HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Under current reopening guidelines, the city is on track to roll back to Tier 2 on Wednesday.But Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi says that is the absolute last thing he wants to do.Instead, he is seeking a modification to the tier system to allow Oahu to move forward — not backward. He cites a reliable supply of COVID vaccines on island, low hospitalization rates, and other factors in his decision.“We have a good supply of vaccinations on island. We have the capability right now on a distribution basis of doing over 100,000 vaccines a week,” he said, in a...…HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Under current reopening guidelines, the city is on track to roll back to Tier 2 on Wednesday.But Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi says that is the absolute last thing he wants to do.Instead, he is seeking a modification to the tier system to allow Oahu to move forward — not backward. He cites a reliable supply of COVID vaccines on island, low hospitalization rates, and other factors in his decision.“We have a good supply of vaccinations on island. We have the capability right now on a distribution basis of doing over 100,000 vaccines a week,” he said, in a...WW…

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - The NTSB released a report into their findings of a deadly 2019 plane crash on Oahu’s North shore.The June 21 crash of a skydiving plane operated by the Oahu Parachute Center killed the pilot and 10 passengers in a fiery wreck.NTSB investigators found that the pilot’s “aggressive takeoff maneuver” was the probable cause of the Beech King Air 65-A90 airplane slamming to the ground near the fence of Dillingham Airfield shortly after takeoff.The report says the maneuver “resulted in an accelerated stall and subsequent loss of control at an altitude that was...…HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - The NTSB released a report into their findings of a deadly 2019 plane crash on Oahu’s North shore.The June 21 crash of a skydiving plane operated by the Oahu Parachute Center killed the pilot and 10 passengers in a fiery wreck.NTSB investigators found that the pilot’s “aggressive takeoff maneuver” was the probable cause of the Beech King Air 65-A90 airplane slamming to the ground near the fence of Dillingham Airfield shortly after takeoff.The report says the maneuver “resulted in an accelerated stall and subsequent loss of control at an altitude that was...WW…

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Honolulu police are searching for a murder suspect after a road rage incident turned deadly on the H-1 Freeway early Sunday morning.Officers were called to a vehicle in the middle of the H-1 Freeway east bound near the Kunia interchange around 3:00 a.m. Sunday and found a man in the driver’s seat bleeding profusely.Family members have identified the victim as Gerald “Jerry” Waialae, 50.“My dad ended up getting stabbed in his temple and his heart and his stomach. But he had the strength to get back into the car and try to drive off and get my sisters safe,”...…HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Honolulu police are searching for a murder suspect after a road rage incident turned deadly on the H-1 Freeway early Sunday morning.Officers were called to a vehicle in the middle of the H-1 Freeway east bound near the Kunia interchange around 3:00 a.m. Sunday and found a man in the driver’s seat bleeding profusely.Family members have identified the victim as Gerald “Jerry” Waialae, 50.“My dad ended up getting stabbed in his temple and his heart and his stomach. But he had the strength to get back into the car and try to drive off and get my sisters safe,”...WW…

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - The father of a toddler who has been missing for two weeks was charged Monday with second-degree murder in connection with her disappearance.Bail for 40-year-old Travis Rodrigues has been set at $2 million.There still has been no sign of the child and authorities have not divulged any circumstances of the crime.“On behalf of the Mora and Ancog family we are very grateful to hear that charges were filed today against Mr. Rodrigues and Mr. Carter and that we feel that their bail amounts (are) adequate,” family spokesperson Shawna Delos Santos said in a...…HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - The father of a toddler who has been missing for two weeks was charged Monday with second-degree murder in connection with her disappearance.Bail for 40-year-old Travis Rodrigues has been set at $2 million.There still has been no sign of the child and authorities have not divulged any circumstances of the crime.“On behalf of the Mora and Ancog family we are very grateful to hear that charges were filed today against Mr. Rodrigues and Mr. Carter and that we feel that their bail amounts (are) adequate,” family spokesperson Shawna Delos Santos said in a...WW…

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - A man called Honolulu police after discovering a suspicious, and potentially explosive item on a Kakaako sidewalk Saturday morning.Majed Alabdali owns a taco stand in the area. He called police around 10 a.m. after he found what he initially thought was a firework shell just feet away from his stand.He took a photo of the item before evacuating the area and shared it with Hawaii News Now.“We came over to open the truck and right in from of the truck there was this spherical shape with a fuse,” Alabdali said. “Might be a firework or a mortar, I don’t know...…HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - A man called Honolulu police after discovering a suspicious, and potentially explosive item on a Kakaako sidewalk Saturday morning.Majed Alabdali owns a taco stand in the area. He called police around 10 a.m. after he found what he initially thought was a firework shell just feet away from his stand.He took a photo of the item before evacuating the area and shared it with Hawaii News Now.“We came over to open the truck and right in from of the truck there was this spherical shape with a fuse,” Alabdali said. “Might be a firework or a mortar, I don’t know...WW…

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - The state Department of Health has released its most detailed report to date about known cases and clusters in Hawaii.The added details come after months of media inquiries and public pressure for the department to offer specific details on where clusters are occurring without compromising patient information.In the new details released Tuesday night, the Health Department said of Monday’s cases, 158 were adults and 16 were children. On Tuesday, the numbers were 129 adults and five children.The DOH adds that out of Tuesday’s new cases, 105 cases were...…HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - The state Department of Health has released its most detailed report to date about known cases and clusters in Hawaii.The added details come after months of media inquiries and public pressure for the department to offer specific details on where clusters are occurring without compromising patient information.In the new details released Tuesday night, the Health Department said of Monday’s cases, 158 were adults and 16 were children. On Tuesday, the numbers were 129 adults and five children.The DOH adds that out of Tuesday’s new cases, 105 cases were...WW…

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - In a decision expected to drive up the already high cost of living on the Neighbor Islands, the Public Utilities Commission on Monday approved a jaw-dropping 46% rate increase for the state’s only regulated inter-island cargo shipping company.The PUC, acknowledging the economic strain the pandemic has put on Young Brothers, approved the emergency rate increase to restore the company’s “pre-COVID” sailing schedule by Sept. 1.The added routes will reduce delays of freight for customers, but also means much higher shipping costs for inter-island...…HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - In a decision expected to drive up the already high cost of living on the Neighbor Islands, the Public Utilities Commission on Monday approved a jaw-dropping 46% rate increase for the state’s only regulated inter-island cargo shipping company.The PUC, acknowledging the economic strain the pandemic has put on Young Brothers, approved the emergency rate increase to restore the company’s “pre-COVID” sailing schedule by Sept. 1.The added routes will reduce delays of freight for customers, but also means much higher shipping costs for inter-island...WW…

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - With COVID cases and hospitalizations on the rise, the Blood Bank of Hawaii is renewing their call for convalescent plasma donations from people who have beat the virus.It’s a special treatment being used to help severely ill COVID-19 patients in the hospital.The blood bank says the rich antibodies in the yellow plasma could give a potentially life-saving boost to people who need it most.Hawaii’s supply is running dangerously low as demand continues to climb.“Just the last week alone, the use of convalescent plasma tripled. And so now, what we are seeing...…HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - With COVID cases and hospitalizations on the rise, the Blood Bank of Hawaii is renewing their call for convalescent plasma donations from people who have beat the virus.It’s a special treatment being used to help severely ill COVID-19 patients in the hospital.The blood bank says the rich antibodies in the yellow plasma could give a potentially life-saving boost to people who need it most.Hawaii’s supply is running dangerously low as demand continues to climb.“Just the last week alone, the use of convalescent plasma tripled. And so now, what we are seeing...WW…

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - The state is closing Kauai’s famous Polihale State Park indefinitely.The DLNR made the announcement Tuesday citing so-called bad behavior and overuse as the reason for the closure.They claim COVID-19 also played a factor in reaching a decision they say was made with inpus from staff, law enforcement, health officials and west Kauai residents.Described “bad behaviors” outlined by the DLNR include over 1,000 people camping at the state park during a recent weekend, though only 80 were permitted; large gatherings without social distancing; and trucks racing...…HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - The state is closing Kauai’s famous Polihale State Park indefinitely.The DLNR made the announcement Tuesday citing so-called bad behavior and overuse as the reason for the closure.They claim COVID-19 also played a factor in reaching a decision they say was made with inpus from staff, law enforcement, health officials and west Kauai residents.Described “bad behaviors” outlined by the DLNR include over 1,000 people camping at the state park during a recent weekend, though only 80 were permitted; large gatherings without social distancing; and trucks racing...WW…

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - If you get an unsolicited packet of seeds from China, don’t open it. That’s the message from agriculture officials after multiple people received the mysterious packages.The State Department of Agriculture says they are working with federal agencies after numerous people across the country got the seeds in the mail. Five reports have come from Hawaii residents — three on Oahu, two on Hawaii Island. Authorities aren’t exactly sure of the contents of the packages, but most of the unsolicited shipments have come from China.“We don’t know what they are. They...…HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - If you get an unsolicited packet of seeds from China, don’t open it. That’s the message from agriculture officials after multiple people received the mysterious packages.The State Department of Agriculture says they are working with federal agencies after numerous people across the country got the seeds in the mail. Five reports have come from Hawaii residents — three on Oahu, two on Hawaii Island. Authorities aren’t exactly sure of the contents of the packages, but most of the unsolicited shipments have come from China.“We don’t know what they are. They...WW…