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Based on current weather conditions and forecasts, all HIDOE public schools on Hawaiʻi Island will maintain normal school-day operations on Friday, Aug. 14. In-person instruction will continue as scheduled. School principals may cancel select after school activities on Friday afternoon.

As Hawaiʻi enters the peak months of hurricane season, the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation is ramping up support for its Stronger Hawaiʻi Fund to help communities prepare for and respond to disasters.

The County of Maui continues to prepare for possible impacts from Tropical Storm Lala, as emergency management officials echo that community members should be ready for potentially hazardous conditions across Maui County this weekend.

Young Brothers is working closely with the US Coast Guard and State departments to monitor the incoming Tropical Storm Lala closely and provide updates on its operations at each port of call throughout Hawaiʻi as they may be affected by the storm.

Gov. Josh Green today signed an emergency proclamation declaring a state of emergency for Hawai‘i ahead of Tropical Storm Lala, which is currently forecast to approach the islands at near-hurricane strength this weekend. 

The Maui County Council is looking for people interested in serving on the Board of Water Supply, Public Works Commission and other boards and commissions as it seeks to fill several urgent vacancies, Chair Alice L. Lee announced today.

As migratory birds begin their seasonal return to Hawaiʻi, the Hawaiʻi Department of Health and Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity are reminding residents, particularly people who keep backyard poultry or other birds, to take precautions to reduce the risk of avian influenza and other infectious diseases.

Gov. Josh Green announced that the Department of the Navy is initiating the process to return nearly 44 acres of federal property to the state of Hawaiʻi. The proposed transfers include a 31.693-acre parcel at Kalaeloa and the Marine Corps’ 12-acre Molokaʻi Training Support Facility at Hoʻolehua.

At approximately 10:15 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 12, warehouse workers observed an opossum within their container staging area. The workers initially contacted the US Department of Agriculture, which subsequently notified the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture, Biosecurity, Plant Quarantine Branch in Hilo.

Lāna‘i Air, operated by Western Aircraft, Inc., launched a new route connecting Moloka‘i and O‘ahu. The expanded service between Moloka‘i Airport (MKK) in Ho‘olehua and Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) in Honolulu includes four daily flights serviced by a Cessna SkyCourier, a twin engine turboprop airplane with a spacious cabin that seats 19 passengers.

An estimated 6 million cubic yards of lava erupted and covered about 40% to 50% of the Halemaʻumaʻu Crater floor; An abrupt switch from deflation to inflation at the summit coincided with the end of Episode 53 fountaining, indicating another lava fountaining episode is likely.

Steady strengthening is forecast, and Lala is expected to become a hurricane as it approaches the Big Island. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 275 miles from the center.

Chief John Pelletier emphasized a “zero tolerance” approach to the incident, initiating both internal and external audits in an effort to restore public trust. The external review will be conducted by Hawaiʻi County Police Chief Reed K. Mahuna to ensure transparency and objectivity.

Maui OnStage announced the cast and creative team for its upcoming production of “ʻAinakea,” an original play by Maui-based playwright James Nevius. The production will take the stage at the Historic ʻĪao Theater this October.

County of Maui officials are encouraging residents to prepare ahead of a potential tropical storm that is expected to strengthen before approaching the Hawaiian Islands as early as Friday night.

Hawaiian Electric is urging customers across Hawaiʻi, including Maui County, to prepare for a storm forecasters say could affect the islands as early as Saturday.

Condominium sales in Maui County continued to strengthen in July while single-family home sales cooled compared to a year earlier, according to data released by the Realtors Association of Maui.

A new report by the University of Hawai’i found improvements in housing stability but less progress in the overall economy.

“Item D-7 does not ask BLNR to award a 30-year water license to Mahi Pono. The item asks BLNR to authorize a public auction for a water license for certain government surface waters in East Maui,” according to DLNR.

After more than 17 years of planning, the proposed Haʻikū Fire Station has hit a legal stumbling block significant enough for council members to seek legal advice in a closed executive session and delay further consideration for two weeks.