“Top stories and breaking news from Hawaii, across the nation, and around the world.”
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Accessed on 19 February 2026, 1238 UTC.
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Community event: The Kohala-Hamakua Amateur Radio Club will hold its annual Waimea Big Island of Hawaii Hamfest and Swap Meet on Saturday, 21 February 2026, 0930 HST, at The Waimea Community Center.
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Thursday, February 19, 2026 71°Today’s Paper
Breaking News
Get the latest top stories and breaking news today from Hawaii, across the nation and around the world.
Police arrest 2 teens in connection with Kapolei shooting
A 19-year-old man and a 17-year-old girl were arrested today in connection with the Sunday shooting of two contractors from the mainland in front of a Taco Bell in Kapolei, police said. Read more
Hawaii island police seek 3 ‘armed and dangerous’ suspects
Police say the three are known to frequent the Kailua-Kona and the Ocean View areas. Read more
U.S. military moves into place for possible strikes in Iran
Trump has given no indication that he has made a decision about how to proceed. Read more
Woman, 32, arrested in Waianae armed robbery; 2 suspects at large
The incident began at approximately 6:20 a.m. when a 34-year-old man was working in the area. Read more
Gold surges over 2% on geopolitical jitters
Spot gold was up 2.4% at $4,992.11 per ounce by 02:18 p.m. ET (9:18 a.m. Hawaii time). Bullion prices had fallen more than 2% to $4,841.74 on Tuesday, hitting their lowest in a week. Read more
FDA reverses course, will review Moderna’s flu vaccine application
The reversal, which could clear the way for the first mRNA-based flu vaccine in the United States, also underscores the volatility at the FDA, which has seen top career officials depart under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Read more
Super Bowl champs Seattle Seahawks being put up for sale
The majority of proceeds from the sale will go to charities, according to the Estate of Paul G. Allen. Read more
Firefighters extinguish blaze at 2-story Diamond Head home
Ten units with 38 personnel responded and arrived eight minutes later to find the structure fully engulfed in flames. Read more
Zuckerberg defends Instagram in landmark tech addiction trial
Meta, which owns Instagram and Facebook and has more than 3.5 billion users, has come under fire as one of the biggest providers of platforms for teenagers. Read more
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Colbert amps row with CBS over blocked interview with Democrat candidate
CBS contradicted Colbert’s account in a Tuesday statement. Read more
Starbucks investor group urges removal of directors over labor row
The dispute has become a high-profile test for CEO Brian Niccol as he works to revive sales. Read more
Stiff tradewinds prompt extension of wind, surf advisories for most islands
A wind advisory remains in effect until 6 p.m. today for portions of Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe and Hawaii island. Read more
8 skiers confirmed dead in California avalanche
The avalanche — the length of a football field, according to authorities — struck in the Castle Peak area of Truckee, California, about 10 miles north of Lake Tahoe. Read more
White House shrugs off Lutnick’s Epstein ties
Howard Lutnick is facing intense scrutiny today after admitting he vacationed on Jeffrey Epstein’s island in 2012, four years after the financier’s first conviction. Read more
Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte to run for president in 2028
The daughter of detained former leader Rodrigo Duterte is considered among the strongest potential contenders in the 2028 race by opinion polls. Read more
YouTube restores service after brief streaming disruption
YouTube said that an issue with its recommendation system had prevented videos from appearing across YouTube surfaces. Read more
Felony abuse, escape suspect arrested at police station
Tongamoa, 37, earlier had been placed under arrest and handcuffed by arriving officers on Jan. 17 for alleged felony abuse of a family/household member, but after being handcuffed, he pulled away from the officers and escaped custody by fleeing on foot in an unknown direction. Read more
Glove found near Nancy Guthrie’s home fails to produce DNA match
The outcome, announced by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI, marked a major setback for investigators as the search for the 84-year-old mother of television journalist Savannah Guthrie stretched into its 17th day. Read more
Dollar edges higher against peers; yen strengthens
Investors were also positioning ahead of the expected release of minutes from the Fed’s last meeting and key economic data later in the week. Read more
U.S. kills 11 in boat strikes in Pacific and Caribbean
The triple strike late Monday was the first time the Trump administration bombed targets on both sides of the Panama Canal on the same day in its five-month string of boat attacks. Read more
Groups sue Trump administration to block history purge in parks
Conservation and history groups filed a federal lawsuit today accusing the Interior Department of violating the law by “censoring science” and erasing the history of marginalized communities at federal monuments. Read more
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