Hawaiian Electric warns of more rolling outages
HILO, Hawai‘i — Hawaiian Electric on Monday again asked customers to conserve power to avoid the need for additional rolling outages after more than 21,000 customers lost power Sunday.
Communications breakdown left authorities in the dark amid Lahaina Fire
HONOLULU — As unpredictable wildfires roared across Maui last August, the head of the emergency management agency dragged his heels about returning to the island amid the unfolding crisis, while a broad communications breakdown left authorities in the dark and residents without emergency alerts, according to a report released Wednesday.
Maui Fire Department releases report on deadly wildfire
HONOLULU — When wildfires broke out across Maui last August, some firefighters carried victims piggyback over downed power lines to safety and sheltered survivors inside their engines. Another drove a moped into a burning neighborhood again and again, whisking people away from danger one at a time.
Three men rescued from remote Pacific atoll
Three men stranded on an uninhabited Pacific island survived for more than a week and used palm fronds to spell out HELP on the beach — leading to rescue by U.S. Navy and Coast Guard aviators who spotted the sign from several thousand feet in the air.
Interest rates continue to put pressure on Big Island home sales
HILO, Hawai‘i — It’s likely to be a slow spring for Big Island home sales, as the market struggles to recover from 2023.
Cockfighting bill dies in Senate
HILO, Hawai‘i — A controversial state measure that would crack down on people raising chickens for cockfighting is dead.
Telescope decommission work to resume
HILO, Hawai‘i — Work to decommission a pair of Maunakea telescopes will resume this month.
Stout rainfall on windward side of Hawai‘i Island in March
HILO, Hawai‘i — March was rainier than average on the windward side of Hawai‘i Island and the South Kona coffee belt. Elsewhere, not so much.
Groundbreaking held for landmark expansion of Hilo hospital
“It’s a new beginning for health care here on the island.”
Hilo teacher surprised with $25K Milken award
HILO, Hawaii — A math teacher at Waiakea High School on Tuesday won a $25,000 national Milken Educator Award.
County of Kaua‘i settles racial discrimination lawsuit for $350K
HONOLULU — A county in Hawai‘i has agreed to pay $350,000 to settle a lawsuit that accused the police chief of discriminating against a captain for being Japanese American, including one instance when the chief squinted his eyes, bowed repeatedly and said he couldn’t trust Japanese people.
O‘ahu halau scores fourth consecutive Miss Aloha Hula title
HILO, Hawai‘i — Ka‘onohikaumakaakeawe Kananiokeakua Holokai Lopes of Ka La ‘Onohi Mai O Ha‘eha‘e is Miss Aloha Hula 2024.
Ho‘ike launches four nights of hula
The 61st annual Merrie Monarch Festival shifted into high gear on Wednesday night with the Ho‘ike, an exhibition of hula and folk dance from around the Pacific Rim at Edith Kanaka‘ole Multi-Purpose Stadium in Hilo.
Statewide housing density bill curtailed
HILO, Hawai‘i — A proposal to increase housing density statewide was substantially cut on Monday after lawmakers chose to leave the matter to the counties.
Bees causing a buzz on Big Island
HILO, Hawai‘i —The Big Island will be abuzz on Tuesday, April 2, about a proposal to allow bees to be kept on residential and other properties.
U.S. military drains fuel from tank facility
HONOLULU — The U.S. military said it’s finished draining millions of gallons of fuel from an underground fuel tank complex in Hawai‘i that poisoned 6,000 people when it leaked jet fuel into Pearl Harbor’s drinking water in 2021.
Bill moving through Legislature aims to increase densities in urban areas
HILO, Hawai‘i — The state of Hawai‘i’s urban housing density could more than triple under a new zoning proposal sailing through the state Legislature.
Shaka inches closer to becoming official state gesture
HILO, Hawai‘i — Lawmakers and Hawai‘i residents alike appear to be vibing with a proposal to make the shaka the official state gesture of Hawai‘i.
Blood alcohol content legislation dies again
HILO, Hawai‘i — Legislation that would reduce the threshold for drunken driving from 0.08 percent blood alcohol content to 0.05 percent is dead for this year.
Hawaiian Electric warns of energy deficit
HILO, Hawai‘i — Hawaiian Electric is asking all Hawai‘i Island customers to reduce or shift their electricity use over the next month.