Uncle Winston

One person died after a car went off a downtown Honolulu parking garage and hit the ground at street level, in a crash that shut down a busy corner during the afternoon.

• A car came off an upper level of a parking structure near Bishop and Hotel Street in the mid-afternoon and crashed to the sidewalk.
• One person was confirmed dead and the body was removed from the scene; no identity has been released.
• The fall shattered glass outside a convenience store, which has been boarded over for safety.
• Police held the corner for hours while the car was towed, and a nearby bus stop had to be moved.

Outlook: Police are still investigating and have not said how or why the car left the garage.

Hawaii police have released body camera footage of a deadly officer-involved shooting on the Big Island, a grim look at how a theft call ended with a 31-year-old man dead and an officer hurt.

• The chase began with a theft in Ocean View and moved into rough, remote lava fields.
• A taser was used first but barely worked, and the man pulled the wires off and kept going.
• He was heard threatening to kill the officer, then started throwing lava rocks at him.
• The officer warned repeatedly that he would shoot before firing; the man died at the scene.
• An autopsy found a single gunshot killed him, with drug tests still pending.

Outlook: The investigation continues and the toxicology results are the next thing expected to come out.

Honolulu police are looking into a string of phone threats against six Oahu schools, a scare for parents that ended without any real danger found.

• Six campuses got threats, including Punahou, which locked down briefly.
• Police blocked off streets near the school while they checked it out.
• Parents were emailed in the early afternoon, and the all-clear came minutes later with no credible threat found.
• Most students were on fall break, so few kids were on campus.
• Police are checking whether the threats at the different schools are linked.

Outlook: Investigators will try to trace the calls and determine if one source was behind all six, with students due back from fall break next week.

A local Hawaii broadcast ran its daily round of birthday greetings, a light and friendly segment with no hard news attached.

• Viewers who sent in birthday requests got on-air shout-outs, including a belated greeting for a woman named Jen.
• The tone was celebratory, with a nod to the idea that a birthday starts the best year of your life.
• The segment is pure community goodwill — no money, markets, or world-news angle.

Outlook: The birthday roll call runs again tomorrow with a fresh batch of names.

A light local segment on Hawaii favorites, from island snacks to a rescue dog and student musicians — feel-good, no hard news.

• A Hawaii snack maker sent over its seeds and pineapple jam, both a hit.
• Homemade Chinese pretzels from a neighbor, Auntie Clover, rounded out the treats.
• A two-legged rescue dog named Robert, popular on pet video feeds, is sparking interest in adopting special-needs animals.
• Hawaiian Humane Society ties into the adoption angle.
• Four students from Kamehameha Schools Kapālama have drawn more than 10,000 views online for their Hawaiian music performance.

Outlook: Expect more island food picks, adoptable pets and student performances in upcoming segments.

Ukulele artist Taimane is staging a new multi-sensory show in Honolulu, good news for fans of Hawaiian music and live performance.

• "Liula: Cross Into the Mirage" runs October 22nd at the historic Hawaii Theatre.
• The show takes its name from the Hawaiian word for twilight, the hour when the line between worlds is said to thin.
• Built around her new album, it blends ukulele in Hawaiian tunings with dance, aerial acrobatics, and spoken word.
• Stories of night marchers, ancestors, and moon flowers anchor the performance, with Polynesian and contemporary dancers, poet Kealoha, and other guest artists.

Outlook: Tickets are on sale now, and her last Hawaii Theatre show sold out, so seats are likely to go fast.

Hawaii's community calendar is filling up with free family events this October, good news for anyone looking for cheap weekend plans.

• A free family-friendly Halloween celebration runs October 24th, with a monster-themed afternoon meant to draw crowds and support local businesses.
• Kaimuki High School's student-built haunted house returns for two weekends, with scares based on The Wizard of Oz.
• Two plant sales are on: one at a community center with free parking, and one benefiting the Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo, where a share of every sale goes to animal care.
• Kauai's dog club holds its yearly Halloween costume contest for dogs at Kukui Grove Center.
• A free online talk covers how El Niño, warmer oceans and hurricanes damage Hawaii's reefs and how the reefs recover.

Outlook: Events run through late October, and the National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii continues taking donated cars with free towing and a tax deduction.

Pearl at Kalauao has added new savory and sweet items to its menu — good news for local diners and golfers looking for quick, familiar food.

• The kitchen's biggest hit is a prime rib French dip with Swiss cheese and au jus.
• New local-style plates include a smaller loco moco, a lechon kawali breakfast, and chili cheese fries.
• A pancake flight comes with housemade ube, guava, and lilikoi toppings.
• The dessert side features a molten lava cake, a passion fruit creme brulee, a monthly baker's choice like ube cheesecake, and hand-dipped chocolate strawberries.
• Desserts and cookies can be ordered for parties or taken to go, with a week's notice for larger orders.

Outlook: The dessert menu rotates monthly, so expect new baker's choice items to keep showing up.

A strong earthquake off Panama triggered tsunami worries across the Pacific, but Hawaii was cleared with no threat and no action needed.

• The quake hit off Panama early Friday, first reported near magnitude 8 and later revised down slightly; damage and injuries there were not yet known.
• Southwest Airlines passengers nationwide faced long lines and delayed flights after a morning system outage tied to an outside tech vendor knocked out check-in and boarding; systems are back up.
• Jim Carrey listed his beachfront Maui estate for $35 million, about $18.5 million more than he paid in 2016 — a sign the luxury island market still draws big asking prices.
• Joe Rogan re-signed with Spotify in a multi-year deal reported at $250 million, keeping ad sales with Spotify while the show stays on Apple and YouTube; Netflix is planning to cut about 5% of its staff.
• Norway is weighing limits on camera glasses like Meta's Ray-Bans over bystander privacy, and Chick-fil-A says it will keep AI out of drive-thru ordering while rivals lean into it.

Outlook: Expect flight schedules to normalize over the weekend, more fallout from Panama as damage reports come in, and growing pressure on lawmakers to write rules for wearable cameras.

Hawaiian Electric is facing public pressure in West Oʻahu over repeated blackouts, bad news for residents who have lost power through three hurricanes and the Kona storms.

• State regulators have started a round of public meetings on how well the power grid held up during recent storms.
• Residents say outages are not just storm-related and happen too often in normal weather.
• Elderly people are hit hardest, since many rely on oxygen machines and medicine that must stay refrigerated.
• Complaints go beyond electricity to preparedness, safety, and having a say in decisions about the islands.
• A strong El Niño season means more storms could still come this year.

Outlook: The regulators' meetings move on to other islands next, with pressure building on Hawaiian Electric to explain its reliability record.

A singer-songwriter from Kauaʻi now based in Nashville has won Best Pop Album at the Josie Music Awards, a win for Hawaiʻi's independent music scene.

• The Josie Music Awards honor artists without major label or publishing deals and drew more than 100,000 submissions this year.
• The winning album took shape over a decade, with parts written and recorded at a studio on Kauaʻi's north shore.
• Early influences came from a songwriter mother who led worship at church, family jam sessions, and a Hawaiʻi songwriting festival.
• Listeners in Nashville say they hear island sound in the music even though it was never put there on purpose.

Outlook: More songs and live shows are planned, with a longer-term hope of returning to Kauaʻi to mentor young local musicians.

Hawaii's largest health insurer is cutting back its Medicare Advantage plans, which is bad news for seniors who now face higher costs or lost coverage.

• HMSA is changing or ending Medicare Advantage plans, and some members are losing prescription coverage their doctors ordered.
• The reason given is rising medical and drug costs that made the old plans too expensive to keep offering.
• Meanwhile HMSA executive pay has climbed sharply since 2020, with the CEO's compensation up about 75% — and no promise that those raises will be trimmed too.
• Affected members are being mailed packets with 2027 plan options and enrollment forms, but many older customers don't use websites or phones and found the first letters confusing.

Outlook: Open enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, so seniors have a short window to switch plans before the new coverage takes effect.

Filipino Food Week is rolling out across Hawaii with special dishes at 17 restaurants, good news for diners and for Filipino chefs getting a wider audience.

• This year's theme centers on vinegar, a staple used for generations in the Philippines to preserve food before refrigeration.
• Chef Mark Lopez of Chef Chai is serving fusion plates, including house-aged beef pasta and local tilapia from the Big Island.
• Anyone eating at a participating spot can photograph their dish and post it on social media to enter for a trip to the Philippines.
• Events start this weekend and run through the week in Honolulu.

Outlook: Expect packed dining rooms at the 17 participating restaurants as the celebration runs through October.

Hawaii's Filipino Food Week kicks off this weekend, good news for local restaurants and anyone who wants to eat their way through Filipino American History Month.

• Close to 19 restaurants across the islands, including spots at the Hilton Hawaiian Village and on Maui, are serving special dishes.
• This year's theme is Philippine vinegar, the sour backbone of dishes like adobo and kinilaw.
• Diners who post a photo of their meal with the event hashtag can win a round-trip ticket to the Philippines on Philippine Airlines.
• The week also marks 120 years since the first Filipino workers arrived in Hawaii, where a large share of residents now claim Filipino heritage.
• A concert at the state Capitol, cooking demonstrations, and flag-raising ceremonies across the islands round out the celebration.

Outlook: Events run through the week, with the main festivities centered on the Capitol grounds.

A Kaimuki taco shop is leaning into party catering heading into the holiday stretch, good news for anyone hosting a crowd on Oahu.

• Tight Tacos in Kaimuki offers tacos, burritos, burrito bowls, quesadillas and kids' portions, with seven protein choices.
• Catering is the growth side of the business: meat trays, build-your-own taco bars, and on-site or off-site service.
• October is already booked out, driven by demand around Mexican-culture celebrations.
• Taco Tuesday runs $3 tacos on chicken, beef, pork and veggie — the cheapest way in.
• The shop is open Tuesday and Wednesday through Sunday, with metered parking in the rear.

Outlook: Expect catering slots to tighten further as holiday party season builds, so early booking helps.

A Coast Guard helicopter crew pulled a sick sailor off a cargo ship far from land, a good outcome for the crew member and a routine show of rescue capability in Hawaii waters.

• A 55-year-old crew member fell ill aboard a cargo ship 86 miles from the Hawaiian islands.
• An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter reached the ship and lifted the man off for medical care.
• The rescue happened far offshore, at the edge of what a short-range helicopter can reach.
• Cargo ships crossing the Pacific have no doctor aboard, so crew illness often means calling in a military airlift.

Outlook: The crew member is in medical care on shore, and the ship is expected to continue its voyage.

A nonprofit turned an 11-year-old's wheelchair into a Star Wars starfighter, and a separate airport break-in ended badly for the man who tried it.

• Dash Stanton, 11, received a full spaceship costume built around his wheelchair, modeled on the N-1 starfighter from The Mandalorian.
• The build came from the nonprofit Magic Wheelchair and includes a Grogu figure as an accessory; Dash dresses as Mando.
• At John Wayne Airport in Orange County, a 26-year-old passenger broke through a gate and stole an airfield tug.
• He crashed the tug into another vehicle, then failed at stealing a truck, and now faces several charges.

Outlook: Expect the costume to make the rounds ahead of Halloween, while the airport case moves through court.

Hawaiian Electric says it restored power quickly after a run of storms, but West Oahu residents told state regulators their everyday service is still unreliable — bad news for Leeward Coast customers facing a rate hike on top of it.

• The state Public Utilities Commission opened a round of public meetings on Hawaiian Electric's reliability after Kona storms and three hurricanes in six weeks.
• The utility says nearly all West Oahu customers had power back within a day of Hurricane Lowell, and the rest within a day and a half.
• Residents said that misses the point: outages hit constantly even though a power plant sits a mile away, and nobody explains why.
• Hawaiian Electric is also asking regulators to approve a $170 million revenue increase over two years, which locals say will push already high bills past the breaking point.
• Some complained the hearing was held in Kapolei instead of Waianae, where the outages are worst and turnout would have been larger.

Outlook: More hearings are set for the Big Island, with additional sessions on Oahu and in Maui County to follow, and the rate request stays pending while regulators collect public comment.

The National Guard has wrapped up its disaster response on Kauai, a sign the island is moving past the emergency phase after a Category 2 hurricane.

• More than 300 Guard members were sent in after the storm hit the island with strong winds and storm surge.
• Crews flew out medical patients, cleared debris from roads and harbors, and handed out food and water.
• The storm damage was heavy enough to require a military-scale response, not just local crews.
• Officials are telling residents to stay prepared, with the hurricane season not over.

Outlook: Local agencies take over the rest of the cleanup while Kauai stays on alert for more storms.

Hawai'i's arts scene has a busy stretch of openings for filmmakers, actors, and young musicians, good news for local talent looking for a break.

• The Wailuku Film Festival is taking submissions for its second run, set for mid-June 2027, after drawing more than 5,300 people in year one.
• Year two adds new film categories and more room for new filmmakers, still focused on Hawai'i and Indigenous voices, water sports, and ocean culture.
• Today is the last day for young actors to apply for the live-action Naruto movie, a global search for the Naruto and Sakura leads, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton.
• Duke's Waikiki holds its annual ukulele contest tomorrow at Royal Hawaiian Center for players ages 7 to 18, with koa ukuleles for the winners.

Outlook: Expect casting news on the Naruto leads in the coming months and a wider slate of entries as the Wailuku festival builds toward next summer.

Waikiki Aquarium is throwing a Halloween-themed after-hours party this Saturday, good news for Oahu families looking for something to do with the kids.

• "Stranger Fins" takes over the aquarium Saturday evening, with the building styled after the Upside Down.
• The lineup includes a costume contest, face painting, underwater pumpkin carving, a candy crawl for kids, and games like Nemo cornhole.
• An 80s dress-up theme runs through the night, and conservation groups will be on site with a passport activity to teach kids about marine life.
• Tickets are cheaper for aquarium members, with discounts for kids and free entry for the youngest; proceeds go to the aquarium's research and education work.

Outlook: Doors open at 5 p.m. Saturday and run until 8, with tickets sold online and at the door.

Some HMSA Medicare members in Hawaii will pay more next year, and two plans are going away entirely — bad news for seniors on fixed incomes.

• HMSA's Complete Plus and Standard Plus PPO plans end December 31 and will be replaced by new versions.
• People in those two plans have to actively sign up again during open enrollment or lose their coverage.
• Premiums are going up on some plans, which hits older residents living on fixed incomes hardest.
• A new cheaper HMO plan called Select Plus is being added as a lower-cost option.
• Everyone else is renewed automatically and does not need to do anything.

Outlook: Open enrollment starts next Thursday, and affected members can enroll online, by phone, by mail, or in person at an HMSA center.

Sea Life Park on Oahu is holding a family event this Sunday that mixes Halloween fun with Hawaiian storytelling and ocean education — good news for local families looking for a cheap day out with the kids.

• Activities start in the morning and include underwater pumpkin carving, trick-or-treating around the park, free face painting, and lessons on the Hawaiian monk seal.
• A community beach cleanup across the street runs right before the event, tying the day to ocean conservation.
• The park is under Native Hawaiian stewardship for the first time in its 62 years, and the new focus is teaching Hawaii's culture, genealogy, and traditional navigation through marine life.
• Renovations are already visible: native Hawaiian landscaping, a rebuilt touch pool with new shade, and fresh turf on the kids' playground.
• New partnerships are coming in too, with chef Roy Yamaguchi handling food and drink and local brand Mele Hawaii moving into the retail store.

Outlook: More changes are planned as the park keeps rebuilding around Hawaiian culture and marine conservation.

A Navy chief petty officer came home from a long deployment and held his infant daughter for the first time, a rare piece of good news for a military family.

• The sailor, Joey, had only seen his daughter in photos during her first nine months of life.
• He described the homecoming as surreal and said he struggled to put the moment into words.
• The separation stretched to 18 months of waiting before the family could be together.
• The deployment was described as a historic one, part of a wave of extended Navy time at sea.

Outlook: The family now starts life together at home, though long deployments continue to keep other sailors away from newborns.

A Hawaii survivor is speaking publicly about her recovery and pushing for more places where people can talk openly — a hopeful story, but one that highlights how hard coming forward still is.

• Julia Hawthorne, assaulted last summer in her hometown, says she lost her sense of self and is still rebuilding.
• Fear of being disbelieved or having the accusation turned against them keeps many survivors silent.
• The Sex Abuse Treatment Center at Kapiolani Medical Center takes anyone, no matter how long ago the assault happened.
• Its services include medical care, crisis counseling, and a 24-hour hotline; most universities also list campus resources.
• Hawthorne wants more healing and women's circles in schools, without the stigma of being seen as "woo woo."

Outlook: Advocates expect demand for support to keep growing as public attention stays on the issue, with the main barrier being stigma rather than a lack of services.

Hawaii's 2026 inaugural Honor Flight brought 25 Korean and Vietnam War veterans to Washington's war memorials, with a special tribute for the group's lone Korean War veteran.

• Navy veteran Charles Stanley Brewer was honored at the Korean War Memorial by state and national leaders.
• Brewer called the moment humbling and pointed to the strong U.S.–South Korea alliance built during and after the war.
• He was also welcomed into the Korean Defense Veterans Association and given gifts of appreciation.
• The group then walked to the Vietnam wall, where 37,000 American names are etched.

Outlook: Honor Flight will keep bringing aging veterans to the memorials, though fewer Korean War survivors remain to make the trip.

A Maui jury convicted Clembert Alii Kaneholani of first-degree murder for shooting and killing police officer Suzanne Oh, a landmark outcome for prosecutors and a hard one for the officer's family.

• All 12 jurors agreed the killing was intentional, rejecting the defense's push for a lesser manslaughter conviction.
• Kaneholani stood without visible emotion as the verdict was read; the courtroom gallery filled with hugs and tears.
• This is the first conviction in Maui County under the state law covering the killing of police officers, prosecutors, and judges.
• That charge carries life in prison with no chance of parole, compared with a 20-year maximum for manslaughter.
• Oh's family said they are grateful for the verdict but it does not bring her back.

Outlook: Sentencing comes next, with life without parole the expected penalty.

Hawaii's growing network of automatic license plate readers is drawing a privacy backlash, good news for civil liberties advocates and a headache for police agencies that want the cameras.

• More license plate cameras are going up across Hawaii, scanning and logging vehicles as they pass.
• County officials are pushing for rules on how long the data is kept and who can see it.
• Police back the technology as a tool for finding stolen cars and tracking suspects.
• Critics say constant scanning tracks the movements of ordinary drivers who have done nothing wrong.

Outlook: Expect county-level rules on data retention and access to be the main fight as the camera network keeps expanding.

Honolulu is paying out close to $2 million over a beating by police, a loss for city taxpayers and another black mark for the department.

• The city council approved the settlement for two men who say officers used force on them even though they had done nothing wrong.
• Tevita Tonga and his father were handcuffed on the ground, and Tonga was beaten and stomped on after police mistook him for a suspect.
• The mix-up happened during a nine-hour manhunt on New Year's Day in 2024; the actual suspect was someone else.
• Taxpayers, not the officers, cover the cost of the payout.

Outlook: Expect pressure on Honolulu police over use-of-force training and accountability as the payout becomes public.

Hawaii's public libraries are running a week-long push to get people reading again, a positive but low-stakes story for families and book lovers.

• Libraries statewide are holding Every Story Matters Week, timed to line up with the American Library Association's Banned Books Week.
• State librarian Stacey Aldrich says the point is to keep a wide range of books available, including ones people disagree about.
• The lineup highlights books on Hawaii themes and topics, plus titles on history and other cultures.
• Reading a paper book is pitched as a way to build focus instead of endless phone scrolling.

Outlook: The week wraps up October 10th, but the books stay on the shelves for anyone who wants to keep going.

Crews have pulled 47,000 pounds of trash out of Hawaii's remote marine monument, good news for the coral reefs and sea life there.

• More than half the haul was abandoned fishing nets tangled in coral reefs.
• Crews also collected close to 3,000 pounds of plastic off the shorelines.
• Five green sea turtles caught in nets were cut free and rescued.
• This was the third and final cleanup trip of the season.

Outlook: Back on Oahu, crews will now sort the debris for recycling or burning.

Hawaii's public school students are closing in on their pre-COVID test scores, a positive sign for families and teachers after years of learning setbacks.

• A new state Department of Education report shows students statewide are approaching proficiency levels last seen before the pandemic.
• Math scores keep improving, and language arts scores are rising steadily.
• The gains are statewide, not limited to a few districts.
• Several schools were singled out for their results, including Waimea High on Kauai.

Outlook: If the trend holds, Hawaii students should fully recover their pre-pandemic scores in the next round of testing.

Hawaiian Electric wants permission to buy power from a new solar and battery project on Maui, which would be good news for customers hoping for steadier electric bills.

• The utility has asked Hawaii's Public Utilities Commission to approve a 20-year deal to buy power from Pulehu Solar.
• The project would add 20 megawatts of solar plus battery storage to Maui's grid — enough for 10,000 homes a year.
• Hawaiian Electric says the batteries would store solar power for later use, helping keep electricity prices stable.
• The deal still needs regulators' sign-off before anything gets built.

Outlook: The commission is reviewing the contract now, and approval would clear the way for construction on Maui.

A reported sunglasses theft in Ka'u ended with a 31-year-old man shot dead by a Hawaii County officer, a grim outcome for the man's family and the officer alike.

• Officers were flagged down in a shopping center parking lot by a woman reporting the theft, and the suspect ran into a rough lava field.
• One officer caught up alone, used a taser several times without effect, then fired twice after being hit in the arm by a thrown rock.
• Police identified the man as Nafetalai Teisina, a wanted fugitive who missed sentencing in a Honolulu sex assault case and had a record including domestic violence and assault.
• The police chief said early findings support the officer's actions, calling a thrown rock capable of causing death or serious injury.
• Body camera footage exists and is still being processed, with release expected soon.

Outlook: The autopsy and body camera release will decide whether the shooting stays ruled justified.

A state audit says more than $13 million in taxpayer money was mishandled in Hawaii's homeless housing push, and the main builder is pushing back hard.

• HomeAid Hawaii's head says he is being unfairly singled out and has already fixed accounting mistakes made while rushing to build tiny home villages.
• The villages were built under an emergency order that let the state skip normal bidding rules to put up housing fast.
• Questioned costs include unapproved travel, office and admin spending, and subcontractor work not tied to the housing projects.
• Four earlier independent audits found no fraud or deliberate misuse of public money, and contracts included clawback terms so the state could recover bad charges.
• Governor Josh Green and HomeAid both say the audit report contains major factual errors.

Outlook: The state homelessness office is still clawing back improper charges, so expect more recovery efforts and political fighting over the program's oversight.

Honolulu police are investigating a reported sexual assault inside a University of Hawaii at Manoa dorm, a troubling case for students living on campus.

• The assault was reported Sunday in a student residence hall at UH Manoa.
• The student says they invited someone met on a dating app to their dorm room.
• That person arrived with a second individual, who is the alleged attacker.
• The dating-app contact is not a student, and it is unclear whether the alleged attacker has any ties to the school.

Outlook: Police are still working to identify the suspect, and the case is likely to raise fresh questions about dorm security and visitor access.

Teenage paddlers from Outrigger Canoe Club will steer one of Hawaii's most storied koa canoes across the Molokai Channel this Sunday, a rare honor for crew members this young.

• The canoe, Leilani, has crossed the channel for about 90 years and set record times, making it the most accomplished koa canoe in the race's history.
• Its history runs deep: Duke Kahanamoku's undefeated 1940s crew paddled her, and his ashes were scattered from her in 1968 off Waikiki.
• The junior boys asked their coaches for permission themselves, and the club signed off; coaches were in tears at the request.
• The 16- and 17-year-olds have never paddled in open ocean, only in regattas, so steering and reading the channel will be new to them.

Outlook: The crew faces a 40-mile crossing from Molokai to Oahu on Sunday, with a steep learning curve but a shot at adding to the canoe's legacy.

Hawaii communities damaged by Hurricanes Lala and Lowell are getting federal disaster money, which is good news for residents and local governments facing big cleanup bills.

• Trump approved major disaster declarations for the state after the two hurricanes.
• The federal government will cover about 75% of the damage costs, according to Governor Green.
• The money goes toward recovery work like clearing debris.
• Local budgets get relief, since the state and counties would otherwise carry the full bill.

Outlook: Cleanup and rebuilding should speed up as the federal funds reach affected areas.

Big Island police say an officer who shot and killed a man in Ocean View acted lawfully, a preliminary finding that will be tested when body camera footage is released.

• A 31-year-old Ocean View man died after an officer fired two shots during a chase through a rough lava field.
• Police were called over a stolen pair of sunglasses, and the man ran into thick brush and sharp terrain.
• The man threatened to kill the officer and picked up large lava rocks; a taser was fired first and did not stop him.
• The officer, on the job for a year, was treated for a forearm injury and is on leave while the investigation continues.

Outlook: Body camera footage is expected to be released, and the investigation remains in its early stages.

Hawaii veterans on this year's Honor Flight stopped at the memorial for women who served, a moment of recognition for a group often overlooked.

• The group visited the Women in Military Service for America Memorial, built in 1995 just outside Arlington National Cemetery.
• Women on the trip shared their own service stories, including work as illustrators, draftsmen, and mapmakers tracking troop movements.
• There are an estimated 3 million women veterans in the US, but only 300,000 have registered their names with the memorial.
• Two more Hawaii veterans signed the register during the visit.

Outlook: The Honor Flight continues its Washington itinerary, with the registry gap leaving most women veterans still uncounted.

Maui's police chief has been sidelined while the department's handling of a bribery scandal is investigated — bad news for the department's credibility, and a test for the civilian commission that oversees it.

• Chief John Pelletier is on paid leave while the police commission looks at his oversight of the criminal intelligence unit.
• Deputy Chief Wade Mera is running the department for now.
• The move follows the arrest of the unit's former commander, who is accused of taking bribes to shield criminal activity.
• The police union says it will back the chief unless it sees facts showing otherwise, and wants the commission to explain its reasoning.

Outlook: The commission's investigation will decide whether Pelletier returns, and pressure is building on it to show the process is fair.

A Maui jury has convicted the man who killed police officer Suzanne O last year, closing a case that shook the island's police force.

• Clambert Kane Holani was found guilty of first-degree murder.
• O was shot while answering a call at the old Pā Sugar Mill in August 2025.
• She was wearing a bulletproof vest but was hit in an exposed spot under her arm.
• Another officer heard the gunshot while searching the property; Kane Holani was later found hiding behind a concrete block and arrested.

Outlook: Sentencing is the next step, with a first-degree murder conviction carrying the heaviest penalty available in Hawaii.

A judge has revoked bail for the woman accused of killing a father in a Kailua Target parking lot, keeping her locked up until trial — a win for prosecutors and the victim's family.

• Helilini Kahili Makualo Palikino was ordered held without bail after an earlier judge had set bail at $1 million.
• The judge revoked bail after hearing from prosecutors and reviewing the grand jury indictment.
• She is charged with shooting and killing Thomas Malone last month in the Target parking lot near the Kailua fall festival.
• The fight allegedly started as an argument at the festival and spilled into the parking lot.
• She has pleaded not guilty.

Outlook: Her trial is set to start the week of December 7, and she stays in custody until then.

A Big Island theft investigation ended with a police officer fatally shooting a 31-year-old suspect, and the department says the officer had no other option.

• Officers tracked the suspect, who ran into a lava field before one officer caught up with him.
• A taser failed to stop him, and he began throwing large lava rocks at the officer.
• One rock hit the officer in the forearm, and the officer fired twice.
• The county police chief says a thrown rock can kill, so no alternative was available.
• The officer, who has been with the department under a year, was treated for his injuries and placed on leave.

Outlook: Two investigations are underway and will determine whether the shooting was justified.

A packed local news hour out of Honolulu, mixing a transit funding squeeze, a tight congressional race, and a major land-rights debate that could reshape Hawaii.

• Honolulu's transit system costs far more to run than it brings in, so the City Council is weighing ads on the outside of Skyline trains and buses to help close the gap.
• The Congressional District 2 race between Jill Tokuda and Brenton Awa is heating up, with Native Hawaiian rights and federal lawsuits as the central fight.
• Nearly all the military's 65-year leases on Hawaii public trust lands expire within two years, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is pushing for public input on what happens next.
• OHA is not asking the military to leave, but wants a balance between defense, the economy, and protecting land and culture.
• Paramount's $81 billion merger with Warner Brothers Discovery could eventually combine Paramount Plus and HBO Max, though they would still trail Netflix badly on subscribers.

Outlook: The lease decisions and the District 2 race will dominate Hawaii's political conversation over the next two years, and the ad bill moves on for further review.

A man was shot and killed by a Big Island police officer after throwing lava rocks at him during a foot chase, and police say the use of deadly force appears to have followed policy.

• Officers were flagged down over a stolen pair of glasses in an Ocean View shopping center parking lot, and the suspect ran into an open lava field.
• A lone officer caught up with him, fired his taser several times without effect, then shot twice after the man threatened to kill him and hurled large rocks.
• One rock struck the officer in the forearm, an injury serious enough to keep him off work on its own; he was treated and released.
• The man, a 31-year-old from Kahuku, died at the scene despite aid from the officer; no weapons were found on him.
• The officer had been with the department less than a year and on patrol alone for under two months.

Outlook: Body camera footage is expected within a day, with an autopsy and two separate investigations — one administrative, one criminal — set to determine what happened.

Waikiki's Royal Hawaiian Center is putting on a free Halloween day for families, with real prize money on the line — good news for parents looking for something to do with the kids.

• A keiki costume contest runs the afternoon of Sunday, October 25 at the Royal Grove.
• Winners in each category take home prizes, and the overall grand prize includes a $250 center gift card, two flight vouchers good on Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines between Hawaii and North America, and gifts from shops at the center.
• Center-wide trick-or-treating runs earlier, from noon to 6 p.m., at participating stores.
• A separate fall dining deal through the end of October gives anyone spending $50 or more at the center's restaurants a free locally designed tote bag.

Outlook: Expect more holiday events at the center as attention turns to Christmas.

A Maui furniture retailer is leaning on local recognition and in-stock inventory, which is good news for island shoppers tired of long delivery waits.

• Lifestyle Maui Furniture won a local "best of" vote from readers and says it holds the island's largest in-stock selection.
• Because stock sits on the island, buyers skip the usual wait for mainland shipping.
• The range covers living room, dining room and bedroom sets, entertainment centers, and a deep run of sofa sleepers aimed at condos and vacation rentals.
• Styles run from contemporary and coastal to island-inspired, with design help and free delivery on most items.

Outlook: In-stock island inventory stays the main selling point as shipping delays keep frustrating Hawaii furniture buyers.

A light community segment on Oahu sent birthday wishes out to local families, a feel-good item with no hard news angle.

• Birthday greetings went out to viewers and their ʻohana, framed as the first day of the best year of their life.
• Guests, including Kumu Kalā, were thanked for their time and aloha.
• People can submit a name through the birthdays link on kitv.com to get a birthday song on air.
• The sign-off pointed ahead to the next Aloha Friday.

Outlook: More birthday greetings are expected on the next installment later this week.

A local dealership segment covering car servicing on Hawaii Island, aimed at drivers who want their vehicles maintained close to home.

• Aloha Kia Kona's service shop handles the whole island, with some customers driving three hours for an appointment.
• Technicians are both Kia-certified and ASE-certified, so they work on all makes and models, not just Kia.
• Jobs range from oil changes and tire rotations to full engine and transmission replacements.
• New car buyers get walked from sales to service and booked for a first appointment, usually an oil change, tire rotation, and inspection.
• Phones are answered by a real person during business hours rather than an automated menu.

Outlook: Expect the shop to keep leaning on personal service and all-brand repairs to pull in drivers from across the island.

Hawaiʻi is urging residents to check their yards for invasive ants this October, a small nuisance that can turn into a real problem for families and pets.

• October is Stop the Ant Month, and the state wants people to inspect their property for invasive ants before they spread.
• Little fire ants are tiny but their stings leave itchy red welts that can last for weeks.
• If an ant gets into a pet's eye, it can cause serious injury or even blindness.
• Community events are also running across the islands this month, including a youth running series on Maui starting October 18th, a Kauaʻi kūpuna gathering on October 21st, and the 19th annual Run for the Dry Forest on Hawaiʻi Island on October 17th, which supports conservation work.

Outlook: Early spotting is the main defense, so expect continued public pushes to report ant sightings before colonies take hold.

Pizza Hut is tying its October promotions to a book-sharing giveaway, a feel-good move for families and a cheap bit of brand marketing for the chain.

• Pizza Hut is working with Little Free Library to put up small neighborhood book exchanges shaped like its red-roof restaurants.
• Each box comes stocked with books plus Pizza Hut giveaways.
• National Pizza Month has run every October since 1984, and chains use it to push deals.
• Stores are promoting their usual lineup — original pan, thin crust, stuffed crust — with local deals through the month.

Outlook: Expect more pizza chain promotions and tie-ins through the rest of October, heading into Halloween.

ʻIolani Palace hosts a free day of Hawaiian games, music and culture this Sunday, good news for local families and anyone who has never been inside the palace.

• A kōnane tournament anchors the day, with a talk on the game's history before play begins.
• Kōnane is a strategy game played by Hawaiian warriors and chiefs — King Kalākaua even started a club for it.
• Two free hat-pin making classes with cultural practitioner Kawika Lum-Nomita are first come, first served at the Richard Street gate, 20 spots each, one class per person.
• Hula, live music and free audio tours for up to 500 kamaʻāina round out the program.
• Hanafuda and mahjong tables reflect the islands' mixed cultures, a nod to Hawaii's multicultural roots going back to the kingdom.

Outlook: Everything is free except food trucks and the gift shop, and remaining kōnane tournament spots can be checked on the palace website.

Dave & Buster's at Ala Moana is running a full day of Halloween events on October 31, with separate activities for kids and adults — good news for families looking for something to do.

• Doors are open from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m., with free trick-or-treating at the front desk all day.
• The kids' "Boo Bash" runs in the morning: pancake breakfast, costume contest, game card, and unlimited video games.
• Adults get the 18-and-over "Moonlight Mixer" in the evening, with food, games, and a costume contest.
• Mixer tickets also include the late-night "Midnight Howl" — a DJ dance party with over $5,000 in cash prizes for costumes.
• A limited-time menu adds wings, cheese planks, a peanut butter chocolate cake, Halloween funnel fries, and themed drinks.

Outlook: Both parties are ticketed and sold through Dave & Buster's own site and Fever, so spots are likely to be limited as the date approaches.

Native Hawaiian programs facing federal lawsuits became the main dividing line in Hawaii's District 2 congressional race — a worrying sign for people who rely on those programs.

• Incumbent Jill Tokuda calls the biggest threat to Native Hawaiians an attack on their indigenous status.
• Challenger Brenton Awa, who is Native Hawaiian, pointed to the lawsuit against Kamehameha Schools and says people from both parties are coming to him for help.
• Both candidates promised to work across party lines no matter which party controls Congress.
• Separately, Honolulu's city council wants to allow ads on the outside of Skyline trains and buses to help close a huge gap between what transit costs to run and what it brings in.

Outlook: Expect Native Hawaiian legal protections to stay the defining issue of the race as voters head to the polls.

Honolulu's Downtown Art Center is running its HALO HALO show for Filipino American History Month, a positive community moment for local artists and Hawaii's Filipino community.

• The show, whose name comes from the Filipino word for "mix," brings together art, music, and storytelling from the Filipino community.
• Downtown Art Center is a nonprofit community arts space in Honolulu that hosts exhibitions and performances open to everyone.
• Featured artist Flo is showing work from a sugar plantation series highlighting the women who worked the fields.
• Her painting layers in state archive records listing the ships and home provinces of Filipino immigrants who came to Hawaii.
• Some of the women's faces are blurred or missing, a nod to losing yourself in work.

Outlook: The show continues at the center alongside other exhibitions, with more Filipino artists featured in the weeks ahead.

Hilton Hawaiian Village is running a month of Halloween food and family events in Waikiki, with a discounted room deal that makes it an easy local staycation.

• Halloween-themed pastries and special drinks are on offer all through October.
• Decorated desserts include coconut, vanilla bean pumpkin, peanut, and fresh berry versions.
• Family-friendly activities round out the month, including movie screenings on the big screen and parades.
• A Halloween weekend room package comes with a steep discount, aimed at locals who want to stay in Waikiki for the costumes and crowds.
• The pastry shop is open daily, and holiday menus follow — Thanksgiving, Christmas, and a five-course New Year's Eve dinner.

Outlook: The Halloween offerings run to the end of October, then roll straight into Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday menus at the resort.

A new Pilates studio has opened at the Gateway at Mililani Mauka, and the response from Central Oʻahu residents has been strong.

• A local couple, both born and raised in Hawaiʻi, opened the studio after their daughter pointed out that Mililani had no Pilates option.
• Classes are built around the reformer machine, with added equipment like rollers and TRX bands for full-body, low-impact workouts.
• No flexibility or experience is needed — members range from teenagers to people in their 80s.
• Three months in, members have turned into a social circle, with regulars meeting up outside of class.

Outlook: Demand in Central Oʻahu has run ahead of expectations, so expect classes to keep filling and the member base to grow.

A Honolulu art space has grown into an incubator that helps local artists and small food businesses get off the ground — good news for Hawai'i's small-business scene.

• Fishcake opened on Kakaako's Cooke Street in 2007 as an art gallery and furniture store, named after the old kamaboko factory the founders first tried to move into.
• The space now runs a ceramics studio added after COVID, with 50 clay members and 70 teaching artists across clay, watercolor, crochet, fiber, and food workshops.
• It has hosted 27 food vendors, and several have gone on to open their own storefronts.
• Seven other small businesses — an acupuncture studio, tattoo shop, hair salon, plant shop, furniture store, and coffee shop — have used the space to build a client base.
• One founder, Wei Shu of the Moscow Project, used the incubator cafe to launch his own business after taking pottery classes there.

Outlook: Expect the space to keep adding studios and classes as new vendors cycle in and established ones move to their own locations.

Jazz-fusion pianist Brian Culbertson is staging two nights of concerts at the Hawaii Theater, good news for local fans of contemporary jazz.

• Culbertson plays Friday and Saturday night, with each show running three hours and featuring a different lineup.
• This is the first time he has brought his own Jazz Getaway show to Hawaii, after 20 years of visits for festivals and club dates.
• Guest performers include pianists David Benoit and Keiko Matsui, plus saxophonists Paul Taylor and Candy Dulfer.
• The sound mixes jazz with funk, R&B, gospel, and pop rather than traditional straight-ahead jazz, built around strong beats and melodies people can sing along to.

Outlook: Both shows are set for this weekend, each with its own set list, so fans can attend twice without hearing the same concert.

A man was shot in the torso on Oahu and the gunman is still at large, a worrying sign for public safety in West Oahu.

• A 31-year-old man was dropped off at Queen's West Oahu early Tuesday with a gunshot wound to the torso.
• He was moved to Queen's Punchbowl and is in serious condition.
• Police are treating it as an attempted murder and have identified a 33-year-old man as the likely shooter.
• The gunman drove off after the shooting and no one has been arrested.
• Separately, UH Manoa has warned students about a reported sexual assault on campus.

Outlook: Police are still hunting the suspect, so an arrest is the next thing to watch.

A man was shot and killed by a Hawaii Island police officer after a theft call in Ocean View turned violent, leaving an officer hurt as well.

• Police say a woman flagged down an officer near Mamalahoa Highway to report a theft.
• The suspect ran into brush and lava rock near Prince Kuhio Boulevard, and a second officer searching the area was hurt.
• The suspect threw rocks, a taser failed to stop him, and the officer fired his gun.
• The man died at the scene; the injured officer was treated.

Outlook: An investigation into the shooting is expected, with more details on the officer and the suspect likely to be released soon.

A light trio of stories: scientists turned plastic waste into edible cookies, California squirrels are flattening themselves to beat the heat, and parts of Hawaii are under a flood watch.

• Researchers broke down the plastic used in drink bottles into its basic molecules, fed it to engineered baker's yeast, added vanilla, and 3-D printed the result into cookies.
• In Southern California, lingering heat has squirrels "splooting" — lying flat on their bellies with legs spread out to cool off.
• Wildlife experts say to leave the animals alone, since putting out food or water makes them dependent on people and less able to survive on their own.
• A flood watch covers Niihau, Kauai and Oahu into this evening, with flash flooding still possible on Kauai and Oahu.
• Maui County and Hawaii Island stay dry.

Outlook: The flood risk for Kauai and Oahu should ease once the watch expires, while drier weather holds for Maui County and Hawaii Island.

Hawaii election officials are running a final check on vote-counting machines before the November 3 general election, a routine but reassuring step for voters worried about accuracy.

• The Office of Elections will test voting equipment Saturday to confirm machines are programmed right and counting votes correctly.
• Observers from political parties and community groups can watch the test at the state capitol.
• Machines on the neighbor islands were already tested earlier.
• Public access to the test is meant to build trust in the results.

Outlook: With equipment checks wrapping up, attention shifts to turnout and ballot deadlines for the November 3 vote.

Honolulu police are pulling back on how license plate camera data gets shared, a win for privacy advocates after abuse scandals at mainland departments.

• The department canceled an agreement that let the IRS look at license plate records showing where and when drivers traveled.
• Chief David Lazar ended the deal as soon as he learned of it and says no other agency, including the FBI or CIA, will get access.
• The cameras have been in Waikiki and Chinatown since 2012, and police want to add more across Oahu.
• Only trained staff can reach the data, which sits on an encrypted server and gets audited every four months, with misuse grounds for firing.
• Police also want to keep the records for 30 days instead of 90.

Outlook: The Honolulu Police Commission plans to review the new camera policy once it is finished.

The first Hawaiian Islands Honor Flight brought a group of veterans to the nation's capital, where they were greeted with a taste of home — a warm, feel-good moment for the veterans and their families.

• Veterans and their guardians were honored at a welcome dinner in Washington after flying thousands of miles from Hawaii.
• A D.C.-based hālau performed hula and songs from the veterans' own era, closing with a presentation of lei.
• Maria Corpuz, a Hawaii-born Army colonel stationed in Washington, came to perform and called it overwhelming to be around the people who paved the way.
• She unexpectedly ran into a Vietnam veteran from her hometown of Hilo who used to play chess with her father and remembered her as a child.

Outlook: With the first flight a success, more Hawaii veterans are likely to make the trip on future Honor Flights.

High diesel prices are set to push up shipping costs this holiday season, bad news for shoppers and retailers alike.

• Diesel is up 77% this year, even after slipping from a September peak.
• War damage to refineries in the Middle East and Russia has squeezed global supply.
• Retailers face higher costs just to move goods from warehouses to stores.
• Parcel shipping prices are up sharply, so expect higher delivery fees online.
• Free shipping may require bigger orders, and returns could start costing money.

Outlook: Shoppers should expect to pay more for delivery and returns through the holidays unless diesel prices fall further.

A single coral core off West Maui has handed researchers a 250-year environmental diary, useful news for anyone trying to understand what has damaged Hawaii's reefs.

• A massive coral colony off West Maui yielded a core covering roughly 1760 to 2013.
• University of Hawaii at Manoa researchers read the chemistry inside it to track how the water around Olowalu Reef changed over time.
• The sharpest shifts show up in the 20th century, when sugar cane farming spread across West Maui.
• That points to farm runoff, not just warming seas, as a long-running stress on the reef.

Outlook: The record gives a baseline for judging how much Olowalu Reef can recover now that the plantations are gone.

A police shooting in Ocean View on the Big Island left the suspect dead and an officer hurt, with few details released so far.

• The shooting happened in the afternoon in Ocean View.
• The suspect was killed and one officer was injured.
• Hawaii police are investigating and say it is in the very early stages.
• No information has been released yet on what led up to the shooting.

Outlook: Police are expected to release more details as the investigation moves forward.

A state audit says Hawaii's kauhale homeless-village program spent millions without proper approvals, which is bad news for the governor's signature housing push even as the groups running it insist it works.

• The auditor flagged about $13 million in unsupported and unauthorized costs tied to the tiny-home villages.
• The state office running the program was found unprepared to manage it, with weak oversight of nearly $40 million in no-bid deals with the nonprofit HomeAid Hawaii.
• Governor Josh Green says the spending was mischaracterized and that the rush was deliberate — the goal was to get people off the street fast under emergency orders.
• HomeAid says much of the questioned money was already settled through normal invoice corrections, and that it worked under three different state homeless coordinators.
• Supporters point to results: more than half of those entering the Iwilei village left the streets, and unsheltered homelessness on Oahu is down 20% since 2024.

Outlook: Expect tighter contracting rules and more reporting requirements on the program, but no sign the state plans to slow down building the villages.

Campus police are investigating a reported sexual assault in a University of Hawaii at Manoa dorm, a troubling safety story for students living on campus.

• A student invited someone they met on a dating app to their dorm room on Sunday.
• That person arrived with a second person, who was later named as the suspect.
• UH sent a notice to all students and shared information on how to report incidents and get help.
• The case highlights the risk of meeting strangers from apps in private spaces like dorms.

Outlook: The investigation continues, and UH is likely to face questions about dorm security and visitor access.

A Big Island man faces a felony DUI charge after being found passed out behind the wheel, bad news for him and a sign of tougher treatment for repeat drunk drivers.

• Joshua Randall, 35, was arrested near Ainaloa Boulevard after allegedly passing out in his car.
• His breath alcohol level was close to three times the legal limit.
• Prior DUI convictions mean prosecutors charged him with habitual DUI, a felony.
• The charge carries up to 10 years in prison.

Outlook: Randall remains in custody on the Big Island and is due in court next.

A state audit says Hawaii failed to protect taxpayer money while rushing to build homeless housing, bad news for the governor's signature program but not evidence of theft.

• The audit found more than $13.7 million paid out without proper checks, including $7.7 million that was never properly authorized.
• The state office running the $42 million program lacked qualified staff, written rules, and basic internal controls.
• The core problem was building first and documenting later, so costs were approved before anyone verified they were allowed.
• Governor Josh Green says the program is working and changing lives, while contractor Homemade Hawaii's CEO accepts responsibility for sloppy record-keeping.
• This was a performance audit, not a fraud investigation — no one is alleging money was stolen.

Outlook: The auditor wants a full review by people with construction experience to figure out which costs were legitimate and claw back the rest.

Maui's police commission has sidelined Chief John Pelletier while an outside investigation plays out — bad news for the chief and unsettling for a department already under federal scrutiny.

• The commission voted unanimously behind closed doors to put Pelletier on paid leave.
• The move follows the federal corruption indictment of a lieutenant who ran the criminal intelligence unit and reported straight to the chief.
• The question is whether Pelletier failed to keep watch over his own department.
• That unit has since been disbanded, a choice critics call suspicious because no one else was put in charge of it.
• Deputy Chief Wade says the commission got it wrong and stresses there is no criminal investigation into Pelletier.

Outlook: The independent investigation continues, and Pelletier's job will hinge on what it finds about his oversight of the indicted lieutenant.

A police shooting in the Ocean View area of the Big Island left a suspect dead and an officer hurt, and an investigation is now underway.

• The shooting happened in the late afternoon in Ocean View on Hawaiʻi Island.
• The suspect was killed and one officer was injured and taken for treatment.
• Hawaiʻi Island police have opened an investigation into what happened.
• Few details have been released so far.

Outlook: More information should come out as police finish their review of the shooting.

Honolulu approved a big new hotel and luxury condo project on an Ala Moana parking lot, good news for construction and hotel workers but unlikely to fix Hawaii's housing shortage.

• The council voted unanimously for a mixed-use tower on more than 4 acres of the Ala Moana Shopping Center parking lot.
• The plan mixes hotel rooms, market-rate condos, shops, and a small number of cheaper rental units.
• Supporters point to thousands of construction jobs and hundreds of hotel jobs once it opens.
• Critics say the workers building it could not afford to live in it, and the "affordable" units are not really affordable.
• Neighbors also worry about traffic at an already busy intersection and whether local infrastructure can handle it.

Outlook: The developer now moves on to the permitting stage, with the affordability and traffic fights likely to continue.

Hawaii's state auditor says the office running the Kauhale homeless village program failed to protect taxpayer money, a bad mark for the governor's signature homelessness push.

• An audit found more than $13.7 million in payments that were unauthorized, unsupported, or simply questionable.
• The state homelessness office leaned too hard on a nonprofit, HomeAid Hawaii, that was new to this kind of work.
• Auditors could not even figure out who decided to pick HomeAid or who approved key spending.
• Work started before contracts were signed, and bills got paid without proper checks — including a first-class flight and Las Vegas hotel stay for HomeAid's CEO that the contract banned.
• The state accepted all 11 recommendations but disputes some findings; the governor points to more than 2,900 people served, and HomeAid calls the audit an incomplete picture.

Outlook: Expect tighter contracting rules and more scrutiny of the program's spending, with the villages themselves continuing to operate.

Hawaii's turnout problem is getting worse at the bottom of the age range, and both parties are scrambling to fix it before ballots land.

• Only a third of Hawaii's registered voters cast a ballot in the 2026 primary.
• Turnout is highest among people 55 and older and weakest among the young.
• Both Democrats and Republicans are courting young voters, with social media and casual events like beach barbecues.
• Getting young people to actually return a ballot is proving much harder than getting them interested.
• A Hawaii student was just elected national president of the College Democrats of America, raising the state's profile in the push.

Outlook: Mail ballots start arriving October 16, and the next few weeks will show whether any of the youth outreach moves the numbers.

A Wahiawa family of three died in a fiery New Mexico crash, and their community on Oahu is grieving three people remembered as the heart of their neighborhood.

• Lily Viveros, 22, died Sunday along with her parents, Wayne and Luana Viveros of Wahiawa.
• Lily had just left her longtime job at a Waialua coffee shop to chase her dream of becoming a teacher.
• Her mother worked as a registrar at Waialua High and Intermediate; her father was a skilled craftsman.
• Mother and daughter danced hula together for years and were known around Wahiawa simply as "the girls."
• The driver who caused the crash also died, and investigators are still working out what went wrong.

Outlook: A fundraiser for the family has already passed $53,000 while the investigation continues.

Honolulu is weighing whether to sell ad space on the outside of its trains and buses, a small money boost for a transit system that loses hundreds of millions a year.

• Bill 59 would lift the ban on ads on the outside of city transit vehicles, which could bring in $6 million or more a year.
• Honolulu spends $475 million a year running transit and takes in only $50 million, so the gap is wide.
• Ads inside the vehicles are already allowed but raise almost nothing by comparison.
• Political ads, obscene content, and anything off-limits to kids would be banned, and council members want strict rules written before the bill moves ahead.
• Some riders object to covering up Skyline's rainbow design, which they see as part of Hawaii's look.

Outlook: The bill advances only after transit officials and the council agree on ad guidelines, as Skyline ridership hits new highs with students back in school.

A new state audit says Hawaii's tiny-home village program spent $13 million without proper authorization or paperwork, which is bad for Governor Green's signature homelessness effort.

• The state auditor found the homelessness office was not ready to run the program and failed to oversee it.
• Construction on the tiny-home villages started before contracts were even finalized.
• Green rejects the framing, saying the report mischaracterizes the payments and that the state has already moved to claw back improper spending.
• The state homeless coordinator accepted all 11 recommendations, including fixing how contracts are handled.
• Home Aid Hawaii says part of the flagged $13 million was already settled under contract terms as procedures changed.

Outlook: Expect tighter contracting rules and legislative scrutiny of the program's spending, with Green continuing to defend the villages themselves as effective.

Hawaii's two candidates for the second congressional district met in their only scheduled debate, a win for voters in a race where face-to-face matchups have been scarce.

• The Civil Beat forum was the only one Tokuda agreed to, and top-of-ticket candidates for governor have skipped debates entirely this year.
• The sharpest split was the Jones Act, the law forcing cargo from the mainland to arrive on American-built ships with American crews.
• Awa wants the law changed, saying Hawaii cannot fix its cost of living without it; Tokuda defends it as the guarantee that food keeps showing up on store shelves.
• Awa, running as a Republican, called himself an independent, said Trump lost in 2020, and backs abortion rights while opposing the Iran war and aid to Israel.
• Union money is in play: Tokuda has the ILWU dockworkers' endorsement, which shapes the shipping fight.

Outlook: Mail ballots start arriving in about nine days, so voting begins almost immediately with no second debate to shift the race.

Kilauea is building toward another eruption, and the national park is closing trails to keep visitors away from the summit.

• More than 200 shallow earthquakes have hit below the Kilauea summit in the past week.
• The shaking has knocked rocks loose inside the crater and opened new cracks on the caldera floor.
• The park closed the Halema'uma'u Trail and part of the Byron Ledge Trail, with other viewing spots shut last week.
• A new eruption is expected soon, either inside the crater or out of the summit cracks.
• It has been 43 days since the last lava fountain event.

Outlook: Expect fresh lava at the summit in the near term, with more closures likely as the ground keeps shifting.

Honolulu's council gave the green light to a big hotel and condo tower at Ala Moana Center, a win for developers and building trades but a loss for hotel workers who say the "affordable" units are not affordable.

• The council voted unanimously to approve 1588 Ala Moana, two towers replacing the Macy's parking lot near the entrance to Ala Moana Beach Park.
• The plan has a 38-story hotel, 300 hotel rooms, 136 condos, and 69 cheaper rentals.
• Unite Here Local Five members argued the rent limits do not match what hotel workers actually earn, with some saying they cannot afford to retire.
• Supporters said the real problem is too little housing, and any new homes help.
• The developer has to add at least 38 more affordable units elsewhere in the city and pay $5 million for street work and trees.

Outlook: The project still needs detailed plans plus traffic and construction approvals before anything gets built.

Honolulu food trucks set up at city hall for a lunchtime charity event, good news for Aloha United Way and for vendors who sold out early.

• Food trucks and small vendors gathered at Honolulu Hale for the city's Hale Eats program.
• Proceeds from the lunch-hour event go to Aloha United Way.
• The event was open to city and county workers and the general public.
• Several vendors were repeat participants from past city events, and some sold out before the 2 p.m. close.

Outlook: Strong turnout and early sellouts point to more Hale Eats dates on the city's calendar.

Maui's police chief has been put on paid leave while a corruption probe inside his department plays out — bad news for the department's leadership, but a sign the civilian oversight board is finally pushing back.

• Police commissioners voted unanimously to place Chief John Pelletier on paid leave, effective immediately, until their outside investigation wraps up.
• The probe looks at how Pelletier oversaw the department's Criminal Intelligence Unit, a team that reported straight to him and has since been shut down.
• The unit's former head, Lieutenant Michael Lala, was charged by the FBI with taking regular cash payments to shield drug traffickers, cockfighting rings, and illegal fireworks sellers.
• Pelletier has not been charged with any crime or accused of breaking department rules, and an earlier commission had declined to put him on leave.
• Deputy Chief Wade Maeda, who defended Pelletier at the meeting, was named acting chief.

Outlook: There is no timeline for the investigation, so Maui's police department stays under temporary leadership indefinitely.

Maui's police chief has been sidelined while investigators examine his handling of a unit whose leader is accused of taking bribes — bad news for the department's credibility.

• The Maui Police Commission voted unanimously to put Chief John Pelletier on paid leave until an independent investigation wraps up.
• The inquiry centers on his oversight of the now-disbanded criminal intelligence unit, which reported straight to him.
• The lieutenant who ran that unit faces federal charges for allegedly taking cash to shield drug traffickers, illegal cockfighting, and fireworks dealers.
• Deputy Chief Wade Maeda defended Pelletier, pointing out he has not been accused of any crime or rule violation, and was away at an FBI conference during the vote.
• Maeda was named acting chief.

Outlook: Pelletier stays off the job with no set end date, since the commission gave no timeline for finishing its investigation.

A congressional forum in Hawaii turned into a fight over whether federal policy is stripping Native Hawaiians of their indigenous status — bad news for the programs that depend on that legal standing.

• Tokuda pointed to Trump administration budget language that labels Native Hawaiians a racial group rather than an indigenous people.
• That wording matters because indigenous status is what shields Native Hawaiian programs from being struck down as race-based.
• Awa, who is Native Hawaiian and a Kamehameha Schools graduate, said his own party is the one taking those rights away.
• Awa said voters from both parties have been coming to him for help on the issue.
• Both candidates said they could work with the other side no matter which party controls Congress.

Outlook: The fight over Native Hawaiian legal status heads into November's House and Senate races, with the programs' funding hanging on how that language is settled.

Hawaiian Islands Honor Flight brought 25 veterans to Washington, a warm and overdue moment of thanks for men who served decades ago.

• The group landed in the capital and was escorted through the airports by an honor guard.
• Travelers stopped to cheer and applaud as the veterans walked to their bus.
• One Vietnam veteran said he did not expect the rush of emotion, and spoke of friends who never came home.
• The trip includes the Vietnam Memorial, where veterans can etch the name of a fallen comrade, plus Arlington National Cemetery.

Outlook: The veterans continue their memorial visits over the coming days before heading home to Hawaii.

A one-year-old terrier mix has been waiting since July for a home, and his adoption fee is now waived.

• Dante Basco is a 28-pound terrier mix, energetic and affectionate.
• He has been at the Hawaiian Humane Society since July without a match.
• He needs an active family who can mix long walks, puzzle toys, and rest.
• His adoption fee has been waived to help him find a home faster.

Outlook: He is available to meet at the Hawaiian Humane Society's South campus.

The stink around a shuttered Kaimuki restaurant is still driving people off the street more than a month after its roof caved in, and the cleanup is not done.

• City crews thought they had cleared the kitchen at the Happy Days restaurant last week, then found another freezer packed with rotting food.
• The smell is bad enough that passersby and tourists on Waialae Avenue describe it as something dead.
• Nearby businesses are losing foot traffic, with customers turning around rather than walking past.
• The dining room is still too structurally unsafe to enter, so food left in there cannot be hauled out yet.

Outlook: Crews return later this week to finish the kitchen, but the smell will likely stay until the unsafe dining room can be cleared.

Waikiki now has its first automated surfboard rental station, good news for surfers who want a board outside normal shop hours.

• The SurfPod lets people unlock a surfboard with their phone and stash their stuff in built-in lockers.
• It sits at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa.
• Startup Surf Up built it in partnership with a local family surf business.
• The main draw is early-morning and late-evening sessions, when rental shops are closed.
• Renting starts by scanning a QR code and signing up in an app.

Outlook: If visitors take to the self-serve setup, expect more pods along Waikiki's beaches.

A state audit found millions in questionable payments inside Hawaiʻi's kauhale homeless housing program — bad news for Governor Josh Green's signature project, though no one is accused of stealing.

• The audit flagged how $13.7 million of taxpayer money was spent, including large reimbursements to contractor Home Aid.
• About $7 million was labeled unauthorized, a claim the governor disputes and says he has paperwork to back up.
• The state office running the $42 million program lacked qualified staff, written procedures, and basic financial controls.
• The state accepted all 11 recommendations, including a full review of payments and personnel.
• Green is defending the program as working and says building will continue.

Outlook: Expect a payment-by-payment review and tighter oversight, with the program itself likely to keep expanding.

A light local lifestyle segment from Hawaii, neutral news-wise but warm for the viewers and families named on air.

• Birthday greetings went out to viewers across the islands, starting with Janice, the mother of the show's videographer.
• An upcoming Auto Weekly Adventures visit features Carlo and the crew at Aloha Kia in Kona Town.
• Another segment will spotlight Dave and Buster's at Ala Moana Center as a gathering spot for friends, coworkers, and family.
• Casual studio banter about a chocolate cake rounded out the hosts' exchange.

Outlook: More lifestyle features and local business visits are lined up for the next episodes.

Honolulu police are asking the public for help identifying two men in separate cases, with tips worth up to $1,000.

• A man used someone else's debit card to make unauthorized purchases at a store in the Kuna area, caught on camera in a red Yankees cap and a shirt reading "bless us."
• A second man smashed the glass door of a business in the Pro City area after midnight, striking it with a metal bar while barefoot.
• The second suspect wore a Patriots shirt and what looked like a hospital wristband, and he stared directly into the security camera.
• Card holders are advised to write "see ID" on the back of a new card instead of signing it, so a thief can't copy the signature.

Outlook: Tips can go to the Crimestoppers hotline, the Honolulu Crimestoppers website, or the P3 Tips app, and both cases stay open until someone is identified.

Hawaii health officials are pushing a simple three-step safe sleep message for babies during October's safe sleep awareness month, aimed at parents of newborns.

• Sleep-related infant deaths and accidental suffocation are largely preventable.
• The rules are simple: put babies on their backs, use a firm flat surface, and give them their own sleep space.
• Room sharing is encouraged, but bed sharing is not.
• Hawaii's Department of Health is behind the campaign and has posted tips and resources.

Outlook: The awareness push runs through October, with resources available to parents throughout the month.

Hawaii musician Paul Dunlap Jr. is launching a solo career focused on traditional Hawaiian music, good news for fans of the falsetto style.

• Dunlap, who grew up in Waimanalo and graduated from Kamehameha in 1999, is stepping out on his own after years playing with Kailua Boys and with his sister Jasmine as Ka'iona.
• He says Hawaiian music was always his calling, and he is leaning into falsetto singing in the tradition of Dennis Pavao and Hui 'Ohana.
• His new single came out in early October, a throwback to old-school traditional Hawaiian sound.
• He plays venues around Honolulu and posts his schedule on Instagram.
• The appearance is part of the Board of Water Supply's Conservation Concert Series, which is also pushing a rebate on rain barrels for home water use.

Outlook: Dunlap plans to build out more traditional Hawaiian music work, with live dates around town and more recordings likely to follow.

Hawaii ukulele artist Taimane is turning her new album into a full theatrical production, good news for local arts fans and the Chinatown businesses around the venue.

• Her new album Leolā is out now, built around twilight, illusions, and the spirits said to stir after dark.
• She is staging it October 22nd at the historic Hawaii Theatre with aerialists, Polynesian dancers, and contemporary dancers.
• The show runs in two halves: a greatest-hits set first, then the full Leolā story as "Crossing into the Mirage."
• The album has been submitted for Grammy consideration and is now on the ballot for member voting.

Outlook: Grammy members vote in the coming week, and the Hawaii Theatre production lands later this month.

Hawaii is debating new surveillance cameras and later bar closing times, while the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger threatens thousands of entertainment jobs.

• Hawaii Island is considering automated license plate readers to help police solve crime, with community meetings planned before any cameras go up.
• Police say the data gets deleted after 90 days, but the ACLU wants privacy protections written into state law.
• The Honolulu Liquor Commission is testing licenses letting some Oahu bars serve until 4 a.m.; businesses like it, while police and Waikiki groups fear more fights and drunk driving.
• Day one of the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger brought a warning to staff about layoffs, with $6 billion in cost cuts targeted and an estimated 4,500 film and TV jobs lost in Los Angeles over three years.
• Movie memorabilia is hitting the auction block, including the axe from The Shining, expected to fetch more than $50,000.

Outlook: Expect public hearings on the cameras and bar hours in the coming weeks, and more layoff news out of the merged studio.

Hawaii is weighing automated license plate readers on Hawaii Island, a win for police but a worry for privacy advocates.

• Police say the cameras help prevent and solve crime, and that data is deleted after 90 days.
• The ACLU wants stronger privacy rules written into state law, questioning how the data is stored and shared.
• Community meetings are planned before any cameras go up on Hawaii Island, unlike earlier rollouts on Oahu.
• Separately, the Honolulu Liquor Commission is testing licenses letting some Oahu bars serve until 4 a.m., which police and the Waikiki Improvement Association fear will mean more fights and crime.
• The new Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery company is already warning staff about layoffs, with cost cuts expected to wipe out thousands of film and TV jobs in Los Angeles over three years.

Outlook: Expect public meetings on the cameras and a trial run of late-night bar hours, while entertainment job cuts roll out over the next few years.

A low-key bar and grill in McCully is drawing attention for serving restaurant-grade sushi at casual prices, good news for diners hunting value in Honolulu.

• Osoyami Bar and Grill looks like a dive bar but runs a full sushi program alongside burgers, loaded chicken wings, and pot stickers.
• The sushi is made by a chef who came from a sit-down sushi restaurant, which is why the quality is higher than the setting suggests.
• Assorted sashimi and the specialty rolls are the standout orders, with everything cut fresh.
• Happy hour runs late into the night Thursday through Saturday, and there are video games in the bar.

Outlook: Expect word-of-mouth to build around the late-night sushi and happy hour deals.

Hilton Hawaiian Village's Tropics Bar & Grill has paired up with Maui Brewing Company for a five-course beer dinner, good news for Honolulu diners who like local food and local beer.

• The menu leans on comfort food and local flavors, built course by course around five different beers.
• Dishes ran from a light, crisp opener through fish, short rib and Kalbi ribs, finishing with a dessert matched to a dark beer.
• Maui Brewing supplies beer across the resort's restaurants, and the two have run dinners together for years.
• This was the first such dinner held at Tropics, under a new chef.

Outlook: More of these pairing dinners are planned, with dates posted on the hotel's website and social media.

Hawaiian Mission Houses is putting on a night of Hawaiian music and family history this Saturday, a light-hearted break from the heavier programs the site usually hosts.

• The theme came out of hula teachers sharing the songs their grandparents passed down to them.
• Dancers dug into their own family stories, including a wartime romance on Niihau and the origins of a favorite flower.
• One song written decades ago for a well-known lei maker has not been performed in 30 years; the words and melody were tracked down through the Bishop Museum and older musicians who still carry them by memory.
• Expect backyard favorites from the 1930s and 40s, Royal Hawaiian Hotel standards, and a sing-along crowd.
• Doors open at 5:30 with a bar and charcuterie for sale; tickets are on the Mission Houses website.

Outlook: More events follow, with an Ohana Day in November, a craft fair after Thanksgiving, and a City Lights program.

A high school senior in Hawaii is running a week-long sustainability push built around small everyday actions, a positive story for local environmental groups and students.

• Aloha Green Week turns sustainability into simple daily steps instead of big projects.
• The effort follows the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as a framework.
• It grew out of earlier work: an educational video game about protecting Hawaii's monk seals, and thank-you letters to pandemic frontline workers.
• People can download a pledge on Instagram, post what they plan to do, and tag three others to join.

Outlook: The campaign will keep spreading through social media pledges, with more sustainability fairs expected to follow.

Jazz fusion artist Brian Culbertson is staging a two-night Hawaii Jazz Getaway at the Hawaii Theatre this weekend — good news for local jazz fans, with tickets still available.

• The festival runs Friday and Saturday nights, October 9th and 10th, from 7pm to 10pm.
• Guest artists include David Benoit, Paul Taylor, Keiko Matsui, and Candy Dulfer.
• The Honolulu event is an offshoot of the Napa Valley jazz and wine festival started 14 years ago, which has also expanded to Boston.
• A new 30th album arrives February 5th, built quickly after a vintage 1970s drum set sparked a song recorded in a single day.

Outlook: The weekend shows will preview material from the new album before its February release.

Hawaii residents keep losing money to online scams, and most of the damage comes from simple tricks rather than high-tech hacking.

• Hawaii saw 337 reports of online shopping scams over the past year, with about $158,000 in reported losses.
• More than 200 additional reports involved phishing and identity theft.
• Scammers rarely break into devices — they talk people into handing over logins by pretending to be a bank, a shipping company, or Amazon.
• Once they have a password or payment details, a one-time scam can turn into full identity theft.
• The best defenses are strong passwords, two-step login, watching bank and credit card activity, and never clicking links in unexpected texts.

Outlook: Scam reports are likely to keep climbing as more shopping and banking moves online, especially heading into the holiday buying season.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a reminder that early detection saves lives, and Hawaii Pacific Health is pushing women to get screened year-round.

• Women at average risk should get a mammogram every year starting at 40, plus a yearly exam with their doctor and monthly self-checks.
• Women with a strong family history or a known gene mutation should start at 30 and add MRI or ultrasound screening.
• Lumps, skin changes, rashes, or discharge are usually not cancer, but they should always be checked out.
• Dense breast tissue raises risk and makes small cancers harder to spot on a mammogram, so knowing your density matters.
• Hawaii Pacific Health's high-risk program at Kapiolani Women's Center offers risk scores, genetic testing, and prevention plans, and mammograms can be booked online without a referral.

Outlook: Fundraising for a new cancer center at Kapiolani continues, with a local apparel partnership sending all proceeds to the project.

A pair of light local stories: a lost bag of cash was returned safely, and Nebraska is selling off some very unusual stadium souvenirs.

• A man found a bag holding $128,000 sitting on top of an ATM.
• He tried to return it to a nearby Chick-fil-A, then called police when it turned out not to be theirs.
• An ATM service worker had left the bag behind by accident, and all the money went back to the bank.
• The University of Nebraska is selling off stadium memorabilia before a renovation starts after football season.
• The oddest items are century-old, 300-pound urinal troughs from the men's rooms, priced at $3,000 each — several of the 30 have already sold.

Outlook: The stadium sale continues until the renovation begins, and the school promises everything gets a deep cleaning before delivery.

A local Hawaii food segment spotlights Aloha Manapua as a budget-friendly place to eat, good news for people looking for cheap meals on Oahu.

• Aloha Manapua is featured as the latest cheap eats pick in Hawaii.
• Kate Bowermaster fronts the segment, with viewers invited to send in their own restaurant suggestions.
• The series targets diners hunting for low-cost local plates as food costs stay high.
• Past episodes are available through Hawaii News Now's streaming app on Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, and Amazon.

Outlook: More cheap eats spots will be featured, with picks driven by viewer suggestions.

Honolulu police have opened an arson investigation after a fire on a Waikiki street, with no injuries and no one in custody so far.

• Officers and fire crews responded to a fire on Lewers Street in Waikiki on the evening of February 10.
• The flames stayed on the outside of the building and were put out quickly.
• No one was hurt, and the building itself appears to have been spared serious damage.
• Police are treating it as second-degree arson, meaning they believe the fire was set on purpose.

Outlook: The investigation stays open with no arrests yet, so police will likely seek witnesses and security footage from the busy tourist area.

Oil is swinging up and down as traders bet on calmer conditions in the Persian Gulf, which is mildly good news for drivers but leaves shipping risks unresolved.

• Saudi oil is moving freely through the Strait of Hormuz again and the kingdom's east-west pipeline is back in service.
• Iran-backed Houthi rebels are fighting Saudi-backed Yemeni troops, and the winner could control shipping at the mouth of the Red Sea.
• The Houthis bombed two Saudi airfields and fired a ballistic missile that the Saudis shot down.
• The Dow gave back more than it gained the day before, erasing a strong session.
• A federal appeals court paused an order forcing the VA to restore its union contract while the agency appeals.

Outlook: Oil prices should stay choppy as long as the fight for the Red Sea entrance is undecided.

Honolulu takes far longer than most US cities to approve building permits, and that delay is pushing up home prices and rents for everyone on Oahu.

• A new nationwide study puts Honolulu in the worst group of 60 US cities for permit speed.
• A single-family home that takes under a year in a city like Reno takes twice as long in Honolulu, and apartment buildings take two to three times longer than in Indianapolis.
• Each year of delay adds about $100,000 to the cost of a unit, which lands on renters as sharply higher rent.
• Permit waits have doubled across the country over the past 25 years, but Honolulu has gotten much worse than that.
• The city's planning and permitting department accepts the findings and is leaning on an AI review tool, CivCheck, that is already cutting about 40 days off approvals.

Outlook: Early results from the AI review suggest permits could speed up, but Honolulu starts so far behind that housing costs are unlikely to ease soon.

Flu is spreading fast in Hawaii, and health officials are pushing vaccinations — bad news for anyone putting off a shot.

• Flu cases are rising sharply across the state.
• The share of flu tests coming back positive jumped from 4% to over 20% in a month.
• The Department of Health is telling people to get vaccinated now.
• Anyone who feels sick is asked to stay home to slow the spread.

Outlook: Cases will likely keep rising as the season peaks, putting more pressure on clinics and hospitals.

Six stray dogs from Molokai are being shipped to Maui for adoption, good news for the animals and for families looking to adopt.

• The Maui Humane Society teamed up with the Molokai Humane Society to care for 195 animals and move six stray dogs off the island.
• The dogs arrive by boat at Mala Harbor in Lahaina early Wednesday morning.
• Staff will take them to the Puunene shelter for health checks, shots, spay and neuter surgery, and behavior tests.
• Once cleared, each dog will be put up for foster care or adoption.

Outlook: The six dogs should be ready for new homes within weeks, with more transfers likely if the partnership holds.

The University of Hawaii at Manoa placed 10 of its subject areas in the nation's top 30, a win for the school's reputation and for students in its science and engineering fields.

• Oceanography, atmospheric science, geography, hospitality and tourism, and civil engineering all made the top 30.
• Agricultural sciences and ecology also landed on the list.
• The rankings compared about 2,000 universities worldwide, so the placements reflect global competition, not just US schools.
• UH leadership called the result proof of the work faculty, students, and staff are doing in research areas like climate change, conservation, and astronomy.

Outlook: Strong rankings in these fields should help UH Manoa attract research funding and students drawn to ocean, climate, and tourism studies.

Hawaii's state law enforcement agency is rolling out hundreds of plate-reading cameras, a win for farmers hit by theft but a worry for privacy advocates.

• The Department of Law Enforcement plans about 400 automated license plate recognition cameras across several islands, with locations still undecided.
• Director Jared Redulla says the cameras are not for tracking people or helping federal immigration enforcement, and staff who came close to that have been disciplined.
• The main target is farm crime, especially on the Big Island, where a USDA survey counted over 9,000 trespassing incidents plus thousands of thefts and hundreds of vandalism cases.
• Farm crime is hard to police because it happens at night in remote spots, so cameras can supply timestamps and evidence.
• Critics point to other police agencies that have misused the same technology.

Outlook: The department is taking public comments while it decides how many cameras to install and where.

Hawaiʻi is moving toward putting automated license plate cameras on the Big Island, which worries privacy advocates but could help police solve farm thefts.

• The state's law enforcement department wants cameras that photograph and log license plates as cars pass.
• Residents fear the main use will be tracking the movements of ordinary people who have done nothing wrong.
• Officials say the target is agricultural crime, access to the stored plates is tightly limited, and records are wiped after about 90 days.
• Police Chief Reed Mahuna says no cameras go up until the community gets a public meeting first.
• The ACLU wants privacy limits written into state law instead of left to police department policy.

Outlook: Expect community meetings before any rollout, and a push for mass surveillance legislation when lawmakers return in January.

Flu is spreading early in Hawaiʻi, and health officials are warning people to get vaccinated now — bad news for anyone heading into a busy fall season.

• Positive flu tests jumped from 4% to over 20% in a month.
• Flu now accounts for 5% of emergency room visits, which officials call high.
• The early October timing is unusual — the season is arriving ahead of schedule.
• Officials are pushing COVID and RSV shots at the same time, since overall respiratory illness is rising.
• People are being reminded to stay home when sick to slow the spread.

Outlook: Expect flu cases and ER visits to keep rising in the coming weeks as the season builds.

The University of Hawaii wants to freeze tuition for two years and then raise it, which buys students short-term relief but means higher costs later.

• Tuition would hold flat for two years, then rise two years in a row starting with the 2029–30 school year.
• Manoa students would face the biggest increases, while Hilo, West Oahu, and the community colleges would see smaller ones.
• The reason given is rising operating costs — utilities, water, and electricity — after five years without an increase.
• Six people testified against it, pointing to students already struggling to afford food and housing.

Outlook: More public meetings are set for the Big Island, Kauai, and Maui, with the Board of Regents taking up the final proposal on November 19.

Three members of a Hawaii family were killed Sunday when a commercial truck crossed the median on Interstate 40 and hit their car, leaving their island community in shock.

• Wayne and Luana Vero and their daughter Lily died while on a family road trip through New Mexico.
• Police say the truck crossed the median on I-40 and struck their vehicle; the crash is still under investigation.
• Luana Vero was the registrar at Wailua High and Intermediate School, where staff and students are described as stunned.
• The family was known for robotics mentoring, hula, and building sets and backdrops for local performances.
• Two sons and two granddaughters survive them, and a GoFundMe has been set up to bring the family home.

Outlook: The state education department will offer counseling when students and staff return from fall break next week, while investigators work to determine why the truck left its lane.

Cirque du Soleil's Waikiki show is hiring local hula dancers, a rare paid opening for Hawaii performers.

• 'Auana, the Cirque show in Waikiki, is holding an open casting call for hula dancers to join its cast.
• The tryout runs Saturday, October 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel.
• Dancers need to be free every night from Wednesday through Sunday for the contract.
• Anyone interested should sign up online ahead of time, by October 23.

Outlook: Expect a strong local turnout, with new cast members likely added for the show's nightly Waikiki run.

A Maui jury is now weighing whether Clembert "Ali'i" Kaneholani murdered police officer Suzanne O, a case that could end in life in prison without parole.

• Jurors began deliberating after closing arguments in Wailuku; Kaneholani did not testify.
• Prosecutors leaned on his own recorded jail phone calls, in which he boasted about the shooting, as the strongest evidence against him.
• The defense called it an accident, said the gun was homemade and prone to malfunction, and blamed officers for not following protocol.
• The defense also argued the jail calls were just bragging; prosecutors countered that the calls went to family, not fellow inmates.
• This is the first Maui County trial under Hawaii's first-degree murder law covering police officers, judges, and prosecutors.

Outlook: A verdict could come at any time, and a conviction on all six counts would mean life without parole.

Three members of one Mililani-area family died in a highway crash in New Mexico on Sunday, a loss now rippling through two Oahu school communities.

• Wayne and Luana Viveros and their daughter Lillian were hit by a commercial vehicle on Interstate 40 and died at the scene.
• Wayne and Luana were married more than 26 years; two sons, Keiko and Aaron, stayed home on Oahu and are in shock.
• Lillian, a 2022 Mililani High graduate, was about to start a teaching career.
• Luana worked as a registrar at Waialua High and Intermediate, and the family was known for volunteering with First Robotics of Hawaii and hula.
• The couple had welcomed their second grandchild six weeks ago.

Outlook: A GoFundMe for funeral costs has already raised more than $38,000, and a meal train is set up to support the surviving sons.

A tourism project on Oahu's North Shore is under scrutiny after it started clearing land without approval, pitting local jobs against protecting farmland.

• Climeworks began grading land for a zip line in Laie without a grading permit, and the city found building violations that have to be fixed.
• Photos of the torn-up hillside spread online this summer and reignited years of local opposition to tours in the area.
• Critics say the land is prime farmland that is being turned into a commercial attraction instead of being protected.
• Supporters, including Native Hawaiians advising the project, say it would bring jobs and that the money would help pay for farming.
• The city says the property still has not met its permit conditions, which require at least half the land to be in active farm use before more building can go ahead.

Outlook: The company has submitted paperwork to fix the violations, so the next step is whether the city accepts it and lets the project continue.

Three members of one Oahu family were killed in a highway crash in New Mexico, leaving two surviving sons and a wide circle of friends and school communities in shock.

• Wayne, Luana, and Lilinoe Viveros died at the scene after a commercial vehicle hit them on Interstate 40 on Sunday during a family trip.
• Wayne and Luana were married more than 26 years; son Kaikoa and older stepbrother Aaron stayed home on Oahu and survive them.
• Lilinoe, a 2022 Mililani High graduate, was about to start a teaching career.
• Luana worked as a registrar at Waialua High and Intermediate, and the loss is hitting that school community hard.
• A GoFundMe for funeral costs has raised over $38,000, with a meal train also set up for the surviving family.

Outlook: Support for the two surviving sons is expected to keep growing as funeral arrangements come together.

Hawaii's Royal Hawaiian Band is still performing after nearly 190 years, a positive story for anyone who cares about keeping local culture alive.

• The band was started by King Kamehameha III in 1836 and has played through every major chapter of Hawaii's history.
• Audiences at Iolani Palace hear pieces performed much the way the kings and queens once heard them.
• The sound keeps changing — electric bass and keyboards now sit alongside the traditional concert band.
• One of its best-known pieces came from band members who refused to pledge loyalty to the new government after the Hawaiian Kingdom was overthrown.
• Current players describe the goal simply: make people forget their problems and feel something.

Outlook: The band plans to keep playing as a living link between Hawaii's past and present, with each new bandmaster adding their own mark.

Honolulu is testing later closing times for bars, which is good news for nightlife businesses and tourists but worrying for police and nearby residents.

• The Honolulu Liquor Commission now lets Oahu bars apply for a special license to close at 4 a.m. instead of 2 a.m. on certain occasions.
• Police expect more fights and assaults, pointing to late-night violence already caught on video on streets where bars run till 4.
• Waikiki residents and business groups say the area is short of officers, and want bars with late hours to pay for overtime police.
• Bar owners argue legal, supervised late-night venues are safer than the illegal gambling dens and underground parties people turn to instead.
• The rules bar new entry after 2 a.m. and stop alcohol sales after 3, with a team assigned to enforce them.

Outlook: Expect fights over staffing and public safety as more bars apply, with the public able to object to individual licenses.

A Hawaii Republican candidate is pitching his party label as a bargaining chip rather than an ideology, arguing it would win the islands favors it cannot get now.

• Awa breaks with his party on most issues — he wants the Epstein files released, opposes abortion restrictions, criticizes ICE tactics, and opposes war because of the cost.
• His argument: as a swing Republican vote the president needs, he could trade that vote to protect Native Hawaiian rights and schools from conservative lawsuits.
• He says he would not be a yes man to the president or the party.
• He points to his record as one of very few Republicans in Hawaii's state senate, where he still got concessions from the governor.

Outlook: Awa will keep running on the leverage argument to win over Democratic-leaning voters who agree with him on policy but distrust the R next to his name.

The first Hawaiian Islands Honor Flight left Honolulu this morning, a feel-good moment for local veterans finally getting to see the war memorials in person.

• Local veterans flew out to Washington, D.C. on the program's first-ever trip from Hawaii.
• Among them is Paula Schulz, who spent 21 years as an Army nurse, including stateside duty during the Vietnam War, and retired as a lieutenant colonel.
• She is most looking forward to the Women's Memorial, which honors women who served.
• The group will also visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Korean War Memorial.

Outlook: The veterans return to Honolulu Wednesday for a community welcome-home ceremony.

Twenty-five Hawaii veterans are flying to the nation's capital for the first Honor Flight from the islands, a long-awaited trip for people who served decades ago.

• The group left Honolulu early and has already reached Seattle, with one more flight to go.
• Each veteran travels with a guardian, and the mood is a mix of pride and emotion.
• Roland, a Marine Corps veteran, plans to honor fellow service members at the Vietnam Memorial.
• Paula, who spent 21 years as an Army nurse during the Vietnam era, most wants to see the women's memorial.

Outlook: The veterans arrive in Washington shortly to visit the memorials they have carried with them for decades.

A broken pipe on Lanai leaked more than 10,000 gallons of wastewater, but the spill was contained before it reached the ocean.

• The leak came from a damaged pipe along Hulopoe Beach Park Road, near the Manele Bay pump station.
• Crews stopped the spill, fixed the pipe, and disinfected the area.
• None of the wastewater reached state waters or storm drains, so beachgoers face no known risk.

Outlook: With the pipe repaired and no water contamination, the cleanup looks finished unless testing turns up a problem.

A small nonprofit on the Big Island is caring for more than 100 rescued farm animals, a bright spot for animals that would otherwise be put down or abandoned.

• Magical Creatures Sanctuary on the Hamakua Coast takes in goats, sheep, cows, pigs, ducks and chickens saved from slaughter, neglect, injury and disaster.
• It began during the 2018 Kilauea eruption, when founder Helena Lundblad joined a grassroots rescue effort and took in over 30 animals almost overnight.
• Its specialty is the hardest cases: animals that are very sick or need amputations.
• Being likely the world's most remote farm animal rescue means no nearby sanctuaries to lean on, so volunteers, vets and veterinary students handle everything in house.
• Grants cover part of the cost, but most of the money comes from donors, many of them following along from overseas.

Outlook: The sanctuary will keep leaning on donations and volunteers, and it is open to visitors who want to tour the 13-acre property.

Hawaii state senator Brenton Awa is running for Congress on the argument that a Republican vote from Hawaii would carry more weight in Washington than another Democratic one — a pitch aimed at voters tired of the state being shut out.

• Awa says he does not actually want the job, but took it on after calls came in, including from Democrats, once Trump returned to office.
• His core argument is leverage: if Hawaii holds the deciding Republican vote, it can trade that vote to stop lawsuits targeting Native Hawaiian rights and institutions like Kamehameha Schools.
• He rejects the MAGA label, opposes the federal spending cuts, calls the way immigration enforcement is being carried out extreme, and wants the Epstein files released.
• A former journalist, he says he picked the Republican party because it was weak and disorganized locally, making it easier to take over.
• He is committing to one term, and names fixing the blood quantum rule — which blocks some Hawaiian families from passing homestead land to their children — as a change two congressional committees could make without a full vote.

Outlook: Incumbent Jill Tokuda has declined further debates this cycle, so the race is likely to be fought through community campaigning rather than head-to-head matchups.

Hawaii state senator Brenton Awa is making an unusual pitch in the race for the state's second congressional district: vote for a Republican who disagrees with most Republicans.

• Awa is challenging Democratic Congresswoman Jill Tokuda, who turned down an invitation to appear alongside him.
• He says he is not MAGA, wants the Epstein files released, opposes restrictions on abortion, criticizes how ICE operates, and opposes war because of what it costs.
• His argument is leverage: as a Republican vote the president might need, he could trade that vote to protect Native Hawaiian programs and Kamehameha Schools from conservative legal attacks.
• He says the R next to his name makes voters treat him as tainted, and that he would have won the primary outright as a Democrat.
• He points to his record in a state senate where Republicans are badly outnumbered as proof he can get things done without party backing.

Outlook: The general election is in November, and Awa's case rests on convincing deep-blue Hawaii that a Republican seat is worth more than a reliable Democratic one.

A Maui man has admitted in federal court to shipping large amounts of meth and cocaine to the island, a win for federal prosecutors and a sign of how mail routes feed Hawaii's drug trade.

• Isaiah Okudara, 39, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute.
• Court records say he mailed more than 15 kilograms of drugs from San Diego to Kahului in early 2025.
• He faces at least 10 years in prison, up to life, plus a possible fine of up to $10 million.
• The case shows how the postal system is used to move drugs into Hawaii from the mainland.

Outlook: Sentencing is set for February 2027, where the mandatory minimum of 10 years is the floor.

Maui's recovery is moving into its commercial phase, which is good news for Lahaina business owners but still slow for people waiting to get home.

• Maui County got $1.6 billion in federal money for the rebuild, but it took 20 months to arrive after applying.
• The first commercial building permit in Lahaina has been issued, with more expected now that water, sewer, and power lines are in.
• Permitting has been sped up and some rules waived, though historic district and shoreline rules still slow things down.
• The county is buying water assets from Maui Land and Pineapple to lift its control of West Maui water from 45% to 65% — a shift not seen in a century.
• Bill 9 phases out 14,000 short-term rentals to free up housing for residents; critics say it kills jobs, Bissen says the island is losing teachers and firefighters who can't afford to live there.

Outlook: Hurricane season isn't over and heavy rain means more fire fuel, so Maui faces another wildfire risk window while the rebuild and the rental fight continue.

Hawaii's two candidates for the second congressional district both want the military to help fix the islands' housing costs, a potential win for local renters and buyers if it goes anywhere.

• Affordability is now the top issue in the race, and housing is the center of it.
• Brenton Awa and Jill Tokuda both want the military to build more housing on bases, and would tie it to the leases the military needs for training land.
• Tokuda wants the military to build extra homes for civilian base workers too, pointing to a study she pushed for that found the military houses only a small share of its people on Oahu.
• Awa wants caps on military housing allowances, which push up rents, and says his Republican ties give him a line into the Trump administration.
• Both also back tax changes to favor people who live in their homes and to limit corporate and foreign buyers, plus lower energy and food costs.

Outlook: Neither can move any of it without winning the seat, and the campaign next turns to war, foreign policy, and immigration.

Federal money is coming to fix up a veterans cemetery in Hilo — good news for Big Island veterans and their families.

• Hawaii is getting more than $6 million for the East Hawai'i Veterans Cemetery No. 2 in Hilo.
• The money comes from the VA's National Cemetery Administration.
• It will pay to raise and realign about 4,500 grave markers.
• The work also adds burial section markers and flower watering stations.
• The cemetery serves more than 11,000 veterans and their families.

Outlook: The upgrades should make the grounds easier to navigate and better maintained for visiting families.

Flu cases are climbing across Hawaii, and health officials are urging shots and basic precautions — bad news for anyone heading into crowded indoor spaces, but the fixes are simple.

• One in five respiratory tests in the state came back positive for flu last week, up from the week before.
• Health officials want everyone 6 months and older to get a yearly flu shot.
• The updated COVID shot is recommended for higher-risk groups: babies, people 65 and older, and anyone 2 to 64 with health risks.
• Anyone who feels sick should stay home, cover their cough, and wear a mask if they have to be around others — especially healthcare workers.
• Flu-like symptoms are worth a test, since treatment works better when started early.

Outlook: Respiratory illness is likely to keep rising through the season, so expect more pressure on clinics in the coming weeks.

Cirque du Soleil is hiring hula dancers for its Waikiki production, good news for local performers looking for steady paid work.

• An open casting call is set for Saturday, October 24 at 10 a.m. at the Outrigger Theater inside the Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel.
• Dancers must be skilled in both hula kahiko and hula ʻauana.
• The job requires availability Wednesday through Sunday nights.
• Dancers can pre-register online or sign up at the door.
• Auana has drawn half a million guests since opening in December 2024.

Outlook: Expect strong turnout as the show keeps expanding its local hula talent pool.

Pets on Molokai are getting better access to basic veterinary care, good news for owners and stray animals on an island with few options.

• Nearly 200 animals on Molokai were microchipped and vaccinated in a single day through a partnership between the Maui and Molokai humane societies.
• The chips make it far easier to reunite lost pets with their owners.
• Six stray dogs are being flown from Molokai to Maui for longer-term care and rehab.
• Once the medical team clears them, those dogs go up for adoption.
• Maui Humane Society is also running an adoption promotion this week, cutting fees on adult dogs.

Outlook: More of these island-to-island clinics are likely as the two shelters build out the partnership.

Students on the Big Island are finally heading back to their own campus, good news for 400 families who have spent two months in makeshift classes.

• Naalehu Elementary reopens Monday, two months after Hurricane Lala flooded the school.
• Crews repaired roofs, replaced floors, and cleared out mold before students could return.
• Kids had been getting only limited in-person classes while the work was underway.
• The long repair timeline shows how much damage the storm left across parts of the Big Island.

Outlook: Classes resume Monday, with other storm-hit sites on the island still working through repairs.

Hawaii health officials are pushing a safe-sleep campaign, and the message is hopeful: most sleep-related infant deaths can be prevented.

• Babies should always be placed on their back to sleep.
• Use a firm, flat surface — no inclines, couches, or soft bedding.
• Share a room with the baby, but not a bed.
• Parent Line Hawaii runs free workshops on safe sleep routines twice a month.

Outlook: The awareness push will keep running through the month, with free parent workshops available for families who want help setting up a safe sleep routine.

University of Hawaii Manoa is asking fans for donations during Giving Week, a push framed as good news for student athletes but a sign the program needs outside money.

• Giving Week runs Friday through the 19th, lining up with homecoming week.
• Any amount counts, from one dollar to $100 or more.
• The money goes to scholarships, facility upgrades, nutrition, mental health care, and academic support.
• Manoa points to a combined student athlete GPA of 3.33 as proof the support is paying off.

Outlook: Expect the fundraising appeal to ride the homecoming crowds for the rest of the week.

Honolulu's fire department is pushing lithium-ion battery safety this month, a warning aimed at anyone who charges phones, e-bikes, or scooters at home.

• Lithium-ion batteries can overheat, catch fire, and spread flames fast.
• Bad charging habits are the main risk, and most of them are easy to fix.
• The advice: use only the charger that came with the device, and charge on a hard, flat surface.
• Fire crews are framing battery safety as a shared job for every household, not just a department problem.

Outlook: Expect more battery safety messaging through Fire Prevention Month as these devices keep spreading into more homes.

A brush fire broke out in Pearl City on Oahu, pulling in a growing number of Honolulu fire crews — bad news for nearby homes and businesses, though no injuries have been reported.

• The fire started along an avenue in Pearl City, near a local junkyard but not on that property.
• First crews arrived late morning and quickly called for more units as the fire spread.
• Brush fires like this move fast in dry, windy conditions and can threaten nearby buildings.

Outlook: Crews are expected to stay on scene until the fire is fully out, with the cause still to be determined.

A Honolulu dance studio is winning big at local ballroom competitions, good news for Hawaii's dance scene and anyone looking for a new hobby.

• Aloha Ballroom Company, founded by longtime champion dancer Tony Meredith, opened a few years ago after he moved back from the mainland.
• Its students swept first place in their divisions at the recent Hawaii Star Ball competition, beating dancers from the mainland.
• The studio teaches 21 dance styles, from cha-cha and swing to waltz and tango, for beginners through competitive pros.
• No partner is needed to join, and the studio is moving to a bigger facility at the start of 2027.

Outlook: The studio has a disco-themed showcase this weekend, with its competitive dancers performing.

Honolulu families get one last free hands-on architecture workshop as the Bishop Museum's giant Lego exhibit winds down — good news for kids and parents looking for a weekend outing.

• The "Shells, Wings and Wonder" workshop runs Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the museum's Great Lawn, outside the Aloha Bricks exhibit.
• Kids build with Legos and pretend to be architects, designing a new shell for a snail or a new cocoon or wings for an insect.
• The prompts tie into the Bishop Museum's insect and snail collections, pairing nature with building design.
• It is the third and last workshop in a series that started in April, timed just before the exhibit closes.
• The American Institute of Architects Honolulu chapter is marking its 100th year with walking tours all month and a scholarship golf tournament on October 23.

Outlook: The exhibit closes right after Saturday's workshop, so this is the final chance to catch both together.

Hawaii's Longs stores are running a weekly deal on Enjoy brand local snacks, which is good news for shoppers stocking up this month.

• Enjoy's premium arare, iso peanuts, dried seafood, and seed are all marked down in this week's value book.
• The bags have been redesigned with a resealable pull tab at the back and a flat bottom so they stand up on a counter.
• The same stores handle flu shots, other vaccinations, and prescription pickups, so the snack run doubles as a pharmacy stop.
• A giveaway for a full Enjoy goodie basket is open at enjoysnacks.com/islandlife, and entries reset for October.

Outlook: The sale runs this week only, and the giveaway stays open through the month.

Hawaii is scouting athletes in Japan, Taiwan and South Korea in a bid that state officials hope pays off for both the university's teams and the islands' tourism economy.

• State officials and former UH baseball staff met with schools in Japan and Taiwan known for producing top baseball talent.
• The plan goes beyond sports: bring in players, stream their games back home, build a fan base abroad, and eventually land corporate sponsors and visitors.
• Taiwanese and Japanese prospects are seen as technically strong, with young pitchers already throwing in the low-to-mid 90s.
• Scholarship money, English requirements and competition from pro leagues back home are the main obstacles.
• With 360 Division I programs chasing the same mainland recruits, Hawaii sees Asia as the better bet.

Outlook: No contracts have been signed yet, and a delegation is now in Korea, so this stays a long-term relationship-building play rather than a quick win.

A Hawaii morning show segment sends birthday wishes to local viewers, a light and purely feel-good moment with no news angle.

• Hosts open with a sung birthday greeting for viewers celebrating on this date.
• The tone is warm and casual, with banter about keeping a singing voice in shape.
• Viewers named on air get a shoutout, framed as the first day of the best year of their life.
• The segment closes with an aloha and a break before the show returns.

Outlook: Expect the same birthday shoutout slot to run again in the next broadcast.

A Kailua coffee and matcha shop is branching into private events, a mobile bar, and community wellness days — good news for locals looking for places to gather.

• The Well Kailua, open a year, is now renting out its space after hours for private parties and holiday gatherings.
• Guests can bring their own food and drinks, or add coffee, matcha, and mocktails from a dry bar.
• A new mobile bar will travel anywhere on Oahu for weddings, backyard parties, and corporate events, with bottled coffee and matcha drop-offs as a cheaper option.
• The biggest wellness event yet lands October 25th at Kalama Beach Club: beach meditation, an outdoor workout, and practitioners covering hormone health, acupuncture, and functional medicine.
• It is pitched as a one-day reset for people who cannot leave the island for a multi-day retreat.

Outlook: Expect more after-hours bookings and outdoor wellness pop-ups heading into the holiday season, with details at thewellhi.com.

Common Hawaii plants can hurt your eyes, and most people have no idea — a small but real risk for gardeners, hikers, and anyone gathering flowers.

• Crown flower sap is the biggest offender: it irritates the eye and can leave scarring.
• Plumeria sap and taro stems also burn the eye, and mango sap can burn the skin because it's related to poison oak.
• The fix is to flush the eye under running water for 10 to 15 minutes, holding the eye open so the water actually reaches it.
• None of these plants will blind you, but all of them need treatment, so follow the rinse with a trip to urgent care.
• Eye doctors in Hawaii see crown flower injuries regularly, usually from people making lei without gloves.

Outlook: Simple precautions when picking flowers — gloves and keeping hands away from the eyes — prevent nearly all of these injuries.

Hawaii's Halloween events and community news are rolling in, a light and positive slate for families, students, and food shoppers.

• Waikiki Beachwalk brings back Boogie at Beachwalk on Halloween night, with free admission, live music, trick-or-treating, and food.
• Hawaii Island's Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens holds Boo at the Zoo on October 24th and 25th, with games, animals, and a costume contest; a $1 treat bag donation is required for trick-or-treating.
• Students in grades 7 through 12 can enter the Hawaii Regional Scholastic Art Awards through December 12th, with cash awards and a $4,000 scholarship on the line; this year's theme is electrification.
• Maui Food Bank has a new chief operating officer, Maui native Kina Wakamatsu Frier, who will lead food sourcing and connect donors and local growers with communities on Maui, Molokai, and Lanai.
• Kraft is launching a cheesy ramen line in spicy, chicken, and pork flavors, due in stores in early 2027.

Outlook: Expect a busy run of Halloween events across the islands through the end of October.

Honolulu is hosting an international barbershop singing convention this week, with free public performances — good news for anyone looking for cheap local entertainment.

• The Sounds of Aloha chorus, singing in Hawaii since 1947, is hosting the Pan Pacific International Barbershop Convention.
• Barbershop is four-part singing with no instruments, named after the barbershops that were social hangouts a century ago.
• A state grant makes both public shows free, with no tickets needed — a memorial show tonight at Kawaiaha'o Church and a bigger one Saturday at the concert hall.
• Saturday's lineup features gold-medal quartets and the champions crowned during the week's competition; doors open early because of bag checks.
• Past chorus members include former Governor William Quinn and the architect behind the Blaisdell concert hall.

Outlook: Expect packed open seating Saturday night, with details at soundsofaloha.org.

Medicare open enrollment is about to open in Hawaii, and people who ignore their plan mail could get stuck with higher costs or lost drug coverage.

• Open enrollment runs from October 15 to December 7, a short window to compare plans.
• Premiums, co-pays and out-of-pocket costs are changing, and some prescriptions may no longer be covered.
• HMSA is dropping two of its plans, so some people will be forced to pick something new.
• Free workshops are running across the islands with the state's health insurance help program, plus a virtual session in November.
• A new Hawaii law took effect October 1 that blocks the cash-kiosk deposits scammers use to drain victims, mostly older people.

Outlook: Anyone on Medicare should review their plan before December 7, and caregivers should check that older relatives have actually signed up rather than assuming it is handled.

Two Hawaii families are leaning on community help after a deadly highway crash and a kitchen fire, while Medicare members and future college students face new paperwork deadlines.

• Wayne and Luana Viveiros and their 22-year-old daughter Lilinoʻe, an Oahu North Shore family known for hula, were killed Sunday when a commercial truck crossed the median on I-40 in New Mexico and hit their car.
• Lilinoʻe had just graduated from University of Hawaii West Oahu and was about to start teaching; a GoFundMe is collecting donations for the family.
• Leeward Drive-In in Waipahu, a local favorite for more than 60 years, is closed after a fire badly damaged its kitchen last Friday — no one was hurt, and a fundraiser is underway to reopen it.
• About 16,000 HMSA Medicare Advantage members must pick a new plan because two plans end December 31; open enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, and anyone who does nothing defaults to original Medicare.
• The University of Hawaii launched Apply Hawaii, a single undergraduate application covering all 10 campuses, now open for fall 2027 applicants.

Outlook: Donations will decide how fast the Viveiros family and Leeward Drive-In recover, and HMSA members have a hard December 7 deadline to act.

Honolulu regulators are weighing whether more Waikiki bars can serve until 4 a.m., which would be good for nightlife businesses and tourists but raises questions about enforcement.

• The commission is set to decide on a request from the nightclub Velvet to stay open until 4 a.m.
• Only Tapa's Waikiki and Hula's Bar and Lei Stand currently have that permission, under a pilot program limited to Honolulu Pride and Halloween.
• Hula's management says it blocks entry and re-entry after 2 a.m. as required, and reports no formal noise complaints from police or the commission.
• Enforcement is essentially left to the bars themselves — there is not enough manpower to check whether venues are letting people in late or honoring a 3 a.m. last call.
• Hula's closes its windows on DJ nights and hires extra security for the longer hours.

Outlook: A decision on Velvet comes at the commission's next meeting, and approval would likely open the door to more Waikiki venues seeking 4 a.m. closing times.

British boogie-woogie and blues pianist Henri Herbert is playing Blue Note Hawaiʻi, good news for fans of high-energy, old-school piano blues.

• Herbert promises a loud, fast, rhythm-driven show built on the rolling left-hand style of 1930s and 40s Chicago blues piano.
• He traces the sound forward into rock and roll, and even hip-hop, calling boogie-woogie the root of a lot of popular music.
• He got hooked at age seven after hearing a Little Richard record, and names James Brown as another big influence.
• Recent gigs include a 4,000-person outdoor show in India, dates with Bryan Adams in California, and a session with New Orleans' Rebirth Brass Band.
• A new album, built around collaborations with singer and musician friends, is on the way — the hardest part was lining up everyone's schedules.

Outlook: The Blue Note show is set for tomorrow, with the collaborative album due out after that.

Common fears about probate are mostly wrong, but families who skip estate planning still end up paying lawyers and waiting on courts.

• Probate is just the court process that settles who gets your assets after you die — the state does not seize them, and it does not create extra taxes.
• The real cost is paperwork: strict court rules mean most families hire an attorney, and those fees add up.
• A revocable living trust lets a successor trustee hand out assets without going through probate at all.
• Hawaii also allows a transfer-on-death deed, which names who inherits your property directly.
• The quickest fix for anyone: check that retirement accounts, life insurance, and bank accounts all name both a primary and a backup beneficiary.

Outlook: Anyone who owns a home or has young children should set up a plan while healthy, since options narrow once a crisis hits.

Medicare's yearly sign-up window opens soon, and seniors who ignore it risk paying more than they should for drugs and care.

• Open enrollment runs from mid-October to early December, and plans change every year.
• Even people happy with their plan should check — drug coverage and copays can shift without warning.
• AARP Hawaii and the state health insurance help program are holding free in-person sessions across the islands, plus a virtual one in November.
• Family members caring for an older relative may need to step in, but need legal authority first.
• A new Hawaii anti-fraud law took effect this month barring crypto kiosks from taking cash deposits, after many people lost life savings to scams.

Outlook: Seniors who review their coverage before early December can avoid surprise costs next year; those who skip it are locked in.

Hawaiian Telcom is starting a monthly First Friday event at its Kapolei store, a small win for West Oʻahu shoppers and local businesses looking for foot traffic.

• The first event lands on November 6, with more planned every first Friday after that.
• The store sits at Ka Makana Aliʻi, behind Macy's and across from Foodland Farms.
• It is the company's first store of its kind, with gaming stations, home security and networking gear, bill payment, and hands-on demos.
• The pitch is fiber internet — faster upload and download speeds, and a connection that holds up in storms if a home has backup power.
• More Hawaii homes are moving to fiber as people work remotely and add smart-home devices.

Outlook: Expect the monthly events to lean on local vendors and fiber sign-ups, with details posted closer to the November date.

High gold and silver prices are making this a good moment for people in Hawaii to cash in old jewelry and coins, though buyers are the ones setting the terms.

• Gold jumped again, tracking back toward $4,500 an ounce, with silver rising too.
• Broken or unworn gold, silver and platinum jewelry, coins and sterling silver are all fetching strong cash right now.
• Sellers in Hawaii usually face high shipping costs to move metal off the island, which pushes them toward local buying events.
• One recent seller turned inherited silver bars bought for a few dollars an ounce decades ago into tens of thousands.
• Free appraisals run October 7–10 at the Ala Moana Hotel, with shorter stops at Pearl Country Club and Embassy Suites Kapolei.

Outlook: As long as metal prices stay near records, expect more pop-up buying events and more people selling family jewelry rather than holding it.

Registration is open for Hawaii's Susan G. Komen More Than Pink Walk, a feel-good community fundraiser for breast cancer research and patient support.

• The walk takes place Sunday at Kapiolani Park in Honolulu, with a Zumba warm-up at 7 a.m., a ceremony at 8 a.m., and the walk stepping off at 9 a.m.
• It is the group's signature annual fundraiser, timed to Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.
• Organizers are urging women to learn their personal risk and book an annual mammogram.
• A new campaign sells a "giving tee" designed by Hawaii fashion designer Stella Lee Young, with a chip in the sleeve that lets people donate by tapping a phone to it.
• Good weather is forecast, which matters after recent worries about rain disrupting outdoor events.

Outlook: Fine weather and open registration point to a strong turnout Sunday, with the tap-to-donate shirt likely to be tested as a new fundraising tool.

A Waikiki steakhouse is throwing a month of parties, guest bartender nights and special menus to mark its 10th anniversary — good news for Oahu diners looking for something to do in October.

• The main anniversary party lands on October 27, with food stations, sushi, oysters, complimentary cocktails, live music and a DJ.
• Tickets are capped at 200 and sold through the restaurant's website, by phone, or via OpenTable and SevenRooms.
• Four guest bartender nights run through the month, closing out October 20 with the former owner of a well-known local bar.
• A special anniversary tasting menu runs from caviar to chocolate cake, alongside whiskey-and-wagyu pairings and family-style "ohana" pairings.
• The bar keeps its 4-to-6 happy hour, bar-only wagyu skewer and signature rum and old-fashioned drinks, with live music Thursday through Sunday.

Outlook: With only 200 tickets for the October 27 party, the anniversary night is likely to sell out before the month is over.

Hawaii is training new inspectors to catch invasive species before they land, which is good news for farmers and the islands' native plants and wildlife.

• The state's agriculture and biosecurity department is launching an academy with Leeward Community College.
• Up to 12 people will be picked for the first class, starting in November.
• Applications opened this week.
• Graduates will check cargo at airports and harbors and help respond when pests slip through.

Outlook: The first group starts next month, with more inspectors on the ground soon after.

The University of Hawaii is taking public comment on a plan to hold tuition flat for two years before raising it — short-term relief for students, higher costs later.

• Tuition would be frozen across all ten UH campuses for two years.
• A 5% increase would follow in fall 2029, with another 5% the year after.
• The first public hearing is at Bachman Hall, with oral testimony capped at three minutes per person.
• More hearings are planned at other campuses.

Outlook: The university will weigh testimony before the regents decide, so expect pushback from students over the later increases.

Honolulu police are stepping up pedestrian safety work this month, a push aimed at cutting deaths and injuries on Oahu's roads.

• October is national pedestrian safety month, and HPD is using it to ramp up enforcement, education and outreach.
• Drivers are being told to stick to the speed limit and stay alert.
• Pedestrians are being asked to stay on sidewalks and cross only at marked crossings.
• Hawaii also has the third-highest number of electric cars per person in the country, behind California and Washington state — quieter vehicles that are harder for walkers to hear.

Outlook: Expect more police presence and ticketing on Oahu roads through the end of October.

A celebrity listing on Maui highlights how much high-end Hawaii property has gained, good news for luxury sellers and a reminder of how far out of reach the top of the market is for everyone else.

• Jim Carrey has put his oceanfront Maui estate on Kihei Road up for sale at $35 million.
• The listing is handled by local firm Hawai'i Life.
• The nearly one-acre property comes with a pool and a separate guest building.
• County records show he paid $16.5 million in 2016, so the asking price would double his money.

Outlook: Whether the home fetches its full price will be a useful test of demand at the very top of Hawaii's housing market.

A landlord-tenant fight at a downtown Honolulu apartment building has turned hostile enough that police had to guard paramedics, which is bad news for the handful of residents still living there.

• Dozens of HPD officers lined Bishop Street Monday morning to escort firefighters and EMS to a person on the top floor of the nine-story Union Plaza.
• Some residents apparently threw things at officers when they showed up.
• The building's owner wants to clear out tenants and turn the place into student housing.
• Power and water have been shut off repeatedly over the past year, and trash is piling up in the alley behind the building.
• About 25 people are still holding out in the building.

Outlook: With eviction efforts and utility shutoffs continuing, more confrontations at the building look likely.

Western forces pulled their bombers out of the U.K. over a feared Iranian drone attack, while Iran keeps losing ground and money — bad for Tehran, calmer news for oil buyers.

• All 12 U.S. B-1 bombers based in Britain were rushed back to the United States after warnings of a drone attack ordered by Iran's Revolutionary Guard.
• The pullout happened so fast that some bombers took off before mid-air refueling plans were even finished.
• Iran's oil minister has resigned, and the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports has cut off the country's oil sales and the money that comes with them.
• A middleman who owes Iran a large sum still has not paid, adding to the cash squeeze.
• Saudi Arabia is shipping more oil, which pushed Texas crude below $90 a barrel.

Outlook: With Iran cut off from oil money and losing ground in Yemen, pressure on Tehran should keep building while oil prices ease.

Hawaii veterans are heading to Washington for the first Hawaiian Islands Honor Flight, a feel-good moment for local veterans and their families.

• The inaugural flight left Honolulu this morning carrying local veterans to the capital.
• Among them is Paula Schulz, who spent 21 years as an Army nurse and retired as a lieutenant colonel.
• She is most looking forward to the Women's Memorial, which honors women who served.
• The group will also visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Korean War Memorial.

Outlook: The veterans return to Honolulu Wednesday for a community welcome-home ceremony.

A Hawaii family's mainland vacation ended in tragedy, leaving a North Shore community in mourning.

• Wayne and Luana Viveros and their 22-year-old daughter Lily died Sunday when a commercial truck crossed the median on Interstate 40 in New Mexico and hit their car head-on.
• All three were killed at the scene; another truck was also struck in the crash.
• Lily had just graduated from UH West Oahu in December and was about to start a teaching program.
• The family was known on the North Shore for their love of hula and their community work.
• A GoFundMe has been set up to support the family.

Outlook: Police are still working through what caused the truck to cross the median, while friends and co-workers gather to remember the family.

Families in Honolulu get one last chance at a free-form LEGO building day, a small bit of good news for parents looking for something to do with the kids.

• The Bishop Museum is holding the last session of its drop-in LEGO workshop.
• Kids and parents build miniature buildings with local architects on hand to help.
• The theme ties nature's designs to Hawaii's own building history.
• It runs from 10 in the morning to 2 in the afternoon, with no need to sign up ahead.

Outlook: This is the final workshop in the series, so anyone interested has just the one day left.

The University of Hawaii has launched one application for all 10 of its campuses, good news for students who had to juggle separate systems before.

• The new Apply Hawaii form replaces the multiple applications and accounts students needed depending on which campus they wanted.
• Anyone applying for the fall 2027 semester can now use the single common application.
• The system took two years to build and covers everything from trade programs to tech careers to PhDs.
• It is part of a wider push to cut the red tape that makes college harder to navigate.

Outlook: The first full application cycle under the new system runs toward fall 2027, and success will be measured by whether more students apply.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has picked three finalists for its top job, a neutral but notable step for the agency that manages Native Hawaiian trust assets.

• Todd Apollo, Kana Park, and Summer Silva are the three finalists for CEO.
• Board chair Kyle Ekah said all three bring strong leadership experience.
• The public can meet the candidates at a talk story session at OHA's Nimitz Highway headquarters on October 15.
• Whoever gets the job will oversee OHA's land holdings and trust money for Native Hawaiian beneficiaries.

Outlook: A final pick is expected after the public session later this month.

The University of Hawaii at West Oahu has opened its 50th anniversary celebration, good news for students and families on Oahu's west side who now have a local option for college.

• A new exhibit at the campus library traces the school's growth from its start in 1976.
• The school opened with 75 students and now serves close to 2,900 at its Kapolei campus.
• State and university leaders, students, faculty, and alumni turned out for the opening.
• Students say the growth is bringing more programs and more chances to the west side.

Outlook: The school expects to keep growing and draw more local students as the anniversary year continues.

Drainage construction starts next week on 'Aukai Avenue in Kahala, bringing months of weekday disruption to the neighborhood but a stronger storm system in the end.

• Work begins Monday, October 12, along a section of 'Aukai Avenue.
• Crews will work weekdays from morning to mid-afternoon, with holidays off.
• The job strengthens the existing drainage system and adds erosion, sediment, and water pollution controls.
• The project costs a quarter million dollars.

Outlook: Expect roughly six months of weekday roadwork before the upgraded drainage is finished.

Honolulu is letting bars serve past 2 a.m. on special occasions — good for bar owners and late-night crowds, but police say they don't have the staff to handle it.

• A new city pilot program lets any Oahu bar apply for a license to stay open until 4 a.m. on special occasions.
• Two Waikiki bars tried it over the weekend and called it a success, with higher sales in that extra hour.
• Bars must switch to exit-only at 2 a.m., stop re-entry, keep noise down, and call last drinks at 3 a.m.
• Honolulu police oppose the program, saying it's hard to enforce and they already field heavy calls — violence and fentanyl overdoses — at the few bars that regularly open until 4.
• Bars that abuse the permission are unlikely to get another one.

Outlook: The two Waikiki bars have approval for the Honolulu Pride festival and Halloween, and another bar's application goes before the liquor commission at its next meeting.

A 31-year-old Pahala man faces multiple charges after allegedly pointing a pellet gun at two people in a shopping center, a troubling incident for Big Island residents.

• Prosecutors charged him with terroristic threatening, assault, and abuse of a family member.
• The pellet gun was allegedly pointed at two people last Friday at a shopping center.
• Investigators say three more people were assaulted, including a woman.
• A separate case in the same court report involved bail set above $1 million.

Outlook: The case moves forward in court, with the next hearing expected in the coming days.

A Big Island woman faces attempted murder charges after a stabbing inside her own home, a serious case for her and a reminder of how often domestic violence turns deadly.

• Jill Dunston, 54, is accused of stabbing a 56-year-old man four times at their Ainaloa home.
• Prosecutors charged her with attempted murder, assault, and felony abuse of a family member.
• Bail has been set, and she remains in custody pending court proceedings.
• The felony abuse charge signals the two lived together as family or partners.

Outlook: The case moves to court next, where the charges and bail amount will be tested at her first hearing.

A new family Halloween event is coming to the Honolulu Zoo later this month, with trick-or-treating, games, and local beer.

• The Zoological Society is hosting Boos & Brews on the zoo's Great Lawn on Saturday, October 24, from 5 to 9 p.m.
• The evening includes a trunk-or-treat, a costume contest, games, music, and food.
• Four local breweries will pour beer for the adults.
• Tickets run $20 for adults and $10 for kids.

Outlook: Expect a strong turnout for the zoo's after-dark Halloween night, with ticket demand likely to build as October 24 approaches.

Oahu bars can now stay open past 2 a.m. on special dates under a trial program — good for nightlife businesses, a question mark for neighbors.

• A pilot program lets bars that sign up serve until 4 a.m. on select dates like Halloween and Pride weekend, without needing a cabaret license.
• Rules are strict: no new entry after 2 a.m., last call at 3 a.m., and a plan to keep noise down.
• The first trial ran at a Waikiki venue this past weekend, with commission staff watching from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. and calling it a success.
• Extended hours are not automatic — businesses must apply for a special license, and the public can object at hearings, in writing, or through neighborhood boards.
• Noise is the main worry for nearby residents, and bars that abuse the privilege risk losing it.

Outlook: More late nights are already scheduled around mid-October and Halloween, and how quietly those go will decide whether the program expands next year.

Three members of a Hawaii family were killed in a fiery highway crash in New Mexico, a heavy loss for their community on Oahu.

• A commercial truck crossed the median and hit the car carrying the family, killing all three.
• The truck then struck a second commercial truck, which caught fire and killed its driver.
• The victims, ranging in age from their twenties to their sixties, were all from Waikele.
• One of them worked at a local high and intermediate school, which is now arranging support for students and staff.

Outlook: Police are still piecing together why the truck crossed into oncoming traffic.

Hawaii's coral reefs took heavy damage from this year's hurricanes, but a first-of-its-kind insurance policy is now paying out to fix them — good news for reef groups and the coastal communities that depend on them.

• Hurricanes Lala and Lowell broke apart reefs around the islands, including coral chunks the size of a car.
• The storms triggered the first payouts ever under a reef insurance policy held by the Nature Conservancy, worth $500,000 in total.
• The money goes to groups in the Hawaii Emergency Reef Restoration Network, which assess damage and rescue broken coral.
• More than 1,000 corals have already been rescued around the Big Island by trained, permitted divers.
• Volunteers help from the surface, mixing cement that divers use to glue coral back onto the reef.

Outlook: Restoration work will continue for months, and the payouts set a template for insuring reefs against future storms.

Hawaii's highest court has cleared the final roadblock to paying out the $4 billion Maui wildfire settlement, good news for survivors who have waited three years for money.

• Payments to fire survivors could start going out as early as next month.
• Nearly 22,000 people are waiting for their share of the settlement.
• The holdup was a fight over lawyer pay, not the settlement itself.
• Judge Peter Cahill capped most legal fees between 3 and 10 percent, far below the 25 percent normal under state law, and some lawyers fought back.
• The state Supreme Court ruled Cahill had the power to set that cap, ending the challenge.

Outlook: Survivors are pressing claims administrators to get checks out before the holidays, with awards expected within a month.

Three members of an Oahu family died when a commercial truck crossed into their lane on a New Mexico highway, a devastating loss for their two surviving sons.

• A mother, father, and their 22-year-old daughter were killed on Interstate 40 near Gallup when a truck veered into oncoming traffic.
• The truck driver also died in the crash.
• The family was partway through a multi-state road trip when they were hit.
• Two sons who stayed home are left in shock and are raising money for funeral costs.

Outlook: Police are still piecing together why the truck crossed the center line, and the family is relying on donations to bring their relatives home.

Hawaii County has a plan to restore access to Mokuola, which is good news for residents cut off from the island for the past year.

• Work on a temporary walking bridge could start in January and be done by next summer.
• The temporary bridge is expected to cost $1.5 to $2 million; a full rebuild would run about $20 million.
• Permits took months, which is why nothing has happened since the collapse.
• The bridge came down in November 2025 when a county worker drove a mini excavator across it, though age and wear were likely the real cause — a report years earlier had already flagged structural problems.
• As a walking-only bridge, it never made the county's top 20 repair list.

Outlook: The county has a promise of 80% federal funding and is pushing for full coverage, with the permanent replacement planned to be wider and better lit.

The University of Hawaii's West Oahu campus is marking 50 years, a good-news story for local families looking for a cheap four-year degree close to home.

• The campus started with 75 students in mobile classrooms and now serves close to 3,000 people.
• 90% of students are local, and most graduate with no debt at all — about a third pay no tuition.
• Students can finish all four years there, or transfer in from a community college for the last two.
• A program lets students spend a year at one of over 300 mainland colleges while still paying in-state prices.
• The rail line runs right past the campus, and parking is free — a draw for commuters and a growing number of veteran students.

Outlook: Anniversary events and a campus exhibit on the school's history continue, with the university pushing the message that students don't have to leave Hawaii for a strong degree.

Big Island water customers in South Kohala are being told to cut back, a short-term squeeze for homes and businesses in the area.

• A water restriction notice is now in effect for South Kohala.
• Department of Water Supply customers are asked to use water only for essential needs.
• That means drinking, cooking, and personal hygiene — not lawns, car washing, or other outdoor use.
• Resort-heavy South Kohala relies on a limited set of wells, so any supply problem hits the whole district at once.

Outlook: The restriction stays in place until the water system is back to normal capacity.

Shark warning signs are up at a popular North Shore surf spot on Oahu, a short-term worry for surfers and swimmers but no one has been hurt.

• A tiger shark estimated at 8 to 10 feet was spotted off Alii Beach Park in Haleiwa.
• Officials say it was seen eating a turtle just beyond where surfers line up.
• No injuries were reported, and the beach warning signs are precautionary.
• Beachgoers are urged to check posted signs before going in the water.

Outlook: The warnings will likely come down within a day or two if the shark moves on.

Families gathered on Hawaii Island to remember people they have lost, in a free community ceremony that draws many of the same mourners back year after year.

• Floating lanterns were released off the Kohala Coast to honor loved ones who have died.
• North Hawaii Hospice runs the event every year, and it is free and open to anyone.
• Some people come back annually to write messages to family members they lost, describing grief as love that needs somewhere to go.
• One regular attendee lost his father as a teenager, then survived a car crash that killed his mother and his son.
• This year's ceremony was moved from its original August date.

Outlook: The hospice is expected to hold the ceremony again next year, with the same open invitation to the community.

Public EV charging in Hawaii has doubled in a year, a positive sign for the islands' shift away from gas cars.

• Electricity used at public charging stations jumped from 3.1 to 6.4 gigawatt-hours, enough to power 12,600 homes for a month.
• The real total is higher, since the count leaves out home charging, which is how most drivers fill up.
• Hawaii now has the third-highest rate of EV ownership per person in the country, behind California and Washington.
• Rising demand points to more pressure on the islands' power grid as drivers plug in.

Outlook: Public charging use looks set to keep climbing as EV ownership in Hawaii grows.

Honolulu police are pushing a shared-responsibility message for Pedestrian Safety Month, aimed at cutting crashes that hurt walkers most.

• October is National Pedestrian Safety Month, and Honolulu police say safety falls on both drivers and pedestrians.
• Drivers are told to slow down, put the phone away, and yield to people crossing.
• Walkers are told to stick to sidewalks and marked crossings instead of stepping into traffic.
• Extra caution is urged at night, when walkers are hardest to see.

Outlook: Expect more enforcement and awareness messaging on Oahu roads through the rest of the month.

The University of Hawaii wants to hold tuition flat for two years and then raise it, which spares current students short-term pain but means higher costs for future ones.

• Tuition would be frozen for two years, then rise for two more years.
• Resident undergraduate tuition at UH Manoa could reach nearly $13,000 a year by 2031.
• UH says tuition has barely moved in a decade while the cost of running the university has climbed.
• Public hearings are being held at UH Manoa, UH Hilo, Kauai Community College, and UH Maui.

Outlook: The university will collect public input at the hearings this month before deciding on the plan.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has narrowed its search for a new chief executive to three finalists, a routine but closely watched leadership change for the agency that manages Native Hawaiian trust assets.

• OHA named three finalists for its next CEO.
• Sylvia Topo has served on the Honolulu City Council and worked at the Hawaii Community Foundation and Howard Hughes Corporation, most recently leading a nonprofit that manages land in North Kohala.
• Kalama Park was director and deputy director of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and a vice president at Laulima Hawaii.
• Summer Silva is the current interim CEO and was previously a senior adviser on Native Hawaiian affairs at the federal level.

Outlook: OHA's trustees are expected to pick one of the three in the coming weeks, ending the interim period at the top of the agency.

A car plowed into a business on Hotel Street in Honolulu's Chinatown, sending two people to the hospital.

• The crash happened late at night on Hotel Street, one of Chinatown's busiest stretches.
• Witnesses saw the car being driven erratically before it hit the building.
• Both men inside the car were taken to the hospital.
• Police cited the driver.

Outlook: Police are handling it as a citation case, with damage to the business still to be repaired.

A Kailua family food business is quietly feeding students, seniors, and sick neighbors across Oʻahu — a good-news story about community care, and a reminder that small businesses carry a heavy load.

• Tammy "Aunty Tammy" Smith runs Haleʻaloha restaurant and catering, a second-generation family business serving the community for over three decades.
• Her team cooks daily meals for students at Honolulu Community College, prepares Kūpuna Hawaiʻi meals-on-wheels for seniors, and handles weekly catering — with only six people in the kitchen.
• She was recently honored by the Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce, and used the moment to talk openly about how hard running a business really is.
• Traditional Hawaiian food as medicine is the core idea: healthy local food as healing, built on real relationships with the farmers who grow it.
• Three generations work together, including two granddaughters who run the college cafe.

Outlook: The kitchen stays busy through fall break programs and school fundraisers, with meals for visiting students from Hawaiʻi Island and charter schools this week.

A local Hawaii morning program opened its October 1 and 2 broadcasts with on-air birthday wishes for viewers — light, feel-good filler with no news angle.

• The segment is simply a run of happy-birthday greetings to viewers celebrating on October 1 and 2.
• It leads with the line that the first day is the start of the best year of your life.
• There is no money, markets, politics, or current-events content here at all.

Outlook: Expect the same greeting slot to run again on the next broadcast.

Content creation is becoming a real small-business career in Hawaiʻi, which is good news for local creators and the businesses hiring them.

• October is Women's Small Business Month, and women-run creator businesses are being counted as part of the local economy.
• Theia Adachi, a Hawaiʻi creator with more than 60,000 Instagram followers, built her following on local food and local voices after finding almost no Hawaiian-style recipe content online.
• More local brands and nonprofits are paying creators to carry their message further than their own marketing can reach.
• The work looks casual but runs on traditional skills — shooting, lighting, planning, and editing — so one-off viral posts rarely pay off.

Outlook: Expect more Hawaiʻi businesses to shift marketing money toward local creators instead of traditional ads.

A local-news roundup from Oahu, mostly neutral but with warning signs for Kailua developers and bad news for one Windward Mall restaurant.

• A volunteer task force has caught close to 4,000 coqui frogs on Oahu since 2024, with new infestations spreading toward Kaneohe and Palolo.
• Two human teeth, likely Native Hawaiian and over 50 years old, turned up during a survey at a proposed Chick-fil-A site in Kailua — builders there now dig deeper and hit old burials more often.
• The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is releasing a documentary on military land leases signed for $1 over 65 years that all expire in the next two years; OHA wants public input, not a military exit.
• Big City Diner is closing its Windward Mall location at the end of October after 11 years, though its other spots stay open.
• Lea Salonga performs with the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra in mid-October for Filipino American Heritage Month, and Home Depot's tool-belt holiday sweater sold out in hours.

Outlook: The fight over what happens to Hawaii's expiring military lease lands is set to become the state's biggest land decision in a generation.

Grieving families on the Big Island gathered for a quiet evening of remembrance, a positive community moment rather than hard news.

• North Hawaii Hospice held its yearly lantern float at the Fairmont's Coconut Grove.
• Guests decorated lanterns in memory of people they have lost.
• Music, hula, and dance set the tone before sunset.
• The lanterns were set out across the water as the sun went down.

Outlook: The ceremony is expected to return next year as an annual gathering for local families.

More than two dozen Oahu veterans fly to the nation's capital this week on the 2026 Honor Flight, a feel-good trip that finally gives Korea and Vietnam veterans the recognition many never got at home.

• Veterans from the Korean and Vietnam wars leave tomorrow for a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Washington D.C.
• The group will visit the Vietnam, Korean War and World War II memorials plus Arlington National Cemetery.
• At the Vietnam Wall, veterans can find and trace the names of people they served with.
• For many, the real draw is simple: time with people their own age who remember the same things.
• One Vietnam Army veteran wants to finally hear what men from the other service branches went through.

Outlook: The group travels this week, and Hawaiian Islands Honor Flight is still looking for volunteer guardians to escort veterans on future trips.

A group of Hawaii veterans is flying to Washington D.C. to visit war memorials — a good-news story for the men and women who served in Korea and Vietnam.

• Twenty-five veterans leave Honolulu early tomorrow on the 2026 inaugural Hawaiian Islands Honor Flight.
• The group will visit the Vietnam, Korean War, and World War II memorials plus Arlington National Cemetery.
• Charles Stanley Brewer, 94, is the only Korean War veteran on the trip; he served in the Navy as a machinist mate.
• Each veteran travels with a guardian, and the program says more volunteer guardians are still needed.

Outlook: The flight departs tomorrow, with the group spending the trip touring the national memorials together.

Hawaii's community fundraising and local events calendar is filling up, with a strong turnout for an ALS charity walk in Honolulu.

• More than 500 people joined the 14th annual Hawaii Walk and Roll to Cure ALS at Kapiolani Park, raising $90,000 of a $130,000 goal.
• The money funds ALS programs and services in Hawaii, and donations are still open.
• Aloha Festivals Royal Court member Moi Kane Konana Sales, from Waimanalo, will be honored by the Honolulu City Council on October 7 for his cultural and community work.
• Maui's Imua Family Services is launching "100 Voices," the island's first community-based youth choir for ages 11 to 18, with no auditions needed and rehearsals starting in 2027.
• Kauai hosts its 11th annual Chocolate and Coffee Festival at Kilohana Plantation, with tastings, workshops, and live entertainment supporting local growers.

Outlook: The ALS fundraiser still needs $40,000 to hit its target, and the choir debuts at Imua's 80th anniversary gala in April 2027.

Broadway star Lea Salonga will perform with the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra in Honolulu this month, with a local mortgage company footing part of the bill — good news for Hawaiʻi concertgoers and the islands' Filipino community.

• Salonga, known for Miss Saigon and the first Filipina with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, plays the Neal Blaisdell Center on October 17 and 18.
• The shows land during Filipino American Heritage Month, and the orchestra sought out prominent Filipino-owned local businesses as backers.
• House of Finance, a family-owned Hawaiʻi home-loan company in business 31 years, signed on as sponsor.
• Corporate money is what keeps ticket prices down — putting a full symphony on stage is expensive, and sponsors also bring in audiences who would not otherwise hear about the concerts.
• Sponsors open their own customer and patron networks to the orchestra, widening who shows up.

Outlook: Tickets are on sale through the orchestra for the two October dates, and the partnership points to more locally funded, culturally themed programming.

Military leases covering Hawaiʻi public trust lands are all hitting their expiration dates, setting up a decision that will shape land use, culture, and the state's economy for a generation.

• Leases signed shortly after statehood, some for $1 across the full 65-year term, are now running out.
• The land traces back to the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi and was taken from Queen Liliʻuokalani in 1893, later passing to the territory and then the military.
• The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is pushing to be the Native Hawaiian voice at the table, and gets a share of revenue from these trust lands.
• OHA is not asking the military to leave, but wants a balance between defense, the environment, and cultural access.
• A documentary, "Held in Trust," airs October 8 on KITV and KIKU to explain the history and what is at stake.

Outlook: The renewal terms will be fought over for the next two years, with public pressure likely to decide how much Hawaiʻi gets in return this time.

Twenty-five Korean and Vietnam War veterans from Hawaii fly to Washington D.C. tomorrow to visit war memorials — a feel-good moment for the islands' aging veteran community.

• The group leaves Honolulu early tomorrow on the 2026 inaugural Hawaiian Islands Honor Flight.
• Stops include the Vietnam, Korean War and World War II memorials plus Arlington National Cemetery.
• Charles Stanley Brewer, 94, who served in the Navy as a machinist mate, is the only Korean War veteran on the trip.
• One Vietnam veteran, drafted in 1966 and sent to the First Cavalry Division, waited four years for a spot on a flight.
• Each veteran travels with a guardian, and the program says more volunteers are needed for future trips.

Outlook: The flight departs tomorrow morning, with more Honor Flight trips planned as guardians sign up.

Two human remains over 50 years old and likely Native Hawaiian were uncovered during an archaeological survey in Kailua, raising fresh concerns about digging in burial-rich sandy areas.

• The teeth turned up at the site of a proposed Chick-fil-A near Hamakua Drive and Hahani Street.
• If more remains appear during construction, work stops and the state historic preservation division gets called in; the Oahu Island Burial Council then decides whether remains stay or move.
• Kailua's sandy coastal ground holds many traditional burials, and nearby sites like Target and Whole Foods carry similar markers.
• Modern projects dig far deeper than development in the 1950s and 70s, so more burial sites are being hit.
• Elsewhere on the windward side, Big City Diner is closing its Windward Mall location after 11 years, with October 31 as the last day.

Outlook: Construction can proceed for now, but any further remains would pause the project and hand the decision to the burial council.

Orchid fans in Honolulu get a two-day show and plant sale this weekend, with displays, vendors, and free growing advice.

• The Honolulu Orchid Society holds its 87th annual show Friday and Saturday at Washington Middle School, starting at 9 a.m. both days.
• This year's theme is "Orchid Spooktacular," with displays from several local orchid societies and vendors selling locally grown plants.
• Speakers cover general orchid care, an "orchid doctor" clinic, and talks on Cattleya growing, with a University of Hawaii at Manoa extension agent leading the morning sessions.
• Care tips for the common Phalaenopsis: keep them out of full sun since they naturally grow under trees, and water more often than expected because they cannot store water.
• The society, founded in 1939, charges a low yearly membership fee, gives out free plants at monthly meetings, and meets the second Wednesday of each month.

Outlook: The show runs Friday and Saturday only, and memberships can be signed up for at the door, online, or at a monthly meeting.

A new weekly Tuesday evening event in Honolulu aims at the over-30 crowd, which is good news for workers who want a night out without a late finish.

• The Bay at The Venue in Dole Cannery now hosts a Tuesday pau hana from 5 to 9 p.m., with everyone home by 10.
• Organizers Rick and Mike built it around 70s, 80s, and 90s music for people who have outgrown the late-night club scene.
• Rotating food trucks serve tacos and grilled plates, with a full bar offering cocktails and mocktails.
• Validated parking sits in the structure directly above the two venues for about $5.
• The same space, plus a new outdoor area, rents out for weddings, grad parties, fundraisers, reunions, and retirements.

Outlook: The event runs weekly going forward, with free tables given away to callers for the first night.

Thousands of acres of Hawaiʻi public land are heading for a decision point as 65-year military leases near their end, a high-stakes fight for Native Hawaiians, the state economy, and the Pentagon.

• The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is releasing "Held in Trust," a documentary on the history of these lands and what happens when the leases run out.
• The leases were signed 65 years ago for one dollar total, back when Hawaiʻi was a new state with little pull in Washington.
• The land sits in the public land trust and was once kingdom and crown land, giving OHA a legal seat at the table this time.
• OHA says it is not trying to push the military out — it wants a balance between national defense, the local economy, and protecting cultural sites and native plants and animals.
• The Pōhakuloa lease ends in August 2029, so the decision lands with the governor, the legislature, and voters within the next couple of years.

Outlook: Expect a public campaign to pressure state leaders ahead of the next legislative session, with the real negotiation over renewal terms building toward 2029.

A Hawaii travel agency has opened bookings far earlier than usual for island cruises and Japan tours, which is good news for families trying to plan and budget ahead.

• Pride of America Hawaiian island sailings are now bookable through Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's.
• The early release gives families, reunions and class organizers months of lead time instead of the usual few weeks.
• Cruise line rules bar advertising the discounted fares publicly, so prices are only shown on the website or by phone.
• Japan is the other big draw for 2027: Okinawa and spring cherry blossoms, the Hokkaido snow festival, summer family trips, and fall foliage tours coming in two weeks.
• The pitch to Hawaii residents is to redirect money normally spent on repeat Las Vegas trips into one bigger trip to Japan, Korea or Alaska.

Outlook: Remaining cabins on the Japan cherry blossom and snow festival trips are filling up, and fall foliage itineraries go on sale within two weeks.

The University of Hawaii West Oahu is celebrating 50 years with a week of campus events, a milestone that reflects steady growth on a fast-growing part of Oahu.

• The school started with 75 students in portable buildings and now has close to 3,000 on a permanent Kapolei campus.
• A new library exhibit covering the school's history opens this week, alongside tree plantings and a time capsule to be sealed Thursday and reopened in 2051.
• The campus feeds Hawaii's workforce directly: all its new teachers and most of its nurses stay in the state.
• Programs that stand out include cybersecurity, creative media, labor research, and the state's only sustainable community food systems degree — relevant in a place that imports 90% of its food.
• A veterans center supports one of the island's largest concentrations of military-affiliated students, and the school ranks second nationally for veteran support.

Outlook: Expect continued expansion on the West side as the region's population keeps growing and the campus builds out programs in emerging industries.

A Hawaii local food chain is growing, which is good news for Kapahulu customers and a sign of healthy demand for local comfort food.

• Aloha Manapua opened its fourth location on Kapahulu Avenue in Honolulu.
• The new shop comes right after the company opened a full-service restaurant.
• To draw a crowd, the first five steamed buns are being sold at a discount.
• The steady expansion points to strong local appetite for manapua and other island staples.

Outlook: More locations are likely if the Kapahulu shop draws the same crowds as the others.

Hawaii officials are pushing residents to tighten their online habits this October, warning that AI is making scams harder to spot — a growing risk for ordinary people, especially seniors.

• Phishing scams are the main threat, tricking people into handing over personal information.
• Kupuna are seen as the most at-risk group as fake messages get more convincing.
• Businesses and government agencies are still upgrading their systems, but officials say individuals matter just as much.
• The advice is simple: strong, unique passwords, multifactor logins, and sharing less personal information online.

Outlook: Expect more awareness pushes through October as AI-driven scams keep spreading.

Hawaii's state archives are opening up their Waikiki collection for National Archives Month, a small bit of good news for anyone interested in the islands' past.

• The Hawaii State Archives Division is posting Waikiki photos and historical details online and on social media every day this month.
• Some of the images have never been shown to the public before.
• The Department of Accounting and General Services picked Waikiki as this year's theme because it is Hawaii's best-known tourist spot.
• The push is meant to keep local history from being forgotten or lost.

Outlook: New photos and write-ups will keep rolling out through the end of October.

The University of Hawaii West Oahu is celebrating 50 years since its first classes, a good-news milestone for the Kapolei campus and the students it serves.

• The school opened in 1976 as West Oahu College with 75 students in temporary portable buildings.
• It now serves close to 3,000 students as a full four-year campus in Kapolei.
• Early staff recall starting with almost nothing, renting space after years of talk about a new campus that never came together.
• Anniversary events begin with an opening ceremony and a historical archive display at the James and Abigail Campbell Library.

Outlook: Celebrations run through the month, with more anniversary events planned on campus.

Hawaii County is adding weekend hours to help people apply for earthquake disaster aid, good news for residents still trying to file before the deadline.

• A new help center will open on Sundays in Captain Cook.
• FEMA and Small Business Administration staff will be there to walk people through applications.
• More than $1.5 million in aid has already been approved for people hit by the May earthquake.
• The deadline to apply is November 1st.

Outlook: Expect a push of last-minute applications as the November deadline closes in.

A Hawaii Island woman faces attempted murder charges after a knife attack at a home, a serious case for the victim and the family involved.

• Police charged 54-year-old Jill Dunston with attempted second-degree murder over a domestic incident in the Ainaloa subdivision.
• A 56-year-old man was stabbed and taken to a Hilo hospital for treatment.
• She also faces assault and abuse charges because a child was present during the attack.
• Her bail was set at just over $1 million.

Outlook: Dunston is due in Hilo District Court, where the charges will move forward.

Construction plans for a Chick-fil-A in Kailua are on hold after human remains turned up on the lot, a setback for the developer but a win for Native Hawaiian burial protections.

• Two human teeth were found during an archaeological survey of the property near Hamakua Drive and Hahani Street.
• Officials say the remains are more than 50 years old and likely Native Hawaiian.
• The project's own environmental plan requires all digging to stop and the state to be called in when remains show up.
• The Oahu Island Burial Council will decide whether the remains stay where they are or get moved.

Outlook: The burial council's ruling will determine how and when the restaurant can move forward.

Year-end is approaching, and a little planning now on retirement, taxes, and inheritance can leave people with more options later — neutral but useful for anyone with savings.

• Check whether your retirement savings are on track, since many people set a contribution rate years ago and never touch it again.
• Even a small bump in what you put into a 401(k) or IRA adds up a lot over time.
• On taxes, work out where your income will land this year and whether moves like charitable giving or selling investments make sense — the earlier you look, the more you can do.
• Review who is named as a beneficiary and whether estate paperwork still matches your life, especially after new children or grandchildren.

Outlook: The window for most year-end money moves closes on December 31, so decisions made in the next few weeks carry into next year's tax bill.

A car slammed into a building in Honolulu's Chinatown, damaging the structure and rattling residents, with no injuries reported so far.

• The car hit the building hard enough to be heard from inside the upstairs units.
• A resident heard a loud boom and came out to find the car lodged in the building and other vehicles involved.
• Police have not said what caused the crash.
• No injuries have been confirmed at this point.

Outlook: Investigators are expected to release details on the cause and any injuries soon.

Two condo complexes on the Big Island are still without running water seven weeks after the storm, leaving residents to cover basic needs themselves.

• A private water company's well was damaged and filled with debris during Hurricane Lala, and the pump, motor, and other equipment all need replacing.
• Residents have gone weeks without showers, dish washing, or working bathrooms, and paid out of pocket for portable toilets.
• If the well site turns out to be contaminated, repairs could take another three months.
• A permanent fix means drilling a new well — about two years and a $2 million investment.
• The county has now cleared access to drinking water from a fire hydrant, but residents say the water company itself has delivered nothing.

Outlook: Service may return within weeks if the well is clean, but real storm protection for the community is years away.

A Wainiha man is recovering after a log crushed into his excavator cab and severed his leg, a hard turn for a well-known Kauai figure now facing a long rehabilitation.

• Agenhart "Tin Tin" Puulei, 51, was clearing Hurricane Lowell debris with an excavator when a log he lifted fell into the cab.
• The log shattered the window and cut off his leg; he and a coworker used his belt as a tourniquet to stop the bleeding.
• He says he is grateful to be alive and credits his faith, calling the ordeal deeply traumatic.
• A familiar face on Kauai from his local TV segments teaching Hawaiian language and island food, he has drawn a wave of community support through a GoFundMe.
• His home needs wider doors and a ramp before he can return, on top of medical recovery costs.

Outlook: Donations continue to come in as his family works to make the house accessible for what is expected to be a long recovery.

Hawaii's LGBTQ+ community kicked off Pride Month with a sunrise blessing in Waikiki, a positive and culturally rooted start to weeks of celebration.

• Members of the Hawaii LGBT Legacy Foundation and LGBTQ+ community gathered at dawn to welcome the sun with Hawaiian chant.
• The ceremony blessed the Kapaemahu stones, long tied to Hawaiian healers honored as both male and female.
• The blessing links modern Pride to Native Hawaiian tradition rather than treating it as an imported event.
• Official Honolulu Pride events start next Wednesday with a kick-off pau hana at the International Market Place.

Outlook: Pride programming runs through the month in Waikiki, building toward the main parade and festival events.

A Big Island woman faces attempted murder charges after a man was badly hurt in a home attack, with a child present.

• Hawaii County police arrested Jill Dunston at a Pahoa home on Wednesday.
• A 56-year-old man was hospitalized after being struck with a sharp object.
• Charges include attempted murder, assault, and abusing a family member in front of a minor.
• Bail is set above $1 million.

Outlook: Her first court appearance is scheduled in Hilo.

A small fire broke out inside a Wahiawa gas station on Oahu and was put out within minutes, with no injuries reported.

• Honolulu firefighters got a late-morning 911 call about a fire inside the Hele gas station in Wahiawa.
• The fire was fully out about eight minutes later.
• No one was inside the building when it started.
• Investigators have not yet said what caused it or how much damage it did.
• Crews also handled a separate fire elsewhere in west Oahu the same day.

Outlook: Fire officials are expected to release a cause and damage estimate once the investigation wraps up.

Hawaii's football team lost another close one, leaving the Rainbow Warriors winless in conference play and in trouble as the season gets harder.

• Hawaii dropped the game 20-16 and is now 0-3 in the Mountain West, 1-4 overall.
• The team reached the end zone just once, on a Micah Alejado pass to Devin Alves.
• Alejado threw for 330 yards but gave up two interceptions, and the turnovers cost Hawaii the game.
• Former Hawaii backup Luke Weaver beat his old team, throwing two touchdowns for San Jose State.
• Coaches say the loss stings and the focus now is fixing the mistakes that keep hurting them.

Outlook: Hawaii travels to face Arizona State on Saturday, a tougher test with no sign the schedule eases up.

The University of Hawaii's West Oahu campus turns 50 this month, a bright moment for Kapolei and the island's growing west side.

• The campus opened in 1975 as West Oahu College with just 75 students.
• Early classes ran out of portable classrooms and borrowed high school space in Pearl City and Aiea.
• It did not get a permanent home until 2012, and now teaches close to 2,900 students in Kapolei.
• Alumni point to small classes and close access to professors as the draw.

Outlook: Anniversary events begin October 5 with an opening ceremony and a history display at the James and Abigail Campbell Library.

Hawaii Island has now seen 26 traffic deaths this year, well ahead of last year's pace — a bad sign for road safety on the island.

• A 42-year-old Mountain View man, Kainalu Rabusitz, died when his truck hit a tree and flipped off North Kulani Road on Friday night.
• He was alone in the truck.
• An autopsy has been ordered to pin down the exact cause of death.
• The crash is Hawaii Island's 26th traffic death this year, up from 17 at this point in 2025.

Outlook: Police are still investigating, and the sharp rise in deadly crashes is likely to draw more pressure for road safety enforcement.

Hawaiian Telcom is speeding up its switch from old copper lines to fiber across Hawaii, good news for customers who lost phone and internet service during recent storms.

• The company is moving faster on its statewide fiber network after a run of storms knocked out service.
• Fiber is tougher and easier to fix, so outages should be restored faster during the next disaster.
• Customers will not pay anything for the upgrade.
• Fiber broadband already reaches 90% of the company's Hawaii customers.

Outlook: Expect the remaining copper lines to be retired faster, with the pace tied to how hard the next storm season hits.

The University of Hawaii's West Oahu campus is celebrating 50 years this October, a bright spot for students on the island's west side.

• The school opened in 1976 as West Oahu College with just 75 students in temporary portable classrooms in Pearl City.
• It had no real campus of its own for decades — a permanent home finally opened in 2012.
• Supporters say the campus matters most for bright students and workers who live far from Honolulu and would otherwise go without.
• The growth from portable buildings to a full campus is the milestone being honored.

Outlook: Expect anniversary events through October as the campus keeps building out its role in West Oahu.

Hundreds of families gathered at Hawaii's State Capitol for a day built around kids — a bright, feel-good moment for the local community.

• The 33rd annual Children and Youth Day filled the Capitol grounds with games, learning activities, and goodie bags.
• Hundreds of young people performed on stage, with the event designed to showcase their talent and potential.
• Dozens of organizations volunteered time to take part, aiming to inspire kids toward community service.
• Families who first attended with young children are now returning with grandchildren, and several described the gathering as a welcome bright spot in heavy times.

Outlook: The state-established celebration is set to continue as an annual fixture on the Capitol calendar.

Two lanes of the H-2 freeway on Oahu are closing this week for utility work, a minor but real headache for northbound drivers.

• Crews are replacing utility poles and lines along the freeway near Ka Uka Boulevard.
• The two right lanes and the shoulder will be shut in the northbound direction.
• Closures run from early morning until early afternoon, hitting the morning commute.
• Drivers should expect backups and leave extra time or pick another route.

Outlook: Lanes should reopen each afternoon, with the work wrapping up by the end of the week.

Hawaii's utility regulators are collecting public feedback on how the electric grid held up during recent storms, a chance for residents hit by outages to be heard.

• The Public Utilities Commission is holding public information meetings this month on storm-related power reliability.
• Residents who lost power are being asked to describe what happened.
• Each meeting includes statements from HECO and the consumer advocate.
• Written comments can be submitted online ahead of the meetings.
• The first session is tomorrow evening at Kailua High School's cafeteria.

Outlook: The feedback gathered this month will shape how regulators press HECO on grid reliability heading into the next storm season.

A domestic violence stabbing on the Big Island has left a man hospitalized and a woman facing an attempted murder charge.

• A 56-year-old man was stabbed at a home in Pāhoa on Wednesday night and taken to the hospital.
• A 54-year-old woman was arrested and charged with attempted murder, assault, and abuse of a family or household member.
• The victim and witnesses pointed to her as the attacker and said she used a knife.
• The charges note the attack happened in the presence of others, which adds weight to the case.

Outlook: Big Island police are continuing their attempted murder investigation, with the case headed to court.

A month after Hurricane Lowell hit Kauai, the state's only remaining traditional salt-making site is damaged and the surrounding park is still shut — bad news for the families who keep the practice alive.

• Three feet of sand buried part of Salt Pond Beach Park, and big waves wiped out a protective dune built to shield the salt beds.
• The sand is the real problem: mixed into the clay, it lets saltwater drain away instead of holding it in the beds.
• Twenty-two families still make salt here, and they had waited years to get the dune project funded and planted before the storm destroyed it.
• The park also has broken water lines and no reopening date, though the county backs the restoration effort.
• Rising big surf, king tides, and rainier dry seasons were already making salt production harder year to year.

Outlook: A community work day on Saturday will start clearing debris and rebuilding the dunes, but the park's reopening remains open-ended.

Hawaii is spending money for the first time to clean up and secure eight state-owned cemeteries, good news for families visiting graves and neighbors tired of trespassing.

• Crews fenced the Waiʻe Japanese Cemetery, cut down invasive trees, and cleared out people living on the grounds.
• The state's accounting department got $2.3 million over two years, the first dedicated funding these cemeteries have ever had.
• Clearing the overgrowth took two months and produced 5 to 10 tons of trees and trash.
• Paths to graves that were completely blocked are now open again.
• A longtime neighbor doubts it will hold, saying people have cut through locked gates and fences before.

Outlook: The work wraps up in September, and the state is asking nearby residents to help keep the grounds in shape.

The Filipino Community Center in Hawaii is holding its biggest fundraiser of the year on October 10, a formal gala celebrating Filipino culture and raising money to keep the center running.

• The Bayanihan Gala is the center's largest annual fundraiser, held at a Honolulu hotel.
• Money raised pays for the 50,000-square-foot building and the programs and services inside it.
• The night also honors three people who gave their time and work to the center.
• Guests wear formal Filipino dress — the terno for women, the barong for men — with food stations from chefs around the island, plus dance and music.
• The gala kicks off Filipino American History Month, marking one of Hawaii's largest ethnic communities.

Outlook: Tickets and details are open to the public ahead of the October 10 event, with the program's dance lineup being kept as a surprise.

Hawaii's Filipino community is marking its eighth annual Filipino Food Week, a feel-good spotlight for local restaurants and Filipino American heritage.

• The week runs October 11 to 18, built around suka — Filipino vinegar — as this year's theme ingredient.
• Restaurants across the islands are taking part, including the Hilton Hawaiian Village's Rainbow Lanai, where the menu features chicken inasal, mushroom adobo, a kinilaw made with local Kona kampachi, and ube cheesecake.
• The timing lines up with Filipino American History Month in October.
• Organizers are also marking 120 years since the first Filipino farmers arrived in Hawaii, under the broader 80th year of Philippines–U.S. friendship.

Outlook: Expect a week of special menus and heritage events across Oahu, with vinegar-forward dishes as the draw.

A light weekend lineup in Honolulu, with a free family festival downtown and a cross-cultural dance production closing out at UH Manoa — good news for families looking for something cheap to do.

• Hawaii Children and Youth Day runs today on the State Capitol's Diamond Head lawn, free, with bounce houses, games, stage shows and food.
• Kids can collect stamps at booths for a goodie bag, and there's an air-conditioned tent with photos, games and prizes.
• UH Manoa wraps up "Epic," a dance production pairing artists from Hawaii and Taiwan, at the Earl Ernst Lab Theater with cheap tickets.
• Comedian Damon Wayans plays Blue Note Waikiki tonight, giving local fans a close-up show from a long-running TV and stand-up name.
• On the mainland, Dakota Johnson hosted Saturday Night Live for a third time with a surprise Taylor Swift appearance, and British singer Olivia Dean is being sued over claims her song copies a Bill Withers classic — the labels, not Dean, are the defendants.

Outlook: The Capitol festival ends this afternoon and the dance run closes today, so both are last-chance; the music copyright case will play out over months.

Former NBA player Craig Smith is in Hawaii alongside the Los Angeles Clippers, promoting his first children's book — a feel-good story for local fans and young readers.

• The Clippers are in town for a preseason game against the Warriors, drawing NBA attention to Hawaii.
• Smith, an Inglewood native and Clippers community ambassador, is out promoting his first book, "Craig and His Magical Basketball."
• The story follows a kid who makes it to the NBA, meant to push children to find their passion early.
• Clippers rookie Kobe Sanders, also an honorary captain at a University of Hawaii football game, is part of the local buzz.

Outlook: The preseason game should give Hawaii fans a rare look at NBA talent, with the book now available online and in stores.

The Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum is throwing its first craft beer night, a lighthearted fundraiser aimed at bringing new faces onto Ford Island.

• Hops and Props runs Saturday, October 10, from 6 to 9 p.m. inside the museum's historic hangars.
• Local brewers including Honolulu Beer Works, Lanikai, Kona and Maui will pour tastings, with live music and food on site.
• Flight simulators will be running and guides will be on hand to explain the aircraft, which include all three plane types used in the December 7, 1941 attack.
• CEO John Hills, a former Navy F/A-18 and Blue Angels pilot, will be there to meet guests and pose for photos.
• The nonprofit says it is more than a tourist stop: eight high school students train on campus daily as aircraft technicians.

Outlook: Tickets are on sale through the museum's events page, and a strong turnout would likely make the beer night a repeat fixture.

A late-night crash on the Big Island killed a pickup truck driver, and police are still working out what caused it.

• A pickup heading south on North County Road in Mountain View went off the road and hit a tree Friday night.
• The truck flipped over, and the driver was found unresponsive when police arrived.
• He was pronounced dead a short time later.
• Hawaii County police have opened an investigation into the crash.

Outlook: Police are expected to release more details, including what led the driver to lose control.

Kauai's entire coastline is under a brown water advisory, bad news for swimmers, surfers, and anyone with ocean plans this week.

• The state health department told people to stay out of the ocean around the whole island.
• Storm runoff is washing sewage, bacteria, and chemicals into coastal water.
• Anywhere the water looks brown or murky should be avoided, not just posted beaches.
• Contact with polluted water can cause infections and illness.

Outlook: The advisory stays in place until runoff clears and the water tests clean again.

A free wellness workshop in Lahaina is offering residents hands-on help for breathing problems as the town keeps rebuilding after the 2023 wildfires — a small but welcome support for people still dealing with health effects and stress.

• The Lahaina Jodo Mission is hosting the third and final detox and wellness session, with the Maui Community Healing Initiative.
• The focus is lung and respiratory health, using traditional Chinese medicine.
• Sessions include acupuncture, breathwork, meditation, and dry brushing instruction.
• The first 20 people get a free dry brush; the workshop runs this morning from 10 a.m. to noon.
• Organizers say the goal is giving people simple tools to handle daily stress, which is still high in Lahaina.

Outlook: This is the last session in the series, so follow-up support will depend on whether organizers launch another round.

A Pearl City senior community crowned a new Ms. Plaza, a feel-good local moment for residents and their families.

• May Imamura-Unuu, 86, a retired teacher and mother of five, won the title.
• Seven residents took the stage and talked about themselves for a panel of judges.
• Judges scored on personality and poise rather than looks.
• Beatrice Shiroma, 104, took the interview award, and Carol Murakami, 82, was also honored.
• The new winner said it was her first time wearing a tiara and that she flew in family to watch.

Outlook: The contest looks set to stay an annual highlight for the Pearl City senior community.

A fire broke out in a unit on the 30th floor of a South Street high-rise, and crews put it out — no injuries reported so far.

• Firefighters forced their way into the apartment at 801 South Street after a fire started in an oven.
• The call came in around 6:30 in the evening on the building's 30th floor.
• Debris was left scattered across the floor, and hazard cones were set up in the hallway.
• High-rise fires are harder to fight because crews have to haul gear up dozens of floors.

Outlook: Expect a damage assessment and a cause review, with residents on that floor likely displaced while the unit is cleaned up.

Three men were plucked off an Oahu ridgeline by helicopter after getting lost on a notoriously dangerous hike — good news that all walked away unhurt.

• The three got lost on the ridgeline between the top of the Haiku Stairs and the Moanalua Ridge Trail saddle.
• They had been climbing for hours before rescuers reached them.
• Honolulu firefighters airlifted them off the mountain mid-morning.
• All three declined medical care, so no injuries were reported.

Outlook: The Haiku Stairs area keeps drawing hikers into rescue situations, and more calls are likely until access is fully closed off.

The Polynesian Cultural Center has started a major rebuild of its Hawaii Village, good news for Oahu tourism and for anyone who wants Hawaiian culture shown accurately.

• Work has begun on the first phase of renovations at the center's north end, which will be remade to represent the Hawaiian Islands.
• The goal is to teach visitors more about Hawaiian culture and fix wrong ideas spread by movies and TV.
• Staff point out that some current buildings are not authentic, joking that guests think Hawaiians invented laminated wood beams.
• The work is split into phases so the center can stay open and keep running as normal.

Outlook: The full renovation and expansion is expected to be finished by 2028.

Hawaii hunters get their shot at the 2027 Lanai axis deer season, with applications opening Monday — good news for anyone hoping to draw a tag.

• Applications for the 2027 Lanai axis deer hunt open Monday.
• The season is split into four groups: archery, youth, muzzleloader, and general rifle.
• All four groups are filled by lottery, so a tag is not guaranteed.
• Standby spots may open up depending on how many people apply.

Outlook: Hunters who want a tag need to apply once the window opens, with lottery results deciding who gets in.

Middle school students in Hawaii spent a day doing hands-on conservation work at Waimea Valley, a small good-news story for the park and the kids involved.

• About 140 Maryknoll middle schoolers worked on gardening projects around the Waimea Valley Visitor Center during a school "Day of Service."
• The goal was to build a stronger connection to Hawaii's land and environment.
• Many of the kids had never been to Waimea before, and some had never worked in dirt or pulled weeds.
• The school ties the day to its motto, "to whom much is given, much is expected."

Outlook: The school plans to keep pushing service and land stewardship as a regular part of student life.

Hawaii's bon dance season closed out with an indoor festival at Windward Mall, a feel-good community event for families on Oahu's windward side.

• The season's final bon dance was held at the mall's center court instead of outdoors.
• Traditional dance performances anchored the evening.
• Food booths served Japanese and Okinawan dishes.
• Live music rounded out the night.

Outlook: Bon dance season is over until next summer, when the outdoor festivals return.

Hundreds of people turned out in Honolulu to raise money for families living with ALS, a hopeful show of support for a community facing a disease with no cure.

• The 14th annual Walk and Roll to Cure ALS drew hundreds to Kapiolani Park.
• ALS, also called Lou Gehrig's disease, attacks the nervous system and takes away the ability to walk, talk, swallow, and breathe.
• Care can cost a family up to $250,000 a year, so money raised goes toward free services, medical equipment, and support groups.
• More than 35,000 people across the country have ALS, including more than 100 families being helped in Hawaii.

Outlook: Funds raised will keep covering care costs for Hawaii families while researchers still search for a cure.

Construction has started on a 60-home community in Lahaina that burned down in the 2023 Maui wildfires, good news for families still waiting to return.

• A groundbreaking ceremony marked the start of rebuilding the site near Front Street.
• Six two-story buildings will go back up at their original size and layout.
• The new homes add fire-resistant roofing and landscaping to reduce future risk.
• It is one of the larger rebuilding efforts since the fire destroyed much of the town.

Outlook: Construction work will move ahead on the site, with more Lahaina rebuilding projects expected to follow.

A man died in a single-vehicle crash on the Big Island, the latest in a rising traffic death toll for Hawaii County.

• A pickup driver lost control on North Kulani Road near Stainback Highway late at night, hit a tree and flipped the truck.
• The driver was pronounced dead at the scene and was not wearing a seat belt.
• Police think speed, alcohol and drugs all played a part.
• It is the 26th traffic death on the Big Island this year.

Outlook: Police are still investigating, and the climbing death count is likely to bring more pressure for enforcement on rural Big Island roads.

Hawaii's governor is pushing to speed up the removal of rotting food from a shuttered Honolulu restaurant, bad news for the business and neighbors stuck with the smell.

• Crews clearing spoiled food from Happy Days Restaurant say the job will take several more days than planned.
• Refrigerators and freezers are still full, and the fumes are so strong workers must stop every 10 to 15 minutes.
• Josh Green has told the health department and the state's adjutant general not to delay and to get the building cleared.
• 500 National Guard members already in Hawaii for storm recovery could be pulled in to help.

Outlook: The restaurant is expected to be fully cleared within the next few days.

Hawaii has shut down a Pearl City junkyard after a fire sent toxic smoke across Oahu — bad news for the company, a relief for neighbors who say the state waited too long.

• A huge pile of scrapped cars and auto parts caught fire at ABC Towing and Parts, burning for two hours and sending black smoke for miles.
• The state health department found high levels of carbon monoxide and soot in the air, plus oily runoff draining from the property toward Pearl Harbor.
• The site sits near homes, schools, and farms, and neighbors reported choking fumes as far away as Mililani along with the sound of explosions.
• This was not the first fire there — the state had already taken action against the company twice since early 2025.

Outlook: The company must say whether it will comply and submit a cleanup plan within days, or the state will clean up the site itself and bill them for it.

A Hawaii family's story puts a human face on breast cancer awareness month, with a hopeful message about early detection.

• A daughter, mother, and grandmother in the same family have each been diagnosed with breast cancer.
• The daughter's diagnosis came in 2023, her mother's in 2015, and the grandmother found her own lump as the daughter was finishing radiation.
• All three tested negative for the BRCA gene mutation, which makes the cluster unusually rare.
• Native Hawaiian women face a breast cancer rate 27% higher than white women.
• Treatment in Honolulu was made easier by the American Cancer Society's Hope Lodge, which houses cancer patients for free.

Outlook: The family's push is for yearly mammograms even for women with no family history and clean genetic tests.

A deadly pickup truck crash on Hawaii Island adds to a sharp rise in traffic deaths this year — bad news for road safety on the Big Island.

• A pickup truck left North Kalani Road in Mountain View, hit a tree, and flipped; the driver, alone in the truck, died at the scene.
• Speed, no seat belt, and alcohol or drugs are all suspected as factors.
• This is the 26th traffic death on Hawaii Island this year, up from 17 at the same point last year.
• The jump suggests a worsening pattern of deadly crashes, not an isolated case.

Outlook: Police are still investigating, and the rising death count will likely bring more pressure for speed and impaired-driving enforcement.

Hawaii families get a free day out at the State Capitol, with games, music, and food aimed at kids.

• The event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hawaii State Capitol.
• It celebrates children and youth, with games, entertainment, live music, and food from local vendors.
• Parking is free at the Frank Fasi Civic Center municipal lot.
• Part of the activities moves indoors under a large air-conditioned tent, with more games and prizes.

Outlook: Expect big family crowds downtown for the day, so arriving early will help with parking.

Kilauea has gone quiet after more than a year of dramatic, clockwork lava fountains — disappointing for visitors who had been rushing out to watch, but no immediate danger either way.

• The last real fountaining episode was in late August, after 54 episodes in the cycle.
• Magma moved under the summit again overnight but stopped short of the surface — a "failed eruption."
• Scientists watched it happen through swarms of small earthquakes and ground shifting, the usual signs rocks are cracking as magma pushes a new path.
• Pressure under the volcano is still high enough for fountaining to restart, and lava is still visible in the vents.
• If this underground magma movement keeps up instead, fountaining becomes less and less likely.
• The recent storms had no effect on the volcano itself — only on the scientists trying to work.

Outlook: Kilauea could swing either way in the coming weeks, either returning to fountaining or settling into quiet underground magma movement.

A brother-and-sister team in Wailuku has built a gift shop around jobs for adults with disabilities, a good-news story for families who struggle to find work options.

• Tiffany Chow and her brother Christian opened a retail shop on Maui that exists mainly to employ adults with disabilities.
• The idea came after Tiffany became her brother's main caregiver and saw how few options exist once college or a regular job is off the table.
• The shop sells jewelry, t-shirts, bags and other gifts, much of it made in-house by the staff.
• Jobs are matched to what each person is good at — making jewelry, running the register, handling the mail, picking the music.
• The store sits at Main and Market in Wailuku and is open Monday through Saturday, 10 to 4.

Outlook: The shop plans to keep growing its product lines so it can take on more workers with a wider range of abilities.

A Marine master sergeant is bringing Atlanta-style southern cooking to Oahu through a family-run food business, good news for islanders looking for something new.

• Gregory North, a Marine master sergeant, runs 404 Patties on Oahu after his wife pushed him to turn family backyard cooking into a business.
• The menu leans on Atlanta staples: prime rib cheesesteaks, deep-fried wings in sweet-spicy honey lemon pepper, and a four-cheese mac and cheese.
• Atlanta style means wings done extra crispy and extra wet, a flavor mix most locals have never tried.
• The food blends his southern roots with his wife's and mother's Trinidadian cooking, and the kids work the events too.
• There is no storefront — the business runs on local pop-ups, vendor events, and catering, with orders taken through social media.

Outlook: Repeat customers are growing, so expect more pop-ups and catering dates around the island.

Korean American rapper Johnny Park, known as Dumbfoundead, is out with a memoir and heading to Honolulu for a sold-out signing — good news for fans of Asian American storytelling.

• The book, *Spit: A Life in Battles*, covers his teens through early 20s in the Los Angeles freestyle and battle rap scene.
• Now 40, he frames those years of trading insults on stage as what toughened him up and shaped him as a person.
• It comes from Third State Books, an independent publisher focused on Asian American stories, and is also in Barnes & Noble.
• His message to young Asian Americans who feel shut out or unwelcome right now: your story is interesting and worth telling.
• He has been performing across Hawaii for 15 years and recently turned up on The Daily Show.

Outlook: Once the book tour winds down, he expects to work on a new album and possibly tour again.

Hawaii's electric utility wants to raise rates, which is bad news for people on fixed incomes already paying some of the highest power bills in the country.

• Statewide hearings on the proposed increase just wrapped up.
• A typical home bill would go up $11 to $15 a month, depending on the island.
• HECO says the money is needed to strengthen the grid and upgrade its systems.
• Retirees told the commission they simply cannot cover higher bills on fixed incomes.
• Critics argue big utility-scale projects drive up costs that get passed to customers.

Outlook: The Public Utilities Commission now weighs the testimony before deciding whether to approve the increase.

Hawaii's health department has ordered a Pearl City towing and junkyard business to stop operating immediately, a win for nearby residents worried about pollution but a sudden halt for the company.

• A fire tore through the ABC Towing yard on Wednesday, throwing thick smoke over the area.
• Crews found hazardous materials at the site, which officials say could leak into the land and waterways.
• The health department had already told the company to clean up its act twice before, including an order in July.
• Officials are now treating it as an emergency, and the company has 24 hours to respond.

Outlook: Expect fines or further enforcement if the company cannot show it has contained the hazardous material.

A visitor who filmed herself walking past locked gates into a closed Maui park has drawn heavy backlash and faces possible fines, in a story that has reopened tensions between Hawaii residents and tourists.

• Nuri Abdullah entered Waianapanapa State Park in Hana in late September while it was closed for Hurricane Nolo, going around a locked gate and warning signs.
• She filmed herself saying she did not care about the closure and posted it on social media, where it went viral.
• Breaking a park closure like this can bring a fine of several hundred to a couple thousand dollars and up to a month in jail.
• Her apology two days later landed badly locally, partly because she paired it with angry words for people criticizing her.
• State land officials say the park holds important cultural sites and that respect is the condition for sharing it with visitors.

Outlook: State officials are weighing whether to issue a citation, and the case is likely to fuel more pressure for stricter enforcement at Hawaii's cultural sites.

Rebuilding has finally reached the heart of old Lahaina, good news for fire survivors who have waited more than three years to come home.

• Construction starts this month on the first homes in Lahaina's historic district, on a Front Street lot that is still bare gravel.
• Sixty homes will be rebuilt there, with work expected to take 18 months.
• The buildings go back up at their original size and layout, but with fire-resistant siding and roofing, clear space around them, and native plants that use less water.
• Residents are everyday working people — teachers, firefighters, plumbers, electricians, surf instructors, service workers — the ones who keep the town running.
• Maui's Rita Paulsen General Contracting is doing the work; one returning resident, a retired teacher who escaped the 2023 fire by car, turns 80 next year.

Outlook: The first keys should be handed over in about a year and a half, with many other Lahaina residents still waiting for their turn.

A Kailua community gathered to mourn a 30-year-old man shot dead at a family festival, as the accused shooter was formally charged.

• Thomas Malone, 30, was killed during a fight between two groups at the Kailua Fall Festival last Saturday.
• A large crowd filled the Target parking lot where he died for a candlelight vigil.
• Malone's father questioned why anyone would bring a gun to a family event, and urged mourners not to turn grief into revenge.
• A 24-year-old suspect was indicted on second-degree murder and firearms charges.

Outlook: The case now moves toward trial, and pressure is likely to grow over guns at public family events in Hawaii.

Hawaiian Electric's rushed sale of its bank arm is drawing fire, and the losers may be fire victims and electric customers.

• Hawaiian Electric Industries sold American Savings Bank on New Year's Eve 2024 for about $450 million, under state pressure to raise cash fast.
• The bank went public last month and is now worth close to $1.2 billion — a 164% jump far beyond what other local banks have managed.
• Critics say the company left half a billion dollars on the table, money that could have paid victims and held down rates.
• Mainland investors and insiders with access to the deal walked away much richer instead.
• Hawaiian Electric says it got the maximum the market would pay, and is now asking regulators for a $170 million rate increase to fund fire prevention.

Outlook: The final hearing on the rate increase is tonight, and it is unclear whether regulators will hold the bank sale against the company.

Hawaii regulators have shut down a Waiawa junkyard after a fire there spread hazardous material, bad news for the company and a relief for nearby residents.

• The state health department ordered ABC Towing to stop work immediately and clean up the contamination.
• The company has 72 hours to hand in a cleanup plan.
• If it misses that deadline, the state will do the cleanup itself and send the company the bill.
• Firefighters were still putting out hot spots at the Lehua Avenue yard days after Wednesday's fire.
• The company already owes close to half a million dollars in earlier fines.

Outlook: Expect the cleanup plan deadline to pass this week, with the state likely stepping in and adding to the company's growing bill.

Honolulu police are stepping up enforcement against illegal electric dirt bikes, which is bad news for unlicensed riders but welcome to residents fed up with the noise and danger.

• Two minors were arrested and three illegal dirt bikes seized in a joint operation in Kapolei.
• Officers handed out nine citations during the same sweep.
• Neither of the minors arrested had a license to ride.
• Police used the operation to remind riders that these bikes are not street legal.

Outlook: Expect more sweeps like this one as police keep targeting illegal dirt bike riding on Oahu.

Boaters on Kauai can use the Port Allen launch ramp again, though the harbor is still only partly open.

• State land and natural resources officials finished inspections and surveys and cleared the ramp as safe.
• Surveys also found no hazards for boats navigating in and out.
• Slips and moorings stay closed because of damage from Hurricane Lowell.
• The harbor office is taking questions from boat owners still locked out.

Outlook: Repairs to the damaged slips and moorings will decide when the rest of the harbor reopens.

Travelers flying Hawaiian or Alaska out of Honolulu need to arrive earlier starting Saturday, a small hassle for late arrivers but a push for smoother boarding.

• Checked bags must be tagged and dropped off 50 minutes before departure instead of 30.
• Hawaiian says most passengers already check in on the app well before the cutoff, so the change mainly hits people who cut it close.
• The tighter deadline is tied to more seats flying between the islands as bigger planes come into the fleet.
• International check-in moves to Terminal 2, Lobby 4, covering flights to Japan, Sydney, Tahiti, the Cook Islands and American Samoa.
• The vacated lobby space is being rebuilt into extra Alaska check-in counters so both airlines feel the same.

Outlook: Expect longer lead times at Honolulu's airport and more combined Hawaiian-Alaska check-in space as the two carriers keep merging operations.

Friday night football in Honolulu draws families for more than the game, and for band and cheer parents the sideline is the main event.

• Parents of band members and cheerleaders fill the Roosevelt stands to watch their own kids perform, not the football team.
• The best seat is the one with a clear view of the sideline, not the field.
• Students say seeing their parents in the crowd keeps them motivated, even after a mistake.
• Fans who do not follow football say the music and the spectacle are what make the night worth attending.

Outlook: Expect the same split crowd through the rest of the high school season, with band and cheer families filling the stands week after week.

Hundreds of people in Kailua gathered to mourn a 30-year-old man shot and killed last weekend, a painful moment for his family and a community now worried about local safety.

• Thomas Malone, 30, was found with a fatal gunshot wound in a Kailua Target parking lot last Saturday.
• Family and friends held a candlelight vigil in the same parking lot where he was found.
• Hundreds turned out, a sign of how widely he was known in the community.
• No details have been released about a suspect or motive.

Outlook: Police are expected to continue investigating as the community pushes for answers.

Six people were hurt when a pickup truck drove into a Longs Drugs store in Hilo, and police are now treating it as a possible negligence case.

• An 86-year-old man drove his pickup through the store at Prince Kuhio Plaza late yesterday afternoon.
• Six people inside, ages 24 to 76, were injured; two went to the hospital.
• The driver walked away unhurt.
• Hawaii police have opened a negligent injury investigation.

Outlook: Police will decide in the coming days whether the driver faces charges.

A Kailua family's grief turned public this week as friends and relatives gathered where a 30-year-old father of three was shot and killed — a somber story for the community, with a push toward action against youth gun violence.

• Thomas Malone, 30, was fatally shot in a Kailua parking lot on Saturday night.
• Family and friends held a candlelight vigil at the same spot, filling the lot with flowers and candles.
• His father, Mike Malone, remembered a standout high school athlete who won state titles in football, soccer and track in one year, and turned down college football after concussions.
• Mike Malone says he will now work with young people to steer them away from gun violence, pointing out that fistfights in his generation did not end in death.

Outlook: Expect the family to push a local anti-violence effort aimed at youth as the case moves forward.