Hawaii shuts down as kona low storm hits, former governor Ariyoshi turns 100, Mokulele announces electric aircraft, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiʻi Storm Shutters Schools, State Offices As Weather Expected To Worsen. For the second time in just over a month, the governor has shut down state of Hawaiʻi government offices in anticipation of severe weather.  Gov. Josh Green issued an emergency proclamation Thursday afternoon as heavy rain and flooding were being felt statewide, with more on the way. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Now.   Civil Beat.

Hawaiʻi Storm Update: Forecast, Schools, Closures, Shelters, More. Hazardous weather including flash flooding, damaging high winds and thunderstorms was expected through the weekend due to a powerful Kona low storm, according to the National Weather Service. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio. KHON2.  KITV4.  Hawaii News Now.

Former Hawaii Gov. George Ariyoshi turns 100. A former Hawaii governor celebrated his centenary birthday Thursday. Former Gov. George Ariyoshi was born in Honolulu on this day in 1926 and became Hawaii’s third governor in 1974. He was in office through 1986 and is the state’s longest-serving governor. Hawaii News Now.

Economic outlook points to slower growth, DBEDT says. Hawaii’s economy is expected to continue growing over the next several years, though at a slower pace than in 2025, according to a new quarterly economic report released Thursday by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Star-Advertiser.

7 criminal justice reform bills pass Hawaiʻi House and move to Senate. Seven measures Hawaiʻi state lawmakers say will modernize the state’s criminal justice system passed out of the House of Representatives and have crossed over to the Senate. Big Island Now.

Bills to increase tenant protections advance at Legislature. About 40% of Hawaiʻi’s residents are renters. State lawmakers are considering two measures that aim to improve protections for tenants and provide resources to better understand their rights. Hawaii Public Radio.

Mokulele Airlines’ parent company aims to bring electric passenger service to Hawaii. The parent company of Mokulele Airlines struck a deal that aims to launch the first commercial passenger electric service in Hawaii. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiian Airlines nonunion layoffs top 400. Hawaiian Airlines has notified 48 more nonunion employees of layoffs between May and June, bringing the total number of workers slated to lose their jobs due to the merger to several hundred since Alaska Air Group’s $1.9 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Holdings on Sept. 18, 2024. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

City leaders warn powerful storm could bring flooding, strong winds and island-wide impacts to Oahu. City and county leaders said a powerful storm approaching Oahu could bring dangerous flooding, strong winds and widespread impacts across the island through the weekend. KITV4.

Honolulu opens evacuation shelters across island. The City and County of Honolulu announced the opening of emergency shelters for residents impacted by the Kona storm system. KHON2.

Here’s Where Honolulu Wants To Cut Funding For Open Jobs. With 1 in 5 city jobs unfilled, some departments would lose millions of dollars while others would lose nothing. Civil Beat.

Honolulu transit agency proposes $501M budget for FY27. The Honolulu Department of Transportation Services, charged with operating TheBus, Skyline, TheHandi-Van, is requesting a more than half-billion dollar operating budget for fiscal year 2027. Star-Advertiser.

Controversy Engulfs HECO’s Proposed $1 Billion Power Plant. The state energy office and Hawaiʻi’s largest utility are at odds over upgrades to a major Oʻahu power plant that have been in the works for years. Civil Beat.

HPD seizes gaming machines, cash during raid in Wahiawa. Honolulu Police Department officers seized multiple gaming machines and cash on Wednesday after executing a search warrant at an illegal gambling establishment on Mala Street in Wahiawa. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Hawaiʻi County Facilities To Close Friday and Saturday. All non-emergency County services and operations will be closed as a powerful Kona low storm moves across the State and the Big Island. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

Maui

MEO offices to close Friday due to Kona storm. Maui Economic Opportunity will be closing its Wailuku, Hāna, Kaunakakai, Molokaʻi, and Lānaʻi City offices and Head Start preschools Friday, March 13, due to the fierce wind and rain forecast from the powerful kona storm. Maui Now.

Central Maui, Molokaʻi, West Maui, South Maui shelters before kona storm intensifies. In coordination with the Maui Emergency Management Agency and County of Maui Department of Human Concerns, the American Red Cross opened shelters Thursday evening. Maui Now.

Kauai

UPDATE: Flooding remains possible for at least next few hours as rain continues to overspread Garden Isle. Update at 3:46 a.m. Friday, March 13, 2026: Forecasters at the National Weather Service in Honolulu again extended the flood advisory in effect for the island of Kauaʻi as flooding caused by excessive rainfall from a powerful kona low moving through the state continues. Kauai Now.

Red Cross opens Kaua‘i emergency center for residents affected by kona low. Volunteers are standing by at the evacuation location at Kapa‘a Middle School, located at 4867 Olohena Road, and ready to provide safe shelter, snacks, water and emotional support. Kauai Now.

Felicia Cowden enters the mayor’s race. Four-term Kauai County Councilmember Felicia Cowden has joined the race for mayor of Kauai and Niihau, “with a sense of responsibility and enthusiasm to empower the residents of our islands.” Garden Island.

Deadline today to resurrect water bill, more legislative shenanigans as sine die nears, Honolulu council passes vacation rental bills, tour helicopters scrutinized after fiery crash, Kauai's Kuhio Highway reopening uncertain, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Flume brings water down from the mountain ©2019 All Hawaii News

Last Chance For The Water Rights Bill. The Senate has only Tuesday to revive the contentious legislation. But a related court case remains in limbo. Civil Beat.

Donovan Dela Cruz Plays Hardball With Foes Of The Airbnb Tax. The Senate Ways and Means chairman is threatening to kill 15 other bills in order to get senators to flip their votes and revive Senate Bill 1292. Civil Beat.

McCartney’s DBEDT nomination heading to Senate. State Sen. Glenn Wakai recommended that the full Senate not confirm Mike Mc­Cartney to lead Hawaii’s Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism during a hearing Monday, accusing him of poor communication with the Senate, lacking a vision for DBEDT, being short on details when it comes to policy matters and not following through on commitments. Star-Advertiser.

Ige signs firearms reporting bill. Gov. David Ige signed HB 720 (Act 23), establishing reporting requirements for gun owners. Garden Island.

Red Light Camera Bill Likely To Pass Legislature. A measure that would have implemented red light cameras at intersections will instead call for further study. Hawaii Public Radio.

Former Governor George Ariyoshi received one of the state's highest honors Monday. Lawmakers inducted Ariyoshi into the Aloha Order of Merit at the State Capitol. KITV.

Southwest Airlines Announces $29 Interisland Fares. After completing an inaugural flight from Kahului to Honolulu yesterday morning, Southwest Airlines is offering $29 fares for interisland flights. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Honolulu City Council committee passes 2 vacation rental bills. One bill would allow for up to about 1,715 newly permitted vacation rentals on the island, while the other would crack down on the thousands of illegal units on the island. Star-Advertiser.

City, Waste Management of Hawaii to pay $425K in settlement with EPA. The city and Waste Management of Hawaii will pay $425,000 as a part of a settlement with the Environmental Protection Agency. Hawaii News Now.

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Honolulu police officer charged in Kealoha mailbox case gets probation. Honolulu police Sgt. Daniel Sellers will not be going to jail for telling former deputy prosecutor Katherine Kealoha information he discovered in an investigation. Star-Advertiser.

Former HPD Sergeant Gets 1-Year Probation In Mailbox Theft Case. The first trial for former chief Louis Kealoha, his wife and two other officers is slated to begin May 13. Associated Press.

‘A humbled man’: Officer sentenced in connection with case against Kealohas. In federal court Monday, Sellers apologized for his actions, choking up as he spoke. Hawaii News Now.

In filings, Katherine Kealoha says she was ordered to tell officer to ‘stand down’. Hawaii News Now.

Confused By The Kealoha Cases? Here's A Catchup On Where Things Stand. He was Honolulu's Rolex-wearing police chief, an avid surfer who chatted with beat cops in Pidgin, Hawaii's creole language. She was his deputy city prosecutor wife, who drove a Maserati and led an elite unit targeting career criminals while showering lunches on colleagues, friends and even the workers renovating her home. Associated Press.

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Why Plans For A New Navy Dry Dock Leave Ship Repair Industry Divided. Proponents say a state plan to help a well-connected maritime firm is needed to save hundreds of jobs. Civil Beat.

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3 Dead In Kailua Tour Helicopter Crash. The aircraft went down on a road in a Kailua neighborhood. Fire and helicopter parts rained from the sky Monday in a suburban Honolulu community as a tour helicopter crashed and killed all three people aboard, officials and witnesses said. Associated Press.

Crash prompts calls for more scrutiny. Hawaii’s tour helicopter industry could face new regulatory head winds in the wake of Monday’s tragic helicopter crash, which killed all three people aboard when it went down in a dense Kailua neighborhood. Star-Advertiser.

Investigators to examine wreckage of a helicopter crash that left 3 dead. Hawaii News Now.

State lawmaker from Kailua wants all tour helicopters grounded until authorities assess Monday's helicopter crash. KITV.

Windward residents say they've been complaining for years about helicopters flying over their homes. Both Rep. Cynthia Thielen and Sen. Laura Thielen are asking the FAA to immediately halt tour operations in Hawaii until they find out what happened. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Lawmakers again fail to agree on measures for Banyan Drive redevelopment. Redevelopment of Banyan Drive will have to wait until next year once again after the failure of three bills earlier this year. Tribune-Herald.

Charter Commission rejects ballot measure abolishing minimum property tax. Some owners of vast Hamakua land holdings don’t pay much more in annual property taxes than an owner of a tiny lot on a Puna lava field, says Kevin Hopkins, who wants to make the county’s property taxes more equitable. West Hawaii Today.

Big Isle tourism yet to recover. Visitor arrivals are only creeping back toward pre-eruption levels, prolonging economic pain for many businesses and workers in the state’s biggest industry. Star-Advertiser.

Researchers Battle The Rat Lungworm Problem. More funding is leading to new discoveries as the parasite continues to sicken people in Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Maui

Public Input Sought on Maui Wind Projects, May 22. The US Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking public comment concerning wind farm projects on Maui and throughout the state. Maui Now.

Threat of plastic pollution focus of presentation. The public is invited to a free presentation titled “Thinking Like an Island: How to Survive the Plastic Pollution Pandemic” that will be offered by Hannah Bernard from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Wednesday meeting of Maui Nui Marine Resource Council at The Sphere at Maui Ocean Center. Maui News.

Kauai

Kuhio Highway reopening delayed? The Hawaii Department of Transportation didn’t confirm with The Garden Island before press time or answer any questions about the project, but several anonymous sources close to the situation said Monday the highway reopening will be delayed. Garden Island.