Good evening, Hawaii. Here are the main stories we've been following today:
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Today's Big Stories
1. State, Army sign 50-year lease for Kawaihapai Airfield
Gov. Josh Green, M.D., the Hawaii Department of Transportation and the U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii signed a 50-year lease for Kawaihapai Airfield (formerly known as Dillingham Airfield) on Friday.
The new lease took effect on Saturday, July 6. Operations at the airfield were uninterrupted, including uninterrupted water service to tenants, which had been a point of concern before the lease was signed.
HDOT, the Army Garrison Hawaii and the Army Corps of Engineers Honolulu District worked together to reach agreements on three key conditions.
With this new lease, the Army has a five-year license with community-based Aqua Engineers to operate the Dillingham PWS. The license took effect on July 6, 2024.
This new license ensures that all water uses, both at the airfield and surrounding community, will continue to have water service. The Army and Aqua Engineers will work within the five-year term to secure a long-term agreement for the operation of the Dillingham PWS.
“This new 50-year lease will ensure Kawaihapai Airfield remains open for commercial activities and will continue to serve as a critical economic resource for Oahu’s North Shore community,” said Hawaii Department of Transportation Director Ed Sniffen. “This was a collaborative effort that brought together the state, the Army Garrison Hawaii, Army Corps of Engineers Honolulu District, local businesses, elected officials and community members, all focused on a common goal of ensuring the continued operation of Kawaihapai Airfield. We appreciate the tremendous efforts of the Army Garrison and Corps of Engineers in working with us and our community stakeholders to reach this important milestone.”
2. Houseless individuals in Hilo temporarily relocated
In anticipation of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' scheduled assessments of a storm drain in downtown Hilo, Hawaii County officials have established a temporary resting area for unsheltered individuals who had been occupying the area in and around the drain.
The move to a parking lot off Ponahawai Street behind the Hele gas station began Friday. Managed by the Department of Parks and Recreation, the area was selected so the residents could stay together in a safe alternative space, according to county officials in a news release.
The stay at the temporary site is expected to last through August, providing stability for the residents as longer-term solutions are developed.
"This temporary site is a critical measure to ensure the safety and well-being of our unsheltered community members," said Mayor Mitch Roth in the release. "We are committed to providing safe and reliable care while permanent housing options are being prepared."
A collaboration between Hawaii County and The Salvation Army Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Division will open a new homeless shelter in downtown Hilo in late August. It will serve as a permanent evening shelter for all houseless individuals in the downtown Hilo area.
3. DOH confirms two separate travel-related dengue cases
The Hawaii Department of Health announced two people — one on Oahu and one on Kauai — who traveled separately to areas where dengue is prevalent now have the virus.
DOH teams were sent to conduct mosquito control in the areas where the Hawaii residents live in order to lessen the chances of dengue being transmitted to others in the area.
This year, Hawaii has had a total of eight confirmed travel-related dengue cases — one on Kauai, two on Maui and five on Oahu. Multiple regions around the world where individuals have traveled are experiencing higher-than-normal dengue activity.
Dengue symptoms may include fever, nausea, vomiting, rash and body aches. Severe symptoms are more likely in someone who has been previously infected with dengue.
According to Hawaii DOH, most people recover in about a week.
If anyone has recently traveled to an area where dengue is common and is experiencing these symptoms, Hawaii DOH urges them to contact their health care provider.
4. One of Hawaii's foremost conductors, Aaron Mahi, dies at 70
Aaron Mahi — musician, composer, recording artist, kahu and esteemed conductor of the Royal Hawaiian Band from 1981 to 2005 — has died at 70.
Mahi's family confirmed that he died late Saturday night, according to Hawaii News Now. Mahi would have been 71 on July 9.
At 14, Mahi received a scholarship from the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra. He graduated from Kamehameha Schools in 1971 and received a music education degree from Connecticut's Hartt School of Music in 1975. Mahi also attended the Herbert Bloomsted Institute of Conducting at Loma Linda University in California.
Mahi's early career saw him headlining as a jazz and rock bass player for the Windward Symphony Orchestra in 1976.
Mahi was inspired by the Hawaiian Renaissance and joined the group Kaimana in 1977 along with Haunani Apoliona, Haunani Bernardino and Eldon Akamine.
In 1979, Mahi became a bassist with the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra, where he also started to conduct.
In 1981, then-Mayor Eileen Anderson appointed Mahi as bandmaster for the Royal Hawaiian Band. The band was founded in 1836 by King Kamehameha III and was once known as the "King's Band." Mahi was the first Native Hawaiian appointed to the position since Charles E. King in 1933.
Mahi's tenure lasted 24 years, the second longest in the band's history. Under Mahi's direction, the Royal Hawaiian Band ventured to Europe in 1983 for 21 days, performing 19 concerts that entertained nearly 17,000 people.
5. UH to continue operating Infrared Telescope Facility
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has selected the University of Hawaii’s Institute for Astronomy to continue maintaining and operating its Infrared Telescope Facility on Maunakea in a contract worth as much as $85.5 million over nine years.
The contract has a base performance period from July 1 to June 30, 2025, with nine optional periods that would take the contract through Dec. 31, 2033.
“The award of a new contract follows a very successful independent review of IRTF operations and scientific productivity last year,” said IRTF director John Rayner. “We appreciate the opportunity to continue to work with NASA and manage this important facility. We are excited to maximize IRTF as a scientific research facility to advance our understanding of the universe while also protecting our planet.”
In addition to maintenance and operation, UH will also develop and implement an operations strategy so that the scientific community can use the facility through peer-reviewed competition to assist NASA in achieving its scientific discovery, mission support and planetary defense goals.
IRTF, a 3.0-meter telescope optimized for infrared observations, identifies asteroids and comets that may pose a threat to Earth. It was originally built to support NASA’s Voyager missions. It has been operated by UH since it started operations in 1979.
Your Notes for Tomorrow
Tuesday, July 9
- Fed Chair Powell presents Monetary Policy Report to Senate Banking Committee
- NATO summit
- Donald Trump holds rally in South Florida
- Hurricane Beryl forecast to move further into Texas
- Treasury Secretary Yellen testifies at the annual Financial Services Committee hearing on “The State of International Financial System"
- Court hearing for Harvey Weinstein in New York as prosecutors push for a retrial
- Jury selection for Alec Baldwin charged with involuntary manslaughter for “Rust” film-set shooting
- Senate/House committee hearings
In Case You Missed It
(Getty Images)
High school surf competition set to take place Tuesday and Wednesday
CUE Collaborative, a local nonprofit started by two Hawaii teen girls, is partnering with Nike Swim to host the inaugural Honua Finals: The World Cup of Interscholastic Surfing.
The surf competition is set to take place Tuesday and Wednesday at Ala Moana Bowls. The full line-up can be found here.
The Honua Finals will bring together over 120 surfers representing high school surf teams from New Zealand, California and, for the first time, all four counties in the state of Hawaii.
The invitational will provide an opportunity for local high school students to compete with other high school surf teams from outside of Hawaii without having to pay expensive traveling costs.