HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - As the state reopens and many tourists return, there are not enough rental cars to meet the demand.That’s driving up the price of rentals and leading some visitors to get creative.Some are even turning to U-Hauls to get around the islands.“The uptick from tourism, the uptick from companies opening back up, from the economy restarting — everybody seems to need a vehicle,” said U-Haul Marketing President Kaleo Alau.Alau said Hawaii U-Haul facilities are the busiest they’ve been in years.“Most of the time they’re saying that they can’t get a vehicle from any...…HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - As the state reopens and many tourists return, there are not enough rental cars to meet the demand.That’s driving up the price of rentals and leading some visitors to get creative.Some are even turning to U-Hauls to get around the islands.“The uptick from tourism, the uptick from companies opening back up, from the economy restarting — everybody seems to need a vehicle,” said U-Haul Marketing President Kaleo Alau.Alau said Hawaii U-Haul facilities are the busiest they’ve been in years.“Most of the time they’re saying that they can’t get a vehicle from any...WW…

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Family members of a missing Radford High School alumna are back in Hawaii hoping more people will help them with their search., a mother of three from Hawaii, was last seen at her home in San Diego on Jan. 7.“She wouldn’t do this to us. She wouldn’t do this to her kids. She’s not going to leave her kids for three long months,” said her sister Maricris Drouaillet.Millette was a senior at Radford when she met her husband, Larry, in 1999. They got married on Oahu, moved to San Diego and had three children.In January, Larry Millette told the family they got...…HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Family members of a missing Radford High School alumna are back in Hawaii hoping more people will help them with their search., a mother of three from Hawaii, was last seen at her home in San Diego on Jan. 7.“She wouldn’t do this to us. She wouldn’t do this to her kids. She’s not going to leave her kids for three long months,” said her sister Maricris Drouaillet.Millette was a senior at Radford when she met her husband, Larry, in 1999. They got married on Oahu, moved to San Diego and had three children.In January, Larry Millette told the family they got...WW…

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Proponents say a proposal before the Legislature would help police with parking enforcement in Hawaii by allowing any county employee to issue traffic violations. would apply to traffic violations along state highways.House Transportation Committee member Rep. Nadine Nakamura introduced the bill. She said the idea stemmed from parking problems at Haena State Park on Kauai’s North Shore.“What this bill does is it allows the police chief to use non-police officers to cite cars that may be illegally parked or have other traffic violations,” said...…HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Proponents say a proposal before the Legislature would help police with parking enforcement in Hawaii by allowing any county employee to issue traffic violations. would apply to traffic violations along state highways.House Transportation Committee member Rep. Nadine Nakamura introduced the bill. She said the idea stemmed from parking problems at Haena State Park on Kauai’s North Shore.“What this bill does is it allows the police chief to use non-police officers to cite cars that may be illegally parked or have other traffic violations,” said...WW…

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - With Oahu’s COVID case case staying low, the island is almost certain to move into Tier 3 on Thursday, which means fewer restrictions on businesses and gatherings.“If all goes well, we’ll have 30 people in our gym. Right now, we have 15,” said Chris Faildo, owner of Flexx Fitness Hawaii.Faildo opened Flexx Fitness Hawaii in August, right before gyms were forced to close under Honolulu’s second “stay-at-home” order. In September, they were allowed to reopen to outdoor exercise only.Today, Faildo operates at 25% capacity and hopes to open up to 50% capacity...…HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - With Oahu’s COVID case case staying low, the island is almost certain to move into Tier 3 on Thursday, which means fewer restrictions on businesses and gatherings.“If all goes well, we’ll have 30 people in our gym. Right now, we have 15,” said Chris Faildo, owner of Flexx Fitness Hawaii.Faildo opened Flexx Fitness Hawaii in August, right before gyms were forced to close under Honolulu’s second “stay-at-home” order. In September, they were allowed to reopen to outdoor exercise only.Today, Faildo operates at 25% capacity and hopes to open up to 50% capacity...WW…

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - The Maui Prosecutor’s Office is questioning the release of a woman who was filmed on camera last week pointing a firearm at a victim. Melanie Sauer, 49, was arrested last Tuesday in Makawao and charged with assault, terroristic threatening and firearms offenses. Authorities say the gun was loaded and it was reported stolen in West Virginia.It was not registered in Hawaii.A Maui judge has since granted Sauer supervised release.The prosecutor and the attorney for the victim say Sauer is a danger to the community.“It’s astounding that she’s carrying a...…HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - The Maui Prosecutor’s Office is questioning the release of a woman who was filmed on camera last week pointing a firearm at a victim. Melanie Sauer, 49, was arrested last Tuesday in Makawao and charged with assault, terroristic threatening and firearms offenses. Authorities say the gun was loaded and it was reported stolen in West Virginia.It was not registered in Hawaii.A Maui judge has since granted Sauer supervised release.The prosecutor and the attorney for the victim say Sauer is a danger to the community.“It’s astounding that she’s carrying a...WW…

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - There’s considerable debate at the state Legislature this session on whether to pursue passage of a so-called “Stand Your Ground” law in Hawaii.On Tuesday, was heard before the House Committee on Pandemic & Disaster Preparedness. It received lots of criticism, even from guns rights advocates.Hawaii Firearms Coalition Director Andrew Namiki Roberts asked the committee to change the wording of the bill to match “This would allow people to use force to defend themselves within their home, the workplace and any other area where they will legally be,”...…HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - There’s considerable debate at the state Legislature this session on whether to pursue passage of a so-called “Stand Your Ground” law in Hawaii.On Tuesday, was heard before the House Committee on Pandemic & Disaster Preparedness. It received lots of criticism, even from guns rights advocates.Hawaii Firearms Coalition Director Andrew Namiki Roberts asked the committee to change the wording of the bill to match “This would allow people to use force to defend themselves within their home, the workplace and any other area where they will legally be,”...WW…

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Some Hawaii residents are outraged after it was revealed that some COVID-19 vaccines are going to mainland visitors.Maui District Health Officer Dr. Lorrin Pang said in news conference on Monday that whoever registers with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine portal “” can receive a shot anywhere in the country.“In our clinic we had somebody from California who came here, but she registered in California and she said VAMS is a system where you can get it anywhere once you register, which is true,” Pang said.“So, we gave it to her.”Those...…HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Some Hawaii residents are outraged after it was revealed that some COVID-19 vaccines are going to mainland visitors.Maui District Health Officer Dr. Lorrin Pang said in news conference on Monday that whoever registers with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine portal “” can receive a shot anywhere in the country.“In our clinic we had somebody from California who came here, but she registered in California and she said VAMS is a system where you can get it anywhere once you register, which is true,” Pang said.“So, we gave it to her.”Those...WW…

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii says homeless sweeps haven’t worked and has called on the city to stop — at least for the holidays. “It’s just plain cruel to this over the holidays,” said Joshua Wisch, ACLU of Hawaii executive director.“People who don’t have the resources to be housed have enough of a hard time as it is without someone coming by on Christmas Eve and threatening to arrest them.”The city declined Hawaii News Now’s request for an interview, but officials sent a statement.“As you are aware, the city administration believes in the...…HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii says homeless sweeps haven’t worked and has called on the city to stop — at least for the holidays. “It’s just plain cruel to this over the holidays,” said Joshua Wisch, ACLU of Hawaii executive director.“People who don’t have the resources to be housed have enough of a hard time as it is without someone coming by on Christmas Eve and threatening to arrest them.”The city declined Hawaii News Now’s request for an interview, but officials sent a statement.“As you are aware, the city administration believes in the...WW…

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Conflict is brewing on Oahu’s Windward Coast after a homeowner illegally chopped down multiple trees along the shoreline in Kaaawa, creating concerns among residents about erosion.“This things goes out but underneath it comes in so if something really heavy goes on there or whatever the thing can fall right through and the kids all come walking over here and fish,” said Kaaawa resident Gay Porter.Porter’s great grandmother purchased land in Kaaawa in 1889. She says the area is already prone to erosion.The state Department of Transportation confirms the...…HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Conflict is brewing on Oahu’s Windward Coast after a homeowner illegally chopped down multiple trees along the shoreline in Kaaawa, creating concerns among residents about erosion.“This things goes out but underneath it comes in so if something really heavy goes on there or whatever the thing can fall right through and the kids all come walking over here and fish,” said Kaaawa resident Gay Porter.Porter’s great grandmother purchased land in Kaaawa in 1889. She says the area is already prone to erosion.The state Department of Transportation confirms the...WW…

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - If you’re unemployed, the state wants you to go out to eat ― on the taxpayers' dime ― as part of a new program that’s seen as a way to keep eateries afloat.Under , funded with federal CARES Act dollars, those receiving jobless benefits will get a $500 “Hawaii Restaurant Card” that can be used at any eatery in the state.It was not immediately clear if there were other eligibility restrictions.People will not have to apply for the program but will receive it automatically in the mail.The $500 card must be spent by Dec. 15.Sherry Menor McNamara, president and...…HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - If you’re unemployed, the state wants you to go out to eat ― on the taxpayers' dime ― as part of a new program that’s seen as a way to keep eateries afloat.Under , funded with federal CARES Act dollars, those receiving jobless benefits will get a $500 “Hawaii Restaurant Card” that can be used at any eatery in the state.It was not immediately clear if there were other eligibility restrictions.People will not have to apply for the program but will receive it automatically in the mail.The $500 card must be spent by Dec. 15.Sherry Menor McNamara, president and...WW…