Good evening, Hawaii. Our political journalist, Michael Tsai, has a list of laws that take effect on Jan. 1, 2023, and adding to Southwest travel woes this week, one of the carrier’s flights from Honolulu to Oakland turned back to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport yesterday because of a fight between two passengers. Nationally, the CDC announced today that as of Jan. 5, it will begin requiring negative COVID tests for travelers coming to the U.S. from China. Here are the most important stories you need to know.
Your Weather Planner
Some shower coverage will be possible through today across the islands, mainly for windward and Mauna areas. But overall, dry conditions will continue through the week, with southeasterly trade winds weakening tonight.
A cold front will approach the islands on Thursday but exit quickly. This will allow east-southeast trade winds to develop on Friday and through the weekend, allowing some isolated showers to move into leeward and interior areas. However, the showers should clear quickly when they do develop.
Today's Big Stories
1. Fireworks records, catalytic converter regulations among new laws set to take effect on Jan. 1
Come Jan. 1, Hawaii residents and visitors will be subject to a host of freshly enacted laws.
While some of the most prominent bills that passed the legislature and were enacted by the governor had early or immediate effective dates—such as the new hourly minimum wage that took effect on Oct. 1—and others must yet secure funding or require additional time for implementation, several measures are set to take effect on the first day of 2023.
Amont the new laws are Act 47, which establishes ranked-choice voting for special federal elections and special elections of vacant county council seat; Act 88, which regulates the purchase of catalytic converters by used motor vehicle parts dealers and palladium, platinum and rhodium by scrap dealers and recycler and establishes the felony offense of theft of catalytic converter; and Act 283, which prohibits elected state and county officials from holding any fundraiser event to raise contributions for which any price is charged or any contribution is suggested for attendance during a regular session or special session of the state legislature.
Click on the link above for a full list of the laws that take effect once the clock strikes midnight on Jan. 1.
2. Oakland-bound Southwest flight diverted back to Honolulu 'due to a conflict between two customers'
On Tuesday, a Southwest flight from Honolulu to Oakland turned around after a fight broke out on the plane.
“Southwest Flight 2050 from Honolulu to Oakland returned to Honolulu due to a conflict between two customers,” a Southwest Airlines spokesperson told Spectrum News Hawaii.
The Tuesday flight departed Daniel K. Inouye airport at 4:55 p.m. — two hours after its originally scheduled departure time — and returned to Honolulu at 8:36 p.m., according to FlightAware, a flight tracking platform.
The Southwest spokesperson said the flight was rebooked for Wednesday. No other information was provided.
3. Honolulu Star-Advertiser: Hawaii travelers impacted by winter flight cancellations
Major U.S. airlines broadsided by the massive weekend winter storm that swept across large swaths of the country had largely recovered heading into Monday, except for Southwest, where problems have continued to snowball.
Southwest Airlines had the highest number of U.S. cancelations by far on Tuesday with more than 2,650 cancelations reported by tracking service FlightAware. Those flights accounted for more than 84% of the 3,100-plus trips that FlightAware reported as canceled nationwide Tuesday. Also, Southwest announced plans to scrub at least 2,500 flights today and nearly 2,000 for Thursday as it grapples with an operational meltdown, which already has prompted the federal government to announce that it intends to investigate why the company lagged far behind other carriers.
Disruption in Hawaii is less severe compared with various other destinations. Still, FlightAware reported 15 flights were canceled and 55 were delayed Tuesday coming out of Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. Another 19 flights were canceled and 45 delayed Tuesday coming into the Honolulu airport.
4. Where to ring in 2023 in Hawaii
Concerts galore — including shows by The Green, Amy Hanaiali‘i and Bill Maher's annual comedy show — a pineapple drop and fireworks with a movie on a Kauai beach all make for a pretty festive New Year celebration. Click the link above for a curated list of exciting events to welcome 2023.
5. U.S. announces COVID testing rule for travelers from China
The United States will begin requiring negative COVID-19 tests or a document of recovery for travelers flying from China amid a surge in cases in the country, officials announced Wednesday.
The new rule from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which also extends to Macau and Hong Kong, begins Jan. 5, 2023.
All travelers from China 2 years and older will be required to take a COVID-19 test no more than two days before departure and provide proof of a negative test before boarding their flight, or provide documentation of recovery if they tested positive more than 10 days before the flight.
Your Notes for Tomorrow
Thursday, December 29
- Times Square NYE Confetti test
- U.S. Census Bureau releases annual projection of the nation’s population for Jan. 1
- Simon Wiesenthal Center releases 2022 list of “worst anti-Semitic and anti-Israel incidents”
- Inaugural United Cup tennis tournament in Australia
- 3 College bowl games
- Cheez-It Bowl: Florida State vs. Oklahoma (in Orlando)
- Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl: Minnesota vs. Syracuse (at Yankee Stadium)
- Alamo Bowl: Washington vs. Texas (in San Antonio)
- Ted Danson celebrates 75th birthday! Cheers!
- What: 38th Annual Honolulu City Lights
- Where: Honolulu Hale | 530 S. King St., Honolulu | 808-768-6622
- Details: The 38th Annual Honolulu City Lights continues to light up Honolulu with its 50-foot holiday tree and displays centered around Honolulu Hale and Civic Center Grounds. Additional colorful displays include the City Department Tree Exhibit and the 35th Annual Wreath Contest.
- What: Foster for the Holidays
- Where: Maui Humane Society | Mehameha Loop, Puunene | 808-877-3680
- Details: The Maui Humane Society invites those who can to bring home a shelter animal for the holidays and give them a fresh start to 2023. It’s the best gift ever! No training or appointment needed — just drop by, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
- What: Explore the Kahuku Unit
- Where: Hwy. 11 near mile marker 70.5, Ka‘ū
- Details: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park’s Kahuku Unit is free and open 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday-Sunday. Take a self-guided hike on one of eight trails or join park rangers on weekends at 9:30 a.m. for a two-hour guided trek. Sturdy footwear, water, rain gear, sun protection and a snack are recommended. Kahuku is located about 50-minutes south of the park’s main entrance. Enter Kahuku on the mauka (inland) side of Hwy. 11 near mile marker 70.5. Closed New Year’s Day.
- What: Hale Puna Farmers Market
- Where: Hale Puna under the giant monkeypod tree | 9567 Huakai Rd., Waimea | halepuna.org
- Details: At Hale Puna Farmers Market, you’ll not only find fresh products such as mango, papaya, ulu, lime, noni, eggs, pesto, basil, sugarcane and more, but by purchasing items, you’re supporting the farm school interns from Ke Kula Niihau, the restoration of the historic Gulick Rowell Mission House that will become a community center for the west side communities of Kauai, and so much more. Food stamps/EBT and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program coupons accepted. Buy fresh, 3:30-5:30 p.m.
For more on these and other events, see this week's HI Out & About.
In Case You Missed It
American mini pigs at the Keiki Zoo. (Photo courtesy of the City and County of Honolulu)
Honolulu Zoo welcomes 4 new pigs, 3 goats to the petting zoo
The Honolulu Zoo is now home to four, 6-month-old American mini pigs and three Anglo-Nubian goats that are younger than nine months, according to a City and County of Honolulu news release.
The animals will join the Keiki Zoo, which is a petting zoo located next to Kapahulu Market, the zoo’s food stand.
All the animals come from a local farm in Waianae.