Gov. Green Requests Federal Disaster Declaration for Storm Assistance

Gov. Josh Green has asked President Donald Trump to declare a major disaster to help Hawaiʻi recover from the back-to-back Kona-low storm systems, with the hope that the federal government will provide up to 90% of funding for recovery efforts.

Star-Advertiser. Hawaiʻi Public Radio. Big Island Video News.

Will the Feds Help Hawaiʻi After the Floods? It’s Up to Trump

The president has denied and delayed requests for disaster aid from Democratic-led states. Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green hopes that won’t be the case.

Civil Beat.

The Ferocity of the Downpour That Brought the Latest Hawaiʻi Flooding Surprised Even Meteorologists

Crews on Tuesday began evaluating damage from a surprise downpour that sent floodwaters raging through a neighborhood near downtown Honolulu — the latest bout in a series of storms and flooding that have pummeled the state over the past two weeks.

Associated Press.

Hawaiʻi Farms Report More Than $15M in Storm Damage

The Kona-low storms wreaked havoc on more than 1,000 acres of Hawaiʻi farms statewide — from small farms growing fruits on Oʻahu’s North Shore to a longtime coffee farm on Hawaiʻi island.

Star-Advertiser.

O‘ahu Headlines

Competing Energy Proposals Debate Which Will Limit Costs for Consumers

HECO says the cost to upgrade the old Waiau power plant exceeds what state utility regulators have allowed.

Civil Beat.

Honolulu Traffic Cams May Soon Ticket for Registration, Safety Checks

One critic worries data from the cameras could be misused, but the state House gave preliminary approval to expanding the uses of the cameras.

Civil Beat.

North Shore Flood Frustrations Boil Over as Residents Demand Answers

Dozens packed the Waialua Elementary cafeteria Tuesday night, where a Neighborhood Board meeting quickly turned tense as frustrations over recent flooding boiled over.

Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

A Plantation-Era History of Wahiawā Dam as the State Eyes Acquisition

This week, the Hawaiʻi State Water Commission is taking up the issue of whether the state should acquire the Wahiawā Dam in Central Oʻahu.

Hawaiʻi Public Radio.

Oʻahu Buses Became Evacuation Vehicles for North Shore Residents

When thousands of North Shore Oʻahu residents were told to evacuate Friday, some city bus drivers made the trip back toward the evacuation zones to help residents get to safety.

Hawaiʻi Public Radio.

SOS in Sand Saves Couple Stranded at Yokohama Bay for 24 Hours

A stranded couple at Yokohama Bay was rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard after writing a large SOS in the sand during Kona low flooding on Oʻahu.

Hawaii News Now.

Storm Evacuees Prioritized Pets as Floodwaters Raged

Floodwaters from the second devastating storm that forced Oʻahu residents to flee early Friday morning revealed the frantic efforts of some evacuees to keep families safe, including their pets.

Star-Advertiser.

Hawai‘i Island Headlines

Lava Zones Insurance Measure Is Gutted by State Senate Committee

The state Senate’s Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection voted unanimously Tuesday to heavily amend a bill originally meant to help pay for property insurance for Puna and Ka‘u residents living in high-risk lava zones.

Tribune-Herald.

Four Mile Creek Bridge Replacement Project Clears Another Hurdle

The long-awaited replacement of an old, well-traveled one-lane bridge that provides an access corridor between Highway 11 and Hilo’s southern outskirts is a step closer to reality.

Tribune-Herald.

Kawamoto Pool Closed After Lightning Damages Pump

Charles “Sparky” Kawamoto Swim Stadium in Hilo is closed until further notice after the pool pump was damaged Monday during a lightning storm.

Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

Kona Palisades Green Removal Program to Help Eradicate Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle

A residential green waste removal effort is launching in the Kona Palisades area to reduce wildfire risk and limit the breeding habitat for the coconut rhinoceros beetle. Residents along Kaʻiminani Drive, from Māmalahoa Highway to Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway, are invited to move green waste from their properties to the curb for collection.

Big Island Now.

Maui Headlines

FEMA Arrives on Maui as Damage From Storms Climbs Into Hundreds of Millions

Maui County officials are preparing for federal assistance as teams from the Federal Emergency Management Agency arrive today to begin formal damage assessments following back-to-back Kona-low storms that battered the island chain.

Star-Advertiser.

HIDOE Schools Reopening on Maui and Molokaʻi; Closures Continue on Oʻahu and Hawaiʻi Island

The Hawaiʻi Department of Education reports that school will reopen on Wednesday on Maui and Molokaʻi.

Maui Now.

Impassable Roads, Flooded Homes as Molokaʻi Tackles Post-storm Recovery

Residents on Molokaʻi have been trying to salvage their belongings from flooded homes, and some of them had to evacuate.

Hawaiʻi Public Radio.

Kaua‘i Headlines

Kauaʻi Community College to Host Career Fair for First Time in 10 Years

The career fair will be on campus from noon to 4 p.m. on Thursday, April 2. The event is designed to provide students, recent graduates, and alumni with a dedicated “safe space” to transition from the classroom to the professional world.

Kauaʻi Now.

A Special Gathering to Recognize Kauaʻi’s Jewish Community

A special gathering on Monday filled the rotunda of the Moikeha Building with song and merriment as Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami joined the Kauai Jewish Community, friends, and interfaith groups in recognizing Kauaʻi’s Jewish community.

Garden Island.