Government & Politics

ASD goes behind the scenes with Honolulu EMS

Honolulu Emergency Medical Services opened a new station in October at Ko Olina. Aloha State Daily recently tagged along to see what a day in the life of an EMS crew is like.

Update: The FAA has reopened national airspace

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said there is “zero evidence” so far that the incident was caused by a cyberattack or an artificial intelligence agent.

Hilo’s Waiākea High School to welcome new health learning lab

On Tuesday, local partners convened on the Big Isle to commence construction of the new campus facility that will expand healthcare career pathways for students. Healthcare Association of Hawaiʻi also announced the release of its fourth Healthcare Workforce Initiative Report, which highlights progress filling non-physician job vacancies statewide.

AIDS Memorial coming to Kakaʻako Waterfront Park

An AIDS Memorial and Community Memory Site designed by Le Pua ʻAla Foundation and Hawaiʻi Heath and Harm Reduction Center will be installed at Kakaʻako Waterfront Park in 2027.

Yacht owners, state, reach $375,000 settlement over 2023 grounding incident

The yacht Nakoa damaged coral reefs when it ran aground off Maui in 2023, incurring $1.8 million in fines.

Elephant rights go to Hawai‘i Supreme Court

Hundreds in attendance in case over whether Honolulu Zoo elephants Mari and Vaigai are entitled to human rights

Perseverance propels this Kailua elementary school’s facilities project forward  

Located near Marine Corps Base Hawaiʻi, 'Aikahi Elementary School recently received a federal obligated grant of $9.5 million to construct its sports and performance pavilion for students and the broader community. Now, the PTA is seeking to raise $370,000 for the design phase required to access the grant and keep the project alive.

UPDATED: Tyler Dos Santos-Tam to lead Honolulu City Council

The Honolulu City Councilmember representing District 6 was elected chair of the council on Thursday amid an investigation into allegations of a Sunshine Law violation.

Letter to the Editor: Honolulu voted blue, ranked choice voting lost

Honolulu's voters made the right call in voting down a move to ranked choice voting for mayor, city council members and prosecuting attorney. Here's why.

Community Voices: Anti-speech laws are starting to spread

In passing Act 11, Hawaiʻi kicked off a nationwide effort to restrict free speech surrounding elections and political issues — and two other states have recently followed suit, according to Keli‘i Akina, president of Grassroot Institute of Hawaiʻi, which filed a federal lawsuit earlier this year against the measure. Akina shares "the frightening effects" that such laws could have on organizations.

Why Nvidia CEO’s infidelity is a national security problem

Jensen Huang and his wife, Lori Huang, cut the ribbon together on a girls’ dormitory at the Kentucky Baptist school that took him in. Six years later he is apologizing to his wife in public, and his mistress may be a Chinese spy. ASD opinion columnist Sterling Higa on why the men who hold America’s satellites, rockets, and AI cannot be trusted with the country if they cannot be trusted with a marriage.

Pritchett Cartoon: Animal instincts

Community Voices: Election Commission fiasco

"I can’t help but write about the state Elections Commission and how it has been paralyzed for several months in a feud with the Office of Elections," writes Tom Yamachika of Tax Foundation of Hawaiʻi. "The real tragedy here is the loss to all of us taxpayers."

Diamond Head Lighthouse to be unwrapped in April

$3.7 million maintenance project going smoothly despite storms, says Coast Guard.

Kaua‘i missile range lease extension stalls

U.S. Navy and NASA withdraw environmental statement for 25-year lease extension of facilities on Kaua‘i.

Rescue 6 finds new home in Kailua Operations Annex

The City and County Honolulu Ocean Safety Department unveiled the Kailua Operations Annex on Wednesday, making the annex the first permanent building constructed for the department in its 109-year history.

Community Voices: Question 2 passed, now comes the work

The voter-approved measure to issue Resilient Infrastructure for Shelter and Equity (RISE) Bonds gives counties another tool to address infrastructure needs. But turning that opportunity into meaningful progress will require planning, collaboration and accountability.

Incumbents maintain leads over challengers

Voters across the four counties favored incumbents in Tuesday’s general election, according to results released Wednesday morning. Newly elected Kauaʻi Mayor Mel Rapozo shares what he'll focus on.

After the Blue Wave: Lame duck and foreign war?

Hawaiʻi doesn’t appear on the Risk game board, but every front in a world war runs through Pearl Harbor. ASD opinion columnist Sterling Higa on why a president boxed in by Congress may look for room to move overseas, and why that should worry a mid-Pacific archipelago.

Democrats hold onto their seats in low-turnout midterms

Few surprises among the state legislative elections, with Democrat incumbents and newcomers winning by wide margins.

"Blue wave" hits Hawai‘i, picks off four Republican House seats

GOP winners reflect on midterm results.

Pritchett Cartoon: Same old, same old

HFD battalion chief accused of sexual assault

A woman identified as Jane Doe in a civil case alleges that a Honolulu Fire Department battalion chief sexually assaulted her in February 2025.

Community Voices: Debt per taxpayer

Truth in Accountingʻs latest report findings tells us that while we have made great strides in addressing the financial problems in Hawaiʻi, we are not out of the woods yet.