Hawai'i State News

NOAA is asking Maui’s boaters and water enthusiasts to be on the look out for a recently-entangled, 40-foot female humpback whale off the Lahaina shoreline of Maui.

With the State of Hawaiʻi having to try to make up for billions in federal cuts and actions to maintain services, Gov. Josh Green said he proposes no changes to tax cuts in 2026 but would ask to pause cuts for 2027-2029.

Twelve aspiring pharmacists hailing from Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi Island, Kauaʻi and Puerto Rico are enrolled in the online program’s first cohort.

The association included in its 2026 legislative priorities proposed measures to establish statewide gun buyback programs and raise public awareness efforts along with better implementation of the state’s gun violence protective order law.

Goal is to protect Hawaiian law, history and future generations; the case also is now even more significant considering the recent American invasion of Venezuela, threat to invade Colombia, Cuba and Mexico and threat to annex Greenland.

Satellite imagery and web cameras no longer show significant ash falling near Kīlauea volcano because of Episode 41 of lava fountaining in the ongoing episodic summit eruption; the episode lasted more than 8 hours before abruptly ending just before 7:30 p.m. Saturday (Jan. 24).

Several members of the Big Island House delegation were appointed to committee leadership posts, and Rep. Kristin Kahaloa (Hōnaunau, Nāpō‘opo‘o, Captain Cook, Kealakekua, Keauhou, Hōlualoa, Kailua-Kona) is majority caucus leader.

Funding will be used for construction of the new Hawaiʻi Island Portuguese Chamber of Commerce facility, which will serve as a hub for cultural preservation, educational programming and community gatherings.

Hawai‘i State Department of Health officials report that water retesting results showed enterococci levels no longer exceed the acceptable threshold; the advisory was originally issued Jan. 21.

Girl Scouts of Hawaiʻi is launching “Girls in Policy,” a new, innovative program designed to strengthen girls’ civic engagement, leadership and advocacy skills during the 2026 Hawaiʻi Legislative Session.

The Hawaiʻi State Foundation on Culture and the Arts will select the grantee with the federal funding part of the America 250 celebration.

The program encourages residents to comb through dresser drawers and closets and donate any unused eyewear and hearing aids, which will be sorted, cleaned and donated to people in need.

The operation was conducted during National Human Trafficking Awareness Month in January. Two children who recovered were reported as runaways more than one year ago.

On Tuesday, a Microsoft Exchange outage disrupted the Hawaiʻi State Senate’s email and digital services, leading to communication delays and impacting the distribution of legislative hearing notices.

Jiro Ohnishi, 67, who was reported as missing on Tuesday afternoon in South Kohala has been found on Thursday safe and in good health.

The show will be a local twist to the popular social dating format made famous by online series such as YouTube’s “Pop the Balloon.”

Hawaiʻi’s Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole and Hilo International Airport are using a new ticketless system powered by Metropolis that reads a vehicleʻs license plate.

Explore Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park this February through a variety of free events and guided programs that showcase its unique natural and cultural resources.

The 33rd Hawaiʻi State Legislature convenes its 2026 regular session at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the State Capitol in Honolulu.

In 1966, the UH at Mānoa began a pioneering program that turned into a school that is an internationally respected leader in hospitality, tourism and transportation education.