Hawaii State Senate President Ronald Kouchi says Hawaii’s economy suffers from “continued restrictions on foreign travel.”
Views expressed in this West Hawaii News summary are those of the reporters and correspondents.
Accessed on 06 January 2022, 1321 UTC.
Content provided by “West Hawaii Today.”
Source:
https://www.westhawaiitoday.com/category/hawaii-news/
Please click link or scroll down to read your selections. Full access requires subscription to “West Hawaii Today.”
‘Largest spenders’ wanted
With the novel coronavirus pandemic entering a third year, state Sen. President Ronald Kouchi said one of the biggest challenges facing Hawaii’s economy is “continued restrictions on foreign travel.”
DLNR requests more funds from lawmakers for state parks
HONOLULU — The Department of Land and Natural Resources is asking lawmakers for more money to boost maintenance and staffing at state parks.
Crowd sizes limited in Honolulu as omicron rises in islands
HONOLULU — Organizers of large indoor events on Hawaii’s most populous island must once again abide by crowd size restrictions as the omicron variant spreads throughout the state.
Most residents favor tourism
Most Big Island residents believe tourism is the most important pillar of the island’s economy, according to a 2021 survey.
Big Island grand jury impaneling to continue as scheduled
Impaneling of Hilo and Kona grand juries will continue as scheduled today in Hilo and Friday in Kona, despite Gov. David Ige signing Monday an emergency proclamation to temporarily suspend the statutory requirement for the annual initial impaneling of grand juries by Jan. 15.
Paauilo man accused of attempted distribution of over 5 pounds of meth
A 44-year-old Paauilo man is facing a host of charges for attempted possession and distribution of over 5 pounds of methamphetamine and damaging a police vehicle, Hawaii County Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen announced late Wednesday.
Judge orders no bail for man accused of attempted murder
A Kona man facing attempted murder and other charges stemming from a December 2021 domestic violence incident will be held without bail, a Circuit Court judge ruled Tuesday.
Police arrest 33 for suspected DUI
Police arrested 33 motorists for suspected drunken driving between Dec. 27, 2021, and Sunday. Six of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes and three were younger than age 21.
COVID surge hits Kona Community Hospital: Facility implements contingency and crisis staffing plan amid staffing shortage
The current surge in COVID-19 cases on the Big Island has resulted in a staffing shortage at West Hawaii’s largest hospital.
Police ID girl, 9, killed in Maunakea crash
Big Island police Wednesday evening identified the 9-year-old girl who died in a New Year’s Day crash on Mauna Kea Access Road that left seven others injured.
Need a COVID-19 test? Community Testing Program ramps up efforts
Hawaii County is ramping up testing amid the current surge in COVID-19 cases on the Big Island.
$250 tax credit for homeowners?
The Hawaii County Council is considering granting homeowners a $250 property tax credit to alleviate the financial strain of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Council committee advances fare-free bus
After being named Monday the fourth Mass Transit administrator in as many years, John Andoh on Tuesday won a County Council endorsement of his first bill, a measure creating a fare-free Hele-On bus system for the next two years, if not longer.
US agencies investigate Navy fuel leak’s effect on civilians
HONOLULU — U.S. public health officials on Tuesday began investigating how civilians have been affected by the leakage of petroleum into Pearl Harbor’s tap water from a Navy fuel storage facility.
State inks port agreements with Carnival, NCL
The first port agreements with Carnival Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Lines to formalize health and safety protocols for the return of cruise line operations in Hawaii have been executed, the state Department of Transportation announced Tuesday.
Kamehameha Schools acquires former Kahuku Ranch property
The real estate holdings of Hawaii’s largest private landowner have increased.
State offering inmates $25 incentive to get booster shot
The state is offering a $25 incentive for fully vaccinated inmates in the custody of the Department of Public Safety.
Truck in fatal Maunakea crash might have been recalled for braking issue
A pickup truck that skidded off a rainy Maunakea Access Road and plunged into a ravine Saturday, killing a 9-year-old girl and injuring seven others, might have been subject to a manufacturer’s recall for a faulty brake master cylinder.
Kauai: Out-of-state buyers drove up housing prices in 2021
LIHUE — An influx of out-of-state homebuyers and renters pushed up housing prices on Kauai last year, officials said.
Waimea man charged with burglarizing same Hilo house twice
A 28-year-old Waimea man is charged with several felony property crimes after allegedly burglarizing the same Hilo house on Dec. 30 and 31.