Good evening, Hawaii. Here are the main stories we've been following today: 

Your Weather Planner 

High pressure remains north of the Islands and it will continue to produce breezy and windy conditions on Friday. Over the weekend, we'll see winds decrease slightly, into the moderate to breezy range. By next week, winds will be downgraded to moderate levels. Dry conditions will persist for most areas through the weekend, although with a weather disturbance moving from west to east down the island chain tonight through Saturday, there will be a slight increase in cloud cover and a few showers will be possible, although intensity will stay light.

A Small Craft Advisory remains in place through 6 pm Friday for eat winds up to 30 kt except for north winds in Maalaea Bay. Seas up to 10 feet.

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Today's Big Stories

1. HECO deploying weather stations for fire weather response

Hawaiian Electric is installing some 52 weather stations in wildfire-prone areas on four islands as part of an effort to better predict and respond to fire-weather conditions. The solar-powered weather stations, which are mounted on HECO utility poles, will transmit wind, temperature, humidity and other meteorological data that will help the utility decide whether to initiate a public safety power shutoff.

Launched July 1, the PSPS program allows HECO to preemptively shut off power in areas at high risk of wildfires during high-wind and dry conditions.

HECO said the $1.7 million installation is one of nearly two dozen near-term safety measures it is implementing to reduce the potential for wildfires associated with company infrastructure in areas identified as posing a higher risk.

2. DOH reports 5th case of mpox this year

The state Department of Health has confirmed another case of mpox, bringing the total number of cases diagnosed in Hawaii this year to five. The latest case involves a nonresident who was diagnosed in Honolulu.

DOH is advising anyone at elevated risk of mpox infection to consider being vaccinated with two doses of the JYNNEOS vaccine. Laboratory testing of the latest case determined the infection to be mpox clade II, the strain responsible for a global outbreak that began in 2022.

3. Step on to 'the most beautiful ship in the world,' the Amerigo Vespucci, this weekend

Travel across the world to Italy by stepping onto "the most beautiful ship in the world," the Amerigo Vespucci, this weekend at Honolulu Harbor at Pier 9. The historic ship, almost 100 years of age, was given a warm welcome by Mayor Blangiardi Thursday afternoon, and will be here until Sunday, July 28 as part of its global tour before it heads to Japan. 

The Vespucci ship is the longest serving unit of the Italian Navy, under the command of Captain Guiseepe Lai. Having served for 93 years, it is sailing currently for 20 months, visiting 36 ports in 32 different countries. There are about 400 military personnel, which includes the permanent crew and cadets from the Naval Academy.

4. Harris launching weekend campaign blitz to mark 100 days until election

Believe it or not, the 2024 presidential election — which kicked off in November 2022 when former President Donald Trump announced his third White House bid — is almost 100 days away.

To mark the centennial milestone this weekend, the campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris — the newest person to enter the presidential race — is launching a blitz of campaign events across the country, kicking off with an event in the crucial battleground state of Pennsylvania featuring Gov. Josh Shapiro.

5. Paris Olympics begins with ambitious, sprawling opening ceremony on the River Seine

Celebrating its reputation as a cradle of revolution, Paris kicked off its first Summer Olympics in a century on Friday with a rain-soaked, rule-breaking opening ceremony studded with stars and fantasy along the Seine River.

On-and-off showers — the first rain at a Summer Olympics' opening ceremony in more than 70 years — did not seem to hamper the enthusiasm of the athletes. Some held umbrellas as they rode boats down the river in a showcase of the city's resilience as authorities investigated suspected acts of sabotage targeting France's high-speed rail network.

Your Notes for the Weekend

Saturday, July 27

• Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris attends campaign fundraising event in Pittsfield, MA.
• Bitcoin Conference, featuring keynote address from Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump. 
• Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump and his running mate Sen. JD Vance deliver remarks at a campaign rally in St. Cloud, MN 8pm
• Paris 2024 Olympic Games continues with day one. In swimming, Katie Ledecky competes in the women's 400m freestyle against Australia's defending champion Ariarne Titmus, Canada's 17-year-old world record-holder Summer McIntosh, and New Zealand's Erika Fairweather. 
• • U.S. teams in action today against Greece in the women's water polo prelims, New Zealand in the men's soccer group stage at Marseille Stadium, Argentina in the women's hockey pool stage, and Argentina in the men's volleyball prelims.
  • Paris 2024 Olympic Games medals awarded in shooting (10m air rifle mixed team), diving (women's synchronized 3m springboard), road cycling (men's and women's individual time trials), judo (women's -48kg and men's -60kg), skateboarding (men's street), men's rugby sevens, fencing (women's épée and men's sabre), and swimming (men's and women's 400m freestyle, men’s, and women's 4x100m freestyle relays)

Sunday, July 28

• Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump attends campaign fundraising reception in Deal, NJ
• 100 days until the presidential election, held 5 Nov. 
• Russian Navy Day, when the country shows off its latest state-of-the-art warships, weaponry, and aircraft. Typically, a two-hour procession sees the battleships sail along the Neva River in St. Petersburg and the Port of Kronstadt. President Vladimir Putin traditionally attends.
• 40th anniversary of the Los Angeles Olympic Games. The Games were boycotted by the Soviet Union and 13 other Eastern Bloc countries in response to the U.S.-led boycott of the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow in protest of Soviet intervention in Afghanistan. The U.S. went on to win 174 medals, including 83 golds, with Romania finishing second in the table after resisting Soviet pressure to join the boycott * Los Angeles is due to host the Summer Olympics for the third time in 2028.
• Paris 2024 Olympic Games continues with day two. In the pool, four-time Olympic gold medalist Ryan Murphy goes in the heats of the men's 100m backstroke. The U.S. team features in the women's gymnastics qualification led by seven-time Olympic medalist Simone Biles, who is competing in her third Olympic Games. U.S. teams in action today in men's water polo against Italy, women's rugby sevens against Japan, and Brazil, men's basketball group phase against Serbia, and women's soccer group stage against Germany at Marseille Stadium.
  • Paris 2024 Olympic Games gold medal events today in archery (women's team), canoe slalom (women's kayak single), mountain biking (women's cross country), fencing (women's foil and men's épée), shooting (men's and women's 10m air pistol), skateboarding (women's street), judo (men's -66 kg and women's -52kg), and swimming (men's 400m individual medley, women's 100m butterfly, and men's 100m breaststroke)
  • One month until the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games begin with the opening ceremony.

Monday, July 29

• President Joe Biden commemorates the 60th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act during a visit to the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin
• Republican vice-presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance attends fundraising dinner in Palo Alto, CA, on behalf of Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump
• Iowa law banning most abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected - around six weeks into pregnancy in most cases - takes effect. 
• Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff attends Harris Victory Fund campaign fundraising event in Vineyard Haven, MA, on behalf of his wife Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris.
• Paris 2024 Olympic Games continues with day three. In swimming, 2016 winner Lilly King is expected to feature in the women's 100m breastroke final up against Tokyo silver medalist Tatjana Smith of South Africa and 2012 winner Ruta Meilutyte of Lithuania. U.S. teams compete in women's field hockey against Spain, women's rugby sevens against France, women's water against Spain, women's volleyball against China, and women's basketball against Japan. Ukraine's four-time world fencing champion Olha Kharlan, who was disqualified at last year's World Championships for not shaking the hand of Russia's Anna Smirnova, could feature in the women's sabre final. Kharlan is allowed to compete after the IOC guaranteed her place at the Games.
  • Paris 2024 Olympic Games gold medal events today in archery (men's team), artistic gymnastics (men's team), canoe slalom (men's canoe single), mountain biking (men's cross-country), diving (men's synchronized 10m platform), equestrian (eventing team and individual), fencing (women's sabre and men's foil), judo (women's -57kg and men's -73kg), shooting (men's and women's 10m air rifle), and swimming (women's 400m individual medley, men's 200m freestyle, men's 100m backstroke, women's 100m breaststroke, and women's 200m freestyle)