Tag Archives: Hawaii

Hawaii Hotel Buys Out Trump, Will Scrap His Name

Spectrum Honolulu reports: The 14-year-old Trump International Hotel Waikiki is being rebranded as Wakea Waikiki Beach with a “monumental transformation” soon to be underway, according to developer and front desk owner Irongate and new designated manager LXR Hotels and Resorts. In separate news releases issued on Friday, Irongate and Trump Hotels announced what Trump Hotels termed a “significant buyout” of …

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Maui County Officials Sue Electric Utility Over Wildfires

The New York Times reports: For the first time, Maui County officials publicly blamed Hawaii’s largest electric utility for the wildfires that killed at least 115 people this month, claiming in a lawsuit filed that “intentional and malicious” mismanagement of power lines had allowed flames to spark. The lawsuit accused the utility, Hawaiian Electric, of failing to respond to ominous …

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TODAY: President Biden To Tour Site Of Maui Wildfires

Hawaii News Now reports: President Biden and the first lady will travel to fire-ravaged areas of Maui on Monday to meet with wildfire victims, first responders and government officials. Maui is preparing for the presidential visit as the grim and difficult work of searching for remains in historic Lahaina continues. Teams armed with cadaver dogs have searched about 78% of …

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Ingraham Blames Maui Wildfires On “Renewables”

“What likely caused the fires in Maui was Hawaiian Electric’s failure to clear flammable grasses from right around the electric wires because, look, it was focusing on and investing in renewables. Of course, all of this is about obscuring all their other failures. This is Biden’s Katrina and no one’s calling him on it. But, you almost have to tip …

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Maui Death Toll Rises To 111, Around 1000 Still Missing

Hawaii News Now reports: The Lahaina wildfire death toll increased by five on Wednesday — to 111 — more than a week after flames ripped through the historic town. Meanwhile, Maui continued to slowly release the names of those who have perished. Three more victims, all elderly, were identified on Wednesday and authorities said positive IDs were made on others. …

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Hawaii Governor: Maui Was Hit By “Fire Hurricane”

The Independent reports: Hawaii Governor Josh Green gave a stark warning to the world in the aftermath of the “fire hurricane” that destroyed the historic town of Lahaina on the island of Maui. The state’s drought conditions from climate change and difficulties with water management had combined with 60mph winds from Hurricane Dora which had just passed the island, Mr …

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Bezos And Fiancee Pledge $100 Million To Maui Relief

Hawaii News Now reports: Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his fiancee Lauren Sanchez announced they’ll donate $100 million to Maui wildfire relief efforts. “Jeff and I are heartbroken by what’s happening in Maui. We are thinking of the families that have lost so much and a community that has been left devastated,” Sanchez wrote. The couple says the money will …

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Maui Fire Now Deadliest US Wildfire In Over A Century

The Associated Press reports: As the death toll from a wildfire that razed a historic Maui town reached 93, authorities warned Saturday that the effort to find and identify the dead was still in its early stages. It’s already the deadliest U.S. wildfire for over a century. Crews with cadaver dogs have covered just 3% of the search area, Maui …

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Maui Death Toll Rises To 55, Thousands Homeless

Reuters reports: Maui’s wildfires have killed at least 55 people, a toll expected to rise, and unleashed destruction on the resort town of Lahaina that will take many years and billions of dollars to rebuild, Hawaiian officials said on Thursday. Governor Josh Green said the inferno that reduced much of Lahaina to smoldering ruins was the worst natural disaster in …

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Biden Declares Major Disaster In Maui Wildfires

Via press release from the White House: Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Hawaii and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by wildfires beginning on August 8, 2023, and continuing. The President’s action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in Maui …

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At Least 36 Dead In Maui Wildfires, Dozens Injured

Hawaii News Now reports: Maui County says 36 people are now confirmed dead in the devastating wildfires that have decimated entire towns, including historic Lahaina. The heartbreaking news, which some feared could rise even higher, makes the wildfires among the deadliest disasters in Hawaii history. Meanwhile, at least three large fires on Maui — including the blaze in Lahaina — …

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Evacuations As Wildfire Tears Through Maui [VIDEO]

Hawaii News Now reports: Eyewitnesses described an apocalyptic scene Tuesday in Lahaina town, where residents were forced to jump into the harbor waters to avoid fast-moving flames from a massive brush fire that’s destroyed much of the historic area — and continues to burn. Residents say an overwhelmed fire force — fighting flames all day amid powerful winds — could …

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Appeals Court Hears Case Of Cultist’s “FCKBLM” Plate

Courthouse News reports: A Hawaii resident claiming the state infringed on his right to free speech after recalling a personalized license plate bearing the letters “FCKBLM” asked the Ninth Circuit on Thursday to consider whether license plates are truly representative of government speech or if it becomes messaging merely associated with a private citizen. According to the initial complaint, Edward …

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United Confirms Near Crash In December [VIDEO]

Hawaii News Now reports: Newly-released flight data reveals a San Francisco-bound United Airlines flight went into a steep dive shortly after taking off from the Kahului Airport, coming within almost 800 feet of impacting the ocean. The incident happened in mid-December of last year, but is only coming to light now. United Flight 1722 plunged toward the ocean moments after …

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Chinese Satellite Beams Lasers On Hawaii [VIDEO]

Honolulu’s NBC affiliate reports: Astronomers say a Chinese satellite has been caught on video beaming down green lasers over the Hawaiian Islands. A National Astronomical Observatory of Japan livestream camera atop the Subaru Telescope on Mauna Kea recorded the footage in late January. The lasers flashed for just a couple of seconds and were initially thought to be from a …

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Dozens Of Passengers Injured By Severe Turbulence

Hawaii News Now reports: Thirty-six people were injured Sunday, including 11 seriously, when a Hawaiian Airlines flight from Phoenix to Honolulu hit severe turbulence about 30 minutes before landing. The turbulence sent passengers flying out of their seats. Paramedics and emergency medical technicians treated patients — ranging in age from 14 months to adults — for a long list of …

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Hawaii’s Mauna Loa Volcano Begins To Erupt [VIDEO]

The Associated Press reports: Hawaii’s Mauna Loa, the world’s largest active volcano, has started to erupt, prompting volcanic ash and debris to fall nearby, authorities said Monday. The eruption began late Sunday night in the summit caldera of the volcano on the Big Island, the U.S. Geological Survey said. Early Monday, it said lava flows were contained within the summit …

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Dem Rep Launches Bid To Succeed Term-Limited HI Gov

The Hill reports: Rep. Kaiali’i Kahele (D-Hawaii) said Saturday he will run for governor of the state, making formal a campaign he had hinted at for months. Kahele will begin the contest just three months before Hawaii Democrats pick a nominee to replace term-limited Gov. David Ige (D). He is likely to be among the front-runners, along with Lt. Gov. …

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Dem Rep To Retire And Run For Hawaii Governor

CNN reports: Democratic Rep. Kai Kahele of Hawaii is retiring from Congress at the end of his term. The congressman has been telling colleagues that he intends to run for governor, according to a person close to him. That source said Kahele will make an announcement about his political future in early May. The freshman congressman, who has yet to …

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Hawaii Lifts Its “Vax Or Negative Test To Enter” Rule

Hawaii News Now reports: Since its launch, 12 million passengers were screened through the state’s Safe Travels program launched in a bid to welcome visitors back amid the pandemic. But at 11:59 p.m. Friday, Safe Travels was no more. The state has stopped checking for proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test. They’ve stopped requiring incoming passengers to take …

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