Fear of the COVID-19 delta variant and other factors have led to a critical shortage at the Blood Bank of Hawaii, which reports it has less than a day’s supply of the blood types most in demand. Read more
Bridges on Hawaii island also are getting the attention of the state Department of Transportation. Read more
The winding drive to Hana is as much about the journey as the destination. The section of Hana Highway from Huelo to the quiet East Maui town features roadside waterfalls, tropical greenery, fruit stands and sheer coastal vistas for the 1,500 vehicles on average that travel daily on the two-lane highway, mostly tourists and residents for whom it is the primary link to the rest of the island. Read more
The state Department of Transportation is awaiting word on its application for a $25 million federal grant to help offset the estimated $90 million in design and construction costs to realign 4.5 miles of Honoapiilani Highway that are vulnerable to sea-level rise and coastal erosion. Read more
Projects to restore infrastructure damaged in the 2018 Kilauea eruption in Lower Puna are moving ahead, with environmental assessments scheduled to start for work on Highway 137 and Pohoiki Road, including potential restoration of water to Isaac Hale Beach Park, according to Hawaii County officials. Read more
With Maui County’s rolling average of COVID-19 cases close to half of what it was in recent weeks, Mayor Michael Victorino said today he is considering loosening some of the emergency rules he imposed Sept. 15. Read more
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The head of the Hawaii Department of Education said Thursday there have been no discussions yet with state health officials about a possible vaccination mandate for public school students age 12 and up. Read more
The Hawaii State Board of Education was expected to approve renaming Central Middle School to Princess Ruth Ke‘elikolani Middle School after a board committee gave its support to the change today. Read more
The plan, dubbed “E O I Ka Leo (Listen to the Voice),” aims to guide and prioritize specific land uses within UH-leased parcels over a 20-year period, including the addition of new facilities, improvements to existing facilities and the discontinued use of others. It updates the current master plan adopted in 2000. Read more
Although more than 4,700 miles from the three mainland sites attacked by terrorists who hijacked four jetliners, Hawaii lost six members of its ohana on Sept. 11, 2001. Read more
Two years after Hawaii’s medical-aid-in-dying law went into effect, it’s still a challenge for many terminally ill patients to find physicians willing to help, according to health officials, and a significant number don’t survive the mandatory 20-day waiting period, the longest of any state with similar laws. Read more
The neighbor islands, with 30% of Hawaii’s population, have accounted for less than 25% of the state’s COVID-19 cases, yet the strain on hospital staff and resources from surging infections is no less acute there than at Honolulu’s much larger medical facilities. Read more
The first major data release from the 2020 census shows Honolulu’s population topping the 1 million mark for the first time — likely no surprise to residents who travel Oahu’s busy roads and compete for housing, parking and public spaces. Read more
Hawaii ranked as the 40th most populous state in the U.S., unchanged from 2010, and 35th in terms of numerical population change and 23rd in percentage change. Read more
Ticket holders for this weekend’s three Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra concerts at the Waikiki Shell needn’t worry: The show will go on. Read more
Nearly 60% of Hawaii’s roads and over 75% of its bridges are threatened by possible landslides, coastal erosion, sea level rise, storm surges, tsunamis, wildfires or other natural hazards, according to a state Department of Transportation report that identifies vulnerable areas along state highways and recommends actions to make them more resilient to climate-related effects. Read more
Three years after magma from Kilauea Volcano burst through the ground in Leilani Estates, signaling the start of the historic 2018 eruption, the sights, smells and sounds of the disaster are still vivid to those most impacted by it. Read more
Proposed rule amendments that would restrict certain commercial fishing activities in the Kahului Harbor Fisheries Management Area and increase the size limit for oama caught in Maui waters should provide a more user-friendly experience for recreational fishers, according to state officials. Read more
A strong drive to succeed — and Tongan pride — is fueling Simione Olakauatu’s run to the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which will hold virtual preliminaries on Saturday. Read more
New Jersey web designer Dante Moore said he was “stir crazy in the middle of a pandemic” when he spotted a catchy headline on a web post in December promising free airfare for a monthlong stint of remote work in Hawaii. Read more
With the return of soccer and other outdoor youth sports after a months-long COVID-19-related ban, state and county officials appear close to allowing surfing competitions to resume as well. Read more
