ASD icon blue inverse lighter

ASD Staff

Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

[{"text":"It's the thought that counts.","type":"text"}]

I Stock 184655693

<title>Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Introducing the "loose" shaka</title>

In today's social media find, krystilez demonstrates a shaka so minimal it barely exists.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Introducing the "loose" shaka

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Government & Politics

Forecasters from the National Weather Service in Honolulu are predicting more rain across the Islands this week.

Although "mostly dry and pleasant" trade wind weather will continue Monday — albeit with brief passing showers favoring windward and mauka areas — the 

 a "significant pattern change is then expected by Tuesday as an upper disturbance and surface low pressure evolve northwest of the Islands."

"This system is expected to draw deep tropical moisture northward over the state, leading to an extended period of southerly winds, increased chances for widespread rainfall and renewed flooding concerns from from the middle of the week through the weekend."

Some possible "enhanced" showers could reach Kaua‘i by late Monday and there's a slight chance of thunder for Hawai‘i Island Tuesday afternoon, the NWS notes.

Find seven-day forecasts for areas across the state 

 published Monday morning, the NWS said now is a good time to prepare for possible flooding impacts:

"Residents living near stream, rivers, gulches, valleys, ravines and flood-prone areas should remain especially alert and prepared to move to higher ground if flash flooding develops," the outlook notes.

The possibility of more rain and flooding comes just weeks after back-to-back Kona Low storm systems brought heavy rains to the Islands that triggered flooding and power outages, prompted evacuations and caused damage.

 that the two storm systems, which brought 30 to 60 inches of rainfall to some areas and led to the worst flooding in Hawai‘i in more than two decades, caused around $2 billion in damages and economic loss. The preliminary estimate accounts for damage to homes, businesses and infrastructure, as well as tourism losses, agricultural impacts, and emergency response and recovery operation costs across O‘ahu, Maui and Hawai‘i Island, AccuWeather notes.

Recent data from the University of Hawai‘i's Hawai‘i at Mānoa shows that more than 

 of water, enough to fill 3 million Olympic-sized swimming pools, inundated the Islands last month.

The March storms caused the indefinite closure of 

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Downtown honolulu 040626

<title>More rain expected this week</title>

The possibility of more rainfall comes weeks after back-to-back Kona Low storm systems brought significant rains in March that triggered flooding and power outages, prompted evacuations and caused damage across the Islands.

More rain expected this week

Business & Tourism

The latest round of storms bringing heavy rain to the Islands has so far had little impact on local airline operations.

"Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines are closely monitoring and assessing weather conditions," a spokesperson for the airlines told Aloha State Daily in an email. "As of 2 p.m., we have canceled six roundtrip Neighbor Island flights and remain focused on supporting our employees who live in the affected areas.

"We are continuing to evaluate our schedule and will notify guests of any changes to their flight," the spokesperson continued. "We encourage guests to regularly check their flight status and to check in online before arriving at the airport to save time. Guests should also monitor app push notifications for real-time updates."

In an announcement Friday, the Hawai`i Visitors & Convention Bureau offered this guidance to travelers currently in the state:

And for those with upcoming trips, HVCB says there's no reason to cancel or postpone travel.

"The state remains safe and welcoming, and conditions are expected to improve early next week," the announcement notes.

Travelers, though, should ensure their airline has a current mobile number on file and enable app and SMS notifications, as well as confirm flight statuses directly with the airline before departing for the airport.

Unrelated to the stormy weather, the state Department of Transportation on Friday confirmed that all airports in Hawai‘i are being staffed and will remain open and operational, despite some national reports that small airports nationwide may close or pause operations due to the partial shutdown of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and funding of the Transportation Security Administration, or TSA.

“All of our airports, including our smaller airports on the Neighbor Islands, are vital transportation links for our residents and visitors and they will remain open to serve the traveling public,” said DOT Director Ed Sniffen in a statement. “HDOT is in close communication with our federal partners impacted by the partial shutdown and we want to thank them for keeping our airports staffed and ensuring they remain operational, while minimizing disruptions to travelers. We appreciate the commitment of our dedicated federal workers and their families, who are again facing uncertainty due to the partial shutdown. We will continue to support these individuals who we work closely with on a daily basis, so they can continue to provide critical service to air travelers.”

Daniel k inouye international airport hnl 100925

<title>How the storm is affecting airlines and travel</title>

Hawaiian Airlines has canceled just a few flights due to the current storms as of this afternoon, and the Hawai`i Visitors & Convention Bureau has offered guidance to travelers.

How the storm is affecting airlines and travel

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros Headshot

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros

Real Estate

Aloha Spirit

As the third generation of his family born and raised on Lānaʻi, Kurt Matsumoto

 joined Oracle Corp. founder and billionaire Larry Ellison’s company, Pūlama Lāna’i, in late 2012. He said he wasn’t its first employee but came on board the same year it was formed (when Ellison purchased 98% of the island).

“The biggest change over time is that the island used to be a completely dedicated pineapple plantation. And now, there’s no pineapple grown at all. We have two hotels now, but as you drive through town, a lot of it still looks the same as it did when I was growing up.

“It’s a classic picture of rural America – kids walking to school and the neighbors all looking out for each other,” he said.

When asked what initially drew him to the role, Matsumoto said, “The opportunity to work with somebody like Larry Ellison and help the island have a chance at reaching sustainability is, of course, very attractive.”

That, and giving back to the island that raised him, he noted, adding, “I owe a lot to growing up on Lānaʻi and I look forward to continuing to create positive change.”

Pūlama Lānaʻi, a land and resource management company controlling Ellison’s holdings, aims to preserve Native Hawaiian culture and the ‘āina, as well as build community and economic opportunities, 

Delivering more affordable housing is one thing Matsumoto is proud of. “We just got done adding 150 new workforce rental homes – that’s a 10% increase in housing.”

Spanning 76 acres, Hōkūao, is the first housing development to be built on the island in 30 years. More than half of the single-family homes are affordable, with the remaining at market rates.

“Lānaʻi has some of the lowest rental costs in the entire state,” he said citing the 

The University of Hawai‘i Economic Research Organization

. According to report, median rent in ZIP code 96763 is $1,087 and the median single-family home price is $675,000.

For a population of over 3,000, there are more than 1,500 housing units on island. Matsumoto estimated that the island’s 

number of employed workers is close to 1,600.

ʻi directly employs 400 workers, he said. “We have an entire leasing and maintenance operation, so we

re the ones repairing homes and making housing available when new employees arrive on the island. On the commercial side, we own the grocery store, the gas station, the theater, and coming soon, a new bowling alley.

“It’s all about making the lifestyle on the island more manageable, making access to goods and services easier and less expensive,” Matsumoto continued. “Prior to us owning the gas station, gas prices were the highest in the state. Now, we're the lowest.”

In addition to a barge that brings in goods once a week, Pūlama Lānaʻi covers the cost of flying things in “to keep the shelves full,” he said.

This year, one of the company’s goals is to demolish the old, shuttered bowling alley and build a brand new one with a full-service restaurant and ’50s diner theme by November.

Other priorities include building more houses and outdoor art installations; upgrading the water system; and contining efforts to fence off 20,000 acres from mauka to makai to keep sheep and deer out and revegetate the land, Matsumoto said.

“The focus is really about making the lifestyle on Lānaʻi better for the people who live there. We’re not developing luxury homes for sale or only catering to visitors, we want to keep employment up, too,” he said.  

In 2015, Pūlama Lānaʻi and the University of Hawai‘i Maui College launched its dual credit program, which allows Lāna‘i students to earn both a high school diploma and college credit. This year, 15 high school seniors participated from Lāna‘i High & Elementary School, the only school on the island, bringing the total to more than 200 students over 10 years.

“Reaching 10 years is a significant milestone. We started off as way to supplement what happens at school. But it’s turned into a pathway for kids to save money for their families and help achieve their higher education goals.”

Matsumoto said Lāna‘i High & Elementary School’s graduation rate had been high, but the matriculation rate was “well below the state average.”

“So, this has really changed that dynamic and has had a good impact on youth on island. Being able to see the results of the things we’re committed to is rewarding," he said. "All of our projects are being funded by Larry and it's all part of his commitment to the island and residents.”

He added, Lānaʻi students have come back home after going away to college to work on island, and even with Pūlama Lānaʻi.

“Within our workforce, of the people who serve in manager and director roles, close to 50% of them are either from Lānaʻi, meaning graduated from high school here, or they lived on 

 for 20 years or more. So, yes, we do have challenges filling holes, but we really try to invest in people, train them up and find appropriate work for them, which goes back to our role of enriching the community.”

Lanai Bowl rendering

<title>A new bowling alley, more workforce housing planned for Lānaʻi</title>

Learn more about the initiatives at Pūlama Lāna’i, including its dual credit program for students on the island, a 10-year partnership with the University of Hawai’i Maui College.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Introducing the "loose" shaka

ASD Staff

More in Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Neighborhood weather updates

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Island vibes

Gotta catch ‘em all — at Ala Moana Center: voices from Pokémon GO’s “Wild Area: Global” event

Starbucks holiday launch draws crowds for limited-edition cups

Most read

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Introducing the "loose" shaka

Authors

ASD Staff

More in Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Neighborhood weather updates

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Island vibes

Gotta catch ‘em all — at Ala Moana Center: voices from Pokémon GO’s “Wild Area: Global” event

Starbucks holiday launch draws crowds for limited-edition cups

Most read