Good evening, Hawaii. Here are the main stories we've been following today:
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Today's Big Stories
1. Hawaiian Electric installs cameras to detect fires near the company’s equipment
Hawaiian Electric announced the installation of video cameras with artificial intelligence technology, which will detect smoke and other early signs of fire near the company’s equipment.
HECO signed a 5-year contract with California-based ALERTWest, which will install, maintain, and monitor the cameras, according to a news release.
ALERTWest installed the first camera in Lahaina. HECO plans to establish 78 stations across Maui, Oahu, Hawaii Island, Molokai and Lanai. Half of the video cameras will be installed by Sept. 2024, with the remainder expected to be installed by the first half of 2025.
Each station will have two cameras, providing a 360-degree sweep of their surroundings every two minutes. The AI-system detects changes from previous images and highlights them with a red rectangle on the screen. The ALERTWest Operations Center Staff reviews the camera images before notifying HECO and emergency response agencies.
The public will also have access to the camera’s live feeds.
Half of the cost of the $14 million project will be covered by federal funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
2. Maui couples' series 'Shogun' leads all Emmy nominees with 25 nods
The critical hit series “Shogun” led all nominees with 25 nods during the 76th Emmy nomination awards announcements Wednesday morning. "Shogun" finished its premiere season at April’s end, has a 99% critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes and is a creation of two Maui residents, Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks.
Kondo was born and raised in Pukalani and attended Maui High School.
Nominations were announced Wednesday morning by Emmy winners Sheryl Lee Ralph and Tony Hale, coming just six months after the last Emmy Awards, which were delayed by last year’s writers and actors strikes.
"Shogun" is set in Japan in the year 1600 at the dawn of a century-defining civil war; the show’s success led to an announcement late May that FX, Hulu and the Estate of James Clavell are working to extend the drama to develop the saga with two additional seasons of the series.
Its nominations included best drama series, best actress in a drama series for Anna Sawai and best actor for Hiroyuki Sanada.
To see the full list of nominees for the 76th Emmy Awards, click here.
3. Hirono calls for new judge in Trump documents case
U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono is calling for a new judge to oversee future proceedings related to Donald Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents case following Monday’s surprise dismissal of the previous indictment against the former president by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon.
Cannon, who has been criticized by Democrats for her relative lack of experience and a perceived slow-walking of the documents case, sided with defense lawyers in throwing out the indictment on the basis that U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland violated the Constitution’s appointments clause when he appointed special counsel Jack Smith without first going through Congress and that the Department of Justice improperly funded Smith’s office.
Smith intends to appeal the order, and legal experts speculate there is a good likelihood that Cannon’s order will be overturned. Still, the dismissal is viewed as a victory for Trump and further assurance that he will not stand trial on the most significant of numerous charges against him prior to the General Election on Nov. 5.
Hirono accused Cannon of deliberately delaying a potential until after the election. Democrats have previously expressed concern that if Trump wins back the presidency, he could either direct the DOJ to drop all federal charges or pardon himself.
Trump, however, posted on his Truth Social platform that Cannon took what should be the “first step” in dismissing the criminal and civil actions against him.
4. Opossum captured in downtown Honolulu
Honolulu police captured an opossum crawling around a downtown office building on Wednesday morning with a broomstick and plastic bin.
An office worker first spotted the opossum on a window ledge in the gated downway outside the Austin Building (formerly the Hawaiian Electric Company building) at 223 S. King Street, according to a news release.
The office worker then alerted the Honolulu Police Department, who were able to climb over the locked gate to capture the animal.
Next, Plant Quarantine inspectors from the Hawaii Department of Agriculture were called and when they arrived, they took custody of the opossum.
The opossum is about 2-feet long from head to tail. The Hawaii Department of Agriculture said it is not known how the opossum arrived in Honolulu, but in the past they have come over in shipping containers.
5. Maryknoll pitcher Jacob Remily taken by Cleveland Guardians on Day 3 of MLB Draft
Maryknoll senior Jacob Remily rounded out a three-man class with Hawaii ties when he heard his name called in the 16th round of the 2024 MLB Draft on Tuesday.
Remily, a 6-foot-6, 190-pound pitcher who also played at the corners for the Spartans, was taken at No. 475 overall by the Cleveland Guardians.
According to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Remily is the first Maryknoll player to be taken directly out of high school in the draft. He reportedly was able to throw as fast as 94 mph this spring.
Remily previously committed to play at San Jose State in 2025 but may now embark directly on a pro career. The MLB does not list draft slot values after the 10th round.
On Day 1 of the draft, Saint Louis School graduate Caleb Lomavita, a three-year catcher at the University of California, Berkeley, was taken at No. 39 overall by the Washington Nationals. On Day 2, the Philadelphia Phillies took Mid-Pacific Institute alumnus Kodey Shojinaga, a two-year second baseman at the University of Kansas, with the 192nd overall pick.
Your Notes for the Tomorrow
Thursday, July 18
- 2024 GOP National Convention concludes with formal nomination
- SpaceX rocket launch, carrying Transporter-11 Rideshare Mission
- Unemployment Insurance weekly report - initial claims
- Part 1 of the final season of "Cobra Kai" premieres on Netflix
In Case You Missed It
(Photo courtesy of Helping Hands Hawaii)
Helping Hands Hawaii hosts school supply distribution events
Helping Hands Hawaii is hosting two Ready to Learn events at its Community Clearinghouse location to distribute school supplies to keiki on July 20 and 27.
Families will need to pre-register for either of the two days in order to receive a school supply kit for their keiki. Contact Helping Hands Hawaii at either rtl@helpinghandshawaii.org or call 808-536-7234 ext. 820.
Pickup times are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on both days at Helping Hands Hawaii at 2100 N. Nimitz Highway in Honolulu.
“We firmly believe that every child deserves a fair chance to succeed academically, and having the right school supplies is a critical part of that success,” Helping Hands Hawaii President and CEO Susan Furuta said in a release. “With the incredible support from our community, we are determined to ensure that no child feels ashamed or disadvantaged due to a lack of resources. Together, we can empower our students and build a brighter future for them and our community.”
Pre-registered families will receive a school supply kit containing a backpack, composition books, portfolios, folder paper, water bottle, pens, crayons, pencils and more.