Explore

Rapid ReadRapid Read
Hawaii County Council Advances Bill to Extend Homeless and Housing Fund

Hawaii County Council Advances Bill to Extend Homeless and Housing Fund

The Hawaii County Council has advanced a bill that seeks to extend the county's Homeless and Housing Fund until June 2029. During its first reading, the bill received a 7-2 vote, mirroring the outcome of a previous Finance Committee meeting. The fund, initially established as a pilot program in 2022, allocates a minimum of $9 million annually from property tax revenues to local non-profit organizations dedicated to addressing homelessness. The current program is set to expire in June 2027, and Bill 192 proposes a two-year extension.
Rapid ReadRapid Read
U.S. House and Senate Introduce Bipartisan Arts Education for All Act

U.S. House and Senate Introduce Bipartisan Arts Education for All Act

U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono of Hawai‘i and Senator Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico, both Democrats, have introduced the Arts Education for All Act in the Senate. Companion legislation was simultaneously introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Democratic Representative Suzanne Bonamici of Oregon. This bipartisan initiative aims to support and expand access to arts education and programming for young learners across the nation. The bill is endorsed by 132 national, state, and local organizations, including Americans for the Arts and the National Association for Music Education, highlighting broad support for its objectives.
1Weather1Weather
Kīlauea Volcano Eruption Update: Increased Activity at Halemaʻumaʻu Crater

Kīlauea Volcano Eruption Update: Increased Activity at Halemaʻumaʻu Crater

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has reported increased volcanic activity at Kīlauea's Halemaʻumaʻu Crater in Hawaiʻi. Overnight on October 11, 2026, the north vent began erupting continuously, producing a small, tube-fed pahoehoe lava flow that advanced a few hundred meters. This activity follows episodic eruptions that have occurred since December 2024. The summit remains highly pressurized, with 26 shallow earthquakes recorded in the past 24 hours. Sulfur dioxide emissions are currently between 1,000 and 5,000 tonnes per day, contributing to vog (volcanic air pollution) in downwind areas. The USGS has maintained the volcano alert level at WATCH and the aviation color code at ORANGE, indicating ongoing hazards and the potential for rapid changes in activity.
Rapid ReadRapid Read
Representative Suzanne Bonamici Introduces Companion Legislation for Arts Education for All Act in U.S. House

Representative Suzanne Bonamici Introduces Companion Legislation for Arts Education for All Act in U.S. House

U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici of Oregon has introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives for the Arts Education for All Act. This bill aims to support and expand access to arts education and programming for young learners across the nation. The legislation was initially introduced in the Senate by U.S. Senators Mazie Hirono of Hawai’i and Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico. The Arts Education for All Act is endorsed by 132 national, state, and local organizations and individuals, including prominent groups such as Americans for the Arts, American Art Therapy Association, Carnegie Center for Literacy & Learning, Grantmakers in the Arts, and the National Association for Music Education. The bill seeks to increase states' ability to implement arts programming for various age groups, from early learners and K-12 students to youth and adults involved in the justice system. It also aims to strengthen research into arts education to better inform educators and policymakers on how the arts...
House WatchHouse Watch
The Closest Federal Election Held in Hawaii

The Closest Federal Election Held in Hawaii

Exploring the closest federal election in Hawaii's history, a unique and chaotic 1986 special election for Congress with a razor-thin margin.
Rapid ReadRapid Read
Polynesian DNA Study Reveals Strong Genetic Link Between Hawaiʻi and Easter Island

Polynesian DNA Study Reveals Strong Genetic Link Between Hawaiʻi and Easter Island

A new study on Polynesian DNA has revealed a surprising and strong genetic connection between the populations of Hawaiʻi and Rapa Nui (Easter Island), two of the most geographically distant islands settled by Polynesian voyagers. Despite being approximately 4,350 miles (7,000 kilometers) apart, their people are each other’s closest genetic relatives among remote island populations. The research, led in part by Keolu Fox, an associate professor of anthropology at the University of California San Diego, analyzed the complete DNA of 1,050 individuals from various Polynesian islands, including the Austral Islands, Society Islands, Marquesas, Tuamotu Archipelago, Mangareva, Samoa, and Tonga. The study found that the genetic link between Hawaiʻi and Rapa Nui was consistently stronger than with other islands, suggesting a shared history of long-distance voyaging, potentially rooted through Mangareva. This phenomenon, termed 'founder effect,' indicates that small groups of settlers carried a subset of the gene poo...
TrendlineTrendline
Hawaiian Electric Faces Public Scrutiny Over Reliability and Proposed Rate Hike Amidst Storm Outages

Hawaiian Electric Faces Public Scrutiny Over Reliability and Proposed Rate Hike Amidst Storm Outages

Hawaiian Electric Faces Public Scrutiny Over Reliability and Proposed Rate Hike Amidst Storm Outages
Rapid ReadRapid Read
Heavy Rain Causes Flooding on Oahu's Kamehameha Highway, Prompting Caution

Heavy Rain Causes Flooding on Oahu's Kamehameha Highway, Prompting Caution

A section of Kamehameha Highway near Sunset Beach Elementary School on Oahu's North Shore experienced significant flooding on Thursday due to heavy rainfall. The downpours created a torrent that carried gravel from a private, unpaved access road onto the highway. Independent crews were deployed to clear the debris using heavy machinery. Despite the flooding and debris, the highway remained open, with drivers pausing to allow workers to shift the gravel. Vehicles in other parts of the highway were observed moving slowly and cautiously through slick and swamped stretches. Area council member Matt Weyer advised the public to avoid roadways if possible and emphasized the danger of driving through floodwaters, stating that as little as six inches of water can cause a vehicle to lose control.
1Weather1Weather
Kīlauea Volcano Activity Prompts Trail Closures in Hawaii

Kīlauea Volcano Activity Prompts Trail Closures in Hawaii

Renewed volcanic activity at Kīlauea volcano in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park has led to the temporary closure of Halemaʻumaʻu Trail and part of Byron Ledge Trail. The US Geological Survey (USGS) issued a volcanic activity notice earlier this week, reporting spattering at two vents and increased seismic activity beneath the summit. Over 200 shallow earthquakes were recorded in the past week, including a magnitude-3.4 earthquake on September 30 that caused rockfalls along the caldera’s north wall. Kīlauea remains at an ORANGE aviation color code, indicating heightened volcanic activity with potential eruption risks. Scientists have observed new cracks along the caldera floor but cannot forecast the timing of the volcano’s next lava fountaining episode. Visitors are advised to avoid closed areas and unstable cliff edges due to potential hazards.
1Weather1Weather
Kīlauea Volcano Activity Forces Immediate Trail Closures

Kīlauea Volcano Activity Forces Immediate Trail Closures

Rising seismic activity at Hawaii’s Kīlauea volcano has prompted immediate closures of the Halemaʻumaʻu Trail and parts of Byron Ledge Trail at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The closures cover about 1.3 miles as scientists monitor renewed vent activity, underground magma movement and new cracks near the summit. More than 200 earthquakes were recorded in the summit area over the past week, while six shallow quakes occurred in a recent 24 hour period. Kīlauea remained at an orange aviation alert level, the second highest on the USGS scale. Scientists say the timing of a possible next lava fountaining episode remains uncertain.
Rapid ReadRapid Read
Hawaii Department of Education Seeks Additional Funds for $100 Million in Storm Damage Repairs

Hawaii Department of Education Seeks Additional Funds for $100 Million in Storm Damage Repairs

The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education (HIDOE) is requesting additional funding to address approximately $100 million in damages sustained from five major storms that have impacted the state since March. A report to the Board of Education indicated that this year's storms have caused an estimated $198 million in damage and resulted in over 400 work orders. The department is still assessing the full extent of damage from recent Hurricanes Lowell and Nolo, suggesting that the total cost estimates are likely to increase. While HIDOE has received $50 million for repairs, a significant funding gap remains. Deputy Superintendent Tammi Oyadomari-Chun stated that efforts are underway with the governor and the Legislature to secure the necessary additional funds, particularly to address over $100 million in damage from the Kona low storms. The Kona low storms in March affected 54 schools, generating 224 work orders with preliminary costs of $162 million. Hurricane Lala in mid-August led to repairs at 38 schools,...
Bucks County Courier TimesBucks County Courier Times
When do we turn back the clocks? Daylight saving time is coming

When do we turn back the clocks? Daylight saving time is coming

Here's when we "fall back" this year for daylight saving time. Will it ever change?