Good evening, Hawaii. Hawaiian Electric reminds its customers to prepare for what is projected to be a potentially dynamic hurricane season. The first Republican presidential primary debate will take place on Aug. 23, 2023 in Milwaukee. The Progressive Pride Flag will be raised for the entire month of June in front of the Frank F. Fasi Municipal Building in Honolulu. Read about the important stories you need to know.
Your Weather Planner
The weekend is looking pleasant. Hawaii's trade winds weaken over the weekend with a dry pattern developing early next week. As for the weekend, light trade will bring some clouds and showers to our windward areas, especially in the morning and at night. For our leeward areas, expect sea breezes to bring clouds and some sprinkles of rain too. Breezy trade winds return next week.
Watch the latest news from across the country.
Today's Big Stories
1. HECO offers tips for hurricane season preparation
With the start of the Central Pacific Hurricane Season on Thursday, Hawaiian Electric is reminding its residential and commercial customers to be prepared for what is projected to be a potentially dynamic season in the region.
Because of El Niño conditions, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center forecast a “near-to-above-normal” season with four to seven tropical cyclones predicted for the region. That includes all hurricanes, named storms and tropical depressions, regardless of whether they make landfall.
The utility encourages customers to develop their own emergency plans.
Read all of HECO's tips at the link above.
2. RNC selects date for first Republican presidential primary debate in Milwaukee
The first Republican presidential primary debate will take place on Aug. 23, 2023 in Milwaukee, the Republican National Committee announced Friday. An exact time and location have yet to be announced.
“I am excited to announce the criteria for our first presidential primary debate in Milwaukee on Aug. 23. The RNC is committed to putting on a fair, neutral, and transparent primary process and the qualifying criteria set forth will put our party and eventual nominee in the best position to take back the White House come Nov. 2024,” said RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel in a press release.
McDaniels also announced criteria to qualify for the debate. Those who have declared candidacy and hand over qualifying documents to the RNC no later than 48 hours prior to the first scheduled debate will qualify. A second debate will be held on Aug. 24 if necessary, should enough candidates qualify, according to the RNC.
In April, Fox News announced they would be hosting the debate.
3. Honolulu will fly the Pride Flag for the month of June
In honor of World Pride Month, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said the Pride Flag will be raised for the entire month of June in front of the Frank F. Fasi Municipal Building.
“Raising the Pride Flag is a powerful symbol of our city’s commitment to embracing diversity and celebrating the LGBTQ+ community,” said Blangiardi in a statement.
The City will fly the Progress Pride Flag from the tallest flagpole on the Frank F. Fasi Civic Center grounds.
The Progress Pride Flag is one of six commonly used LGBTQ+ Pride Flags, according to the Human Rights Campaign. The Progress Pride Flag includes the traditional six-stripe rainbow, with a white, pink and light blue stripe that honors the transgender community and a black and brown stripe that honors communities of color. The black stripe also represents the people lost during the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s and 1990s.
4. Family's Alaska fishing trip becomes nightmare with 3 dead and search over for 2 more
Authorities suspended a more than 20-hour search covering 825 square miles on Monday and have no plans to resume it.
The women's parents, older brother and sister-in-law were on the other charter boat as part of a three-day trip to a destination fishery known for king salmon and groundfish.
The sisters and their sister-in-law didn’t like fishing but joined the vacation to spend more time with a family that was usually split between Hawaii and Los Angeles.
“It was just supposed to be a simple family get-together for eight of us, since we haven’t been together in the same spot for so long,” Michael Tyau, the older brother, told The Associated Press on Thursday. “For it to turn out like this is really devastating.”
Read the full story at the link above.
5. Kauai economic forecast is cautiously optimistic
A new economic forecast for Kauai finds that following a modest recovery from the pandemic, the county is at a critical juncture with an impending national recession threatening to affect the flow of mainland visitors on which the county so heavily relies.
Prepared by the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization under contract by the Office of Economic Development, the report, “Declining U.S. Outlook is a Rising Risk for Kauai,” is the first Kauai County-focused economic forecast since 2019. The report examines key sectors, emerging trends and potential challenges that influence the county’s economic outlook.
The report notes that while inflation has receded, a national recession looks increasingly likely because of tightening credit and rising interest rates constraining demand.
Still, UHERO maintains that Kauai’s unique attractiveness to visitors is reason for optimism.
Your Notes for the Weekend
Saturday, June 3
- Mike Pence and GOP presidential candidates attend GOP Sen. Joni Ernst's 2023 Roast and Ride in Iowa at noon ET
- Vivek Ramaswamy on campaign trail in Iowa at 7 p.m. ET
- Defense Secretary Austin speaks at IISS Asia Security Summit
- SpaceX launches 28th commercial resupply mission to the ISS at 12:35 p.m. ET
- World Bicycle Day
Sunday, June 4
- Nikki Haley participates in CNN Town Hall at 8 p.m. ET
- Jill Biden continues Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, and Portugal trip
- Princess Lilibet celebrates second birthday
- National Animal Rights Day
- 95th birthday of Ruth Westheimer, aka Dr Ruth, a German American sex therapist, TV host, author, professor, and Holocaust survivor
Monday, June 5
- President Joe Biden hosts Danish Prime Minister at the White House
- Journalists strike at Gannett, the largest newspaper chain in the U.S.
- Fortune 500 ranking of the nation's largest corporations released
- Theatre World Awards in New York
- U.S. Supreme Court releases an order list
- House of Representatives returns from Memorial Day District Work Period
- Jill Biden concludes Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, and Portugal trip
- Secretary of State Blinken addresses AIPAC Policy Summit
- 40th Harlem Stage Gala
- What: SCH Island-Wide Cleanup
- Where: Throughout Oahu
- Details: Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii is kicking off World Oceans Month with cleanups at four different coastal areas on each side of the island — Mokuleia, windward side (location TBA), Chinatown and the west side (location TBA), 9 a.m. to noon June 3. Different cleanup levels will be available for keiki to kupuna and individuals are not required to participate for the full-time period. Preregistration is required because of limited space at each site.
- What: Hawaiian Wearable Kapa Making Workshop
- Where: Maui Nui Botanical Gardens | 150 Kanaloa Ave., Kahului | 808-249-2798
- Details: Kapa practitioners and mother-daughter duo Lisa Schattenburg-Raymond and Kaleʻa Raymond share construction and manufacturing techniques of making malo, pāʻū and kīhei in a two-day intensive workshop, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 3-4. Participants must attend both days. Register.
- What: 10th Annual Big Island Jazz & Blues Festival
- Where: Mauna Kea Beach Hotel | 62-100 Mauna Kea Beach Dr., Waimea
- Details: Enjoy an evening of jazz tunes performed by Grammy Award winners, Grammy nominated artists, Music Hall of Fame members, and jazz and blues legends, 5 to 9 p.m. June 3. Additional events: Jazz Fest Kickoff Dinner Show, 6 to 9 p.m. June 1 at Red Water Café; Jazz Fest Mauna Kea Dinner Show, 6 to 9 p.m. June 2. Tickets.
- What: Kauai Island Crafters Fair
- Where: Kauai Veterans Center | 3215 Kapule Hwy., Lihue | 808-635-4314
- Details: This local craft fair offers unique, handcrafted items from island crafters and artisans, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 3. Browse through jewelry and accessories, Hawaiian print quilts, wood and bone carvings, artwork, photography, suncatchers and more.
For more on these and other events, see this week's HI Out & About.
In Case You Missed It
Former Iolani standout JJ Mandaquit, seen against Roosevelt in the 2021-22 season, earned a rare honor for a Hawaii-born player by making Team USA's U16 squad to compete in the 2023 FIBA Men's U16 Americas Championship. (Photo courtesy of Iolani School/Nick Peterson)
Former Iolani standout JJ Mandaquit named to USA U16 national team
JJ Mandaquit left Iolani School and his home in the islands for a chance at increasing his basketball profile substantially.
After a year of prep play in Utah, he has done just that.
Mandaquit was named to USA Basketball’s 2023 U16 National Team 12-player roster on Thursday following a seven-day training camp in Colorado Springs, Colo. He will compete at the 2023 FIBA Men’s U16 Americas Championship in Merida, Mexico, starting Monday.
Mandaquit, 16, of Hilo, had a standout freshman season at Iolani in 2021-22, then left the ensuing summer to increase his basketball profile. The guard played his sophomore year of 2022-23 at Salt Lake Academy in Herriman, Utah.
According to MaxPreps, Mandaquit averaged 15.5 points, 4.5 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 2.9 steals per game for RSL in 22 games of the 2022-23 season.
He’s listed at 5 feet 11 on the Team USA roster that includes the twin sons of former NBA forward Carlos Boozer, Cameron and Cayden. However, he was listed at 6-1 at Iolani. He made the U16 cut from a group of 18 finalists, an unprecedented honor in the modern hoops era for a player from Hawaii amid a group of future NBA hopefuls.