Island Life Live: SNAP cuts, sumo's return, and Dolly Parton's last song
Hawaii faces a mix of bad news for families on food assistance and good news for sports and culture fans.
- About 141,000 Hawaii residents on food stamps could lose benefits under proposed federal rule changes that sharply lower the income limit to qualify, hitting families already struggling with high living costs.
- Gmail users are warned about new malware called Remis Stealer that can read emails and steal security codes even after a password change; Google says to clean infected devices and revoke suspicious logins.
- Professional sumo returns to Hawaii on February 6, with Hawaii-born legend Konishiki helping bring 19 wrestlers from Japan to Honolulu.
- Dolly Parton's last recorded song, a duet with Bono, comes out this Friday as the final track on an upcoming album, released months after her death.
- A new Maui marketplace, Ulu Ole, opened in Lahaina with 23 small businesses, part of the area's rebuilding effort after the wildfires.
Outlook: Expect continued debate over the SNAP cuts as they move through the federal process, while Hawaii's tourism and cultural calendar fills up with the sumo event and Pink's new Las Vegas residency announced for 2027.