Hawaii News
Hawai‘i, other states file lawsuits against Meta for harming youth mental health
The attorneys general assert that Meta’s business practices violate state consumer protection laws and the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. These practices have harmed and continue to harm the physical and mental health of children and teens and have fueled what the U.S. Surgeon General has deemed a “youth mental health crisis,” which has ended lives, devastated families, and damaged the potential of a generation of young people.
Ocean Exploration Trust to test new camera technology around Main Hawaiian Islands
The main purpose of the expedition is to test a new widefield camera array mounted on remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). Footage from this system will then be used to create near real-time exciting applications for marine research and outreach.
USDA loaning $2.4 million to Hawaiʻi Community for financing 10 homes
Hawai‘i Community Lending will receive a $2.4-million loan from the US Department of Agriculture to finance 10 homes for eligible homebuyers on native lands.
Singer-songwriters sought for Hawaiʻi music immersive program; deadline to apply Dec. 1
The 2024 Creative Lab Hawai‘i Music Immersive program will open the application process on Nov. 1 for singer-songwriters who are seeking opportunities to license their works for global media and entertainment content.
Gov. Green announces nominees for two judicial vacancies
In private practice, Chief Judge Ginoza worked for some of the top law firms in Honolulu overseeing various types of litigation and handled cases at all court levels, including the Hawai‘i Supreme Court, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Measurements of Hawaiʻi’s adaptable deepest corals uncovered
A study conducted by University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, published in the journal “Coral Reefs” and led by oceanographer Samuel Kahng, introduces the inaugural calcification rates of Leptoseris spp. corals found at depths of 230–360 ft. in Hawaiian waters.
New study highlights historical ocean oxygen loss, future possibilities for Fisheries
A University of Hawaiʻi study on ancient deep-sea sediments revealed past oxygen loss in Earth’s oceans, raising concerns for Pacific Island fisheries, but it also suggests that oxygen loss may not be permanent if ocean currents reconfigure with future warming.
University of Hawaiʻi campuses waive application fees for local residents
Hawaiʻi residents can now apply to any of the University of Hawaiʻi’s 10 campuses without an application fee, as the University seeks to strengthen the pipeline into public higher education across the state.
State launches new webpage to prevent sleep-related deaths of infants
The Hawai’i Department of Health has introduced the Safe Sleep Hawai‘i webpage to provide information and resources for parents and caregivers, emphasizing the importance of safe sleep practices for infants.
Flags to be lowered for lives lost in ongoing Middle East conflict
This observance is to honor the lives being lost in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East — and with the hope that peace can be achieved.
Hawai‘i Department of Health states commitment to transgender rights
According to local health reports, transgender and gender-diverse communities in Hawaiʻi experience several health disparities, compared to cisgender people. These issues include access to healthcare, bullying, interpersonal violence, depression, suicidality and substance use, all of which are causes for significant public health concern.
Kaua‘i hotels at 66.4% occupancy for September 2023
Hawai‘i hotels statewide reported slightly higher occupancy, average daily rate, and revenue per available room in September 2023 compared to September 2022. When compared to pre-pandemic September 2019, statewide ADR and RevPAR were higher in September 2023 but occupancy was lower.
Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency launches siren status map
The interactive map displays fully operational sirens in green. Sirens that require maintenance which the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency can perform unassisted are shown in yellow. Sirens which need maintenance that must be performed with contracted assistance are shown in red. Sirens which are beyond repair are shown in black.
Insurance company kicks off ‘Drive Aloha’ PSA video contest for high school students
Now through Dec. 8, public and private high school students from across the state are invited to submit their videos online at www.DriveAloha.com. All approved videos will be uploaded to the contest page for public voting from Dec. 11 to 17. The top 10 videos earning the highest number of votes will be selected as finalists. A panel of judges consisting of local personalities and DTRIC executives will select the top two winners. First place will receive $2,000 for their school and second place will receive $1,000.
Hawai‘i enters wet season drier than usual; El Niño conditions persist
This morning, Kevin Kodama, senior service hydrologist at the National Weather Service’s Honolulu Forecast Office, hosted a press conference discussing the outlook for this year’s wet season. He said El Niño conditions have been present since the spring and intensified during the summer.
Carnival Cruise Line to sail more guests to Hawai‘i from additional US homeports
Carnival has 16 cruises featuring 14- and 15-day itineraries to Hawai‘i that are currently available on the following ships: Carnival Miracle, Carnival Legend, Carnival Spirit and Carnival Radiance. Additionally, a 25-day sailing from Singapore to Long Beach on Carnival Panorama features stops in Honolulu and Maui (Kahului) after visiting Ho Chi Minh (Phu My), Kota Kinabalu, Manila and Guam in Southeast Asia.
Impact of Lāhainā Fire on nearshore water quality, reef health under investigation by UH researchers
The goal of the research is to determine if any contaminants from the devastating and deadly Lāhainā Fire will alter the ecosystem and affect its resilience in the future.
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory community mourns loss of noted geophysicist, former scientist-in-charge Jim Kauahikaua
Known for his iconic beard and ponytail and affectionately called Dr. Jim by many, Kauahikaua joined the Big Island volcano observatory’s staff in 1988. He became scientist-in-charge, the first Native Hawaiian to serve in the position, in 2004 and served 10 years in the post until he stepped down in March 2015 and rotated back to his former position.
New federal funding secured by state lawmaker will revitalize, promote native languages
The new grants will support Native American language use, revitalization, and instruction to advance the goals of the Native American Languages Act of 1990, which recognized the inherent rights and freedoms of Native Americans to use their Indigenous languages. The full list of Native American Language Resource Center Act grant recipients includes:
Department of Health reports travel-related malaria case in Hawai‘i
Malaria is a unique mosquito-borne disease caused by a parasite and is transmitted through female anopheles mosquitoes often found in tropical and subtropical areas such as in Africa south of the Sahara and parts of Oceania such as Papua New Guinea. Anopheles mosquitoes are not found in Hawai‘i. Malaria is not spread from person to person and is not sexually transmitted. The incubation period is typically from seven to 30 days.