruling nullifies a National Marine Fisheries Service letter sent April 25 that gave commercial fishers a green light to fish in the national monument south and southwest of Hawai’i following an executive order by President Donald Trump.

Hawai‘i Police Department, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo partner to support education of law enforcement statewide

Program launching gives law enforcement throughout the state opportunity to earn bachelor of arts degree in administration of justice through the College of Arts and Sciences at the Hilo campus, entirely online, so officers can continue to serve their communities while advancing their education.

Many signs of hope: 2nd anniversary of Maui wildfires marked with unifying paddle-out

The ceremony and accompanying event had more than 500 participants on shore and about 350 in the water — a powerful tribute to the lives lost 2 years ago and show of the shared strength of Maui’s residents.

Public input sought on new statewide ‘Green Fee’; Care for ʻĀina Now encourages survey participation

Coalition of scientists, policymakers, conservation practitioners, educators, students and community members recently launched the survey, which will be a resource for the coalition’s leadership as it shapes recommendations for funding implementation.
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