Hawai'i State News

Polynesian Voyaging Society prepares to mark 5 decades of legendary iconic traditional double-hulled voyaging canoe reviving the Hawaiian culture, advocating for the environment and renewing a connection to the Earth and ocean.

The low level eruptive activity has gone on for more than a day, after the eruption resumed Thursday evening. Eruptions in the summit region typically last about a week to more than a year. This eruption began during the early morning of Dec. 23.

An estimated 47,000 people engaged in bird-related education events during 2024, proclaimed by Gov. Josh Green as “Makahiki o nā Manu Nahele: The Year of the Forest Birds,” all with the goal of raising awareness about Hawaiian forest birds and their plight.

Benefits of receiving a National Heritage Area designation include economic development opportunities, environmental restoration, quality of life improvement and more. The bicameral legislation passed the U.S. House on Dec. 4 and the U.S. Senate on Dec. 16 before being sent to the president’s desk.

Courts will also have more power to prevent abusers who use the system to continue to attack and abuse their victims and keiki who are 14 years old will be able to authorize their consent for health care and services surrounding pregnancy, family planning and sexually transmitted infections. These laws and more go into effect Jan. 1 as the Hawai‘i Legislature gears up for its 2025 session, which starts Jan. 15.

The Hawai‘i Department of Health at about 1 p.m. Wednesday requested assistance from U.S. Coast Guard Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu watchstanders with a non-maritime emergency medical transport for a 44-year-old patient in Kona experiencing a severe abdominal condition.

The volunteer bird counters also helped set and replenish traps that help keep predators like rats, cats and mongoose away from the birds.

Despite steady local forecast path so far, Hawaiʻi’s economic outlook becomes unclear as federal policy changes loom with incoming Trump Administration introducing broad uncertainty.

The new interactive online resource is more than a collection of data about the quality of life and well-being of Hawaiʻi’s residents — a researcher and University of Hawaiʻi educator says it’s a call to action to tackle the state’s most pressing challenges.

The Hawai‘i Department of Taxation has updated its income tax withholding tables to reflect upcoming changes in a new state law.

A study commissioned by the Hawai’i Seaglider Initiative has found that 78% of Hawai’i residents support the introduction of an interisland sea glider service, according to an announcement.

The state divisions of Aquatic Resources and Boating and Ocean Recreation have been working together since 2021 through its Rapid Response Program to provide funding to nonprofits throughout Hawaiʻi to aid in marine debris cleanup efforts.

Chondria tumulosa earned the reputation for being a ‘nuisance alga’ because of its mat-forming behavior, ability to spread rapidly and unknown origin, which have posed significant challenges for reef conservation.

The Rainbow Legacy Scholarship application is still open for LGBTQIA and MVPFAFF+ youth planning a secondary education.

Gov. Josh Green prioritizes housing, health care, education and biosecurity in Executive Biennium Budget.

The Brothers Cazimero emerged during the Hawaiian Renaissance of the 1970s to tour the globe for decades.

Medical and exposure history pointed to seasonal influenza as the most likely cause of illness. This case is not thought to be associated with the recent wastewater detection of H5 avian influenza in Hilo.

The proclamation enables rapid deployment of resources to mitigate risks in an effort to address existing and potential impacts caused by inclement weather conditions, in this case critical fire weather that could lead to wildfires.

The University of Hawai’i-led research team determined the energy costs of the first two-thirds of pregnancy are negligible, comprising 0.01% to 1.08% of the energy used. The majority of energy needs come in the third trimester, when requirements spike to 98.2%.

H5 avian influenza was detected in influent collected Dec. 2 at Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant. This is the first time the bird flu was detected on the Big Island and the first detection of H5 avian influenza on a neighbor island.