Good evening, Hawaii. HIEMA is reminding the eligible businesses and organizations of the Dec. 8 deadline for U.S. Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster Loans related to drought conditions in Hawaii, Kalawao and Maui counties. Our partners at the Honolulu Star-Advertiser report that the U.S. Navy has so far been a no-show for the Red Hill remediation roundtable. Nationally, online court records show that Anderson Lee Aldrich faces five murder charges and five charges of committing a bias-motivated crime causing bodily injury in Saturday night's shooting at a Colorado Springs gay nightclub. Here are the most important stories you need to know.

Your Weather Planner 

Breezy to strong trade winds are expected through Tuesday as high pressure sets up to our north. A few passing showers are possible for windward and mountain areas through mid-week. Strong wind and low humidity will lead to high fire danger for leeward areas today, with Red Flag Warnings in effect. After winds decrease and humidity increases by tomorrow, we will look ahead to a cold front mid-week. From west to east, a cold front will pass through beginning Wednesday night into Thanksgiving day, delivering showers and gusty winds for all islands.

Get your 7-day forecast

Today's Big Stories

1. Deadline is Dec. 8 for drought-related loans

The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency encourages qualifying businesses and organizations to apply by the Dec. 8 deadline for U.S. Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster Loans related to drought conditions in Hawaii, Kalawao and Maui counties that began Feb. 8, 2022.

The loans are intended to offset reduced revenues caused by the continuing drought situation. Loans up to $2 million to meet working capital needs caused by the disaster are available to qualifying small nonfarm businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private nonprofit organizations of any size, according to a news release.

The loans offer rates of 2.94% for businesses and 1.875% for private nonprofit organizations, with a maximum term of 30 years.   

2. Honolulu Star-Advertiser: Navy a no-show at Red Hill remediation roundtable so far

The Navy has yet to sign on to a roundtable convened by state and federal environmental regulators to share information and chart an action plan for remediating fuel contamination caused by the Navy’s Red Hill fuel facility, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. As a result, work on the plan has been stalled for the past couple of months.

Gabriela Carvalho, the EPA’s Red Hill project coordinator, said the action plan is expected to be a collection of all the environmental work that is underway and that needs to be done to remediate contamination from Red Hill fuel releases and restore the polluted groundwater.

Rear Adm. Stephen Barnett, commander of Navy Region Hawaii, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser during the meeting that defense officials in Washington, D.C., are still working out details about what level of participation there will be from the Navy.

“We will be participating; we are just trying to fine-tune the level of participation,” said Barnett.

During a follow-up interview last week, Carvalho said there was no update on the Navy’s participation.  

3. Scammers are targeting utility customers

Though Utility Scam Awareness Day on Nov. 16 has passed, Hawaiian Electric, Hawaiian Telcom, Hawaii Gas, the Honolulu Board of Water Supply and Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, together with the state Office of Consumer Protection and Honolulu Police Department, continue to spread the word about scammers preying on customers, particularly utility customers, who may be experiencing difficulties in these tough economic times.

Several recent cases illustrate the latest tactics scammers are using when they call consumers to make a payment at a cryptocurrency machine or have their services shut off immediately. Bitcoin, or cryptocurrency, kiosks are now located at gas stations, laundromats, smoke shops and mini marts across the state. According to a Hawaiian Electric news release, a recent victim paid over $12,000 in multiple payments at a kiosk in a small restaurant.

“Cryptocurrency is not accepted payment for any utility service in Hawaii, whether electricity, phone, internet, gas or water,” stated Stephen Levins, in the release. Levins is the executive director of the State of Hawaii Office of Consumer Protection. “If you get a threatening call demanding payment by Bitcoin, gift cards, money transfer or prepaid debit cards, just hang up and call your utility directly.”

4. Online dashboard tracks drug abuse trends in Hawaii

A new online dashboard tracking data related to drug trends is available to the public thanks to a collaboration between the University of Hawaii, Hawaii State Department of Health and 14 statewide partner organizations. The DOH Behavioral Health Administration oversees the new Statewide Substance Use, Mental Health and Hawaii CARES Summary website.

The dashboard shows current behavioral trends related to drug overdose, polysubstance abuse, co-occurring substance abuse, and mental health disorders. The ongoing collaboration between UH and DOH will provide more datasets, updates to usability, accessibility and improved mobile support down the road.

5. Colorado gay bar shooting suspect facing murder, hate crime charges

The man suspected of opening fire at a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs was being held on murder and hate crimes charges Monday, two days after the attack that killed five people and wounded many others.

Online court records showed that Anderson Lee Aldrich, 22, faced five murder charges and five charges of committing a bias-motivated crime causing bodily injury in Saturday night's attack at Club Q.

The charges were preliminary, and prosecutors had not filed them in court. The hate crime charges would require proving that the gunman was motivated by bias, such as against the victims' actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.

The attack was halted when a patron grabbed a handgun from Aldrich, hit him with it and pinned him down until police arrived minutes later.

Court documents laying out what led to Aldrich's arrest have been sealed at the request of prosecutors, who said releasing details could jeopardize the investigation. Information on a lawyer for Aldrich was not immediately available.

A law enforcement official said the suspect used an AR-15-style semiautomatic weapon, but a handgun and additional ammunition magazines also were recovered. The official could not discuss details of the investigation publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. 

Your Notes for Tomorrow

Tuesday, November 22

• Secretary of State Antony Blinken concludes his Qatar trip
  
• First Couple travel to Nantucket, Mass., for Thanksgiving
  
• Second Couple visits the Palawan province in the Philippines
  
• ​SpaceX launches 26th commercial resupply mission to the ISS
  
• King Charles III hosts a State Visit for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa
  

Here are events happening on the islands tomorrow:

Oahu

• What: Exhibits at Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum
• Where: 1525 Bernice St., Honolulu | 808-847-3511
• Details: Through Feb. 19, 2023: “Taxonomy: Our Lives Depend on It” is an interactive, multimedia exhibition that explores the identification and naming of plants and animals, and the important role it plays in our daily lives. Also see the largest display of plants and animals that represent the museum’s natural sciences collection normally inaccessible to the public.
• Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Adults $24.95, seniors 65+ $21.95, youths 4-17 $16.95. Children 16 and younger must be accompanied by an adult.

Maui

• What: Maui Street Market
• Where: 150 Hana Hwy., Kahului
• Details: Located next to the former 24-Hour Fitness, Maui’s “Food Truck Hub” is presented by the nonprofit Maui Food Technology Center dedicated to supporting local entrepreneurs and revitalizing the community of Kahului. It’s open seven days a week with varied hours depending on individual food trucks. Dubbed “eat the street, Maui style,” the market features a gathering of food trucks offering lots of ono food and aloha in one place. Free parking available.

Hawaii Island

• What: 33rd Annual Trash Show: Hawaii Artists Recycle
• Where: East Hawaii Cultural Center | 141 Kalakaua St., Hilo | 808-961-5711
• Details: With the goal to encourage artists and viewers to rethink the “shop and drop” mentality, this exhibit features island artists who have been recycling the island’s trash into works of art. Gallery hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.

Kauai

• What: Lihue Placemaking, Forestry & Gardens Initiative
• Where: Kalena Park
• Details: Join in the two-year effort to develop a future green infrastructure along Rice St. in collaboration with the Rice Street Business Assoc., Better Block Hawaii, County of Kauai Office of Economic Development, AARP, The Funders Network and Health Go Market. No experience needed for this gardening effort, 4-6 p.m. Register. 

For more on these and other events, see this week's HI Out & About.