An asteroid discovered by the University of Hawaii’s Pan-STARRS1 telescope atop Haleakala will make a close pass of Earth today. At its closest point, the asteroid will be only about 1.7 times the distance of the Moon. The asteroid has been given the temporary name 2020 OO1. It has a diameter of approximately 65 feet…
DOH reports 28 new COVID-19 cases statewide, advises patrons of 2 Oahu bars to be tested
The state Department of Health reported 28 new cases of COVID-19 today, all on Oahu. Public health authorities also are advising anyone who may have patronized two Honolulu bars to step forward and contact their physicians for follow-up. The two bars involved are Brix & Bones located at 1217 Hopaka St. and Arena 808 located…
State Land Use Commission takes up Hawaii County’s STVR law
The question of whether Hawaii County can prohibit short-term vacation rentals on land classified as agriculture is now in the hands of the state Land Use Commission. Both the county and a group of 20 Kailua-Kona, Waimea and Captain Cook landowners have asked the LUC for a declaratory ruling. The commission considered the issue Thursday,…
Hurricane Douglas spins toward Maui, Oahu
The center of Hurricane Douglas was located about 55 miles east to northeast of Kahului, Maui, and 140 miles east of Honolulu as of 11 a.m. today. A hurricane warning remains in effect for Maui County, Oahu and Kauai. Civil Defense sirens reportedly could be heard earlier this morning on eastern Oahu. A tropical storm…
Douglas weakens, but Hawaii could still see severe impact
HONOLULU — Hawaii geared up on Saturday to face a hurricane that threatened to pummel the islands with dangerous surf, strong winds and flash floods even as residents grappled with escalating numbers of coronavirus cases. Powerful storms are familiar to many in Hawaii who have spent the past several summers preparing for tropical cyclones. But…
Ready, set, vote! Several options for casting your ballot
Ballots have arrived in Hawaii voters’ mailboxes. Now it’s decision time. The island’s primary ballot includes countywide nonpartisan races for mayor and prosecutor, as well as statewide nonpartisan races for four of the nine seats on the Office of Hawaiian Affairs board of trustees. Voters will also choose their district County Council member in those…
Hawaii sees third consecutive day of record-high COVID-19 cases
The state Department of Health today reported that Hawaii set a new single-day record for COVID-19 cases. There were 73 new cases — 68 on Oahu and five on Maui. Today was the third consecutive day Hawaii topped its previous single-day high for coronavirus cases. Hawaii had 60 new cases of COVID-19 Friday and 55…
In-store dancing leads to Hawaii visitor quarantine arrest
HONOLULU (AP) — Investigators with the Hawaii attorney general’s office arrested a 20-year-old woman after seeing videos of her dancing in a store and dining out when she was supposed to be obeying a traveler quarantine the state mandated to protect against the spread of the coronavirus. Anne Salamanca arrived in Honolulu on July 6…
Bar exam applicants offered option of temporary provisional law license
The Hawaii Supreme Court announced Wednesday it has established an option for applicants for the September 9-10, written bar exam to receive a temporary, provisional license to practice law as an alternative to sitting for the written exam. The court, recognizing the logistical challenges and health concerns surrounding the upcoming exam during the COVID-19 pandemic,…
East-facing county beach parks will close at 7 p.m. until further notice
All east-facing county beach parks will be closed today at 7 p.m. until further notice due to the approach of Hurricane Douglas. The beach parks that will be closed are from Whittington Beach Park in Ka‘u to Keokea Beach Park in Kapa‘au, according to the county Parks and Recreation Department. In addition, all county camping…
Hurricane watch in effect for Big Island
A hurricane watch has been issued for the Big Island and Maui County as Hurricane Douglas continues its trek toward Hawaii. According to an 11 a.m. update from the National Weather Service Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu, Douglas was about 785 miles east-southeast of Hilo and moving west-northwest at 18 mph. This motion is…
DOH reports 60 new COVID-19 cases
The state Department of Health has reported 60 new cases of COVID-19 today, the highest single-day count since the DOH began tracking cases in February. One case was reported on Maui and 58 are on Oahu. One case is a Hawaii resident diagnosed outside the state. It is the second day in a row that…
Hawaii’s congressional delegation asks Trump for immediate help as Hurricane Douglas nears
Hawaii’s congressional delegation today sent a letter to President Trump asking for immediate federal assistance and resources as Hurricane Douglas approaches the state. The letter — signed by U.S. Reps Tulsi Gabbard and Ed Case, and U.S. Sens. Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz — notes that state resources already are stretched thin due to the…
DOH reports 55 new COVID-19 cases
Fifty-five new cases of COVID-19 reported in Hawaii today is the highest one-day count since the state Department of Health began tracking cases in late February. According to the state, 50 cases were reported in Honolulu, three on Hawaii Island and two on Maui. The previous highest one-day count was on July 11 with 42…
Judge maintains $100K bail for Kona attempted murder suspect
A Kona Circuit judge maintained bail Wednesday for a 29-year-old woman charged with attempted murder for allegedly ramming a moped carrying two people June 13. Deputy Public Defender James Greenberg’s motion for supervised release was rejected by Judge Robert D.S. Kim, who maintained bail at $100,000 for Keola Kama. Bail was set during Monday’s arraignment…
17 new coronavirus cases reported in Hawaii, one additional death
The state Department of Health reports 17 new cases of COVID-19 statewide as of noon today. That brings the statewide total of cases to 1,435. In addition, there is another coronavirus-related death, bringing the statewide death toll from coronavirus-related cases to 25. All the new cases are on Oahu. The total case number in the…
Hurricane Douglas forms; could impact Big Island Sunday
Hurricane Douglas — the first hurricane of the 2020 Eastern Pacific season — is expected to move near or over portions of the Hawaiian Islands this weekend, forecasters said Wednesday morning. The storm’s current track brings an increasing chance that strong winds and heavy rainfall could affect portions of the state beginning on Sunday, forecasters…
New concept would allow quarantined guests to roam more freely within resorts
Hawaii Island is joining Maui and Kauai in exploring a new concept in gradually reopening their doors to tourists — a “resort bubble,” where quarantining visitors would be allowed freedom to roam within the confines of a “geofence.” “(It’s) another idea we’ve been tossing out there,” Hawaii County Managing Director Roy Takemoto told the County…
Hurricane shelters might take temperatures because of virus
HONOLULU — One of the leaders in preparing the state for hurricanes said Tuesday that people arriving at shelters might have their temperature checked this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. Hawaii Emergency Management Agency Administrator Luke Meyers said shelters may have less capacity because of the need for people to maintain social distance. He…
Out-of-state students coming to UH-Hilo next month required to quarantine for 14 days
Out-of-state students returning to the University of Hawaii at Hilo next month will still be required to quarantine for 14 days when they arrive in Hawaii, although UH last week announced modified quarantine procedures for such students attending universities on Oahu and Kauai. That plan allows for students arriving on those islands who received a…
County explores joining lawsuit against fossil fuel companies
Hawaii County might join the City and County of Honolulu in a lawsuit seeking financial reparations from more than a dozen fossil fuel companies for their role in causing climate change and rising sea levels. During a meeting of the County Council’s Committee on Agriculture, Water, Energy and Environmental Management, committee members agreed to a…
