Some of the world’s biggest food conglomerates are being sued for allegedly designing “ultra-processed” foods, such as sugary soft drinks and packaged snacks, to be addictive to children. It’s a charge that overlaps with criticisms of the U.S. food chain raised by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., recently tapped to serve as head of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Read more
Take very seriously today’s “red flag” weather warning for the leeward areas of all Hawaiian isles, posted till at least 6 p.m. tonight. Read more
Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration has thrown cold water on a bill to ban single-use plastic bottles at city facilities starting Dec. 31, 2026, then a year later at city-connected concessions, events or programs. Read more
Mainland gasoline prices are falling below $3 per gallon for the first time in more than three years — lucky them. Hawaii’s unique situation, however, brings us the highest average price per gallon in the nation — topping $4.48 on Monday. Read more
Another reason to worry about the spread of H5N1, a “highly pathogenic avian influenza” that was first detected on Oahu last month, is H5N1’s threat to Hawaii’s endemic birds, particularly water birds, with already dwindling populations. Read more
There’s a lot of interest in “person of interest” Luigi Mangione, the one-time Honolulu resident arrested Monday in connection with the New York City killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. A Monday search for his Facebook profile was flagged as “popular now” on the social media platform, although it no longer turns up the profile itself. Read more
Mark your calendar and check it twice: “Fashion Santa,” aka internationally known model Paul Mason, is coming to Ala Moana Center. The visit by Mason, who cuts a dashing figure in a tailored red suit, comes as a “hunky” Kris Kringle in Target ads has sparked talks of a “Hot Santa” trend. Read more
Sadly, it was confirmed last week that another backyard flock of ducks had tested positive for avian flu and was euthanized — this time in the Pearl Harbor area. Read more
It’s an early Christmas for Oahu hotels as thousands of running enthusiasts stream into the islands, ready to carb load and take on the 2024 Honolulu Marathon. Read more
Stay in touch with top news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It's FREE!
A host of events are now underway to commemorate the 83rd anniversary of the Dec. 7 attack on Pearl Harbor, the historic assault by Japan that plunged America into World War II. Read more
A new mayor for Hawaii County was sworn in on Monday. Kimo Alameda, who defeated incumbent Mitch Roth on Nov. 5, took the oath of office in a ceremony at the Outrigger Kona Resort in Keauhou, and touted it as a reflection of his commitment to “geographic equity” — equal attention to matters on the island’s west side. Read more
The mystery of crime boss Michael Miske Jr.’s death in prison must be resolved with transparency. Miske, 50, was found unresponsive Sunday in his cell at the Federal Detention Center in Honolulu. Authorities have yet to determine cause of death: Suicide? Foul play? Health-related? Read more
The search for missing Maui woman Hannah Kobayashi, 30, is winding down, with authorities saying she’s been spotted heading into Mexico, independently and apparently “fine.” Read more
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te’s two-day stopover in Hawaii wasn’t a diplomatic visit, but it still, predictably, provoked China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory. Read more
Waves up to 40 feet high hit the North Shore on Friday, leading lifeguards to rescue 15 and issue thousands of warnings. Three men were injured on the jagged rocks between Ke Iki Beach and Sharks Cove when they were hit by a massive set. Read more
These races don’t get much closer than this. After recounting, the state House District 39 contest ended with incumbent GOP Rep. Elijah Pierick edging out Democratic challenger Corey Rosenlee by just 11 votes. Read more
It’s not much of a surprise, but Honolulu didn’t name its next municipal landfill site by the end of November, when the city administration had sought to reveal its choice to replace the 35-year-old Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill in Kapolei. Read more
Now that the first round of holiday travel is done, it might be smart to scout around before making plans. Change is in the offing, especially with the merger of Hawaiian and Alaska airlines. Read more
Those days of old, when anxious gift-shoppers stormed the retail battlements for the best discounts on the actual “Black Friday” (that is, the day after Thanksgiving), are not what they once were. Read more
Hawaii’s physical isolation from the avian flu protected island birds for some time, but that respite is over. The disease, which forced many mainland chicken farmers to destroy flocks and shrank egg stocks and drove up prices, now has begun to spread here. Read more
Hawaii’s vote-by-mail system was built pretty robustly, but it seems difficult to lock down every single vulnerability. Read more
