Good evening, Hawaii. Here are the main stories we've been following today:
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A cold front will approach from the northwest, increasing cloud cover and winds through today. A line of showers will move across the islands from tonight through Thursday morning. Wave heights will also increase, with the north and west-facing shores under High Surf Warnings from midnight tonight through Friday afternoon. Some surf heights could reach up to 45 feet, and flooding will be possible close to the shores.
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Today's Big Stories
1. Super Bowl parade shooting: Radio DJ killed, 21 injured, including 12 kids
A Kansas City radio DJ is dead and 21 others were injured in a shooting following the Super Bowl parade Wednesday in Kansas City honoring the Chiefs, according to the Kansas City Police Chief.
Wednesday evening, Kansas City radio station KKFI posted a message on its Facebook page confirming the death of DJ Lisa Lopez.
Among the 21 others injured, were 12 children. Spectrum News has confirmed they were taken to Children's Mercy Hospital after the incident, according to Stephanie Meyer, the SVP and Chief Nursing Officer. She also said nine of the children were gunshot victims and three suffered "unintentional injuries.' She also confirmed all of the patients ranged in age from 6 to 15 years old.
As of 6:30 p.m. CT, Meyer said all of the patients are expected to recover from their injuries. She added that the hospital treated this as a mass casualty event and paused other treatment and procedures to mobilize its full staff to these patients.
Police say the shooting happened near Union Station and thousands were in attendance for the event. Three people were detained, according to Graves. Police are still investigating what led to the incident.
During the press conference, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas thanked the police and fire departments.
“This is absolutely a tragedy. The likes of which we would’ve never expected in Kansas City and the likes of which that we will remember for some time,” he said. “I want to say thank those who are making sure that we were safe today.”
A statement from the Kansas City Chiefs says, “We are truly saddened by the senseless act of violence that occurred outside of Union Station at the conclusion of today’s parade and rally. Our hearts go out to the victims, their families and all of Kansas City.”
“We are in close communication with the Mayor’s office as well as the Kansas City Police Department. At this time, we have confirmed that all of our players, coaches, staff and their families are safe and accounted for. We thank the local law enforcement officers and first responders who were on scene to assist.”
2. Flight attendants in Hawaii, and across the U.S., picket for higher wages
On Tuesday, dozens of flight attendants picketed at the breezeway in front of the United check-in counters at the Daniel K. Inouye Airport in Honolulu to push for new contracts and higher wages.
The picket in Hawaii was part of a “worldwide day of action” organized by three unions, which represent flight attendants, according to a news release from the Association of Flight Attendants, a union that represents crews at Alaska, United and others. Flight attendants from 24 major airlines, including Alaska Airlines, United, American, Southwest and Hawaiian, picketed outside airports across the U.S., the United Kingdom and Guam. It was not a strike — federal law makes it difficult for airline unions to conduct legal strikes. About 100,000 flight attendants, who are currently in contract negotiations, demanded significant pay raises.
The flight attendants are increasingly frustrated that pilots won huge pay raises last year while they continue to work for wages that, in some cases, have not increased in several years. They argue that they have not been rewarded for working through the pandemic and being responsible for the safety of passengers.
According to a news release from Alaska Airlines, AFA and Alaska leadership have met twice in the last three weeks and are continuing to bargain with assistance of a mediator.
“Discussions have been productive and in the last two sessions, we reached four tentative agreements,” Alaska said.
3. Pearl Harbor survivor, Sterling Cale, dies
Hawaii’s last Pearl Harbor survivor, Sterling Cale, has died, announced his family on Wednesday. Cale was 102.
Pacific Historic Parks shared a post regarding Cale’s passing with a statement from the family:
“He lived an incredible life, serving our country with bravery and honor in three wars. We will miss him so much, but know he’s now with his wife Victoria. She died five years ago and was the love of his life.”
Cale passed away on Jan. 20 at his Aiea home surrounded by his family.
4. Lahainaluna football players, coaches reveled in Super Bowl spotlight
Right around the time he got a tap on the shoulder Thursday night, Dean Rickard knew it would be a special week.
It was the first of five days in Las Vegas at the NFL’s behest for Lahainaluna’s party of eight honorary Super Bowl game captains who would perform the pregame coin toss. There was Rickard, his fellow co-coach Garret Tihada, veteran coach Bobby Watson, four Lunas co-captains and the school’s athletic director Jon Conrad.
Rickard had settled into his chair at Thursday’s NFL Honors banquet when a Marcus Mariota-narrated video was shown to the audience, laying out the destruction of their hometown from the Aug. 8 wildfires and the team’s perseverance to play out the subsequent 2023 season.
As it concluded, the party of eight got a standing ovation. They were easy to spot, as they were garbed in aloha shirts with lei while all others sported suits and ties. Rickard soon was tapped on his shoulder by Mel Blount, the legendary Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback, who was sitting right behind him and wanted to shake his hand.
“He was thanking us for what we did to make sure the kids were able to complete the season,” Rickard recalled to Spectrum News in a phone interview Tuesday. “So it was just an honor for me to shake hands with him.”
Next to Blount, there was Joe Theismann. And over there, Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner. New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley introduced himself to Lunas players Kaulana Tihada, Teva Loft, Morgan “Bula” Montgomery and Kuola Watson. So did Puka Nacua, the breakout Los Angeles Rams star receiver with strong Hawaii ties, along with Nacua’s mother."This is absolutely a tragedy. The likes of which we would've never expected in Kansas City and the likes of which that we will remember for some time," he said. "I want to say thank those who are making sure that we were safe today."
Among the honorary game captains, Watson, who has been with the Lunas program for 45 years, was a no-brainer to do the honors for the pregame coin toss.
“It was a quality flip,” Rickard said. “And we were kind of joking around with him to say, Hey, Coach, you know, don't get all nervous. He goes, ‘NAH, I’m gonna do a backhand flip.’"
5. OHA offering $6.87M through new grant program
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs’ grants program is offering $6.87 million in grants to Hawaii-based nonprofit organizations who offer projects, programs and initiatives that serve the Native Hawaiian community.
The grants come via the new OHA initiative Ua Ka a Paa, which translates to “fastened and secured as the koko (carrying net).”
According to OHA, the program will lower barriers for organizations to apply for OHA grants, resulting in a stronger application pool and “striking a greater balance between a rigorous process and an orientation toward supporting and uplifting community organizations.”
Grant applications will be accepted until March 29. Training on the new grants application process will be held in person throughout the islands and online. To RSVP for a training, visit oha.org/grants.
Your Notes for Tomorrow
Thursday, Feb. 15
- Court hearing for Donald Trump on charges of falsifying business records for 'hush money' payments (New York)
- Court hearing in former Trump campaign staffer's election interference case on claims DA profited from case's prosecution (Georgia)
- Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report - Initial Claims
- 1st anniversary of Nikki Haley launching presidential campaign
- Russian Soyuz 2.1a rocket launch, carrying Progress 87P cargo spacecraft to the ISS
- Rocket launch for new Japanese H3 heavy lift rocket
- UK's Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan continue visit to Canada for Invictus Games one-year-to-go celebration
- Previews begin for world premiere of musical comedy about Donald Trump's wives
- Economist Intelligence Unit releases its annual Democracy Index, which ranks countries in terms of engagement with the democratic process and quality of participation
In Case You Missed It
"Lovely Hula Hands" is performed during a preview of the Kilohana Hula Show at the Tom Moffatt Waikiki Shell on Jan. 18, 2024. (Spectrum News/Michelle Broder Van Dyke)
Inspired by the iconic Kodak Hula Show, a free hula show is returning to Waikiki after 22-year hiatus
The iconic Kodak Hula Show ran in Waikiki for 65 years before shutting down in 2002. Tourists and kamaaina alike remember watching dancers perform to “Lovely Hula Hands,” “I Ali'i No 'Oe,” “Kaimana Hila,” and other Hawaiian songs. Sometimes the hula dancers were even members of their families.
The Kilohana Hula Show, which is inspired by the Kodak Hula Show, will occur Sunday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The first performance will be on Feb. 15 at the Tom Moffatt Waikiki Shell’s smaller adjoining amphitheater.