Good evening, Hawaii. Here are the main stories we've been following today:
Your Weather Planner 
The windward areas will have shower chances for the rest of the week as trade winds remain breezy. Friday through the weekend’s forecast will depend on what happens with the tropical weather disturbance located to the east-southeast of the islands. It is too early to determine the exact location and intensity of this weather system, as well as weather impacts.
Watch the latest news from across the country.
Today's Big Stories
1. HECO urges customers to prepare ahead of the weekend for possible stormy weather
As the National Weather Service continues to monitor for a possible tropical cyclone that could impact Hawaii over weekend, Hawaiian Electric urges customers to review emergency preparedness plans and be ready for possible outages.
On Tuesday, the US National Weather Service Honolulu posted on its Facebook page that they are continuing to closely monitor for any signs of a tropical cyclone formation in an area over 1,000 miles east-southeast of the Hawaiian Islands.
2. Opossum discovered in shipping container
Freight workers in Kalihi unloading construction material early Monday afternoon found an opossum hiding in a 40-foot shipping container, the second such animal discovered in Honolulu in as many months.
After spotting the animal, which they said looked like a “very large rat,” the workers closed the container and called the Plant Quarantine Branch of the Hawaii Department of Agriculture.
3. Truck shortage disrupts Honolulu trash collection
An ongoing shortage of trash collection trucks led to a disruption of service for residents in areas between Foster Village and Palolo on Monday and Tuesday, the Honolulu Department of Environmental Services reported.
According to ENV, gray trash carts were left unemptied on 2.5 collection routes. Blue recyclables carts were also not serviced on four collection routes.
“Refuse crews are working diligently to pick up the missed carts, but delayed collections could continue through the rest of this week,” ENV stated in a release issued on Tuesday. “Residents are kindly reminded to leave their carts curbside until they have been serviced.”
4. Malu i Ka ʻUlu launches PSAs to support ongoing recovery of wildfire survivors
A crisis counseling program serving Maui County residents affected by the Lahaina wildfires, Malu i Ka ʻUlu, recently launched a series of public service announcements to inform survivors of available mental health resources.
Malu i Ka ʻUlu was established a month after the September 2023 wildfires, founded on the principles of compassion and community resilience. The program advocates for mental health and self-healing, and its counselors offer peer counseling, access to mental health resources and services, and a “warm line” for free and anonymous counseling available five days a week.
Your Notes for
Thursday, August 20
- 2024 Democratic National Convention, day four. Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris delivers nomination acceptance speech today
- Google's new Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro XL smartphones are available to buy following their launch earlier this month.
- Gap change their ticker symbol to 'GAP', from 'GPS', and mark the occasion by ringing the NYSE Opening Bell on the 55th anniversary of the opening of the first Gap store in San Francisco 1969.
- Unemployment weekly claims
In Case You Missed It
Gov. Josh Green and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff chatted during the groundbreaking for the Benioff Medical Center in Hilo in April. (Office of Gov. Josh Green)
New Lahaina HERO awards recognized DOE employees
State Department of Education employees who have played a role in keeping Lahaina schools open following the 2023 Maui wildfires have an opportunity to be recognized for their work and to receive a financial award via the state’s new Lahaina Honoring Employees’ Resilience and Optimism awards, Gov. Josh Green announced on Monday.
“The dedication shown by our Lahaina school employees during and after the wildfires is nothing short of extraordinary,” Green said in a statement released Monday.
“They embody the very essence of aloha — resilient in the face of adversity, compassionate in their service to others and deeply committed to the well-being of our keiki. These awards are a heartfelt recognition of their incredible efforts, but more than that, they are a celebration of the unwavering spirit that these individuals have brought to their community. In the darkest of times, they have been a beacon of hope and strength for Lahaina’s students and families. We are profoundly grateful for their courage, sacrifice and love for our island ohana.”