1 dead after fire consumes Manoa home

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The Honolulu Fire Department is investigating the cause of a two-alarm fire that took a man’s life in Manoa Wednesday morning. The alarm came in at around 4:35 a.m. Wednesday from a two-story home on Manoa Road. According to HFD, 10 units responded with nearly 40...

Kaka'ako says ciao to Festa Italiana, Hawaii’s only Italian festival

HONOLULU (Island News) -- Kaka'ako is turning into Oahu’s own Little Italy this weekend for Hawaii’s only Italian festival called Festa Italiana. By combining ciao and aloha, this creates cialoha. Foodies can find all the best Italian flavors this weekend such as pasta, pizza, wine, cheese and gelato.

Firefighters extinguish Honolulu condo fire

HONOLULU (Island News) -- Firefighters have taken out a fire that broke out this afternoon at the Kapiolani Gardens condos. Multiple units responded to an alert for a building fire that came in at 2:25 p.m. on Tuesday. Once arriving at the apartment complex on Kapiolani Boulevard, firefighters began to take out the fire in an apartment unit on the fifth floor.

'It's just a disgrace': Protesters outraged by scrubbing of the 442nd on Army website

Across the country, there was a call to stand up for veterans and rally at state capitols on Friday. It was just getting underway as a Honolulu Civil Beat column flagged that the U.S. Army website had scrubbed a page detailing the story of the 442nd Infantry Regiment — the most decorated unit of World War ll, composed of Japanese Americans.

State to host public hearing on proposed freight price increase

HONOLULU (KHON2) — The public will soon get to weigh in on a proposed rate increase by Young Brothers. The shipping company said it’s needed to cover significant costs. Hawaii imports about $40 to $50 billion worth of goods, according to the state. “Here in Hawaii, we have to have everything shipped in from the […]

12 Surprising (and Completely True) Hawaii Laws You’ve Never Heard Of

Ah, Hawaii—the land of endless sunshine, breathtaking beaches, and laws so oddly specific you’ll wonder if legislators had a little too much fun in the tropical sun. From bizarre beach prohibitions to head-scratching animal regulations, Hawaii’s laid-back islands secretly harbor a collection of quirky laws that seem designed to keep paradise a little more…peculiar. Grab your lei and your sense of humor—let’s explore Hawaii’s legal luaus!

51-year-old woman reported missing in South Kona

KONA, Hawaii (Island News) – The Hawaii Island Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating a woman that was reported missing from the Miloli’i area in South Kona. Vesna Young, 51, was last seen in Miloli’i near the 88-100 block of Umi Ave on...

Mayor Blangiardi to highlight execution in address

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi is ready to give his fifth state of the city address Tuesday night at 6:00 pm, where he is expected to focus on execution of answers to wicked problems he has laid out in past addresses.

Busy spring break travel causing long lines at airports

HONOLULU (KHON2) — Long lines, stacks of bags and packed parking lots – it’s the start of spring break travel. “We got dropped off but was actually surprised how busy it’s been. I’ve never seen it this way ever,” stated Gerald Roque, Kapolei resident. TSA estimates a 5% increase in the number of spring break […]

Mental health exam is latest twist in HPD corporal case riddled with delays

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The Honolulu police corporal charged with lying to investigators after he slammed his subsidized vehicle into a motorcyclist will now undergo a mental examination. In September 2023, Vasai Isala Jr. was captured on body camera video trying to pin that crash on another driver. The corporal’s been...

Fort Barrette Road closure begins

Women charged with murder in toddler’s death eligible for extended sentencing if convicted

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A Kapolei mother and her girlfriend are eligible for extended sentencing if convicted. Janae Perez and Ashleigh Utley are accused of starving to death 3-year-old Sarai Perez-Rivera and for the abuse of her three siblings. They were indicted on five felony charges, including murder in the second...

UH officially launches national search for new athletics director

The University of Hawai‘i has officially launched a nationwide search for its next athletics director at UH Manoa, assembling a 10-member search committee to lead the process. Finalist interviews are expected to take place in late May, with an announcement anticipated by mid to late summer. The committee is co-chaired by UH Board of Regents […]

Teen turns self in after Pearlridge mall robbery

HONOLULU (Island News) – The Honolulu Police Department (HPD) reported that another teen turned himself in following a robbery incident that occurred in Pearlridge. On Wednesday, March 19, 2025, a 16-year-old boy was placed under arrest for Robbery in the Second Degree and was released pending investigation. Officials state...

Maui teacher says she was fired for speaking out against anti-trans policy

NAPILI (HawaiiNewsNow) - A teacher on Maui said she was fired for not accepting a new school policy that she said discriminates against transgender students. Vashti Daise has been a teacher for 35 years. She was a math teacher at Maui Preparatory Academy in West Maui for about a year and a half, until last month.

State considers costly solution to fight coconut rhinoceros beetles

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The state has tried to stop the spread of the coconut rhinoceros beetle since its first detection in 2013. So far it’s been a losing battle, but agriculture officials now say a virus in New Zealand may be the answer. With CRB now on every major...

Kalihi blaze engulfs two-story home, prompts multi-unit response

KALIHI, Hawaii (Island News) – The Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) responded to a major building fire that was reported near Banyan St. on Wednesday morning, March 19, 2025. HFD crews responded to the scene at approximately 6:02 a.m. where they found black smoke coming from the back of a two-story home.