Hawai'i State News

U.S. Reps. Case and Tokuda reintroduce Hawai‘i Invasive Species Protection Act in effort to provide essential resources in battle against serious threats to state’s agriculture, environment and economy.

The University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa is partnering with the state’s Department of Land and Natural Resources to improve flood and wildfire early warning systems by installing 100 weather monitoring stations across the main Hawaiian Islands.

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crew hoisted the man from the vessel and transported the patient to Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu.

U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawai‘i joins 21 other Senate Democrats, including fellow Hawai’i U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, introducing resolution celebrating women who serve in combat roles.

Senate Bill 6, introduced by Sen. Lorraine Inouye, states the Board of Land and Natural Resources shall supersede the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority for all lands designated under the state conservation district.

The coalition says there is an urgent need for reforms to improve patient care and strengthen the state’s health care system, and unlike many other states with mandated patient-to-nurse ratios, the islands lack these vital protections. Studies have shown every patient added to a nurse’s workload increases patient mortality rates by 7%.

Hawaiʻi state lawmakers in leadership laid out their priorities they hope to accomplish during the 2025 session that runs though May 2.

Passeengers are advissed to contact Mokulele customer service if they have a flight with the airline from today.

A new session of the Hawai‘i Legislature begins today and so does the next public service chapter of a former Hawai‘i County Council member.

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.