Hawaii News

The largest Hawaiʻi earthquake of the 20th century and so far in the 21st century happened 50 years ago this month on the Big Island; shaking as well as ground subsidence and a local tsunami contributed to a catastrophic sequence of events Nov. 29, 1975.

Robo-AO-2 — now operating at the UH 2.2-meter telescope atop Mauna Kea — is designed to correct the blur caused by Earth’s atmosphere, sharpening images of hundreds of objects each night with minimal human oversight.

Hawai‘i joins the nation this year in observing the annual Smokeout today (Nov. 20), and Hawaiʻi Department of Health encourages island residents to use this date to quit — even if it is for a day.

Wailuā River State Park in Kapaʻa will begin charging parking fees for nonresidents and commercial vehicles; Hawaiʻi residents, however, will continue to receive free parking.

Kaiser Permanente Hawaiʻi has awarded $263,000 in grants to bolster food security and health equity in the islands, supporting initiatives such as Hawaiʻi Food Bank’s Kūpuna Fresh and its Farm to Family programs.

Committee members reviewed applications from organizations and agencies throughout the state seeking a portion of the allocated $50 million in nonprofit grant funding, and they will announce their decisions Thursday (Nov. 20).

Gaseous pillars and a sparkling star cluster, reminiscent of rain in ʻōhiʻa forests, featured in the image from Gemini North telescope atop Mauna Kea on the Big Island.

A high surf advisory is in effect through Thursday afternoon, with waves expected to reach up to 18 feet around Niʻihau and Kauaʻi, according to the National Weather Service.

On Tuesday afternoon, a two-vehicle collision on Kūhiō Highway near Kapaka Street in Kauaʻi injured two people and led to a temporary road closure.

The results of the study lay the foundation for using passive acoustics to learn about behaviors, monitor populations and protect habitats.

Secondary traffic crashes are the No. 1 cause of death nationwide for emergency responders.

While the longest federal government shutdown in the nation’s history ended last week, many residents continue to face financial strain as they await delayed pay and benefits.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is calling on national leadership to include Native Hawaiian voices in negotiations regarding expiring military leases on Hawaiʻi public lands.

Researchers from the university’s Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology discovered that indigenous aquaculture systems effectively shield fish populations from the negative impacts of climate change, demonstrating resilience and bolstering local food security.

Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia will remain in Aotearoa for six months, which will allow the canoes to wait out the South Pacific hurricane season before continuing the Moananuiākea Voyage.

The Hawai‘i Public Utilities Commission unanimously approved a 25.75% rate increase for the limited liability company, Young Brothers, effective Jan. 1, 2026.

U.S. representatives Jill Tokuda of Hawaiʻi and William Timmons of South Carolina, co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Coffee Caucus, had led a bipartisan letter earlier this year urging the administration to remove coffee from tariffs in an effort to protect American jobs and secure a stable supply chain for the US economy.

Nicholas Kealiʻi Lum is weaving tradition and innovation into his in-depth studies of mele at University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language.

“By connecting local farms directly to community food systems, the state can reduce its dependence on imports while ensuring that more families have access to fresh, nutritious, Hawaiʻi-grown produce,” said House Majority Caucus Leader Kirstin Kahaloa of Hawaiʻi Island.

The canoes and their crews were greeted Thursday (Nov. 13) with a pōwhiri, or sacred formal Māori ceremony that was expected to celebrate for hours; following a little more than week of public engagements, the waʻa will take 6 months off to wait out South Pacific hurricane season before continuing their voyage.