Gabbard’s Past Could Complicate US Senate Confirmation
Trump’s nomination of former Hawaiʻi congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard to be national intelligence director is likely to renew questions about her beliefs and background. Gabbard, 43, also has significant baggage, notably her support for autocratic leaders like Vladimir Putin of Russia and Bashar al-Assad of Syria.
Lynne and Marc Benioff Fund $2.5m for Hawaiʻi Public School Teachers’ Projects
The Hawaiʻi Department of Education said the $2.5 million is part of a fall campaign that will go to more than 3,500 teachers at 268 campuses in Hawaiʻi, including 251 public schools and 17 charter schools.
Hawaiʻi Schools Superintendent Could Receive Pay Raise, Contract Extension
A Board of Education committee suggested a 4% salary increase for Keith Hayashi, which would raise his annual salary to $249,600, effective July 1, 2024.
This Remote Hawaiian Island Had Vanished. Here’s Why Its Comeback Is Crucial
Five hundred-fifty miles northwest of Oʻahu sits a remote spit of sand known as East Island, lost six years ago to Hurricane Walaka. The storm destroyed a primary nesting site for endangered sea turtles and monk seals. East Island’s reemergence in this remote atoll has become an unexpected sign of resilience against climate change.
Christine Camp: Hawaii Business Magazine’s CEO of the Year for 2024
Camp, President and CEO of Avalon Development Group, has been building homes, communities and projects for Hawai‘i’s people and businesses for more than three decades. Avalon’s projects have covered a wide range of residential, commercial and industrial developments from Hawai‘i Kai to Kapolei. And in recent years, she has been a driving force in efforts to revitalize Downtown Honolulu.
ACLU Prepares to File Suit Against HPD, City Over Arrests of Sober Drivers at DUI Checkpoints
The American Civil Liberties Union is demanding the Honolulu Police Department change arrest policies at DUI checkpoints or face a lawsuit. Checkpoints are often federally funded, and some provide a minimum amount of overtime pay for officers. Former police officers have suggested that getting an arrest early means the ones working the checkpoint can leave early but still get paid for the minimum amount of hours.
UH Cancer Center Leader Dr. Naoto Ueno’s Own Medical History Drives His Quest for Expanded Access
The UH Cancer Center recently renewed its National Cancer Institute designation, which it has maintained since 1996. Dr. Naoto Ueno, a two-time cancer survivor, took over as its executive director more than a year ago and has been working intently on the center’s future. The center has an ambitious plan to begin offering early-phase clinical trials next fall so patients don’t have to travel to the continent.
How Kaimukī’s Queen Theater Went From Playhouse to Porn Hub
The Queen Theater has been through many transformations since opening its doors as a playhouse in 1936, with a grand marquee that towered over Waiʻalae Avenue in Kaimukī. It soon expanded its offerings to include contemporary films. But a new owner’s decision to start showing X-rated pornographic films lead to a series of police raids that prompted the facility to close in 1985. For nearly 40 years since, the theater has languished, despite neighborhood calls to revitalize the dilapidated building or bring it down.
As you get ready for the day ahead, be prepared and in-the-know. KHON2’s morning news show, Wake Up 2Day, provides information you need each workday, plus fun and interesting features from around the islands.
Small-scale home repairs could become easier to make if Mayor Mitch Roth signs a bill that exempts repair projects below a certain cost from needing a building permit.
Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff and wife Lynne, Big Island residents, recently pledged $25 million toward the project, and Gov. Josh Green, a physician, has pledged to work to secure a matching $25 million for construction.
At CEI Hawai‘i, we understand that furnishing your commercial space is all about striking the perfect balance between quality, style, and price. That’s why we focus on hitting the furniture “sweet spot” – where you get everything you need without compromising anything you want.
Skyrocketing Parking Costs in Downtown Kona Keeping Residents Away, Hurting Businesses
Over the past few years, the patchwork of parking lots along and around Kailua-Kona’s touristy Aliʻi Drive from King Kamehameha Kona Beach Resort to Coconut Grove have drastically increased their parking rates, with some previously free places to park transitioning to pay lots.
Hawaiʻi Appeals Court Hears Case on State’s Responsibility on Peter Boy’s Death
Three years ago, Peter Boy’s surviving siblings and estate won a partial judgement in their wrongful death lawsuit, alleging the state failed to act on clear signs of abuse. A failure they believe led to his death.
Fire Weather Watch for Hawaiʻi, Power Shutoffs Possible
The National Weather Service in Honolulu has posted a Fire Weather Watch for leeward areas of Hawaiʻi, and the Hawaiian Electric utility says it will be monitoring the situation for wildfire risk conditions. Dry fuels, low relative humidity and strong trade winds could result in critical fire weather conditions for leeward areas on Friday.
FEMA Extends Assistance to Maui Survivors; Schatz Asks for Further Aid
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved Hawaiʻi’s request to extend Financial Assistance and Direct Temporary Housing Assistance for an additional year, now through Feb. 10, 2026.
Kūpuna Who Survived Maui Wildfires Offered Affordable Housing
The non-profit, J. Walter Cameron Center, is launching Na Hale Kupuna (NHK), an affordable housing project funded by Maui County’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and the federal CARES Act. NHK offers seven long-term condominium units in West, Central, and South Maui.
Unplugging the Puʻunēnē Avenue Bottleneck; Relief Ahead for Central Maui Motorists
State Department of Transportation Director Ed Sniffen called the $25.5 million widening of the remaining portion of Puʻunēnē Avenue from two to four lanes a “capacity completion” project.
Faced with disciplinary proceedings and an investigation over alleged retaliation, the head of the Kauaʻi Police Department is retiring next year. Chief Todd Raybuck announced his decision in an internal memo sent to the full department Wednesday.
Fire Weather Watch in Effect Friday for All Leeward Portions of State, Including Kauaʻi, Niʻihau
The combination of dry fuels, low relative humidity and strong trade winds could spark critical fire weather conditions for leeward sections of the state at the end of this week.
The group of representatives from Corteva Agriscience, including Yael Claussen, Kristen Ma and Archie Acoba, were silent on Wednesday morning when they rolled into the Kauaʻi Independent Food Bank loading area.
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kh6jrm@gmail.com
I am the retired news director of Pacific Radio Group stations on the Island of Hawaii. I am a retired Lt. Col., USAF Reserve. I am a FCC-licensed Amateur Radio Operator, holding the Amateur Extra Class License. I am a substitute teacher for the state of Hawaii Department of Education.
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