Good evening, Hawaii. Here are the main stories we've been following today:
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High pressure remains in control through the weekend as dry and pleasant weather continues. Northeast trade winds will keep clouds and shower chances over windward and mauka areas through overnight and morning hours.
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Today's Big Stories
1. Communications breakdown left authorities in the dark and residents without alerts amid Maui fire
As wildfires ripped across Maui last August, the head of the emergency management agency dragged his heels about returning to the island amid the unfolding crisis, while a broad communications breakdown left authorities in the dark and residents without emergency alerts, according to a report released Wednesday.
Communications problems were also encountered by the Hawaiian Electric Company, with officials unable to confirm that power lines were de-energized until well after flames had caused widespread damage, the report from the Hawaii Attorney General said.
It was the second of two major assessments out this week of the deadliest U.S. wildfire in a century. A report released Tuesday by the Western Fire Chiefs Association detailed the unprecedented challenges facing the Maui Fire Department during an unprecedented series of blazes including one that killed 101 people in the historic town of Lahaina.
The agency’s administrator, Herman Andaya, was off island at a conference on Oahu on Aug. 8 as the Maui fires intensified. His call and text records show that he was getting updates from Gaye Gabaut, an administrative assistant.
After the fire had been burning for more than five hours, Gabaut relayed to Andaya that flames had reached Front Street in Lahaina. According to the report, Andaya responded that “he better come home tomorrow.”
The preliminary report also describes a breakdown in communication between police responders, firefighters and emergency officials after cellular networks went down.
Meanwhile, a stretched and limited dispatch center had single operators monitoring five or six channels at a time to keep up with what was happening on the ground.
Inoperative cell towers left residents and tourists with little options to receive emergency alerts like evacuation orders. And the closed systems used by police created a dam of information that was not being relayed in a timely way to the mayor and emergency officials, the report said.
2. Damage assessments continue on Kauai, cleanups ongoing
The Kauai Emergency Operations Center remains partially activated as damage assessments continue around the island. KEMA is also working with the local Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) to leverage community-based volunteer organizations for those who need assistance.
The Kauai County Farm Services Agency advises farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers to document damages from the flooding and notify the FSA within 72 hours of a crop loss becoming apparent for hand-harvested crops and certain perishable crops, according to FSA officials.
Contact the Kauai County Farm Services Agency office at 808-245-9014 ext. 2 as soon as possible if there has been any farm or crop damage caused by the storm.
Road and highway closures are still in effect with the addition of debris on Kuli Road in Lawai impeding traffic and heavy ponding on Kanu Road near Menehune Road in Waimea also impeding traffic.
The county also reports Niumalu Bridge on Niumalu Road near Hulemalu Road has been closed because of flood damage. County Engineer Troy Tanigawa said in a news release that the closure was necessary for the safety of the community. Motorists are advised to use Hulemalu Road as a detour. Repairs will be expedited.
For updates on road conditions and closures, call 808-241-1725.
3. New sail plan calls for March 2025 launch of the Moananuiākea Voyage
Until next year, when the severe El Nino weather conditions settle down, the plan is to keep Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia in Hawaii waters, according to the Polynesian Voyaging Society.
PVS has been developing a new sail plan for the Moananuiākea Voyage since the canoe’s return in December 2023 after consulting with science and weather experts, community partners and voyaging leadership.
The organization announced the circumnavigation of the Pacific will resume in March 2025 when Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia will depart Hawaii and head first to Polynesia.
The focus until then will be on training, statewide engagements, educational outreach and various initiatives.
“In terms of our oceans, we are, in my opinion and not from a scientific view, but from just experience over 49 years of sailing this canoe, we’re in a changing ocean and we need to pay attention,” stated PVS CEO and Pwo Navigator Nainoa Thompson, in a news release.
In March 2025, Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia will continue their circumnavigation of the Pacific, heading to Aotearoa (New Zealand) from December through May 2026, then on to the Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Palau from May through March 2027.
The rest of 2027 will see stops at major countries along the coast of Asia. The sister canoes will then be shipped to Long Beach, California, after which they will sail to Mexico.
Plans for 2028 include Central and South America, re-enter Polynesia at Rapa Nui, the major island groups of Polynesia, Tahiti and Taputapuātea, and the final leg home to Hawaii.
4. Navy removes 99% of AFFF concentrate from Red Hill
The Navy has removed 1,012 gallons of Aqueous Film Forming Foam concentrate from the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility as of Monday.
That accounts for 99% of the concentrate in Red Hill’s AFFF system, according to a news release.
The Navy Closure Task Force-Red Hill started the AFFF removal process on April 8, after receiving approval from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Hawaii Department of Health.
“We are on schedule to safely complete the removal of all AFFF from the facility,” Rear Adm. Marc Williams, deputy commander for the NCTF-RH, said in a recorded video.
The AFFF spill came after the 2021 fuel spill that contaminated drinking water for 93,000 residents. Both incidents eroded Hawaii residents' trust in the Navy.
5. Soccer community celebrates Navy rejection of Waipio Peninsula as landfill candidate
The Hawaii soccer community breathed a collective sigh of relief on Tuesday morning when the City and County of Honolulu announced it is no longer considering the Waipio Soccer Complex as the site of a new landfill for Oahu.
Officials with the Navy, which controls land on the Waipio Peninsula, recently notified Mayor Rick Blangiardi that it is “unable to support the development of a landfill on this property,” according to a city news release.
“From the moment I got the news, I’ve had the biggest grin on my face all day,” Scott Keopuhiwa, President and Executive Director of the Hawaii Youth Soccer Association, told Spectrum News in a phone interview. “We’re absolutely thrilled that they’re no longer going to consider Waipio for a landfill.”
Concerns in the soccer community were high since the Islands’ central hub for the sport over the last two-plus decades was named in March as a leading candidate to replace the Waimanalo Gulch landfill, which is slated to shut down in 2028.
Admiral John C. Aquilino, commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, signed off on the Navy’s decision due to “near-shore waters” and “the Navy’s mission critical operations and training activities in the vicinity of the Waipio Peninsula.”
6. Democrats quickly end Homeland Security Sec. Mayorkas' impeachment trial on day 1
Senate Democrats quickly dismissed impeachment charges against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Wednesday, voting to rule each of the two impeachment charges unconstitutional on the trial's first day.
All Republicans voted no on the questions of dismissal, bar Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a moderate who voted present on the first charge and voted against the second charge.
“The charges brought against Secretary Mayorkas failed to meet the high standard of high crimes and misdemeanors,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a speech prior to the impeachment trial’s start. “To validate this gross abuse by the House would be a grave mistake, and could set a dangerous precedent for the future for the sake of the Senate's integrity.”
Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), pushed back against Mayorkas' impeachment ahead of the trial, saying, "after reviewing the articles of impeachment against Secretary Mayorkas, one thing is clear: There is no actual allegation of an impeachable offense as outlined in the Constitution.”
Your Notes for Tomorrow
Thursday, April 18
- Hearing for Haitian American man who pleaded guilty to conspiracy in assassination of Haitian president.
- TCM Classic Film Festival begins
- Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report - Initial Claims
- U.S. relief to Venezuelan oil and gas sector set to expire
- 20th-century American paintings on sale in New York auction
- World Press Photo contest global winners announced
In Case You Missed It
Miki, the fleet of four electric passenger shuttles, launches today, April 17, at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. (Photo by Hawaii Department of Transportation)
New electric shuttle fleet named ‘Miki’ launches at Honolulu airport
A new fleet of autonomous electric passenger shuttles was launched as part of an 18-month pilot project at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport on Tuesday, announced the Hawaii Department of Transportation.
The new fleet, named “Miki,” the Hawaiian word for agile, will augment the existing Wiki Wiki shuttle bus service and provide travelers with another transportation option between gates and terminals.
Service begins April 17 with the same hours as the Wiki Wiki from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
The new fleet will be evaluated over 18 months as the HDOT looks for ways to increase efficiency. Departing and arriving passengers can ride two of the four shuttles along the same route as the Wiki Wiki buses between C and G gates and Terminal 1 and 2. Travelers can catch the Miki shuttle on the third level with their carry-on baggage.