Hawai'i State News

Proposed measures address a range of critical issues, including expanding access to free school meals, strengthening responses to youth mental health challenges, prohibiting flavored nicotine products, establishing regulations for e-bikes and improving family court processes for youth involved in the child welfare system.

TSA ConfirmID enables travelers to verify their identity before arriving at the security checkpoint, for a $45 fee, with the process typically taking 10 to 15 minutes, though it could require 30 minutes or more in some cases.

The proposed legislation supports abuse survivors, prevents exploitation and protects access to health care.

Assigned seating went live Tuesday (Jan. 27) in Honolulu and throughout Southwest’s network, opening the book to the airline’s next chapter; the change followed the final Southwest open seating flight from Honolulu and a gate celebration the night before.

The university’s flagship campus placed No. 62 out of the top 209 online master’s in nursing programs recognized in the 2025 U.S. News and World Report rankings of the nation’s best online programs.

The 2026 annual update to the immunization schedule was based on a thorough and deliberate review of medical evidence; these recommendations continue to thoughtfully consider specific disease risks and health care delivery in the United States.

The vigil, organized by the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaiʻi, Hawai‘i Coalition for Immigrant Rights and The Legal Clinic Hawai‘i, honored the life of 37-year-old Alex Pretti of Minneapolis, who was killed last week by federal agents, and spurred communitywide support for bills to protect due process and Hawaiʻi residents.

The hue-tiful menu item highlighted the continued farm-to-school efforts by Hawaiʻi Department of Education and its commitment to student wellness.

Hawai‘i Tourism Authority invests in locally driven initiatives that heal, restore and reconnect people with place in an effort to bridge culture and conservation throughout the islands.

Hawaiʻi Keiki Caucus — established in 1994 — is a bipartisan collaborative effort among state legislators, community leaders and youth-centered organizations dedicated to advancing policies that improve the lives of Hawaiʻi’s young people.

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.