Experts eye more travel testing to contain COVID in Hawaii
HONOLULU — Hawaii officials are facing pressure to increase COVID-19 testing for travelers as the islands deal with a record surge of new infections, hospitalization and deaths. The calls come as federal guidelines change to require negative virus tests from both vaccinated and unvaccinated people coming to the U.S.
Lots of money, lots of need: Council gets an update on federal rescue funds
Hawaii County’s $39 million federal American Rescue stimulus package has increased to almost $60 million, all of which must be spent by the end of 2024, members of the County Council Finance Committee learned Tuesday.
Deadline nears for HVNP’s air tours plan
Eleven of 24 U.S. national parks have completed drafts of court-ordered air tour management plans and released them for public comment.
COVID-19 antibody treatments capped amid shortage
HONOLULU — Hawaii health care providers are receiving only half the number of monoclonal antibody treatments for COVID-19 that they requested amid a shortage of the drugs.
Anti-vaccine leader has regrets after getting COVID
HONOLULU — A man who helped organize a Hawaii group that opposes COVID-19 vaccines and mandates says he contracted the disease and now has regrets.
COVID-19 surge tapers off
Hawaii appears to be “out of the red zone” for COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations.
Hawaii airport workers given extra time for vaccine mandate
HONOLULU — Airline workers and Transportation Security Administration staff have been granted a grace period to comply with a Hawaii order that requires people going to state facilities like airports to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test.
US easing virus restrictions for foreign flights to America
WASHINGTON — In a major easing of pandemic travel restrictions, the U.S. said Monday it will allow foreigners to fly into the country this fall if they have vaccination proof and a negative COVID-19 test — changes replacing a hodgepodge of rules that had kept out many non-citizens and irritated allies in Europe and beyond where virus cases are lower.
COVID has killed about as many Americans as the 1918-19 flu
COVID-19 has now killed about as many Americans as the 1918-19 Spanish flu pandemic did — approximately 675,000.
Clog in online permitting system slows PV installations
Local solar and photovoltaic contractors say there’s a clog in the permit pipeline from the county’s new EPIC online permitting system.
Hakalau park to remain closed for foreseeable future
Hakalau Beach Park likely will remain closed for the foreseeable future as the state Department of Transportation plans a multi-million-dollar project to repair the nearby bridge.
Police suspend search for missing Oahu girl
HONOLULU — Honolulu police on Monday suspended their search for a 6-year-old girl who has been missing for more than a week.
Colorado man working to get USS Arizona unknowns identified
Budding young philanthropists: Students spearhead fundraising effort for KARES
Kohala Animal Relocation and Education Service (KARES) received an unexpected donation from a group of Kueana Education Academy students.
Kolekole Bridge disruption: Emergency weight limit impacts emergency responders, truckers, mass transit
State Sen. Lorraine Inouye on Friday said the state Department of Transportation is declaring the area of Hawaii Belt Road near Kolekole Bridge a “traffic emergency zone.”
Hawaii sees few flu cases so far
Hawaii is heading into its second flu season since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Astronomers believe to have found proof of existence of Planet Nine
Astronomers using the Subaru Telescope believe they have found evidence of a ninth planet in the solar system.
Volcano erupts in Canary Islands; lava destroys some homes
LOS LLANOS DE ARIDANE, Spain — A volcano on Spain’s Atlantic Ocean island of La Palma erupted Sunday after a weeklong buildup of seismic activity, prompting authorities to evacuate thousands as lava flows destroyed isolated houses and threatened to reach the coast. New eruptions continued into the night.
Big Island schools provide COVID testing under DOH program
Nearly two dozen Big Island schools have signed up to provide COVID-19 tests to students and faculty as part of a program offered through the state Department of Health.
A job well done: Couple reclaims 6-acre farm in South Kona
When Carolyn Witcover and Debbie Coke bought the lease on a ramshackle coffee farm in South Kona, they knew they had some work to do. Though they were prepared for a steep learning curve and months of hard labor, they were determined to make their farm productive and try to find pleasure in the process.
