Welcome to the Hawaii Island News update from Hawaii News Digest.
Top Story: The newly formed political party will field candidates on a platform of Hawaiian sovereignty and cultural values.
Views expressed in this Hawaii News summary are those of the reporters and correspondents.
Content supplied by the “Hawaii Tribune-Herald.”
Accessed on 14 March 2020, 1515 UTC, Post 20420.
Source:
https://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/category/hawaii-news/
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Creation of Aloha Aina Party announced
A newly formed political party, the Aloha Aina Party, hopes to run candidates in every election statewide on a platform of Hawaiian sovereignty and cultural values.
Judge: Hawaiian ‘princess’ needs help managing $215M estate
HONOLULU (AP) A 93-year-old Native Hawaiian heiress needs someone to handle her estate despite taking testimony from the so-called princess on Monday that she didnt need a conservator because shes still alive, a judge ruled Friday.
Hale Nani escapee sought
Police are seeking the publics assistance in finding a 21-year-old Pahoa woman who escaped Thursday evening from Hale Nani Correctional Facility in Hilo.
Kona man wanted for leaving scene of accident
Kona police are asking for the publics assistance in finding Jake Branch, a 35-year-old man who frequents the Kailua-Kona, Holualoa and Ocean View areas.
Drive-through testing coming: Meanwhile, cruises cancelled; Matson pushes back against rumors; first random virus tests negative
Hilo Medical Center on Tuesday will open a COVID-19 drive-through area to collect samples to be sent away for testing.
All high school sports suspended indefinitely
The Hawaii High School Athletic Association in conjunction with its member leagues the Big Island Interscholastic Federation, Interscholastic League of Honolulu, Kauai Interscholastic Federation, Maui Interscholastic League, and the Oahu Interscholastic Association announced that effective Monday all interscholastic competition will be suspended indefinitely based on the evolving COVID-19 public health threat.
Update: All cruises to the Big Island suspended for 30 days
UPDATED 2:20 p.m.
Matson: Despite rumors, service will “continue uninterrupted”
HONOLULU Matson issued the following statement today in response to concerns circulating in Hawaii about service disruption:
Coronavirus testing ‘failing,’ leaving many cases uncounted
NEW YORK Seven weeks have passed since the first U.S. case of coronavirus was announced, and the government is failing to account for what could be thousands of additional infections because of ongoing problems with testing.
Kona Brewers Festival canceled due to coronavirus
The 25th Kona Brewers Festival slated for Saturday has been canceled amid the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.
Flurry of blows to tourism
The shutdown of a major cruise line in response to the COVID-19 pandemic is salt in the wounds of many struggling tourism-related businesses in Hawaii.
Island’s nine care facilities implement no-visitor policies
Hawaii Islands long-term nursing and care facilities have implemented unified no-visitor policies in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Decision to cancel Merrie Monarch praised
A Kona kumu hula whose halau was set to compete at the 57th Annual Merrie Monarch Festival said he thinks the cancellation of the festival is the best decision for our people, our culture and the safety of everybody.
UH makes ‘hard’ decisions in wake of virus
University of Hawaii President David Lassner on Thursday elaborated on plans for the 10-campus UH system to move to online classes beginning Monday, March 23, the first day of instruction following spring break.
$103M bond issue breezes through council committee
The County Council has nothing but aloha for a $103 million bond measure to raise money for road construction.
Police arrest 23 for DUI
During the week of March 2-8, Hawaii Island police arrested 23 motorists for DUI. Seven of the drivers were involved in a traffic accident. None were younger than 21.
Police seek missing Hilo man
Police are looking for a missing 44-year-old Hilo man.
State briefs, March 13
Sanctuary: 9 whale, boat collisions last season
UH-Hilo announces Nowelo Street gate closure today
The public is advised that the University of Hawaii at Hilos campus gates on Nowelo Street will be closed from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., 7 days a week, effective today. The gates are located makai (oceanside) of the Nowelo Street and Aohoku Place intersection, and makai of the Nowelo Street bridge near the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resource Management building.
Merrie Monarch Festival cancels amid COVID-19 concerns
The 2020 Merrie Monarch Festival has been cancelled due to concerns about the COVID-19 coronavirus, according to a post this afternoon on its Facebook page.